RIN

The door to Rin's room opened, but she paid no attention to it. Feeling something land on her shoulder, she shifted her gaze. The moment her eyes landed on the familiar bird, her eyes softened. She raised a finger and gently stroked Ju's head. The falcon indulged in her touch with closed eyes.

"You were rather harsh to that boy." A voice sounded behind her.

Rin lowered her hand from the bird's head and looked back down at the book in her hand.

"Maybe so. But it made him listen."

Wei Jingyi stared at the girl's small back and sighed helplessly. He couldn't deny her words.

"You seem to have established a very strong family here." His eyes wandered around the large room.

"Yes," Rin said with the same calm tone. She skimmed a page in her book and coughed into her fist.

"Then may I ask why you still plan to leave them behind? It's clear they care about you."

When Rin paused from flipping pages, Wei Jingyi grew silent. The room was filled with stillness until slowly, Rin turned to Wei Jingyi, her eyes slightly cold.

"Are you perhaps questioning my choice to go?" Her voice was dangerously calm.

"No. I have already pledged to follow you regardless of your decision. I just couldn't help but point out a notable fact." Wei Jingyi walked toward the table with a pot of tea and poured it into two cups.

Rin stared at him silently. When he passed her a cup, she sighed and set the book down on the table before accepting the cup from his hand.

"Don't think I don't understand how cruel my actions are. I've been told that enough already." Rin voice was soft, depressed even.

The man across from her silently stared as she spoke in a gentle voice. Her eyes tilted down to stare at her cup as she coughed lightly.

"But it's not about what I want, it's what fate demands."

Wei Jingyi's brows furrowed. "And what does fate demand?"

Rin didn't speak and looked at him seriously. She glanced down at her cup and traced her finger along the cup's rim. For a moment, something flashed within her eyes. Lifting the cup up, she guzzled it in one go before wiping her wet lips with her thumb.

The corners of her lips curved. Her smile held complete coldness. "That I take back the empire from those who betrayed my family."

...

The following morning, Rin woke up and headed to the training ground as usual. Just before she and General Guo began training, her actions stopped. Rin raised her head reflexively. A pair of nervous eyes were staring straight at her. It was Aiguo.

She couldn't help but be a little surprised by his appearance. The corners of Rin's lips curved upward ever so slightly, giving her a look of vague bemusement.

"I thought I said you had the day off today."

"I…I want to grow stronger. I promise I'll also train harder!"

Not just Rin, but General Guo behind her was surprised as well. They looked at the boy who stood before them with a firm and grave expression on his face.

Rin's cheeks puffed a little. The laugh would not be contained any longer. It burst from her lips and echoed through the area.

Aiguo looked at her dumbfounded. In that instant, Rin grabbed a bamboo stick from the ground and tossed it to him.

Aiguo's eyes widened as he quickly stepped forward to catch it. Grasping it in his hands, he lifted his head to see a hint of a smile appearing on Rin's face.

"Then let's train." Her emerald eyes lit up.

With bright eyes, Aiguo nodded his head.

In the four hours or so that followed, Aiguo had been brutally beaten. He was certain at the end of the day he'd find multiple bruises.

"Focus." He heard the girl in front of him say, her eyes concentrated on him.

Aiguo panted and wiped the heavy beads of sweat from his forehead. His hair and clothes felt sticky, however, he couldn't stop now. Gripping the bamboo stick in his hand, he lunged forward.

He considered for a moment whether he should slow down, but he did not stop. Instead, he sped up the rate and strength of the charge.

Before he could make contact, Rin spun the staff in her hand and with swift movements, slid it beneath his feet. Aiguo's eyes sharpened. With whatever strength he managed to possess, his legs jumped and evaded her attack.

Aiguo froze for a moment, stunned. He…he dodged an attack!

Rin's eyebrows raised, her eyes brimming with a gratified expression.

He was improving.

Regrettably, Aiguo's success was short-lived the moment Rin swung her bamboo stick and hit the side of his stomach. Aiguo's eyes widened and he clutched his side in pain.

"Ouch…" He groaned through clenched teeth.

Rin looked at him and fell into deep thought. His strength was pitifully weak. However, this was expected considering he grew up in a small village with little to no food.

Rin tilted her head to glance at the man beside her, "Uncle, after today's training, order the servants to increase his portions for every meal. But make dinner light, I don't want him to sleep on a full stomach."

General Guo grasped the meaning of his niece's words and nodded his head in agreement. He also thought the boy was too frail-looking.

"I'll inform them."

Rin nodded and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She turned to Aiguo. "You did well today. Now go wash up."

Elevating his head with glistening eyes, Aiguo bobbed his head.

"Thank you! I will train even harder tomorrow!" His tone was filled with sincerity.

Rin blinked. Sighing, she smiled helplessly and watched the boy run off to bathe.

"I'll take good care of him when you're gone."

Lifting her head, Rin's eyes widened when her uncle's deep voice spoke in a mild tone.

"He'll be tough to handle, but I'm certain he won't be as difficult as when I trained you."

Rin turned to face him, her lips curled in a half-smile.

"Thank you, uncle."

General Guo made an affirmative grunt in response and turned to pick up the bamboo staffs from their training session. Rin observed his movements with a faint smile on her lips. A cool spring breeze fluttered between the short strands of her hair, a refreshing chill running through her warm skin.

Glancing up at the sky, she sighed softly to herself.

When she was gone...