"Who said you could go and play…hmmm?!" Jiang Li spat.

A shot of pain shot up Zhao Li's legs as Jiang Li whipped the bottom of her calves for the fifth time. She balled her hands into fists, trying to alleviate the pain in her calves by creating pain in her hands.

"I don't have to ask your permission to play!" Zhao Li snapped, her voice shaking as she held back tears. She turned around and looked up at her stepmother.

Defiance was written across her face.

Jiang Li's eyes widened in shock, but Zhao Li didn't care. She was tired of being bullied, tired of not being loved, but most of all, tired of how her stepmother treated her.

The pigsty was already cleaned; why couldn't she go and play? It didn't make sense to her.

"The pigsty was already cleaned!"

A loud smack echoed across the western section of the Jiang Clan siheyuan, and tears began to flow down Zhao Li's face.

Her left cheek began to pulse erratically, and she touched it, checking to see if the pain was real.

She touched her cheek and winced. The pain was real.

She then looked at the twig in her stepmother's hand, watching as she raised it above her head again, but Zhao Li didn't cower. She stood there, looking into her eyes, defiant.

"How dare you speak to me like that, you ungrateful brat!" Jiang Li hissed.

Zhao Li didn't answer; she stood there. "You little--" Jiang Li started, but cut herself off when she noticed the blood coming from Zhao Li's lip.

The anger written across Jiang Li's face dissipated instantly as the blood drained from her face. Confusion painted itself across Zhao Li's face; she'd never seen that expression on her stepmother's face before.

She began breathing heavily, tasting the metallic pool within her mouth. She turned her face and spat out a mouthful of blood. It left her confused; she had never tasted anything so awful before.

A green and white blur zipped past her, leaving her even more confused. The door to her hut swung open and shut. Fright leaped into Zhao Li's bones, making her scared… she'd never seen her stepmother that frightened before. It made her wonder what she had done wrong.

Zhao Li ran to her dresser and picked up her mirror, hoping she hadn't turned into a demon like the whispers she'd heard from the villagers.

She looked at her reflection and saw the blood running from her lip and a red mark on her cheek where Jiang Li had struck her. Her heart sank as she realized how much she despised living under her stepmother's tyranny.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She knew that she couldn't change her situation, but she could control her own reactions to it. However, at six years old, that was something she couldn't fully control, not yet at least.

After spitting another mouthful of blood from her lips, she dabbed inside her jaw with her tongue, and a sweet taste erupted across her tongue. Then the unyielding pain pulsed, making her wince.

She walked over to her water basin and dipped her head in, shaking it relentlessly, splashing water all over her floor. Relief came to her in the form of the coolness of the water, which gave her an idea.

Zhao Li continued dipping her head in the water to the point of exhaustion. She pushed herself off the ground, then went to her dresser, pulling open the second drawer and taking out a rag. She began wiping down the water she had spilled.

Once she was finished, she placed the rag in the right corner, spreading it out to dry. Whenever she placed any of her items on the clothesline, they would mysteriously disappear.

She wasn't a child who would complain outwardly, but rather kept everything bottled up, which usually came out in the form of tears. But today, she'd cried enough.

Zhao Li took a deep breath and stepped out of her hut, determined to find a way to soothe the pain in her jaw. She snuck through the garden, avoiding the sycophant servants as best as she could.

As she eventually made her way to the main door, the guards saw her coming and kept their gaze from meeting hers. She walked towards the door and waited for one of them to open it. "Can you please open the door for me?" Zhao Li finally asked after waiting for twenty seconds.

"I'm sorry, Young Miss, but I can't let you leave. Mistress Jiang has given strict instructions. You aren't allowed to leave the compound."

Zhao Li's heart sank, but it left her confused. She's never stopped me from leaving before… why now? she asked herself. As she didn't have the strength to open the door or the wits to understand why she couldn't leave, she turned around and headed back to her hut, feeling defeated.

As she headed back to her hut, she noticed a tree leaning against the wall. She'd always seen it but remembered her father forbade her from climbing trees.

'It wasn't lady-like,' he had told her.

Zhao Li turned her head from left to right, checking her surroundings, ensuring no one was around. Once she felt comfortable enough, she made her way towards the tree and began climbing. Each second that passed, her heart raced as she reached the top of the wall.

She knew that if she was caught, the punishment would be severe, but after seeing her stepmother's face wrinkle with fright, she didn't know what she would do to her next.

Zhao Li landed with a thud and felt a sharp pain in her cheek. She put her hand to her face and felt warm blood trickling down her chin. The pain won't go away! she moaned, trying her best to will the pain away.

Not having time to think through the pain, she looked left and right and ran towards the pathways alongside the houses opposite the Jiang residence.

The southern section of the Purple Mist Village had the majority of the houses, as that was where the Purple Mist Mountain was located. The mountain was four thousand meters high but served as a natural sWenld from the winds coming from the south.

