Yu Lin frowned as she lowered her head.

“This is a dream… this a dream…” she muttered to herself as she grabbed her hair and rocked herself back and forth. She closed her eyes shut, hoping to wake from this dream. “This is a dream… this i-” she felt fingers wrapped around her wrist and pull her forward. “Ah!” she let out shocked as she opened her eyes.

“This isn’t a dream,” the woman in front of her hissed as she smiled, “you can’t wake up. It’s the reality, the reality you have wanted to hide from since the beginning.”

“No. You are me. I died. I am not you anymore.” Yu Lin tried to pull her hand back but the woman wouldn’t let go.

“But… you wish you were don’t you? You hate the current… thing you are right now.” the woman pointed a finger at her with a disgusted face. “That ugly, disgusting, hideous being of a creature.” the woman flung her arm backwards. Yu Lin shifted backwards on the bed. Sweat trickled down the side of her face. She somehow knew what that woman was going to say. She didn’t want to hear it.

“Shut up. Shut up! Don’t say anything else!” she yelled. The woman only chuckled tilting her head backwards before she stood straight and stared at Yu Lin.

“You… really hate yourself. Always thinking deep within yourself why if you were reborn you couldn’t have been reborn a human? Why if you were reborn why you had to have dark elf blood in you? Why if you had to be reborn that… you already knew right? You already know how Qi Long is going to treat you? You already know how his highness is going to treat you right?” the woman looked at her with twisted eyes. Her chest started to heave up and down as she shook her head. She picked the pillow up from her side and threw it towards the woman.

“Stay away. Stay away from me!” Yu Lin yelled. The woman only moved the side to dodge the pillow. The woman then let out a small laugh before it turned into a huge one as her voice echoed throughout the room.

“Look at yourself Du Yu Lin… no… should we go back to when you were me?” the woman raised an eyebrow with her lips curled up. “You should be used to it now, it isn’t the first time you caused your mother to suffer and die!” she hissed. Yu Lin shook her head.

“Stop it.” she felt something bad was going to happen.

“No. You have to face your sins. You are the one who caused all this disaster to happen.” the woman smiled. “Let’s go, to the time when everything started to change for you.” the woman said as she flicked her wrist. The room around them suddenly changed. Yu Lin looked around as she was no longer in her bedroom. She looked down to find herself standing outside.

“Mom!” she heard a girl yell. She looked up to see an open door to the side. She walked up to it and peered inside. She saw a small girl laughing as a woman picked her up.

“Do you like it Hu Die?” the woman said as she held up the silk robe.

“Un!” the small girl nodded her head firmly. Yu Lin’s eyes softened, her lips slowly curving up. Before they could form a smile, she heard footsteps marching behind her. Her heart started to pound as she turned to see a familiar looking man walking straight past her into the room.

“Lian Hua.” the man uttered from under his breath. The woman looked to see him. She set down the little girl as the two of them bowed to the man.

“Welcome back husband.” she said.

“Welcome back father.” the little girl said. The two of them then stood straight. The man glared at Lian Hua before walking up and slapping her across the face. Lian Hua fell to the ground.

“You whore!” the man hissed. The little girl’s eyes widened as she quickly stood in front of Lian Hua with her arms out.

“What are you doing father?” she cried as tears started to trail down her face. “Why are you hitting mother?”

“Move!” the man pushed her to the side.

“Ah!” she yelped out. Her head hit the side of the bed as she fell to the ground.

“Hu Die!” the mother cried out as she pulled the child into her arms. Tears streamed down her face as she looked up at the man.

“What’s wrong Zhang Shi?! Why are you doing this?” Lian Hua asked. Zhang Shi narrowed his eyes at her.

“You dare to ask why I’m doing this?!’ Zhang Shi yelled. “Don’t lie to me Lian Hua. People have told me that they have seen you going in and out of Zhang Le’s place!” his face was red with fury. Lian Hua bit her lip and looked away. “Are you… are you still with him? After all this years… do you still want him?” Zhang Shi’s eyes started to get watery. Lian Hua sprung up and shook her head.

“No… that’s not it. Please Zhang Shi, please listen to me.” she begged as she held onto his hand. “Please believe me. I would never do something like that. I would never do anything to hurt you.” her eyes were sincere. Zhang Shi lips trembled, as if he wanted to believe her, but he couldn’t. He pushed her back, and Lian Hua fell to the ground.

