Huanxin began her search for a mentor in the bustling city of Tianle, where life thrived amid danger. The streets were alive with vendors shouting their wares, the air filled with the rich scents of spices and grilled meats. But beneath the lively surface, the cases of theft and kidnappings increased, constantly reminding her of the risks that surrounded her.
Her injuries still throbbed, a constant reminder of her vulnerability. After spending her last savings on treatment, she was broke. Now, every alley felt like a potential trap, and children's laughter often faded under the weight of fear.
Back at her small hut on the city's outskirts, Huanxin crafted a simple alarm system using wood from the nearby forest. She tied thin strings to small bells, hanging them at her doorway to warn her of intruders. As she worked, an unsettling feeling crept over her, as if someone were watching. The forest around her felt alive, the rustling leaves whispering warnings.
Just as she finished, a loud crash echoed nearby. Her heart raced. She peered out, and in the dim light, she saw a group of rough-looking men approaching, their eyes scanning the area. Panic surged through her. They were known troublemakers.
Huanxin quickly ducked behind a tree, her breath caught in her throat. She could hear their jeering voices, full of arrogance and menace. "We'll find someone to entertain us," one of them laughed, and the others joined in, their laughter chilling.
She held her breath, heart pounding, knowing she needed to stay hidden. The men were getting closer, and the idea of being discovered sent adrenaline coursing through her veins. This was the danger she had only heard about—the reality of being alone in a city filled with threats.
As they approached her hut, one of the men leaned against the wall, casually flicking a dagger in his hand. Huanxin's mind raced. She needed a way out. Her alarm bells were ready, but would they be enough to scare them off?
Summoning every ounce of courage, she prepared to set off her alarm, hoping to startle them before they could reach her. But just as she was about to pull the string, a sudden movement in the bushes caught her eye. A shadow darted past her—was it friend or foe?
Suddenly, two familiar figures burst from the underbrush. She recognized the faces instantly they were Lian Jun and Zhen Jian, her companions from the journey between Jinggu and Tianle. Relief washed over her as they rushed forward, but the fear of exposure gripped her tightly.
"Get back!" Lian Jun shouted, brandishing a sword he had, his martial training evident in his stance.
Zhen Jian nodded, his eyes sharp as he assessed the men. "We'll handle this!"
Without hesitation, they sprang into action. Lian Jun swung the stick with determination, catching one of the men off guard and sending him sprawling. Zhen Jian followed up with a quick jab to another's side, creating a momentary distraction.
In the chaos, Huanxin seized the opportunity to escape, her heart racing as she slipped away from the confrontation. But as she ran, Lian Jun and Zhen Jian quickly caught up to her, breathing heavily.
"Why are you alone? Shouldn't you be with your parents?" Lian Jun demanded, surprise and anger flaring in his voice.
"Let's not talk right now; we need to move. They'll catch up with us soon," Zhen Jian urged, his tone urgent.
As they burst into the crowded street, Huanxin's heart raced. The vibrant colors and sounds of Tianle swirled around her, but they felt distant, muted by her adrenaline. She caught snippets of laughter, the sizzle of street food, and the chatter of vendors. Her daze broke when,
Lian Jun with concern asked, "Where are your parents? Shouldn't you be with them?
Caught in her lie, Huanxin told the truth, "I am an orphan. I don't have parents."
Lian Jun furious with anger shouted at Huanxin "Lianfeng, why did you lie? Why? You made us fools, didn't you?"
Huanxin sobbed "I just wanted to come to Tianle, so I lied. Would you have taken me if I hadn told you the truth instead?"
The atmosphere crackled with tension—one heart pulsing with rage, the other heavy with fear.
Zhen Jian, sensing the rising conflict, stepped in. "Let's not discuss this out here. We need to find a quieter place. That restaurant over there looks nice."
With a scowl, Lian Jun stormed towards the restaurant, his frustration palpable. Huanxin followed, each step feeling heavier, her guilt pressing down like a weight. Zhen Jian trailed closely, a protective presence as he kept an eye on her.
