[[~Nobody's POV~]]: Mount Yujun.
Mount Yujun was stunning. Its panoramic vistas encompassed overlapping mountains and plunging valleys, famed for breathtaking scenery, sunrises, sunsets, unique geological features, and cloudscapes.
The villages, homes, and valleys bustled with cheerful residents, their gossiping a familiar soundtrack—familiar to everyone except one small, nameless girl.
This girl, with her dark brown hair and striking, large emerald eyes, her body's small and seemingly fragile, yet brave, having been raised by bandits. The bandits were currently away, seeking opportunities for paid work outside the region.
An adorable ball of happiness, the girl skipped towards the tea shop owned by an old man five walks from her home. Suddenly, a young woman named Xiao Ying, around sixteen years old, passed by.
Each day, she purchased a basket of food and drinks from the stalls and headed across the road, taking the left path. The little girl decided to help her and asked:
"Can I help you with the delivery, A-Ying?"
Xiao Ying widened her eyes in surprise. The little girl holding her hand smiled kindly and nodded, "Sure, but you must keep it a secret." The girl frowned, then hurried off, returning with a warm blanket and fresh bandages, confusing Xiao Ying at first.
"Let's go help him, okay?" Xiao Ying gasped, "How did you know?" Seeing the girl's small face, she shook her head and led her to her friend.
~Mid-day~
"Bye-Bye, A-Lang!" After meeting Lang Ying, the little girl waved goodbye. Their instant friendship made him happy, as only Xiao Ying had been his friend before. Reaching the kitchen, she began preparing elaborate dishes to save the bandits money.
Lost in thought, she wondered, 'If only I could pray to the gods to escape this mountain and find a family or sibling...' "Ow!" She burned her fingers on the boiling liquid and blew on them, humming a calming tune, "With One Flower, one sword lullaby~."
Her singing was interrupted by the triumphant return of her bandit guardians.
"HA! We fooled everyone around the mountain! No one suspected us to be as quick-witted as you, Xiao Pengtou!" The bandits praised her as she placed the last dish of hampao on the table and walked toward her adopted older brothers, saying, "Welcome home. Dinner is ready."
Cheerfully smiles at them with her arms open for them, waiting to be hugged, what she almost forgot was that the Bandits she was raised with don't hug children like her because it would lead to the villagers or their traders that Xiao Pengtou's team whatever weakness.
She didn't know how to hug. Her smile became forced as she skipped to show her loyalty.
"Can I go pray? At a temple, please?" she asked Xiao-Gege. He spat out his drink, shocked by the request from the girl they'd found on their doorstep four years ago after a trade.
Awkward silence filled the room, her request catching everyone off guard, but they pretended otherwise. "Is that a yes, Xiao-Gege?" "Did you see me shaking my head? Go at night. I don't care if you're late."
Elated, she ate her dinner, packed bread for the offering, and left.
~Nighttime~
Running outside the Pengtou Bandit's team, the little girl decided to go to the Ming Guan Temple that everyone's talking about and pray her to wish there since she wanted to see if the rumors were true about wishes coming true.
"Okay, which way is north?" She pointed left, then right. "Oh boy, I think I'll go right."
Though her indecision led to poor choices, her curiosity drove her forward. She entered the lightless Head-Hanged Forest, its ashen ground crumbling underfoot. Potholes filled with blood dotted the ground, unseen in the gloom, and the forest's stench filled her nostrils.
"Ew, it smells stinky in here."
Crack! A branch snapped underfoot.
A chill ran down her spine as something moved swiftly in the bushes behind her. The little girl's emerald eyes widened, glowing as she gazed at a puddle, or so she thought.
Turning towards the bushes, she calmly called out, "Um...Hello?"
Receiving no answer, she pretended to walk normally towards the darkening path, the cold making her shiver. It was quiet, the air foggy and dark, obscuring the path. But it wasn't that scary; this was Mount Yujun forest, after all. She would be brave, no matter what.
"Hello? Is anyone...here.?"
'I think I heard a growl behind me, should I turn around to check?' Lost in thought, she walked straight ahead, ignoring the sounds behind her. Curiosity eventually won, and she glanced around.
Suddenly, two wolves emerged, cautiously sniffing the air as they watched her, masking their true intentions and expecting her to flee.
Instead, she exclaimed, "Aww, you wolves look so cute!" Her excitement faded, however, as their growls deepened into an angry roar, the moment she reached out to pet them. "GGRRROOWWLL!!!"
"AAAAHHHH!!" Tripping in the forest, she fell into a puddle of blood. "Blood! Wolves, stay away!" Her screams echoed, useless against the pack. They attacked, their teeth gleaming with deadly intent, tearing at her flesh.
Her blood mingled with the puddle as the wolves' glowing eyes became her final vision. Then, glowing butterflies swarmed around a handsome man who appeared, blocking the wolves. But she was already dying, her secret wish unfulfilled.
'Butterflies?...'
After the wolves fled, the red shadowy figure turned to the girl, his crimson eyes widening. He rushed to her side of the blood-scented pool, the air thick with smoke and lavender, hinting at a distant forest fire.
He examined her, finding her body riddled with poison, though mostly treatable. Suddenly, sharp pains erupted on her neck, cheek, arms, and legs. She tried to speak, but no sound escaped.
Causing him to slowly stare into her emerald eyes, shocked, and asked, "Are you alright, little one?"
Noticing the fresh bite wounds, the last thing she whispered was, "H-h-h-hell-lp..me, please.." before losing consciousness, her eyes fluttering shut as she fell into darkness.
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