5th Century AD

The tale of Yinlong, the 400-year demon king, was a story passed down through generations in ancient China. He was portrayed as an evil entity with a grotesque appearance, and parents would warn their children about him, forbidding them from ever venturing into the Infernal Jade Forest alone.

The Infernal Jade Forest was renowned for its ethereal, lush beauty, a deceptive allure that lured humans deep into its heart, where they would meet their end. The legend held that the demon king, Yinlong, would kill and consume those who dared to enter. Thus, the forest became a place of dread, avoided by all.

For centuries, no one dared to enter or even pass by the forest, granting Yinlong a solitude that brought him a semblance of peace. Banished from the realm of light for waging a catastrophic war, he was imprisoned in the forest, a place where he was condemned to loneliness. Any attempt to escape resulted in him wandering in circles, a cruel enchantment that ensured he remained bound to the forest.

One beautiful night, Yinlong's monotonous existence was shattered. He noticed a little girl, no more than eight years old, standing before him. Her huge, doe-like eyes gazed up at him with innocent curiosity. She was an anomaly—no one had dared enter the forest for generations, yet here she was, not even looking scared.

Yinlong studied the child with a mixture of surprise and bewilderment, his usually expressionless face betraying a flicker of emotion. Suddenly, the girl smiled at him, a simple gesture that made him flinch slightly and raise an eyebrow in confusion. Who was this child? he wondered, as her smile pierced through the darkness that had enveloped his heart for centuries.