Baichi eight years earlier...

Two young girls raced around a small lake on the Bai family property. "Chyou'er you're cheating!"

The taller girl laughed musically and said in a bratty voice, "You're just too slow Yin Yin!"

"Wait for me!" Yin Yin breathlessly said causing the taller girl to come to a stop and squat down next to a tree.

Yin Yin finally caught up and squatted down next to the taller girl and asked, "What are you looking at?"

The taller girl pointed at the reflection in the lake and said, "When the lake is still you can see your reflection, see?"

Yin Yin snorted and said, "You can also use a hand mirror."

"I've never had a hand mirror, Yin Yin, I can only use this." Chyou'er laughed again. She looked at her reflection and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "Hey, Yin Yin, do you think I am beautiful?"

Yin Yin made a strange face and then said, "Yeah, you are the most beautiful girl at Jade Lake everyone knows that."

Chyou'er smiled and looked over at Yin Yin and said, "No, it's not me that's the most beautiful. Yin Yin, you should know... I was sold to the Fragrant Cloud. They are going to train me to be a courtesan there. I'll be learning to play the zither, dancing, and... Other things. Today is my last day here at Jade Lake."

Yin Yin pouted and stomped her foot, "That's not true, I'll talk to daddy!"

Chyou'er shook her head and said with a sigh, "It was your mother who sold me. She said I was a bad influence on you and that a girl with my looks could make quite a life for herself at the Fragrant Cloud."

Yin Yin grabbed Chyou'er's hand and held it tightly, "I don't want you to go!"

Chyou'er looked into Yin Yin's eyes with tears starting to run down her cheeks, "I don't want to go either Yin Yin."

"I'm going to become the most beautiful woman and marry the best man in Baichi. Then we will come to the Fragrant Cloud and buy your contract and make you our concubine." Yin Yin said as she stared at Chyou'er giving the girl's hand a tight squeeze.

Chyou'er chuckled with sadness and then spoke softly trying hard not to cry, "Then I will become the best courtesan in Baichi and wait for you at the Fragrant Cloud."

The two girls leaned against each other and held hands looking into the reflection on the Jade Lake's surface.

Baichi four years earlier...

Several girls looked out into the main serving room of the Fragrant Cloud, "Who is that Young Master? He's so handsome he almost looks like a girl!" A young courtesan asked.

"I haven't seen him before. He might be here for Ah Xi." Another one of the young women said.

As they watched the main room the Young Master asked for music. One of the older women walked back to the room with the young courtesans and said, "Zi Chyou, set up your Zither. The Young Master would like you to play for him."

The other girls giggled and started to make jealous faces at Zi Chyou who merely picked up her zither and walked into the main room and up to the stage emotionlessly.

Zi Chyou set up her instrument and started to play a simple tune. The handsome Young Master shook his head and said in a gruff deep voice, "Terrible. Play something nice, I don't want to hear such depressing music."

Zi Chyou felt annoyed and it showed on her face for a moment. She stopped playing the first song and then started to play a popular upbeat tune.

The Young Master snorted derisively and then asked, "Stop. Girl, is this what you call good music? It sounds like you are providing music for someone's funeral. I want to hear happy music."

Zi Chyou started to feel a little bit angry but quickly calmed herself after closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She started to play a different song but the Young Master cut her off. "That's enough, this young master requires a private room with this courtesan." One of the older ladies nodded at him and brought the Young Master and Zi Chyou into a private room.

Once inside the room the Young Master sat in the pile of pillows in the corner of the room and said in a deep gruff voice, "Courtesan Zi Chyou, I hear that you are famous for being the untouchable ice princess, is that true?"

Zi Chyou smiled and shook her head, "I am just a courtesan here at the Fragrant Cloud."

"Dance for me." The Young Master said while looking at her with a bored expression.

Zi Chyou started to twirl about, without music her dancing seemed awkward causing the Young Master to laugh. The Young Master finally smirked and then said in a much higher yet softer voice, "Chyou'er is this what you have been doing all these years?"

Zi Chyou shook for a moment and lost her footing slipping to her knees in front of the Young Master. She asked in a shaky almost whisper-like voice, "Yin Yin?"

