Promise

Snow filled the sky, drifting down like an inverted Milky Way, as though it meant to bury the whole world beneath wind and snow.

Amid the blizzard, Feixin—seductive in appearance yet carrying a hint of playful mischief—braved the wind and snow as she headed toward an inconspicuous peak among the countless snow-capped mountains of this boundless wilderness.

"Big Sister, Big Sister, it's me, Feixin!"

Feixin called out to the Great Snow Mountain before her.

Yet after a long while, the response she had hoped for never came.

Feixin stamped her foot, then said indignantly,

"Big Sister, if you don't answer, I'll take that as a yes."

With that, Feixin flew toward the mountaintop.

At that moment, the summit of the Great Snow Mountain was completely different from the frozen wasteland and swirling snowfall visible below.

It was as if a Divine Being had sliced off the peak with boundless power, turning it into an enormous platform.

There was no wind or snow atop that platform. A wooden cottage stood there, along with a plot of flowerbeds where flowers bloomed in full splendor.

In front of the wooden cottage, a dignified and gentle woman with her hair arranged in a married woman's bun was playing a board game with an elderly man in robes, who looked like a Church priest.

They were not playing Go, but a game from this world that was somewhat like a blend of Chinese chess and Go.

"Madam, I have lost."

Azkaban clasped his hands and bowed.

Zhixin nodded as well.

"You played wonderfully. I haven't played such a good game in over a hundred years."

"After this, I will do everything in my power to fulfill my agreement with Madam, doing my small part for those countless heroes."

"Now that the game is over, I