Zhao Li and Lady Susu made their way down the rugged mountain pathway. The gnarled trees clung stubbornly to the rough terrain, their roots twisting around the stone beneath them. The gusts of wind sent chills across her skin, a cold echo of the unease twisting in her stomach. The path seemed endless, each turn revealing another unexplored section of the mountain’s daunting expanse.

Zhao Li’s heart raced in sync with Susu’s strides, her thoughts swirling like leaves caught in the wind. She took note of how the other girls cowered under Susu’s command.

A thought crept into her mind, one that made her scared. Would I be treated the same? She mused, but the further she went down the mountain, those thoughts faded.

As they finally reached the bottom of the mountain, the Purple Mist Village came into view. Zhao Li then led Susu through the panfeng, ignoring the familiar faces that ogled at the both of them.

The villagers sneered, narrowing their eyes in judgment whilst their murmurs grew louder. Their contempt felt like spikes aimed directly at Zhao Li’s heart, making her want to flee.

“Close your eyes,” Susu said softly, before Zhao Li could comply. A sudden burst of Qi exploded from Susu, her Qi wreathed from her like a spectral mist spreading outward. Zhao Li finally complied, grabbing her dress as the cold airs stole the warmth from her fingers.

The whispers abruptly ceased.

“You can open them now,” Susu said, and when Zhao Li looked up, she saw the older woman’s hand extended toward her. Surprised by the callused texture of Susu’s touch, Zhao Li blinked but felt reassured. The cold edge of fear dulled slightly.

“They speak and act out of ignorance,” Susu said, her voice softer now. “Don’t allow their ignorance to make you bitter... alright?”

Zhao Li nodded, not understanding the wisdom of Lady Susu’s words, but her gentleness made her smile. “Yes, Lady Susu,” she whispered. “I understand.”

“Good,” Susu replied, straightening. “Now, take me to the Jiang Clan Residence.”

They walked through the village, their pace steady, yet Zhao Li’s feet felt as though boulders were attached to them. As they approached the gates of the Jiang Clan Residence, three guards stood at attention, their faces hardening the moment they laid eyes on Zhao Li.

Two of them gripped their spears tightly, whilst the other one pointed his weapon toward her, his mouth twisted in a sneer. “Beware this Axsumite Demoness,” he spat. “We’ve lost munch coin because she disgraced us!”

Fear coiled around Zhao Li like a serpent, tightening its grip. She opened her mouth to speak but found herself paralysed by terror.

“Retract your blade, worm.” Susu spat.

“Or what, wo—” The guard snapped but before he could finish, Susu moved.

She appeared at his side, using an instantaneous step. Her hand rocked back and brought it down with venomous err, knocking the spear from out of the guardsman hand.

The weapon spun out of his hand, the other guard tried to move, but Susu saw him from the corner of her eyes and weaved through his thrusts. She quarter spun once he’d overextended himself, and struck him in the shoulder, hitting his acupoints. She then spun back to the other guardsman, hitting him in the acupoint in his leg, immobilising him.

The spear hit the ground with a thud, which scared Zhao Li, but as she stood their, the men didn’t move. Susu uncoiled her whip, Scourge, in one smooth motion. The whip wrapped itself around both the guardsman necks, then Susu kicked them at the back of their knees. They both grunted as they fell to the ground, kneeling before Zhao Li.

“Li’er,” Susu’s voice softened. “Has this man ever touched you?”

Zhao Li blinked, momentarily stunned by the display of martial prowess. She had seen her father train countless times, but witnessing Susu in action filled her with awe and fear.

“Li’er,” Susu called again, snapping Zhao Li from her daze.

“No, Lady Susu,” Zhao Li replied quietly. “But he... he struck me before.” She finished, pointing at the guardsman who pointed his spear toward her.

“I see,” Susu said, her voice cold. Susu appeared in front of him, grabbing his hand, a hissing sound echoed the moment she grabbed his hand and a loud crunch echoed throughout the village.

“You won’t ever use that hand again, to hurt my daughter,” Susu said coldly.

Susu turned back to Zhao Li, a calm smile replacing the stern expression she had worn moments ago. She approached the two guards, who stared up at her in wide-eyed fear.

“Summon Patriarch Yu and his daughter Jiang Li,” Susu ordered, “And you,” she gestured to the immobilized guard, “lead us to the main hall.”

“Yes... Mistress,” the guards stammered, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Susu released their acupoints, and one darted off to summon the residents, while the other led them through the estate’s courtyards.

