Chapter 30 Hurdle
The early morning mist hovered over the narrow alleys of the capital's poorest district, clinging to everything with a damp chill. Over the past week, the residents had come to expect the quiet arrival of the little fairy, a mysterious girl wrapped in plain robes, her face hidden by a deep hood. She was small, a mere child, yet she moved with a strange confidence, a quiet strength that belied her age. To those who watched her work in the makeshift clinic she had set up in a broken-down shop, she seemed a gift from heaven.
They did not know her name. No one dared ask. They simply called her the "little fairy," murmuring blessings under their breath as they watched her bandage wounds, mix herbal poultices, and even soothe crying babies with gentle hands. Each evening, as shadows grew long, she would vanish as silently as she had arrived, leaving behind only whispers and gratitude in her wake.
But tonight, something felt off.
As Li An walked through the narrow streets, her basket of herbs in one hand, she sensed the presence. It was faint at first—a misplaced footstep here, the scrape of a boot there. She felt eyes watching her from the dark alleys, a prickling sensation on the back of her neck.
Keeping her pace calm and steady, Li An turned down a narrow alley, slipping into shadows as her pursuers quickened their steps, trying to catch up. She could hear them now, three—no, four men. Untrained, too loud for their own good. A small smile tugged at her lips as she ducked around a corner, disappearing into the maze of passages. Within seconds, the sound of their pursuit faded into confusion and frustration.
Each night, they tried. And each night, she evaded them, slipping through the labyrinthine backstreets like a ghost.
But tonight was different.
When she arrived at the usual rundown shop that served as her clinic, she found two of her patients huddled close together outside the door, eyes darting anxiously. An older woman, her face creased with worry, took Li An's hand in hers and whispered, "Little fairy, people are asking questions. They're looking for you. Bad people."
Li An's fingers tightened around the old woman's hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry," she said, her voice steady. "I'll be careful."
Inside, she worked swiftly, her mind elsewhere as she ground herbs and prepared the remedies. She felt the weight of those eyes lingering in the back of her mind, a feeling that was both familiar and irritating. There was little doubt they were aware of her schedule by now. Still, she finished her work, packed her things, and set out for the journey home.
True to her guess, she didn't make it far before she sensed their approach. The shadows shifted, figures emerging to block her path. This time, they had come prepared, positioning themselves at both ends of the alley to prevent her escape.
"Little fairy," one of them sneered, stepping forward, "it's been hard finding you, you know?"
Li An tipped her head back to meet his gaze, her dark eyes gleaming under her hood. "Oh, really?" She raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I didn't know I was being looked for."
He let out a low chuckle. "Not so smart as you think, huh?" He gestured to the others, who moved in closer. "We just want to know who you are, where you come from… and maybe who's been helping you get all these herbs."
Li An's lips curled in a small smile. "If you really wanted to know, all you had to do was ask."
The men hesitated, unnerved by her calmness. Li An could see their discomfort, the flicker of doubt in their eyes. They hadn't expected this—a girl who stood her ground, unafraid.
The leader's expression hardened. "Enough talking," he growled, lunging forward. His hand reached for her, fingers outstretched to grab her shoulder.
Li An moved before he could blink, slipping under his arm and kicking out at his knee. He stumbled forward, cursing, as she twisted around him, darting toward the open end of the alley. But before she could escape, another man stepped into her path, blocking her escape with a low, smug grin.
"Now, now, little fairy," he taunted. "There's no point running."
One of them lunged forward, reaching for her arm. With a quick, almost casual twist, Li An sidestepped, sending him stumbling. Another man moved in, aiming to grab her shoulders, but she twisted away, dancing lightly out of their reach. She dodged each attempt, her small figure slipping through their grasp with an ease that both frustrated and alarmed them.
She was laughing now, a soft sound that echoed in the dim street. "Is that all you've got? You're not very good at this, are you?"
A hint of anger flashed in the lead man's eyes. He pulled a small dagger from his belt. "Enough games. You'll come with us, one way or another."
Li An pretended to hesitate, her eyes widening. The men took advantage of her momentary stillness, and in an instant, two of them grabbed her arms, holding her tightly. She didn't resist. Her small frame slumped, and she looked up at them with wide, innocent eyes, as though accepting defeat.
"Alright, you've caught me," she murmured, sighing.
Li An sighed, as if disappointed. "Fine," she said, a playful glint in her eye. "I'll go quietly."
Surprised by her quick acquiescence, the men exchanged a glance, unsure whether to believe her. But as Li An waited, her head slightly tilted in amusement, they took the bait, moving in with rope to bind her hands. She let them, her fingers slack and pliant as they tied the knots tightly, keeping her hands bound before her.
