Prince Cheng gently placed Mei on his bed. "The physician, quickly!" he called out.
Physician Qiu Ju entered promptly and knelt beside Mei's sleeping form. She observed that her face was pale, sweat gathered on her forehead, and she was breathing quickly in short gasps. More importantly, soft scent of old incense still clung to her robe.
The physician pressed two fingers gently to her wrist and began to examine her closely. She checked her pulse and peered into her eyes, noting their glassy appearance.
"The incense has done a number on her system," she said, frowning. "Her pulse is rapid and her pupils dilated. Her spirit has been scattered by Fire-type toxins. The incense was no mere sleep aid, it was mixed with poison made to weaken her energy and damage the flow of power in her body."
She looked at Prince Cheng, who sat tensely beside Mei on the bed.
"Can it be purged?" He asked.
Qiu Ju gave a small nod. "The fever is already setting in. We will need to keep a close eye on her."
She opened her medicine pouch and took out some dried roots, bark, and herbs wrapped in cloth. Placing a small burner next to the bed, she signaled for Yizé to bring some hot water.
"We have to bring the fever down, calm her spirit, and nourish her Yin. I will prepare a decoction of Huang Lian, Zhi Zi, and Gou Teng, with Rehmannia to help with her blood. I'll add a bit of Gan Cao to soften the taste and help the medicine flow through her system."
When Yizé came back with the water, she gave him more instructions. "Go to the apothecary. Get fresh lotus seeds and red dates. She can only have congee until her fever goes down; no meat, no spices."
She lit a stick of mugwort and gently waved the smoke over Mei's head.
"Baihui… guide her spirit back."
Prince Cheng's eyes glanced over mei, her lips were dry and cracked, her skin burning up, and her chest rose and fell in shaky breaths.
"How long until she gets better?"
The physician spoke without meeting Cheng's eyes. "That will depend not on the strength of the medicine but on the strength of her heart."
She mixed the herbs into hot water, letting the steam rise. The smell was strong but calming. Then she poured it into a small cup. "Have her drink this, it will help clear the effects of the incense from her system."
Cheng took the cup. "I will let you know if anything changes, Qiu Ju."
He gently lifted her head. "Drink, Mei. It will help you feel better."
She took small sips of the bitter drink while he watched her closely. When she was done, he helped mei lie back down and wiped her sweaty forehead with a cool cloth.
...
That night, Cheng asked for some broth and more wet cloths, which he used to wipe Mei's warm skin, changing the cloths whenever they got too hot. After several hours, she grew tired and finally fell into a deep sleep.
"Please get better soon, Mei," he whispered into her ear.
She moved restlessly in her sleep, letting out soft whimpers. Cheng kept wiping her forehead gently until he eventually fell asleep.
....,,.... Mei's Pov
I found myself small again and barefoot, no older than twelve, standing in the middle of a forest. The trees towered over me, their branches swaying like sad hands reaching through the fog. It was so quiet, too quiet. The air felt heavy on my skin, glowing softly, and the ground beneath my feet was cold, like a place untouched by life.
Then, just ahead, I spotted a tall figure.
"Papa?"
My voice broke on the word.
He was standing just ahead, not a day older than the last time I saw him. His eyes held that same gentle smile.
A sound rose in my throat, part gasp, part sob. I couldn't breathe.
He stepped closer and knelt in front of me.
"Little turtle," he said softly, "you have really improved."
He looked just like he used to, the memory I had clung to so tightly it had started to blur. But here he was, Whole. Warm. Real.
"I am sorry I was not here on time… to see you become a master of the sword."
Tears filled my eyes, but I didn't dare blink. If I blinked, he might disappear. And I... I wasn't ready to lose him again.
"Little turtle," he whispered, "show me what you have learned. Show me how strong you have become."
I nodded quickly, feeling excited but trying not to show it too much, scared the moment might slip away.