Zhao Li hesitated before entering, but Susu looked back at her. “Li’er, I promise you, no one here, will ever hurt or bully you again.”

She nodded meekly and stepped forward, but dread settled within her immediately. The memories of her time here blossomed. The painful memories of how she was scorned, mistreated, hated, the cold stares, the murmured insults, the invisible wall of contempt that had surrounded her for years all returned in a suffocating wave came rushing back.

She had numbed herself to survive, but after living with Aunty Lin and the sect, those feelings had dulled, somewhat, but now, she was here once again, those feelings had never truly left.

Susu squeezed her hand gently. “Everything will be alright now, I promise.”

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“Can’t we just leave?”

“We can…but in life, there are things we must face. Sadly, this has to be one of them for you.”

“Lady Susu, I don’t want to be here,” Zhao Li whispered, her voice small and trembling.

Susu knelt to meet her eye level, her gaze kind. “Neither do I. But we can’t solve anything by running away, can we?”

Zhao Li shook her head, her grip on Susu’s hand tightening. She didn’t want to disappoint her.

“Good,” Susu said, standing once more. “Now, let’s go see this woman who dared to force you to call her ‘Mother.’”

They arrived at the Jiang Clan’s Main Hall, two imposing doors towering before them. Without hesitation, Susu ascended the steps and pushed the doors open.

The doors shot open and hand-painted murals adorned the walls, each narrating stories of the Jiang family’s past. The colours danced across golden tapestries beneath an ornate chandelier, casting the room in a warm, amber glow. The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood and lotus, weaving a fragrance that hung in the stillness.

Zhao Li swallowed hard as they stepped inside.

“Pretty,” Susu said firmly, “Just as I expected from a noble.”

Susu sat down, pulling Zhao Li gently beside her. The little girl dipped her head low, as she had been taught whenever she was in the main hall.

She was never to raise her head in front of Jiang Li or Patriarch Yu. Fortunately, she had only been summoned here once before and hoped never to return.

As Patriarch Yu and Jiang Li finally entered, followed by an entourage of maids and guards. The patriarch's red and yellow regal hanfu exuded authority, befitting his status. Jiang Li, by contrast, was the embodiment of youth and beauty. Her finely embroidered hanfu hugged her figure, and the rouge on her face radiated charm, but her eyes betrayed disdain as they fell upon Zhao Li.

“Li’er,” Susu said softly, “Raise your head. There’s no reason for you to keep your head bowed, here…”

“But... Zhao Li hesitated, her voice barely audible.

“You have nothing to fear. I am here,” Susu reassured her.

Zhao Li swallowed nervously and, with a deep breath. She slowly lifted her head to meet the piercing gazes of Patriarch Yu and Jiang Li.

Silence stretched through the room, heavy and oppressive, as Patriarch Yu’s eyes landed on the scar marring Zhao Li’s cheek. An uncomfortable tension filled the air.

Jiang Li’s lips curled into a sneer, but before she could speak, Susu raised a hand, stopping her cold.

“I’ve come to address the mistreatment of my daughter by the Jiang Family,” Susu said, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

Jiang Li bristled, she opened her mouth to speak, but her father silenced her with a raised hand. “I apologize for my tardiness, Lady...?”

“Susu. Ban Susu.”

“Ahh, the famed Maiden of the Scorpion Dance,” Patriarch Yu said calmly, stroking his beard.

“I am nothing compared to my master's own skills,” Susu replied, her humility masking the edge in her voice.

“Don’t be so modest, Lady Susu. We’ve heard of you through your martial brothers and whispers within the Jianghu. I understand you're acquainted with Yan Fan, Chief of the Golden Bowl Sect?”

“We are acquainted, but that means nothing…”

“Hmm…I see. You’re right, we’re here to discuss Li’er,” Patriarch Yu said, leaning forward.

“The treatment of Li’er, to be precise,” Susu corrected sharply. “She bears a scar on her left cheek, one that could ruin her prospects of finding a husband. Were you not aware of this when your daughter struck her?”

Jiang Li’s eyes shot toward Zhao Li, who immediately dipped her head again. But Susu was quicker, lifting Zhao Li's chin and forcing her to meet Jiang Li's glare. “I asked you a question,” Susu hissed venomously. “Yet, you try to intimidate her, in front of me. Do you have challenges trying to retain your life? Or you desire help seeking the afterlife?”

