Spring Winds

"Hello! Anyone there?" Someone seems to be at the mouth of the cave. Though they probably can't see me, I could see them. Though, not in the best quality since the rain and blood loss was making it hard to see straight.

A small groan makes its way past my lips as I answer their question. Hopefully, they have good intentions.

"Wait there; I'm coming to help you!" The person shuffled around the entrance before taking out something. Then the sound of sparks is heard, and a faint glow appeared.

They began walking closer to me with a torch in hand.

From the corner of my eye, I can see who it is.

It's that girl with the kite.

She drenched in water and has a look of concern in her eyes. More friend than foe thankfully.

"Don't worry; I have some medicine that could help you. You'll be okay."

I make a small nod, as my vision starts to blacken.

Damn it! If it weren't for that creep, then I wouldn' have to be in this awkward predicament.

Earlier that day...

Since that girl was a participant of the Yun Sect's entrance exam, perhaps I'll see her again and give her this accursed kite. Wait, why do I even bother with her, she is the only clearly at fault here. Why am I trying to be a saint by returning the thing that injured me?

Oh well, what can you do? Taking out a teleportation talisman, I direct it to go at the end of the forest towards the gates. After mentally chanting the enchantment, I close my eyes and open them to see the gates of Yun. A large number of people had already lined up at the entrance to register.

Unconsciously, I find myself looking to find her. Unfortunately, she is nowhere to be seen. Perhaps she had already entered.

Lining up into one of the lines, it slowly snakes its way to the front.

"Name?"

"Ye Lian Hua."

"Foundation?"

"Cultivation."

"En, go over there. They'll tell you what to do."

"Thanks."

Waving his hand, he records my answers and moves on to the next person.

I make my way to the cl.u.s.ter of youths on the cultivation side. Scanning the crowd, I still don't see her. Did she drop out of joining because of what I said? Unknowingly, I feel a pang of pain and guilt for not seeing her here. Did she quit because of me?

A man steps out of into the courtyard and announces, "All of you, line up! Pull a stick and wait until everyone gets one!"

A line is quickly made, and people grab their numbers.

Number 203. Out of roughly 220 people. One of the last people to participate.

After everyone grabbed one, he made another announcement. "Anyone with 111 and above can leave. We'll test you tomorrow. "

A few people groaned in dismay, but the rest just shrugged it off. More time to cultivate I suppose.

Perhaps, I should think about what to do with that girl's kite. I haven't seen her yet. Should I keep it?

As I was exiting the gates, a group of men blocked my exit. They looked similar to those young masters at home. They were always chasing their next conquest. I would prefer not paired up with them even if they were the last people in the world.

Mother always tries to match me up with these people, but I kicked their asses before they could touch mine. Well, for the most part. I am a "respectable" and "delicate" lady, after all, I have an image to uphold.

"Hey, there little beauty," one of the men grinned lecherously. Disgusting. "Where are you heading off too?" The men around him howled with encouragement.

"Back to my inn."

"Why don't we walk you back? You know it's dangerous for a young miss like yourself to be out and about alone at night." He then wrapped on off his arms around my shoulder.

I pushed him off. He then grabbed my hand.

"Hey there beauty, there's no need for you to be so cold, I just want to get to know ya."

Then they started to create a sphere of influence around me. I was not about to let that happen.

Utilizing what little martial arts I had, I made a high jump and ran as fast as I could through the exit.

I could hear the pounding of their feet as they gave chase after me.

For the first time in a while, I felt fear, deep fear seeping into me. It gave me a flashback to all those years ago.

I was a few years old then, and my nursemaid took me out to the town to do some window shopping. It was my birthday, and my whole life I had been confined to the house. I was learning etiquette, playing instruments, singing classes, embroidery, and household management. Anything that would perhaps me to marry into another household. I finally annoyed my nursemaid enough to let me go outside.

The outside world was as horrible and beautiful as people said. There was rampant poverty as beggars, and skinny children ran and played in the nooks and corners of streets. But there were also people doing their daily task. Lantern making, pastry chefs, tailors. All of these things that I hadn't seen before, as my eyes grew wide as I looked around. They were wide with horror and awe.

But as much fun as it was, things would always turn south.

I got lost.

Around some time that we crossed through a large, bustling crowd, we got separated.

I ended up wandering to a place where I shouldn't have ventured to and found myself surrounded by a group of thugs.

"Hey, there little girl," one of the men spoke, "where're your parents?" He then gave me a big-mouthed grin. His teeth were yellowed and crooked. It scared the younger me so much. It looked as if he was going to eat me.

I can't remember too much of the details of what followed after, but I distinctly remembered running through the streets crying as these men followed after. I suppose I wasn't paying attention to what was happening in front of me, as all I could think of was escaping, but someone told me that I almost jumped into the river.

Then a pair of hands caught me.