The chains tremble.
Three figures stand in the centre of the underground prison, their spiritual energy gathering despite the ancient restraints wrapped around their bodies.
Qiao Tian's eyes remain fixed on the black chains around her wrists.
QIAO TIAN On my signal. Don't release your energy before then.
YUN ZHAO You say that as though we're about to break a teacup.
XUAN DAO With your cultivation, breaking a teacup might be the most impressive thing you've done today.
YUN ZHAO I was unconscious for half the day!
XUAN DAO And somehow, you've managed to become even more irritating.
Qiao Tian exhales, trying not to laugh.
QIAO TIAN Both of you. Focus.
The faint smile disappears from her face.
Above them, the Blood Spirit Tree pulses.
THUM.
THUM.
Red light spreads through the cracks in the stone floor.
The imprisoned girls begin to tremble.
GIRL Please... don't let it take any more of us...
Qiao Tian turns towards her.
QIAO TIAN Look at me.
The girl slowly raises her eyes.
QIAO TIAN You are not going to die here.
Qiao Tian looks at Xuan Dao and Yun Zhao.
QIAO TIAN NOW!
All three release their spiritual energy.
BOOOOOOM!
The underground prison erupts in blinding light.
The black chains stretch, twist, and crack.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
For one breathtaking moment, nothing happens.
Then—
KRRRAAAAAACK!
The chains shatter.
Qiao Tian lands on one knee, breathing heavily. Yun Zhao stumbles forward, rubbing his wrists.
Xuan Dao casually rolls his shoulders.
XUAN DAO Finally. I was beginning to think Mei Lin had mistaken me for a decorative palace statue.
YUN ZHAO You were making jokes while we were chained to a wall?
XUAN DAO Would you have preferred crying?
YUN ZHAO I would've preferred you breaking the chains ten minutes ago!
XUAN DAO And deprive you of this unforgettable experience?
Qiao Tian rises.
QIAO TIAN Can you two argue after we're alive?
A deafening metallic sound interrupts them.
CLANG!
The prison doors slam shut.
Red symbols ignite across the walls.
A cold voice echoes through the chamber.
MEI LIN (V.O.) Little guests.
A sinister laugh follows.
MEI LIN (V.O.) Did you truly believe I would allow you to leave my palace?
Xuan Dao's expression hardens.
XUAN DAO I was hoping she'd be asleep.
YUN ZHAO You know what? I genuinely hate you.
XUAN DAO Get in line.
Suddenly, the floor splits.
Thick, thorn-covered roots burst out of the stone, whipping towards the prisoners.
QIAO TIAN PROTECT THE GIRLS!
Qiao Tian draws her sword.
SHING!
Her blade flashes through the darkness, cutting through three roots before they can reach the nearest girl.
Yun Zhao launches himself forward, striking another root with a burst of golden energy.
YUN ZHAO Everyone, move towards the eastern passage!
Xuan Dao sweeps his arm.
A powerful wave of spiritual energy sends a dozen roots crashing into the walls.
XUAN DAO Qiao Tian! The girls!
QIAO TIAN I've got them!
Qiao Tian rushes between the cages, cutting the locks one after another.
QIAO TIAN Everyone who can walk, help those who cannot! Stay together! Don't touch the red roots!
One of the girls tries to stand, but her legs give way.
Qiao Tian catches her before she hits the floor.
GIRL I can't... I can't feel my legs...
QIAO TIAN Then you don't have to walk.
Qiao Tian lifts her into her arms.
QIAO TIAN I'll carry you.
The girl stares at Qiao Tian, tears spilling down her face.
GIRL Why... why are you helping us?
Qiao Tian looks at the frightened girls around her.
QIAO TIAN Because someone should have helped you a long time ago.
She turns and runs.
INT. MEI LIN'S PALACE — EASTERN CORRIDOR — CONTINUOUS
The prison doors explode outwards.
BOOOOM!
Qiao Tian emerges with the rescued girls.
Xuan Dao and Yun Zhao follow, fighting off the pursuing roots.
But the corridor is already filled with Heavenly Sword soldiers.
SOLDIER THE PRISONERS HAVE ESCAPED!
ANOTHER SOLDIER SEAL THE EASTERN GATE!
Dozens of soldiers charge.
Qiao Tian carefully passes the girl in her arms to an older rescued woman.
