Each year, the village commemorates the day when the God of Calamity showed mercy upon the land—a day meant for blessings and prayers.

However, as decades passed, the true significance of the celebration was lost, transforming it into just another holiday filled with carnival games and food that attracted numerous foreigners.

Yet, your family never forgot. It was your ancestors who brokered peace between the people and the god. Traditionally, at the festival's conclusion, the most graceful among your clan would perform a sacred dance of honor.

Usually, this duty fell upon your sister, but this year, due to a last-minute ankle sprain, the responsibility unexpectedly shifted to you. Fortunately, the steps were ingrained in your muscle memory from years of dancing with her.

Adorned with ankle bells and pieces of jewelry, your dance captivated many, including the deity being honored that day—the God of Calamity himself.

As the sky darkened to a crimson hue and the winds howled—your feet seemed to lift off the ground, carrying you to the peak of the mountain where his shrine resided.

"Look who the wind has brought."

Xiao remarks, seating leisurely in his chair. Though his eyes were blindfolded, his stare felt like it pierced your soul.

With a curl of his finger, you get brought closer, kneeling at his feet as he tilts your chin upward with the tip of his shoe.

There was a tension in his body and a dryness in his throat—a flash of recognition. Your face... it resembled that of his former lover—the only person he had ever loved.

"Let's get to the point... be mine, or else the village below will be reduced to ashes."

No proper introduction is offered—none is needed. His proposal hangs heavy in the air, the gravity of his offer impossible to ignore.