As Zhao Li lay in bed, the rich scent of dumplings wafted through the room, making her stomach growl in hunger. She lingered a moment, letting the warmth of the aroma soothe her, before finally pushing herself up. She turned to her right, noticing a woman standing over a clay stove, her hands stirring over the pot steadily.

She pressed her lips together unconsciously, remembering Jiang Li’s strict instruction to always be quieter than a mouse.

“Good morning Zhao, Li,” The woman said, startling her. She sat up and used the wall to help keep her back straight. “Good morning, Lady…” She said, unsure of the woman’s name.

The woman harrumphed as she continued to stir the pot. A wave of unease settled over Zhao Li, making her feel as though she had done something wrong. She slid off the bed and bowed deeply, giving her best curtsy.

“I apologise my lady, I do not know your name to address you properly.” Zhao Li said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The woman didn’t turn around, her attention still focused on the pot. As silence hung between them, Zhao Li’s nervousness began to grow. The woman’s silence made her uneasy because the air around felt authoritative and strict, more so that her step-mother’s own. The hair on Zhao Li’s arms stood on end as she remained in her bow, too afraid to move.

“Aren’t you tired of standing like that?” the woman asked, her voice clipped but not unkind.

“Yes, ma’am,” Zhao Li admitted, but didn’t dare rise.

“Humph. You may sit, dear,” the woman said, finally turning to face her. A faint smile softened the stern lines of her face, making her seem a little less intimidating.

Zhao Li stood up slowly and returned to the bed, sitting down with care. “Thank you, ma’am,” she murmured. The woman—who Zhao Li still didn’t know the name of—harrumphed again, but there was no harshness in it.

She returned to the pot, the gentle sizzle of the dumplings filled the room, accompanied by the mouthwatering aroma that swirled in the air. The woman moved to the small wooden table in the centre of the room, setting down two bowls and a pair of chopsticks with precision.

Susu harrumphed again, then returned to the pot. A soft sizzle following by an enticing aroma began to waft around the room, filling it its sweet aroma.

“Your breakfast is ready, Zhao Li,” the woman said, her tone softer but still held a feint authoritative tone.

She carried the pot over to the table and ladled a generous portion of soup and dumplings into each bowl. When she was done, she looked up at Zhao Li, who hadn’t moved an inch. Zhao Li remained seated, awaiting the cue on how to proceed.

In the Jiang Residence, she’d never eaten with the others in the main house. She was always sent to her hut, her meals a solitary affair. Now, being served first and by a stranger, no less, felt odd and uncomfortable. Yet, there was a strange warmth in the room that she couldn’t ignore—a sense of safety she wasn’t used to.

The woman smiled gently, picking up her own chopsticks. “Go on, dear. They’re fresh and hot, just how you like them,” she said, nodding toward the bowl across from her.

Zhao Li slid off the bed and quietly took a seat at the table. She looked into the woman’s warm brown eyes, then glanced down at the steaming bowl in front of her. The fragrant broth wafted up to her nose, and her stomach growled loudly in response, making her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Susu chuckled softly. “Eat as much as you want, Zhao Li,” she said with a kinder tone than before.

Zhao Li slowly picked up her chopsticks, her hands trembling slightly as she plucked a plump dumpling from the bowl. Steam rose from the delicate dough, and she hesitated for just a moment before taking a careful bite.

The rich flavours burst across her tongue, and her eyes widened in delight. It was, without question, the most delicious dumpling she’d ever tasted—even better than her father’s.

Susu chuckled again, clearly pleased by Zhao Li’s reaction. “I’m glad you like them. There’s more if you’re still hungry.”

As the hours passed, Zhao Li began to feel more comfortable in Susu’s presence. There was something oddly reassuring about her—a calmness beneath the sternness, like the protective embrace Zhao Li had always wished for. Could this woman be the mother figure she had always longed for?