QIAO TIAN Take them to the end of the corridor. Don't stop for anyone.
WOMAN What about you?
Qiao Tian draws her sword.
QIAO TIAN I'll catch up.
The first soldier attacks.
Qiao Tian ducks beneath his sword, strikes the flat of her blade against his wrist, and sends his weapon spinning away.
She pivots, kicks another soldier into the wall, then blocks a third attack.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Her movements are swift and precise. She strikes to disarm rather than kill, clearing a path without allowing the soldiers to reach the girls.
Behind her, Yun Zhao leaps onto a fallen pillar.
YUN ZHAO I've always wanted to do this!
XUAN DAO Do what?!
YUN ZHAO THIS!
Yun Zhao jumps.
He lands in the middle of the advancing soldiers and releases a circular blast of golden spiritual energy.
BOOM!
The soldiers are thrown backwards.
Xuan Dao stares at the destruction.
XUAN DAO Show-off.
YUN ZHAO You're just jealous!
XUAN DAO Of what? Your terrible landing?
Yun Zhao looks down.
He is standing on a cracked stone tile that is rapidly collapsing.
YUN ZHAO Oh, no—
The tile breaks.
CRASH!
Yun Zhao drops through the floor and disappears into the level below.
A moment of silence.
XUAN DAO ...Incredible.
From below comes a furious shout.
YUN ZHAO (O.S.) I'M ALIVE!
XUAN DAO A tragedy for the rest of us!
Even Qiao Tian lets out a brief laugh.
Then the entire palace shakes.
THUUUUUM!
The walls split apart.
Enormous black-red roots surge through the corridor, tearing down pillars and crushing stone statues.
The girls scream.
QIAO TIAN RUN!
The group races towards the eastern gate as the roots pursue them.
One root slams into the floor ahead of them.
BOOM!
The passage collapses.
The girls stumble backwards.
GIRL We're trapped!
Qiao Tian looks up.
The ceiling is breaking apart.
Then she spots a narrow opening above a ruined archway.
QIAO TIAN Xuan Dao!
XUAN DAO Already saw it!
Xuan Dao plants his foot against the wall and launches himself upwards.
He strikes the archway with his palm.
BOOOOM!
The stone ceiling shatters, revealing a passage leading to the upper palace.
XUAN DAO Everyone up! Quickly!
Yun Zhao climbs back from the lower level, his robes covered in dust.
YUN ZHAO I leave you alone for one minute—
XUAN DAO You fell through a floor!
YUN ZHAO And returned with valuable information!
QIAO TIAN What information?
YUN ZHAO The lower level is also full of soldiers.
XUAN DAO Brilliant. Truly worthy of a prince.
Qiao Tian shakes her head.
QIAO TIAN Both of you, get the girls out!
They help the rescued women climb through the opening.
Qiao Tian remains at the back, cutting away the roots that threaten to drag the last girls into the darkness.
One root lashes around her wrist.
QIAO TIAN Ah—!
She slashes at it, but another root coils around her waist.
XUAN DAO QIAO TIAN!
Xuan Dao lunges forward.
His spiritual energy erupts.
XUAN DAO GET YOUR FILTHY ROOTS OFF MY STUDENT!
BOOOOOOOM!
The roots burst apart.
Xuan Dao catches Qiao Tian by the arm and pulls her through the opening.
They crash onto the upper floor together.
QIAO TIAN I'm fine.
XUAN DAO You have a strange definition of fine.
QIAO TIAN You shout too much.
XUAN DAO And you nearly got eaten by a tree!
Yun Zhao leans over them.
YUN ZHAO Are you two finished? Because the palace is collapsing.
A huge crack tears across the ceiling.
They scramble to their feet.
XUAN DAO Run first. Argue later.
YUN ZHAO Finally, something sensible!
SCENE — THE UNEXPECTED REINFORCEMENTSINT. MEI LIN'S PALACE — GRAND HALL — NIGHT
The rescued girls rush into the grand hall.
The eastern doors are sealed by a massive magical barrier.
Beyond it lies the outer courtyard.
Freedom is only a few steps away.
But a line of Heavenly Sword guards stands between them and the exit.
Their commander steps forward, a long silver sword in his hand.
COMMANDER No one leaves this palace alive.
