The night went by wordless, ink seeping into silk. In a blink, morning broke.

As the sun climbed from the east and washed the world in gold, I woke with it.

Mmm—

A lazy warmth pinned me, a gentle weight from shoulders to toes. I turned, and Lingxiao and Lingsaki slept in my arms, breaths like soft petals.

No wonder, half-dreaming last night, I must’ve held them like this and drifted off. In sleep my body felt heavy as a quilt, with a fresh scent circling me like spring wind.

Mm... let’s get up later.

Their sweet sleeping faces were honeyed moonlight; I couldn’t bear to disturb them. I stayed still, even though I was wide awake, bright as a bell.

Watching my sisters’ cute faces wasn’t bad at all; my gaze settled on their beauty, like two blossoms after rain.

Mm, truly pretty. I can still see traces of the two little shadows who trailed behind me, sparrows chasing a kite.

Lingxiao and Lingsaki as kids… it’s a tender ache. Back then they were super cute—still are—like Littlesky, calling “elder brother” all day, voices like silver chimes.

But later the Dual Daynight Tomes recognized them, and they went to the Daynight Sanctuary to inherit its legacy; years fell between us like snow.

Slowly, my thoughts drifted far, a leaf riding a quiet current, back to my own childhood.

...

Dear elder brother, drifting like a cloud again?

Elder brother, wake up—rise and shine.

After what felt like ages, someone tugged my cheeks, playful as wind. I blinked back to myself and saw Lingxiao and Lingsaki already awake.

Good morning, Lingxiao, Lingsaki. I hesitated, then smiled; the greeting felt like dew on grass.

Good morning, dear elder brother! And hurry up, feet like sparrows.

Lingxiao yanked me up and pointed ahead, urging me forward like a flute calling geese. I looked. A small pool lay not far away, a mirror conjured by magic.

Elder brother, please wash your face and brush your teeth; after breakfast, we’ll head to the ninth layer.

I opened my mouth to ask, but Lingsaki spoke first and pressed toiletries into my hands, clink and rustle like porcelain and paper.

Ah, okay.

I thought it was something serious; why are they more eager than me to reach the ninth layer? I straightened my clothes and hair and walked toward the glassy pool.

...

Two hours slipped by like sand through fingers. We ate and drank our fill, and with last night’s good sleep, our state was clear as a polished blade. Time to head for the ninth layer.

Lorin, we’re heading to the ninth layer!

I still didn’t know where Lorin was; fine, I’d call like she said, a voice tossed like a pebble into a pond.

You’re ready this fast, like lightning?

No sooner had I spoken than Lorin appeared, sudden as a lantern flicker, and I jumped. She wasn’t in yesterday’s silver armor but in home clothes, a pure next-door elder-sister look, a lily swapping steel for cotton, and I almost stared.

Of course! In fact, we can’t wait to see the ninth layer; otherwise we’ll be restless, a kettle ready to boil.

We’re back at peak, sharp as a drawn sword.

Before I could speak, Lingxiao and Lingsaki answered for me, twin bells chiming in unison.

Is that so? Alright.

As her words fell, a door-sized spatial portal bloomed before us, a rectangle of frost-blue light.

Whoaa—dear elder brother, let’s go! Target—the final layer of the Nine Cold Labyrinth!

So we’re the first ever to reach the ninth layer. Will our names be carved into the chronicles, ink drying on bamboo?

Eh?!

Chattering away, the sisters grabbed me and pulled me into the portal, a river sweeping up a leaf.

Good luck. May you pass the Nine Cold Labyrinth.

As the portal sealed, I faintly heard Lorin’s words, a whisper behind frost. Was it just my imagination?

...