It was dark—
And yet, light flickered somewhere far away.
"Oh! Something is flickering..." A girl's voice broke out in a way that we can't hear.
A girl floated weightlessly in the void, unable to move herself, but she could see...
As she drifted closer through the haze of silver clouds, a palace floated above, its golden roofs gleaming beneath a thousand suns. Soft divine bells rang in the distance, their sound as delicate as falling light.
From below, the girl's gaze traced her form. The woman stood before a great hall in flowing white robes, silk layers shimmering like mist, wide sleeves trailing faint silver embroidery along the hems. A belt cinched her waist with dangling pearl tassels.
Her view drifted upward from behind. Delicate silver and gold chains draped her hair, secured by a glinting jade hairpin.
She turned slightly, revealing eyes calm like starlight.
But her face remained shadowed, unreadable through the haze.
A voice echoed:
"Celestial envoy of light, descend to the mortal realm and restore balance."
The woman bowed, "Yes, your majesty."
The girl who is watching whispered, "her voice... So familiar..."
Suddenly, the light shattered—
like memories bleeding through time.
A white, misty fog spread across the land. Thick and unnatural, as if the sky itself had fallen to earth.
Mocking laughter echoed through the mist, cruel and unearthly.
Somewhere far ahead, a mountain split the sky.
Her vision blurred.
In the heart of that cursed mist stood a grand sect, suspended between the heavens and earth.
"The Heavenly Citadel." A voice whispered from nowhere.
Its spires pierced through clouds like spears of light, draped in silver vines and shimmering jade bridges that floated above glowing lotus ponds. Divine talismans circled the air, humming with holy energy.
But that beauty drowned in blood.
At the altar of judgement–—
A man knelt within a vast circle.
"The Circle of Demon Destruction"
Chains of divine lightning bound his hands, burning with heaven's fury.
His hair was black as night, his body torn and soaked in blood. Skin marked by lashes of divine punishment, and his dark robe drenched in betrayal's red. From his left forehead, blood dripped, painting the sacred floor like war marks. His figure was shadowed by fog, one thing was clear:
His eyes...
"Eyes that had swallowed galaxies of darkness,
now crimson—like eyes that found love, then burned with its loss."
A figure in white appeared— a Divine clan cultivator in ceremonial hanfu, etched with heavenly script. His sword glowed silver with golden star-forged qi, raised to the sky.
"Thousand Sword Judgment!"
A thousand blades of light swords tore through the sky–
all aimed at the chained man.
"No!" a voice cried, though no tears followed.
A woman burst from the fog, her appearance is unclear. Light swirled like a shield as she threw herself before him.
As time passed...
Her barrier shattered under the force, yet she held— until blades pierced through her body.
And still, she smiled.
Her blood hit the altar, weakening the Circle of Destruction.
She collapsed.
The man roared into his true form, and the chains snapped. Aura flooded the heavens with shadow. Crimson light engulfed him— a dragon of night and flame rising to the sky.
A teleportation spell ignited, carrying them beyond pursuers.
The girl whispered faintly, "A demonnn..."
And then—
A small sound broke the silence.
(Meow... Meow....)
Upon hearing the sound, the world around her dissolved into Mist.
Wu Qing lay asleep on her bed, blanket drawn to her chest.
Outside, it was a silent dewy morning.
Inside, the room was dim, curtains drawn. A pale blue light slipped through the window, dust floating like mist.
Two cats perched on an egg on the table. Cantaloupe-sized, crimson-black shell with a trace of gold.
Xiao Xue (Snowy), the white cat, sat proudly with its tail curled like a plume. Xiao Wu (Misty), the gray one, crouched low, eyes glinting in mischief.
Snowy batted the egg, curiosity flickering in its icy-blue eyes.
Misty hissed softly, as if warning, don't touch that.
Snowy nudged again.
Misty puffed, leapt across and the two started tackling into paw-tail flurry.
Meow... Wwww!
Hisss...!
Mew — ew-ew...
Claws rustled the quiet.
In their shuffle, Snowy's paw brushed the egg.
It wobbled— once, twice...
And rolled...
Cats froze, wide-eyed. Their ears twitched as they stared at it in amazement, with a little bit, maybe more, in shock. The egg teetered on the edge of the table.
–and slipped, spinning slowly through dim air.
Wu Qing's eyes snapped open with a blank gaze, yet steady.
She rose from the bed in a single, fluid motion— blanket sliding away, feet barely touching the floor. Her long hair swept through the air as she leapt forward, silent as a shadow.
Her hand reached—
And caught the egg mid-air with that single motion.
"Mmmm..." they both (cats) sighed in relief.
Her knees hit the floor soundlessly except for the faint rustle of her hair.
One hand braced on the floor, the other cradled the egg to her chest.
As such, a faint golden light slipped through the curtains.
The morning sun brushed her face, warming her chill.
She sat up slowly on her knees, her long black hair falling over her shoulders and to the floor, her eyes hidden behind her bangs, her face unreadable.
Suddenly, a faint breeze slipped in, parting her bangs for a moment. Enough for the light to reveal her eyes.
Her lashes were long and dark, casting soft shadows over her cheeks. Her skin was fair, smooth, and touched softly by the pale glow of the morning. Eyes deep as dusk that reflected nothing.
Bangs drifted back.
"Snowy. Misty." Her voice was flat, quiet, and yet gentle. "I've told you not to touch."
Cats froze, then blinked at her. Snowy flicked its tail innocently. Misty tilted its head, meowing softly as if to say, it wasn't me— Snowy.
She said nothing more.
She looked down at the egg resting in her hands. It was warm and faintly pulsing, like a heartbeat.
For a while, she simply stared at it.
There was no emotion in her eyes.
"It was the same dream..." Wu Qing murmured, barely a whisper.
But, there is nothing on her face for us to read.
"Crrr...rrr..."
Suddenly, a sound of cracking appeared.