While Ye Mingzhi wandered in the haze of his mysterious dream, Chu Xiyue roamed the vast imperial library of the Chu Empire. As the youngest princess—cherished by the Emperor herself—she had unrestricted access to the restricted archives.
She sought martial techniques and herbal knowledge to hone her skills. But after scanning the shelves, the selections struck her as surprisingly ordinary and uninspiring. With a soft sigh, she prepared to leave—when a faint shimmer from the darkest corner caught her eye.
There, buried under dust and time, lay a black-covered book, worn and aged. Curious, she picked it up and leafed through its pages. The contents immediately captivated her—elegant strokes, profound insights, and techniques far beyond the ordinary.
On the final page, a strange message was written in elegant yet haunting ink:
"Congratulations, seeker. If you have found this, perhaps you are my destined one, in this second life. Use what lies within wisely—for the future depends on it."
A name leapt from the page like a whisper from a forgotten lifetime:
"Ye Mingzhi."
She froze.
Her heart skipped a beat, fingers trembling as they traced the characters."Ye Mingzhi… Could it be him? Are we connected in another life?"
A flood of questions surged in her mind, but she pushed them aside."Not now. I must focus."
Turning her attention to the techniques within, she practiced the sword movements described—fluid as water, silent as the wind. In hours, her understanding deepened. The moves offered subtle defense and deadly traps.
She also studied the herbal formulas penned by a legendary alchemist—elixirs that enhanced strength, concoctions to paralyze foes, and rare antidotes said to cure the deadliest poisons.
By day's end, Chu Xiyue had uncovered a strange name from the past, gained precious knowledge—and a quiet curiosity about her own fate.