The Second Paintbrush, "She Is Crow"

At the banquet. The people around the table exchanged looks. "An extraordinary being inscribed into dual history at such a young age, and an initiated ritualist to boot?" Elder Song's aged eyes widened. "As far as I know, ritualists place immense value on lineage and resources." The Statute Emissary glanced at Bai Zhou, his expression turning solemn as he inquired earnestly, "If it isn't inconvenient, could you share the origin of your teachings?" Bai Zhou felt a slight jolt in his heart. Here it comes! It's finally here. "...Even if I told you who my teacher is, none of you would recognize her." Bai Zhou cleared his throat lightly and addressed them with a grave, earnest countenance. "Because she and you are likely not people of the same era!" Not of the same... era? The moment those words were spoken, the gazes of everyone across the table changed immediately. All of them could see Bai Zhou's calm certainty; he didn't look like he was lying in the least. Yet in the mystical world, the phrase "not of the same era" carried immense weight. To extraordinary beings, those who lived long enough were either exceptionally feeble, or... unimaginably powerful! People usually bestowed upon such figures a rather unflattering moniker: Old monsters! Even Teacher Crow, who had been standing quietly at Bai Zhou's side and observing the people across from them, turned her head to cast several strange looks at him. *Do I look like an old relic to you?* It felt like Bai Zhou was in dire need of some extra hellish special training from Teacher Crow. Yet no one knew... at this moment, the figures coming to Bai Zhou's mind were not just Teacher Crow, but also Laia of Light from the Trojan civilization, Skeleton General Ale, and the statue of the Wolf Knight— The more he spoke, the more natural it sounded. Bai Zhou talked with fluent ease before them: "After leaving Wancheng, I met my teacher... She rambled about destiny, innate talent, picking up a treasure, and whatnot, then took me as her disciple and poured everything into teaching me." Without blinking an eye, Bai Zhou spun his tale so convincingly that it sounded completely genuine. "She told me that if you ever asked, I should answer like this, and you would understand." "Rest assured, however—everything I have learned stems from orthodox tradition." Bai Zhou added gravely, "From the polishing of spirituality to spiritual layout, from initiation as a ritualist to advancement along the Heavenly Mandate pathway, I have undergone systematic, structured cultivation throughout. There is absolutely no need to worry about losing control." Orthodox, systematic, structured... Without question, these were all points Crow had coached Bai Zhou on in advance. Bai Zhou's trajectory of growth could not be concealed from anyone, much less these top-level official authorities. Those incomprehensibly bizarre experiences in his past were the easiest targets for suspicion—yet they could also serve as a formidable tiger's skin for Bai Zhou to drape over his shoulders. And by the looks of it, the effect was outstanding! "To think it was..." Those sensitive words sent another tremor through the officials. While their expressions appeared gentle and unchanged on the surface, they had already exchanged subtle glances countless times. Stemming from orthodox tradition, receiving systematic, structured cultivation... That meant standing behind Bai Zhou was not merely a lone "teacher," but an entire complete, systematic, and mysterious school of heritage! All of them wore knowing looks of realization, though no one could tell what wild theories were storming inside their heads. This completely resolved the doubts they harbored about Bai Zhou. He truly was no wild, lucky stray, nor could he ever be just an ordinary lucky boy—only what Bai Zhou had just described could explain his absurdly illustrious yet suspicious resume. The only remaining question was perhaps the specific composition of his teachings... Wancheng had been an experimental stronghold of the Blood Worship Cult. And the Blood Worship Cult was also an ancient order spanning thousands of years... Yet Bai Zhou and Crow had anticipated this point as well. "Furthermore, I have absolutely no connection to illegal cults like the Blood Worship Cult," Bai Zhou emphasized firmly. "The knowledge and pathways they possess lean entirely toward madness and distortion, whereas mine..." As he spoke, he reached out his hand and