Chapter 1
The stall was modest in appearance, with wooden shelves lined with jars and bundles of dried herbs, roots, and flowers. A small cauldron simmering at the back, filling the air with the scent of brewing potions. Despite its humble look, Auntie Mei’s stall attracted a steady stream of customers because of her reputation for quality products.
Auntie Mei was an elderly herbalist with a sharp tongue and keen eyes. She’s been running her stall in the Herbal Pavilion for decades, and her knowledge of medicinal plants and spiritual herbs is unmatched. While she seems harmless, Auntie Mei has connections to several cultivation sects and often acts as an informant, passing along information for the right price.
Inside the pavilion, Aunty Mei welcomed a customer, cloaked in black, mysterious as the night. You couldn’t see her face, but her unkind eyes stood sharply under the hood’s shadow. Her gaze swept over the Dragon’s Breath Flower, Moonshadow Root, Phoenix Feather Fern and Nightshade Blossom that she requested to see.
As she opened her mouth to speak, noise erupted outside, catching both hers and Aunty Mei’s attention. “I wonder what it could be?” Aunty Mei asked, leaving her seat, making her way to the doorway.
The woman continued staring down at the items she wanted while her mind’s eye explored the surroundings, leaving the pavilion stretching out into the Crimson Crescent Market to the clamouring surrounding the Jade Sky Auction House.
She heard the gossip while on her way here that the Jade Sky Auction House was auctioning a few rare items and magical beings, but never did she expect to see what she was witnessing.
Her gaze narrowed as she observed the activity at the entrance. A group of heavily armed men, armed with the jade-green armour of the auction house’s private guard, were escorting a prisoner through the doors. The sight of the captive made her breath catch in her throat.
She was massive. Towering over the guards, who stood on either side. Her wrists and ankles were shackled with thick chains that seemed to strain under the sheer size of her limbs. The tattered dress she wore barely covered her body, exposing wounded skin. A cruel whip cracked through the air, the sound echoing in the narrow alley as it struck the giant’s back, forcing her to stumble forward.
For a moment, the giant woman’s eyes looked around, trying to find the one who was watching her and as if their eyes met in the void that existed between them. Her eyes were a deep brown, filled with a mix of pain, anger, and something else—acceptance.
“The Jade Sky Auction house truly is remarkable. I haven’t seen one of those in who knows how long? I wonder where they found her,” Aunty Mei complained in awe as she returned to her seat. Looking at her patron, she asked, “What shall it be? Should I bag them up for you?”
The woman nodded. Before she could fully grasp the giant woman’s emotions, the moment was shattered as the guards shoved her through the auction house doors, the heavy iron shutting behind them with a resounding clang.
The bags disappeared the moment Aunty Mei placed them down on the table. She looked at the woman, surprised, and as she blinked, she disappeared with the sound of a coin dropping. Picking up the gold coin, she shuddered. ‘A little too young to have such an aura.’
The woman reappeared outside in the streets of the Crimson Crescent Market behind the auction house in stealth, staring at the auction house. Her gaze narrowed on the imposing structure, built from jade-coloured stone and adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes. It stood at the centre of the marketplace, its tall spires piercing the sky.
Powerful cultivators guarded the entrance as the surrounding air buzzed with a faint, ominous energy.
The Jade Sky Auction House was infamous throughout the Fenghua Realm for dealing in rare and often illicit items. It’s a place where anything can be bought or sold if the price is right—from ancient relics and powerful artefacts to living beings with extraordinary abilities. The auction house is also known for its ruthless business practices, and those who cross its path often disappear without a trace.
The woman’s gaze lowered to her feet. Despite her strong appearance, she carried a deep loneliness from losing her clan and the hardships she faced after. She had a soft spot for the weak, which is why, right now, she felt compelled to rescue the giantess. Sighing, she turned in her steps and disappeared.
*
The heavy iron door of the auction house slammed shut behind her with a deafening end, and the woman felt the chill of the place seep into her bones.
The dim light of the narrow hallway flickered ominously, casting distorted shadows on the cold stone walls. The guards’ rough hands pushed her forward.
Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing louder in the oppressive silence that surrounded her. Her footsteps, heavy and reluctant, dragged across the uneven floor as she was led deeper into the auction house. The air here was damp and stale.
They stopped before a small cell at the end of the corridor, its iron bars rusted. One guard unlocked the door, the screeching of the metal grating against her ears, making her flinch. The door swung open, revealing a space barely large enough to contain her massive body. The room was dimly lit by a single, flickering lantern hanging from the low ceiling, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls.
“Get in,” the guard barked, his voice cold and unfeeling.
She hesitated for just a moment, her eyes scanning the tiny cell. It was no larger than a cage; the floor was covered in a thin layer of straw that did nothing to cushion the hard stone beneath. The walls were damp, the air thick with the scent of mould and decay. A shiver ran down her spine, the coldness of the place wrapping around her like a hug.