“Mother!” the little girl cried out as she ran to her mother’s side. Lian Hua started to pant before coughing furiously. “Mother!” the little girl cried. The little girl turned around and glared at Zhang Shi. “I hate you father! I like uncle more! Uncle doesn’t hit mother like this!” the little girl yelled. Lian Hua grabbed the little girl and pulled her down.

“Hu Die!” Lian Hua yelled.

“It’s true! Uncle is better than father!” the little girl blurted out.

“Hu Die,” Lian Hua looked up to see no expression on Zhang Shi’s face, “no, Zhang Shi! It’s not like that, it’s not like that at all!” Lian Hua stood up and approached him. He backed away as a tear rolled down his face.

“It’s true… you still love him… you still love him.” Zhang Shi muttered to himself.

“No Zhang Shi! That’s not true! That’s not true! Please listen to me! I beg of you please listen to me!” Lian Hua walked up to him. He looked up alerted before pushing the woman back. He clenched his fist as he glared at her.

“I… will never see you again. You will never leave this house again. If you take even one step outside this room… I will disown Hu Die… no… honestly I don’t even know if she’s my child.” Zhang Shi turned around and walked out.

“Zhang Shi!” Lian Hua cried out as she went after him. She could get no further as the doors to the room were shut in her face. “Zhang Shi!” she cried from behind the door.

Yu Lin watched as the man continued to walk away. She turned her head back to the door to hear coughing.

“Mom! You’re bleeding! There’s blood!” she heard the little girl cry. Yu Lin bit her lips and clenched her fist.

“I told you, it was your fault.” the familiar voice said from behind her. She turned around to see that woman twirling her hair, her light brown eyes mocking her with an eyebrow raised. “It is. If you didn’t say anything, our mother would still be alive. She only needed to tell father that she went to uncle’s house for medicine and didn’t want to worry him, yet you just had to have your little outburst.”

“Stop.” Yu Lin said.

“I hate you father! I like uncle more!” the woman mocked. “Tch, it’s your fault. It’s your fault mother died alone and sad. It’s all your fault!” the woman yelled.

“Stop!” Yu Lin yelled back. “I was young! I didn’t know! I couldn’t help it!”

“So what? You still caused her death! Because she didn’t want you to be alone she stayed in there and didn’t even get the medicinal treatment she was suppose to have! It’s all your fault!”

“No! Stop… stop all this…” Yu Lin leaned back onto a pole. “Stop…” she begged.

“No. You have to see all of it. You have to see everything!” the woman hissed. Yu Lin stood up as the scenery around her suddenly changed. She was now in a forest. The sun was hanging up brightly in the sky as its rays hit her face. She squinted, trying to adjust.

“Look up.” she heard the woman said as she felt hands on her shoulder. She opened up her eyes. She saw him, standing there, a blade pointed at her. The woman chuckled from behind her. “This is what you made him turn to. This is also your fault.” Yu Lin felt her throat go dry. She watched as the man started to run towards her.

-

“Chu Hong Hu,” Lu Tou Ling stared down at the old man kneeling before him, “where is she?”

“She… will be back… soon…” Chief Chu answered.

“Don’t lie to me Hong Hu!” Lu Tou Ling said as he kicked Chief Chu’s shoulder. Chief Chu fell backwards. His chest hit the floor as he began to frantically cough. Blood splurted out of his mouth onto the tiles on the floor. He quickly got back up and put his hands on his knees politely.

“She will be back… she will be back.” he said.

“If she’s not? If she hurts someone else? What are you going to do Hong Hu?!” Lu Tou Ling yelled. Chief Chu swallowed hard before looking up. He stared at Lu Tou Ling with soft eyes.

“Tou Ling,” he gently said, “remember when you said you would grant me three wishes when I saved your son from drowning. I have one left don’t I?”

“Hong Hu! This is not the time for tha-”

“Please… don’t kill her. That child… that child did nothing wrong. Fate is cruel to her. Please… don’t touch her.” Chief Chu begged.

“Hong Hu!”

“You said you were someone who were loyal. Someone who would stick to their words.” Chief Chu calmly said. “Please… show me that loyalty now.” Lu Tou Ling narrowed his eyes before turning on his heels.

“I give you seven days. If she returns within seven days, I will grant your wish. If she doesn’t… I can’t promise anything. In the meantime… if you really want to convince me that she is a good person… then stay sitting there until she comes back.” Lu Tou Ling let out a soft chuckle as he headed back to the village. Chief Chu was left kneeling there, in front of his residence.

