99 Mei Xues' Story II

The Era of the Double-eyed Hurricane. 

It was the era of wars, bloodshed, and rebellion. It was the era when the current emperor had fought his brother for the throne. A well-known saying was that royal blood had no family, but these two had redefined that sentence:

Royalty Births Enemies.

It's estimated that during the Era of the Double-eyed Hurricane, 45.000 men were buried underneath the foundations of the Wind Empire. All this came to fruition through only internal strife. It was a bloody time, a time of death and destruction.

It was also the time of Mei Xues' childhood.

Even young, she was a beautiful kid, though many at that time would describe it as youthful exuberance and cute innocence, than the distasteful compliments and lustful gazes she would feel now. At most, she'd be more prone to be kidnapped than other children her age, but with her ragged and dirty appearance, no one gave her a second glance.

She was just like thousands of other children—lost and forgotten by the cold, ruthless world. 

In the past, the children that did not grow fast enough were eventually led to die. Mei Xue, even as a child, believed they had it easy though. At long last, they had found rest, while she continued wandering, unsure where to.

Even today, she strolled through the market, many adults towering above her, like long shadows that obscured the light. They bumped into her without regard for her well-being.

"Don't touch me with your filthy hands," a man shouted, as he pushed the girl away. he knew, most kids wandering around here were either beggars or thieves, neither ones were welcome.

The young Mei Xue stumbled and fell to the ground. She looked around, and quickly crawled through the gaps of the crowd, lest she got trampled and turned into flatbread.

"I told you, you were too young to go into the market," a boy's voice echoed behind her.

She turned around with an irritated face and shouted, "Shut up Cheng Won! You are only 2 years older than me!"

Cheng Won (later known as Lan Wu) laughed boisterously, his hands on his hips. He had short black hair and dark eyes, a rather normal sight within this land. The boy wore a cheap shirt, with some trousers that ought to be washed. "That's a lot. How old are you? eight? It's a quarter of your life already."

Mei Xue counted on her fingers but felt frustrated not knowing how much a quarter was. "So what? I've been longer in these slums than you."

"Then how come you are still this useless," the boy asked suspiciously.

The girl flared up, her cheeks inflating as she pouted, "I hate you!"

"Yes, yes, whatever," Cheng Won cleaned his ears, as he ignored her shouting. "Let's return to the others. I am sure they are waiting."

"What about the food? I didn't get to buy anything," Mei Xue said.

Cheng Won laughed. "How much do you have? That one copper you picked off the streets? You wouldn't even be able to afford a dumpling, let alone enough for five."

"Wait, did you know that the whole time? Why did you send me there then?"

The young boy shrugged his shoulders. "To humble yourself."

"You are so goddamn annoying."

This was the daily life of Mei Xue. Wandering around the outskirts of markets, halls, and city gates, hoping for odd jobs and scraps. Most of the time, they would last a few days, until she'd have to go out and try her luck again. If one day she'd run out of luck and not find anything to eat or drink, she could only embrace the Lord's hand, just like the other children and adults at the end of their lease did. Undoubtedly, it was a harsh lifestyle, but she had her own share of fortune, as unlike many others her age, she was not alone. She had her friends accompanying her, and it was Cheng Won who led them all, in hopes of a better life.

They returned to a little hut that had been abandoned by the owner. The farmland was salted, and the well was filled with mud, allowing no sustenance. If she had to guess, it was a result of the civil war. Maybe he had been driven out by his neighbors, or the officials had seized him due to some political dissent; she did not know or care, as long as they had a roof over their head.

Opening the creaking door, Mei Xue saw two other children, a seven-year-old boy, and a 4 year old little girl, both equally shabby like her, waiting for the two to return. She had an elated face, but was abruptly cut short by Cheng Wons' immediate questioning, "Where's Wi Binbing?"

The two children immediately turned silent. Well, the little girl was too young to understand the implications of his questions in the first place. The boy was the one to answer, "Well, she went her own way?"

"What does that mean," Cheng Won asked sternly, "explain."

The boy, his name was Weng Li, stammered as he spoke, "Well, the Red Dragon Clan was recruiting..." He glanced up and saw Cheng Won's eyes that stared at him, devoid of any light. He gulped, shivering at his friends' expressions.

"So she went with them," he asked in a calm voice, though the last word quivered, anger within.

Weng Li shook his head. "No, she's gone to their outpost, hoping to advertise herself."

"That idiot!" The boy clenched his fists. "When did she go?"

"Just an hour ago maybe? I am unsure," Weng Li explained, scared.

"Okay, if we go now, we might still make it," Cheng Won spoke and nodded. He beckoned the other kids to come with him, but they did not move, contrary to his belief. The boy raised his brows, "What's wrong?"

"Uhm," Weng Li talked again, "Do we really have to go? I mean, it's not like she got abducted. She went of her own free will."

"You..." Cheng Won couldn't believe what he had heard. He glanced at Mei Xue and the other child, and they held similar reactions.

Mei Xue spoke, "This is the path she has chosen, brother Won." She places her hands on the little girl's head. "If this is her will, we have to accept it."

For many kids, their only escape from poverty and starvation was to cozy up with one of the sects or clans outside. Of course, there were also these underground gangs or rats, but they were nothing in comparison. Just a group of ruffians who wished to be big in a small pond. They scramble and fight for the smallest pot of gold, and were no different from the children wandering the markets for another day of survival. On the contrary, the children always dreamed of entering these established cults, as they would not have to worry about the next meal.

About the consequences and sacrifices, many kids forget or leave out.

Mei Xue spoke again, "I understand that you have lost your family to one of these cults, but it was the Waning Principle, not the Red Dragon." She paused, gauging his reaction. "But for Wi Binbing, this may be her chance to a normal life."

Cheng Won clicked his tongue. "They are all the same. These sects, cults, and clans, are all the same," he spoke in a low tone. "You wouldn't understand, as you hadn't seen them. But I've come across many of these bastards, and they are all the same." He swept his hair back, thinking carefully. "There are rumors that the Red Dragon collects children to use them as sacrifices to their deity, instead of nurturing them. Are you fine with Wi Binbing going there?"

Weng Li felt his scalp tingle, hearing what Cheng Won said. He didn't have a rebuttal to that.

"But you can't save everyone," Mei Xue countered, "especially someone who does not want to be saved. I know you have good intentions, but you have to let her go her own way. Will you watch over us in all eternity, and continue protecting us until you die?" That wasn't possible, Mei Xue knew. To survive in these slums, one had no choice but to grow up and learn through pain. Or else, they'd float down the river, just like the rest of those that could not keep up and mature.

—but she also envied these people, as they had little to worry about for the rest of eternity. If that was Wi Bingbings fate, then she could only wish her the best.

"Yes, I understand. But not like this." Cheng Won shook his head. "Though it's too late for me, I do wish for you guys to have a good childhood," he spoke. "Why do you have to suffer, as if it was natural? Where is it written that we have to sacrifice to move on? Why do you have to die and follow the fate that was written for you? Fate can go to hell. It doesn't make any sense to me. At the very least, I wish to see what the other road offers us."

"But..." Mei Xue was left speechless. In the end, Cheng Won went by himself. She wished to follow him, but in the end, did not find the courage to do so. Waiting for him to return was the longest time of her life. Though she did not know what a 'quarter' was, she imagined it was longer than that.

However, he did return—battered and bleeding—hours later, with a crying Wi Binbing by his side.