I took a deep breath and puffed out my chest like he used to tell me. I got into a stance, or at least, I tried to. My arms were too short, and my hands shaky. I swung but my steps got all mixed up, and hit the floor with a loud thud.
My father smiled softly and reached out his hand to help me up. "Don't worry, little turtle. Try again."
This time, I let my body relax completely. I took deep breaths, letting the air fill me, then slowly exhale. The ground under my feet began to glow, turning into a quiet clearing surrounded by still trees. Soon the whole forest had gone silent, watching just for us, then I began.
My arms flowed like water, drawing slow circles in the air. My feet brushed lightly on the ground, barely making a sound. I spun with soft steps, my sleeves trailing behind like mist. Each movement flowed into the next, like one breath, one rhythm.
I could feel his warm presence nearby, the light above us pulsed gently, almost like it was breathing with me.
Then, something changed.
The air turned cold.
The golden light dimmed, and a thick fog slid between the trees, curling around our legs like smoke. I paused, and when I looked back up, Papa had drifted farther away. He was still smiling, still watching but his shape was not as clear anymore, he was fading.
"Papa?" My voice trembled as I moved towards him.
He didn't reply. He just lifted his hand and pointed, not at me, but at something behind me.
I turned around.
There, in the fog, was a door made of light. Not wood or stone, just a glowing arch, humming quietly as if it held a buried memory.
I looked back at Papa. He nodded, still smiling.
I felt my chest hurt, I wanted to stay with him, to finish the form, to remain in the light with him forever. So I ran, but it felt like the forest was pulling me away. No matter how fast I moved, I couldn't reach him. The warmth slipped away. I could hear voices now, the real world bleeding in. Screams.
I dropped to my knees, too overwhelmed to keep going. Just before Papa vanished completely, I heard his voice one last time,
"Be brave, little turtle. You already know what to do."
Then he was gone.
I looked around, searching desperately but he was no longer there.
At first there was only silence... then the moment shattered, tears flowed down from my eyes, hot and endless, blurring the world around me.
The pain was so deep I felt my heart being crushed in slow, merciless pieces. I clutched my chest like I could hold the pain in, but it was too much. My throat ached from holding back the rage building inside me.
A scream erupted from deep within me, raw and broken, my anger burned like a firestorm.
Without hesitation, I visualized my dagger, and in an instant, it snapped into my hand, trembling with my fury.
I stood, swaying under the weight of my grief, and saw a figure appear through the thick smoke, looking like a shadow, empty and silent.
"You!" I let out a cry that scraped against my soul. "You did this!"
I hurled the dagger with every piece of me that was shattered. It flew like lightning, but the thing moved just in time. The blade sank into the trunk of a tree with a hollow thud.
The dark figure clutched its bleeding arm, staring at me, retreating.
A strange tingle ran over Mei's skin. She didn't notice the soft glow emanating from within her or how the air around her started to move with her every breath. It was like the world was shifting, but she didn't feel it.
She felt no fear.
Whatever power this was, it felt as natural to her as breathing.
The dark figure stood nearby, watching in fear and wonder as the energy flowed through her.
Mei moved before she could think. Her body shot forward with a speed of light, her feet barely touching the ground. The figure raised its hand to stop her, but she was faster.. too fast. She twisted past its palm like a blur, gathering her Qi, she let it surge through her veins, fueled by pain....Heavenpiercer Strike.
Her palm hit the figure's chest with a blast of pure force, the blow resonated with power.
Before it could fall, she seized the figure by the neck and slammed it into a tree. The trunk shuddered and blood spilled from its mouth.
With a single gesture, Mei stretched out her hand and the dagger, buried deep in the wood nearby, ripped free and flew into her grasp. She caught it without looking, brought the blade up, ready to strike, but the figure quickly grabbed her wrist.
"Mei…"
She heard her name but did not know where it came from.
In a blink, the world around her changed. The swirling air, the shadows, it all faded. The power in her body ceased.
She blinked again.
And—
She was no longer holding a stranger.
Cheng?