“Master! Please! This is my fault, if I had kept my eyes on her then she wouldn’t be missing right now.” Tang Tang was on her knees. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” her head hung low.

“No… it’s not your fault… don’t worry Tang Tang… she will be back soon. She will be back.” Chief Chu said. His eyes stared blankly out into the city a small smile on his face.

-

Her legs moved back at forth at a quick pace. Sweat trickled down her face. Her feet and arms were bleeding from the cuts of the twigs all around her but she didn’t stop. Her dirty white locks flew in the wind. She saw a huge tree and ran behind it. She slid down the tree, the sharp bark cutting through her robes right into the back of her skin. Her chest heaved up and down. Her murky blood eyes stared to the side waiting.

“Don’t come… don’t come… I beg of you, please don’t come!” she pleaded. Her whole body trembled. Just as she said that, her body went flying from the impact of something heavy hitting the tree. “Ack!” blood spewed out from her mouth as she landed on the ground. She grimaced as she felt a piece of wood pierce into into her skin. Remembering the situation, she turned around to feel a cold hard blade prick at her neck. Her eyes traveled up the iron sword, up an arm with armor, up a broad shoulder, up a neck, and they landed on the man’s deep blue eyes. Salty droplets began to form a river down her face as she stared at his face.

“You… you are dirty. You should die, because you are one of them!” the man raised his arm up and swung the sword down. Instinctively she moved back, avoiding the sharp blade. She wasn’t fast enough as she felt a sharp pain on her leg. She let out a yelp before pushing herself off the ground. She tried to move as fast as she could but the limp in her leg prevented her from doing what she wanted. She felt the collar of her robe get pulled as she was thrown backwards. Her back slammed into a tree and hot red liquid spewed out her mouth. She grabbed at her heart, feeling it being torn apart that very second.

She could hear his every footstep as he made his way to her. She was heavily breathing, breathing for life. Every inch of her muscle ached. She felt the cold blade of the sword on her chin. She looked up, right into his eyes again. The hollowness inside of her grew larger.

“Tell me you dirty beast. Tell me, where is Lang Hei Kong?” the man hissed. Her chin trembled. She didn’t know what to say. She had missed him so much, and yet there he was standing in front of her with a blade to her throat.

“Qi… Long…it’s me.” she breathed out, desperate for him to understand. The man slashed the blade across her face. She didn’t even make a sound as she felt the hot drip down her face.

“Tell me!” the man yelled. She wept harder. She didn’t know what to do.

“It’s me! I’m Li Hu Die! I’m your wife!” she cried out like a lost child. The man’s fury only grew as he kicked the side of her head. She hit the ground, another trail of liquid running down her forehead.

“Stop speaking nonsense and tell me!” he roared. She laid there frozen, tired from everything. She wanted everything to end. She couldn’t handle the pain anymore. ‘Where… where did it all go wrong?’ she thought to herself. ‘When… when did it become like this?’ She heard a laugh from somewhere. She looked up to see the woman sitting on a branch.

“Want me to tell you? Want me to tell you where it really went all wrong?” the woman smiled at her. Yu Lin couldn’t even say anything. The woman smirked as she jumped down from the branch. “Let me tell you.” she said and snapped her fingers.

Yu Lin found herself standing again. She was now in a city. People ran all around her.

“Lady Hu Die!” she heard someone yell. She turned around to see a male healer running past her towards a woman. She followed him. “We found someone who is seriously injured here!” the healer had someone on his back and set the person down at a nearby table.

“What situation?” the woman yelled back.

“A black situation!” the healer yelled back. The woman bit her lips as she finished healing the patient in front of her. She turned around, her round eyes searching for the healer who called her. She was older now, but she was the little girl from before. She wiped her bloody hands on a piece of wet cloth as she made her way towards the healer.

“Who is it?” she asked. Yu Lin eyes trailed to the creature on the table. Those injuries on his body, she wished had actually killed him right there.

“No… don’t do it! Don’t heal him!” she screamed. The woman in front of her could not hear her as she continued on with procedures.

“Hahaha!” Yu Lin looked up to see the other woman standing there, next to the old her. “Look. It’s all your fault that everyone is suffering.” Yu Lin shook her head.