The leader grabbed her by the arm, grinning in triumph. "Got you," he muttered, tugging her forward. "You won't be so smug when we get back."
They led her through a winding path, taking her out of the slums and into a deserted courtyard where their superiors waited. From the looks of their clothing, these were not ordinary thugs. Li An's eyes flicked over the insignias sewn into their tunics, noting the unmistakable mark of the imperial guard.
The leader of the group, a tall, stern man with an air of authority, stepped forward. His gaze was cold as he studied her, his mouth set in a thin line. "You're the girl causing all this trouble," he said, his tone one of distaste.
Li An gave him a demure smile, bowing her head as much as her bound hands would allow. "I'm afraid I don't understand, sir. I was only helping the sick."
The man's eyes narrowed. "Don't play innocent. We know you've been operating in the slums without permission. And that raises questions. Who are you working for? The palace? Some other faction?"
Li An's eyes sparkled with mischief. "What makes you think I work for anyone?" she asked lightly. "Maybe I'm just… a wandering healer."
The man let out a harsh laugh. "A wandering healer," he scoffed. "At your age? Hardly believable." He looked to his men and nodded. "Take her in. We'll see how long she keeps up this charade."
Without resisting, Li An allowed herself to be escorted to a dimly lit room, the doors shut and bolted behind her. She took in her surroundings: bare stone walls, a single chair, a small table with various tools set out—some medical, others less pleasant. A smile played at the corner of her lips. This was going to be interesting.
After a few minutes, the door opened, and the stern man from earlier entered, accompanied by another figure, a man with a slender, calculating face. The slender man studied her with an almost academic interest.
"Little fairy," he said, his voice smooth, "we're going to have a little talk. And you're going to tell us who sent you to the slums."
Li An looked up at him, her expression unreadable. "I'm just a girl," she said innocently, blinking up at him. "What makes you think anyone sent me?"
The man chuckled, though his eyes remained cold. "You seem like a clever girl. You wouldn't have been able to evade our men for so long if you were as innocent as you claim."
Li An shrugged, as if unconcerned. "Maybe you're just underestimating me," she replied, her tone teasing.
The man's expression darkened, and he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, threatening tone. "Listen closely, girl. The palace doesn't take kindly to unauthorized activities, especially not in areas it chooses to neglect for a reason. If you don't tell us who you're working for, there will be consequences."
Li An's eyes flashed with defiance. "Perhaps it's you who don't understand," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. "You can ask all you want, but the truth is… I answer to no one."
The slender man's patience snapped. He raised his hand to strike her, but just as his hand descended, Li An moved, ducking under his arm with a graceful twist. Before he could react, she swept her bound hands up, catching his wrist in her grip. Her small fingers tightened, and with a sudden, powerful twist, she wrenched his arm backward.
He cried out, stumbling back as Li An slipped away, her movements swift and fluid. She raised her hands to her mouth, her teeth flashing as she bit through the rope binding her wrists, snapping it with ease. She flexed her fingers, feeling the blood rush back into her hands.
The guards in the room lunged toward her, but Li An sidestepped them effortlessly, her movements like a dance, her small frame weaving between their outstretched arms. She struck out, aiming for their pressure points, sending one guard to his knees with a swift jab to his neck and another reeling with a sharp blow to his temple.
The slender man staggered back, staring at her with wide, horrified eyes. "What… what are you?" he stammered, his voice shaking.
Li An gave him a cold, serene smile. "A little fairy," she replied mockingly, echoing the name the people of the slums had given her. "You should remember it."
With that, she turned, slipping out of the room and down the corridor. The guards were too stunned to give chase, and within moments, she had vanished into the night, leaving only chaos in her wake.
By the time the imperial guards had recovered, she was long gone, her small figure disappearing into the shadows, as elusive as the mist that had greeted her earlier that morning.
As she made her way back to the cold palace, her heart pounded with excitement. These confrontations were becoming more frequent, a reminder of the power struggles that lingered just beneath the surface of the empire. But she was prepared. They had underestimated her—and they would pay for that mistake if they tried again.
The cold palace loomed ahead, its familiar walls casting a dark silhouette against the sky. She slipped inside, her footsteps silent as she made her way to her room, a satisfied smile on her lips.
In the quiet of the night, she sat alone, her gaze distant as she considered her next move. The imperial palace thought it could control her, but they had no idea who they were dealing with. She would continue her work in the slums, undeterred, and she would make sure that those who sought to interfere understood the consequences of crossing paths with the "little fairy.