Roba Village, on the outskirts of Galgada.
A streak of light descended from the sky and landed in the middle of a dense forest. As the glow faded, a tall, slender figure slowly emerged.
Chen Si looked around and realized he was in a village. A stream flowed quietly nearby.
Chen Si focused on a figure beside the stream across from him. A woman sat cross-legged on the bank, quietly watching the water. She wore an all-black leather outfit, with a black fishtail skirt and over-the-knee boots, while her long black hair fell smoothly down her back.
She seemed shrouded in darkness, looking somewhat dejected and withdrawn, though her emerald eyes lent her a touch of liveliness.
The disturbance seemed to alert Zoe, and she raised her head toward Chen Si.
Chen Si looked at her from afar and waved.
Zoe's gaze shifted slightly. She hurried to her feet and ran lightly across the pebble path through the stream. Seemingly preoccupied, she tripped over a pebble, stumbled several steps, and nearly fell into the water.
Just as Zoe had expected, a broad hand caught her shoulder. She trembled slightly, and a concealed glint emerged from her sleeve, the tip of a dagger barely showing.
"Hahaha, gentle people always seem to be the clumsy ones." Chen Si smiled, took Zoe's hand, and leaped lightly onto the bank.
"But if you weren't so clumsy, we might never have met, right, Zoe?"
"Zoe, this is for you. I knew you'd be wearing black again. I saw before that your wardrobe was full of dark clothes, so I got you this dress. I'm sure you'll look beautiful in it." Chen Si smiled as he handed Zoe a bag containing a snow-white dress.
Something quivered deep in Zoe's eyes. She bit her lower lip. "How...