The mountains of Yunnan resembled an ink-wash painting, layered and hazy, appearing and disappearing in the mist.

Yeh Yao stood outside Kunming Airport, taking a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling the starkly different climate and atmosphere compared to Hawaii. Here, the air was dry and cool, carrying a unique fragrance of grass and trees.

"Wow, it’s so beautiful here!" Nasser exclaimed, looking around excitedly. "Much more modern than I imagined."

Alicia shook her head with a smile. "This is just the provincial capital. Our destination is deeper in the mountains—that’s the real 'Yunnan.'"

Marcus was already arranging transportation, speaking fluent Chinese with a taxi driver. Yeh Yao noticed that no matter where they went, Marcus seemed effortlessly adept at handling local languages and cultures, deepening his curiosity about the mysterious mentor’s background.

"Where are we headed?" Yeh Yao asked quietly as he approached Marcus.

"Shangri-La," Marcus replied. "A county town in northwestern Yunnan, near the Tibetan border. According to our intel, the wielder of the Bow of Light was last seen near a small village there."

"Shangri-La?" Nasser raised an eyebrow. "Like the legendary paradise?"

Marcus nodded. "Yes, though the real Shangri-La may not be as mystical as the legends say, it’s still a beautiful and special place."

They took a taxi to Kunming’s long-distance bus station, preparing to board a bus to Shangri-La. The journey would take nearly ten hours, traversing towering mountains and crossing multiple climate zones.

"Why not just fly?" Nasser asked, eyeing the crowded bus station uneasily.

"Shangri-La has an airport, but flights are limited," Marcus explained. "Besides, traveling by land lets us better understand the local terrain and culture, which might help our mission."

Once the bus departed, the four sat in the back and began discussing what they knew about the Bow of Light’s wielder.

"Do we know her name?" Yeh Yao asked.

Marcus shook his head. "Only scattered clues. She’s said to be a young archaeologist studying ancient ruins in the area. There were reports of her displaying extraordinary abilities during a landslide, rescuing trapped villagers."

"An archaeologist..." Alicia mused. "That’s interesting. If she’s researching ancient relics, she might have already come across historical records about the Weapons of Light."

"That’s possible," Marcus agreed. "It might be why the Bow of Light chose her. Each weapon has its own selection criteria—the bow seems to favor those with sharp insight and an exploratory spirit."

Nasser looked curiously at his hands, as if he could see the hidden power of the Hammer of Light within them. "Then what about the hammer? Why did it choose me?"

Marcus smiled. "The hammer seeks those with fearless, challenge-facing souls. Your act of charging into a storm to save people perfectly embodies that."

Yeh Yao thought of his own encounter with the Sword of Light—during that critical moment when he tried to protect Alicia. Each wielder seemed to be chosen at a pivotal moment, and it was no coincidence.

The bus wound along the mountain roads, the scenery outside shifting from cities to villages, plains to highlands. As the altitude rose, the temperature dropped, and the vegetation changed.

By evening, they arrived at a place called "Tiger Leaping Gorge" for a rest stop. One of the deepest gorges in the world, the Jinsha River roared through it like thunder.

"We’ll stay here tonight," Marcus said. "We’ll continue to Shangri-La early tomorrow."

They checked into a simple inn with a stunning view of the gorge and the river. Dinner was authentic Yunnan cuisine—fragrant steamed chicken, spicy rice noodles, and various wild mushrooms. Nasser showed great enthusiasm for the novel dishes, eagerly sampling everything and attempting broken Chinese to ask the innkeeper about the cooking methods.

After the meal, the four sat on the inn’s terrace, gazing at the starry sky and the gorge, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

"Have you ever wondered," Nasser suddenly spoke, his tone more contemplative than usual, "why now? Why are these Hellgates suddenly appearing worldwide? If the Weapons of Light have existed for millennia, there must have been similar crises before, right?"

Marcus nodded. "Indeed. According to the Watchers’ records, Hellgates have appeared multiple times in history, but never at this scale or frequency. The last major outbreak was about five hundred years ago, when five wielders united to fight the threat."

"Did they succeed?" Alicia asked.

Marcus’s expression turned complex. "Yes, but at a great cost. Three of the five wielders perished."

The answer cast a silence over the group. Yeh Yao felt a chill—not just from the cold mountain night.

"So... what about this time?" he finally asked. "What are our chances?"

Marcus met his gaze squarely. "Honestly, I don’t know. This situation is worse than anything in recorded history. But I believe that if the five wielders unite as one, there’s hope."

"Alright," Nasser broke the heavy mood, raising his teacup. "To unity, and to hope!"

The others raised their cups as well, silently making wishes under the stars.

The next morning, they continued their journey. As the altitude climbed further, the scenery grew even more breathtaking—snow-capped mountains, grasslands, forests, and lakes intertwined into a mesmerizing landscape.

"It really does look like the legendary Shangri-La," Alicia marveled, gazing at the rolling snow peaks outside the window. "No wonder James Hilton was inspired by it."

By afternoon, the bus finally arrived in Shangri-La. It was a small town blending Tibetan, Naxi, and Han cultures, with unique architecture and prayer wheels and prayer flags visible everywhere.

Marcus led them to an inn in the old town, then began gathering information about the archaeologist. He spoke fluent Tibetan with the locals, asking about recent archaeological digs and unusual events.

"Got a lead," Marcus said excitedly when he returned to the inn hours later. "Someone saw a young female archaeologist heading to a place called 'Moonlight Valley' nearby. There’s supposedly an ancient ruin there that might be connected to the Weapons of Light."

