Too many faces and memories of my previous lives haunt me for any sleep to be restful. I was exhausted before the cultivators knocked me out. I'm willing to bet that whatever aches I had in the cave will vex me more whenever I wake.
In the void it gives me too much time to think and reflect.
I barely remember my first life. It feels like centuries have past since them. Once, I had a dream that Qin Tao and I would be the perfect match. He is from a respected house. His sect is powerful and he'd proven to be a formidable cultivator. I was the only daughter of my general father's house.
He was handome, intelligent... the few times I remember what it was like to bask in the warmth of his smile. But in the end, it was never to be.
I lacked martial prowess. My constitution weak and my spiritual roots, just as bad. My intelligence made up for my short comings - even before the lifetimes of study expanded my knowledge beyond what I should have had. I was not ever going to be Qin Tao's heart. In the lifetimes after, I still...
My relationship with my family had always been strained. I was never enough. I knew it was foolish but I desperately wanted their approval regardless of how cruel they were.
No matter how many times I relived those moments I just couldn't bring myself to rebel against them. They were cruel at times but they were my blood. When I opened my eyes to see them when I was reborn this time, I sobbed.
When the attack came, I had no tears left to cry over the ruin of our estate. They fought hard against the Celestial Mountain Sect. For the lives of me, I don't remember what seed of treason my family was accused of that allowed for their execution.
And once more, I find myself at the mercy of this Heavenly sect. When means, I need to plan. I have to get free of them before they dig into me deeper to see how I made the talismans. I haven't established a foundation, so my power has to come from somewhere else.
In their eyes, I am not a cultivator, I'm an abomination. And if I can't get away, this ends forever.
[System Alert: Demon Core Quest Penalty for being captured imposed.]
[System Alert: Reputation Status hidden until quest completion.]
[Achievement Unlocked: ???? Hidden until quest completion.]
The return of the system alerts means I'm about to wake up. I brace myself as light fills my vision.
***
Everything aches. I shiver against the autumn chill. I lift my head, I'm no longer blindfolded but the taste of damp fabric is firm against my tongue. I wriggle my legs and wrists to find them firmly bound. I wrinkle my nose at the smell of my clothing - still partially damp from the much of the cave.
"We tended your wounds but I'm afraid I can't untie you." The cultivator's voice was different from the men from the cave. I glance up at him to get a better look at my kind guard.
Long red hair tied back into a low ponytail framing a young man's freckled face. Hazel eyes, and a strong jawline. He looks out of place for this region but cultivators travel far and wide to recruit talent. His robes are not the pristine white of the others, they're a light grey with a blue sash. I'm not familiar enough with the inner workings of this sect to really understand what it means.
He stares at me in amusement, and warmly chuckles. "What's that look for?"
I glare and he shrugs, running a hand over his hair in a playful motion.
"Oh yes, I'm just a gifted healer, I'm quite handsome too. You flatter me, miss."
If I had my hands free or the ability to speak, I'd set him straight. Instead, I roll my eyes. He grins at me and continued. "Right! That's enough about me, you want to know about your condition. Well, the good news is that you didn't break anything with whatever happened in the cave. Scrapes and scratches. You're a skinny little thing, I'm surprised you didn't get more hurt when my brothers restrained you."
"Lubi." I flinch at the sound of another man's voice. I crane my head in the direction of the sound. My chest tightens at the sight of him... Qin Tao. His hair is far too short and his expression too ragged. I avoided him so well until now. He looks so different from all the other times... but the sharpness in his gaze and cheekbones remind me of one of the portraits I saw of him in court a lifetime or three ago.
"I was wondering when you'd show," Lubi replies with another smile at Qin Tao. I struggle upright to at least have some dignity in this situation. If I must deal with him now, I wanted to at least hold my head up proud before he tried to lop it off.
Qin Tao, his white robes stained at the edges with mud and something else as he sits down on the ground beside Lubi. His grey eyes appraise my face as he decides his words.
"That was a Level 5 Demonic Beast. Its core is quite powerful. And locating that cavern through those cursed mists was notoriously difficult for skilled cultivator trackers to find." Qin Tao points at me with disgusted disbelief on his face. "How did you with barely any cultivation and a strong wind away from crumbling able to do that? Who gave you those talismans?"
I glared with a huff and raised my head a little higher in response. If he wanted actual answers, he was dumb to keep me gagged.
"We tested your roots. You have a deviation that would make the power needed to be a proper cultivator take lifetimes. The talismans we found on you are too powerful. Did some diablist force you into a dangerous situation?" Qin Tao's voice held something that I hadn't heard from him before... could it be pity? Did he truly think me innocent?
His brow furrowed, his voice lowering to a harsh whisper. "We could help you if you were forced. The elders would find another way."
I mumble. And both men look to one another. I can see them weighing their curiousity versus the risk that I might be a threat. I am a threat but I'm bound. And my everything is throbbing.
Qin Tao reaches for me and I flinch away as his hands brush my cheeks. I feel my face burn and shiver. He quirks a brow but doesn't comment as the gag slides free.
I take a deep breath and move my jaw, not speaking until it feels more normal to speak. They don't press me yet.
"I don't think they'll spare me a second time," I murmur. My tongue heavy and my mouth dry from the cold and gag. The cultivators look startled. I see the question in their faces. "I'm Ji Li Mei, only daughter of the late General Ji Yichen."
Lubi looks startled, his face blanching. "General Ji is dead?"
"At the sword's edge of the Celestial Mountain Sect, three months ago," the words are bitter on my lips. "As is the rest of my household."
Qin Tao grabs the collar of my robe and yanks me up, forcing my face close to his. "Slander. We had no part of such an event."
"I'd swear on my family's lives that I speak the truth, but you're brothers and sisters have seen to it, than none remain but me." I suffered and yet, why do his eyes look so sad?
Qin Tao drops me and I barely catch my balance. I wobble, my head swimming. "I must investigate this. Such things are forbidden. It'd ruin the peace if a sect..."
Lubi's steadies me and places a hand on Qin Tao's shoulder. "Li Mei, we don't understand what happened to your family. But that's not why you're here. They are trying to decide what to do with you and the demon core."
"Your elders will either destroy it like they do with all things they fear or lock it away. Either is foolish." I mutter, stepping back from the men. I look down and notice my robe has gaped open. My skin pale and sickly beneath the filthy fabric. "Didn't I do them a service in slaying the beast? It's mine."
"They just don't believe you did it. If you made those talismans... I'm afraid of what might happen." Lubi comments with a frown.
"If she did... there's talent there... forbidden techniques... maybe her roots aren't..." Qin Tao mumbles, turning away from us. "Lubi, assist her in getting presentable for the elders. They want to see her soon." He looks at me, and notices the state of my clothes before he hurries away. "As best you can. We can't untie her hands."
Lubi stares after him with a puzzled expression and looks back at me as if for the first time. "Hey, maybe we can make this right. If we've wronged you... maybe there's a new way we can approach this." He offers, his tone hopeful.
I close my eyes for a moment. "I doubt it."
[System Alert: New Route Unlocked!]
System, you know you really are a b@$t&*d.