“I… I…”

“Shut up! You have no right to say anything you murderer! If you didn’t save this son of a whore here, then maybe everyone would still be living… maybe I would still be alive…” tears rolled down the woman’s face. Yu Lin could say nothing. She knew it all to be true.

“It’s… all… my… fault?” she breathed out. The woman glared at her and nodded her head.

“That’s right… it’s all your fault. It’s all your fault everyone’s life is ruined. Shan Qi Long, Huang Feng Huang, Shan Yi Yun, Shan Er Yun, Du Chou, Du Yo Mei, Chu Hong Hu, Chu Sen Feng, Chu He Lan, Li Ju Hua, and many more! It’s all your fault that they have suffered and some have died!” the woman screamed out. The scenery around them changed to when Chou and Yo Mei died. She screamed, and tried to run away but the woman wouldn’t let her. The scenery played over and over and over and over again, trapping her like a bird. She was forced to watch, over and over again.

She watched her father fall to pieces. She watched herself screamed. She watched her mother run to her. She watched her mother be harassed by that monster. She watched her mother commit suicide. She watched everything. She watched until she could no longer feel anything, until her very core was numb. Yu Lin fell to the ground.

“It’s… my… fault.” she said. She felt completely empty from the inside. It was as if she was only just a shell left, a useless shell.

“That’s right… so you have to atone for your sins.” the woman finally showed herself. Yu Lin looked up and the scenery had changed again. She now had her back to a tree with Qi Long in front of her. His sword barely inches away from her neck. She held her neck out, and smiled, closing her eyes.

“That’s right… end it… end everything…” she laughed, an empty laugh.

“Yu Lin!” a voice called out. She opened her eyes and looked to the side. She saw the woman walking towards her again, yet she was older now and in one of the most beautiful robes she had ever seen her in.

“Did you dress up to watch me die? Then hurry… I’m tired.” she smiled back. The woman walked closer, and somehow Yu Lin felt she was different.

“Yu Lin… it’s mom.” the woman said. Yu Lin furrowed her brows.

“Wha…” and that’s when it registered to her. She looked into the woman’s eyes not to see light brown but to see golden eyes. Tears streamed down her face. “Mo… ther?”

-

“Father please!” Sen Feng cried out as he bent down. “Please get treatment. Get up!” he tugged at Chief Chu’s robes. Chief Chu shook his head. His lips were peeling, his complexion was pale.

“Father in law, please!” Ju Hua begged with Sen Feng.

“Let go Sen Feng.” he said as he weakly pushed away Sen Feng’s hands.

“Father! It’s been three days! We don’t know when she will be back! We don’t even know where she is! Please… don’t hurt yourself for her. She’s not that important that you should give your life to her! She’s just a damn dark elto!” Sen Feng yelled. Chief Chu looked up and glared at Sen Feng. He raised his hand and slapped Sen Feng across the face.

“Sen Feng!” Ju Hua held her husband.

“Shut your mouth Sen Feng! That child… that person… you will never understand how much she has done for me…” Chief Chu clenched his teeth. Sen Feng looked at his father with disbelief.

“Father…”

“Get out of my sight.” Chief Chu’s words stung Sen Feng like a thousand bees. Sen Feng could only clench his teeth as he stood up with the help of Ju Hua.

“Let’s go.” Sen Feng said as he held onto Ju Hua’s hand.

“But…”

“Let’s go Ju Hua… that person… if he is willing to sacrifice his life for someone like that… then let him.” Sen Feng said as he dragged his body back to the residence. Ju Hua helped keep him upright go back with tears trickling down her face.

“Hong Hu,” Wang Pei walked next to Chief Chu’s side, “must you go this far for her?” he asked. “If you don’t go inside and get rest… I’m afraid that soon…” Wang Pei looked away.

“It’s alright. I already know I’m not going to last long.” Chief Chu responded.

“Hong Hu!”

“Wang Pei… that child… please take care of her in my stead, in her parent’s stead… that child… she is someone very important… I can’t tell you the details but… she will one day. When you hear it… you will know why I am doing this. You… you have affected by her too… this is… my last will.” Chief Chu said. Wang Pei could only let out a sigh. He sat down next to Chief Chu and handed Chief Chu a cup filled with brown liquid.

“I understand. If that’s what you want, then I will do as you say then Hong Hu.” Wang Pei said. Wang Pei felt something hit his head and looked up to see droplets of water coming down.

