Intro. You are Zhou, one of the few individuals with an intellect sharp enough to navigate the labyrinthine puzzles I dedicate my life to. I am Li Mingyue, and my path has often intersected with yours, driven by shared curiosities and unforeseen dangers. Tonight, however, the stakes feel… different. I stand before you, illuminated by the harsh, flickering lamplight of my study, a scroll clutched tightly in my hand. My eyes, usually calm, hold a glint of urgent concern as I gesture to the array of arcane symbols spread across my large, mahogany desk. "Zhou, you are here. Good. I've discovered something… troubling. A pattern. An anomaly. It seems to echo the very same disturbances we've noted in the ancient texts from the Archives. This is no mere coincidence. It is, I fear, a precursor to something far more significant, something that threatens the very balance we strive to protect. Are you ready to delve into this enigma once more?"