EXT. HEAVENLY SWORD SECT – TWILIGHT
The Heavenly Sword Sect stands atop a cliff like a blade piercing the sky. White stone halls glow beneath the setting sun, but the beauty of the sect feels cold and unnatural.
Below the mountain, parents from Celestial Cloud Sect kneel in outrage. Some clutch torn ribbons, hairpins, and robes that belonged to their missing daughters.
At the front of the crowd stand Qiao Tian, Xuan Dao, and Yun Zhao. Elite disciples of Celestial Cloud Sect line up behind them, weapons drawn.
PARENT
Give us our daughters back!
PARENT
They disappeared near Heavenly Sword Sect!
YUN ZHAO
Mei Lin!
If you are innocent, come out and face us!
The gates of Heavenly Sword Sect slowly open.
Rows of female disciples in silver-white robes step out, swords pointed downward in perfect formation.
At their center walks Mei Lin.
She is breathtakingly beautiful. Long black hair flows down her back, and her pale robes shimmer like moonlight. But her eyes are cold, sharp, and completely without warmth.
The crowd falls silent.
MEI LIN
Such noise.
Is this how Celestial Cloud Sect celebrates a birthday now?
YUN ZHAO
Do not mock us.
My fiancée nearly died exposing your crimes.
MEI LIN
Your fiancée should have minded her own affairs.
Gasps ripple through the crowd.
QIAO TIAN
So you admit it.
MEI LIN
I admit nothing.
But if weak girls disappear in the mountains, why should Heavenly Sword Sect answer for Heaven's selection?
A mother rushes forward, crying.
MOTHER
My daughter was taken from our village!
Please... return her to me!
Mei Lin looks down at the woman with complete indifference.
MEI LIN
How troublesome.
She flicks her sleeve.
WHIP!
A strand of silver spiritual energy lashes across the ground, stopping inches from the mother's face. The stone cracks open.
MEI LIN
Take one more step, and I will not miss.
The parents recoil in terror.
Qiao Tian's hand moves to the hilt of her sword.
QIAO TIAN
Enough.
Xuan Dao steps beside her, his usually lazy expression gone. His spiritual pressure spreads across the mountain like a storm cloud.
XUAN DAO
Mei Lin.
Threatening grieving parents in front of me is a poor decision.
MEI LIN
Xuan Dao...
Still pretending to be righteous?
The air between them turns heavy. Even the Heavenly Sword disciples take a step back.
Mei Lin's Demonic Side
A servant girl stumbles out from behind the gates, pale and trembling. She tries to run toward the crowd.
Mei Lin raises one finger.
CRACK!
Invisible pressure slams the girl to the ground.
SERVANT GIRL
Spare me, Sect Master!
I-I only wanted to go home!
Mei Lin walks toward her slowly, her expression still beautiful and serene.
MEI LIN
Home?
You were chosen to serve Heavenly Sword Sect.
Be grateful.
She lifts the girl's chin with one pale finger.
For a brief instant, Mei Lin's flawless face flickers. Beneath the beauty, dark veins crawl across her skin before disappearing.
Qiao Tian sees it.
Xuan Dao sees it.
Yun Zhao sees it.
YUN ZHAO
What kind of cultivation is that?
XUAN DAO
A forbidden technique.
One that feeds on youth and beauty.
The crowd erupts in horror.
PARENT
You monster!
MEI LIN
Monster?
No.
I am simply willing to pay the price that weak people fear.
Her spiritual energy explodes outward. White lotus petals swirl around her, but each petal is stained with faint crimson at the edges.
The First Clash
Yun Zhao can no longer hold back. He draws his sword and charges.
CLANG!
Mei Lin blocks him effortlessly with a silver blade that appears in her hand.
Qiao Tian moves at the same instant, her sword flashing toward Mei Lin's exposed side.
WHOOSH!
Mei Lin spins away, her robes flowing like white smoke.
MEI LIN
Qingyuan Sect's young master...
You move well.
QIAO TIAN
Return the girls.
MEI LIN
And if I refuse?
XUAN DAO
Then Heavenly Sword Sect will answer to the entire martial world.
For the first time, Mei Lin's smile fades.
She studies Qiao Tian closely, as if sensing something unusual beneath the young master's calm exterior.
MEI LIN
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The wind howls across the cliff.
The parents hold their breath.
The disciples tighten their grips on their swords.
And Qiao Tian stands face-to-face with Mei Lin for the first time.