Bending down, I grabbed a handful of pebbles, flinging them as far from me as I could throw. They scattered with dull thuds, the guards’ gazes swinging away. At once, I sprinted toward the entrance, pressing myself against the walls. Just beside the panel was a hollow carved with the same flower as on the jade disc, blending seamlessly into the carvings. My pulse raced as I pressed the ornament against it, sliding smoothly into place. As the panel shimmered, dissolving into nothingness, I tucked the key behind a clump of grass and slipped into the chamber.

Behind me, the door solidified into stone once more. The air within was stale and heavy, like no living creature had entered the room for decades. I examined the vast chamber, larger even than the Silver Harmony Hall of my home. A round mahogany table lay in the center, carved with an elegant floral pattern, books and scrolls stacked in neat piles upon it. There were no stools, perhaps because there were no visitors here—certainly none of leisure. The walls were lined with elmwood shelves, crammed with exquisite sculptures of mythical creatures and ornaments of gold, porcelain, and jade. Along the walls were miniature trees barely knee-high, with spring-green leaves and elegantly curved branches.

As the door shimmered once more, Tao stepped through. Without a word, he strode to a shelf at the far end of the room. As he ran his fingers across a painted panel, a low crack ruptured the silence. A space appeared behind it, holding a round lacquered box roughly the size of my palm. It was exquisitely carved into a peony, its crimson petals clustered tight. Six jade dragonflies perched over its petals, crafted with translucent wings, iridescent bodies, and golden antennae.

As I reached for the box, Tao grabbed my arm, his fingers like bars of ice. He was trembling as he pointed at the dragonflies. “Those creatures sting. Their venom is excruciating. I barely escaped the last time.”

“The dragonflies?” Doubt layered my tone. They were beautiful, so well made, I found myself listening out for the thrum of flight. As I leaned closer to inspect them, they twitched—wings fluttering, rubies flashing from their eyes as sharp stingers slid from their slender abdomens. I leapt back, the stirrings of a gale on my fingertips to sweep them away—

“Careful, the guards will sense magic,” Tao hissed, nodding at my bow. “Can’t you use a weapon?”