-

Yu Lin watched as the woman continue to advanced towards her. Qi Long had disappeared as the woman bent down. They were now in a completely white room. She felt the woman touch her hands, and she looked to see herself holding a knife to her own neck. “What?!” she yelled as she quickly dropped the knife. She looked back up to see the woman smile gently at her.

“My daughter.” the woman said. Yu Lin pushed her away.

“No! My mother doesn’t look like you! You aren’t my mother!” she yelled. The woman only reached out and cupped Yu Lin’s cheek. Yu Lin froze. She wanted to fight back, but she couldn’t. She felt as if her heart was being twisted as someone jabbed a knife through her chest.

“I know… I know I don’t like the usual me, but that’s because this is the real me. You must live my daughter. You must live and learn about the truth. We… are not what we seem to be. You must help us.” Yu Lin knew that this person was her mother. She grabbed her mother’s hand.

“Mother!” droplets of water dripped down her face. Her mother nodded.

“This… is the last piece of me I am leaving. Listen well my daughter, everything you are seeing and experiencing, it’s just an illusion. You are just learning.” her mother said.

“What?”

“This… you must escape this illusion. If you don’t, you will die.”

“Illusion… this… illusion…” Yu Lin muttered. “Of course… of course it’s an illusion…” Yu Lin finally understood everything. She had experienced this before, right before she had died.

“My daughter… remember, you… you must learn of the truth.” Yu Lin looked back up. Her mother was now beginning to fade.

“No! Mother!” she held onto her hand which now felt lighter and lighter. “Don’t go!” she cried. Her mother only smiled.

“Live… my daughter.” her mother said before disappearing. The white room disappeared and she was back to where she was before. Qi Long’s sword was right in front of her. The woman next to Qi Long’s side. Yu Lin eyes darted around, looking for any signs of her, but she was gone.

“Are you… ready to atone for you sins?” the woman hissed. Yu Lin clenched her teeth. She wrapped her teeth around the sword and pulled it back. She kicked Qi Long to the side and grabbed the handle with her bloody fingers. Qi Long hit the floor and then shattered into pieces like glass. “You! What are yo-” before the woman could finish her sentence Yu Lin pierced the sword through her chest. The woman trembled as she felt the pain. She looked into Yu Lin’s eyes. “You… you…” her eyes burned with hatred.

“You are fake. You are not real. I will live and kill him. That is how I will atone for my sins.” Yu Lin hissed. The woman looked at her and the ends of her lips curled up. She let out a laugh as the place around them started to crumble down.

“I see… but… you’re wrong about one thing.” the woman grinned. Yu Lin glared at her.

“What?”

“I’m… not fake. I am you. The deepest parts of you that you don’t want to face. You may have killed me here, but you will never really kill me. I will always be here… inside of you. Hahaha!” the woman let out another laugh. Yu Lin clenched her teeth as she pushed the sword deeper and the woman froze. The light in her eyes disappeared as she shattered into pieces.

Yu Lin now stood, alone in a dark forest. Her whole body was soaked from head to toe. She felt the rain hit her body. She felt her head spin. She fell backwards onto the ground.

-----

Yu Lin opened her eyes. She sat up and glanced around her. Her clothes were damp. ‘Where… am I?’ she thought. She got up on her feet and looked up to see the sky blazing down at her. ‘I… need to get back. They must be worried.’ she thought. She had no energy to leapt back. She could only walk. It was nighttime when she finally walked out of the forest. She reached the Chu residence. She saw a figure kneeling on the ground in front of it. She squinted her eyes.

“Hong… Hu?” she mumbled. The man was on the verge of collapsing, his eyes could barely stay open. He started to fall to one side. Her eyes widened as she ran to the older man with all her strength. “Hong Hu!” she yelled as she caught him. She cupped his wrinkled cheek. The man smiled as he heard her voice. His eyes barely opened as if his eyelids weighed a thousand pounds.

“You’re back…” he muttered. Tears ran down Yu Lin’s face, onto his.

“No. No! Not you too! Please.” Yu Lin put her hand on his chest, ready to heal him, but he placed his hand over hers.

“No. It’s too late Yu Lin. Please don’t waste your energy.” Chief Chu said.

“Hong Hu!” Yu Lin cried, her whole body shaking. Chief Chu looked into her eyes and smiled.

“Please… don’t blame yourself. It was my choice to do this.” his voice was hoarse. Yu Lin shook her head.

“No… please don’t go. Don’t leave me behind too.”

