YuQiao lifted her head slowly to look up at the person, and thought, "If I am going to die, I am going to die staring straight at this person's face. I am a warrior's daughter. I have pride. I am no coward. I will stare death with my head held high."

But she was lucky; she doesn't have to die because as it turns out it was her brother, her parent's first child who recovered his health after she had been adopted into the family and her father's subordinates that she bumped into instead of enemies. "Elder Brother," she cried out when their eyes met.

When he saw that her sister was being pursued, her brother quickly ordered the soldiers to protect her.

The soldiers acted quickly as they were trained in combat and rushed towards the enemies and started to fend them off one by one as her brother took her hand and heaved her on her legs and started running towards father's study room.

"The enemy had taken advantage of the wedding to attack the city," explained her brother as they moved along. "They had dug a secret passageway under the ground, which connects to the house on the end of the street. They had set fire all over the city and with the wind blowing so strongly tonight. It has been spreading wildly."

"Wait," and they stopped midway. "But that is YongSan's house. The one on the end of the street," exclaimed the girl.

"Yes, but everything is still unclear because YongSan is still missing. Come on let's hurry to the study, that where mother and the others are," rushed her brother and they began running again.

"Missing?" asked the YuQiao in between breath.

"I last saw him, when he said to father that he was going to the privy, but he hadn't come back for a long time. We all thought he went to see you. I wanted to clear things up, so I came here first instead of running to help father. I do not want to accuse him but..."

YuWei and YuQiao both did not say anything as they both acknowledge the fact that with his disappearance, the greater the fact or the possibility that he was involved in this incident.

YuWei sense her sister's uneasiness and he tried to comfort her, "Maybe YongSan is fighting elsewhere that's why he did not rush to you first. Anyway, I was worried about you. Thank the heavens that you are unhurt," her brother said with a smile which cheered YuQiao a little.

To reach the study they had to pass through the courtyard.

As they were nearing the place, she could already hear the sound of swords and spears clashing against each other as it resounded deeply into YuQiao's ears. But the shout of warriors, the screams of dying, and the cry of help was even more clear and apparent even in the midst of the chaos, which pains her more so.

The moon had already risen and was shining brightly in the night sky, but it was not the moon that was lighting the place, but the fire, that was burning all around the courtyard and everywhere else. 

It was burning even brighter than a normal fire as the wind she forecasted made the fire turn into a sea of flames.

And as they ran along, YuQiao saw many soldiers still fighting desperately. They were outnumbered by at least three to one.

Bowls and plates were smashed, as they fell from the table where they were placed delicately before. And the fragments were further stepped upon causing the china to be unrecognizable from each other. Wine cups were not spared as well as they were thrown at the enemy by guests to protect themselves.

Some tables and chairs were overturned, but it was the corpses that were lying all over the courtyard, that terrified her the most. They were even some that was laid along the corridor connecting the courtyard. She tried her hardest to avoid stepping on them.

However, while running, she heard a scream and she momentarily lost her focus and her leg tripped accidently, knocking over the body of a dead soldier. YuQiao slipped and fell flat onto the floor. It was painful but given the situation, she was not granted the time to lament about it. 

She had an important mission right now, of meeting up with her mother and brothers.

However, the moment she looked up, she saw the face of a dead relative with its hollow eyes looking back at her, which shocked, sickens, and stunned her. "Come on," her brother told her, dragging her along.

As they run, although it frightens her, she could not help but looking back. The face was still staring at her and its gaze seems to be following her as she ran. "It was your fault," it seems to say. 

YuQiao turned away and stared ahead, now is not the time to be worrying about this.

Everyone there was someone she knew. Following behind her brother, YuQiao had the chance to look around and she caught sight of familiar faces, the one who was killed in her seat was her mother's aunt. The plump woman used to bring over a lot of dessert whenever she came to visit.

There was a friend whom she used to play with when they were children. And the small cousins who she was playing with just a few days ago. She still remembered how they were playing eagle catching little chicks as she pretended to be the mother hen and was protecting her cousins from the evil eagle played by Xiao Hua.

"Xiao Hua died as well. Everybody had died," thought YuQiao as she looked at the bodies of people who had slashed wounds all over. There were some who were even beheaded, and but they were still some who had survived, but they would not be living any longer thought YuQiao as she looked away from the scene. The enemies are ruthless, they neither spared the children, nor the woman, and they killed everyone who stood in their way.

If it was not for her brother, she would have died, for she could not move her legs at the horrible sight in front of her, sounds that she could not block out but most importantly the smell of it.

The smell of burning furniture and the charred bodies was choking her. It nauseated her; she had to use her sleeve to cover her face to filter off some of the dreadful smell, but it only provided a little help, as the smell was too strong.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw her father and the others fighting furiously to protect the city lord. For a moment, YuQiao and General Sun caught each other's eyes. Her father's face turned soft and relieved was washed over it. 

He looked at her intently and it seemed to tell her, "Take care", before he turned his sight back to the enemy in front of him and with a ferocious face, he landed a large wound on his opponent rendering him to the ground.