Qiao Tian steps in front of the girls.
QIAO TIAN Then you'll have to get through us.
COMMANDER You think three cultivators can defeat the entire Heavenly Sword guard?
YUN ZHAO Actually, there are only two of us here.
Xuan Dao turns slowly.
XUAN DAO What?
YUN ZHAO You're so powerful. I thought you counted as several people.
Xuan Dao closes his eyes.
XUAN DAO I miss the days when you were too young to speak.
The commander raises his sword.
COMMANDER ATTACK!
The guards charge.
Qiao Tian steps forward—
CRASH!
The grand hall doors explode inward.
A gust of wind sweeps through the room.
Every soldier stops.
Two figures stand amid the shattered doorway.
One is a young man dressed in dark Crimson Lotus robes, his sword resting in his hand.
Beside him stands a petite girl, slightly dishevelled, holding a dagger in one hand and a broken piece of wooden railing in the other.
Shinzi.
And Shin.
For a moment, nobody speaks.
Yun Zhao blinks.
YUN ZHAO ...Shinzi?
Shinzi glances at him.
SHINZI You look terrible.
YUN ZHAO I HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED UNDER A PALACE!
SHINZI I can see that.
Shin peers around her brother's shoulder.
SHIN Brother, is that really Yun Zhao?
SHINZI Unfortunately.
YUN ZHAO I can hear both of you!
Shin spots Xuan Dao.
Her eyes brighten.
SHIN Xuan Dao!
Xuan Dao looks surprised.
XUAN DAO Little princess?
Shin runs towards him.
Then she remembers the broken railing in her hand and quickly throws it aside.
SHIN I brought help!
She spreads her arms proudly.
XUAN DAO I see that.
He looks at the shattered doors.
XUAN DAO Did you break those?
SHIN No.
A pause.
SHIN Well... not all of them.
Xuan Dao laughs.
XUAN DAO You're getting better.
Shin beams.
Then she abruptly grabs his sleeve.
SHIN But don't tell my father.
XUAN DAO Of course not.
He bends slightly towards her.
XUAN DAO Your secret is safe with me.
Shin looks relieved.
SHIN Really?
XUAN DAO Absolutely.
He glances at the enormous hole in the doorway.
XUAN DAO I'll simply tell him that the palace attacked you first.
Shin bursts into laughter.
SHIN You're funny!
XUAN DAO I try.
Shinzi watches them with a faint smile.
SHINZI She hasn't laughed like that in days.
Xuan Dao looks towards him.
For a brief moment, their eyes meet.
Shinzi's expression softens.
SHINZI Thank you.
XUAN DAO For what?
SHINZI For always being kind to her.
Xuan Dao's smile fades into something gentler.
XUAN DAO She's a good girl.
He ruffles Shin's hair.
XUAN DAO Someone has to make sure she doesn't destroy every palace she visits.
SHIN I only destroyed part of this one!
YUN ZHAO That is not the defence you think it is!
For one fleeting moment, despite the collapsing palace and the approaching army, the hall fills with laughter.
Shin turns towards Shinzi and reaches for his hand.
SHIN Brother, we found them!
Shinzi squeezes her hand.
SHINZI We did.
Then he looks at the frightened girls huddled behind Qiao Tian.
His expression changes.
SHINZI Now we take everyone home.
INT. MEI LIN'S PALACE — GRAND HALL — MOMENTS LATER
The Heavenly Sword commander recovers from his shock.
COMMANDER Crimson Lotus?!
He raises his sword.
COMMANDER Kill them all!
The guards charge.
SHINZI Shin. Stay behind me.
SHIN I can fight!
SHINZI I know.
He gives her a quick glance.
SHINZI That's why I said behind me. Not out of the fight.
Shin grins.
SHIN Understood!
Shinzi draws his sword.
SHING!
Black-and-red spiritual energy races along the blade.
He moves.
One strike disarms three guards.
Another sends two more crashing into a pillar.
Shin darts beneath an incoming sword, kicks the soldier's knee, and strikes his shoulder with the hilt of her dagger.
SHIN One!
She spins.
SHIN Two!
She ducks beneath another strike.
SHIN Three!
SHINZI Stop counting!
SHIN It helps me concentrate!
SHINZI Concentrate quietly!