spread his five fingers. Several sparks of spirituality bloomed at his fingertips—stable, clear, highly condensed, magnificent, and pure, devoid of any taint or madness. "What tenacious, stable spirituality!" Elder Song's eyes lit up. "Even a Chosen of Mandate shouldn't possess spirituality like this at this stage." "It doesn't look at all like the spirituality of a Practitioner. It's almost... almost like a Chosen of Mandate at the Fate-Forger stage!" "Indeed." The Statute Emissary nodded, looking toward Bai Zhou. "It seems the faction behind you truly is an ancient, orthodox school. Perhaps I even heard their name back when I was in Tianjing!" Practitioner. Fate-Forger. Hearing these two familiar terms for the first time in the real world, Bai Zhou's eyes flickered. As for what the Statute Emissary said, Bai Zhou merely offered a shy smile, not daring to chime in. *Heard of them? It would be a ghost if you'd ever heard of them.* Turning his hand to retract the sparkling spirituality at his fingertips, Bai Zhou added: "Those Blood Worship cultists are accustomed to trading blood sacrifices for power and trading madness for advancement. Whether in appearance or spiritual characteristics, they differ distinctly from ordinary people and are by no means hard to recognize." "Even if there were some disguise, had I been connected to the Blood Worship Cult, it would have been impossible for me to obtain the recognition of the Sky-Thunder Bow." Bai Zhou continued, "A spiritual-name secret treasure of the lightning category only aligns with the upright and magnificent Heavenly Mandate pathways, and despises the stench of blood and evil paths the most." The moment this was said, the Statute Emissary nodded instinctively. An airtight rationale. Of course, this too was an argument Crow had taught Bai Zhou. Throughout the entire day, Bai Zhou had hardly slept, spending all his time coordinating stories with Crow. He had Deputy Director Liu to thank; his Sky-Thunder Bow had not only helped Bai Zhou turn the tables in desperate straits on multiple occasions, but could even serve at such a crucial moment as the strongest proof of his innocence. "Therefore, between me and the Blood Worship Cult, there is only hatred—" Bai Zhou went on, his tone rising slightly. "If you have any operations against the Blood Worship Cult in the future, I will unconditionally come lend a hand!" "..." The several high-ranking officials exchanged glances, their silent communication rippling among them before their eyes converged back onto the Statute Emissary in the middle. The Statute Emissary weighed his thoughts and finally asked a question: "Is your esteemed teacher still in Tinghai?" he inquired. "If she has business to attend to here, we could perhaps offer some assistance..." Bai Zhou instantly understood that the Statute Emissary was worried this unfathomable "teacher" might lurk in some unknown dark corner of the city, becoming an uncontrollable, invisible bomb in Tinghai. "My master enjoys wandering far and wide. Coming to Tinghai was merely a stop on her journey; she has already departed." "However..." Bai Zhou paused briefly. "She said she might return at any time. Once my strength catches her eye, she will bring me to Tianjing." Hearing this, the Statute Emissary breathed a sigh of relief while immediately showing a knowing expression of realization. "—As expected, someone from Tianjing." Yet for some reason, when Bai Zhou mentioned "wandering far and wide," except for the Statute Emissary, the other high-ranking officials all wore shocked, bewildered expressions, as if they had seen a ghost. This stirred Bai Zhou's heart. On Blue Star... was wandering around traveling so rare? "Bai Zhou." The Statute Emissary smiled at him. This time, even Bai Zhou could clearly sense that the Statute Emissary's smile carried less aloof condescension and far more warmth reserved for "one of our own": "In truth, our inquiries aren't out of suspicion toward Tinghai's hero, but merely curiosity about your origins..." "Or rather, everyone in Tinghai is curious about how an 'ordinary person' emerging from Wancheng suddenly turned into a high-level extraordinary being who saved Tinghai." This was a lie. The suspicion was real, and the curiosity was real as well. After all, Bai Zhou's resume was far too bizarre, and his stronghold of origin was indeed inextricably tied to the Blood Worship Cult. Even Bai Zhou himself wondered whether the Blood Worship Cult, upon