"When do we leave?" Yeh Yao asked, already ready to move.

"First thing tomorrow," Marcus replied. "I’ve arranged for a guide and transport. Moonlight Valley is deep in the mountains—it’ll take several hours of hiking to reach."

That night, Yeh Yao tossed and turned. Standing on the inn’s balcony, he gazed at the starry sky and distant snow peaks, his thoughts in turmoil. Since the Blood Moon night, his life had turned upside down. From an ordinary university student to a wielder of a Weapon of Light tasked with saving the world—the change had come so fast that it still felt unreal at times.

"Can’t sleep?" Alicia’s voice came from behind. She walked over, wrapped in a thick coat.

Yeh Yao smiled faintly. "A little nervous. Tomorrow, we might meet the third wielder."

"We’ve found two, three more to go," Alicia said. "Good progress."

Yeh Yao looked at her, warmth rising in his chest. No matter how tough things got, Alicia always saw the bright side—one of the things he admired most about her.

"Thank you for always being by my side," he said softly. "I don’t know if I could’ve made it this far without you."

Alicia smiled and squeezed his hand. "We grew up together. No matter what happens, I’ll be here. That’s my choice—and my promise."

The two stood quietly on the balcony, savoring the brief moment of calm, knowing tomorrow would bring new challenges.

At dawn, the four gathered at the inn’s entrance to meet their guide—a young Tibetan man named Danzeng. He arrived on a rugged off-road motorcycle, ready to lead them to Moonlight Valley’s entrance.

"Moonlight Valley is special," Danzeng explained in heavily accented Chinese. "Legends say it’s where deities dwell. Few outsiders go there—the mountain paths are too dangerous."

They boarded an off-road vehicle and traveled along rugged mountain roads. As the altitude rose, the air grew thinner, making breathing difficult.

"Breathe slowly," Marcus advised. "Altitude sickness is normal—avoid strenuous activity."

Two hours later, the vehicle could go no further, and they had to proceed on foot. Danzeng led them along an almost invisible trail through dense forests and steep slopes.

"They say Moonlight Valley only reveals its true form on full-moon nights," Danzeng said as they walked. "Normally, it’s just an ordinary valley. But under the full moon, the ancient ruins glow faintly, guiding truth-seekers."

"Sounds mystical," Nasser remarked. "But I like it."

After three grueling hours, they finally reached Moonlight Valley’s entrance. A narrow valley embraced by towering mountains, it had a clear stream meandering through lush vegetation and blooming wildflowers—serene and beautiful.

"Where are the ruins?" Yeh Yao scanned the area but saw no signs of man-made structures.

Danzeng pointed deeper into the valley. "There, but invisible now. Only on full-moon nights, when moonlight hits certain rocks, does the entrance appear."

"What about the archaeologist?" Alicia asked. "How did she get in?"

Danzeng shrugged. "I’m only taking you this far. From here, you’ll have to find your own way." With that, he turned to leave. "I’ll wait at the entrance, but return before sunset—the mountains are dangerous at night."

After Danzeng left, the four began searching the valley for clues. They split up, looking for any traces of the archaeologist or the ruins.

Yeh Yao followed the stream, carefully observing his surroundings. Suddenly, he noticed strange markings on a rock in the water—an arrow-shaped symbol pointing upstream.

"Over here!" he called, drawing the others’ attention. "I found something!"

They gathered quickly to examine the discovery.

"This isn’t natural," Marcus confirmed. "Someone left this deliberately."

Following the arrow’s direction, they soon found more markings guiding them through thick bushes to the valley’s depths. Finally, they stopped before a steep cliff face.

Covered in moss and vines, the cliff seemed no different from its surroundings. But upon closer inspection, Yeh Yao noticed something hidden beneath the foliage.

"There might be an entrance here," he said, clearing the vines.

The others joined in, and soon, a man-made opening appeared—small, only allowing one person to crouch through, and pitch-dark inside.

"Seems we’re in the right place," Nasser said, pulling a flashlight from his backpack. "Who’s going in first?"

"I will," Yeh Yao volunteered. "If there’s danger, I can summon the sword immediately."

He crouched into the tunnel, the others following. The narrow passage was damp and cold, its walls slick with moisture. It sloped downward, twisting and turning as if leading deep into the mountain.

After about ten minutes, the tunnel suddenly widened, revealing a massive underground cavern. At its center was a small lake, its crystal-clear water reflecting faint light from somewhere above. Surrounding the lake were stone pillars, each carved with ancient runes strikingly similar to those on the Weapons of Light.

"This is... a temple," Marcus whispered, his voice trembling slightly with awe. "An ancient temple dedicated to the Weapons of Light."

Just then, a voice came from across the lake: "You’ve finally arrived."

The four turned sharply to see a young woman standing on the opposite shore. Dressed in practical field attire, her hair in a ponytail, her face was resolute and striking. But what drew the eye most was the weapon in her hands—a longbow glowing softly green, its surface covered in the same runes as the pillars.

"Wielder of the Bow of Light," Marcus murmured, then raised his voice. "Hello, we’re—"

"I know who you are," the woman interrupted, a note of wariness in her voice. "Wielders of the Sword and Hammer of Light, and a member of the Watchers. I’ve been waiting for you."

"How did you know we’d come?" Yeh Yao asked, surprised.

She pointed at the lake. "This lake has special properties—it shows fragments of the past and future. I’ve studied here for three months, learning much about the Weapons of Light and the coming crisis."

She stepped closer, the light from the water illuminating her face. She looked younger than Yeh Yao expected, maybe mid-twenties, but her eyes held wisdom and resolve beyond her years.