"We must remove Bai-Xue."
Jing-Yi's voice was no longer trembling—it had turned cold, steady, and filled with ruthless determination.
"The humiliation she caused me today... in front of the entire Ning family..." her fingers slowly clenched, nails digging into her palm, "she will pay for it."
Her eyes burned with a dark resolve as she looked at Ya-Ting.
"For this insult... the price will be her life."
Ya-Ting's breathing grew uneven, her own anger and jealousy intertwining with fear.
"Mother, but before that—Min-Sheng—"
Before she could even finish—
Jing-Yi cut her off sharply.
"Prince Min-Sheng will be yours."
Her tone was absolute, leaving no room for doubt.
"For that... I will do whatever it takes."
A dangerous silence followed her words.
The air itself seemed to grow colder, as if an invisible storm was beginning to take shape.
Meanwhile—
on the other side of the estate—
the atmosphere was entirely different.
The corridors were quiet, bathed in the soft glow of lantern light as Bai-Xue walked calmly beside Jia-Hai.
Her steps were steady, her expression composed, as though the chaos she had stirred in the hall had nothing to do with her.
Jia-Hai walked beside her, his hands clasped behind his back, his presence firm yet protective.
"Bai-Xue... what you did today—"
Jia-Hai slowed his steps slightly as they walked through the quiet corridor, the lantern light casting long shadows behind them.
"—I commend you for it."
His voice carried a rare hint of pride.
"To stand alone in that hall and reclaim your rightful place... not many would have the courage."
He paused for a moment, then his tone grew more serious.
"But," he continued, looking at her with a steady gaze, "I must ask something of you."
Bai-Xue turned her eyes toward him, listening quietly.
"I want you to attend the banquet."
His words were firm.
"This is no ordinary gathering. It is a grand imperial banquet... with nobles, officials, and even foreign dignitaries present."
A faint heaviness entered his voice.
"I have already made one mistake in the past..." he said slowly. "I will not allow it to happen again."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"This time, I want you to stand there—not as the neglected daughter of the Ning family..."
"...but as a true princess."
The air seemed to still around them.
"So that before anyone even dares to harm you again..." he added, "...they will have to think a hundred times."
Bai-Xue understood his intention.
Yet—
a trace of hesitation flickered in her eyes.
"Grandfather..." she spoke softly, her tone calm but conflicted, "what about the engagement?"
Her steps slowed.
"I do not wish to go through with that marriage."
There was no hesitation in her voice now.
"And this is not the right time to create chaos either... I was hoping to resolve this matter quietly, before things spiral out of control."
Jia-Hai fell silent for a moment.
The weight of her words was not something he could ignore.
"I understand," he finally said, his voice low.
"I truly do."
A faint sigh escaped him.
"I have already tried to meet the Emperor regarding this matter..."
His brows furrowed slightly.
"But with the preparations for the banquet—and the arrival of the Emperor from the foreign nation..."
"He is far too occupied."
The implication was clear—
there was no easy solution.
For now...
"Alright, Grandfather... if it is your wish, then I will attend the banquet."
Bai-Xue's voice was calm, yet resolute.
The moment those words left her lips, Jia-Hai's expression brightened visibly, a rare joy appearing in his eyes.
"Good! Good!" he said, clearly pleased. "Since you've agreed, we must prepare properly."
He immediately grew serious again, as if planning a grand battle.
"We need to select your attire at once."
A faint smile appeared on Bai-Xue's lips.
"Grandfather, I can wear anything," she said lightly, her tone gentle.
But the moment she said that—
Jia-Hai stopped in his tracks and turned toward her sharply.
"Anything?" he repeated, his voice rising slightly. "Absolutely not!"
His expression turned almost stern.
"You are the princess of this nation. How can you dress carelessly?"
His eyes gleamed with determination.
"You will wear the finest robes... and the most exquisite jewelry."
"There will be no compromise."
Seeing him so unusually excited and serious—
a soft laugh escaped Bai-Xue.
It was light, almost childlike—something rarely seen from her.
She gently held onto his arm.
"As you wish, Grandfather," she said, her voice warm.
Jia-Hai looked at her for a moment, then nodded firmly.
"Good. Then it is decided."
He straightened his posture, already making arrangements in his mind.
"Tomorrow morning, we will go to the Ning Family Treasury. We will choose everything personally."
Some time later—
night had fallen.
The Ning Mansion grew quiet, wrapped in darkness.
Inside her chamber, Bai-Xue stood before the mirror.
The soft lantern light flickered against her face as she reached for a familiar set of clothes—
a flowing white robe.
And then—
the mask.
The moment it touched her face—
her entire aura changed.