receiving news of him, would think he was an important talent secretly nurtured by their upper echelons. Yet all of them were shrewd people; there was no need to spell out certain things, just as Bai Zhou had never once let down his guard or vigilance against these figures. "Since that is the case, then..." His grizzled beard twitching slightly, the Statute Emissary withdrew a document from his robes, placed it on the table, and slid it slowly toward Bai Zhou. "You are destined for a vast future; a place like Tinghai cannot hold you." "However, before you depart, I believe we might be able to reach a mutually beneficial cooperation to a certain extent." Hearing this, Bai Zhou lowered his gaze. On the cover of the document was a title: *Tinghai City Special Affairs Designated Partner Organization (Draft)* *Rustle...* Curious, Bai Zhou opened the folder, his eyes quickly scanning through its contents— The gist was that if Bai Zhou became a designated partner organization, he could receive handsome compensation, a salary, and full social security benefits from the authorities. When official agencies carried out missions, the partner organization could decide at their own discretion whether to participate. For unresolved cases within official institutions, the partner organization was also permitted to take part in the investigation at their own initiative. The contribution points settled from these could be used to acquire resources unique to official channels, such as subsequent advancement materials for Heavenly Mandate pathways, exploration quotas for special secret realms in the Mirror Ruin Realm, priority purchase rights for extraordinary equipment, and so forth... The downside was the lack of an official post; this kind of entity was merely a new mechanism the authorities had borrowed from the semi-independent studios under corporate conglomerates. The advantage was enjoying a high degree of autonomy, while being considered half an official figure in the future, eligible for official endorsement and protection. "Since you mentioned just now that you're willing to strike at the Blood Worship Cult alongside us... it is quite fitting to bring this up." "In principle, only Titled Extraordinaries can sign this type of agreement," the Statute Emissary said. "However, the principles are decided by me." "That girl, Gem Witch, counts as half of such an entity," Elder Song added from the side. "If she can advance to Level 6, she will be eligible to sign this contract." Nodding, the Statute Emissary spoke frankly, "To be honest, for a high-level extraordinary carrying an official black box and a collection of dangerous items, it is impossible for the authorities to turn a blind eye and leave you completely unchecked." "Therefore, if you aren't currently considering collaborating with other conglomerates, I personally recommend that you consider this proposal." "Taking your current situation into account..." the Statute Emissary continued, "the authorities can also allocate housing for you and help resolve basic matters such as your Tinghai identity and social security." They even allocate housing? Bai Zhou pondered. In truth, he had known from the beginning that he couldn't join the official establishment, nor was he permitted to. The authorities viewed him as someone of unknown origins with too many secrets, and Bai Zhou indeed possessed too many unexplainable secrets and treasures that could never see the light of day. There was no guaranteeing someone wouldn't covet them. If nothing else, he still had a black box taken from the Special Control Bureau that hadn't been returned—and could never be returned. Because that was already Bai Zhou's Thorns Crown. In an official agency with such restricted freedom, where every move required reporting, Bai Zhou would inevitably face immense trouble, and would have no way to privately explore Zhuluoji. Hence, his sole objective before had been to strip away the fugitive label hanging over his head so that he could move freely and safely within Tinghai. If he could reap some extra benefits on top of that, all the better. Yet... The current proposal from the authorities opened up a new avenue for Bai Zhou. Whether there was an official post didn't matter at all. While the treatment an outsider received would certainly not match that of official personnel, he could still leverage the official banner to keep other covert factions wary, while avoiding the covetous meddling and harassment of the