In the far south, there laid a mysterious arch where the moon always seems to be hanging over it. The people lived there called it Moon Hill, a mysterious hill which is inapproachable by feet.

However, unknown to those who were living at the foot of the hill, someone had moved into the place and build a small cottage on top of that arch. It was a small but pleasant home build from the bamboo that was growing around all it.

JinGe could reach the place, blindfolded.

Ever since she was taken in by JianYu, she had been living here with him all the time. It was supposed to be a temporary residence before they moved to the heavenly realm.

However, JianYu didn't expect due to JinGe's half soul missing, she couldn't travel, and they have stayed there ever since. JinGe still remembered their conversation.

JianYu looked strictly at her, "JinGe, promise me to keep yourself safe no matter what. No matter who it is. Your safety always comes first. Although you are not aware, but you are a precious gift your mother left behind."

"My mother?"

"Yes, your mother," said JianYu with a pained expression.

"I promised," replied JinGe. She knew better to ask further. With his reluctance to speak further, JinGe knew that her mother must not be alive anymore.

JianYu sat down on a chair and continued, "We will live here. You may go anywhere you want but do come back once per month, for a week and have lessons with me," stated JianYu.

"Lessons?" asked JinGe.

"Yes, you need to learn to control your powers."

"How about my revenge? Since we couldn't go back-"

"I will not stop you. However, once I found the half of your soul. You must promise me that you will leave this place, the human realm behind. No matter what."

JinGe nodded in response, and they began living together and as agreed she would travelled back and forth between Moon Hill and the Dancing Merchants.

Life began together. He wasn't the best conversationalist but when he was in the mood, they would play the flute as well. It was ordinary, routine lifestyle but she did not complain.

At the precise moment, a white wolf leaped past a ravine and landed safely on the other side. "This was practically my home, for the past five years," thought JinGe and as she ran past a giant oak tree which was turning a little brown and almost bare, but she recognized instantly as she used to climb on top of it to look at sunrise. "Almost there. Just a little further ahead."

She kicked on the trunk of a tree and propelled herself from tree after tree. It was easier like that because she wouldn't be able to run on the ground as there were a lot of thick bushes and thick roots growing on the forest floor.

JinGe finally landed safely on the nearby threshold of their home, deep in the mountains. "It looked exactly the same," thought JinGe as she changed back to human form and walked along the bamboo forest and towards the main door.

The sturdy bamboo fence was still standing and the windows, and right there she saw a man in the house which she quickly squatted down in case he saw her.

"Why is there someone here?" thought JinGe. There was a barrier set up and spell that misdirect people from entering the Moon Hill or their house.

JinGe waited for a while outside the house and then stood up to get a peek at person in her house and then saw that 'he' was a blind man with a bandage over his eyes as he walked around in the house and bumping into corners of the tables and cabinets and even chairs.

However, he was without doubt heading towards JianYu's room.

"Why is he here?" thought JinGe. "Although the barrier around their home has gotten weaker but it shouldn't be this feeble that any person could enter. Does this mean that he is strong?"

JinGe was unsure whether to enter or to wait it out. She doesn't want to fight unless it was necessary, and the man seems to be blind as well. She shouldn't fight a handicapped person, so JinGe decided to wait until he had left and then entered the house to get what she wanted.

"It wouldn't be long now," thought JinGe as she went over the window in JianYu's room to observe the man. The blind man was bumbling in the room just as he was in the living room. He was knocking over things but then he seems to find something which he wanted as he was fumbling over a table in JianYu's room.

The blind took it with him, so quickly that JinGe could barely see what he carried out if she was a normal human. However, with her wolf like eyesight, JinGe caught the sight of it and lunged forward blocking the man.

"Hold it right there, you thief," shouted JinGe to the blind man.

Present

She wouldn't let him go so easily, not with that thing he was holding onto, the red box. JinGe remembered how her Master, JianYu had specifically reminded her of the importance of the box.

"Disciple, come over here a moment," said JianYu to her as she was cleaning the house.

She got over and there on the table was a beautifully crafted box with plum blossom etching on it, with a name written on the side. However, it seems that through the passage of time, the name had slowly faded away.