Inside, the restaurant was calm and serene, with a soft glow from lanterns casting gentle light on polished wooden tables. The air was filled with the rich aroma of spices, mingling with the warmth of freshly cooked dishes. The quiet chatter of a few patrons created a soothing background, contrasting sharply with the storm brewing among them.
Zhen Jian led them to a private room upstairs, where a square table awaited with four chairs set around it. Huanxin sat first, her heart racing, while Lian Jun and Zhen Jian took seats beside her, the weight of their unspoken feelings hanging in the air.
Before Lian Jun could unleash his anger again, Zhen Jian gently wiped Huanxin's tears and asked, "Why did you lie?"
"I just wanted to come to Tianle. I thought you wouldn't take me if I told the truth. I'm an orphan; I don't have a family. I needed to survive. Tianle is so much bigger than Jinggu, and I thought I could earn more here," said Lianfeng breathing heavily. She lied again to them, she couldn't tell them the truth even if they had been so kind she had lost all the trust she had in this world. She had built high walls around her, and she wouldn't let anyone enter them.
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"It's okay. Don't cry," Zhen Jian reassured her, his tone softening, but Lian Jun's frustration simmered beneath the surface.
"How do we know she isn't lying again?" Lian Jun interjected, hurt and betrayal in his voice. He felt sympathy for her plight, yet the sense of being deceived stung sharply.
"Let's not make accusations right now. The world is already tough for her," Zhen Jian replied firmly, trying to mediate the tension.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you. Please don't be angry with me, brother," Lianfeng pleaded, her voice trembling.
Lian Jun's anger flickered. "Alright, I forgive you this time. But you can't stay here; it's too dangerous."
"I have to find my way. I can't rely on you forever. I need to grow stronger to survive," she insisted, her determination shining through her tears.
"If you don't want to travel with us, that's fine. But let us help you build a better alarm. That little mechanism won't protect you," Zhen Jian offered his voice steady and kind.
"Okay," Huanxin replied, a small smile breaking through her distress.
"Where's the waiter? I'll go order," Lian Jun said abruptly, rising from the table.
As he left, the door closed quietly behind him, and Huanxin felt guilty watching him go. Zhen Jian noticed her distress and said softly, "Don't worry. He'll come around. We both think of you as our little sister. Do you know how much he talks about you? He's always so worried about you."
Huanxin smiled warmed by their kindness, but she still couldn't tell them her truth. Torn between the urge to te the truth and the instinct to protect herself, she felt confused.
They care for me. They treat me like family. But what if I let them down? What if I open up, and they realize I'm not worth their time? I've built walls for a reason, but these moments... make me want to break them down."
Zhen Jian's kind words offered a glimpse of hope, but her heart still ached with uncertainty.
"Will they still think of me as their little sister if they knew the truth? Or will they see me as an outsider, unworthy of their friendship?"
After their meal, the trio returned to the hut. Lian Jun observed, "Lianfeng has made this place livable. It's surprisingly clean for a deserted house."
He examined the mechanism Huanxin had crafted, an intricate design of wooden components and strings meant to protect her home. "What have you done here?" he asked, genuine curiosity breaking through his anger.
Huanxin smiled, pride mingling with a hint of nervousness. "It's an alarm system," she explained. "I used the wood from the forest nearby. The design is simple but effective."
She gestured to a series of thin, nearly invisible strings stretched taut around her doorframe, connected to small bells and sharp wooden spikes hidden just out of sight. "When someone steps too close, the strings pull the bells, alerting me. If they're not careful, they might even get pricked by the spikes."
Zhen Jian leaned in, inspecting the craftsmanship. "This is impressive for someone your age. You've thought of everything," he said, nodding appreciatively. "But it needs to be stronger. A determined intruder could easily break through or bypass it."
"They think I'm capable, but what if I fail? If Lian Jun and Zhen Jian knew how close I was to falling apart, would they still want to help? I need to prove I can stand on my own."
As Lian Jun and Zhen Jian brainstormed improvements, Huanxin felt the warmth of camaraderie.
