Chapter 5: The Sisters

In the corner of an old, wooden house… A young child, huddled all by herself, separating herself from any children who sometimes came to speak to her. Day by day, she kept being all by herself. With her being quiet all the time, non-responsive, it was not long before all the other children shy away from her.

She was all alone.

Those days felt long, as if eternity…

Yet one day, a little hand grabbed hers, forcefully dragging her outside the house. She resisted, yet she was too weak… Her eyes turned teary. She was being dragged into a dark forest, a place she knew nothing of. The little girl dreaded her fate.

All she could recall at the time was pain, pain, and pain…

Soon, beyond the dark forest she went through, bright sunlight greeted her eyes. Before she knew it, next to her, was a blue lake as far as eyes can see, sparkling with splendor. It was the first in her life, to see such a view, so up close. By the lake, rainbow-like flowers lined-up, and nearby, flocks of birds gathered, chilling out. Green field filled her view, up to where her knees met the earth, cushioning her hands and feet. The image of the blue lake, flowers, birds and greenery, imprinted itself heavily into her mind.

It was a view matching that of Heaven.

“See? Beautiful, isn’t it?”

These were the words that greeted her first. Realizing her presence, she turned to her abductor, asking;

“Who… are you?”

“Who am I? Silly girl… The name’s Shu Fen, and I’m… your big sister,”

A hand just as tiny as hers, offered itself to her.

Her mind went blank… She did not remember anything else that day. All she knew was, the hand was soft…

So soft, she wished, she could hold it forever.

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“Since then, we’re always together.”

Lady Shu Fen said. Her tone and voice had such deep longing within. Xin Shi could feel it, yet he knew manners, so he did not comment on it.

“I wanted to impress her, so…”

She showed her all kinds of locations nearby. She even went to the place she had left for a long time; the village where there was a group of boys many years older than her… The nasty kind, who had fun ruining other children’s fun.

“You see, I completely forgot about them… It’s been a long time since I was bullied, after all,”

When they met, the bullies were elevated. A victim they had not seen for such a long time, presented herself to them. Four boys, around ten to twelve, were laughing and making fun of them.

“Remember? When you’re just six-years-old, even ten, twelve-year-old boys looked like monsters for you…”

Nonetheless, Shu Fen did not relent. They might have bullied her before… But at the time, she did not realize why, but she was so fierce that day… Much like a mother hen, protecting her newborn chick from foxes and cats.

“I bit the fatso’s hand so hard, he pretty much all wet crying, pleading me to stop…”

“Ah, haha… You really bit him, mom?”

“No~ forget it! I shouldn’t mention this to you at all… Um, I was six at the time, six!”

“Alright, alright… I’m your son mom, no need to embarrassed,”

“Huhu, don’t tell anyone, ok? Um, the bullies left us alone after that… There were other bullies by the way, but they didn’t fare well too!”

That time, she did not notice, but she was all bruised from being hit by the bullies. The little girl cried for her, yet because of her fierceness, the bullies could not touch her little sister. They simply forgot about her.

“Don’t cry. Your sister’s awesome, ain’t I? If you cry, I’ll be sad,”

“B-but… big sister… you, you’re in pain…”

“What pain, silly… I’m your big sister! I can shoulder any pain for you!”

“Sister…”

“Don’t cry for me, ok? Else I’ll be sad… You want your sister… sad?”

“N-no…”

“Then, smile for me… If you do, the pain will go away…”

“R-really?”

“Yep. Will you smile, for your sister?”

“Em! H-heee?”

“Good girl!”

It was such a forced smile, but a cute one nonetheless.

“Only when we returned home, did I realize my nose was bleeding…”

The granny was so mad, she lectured her all night. That night, as punishment, she had no dinner. However;

“While the others were sleeping, the little girl slipped under my blanket… with her half-eaten, red-bean bun,”

It was the tastiest half-bun she ever had.

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Years went by…

Shu Fen turned ten, while Shen Ai nine. While they grew up filled with love under the caring old couple, food was becoming scarce. The old couple could not take care of them well because of health problems. The couple loved children, yet there were nine of them at the time, so it was a bit too much burden for the two. Donation barely existed cause of the conflict happening at the time. People became more reserved, and focused more on taking care of their own needs first. Food was becoming more expensive, and they had to feed themselves only with the potatoes and veggies granny and them planted in the small garden. Sometimes, if they were lucky, they caught birds and fish by the blue lake with simple traps. It was not much, but it was a welcome delight nonetheless.

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Soon, things became worse when grandpa fell sick.

They could not afford the medicine.