He opened the box and there was a vial of clear liquid, with a single flower floating in it.

"This is very potent medicine, made from a precious heavenly flower plucked in the heavenly gardens. It was supposed to given to a person, but I think now, you are more suitable to have it," said JianYu as he pushed the box over to her side and then in between gulps, he said, "Happy birthday."

"Today is my birthday?"

"Yes, your actual birthday."

There was a gloomy expression on his face which made JinGe hesitant to ask about and she replied instead, "But this is too precious."

"Never mind if you do not want it. I will just throw it with the other rubbish," said JianYu nonchalantly.

"No, that's not what I mean."

"What do you mean then?" asked JianYu while looking at her.

She was getting flustered, it was better for her to have taken the gift however it seems too much, but if she did not then JianYu might really throw it away and then it would be a waste. Due to all the pressure, she blurted out, "What I mean is that I want you to keep it for me."

"Oh, okay then. Umm, then whenever you need it just tell me. I will keep it on your behalf," said the man awkwardly as he closed the box and continued drinking and that was how the box which belonged to her was in his room.

"Give it back. It's precious," said JinGe to the blind man. The box isn't just a present now but also something which might heal her master. It was a very potent medicine.

"No," said the man flat out. He was just as unwilling as JinGe and refuse to give up the box. It seems like that they would be no choice for her to fight him from it.

"Then I will fight you for it," said JinGe. She rushed in, ready to punch him.

However, unknown to her there seems to be arrows coming in her way from behind, although the man could not see. He heard the sound of the bow being released and guessed the direction which they were coming from and cried, "Duck QiaoQiao," and pulled JinGe out of the way.

They both fell to the side.

JinGe seeing her chance took the box away from the blind man because she knew who those arrows were coming from and who they were aiming at.

"Even the white clothes could enter here freely which means the barrier is most likely to be non-existent anymore," thought JinGe.

"They are chasing after me, so he should be alright. If I ran away then he wouldn't be chase," with that thought on her mind, JinGe tucked the box safely in the folds of her clothes and ran, as another wave of arrow came for her.

This time around, knowing that there were archers she grabbed hold onto the laundry pole using it as a deflector for the incoming arrows.

However just when she thought she was in the clear, two people in black coat appeared out from nowhere. They jumped down from a thin branch of bamboo.

It scared her and being surrounded by both sides, she did not what to do. "Who are these men?" as she looked over to them and then saw them getting closer to her and gotten out their swords out. It was flashing under the morning glow of the first sunrise.

JinGe hadn't noticed that time was passing so quickly that it was already dawn, the first daybreak breaking apart night and day. The sun was starting to rise so was the blind man who pushed JinGe down.

"It seems you have found me," said the blind man and the man rushed towards the black coat men. "But I wouldn't be caught as easily as you think I would be."

JinGe could guess what was going on. The black coats were trying to capture the blind man, but it seems they were unsuccessful and, in the process, however he was hurt, his eyes were made blind by them.

"But then, how did he found his way up here and also the medicine?" thought JinGe as she watched the man fought. He was on equal par with the black men.

However, the most mysterious part of the man was the fact, he called her, 'QiaoQiao', the name she used when she was Sun YuQiao when she pushed her down at that time. "Should she help him, or shouldn't she?"

And there is also the problem of the white clothes that were coming after her. "Just how did they find her? She did not leave a trail of anything behind," and then she suddenly realized the hand that CaiXia had grabbed onto when she was captured. Just as she had expected there was a tiny mark of a flower on it, something which looked like a plum blossom.

"What's wrong with everyone and plum blossom. There are other flowers aren't there. Why does it always have to this flower?" thought JinGe as she naively tried to rub the flower away.

"It wouldn't fade. It is infused with magic. The only way you could get rid of that charm on your hand is to cut your own arm off," said a voice belonging to a child. She looked over to him and just as she feared it was the same child, CaiXia. He seems to be smaller than she had first seen him as he appeared with a bunch of guards who seems to be hypnotized like the puppets.

"CaiXia," said JinGe coldly. He was the second person he did not want to see after YongSan.

"You are still as 'adorable' as you are," said the boy sarcastically. "I thought that I have lost you when your presence suddenly disappeared but then I found you here. The barrier around here was so weak that I could dispel it in no time at all."

