The world seemed too cold.

It felt like my skin was coated by a thick layer of ice as a prickling sensation spread across every inch of my body. My ears were numb, void of any sound. My closed eyes felt an enormous pressure refusing to open them up. My lungs burning with lack of air.

There was a heavyweight pressuring from both above and beneath my body. Like a silver thread entwined on my waist pulling me further and further into the depths of obscurity.

It's suffocating me...

And there it was, the irritating yet haunting voices of laughter echoing in my head. A creepy sensation crawled up my spine sending shivers across my body, followed by the mocking laughter of the people I had cared for. The worst that stood out was the deep chuckling sound of His Majesty ringing in my ears. Incoherent phrases soon flooded from all directions one after the other. It reminded me of the time I was dragged around the city and humiliated in front of my people. They were accusing, insulting and rejecting my very being and ashamed of my existence.

"Son of a whore!"

"Your birth was a mistake, traitor!"

"Murderer!"

"You're a hoax. A witch trying to enchant us! Serves you right bitch!"

"Fooling us with kindness! You should be skinned alive you bastard!"

"You greedy dog!"

"Is this how you repay the late Emperor after he had given you everything?!"

"Ungrateful shit! You shall be cursed for a thousand lives!"

My heart squeezed with his last words to me, that left me shattered, "You've got what's coming to you."

The suffocation got worst at every minute passing by. The insides of my head threatened to burst open with the amount of pressure I was receiving.

My eyes forcefully yet slowly blinked opened to the blurry sight of my hands spread open, floating in the air. As soon as my vision cleared my heart dropped at the sight in front of me, my breath stuck at the throat, stunned.

This can't be possible... I must be dreaming...

I was submerging within the calm water that was encircling around me, sinking deeper and deeper into the pit of darkness awaiting below. Panic took over my body as I unconsciously released the ounce of air I'd been holding all along as bubbles escaped through my lips.

An emotion called desperation finally hit me as my head tilted up to witness the shimmer of sunlight rippling on the clear water above, mocking how vulnerable I was. My fingers barely twitched trying to reach out only to grab nothing...

I was surrounded by an invisible prison, my limbs restricted from movement. I tried to flap my limbs with all my strength but I couldn't feel my body, as if it wasn't my body anymore. My lungs were on fire as I fought for every last bit of air. My vision blurred. I closed my eyes, my mind in a turmoil. I couldn't calm down my rising heartbeat.

Was someone trying to drown me?

I opened my eyes once again to reassure it wasn't a dream.

There was a loud bang on my chest as my eyes grew wide with an even greater shock, refusing to believe what I was seeing right now was actually the real thing.

Red...

It wasn't the previous blue-green water anymore but replaced by a deep red... No... This familiar metallic taste of the water...

At the realization, I started choking from the liquid that had entered my mouth... It's blood!

Strangely, I heard a clinking sound which was impossible to hear inside the water. Instinctively my eyes traveled to my legs that were barely visible with the blood water but the silver shackles on my ankles were glistening like jewels. All I could hear now was my heartbeat against my ears...

I can't... I'm... I'm dying...

No... I can't... Not again...

His Majesty needs me...

My insides were ripping apart as the sharp pain shot right through my body. My vision shrouded by black dots as my consciousness was giving away, which felt like an eternity.

Darkness took over my body, restlessness seeping through my nerves. And suddenly there was a piercingly bright light that hit my eyes as I shut them down in response. My body started to feel much lighter as I was basking in the bright light that seemed to calm my mind. I was no longer feeling the pressure of drowning.

Soon my mind was invaded by a distant humming sound of a gentle and deep yet pained voice that kept reaching me closer and closer until I recognized the familiar heavenly voice that tugged at the strings of my heart. The tune was so depressing as if the owner of the voice had lost their most beloved treasure. It felt like time had stopped when the sillihoute of the tall, dignified man, the owner of the voice, dressed in white entered my vision. His eyes were shrouded by sadness as he continued to watch the strikingly picturesque blue moon while humming. In his hand, was a piece of beautifully crafted jade tightly secured, as if it would slip away any moment. It was a jade pendant I would remember no matter how many years had passed away.

The confusion was eating me up from head to toe because this person was none other than...

His Majesty.

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My eyes snapped open as I inhaled a sharp breath. The room was filled with my heavy pants as I sat on the bed clutching onto my chest. Sweat coated at my forehead. I ran a hand through my silky hair in reflex to my anxiety as my eyes darted to my Baby at the other side of the bed.

I clearly knew the difference between a dream and reality. I could bet on all the lives of Xu Lin and say that what I just saw now was real. Those emotions, the body pain, the physical resistance, and the cold sensation that was still lingering on my skin were vividly painted on my mind.

What the hell is going on?

This life I had thought was a second chance, was it actually something temporary? Would it be alright to interfere with the course of this world? And if I did change it, will it have negative results in the long-run? As a habit of nervousness, I bit my bottom lip. My head was filled with unanswered questions. There was no one I could turn to at this rate and the answer was within me. Therefore, I could only follow what my heart says.

The insides of my body were boiling in frustration. Gritting my teeth with the rising anger I was alien to, I didn't know what came over me as I grabbed my sword beside the bed and walked out into the dark night towards the garden that separated the palace of His Majesty and I. With a "schwing" sound I drew my blade off its scabbard heading deeper into the massive garden surrounded by dozens of tall trees and plants that had their bloomed flowers melted into the warmth of the moonlight. The garden is simply a riot of colors. Be it bright colors, subtle colors such as pink, red, yellow, blue, white, orange, purple, green and so on.

