Chapter 1

In the middle of a dense bamboo forest located at the top of an unknown mountain, a figure of a woman was visibly standing still. Strands of ink-black hair gently fluttered with the breeze, along with the green leaves. The woman donned a linen monk uniform, accentuating her stunning figure; her slender back stood straight, well-proportioned legs rooted on the ground, and two small feet clad in black tai chi shoes. Underneath her, a small circle crudely drawn barely encircled her. Her oval-shaped face gave off a soft charm of wanting to cherish, a button nose that looks lovely, and supple cherry lips that partly opened while breathing in and out. Too bad the two eyes were covered with white silk fabric. Her right hand grasped the handle of the thin whip made of ordinary materials, which looked very fragile.

The surroundings were very serene, like a calm, shallow lake. The falling of leaves created a picturesque scene as they danced in rhythm with nature in a symphony. Quiet and relaxing, the place can let a person put down their defenses and spend time in admiration. But the woman clearly didn't have any intentions as she pricked both of her ears and tightened her hold on the so-called weapon.

A rustle came from her side; the tiny disturbance seemed so negligible for any ordinary person, but the woman turned her head at a small angle, and a silver flicker passed so fast even for the naked eye to see. A subtle sound came from the opposite side; the leaves swayed, and small fluctuations disturbed their pattern, pushing the woman to flexibly make small movements one after another. The frequency of unrest increased. The woman quickly bent, missing another attack. Her feet never left the small circle. Soon, shadows with vague outlines darted towards the slender bamboos. The sound of a bow being strung reverberated, creating a small ripple in the calm forest. The woman raised her whip and drew an arc. The sharp arrows were deflected and sent back to their source with the same force. It's amazing how much power the woman can exert with such a delicate wrist.

As if to vent their anger, swishing sounds came from all directions. Her feet moved an inch, and she twisted her ankle and waist in a spiral motion. The thin whip circled around her stature, and a strong wind force threw the attacks off. The sounds of sharp arrows being embedded in solid objects echoed, creating a tense atmosphere. She remained unperturbed and waited for the opponents' next moves.

The shadows didn't disappoint her and went out of their hiding spots. Nine masked men in formation closed in and drew their swords at the same time. The piercing sounds of swords being unsheathed resounded.

The woman lifted her lips and beckoned them with her hand in a taunting manner. The men were agitated and started their assault. They moved in coordination.

The woman leaped and moved her wrist. Her thin whip collided with their weapons, and the men felt their hands numb at the impact. Her flawless, fluid movement made the men envy her with gritted teeth.

The bamboo forest became a battlefield as the woman defended her body from their blades. Marks were left on the bamboos, stones were crushed, and the ground was split as the group continued their barrages. When the dozen men thought they could overwhelm her with numbers, they were proved wrong as time passed. Their numbers didn't seem to have an advantage as the fragile whip landed blow after blow. Their numbers were reduced to three as the rest decided to retreat after their egos were blown to pieces. It was so infuriating to watch, especially when she didn't even move outside the circle. No one could push her back. She was like a sturdy old tree, deeply rooted in the ground.

"What? Are you giving up?" Oriole bell-like laughter entered their ears, and each of them gnashed their teeth in frustration.

"Junior Sister, stop laughing! We're trying our hardest!" One man pulled his mask off and grumpily replied. His eyes looked aggrieved.

The woman stopped laughing and lectured them: "You've been practicing for a long time with Master, but your movements are still too rigid." She took off the fabric, and a pair of amorous apricot eyes looked at the sad young men.

"Stop admonishing Junior Sister. My ears are getting calloused." The men nodded in agreement.

She pursed her lips and looked at each one of them as if doing her best to engrave their faces on her mind before saying, "Don't worry, I will leave tomorrow. Master arranged for me to pick up someone."