The calm, delicate girl disappeared.
In her place stood someone distant... mysterious... untouchable.
White Mask.
Without a sound, she slipped out of the mansion.
At the entrance of the Silent Blossom Valley, Bai-Xue's steps came to a halt.
A figure stood there.
At first glance, he appeared ordinary—his features plain, almost forgettable. Light brown hair fell loosely around his face, and his brown eyes carried no obvious sharpness.
And yet—
there was something about him.
An inexplicable radiance.
A quiet brilliance that made him stand out despite his seemingly common appearance.
In his hand, he held a jade flute, its surface smooth and glowing faintly with a soft green light, as if it contained a life of its own.
The moment his eyes fell upon Bai-Xue—
he smiled.
It was a calm, effortless smile... as though he had been waiting.
Bai-Xue's gaze lingered on him for only a brief moment before she turned away, completely ignoring his presence.
Without a word, she stepped forward and entered the valley.
A moment later—
the man followed.
The guards at the entrance merely glanced at him but said nothing. Seeing him walk behind Bai-Xue, they assumed he was with her and did not dare to interfere.
The night grew quieter as they moved deeper into the valley.
Then—
Bai-Xue suddenly stopped.
She turned around sharply, her eyes cold and alert.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice steady but filled with caution. "And why are you following me?"
The man simply looked at her—
and smiled.
He said nothing.
A faint tension filled the air.
Bai-Xue's expression hardened. In an instant, her stance shifted—her body lowering slightly, her aura sharpening as she took a combat position.
"I asked you a question," she said coldly. "Answer me."
Only then did the man move.
He lifted the jade flute in his hand and lightly rested it against his chin, as if it were nothing more than a casual gesture.
A soft chuckle escaped his lips.
"I didn't expect..." he said lazily, his tone carrying a hint of amusement, "...that the Master would be a fourteen-year-old girl."
His voice—
was unlike anything ordinary.
It flowed like music itself.
Gentle, smooth, and soothing—like a melody drifting through the air.
The moment Bai-Xue heard it—
it felt as though the world around her had quieted.
As if all worries had faded away.
As if the wind itself had slowed... whispering softly, carrying his voice through the night.
For a fleeting moment—
even the stillness of the valley seemed to listen.
The man smiled—softly, gently—like a quiet breeze brushing past still water.
"You don't need to be so alert, Master White Mask," he said, his tone calm and unhurried. "Even if I wished to... I wouldn't be able to fight you."
There was no arrogance in his voice.
Only ease.
His smile carried a strange warmth—one that could unconsciously ease the worries of anyone who looked at him.
For a brief moment, even the tension in the air seemed to fade.
But Bai-Xue's guard did not lower.
He's not ordinary... she thought, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
I can feel it. Then what does he want?
As if sensing her doubt, the man spoke again.
"My name is Wei-Lan," he said with a light smile. "I was merely wandering when I passed by this place... but unfortunately, I was robbed along the way."
His tone was casual, almost as if he were talking about something insignificant.
"So I thought... perhaps you might be willing to help me."
Bai-Xue studied him silently for a moment.
"What kind of help?" she asked calmly.
Wei-Lan's smile deepened just a little.
"Nothing complicated," he replied. "I only wish to stay here for some time."
His gaze drifted slightly, taking in the valley around them.
"This place is beautiful... peaceful."
A faint softness entered his eyes.
"And I happen to like such places."
Bai-Xue frowned inwardly.
The more he spoke, the more puzzling he became.
And yet—
she felt no sense of danger from him.
Not even the slightest trace of hostility.
After a brief silence, she spoke.
"Fine," Bai-Xue said. "You may stay here for a few days."
Wei-Lan's smile remained unchanged, as if he had expected this outcome all along.
Bai-Xue turned without another word.
"Follow me."
A short while later—
they arrived deeper within the valley, where a quiet residence stood hidden among blossoming trees.
Bai-Xue stepped forward and called out,
"Rinvi."
Moments later, the doors opened.
A young girl hurried out—and the moment she saw Bai-Xue, her face lit up with joy.
"Master!"
But her happiness froze midway.
Her eyes shifted behind Bai-Xue—
and landed on the unfamiliar man.
Surprise flickered across her face.
Before she could speak, Bai-Xue calmly said,
"Rinvi, prepare a room for him."
Her tone was simple, yet carried unquestionable authority.
"He is our guest. He will be staying here for a few days."
Rinvi blinked in slight confusion, but she did not question it.
Lowering her head respectfully, she bowed.
"As you command, Master."
Without asking anything further, she turned and quickly left to make the arrangements.
