In the palace garden, dew drops hang on bamboo leaves, water trickles from the Yin and Yang fountain, and yellow to auburn leaves cover the ground. Birds chirp in the air while a serene figure meditates quietly.

Fog and mist, tinged with gray smoke, rise from the valley. He takes a deep breath of the fresh morning air.

Life in the palace is serene and beautiful, despite the turmoil in the Qinghai Empire and the mysterious Chu Jing kingdom nearby.

As rain starts to fall, it brings comfort and lightens his burdens. He remains in meditation, finding peace in the sound of raindrops, which feels timeless.

Yuwen Yue sees a vision of celestial bodies: the moon setting and the sunrise appearing on the horizon.

After meditating, he approaches a table and enjoys the aroma of tea brewing nearby. He's about to start reading a gold book after finishing a blue book the night before. The royal blue book was clear and precise, detailing everything about the Chu Jing Kingdom without room for speculation.

A knock on the door interrupts him. A eunuch announces that Prince Ra Zheng has arrived and wishes to join a tea ceremony. Yuwen Yue signals Zuo to open the door. As Prince Ra Zheng enters, Yuwen Yue prepares two cups of tea. Despite his calm, expressionless aura, he skillfully pours the tea into the small jade cups, undistracted by his brother's presence.

The aroma of tea offered a warm comfort to Yuwen Yue as he faced his brother, Ra Zheng. The rain provided a welcome escape from the biting cold of the season.

Ra Zheng asked, "Is there anything you want to discuss with me, brother?"

Yuwen Yue replied coldly, "Like what?"

Ra Zheng smiled and mentioned, "How about the secret princess from the Moon Kingdom?"

Yuwen Yue dismissed the topic, saying, "No, thank you."

Ra Zheng, with a playful tone, asked, "Are you single, taken, or focused on building an empire?"

Yuwen Yue responded with a slight smile, "None of the above."

Ra Zheng was about to react but Yuwen Yue added, "Or maybe I'll go with 'building an empire.'"

Ra Zheng laughed heartily and said, "Considering you have the Poe Yue Jian sword, the empire is already rebuilt. You just need to run and expand it."

Yuwen Yue sipped his tea, feeling more at ease with his brother's laughter.

Ra Zheng, still jovial, continued, "What more is there to build? Our empire is waiting for its crown princess. The stars have shone long enough, and the seventh moon hasn't appeared in the dark skies."

He drank his tea slowly, enjoying the moment.

Yuwen Yue, curious but trying to sound casual, asked, "How can we breach the Moon Kingdom?"

Ra Zheng replied, "There are secret paths."

"Secret paths?" Yuwen Yue's interest was piqued, though he kept his tone light.

Ra Zheng explained, "The blue book doesn't list them all. You need to decode and understand the stratagems. Reading is different from experiencing."

Yuwen Yue joked, "Sounds difficult, spine-chilling, and creepy."

Ra Zheng, still in high spirits, didn't miss a beat.

Ra Zheng laughed briefly and said, "Feel the excitement! The secret princess is renowned for her sophisticated martial arts known as the Kungfu of Ice."

Yuwen Yue's interest was piqued. "Kungfu of Ice?"

Ra Zheng nodded, "Yes, the leader from the Afterlife camp who spied on Liang State experienced its power firsthand and learned a harsh lesson."

Yuwen Yue remained silent, but his inner curiosity was ignited.

Ra Zheng continued, "I heard that, in the Western Empire, Father hid you in your mother's homeland. It was a clever move. No one knew about the Poe Yue Jian sword because Father ordered the destruction of the only town in Wei that knew its story. It was lost to time." He looked at Yuwen Yue, waiting for confirmation.

Yuwen Yue, processing the information, responded, "You have quite an effective spy."

Ra Zheng straightened his shoulders and declared, "That's just the tip of the iceberg; there's more to come."

Yuwen Yue replied, "I can only guess, like the spy with the long whip from the underworld."

Ra Zheng responded,"To the stars that listen, you've done your reading well."

Yuwen Yue said, "I've not only read about it but might have met someone who could be the secret spy for the mysterious princess—an indigo-scarfed woman with an angelic face and lips like fire."

Ra Zheng's eyes widened, and he said, "You saw her face? It's a miracle you're still alive!" He grinned and shook his head in disbelief.

Ra Zheng moved closer and added, "You removed her scarf? As far as I know, you can't get near the secret princess if she's wearing it. It's either you get close and die or not at all. I'm sorry, my brother, but you don't have many options."

Yuwen Yue, intrigued but keeping the conversation cryptic, replied, "I took it off by accident and only glimpsed her eyes."

Ra Zheng cheered loudly, "So brave of you! Congratulations!" He continued to shake his head in amazement.

From this exchange, Yuwen Yue was sure he had met the secret princess. The only question remaining was how she had come into possession of his Poe Yue Jian sword.

Yuwen Yue wondered if the secret princess had stolen his Poe Yue Jian sword while he was struggling for his life in the Frozen Lake. Did she know about Xing'er, the last person to use the sword in his defense? Why had Xing'er abandoned it at the scene? And how could he explain his automatic instinct to protect her from an arrow shot by one of his own cold warriors?

