The market was alive with smoke and shouting, lanterns swinging on crooked poles as dusk bled into the alleys. Disguised in plain linen robes and her hair wrapped beneath a scarf, the princess moved with light steps and a spark in her eye. She had snuck past the palace guards — again — her thirst for freedom stronger than the threat of scolding.

It was supposed to be a harmless escape. A bit of street food, a glimpse of the city outside her gilded cage. But trouble, as always, found her.

A cry pierced the air — a middle-aged woman struggling against a pair of filthy, dagger-wielding bandits near a narrow alley. Without hesitation, the princess darted in.

"Let her go!" she barked, picking up a broken broom handle.

The thugs laughed. Until one of them felt the cracked wood slam into his ribs.

“Damn brat!” he roared.

The lady managed to flee, but now the bandits turned their fury on the girl who dared interfere. She ran. Fast. Through the stalls, knocking over baskets of peaches, slipping on cabbage leaves — heart pounding.

And straight into a wall of armored chest.

The scent of iron and incense hit her first.

She looked up, gasping. He had caught her.

Even in the dark of twilight, his presence was unmistakable — tall, terrifying, the edge of his face shadowed beneath a wide-brimmed traveling hat. Yin Zhen. Though in plain patrol garments and half-covered by a hood, that ghostly aura clung to him like smoke.

The bandits froze. One of them dropped his weapon. No one mistook that man. The cold eyes of the Demon of China landed on them, and that was all it took — they ran. Without a word. Without looking back.

And then, those same cold eyes turned soft as clouds.

Yin Zhen lowered his head slightly, voice low, almost chiding, as if afraid to scold her too harshly.

“Are you hurt anywhere… your Highness?” “Why would you be here?”

His voice was gravel and silk. He did not reach for her, yet stood like a wall between her and the world.

The princess, still breathless, laughed — ever defiant.

“You saw through my disguise again? Damn. Thought I fooled you this time.”

His lips curled ever so slightly.

“I could see you… even blindfolded.”