The Young Master used the gruff deep voice, "This Young Master spent good coin for your company, shouldn't you at least give me a kiss?" She pointed to her cheek.

Zi Chyou hurled herself into the Young Master's arms and hugged him tightly, "What are you doing? What if they catch you?"

"My Tutor is covering for me. You'd like her she's got big boobs." Bai Xiao Yin hugged Zi Chyou hard and kissed her on the cheek.

"Yin Yin, I have missed you so much." Zi Chyou held onto Bai Xiao Yin not letting go.

Bai Xiao Yin nodded and held onto Zi Chyou, "It's been hard for me too, Chyou'er. My parents have been looking for a husband for me, I don't know how much longer you'll have to wait but I have never forgotten you. Just hold on a little longer."

Zi Chyou nodded and squeezed Bai Xiao Yin and said, "I don't care if I have to wait a year, two years or more... No matter what I won't forget you, Yin Yin!"

Zi Chyou brushed the tears from her cheeks and said, "Yin Yin, don't come here like this though, it's too dangerous. What if someone recognizes you?"

Bai Xiao Yin laughed and gave a handsome smile, "You mean like my very best friend who was ready to throw me out of here cause I told her that her music was bad?"

Zi Chyou blushed and looked away, "I just thought you were a regular customer."

Bai Xiao Yin looked Zi Chyou in the eye and asked, "Is it bad here?"

Zi Chyou looked around and then leaned very close and whispered in her ear, "It's not all bad, but yes."

Bai Xiao Yin clenched a fist and nodded, "I will come again, once I have a man that can shield us from the sky itself."

The Capital, Xia present day...

Bai Xiao Yin stood next to her husband who held her hand as they stood at the spot Chyou lost her life. Trampas spoke softly, "My momma said, that when we die our soul leaves the mortal coil and ascends to Heaven or descends to Hell depending upon how we lead our lives. A good person like Zi Chyou would ascend to Heaven and be waiting there with her family for her loved ones." He cleared his throat and spoke in a wavering voice, "I don't know if any of that is true or not, but I do know that when we cultivated to the Nascent Soul layer, we got a little version of ourselves in our Spirit Lake. Since you were so close to each other Yin Yin, I reckon Chyou'er will show up sooner or later at your Spirit Lake so you two can be together again."

Bai Xiao Yin shook for a moment and then closed her eyes. She went deep inside her mind and thought about her spirit lake. Standing out in the middle of her endless Spirit Ocean she saw a little version of herself looking down into the water trying to see her reflection. As she looked down into the churning waves she could only see deep blue water with white foam as the waves white-capped over and over again.

"What are you hoping to see in there?" A clear musical voice sounded in her ear.

Bai Xiao Yin looked up and just as Trampas had said Zi Chyou was smiling at her. "Chyou'er is it you?"

"It's me." She nodded and then the two of their souls embraced tightly.

"But... You died." Bai Xiao Yin's soul cried as she held Zi Chyou's soul.

"Yeah, I'm dead but I heard you calling for me so I came to find you. At first, it was a little scary trying to find you in this huge sea but I always heard your voice guiding me to you." Zi Chyou said with a smile on her face.

"Will you have to leave me?" Bai Xiao Yin asked.

Zi Chyou's soul nodded. She held Bai Xiao Yin's hand and said, "Mm, I am afraid so. The land of the living has no place for a mere soul like me. Yin Yin, I just wanted to tell you before I left... I have no regrets. I wish I had been able to give our family a child, so I will ask that you do so in my stead, alright?"

They hugged each other for a long time and then Bai Xiao Yin chuckled, "You know that I am pregnant already, don't you?"

Zi Chyou nodded, "I was your best friend, how would I not notice you getting sick every morning?"

Bai Xiao Yin chuckled while sobbing, "I was going to tell you all, but things just keep coming up..."

Then they leaned against each other while holding hands. "It's time for me to go Yin Yin, this time I won't be able to wait for you."

Bai Xiao Yin nodded and said softly, "I know Chyou'er. I will never forget you." Bai Xiao Yin opened her eyes and turned to Trampas and said softly, "Thank you. I think you should know... You're going to be a father."