Attacks began raining on the carriage from all directions. Da was a wind cultivator with mediocre talent, but he had enough skill to divert the attacks aimed at him and the horses. Unfortunately, the carriage itself was taking a beating and wouldn't last much longer. Glancing out the window to see if there was anything she could do to help Da defend the carriage, Ming Fang noticed that the condensation on the window was forming unnatural shapes.
Ming Fang wore a confident smile as she opened the door and shouted, “Head for the river!” There was a river that passed by town on its way out to sea, but it was on the other side of town, the mountain pass was much closer. Da was confused by the request but complied, taking the next left toward the river.
Seeing that Ming Fang was about to jump from the carriage, Ming Jia Ying yelped, “Mother, what are you doing!?”
“Remember rules nine and ten. I'll buy you time,” and then Ming Fang was gone, the door flailing in her absence.
-Rule 9: Knowing when to retreat is wisdom, not cowardice- and -Rule 10: Preserving life preserves the cause,- flashed through Ming Jia Ying's mind. The meaning was clear, Ming Fang wanted her to run and live to fight another day.
After Ming Fang left the number of attacks directed at the carriage fell. They were now at a level that Da could barely deal with on his own. However, as they rounded the final turn to the river an enemy ice cultivator covered the road in ice. This caused the horses to slip and the carriage toppled over, throwing Da from his seat.
Da's right leg was broken, he knew he wouldn't be able to walk as he pulled himself up using a nearby tree. Seeing Ming Jia Ying crawling out of the overturned carriage he called out to her, “Young miss, we're almost to the river. You run on ahead, I'll try to slow them down.”
She gave Da a brief nod even as the tears in her eye threatened to break through their dams. Ming Jia Ying wanted to cry, but she knew now wasn't the time to be emotional, she had to stay focused. If she were captured, or worse, it would make everything Da and her mother were doing now pointless. Firming up her resolve, she began her mad dash with only one goal in mind, -Reach the river!-
Seeing Ming Jia Ying take off running Da whispered, “May The Academic guide your feet young miss and may The Contender guide my hand,” as he turned to face the three enemies that were approaching.
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Ming Jia Ying continued to run toward the river. She heard Da fighting and continued to run. Then she heard footsteps approaching and continued to run. She heard Da's fight end and her heart sank, but she continued to run. She wished she had the strength to stand with Da and her mother, but all she could do was run, so she continued to run.
There was mist in the air and it seemed to get thicker as she got closer to the river. Ming Jia Ying thought she could make out the outline of a door up ahead. She had the oddest feeling that if she could reach that door she'd be safe and her heart's desires would be made real. Suddenly the ground before her was covered in ice and she lost her footing. When she landed the ice formed shackles that held her in place. The door was only a little ways away now, but she couldn't even move an inch so it might as well have been on the other side of the empire.
A young man approached saying, “You did well to make it this far,” then shouted over his shoulder, “Whoever has the rope better hurry up, I've got her.” He didn't acknowledge the door at all, as if it didn't exist despite him standing beside it. The young man was keeping a close eye on Ming Jia Ying and didn't even bother to look at the approaching figure before snapping, “Be quick about it.”
The new comer said, “Sure thing,” and snapped his fingers causing the mist to condense into threads that wrapped around the young man's neck and joints. Before he could exclaim in shock the threads began moving at high speed and rapidly dismembered him. Waving his hand like he was shooing a fly, Shan Yang sent the blood that had splattered on him and Ming Jia Ying flying to the side along with the young man's corpse.
Without the ice cultivator to support them the ice shackles binding Ming Jia Ying quickly began to melt. Standing, she immediately asked, “What about Da and Mother? Are they okay?”
“Your coachman's in bad shape, but he'll live. As for Ming Fang, she's tougher than you know. She can hold out awhile longer, but she'll need my help to escape,” even as Shan Yang answered her question his eyes were fixed on the door, “This may sound odd, but can you see this door?”
“Of course I can see it.”
“Then you should enter. There's no place safer. While there learn everything you can. Don't worry about us, we'll be fine, so take your time. When you're ready come find your mother and I in Gaia. Look for a textile shop called Wyrm's Silk, tell the clerk you're a baby goat looking for your grandpa goat[1] and they'll bring you to me.”
The line 'baby goat looking for your grandpa goat' was so embarrassing that it completely removed Ming Jia Ying's anxiety regarding their current situation. Smiling at Shan Yang as she opened the door, she promised, “I'll grow stronger, Grandpa. Then I'll be able to stand with you and mother against General Gui and anyone else that wants to ruin our happiness.”
It was a childish promise, but its sincerity warmed Shan Yang's heart. After Ming Jia Ying passed through the door he watched it fade from existence. Turning towards the center of town Shan Yang lightly chuckled, saying to himself, “What a troublesome daughter I've gotten myself, in need of saving at her age.”
Author's Notes:
[1]Reminder: Shan Yang's name is similar to the word “Shanyang” meaning goat