He felt a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity, emotions that shouldn't coexist but did. The princess's eyes felt eerily familiar, like déjà vu, but he couldn't confirm where he had seen them before.

Ra Zheng, feeling bored, said, "I must leave. We won't finish this discussion until evening, and I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help. If you need anything, you know where to find me, big brother."

Ra Zheng, looking elegant in his white Hanfu, turned to leave. As he took three steps, a masked ninja suddenly appeared, throwing three needles with a sharp sound aimed at Ra Zheng's chest.

Yuwen Yue, with his usual cold, expressionless face, quickly drew his sword and executed a precise, horizontal counterattack. His sword acted as a thin shield, deflecting the needles away from Ra Zheng's chest.

The three needles fell to the ground as Yuwen Yue deflected them in front of his brother. With a gentle yet firm touch, he tapped Ra Zheng on the shoulder, causing him to stumble and fall, his hand touching the ground.

Ra Zheng was abruptly thrown through the air, landing on the other side, facing away from Yuwen Yue.

Zuo swiftly sprang into action, leaping off a palace wall to pursue the masked ninja but found himself alone as the figure vanished like the wind.

Yuwen Yue picked up one of the needles as Zuo returned and examined it. Ra Zheng, still in his fighting stance, stood up, unruffled, and asked, "Did I die? What's all the fuss, brother?"

As Ra Zheng looked at the needle, it disintegrated into dust and ash in his hands.

Yuwen Yue had faced countless assassins, threats, and traps. He had nearly met his end in the icy lake but had found a new beginning with the help of a sliver of twilight.

As one story ends, a new one begins. Yuwen Yue witnessed a magical, silver light circling around a woman with a flower tattoo on her back. He called her name three times—"Xinger, Xinger, Xinger"—and at the third call, he heard a voice before his vision faded.

Yuwen Yue said, "That was a sand drizzle needle. It can freeze and then kill."

Ra Zheng responded, "A sand drizzle needle!"

Yuwen Yue explained, "Yes, the book describes how it works."

Zuo asked, "Your Highness, how does it work?"

Yuwen Yue elaborated: "The sand drizzle needle attacks from all directions. Once it's airborne, it can land in a chakra, immobilizing the target and leaving them vulnerable to further attacks. It's often used as a lure in battles. The opponent, distracted by a threat from above, becomes exposed to a sudden attack from below. The key is to surprise the enemy and strike swiftly while their attention is diverted."

Ra Zheng replied, "You've read a lot, my brother! You saved the day for me. Just don't spoil me too much, or I'll make you do it again."

He approached Yuwen Yue, whispered, "In short, I owe you, my brother," and patted his shoulder.

Then, loudly, Ra Zheng said, "Until next time!" He squinted as he turned, his servants trailing behind him, following the hem of his royal robes.

"We are in a prison without walls," said the brother with the flashing spear, attempting to throw his weapon but finding it unable to pass through.

The prison was surrounded by an almost invisible layer of creeping plants that made the walls undetectable to the eye.

Chu Qiao was finishing her daily training, having just completed a round of sword fighting with the Skyshadow woman. As they were about to end for the day, a masked ninja suddenly appeared, throwing three needles at the Skyshadow woman. She turned into a shadowless form to defend herself while Viper ran forward, using her whip to catch the ninja.

However, the masked ninja blew sand into Viper's eyes, momentarily blinding her. Chu Qiao quickly intervened, using her indigo scarf to shield both herself and Viper, while the masked ninja disappeared from sight.

Chu Qiao asked, "Viper, are you okay?"

The Skyshadow woman, dressed in her usual beggar's garb with a black hood obscuring most of her face, handed Chu Qiao the three needles. The needles melted into grains of sand and then faded away into ash.

Chu Qiao inquired, "Is this the sand drizzle needle?"

The Skyshadow woman replied, "Yes, it is. This weapon hasn't been used since the last celestial warfare battle. It was quite effective but was countered by Master Archer Yuwen Hao, who used the Chu Jing kingdom's Bing arrows (ice arrows). These arrows shattered the Chu Jing palace and led to the destruction of the underworld headquarters."

Viper, regaining her sight, added, "Mimi Gongzhu, only one assassin could master such a lure and combine it with this type of weapon."

Chu Qiao asked, "Who could it be?"

Viper responded, "He is the direct disciple of the late Queen Luo He, your mother's assistant. He fought valiantly until we saw her fall from a cliff while defending the underworld spies, including Trailkoya and me. We believed he had perished, but I cannot be mistaken. He is known as the Master of Chasing Sand Drizzle."

Chu Qiao suddenly recalled her last moments on the mountain cliff and said to Viper, "I remember the man I fought there—the one who slaughtered our entire kingdom and my mother, Luo He. The man with the long spear. I summoned the four winds, but spiritual means couldn't defeat him. I switched tactics, using sheer might to break his bones and deliver a fatal blow. His heart was crushed, and he fell from the cliff. I lost consciousness afterward. My physical strength nearly destroyed me because I relied on brute force instead of my inner energy."

