Chapter 1: Survival in the Desert

Ancient continent, the Kingdom of Mochi.

Beneath the vast heavens, within a cave carved into a precipitous mountain peak.

This was the burial place of the emperor, as well as the site where his concubines were interred with him.

Below the mountain cave, a massive three-tiered warship floated upon the sea. On its deck stood rows of guards clad in black uniforms, their expressions cold and severe, unmoving like statues.

To enter the emperor’s tomb so openly, without concealment, spoke volumes of the power wielded by the intruder.

Inside the stone cave, a man robed in black held a compass in his hand. The needle spun ceaselessly, clearly seeking its direction.

Suddenly, the needle settled, pointing straight toward the entrance of another cavern.

Chi Yuan cried out, “The compass has locked onto a position! Could my sister-in-law’s missing soul and Father’s coffin be in the same place?”

Chi Mie, who was holding the compass, glanced at Chi Yuan, his voice cool and detached: “Our purpose here is to find the soul.”

His meaning was clear: do not concern yourself with anything else.

Chi Yuan, somewhat abashed, rubbed his nose and said, “Shouldn’t we pay our respects to Father’s coffin? Otherwise, might he never rest in peace?”

It did seem rather rebellious.

Yet coming to the imperial tomb to search for a woman’s soul was already disturbing his father’s repose. What use were such concerns now?

“If you wish to remain here as a burial companion, I can oblige you.” Chi Mie’s tone was icy as he strode in the direction indicated by the compass.

Though Chi Yuan was Chi Mie’s favored cousin, Chi Mie remained cold, never sparing his words. Yet this was already generous toward Chi Yuan.

For across the continent, Chi Mie was the ruler. Should he desire the throne, even the current emperor, Chi Xuan—Chi Yuan’s half-brother—would have to yield to him. Chi Mie was third in rank, so Chi Yuan addressed him as Third Brother.

Had anyone else been so talkative, Chi Mie would have dispatched them with a single blow.

“I was just saying…” Chi Yuan’s voice diminished; Chi Mie truly despised chatter.

Entering the cave, they found it well-lit, illuminated by night pearls, revealing all within.

The resting place of the late emperor was piled high with gold, silver, and jewels, yet Chi Mie and Chi Yuan did not spare them a glance.

They had received word that Su Ran Tong’s missing soul was hidden within this imperial tomb.

Recalling the day Chi Mie was to wed his beloved, Su Ran Tong collapsed after the ceremony. Her pulse and breath were normal, but she would not wake.

In the end, the master of calculations from the Kingdom of Xikong, capable of divining fate, gave Chi Mie a compass, instructing him to follow its direction to retrieve Su Ran Tong’s lost soul.

As for why her soul had gone missing, the master only smiled mysteriously, offering no answer.

Chi Mie’s gaze locked onto the direction indicated by the compass; the needle pointed straight to the coffin of the emperor’s buried concubine.

Was Su Ran Tong’s soul hidden there?

“Third Brother, surely not…” Chi Yuan muttered, unable to suppress his voice.

Within that coffin lay the emperor’s concubine, said to be a mere fifteen years old. Chosen for burial by the emperor because of a single pronouncement from the master of fate, her story was one of tragic misfortune.

Chi Mie ignored Chi Yuan, striding directly toward the coffin.