"I am not as weak as you think I am," retaliated JinGe to his first question as she summoned her own powers, her eyes turning a slight pale blue to remove the mark.

JinGe bit on her own finger and let a drop of her blood drip onto the mark and using her other hand hovered over the mark and when she was done and lifted it away, the mark was already gone.

"Oh, it seems you are pretty good yourself with magic," said CaiXia. "You must have a good teacher who had also taught you how to remove these trackers. I will remember to put on a stronger one for you-"

"This time," as he rushed in with a dagger in his hand. JinGe reacted to his sudden attack in time and took her own hidden dagger and defended his attack. They were so close to each other. She could see his breath on the dagger and then he smirked.

"It does seem our play time is overly short," said CaiXia as he leaped away from JinGe as a sudden attacker appeared and tried to land a slash on top of him. The person was standing in front of JinGe was unexpectedly, one of the black coats. He was the smaller out of the two.

He did not say anything and took another step in the direction of CaiXia and intimidated him to fight with him. He threw away his long sword and took the pole that was beside JinGe. He rolled it with his foot and then lifted it upwards and grabbed hold onto it with his left hand.

"Ho, it seems like you thought I am just some beat-up brat. You are just the same" said CaiXia but the person ignored him and intimidated him again, asking for a fight with his hands.

"You are really underestimating me. I will make you regret it."

With those last words said, they began fighting each other's. Although the pole should be more fragile compared to the dagger, however the black coat was efficiently manoeuvred it that the young boy could not cut it in half and with the long pole, the black coat should have more advantage over the boy, yet CaiXia was showing amazing skills as well. Whenever he used the long side of the pole to attack him, CaiXia would effectively block it as if he could tell where it was coming beforehand.

This would never be accomplished if he wasn't verse in martial arts and have gained a lot of experience through actual fights. They were not losing to each other and are unwilling as well.

JinGe knew that she should help the black coat because he was helping her fight off her enemy; however, there are also the ones that are hunting down the blind man who was practically her saviour. She did not know who she should help, thus she chose the best option, running away.

Weighting everything, her master was still her most important person, she should hurry back to his side and JinGe got on her feet and ran out towards the opening at the back of the fence, leaving black coat to fight at the side.

The opening was only known by her because it was broken by her once and she tried to repair, though unsuccessfully. Thus, that part of the fence was the weakest.

She rushed there, but the other black coat saw her, in a brief moment their eyes met. Although, his mouth was covered, his eyes weren't, and she could clearly saw the yellow eyes belonged to that black coat. What a familiar colour?

It was a brief moment and the man turned away and faced the blind man again who tried to run away. He wouldn't let him and chased after him.

A chance opened up and JinGe kicked down the fence but there was a slight feeling of guilt in her and she took out the bottle which contained the medicine used to stop the bleeding for JianYu.

She emptied the bottle and opened the box and took the vial out and poured some of its content into the bottle.

"Mister Blind Man, take this," she yelled out to him and then threw the bottle towards him which he caught it in his hand.

Seeing that the man had taken the bottle, she closed the box and ran into the forest. In between the stalks of bamboo, she changed into a wolf with the box in her jaws, hurrying back to the hideout.

Temple

ZhenPing was bored, she had initially thought that going to the city with her brother she would escape all the dull embroidery lessons that her mother force upon her.

However, it was the same as home, the difference was that the tutor had changed from her mother to ChunWah who she dislike even more.

"ChunWah, talks behind my back. I know. I saw her do it before," thought the little girl who once witness, how ChunWah was telling others how spoiled she was, and she had the hardest time with her.

"I wasn't. It was her that was causing trouble," thought ZhenPing feeling blamed. She didn't want to wake up from bed and rolled in it.

Knowing that most of her day will be spent sewing, bored her, looking at the all the needles and thread in front of her made her felt nauseous.

ZhenPing wanted to play, she needed to feel the wind in her hair and breaths of fresh air and flowers. "ZhenPing, it's time to wake up," said ChunWah gently.

"No," replied ZhenPing. If it was her own maid, Ah Lu, she would be more compliant, but she went to fetch water.

