“Why?” Yu Lin asked.

“You dare to que-”

“Hai Yu!” Hai Yu closed her mouth as she narrowed her eyes at Yu Lin.

“Your highness! Hai Yu is right. How dare sh-”

“Yu Hai! You two siblings really want to do this now? I will really get angry!” the two closed their mouths as they looked away. After that, Zhong Cheng turned his attention back to Yu Lin. “I want to know, because… I know the person who made that necklace.”

“Really? Who is that?” Yu Lin furrowed her eyebrows.

“She is… like my older sister. Now, can you tell me how you got that necklace?” Zhong Cheng’s eyes were sincere as Yu Lin nodded her head.

“I received it from an old woman in Henua village.”

“Henua… I understand. Tonight, stay at my quarters and tomorrow we will depart to the palace. It may seem like you are to escort me but… I have been asked to escort you by her.,” Zhong Cheng’s eyes looked distant and had a tinge of sadness within them.

“I understand,” Yu Lin answered. Zhong Cheng’s face brightened as he smiled at her.

“Good. It’s getting late, let’s go,” he said as he started to walk towards the platform. His two guards glared at Yu Lin before they followed him.

-

“You can use this spare room. When morning comes tomorrow, I will come to tell you when we are leaving,” Zhong Cheng gestured inside a shed that was in his backyard. Although it was a shed, it was spacious inside and the decorations were simple.

“Thank you…”

“Just call me Zhong Cheng.”

“Then, thank you sir, Guan Xi.”

“No! Don’t call me by my last name, or else people will know! The royal family is the only family with a two syllable surname,” Zhong Cheng shook his head, “Just call me Zhong Cheng.”

“Then, I will call your highness, sir… Xi. I don’t feel comfortable calling your highness by your first name,” Yu Lin said. Zhong Cheng let out a sigh and nodded his head.

“Whatever you want then. Get some rest.”

“Thank you, sir Xi,” Yu Lin gave him a small bow as he left the room. Yu Lin looked up to see Hai Yu narrowing her eyes as Yu Hai followed the young prince out.

“I will tell you,” Hai Yu hissed, “don’t you dare try anything suspicious around his highness, or even try to gain his favor, or else,” Hai Yu drew a line across her neck with her thumb, “do you understand?”

“I have no interest in politics, nor do I have any interests in the prince. I’m only coming because Principal Ro requested me to. Can you get out now? I’m tired,” Yu Lin said back. Hai Yu looked her up and down before leaving the room. Yu Lin closed the door as she let out a sigh. ‘If I go… will I meet him?’ Yu Lin thought as the image of the old her hitting two brats flashed through her head.

-

The next day the group took a carriage with them as they started to travel to the palace. The palace was not far from Jongan academy as it did lie in Jongan, however it would take at least six hours by walking and three hours by carriage.

“Yu Lin,” Zhong Cheng said as she took off her restricted bracelet.

“Yes?”

“Can you… can you wear this?” Zhong Cheng held a straw hat towards her, which had a netted fabric around it to conceal one’s face, in one hand and in the other he had gloves. She took the hat and the gloves.

“Why?”

“Our continent at the moment has very close relations with… Sky continent…” Zhong Cheng didn’t need to say anything further as Yu Lin understood. She placed the hat on and concealed her face along with the gloves that concealed her grey hands.

“Let’s go!” Hai Yu waved at them. They nodded their heads as they entered the carriage.

Yu Lin went and sat next to Yu Hai in the front, who was steering the horses. Yu Hai glanced at her as he held onto the reins of the horses.

“I will warn you, the palace is not like anywhere else. If you make one wrong move, even breathing way too heavily, you will die. If you want to live, then don’t do anything outrageous,” Yu Hai sternly said.

“I understand,” Yu Lin replied.

“Also, if you do anything to hurt his highness…”

“You will end me? Your sister said the same thing yesterday. I will tell you what I also told her, I’m not interested in politics, nor am I interested in the prince. I’m only coming along because Principal Ro asked me to.”

“Good. We do not need to talk anymore.”

“That’s right,” Yu Lin said as she closed the curtains at the front of the carriage, “let’s go.”

-

After three hours of traveling they reached the palace. Zhong Cheng led the way as they entered the palace.

“Young prince! Please hurry!” an old eunuch came running towards them.

“What’s wrong, Dong Fang?” Zhong Cheng asked.

“Dong Fang…” Yu Lin’s voice was barely audible.

“Your father is very sick! Even the royal physician can’t do much! I fear, that he won’t have much longer to live! Hurry!” the eunuch started to drag him away. Yu Lin’s eyes widened as she tried to go with them, but before she could take a step the siblings stood in front of her.

“Stay where you are,” they ordered together. Yu Lin took in a breath as she looked away.

“I already know,” she said. The two of them narrowed their eyes at her. Yu Lin held her hands together and kept them on her stomach as she closed her eyes.

After a while, she heard Zhong Cheng’s footsteps returning and she opened her eyes.

“Yu Lin!” he yelled as he grabbed her arm, “Please! Please help me!” he pleaded. Her eyes darted around before she fell to one knee.

“Whatever you order, I am at your request, your highness,” she said as she felt eyes all on her. She felt Zhong Cheng pull her up as he dragged her away.

“Good, then let’s go!” he said as he led her through the palace.

“Your highness!” the siblings yelled as they followed suit. After a few hallways and corners, Yu Lin ended up in the chambers of the Emperor.

“Young prince! Even the royal physician can’t do anything, what makes you think that a physician going through school can help?!” Dong Fang cried out at the door as Zhong Cheng pulled her inside the room.

“I have to try everything and… she told me so…” Yu Lin bit her lip as she wanted to know who Zhong Cheng was talking about. When they were about halfway towards the bed, Zhong Cheng got down on one knee and Yu Lin followed him.

“Honorable father, please, let this physician examine you! He might be able to figure out what is wrong!” Zhong Cheng’s voice echoed inside the room.

“He… who is he?” Yu Lin’s hands trembled as she heard his hoarse voice call out, “why… why is he wearing that hat? Why is he hiding his face?”

“This… this is…” Zhong Cheng swallowed hard. Yu Lin’s eyes shifted around the room and as they did, a painting hung on the wall captured her attention. The painting showed the life stages of a little boy. Behind the boy there was a lot of elaborate details and hidden characters everywhere. Yu Lin pressed her lips together as she let out a small breath.

“Why can’t you answer me?!” the emperor’s voice stunned everyone in the room.

“Please trust me, Honorable father!” Zhong Cheng begged.

“Guards!” the emperor yelled. Yu Lin took in a deep breath to calm herself as she stood up.

“Yu Lin?!” Zhong Cheng tried to pull her down. She pulled her gloves off before pulling her hat off. Her red eyes glanced at the emperor’s pale face before she put them down on the carpet.

“Y-you! Guards! Seize him!” guards ran into the room and held their swords out at Yu Lin.

“Stop!” Zhong Cheng got up and held his arms out to stop them.

“Y-you… Guan Xi Zhong Cheng! You dare to commit a crime against me?!”

“No, Honorable father! I dare not! I only want to help you! He’s a skilled physician, he will be able to help you!”

“Nonsense! Guards drag him away!” the emperor waved his hand and the guards took a step closer.

“No!” Zhong Cheng pulled his sword out and aimed them at the guards.

“Your highness!” Hai Yu and Yu Hai cried out as they jumped over the guards and held their swords out towards the guards.

“Protect Yu Lin, Hai Yu and Yu Hai!” Zhong Cheng ordered.

“Yes!” the two surrounded Yu Lin.

“Treason! You dare to disobey me, young prince!” the emperor yelled.

“Honorable father, I only want to help you! Please, please listen to me!” a tear trailed down Zhong Cheng’s cheek. Yu Lin placed her hand on Zhong Cheng’s shoulder.

“Please put your sword away, your highness,” Yu Lin gently said. Zhong Cheng shook his head.

“No! I won’t break my promise. Until yo-”

“Don’t worry,” Yu Lin blurted out, “nothing will happen,” she whispered to him, “and, don’t your father anymore.” Zhong Cheng hand trembled as he put his sword down. Yu Lin moved in front of him and got down on her knee.

“Your royal highness, please, let me treat you,” she bowed her head.

“You scammer! Guards take him away!” the emperor yelled. The guards scrambled to her.

“Then let’s make a proposition, your royal highness,” Yu Lin yelled as the guards grabbed her by her arms and pulled her up. They started to drag her away.

“Stop!” the emperor yelled and the guards let go of her. Yu Lin could feel the emperor’s gaze on her as she continued to look at the carpet. “What kind of proposition?”

“Your royal highness, I see that your royal highness has a very interesting painting up in your chambers.”

“Painting?”

“Yes. I’m talking that one,” Yu Lin gestured towards the painting of the child.

“Y-you! Gu-” Yu Lin could feel the anger in his voice but she continued.

“It may look like a normal painting, but there is a poem hidden within those paintings!” Yu Lin blurted out. Silence filled the room for a moment as Yu Lin felt her heart beating faster underneath her chest. ‘If you are still the person I think you are… then you will understand,’ she thought as she pressed her lips together.

“Poem,” the emperor’s voice sounded heartbreaking as he said the word, “what kind of poem?” Yu Lin let out a sigh of relief before she swallowed hard and opened her mouth.

"A king is born

Another falls

The kingdom mourns

The child bawls

Searching for a path

That is right

Another bloodbath

He, who searches for the light

Will be under the shade

Under the night

Under a blade

But, he must do what is right…” Yu Lin announced as the look in her eyes grew distant.

“I already know about the poem,” the emperor snarked back.

“But do you know, that there are four lines after this poem?”

“Y-you liar!”

“I’m not lying!”

“Alright… tell me then, if there really are lines afterwards, what are they then?” the emperor demanded. Yu Lin fell onto one of her knees.

“I will tell your royal highness after I have helped you,” Yu Lin said.

“And what if there are not any lines afterwards?”

“You can torture me, kill me, I will not resist.”

“I can do that now if I really wanted to, why should I listen to you?”

“Do not forget your roots, your royal highness,” Yu Lin’s tone was nonchalant yet she could feel the emperor’s murderous aura dissipate slowly.

“Alright… if you fail to treat me, and if you fail to tell me the next lines, I will chop off your head immediately. Do you accept?”

“I accept,” Yu Lin said

“Good… guards, leave now. Zhong Cheng, bring him up here. I want to see how good he thinks he is when even the royal physician couldn’t diagnose what was wrong with me.”

“Yes, Honorable father,” Zhong Cheng said as he pulled Yu Lin up. Yu Lin kept her head down as she walked up to the emperor’s bed.

“Look at me,” the emperor ordered. She looked up to meet his purple eyes. “Red eyes? What kind of being are you?” the emperor narrowed his eyes at her. Yu Lin took his hand and felt his pulse.

“I am a dark elto, your royal highness,” she looked at the ends of his fingertips before looking at his face. His complexion was pale, but other than that, there was no other traces of him being sick.

“I see.”

“How does your royal highness feel?”

“I? These days I feel tired and nauseous… I have been having troubles eating and digesting…” The royal physician told me that at most, I only have a week more to live yet he has not found out what my illness is yet.”

“I understand,” Yu Lin reached up and pulled down his lips before going up to pull down his eye. Her eyes widened as she concentrated on his eyes. It must have been due to his purple eyes that confused the physician, but Yu Lin for sure saw that the whites of his eyes were just the tiniest bit of purple. She pushed his nose gently up to see that near his nostrils were dry skin and had a shade of blue.

“What are you doing?” the emperor pushed her hand away. “How is this an exa-”

“Pardon me, your highness, but,” Yu Lin looked around the room before leaning into his ear, “have you have been getting nosebleeds lately?” her voice was only audible to the emperor. The emperor’s eyes widened as he look towards his guards. He looked back at her and nodded his head. Yu Lin bit her lip. Nose bleeds may not seem like a big deal, but in the Middle Continent, if the emperor had a nosebleeds out of normal injury then that meant that catastrophe would befall the kingdom. This was due to an old legend, and many emperors had been deposed because of it. It sounded like nonsense, but for an emperor, who had many enemies, it was a sign of weakness.

“Why do you know?” the emperor whispered back. Yu Lin looked around the room. She saw many things burning such as candles, incenses, and perfume fumes were everywhere. Yu Lin frowned as she did not pick up a peculiar scent from them. She turned back around and looked at the emperor. Her eyes traveled down them to his pillows. She cocked her head as she put her head down. She took a whiff. Her eyes widened as she picked the pillow up from behind him.

“What are you doing?”

“This,” Yu Lin held the pillow out to him, “it’s poisoned.”

“Wh-what?”

“Your royal highness has been poisoned. The culprit is most likely the person who made or gave this to you.”

“Impossible!”

“Please drink this your royal highness,” a vial appeared in Yu Lin’s hand as she held it to the emperor. It was a vial she had prepared for Tai Yang, just in case something happened.

“You’re lying to me,” the emperor shook his head.

“Look,” Yu Lin tore the pillow in half and a small container dropped onto the bed. Yu Lin picked it up and opened the container to reveal some crushed herbs, “these may smell nice, but they are poisonous if they are constantly inhaled.”

“Thi… this…” the emperor’s jaw dropped as he shook his head.

“Do you believe me now?” she asked as she held the vial out. The emperor froze in shock.

“Honorable father… who gave you this pillow?” Zhong Cheng asked.

“Dong Fang,” the emperor’s voice was empty.

“Yes, your highness.”

“Take the guards and go arrest the royal physician,” the emperor ordered. Dong Fang’s eyes widened.

“Wh-wh-what?”

“Right this minute!” the emperor yelled.

“Yes, your highness!” Dong Fang said as he ran out with the guards.

“Honorable father,” Zhong Cheng stood up and held the emperor.

“Drink this,” she said again. The emperor looked up at her and pushed her away.

“Get away,” he panted as he wiped his mouth.

“Your royal highness!” a voice cried out. Yu Lin turned her head to see a familiar, yet aged face. She balled her fist. The guards kicked the man down to kneel on the ground.

“Sun Du Yao… tell me, what is this doing in the pillow I asked you to make me?!” the emperor snatched the container out of Yu Lin’s hand and threw it towards Du Yao. It hit Du Yao in the forehead before landing on the ground. His eyes trembled a he looked away.

“Your royal highness, please calm down,” Yu Lin said, however the emperor was not looking at her.

“Tell me… you studies poisonous herbs for your whole life… you should know what they are! What are they doing in my pillow?! Tell me!” the emperor screamed.

“I… I don’t think my master would have wanted this to happen…” Du Yao said as he looked up.

“What?”

“I am saying, my master wouldn’t have wanted any of this to happen!” tears streamed down Du Yao’s face.

“Your master was my teacher. I would kn-”

“Then you wouldn't have done any of this, your royal highness.”

“Wh-what?”

“Y-you… I know. Your royal highness was sent to Sky Continent as a child to train with Emperor Huang Feng Huang. You were both taught by my master… I know how you must have cherished her, just as Emperor Huang did. But… the ways your highness and Emperor Huang are going… I’m afraid that my master… my master would not be happy seeing this,” Du Yao wept.

“Nonsense! We are onl-”

“I know! Your highness and Emperor Huang are only trying to find him… but… there are too many innocent lives! My master would not have been happy seeing you two govern like this!”

“Is tha… is that why you decided to poison me?”

“Yes… I figured that if one of you guys had fallen, maybe the other would realize that everything they were doing were in vain. Maybe it may even turn them back, back to when they were kind and righteous rulers…” Du Yao lips curled up into an empty smile. “But… now I’m found out… please… please kill me… I can’t watch your highness and Emperor Huang commit these acts anymore.”

“Du Yao!”

“Guan Xi Da Shi! I… I’m tired… I just keep waiting for you to turn back… but you won’t… I have given up hope… please… please kill me.’

“Du Yao… alright… I regarded you as my best friend… if that is what you want, then I sha-”

“Your royal highness!” Yu Lin blurted out as she shook her head. “These herbs may be poisonous, but they won’t kill in small doses like these. At the worst, all they will do is make you sleep for days at a time, making it seem as if you have passed. After a while, your body will get used to them and you won’t be affected anymore when you wake up. It can even help build up your immune system against poisons,” Yu Lin quickly said. Da Shi’s jaw dropped as he looked at Du Yao.

“Is this true, Du Yao?” he asked. Du Yao didn’t respond.

“It’s true,” Yu Lin said, “I am a physician. If I didn’t know this, then I wouldn’t be able to call myself a physician.”

Da Shi looked at Yu Lin before looking back at Du Yao.

“Du Yao,” his voice was gentle. Yu Lin looked at Du Yao to see him face the floor not saying a word. “Guards, whip him twenty times and then put him in the royal prison for three days. No water and no food will be given to him,” the emperor ordered. The soldiers all nodded their heads as they dragged Du Yao out. Yu Lin let out a sigh of relief as she turned back towards Da Shi. She held the vial out to him.

“Please, take this your royal highness, it will immediately help you with your condition,” she said as she got down on one knee.

“Honorable father, please,” Zhong Cheng pleaded. Da Shi stared at the vial.

