Eventually, Childe manages to force Zaiyi to return to the palace, in hope to find a way to convince him to invent a common lie and not tell the truth, when they will be questioned about the little Prince's disappearance.
What Childe didn't know is that the guards are already waiting for their return, as XiFan didn't waste a chance to be the usual vulture and went straight to ZhongLi, as soon as he returned, to tell him how Zaiyi and Childe plotted to kidnap WooPil.

As XiFan bargained with him to convince him to take WooPil out of the palace, he eventually has to accept. He knows that something is up but he thinks that as long as himself is present, they wouldn't be able to do anything to the young prince.

Just moments after he takes the small child to the place where Childe and XiFan are, though, the little boy simply disappears under his nose.

The next morning, he leaves ZhongLi's residence while the King is discussing with the Prince, not wanting to bother them.
He aims to simply return to his residence, but before he could set a foot inside, a servant promptly tells him that XiFan summons him.
Zaiyi goes without complaints and as expectable, the other wants to know how things went the previous evening.

He tells XiFan what happened, in a very generic way and without getting into details, but it's pretty easy to guess what happened. Also since Zaiyi is in such an uncommon and bright, euphoric mood.
Among the other things, he also tells XiFan that the King wants them to give gifts to Prince WooPil and that he was thinking to go to the market to buy something nice for the child.

The two decide to go together, but all XiFan really wants is to see what Zaiyi will get for the Prince so that he can make sure to gift him something far more valuable and luxurious.
Accompanied by a servant and a guard, on request of XiFan himself, the two concubines leave the palace to head to the centre of the city.

Zaiyi didn't cause any kind of problems anymore, after that meeting with ZhongLi. In fact, it's as if he became a ghost, never coming out of his residence and not having any requests for the servants. And of course never trying to run off again.

Until he is warned by a servant that XiFan summons him. He didn't even know that the exchange happened and is kinda scared to know that the Prince is there and summoned him. Despite their fathers were close, the same couldn't be said about Zaiyi and XiFan.
He doesn't dare to leave him to wait and hurries to meet with him, already expecting what he wants to tell him.

They meet in one of the gardens in the evening and take a walk while talking, under the eyes of all the servants and guards around.
XiFan quietly scolds Zaiyi for his behaviour of the past days, gives him some recommendations for the future and refers to him what the king asked him to: that he won't touch him against his will.

The two keep talking for a little while, then return to each of their places, separately. They follow all the etiquette they know, so they are especially careful not to be alone or have any suspicious behaviour with each others, despite their parents are cousins (Zaiyi's late mother with XiFan's father.)

Eventually, he insists on going out of the inn, not wanting to listen to reason. He is still panicking, confused and scared. He really can't remember anything, how he got there, what that place is or who HaiTien and Jing Yuan are. It's not the first time it happens to him, but it drives him insane and makes him even more frightened.

As soon as he steps out of the inn, though, a woman stands on his way. He has no idea who she is, but she seems convinced to know him.
The woman has a spear and starts to speak some accusations against him. She urges him to take a weapon and fight her, there in the middle of the city. She seems out of her mind and be can't understand why: he is completely sure to have never seen that woman before.
Regardless he doesn't take his weapon nor he wants to engage in a fight, the woman attacks him fiercely with her spear. She even wounds him, as to make it clear she won't hesitate to kill him, if he doesn't prevent it.

He avoids to engage, but Roseslasher starts to "call" for him. He doesn't want to be hurt further, but he doesn't want to take that cursed blade. He doesn't want to fight.
He takes his head in hands, he even starts to cry, feeling trapped between a dangerous woman who wants to kill him to avenge someone he never even heard of, and that awful sword, haunting his mind.
Eventually, he has no choice but to give in to the weapon.

Roseslasher appears in his hand and the contact causes an strong wave of energy. Skylar's whole body is enveloped in a black and dark pink mist, that disappears as if being absorbed by his body until only a thin aura remains around.him.

Before the real fight could begin, the woman — Cloud Retainer — teleports Skylar and herself — and whoever put themselves close enough to the demigod to end up dragged away too — away to a more suitable location. They all appear in Wuwang hill. Clearly Cloud Retainer doesn't know that that cursed and dark, abandoned place is one of the favourite places for kids to go to play to.

That's where a serious duel begins. And although initially Skylar seemed completely helpless, after Roseslasher got in his hand, he suddenly became a mighty and powerful warrior. From the first slashes, it's clear that Cloud Retainer is in serious difficulties and has very low chances to win the fight.