One sleepless night, Xue Zi Ning and Xue Yan arrived early at the place where they had made an appointment with Yuan Zhao the previous day.
Not seeing Yuan Zhao, Xue Yan couldn't help but whisper, "Your Majesty, is Yuan Zhao trying to deceive us?"
Xue Zi Ning shook her head. "He shouldn't be."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yuan Zhao's voice reached them, "Sister."
"Yuan Zhao, you're here." Yuan Zhao nodded, looking at Xue Zi Ning, "Sister, do you really have to go?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Yes, I must go."
Yuan Zhao sighed. "Since that's the case, I'm afraid nothing I say will be heard. I hope you return safely, Sister."
"Thank you," Xue Zi Ning replied.
Seeing that Xue Zi Ning had no intention of retreating, Yuan Zhao said, "Sister, follow me."
Xue Zi Ning and Xue Yan exchanged glances and followed Yuan Zhao to the Imperial Mausoleum. Yuan Zhao walked into the sleeping chamber, and no hidden arrows flew out.
It seemed this Yuan Zhao was quite capable.
"Be careful," Xue Zi Ning reminded Xue Yan.
Xue Yan nodded. She had long suspected something was amiss with Yuan Zhao. If it weren't for the Empress, she would have captured him long ago and interrogated him thoroughly.
"Sister, hurry and come in!" Yuan Zhao stood at the entrance of the sleeping chamber, beckoning Xue Zi Ning and Xue Yan.
Xue Zi Ning stepped forward. Yuan Zhao said, "Sister, stay close to me. If you get lost, I won't be responsible for finding you."
"Don't worry, I'll keep up with you," Xue Zi Ning replied.
Yuan Zhao smiled, then suddenly turned and entered the sleeping chamber. He was so fast that Xue Zi Ning didn't have time to react.
"Chase her..." Xue Zi Ning commanded in a low voice.
Xue Yan quickly pursued. Xue Zi Ning looked around and, seeing no abnormalities outside, entered the sleeping chamber.
Although the sleeping chamber was large, it resembled a vast room, so vast that the candlelight on this side could not illuminate the other.
"Your Majesty, I've lost her," Xue Yan said, full of regret as she saw Xue Zi Ning's figure.
She had been a little overconfident, thinking she couldn't be outmatched by a mere youth.
The reality was that she truly was outmatched.
She had lost Yuan Zhao.
"It's alright, you're not his match," Xue Zi Ning said.
Yuan Zhao's skills were likely on par with her own, so losing him was understandable.
Xue Yan clicked her tongue. Her Majesty was indeed a bit demoralizing.
"What do we do next?" Xue Yan asked.
Xue Zi Ning looked at the only source of light ahead and said, "Let's go that way."
After walking for a long time, Xue Zi Ning felt as though it had been ages, yet they still hadn't emerged from this place.
She suddenly stopped. Xue Yan behind her asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
"Have you realized that no matter how we walk, we can't get out?" Xue Zi Ning said slowly.
Xue Yan then noticed that they seemed to be walking in circles. "Your Majesty, there's something strange about this place."
Xue Zi Ning nodded. She suddenly closed her eyes, sensing a faint cool breeze coming from a certain direction. She opened her eyes abruptly and said, "Let's go this way."
Xue Yan followed closely. After about fifteen minutes, they finally saw a faint light not far ahead. Xue Yan breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Majesty, you chose correctly..."
"Careful!" Xue Zi Ning suddenly retreated, bumping into Xue Yan. Xue Yan also felt a strong chill emanating from the front.
Immediately after, a flash of silver light shot towards Xue Zi Ning.
Xue Yan reacted decisively, drawing her sword from her waist and swinging it at the silver light. A sound like breaking metal echoed, and the sharp noise fell to the ground.
Xue Yan looked down and was greatly astonished to see that her sword had broken. Her sword was made of the finest cold iron, and ordinary weapons couldn't even scratch it. Yet, now it was not only damaged but broken.
Xue Zi Ning saw it too, her gaze turning cold. "This place is very strange. We must be cautious."
Xue Yan crouched down and picked up the broken sword, planning to find a master craftsman to reforge it.
Suddenly, a hand grasped Xue Yan's. Xue Yan immediately reacted, swinging the remaining half of her sword at the hand.
"Xue Yan, it's me..." a familiar voice called out. Xue Yan quickly reduced her force, avoiding injury to the person.
"Xue Song?" Xue Yan asked in disbelief.
The person awkwardly chuckled. "Xue Yan, you finally recognize me."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yan became incredibly excited and called out to Xue Zi Ning ahead, "Your Majesty, it's Xue Song!"
Xue Zi Ning's heart also leaped with joy. If Xue Song was here, perhaps Yuan Zhao was also here?
She turned to look at Xue Yan, her heart suddenly pounding. She saw Xue Yan clutching her broken sword to her chest, excitedly saying, "Xue Song, where did you go? Do you know how worried I was about you?"
As she spoke, Xue Yan held the broken sword even tighter. The broken edge had touched her neck, and if she moved again, it was likely...
Xue Zi Ning dared not think further. She stepped forward and knocked the broken sword from Xue Yan's embrace to the ground. "Xue Yan, look closely, what is this?"
Xue Yan was jolted awake by Xue Zi Ning's voice. Only then did she realize there was no Xue Song there. There was only her broken sword, and her hand was bleeding profusely from holding it.
Xue Zi Ning stepped forward, tore off her inner garment, and bandaged Xue Yan's wound. Xue Yan felt immensely guilty. "Your Majesty, I was careless just now."
"This place is extremely insidious. We both need to be careful," Xue Zi Ning said.
Xue Yan nodded, no longer daring to be careless. "Your Majesty, this place can project things from the depths of one's heart."
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "I know."
When Xue Yan called out "Xue Song" while holding her broken sword, she knew that this place could induce hallucinations.
She wondered if Yuan Zhao was also caught in a hallucination.
Xue Zi Ning pulled Xue Yan along as they continued to walk forward. The place was silent now, so dark that they couldn't see anything above. She was following by sensing the wind.
Finally, her foot hit a threshold. She said, "There's a threshold ahead."
She stepped through, and a beam of light fell from above, illuminating her entirely.
Xue Yan emerged as well, bathed in the warm light that made them reluctant to leave.
Xue Zi Ning didn't linger, stepping forward. A cold wind howled, forcing her to take a step back into the beam of light.
"Your Majesty, I'll go and test the waters first," Xue Yan said, stepping out of the light. The biting wind lashed at her body.
Suddenly, an arrow made of ice shot towards Xue Yan. Xue Zi Ning leaped forward to catch the arrow, which melted instantly upon entering her palm.
Xue Zi Ning frowned. Suddenly, she heard Xue Yan cry out, "Your Majesty, be careful!"
She looked up and saw countless transparent arrows flying towards her. She leaped up, trying to dodge them, but found it impossible. There were too many.
Her gaze turned cold. She drew her silver whip from her waist and lashed it at the arrows.