It was late April, when spring's splendor was deepening. That evening, Xing Yan, Qiong Rong, and Xueyi had finished supper, and the slanting sun was sinking before Embracing Rosy Clouds Peak as mountain mist began to rise. Suddenly, a sweep of purple clouds drifted in from the southwestern sky and spread before Thousand Birds Cliff in moments. When their brilliant purple glow bathed the stone terrace, a figure descended from the clouds with a cat in her arms. Her pendants chimed together as she floated down before Cloud-Sleeve Pavilion.
Xing Yan was admiring the mountain scenery from the cliff. When the young woman landed, he saw that she had come in full finery:
She wore a red-collared gown with cloud-bright borders and hems, embroidered with colorful clouds in gold thread. A gauzy, gold-embroidered rosy-cloud cape lay over her shoulders, and a soft yellow silken sash studded with golden beads and jeweled strands girdled her waist. The strands flowed like water, hanging gracefully over her slender, supple waist, with tiny golden bells at their ends that rang sweetly as she walked toward him.
"You? What are you doing here?"
The enchanting young woman standing lightly before Xing Yan was none other than Yinghuo, the young Devil Race princess whom he had once abducted and bound. Seeing her appear uninvited, he immediately grew wary, wondering whether she had come for revenge.
At his guarded expression, the purple-haired, starry-eyed girl burst into a laugh and said:
"Can't I come just to see you?"
She set the little white cat on the ground and chided him:
"What, does the great Hall Master Zhang not welcome me?"
"...You're welcome enough."
After hearing Yinghuo's words, Xing Yan cautiously peered into the glowing clouds behind her. Only after a long scrutiny confirmed that she really had come