Four guards stepped forward, unsheathing their swords and raising their spears toward her. Zhao Li whimpered at the sight, but Susu placed a calming hand on her head. “Li’er, do not cower. You have nothing to fear. Your days of living in fear are at end today”

Susu swirled her Qi, drawing power from her Soul and Core Dantian. The guards faltered, clearly struggling to maintain their composure as her killing aura began to fill the room. “Accentuation Realm,” One of them whispered.

Susu chuckled softly, shaking her head. She then channelled Qi into her Mind Dantian, her eyesight with her Qi. Zhao Li watched in awe as the fear became visible on the guards' faces. “Qi Perception Realm,” another guard corrected in a hushed voice.

“I suggest you return to your master’s side before you meet the end you seek,” Susu said firmly.

“Enough!” Patriarch Yu's voice boomed through the hall, commanding silence. “Li’er, stop antagonizing our guest.”

“Father!” Jiang Li protested, but his stern gaze silenced her.

“Make a decision,” he said coldly. “Either silence yourself, or I will see to it that you are sent to the nearest temple.”

Jiang Li clenched her fists, biting her tongue as she reluctantly moved to her father's side. She gestured for a maid to pour tea for Susu, though her movements were stiff with barely restrained anger.

“Lady Susu,” Patriarch Yu said calmly, stroking his beard. “What happened to Xiao Li was... an unfortunate accident,” he said, trying to calm Susu.

Zhao Li glanced up at Susu, unsure whether if she agreed with his word, or simply tolerating them. Susu’s gaze hardened, her eyes icy as she addressed them both. “Unfortunate indeed,” she said quietly, “but such accidents seem to happen frequently around Zhao Li.”

The silence that followed was even heavier than before. Zhao Li kept her head high, despite the growing fear inside her. Susu’s voice broke the quiet once more, sharp as a blade.

“We came here to rectify these accidents,” Susu said. “You see, Patriarch Yu, there are things you may not know about me. My martial brothers would have reacted with fury, but they aren’t here for a reason. I was born a slave in Faizou, under the heel of a corrupt noble. A noble, much like yourself.”

A vein pulsed in Jiang Li’s forehead, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Patriarch Yu silenced her with a raised hand. Susu smiled, a cold and knowing smile, as she continued.

“My Li’er deserves kindness, care, and love. She may be of Axsumite blood, but that does not give you the right to treat her like this. SHE IS NOT A SLAVE!”

The room fell into stunned silence, the audacity of Susu's words leaving everyone speechless. Even Patriarch Yu seemed momentarily taken aback. The weight of her accusation hung in the air like a storm about to break.

Susu let the silence linger before continuing in a softer but equally stern tone. “My daughter,” she said, gesturing to Zhao Li, “Is more than her lineage. She is someone who deserves happiness, care, and most of all, love.”

Patriarch Yu tried to interject, but Susu raised her hand, silencing him. “I am not finished!” she barked, turning her gaze to Jiang Li, her eyes narrowing. “...You,” she said coldly. “For a mother to be so cruel to a child—what would you do if someone had done to your daughter what you did to mine? Have you no sense?”

Jiang Li tried to respond, but Susu's venomous glare silenced her once again. “Zhao Li is not an object for you to vent your anger or frustrations on. And as for the man you tricked into your bed—he finds you disgusting.”

Susu’s words struck like a whip, and Zhao Li saw the anger flash across Jiang Li’s face. But in the next moment, Susu’s expression softened as she turned to Zhao Li. “Grab your things. We’re leaving.”

Zhao Li hesitated, her gaze flicking to Patriarch Yu, to Jiang Li, to the guards and maids surrounding them. Fear twisted in her gut, but then she looked back at Susu. This was not her home.

It was a prison.

She reached out, grabbing Susu’s calloused fingertips. Relief flooded her, washing away the years of anxiety and fear. She was leaving. For the first time in her short life, she was free.

Zhao Li and Susu walked out of the Jiang Family's main hall, leaving Patriarch Yu and Jiang Li behind. This was the beginning of a new journey, one Zhao Li never imagined but now eagerly embraced.

But just as the door creaked closed behind them, Jiang Li's voice echoed. “You think you can leave just like that?” Her laugh was a sound of contempt. “Remember, Zhao Li, you belong to the Jiang family!”

Susu paused for a moment but did not turn back. Zhao Li felt a shiver run down her spine, but Susu squeezed her hand gently, pulling her forward. “Those who speak the loudest, Li’er, are often the most fearful. Fear drives cruelty like a cornered rat.”

Zhao Li nodded, her heart heavy but determined. Together, they stepped out into the daylight, a world of endless possibilities awaiting them.