"Are you sick?" asked ChunWah caringly.

She was going to answer yes but fortune came knocking on the door.

ChunWah went over to open the door. It was her brother, ZhenYu dressed humbly with a light blue outer robe with YongKang standing behind him with a bundle of things which included an umbrella.

"Would you like to go out?" asked her brother to the both of them.

ChunWah was smiling in relief because she too was stressed out from babysitting ZhenPing.

ZhenYu looked over to the bed, the little worm was still hiding under the covers. "I am going to leave soon. If the sleepy head is not ready yet. I am going to leave her behind," he said loudly so ZhenPing could hear.

"No, don't leave me behind. I want to go," said ZhenPing as she peeked her little head out from the covers.

"Quickly changed then," said ZhenYu with a smile. With lightning speed, ZhenPing was ready, and they all headed to a temple in a carriage.

It was not a huge temple, but it was a famous as it was located on top of the hill with a view of a beautiful lake at the east side of the temple. It was best to watch in the morning as the sunray's bathed the lake.

Although usually ZhenPing would not go to a boring place like a temple where only monks lived and chanted every day and where only vegetables were served but she heard about the lake and was quite excited.

She was in a brightest of moods since she came here and can't stop smiling all along the way.

When they arrived, a monk greeted them with a smile on his face and led them into the temple where they toured the temple grounds. Taking her chance, ZhenPing slipped away from her brother with the help of YongKang.

She intentionally walked slower, to get a chance to talk with YongKang who was following behind and gently pulled onto the man's sleeve. "Brother Kang, could you help me divert some attention so that I could escape? And when my brother asked for me, could you cover for me?"

YongKang was at first confused by her words and then she said, "I want to explore the place by myself."

"Remember to stay in the temple. Don't go anywhere too far or the young master will be very worried like that day," he reminded the little girl softly.

"Alright. I won't go far," she promised.

After hearing it, he nodded and signalled her to go behind him and then when they turned around a corner, the little girl was already gone while YongKang met Ah Lu, ZhenPing's maid and asked her to keep an eye on the mischievous girl.

ZhenYu hadn't realized that her little sister was missing and continued his tour. As they progress, suddenly he heard the sound of children reading out loud.

He watched as they recited the Buddha's scriptures.

The monk noticed and explained, "We teach the children to read here for free. They are quite learned if I may say so."

The monk as if he knew what he was going to ask, and continued, "These are all available because of one man. He provided with funds that are needed to start up the facilities and also help promote our temple so we could get enough donations monthly to continue such charitable acts. The man himself was not the least boastful of his efforts. He likes to keep a low profile on what he had done," praised the monk, feeling grateful towards the person.

"He seems to be a good man. This idea was very good for the people. I would like to set up something of this calibre in my own hometown, but I am not sure how," said ZhenYu.

"You are in luck," said the monk. "The person is in the temple grounds today to check on the repairs done before. He should still be here. If Master Zhen would like, I could introduce you to our benefactor."

"It would be my pleasure to meet such a man. Thank you, Master Monk," said ZhenYu politely in reply to the monk.

The monk guided them away from the classroom and headed towards the temple grounds.

While ZhenYu was busy, his little sister, the clever ZhenPing managed to elude Ah Lu, her maid.

"I knew that YongSan wouldn't have really left me alone. Sorry Ah Lu but all of you following me is too suffocating," thought the little girl. She made a lot of corners turns and gave Ah Lu the slip.

Currently, ZhenPing was skipping around wandering, found herself, a path leading to a small open area where there was a huge incense burner where worshipers burned religious paper as offering to the gods.

"No one is using it?" thought ZhenPing as she got closer to it and took a peek into the burner.

However, suddenly two little boys jumped out from behind the incense burned and gave her a fright. They were wearing the same clothes and also two lions like mask on their face.

It took her by surprise, and she fell down on the ground, it made the boys laughed and then they took off their masks. She recognized their face instantly.

It was the same two little boys who she saw at the inn, the twins who gave her an insect on their first meeting. "Why is that each time I meet them? They just have to surprise me. Last time was the bug," thought ZhenPing who was on the ground.

