With a soft thud, she fainted and collapsed onto the cold, wet ground, the rain drenching her further. The world faded away, leaving only the sound of raindrops, and distant murmur of the city as it slipped into the night. She struggled to lift her head, her limbs felt like lead, cemented to the cold, wet ground. Panic flickered in her chest, but darkness swallowed her consciousness.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her. A man in his mid twenties knelt beside her. His long black hair was tied neatly behind him, framing a square, clean-shaven face. His dark brown eyes observed her. He reached out, checking for signs of life "She has injuries all over her body and a high fever," he said with concern.

Without hesitation, he scooped her up in his strong arms, her body limp against his chest. "Stay with me," he urged softly, holding an umbrella in one hand as he moved through the storm.

Soon,he reached his home—a small cottage where the air was fragrant with peony and the earthy scent of rain-soaked soil. The house glowed with yellow light from the candles. His wife and daughter waited beneath the awning, their faces lit with worry.

"Su Yin, call Physician Yan. Quickly!" His voice was edged with urgency as he hurried inside, cradling Huanxin.

He laid her on the bed, immediately rubbing her cold feet to stimulate circulation. His young daughter of 5 with her father's eyes, Wu Hi, mirrored his actions, rubbing Huanxin's hand with care. The man gave his daughter an encouraging smile, though worry still shadowed his features. Moments later, Su Yin returned, accompanied by Physician Yan, who carried a small, well-worn medical kit.

As the physician worked, Huanxin drifted in and out of consciousness, the sting of her wounds and the heat of fever blurring the edges of reality. The warmth of the cottage clung to her, but her clothes were drenched, sending cold shivers down her spine. She was dimly aware of hands cleaning her wounds, a sharp sting followed by a numbing relief.

In the fog of her fevered mind, she slipped deeper into a troubling dream.

The sounds of battle roared around her. Huanxin stood amid the battleground, sword in hand, her body aching from countless blows. The air crackled with tension, filled with the metallic scent of blood. She heard the desperate cries of her people, the clash of swords, and the cries of the wounded and dying. As she wielded her sword, she fought only to feel, a sword piercing through her abdomen. Blood spilled from her mouth. Her armour turned crimson. She holded the wound and fell to her knees.

The scene shifted violently.

She was no longer fighting. Now, she stood on the doorstep of her home. Her brother's lifeless body lay on the doorstep, his once-smiling face bruised and bloodied. She tried to call out to him, but her voice caught in her throat. His eyes stared into nothingness, and the pain of his loss surged through her like a fresh wound.

Shadows crept closer as the faces of her tribe fell one by one. "Help us, Huanxin. Help us," they cried. "Fight Xiner, don't give up," her parents urged with smiles. She rushed to hug them, but they vanished, leaving her alone, amid a battleground surronded by corpses—some faces she knew, some she didn't. She was drenched in blood. With a gasp, Huanxin's eyes flew open, her heart racing as the echoes of battle faded into silence. She trembled, her breath quick and shallow.

A girl of her age, wearing a pink robe with her hair tied in two braids, rushed in. "Mommy, Daddy, she woke up!" The girl beamed and hurried to her side "How are you? Are you feeling better now? Do you still feel pain?" she bombarded Huanxin with questions but Huanxin hadn't regained full consciousness, her mind clouded with her tribe's pleas.

The man and his wife entered the room, the wife gently said "Don't ask so many questions, Wu Hi. She has just woken up; let her relax." "Okay, mother" Wu Hi replied, her tone appeasing.

"How are you feeling now?" the man asked softly, worry etching his face.

As Huanxin's consciousness began to return, she was acutely aware of her body—each small movement sending waves of pain through her limbs. The ache in her abdomen felt like a burning brand, sharp and relentless, while her muscles were heavy and sore as if she had been trampled by a herd of wild horses.

Yet, in stark contrast to her previous suffering in the rain, she was enveloped in a warm cocoon of blankets each layer like a protective shield around her, soothing her aching body. The bed beneath her was surprisingly comfortable, the mattress yielding gently to her weight, offering a refuge from the cold ground that had once felt so unforgiving.

As she lay there, the warmth seeped into her bones, a welcome reprieve that made her momentarily forget the throbbing pain. She took a deep breath, the scent of peony lingering in the air, mingling with the antiseptic smell of the physician's herbs. This soothing aroma tended to her.

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But with each inhale, the sharp reminder of her injuries clawed back, anchoring her to the reality of her situation. It was a duality of sensations: warmth and comfort battling against the raw edges of pain.

She looked around and saw a man, a woman, and a girl staring at her. The man and woman appeared in their twenties; the man wore a blue robe while the woman donned purple. Huanxin noticed she was in a wooden room with a table at its center, surrounded by chairs draped in a purple table cover. The scent of medicine filled the air, accompanied by a vase of elegant blue pottery and a laughing Buddha.

"Are you okay?" the woman asked with concern as Huanxin remained silent.

"I am okay. But who are you, and what am I doing here?" asked Huanxin confusion evident in her voice.

