THE HATRED

Rays of the dying sun, lit the lonely yard, shades of red, orange and purple drifting across the sky, as though a broken kaleidoscope inverted. A light breeze brought with it the mild scent of osmanthus flowers, which drifted across her face, as she sat facing the setting sun; her face aglow with the colours of its dying brilliance. A rare feeling of peace settled in her heart and she had a soft expression on her face, her mind pleasantly blank; free of worries, of hatred, of sadness that ever weighed heavily. She blinked and the momentary state dissipated. All her problems came crashing back like a tsunami after a calm sea. When twilight came, and darkness shadowed the streets, she should leave, she thought. She must meet Xu Ranyan, the infamous female villain of this story who had an inordinately unhealthy obsession with men. The system would only come back online tomorrow, and she must be careful with this A.I. After all, it belonged to the empire, its loyalty was clear. She wondered if her inhibitor was still working and whether her abilities would still work in this form. She looked at the teacup placed on a table nearby, then her vision glanced away. Tch! It wasn't working! This, she definitely had to inquire later. Suddenly she heard that little maid come out of the door.

" Mistress, it will be dark soon. Shall I inform the kitchens about dinner?"

"Forget it for now, Ning'er. I shall be going out in a while. The prince is aware, so you need not make any report. While I'm gone you shall stay inside and not converse with anyone who might come. Tell any busybodies that I am tired and have fallen asleep. No one need know that I'm not on estate grounds. Am I clear, little one?" she issued her orders, just as the last of the sunlight disappeared, and night came.

"Ummm... will that be okay mistress? Ning'er is worried." Tears were already collecting in her eyes as she whispered these words.

"Silly girl just do as I say and all will be well. I appreciate your concern but that will be all. You may go in now. You need not wake me up in the morning." Her skirts rustled, and then with a flash, she disappeared where she stood, under the astonished gaze of the young maid.

Indeed! The system had not lied. Her physical abilities bar one had all been restored to this body! How convenient! She quickly made her way through the estate, her movements just a strong breeze for passers-by. She jumped over the wall and tracked the path as in the memories of Ranyan. Within an hour she stood before the walls of the home of the Minister of War, the evil father. She looked around, searching for any guards or men who could disrupt her entry; her black skirts merging with the dark streets. Seeing no one, she jumped across the wall and quickly made her way to the abandoned Lingyun courtyard of the protagonist, where the half-sister would be, hopefully.

Coming closer, she could see lights through the window. She quietly unlatched a loose window and entered. Coming closer to the bedroom, she could hear a deranged laughter ringing out in delight. Ahhh, she must be rejoicing at her luck, this dimwit. Did she think she could seduce Jiu Yun with her personality! What a fool. Even reborn, she was still an idiot antagonist. Why didn't she die earlier anyway!

As Xixi entered the bedroom, she saw a young malnourished 16-year-old girl laughing with tears in her eyes. Although thin and unhealthy looking, her features were exquisite; she would definitely be a late bloomer with enough food. Suddenly the girl snapped her head and stared at the uninvited, veiled intruder in her room. For a moment she was very still, shock paralyzing her.

"Who are you!? How did you come in here! GET OUT! I'll call the guards!" she stumbled as she crawled backwards on the bed, fear for her newly given life evident in her eyes.

" Ranyan, Ranyan, Ranyan… Hahahaha! How can you not recognize yourself my dear!" Xixi ridiculed while ripping off her black veil, revealing the girl's own face.

Shock reverberated through her, as her eyes impossibly widened in disbelief, looking at her own face which she thought she had discarded already. Then her eyes shuttered, and a forced look of confusion was displayed.

"Oh, my goodness! Sister, what prank are you playing on me. I'm Qingyu! And why are you wearing all black like that? Why would you even call me Ranyan, sister? What are you doing?"

" Ohhhhhh… is this how you want to play it elder sister? Did you not think that if you were in my body, where I would go? Why is your intelligence still missing even with rebirth! Did you think you would get Yun just by occupying my body! Great dreams you do have! I'm Qingyu, dear sister. Let's skip this fake acting you are doing and get to the point." A smirk lifted her pink lips as she looked down on this jumping clown of a villain with no brains.

A vicious expression contorted the face of the Heroine, and extreme hatred leaked out of her eyes as she glared at Xixi. "YOU FILTHY WHORE! HOW DARE YOU COME BEFORE ME AFTER ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED! YOU DARE TAKE MY PRECIOUS BODY! YOU ARE UNFIT! GET OUT GET OUT!" she screamed, and ran towards Xixi, her arms outstretched as though to strangle the life out of her. Xixi nonchalantly pushed the crazy woman to the floor and stepped on her chest, stopping her from getting up. She could see blood thirst and insanity in those red eyes glaring at her from below. She smiled softly at her and suddenly Ranyan stopped struggling as waves of fear almost strangled her breath at that smile and cold eyes which seemed to pierce through her hatred and freeze her to her bones. It was murderous intent, deadly and true, almost manifesting tangibly; suffocating her lungs and blocking her throat. Death; she was afraid of it! She didn't want a repeat of her past life; an early and unfulfilled death! NO!