Emily Sky (2/2)

Time was merciless, and I had spent two sad years living in an orphanage of Beijing without hope. Looking back, it was on this fateful day that my life would once again turn onto a different trajectory.

. . .

The orphanage was located in the slums, the downtown area of Beijing.

Beside me, the tearing walls were worn out, permeating a dreadful smell. The lock on the door was broken and in tatters, a constant creaking sound forever present. In my ear, I heard endless scattering noises; I could even faintly see the grey rats crawling about in the night.

This was the worst room in the entire orphanage, isolated on its own. The boys forced me here because I was weak and 'different' to them. In one word, the boys thought I was a weirdo.

There was one good thing about living here, however. I had the entire room to myself, a place of my own where I could sink deeper into my nightmares, where no one would hear my pain.

The current era had no social media, so there hadn't been anyone who had filmed this travesty of an orphanage to shed light. Furthermore, areas like this orphanage were a common sighting in the late 20th century.

The orphanage was more like a garbage center than a normal housing that was supposed to be my 'beautiful new home', a lie which those senior police officers had described the orphanage to me as.

I had nothing to my name—no one to depend on. I had wondered where my other family members went—that is if I even had any. But I guess, in their eyes, I would be nothing but a hindrance.

There was no inheritance; instead, my parents left behind nothing but a mountain of debt.

I found out that the house I lived in back then wasn't mine. I should have known this long ago though. It was a rented home that had accumulated months of debt as Father continued to delay the payment.

Suddenly, I heard the door swing open. The abrupt light made me squint my eyes in discomfort.

"This is the final child?"

Standing before me was a noblewoman clad in a gorgeous black dress with a wide-brimmed hat covering her eyes. With just one look, I knew for certain that she was a powerful figure.

"Yes, Madam." The female director in charge of the orphanage deferentially replied.

I couldn't see the black-dressed woman's eyes, but I knew that she was analyzing me, seeing if I was worthy. It was a test that I couldn't care less about, but for some reason, I kept my eyes locked onto her.

I did not waver in the slightest.

"I'll take her." The noblewoman smiled out of the blue.

"O-of course, Madam!" The female director bowed, roaring at me, "Emily Sky, it's your fortune to follow the Madam!"

I was about to respond, but something bizarre happened next. Before the female director could even utter another word, I noticed a blurry blade passing through her.

The next thing I knew was that a human head, whose mouth was still open, was rolling beneath my feet. The female director did not even have the time to react to her own tragic death.

"Hm, who did you think you were to yell at my daughter." Polishing the blood off her blade, Candice smiled.

I observed the black-dressed woman with a face of indifference.

"Little one, I am Candice. From this day on, I am your mother." The black-dressed woman, who was named Candice, extended her gloved hand toward me.

When Candice saw that I still remained so calm even after the sudden female director's death, her bright smile widened even more.

"If I become your daughter, will I be given a bed and food?" I first asked.

"Of course, and not just that, I can give anything in Beijing to my daughter." Candice smirked. "If my daughter likes something, that means she will get it. We take what we please."

"Being my daughter, your view of life will forever change." Holding onto my hand, Candice walked me outside into the falling snow. "You'll possess true power that is much greater than what status and wealth could ever provide."

"Most importantly, dear, you will have a place to call home." Candice drew a perfect portrait on the snow. "The disciples of mine will become your new brothers and sisters. However, you will forever be my sole daughter."

Taking a deep puff of cold air, Candice rubbed my icy hands while covering me in her warm cotton jacket. I raised my brow as I began to wonder where the jacket had appeared from.

Later, I would learn about the existence of legendary spatial rings.

"I have a feeling that you'll be greater than all the disciples." Candice looked into my large eyes.

I don't know what she saw in them, but I noticed that she would smile whenever she looked at my eyes.

Candice continued to walk through the orphanage with me at her side, holding onto my bony hand like I was some sort of treasure with an immeasurable worth.

Strange, how come I couldn't ever see that worth?

With one swoop, Carol lifted me into her arms. I could feel myself leaving the ground as she soared into the air with one massive jump. Naturally, it wasn't true flight. However, at the time, I truly felt like I was flying.

It was like the entire world was within my grasp.

"Fwaa~"

Lifting her chin, Candice gazed into the night sky. I watched the thousands of stars align with her. In the cold darkness, I felt like this moment would last forever. I was in awe of the absolute beauty.

I kept watching Candice's smile, and I wondered what she saw in me. It was like she was living in a different world to me, seeing a preordained future unfold right before her eyes.

Tilting my head, I was curious, but I didn't ask.

It wasn't until much later that I would somewhat realize the reason behind Candice's smile. The potential never ever seen before in Beijing, perhaps even all of Huaxia, was present in this little fragile body of mine.

And she, my mother and master, would be the lucky one to bring out that potential within me.

In the coming years...

I would enter a life of bloodshed and grow apathetic to killing, standing atop a mountain of corpses at the very peak as the sole victor amongst thousands. That was Candice's vision. The future she had in store for me.

I would become the sole inner-force martial artist of Beijing, a legendary genius.

It was a mythical power that was once believed to be lost.

Following in the footsteps she had meticulously laid out for me, I would grow up to take over her Winter's Edge, controlling everything in the shadows.

However, I would take some detours and do things my way. I wasn't a puppet to be controlled, but regardless of her ulterior motives, I did undoubtedly owe Candice.

I wouldn't be like my stubborn father who refused to listen; instead, I will learn from experience and change for the better. I would not implicate the innocent.

It was on this bumpy road that I would end up meeting lifelong friends. Eventually, I would fall helplessly in love with a handsome young man, Weston—my beloved husband. Somehow, I, a villain undeserving of peace, managed to settle down under his persuasion, even having a cute daughter of my own.

I would try my best to be that mother who her children could be proud of, unlike my birth parents.

I even had a normal job as a captain within the police force.

In the even more distant future, I would end up adopting a little boy who was just like me. Even though enemies would be around every corner, I forever remained proud of my decision. I couldn't imagine life if I hadn't done so.

Unknown to me, that child would end up reshaping the entire world, becoming a household name everywhere.

However, when that happened, his accomplishments wouldn't be the main reason for my proudness though. I just loved him, my son, so much. I would get to see Tylem and Lynne, these two precious babies of mine, lead a life much brighter and glorious than mine ever was.

Tylem, as the older brother, would protect and dote on his little sister.

Even when Lynne, my strong daughter, is able to effortlessly handle everything on her own, Tylem will continue to look out for her.

That's an older brother's job, after all.

From a tragic child who was like myself, Tylem would end up becoming a worshipped figure respected throughout the myriad worlds.

When that time came, I would cry in joy.