“Don’t worry… we will always be watching over you. Just as you saved me then… let me save you now.”

“No… don’t go…” Yu Lin pleaded. Chief Chu only smiled as his eyes fluttered shut. The hand holding Yu Lin’s suddenly fell to his side. Yu Lin shook her head. It was as if the world stopped around her. “No…” she breathed out.

“Father!” a voice called out from in front of her but she could not hear it.

“Father in law!” another voice called out. One of the figures pushed her back as the pulled the body away from her. Yu Lin only sat there like a doll.

“No… no…” she could only mutter as the two figures pulled the body away. She felt all her strength leave her as her eyes closed and she began to fall down.

---------

3 Days Later

“Grandpa… grandpa!” a little girl with pink hair cried.

“Mei Rong.” the boy next to her rubbed her back. They were in a room filled with people in black robes. Many of them sniffled as they cry into a handkerchief. Outside the room stood a girl. Her white hair was short, just a couple inches off her head. Her red eyes looked at the golden plague that sat on the coffin across the room. She stepped inside the room and begin walking towards the circular mat that laid on the ground, in front of the coffin. When she passed people turned and gasped. Mei Rong looked up and saw her approaching the mat. She grabbed a teacup that sat on the table in front of her and threw it at the girl.

“Get out! Get out you monster!” she yelled. The cup hit the girl in the temple, before it fell and shattered on the ground. “It’s all your fault that grandpa died. It’s all your fault!” she screamed.

“Mei Rong!” the boy next to her tried to pull her down.

“Let go of me Leng Zhuang! That beast does not deserve to lay her knees on that matt!” Mei Rong cried as Leng Zhuang tried to hold her back. The girl did not pay them any attention as she began to bend down. She felt a hand on her shoulder and paused. She turned to see a boy with scarlet red hair. The boy looked at her with cold eyes, the usual blue headband he had on was gone.

“Please… leave.” he said. The girl looked into his eyes for a long moment. She then looked down and straightened her knees. She walked out of the room. The boy’s hand that touched her shoulder now trembled and he held it with his other hand.

-

“Didn’t I tell you not to cause any trouble before you leave?” Sen Feng said at Yu Lin who stood in front of him. Yu Lin avoided his gaze as she kept her eyes on the ground.

“I’m sorry.” she apologized, yet her voice was monotone.Sen Feng looked away and let out a sigh.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “I… I know I shouldn’t blame you and yet… I’m sorry.” he said as he grabbed his forehead.

“I,” Yu Lin looked up, “know that I’m not in any position to ask this but… please… please take care of my home. I’m not able to go there because of the agreement but… one day… when everything is alright, then I would want to return there… even if it’s just for one day.” Yu Lin said. Sen Feng moved his hand away and looked into her eyes. They stared at each other for a while, before he nodded.

“Alright… I understand.” he said. Yu Lin bowed.

“Thank you,” she stood back up, “then, goodbye.” she said. She turned on her heels and walked out the room. As she made her way to the entrance she found Ju Hua walking towards Sen Feng’s office. Ju Hua saw her but then quickly look away.

“Aunt Ju Hua.” Yu Lin said, but Ju Hua just ignored her as she kept walking. “Aunt Ju Hua. Wait!” Yu Lin grabbed onto her wrist. In that second she felt something else resonance within Ju Hua. Ju Hua flung her arm back, shaking Yu Lin off as her husband's face flashed in her head. She looked away.

“What do you want?” she asked. Yu Lin looked at her and felt empty.

“Be careful.” she said. Ju Hua looked up at her.

“What?”

“Your body… is not only yours anymore.” Yu Lin said.

“What are you talking about?” Ju Hua looked at her suspiciously. Yu Lin looked at her. Yu Lin felt like crying, yet tears could not come.

“On a good day,” Yu Lin started, “when the weather is the best it can be.” Ju Hua’s eyes widened. She had a feeling she knew what Yu Lin was going to say.

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“Where are you going?” Ju Hua asked as she followed Hu Die around.

“I’m just meeting with someone. I will be back soon!” Hu Die smiled as she pulled on an outer robe.

“Just tell me what you have for me for my wedding gift already!” Ju Hua pouted. Hu Die giggled before beaming her a smile.

“On a good day,” Hu Die started, “when the weather is the best it can be.”

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“When we are a little older, a little wiser,”

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“When we are a little older, a little wiser,”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“When things are less hectic,”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“When things are less hectic,”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I will tell you everything. When that time comes, please listen to me.” Yu Lin looked as if she was going to cry, but she turned to leave.

