The next time Qin Xue Ran woke up, she had already accepted the reality. She had died, or at least, the goddess of war the world revered and feared had died. Yet somehow, her soul had entered the body of this child. Centuries had passed since she left this world, yet the wars had remained. Where once demons, mortals, and immortals clashed for dominance, now they waged war within themselves. This was the mortal realm, where the humans were fighting for power, trying to have what did not belong to them in the first place. Like always, the ones who paid the price were the innocent. Just like the child whose body she now inhabited, and the village that had been her home.From the memories of this body, she found out this girl was called Xue Ran, a name the village chief had given to herself after the goddess of war he admired. Xue Ran was born an orphan and was found at the nearby river when she was just a few days old. The whole village had raised her together and now, the couple who had been married for decades and had no child of their own had tried to protect her as if she was their own child. Qin Xue Ran exhaled, her breath misting in the cold air. She had died once, and now she lived again. But for what? To witness the same cycle of violence? To see the world she had sacrificed everything to save tear itself apart once more?She stepped out of the tent, the cool winter air biting against her skin. She paused, her inky black eyes scanning the world before her. She was in what looked like a military camp, bustling with soldiers in black armor. Tents were being dismantled, carts loaded with supplies, horses saddled and readied for the march home. The war was over, it seemed. The Azure Dragon Empire had as she heard from the bits of conversation around her.Qin Xue Ran's brow furrowed slightly. The Azure Dragon Empire. She had never heard of this name before and the memories of this body held no more information other than that her village name was Fengyu village which was located in the Azure Dragon Empire. It seemed like the world had changed a lot in the time she was gone, even though to her, it did not feel like she had left at all. "You shouldn't be moving around." The voice came from behind her. Qin Xue Ran turned her head, her dark, empty eyes settling on a young boy. He wore armor that was too big for him, the black steel swallowing his slender frame. His face was tanned from the sun, his features still soft with youth.Bai Yi Xuan frowned when the girl said nothing, her expression blank and unreadable. He stepped closer, waving his hand in front of her face."Hey! I'm talking to you!" he stepped closer, waving a hand in front of her face. "You shouldn't be moving around. You're still injured, and—"His words died on his lips as the girl brushed past him"Hey! Stop right there!" he called after her, his voice laced with frustration.By now, the attention of the soldiers had shifted toward them. The young girl, barely more than skin and bones, moved through the camp with her back straight, chin tilted upward. Blood had seeped through some of her bandages, yet she walked as if the pain was beneath her notice."What's wrong with her?" one soldier muttered."Probably in shock," another replied. "Poor thing."Qin Xue Ran's lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. Shock? No. She was far beyond that.At that moment, Bai Zhenhai emerged from his tent, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the camp. His piercing gaze swept across the gathered soldiers. "What is going on here?"Beside him, Lu Hetian stepped out. They had been in discussion about their return to the capital when he heard the commotion."General!" The soldiers snapped to attention, their backs straightening so quickly one could almost hear their spines crack.Bai Zhenhai ignored them, his gaze locked on the girl. Her inky black eyes stared directly into his. A strange shudder ran down his spine. Those eyes... they were wrong on a child's face. They held no reflection, no light. Just a void, deep enough to drown in."How are you feeling, little girl?" he asked, his voice softer than usual, though he wasn't sure why.No response. She didn't even blink."Father," Bai Yi Xuan hurried to his side. "I've been trying to talk to her, but she won't say anything." He sounded almost offended.Bai Zhenhai raised an eyebrow, studying the girl for a few silent moments. Something stirred in his chest, an unfamiliar protective instinct that had nothing to do with duty or honor. He approached her slowly, lowering his massive frame to meet her eye level. "It's alright, little one," he said, forcing his voice into a tone he hadn't used since Bai Yi Xuan was a toddling brat. "You don't need to be scared."Qin Xue Ran blinked, genuinely stunned for the first time since waking in this fragile body. Scared? Was this man blind? From which angle did she look scared?"What's your name?" He asked, putting what he believed was a gentle smile though it looked more like a grimace, as his face had forgotten how to do anything but scowl.Bai Yi Xuan's jaw had long since dropped open, and he was beginning to wonder if perhaps he was still sleeping, having a very strange dream. Was this really his father? The same man who'd once scolded him for crying when he broke his arm?Qin Xue Ran stared at the man for a long. Finally, her lips parted. "Xue Ran.""Xue Ran," Bai Zhenhai repeated, recognition flickering in his eyes. It was the same name as the goddess of war. A rare, genuine smile crossed his face, causing several nearby soldiers to take involuntary steps backward in shock. "From now on, you will be called Bai Xue Ran, daughter of this General Bai Zhenhai."Bai Yi Xuan, standing a few paces behind his father, blinked as if he'd been slapped. "Father, are you... serious?"Bai Zhenhai shot him a look that could have frozen lava. "Do I look like I'm joking?"Bai Yi Xuan opened his mouth, then closed it. Qin Xue Ran—now Bai Xue Ran—tilted her head watching the man before her who was a mountain of muscle and scars."Do you accept?" Bai Zhenhai asked, his voice gruff but tinged with something almost... hopeful.The question echoed in her mind, stirring memories she'd rather leave buried. In her past life, she had been Qin Xue Ran, the Goddess of War, But before that, she had been a girl sold by her own family to a brothel for a handful of silver coins. Back then, the madam of the brothel had asked her the same question: "Do you accept your fate, little flower?"She hadn't. She'd run until her feet bled and her lungs burned, ran until fate or fortune led her to the steps of the Martial Temple. There, Master He had found her – or perhaps she had found him. "Do you accept the path of cultivation?" he had asked.She had accepted then, throwing herself into training because she never wanted to be powerless again. At that time, she had thought power would bring freedom. What a fool she had been. Until her last breath, she had known nothing but the endless cycle of training, fighting, killing, cultivating. She had died as she lived – powerful, respected, feared... and utterly alone.But now, as she stood still staring at the man before her, she could not help but nod her head. Perhaps... perhaps this time, she could live as a person.