It scares the others off, but there was one attacked who did not care, and he charged forward, and was able to land a wound on her father. It was not deep, but it made the others braver.

YuQiao stopped in her tracks, pulling her brother along.

"YuQiao, hurry. We need to get to the study and meet with mother and the others," cried her brother as he stood facing the girl.

"But father," said YuQiao as she pointed towards the direction of her father. "We have to help him."

"I know, he is there, but our priority is not to help him, but to take care of the family. It was a command, no, a request, he asked of me," said YuWei sadly. 

"Brother," said YuQiao and she too followed her brother's example and looked away from her father, biting her lips as she went along on their way. "I will take care, father. I will take care of mother and the children as well. I will take care of everyone."

They passed the courtyard; another few corridors and they will be able to reach the study.

Wisps of hair had started to fall out from her hair as they ran. In her mind, all her thoughts were preoccupied with prayers about her family. "Please be fine," she begged to the heavens. But back of her mind, there was a question that was nagging at her immensely and that which she wanted to be answered the most, "Where are you, YongSan?"

Finally, they reached the end of the long road and arrived at the study. However, when they opened the door, they were only able to see the dead bodies of her mother and siblings. YuQiao was heartbroken; her prayers weren't answered while her brother was too stunned to even move as he looked upon the bloody scene that was laid in front of him.

And then a small voice was heard in the midst of the room. It was from her mother calling out to them, "Children".

They both rushed into the room and kneeled by their mother's side. Her brother hoisted her up from the ground and laid her in his arms. "Mother," they both called out to her. Mistress Sun touched YuWei's face first and then she looked at YuQiao and asked her, "Are they dead?" as she pointed towards her other children. YuQiao looked at her brother. Her brother was signaling with his eyes to lie to their mother.

But Mistress Sun knew like all mothers do, she knew and understand her children's gentle and kind nature which would make them lie for her sake. "Tell me the truth," she told. 

YuQiao took another look at her siblings, she was hoping for a miracle, but they were cold, lifeless and had already passed on so with effort she faced her mother and nodded solemnly before she began to weep.

Even though, she could no longer see with her eyes that were beginning to look cloudy and empty, she turned her head to look at her son. She uses her last strength, with great pains she managed to say to her son, "Daughters are more fragile and delicate. They need more protection than boys. Take care of your sister in my stead. Take care both of you. You are the only children that I have left."

With her last words said she passed away peacefully as her children watched over her.

"Mother! Mother!" YuQiao called out to her, sobbing and her brother began tearing up. Her brother placed their mother on the floor and with his sleeves he wiped off his own tears and facing YuQiao, he began to wipe away her tears as well. "We need to live. We are the only lefts from her brood," said her brother gently. YuQiao began to gain back her composure and she stood up and with her brother they began looking for father's switch to a secret passage.

But luck was not on their side, the sounds of marching footsteps were being heard in the corridor outside. In all their rushing, they had forgotten to close the door. YuQiao started to panic, but her brother was quick to act, he looked around the room and when he saw father's cupboard. He went towards it and with a key he opened the lock on the cupboard and took out two huge vases inside. YuQiao who was beside him all along was then pushed into the cupboard.

As he gathered up her skirt and placed it into his sister's lap, YuQiao was resisting her brother's plan.

"Brother, no I do not want to stay here. Let me stay by your side."

"Did not you hear what mother said," her brother said sternly. "At least one of us must survive."

YuQiao could not argue with her brother anymore and sat quietly in the cupboard, but before her brother was able to lock the cupboard door the soldiers were already entering into the room. With quick reflexes, he draws out his sword and began fighting the men, slowly and inconspicuously he moved away from the cupboard in order to hide YuQiao's presence.

YuQiao was able to see everything as the cupboard was not closed properly and through the small gap that was formed, she saw her brother battle the four soldiers who entered.

When he was safely away from the cupboard, YuWei rushed towards them, and kicked one of them in the stomach before blocking another attack with his sword on the soldier who was attacking him from behind. YuQiao's heart was beating so fast as she looked upon another who was striking his left side, but his brother was very agile, and he quickly turned his sword towards him and blocked that attack as well. He then swiftly retracted his sword and was able to land two hits onto both of his attacker.

However, the danger has not averted yet, as the one who was kicked in the stomach had stood up and joined the others. Although, somehow injured, but three against one, the advantage of the fight was still with the soldiers.

The one who was kicked stepped forward, he was itching to win back his pride.

He cried out as he came straight forward for an attack with his spear, however it was a tight space, he swung it but YuWei quickly dodged, and the weapon got stuck on the wooden frame next to YuWei.

Her brother took advantage of the moment and rushed into his side, as he pierced through his abdomen. Realizing the situation, the two other soldiers instantly looked at each other and nodded. They readied themselves to launch a double attack towards his brother.

One attack came from the right and the other from the left, YuWei took a step back, however their attack sliced sharply across his thick robe, leaving a deep gash upon his back.

Yet he was intimidated by their attacks. He turned around and killed the one closest to him. Slicing the attacker across his neck. The man died instantly. The other attacker continued and attacked his right flank. YuWei swiveled his sword and blocked it. He then pushed the sword towards the attacker. And with a great force, pushed the man.

