The ancient willow tree in front of her home had lost all of its leaves and branches, exposing a bare trunk and the greyish brown of dead leaves underneath.

An ancient tree older than Qianye Village itself, now reduced to nothing more than a memory. Even Zhang Yan seemed to feel melancholic for a split second before snapping out of it.

"That tree...", he murmured as he distanced himself from Jian Li.

Jian Li looked at the tree and then at Zhang Yan, her eyes full of sadness.

"Why have you brought us here?" she asked again.

"Don't you get it? It's your inner world! You brought us here after I defeated you.", Zhang Yan said.

After a brief pause, Zhang Yan spoke again.

"The healers are probably looking at us right now. Who knows how many days, months or even years we've been unconscious? They're going to be wondering when we'll wake up. IF we'll ever wake up.", he ranted.

"We need to get out of here. Now." Jian Li replied, attempting to summon one of her swords. Zhang Yan just shook his head in response as she repeatedly failed.

"This part of your inner world is controlled by your subconsciousness. There's nothing we can do here except follow the path it wants us to follow. Which is exactly why you need to find out what your subconsciousness wants us to do here.", Zhang Yan stated bluntly.

"You're the illusionist here. Why don't you use your Art? Or maybe you want me to help you control this place?", Jian Li said, her tone slightly hostile.

Zhang Yan let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, the reason I'm here isn't because of my skills as an illusionist. This was your unconscious unexpectedly pulling us in to defend itself. But this isn't supposed to happen. Not like this."

Jian Li raised her eyebrows.

"What does that mean?"

"Try to approach the tree and see for yourself. It has to be the first you laid your eyes on for a reason. ", Zhang Yan suggested, ignoring her question.

"You'll go to it first.", Jian Li replied, her eyes narrowed as she stared at Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan shrugged and walked up to the tree. Nothing seemed to happen as he gave her a mocking look.

"What's wrong? Can't move?", he laughed. Wielding his twin swords, Zhang Yan threw one of them at the ground in front of Jian Li.

"Take it, at least you'll feel a bit safer this way.", Zhang Yan smirked.

As much as she wanted to argue back, Zhang Yan was right. She accepted the sword without another word, holding onto it as tightly as she could manage.

The feeling of being trapped and alone with Zhang Yan made her feel uneasy. Especially when Zhang Yan seemed to be holding back some information. She had to stay on high alert.

As she got closer to the ancient willow tree, she felt something strange.

The air around her seemed to shift and distort, and the sound of wind and nature became louder. The sky grew darker, the light of the moon dimming.

"What's going on?", Jian Li whispered as she continued to walk forward. In contrast to Jian Li, Zhang Yan almost seemed bored as he watched her approach.

Jian Li finally reached the tree, her hand brushing the bark as she stared up at it.

She remembered how lively it used to be with all the servants and merchants walking around it during busy market days.

The sound of horse hooves would occasionally fill the streets, bringing the freshness of spring.

And Jian Li usually be right in the middle of it all, reading and relaxing right by the tree. Her father hated it and her sibling always knew they could find her there.

But that was in the past.

The now withered tree stood there silently, as a reminder of what once was.

Jian Li looked up at the old tree in silence, her expression still pensive.

She then looked up at Zhang Yan, who was staring back at her with an unreadable look on his face.

"So, where should we go from here? You know more than I do.", she asked, her tone slightly sarcastic.

"I told you it's your subconscious here. We need to find out what it wants us to do. Maybe you're missing something...", Zhang Yan retorted, his eyes narrowing.

He watched Jian Li closely, trying to figure out how best to handle the situation.

But before anything else happened, a voice boomed across the area.

"What in the world... What happened?", asked a woman's voice that resonated in every inch of the surrounding area.

As darkness rapidly surrounded Zhang Yan and Jian Li, both of them went on high alert.

But Jian Li's heart began beating rapidly when she could hear something... something she had never expected to ever encounter again. A voice she hoped never to hear ever again. The faintest whisper, as quiet as the grave.

"Jian Li..."

Jian Li froze instantly. Her hands clutched the hilt of her sword, making the blade tremble slightly. Even if several years had passed since the attack, Jian Li would never forget his voice.

The man who called himself Meng. The one that was responsible for the dozens of innocents dying at Qianye Village.

Jian Li felt as though her mind was racing faster than the speed of sound. Images flooded her thoughts, causing her to shudder.

She saw Jian Ye burning Meng with a holy silver flame. Her father standing on the brink of death. She saw herself as a little girl, looking frightened and crying as she clung to her father.

And lastly, she saw herself standing there, helpless as dozens died right in front of her eyes.

Recalling those memories made her feel exactly like she felt at that moment.

Useless.