Odd

Yu Kai Xuan was alone. The Young Master of the Yu family thought he was lonely before, but now, he was lonelier than he thought he could ever be.

It had been two days and two nights, and today would be the third he would watch the sun rise. He had no idea where he was.

The fall down the slope of the mountain into the saddle was a long and rough one, he didn't know at what point he let go of Xiao Qin's arm, but it didn't matter now. She was gone. The last person who could trust in this unfamiliar place had separated from him, leaving him all alone in isolation.

What a ton of bad luck, he thought at first. He brought his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around his legs as he buried himself in his thoughts. What was he supposed to do now? It was already morning. Surely Uncle Bai noticed by now, right? He was looking for them now, right? Everything will be alright, right?

Before he knew it, hot tears flooded his vision and fell steadily onto his ruined clothes in droplets.

Bad luck? Who the hell was he kidding? He didn't even know if his mother was alive. And his father? What about his father's disciples, all those brothers and sisters?

Trembling with bitter rage, Kai Xuan dug out the necklace under his clothes and glared at the shimmering pendant, glistening like new and unharmed even after his desperate journey through the night.

This is all your fault, he wanted to say, but he knew deep inside how stupid it was to put the blame of his family's tragedy on an inanimate object. If there was anyone to blame...

It had to be Gu Su Rong.

His nails dug into his fists as he glowered to himself. To think that she had everyone fooled, thinking that she was a sweet and innocent girl determined to make a living for her - heavens knew if they even exist - younger siblings. To think that his mother was deceived by such a treacherous villain and risked her life just to let Su Rong mutilate Xiao Qin jie-jie's face irredeemably so, and nearly killing them both. There was no doubt she was somehow related to the gang that ambushed their family last night, if not already a part of them.

"I'll return your sins by a hundred-folds," he snarled, his voice dark with hatred. "I'll avenge everyone, and carve up your face so hideously that you won't dare to step outside ever again for the rest of your life."

...

...How ridiculous, he thought.

His shoulders slumped as he was reminded of the pathetic self he was. What can he even do? He couldn't even defend himself when Su Rong came after him with a knife and was only saved when Xiao Qin returned and sacrificed herself for his safety. He was his father's son, yet he cannot compare his strength and skill to his father's youngest disciple, let alone the disciples around his age.

He was laughably weak, and only had himself to blame.

Kai Xuan winced as he wiped the tears from his face, accidentally rubbing against the cuts he received from rolling down the side of the mountain. Bruises covered him from head to toe, his ribs ached, and his muscles were sore. He felt useless.

A loud growl came from his stomach as he caught a whiff of a hot breakfast being made, the crisp scent of scallions mixing into the air. His mouth watered, his eyes darting back and forth in search of food. It was then that he noticed an old man happily cooking away with his pan and wooden spatula beside his little residence under a sun cover across the road.

Slowly, he started to push himself to his feet. Starving and without money, he can only hope that the old man was kind enough to let him have some food, and then he would find a way to pay him back afterward. Perhaps he'll make do if he let him clean his house as payment-

"It's ready!" the old man said lively, though his scratchy voice was a bit faint in the distance.

Kai Xuan froze as he watched the old man carry two dishes to one of the tables. He didn't know why he didn't notice earlier, but the instant his eyes landed on the back of the black-cloaked figure present with the old man, he dropped all thoughts of asking for food. Immediately, he sat back down, making himself as small as he could as his chest began thumping with unease.

There was no need to cover oneself up so much in these areas, was there? It wasn't exactly warm out, but why would one feel necessary to hide themself in such a thick, dark cloak so early in the morning? They even had their face concealed behind a veil hanging from a straw hat already so wide...

...this person dressed so frighteningly similar to the men that fought against his father last night, so eerily similar to the man that tried to kill his mother while they were running...

There was no way that he was found out already? Did Su Rong send people to chase him down?

But why was the old man being so friendly with them? He was chattering away as if he was with a longtime friend, waving his arms and getting all up in the other's face. Was he being fooled as well? Su Rong and her gang all were masters of trickery, is that what it was? Professional liars that can cheat just anyone.

Will the old man suffer a fate just like he did...

All of a sudden, the person turned around, and Kai Xuan felt his heart leap when he found himself staring straight into their eyes. He hastily looked away, fearing for his life. Cowering while facing the stacked crates, Kai Xuan prayed and prayed and prayed, clasping together his clammy hands.

He pleaded inside his head. 'Please don't notice me, please don't, please don't, please don't!'

He kept this up for a while, eyes squeezed tightly shut. But in the end, he felt his blood stop cold as a shadow cast over his body, sending a nerve-racking chill up his spine. He recoiled, throwing his arms above his head in defense, and-

"Are you hungry?"

...huh?

To his surprise, it was a deep, mellow tone of voice that reached his ears, civilized. It sounded nothing of mockery, nothing like the nasty jeers he heard last night, nothing like the voice of someone who wanted him dead.

"...kid?"

Hesitantly, Kai Xuan lowered his arms and opened his eyes, flinching involuntarily when he found the person towering above him, standing barely an arm's length away. When he looked up, he found a pair of intense black eyes staring down at him, waiting for an answer.

"I..." He opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Was...was this person really not after him?

"Ooh, so there was a little boy here all along," a voice coming from behind the person said. "Aiyah, look at him! He's scared out of his wits! Aish, really. A' Ying, just standing there will make you look intimidating to others, don't you know? Move aside, move aside. Let this old man see better."

The person named 'A' Ying' shifted to the right, and the old man Kai Xuan saw across the road came forth. He seemed an amiable, good-natured elderly, and Kai Xuan did not avoid him when he came close and took his face between his wrinkled hands, turning his head left and right as he examined him. "What happened to you, eh, boy?" he asked, concerned. "Here, can you stand up?"

