The ancient trees spread their luxuriant branches, their crowns rising like canopies. Seen in the night, they resembled a range of mountains, jagged and uneven.
A wind lantern hung high on a branch, swaying back and forth in the night breeze and casting shadows that stretched long and short.
The scattered shadows swayed and spun, like a host of demons and monsters crowding the courtyard.
Beneath the lantern stood an ancient well, its carved characters worn away.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
Accompanied by hurried footsteps, a figure flashed through the moon gate. She was slender and graceful, her sleeves fluttering, her bearing dignified, though she now seemed somewhat flustered.
Her sumptuous skirt swept swiftly over the fallen leaves, stirring a small gust that sent them whirling up before her feet, fluttering in every direction.
Following her graceful figure upward, one saw a waist narrow enough to encircle with one hand, a high bosom, and a long, fair neck. At the end of it was a smooth, mirrorlike mask, concealing the moonlike beauty and flowerlike face one would have expected.
The woman's wide sleeves billowed in the wind, and her long hair streamed loose like a waterfall. As she hurried along, she kept glancing back to see if she was being followed. She was none other than Crimson Powder Bride, fleeing her maid's pursuit.
After entering the courtyard, she didn't stop for even a moment. She meant to pass straight through and keep hiding, but as her gaze swept over the well curb, she immediately halted.
Last night, she had hidden at the bottom of this very well and evaded the maid!
Climbing out of the well had been difficult, but at this point, she couldn't afford to worry about that.
At the thought, Crimson Powder Bride immediately covered the distance in