It also meant that if Zhao Li wanted to sneak to the river to try to heal her cheek, she would have to be cautious, or someone would probably report her presence to Jiang Li.

She kept herself low and moved through the village. As the sun began setting on the other side of the village, it meant that farmers would soon be returning home.

A loud crunch groaned out in front of her, which made her stop. She retraced her steps and retreated to an abandoned house. Once she was satisfied with her hiding spot, she peeked around the corner. A man carrying a scythe across his shoulder rounded a corner, walking with a limp. That's Du! Zhao Li thought, scared.

The last time she saw him, he'd spat in her direction, scaring her. Ever since that day, he'd begun walking with a limp and held a permanent irritation painted across his face, which only made him more scary. "Father said to stay away from him," she whispered to herself. "So that's what I'll do."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Zhao Li retreated again and kept walking the way she came, but then she heard mud squelching in the short distance. She felt her heart thumping in her chest and decided to run forward, because she didn't want to be discovered and brought back to the Jiang residence.

She ducked behind a wheat barrel behind a house and hoped the squelching mud would go in the other direction. A loud creak blossomed from meters in front of her, which was then followed by a loud click. "You're home early!" a woman said cheerfully.

"My knees were acting up again!" Du said gruffly.

"Ah," the woman said, "Winter season is not far off, it probably senses the cold..."

"Humph, it wouldn't have to sense the cold if that demon spawn wasn't here either!"

"Oh, shut up!" the woman spat. "That tongue of yours is the reason why you can't walk properly!"

"That cur, Zhao Xing... broke my knee for no reason!" Du hissed in return.

"That's what you keep saying, but knowing how that man loves that Axsumite demon, you probably offended the spawn."

"I swear on my aunt's life, Ruo, I did nothing to offend that spawn!"

"You could swear all you want, but you know full well how much that man is loved within the Valley."

"Loved?" Du scoffed.

"Yes... loved. He killed off the Stone Bear Bandits, didn't he?"

"That doesn't give him the right to treat us like this!"

"Treat us how, Du? For the love of Bodhidharma! He stays up in the Mountains for months. He doesn't take our crops as his own to sell like those bandits did. He's only asked us to do one thing: treat his spawn well!"

"ENOUGH, WOMAN! YOU'VE SAID YOUR PIECE! IF YOU THINK I'VE WRONGED THE DEMON SPAWN, THAT IS OF YOUR OWN MAKING. I DIDN'T OFFEND THE DEMON OR HER FATHER!" Du spat.

"I know you, Du... I know you better than you know yourself! You're the cause of all your problems. Xiaobo Lin offered to help heal you, BUT YOU REFUSED! Now that stubbornness of yours doesn't allow us to meet our weekly quotas for the harvest!"

A loud boom echoed throughout the village, sending a cold shiver down Zhao Li's spine. What was that? she asked herself, scared.

"You never said anything about my stubbornness when I wanted to marry you," Du spat gruffly.

The sound of mud being squashed followed, but towards Zhao Li, who was too scared to move from where she'd been hiding. She didn't know what to do, so she made herself small, feeling terror for the second time that day. Please don't see me. Please don't see me. PLEASE DON'T SEE ME!

Zhao Li closed her eyes and hugged herself, trying to keep herself small behind the little wheat barrel. As the stomps grew closer, the blood withdrew from her face instantly.

The stomps felt like thunder roaring in the distance, and as Du walked up alongside the wheat barrel, Zhao Li took a deep breath and inhaled deeply, trying her best to be as small and quiet as a mouse.

Du walked past Zhao Li, not even realizing she was there. The anger within him was deeper than the Yellow River but far less tranquil.

As his footsteps grew softer the further he stomped away from her, the more settled her heart became, but still... she held her breath, ensuring he wouldn't notice she was there by chance.

Once the sound of Du's footsteps finally faded to a whisper in Zhao Li's ears, she felt completely relieved. Despite her calm returning to its regular state, she was still filled with fear.

Zhao Li finally allowed her lungs to breathe and took quick breaths as perspiration ran down her forehead. When she finally settled herself, she tried standing up, but she was still too scared to move.

As she sat there, a thought came to her, one she hadn't realized before. No one within the valley cared for her; they saw her as a demon, and the feeling was something she just couldn't shake. I have to leave... I have to leave! she thought.

It took her fifteen minutes to gather enough strength to stand. Once she did stand, she began walking towards the forest, shying away from any footstep she heard.

After what felt like hours of walking, Zhao Li finally arrived at the river. She sat down on a nearby rock and dipped her hand into the cool water. She brought the water to her lips and drank, feeling the coolness soothe her parched throat.

She then scooped up some water and cupped it in her hands, splashing it onto her face. The cool water felt refreshing against her hot, throbbing cheek.

As she sat there, she couldn't help but think about her father. He was a just and fair man, well, that's what everyone told her, despite her not understanding what that meant.