The fragrance from the garden gently drifts through the open doors and windows of the palace, creating an array of aromatic, floral scents throughout the vicinity that changes as often as the wind does. The smell of Honeysuckle, Jasmine, and Gardenia with its heavy and overpowering fragrance conquers all the other scents in the garden. The delicate roses are my favorite. Each type of rose abound in the garden had a different scent.

All the rare floras that couldn't be found in Xu Lin were here in this paradise, the Heavenly Garden. Heavenly Garden was only for the use of the Emperor and I, which was gifted by Imperial Father along with the Lotus Pavilion which I had long ago stopped visiting. Only if he knew how thin our relationship was...

With the sweet fragrance surrounding me, my head was clearing up. The plants and trees were rustling to the gentle wind as I sped forward throwing the scabbard into the grass. The scabbard was worth a lifetime of money for a commoner and maybe even to their next generation. It was a sword gifted by Imperial Father when I was promoted to a General.

Naturally, swords did not have names but due to the countless wars I had fought and won, people regarded me as a legend. It wasn't long until people started telling tales and writing poetry about a sword that was created by the god which was in the hands of the Great General Su. Thus, this masterpiece was named by the people of Xu Lin as the "Dragon Sword."

I weighed the sword in my right hand twirling it twice before slashing it gracefully at the air, with proficient-like confidence, and as I did so the reflection of the moon danced brightly within the cool steel. The handle of the sword was bound with gold, the hilt decorated into a dragon head. The blade was long and double-edged.

It wasn't long until my mind went blank, immersed in my sword dance. The birds were chirping loudly. The sky had started to brim with color. And the cool wind was a little stronger as the mist spread throughout the garden.

I swung the sword across the air, twirling it once above my head, and leaped forward slashing the wind. My eyes narrowed and in a split second, I spun back as two swords met in the air with a resounding 'clang'. My opponent thrust his sword forward, only to be met by my sword again. I dodged to the side in one fluid motion. My enemy swiveled in my direction. His familiar menacing eyes radiated with power. He was a master swordsman. With vigor, he slashed his blade back and forth as I continued to attack with ease. He really wanted to kill me, didn't he? None of us were planning to admit defeat. Finally spotting an opening I kneed him hard on the stomach. He held onto his stomach, his face still unchanged.

"When will you ever greet me normally? Do you really have to try to kill me every time you come to see me?" I complained.

"Hmm." He dusted his clothes looking uninterested. How rude can one be? If it wasn't for me he would have already been beheaded. But this is the reason I liked him.

"Your aggressive today." He stated with his husky voice as he put back his sword into the scabbard.

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?" I raised one of my eyebrows.

He silently watched me...

"I take it that you are here because what I had suspected was true?" I picked up my scabbard sliding my sword into it.

"Yes, they were bribed with a large sum of gold by a man who entered into the city a few days after the attack but three days ago he had left the city. And the man had himself disguised so none of the guards saw his face." He reported.

I sighed. I don't remember taking traitors into my army. Loyalty was one of the first things taught to the Xu Lin army. For them to give it up, it must have been quite a lot of gold. It's human nature after all.

"I suppose you have already dealt with the five guards?"

"Yes." He simply answered.

Anyone who entered the torture hall would never think about betrayal again. That's how severe the punishment was. And some would die unable to withstand the punishment while some would be permanently disabled.

"If they survive, dismiss them from the army. The gold retrieved shall be given to the finance minister to deal with." I ordered.

"Yes."

"Gather your most trusted people and put them on the front gates. The rest you can take care of it without my opinion."

"Yes."

"Don't you have anything else to say other than yes?" I mocked him.

"Okay." He simply answered once again. As a result, I rolled my eyes at him.

Such a stoic man with few words. Who else could it be other than Du Xi, the cold-hearted Deputy General? He had a scar on his face. It was a thick line that was diagonal across the eyebrow. Nevertheless, it added more to his handsome and stone-cold face. No human wanted to offend this man because he could slice a person into two with his deathly glare.

I was glad that I found him two years ago when things were going downhill for him. He was a well-known bandit ruling the northern mountains. Despite that he never killed anyone but when one day his followers accidentally killed a noble to steal, we had to take them down. I didn't think a bandit could have such impressive martial art skills and I was drawn into his personality which may have drawbacks when you're a leader, however, I could see there were more advantages to it. So I didn't want this person to go to waste. When I suggested him to join the army, he only told me one thing before he accepted the offer,

"As long as I work for you." This took me by surprise but as the man who defeated him, it was understandable that he'd wanted to work for me and no one else. He wouldn't bow down even to the Emperor. However, he had proven his undying loyalty by taking three arrows on my behalf. He never goes back on his words. Completed his job without mistakes and it took only two years for him to earn the title of the Deputy General. He may be rude and stoic but his personality and skills were admirable.

"Next time, pay attention to your attire." He said out of the blue. I looked down only to be taken aback. My bare chest was exposed and my trouser was the only cloth I was wearing. I hadn't even put on my shoes.

"I- Huh?" I looked up only to see there was no one there. He'd already gone...

"Well... At least you could say a simple goodbye." I said to the open air.

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