three major conglomerates. Furthermore, the resource channels of official agencies were precisely what Bai Zhou needed most right now. Valuable items in the ghost market were exceedingly scarce. If Bai Zhou wished to assemble the ingredients for the Fate-Forger potion, he might truly have to rely on official channels. Thus, though Bai Zhou remained impassive on the surface, he was actually quite tempted. Most crucial of all was the Statute Emissary's candor: "—Moreover, this involves a bit of personal interest on my part." "Personal interest?" Bai Zhou looked over. "Tianjing's Genius Training Camp will soon begin recruitment." The Statute Emissary mentioned a term that sounded familiar to Bai Zhou. "When that time comes, all the geniuses across the entire Eastern Federation will gather in Tianjing to participate in the assessment and selection." "Tinghai has a few recommendation quotas in its grasp, but..." The Statute Emissary shook his head. "Frankly speaking, I have little faith in them." "How many years has it been? Tinghai has always performed middlingly in this regard, with virtually nothing to hope for. One could even say we gave up on it long ago..." "But you, Bai Zhou—you are different!" The Statute Emissary looked up, his burning gaze meeting Bai Zhou's. "Recorded into history twice at such a young age, and an initiated ritualist as well... You sound like the kind of mystical miracle only occasionally heard of in Tianjing and the great metropolises..." "Since you are a miracle, perhaps you can create new miracles." He continued, "I don't care how you managed all of this. As long as you can pass Tianjing's vetting and selection, it will be a blessing for all of Tinghai." "Because Tianjing, which values talent above all, readjusts resource allocation quotas based on whether a city has talents who pass the Genius Training Camp's selection." "Among the two hundred eighty major metropolitan cluster rankings of the Eastern Federation, the Tinghai Metropolitan Cluster holds only the tail end. But if you can pass the selection and secure a decent ranking..." The Statute Emissary's eyes shone brightly. "You will truly soar straight into the clouds—and Tinghai, by receiving an incredible influx of resources, will elevate its city ranking and usher in a monumental leap forward." Nothing moved people like sheer candor. The Statute Emissary's undisguised dissection of shared interests stirred Bai Zhou. "Not only that, if you can secure a ranking, then as your recommender, I—and even these high-ranking officials here—will naturally reap tremendous benefits as well." "I might even be transferred back to Tianjing, a place I have been away from for decades, all because of you!" Lamenting softly, the Statute Emissary pointed to the document on the table and added, "And the prerequisite for being recommended is possessing an official status." "So, you see..." *Secure a ranking, soar straight into the clouds?* *Rustle...* Bai Zhou closed the document. "So, this is an investment?" Bai Zhou looked up at the white-haired Statute Emissary before him, his calm expression giving away nothing. "More precisely," the Statute Emissary shook his head, his aged voice steady, "this is a win-win partnership." "In that case," Bai Zhou weighed his words, "I will give it thorough consideration tonight. After reading through the document carefully, I will give you my answer tomorrow morning." The Statute Emissary nodded. "Naturally. This is no small matter, and it indeed requires time to consider. And time is one thing we do not lack." "...Now, let everything of the past sink into the night." With that, the Statute Emissary raised his voice. He lifted the wine glass from the table, the golden champagne inside swirling gently. The others around the table raised their glasses as well. "A hero returns triumphant from peril. Young men should take pretty girls out, drive sports cars wherever they please, and revel until they drop." It seemed that despite his white beard, this old man still had a playful heart; the aged Statute Emissary gave Bai Zhou a wink. "If you ever have such inclinations, I can help arrange it—in every respect." "Gentlemen, a toast to Bai Zhou, and to this city's hero!" He raised his glass toward Bai Zhou, golden chandelier light spilling across the round table. "—Cheers!" With two crisp rings, the crystal glasses clinked together, as if shattering all the exhaustion and battered weariness of Mr. Savior's past into dust. The banquet