140 Her Saviors (2/2)

After she had finished drinking, Rin blinked away the tears on her lashes. She glanced up and felt two pairs of eyes staring at her in clear bewilderment.

At that moment, she noticed a young girl beside her. The girl possessed a youthful face, but was exceptionally tall, her cheekbones knobby. Her face was broad, her tiny gracious eyes, which resembled tadpoles, stared at her dazzlingly.

Rin cleared her moistened throat and parted her lips to speak.

”Where am I?”

Jia was surprised upon heeding the girl's melodious, gentle voice and felt her heart thump. Aiguo, on the other hand, felt his entire being flush.

Jia cleared her throat and answered. ”My brother and I found you unconscious in the snow and brought you to our home in Su village.”

Rin slowly processed this newfound information with a calm gaze.

She gradually began recalling the last moments she had before everything turned dark. During the ambush against An Sun's camp, she shielded him from an arrow and fell off the cliff.

At this thought, Rin's eyes shifted to her chest where the arrow penetrated, but only found a tight bandaged strapped around her chest. Jia saw her line of sight and scratched her cheek.

”Ah, right, there was an arrow in your chest. It was safely removed, so don't worry! But it might leave a slight scar in the future.”

Rin paused in thought for a short while, when suddenly, Jia's face peered into hers.

”It's a good thing we rescued you in time though, otherwise you most likely would have frozen or bled to death! Thankfully, we called Master Qiu, and he helped remove the arrow from your chest. Oh, Master Qiu is the old man who was here earlier when you woke up.”

Rin's brows furrowed. She glanced up and found the old man that was previously in the room was no longer there.

When had he left? She hadn't even sensed it.

”Don't worry, he disappears like that often,” Jia said with a little laugh as if sensing her thoughts.

Rin paused in thought for a short while, but ultimately, she didn't say anything. She looks back at the smiling girl with her hands folded on her lap.

”Thank you, for saving me,” Rin said in a quiet voice.

A beaming smile suddenly broke on Jia's broad face, her dark eyes twinkling.

”My name's Jia and this is my little brother Aiguo.” She tilted her head toward the boy behind her.

Rin glanced at the spiked hair boy and found his expression was extremely tense, his face slightly flushed. Noticing her stare, he puckered his lips and averted his gaze. Rin noted the tips of his ears suspiciously turning a bright red.

Jia noticed her brother's odd behavior and rolled her eyes.

”So, what's your name?”

Rin sank into silence, but after a moment, she said, ”My name is Rin.”

Jia blinked for a moment and scrunched up her nose. ”Rin?”

”It's an unusual name isn't it?” Rin smiled.

Jia realized her inappropriate response and shook her head. ”Ah, no, it's a beautiful name! I was just surprised, that's all!”

Rin laughed softly. ”Thank you.”

Though Rin's responses were short and polite, Jia felt she did not wish to explore the subject.

Jia coughed gently to dispel the awkward atmosphere.

”Well, you should rest. When you wake up, I'll give you some nourishing soup Master Qiu left.”

”Mm.” Rin nodded.

Jia smiled before turning to yank the collar of the dazed Aiguo out of the room. Slightly struggling, the boy was forced to leave with his sister.

Rin watched as the two siblings left and quietly stared at her folded hands.

Through the small window in her room, she watched the glowing moon, thin white clouds flying in the sky. A fresh breeze blows against her clothes, locks of satin hair brushing against her pale cheeks.

Her bright eyes dulled and suddenly a melodious, bitter sound released from her lips.

”What is this?”

Had she not chosen her fate - to die honorably for An Sun?

Then what was this? Why was she still alive?

Was this fate's way of saying it's not her time to die?

Rin found it bitter and cruel. She looked back at the moon and her lips crumbled. After a moment of silence, she leaned her head back against her pillow.

Rin shut her heavy eyelids and breathed deeply.

For now, she just wanted to rest.

For a moment, just let her rest.