She was sent to the orphan camp, and called a few stranger adults her "Master," and began learning martial arts, to recognize words, and gradually, also learned that person's name-- Murong Yan. Great Yan's second prince, with a identity that was extremely noble to the point that they could only kneel, and could not say his name out loud.
Great Yan had gone through consecutive years of warfare, unrest, and natural disasters; every child here was an orphan, whom he had coincidentally saved, and made accommodations here for.
From the first day she arrived here, competitions never ceased. The "masters" taught them the ways to compete, which were violent but extremely effective-- of the three hundred children, they only put food enough for half. Any small injury or sickness would cause them to increasingly fall into perilous conditions, finally being disqualified.
And every time they fought for food, it was also seizing away their companions' chances of survival. Even though some children would come together and form teams to seize even more food, but actually, all the children here didn't have true companions. Zuo Canglang never bothered remembering any of their names, because nobody knew who would still be around tomorrow. She never tried befriending companions, and also never bothered with appeasing those so-called, "masters." She was like a solitary wolf, after seizing enough food for herself, she would quietly leave.
The other children actually wouldn't provoke her casually, after she had shot and injured two children who had tried stealing her food, everyone had admitted she was a strange being that they didn't need to provoke.
In the camp, other than her, there was another person that there was no need to offend, who was also a girl, named Leng Feiyan. She was someone who practiced her martial arts for eighteen hours every day, a reckless person; additionally, she had unnatural talent, within the whole orphans' camp, even the "masters" wouldn't casually offend her.
Zuo Canglang and her had always maintained their distance, and Leng Feiyan also had no interest in provoking her. For a time, they both managed to get along without conflict.
This day, in the night, Zuo Canglang was originally already asleep, but was awoken by a particularly strange voice. She turned her ears, and listened for a while, only finding things strange-- this...... seemed like the sound of crying? Within the whole orphan camp, it had been a long time since there had been the sound of weeping. That was probably because the crybabies had all slowly disappeared, right?
She sat up, leaving her dormitory, and outside the pomegranate tree, sat a small boy. The boy was perhaps six or seven years old, and was born with a stature that was even more thin and emaciated than his same-years, but his skin was both white and soft, with one look, one could tell that it was the young master of a wealthy family. Zuo Canglang stood at the side for a while, not going over. Children like this, would usually not survive here for more than three days, and there was no need to bother with.
She turned around, coincidentally seeing Leng Feiyan, following the voice over; the two of them exchanged looks, momentarily, and then both left. They weren't friends, but for now, they were also not enemies. They didn't exchange greetings, Leng Feiyan only took a glance at the boy, then loosened her shoulders, and turned around to return to her dormitory.
Not long later, a master came over, and began scolding loudly from a distance. Leaving the dormitory in the night without permission, if discovered, would definitely result in a big punishment. These "masters" were all rumored to be members of jianghu, with strange temperaments, and the children that had perished at their hands were not small in number. Zuo Canglang didn't know what she was thinking, but she took two steps forward, grabbing that young boy, but quickly threw him up into the tree. The boy was instantly stunned witless, as even though he had just arrived, he still knew the rules here. A "master" passed by below the tree, not lifting his head to search, and quickly left.
Zuo Canglang loosened her grip on that boy, but he didn't descend the tree, only saying, "My father, my mother, and my elder sister all died. It happened this noon."
Zuo Canglang looked at him, saying, "I don't intend on knowing the things about you." The boy was startled, before she continued, saying, "This place also won't have anyone who cares about these things." Finishing, she threw him down from the tree. Something in the tree slid over, slippery, and Zuo Canglang's body froze; she slowly lifted her head, looking up. She only saw a snake climbing a branch in that tree, as though it had been disturbed by them, sticking its head out to take a look.
That snake had a black back with a green pattern, with a "Sss Sss" it spat out its tongue. Zuo Canglang seemingly thrust her hand out instantly, immediately tossing the snake far away. Seemingly embarrassed, she quickly scurried back into her dormitory.
The second day, when Zuo Canglang was preparing after rising from bed, she ran into that boy again. He indeed did not successfully seize a wheat bun, so Zuo Canglang only took a glance and didn't continue bothering with it. Over here, compassion was such an excessive and unnecessary thing. The boy had started his journey two years after everyone else, but the "masters" didn't bother with individually teaching him anything. He could only follow everyone else, taking their classes together. And then during their practice, being bullied by the other children.
That night, after Zuo Canglang had finished practicing her martial arts, right as she had returned to her dorm, she immediately heard someone knocking on her window. She stuck her head out, spying, only seeing it was actually that boy standing there. She asked, "What is it?"
The boy took a small cloth bundle and passed it to her, saying, "Inside, there is Phoenix grass and Green wood incense, which are good for repelling snakes." Zuo Canglang was startled, asking, "What did you gift me these for?" Then thinking a bit, asked, "You understand herbal medicine?"