was an absolute success for hosts and guests alike. Afterward, everyone at the banquet witnessed with their own eyes Bai Zhou walking down to the second floor side by side with the Statute Emissary—the man standing at the pinnacle of Tinghai's mystical world—flanked by a retinue of dignitaries. From the raised platform, the aged yet imposing Statute Emissary proclaimed Bai Zhou's heroic deeds to all and conferred upon him a medal of merit on behalf of the Statute Hall. Underneath, thunderous applause and faces whose sincerity was impossible to tell made Bai Zhou's vision blur slightly as he stood atop the stage. He wasn't used to such occasions, nor did he particularly enjoy them, yet he knew clearly that this was likely the so-called pinnacle of life that countless people pursued in vain. He knew nothing could proclaim Bai Zhou's ascendancy to all of Tinghai better than this moment. For at least the next ten years, whenever people spoke of Tinghai's mystical world and its prominent figures, they would never forget the deeds tied to the name Bai Zhou. Recalling everything he had endured before, and all the nerve-wracking encounters he had suffered every single day over the past month... Bai Zhou exhaled a long, slow breath. *At least...* Bai Zhou thought, *I can finally catch my breath, can't I?* Halfway through the banquet, a waiter whispered in Bai Zhou's ear that someone was waiting for him in the rear garden. Bai Zhou's heart tightened. He exchanged a glance with Crow beside him. What was bound to come would come eventually. To be safe, Bai Zhou gave Gem Witch a heads-up, signaling that if he didn't return within ten minutes, she should go find someone to raise the alarm. Yet when Bai Zhou stepped into the serene, tranquil rear garden, the Principal he had anticipated wasn't waiting here. There was only an impeccably dressed waiter who stepped forward, bowing as he presented an oblong box of indiscernible material: "A gentleman asked me to deliver this to you." After the waiter withdrew, Bai Zhou furrowed his brows, scrutinizing the elongated box in his hands for a long time. The box looked wooden, but it was impossible to identify the wood, and it seemed to possess the special property of isolating spirituality. Activating Celestial Pivot and conducting ritual investigations, Bai Zhou used different methods to verify several times that there were no rituals or traps on the wooden box before carefully opening it. *Buzz!* The Sketching Paintbrush - Earth in Bai Zhou's robes suddenly vibrated, resonating with the object inside the wooden box. What met his eyes inside was an extraordinary paintbrush whose aura was eerily similar to the Sketching Paintbrush - Earth, yet whose shape was completely different. "It's the Fine Arts Club's legacy secret treasure of the Painter pathway—another extraordinary paintbrush!" Bai Zhou's heart shook. He realized the Principal had likely snatched this paintbrush from Picasso. Truth be told, Bai Zhou had eyed this paintbrush for quite a while. But why would the Principal give this to him? Bai Zhou was bewildered. As he carefully lifted the paintbrush from the box, a slip of paper pressed beneath it came into view. He saw bold, sweeping handwriting inscribed upon it: *Perhaps you need this.* *The grand story has already concluded. My proud student has defeated his nemesis and severed his fate; how does it feel to ascend the stage and receive honors before everyone?* *As a student, you have long surpassed the master... yet I still hope you grow faster, until you stand before me and raise your blade against me.* *I can see that this day will not be far off, for fate is too narrow to accommodate two people walking side by side.* *—So grow quickly, and grow stronger quickly!* The words left by the Principal concluded as such: *I can hardly wait to devour you.