" I am Wu Xuefu(Woo Shweh-foo). She is my wife, Su Yin(Soo Yin) and she is my daughter Wu Hi(Woo Hee)." introduced the man. "I found you unconscious in the rain last night. You were running a high fever with bruises all over." the man explained.

" Right," Huanxin lowered her gaze, her voice barely over a whisper "Thank you for saving me" she added, bowing her head in gratitude. "I have troubled you enough; I will get going."

"Have breakfast before you go. My parents make tasty food." Wu Hi chimed in, her excitement palpable

"Yes, she's right. I've already made your breakfast, so you must eat before leaving," the woman insisted, making it clear she wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Thank you then, I'll leave after eating breakfast" Huanxin complied, as her stomach also felt empty.

As Mr. Wu and Ms. Su went to prepare breakfast, Wu Hi flitted around Huanxin, her energy contagious. "What's your name?How old are you?" she asked, eyes wide with curiosity. "Why were you in the rain? Your parents must be worried!"

Huanxin hesitated, feeling a tightness in her chest. "I'm Lianfeng," she said, the name comforting yet foreign. "I'm five, almost six. I'm... an orphan." The weight of those words hung heavily between them, and she wished to say no more.

"That's so sad." Wu Hi said, her voice filled with symphaty."I am also 5 years old. What do you like? I will ask Mother to buy it for you!" her tone changed to curiousity.

Huanxin's heart ached at the innocence radiating from the girl. She glanced down noticing that she was no longer in her ragged clothes but in a vibrant red robe—warm and clean. "Where are my clothes?" she asked.

"Ms. Yan said you needed to change your clothes, because yours were completely soaked. Mother gave you my red robe since it fits you just fine," Wu Hi explained.

'I see." Huanxin replied, the girl's cheerful demeanor easing some of her tension.

When Mr. Wu and Ms. Su returned with an array of delicious dishes, Huanxin couldn't ignore the warmth of the atmosphere. Breakfast was lively, filled with Wu Hi's chatter. Yet beneath the cheerful banter, Huanxin felt melancholy as she watched the girl's carefree spirit.

After thanking the kind family again, Huanxin stepped into the garden, the morning sun casting a gentle glow over the wildflowers. The sweet scent of peony filled the air. As she moved among the flowers, she felt nostalgiic, the vibrant flowers reminded her of her brother's favourite spot. She reminicised of her family, there wasn't a single day when she didn't think of them. She remembered the sound of her father's voice, calm and steady, telling her about their ancestors. "We are strong, Lianfeng," he had said, "and we always protect our own." But now, all she felt was emptiness, a longing for the past that could never return.

Each memory was a thread, weaving her past into the fabric of her present. As she grappled with her decisions, these flashbacks clamped her emotions, reminding her of what she had lost and what she must claim. The pain fueled her determination, transforming sorrow into strength.

But that strength came with a cost. I can't afford to return to the past, she thought, clenching her fists as the warmth of nostalgia turned cold. Her family's laughter echoed in her mind, a contrast to her harsh reality. If I try to learn in secret, I'll only put myself in danger again. I need a different way.

If I want to survive, I need strength. But I also need to be free—free to choose my path, without the influence of any sect.

As Huanxin watched Wu Hi chasing butterflies, laughter ringing like a bell, a pang of longing shot through her. She remembered when her days were filled with carefree joy—when she had laughed without a care, the world around her vibrant and alive. But those days felt like a distant dream, overshadowed by the harsh reality.

I was once like her, she thought, her heart aching. "I had a family, warmth, and safety. Now, all I have are their memories. I miss my mother's arms wrapped around me, her laughter. I long my father's tales.The sense of belonging, the feeling of being cherished—I've lost those things for, forever. The laughter that had once filled her home was replaced by echoes of cries for help, the faces of her loved ones haunting her thoughts.

Suddenly, Wu Hi stumbled, her laughter fading as she looked up at Huanxin with wide eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked, her concern palpable.

Caught off guard, Huanxin met her gaze. "I'm fine, really," she said, forcing a smile, though it felt brittle. "Just thinking."

"About what?" Wu Hi pressed, tilting her head.

Huanxin hesitated, grappling with her emotions. "About... choices," she finally replied, her voice soft. "About what I need to do next."

Wu Hi's brow furrowed. "Can I help?"

The girl's earnestness pierced Huanxin's heart. Help? But how could she explain the dangers lurking just beyond the garden? "You already are," Huanxin whispered.

With a determined sigh, Huanxin turned away from the scene, feeling the weight of her choices pressing down on her. I can't rely on anyone connected to those sects. I need a mentor who can teach me—someone who can help me grow without their agendas.

Each step away from the vibrant flowers felt heavy, yet a fire ignited within her. I will become stronger. I will claim justice. But the thought of being discovered lingered in her mind like a shadow. She would have to tread carefully, every decision significant in the path she chose.

As she looked back at Wu Hi, who was now lost in her own world, Huanxin felt her resolve solidify. I'll find my strength, and I'll do it on my own terms.