There was an Ancient Legend on this continent.
It was said that in the Far Eastern Land stood a towering Great Peak that pierced the clouds, atop which dwelled an ancient dragon possessing the Power of Wish-Fulfillment.
It lay day and night within a cave at the summit, awaiting the brave warriors who dared to challenge the perilous path and reach it.
In exchange, the dragon would grant their wishes through a pact.
One day, an Ugly Witch climbed the steep mountain that had defeated countless warriors and came before the dragon.
She earnestly wished for an unparalleled beauty and for the person she loved to love her in return.
For this, she was willing to pay any price.
The divine dragon gladly accepted the deal, but the Ugly Witch had to pay with a Heart of Kindness and a Heart of Sincerity.
The Kingdom’s princess was a beautiful and kind girl.
She would grieve over a wilting flower, gently burying it in the soil with her own hands.
She would heal the broken wings of injured birds.
Whether commoner or noble, she treated all with equal kindness, never harshly blaming others’ mistakes, always understanding their hardships.
Though a princess, she was not extravagant.
Though beautiful, she was not arrogant.
Though gifted, she was humble.
She was the goddess’s favored child, born with love and equality for all living beings.
And she was taken away.
Scene One: Black Castle.
The stage lighting dimmed from bright to faint.
The assistant captain swiftly directed the props and scene changes.
As a focused beam shone down, the princess, played by Ji Yun, was bound by thick Iron Chains inside the Cage.
Though described as “bound by the hands,” in truth, her hands hung inside a large iron Ring thicker than her arms.
She wore a splendid gown of white and gold, her makeup flawless.
With just a glance, she earned countless praises from the audience.
“The princess is amazing! Even better with chains!”
“Such a pretty girl.”
“Bondage play? They’re really into this~”
“Which class is this? Someone tell me now!”
“Three minutes—I want all her contact info!”
“Tch, it’s just alright.”
“No way, is that it?”
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
Su Yao kept taking deep breaths.
Her body was stiff, and the thought of performing before thousands—reciting lines, acting—made her tremble uncontrollably.
To be honest, she was already having second thoughts.
If not for Mu Nanqiu waiting for her in the audience, she might have tried to escape.
But that would waste everyone’s efforts.
With this in mind, Su Yao forced herself to step forward.
Lost in thought, a soft voice next to her snapped her back.
“Su Yao, you’re up!”
“Oh.”
Her mind went blank as she responded, then she marched straight ahead.
She had tried to empty her thoughts, pretending she was in her own living room, but as soon as she stepped into the spotlight, a roaring cheer erupted from the audience.
Terrified, Su Yao’s legs gave out, and she stumbled, falling flat on the stage.
Thud~
“…”
The fall was harsh.
Su Yao gasped, her soul snapping back into her body as she realized what had happened.
She had fallen on stage—a huge embarrassment!
Hurriedly, she tried to get up, but her costume was ill-fitting.
Kneeling, she absentmindedly touched her head—her wizard’s hat was missing.
That meant—
Her face was exposed…
Instantly, Su Yao’s cheeks flushed.
She quickly turned away from the audience and searched the floor for her hat.
At that moment, two small lights came on.
Ji Yun had seen Su Yao’s fall and almost laughed but held back.
She freed her hands from the iron Ring, stepped out sideways from the Cage, picked up the wide-brimmed wizard’s hat from the floor, and walked over to Su Yao.
“Here.”
“Ah………….”
Su Yao looked at the hat first, then at Ji Yun, whispering,
“Thank you.”
Ji Yun paused, then couldn’t help but smile.
Afterward, she slipped back into the Cage and placed her hands back inside the iron Ring.
This little scene lifted the atmosphere considerably.
The previous act had been too serious and rigid, so this lighthearted moment brought many smiles.
“LOL, this is so fake.”
“Of course it’s fake. Nobody looks for realism in a story, right?”
“The girl playing the witch is so goofy, kind of cute.”
“Having a pretty girl play the Ugly Witch? What twisted fun is this? Love it~~”
“Tch, not funny at all.”
“No way, jealous much!”
The brief interlude ended, and the story continued.
Su Yao hurriedly put on the large wizard’s hat to cover her head and slowly walked toward the Cage where Ji Yun stood.