Behind Bai-Xue—
Wei-Lan stood quietly, the faint smile still resting on his lips.
His eyes followed her figure—
deep, unreadable—
as if there was far more to his presence than he had revealed.
Bai-Xue gave a faint nod in Wei-Lan's direction before turning away.
Without another word, she began walking toward the back of the residence—toward the waterfall hidden deep within the valley.
Her steps were light, her figure calm beneath the white mask.
Behind her—
Wei-Lan simply smiled... and followed.
No matter what she did—
he mirrored her.
If Bai-Xue turned to the right, he turned right.
If she stepped to the left, he did the same.
If she paused to pick something from the ground, he would also bend slightly—watching her with quiet curiosity, as though every small action of hers fascinated him.
At first, Bai-Xue ignored it.
Then—
her brows slowly began to knit together.
What is wrong with this person...?
Her patience thinned.
With a faint irritation rising in her chest, she quickened her pace.
But behind her—
Wei-Lan only chuckled softly... and matched her speed effortlessly.
Step for step.
Not too close.
Not too far.
As if it was the most natural thing in the world.
By the time they reached the waterfall—
the sound of flowing water filled the air like a gentle melody.
Moonlight spilled across the valley, reflecting off the cascading stream, turning it into a silver veil shimmering in the night.
Bai-Xue finally stopped.
Her patience had reached its limit.
She turned sharply, ready to scold him—
—but the words never left her lips.
Her eyes stilled.
Because what she saw—
was something she had never expected.
Even in the quiet of the night—
the entire valley seemed to come alive.
One by one—
animals began to gather around Wei-Lan.
Deer approached first, their gentle eyes soft as they nuzzled against his hand, licking his fingers affectionately.
Rabbits hopped closer, settling near his feet as if they had always belonged there.
Ducks and swans glided over from the water, surrounding him in a quiet, harmonious circle.
Not a single creature showed fear.
Not one.
Wei-Lan walked calmly to a nearby stone and sat down as if this was nothing unusual.
Reaching out, he picked up a small rabbit and placed it gently in his lap, his fingers stroking its soft fur with natural ease.
A tiny squirrel climbed up his arm—
and soon made itself comfortable atop his head, curling up as if it had found the safest place in the world.
The entire scene—
was surreal.
Peaceful.
Almost... sacred.
For the first time—
Bai-Xue found herself at a loss for words.
The irritation in her heart vanished without a trace.
In its place—
was quiet wonder.
For a brief moment, she forgot everything else.
Forgot the tension, the schemes, the looming banquet—
and simply watched.
Unknowingly—
a soft, gentle smile appeared on her lips beneath the white mask.
It was faint.
But unmistakably warm.
Wei-Lan, still seated among the animals, seemed to notice.
His gaze lifted—
and landed on her.
Though her face was hidden, the curve of her lips could not be concealed.
And for a moment—
his smile deepened.
Brighter.
Warmer.
As if her smile alone... had made something within him quietly happy.
Seeing this scene, something quietly settled in Bai-Xue's heart.
She understood.
Even the beasts of the valley... felt safest by his side.
Her gaze lingered on the deer resting against him, the rabbits nestled without fear, the birds gathered in peaceful silence.
Then, after a brief pause, she spoke.
"The way these animals gather around you..." Bai-Xue said softly, her eyes steady beneath the mask, "it does not seem as though you are meeting them for the first time."
Wei-Lan lowered his gaze slightly.
The rabbit in his arms twitched its ears before he gently placed it back onto the ground.
It did not run away.
Instead, it remained near him, as if unwilling to leave.
Only then did he speak.
"Compared to humans..." Wei-Lan said quietly, a faint smile resting on his lips, "animals possess far purer emotions, Master White Mask."
His voice was calm—yet carried an unspoken depth.
"They do not scheme. They do not deceive."
His fingers brushed lightly against a deer's head as he continued,
"And because of that... when they recognize someone as their own, they simply stay."
There was something gentle in his tone—
and yet, something lonely as well.
Bai-Xue fell silent.
She turned her gaze toward the flowing waterfall.
The endless stream of water reflected the moonlight, shimmering like fragments of a broken dream.
After a moment, she spoke again.
"You're right..."
Her voice was softer now.
"In this world... living feels no different than walking on an eggshell."
One wrong step—
and everything shatters.
The wind passed quietly through the valley, carrying the faint scent of blossoms.
Behind her—
Wei-Lan did not respond.
He simply looked at her.
A quiet smile lingered on his lips, his eyes deep and unreadable.
As if he understood her words—
and yet chose to say nothing.
Only the sound of flowing water remained between them—
gentle...
and endless.