Zhao Min's heart raced as she stood before her father, Lei Teng, and brother, Lei Bai. Her father's calm and collected demeanor belied the storm brewing within her.
"Zhao Min, you will marry the Zhang family's son," Lei Teng stated, his voice even and measured. "It is a good match, and it will secure our family's future."
But Zhao Min's brother, Lei Bai, was not so composed. His hotblooded nature flared to the surface, and he sneered at her. "Yes, you'll do as father says, or face the consequences! You're nothing but a tool to be used for our family's gain!"
Zhao Min's anger and resentment simmered just below the surface. She knew her father was selling her to the powerful Zhang family, the No. 1 family of the Southern City Lord's Family. She felt like a pawn in their game of power and politics.
With a calculated calmness, she agreed to the marriage, knowing it was a death sentence. But she had no intention of fulfilling it. She would rather die than submit to their plans.
Under the cover of darkness, Zhao Min slipped out of her room and vanished into the night, leaving her father and brother to their triumph. She knew they would never let her go willingly, so she took matters into her own hands.
She wandered deep into the forest of the Southern Border, her heart pounding in her chest. The trees seemed to close in around her, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground. But she pressed on, driven by desperation.
And then, she saw it - a nameless sect, hidden away in the dense foliage. The buildings seemed new, and the air was thick with the scent of freshly cut wood. Who would build a new sect in such a remote location? Zhao Min hesitated, but desperation drove her forward. She approached the sect, ready to ask for help, even if it meant risking her life.
For what did she have to lose? If she didn't try, she would surely die at the hands of her family or the Zhang family. So, she took a deep breath and stepped into the unknown.
Kane, lost in contemplation of his treacherous schemes, was startled by a sudden rap on the heavy wooden gate. The unexpected disturbance jolted him from his reverie. Who could be visiting at such an hour? He dismissed the notion of enemies, for he believed he'd provoked none, save for Fang Chen and his family. If it were someone from the Fang clan, he'd deal with them swiftly and mercilessly.
With a sense of foreboding, Kane rose and moved towards the gate. He grasped the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white. The courtyard was bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, the air thick with the scent of blooming jasmine.
As he opened the gate, a gust of wind blew, carrying with it a strange, unfamiliar scent. A figure stood before him, their face obscured by a hood and a veil. Their eyes, however, were piercing, glinting in the moonlight.
The woman was unlike anyone he had ever seen. Her face was average, neither beautiful nor ugly, but her hair and black pupils made her resemble a Korean model. Kane's eyes scanned her face, searching for any sign of deceit or hidden intentions.
"Who are you?" Kane demanded, his voice low and even, his sword still at the ready.
The stranger hesitated, their voice low and raspy. "My name is Qing Yu," they replied.
Kane's suspicion was piqued. There was something off about this woman. Her appearance was unusual, and her demeanor was enigmatic.
"Why are you here?" he demanded.
Qing Yu thought for a moment, her eyes darting around the clearing as if searching for an escape route. "I want to stay here for today," she said finally. "Can I stay here?"
Kane's cunning nature sensed an opportunity. He saw the desperation in her eyes, the fear that lingered beneath the surface. He knew that she was running from something, or someone.
"I think you're in trouble," Kane said, his voice dripping with sincerity. "I can help you if you become our sect's disciple."
Qing Yu hesitated, weighing her options. She knew that she had no other choice, no other place to go. She nodded finally, her eyes locked on Kane's.
"I can become a disciple," she said, "but if something happens to me, you must help me."
Kane's instincts told him that something was off about her, that she was hiding something. But he needed disciples, and he couldn't afford to be choosy. He took a risk and agreed, "I will help if it's for our sect's disciple."
As Qing Yu stepped into the courtyard, Kane watched her closely. He sensed that she was hiding something, but he was determined to find out what it was. And if she proved to be a threat, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate her.