Viper, seeing Chu Qiao regain her memories, felt a surge of excitement. Chu Qiao remembered their last moments together before everything happened in a flash.

Suddenly, Chu Qiao asked, "What happened to Trailkoya?"

Viper turned away, her expression heavy, and didn't immediately answer. The Skyshadow woman said, "Trailokya sacrificed his life to save both of you. He was the master of trails, my personal advance party bodyguard, and knew all the maps and routes."

Chu Qiao's voice softened with sorrow, "Trailokya can't be dead… It was too easy for him to be defeated." Tears began to well in her eyes.

The Skyshadow woman continued, "If the opponent is too strong physically and can cut through the underworld's power like a blade, victory is assured. Remember, our powers only work half as well by day and fully at night."

"I am certain," Chu Qiao said, her gaze fierce, "I saw the son of the man who slaughtered my family and Trailkoya. He is here, with a band of brothers." She glared at the invisible walls of the prison in anger.

Viper asked, "Who? The man I fought?"

Chu Qiao replied, "No, it's the man who held me in his arms and forced me to abandon the Poe Yue Jian sword."

The Skyshadow woman asked, "The man is the son of Yuwen Hao?"

"Yes," Chu Qiao confirmed.

The old woman asked again, "How do you know it's him?"

Chu Qiao stared blankly and said, "I remember his cold, sharp eyes, his strong arms, his swift movements, his imposing presence. His god-like face. I'm certain he is Yuwen Yue, the fourth master of the Yuwen household. He is known as the master of the Eyes of God."

Viper said, "Then we're doomed if we can't reclaim the Poe Yue Jian sword."

"What do you mean?" Chu Qiao asked, annoyed. "He possesses the Poe Yue Jian sword. The local townsfolk know this well."

"No, the Poe Yue Jian sword belongs to the Qinghai Empire. Your father swore to protect it with his life, along with the Canhong sword. Don't you remember?" Viper said, trying to help Chu Qiao recover her memories.

"I only remember that he owned it, and he gave me another sword—the Canhong sword, which I lost during the battle at the Frozen Lake," Chu Qiao replied, her voice heavy with regret.

Suddenly, Chu Qiao's memories came flooding back, and she was stunned by her own revelations. She realized that if an object could come to life, she remembered it all.

Chu Qiao said, "It can't be! Viper, you said the owner of the Poe Yue Jian sword is the son of the Qinghai King. If he had it before the battle at the Frozen Lake, then he must be the lost son of the Qinghai King, and I am Xinger, who fought alongside him at the Frozen Lake?"

Viper suggested, "Mimi Gongzhu, we need a spiritual healer to fully restore your memories. The Skyshadow woman can help us find him."

"I will assist in finding him. Tonight, we will go to the Thousand Caves," said the Skyshadow woman.

"Wait, what about my Higanbana flower? You said the petals would bloom in the fall?" Chu Qiao asked, worry in her voice.

Viper added, "The Higanbana flower will reach its full power this winter. It means that while the mortal body is weak, the spiritual body will be strong. The spiritual healer won't be able to help with your mortal memories. I'm sorry, Mimi Gongzhu."

"Is there any way to stop this power from manifesting from winter until summer?" Chu Qiao asked.

"The spiritual healer will know," said the Skyshadow woman. "He knows all the secrets."

"Then we must meet him and inquire. For now, I can only remember that I hate the man and want to kill everyone with him," Chu Qiao said, her face fierce with anger.

The Skyshadow woman countered, "If you hate the son of the man who destroyed your family and the Chu Jing Kingdom, why did you fight to save him at the Frozen Lake?"

"That's why I need the spiritual healer," Chu Qiao replied. "I still don't recall everything, but I have frequent flashbacks. I am now convinced I was Xinger, who fought bravely for Yuwen Yue."

Viper interjected, "And it was there, at the Frozen Lake, that I found you and saw the Poe Yue Jian sword floating in the water. My hands were burned when I retrieved you. Your powers were overwhelming. There was no other body found besides yours, Mimi Gongzhu."

Chu Qiao confirmed, "Yes, I recall seeing you and myself near the Frozen Lake. After that, I can't remember why I was there. I suspect that whenever I use my dark powers in extreme situations, my mortal body suffers, and the Higanbana flower absorbs these memories. It empties my body and sends them somewhere—perhaps to save someone? Is my memory a powerful tool for saving others? Why does this always happen when I encounter those of the Yuwen bloodline?"

"I can see the pattern," Viper responded. "The first time you encountered them, you killed Yuwen Hao. The last time, you saved Yuwen Yue, the fourth master of the Yuwen household. It seems strange that you would both kill one and save another."

"Yes, it is perplexing," Chu Qiao said thoughtfully. "I must see the spiritual healer and regain my mortal memories before winter arrives."

The Skyshadow woman advised, "Then you should rest. You'll need your strength for what's to come."