As the day went by, Zhao Li lay in bed again, her thoughts turned to her father. Where was he? Why hadn’t she seen him? The worry gnawed at her as she drifted into an uneasy sleep, her dreams filled with fragmented images of her father.

The next morning, Zhao Li’s unease grew. The few days she had spent with Lady Susu was peaceful, but she was never used to walking around the Sect without her father, further more, she wasn’t familiar with showing someone around the Sect as she wasn’t familiar with the Sect herself.

“Lady Susu,” Zhao Li finally said breaking the silence, “I’m not seeing my Dada…Do you know where he is?”

Susu’s expression darkened for a brief moment before she looked down at the little girl. “Your father isn’t well right now, Zhao Li,” she said carefully. “He’s in the infirmary, recovering. Once he’s okay, you’ll be able to see him, ok?”

Zhao Li’s shoulders sagged. “Oh… okay,” she said softly, her voice heavy with disappointment.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

As Ban Susu watched her, an idea came to her. She coughed, trying to catch Zhao Li’s attention, which she did. As she looked up, her eyes were filled with curiosity. “I’m heading to the courtyard. I have a class…would be interested in watching?”

Zhao Li's furrowed her brow in confusion as if Susu had mentioned a curse. “Father says that ladies shouldn’t fight.”

Susu huffed a soft, scornful laugh, murmuring something under her breath that Zhao Li didn’t catch. She then looked at Zhao Li, her gaze steady. “You don’t have to worry about what your father thinks right now. I’ll deal with him. Just come with me.”

Uncertain about what to do, Zhao Li didn’t want Lady Susu to treat her badly. She nodded in agreement and followed her to the lower courtyard, which overlooked the eastern section of the Sect.

As Zhao Li walked through the gate, trailing behind Susu, her eyes widened in surprise. The courtyard was filled with girls from the Purple Mist Valley, Hollow Stone Village, and Iron Stone Village. It wasn’t the usual gathering of boys she had grown accustomed to, but the highlight of girls really made her feel welcomed.

The girls eyed her with disapproval, their expressions making her falter but mostly sad, she was accustomed to those yes.

As her steps slowed, she found herself falling further behind Susu. “Stop wallowing, Li’er,” Susu said firmly, startling her back into motion. Zhao Li hurried her pace, reminding herself to ignore the judgmental looks. Turn them into rocks, she told herself. They don’t matter.

She steeled herself, keeping her eyes forward. Susu climbed the platform stage. The who were on the platform scampered off and lined up without word. “At least you know what to do,” Susu remarked, her tone firm.

Susu approached Zhao Li, placing her hands on the girl’s side. Fear surged through her body, making her stiffen. She tried her best not to move, terrified of offending Lady Susu and risking being struck.

She closed her eyes, hoping nothing would happen, and suddenly felt herself lifted off the ground. She opened one eye slightly, noticing she had been placed on a hot wooden seat.

Zhao Li forcefully opened her left eye and saw the girls snickering at her. She looked up, and Lady Susu who was still standing over her, but instead of snickering a familiar expression she’d only seen with her father, was now on her face.

Concern.

Lady Susu didn’t say anything, but she rubbed Zhao Li’s hair which sent a sensation down her back, and goosebumps rippled across her skin. She never experienced it before…but she knew one thing, she liked it.

Susu gently rubbed Zhao Li’s hair, sending a strange sensation down her spine. Goosebumps rose along her arms. She had never felt something like this before, but one thing was clear—she liked it.

“Girls, I understand you’ve been here before,” Susu began, her voice authoritative yet calm. “Master Xing and Master Ying tried to teach you martial arts, but they didn’t believe you had the potential to continue. I’m different. I intend to see if their evaluation was a mistake. However, unlike them, I will push you harder than you’ve ever known. Understood?”

“Yes, Master Susu,” The girls said in unison.

“Good…now begin.”

