The wind howled as Jiho vanished, leaving behind the small, weathered shed that had once offered them shelter. The snow began to fall more heavily, blanketing the world in a cold, silent embrace. Jiho's footsteps faded, leaving the empty village even more desolate.
But the stillness was soon broken.
A loud, urgent knocking echoed against the door of Granny Meng's humble shed. The sound was sharp, jarring in the quiet of the evening, like thunder amidst the snow. Granny Meng, seated by her hearth, felt a pang of unease. Could it be him? The young man—Jiho? Had he come back after all?
She hobbled to the door, a glimmer of hope flashing in her tired eyes, but when she opened it, the figure standing there was far from the young man she had just seen off.
A tall, weathered man, his face lined with years of harsh living, stood before her. His eyes were cold, his brow furrowed in anger. His presence was commanding, a stark contrast to the calmness of the evening.
"Old woman," the man grunted, his voice like gravel. "Did you see a boy and a girl? Two strangers—about this high, two youngster? Did they come here?"
Granny Meng's heart skipped a beat. She recognized immediately who this man was searching for. The boy, Jiho, and his companion, the girl—Sohee. They were the ones being hunted.
Panic stirred within her, but she kept her expression neutral. She had learned long ago that a calm demeanor could save lives.
"No," she replied, her voice steady. "I haven't seen anyone like that. Maybe you should look elsewhere."
The man's eyes narrowed, his hand suddenly darting out to grab Granny Meng by the throat. His grip was like iron, choking the air from her lungs. "Don't lie to me, old hag! I've asked around the village. People saw them. They stayed here, didn't they? Answer me!"
Granny Meng gasped for breath, her face turning purple as she struggled against his vice-like hold. But within the depths of her heart, there was no fear, only resignation.
I won't blame you, Jiho. I won't blame you, Sohee. You were just trying to survive…
Her mind flashed to the brief moments she had spent with the pair—how kind they were, how gentle. They had been nothing but respectful, grateful for her shelter. It wasn't just pity that made her help them; it was a deep sense of empathy. They were both lost, both running from something, seeking refuge.
I've lived a long life. What does it matter if I die today?
Her vision blurred, but she held onto her thoughts. She didn't regret helping them. They deserved better than the life they had been dealt.
The man tightened his grip, his face twisted with fury. But Granny Meng's thoughts drifted back to the moments she had shared with them—the way Sohee's eyes sparkled with hope despite her suffering, and the quiet determination in Jiho's every movement.
I hope you find what you're looking for, child. And that you're safe.
The cold gripped Granny Meng like a vice, her body weakening as the man's hand constricted around her throat. But just as the world seemed to slip away, a voice—clear and commanding—interrupted the tension.
"Stop."
The man's fingers loosened slightly, and his gaze flicked toward the source of the voice. The words had been spoken with authority, but there was a softness, a hint of something that stopped him in his tracks.
"There's no point in venting your anger on her. It would be better if we chased after them."
The voice was cool and composed, but it carried an underlying sense of purpose. The man turned his head, eyes narrowing as he saw the woman who had spoken.
Standing at the threshold of the door was a woman draped in robes of fine silk, her expression poised and unyielding. She was tall, with sharp features, and her eyes—though soft in appearance—held the weight of someone who had seen and experienced far more than most. She stepped forward with quiet grace, her presence commanding.
It was then that Granny Meng recognized her. The cold realization struck her like a bolt from the blue. This woman—this was Tang Meiyin, the daughter of the head of the Tang Sect.
The man immediately straightened, a look of deference crossing his face. "As you command, Young Miss."
The reverence in his voice was palpable, a stark contrast to the harshness he had shown earlier. Meiyin's gaze softened as she nodded, but there was a quiet steel in her demeanor. Without a word, the man stepped back, his grip on Granny Meng's throat finally releasing entirely as he turned to exit.
Granny Meng collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, but the pain in her chest didn't stop her from noticing Meiyin's next action.
The young woman approached her, her expression still composed but with a subtle change in the air around her. She extended her hand with a fluid motion, and in an instant, a soft, golden glow began to flow from her fingertips. It was Qi—a strange energy, both calming and revitalizing.
Granny Meng's pain eased almost instantly. The suffocating pressure in her chest lifted, and her breath returned to a more steady rhythm. For a moment, she felt warmth and comfort, something she had not felt in years, as if a light had pierced the freezing cold of the night.
Meiyin's eyes flickered with something like concern, though it was brief.
As quickly as the warmth had come, Meiyin withdrew her hand and turned on her heel. Without another glance, she followed the man out of the door, the snow swirling around them like a storm of uncertainty.
Granny Meng watched her go, still recovering from the sudden rush of Qi that had alleviated her suffering. She was left with the unmistakable feeling that, despite her title and the cold reputation of the Tang Sect, Meiyin was not as devoid of warmth as others in her position.
Could it be? Granny Meng thought to herself as she struggled to rise. The daughter of the Tang Sect's leader... not as cold-hearted as her lineage would suggest...
But her thoughts were interrupted as the sound of footsteps faded into the distance, the wind howling again as the snow continued to fall.
Granny Meng closed her eyes, thinking of Jiho and Sohee. Please be safe, she prayed quietly in her heart. Please, wherever you are, find your way.
As she steadied herself against the wooden frame of the shed, Granny Meng couldn't help but feel that, despite everything, the world wasn't completely devoid of kindness. The flicker of compassion she had just witnessed in Meiyin's actions, though fleeting, was enough to remind her that perhaps not all was lost in this bitter world.
The storm outside raged on, but for a moment, Granny Meng held onto a sliver of hope.