"Mistress, do you need anything?" asked a maidservant in a thin dress.

"Bring a cup of tea."

"I want to go on a walk outside," replied Mao Li.

"But Mistress, it is raining outside..." said the maidservant.

"I'll be alright. I will take an umbrella," replied Mao Li.

The young maid looked at the woman standing before her. The Li family was known for its scholarly background, and their women were always dressed elegantly. Mistress Li was no exception, but today, she wore a light blue gauze dress, which made her seem somewhat out of place. Mao Li was a striking beauty with spirited and distinct features. Her eyes, once sharp and perceptive, were now as distant as a freshly washed lake after the rain. However, her sight was lost.

Mao Li was not born blind. This misfortune struck six months ago after her marriage into the Wang family. A mysterious illness left her with a high fever that lasted three days and nights. When she woke, she found herself blind. The Wang family sought out many divine doctors, but none could cure her. Since then, she rarely left the house. It was inconvenient for a blind person to go outside.

Today, though, she longed for a walk in the rain. As she walked to the pavilion in the courtyard by the pond, the gentle sound of raindrops creating ripples in the water filled her ears. She could feel the cool breeze brushing against her skin, but she could see nothing. The unseen beauty of spring reminded her of what she had lost.

It had been a year since she married Wang Zhiheng. In the first six months, she had lost her sight. The remaining time had been filled with learning how to live in a world without sight. Mao Li had adapted well, though there were moments when she missed the ability to see. She could hear the rain, feel the air, and yet the world around her was always veiled.

Her memory of her husband, Wang Zhiheng, was vague. She could only recall the image of him as a young boy-fifteen years old, wearing light purple robes, his smile warm and welcoming as he extended his hand to hers. Now, Wang Zhiheng never extended his hand to her anymore. Although he treated her with courtesy, Mao Li sensed an invisible barrier between them.

Having spent much of her youth in the military, Mao Li had learned how to act as a man in the eyes of others. But now, in her marriage, she did not know how to act like a woman. It was painful for her to witness her husband's affection for her cousin, Lady Li. At least, Mao Li thought, her blindness spared her the agony of seeing their closeness. It granted her peace, though it was bittersweet life.

As she was listening to the rain falling, she heard footsteps approaching her. She knew it was Lady Li. She stood still not want them to know that she knew they were near her.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in. The only and only Mao Li, " said Lady Li.

"Well, isn't it the home wreaker, Lady Li." said Mao Li sarcastically.

You... you! said Lady Li offensive. "Grab her and drown her in the pool.

Mao Li's heart raced as she heard the malicious whisper of Lady Li. Fear coursed through her veins, but a flicker of defiance ignited within her. In her years of training as a general, she had faced far fiercer foes on the battlefield than sneering women in her own home.

"Why don't you face me instead of hiding behind your petty schemes?" Mao Li replied, her voice steady despite the tension filling the air. "You underestimate me if you think I will cower in silence."

Laughter echoed across the rain-soaked courtyard, harsh and mocking. "Underestimate you? You're blind, and your title as the 'Flying Phoenix General' means nothing now. You're alone and vulnerable, stuck in shadows while I bask in the sunlight."

In that moment, with the rain cascading around her like a veil, Mao Li felt a rush of memories flood back—tactics and strategies learned through years of training and battles. She inwardly steadied herself, drawing on the resolve that had once made her a renown general. Using her remaining senses, she listened intently, picking up on their careless movements.

"Enough chatter. Let's finish this," Lady Li ordered, her voice sharp and filled with venom.

Mao Li heard them approaching, their footsteps heavy with intent. Time slowed as she braced herself, recalling the numerous techniques she had mastered in combat. In her training sessions, she had once learned to rely on her other senses when sight was no longer an option.

With a swift pivot, she swung her arm, catching the nearest woman with the back of her hand. The sound of her palm striking flesh made the air crackle with a suddenness that silenced the rain for a heartbeat. Lady Li let out a shriek; she hadn't expected resistance, let alone from a blind woman.

Mao Li seized the moment, her instincts steering her through the chaos. She lunged forward, feeling for the edge of the marble steps leading to the pond. The rain poured harder now, mingling with her sweat and adrenaline. Every breath she took filled her lungs with determination.

"Your cowardice will not win here," she shouted into the torrential downpour, as she quickly assessed her surroundings. She sensed movement to her left — Lady Li's henchwomen were rallying.

With practiced precision, she dodged to the right, finding herself precariously close to the edge of the pool. The world around her became a cacophony of sounds—the splashing of rain, the rustle of fabric, and the rise of footsteps as they tried to encircle her.

"You'll pay for this!" Lady Li wailed, regaining her composure. "Grab her! Don't let her get away!"

Mao Li inhaled deeply, drawing strength from her anger and the relentless rain. She had fought to reclaim her identity in this daunting world, and she would not retreat now. The sound of the approaching thugs grew louder, but the water lapping against the stones was a constant reminder of her strength.

"Do you really think you can extinguish the phoenix?" Mao Li declared, her voice roaring like thunder over the rain.

With a fierce kick, she propelled herself backward, unbalancing one of Lady Li's accomplices. The servant stumbled over the slick stones and fell into the pond, splashing water everywhere. Panic ensued, and chaos erupted around her.

Feeling a surge of triumph, Mao Li strained her ears for the direction of Lady Li. She could sense her hovering just beyond her reach.

"Come out and face me like a warrior, if you dare!" Mao Li called, her heart pounding with the exhilaration of combat.

Suddenly, she felt a strong grip on her arm. Instinctively, she twisted free and whirled around, prepared to retaliate.

But to her astonishment, the gentle hand that now clasped hers was not that of a foe. It was Yi Ming, his presence unmistakable even through the storm.

"Mao Li! It's me!" he shouted above the rain, grounding her amidst the chaos.

Mao Li hesitated, momentarily disarmed by the familiarity of his voice. Could this be the ally she desperately needed?

"Stay with me!" Yi Ming urged, summoning every ounce of courage as he pulled her closer to safety.

In that moment, a glimmer of hope ignited within Mao Li. Perhaps, in the midst of chaos, she would find not only a bully to confront but a partner to help her reclaim her fate.

As the rain continued to pour, obscuring vision and intention, both of them stood poised for the reckoning that awaited them. Together, they would rise against the tides of treachery, forging their destinies anew, in a world filled with tumult and duality.