The boy said, "My ancestors were all doctors, just take it." Zuo Canglang took that small bundle, gripping it tightly in her hands, her nose growing red.
Sometimes, when people are dealing with each other, they cannot talk much, and even more, they can't exchange their names. Because once they spoke, they would have emotional connections, and would treat them as another living member of their species. Zuo Canglang knew that this was a mistake, but she still asked, "What is your name?"
The boy said, "I'm surnamed Yang. My name is Yang Lianting."
Henceforth, Zuo Canglang gained an extra tail, she could not help but spend some time to teach him some of the insights to their martial arts, even going so far as to help him seize some of the food. Having been here for two or so years, she gained a companion. Yang Lianting's ancestors practiced medicine generation after generation, his father, Yang Jinyu actually took the civil service exam, and passed at the rank of Juren, becoming an official. Who knew that he would make a single mistake, resulting in the extermination of his whole family. Murong Yan felt that Yang Lianting's potential was not bad, and saved him, bringing him here. But nobody cared, from a young age this young master had been pampered, but in this type of environment, how was he to continue living?
Every day, Zuo Canglang would help him seize food, and teach him martial arts every day. He could be counted as putting in effort, and day by day, he gradually caught up. The two quickly became inseparable.
This day, the "masters" arranged the children to compete in duos, coincidentally arranging Yang Lianting with Leng Feiyan in a group. Leng Feiyan wasn't one who would show mercy. Her moves were fast like lightning, Yang Lianting could not rival her, his moves quickly becoming busied, retreating move after move. Zuo Canglang seeing things were not good, drew her bow, with an arrow, shooting it out; Leng Feiyan quickly became enraged, using slashed the sword in her hand, blocking the arrow, glaring angrily at Zuo Canglang. Zuo Canglang calmly stared back at her, the youths had all been accustomed to standing by and observing; for a while, no one spoke between them.
Leng Feiyan said, "What do you mean by this?"
Zuo Canglang said, "It's only practice, there's no need to see blood, right?"
Leng Feiyan wanted to say something, but the "master" over there began yelling, "What is it?!"
He took a look at Zuo Canglang, and didn't say anything more. These people weren't their fathers nor their mothers, so nobody would go looking for them to enforce justice for them.
After they left the small practice field, Yang Lianting said, "Leng Feiyan is really strong." Zuo Canglang didn't say anything, he could only continue by saying, "Only afraid that she wouldn't let things go so easily."
Zuo Canglang finally said a sentence: "That is my business." She took big steps forward, and Yang Lianting quietly followed behind her, not saying anything else.
That afternoon, the "masters" brought everyone out. As the orphan camp was hidden in a desolate mountain, they would often prepare traps for everyone in the mountain or prepare ambushes to kill them. Zuo Canglang was grouped together with Yang Lianting, and right as they were preparing a trap, they suddenly heard some steps approaching behind them. Zuo Canglang just lowered her head in time to see Leng Feiyan's sword slashing like the wind, passing by her head!
She rolled towards the ground, increasing the distance, but before she could grab her bow, Leng Feiyan had once again attacked, targeting her head. The two fought into a mush, but the masters didn't actually plan on inquiring. To them, no matter if there was any extra person here or anyone missing, it wasn't anything important.
Zuo Canglang was occupied with the sword flashes of Leng Feiyan, and even though the two of them had entered the camp at approximately the same time, but regardless of whether it was talent of effort, Leng Feiyan was easily beyond her reach. Every move of Leng Feiyan was vicious, and not long later, Zuo Canglang once again received a sword wound.
Leng Feiyan probably also didn't expect her to last this long, so her moves became increasingly forceful. Suddenly, behind her there was some noise, so Leng Feiyan immediately slashed behind her, but what came was a face full of red dust! She was startled before she could prepare and received a face full, and her heart was filled with rage, slashing her sword out again, managing to pierce the Yang Lianting that was running behind her through!
But over here, Zuo Canglang had already managed to escape the trap, pulling her arrows out, she shot at her. She shut her eyes, wielding her sword to dodge, but Zuo Canglang's arrow used quite a bit of force to continue forwards; three arrows were shot out, but finally one found their mark in her chest! Leng Feiyan understood what being injured here meant, and was no longer willing to be reckless, but rather lowered her head and left.
Zuo Canglang put her bow away, and went forwards to help Yang Lianting up. Yang Lianting was bleeding everywhere. He pressed one hand onto his wound, his consciousness still there, lightly saying, "I...... I feel like my wound isn't actually serious......" He lifted his eyes to look at Zuo Canglang, his eyes carrying a request, "Only have to find me some cuckoo leaves, and I'll be able to stop the bleeding first......"
He was afraid, even his voice was quivering-- in this type of environment, nobody would want a companion who was heavily injured and potentially destined to die, right? Zuo Canglang pretended that she didn't see this, only saying, "Mmm."