Through the barred gate, she began reciting her lines.
Still shaken from her fall, Su Yao stammered, nearly stuttering through her lines.
“Prin-princess!”
“Here.”
“Hmph, give up. I’ve long set the Net of Heaven and Earth, waiting for your most loyal knight. Once he arrives, he will surely perish in the Land of Burial! You absolutely, absolutely… cannot escape. I will tear out your heart—ha~ ha~ ha~”
Ji Yun looked at Su Yao with interest.
Though no longer resembling the original witch, this contrast gave her performance a certain charm.
Reciting threats in a soft, sticky voice with a slight tremble made the audience tingle with excitement.
That was all for Su Yao’s part.
After finishing her lines, she dashed offstage like she was fleeing for her life.
The following large segment didn’t concern her.
The princess had a loyal knight, sworn to protect her pure heart.
For years, he dutifully performed his role.
The evil witch transformed into a pitiful girl, manipulating the princess’s kindness to lure her into the Black Castle.
The brave warrior vowed to rescue her, overcoming countless trials and obstacles, finally arriving at the Black Castle.
After a fierce battle with the cunning witch, he defeated her and saved the princess.
A cliché, straightforward tale of hero rescuing damsel.
After the princess escaped, the Ugly Witch, played by Su Yao, was arrested and would soon be judged by the princess herself.
Scene Four.
This time, Su Yao sat in the Cage, just like Ji Yun had before, on a small stool.
But now she faced the audience directly.
During a pause before the next scene, she searched for Mu Nanqiu in the audience, but the bright stage lights made it hard to see, and she couldn’t find him.
“Witch, I have a question for you.”
Ji Yun recited her line, but Su Yao seemed unfocused.
Ji Yun furrowed her brow and repeated the line.
Only then did Su Yao snap back, hurriedly recalling her lines.
“The princess surrounded by blooming flowers, what do you want to know?”
“I want to know why you insist on tearing out my heart.”
“Heh, what good would it do if I told you? How could you possibly understand me?”
“Go ahead, it’s your last chance.”
The witch sneered and then lowered her head.
Though the witch’s voice was meant to be eerie, Su Yao’s portrayal gave a stubborn, pure yet obsessive tone, mixed with panic and despair, as if driven mad by something.
Not seeing Mu Nanqiu’s figure, Su Yao felt a moment of unease, but she told herself Mu Nanqiu wouldn’t deceive her.
He was just out of sight.
She straightened her resolve and fixed her watery eyes on Ji Yun, as if the princess before her was the villain blocking her reunion.
“How could you understand me?
You were born beautiful, surrounded by halos, worshipped by the world.
You are a noble princess, naturally respected and loved, the standard by which other girls are measured.
But I am an ugly woman with only a hint of magical talent.
They mock and ridicule me.
I live in dark shadows, coexisting daily with snakes, rats, insects, and flies.
For a piece of bread, I would sacrifice my dignity.
What do you have to understand me!”
“Princess, I envy your beauty, your fame, your untouchable status, your endless wealth.”
“But I could have cared less, until I met her.
I met someone I loved.
My hateful face made me ashamed—I dared not approach her.
How could someone like me ever be accepted by her?”
“So I decided to climb the Great Peak in the Far Eastern Land, to find the dragon that grants wishes.
Even if it means death, I will make my wish.”
“I want to change myself, become beautiful and charming.
And I want her to love me in return.”
“The price is a Heart of Kindness and a Heart of Sincerity.”
Ji Yun was moved by Su Yao’s heartfelt performance, momentarily forgetting her own lines.
Fortunately, she recovered quickly and spoke.
“For that, you tricked me and planned to kill my knight, using our hearts as payment for your wish, correct?”
The witch said nothing, silence answering for her.
The princess sighed deeply, then calmly announced her judgment.
“Very well, in that case, you shall receive the punishment your crimes deserve. I sentence you to eternal exile.”
Su Yao stepped down from the stage and threw herself into Mu Nanqiu’s waiting arms.
Feeling Su Yao’s uncontrollable trembling, Mu Nanqiu held her tighter, his heart aching.
She could have stayed within her comfort zone, yet here she was.
He wanted to comfort her, but Su Yao whispered,
“So cold~”