The attacker lost his balance and YuWei killed him too.

After the battle, her brother puts back the sword into the scabbard and took the cupboard lock that was on the floor and walked towards the door so he could lock it to prevent any more mishaps. Seeing that the door was about to be closed, YuQiao wanted to get out from the cupboard. However, before she could, she heard a piercing cry, and it belonged to her brother. She used her hands to mute the sound of herself gasping.

At first, she could not notice the killer due to angle as the gap only allows her a limited view. And her brother's attacker was blocked by the door, but then he stepped into the room as he pushed the sword further into her brother and draws it out. It was YongSan, her husband.

She could not believe her eyes as she saw her brother grabbing at his side, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. The blood oozed through his fingers and ran down his hands. He tried to grab the man by his collar, but his strength seemed to be running down and he collapsed onto the floor, lifeless.

Tears once again welled up in her eyes as another one of her important people died in front of her. At that precise moment, she still could not trust her eyes and she still held a thin thread and believed that it was not YongSan who killed her brother. She was still making excuses for him, "It is another person. I have taken him for someone else."

However, shortly after a small group of soldiers arrived, one of them saluted to YongSan and reported to him, "Commander Yong, this place had been secured. General Sun had been killed."

"Proceed with the other plans," commanded YongSan coldly to the other soldiers.

"Yes, Commander Yong."

When she heard the news, she desperately tried to stop herself from even crying as the slightest sound would alert them. "Everyone had died," she thought to herself. "The killer is YongSan," her heart was torn to pieces and the love she felt for him turned into a hatred deeper than the sadness she felt. She was overwhelmed with vengeance.

The other soldiers left the room and marched to other parts of the house. YongSan took out a piece of cloth and began wiping his sword clean and went away soon after.

Seeing her enemy leave, she shot out of the drawer and rushed in the direction of the small daggers on the right side of the room. Her father was a collector of daggers and there was a good collection of them suspended on the wall. She was not thinking soundly anymore, and all her mother and brother's advice was lost against the emotions that are swirling inside her.

Like a mad woman, she unsheathed each of them and the ones that were unsuitable, she threw them onto the floor until she finally found one that was light and which she could hold and grip tightly. With the dagger in her hands, she went out like lightning and ran chasing after YongSan.

The girl was enraged, but tears kept falling down her cheeks as she remembered everything that had happened over the day. It was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life as family, relatives and friends gathered around to celebrate this auspicious event. She had never done anything to him so why did he treat her like this. What did she do to deserve this?

Following behind, at last she was able to catch up upon him. Before she struck out at him, she waited for a chance until he stopped moving. Opportunity came, when he was talking to another soldier at the stairs just outside the inner hall where their wedding ceremony was held during the day.

Taking her chance, when the soldier left, she rushed out closing in on him. A few more steps and she could thrust the dagger into his heart. "He would not even notice what had hit him," thought YuQiao.

However, it was not him, but her that was struck. There was another attacker that came from behind YuQiao, and he had attacked her first. She gasped; a small little moan barely even heard.

Suddenly, the pain was all over her, cruising like a snake through her back and started spreading all over her body like poison into her body and before she knew it, she was sagging forward and collapsed on the cold hard floor like a fallen tree onto the ground with a loud thud. The pain was so immense that it drained all the power from her body. She doesn't even have the power to lift herself up or the strength to even turn her head around to see the face of her attacker.

Rain was beginning to pour outside; she could feel it, how they move in slow motion and she sees it as the droplets of water began descending down from heaven and the loud booming sound as they shatter when they touched the hot floor and seeped onto the dry ground. "At least the fire will die down. At least my beloved home will not disappear completely," thought YuQiao.

Although, her senses were sharpened, but her body on the other hand was becoming dull, the blood in her veins was moving slower, her heart was beating sluggishly; two seconds a beat, three seconds a beat, and then four seconds a beat, it was lagging behind in its beat. "Beat faster," scolded YuQiao to her heart. "I do not want to die. I haven't had my revenge yet." But her body ignores her words and continues gradual heading towards death.

Suddenly, a pain that resembles a flash of lightning struck her, she bit her lower lip and releasing it when it passes, leaving a subtle white mark on her rosy lips. Someone was lifting her up; it was YongSan, even though right now, at this moment she could no longer see. The sensation of his hand as he picked her up from the floor, she could feel it.

YuQiao felt the howling wind outside and the rain splashing into the house, as some of it touched the skin on her hand. And then she felt a drop of water falling onto her face.

She would be lying if she said that she doesn't know whether the droplet was from the heavens or from him as she felt the bead trickled down from above her.

There is no use to ask any more questions and to demand any more answers.

She managed to speak, "I hate you," she told him, directing all her hate with it and as if decided by fate, she could no longer hear at that point, her hearing was muffled. The words spoken in reply to her remark could no longer be heard even if YongSan was screaming the words to her.

And then the ability to speak was also robbed from her and she descends into a long sleep in his warm and repulsive, blood-stained arms.

What do you feel about YuQiao's death?