Across the hall, Xuan Dao breaks through the enemy line with terrifying speed.
He catches one soldier by the collar and tosses him into two others.
XUAN DAO Yun Zhao! Barrier!
YUN ZHAO On it!
Yun Zhao slams both palms into the ground.
BOOM!
A golden formation spreads across the floor, illuminating the ancient symbols embedded in the stone.
The barrier around the eastern doors flickers.
YUN ZHAO Qiao Tian! The formation is connected to the Blood Spirit Tree! I can weaken it, but I can't destroy it alone!
Qiao Tian looks towards the girls.
Then towards the barrier.
QIAO TIAN Keep it open for ten breaths!
YUN ZHAO Ten breaths?!
QIAO TIAN You can do it!
YUN ZHAO I hate it when you say that!
Qiao Tian rushes towards the formation.
Her sword strikes three glowing symbols in rapid succession.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The barrier shudders.
Shinzi notices the way Qiao Tian moves—every strike precise, every step perfectly measured.
His eyes narrow slightly.
He has seen that kind of swordsmanship before.
But there is no time to question it.
SHINZI Everyone! Move towards the gate!
Shin helps an injured girl to her feet.
SHIN Hold on to me!
GIRL I... I can't—
SHIN Then I'll hold on to you!
Shin wraps the girl's arm around her shoulders and supports her as they move.
Behind them, Xuan Dao and Shinzi fight back-to-back.
XUAN DAO Not bad, little prince!
SHINZI Little?!
XUAN DAO Would you prefer tiny?
SHINZI I am older than your patience!
XUAN DAO That isn't saying much!
Shinzi laughs despite himself, blocking an attack aimed at Xuan Dao's back.
SHINZI Left!
Xuan Dao spins.
CLANG!
Their swords strike the same enemy weapon from opposite sides, sending it flying.
XUAN DAO Good eye.
SHINZI Good timing.
They exchange a quick grin before charging back into battle.
Then the barrier flickers violently.
YUN ZHAO NOW WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT TIME TO FINISH THIS!
Qiao Tian leaps into the air.
Her sword flashes through the final symbol.
QIAO TIAN BREAK!
KRAAAAAAACK!
The magical barrier shatters into thousands of glowing fragments.
The eastern gates fly open.
Night air rushes into the hall.
The girls stare at the open doorway.
Freedom.
QIAO TIAN GO!
The rescued girls run.
Shin and Shinzi help the weakest among them. Yun Zhao holds the formation long enough for the last girl to cross the threshold.
Xuan Dao remains at the rear, deflecting the soldiers' attacks.
XUAN DAO Qiao Tian! Get them out!
QIAO TIAN Not without you!
XUAN DAO Stubborn child!
Xuan Dao releases a final burst of spiritual energy, sending the remaining soldiers tumbling backwards.
He turns and sprints through the gates.
BOOOOM!
The palace doors collapse behind him.
For one breathless moment, the group stands in the moonlit courtyard.
The rescued girls are free.
But then—
THUUUUUUUM!
The earth trembles.
Every tree in the courtyard bends towards the palace.
Black-red roots erupt from the ground, spreading in every direction.
At the top of the palace steps, a woman appears.
Mei Lin.
Her long robes drift in the wind. Her beautiful face is calm, but her eyes burn with fury.
MEI LIN How touching.
She descends one step.
MEI LIN You broke my chains.
Another step.
MEI LIN Destroyed my guards.
Her gaze settles on the rescued girls.
MEI LIN And stole what belongs to me.
Qiao Tian steps in front of the girls.
Shinzi moves beside her. Xuan Dao and Yun Zhao take their positions on either side.
Shin grips her dagger, standing close to her brother.
QIAO TIAN They never belonged to you.
Mei Lin smiles.
MEI LIN Then come and take them away.
The Blood Spirit Tree awakens behind her.
Its enormous branches rise over the palace like the limbs of a monstrous god.
Red light floods the courtyard.
Xuan Dao's expression turns deadly.
XUAN DAO Everyone behind me.
Shinzi raises his sword.
SHINZI We're not leaving anyone behind.
Qiao Tian looks at the rescued girls.
Then she raises her blade towards Mei Lin.
QIAO TIAN Then let's finish this.
Mei Lin lifts one hand.
The entire courtyard erupts.
CUT TO BLACK.