"What are you doing? Hiding behind and surprising people," scolded ZhenPing annoyed as she stood up and dusted the dirt on her bottom.

"Just for the fun of it," said the first boy, which ZhenPing recognized as the older one as he had a different hairstyle from his brother and there was the personality as well. The older one seems to be bolder than the second boy, called-"

"What are they called again?" thought ZhenPing who could not remember their name.

However, then they were someone calling out, "Xiao Chen, Xiao Zhong, where are you guys?"

"Yeah, that's what they are called ZhongChen (loyal)," recalled ZhenPing and then she looked over to the direction in which the person was calling for them.

She saw a girl who seems to be older than her, maybe by a year, thought ZhenPing.

The girl came over panting, "ZhongChen, you mother is looking for you," said the girl.

The boys without saying another word quickly went away and headed back to the temple, leaving their masks behind. The girl who came with them seem to be in hurry to follow them as well, so she only managed to pick up only one mask and left.

ZhenPing picked up the lion mask and then feeling a little mischievous followed in their footsteps. As she ran, she took a look at the mask. "I can use this to report their bad behaviour to their mother," thought the girl as she ran as fast.

The boys sprinted across the halls while fighting against each other to reach their mother first.

"I am going to be first," said younger one.

"No, I will," replied the other.

They ran until they reached an open space where on top of a small hill under a single oak tree, there was a single grave where a girl was there praying to it. The tablet doesn't have any wordings on it.

The boys slowed down when they saw her and then slowly walked over to her side. However, before they were even close enough to touch her, the woman leisurely stood up while tucking her hair in place and then looked at the children behind her. She opened her arms for them, and they rushed in, hugging her back.

"What are two doing?" she asked them. The boys separated themselves from her and looked at her and said innocently, "Sister YuXiang, told us that mother was looking for us."

"I see. I do have a task for you. Could you two bring me the fan? It's very hot today," said the person.

"Is it the one that we gave you?" asked the curious boy. JinGe nodded while smiling at them. The boys returned her smile and ran in hurry to get it, for their beloved mother.

She looked at their tiny frames running down the corridor and then said out loud, "YuXiang, did ZhiMei tell you to do that?" asked the girl. The girl was stuttering and unable to answer her, "I did promise ZhiMei Jie that I wouldn't tell but still Miss Yang is my saviour. I can't lie to her," thought the girl.

"Umm... umm," she stuttered.

"Never mind, I could already guess about it," she told the girl who was standing at her side.

"Stay by my side. I do love some company. You have joined our merchant group not too long ago, but it felt like that you have been with us for a long time," stated JinGe.

"It's been three years since, and I took care of the boys too. They reminded me of my young siblings. They weren't as lucky as them, with a sister like me. I couldn't support them... and they died from... starvation."

"You are also a child yourself. It would be hard for anyone," comforted JinGe.

"ZhiMei must have asked YuXiang to keep an eye on me and the kids to cheer me up," thought JinGe. She appreciated the gesture, but she did rather be alone. It was frustrating and worrying at the same time.

"How are things doing at the hideout?" thought JinGe as she began remembering the events that had happened last night. If she could, she would rather be at the hideout instead.

Vial

JinGe returned from her home, climbed back in from the window and changed back into a girl and hurriedly took out the vial from the box and then handed it to her Master.

"Yang JinGe," said the man who sat up on bed and looked her straight in the eyes. Morning was closing in even though strand of white hairs was in the way she could clearly see the face he was making at her.

He was dead serious. It was the first time she seen him with that face. It was also the first time he had called her by her full name. It seems to be serious.

"Remember the promises you made to me on the day you arrived at the cottage?" said the man.

JinGe looked away, because there was a total of two promises and she knew she had broken them, but she still answered him, "Yes. I did promise to go back with you to the heavenly realm. But JiuTian is an individual. She has her own personality. I can't force to take her back. She will disappear."

"What about the first and foremost promised you said?"

"I promise to keep myself safe."

"Did you do that?!"

JinGe was speechless. She had broken both promises.

"Enough as long as you knew what you did wrong," said JianYu as he looked away. "Be gone I don't want you to be in my sight."

"But Master, I now have some medic-"

"Do not speak anymore, leave the room now," said man as he looked away.