* "Devour me?" "What on earth does this note mean?" After the banquet ended, Bai Zhou parted ways with Gem Witch and Fang Xiaoxia for the time being and returned to the temporary dormitory arranged for him at the Special Control Bureau headquarters. Pondering the contents of the note, he remained completely baffled. "Hard to say, difficult to tell." A long, slender black ribbon stretched from left to right across the room, connecting the two walls, hanging roughly a person's height above the floor. Using the ribbon as a bed, the young woman lay on her side, one hand pillowed under her cheek while the other dangled loosely. Her fingertips occasionally pinched a coffee bean or two, popping them into her mouth and chewing them with a crisp crunch. Her black hair cascaded over the edge of the ribbon like a waterfall, its tips nearly brushing the floor, swaying gently with her faint breathing. A narrow gap remained between the gentle curve of her waist and the ribbon. From beneath her trench coat, her calves swung in midair from time to time like a swing. The girl's lazy demeanor, punctuated by occasional yawns, resembled a Persian cat curled up by a winter heater. The familiar scene before his eyes made Bai Zhou feel almost as if he had returned twenty days into the past, back to when he first met Crow at Base 36 of the Special Control Bureau. "Quite intriguing, isn't it?" Crow held Elder Wu's notebook in her hand, flipping through the pages as she spoke faintly: "When there's danger, this Mr. Principal steps forward on his own initiative to resolve it for you; when there's no danger, this Principal becomes the danger himself." "Never meeting, never communicating, unfathomably mysterious yet constantly spurring your growth... What a dutiful, conscientious principal he is." Bai Zhou rolled his eyes. "It's precisely this that makes one's heart dangle on edge, too unsettled to even get a peaceful night's sleep." "It's hardly that bad," Crow shook her head. "This is the Special Control Bureau headquarters. Unless all of Tinghai suddenly explodes, no one will come here to disturb your peaceful slumber." Saying so, Crow turned her head slightly, her ruby eyes gazing from afar at Bai Zhou sitting by the bed. "A full moon night is coming up in a few days. Matters concerning the Tears of the Moon Goddess can be carried out on that day." "In fact, I suspect that holders of the Chen Fate Principle might be exceptionally compatible with the Tears of the Moon Goddess, especially someone like you." Hearing this, Bai Zhou grew intrigued and turned to look at her. "In what way?" *Snap.* Crow closed the thick notebook in her hands. "The conjunction of sun and moon is called Chen," Crow said. "The ancient Eastern Federation text *Canon of Yao* states that Chen is where the sun and moon intersect." "Centuries ago, that holder of the Chen Fate Principle who walked very far along the Adventurer pathway—Zhu Yuanzhang—why was his title the Radiant Emperor and not something else? Why specifically the co-radiance of sun and moon?" Crow surmised, "You can tell from the Fine Arts Club that in the mystical world, no name is useless, and no title is bestowed in vain." "I spent quite some time studying Elder Wu's notes just now, and found that he speculated in his essays that a holder of the Chen Fate Principle consuming the Tears of the Moon Goddess might gain special effects that no other Fate Principle possesses." "Mid-Autumn Festival, huh..." Bai Zhou rubbed the Thorns Crown ring on his finger, lost in thought. "Still, that's something for two days from now," Crow added. "Go to sleep." Crow swung gently on the ribbon, yawning as she chewed a coffee bean. "You've worked hard these past few days." The hem of her pitch-black trench coat draped down. Miss Crow looked at Bai Zhou and said softly: "I'll keep watch for you. You can sleep." "—Get a peaceful sleep you haven't had in a long time." A peaceful sleep he hadn't had in a long time... When those words reached his ears, Bai Zhou suddenly realized that he truly hadn't had a proper sleep in what felt like forever. He had either dozed off for a moment when thoroughly exhausted on the run, or adjusted his condition while crouched on an outdoor air-conditioning unit between deadly perils, having to remain ready even in his dreams to draw blades and fight for his life. Bai Zhou parted his lips, wanting to say something, but in the end, only a single word slipped out: "Okay!" Bai Zhou had already bathed right after returning from the banquet. Now, he lay directly down onto the clean bed. The normal wooden frame and soft mattress actually felt a bit unfamiliar to him. The ceiling overhead was white and spotless, with neither clawing shadows nor freezing winds and lashing rain. "Well then..." He turned his head and reached out to press the switch on the wall. With a soft *click*, the light turned off, and the room sank into darkness. In the dark, that figure upon the ribbon quietly gazed in his direction, bringing a soothing sense of security. The girl's faint silhouette was like a cutout suspended in the gloom, looking as if it could be blown away by the wind at any moment. "Goodnight," Bai Zhou said suddenly, his eyes closed. Crow didn't answer right away. After a few seconds, the corners of the girl's lips concealed in the darkness curled up into a restrained, barely perceptible curve. "Goodnight, Bai Zhou." Only when the breathing on the bed evened out completely did Crow gently turn her head. Reclining on the ribbon as it swayed softly, she looked out the window to the side. Her fingertips pinched a coffee bean and tossed it into her mouth. *Crunch.