Chen Feiyan's bloodied feet ache as she races up the steps deep in the forest. Fei seeks sanctuary in a monastery hidden in the mountains. Instead, she finds a new destiny amongst the priests, workers, and ancient trees inside the sanctuary walls. The monastery holds magic not known by the world below, used to protect against creatures emerging from the dark of night. Fei struggles with burgeoning feelings for another woman at the monastery as the allure of the monastery's power pulls her deeper into the mountain.

South of the monastery, the ambitious governor Guo Xue searches for Fei, his missing concubine. He hires the experienced investigator, Hu Li. On the road, caught between two empires, Li finds himself in over his head as he learns more about his dangerous employer. Li must decide whether he's trying to find the girl, or save her from Governor Guo's grasp. Little does Li know, Fei's newfound magic means she's prepared to defend both herself and the monastery: she's not looking for a savior.