JinGe tried to say something, but he wouldn't listen and showed her the way to the door which causes the wounds on his body to worsen. This made her gave up and she walked out from the room quietly.

Feeling worse than before, she did what she had to do even if that meant breaking a promise, all in the effort to save him but he did not even appreciate it and scolded her instead.

Normally this would have angered her, but her master is injured and seeing him just now, his condition hadn't gotten any better than when she bought him back. She was very worried about him and then stumbled upon ZhiMei who had just gotten dressed, ready for the day.

When she saw JinGe outside her room, with mud on her clothes and a awful expression on her face, she quickly came over and asked her, "DaJie, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. Nothing for you to worry about," said JinGe in a low voice.

"Is it about the person inside the room?" asked ZhiMei who knew about JinGe bringing back a person from last night as it was pretty hectic in the next room and when she saw JiuTian, ZhiMei had asked about it all and knew about the whole complicated situation.

JinGe looked at her surprisingly, "How did you know?"

"You were... how do I phrase it? Perhaps 'very audible'," said ZhiMei with a smile on her face.

"Sorry, I did not mean to wake you up," apologized JinGe. "Then does DanDan know about it as well?"

"No, she did not. She was sleeping like a baby. Do not be sorry, I have always been a light sleeper."

"I see," said JinGe.

"Anyway, maybe you should go to the temple," suggested ZhiMei.

"Temple?" asked JinGe puzzled.

"A temple, where the twins are having their lectures. Did you really think that I could teach them all those words?" asked ZhiMei as she gave out a little chuckle.

"I see, even the twins have aged so much," said JinGe. "But no, I shouldn't be leaving yet."

And then suddenly the door opened and JiuTian came out from the room, "He said he doesn't even want to hear your voice and that you should leave."

JinGe looked over JiuTian's shoulder and saw her master sleeping on the bed angrily and then back at JiuTian. "Here is the box that I had taken from the cottage. Inside it there is a vial. It's a very potent medicine. Give it to the master."

JiuTian nodded and when she was going back in, JinGe said in a loud voice. "If you need me, I will at the temple praying," her words directed at JianYu, but he just turned over and acted if he hadn't heard anything.

JinGe turned her attention back at JiuTian and said in a low worried tone, "Please take of him for me."

JiuTian entered back into the room and closed the door behind her.

Hearing the footsteps of JinGe until they were finally gone, JianYu uncovered the blanket and sat up on the bed. Seeing that he was up, she said to him, "Catch," as she threw the box into his way which JianYu caught in his hand perfectly.

"You are still as sharp as you need to be," said JiuTian sarcastically.

He did not reply her and looked at the box and traced the plum blossom pattern on the box with his fingers and slowly opened it, to see the vial with the single flower in it.

JiuTian could not help herself as she looked at the beautiful crystal vial and came over to get a better look. Other than the vial, as she got closer, JiuTian saw the man on the bed, staring at the vial angrily.

He closed the box in anger and placed it aside and then looked up at her. "I am not taking the medicine and I do not need you to care for me. You could leave too."

"Hmph, I do not want to be taking care of you as well," said the girl and she went and took the chair and dragged it across the room, placing it next to the window and sat in it. While looking at the outside scenery, she said in a loud voice, "This is my room. Why should I leave?"

JianYu was silent for a while and then replied in a cold manner, "Suit yourself." The man began positioning himself in a lotus sitting style, crossing his legs together and began gathering his Qi to heal himself. "Even if it did not heal the wounds, it would at least sustain my life for now."

He breathed in deeply and then out, continuing to gather the Qi around the room yet not absorbing them, as they circulated around him, balancing his own with those around him, his own Qi mixed with nature's Qi. When it was finally combined, he absorbed it into the body without harming the balance between the two.

JiuTian could not help to be amaze by his feat, as his technique is at top notch. "Not absorbing but balancing and becoming one with the Qi to let it heal his wounds for him," thought the girl as she stole a look at him. "Pretty impressive, a feat of the person I acknowledged as my enemy."

"What is JinGe doing now?" thought JiuTian as she shifted her thought about JinGe.

Addition of mysterious black clothes men and a blind man. Now we have black vs white.