Maybe it's okay to let them in, just a little. But what if they see the truth? I'm just an orphan. I still haven't punished the culprit of my tribe's massacre. Can I allow myself to be part of something?
Lian Jun stepped closer, his initial anger fading as he examined her work. "You've used the natural resources well. But we should make it more complex," he added, his voice thoughtful. "What if we add a tripwire that triggers a louder alarm, maybe even a series of small traps around the perimeter?"
Huanxin's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "I was thinking of that! If we could use some of the larger branches and make them swing down, it would be an additional deterrent. Perhaps even some noise-makers to confuse anyone trying to sneak in."
Zhen Jian's mind raced with ideas. "If we can rig a few more bells to create a cacophony, it might scare off potential intruders. We can use whatever we find in the area—stones, branches, anything that can create noise or movement."
As they brainstormed, Huanxin felt a sense of empowerment. The young men were treating her as an equal, and for the first time, she saw her skills not as mere survival tactics, but as a means of standing her ground in this harsh world.
"Let's gather some materials from the forest," Lian Jun suggested. "We can fortify your defenses and create layers of protection."
With renewed determination, the trio set off into the nearby woods, collecting branches, stones, and other natural elements. They worked together, laughing and exchanging ideas as they crafted a more intricate alarm system. Huanxin felt a sense of camaraderie, her heart swelling with hope as they built something stronger and more effective.
Back at her hut, they constructed the upgraded mechanism. Lian Jun showed her how to properly position the tripwires so they would be less visible to an intruder. Zhen Jian worked alongside her, demonstrating how to balance the swinging traps to ensure they wouldn't accidentally harm her if she forgot their placement.
As night began to fall, the mechanism took shape—an elaborate network of strings and bells, traps and alarms, ready to protect her from the dangers of the city. Zhen Jian wrapped up the final touches, his hands steady and precise. "You need to remember where every part is placed," he cautioned, looking her in the eye. "This can be deadly, so be careful."
"Only a master can break through this," Lian Jun added a newfound respect in his voice. "You've done well, Lianfeng."
Huanxin beamed at their praise, feeling a spark of confidence ignite within her. She realized that not only had she fortified her home, but she had also built connections that gave her strength.
With their work done and the stars twinkling above, she felt a sense of safety she hadn't experienced in a long time. The alarms, the traps, and the knowledge that she had friends who cared for her provided a shield against the fears that once haunted her.
As the night deepened and they finished their meal, Huanxin felt a warmth in her heart—a flicker of hope, ignited by the laughter of her companions. Their banter and camaraderie reminded her of simpler times with her own family."I've lost so much, but perhaps I can still find a place in this world."
As they prepared to leave, she took a deep breath, a mix of gratitude and uncertainty swirling within her. "I can't change my past, but I can embrace the future. I'll let them in, little by little. They care for me."
With renewed determination, she watched them walk away, a small smile on her lips. "I'll write to them. I'll let them know I'm here, fighting. And maybe, just maybe, I can build a new family."
"Lianfeng, we will write you letters to you from now. So, you must write back too. Okay?" spoke Zhen Jian.
"Yes, tell me your address so I can post the letter," said Lianfeng beaming a smile.
"Silly child, we are travelers, we don't stay in one place for long. In every letter we will tell you where to post your reply letter," said Lian Jun still, a bit of anger resided in him.
"Okay," said Lianfeng giving him the biggest smile.
Lian Jun chuckled, and Zhen Jian felt warmth in his heart as he watched the exchange. Despite the earlier conflict, their bond grew stronger with each moment.
As they bid her a heartfelt goodbye, Huanxin felt a bittersweet mix of gratitude and sorrow. The young men departed on their journey. Huanxin looked at their disappearing figures.
What if I never see them again? I've built a connection, but can I trust it? Am I strong enough to stand alone?
Yet, their smiles and promises to write ignited a small spark of hope.
Maybe I can allow myself to hope for something better. But can I risk it? Can I trust that this isn't just another fleeting moment that will end in abandonment?
Huanxin brushed her thoughts aside and stepped carefully into her hut.