“Tell me, physician, what are the last four lines to the poem?” his voice was deprived of any emotions.

“I can’t, I have not fulfilled my part of the agreement,” Yu Lin shook her head, “please, your royal highness, please drink this,” she continued to hold up the vial. Yu Lin heard him sigh as she felt the bottle get snatch from her hand. She looked up to watch him down the contents before wiping his mouth.

“Now, tell me,” he demanded. Yu Lin nodded her head as she stood up.

“The last four lines are,

Do not forget your roots

Or you will be met,” Yu Lin bit her lip as her hand trembled.

“Continue!” Da Shi yelled. Yu Lin swallowed her saliva as her eyes trail down to Da Shi’s blankets.

“Do not forget your roots

Or you will be met

With sad regrets

And everything to lose,” Yu Lin finished. Yu Lin closed her eyes as she ball her fist. After a silent moment she opened her eyes to look at Da Shi. Da Shi’s pale complexion from earlier was now beginning to turn normal as his eyes were unfocused. His mind did not seem to be in the room at the moment.

“Honorable father,” Zhong Cheng lightly shook him. The light came back into Da Shi’s eyes as Yu Lin watch him turn his head and look at Yu Lin.

“Th… thank you, physician… I am in your debt, and due to this, I will grant you one wish,” Da Shi said. Yu Lin’s eyes widened.

“Any wish?”

“If it is within my power, and it does not against the law, I will grant you your wish,” Da Shi smiled at her. She got down on her knees and bowed her head as she put her hands together and held them up.

“Thank your royal highness… but, do I have to make this wish now? May I come back in the future?” she asked, her voice trembling a bit.There was a moment of silence.

“Tell me, how did you find out the last four lines?” Da Shi broke the silence. Yu Lin’s blinked as her eyes darted around on the carpet.

“Your royal highness… that is an answer that your royal highness must find out for yourself,” Yu Lin answered.

“Is that so… I understand… alright, Dong Fang!”

“Yes, your royal highness?” Dong Fang bowed his head.

“Please document that I owe the physician, Du Yu Lin, a wish. If he does not wish to have it granted now, he may come back in the future to have it granted. From now on, treat him as a honorable guest.”

“Yes,” Dong Fang pulled a small tablet from out of his sleeve and started to write on it.

“Then, you are all dismissed. I want to be alone,” Da Shi ordered.

“Yes, your royal highness,” they all bowed as they stood up and left the emperor’s room. Yu Lin glanced inside the room as the maids started to close the door. She saw Da Shi pull out a necklace and grab onto its emblem.

-

“Teacher Li, what is this?” a young man asked as he stared at a painting that laid on a long table.

“Da Shi, that is a painting,” Hu Die answered as she walked up and stood next to the young man.

“Really? It looks a little… a little bit like a child’s doodle.”

“Da Shi! You’re going to make fun of the fact that your teacher can’t paint?”

“No! I don’t dare to,” Da Shi glanced cautiously at Hu Die as she let out a giggle.

“I’m just joking with you. I know that it doesn’t look all that great.”

“Hmmm… is there a meaning behind it?”

“Yes.”

“What kind?”

“Look,” Hu Die pointed to the child’s shoulder that revealed a character, “there is a poem hidden throughout this painting.”

“What poem?”

“A king is born

Another falls

The kingdom mourns

The child bawls

Trying to find a path

That is right

Another bloodbath

He who searches for the light

Will be under the shade

Under the night

Under a blade

But, he must do what is right,” Hu Die said.

“Is that it?”

“No. There are four more lines included with it.”

“What are they?”

“That… you can look for yourself,”

“Teacher Li!”

“Search, I will give you a hint. Do. not. forget. your. roots.” Hu Die said.

“Do not forget your roots?” Da Shi squinted his eyes at the painting for a moment before shaking his head, “I don’t get it! I give up!”

“Guan Xi Da Shi, you’re not motivated enough, keep searching.”

“No! It doesn’t matter anyways, because you’re going to give it to Feng Huang.”

“Who says so?”

“You’re not? But it’s a poem about a ruler, right?”

“Is Feng Huang the only one who’s going to become emperor one day?”

“Then… you’re giving it to me?!” Da Shi’s mouth dropped.

“Yes. It’s your farewell gift,” Hu Die smiled at him and his face blushed as he looked away.

“Hmm… alright, if you really want to give me something, then I can’t help but accept.”