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“I will tell you everything. When that time comes please listen to me.” Hu Die smiled as she left through the doors.

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Ju Hua never saw Hu Die alive again. She couldn’t say anything either as she watched Yu Lin’s figure get smaller and smaller, until she was gone from the Chu residence.

“What is this?” she questioned herself. She felt her heart being turned over and over beneath her chest. She shook her head, ignoring the feeling as she turned around.

“Ah!” a yelp came out as she bumped into someone. The two of them fell to the ground, and paper flew everywhere. “I’m sorry lady Ju Hua.” she looked up to see Tang Tang there. Tang Tang helped her up from the ground.

“It’s alright… but, what’s all this?” Ju Hua asked as she bent down to help pick up the papers.

“It’s young lady Yu Lin’s bundle… she seemed to have lost it but I found it and wanted to return it to her before she left.” Tang Tang answered as she started to pick up the papers as well.

“I see…” Ju Hua said. She straightened the paper she picked up and stood up. “There, it’s all done.” she said as she handed Tang Tang the paper.

“Thank you lady Ju Hua.” Tang Tang said as she bowed, taking the paper with her other hand. Ju Hua caught eye of the other stack of paper and something stood out to her. “Then, I wi-”

“Wait,” Ju Hua grabbed the stack of papers Tang Tang picked up, “let me… see this.” Ju Hua said. Tang Tang looked confused but nodded as she handed over the papers. Ju Hua turned the paper around and looked at the character written on it. It was not a real character, though it looked like one. Ju Hua knew she had seen this character before.

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“What’s this? No one can even read this!” Ju Hua said as she set the paper back on the desk.

“Of course. It’s my own personal language.” Hu Die said as she stacked papers to one side.

“But, what for?” Ju Hua sat next to her.

“Just… better safe than sorry. I know a lot of things Ju Hua, and if someone gets their hands on the information I know then… some people may suffer.” Hu Die replied. Ju Hua rested her chin on her hand. She watched Hu Die looking serious she wrote on the paper.

“Show me.” she suddenly blurted out. Hu Die turned and look at her.

“Show you what?” she asked confused.

“Show me what my name will look like in your language.” Ju Hua said. Hu Die smiled as she nodded her head and pulled out a new piece of paper.

“Alright, as you wish.” she said as she started to make strokes on the paper. “Here, your name will look like this.” Hu Die handed the paper to Ju Hua. Ju Hua looked at it and frowned.

“I… don’t get it.” Ju Hua said as she continued to stare at the character. Hu Die only laughed besides her.

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Her eyes widened as she touched the characters on the paper.

“Ju… Hua…” she muttered. It all came together. Ju Hua finally understood some things. She couldn’t believe it, yet all the evidence were there.

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“Yes. I heard that Sky Continent had the most beautiful buildings compared to any other continents.”

“One day, I will go to that place. The place where you came from. No matter what hardships, I will overcome them all and go there. When that time comes, please tell me all about it, the place where you come from.”

“My favorite food is chicken ginger soup.”

“But, do you have salt?”

“On a good day…”

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All those times they spent together went through her head. She handed the paper back to Tang Tang.

“I have to go.” her vision got blurry.

“Lady Ju Hua?”

“I have to go!” she started running out, towards Yu Li- no - towards her cousin.

-

Yu Lin stood in the circle along with Wang Pei. She glanced out at the village she grew up in. She glanced at the house she was born in. She closed her eyes and kept her tears back. She wouldn’t cry anymore, she promised herself that.

“Are you ready?” Wang Pei asked. She nodded her head. Wang Pei also took a last glance at the village. “Then, let’s go.” the area around them started to glow and enveloped the two into a bright light, before the two disappeared

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“Hu Die! Hu Die!” Ju Hua cried. She reached the top of the mountain, but it was too late. They were gone. The one who she thought she would never see again. The person who she wanted to see more than anything was now gone. If she had knew, then she wouldn't have treated her like that.

If she had knew, then she would've cherished the time they had more. If she had knew, she wouldn't have stayed silent, she would have defended the girl. But she didn't know. She fell to her knees, hot tears running down her face.

“Ahhh! Ahhh!” her cries rang out, and yet the person who she cried out to did not hear even a trace of it. It would be a long time, before they saw each other again.

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END OF CHILD ARC