Yu Liang reached out around her, flailing her arms desperately to find Yu Tian or Huo Wei Hu, but all she felt was empty air as she continued to fall. Her heart was in chaos, she futilely soothe herself by chanting that they’ll be okay, over and over again in her head.

Above her, not a speck of light could be detected and below her, was just an eternal black void. Rationalizing her thoughts, she refused to believe the pagoda had intended for them to fall to their deaths. The seventh trial must be what laid on the bottom of the abyss.

Sure enough, after an indefinite amount of time had passed, her body had finally landed on solid ground. Under normal circumstance, such a deep fall would usually result in a tragic death; however the wonders of the pagoda truly was miraculous, for she was perfectly fine and unharmed — for now.

Since the pagoda’s intention was not to kill her by making her fall to her death, then it was safe to expect her companions to also be fine. Her heart relaxed and her eyes restored its serene and cool expression. She inspected her surrounding and realized she was trapped in a compact room enclosed by walls made of glass. Only one side of the glass wall was completely covered by a mirror.

Her reflection stared back at her, cold and detached. Yu Liang could almost feel the frosty chill from her bitter eyes as arctic as the winter snow.

“So you are finally here,” she whispered. “Let’s make them pay for what they have done. I’ve waited for so long to enact the retribution they deserved.”

Her icy tone sent an involuntarily shiver down Yu Liang’s spine. In a moment of distraction, a pale hand reached out and pulled Yu Liang into the mirror. Cold—so cold! The ground beneath her was covered in thick layers of snow. Beautiful white flakes fell gently from the sky like icy tears of bitterness.

Her body began to shake and her legs went weak. This scene, this place, was a memory she had locked away in the deepest part of her heart.

After so many years, she was once again back in this courtyard. From a distance, loud mournful wails of a young girl, no more than three cried out. Her distress voice full of betrayal rattled Yu Liang’s heart.

Three familiar figures entered her vision. A high and mighty noble man, also known as the right prime minster and a woman dressed like a servant. Behind her, a small hand gripped tightly onto the hems of the woman’s dress.

“Although it’s normal for man of this era to have three wives and four concubines, I can’t keep you!” The prime minster said coldly as he refused to even spare a glance at the woman.

The woman’s face blanched as she stared at the man in astonishment. “How…how can you even say that? You promised to marry me! I don’t care about status, I’m happy to serve you as a concubine!” She quickly yanked the little girl’s fingers off her dress and pushed her forward. “Please, think about our daughter!” she plead.

The man sneered at her with disgust. “The person bestowed to me is the prestigious princess, pampered by the emperor! The only reason he allows the marriage is because I have no concubines or legal wife, so his beloved princess won’t suffer any grievances!”

Roughly, he shook the woman off as she landed on the ground, dragging the little girl down with her. “Humph! You are just a servant, how could you compete with the princess? I will not let such a lowly woman as you ruin my future foot-hold in my career!”

“I cannot have you mother and daughter pair here as the princess will be marrying over soon. Quickly scram! And take that daughter of yours away from here. Who knows if she is even my daughter!” With cold contempt in his voice, he departed with heartless words.

The man walked passed Yu Liang briskly as he exited the courtyard, but even with him so close, she couldn’t see him clearly. Her vision had long turned wet and blurry. She tilted her head back toward the mother and daughter.

Servants and maids had gathered around them and harshly dragged them away. The woman tried to protest and struggle, but her efforts were in vain. As they hustled by her, the little girl suddenly turned toward Yu Liang and stared straight at her.

“Aren’t you going to help us?” Her little voice cried with anxiety and a hint of hope.

Yu Liang tried to answer her, but no words would leave her lips. Her mouth felt dry and her throat clogged. Before long, the two had been thrown out into the street without a care.

She could hear the woman heavily pounding on the gate, crying in grief. But no one opened the door to welcome them back — why would they? As the poundings gradually stopped, silence ensued.

Yu Liang shut her eyes tightly. Snowy flakes coated her lashes and glacial tears dripped from the corner of her lids. She knew what came afterward. As she had expected, a loud heated woman’s voice hollered in anger outside.

“You jinx! This is all your fault! If you were never born, I could still stay beside him and maybe one day I can become his concubine!” she yelled furiously. Loud slaps were heard in the distance. “Stupid girl, all your fault…all your fault!”

The woman’s screaming continued as she blamed the young girl for her misfortune. Sounds of palm connecting with flesh echoed throughout the cold winter air. Subconsciously, Yu Liang lifted her numbed fingers and touched her cheeks, almost as if she herself felt every slap the girl suffered.

Somehow, her feet began to move. She stood alone and watched the disappearing backs of the two figure fading gently into the snowy white mist. The sobs of the little girl never ceased as the woman dragged her away forcefully.

She commanded her body to chase after them, but she remain grounded and watched hopelessly as the two silhouettes disappeared. Sharp pain pricked her heart, like needles stabbing mercilessly into her flesh. Her lungs constricted painfully as thorny vines coiled around them, blocking her oxygen.

Yu Liang felt her heart breaking, being torn apart. Lost in her woe to the point she could barely breathe; she didn’t noticed when the scenery around her had changed.

She was now inside a bustling business restaurant, filled with gaudy women dressed to expose their skin and curves. The stench of alcohol and perfume assailed her stuffy nostrils. No — this was a brothel! The same brothel the little girl would be sold to by her discarded mother out of intense loathing.

Her misty eyes spotted the two of them right as the mother received a small bag of coins from the lady owner. The mother jerked the girl off her as the lady owner captured the frantic little youth, desperately begging for her mother.

The mother glared at her with malice. “Tsk, be glad you are at least worth a bag of coins. This place is most suitable for a cursed child like you! Learn to serve men well!” she spat at her daughter before leaving without a backward glance.

Her tiny shoulders slumped in defeat and her crescent face fell as she watched her own mother abandoned her for mere chump of change. The girl raised her tiny face and locked eyes with Yu Liang. As she stared into the little girl’s eyes, so devoid of any emotion at such a young age, a flame of fury began to stir within her.

“Kindness shall be repaid and debts of grievances must be avenged.” Her icy voice penetrated Yu Liang’s heart as she saw the fiendish determination in the little girl’s dark eyes.