The old man offered his hand and he took it, helping himself back to his feet unsteadily. The old man then dusted down his clothes, fussing over his injuries as he did. However, he stopped, turning in confusion when the boy pulled away and instead went to hide behind him.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"Old...old grandpa," Kai Xuan stammered uncertainly, "w- who is that?" In truth, Kai Xuan felt comfortable around him, though they were strangers. But...

He peeked up from behind the old man's shoulder at the person standing silently in front of them. The veil hanging from the straw hat had been parted, and the person continued to stare, openly studying him.

Realizing what the tension was about, the old man erupted into laughter. He turned around and gave Kai Xuan a firm, reassuring pat on the shoulder, beaming from ear to ear. "Boy, you're really a scaredy-cat, aren't you?" he teased. "This young-lady-master-whatever right here" - a held out his arm - "is Chen Ying. We just met. Not much of a talker, as you can tell, but she was the one who noticed you here all alone. I know she looks scary, but turns out she's a bit soft, HAHAHA!"

A... lady? Kai Xuan locked eyes with the woman named Chen Ying, amazed. He was still skeptical, but few words from the old man managed to partly convince him. If she wanted him dead, she wouldn't be standing there so calmly, right? After all, like the old man said, she was first to come up to him and asked him if he was hungry...

Maybe he was just being paranoid.

"...s- sorry," he said quietly, lowering his head. He fidgeted with his fingers and averted his gaze.

"It's alright, there's no need to apologize," the old man assured him. "Now, you don't mind telling us where you came from, eh?"

Kai Xuan stiffened when he suddenly felt the old man place his hand on his head, but relaxed when he realized he simply meant well, ruffling his hair just like his father had often done. He knew the old man was just trying to help him, and after all of last night, the sense of security and comfort he received now came overwhelmingly. He felt a sting in his chest, the emotions that have been swarming inside him threatening to burst.

"I- I... I..."

And before he could stop himself, tears came streaming back down his face again, and the old man reached to pat him on the back as he spilled out all the atrocities that befell him and his family the night before between uncontrollable sobs.

][][][][][][][][

"Heavens! Someone bring the doctor and treat this poor girl!"

The sect was thrown into an uproar as its members and guests rushed to see the commotion at the front gates.

What was it that a few whispers from a servant would cause such a look of distress to be painted across the Sect Master's face, and even leaving him to abandon his own hosted gathering that was planned months in advance? It was what Xiu Feng Lian, the noble lady of the renowned Xiu family and one of the many guests present at the special occasion, wondered.

But she, by all means, was not bothered at all with this sudden interruption. For one, the lady of the Xiu family never fancied gatherings, and only attended out of respect. They were boring. Extremely boring. And she never appreciated being surrounded by so many people at once, people whose eyes were always watching, hungry for rumors and gossip. People like such were dull, dull to the point it was deliriously frustrating. How can people be so cliché?

At least now, she felt the slightest bit of interest.

As nearly everyone filed out the meeting hall, Lady Xiu lagged behind, taking one last sip from her cup of tea before gathering her treasured folding fan in her hands and following.

It was dark, but the brilliant lamps of the Mystic Mountain Sect lit up the spacious courtyards. Flickering and calming beauty, it did not match the horrid atmosphere brought by this little...maidservant that came in limping with the support of one of the Sect Master's disciples.

The crowd parted as the Sect Master hurried forth, a look of stress and anticipation in his eyes. "You came from my little sister's family, the Crystal Valley Sect?" he wasted no time to ask, impatient. The Yu Family, Madam Yu being the Sect Master's younger biological sister, had not arrived yesterday night as planned.

The girl was a young one, long black hair disheveled with only a small gold pin in place. She wore no more eye-catching jewelry than that, Lady Xiu noticed. Her soiled skirts were a plain white, held together with a silvery-gray sash... There was nothing special about her simple clothes; she must be a maid.

Lady Xiu stepped off to the side and snapped open her fan, brushing the open folds against her lips as she narrowed her eyes, observing closely. What was a maid doing alone at this time of night? Not to mention her chaotic and ghastly state, and-

Lady Xiu stiffened, her grip on the bottom of her fan hardening. Was that...blood? A dark red ran steadily across the back of her skirt, the fabric sliced clean and exposing a fresh wound on her leg.

The girl was clearly shaken, her expression completely overtaken with the clouds of a nightmare. But yet, she still had the bravery to lift her head before the Sect Master and the throng of people around him. "Y- Yes, Sect Master. I am a maidservant belonging to Crystal Valley Sect, I began serving Madam Yu not long ago," she whimpered. "I-"

"Where are they? Where is my sister, Madam Yu?" the Sect Master demanded. He tried his best to restrain himself, but seeing how only an injured maidservant arrived at his villa, his anxiousness swamped. "Why are you alone? Tell me, please! What exactly happened!?"

The girl flinched at his tone. It was only the matter of a second before she dropped to her knees, dragging the male disciple that supported her down with her, and burst into tears. "H- have mercy, Sect Master! We were traveling through the mountain when I only managed to escape because the Madam saved me! I sh- shouldn't have been selfish and run away on my own!" she wailed between hiccups.

"And then?! What of my sister? What of the people who attacked you? Do you know who they are? Answer, quickly!"

She complied, her shoulders jolting with every sob. But the words that came after were unexpected, sending a wave of shock that seemed to hit the Sect Master the hardest. Even Lady Xiu couldn't believe her ears; she nearly dropped her fan when she heard the maid timidly proclaim:

"I- I- It's my fault! The M- Madam is de- dead..."