She found some cuckoo leaves, and Yang Lianting chewed the leaves into a mash, covering his wounds, and ripped some cloth to wrap it up. Zuo Canglang helped him up, but he pushed her hand away, saying, "I can do it myself."
The look of him clenching his teeth and grinning through it, was both stubborn and strong. Zuo Canglang followed behind, not saying anything. But the second day, he started suffering a high fever. Zuo Canglang sat by his bed, seeing his whole face burning red from the fever, his lips dry, sometimes also saying some feverish words. He didn't even have any effort in his fevered words, but continuously called for his father, mother, and elder sister.
Zuo Canglang brought him some food to eat, but he continued to stay unconscious, and already no longer had any ability to swallow anything. Zuo Canglang walked out of his dormitory, this type of high fever, it wouldn't take long before he would die, right?
He needs to see a doctor, and if not that, even having some fever reducing soup or medication would work. But here...... who has seen a doctor?
Zuo Canglang walked out; actually she entirely didn't need to bother, after all it was just another person dying. She stood by a circular beam, looking up at a hole that had been bore by bugs, she thought of how he had quiveringly said, "I think my wounds aren't serious."
Actually, it wasn't entirely hopeless. She pursed her lips, and steeled her determination, walking into the row of new dormitories. Within the dorms, a few "masters" were drinking. Zuo Canglang stood by the left side, discovering for the first time that when begging others, it was difficult to open one's mouth. She used all her effort to lower her head, "Master, Yang Lianting has received a wound, with a high fever that constantly doesn't retreat, please...... save him."
The guys there all felt like they had probably gotten drunk; some even began laughing out loud, saying, "You...... beg others this way? If you're begging others, then you need the proper attitude of begging others, do I also have to teach you this?"
Zuo Canglang took a deep breath, then kneeled, "Begging the present masters, to save Yang Lianting."
The men laughed loudly, a pair of hands lightly helped her up, his lips a bit sticky, "You barged into our room this way, and presented yourself in such a seductive position...... really...... really easy to make people mistake things."
Zuo Canglang's body froze, only feeling that pair of hands tracing the nape of her clothes, sliding in. She shivered, wanting to hide, but finally did not move. That feeling was like a mucus bug slide over, leaving a cold and disgusting stickiness.
A face brought a strong reeking of booze close to her face, its lips kissed the nape of her ear. That voice lightly spoke by her ear, "Be good. Be good, this way is right. Come, be a bit more honest."
Zuo Canglang gripped the hem of her clothes with her right hand. Towards this type of request, she wasn't particularly foreign. These "masters", what type of people were they, how cruel they were, she had always known. The children that had starved to death here, were just like wild dogs that had starved, even burying them was something excessive.
A moment later, she lazily loosened her belt, revealing her white undergarments. The few men began laughing, someone lightly said, "It's better not to be to excessive, huh?" After all, it's someone his highness brought, and in the future who knows if they might have to do imperial service.
The blood color of Zuo Canglang's lips retreated, clenching her teeth, she kowtowed, begging, "Please save Yang Lianting, I...... I'm willing to satisfy any request of the masters."
The humiliation and rage made her shake with tears, wanting to leave here countless times!
But, no...... still better not to live, to return just to watch Yang Lianting slowly die. Thinking back on it in the future, I will probably also hate not persisting till the end this time, right?
Her tears slowly gathered in her eyes, but she made her eyes swallow them back up. A pair of hands wandered on her back, the wound that Leng Feiyan had made was exposed in everyone's eyes. She shut her eyes, lightly clenching her teeth; everything will pass. I could bear the humiliation for a greater goal, I can be humiliated now to retrieve my just dues later. No matter whether he lives or dies, at least I tried. A tear fell to the ground, but she found it distasteful. Hasn't she already decided? If you're this weak and soft, who are you crying for to see?!
The black door was pushed open, the wind carried in sunlight, scattering the scent of wine. Zuo Canglang lifted her head, only seeing a man by the door, his stature was tall and stately, he dark tears began melting, it was a spinning blaze, like that demon's shadow under the moonlight.
Zuo Canglang was startled out of her stupor, only seeing his sword flash out of his hand, landing. The four men in the room came forward, not knowing what had happened, slowly softly collapsing, and then fresh blood spraying forth!
It was Murong Yan! Zuo Canglang lifted her heavy body, avoiding that sword light, and then rapidly covered herself with her clothes.
"My Lord!" She kneeled, then came a few steps forward before him. Murong Yan's eyes were filled with murderous intent, but was surprised at the speed at which she had dodged that sword, but thinking over it, decided not to continue. That pair of small hands gripped the hem of his robe, the small hand's owner used a small voice, which was hoarse, "My lord, please, begging you, to save Yang Lianting."
He lowered his head, helping her up, using his toes to lift up her chin, softly asking, "Begging me? What are you using to beg me?"
She lifted her head, staring into his eyes, enunciating each word, "Everything, my everything!"
Perhaps it was because her gaze was filled with seriousness, Murong Yan slowly answered, "Very well, I accept."