Right after finishing, the young men ran and surrounded her with tears and snot. She stepped back so as not to end up getting caught in their claws and being buried in snot. "Don't hug me. You haven't even bathed." The strong smell of sweat permeated the air. She pinched her small nose.

"Senior Sister, your mouth is still so horrible."

"Senior Sister, aren't you going to miss us? We will miss you dearly, especially your naggings."

"You must bring some gifts back, Senior Sister. I want a complete Sichuan banquet."

"Sister, I want loquats. I'm sick of eating gruels and porridge."

"Aren't you ashamed? Look at your belly full of jiggling fat that shakes whenever we run."

The woman watched their antics unfold and laughed. She accepted their requests and promised to bring some delicacies from the capital. Having been with these youths for twelve years, a bond closer than brothers grew, and she treated them as her relatives. If it weren't for the master's orders, she would stay in this place.

Her thoughts were put on hold when an elder interrupted and reprimanded them regarding the destroyed bamboo forest. Each was fined three days of closed-door cultivation and 100 copies of Buddhist mantras. The men bitterly eyed the young woman who was spared.

"Mingyun, the Master asked for your presence." The elder dismissed the others and delivered the message of the Head Abbot.

Mingyun gave him a slight bow before strolling towards the Master's courtyard.

"Master, I'm here. What did you ask me for?" She entered the hall, saw a table full of snacks and a wooden cup filled with tea, and sat down. She devoured them and didn't forget to say thank you. "It's so delicious, Master. I'll really miss your craftsmanship." She swallowed a big bite of bean cake and sighed.

Soon, an elderly man with wrinkled temples came out and greeted her. "You've been eating it for twelve years. Have you not grown tired of it?" The elderly man bent his lips and sat down opposite her.

Minyun smiled and shook her head. "How can I grow tired of it? Master made it especially for me." She picked up the kettle in the center and poured the elder a cup of tea.

"I'll have the kitchen pack some for you to bring on the road. The journey will be long." The elder blew the steam off and took a sip. "Mingyun, the task I'm giving you is very important. Make sure you accomplish it within a week," he said seriously.

Mingyun stopped eating and wiped the corner of her lips. "Master, is that person really that significant?" she asked, her voice unable to contain her jealousy.

The elder paused a second and stretched his lips with a fleeting smile, saying, "Very important."

The corner of Mingyun's lips went down. "Alright, I will do my best."

"But Mingyun is more important to me," the elder continued, which made Mingyun smile and hug the elder happily. "You're already 17 years old and still act like a child." He patted her head and fixed the loose strands of hair.

Mingyun buried her head in his arms and coyly said, "I'm only like this in front of Master. Anyway, what's the person look like?" she asked curiously.

The elder's eyes vividly remembered the face he saw in the illusion, and he closed his mouth for a moment and parted it again, saying, "I don't know, but you'll meet him eventually."

"How? When? Where?" Mingyun let go of the elder and asked a series of questions.

The elder patiently answered them one by one in detail, except for the part regarding her target. This made Mingyun's curiosity reach its peak.

The ambiance in the room was warm, and the two continued their conversation until the afternoon.

When the bright moonlight hung in the sky, Mingyun sat by the window and gazed at the distant stars. She recalled the night when she climbed the stairs with no end in sight, with him on his back suffering from the bitter cold; her whole body was frozen and battered until she couldn't go on. She also remembered the benevolent Ancestor and his gentle eyes, the golden pagoda that appeared out of nowhere, the torrent of thunder, and the feeling of her flesh and bones being scraped bit by bit. She didn't know what happened afterwards or what happened to Haoran. She only knew she had come to this unknown world suddenly. For the past few years, apart from practicing, she has been constantly searching for him.

She rested her head on her arms. "Haoran, where are you?" she asked, but no one answered her. No one knew how fate works; up until now, she wondered if the Ancestor would really keep his promise.

Closing the window, she slept and waited for the day to come. Unbeknownst to her, a shooting star glided across the sky.