“Tsk… alright, look for the last four lines. I will be testing you about them when you return, do you understand?”

“Yes! I understand!” Da Shi nodded his head as he continued to squint his eyes at the painting, “but Teacher Li, why are you giving me this?”

“Because I want you and Feng Huang to become good rulers. Rulers who knows from right from wrong, and rulers who can make their own people proud.”

“Ohh… alright. I understand! I will become that kind of ruler then!” Da Shi chuckled as he continued to look at the painting.

-

The door closed and Yu Lin turned her head away to see Zhong Cheng staring at her.

“Follow me,” Zhong Cheng said and Yu Lin nodded her head. The two walked out of the emperor’s quarters as Zhong Cheng led her behind a garden with Huan Yi and Yi Huan following behind Yu Lin. They were walking a path through the garden when Zhong Cheng turned around and faced Yu Lin. He got down on one knee and bowed his head.

“Your highness!” Huan Yi and Yi Huan yelled out.

“Thank you, sir Yu Lin, for helping my father! I won’t ever forget your kindness for as long as I live!” Zhong Cheng said. Yu Lin’s eyes widened as she also fell to her knees.

“Please, get up your highness,” Yu Lin quickly said as she looked around the garden to see if there was anyone, but no one was there, “I understand your gratitude, please, stand up now.”

“Thank you, sir Yu Lin,” Zhong Cheng said as he stood up and Yu Lin stood up after him.

“Your highness! You don’t have to go so far!” Huan Yi blurted out.

“That’s right, your highness!” Yi Huan agreed.

“Let’s continue walking. The person that wants to see you is just a little beyond here,” Zhong Cheng ignored the siblings as he turned around and continued to walk. Yu Lin and the siblings just let out a sigh as they continued to follow him.

After a few sharp turns a living quarter that was hidden behind some forestry, came into view. There was a front gate where two women stood in front of. Zhong Cheng stopped about ten footsteps away from the gate.

“From here on, you will have to go by yourself, sir Yu Lin,” Zhong Cheng gestured towards the gate. Yu Lin nodded her head.

“Thank you,” she said as she continued on to the gate by herself. She stopped in front of the women who had a cloth concealing their whole face except for their eyes. They wore black and white simple robes, with a red cloth tied around their waist.

“Please state your name,” one of them said.

“Du Yu Lin.”

“Du Yu Lin… permission approved,” the two backed away. Yu Lin watched them carefully before she walked through the gates. Behind the gate another lady who wore the same uniform.

“The priestess has been expecting you,” the lady said as she held out her hand, “please leave your endless bracelet here with me. Afterwards please wash your hands and feet over by the well over there. After that, please put on that black robe and then you can enter the large red door over there,” the lady gave her instructions. Yu Lin did was she was told.

After that, she stood in front of the big red door and took in a breath. She looked to see no maids there to open the door so she decided that she had to probably open it herself. She pushed the doors open to see a woman sitting on a pillow facing the other way.

“Please come in and close the door behind you,” a calming voice rang out. Yu Lin looked around the room to see that it had extravagant details all over the walls and behind the woman was a small shrine. She bit her lips as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Afterwards she stood in front of the door, unsure of what to do.

“Please, come sit,” the woman said and Yu Lin noticed the pillow that was a few steps in front of her, and a few steps away from the woman. She walked up to the pillow and sat down. “Du Yu Lin,” the woman said and Yu Lin sat up, “this is our official first meeting.”

“Do you know me?” Yu Lin asked.

“Not personally, but I know your mother very well.”

“My mother…” Yu Lin frowned, “who are you?”

“Right now I go by the name Guan Xi Xi Xing, a title given to me as the highest priestess of the Green Continent. When I was not yet a priestess, my name was Lin Su Mei.”

“Lin Su Mei?” Yu Lin tried to think of anyone in Glorious Forest by that name but she could not recall anything.

“You wouldn’t know my name,” Yu Lin moved back a little as she saw the woman stand up and turn around, “eleven years ago a dark witch showed up in my village and wiped most of the villagers. It was during that time when I first met your mother,” Yu Lin continue to stare as the woman sat back down and her eyes looked straight, not focusing on anything, “and… it was during that time I made a huge mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“Yes… I’m sorry, Du Yu Lin… I caused the death of your parents… the death of Grandpa Chu, and… I am the one to blame for causing all the pain that you had to go through.”