2 years later

I was sitting on a hard bamboo stool in a busy tea house, staring down at my cup of tead. My reflection stared back. It barely resembled the arrogant warrior I had been two years ago. The features were still the same, maybe even a little more refined as the angles of my face had grown sharper and more elegant because I was older now. The long black hair was the same, although is was braided neatly now, the braid wrapped around my neck. The difference was in my expression, which was much much sadder, and in my eyes.

They were still a bright jade green. But they were softer now, more wistful, unlike the fiery green stones they used to be. And another thing about my eyes. They looked frighteningly fragile and vunerable. As if I was teetering on the edge of breaking down.

I closed them, shutting out the hustle and bustle of the shop, sinking into my usual numb state of mind. It was like a vast emptiness inside me, stretching infinitely in all directions, blocking out the pain of my heart...Then-

"Did you hear?"

"The one about the guy who thinks he's such a big shot?"

"Yeah, that one."

"What are you talking about?"

"There's some cocky idiot who's offering a huge reward to those who can defeat him in a showdown."

"How huge is huge?"

"More than five hundred gold taels was what I heard."

A whistle. "Are you joking?"

Four men, probably mercenaries. Each of them were big-sized, their tanned muscular bodies sporting many scars showing their experience in battle.

Or their incompetence I thought, cynical as ever.

But why not? I mused, thinking about the challenge the men were talking about. I hadn't had a real fight in a long time, not since I had left the temple-

No! No! I don't want to remember!

Too late. Once the memories were unblocked, they flowed on like a fast-flowing river.

"Where have you and Chase been?" Guan demanded, furious.

"And where's Chase now?" asked Dashi anxiously.

I was silent, trying to form the words. "Chase... Isn't coming back," I said dully.

"What do you mean?!?" Guan bellowed. Dashi shot him a look and draped a warm arm on my shoulders. I instinctively pulled away. I didn't want anyone but Chase to touch me...

"He met someone called Hannibal Roy Bean... and accepted something called... Lao Mang Lon Soup," I explained, my tone flat and my face an emotionless mask that hid the pain I felt. "He's joined the Heylin now."

"Are you sure?" Dashi asked.

That simple question made me blow it. "Of course I'm sure!" I yelled. "Do you think I can be mistaken about something like that?" I gripped my injured arm, letting the pain wash over me. That was the wonderful thing about physical pain. It was simple to understand. Not so much heart ache.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. "Anyway, I came here to tell you I'm leaving."

"Leaving?" gaped Dashi.

"Yes. Thank you for letting me stay here for so long." I bowed. "Goodbye."

There is no point in me staying here without Chase...

The heat drained from my face aprutly, the numb shell that protecting me from the waves of pain threatening to shatter...Instinctively, I gripped the teacup. It immeditately shattered into tiny fragments.

I dropped a string of copper coins into the waiter's palm before he even had the chance to protest, then strode over to the mercenaries, desperate for a distraction.

"Where does this challenge take place?" I asked, my tone curt.

They exchanged glances and then burst out laughing. I clenched my fists, keeping my temper in check. Dead men won't tell you anything, I reminded myself over and over again.

When they finished laughing, the biggest one grinned at me. I counted at least three missing teeth.

"Sure pretty. You want to be there to cheer us on, right?"

I narrowed my eyes. Quicker before any one of them could blink, he was flat on his back with my foot on his throat.

"Answer the question," I ordered, keeping my face an emotionless mask.

His eyes were wide with shock as I dug my boot on his throat, cutting off his air supply.

"Head north," he choked out. "A palace near... The Forest of Nowhere."

"Thank you," I smiled pleasantly. "That wasn't very hard, was it?" I removed my foot and turned to leave, then moved slightly to the left. A tiny, but very sharp dart swept past my ear with a rush of cold air, and buried itself in the wall.

I spun around to glare at the mercenaries. They were all armed now, one with a spear, two others with swords and the last with a wicked-looking sabre. The teahouse was empty in a heartbeat. No one wanted to be caught in the crossfire.

"Four of you, armed, against me?" I blinked innocently, wide-eyed. "That's unfair, don't you think?"

"We don't really care about fairness," one of them growled. I recognised me as the one I had humiliated.

That was when the owner of the shop came in. He did not look happy.

"Gentlemen," he said smoothly, hiding his fear of the mercenaries weapons well. And ignoring me. Big mistake. "Couldn't you please take you fight some-"

I had reached for the dagger buried in the wall and had thrown it into his chest before he had even the chance to finish his sentance. He was dead even before he touched the floor.

"Where were we?" I saked casually.