Episode 5

The first time I had ever laid eyes on her she was hanging onto the edge of a bridge, barely hanging on as girls watched, doing nothing to help her. It was clear that they had purposely pushed and cornered her to fall to the side of the bridge and were waiting for her to lose her grip and then fall into the icy cold water down below.

Immediately, I jumped and caught her in my arms, when she began to fall.

I effortlessly carried her in midair as we soared over the rushing water below.

Her blue eyes widened and I was amused at how surprised she was to have been saved.

As my feet touched the ground, I fluidly stood her upright and steady.

At the time I had merely saw the rescue as something small. When compared to being one of the saviors of the entire continent, usually anything seemed small. But now I see it as something magical, and even then, I had stored this memory deep within my mind.

"Are you alright." Our eyes met. Her clear blue against my dark ebony.

"Yes." She seemed shocked and a little breathless, almost as if she didn't quite believe that she wasn't in frigid cold water instead of dry, warm, ground.

She then immediately rushed to say, "Thank you!"

She spoke those words so quickly and so rushed it was as though she had believed that I would blow up in your face if she hadn't properly thanked me.

It was rare for people to care about manners, but then again, she must've known who I was.

Seeing her frazzled expression, I nearly snorted out loud which was quite unlike me, and I later I would realize that this girl had the capability of making me laugh no matter what she said.

“You're welcome.”

Then I went on to say, “May I learn of this fine lady’s name?”

She was surprised.

And I knew why.

I was well known around these parts. I was a  savior, a hero, one of the people who protected this land of Medkid. She must have been wondering why such a man of my caliber wanted to know her name.

The answer was simple. She seemed amusing.

I was curious as to why she had blue eyes. Blue eyes weren't that uncommon but there was a chance that she may contain a special ability. It was widely known around these parts, that if anyone had any character traits that were not dark eyes and hair, yellow skin, and a rather small build, might the possibility of having the ability to cultivate. Though blue eyes did not guarantee that a person has inner power, I had never seen eyes that were quite like hers.

Her eyes were whitish, pale blue, an almost turquoise color.

I never saw that particular shade of blue, before.

However, though her eyes were unique, it certainly did not guarantee that she had any talent in the arts of cultivation.

Talent did not only mean the presence of inner power but also a  trained body and mind.

And as I looked toward her she looked quite soft, and if she was unable to defend against a couple of common girls, I doubt that she would be skilled enough to practice martial arts.

Instead of raising my hopes,  I  talked to her a little more.

“Well, Miss...”

“- Hua, Hua Le.”

“Miss Hua Le, do you have any interest in cultivation.”

“No.”

“Well then, we ca-”

I cut myself off before I could say anymore. I was shocked. Normally people would be jumping at the chance to become a Cultivator.

Cultivators were always successful in life and being one always guaranteed a path full of glory and good fortune.

if you could cultivate your life was set.

“Are you sure?”

I asked, making sure to remove any surprise from my voice.

“Yes, I am very sure. I am truly not one to participate in such violent activities.”

I was baffled. In this time and place, where had she gotten the mindset of peace and no bloodshed.

In Medkid, there was always a time and place where their was war when and a battle to be fought. There was never any true peace. In this world, if you didn't know some degree of protecting yourself you would die. No one could always be there for you at all times watching you, and protecting you, it just wasn't possible. And if one were to rely on that for their protection then eventually they would meet a timely death. It was fact. There were no exceptions. That was just how the world was. Protect yourself and if you couldn't, you would suffer.

Surely she had some way of protecting herself.

Maybe she had people protecting her who were absent when she was bullied. Or maybe, she could fight, but the women she was fighting against had overpowered her.

"Do you practice martial arts or weld a weapon. Or maybe you have guards protecting you?"

"No, no, and nope!"

She shot down all of my assumptions, cheerfully, untroubled by the fact that she had been living her entire life unprotected.

At that moment, I was so confused.

How did this girl make it through in everyday life, much less in her few decades of living?!

How did she get through life with such nativity?

I was astounded.

Never have I ever met such a person as Hua Le.

I the genius of the Wang Sect have never been more shocked.

"May I speak to you parents."

She must have influential parents. She must have very powerful parents. She must have very rich parents.

"I'm an orphan."

She was an orphan.

I was beyond stunned.

"How old are you?"

"23."

How had she made it intact through her 23 years of living?!

A cough snapped me out of my thoughts.

I looked toward Hua Le, she looked uncomfortable and anxious.

Then I realized that I had been interrogating her.

I was so stupid.

"Ah-Sorry. Um - I'm Yao Yi."

She stared at me for a second before replying,

"Yeah, I know."

My face burned.

Of course, she knew who I was. I was easily one of the most recognizable people here!

Not only was I apart of a well-known group of protectors of the world, but my appearance was also very unique.

With pale skin and hair, a rather muscular build, green eyes, intricate robes, long, flowing, hair, I definitely stood out.

"Um-Yeah."

I tried to smile, but it didn't look at it. It probably wilted a few flowers.

"So-gotta go!"

With my sword under me, I flew out of there in a flash, never looking back.

As I flew on top of the clouds, cooling my face and feeling my clothes lift, the only thing on my mind was to never see Hua Le again.

Though, of course, that didn't happen.

Once again I saw the girl, and she was stuck in a tree - a tree!

Who was she to not have the ability to jump or climb down five feet?!

I didn't even need to jump to rescue her this time.

I just lifted her off from the tree, making note, once again, of how light this girl was.

Plopping her onto the ground, not caring to be gentle, I gave her a stern look.

"So what happened here? And do you not know how to climb trees?"

"I can." She nearly glared at me, probably would have if she didn't know how powerful I was. I could end her life with a finger if I wished to, but I just wasn't that type of guy to want to exert inner power on any person.

"I see." It was in the most disbelieving tone I could muster.

She squinted her eyes.

"How else could have I gotten up there?"

Was I detecting a bit of sass here?

"So you just don't know how to climb down trees?" I looked at her.

"I do!"

"Then why couldn't you get back down."

"Because-cause I'm scared of heights."

I gaped in disbelief.

We were in the city of Soara, a city that was in the air, above any ground by at least 20 miles. No one should have a fear of heights here!

Blown away.

"How do you even exist?"

Oops.

I said that out loud.

She looked at me once again.

Oh no. I offended her.

She did the almost- but not quite- glare again.

Oh great. She was really offended.

Just waiting for the up coming hit on the head from an angry female (I could never dodge them for some reason), I stood frozen, awaiting my fate.

And it never came.

"I'm waiting."

I blinked at her, confused.

"My apologies."

"I'm still waiting for your thank you." I blurted out without thinking.

Crap.

She was angry.

Her red cheeks puffed up and her eyes were a little watery.

She looked cute. Like one of those furry little rodents that had big cheeks.

Mouse? No

Rabbit? No

Squirrel?  Still not quite right.

Ah.

Chipmunk. Yes.

She cooled down in a few second which both gave me relief and a little disappointment.

"Fine. Thanks." She said as insincere as she could.

"Sorry." I returned giving the same lackluster tone she had used when giving her thanks.

And then to make her a little angrier, I flew off on my sword.

Try to top that.

She might of had me last time, but I'm sure I left as cool as I did when I arrived, just now.

This time I was sure that I would never meet Hua Le again and that I didn't want to see her ever again.

In fact, these two times that I was out were exceptionally rare for me. I usually hung out in the Wang Sect along with Qi Zi, a prodigy as well.

I might not come out again for many months on end.

I was wrong for both of them. I definitely would see Hua Lee, and I would grow to want to see her very much.

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