* A soft sound resonated in the depths of the darkness, its slow rhythm almost acting like a lullaby. Bai Zhou soon drifted into dreamland. The nerves that had been taut in his mind for who knew how long slowly unwound, and his entire body seemed to sprawl out across the bed. The feeling of relaxation was truly a luxury. The night deepened. All was tranquil. Bai Zhou felt as if he had plunged into a deep darkness, thinking of nothing, dwelling on nothing. As he lay on the bed, a faint glimmer flowed across the thorny ring on his hand. The scene before his eyes grew blurred and hazy, and lantern-slide-like scrolls unfurled before Bai Zhou's vision. It was the image of a delicate, pretty young woman entering a classical imperial palace and becoming an empress. "This is...?" Bai Zhou froze, his thoughts sluggish as if petrified, able to ponder only slowly and blankly. *Is this... Irene?* *That Roman empress?* "Are these Irene's memories?" Bai Zhou wondered how he could be dreaming of Irene's memories, and... so vividly? With such immersive presence? Yet here, Bai Zhou's mind was muddled and groggy, completely incapable of reasoning through the question. So, as if following instinct, he continued watching. In the scenes that followed, there were images of the woman ascending the throne to look down upon all creation, crowning herself amidst a grand ceremony. There were also images of the woman destitute and stranded on a desolate, isolated island, spinning yarn to survive. There was even a scene of a pair of mechanical golden hands belching steam, crowning someone with the wreath of thorns amidst twelve grand reverberations—only that person was not Irene. ...Wait, what golden hands? Bai Zhou was caught off guard, unable to process it. —The very next instant. *Buzz!* Everything before his eyes blurred. Bai Zhou's perspective suddenly soared, rushing infinitely closer toward a white moon in the nocturnal sky that he had never seen before. Passing through the cloud-shrouded firmament, through the oppressive, silent, and endless pitch-black void, Bai Zhou's gaze arrived upon a boundless white expanse. Bai Zhou had never seen such a pale, barren landscape. It lay silently before him, embedded with deep and shallow circular craters layer upon layer, while ring-shaped precipices linked heaven and earth, making the place feel like a colossal cage isolating the world to rear unknown beasts. Frigid winds whipped up pale sand like bone ash. Bai Zhou looked around the desolation in bewilderment. "...Where is this?" *Are these still Irene's memories?* However. Very soon, Bai Zhou's gaze froze upon a certain spot. Because he saw that inside a crater not far from here, someone lay quietly. Thus, almost drawn by an instinctive pull, Bai Zhou, his thoughts sluggish, walked closer to look. What met his eyes was a gorgeously attired female corpse. Her magnificent black robes were inlaid with gold thread and resplendent jewels, and an ice-blue shawl draped over her, near transparent. She looked as though she had been lying peacefully in the center of this crater of endless gray soil for tens of thousands of years. Atop her head rested a golden wreath of thorns, its design extraordinarily familiar to Bai Zhou. *Is this Empress Irene?* Bai Zhou drew closer to look. The gray soil on the ground set off her pale skin, translucent as ice and jade. The freezing wind flowed silently past her cheeks, which shimmered with a cold luster. Her straight nose resembled a steep snowline, and her tightly pursed lips brought to mind a sharp blade. With a serene posture, her hands folded over each other, this aloof and delicate oval face slept peacefully atop the endless gray soil. Inviolable, she resembled an ancient deity; one could easily imagine how her eyes, when awake, would captivate all under heaven. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Yet the only problem was... This face did not belong to Empress Irene. She was "Crow."