The Moonlit Oath
Chapter 1: The Orchid Mask
In a humble healer’s clinic, lit by flickering lantern light.
Lan Yue / FL
(muttering to herself while grinding herbs) Another sleepless night. If these villagers keep drinking cold river water, I'll run out of remedies by next week.
Suddenly, a knock at the door was heard, loud and urgent.
Lan Yue / FL
Who could it be at this hour?
(walks to the door and hesitates)
Lan Yue / FL
The clinic is closed! Come back tomorrow!
Stranger
(weakly) Please... help me.
Lan Yue opens the door cautiously. A man, cloaked in black, collapses onto the threshold, blood staining his robes.
Lan Yue / FL
Heavens! You’re hurt! Quick, come in!
She drags him inside, struggling with his weight. The man groans but remains semi-conscious.
Lan Yue / FL
(grumbling) You’re as heavy as a sack of rice. Don’t die on my floor, or I’ll have to clean up after you.
She places him on a cot and begins treating his wounds. As she removes his cloak, a jade pendant slips out, catching the moonlight and glowing faintly.
Lan Yue / FL
What’s this?" (picks up the pendant)
Lan Yue / FL
It’s beautiful... but why is it glowing?
The man stirs, his hand weakly reaching for the pendant.
Stranger
(hoarsely) Don’t... touch it.
Lan Yue / FL
Excuse me? I just saved your life, and you’re worried about a piece of jewelry?
Stranger
It’s... dangerous. (winces in pain)
Stranger
Keep it safe... don’t let them find me.
Lan Yue / FL
Who’s ‘them’? And why are they after you?
Before he can answer, heavy footsteps and shouting are heard outside.
Soldiers
Search every house! He must be here somewhere!
Lan Yue / FL
(whispering) What did you get me into?
Stranger
Hide... the pendant. (passes out)
Lan Yue looks at the glowing pendant, then at the unconscious man. The footsteps grow louder.
Lan Yue / FL
(mutters) Great. Just great
She quickly hides the pendant under a loose floorboard as the door bursts open.
Author
Hello everyone, this is your author, Angel ! ( 〃▽〃)
Author
This is my first chat story, and it's going to be a historical chinese fantasy romance (♡ω♡)
Author
Hope you like this genre and support me with likes and comments (///∇///)
Author
Also, please don't mind if there are some cultural errors, as I'm not from China (ToT)
Author
That's all guys, see you in the next chapter. bye
ヽ(*≧ω≦)ﾉ
Chapter 2: The Wounded Shadow
Inside Lan Yue’s clinic, the door bursts open, and two soldiers step in, swords drawn.
Soldiers
Soldier 1: We know he’s here! Hand him over, girl!
Lan Yue / FL
(crossing her arms) Who do you think you are, barging in like this? This is a healer’s clinic, not some inn!
Soldiers
Soldier 2: Don’t play coy! We saw him enter. Where is he?
Lan Yue / FL
(glaring) Do you see anyone else here? Just me and a pile of herbs. Or are you planning to arrest some ginger roots?
Soldier 1 narrows his eyes and steps forward, scanning the room. Lan Yue subtly steps in front of the unconscious man on the cot.
Soldiers
Solider 1: What’s that behind you?
Lan Yue / FL
A patient, unconscious and burning with fever. Unless you want the plague, I suggest you back off.
Soldiers
Soldier 2: She’s bluffing. Check the cot!
Before the soldiers can move, a loud crash is heard outside
Voice outside: He went that way! Hurry
Soldiers
Soldier 1: (growling) Lucky for you, girl. Let’s go.
The soldiers leave in a rush. Yue closes the door and exhales deeply.
Lan Yue / FL
(to the unconscious man) You owe me for that one.
The man stirs, his eyes fluttering open
Stranger
Why... did you help me?
Lan Yue / FL
Call it pity. Or maybe I have a weakness for bleeding strangers collapsing at my door.
Stranger
(attempting to sit up) I’ll leave... as soon as I can
Lan Yue / FL
Not like that, you won’t. You’re injured and feverish. Sit still, or you’ll tear your stitches.
The man notices the pendant is gone. His eyes widen.
Stranger
The pendant! Where is it?
Lan Yue / FL
Safe. You’re welcome.
Stranger
You don’t understand... it’s dangerous.
Lan Yue / FL
So you’ve said. Care to explain why every soldier in the province wants it?
Stranger
(hesitating) It’s better if you don’t know.
Lan Yue / FL
Too late for that.
Before he can respond, there’s another knock at the door. Both freeze.
Lan Yue / FL
(whispering) If that’s more soldiers, I’m throwing you out.
Stranger
(smirking weakly) Fair enough.
Chapter 3: Assassins
Lan Yue's clinic, late at night.
The faint glow of the lanterns cast flickering shadows on the clinic's walls as Lan Yue worked on organizing her herbal remedies.
The village was quiet, its residents long asleep, and the gentle rustle of the winds provided a soothing background.
Suddenly, the tranquility shattered. the sound of heavy boots crunching against gravel echoed from outside. Lan Yue froze, her hands trembling as she reached for the dagger hidden beneath her counter.
Before she could react further, the door burst open with a deafening crash. Figures clad in black, their faces masked, spilled into the room. Their movements were swift and calculated, like predators cornering their prey.
Assassins
Assassin Leader : (coldly) You harbor what does not belong to you. Hand over the stranger.
Lan Yue’s eyes darted to the back room, where the injured man she had been tending to lay unconscious.
Lan Yue / FL
(firmly) I don't know what you're talking about. This is a clinic, not a hiding place.
The leader stepped closer, drawing a blade that gleamed ominously in the lantern light.
Assassins
Assassin Leader : Don’t play games with us. He's worth more than your life. Stand aside, and we'll spare you.
Lan Yue’s grip tightened on the dagger.
Lan Yue / FL
(defiantly) You'll have to kill me first.
At that moment, the back door bursts open. The stranger_his face pale but determined_emerged, clutching a sword.
Stranger
If you want me, come and get me.
The assassins lunged, and chaos erupted. The stranger moved with surprising agility, deflecting their attacks despite his weakened state.
Lan Yue / FL
(shouting) You'll destroy the entire clinic! We have to get out of here!
Grabbing a pouch of herbs and the mysterious pendant she had been studying, Lan Yue led the stranger out the back door. The two fled into the night, the assassins close on their heels.
As they reached the edge of the village, the stanger stumbled, clutching his side. Lan Yue instinctively reached out to steady him.
Lan Yue / FL
(breathless) Who are you? And why are they after you?
Stranger
(grimly) No time for explanations. Keep moving.
The pendant in Lan Yue’s hand began to glow faintly. She glanced down, her heart racing, as it warmed against her skin.
Lan Yue / FL
(confused) Why is it reacting to me?
Stranger
(glancing at the pendant) Because it's meant for you.
The assassins' shouts grew fainter as the pair disappeared into the dense forest, leaving behind the smoldering ruins of the life Lan Yue had once known.
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