INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE – UNKNOWN TIME
...Drip...
...Drip...
The sound of water echoed through the endless darkness.
A cold wind swept across the damp cavern.
Ancient roots, as thick as pillars, spread across the walls and ceiling like giant serpents.
A faint crimson glow pulsed through them.
CLANK...
Qiao Tian slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision blurred before finally clearing.
She tried moving.
CLANG!
Heavy iron chains locked both of her wrists.
QIAO TIAN
"...Where..."
"...Where are we?"
A familiar voice answered.
XUAN DAO
You're awake.
Qiao Tian turned.
Xuan Dao sat against a stone pillar.
His wrists and ankles were bound by glowing spiritual chains.
Despite everything...
He still looked relaxed.
QIAO TIAN
Senior...
XUAN DAO
Looks like we underestimated our beautiful host.
Nearby...
Yun Zhao was still unconscious.
Several Celestial Cloud disciples remained inside iron cages.
Some were slowly waking.
Others hadn't moved.
Qiao Tian's eyes wandered deeper into the cave.
Then...
She froze.
Dozens...
Hundreds...
Young girls sat inside cages carved into the rock.
Some cried silently.
Some hugged each other.
Some stared blankly at the ground.
None looked older than twenty.
QIAO TIAN
(shocked)
They're...
all prisoners...
A little girl slowly approached the bars.
She couldn't have been more than fifteen.
LITTLE GIRL
You're...
not from Heavenly Sword Sect...
are you?
QIAO TIAN
No.
We're here to save you.
The girl's eyes immediately filled with tears.
LITTLE GIRL
Someone...
finally came...
One after another...
The girls gathered around their cages.
Hope returned to their exhausted faces.
GIRL
Please...
Take us home...
ANOTHER GIRL
My parents...
must think I'm dead...
Qiao Tian clenched her fists.
QIAO TIAN
Who did this to you?
Silence.
The girls looked at one another.
Finally...
An older girl stepped forward.
OLDER GIRL
Sect Master Mei Lin.
The entire cave fell silent.
OLDER GIRL
Every year...
Her disciples search villages...
cities...
sects...
They only choose girls known for their beauty.
QIAO TIAN
Why?
The girl's voice trembled.
OLDER GIRL
Because...
our youth...
keeps her alive.
Even Xuan Dao's expression became serious.
QIAO TIAN
Explain.
OLDER GIRL
There's an ancient tree beneath this palace.
A forbidden spiritual tree.
Its roots absorb life essence.
Every full moon...
Mei Lin performs a ritual.
The tree drains our vitality...
our beauty...
our spiritual energy...
Then transfers everything...
to her.
Qiao Tian stood frozen.
QIAO TIAN
She's...
stealing your lives...
The girl nodded.
OLDER GIRL
Every year...
Some disappear.
No one knows where they go.
But...
they never return.
Another girl quietly spoke.
GIRL
The weak...
die first.
Silence.
No one spoke.
Only the dripping water echoed.
Yun Zhao slowly groaned.
YUN ZHAO
Ugh...
QIAO TIAN
Yun Zhao!
He opened his eyes.
YUN ZHAO
We're...
still alive...
XUAN DAO
Barely.
Yun Zhao attempted to stand.
The chains immediately tightened.
YUN ZHAO
These chains suppress spiritual energy.
XUAN DAO
Exactly.
She's prepared for cultivators.
Qiao Tian looked around again.
Something caught her attention.
The enormous roots.
Every single one connected to the cave floor.
They pulsed...
like veins.
QIAO TIAN
Senior...
look.
Xuan Dao followed her gaze.
His eyes narrowed.
XUAN DAO
Those aren't ordinary roots.
He closed his eyes.
Spiritual sense expanded.
Moments later...
He slowly opened them.
XUAN DAO
I knew it.
QIAO TIAN
What is it?
XUAN DAO
This cave...
is the heart of Mei Lin's cultivation.
Everyone looked toward him.
XUAN DAO
The palace above...
The branches that attacked us...
The flowers...
The sleeping mist...
Everything comes from this tree.
YUN ZHAO
Impossible.
XUAN DAO
No.
This is an ancient Blood Spirit Tree.
Thought to be extinct centuries ago.
The girls shivered.
GIRL
Every night...
it grows louder.
GIRL
Sometimes...
it whispers.
A chilling silence spread through the cave.
Suddenly...
A heartbeat echoed.
THUMP.
The roots glowed brighter.
THUMP.
The entire cave trembled.
DISCIPLE
What...
was that?
XUAN DAO
The tree.
It's alive.
QIAO TIAN
Can we destroy it?
XUAN DAO
Not while we're chained.
Qiao Tian lowered her head.
Her fists tightened.
QIAO TIAN
I promised...
I'd save everyone.
The little girl smiled weakly.
LITTLE GIRL
You already gave us hope.
That's more than we've had...
for years.
Qiao Tian looked at every cage.
At every frightened face.
QIAO TIAN
Listen to me.
Every one of you.
The cave grew quiet.
QIAO TIAN
No matter what happens...
Do not lose hope.
We're leaving this place together.
Every single one of us.
I swear it.
For the first time...
Several girls smiled.
Some cried.
Others bowed.
GIRLS
Thank you...
Young Master...
Even Yun Zhao smiled.
YUN ZHAO
You really do inspire people.
XUAN DAO
(chuckling)
That's why Qingyuan chose the right successor.
Qiao Tian looked once more at the glowing roots.
QIAO TIAN
If this tree is the source...
then cutting its heart...
will end everything.
Xuan Dao smiled.
XUAN DAO
Exactly.
Now...
we just need a way to escape these chains.
Before anyone could speak...
Heavy footsteps echoed through the tunnel.
Clack...
Clack...
Clack...
Torchlight illuminated the darkness.
The prisoners stiffened.
The girls trembled.
Some immediately hid behind one another.
The massive iron doors slowly opened.
Standing there...
in flowing white robes...
with an elegant smile...
was Mei Lin.
MEI LIN
How touching.
Planning your escape already?
She slowly walked between the cages.
Her fingers lightly brushed across the iron bars.
MEI LIN
Hope...
is such a beautiful thing.
Which is precisely why...
I enjoy watching it disappear.
She stopped directly in front of Qiao Tian.
Their eyes met.
Neither looked away.
MEI LIN
Young Master Qiao...
I have been looking forward...
to speaking with you.
FADE OUT.