When they overheard this, Shu Fen and Shen Ai went to the city by themselves. Going from one medicine shop to another, they were able to gather the fact that the medicine for grandpa was a bit too much for them to buy. At the time, they even thought of getting any job to help. Thus, with this in mind, they went to the nearby market.

In the market, they noticed people were gathering near the notice board. On it, there were announcement, advertisement, and offer for odd jobs available.

As fate dictated, a new flyer was pasted on it. The two girls squinted their eyes. With so many people around, they could only see the awesome big words with colors. The notice attracted attention, certainly more compared to the dull black, white, brown ads around it. Seeing all the adults around them discussing, they managed to catch on to some details;

“Don't your brother need money? Why don’t you advise him…”

“Fortune accompany the bold. At least let your children try it.”

“I don’t know… The sect rules are quite strict you know. And the missions sometimes dangerous…”

“No, no… the current conflict is only for elder disciples to take care of. They wouldn’t send new ones,”

“There’s nothing to lose, only fortune if your children have talent,”

“Why don’t you send yours then?”

It seemed the notice could potentially change the situation around, for those poor and struggling families alike. They were attracted, but at times, there were words of caution. Wondering why, the two girls tried to see if there was any kind-looking adult near them; the kind who seemed smart enough to read and explain to them. Soon, Shu Fen found her patron, and acted as cute as she could;

“Uncle, uncle… kind uncle, what’s up with the colorful notice?”

“Oho? Little girl, and your sister… you two want to know?”

“Em, could you tell us?”

“Huhu, leave this to your kind uncle. I’ll read and explain it to you two,”

It was a recruitment notice.

The Blood Oath sect, the patron sect of the Red Blossom city and protector of the people, was recruiting a new batch of disciples. The criteria was simple; any children age eight to twelve were eligible for the test. The test would be conducted for one month straight within the sect. All the parents should do was to send their children over, and the sect would test them for talent. The talent test would not take long, only a few minutes plus an interview. One should still take one day off, since the queue would be long.

“Talent?”

“Yes, talent. Talent is very important for any sects alike, not just our Blood Oath sect.”

“Is talent rare? No, is there different kind of talent?”

“Smart girl, of course there are… Let your uncle explain,”

In a low-rank sect, if their talent was average, then depending on the available spot, they could take them in as extra helpers. Blood Oath sect however, only have eyes for those above average. There were terms for them, but he did not mention it. Basically, common people only know of three kind of acceptable talent; average, above average, high.

If your children had above average talent, then your family should not worry about food and medicine at all, for the sect would cover their basic need. For those with high talent, they were scarce… For each recruitment done every two or three years, only one or two came to be known.

“Well, if the child has high talent, then the family would live well their entire life. The sect will take care of everything,”

Hearing so, the two girls’ eyes glittered.

Live well their entire life? Would that mean being able to eat chicken, eggs, big fish and nice rice everyday? Maybe even milk every morning? With this in mind, they were jumping on the opportunity. They had nine siblings… well, even if one of them had above average talent, wouldn’t that mean the medicine for grandpa will be covered as well?

Thanking the nice uncle, the girls rushed home, thinking there would be joy in the house with the good news.

They expected a festive welcome from the news. Perhaps, even the house would be jumping from the delight.

...

Yet, how wrong they were.

Grandpa turned red, furious… boiling even. While they were shocked and trembling, they were not fearful, for grandpa did not direct that anger towards them. Limping out with heavy breath, he took an axe and chopped the woods while screaming… wailing even. Granny took hold of the anxious girls, saying it’s okay…

“We could not understand why… Why would grandpa be so angry… We just couldn’t at the time,”

To whom did grandpa direct that anger to, they just could not understand…

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Three weeks gone by.

The girls went to the market every day all this time, doing small odd jobs for the merchants, who were kind enough to allow the children to work a bit for money. With the money, they gave to granny, saying it was from charity… The granny had teary eyes, yet she could not scold them anymore, not with them looking so worn out from working. With what she had, she managed to get some good herbs…

Yet, Grandpa’s condition was becoming worse. With granny having little money left, no doctor would bother coming to see all the way to the outskirt of the city. It was not enough to even buy medicine. To make matters worse, they did not even know if the medicine was suitable.

Seeing him coughing blood, ever so weak, the girls grew more and more concerned. At the time, the two girls came to the same conclusion.

It doesn’t matter if grandpa angry, if this will help him be better…

The recruitment time was nearing to a close. Secretly, they went to the city, walking from early morning… Only when it was near noon, they managed to reach the gate of the Blood Oath sect.

There were six places designated for the test. They went to the nearest gate, and after an hour or so waiting, it was finally their turn. Seeing there were only two girls, without their guardian, the disciple in charge of the gate became irritated;

“This is not the place for you little demons to play, shoo, shoo!”

