Touch Of Eternity - The mortal trails Book 1

Reckoning

Xiaoyan sat by a nearby riverbank, nibbling on a mooncake, her mind spinning with thoughts of the cold-hearted man who had unceremoniously kicked her out earlier that day. Rice stew, mooncakes, two suits of clothes, new shoes, and a few coins, those were all the things he had packed for her. Not even a goodbye. Just a simple "Get out."

She had sat by the river for hours, watching birds returning to their nests as the sun began to set. She absentmindedly kicked a rock, sending it skipping across the river's surface, thinking about what the word "home" even meant anymore. It had been years since she'd known what that felt like. Four years since Baba had disappeared from her life, and two long, aching years since she'd seen Mei. Her heart twisted painfully in her chest. Was Mei even still alive?

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a palette of deep oranges and purples across the sky, bathing the world in warm hues. It was beautiful, too beautiful for such a cruel world. She hugged herself tightly, the chill of the evening air wrapping around her, sinking deeper into her bones. It was the first time in years that she had been out this late. The familiar unease clawed at her, reminding her of the dangers lurking in the darkness, especially for girls like her.

In these times, girls were hunted. Population decline had gripped the country, and fear hung over every household that dared to birth a daughter. It wasn't just eligible women being targeted anymore; any female, regardless of age, was at risk. Xiaoyan was safe only because of her disguise, her tightly bound chest and boyish clothes, carefully designed to hide her femininity. But that didn't stop the fear from gnawing at her. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach, twisting like a coiled snake, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.

As the sun finally set, the moon rose high, casting a silver glow over the landscape. The stars blinked into existence, scattered like jewels across the black velvet sky. One shooting star streaked across the heavens, and Xiaoyan quickly closed her eyes, wishing with all her heart for Mei's safety.

She finally stood, brushing the crumbs of the mooncake from her lap, and inhaled a steadying breath. She wasn't done with him yet.
Not after the way he had kicked her out without a second thought. She hadn't asked to be saved, she hadn't asked for any of this. If he wanted her gone, fine. But not before she made him feel the same discomfort and frustration he'd caused her.

Her plan was simple: a prank to unsettle him, to remind him she wasn't just some helpless girl he could heal and discard like a broken object. She would slip into his house, tie him up, and leave him to stew in his own arrogance. It was childish, maybe, but it was the only way she could think of to get back at him.

With her mind set, Xiaoyan quietly walked away from the river and toward the healer's small cabin. She tiptoed across the courtyard, her movements light and silent, like a shadow in the night. She left the bag he'd packed for her by the pond, she wouldn't need it for now. Her eyes darted to the pear blossom tree that stretched its thick branches over the roof of his cabin. It was her way in.

With practiced ease, she climbed the tree, the rough bark scraping her palms as she pulled herself up. She moved quickly, swinging onto the roof without making a sound. Xiaoyan crept across the roof, careful not to disturb the tiles, until she reached the section above his bedroom. She knew this part of the house well. After two years, she had memorized the layout.

With the grace of a spider, she dropped down onto the small porch that lined his bedroom. His door, as always, was unlocked. The man was so careless, so confident that nothing could touch him. She smirked to herself. Tonight, that would change.

She walked through the door slowly, barely making a whisper of sound. Inside, the room was dim, lit only by the moonlight streaming in through the open window. The cold-hearted healer lay on his bed, his chest rising and falling steadily. Peaceful. Serene. Oblivious.

Xiaoyan's eyes flicked to the small table where his hairpins rested. They were all intricately designed, made of silver and other metals she didn't recognize, carved into foreign shapes and patterns. She reached out and selected the one that caught her eye the most, a delicate pin in the shape of a lotus flower, similar to the green jade she took from old man Lou's shop. She slid it into her own hair, admiring the way it shimmered in the pale light.

Satisfied with her new adornment, Xiaoyan pulled the rope from around her waist, the knot tight and secure in her hands. She moved toward him, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it. Just as she bent down to tie his hands, his grip shot out like lightning, wrapping around her wrist with a force that made her gasp.

Before she could react, he pulled her down with him, flipping her onto the bed beneath him in one swift, fluid motion. His weight pinned her, his hands trapping hers above her head. His face hovered inches from hers, so close she could feel his breath against her skin.

"Is this how you repay me?" His voice was a low murmur, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

Xiaoyan's heart raced, her mind scrambling for an excuse. "Ow—my head," she whimpered, twisting her face into a pained expression. "It hurts. I was just... waking you up... to check on my head." She faked a wince, her eyes watering for effect.

His brow furrowed, and for a moment, he hesitated, as if considering whether to believe her. But his grip on her wrists didn't loosen. He studied her face, his eyes scanning her features for any sign of deception.

She continued her act, letting out a small, pitiful moan, pressing her head into the pillow as if in unbearable pain. "It's... it's the headaches again," she lied, squeezing her eyes shut.

He released one of her wrists, bringing his hand to her forehead as if checking for a fever. "You seem fine," he said, his voice skeptical, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes.

"I'm not!" she cried, seizing the opportunity. "I just wanted to make sure I was okay. That's why I woke you up, I swear!"

For a long moment, they just stared at each other, the weight of the silence pressing down on them. His hand was still on her forehead, his fingers cool against her skin. Finally, he sighed, releasing her other wrist and sitting up, moving off of her with a graceful ease that made her flush with frustration.

"You're a terrible liar," he muttered, his tone resigned.

Xiaoyan sat up quickly, brushing off the lingering heat of their proximity, and clutched her head in mock agony. "I'm not lying!" she insisted, but even she could hear the thinness of her protest.

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable, then stood up from the bed. Without another word, he walked over to the table, grabbed a small vial of ointment, and tossed it to her. "If your head really hurts, use that," he said. His voice was cold again, emotionless. "It's for pain."

Xiaoyan caught the vial and stared at it for a moment, feeling a strange mix of irritation and disappointment. She had come to prank him, to disrupt his world, but somehow, he had turned the situation back on her.

As he walked toward the door, his back to her, "for someone so cold, you sure care a lot."she grumbled under her breath.

He stopped in the doorway but didn't turn around. "I don't care," he said softly. "I heal."

With that, he left, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.

Xiaoyan sat there, staring at the closed door, her pulse still racing. She let out a frustrated sigh and flopped back onto his bed, clutching the vial in her hand. "What an infuriating man," she muttered under her breath. But as the tension in her chest slowly began to ease, she couldn't help but smile.

He may have caught her in the act, but she wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot.