Morning arrived with a curtain of golden light spilling across the lotus lake.
The first rays of dawn chased away the lingering mist, illuminating thousands of crimson blossoms that swayed gently upon the calm water.
The palace slowly awakened.
Disciples hurried through the courtyards.
Servants carried trays of fragrant tea and freshly prepared meals.
The sound of wooden practice swords echoed from distant training grounds.
Yet inside the Moon Blossom Pavilion...
Princess Shin remained asleep.
The fever had finally subsided.
Her breathing was steady, though exhaustion still lingered upon her delicate face.
Shinzi sat beside her bed, having remained awake throughout the night.
Only when he felt her temperature return to normal did he allow himself a sigh of relief.
A soft knock came from outside.
"Young Master."
"It is I."
Xuan Dao.
Shinzi quietly opened the door.
Seeing the older man standing outside, he immediately bowed.
"Senior Xuan."
Xuan Dao smiled faintly.
"I heard our little princess frightened everyone again."
Shinzi looked back toward the bed.
"Her nightmares have become more frequent."
"Does this happen often?"
"Since she was five."
"Every few months."
"Sometimes..."
He hesitated.
"...she wakes screaming for our mother."
Silence settled between them.
Xuan Dao's eyes softened.
"You've done well."
Shinzi looked surprised.
"As her brother."
"There are wounds that cannot be healed with medicine."
"But you've never left her to bear them alone."
For the first time in many years...
Someone had acknowledged the burden Shinzi quietly carried.
He lowered his head.
"Thank you."
Xuan Dao merely patted his shoulder.
"Come."
"The king is waiting."
An hour later...
The Hall of Crimson Harmony buzzed with anticipation.
Every elder had gathered.
Hall Masters stood in orderly rows.
The atmosphere was far more solemn than the previous evening.
King Lian Zhen sat upon the Lotus Throne, dressed in robes embroidered with nine golden lotuses.
His sharp eyes swept across the hall.
When Qiao Tian, Xuan Dao, and Shinzi entered together, the conversations ceased.
Only moments later, Princess Shin hurried inside.
"I-I'm not late, am I?"
The elders chuckled.
Lian Zhen smiled helplessly.
"You've arrived just in time."
She immediately slipped beside her brother.
Shinzi quietly whispered,
"Feeling better?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"I'm perfectly fine!"
He smiled.
"I expected nothing less."
Qiao Tian noticed the faint shadows beneath Shinzi's eyes.
A sleepless night...
Though she asked no questions, she quietly poured a cup of warm lotus tea and slid it toward him before taking her own seat.
Shinzi looked at the cup.
Then at Qiao Tian.
"...Thank you."
"No thanks are needed."
"It appears you require it more than I do."
A faint smile tugged at Shinzi's lips.
Princess Shin looked between them.
Then grinned mischievously.
"You two already understand each other without talking."
Both young men looked away simultaneously.
Xuan Dao laughed loudly.
"It seems someone has become quite observant."
Shin proudly puffed out her chest.
"I always am."
King Lian Zhen rose.
"The reason I summoned everyone..."
"...concerns the future of Crimson Lotus."
A servant carefully unrolled an ancient map across the jade table.
Every eye turned toward it.
At the center lay a towering mountain range surrounded by storm clouds.
"The Shouzhou Mountains."
Even the elders grew serious.
"The Sword of Heavenly Lotus has remained sealed there for over three hundred years."
One elder frowned.
"The path is impossible."
"The mountain itself rejects intruders."
Another added,
"Spirit beasts."
"Illusion valleys."
"Poison mists."
"Heavenly lightning."
"No expedition has ever returned with the sword."
Lian Zhen nodded.
"Exactly."
He turned toward the younger generation.
"And that is why..."
"...I intend to entrust this mission to you."
The hall fell silent.
"The future belongs to your generation."
Shinzi stepped forward first.
"I accept."
Qiao Tian followed.
"Qingyuan will lend its strength."
Princess Shin immediately raised both hands.
"I'm coming too."
The hall erupted.
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"It's too dangerous!"
She crossed her arms.
"You always say that."
Lian Zhen sighed.
"You are still—"
Before he could finish...
Xuan Dao spoke.
"Let her come."
Every elder stared.
Even the king looked surprised.
"Senior?"
Xuan Dao calmly drank his tea.
"She'll be safer beside us than locked inside the palace."
"And..."
His gaze rested briefly on Shin.
"...every bird must someday leave its nest."
Shin's eyes sparkled.
"I knew Senior Xuan liked me best!"
He chuckled.
"I simply dislike seeing caged talent."
Lian Zhen studied Xuan Dao for a long moment before nodding.
"So be it."
"The expedition shall consist of..."
"Young Master Qiao Tian."
"Young Master Shinzi."
"Princess Shin."
"Senior Xuan Dao."
"And twenty elite disciples."
"You leave at noon."
Far away...
Within the shadowed halls of Linjian Sect...
A masked spy knelt before a tall figure dressed in black.
"My Lord."
"The Crimson Lotus expedition departs today."
Yu Yan slowly opened his eyes.
"So..."
"They're going after the Heavenly Lotus Sword."
The corners of his lips curled upward.
"How fortunate."
He stood before an enormous map.
His finger traced the winding paths through Shouzhou Mountain.
"The Black Marsh."
"The Thunder Ridge."
"The Thousand Fang Gorge."
His smile widened.
"Perfect places to bury heroes."
The spy lowered his head.
"What are your orders?"
Yu Yan's voice became icy.
"Release the Iron-Horn Wolves."
"Wake the Stone Colossus."
"And station my finest assassins near the Sky Bridge."
He paused.
A cruel light entered his eyes.
"As for Princess Shin..."
His fingers slowly tightened around a jade cup until cracks spread across its surface.
"No one touches her."
"I will."
The spy shuddered.
"As you command."
Yu Yan turned toward the open window.
Beyond it...
Dark clouds drifted toward Shouzhou Mountain.
"This time..."
"...none of them will return."
Back at Crimson Lotus...
The expedition gathered before the eastern gate.
Disciples loaded supplies onto horses.
Weapons were inspected.
Talismans and healing herbs were distributed.
Princess Shin proudly carried a backpack almost as large as herself.
She stumbled backward.
"It's... heavier than I thought."
Qiao Tian silently stepped forward.
Without saying a word, she lifted the pack from Shin's shoulders as though it weighed nothing.
"I'll carry it."
Shin blinked.
"But it's mine."
"And?"
"You'll get tired."
"I won't."
She smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Young Master Qiao."
As she skipped ahead beside her brother, Qiao Tian adjusted the pack over one shoulder.
Shinzi watched the scene from the corner of his eye.
Most noble heirs would never carry another person's belongings.
Especially not a princess's.
Yet Qiao Tian had done so instinctively.
Without seeking praise.
Without hesitation.
Shinzi found himself smiling.
"Who exactly are you, Qiao Tian?"
Ahead of them, Xuan Dao glanced back, catching the thoughtful expression on Shinzi's face.
He hid a knowing smile.
"The first thread of fate has already begun to weave itself..."
The gates of Crimson Lotus slowly opened.
Beyond them lay Shouzhou Mountain.
And the countless dangers waiting within its ancient forests.