The girls started a stretching routine while Susu walked through the ranks, correcting postures and offering advice. Zhao Li, sitting on the platform, swayed her legs, feeling the weight of boredom creeping in.

The routine dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. Every time she dozed off, she found Susu’s eyes on her, silently inviting her to join the others, but each time, Zhao Li shyly declined.

After an hour of stretching, Susu transitioned into more rigorous body training. She spoke of the importance of maintaining proper form and emphasized the difference between brute power and graceful execution. The girls listened attentively, hanging on her every word.

As she watched the girls move with a mix of elegance and strength, Zhao Li felt a spark of interest flicker inside her. The way they combined fluid grace with sharp strikes was different from the boys she’d seen spar before. It made her wonder if there was more to martial arts—and to life itself—than what she had been taught. But before she could dwell on the thought, the session ended, and she realized she had spent the entire time just watching.

Susu

Despite the energy she had expended guiding the girls, Susu found herself lost in thought as she observed Zhao Li, who sat beside her with her head bowed. Anger bubbled within Susu as she noticed something that hadn’t stood out before—a thin scar tracing across Zhao Li’s cheek. It was new, still raw, and deep enough that it hadn’t fully healed.

A thin scar traced across her left cheek. As she looked at it, she could tell it was new because of how deep the cut was, meaning not enough flesh had grown over it.

For such a young girl, Zhao Li’s posture spoke of a life burdened with hardship. Her shoulders were constantly hunched, as if bracing for a blow, and her every movement was cautious, almost painfully so, as though she were afraid of upsetting someone.

Susu couldn’t help but wonder if it was the child’s desire for approval or a deep-rooted fear of rejection that had made her this way. Perhaps it’s both, Susu thought bitterly.

During the few days she had spent with Zhao Li, a mixture of pity and fury had grown inside her. She pitied the child who had endured so much, and she was furious at the people who had let it happen.

The thought of anyone hurting a child in this way made her fists curl, her calluses itching from how tightly she clenched them.

In her mind’s eye, she saw Zhao Xing’s face, and a wave of resentment swept over her. His absence in Zhao Li’s life was a wound that festered more with each passing day. How could a father neglect his own child like this?

Susu made up her mind, her gaze hardening as she took a deep breath. Pushing herself up, she smiled down at Zhao Li. “Come, let’s get some rest,” she said gently.

Susu made up her mind, hardening her gaze as she took a deep breath. She pushed herself up and smiled at Zhao Li, “Come let’s get some rest” she said.

Zhao Li slid off the platform, yawning as she followed Susu back to their quarters.

Later in the evening, Susu prepared a simple dinner for them—fried fish with rice.

She tried to engage Zhao Li in conversation, to coax the girl into playing or at least opening up a little, but Zhao Li remained reserved, her defences firmly in place. Susu sighed inwardly. She’s been hurt. I can’t force her to trust me, nor should I try.

After a few more attempts to get Zhao Li to lower her guard, Susu gave up and served their meal in silence. Once Zhao Li had eaten, Susu tucked her into bed, offering a soothing touch on her back. But the moment she laid her hand on the girl, Zhao Li’s body went rigid. Susu withdrew her hand, respecting the unspoken boundary.

When Zhao Li finally fell asleep, Susu quietly left the room, closing the door behind her. She made her way toward the infirmary, her steps quiet in the still night.

The moment Zhao Li fell asleep, Susu closed the door behind her and navigated her way to the infirmary.

The moon hung above, its silver light casting a serene glow over the landscape. The world around her was bathed in an otherworldly beauty, the shadows of leaves creating intricate patterns on the ground. The silence of the night, interrupted only by the occasional rustle of leaves, was calming. It made her journey feel less lonely, as if the moon itself was offering her companionship.

As Susu stood in Ying’s medicinal garden, the scent of herbs filled her senses. She made her way to the door and pushed it open without hesitation.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. She could only hope Zhao Xing was ready to listen.