In Yun Tianming’s first tale, the peaceful Storyless Kingdom has long avoided dramatic upheaval until the royal children grow up. Prince Deep Water vanished years earlier on Tomb Island, while Prince Ice Sand grows from a cruel child into a restrained but dangerous man. Because the king distrusts Ice Sand’s nature, the king names the beloved Princess Dewdrop as heir, and the kingdom celebrates the succession change during the king’s sixtieth birthday feast.

At the celebration, Prince Ice Sand appears gracious and supportive, then presents a young new royal painter named Needle-Eye. Needle-Eye briefly studies the king, queen, Dewdrop, and the loyal ministers, claiming to memorize them for a commemorative painting. In private, Needle-Eye confirms to Ice Sand that he has memorized every detail, revealing that the prince’s obedience was a deception.

After midnight, Prince Ice Sand and Needle-Eye ride to a hidden underground bunker. Needle-Eye shows a portrait of his teacher, Master Ethereal, and explains that his magic works only on snow-wave paper flattened with He’ershingenmosiken obsidian. Needle-Eye paints the king first, and when the portrait is completed, the king disappears from his bedchamber; Needle-Eye then paints the queen and begins painting the loyal ministers, causing each subject to vanish as the night advances.

Princess Dewdrop is awakened by the captain of the palace guards, who brings Master Ethereal. Ethereal carries a damaged spinning dragon umbrella that protects its user from being painted into a picture. Ethereal explains that Needle-Eye has betrayed him and that Ice Sand is using the painter to eliminate the royal family and loyal officials so he can seize the throne.

Ethereal tries to prepare snow-wave paper so he can paint Needle-Eye and stop him, but the process is too slow even with Auntie Wide’s obsidian iron. Realizing there is no time, Ethereal orders Dewdrop, Auntie Wide, and the captain to flee to the Glutton’s Sea and find Prince Deep Water, who alone cannot be painted by Needle-Eye. Ethereal gives the umbrella to protect Dewdrop and disappears once he is no longer under it.

At dawn, Dewdrop, Auntie Wide, and the captain escape the palace disguised as commoners, with the spinning umbrella held over Dewdrop. Meanwhile, in the bunker, Needle-Eye finishes Dewdrop’s portrait and declares it his most beautiful work, but Dewdrop has already fled under the umbrella’s protection.