One thing she knew for sure was that she loved the way he smiled at her. Whenever he did, she felt safe but, most importantly, protected. "Daddy... please help me," she whispered, feeling her cheek pulsing in pain... but most of all, tears running down her eyes once again. "I don't know if I can stay here. They hate me!"

Zhao Li sat there, dipping her feet in the river and feeling a cool sensation shoot up her legs. It wasn't enough to alleviate the pain in her face, but it was tranquil enough to calm her heart as she lost herself in thought.

"Li'er?" a familiar voice called out.

Zhao Li's heart leapt into her throat, startling her completely. They found me already! she thought to herself. She pushed herself up and began running in the opposite direction, not allowing herself to be caught. The cold sensation of the ground ran up her legs as she ran, feeling the mud slide between her toes, offsetting her balance. "Don't run! You'll fall!" the voice called out again.

Zhao Li tripped over a rotten root from a dead tree. She fell face-first, hitting the ground with a loud smack. She felt her brain shake within her head and was dazed for a few seconds.

The left side of her head rippled with pain, forcing her to wince. She raised her left hand, touching her head, ensuring it wasn't bleeding, but only made it worse.

A burrowing sensation erupted from the left side of Zhao Li's head, making her scream from the pain. She didn't fall on the side of her head, but the pain from her stepmother's strike had finally set in.

As she lay on the ground, trying her best to stop the pain, she flicked her toes back and forth unconsciously, but it was for naught as it became unbearable. "It won't stop!" she cried. "My head is hurting!"

Zhao Li flopped to the ground and stared at the now-setting sun. The branches of trees within the forest were stenciled all around her, as if trying to touch her, even possibly remove the misery that had ravaged her throughout her day.

As she lay there, a figure approached. Through her blurry vision, she couldn't make out who it was, but the voice was unmistakable.

"Li'er, it's me, Aunty Lin," the woman said, her voice filled with concern.

"Aunty Lin," Zhao Li croaked, "my face hurts!"

"Where does it hurt, sweetheart?" Lin asked gently.

"Here," Zhao Li said, pointing to the left side of her face.

Xiaobo Lin carefully rolled Zhao Li onto her back and examined her face. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small jar of ointment, opening it and scooping a small amount onto her fingers.

"Li'er, I need you to stay still while I apply this ointment. It might sting a little, but it'll help with the pain, okay?" Lin said softly.

Zhao Li hesitated but eventually nodded, trusting Aunty Lin. Lin gently applied the ointment to the swollen area, massaging it in with soft, circular motions. A cool sensation spread across Zhao Li's cheek, gradually easing the pain.

As Lin worked, she began humming a soothing melody, blowing softly on the ointment to cool it further. Zhao Li gripped Lin's arm tightly, wincing as the ointment stung.

"I know it hurts, sweetheart, but it'll feel better soon," Lin reassured her.

Once the pain subsided, Zhao Li looked up at Lin, tears glistening in her eyes. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around Lin's waist, hugging her tightly. For the first time in a long while, she felt loved and protected.

Lin hugged her back, stroking her hair gently. After a moment, she pulled back slightly and looked into Zhao Li's eyes.

"Li'er, who did this to your face?" she asked softly.

"No one," Zhao Li whispered, lowering her gaze.

"Li'er, please don't lie to me. I want to help you. Who hurt you?" Lin pressed gently.

Zhao Li's eyes darted around, conflicted. She didn't want to get her stepmother in trouble, but she also didn't want to lie to Aunty Lin. Taking a deep breath, she murmured, "It was my stepmother."

Lin's face hardened, anger flashing in her eyes. She hugged Zhao Li tighter. "I'm so sorry, Li'er. No one should ever hurt you like that."

"Why does she hate me?" Zhao Li asked, her voice trembling.

"I don't know, sweetheart," Lin replied, her voice filled with sadness. "But I promise you, I won't let her hurt you again. You deserve to be loved and treated with kindness."

Zhao Li nodded slowly, a small spark of hope igniting in her heart.

"Come on, let's go," Lin said, helping Zhao Li to her feet.

"Aunty Lin, I don't want to go back," Zhao Li pleaded, fear evident in her eyes.

"I'm not taking you back to her, my dear. You're coming home with me," Lin replied firmly.

"But my stepmother..." Zhao Li began.

"Is of no importance to you anymore," Lin interrupted gently.

"But... she'll be angry," Zhao Li whispered.

"Li'er, I know you're scared of her, but you don't have to be anymore. Do you think your father would want you to stay in a place where you're hurt?" Lin asked.

Zhao Li shook her head, knowing the answer.

"Good. Let's go. Grandfather Jun and Little Qing will be thrilled to see you," Lin said with a warm smile.

Hand in hand, they began walking away from the river, heading towards Lin's home. As they walked, Zhao Li felt a sense of peace wash over her. For the first time in a long while, she felt hopeful about the future.

All Zhao Li wanted was to be loved by more than just a few people—to be loved by everyone within the Purple Mist Valley. And with Aunty Lin by her side, she believed that maybe, just maybe, that dream could come true.