Years had passed since that day and Xu LanYing had settled into living with the older couple. She insisted that she earn her keep and tended to He Lin’s herb garden. She also went hunting to help bring in extra income from the village as well as getting things from the village. In fact, she had just arrived in the village when a familiar boy came rushing towards her. He wrapped his arms around LanYing’s legs. He was only a boy of six, but she had a fondness for him.

“A-Ying! A-Ying!” He said with such delight. LanYing smiled indulgently at the boy and patted him on his head.

“A-Song! How are you?” He looked up at her with wide eyes. He rambled about his week and she listened intently to the words of the boy. Then, he said something that caught LanYing’s attention.

“And there are visitors at Granny’s inn!” A-Song exclaimed, “They’re looking for someone!”

LanYing narrowed her eyes in a playful manner and leaned closer in order to whisper conspiratorially, “Were you eavesdropping?”

His eyes widened and he leaned in close, “Only a little.”

LanYing giggled and shook her head. She took the boy's hand, “Come now, I’ll bring you to granny.“

They walked through town before curiosity got the best of her, “And who are they looking for, A-Song?”

A-Song shrugged, “Some young mistress Xu, I think.”

LanYing stopped her pace and froze. Why would anyone be looking for her? After all, she was banished from her sect, banned from cultivating and her sword taken away. She was as good as dead in the eyes of the Cultivation world. So why-?

A tug at her hand brought her back to the present, “A-Ying?”

She shook her head and continued walking, “I’m fine, A-Song, I’m fine.”

Even as she said those words, she knew they were lies.

As they grew closer to the inn, her nerves lit up. She carried on, however. If they were truly there for her, she couldn’t delay the inevitable. When they entered, she was relieved to see that the only person in the lobby was Granny Jun. She was greeted with a large and genuine smile.

“A-Ying,” Granny Jun said kindly, “And I see you’ve brought my mischievous grandson.” She pinched the boy's cheek. He pouted, but his grandmother’s attention quickly turned back on LanYing.

“Would you like some tea, dear?” LanYing shook her head and gestured to the quiver and bow on her back.

“I’m going hunting,” She said apologetically, “I’ll bring you back the best meat I gather, though.”

Granny Jun just laughed, “No need. Be safe.”

LanYing smiled, “I always am.”

As she exited the inn, leaving Granny Jun and A-Song, she noticed two familiar faces in the small crowd near the stands. She quickly headed towards the woods.

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Screw not avoiding the inevitable, She thought as she fled, I’ll avoid it all I like.

As she thought this, however, they must have noticed her because a familiar voice called out to her.

“Young Mistress Xu!” This prompted her to walk quicker, but they swiftly caught up to her. One grabbed her upper arm and she instinctively grabbed his hand and twisted it until it was behind the man’s back. As soon as she realized what she did, she let go and bowed.

“Apologizes.” She said, “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Wei Yuan’s face stared at her in disbelief while Linghu Jianyu righted himself. They both bowed as well, but LanYing grimaced and stopped them.

“Stop.” She told them, “It’s fine. Just forget it.”

She headed to the forest, but the two continued to follow her. They had traveled a bit into the woods when she turned sharply at them, “Stop following me!”

She went to turn again, but Wei Yuan stopped her.

“A-Ying-” A sharp look from her stopped him dead in his tracks.

“Don’t,” She said through gritted teeth, “Call me that.”

“Young Mistress Xu-” He tried again.

“Or that.” She said with a sigh, “It’s just Xu LanYing, okay?”

“Xu LanYing,” He spoke hesitantly, but carried on, “We’ve been instructed to bring you back to Sect Leader Mo.”

LanYing looked sharply at the two, “Why?”

Linghu Jianyu and Wei Yuan looked confused and that only made her annoyance turn into near anger.

“Why?” She repeated before explaining, “It’s been three years, with no word from anyone from that world, and now I’m welcomed back? I don’t buy it.”

“I thought you’d be happy.” Linghu Jianyu said, seemingly perplexed.

LanYing scoffed slightly, “After what happened, I never want to go back.”

Both of them furrowed their eyebrows and just looked at each other. Their conversation was cut short, however, as LanYing felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention. The other two must have noticed as well, both tensing with her and their hands reaching for their weapons. LanYing reached for her bow, but quickly moved to the side as she sensed a projectile fly towards her.

A needle embedded itself into the tree beside her and LanYing aimed her bow from the direction it came. A figure swiftly darted through the trees and landed in front of her. The figure wore a mask and black robes, a sword strapped to their waist. The two unsheathed their swords and swung at them. They dodged and threw more needles at them. They used their swords to block and LanYing swug her bow at the figure.

The figure grabbed it and pulled her closer. LanYing spun them around and dislodged their grip. She kicked them in the gut and they stumbled for a moment before righting themself. They unsheathed their sword and striked. LanYing blocked it with her bow and pushed her away again.

This time, they hit the tree and Linghu Jianyu had his blade to her neck. The figure laughed, low and deep, before deep and dark smoke erupted from their feet. Linghu Jianyu jumped back as it blinded their view.

When the smoke cleared, the person was gone. After a few tense moments, Linghu Jianyu yelled, “Coward!”

Wei Yuan rolled his eyes and nudged his partner a little too hard. He winced and turned to Wei Yuan, “What was that for?!”

He ignored his friend's question and looked to LanYing, “A-” He paused for a moment, “Xu LanYing, are you alright?”

She nodded, “Yes. They must have realized they were outnumbered.” She took a moment to contemplate, “But why would they engage in the first place?”

The two men shared a look, as if having a silent conversation, and LanYing questioned them, “What is it?”

“We think there are people targeting you.” Wei Yuan spoke.

LanYing furrowed her brow, “Why? I’m not even a cultivator anymore.”

The two shook their heads and Linghu Jianyu responded, “We don’t know. We thought you might have an idea.”

“Well, I don’t.” She told them before sighing, “Let’s discuss this at my current residence.”