“We’re not here to play! We’re here for the test!”

Shu Fen retorted, with Shen Ai holding close to her.

The little commotion went on for a minute or so. The disciple was about to lose it… He raised his hand, a little lesson for a girl for not knowing her place. Shu Fen took hold of her sister, and braced for the hit – which never came. Confused, she looked up… only to witness the elderly teen froze, his hand kept still in the air, shaking.

“Didn’t expect an Outer Court disciple, to be so discourteous.”

Soft, yet stern voice came from behind him. It came from a lady seemingly in her late 20s… Behind her, several elders and elderly disciples, following suit as if chicks following their mother hen. The disciple, who was about to slap Shu Fen, forced his face to turn, to see behind him. What, or who, able to froze him like this? As he saw her, he had sweat all over as he realized… he’s done for.

“G-grand Elder… t-this… a m-m-misunderstanding, this lowly one only,”

“Shut it, did the Grand Elder allow you to speak? Who do you think you are!”

An elder behind the lady admonished the disciple. His voice was not loud, but the surrounding environment vibrated as he said his share. The children and common people there stood watch in awe, while the surrounding disciples, who witnessed the event, were scared stiff. They were there when it happened, yet none of them move to defend the children. A concern dawned on them, the elders could implicate them as well.

The lady in sky blue robe passed by the disciple, seemingly with no care for his existence at all. Instead, she approached Shu Fen and her sister. Seeing them, her eyes turned soft.

She kneeled by the girls, surprising the following elders and disciples. They acted as if it was unbefitting for her, yet dared not say. As Shu Fen saw her up close, she was in awe. Pure black hair, sparkling under the sunlight, and skin so soft, gleaming…

All complementing her mature beauty, peerless. She was akin to heavenly fairy she had heard in stories.

With a pleasant voice, the lady greeted her with a smile;

“This aunt here, everyone knows me as Grand Elder Ling… Nice to meet you... Ah, you don’t have to be afraid. What’s your name, little friend, and your sister?”

“X-xiao Shu Fen… and this is my sister, little Ai…”

“I see… where’s your parents?”

“We don’t have any, we’re orphans,”

“Orphans…?”

She turned quiet, finger on her lips, thinking. Then, she asked;

“Then, at least, you should have a guardian?”

“Grandpa… couldn’t move. So granny takes care of him,”

“I see… Did they tell you two to come?”

“E-eh, n-no…”

“Hm? Then, at the very least, you do have their permission?”

“We…”

Looking at her being anxious, she caught on. She stood up, ready to leave.

“Without your guardian’s permission, it would be improper to let you take the test. Forgive me, but please go home,”

“P-please let us take the test! Grandpa is ill, really ill… at least, for the medicine!”

Shu Fen’s words stopped Grand Elder Ling. She turned around, looking at the two girls being all hopeful. Sighing, she squatted by them again.

“Elder Su, notes,”

“Yes, Grand Elder,”

The elder handed her several notes, red and gold notes, without so much a question. Grand Elder Ling handed over to them, surprising the onlookers… who seemed to be discussing the amount in disbelief.

“This ought to be more than enough, and get a good doctor to see him. You shouldn’t just buy medicines; proper check-up is just as important. Now, you can go home. Elder Su, get a dependable disciple to escort them, till they get the doctor and deposit the notes,”

“At once!”

“B-but…”

Seeing Shu Fen hesitating, it piqued her interest;

“Hm? Is there something else?”

“We… are thankful for the charity, but we still want to take the test.”

“Eh, why? Would you mind explain, little friend?”

“Charity… never lasts. If we can work on it ourselves, only then can we truly be free. That’s what my sister and I decided.”

What this little friend said, amused the Grand Elder. It was hard to believe, to be able to hear such wisdom from a ten-year-old.

“Really now… Amusing, where did you get the idea?”

“Ah haha, when we were in the market, working for odd job… We spoke with the merchants there… They share their wisdom a bit, for free.”

“Odd jobs…? Hurm, merchants… Indeed, they have such wisdom with them. To tell you the truth, little friend… Even if you pass, without your guardian’s permission, we still won’t accept you. I can allow you to take the test, but still, it will be for naught if your grandpa or grandma didn’t allow,”

“It’s okay… We’ll convince them later… I think.”

“Aha, I like the way you’re thinking little friend. Very well, Elder Su, prepare the testing hall for our girls.”

“At once!”

“And… punish this unsightly one for me,”

“As you wish!”

With stern expression, the bearded Elder Su turned to the previous statue-like disciple, the one who dared raise his hand on the little girls. Sweating profusely, the poor disciple might even wish he was never born into this world…