Another sharp push from the guards forced her inside, and the door slammed shut behind her, the lock clicking into place, making her heart sink. She was alone now, the sound of the guards’ footsteps fading into the distance as they walked away, leaving her in the suffocating silence of the cell.
She slowly sank to the ground, the chains around her wrists clinking softly as she moved. Her body, though powerful, felt heavy with exhaustion. She leaned her back against the cold stone wall, her long legs stretched out before her, barely fitting in the confined space. The icy chill of the stone seeped through the thin fabric of her tattered dress, making her shiver uncontrollably.
Her eyes, once filled with defiance, now showed the deep fear that had taken hold of her heart. She could hear the distant, muffled sounds of the market outside, the laughter and chatter of people who had no idea of the horrors that took place within these walls. But here, in this cell, there was only silence.
She pulled her knees to her chest, hugging her arms around them as best she could with the heavy chains still binding her wrists. She buried her face in her arms, trying to block out the world around her, but the fear was relentless, creeping into her mind like a cold, dark fog.
What is going to happen to me?
Who will buy me?
What kind of life waits beyond these walls?
The questions swirled in her mind, each one more terrifying than the last. She had heard stories of others who had been taken—giants, like her, who were never seen again after being sold.
Are they alive?
Or did they meet a fate worse than death?
Her thoughts drifted back to her home, to the mountains where she had lived in peace and seclusion. She could still remember the feel of the cool mountain air on her skin, the sound of the wind rustling through the trees as she ran between them, and the comforting presence of her family. But that life seemed so far away now, a distant memory that was slipping further with each passing moment.
A tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, refusing to let herself fall apart, but the fear was suffocating. The minutes dragged on like hours, the tiny cell closing in around her. She trembled not from the cold, but from the terror of what was coming.
In five hours, the auction would begin. In five hours, her fate would be sealed.
And there was nothing she could do to stop it.
She stirred, the cold seeping into her bones as she lay on the hard stone floor of the cell. But this time, there was something different—a warmth that wasn’t there before, enveloping her body in a comforting embrace. Groggily, she opened her eyes, blinking against the dim light that filtered through the cell’s iron bars.
Her breath caught in her throat as she realised what was draped around her—a heavy wolf cloak, soft and warm, its fur a mix of deep greys and blacks. It covered her from shoulders to feet, shielding her from the chill of the cell. She reached out with trembling hands, fingers brushing over the thick fur, feeling the unexpected warmth seep into her skin.
For a moment, she simply laid there, bewildered by the sudden change in her situation. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a shadowy figure standing just outside the cell, still and silent, almost blending into the darkness that surrounded them.
Fear spread through her heart, and she instinctively scrambled back, pressing her body against the cold stone wall of the cell. The chains around her wrists clinked softly as she moved, reminding her where she was. Her wide eyes locked onto the figure, her breathing irregular and quick.
The figure stepped closer, the faint light from the lantern illuminating them just enough for her to make out the features of a woman. She was tall and slender, her black cloak blending seamlessly with the shadows that clung to her like a second skin. Her eyes, dark and intense, seemed to pierce through the darkness, focusing solely on her with an unnerving stillness.
Her heart raced, her mind struggling to comprehend who this stranger could be and what they wanted. But then, as she gazed into those eyes, she felt a strange sense of familiarity—a connection, almost, that tugged at the edges of her memory.
“Was it you I sensed before?” her voice was a trembling whisper, barely audible above the silence of the cell. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this woman’s aura was the same one she had felt outside the auction house, that moment of connection before she had been dragged away.
The woman didn’t respond immediately. She remained still; her gaze never wavering as she studied her.
There was something in her eyes, something that the giant couldn’t quite place—an emotion that was neither pity nor sympathy, but something deeper.
The woman stepped forward, the movement slow and deliberate, yet somehow not threatening. The light from the lantern caught the edges of her cloak, revealing the crimson embroidery that lined its hem—a symbol of power and danger in equal measure. She reached out, her hand brushing against the iron bars of the cell, but she didn’t open the door.
“Yes,” she finally replied, her voice low and calm. “It was me.”
The simple answer did nothing to calm the giant woman’s racing heart, but there was something in the way she spoke, in the tense gaze that held her own, that made it impossible to look away. For a moment, the fear that had held her so tightly loosened its hold, replaced by a flicker of something else—curiosity or even hope.
The woman tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable as she continued to study the giant woman. “You’re afraid,” her tone wasn’t questioning nor accusing.
She swallowed hard, her throat dry as she tried to find her voice. “What… what do you want with me?” The question hung in the air, fragile and uncertain, carrying with it all the fear and uncertainty that had plagued her since she had been taken captive.
The woman’s eyes softened slightly as she watched her. “I’m here to take you away,” she said, her voice quiet. “But first, you need to trust me.”
She hesitated, her heart pounding as she searched the woman’s face for any sign of deception. But all she saw was that same calm, unwavering gaze. And in that moment, she felt something shift within her, a tiny crack in the wall of fear that had surrounded her since she was taken.
Trust was a luxury she couldn’t afford, not in a place like this. But as she looked at the woman standing in the shadows, her expression serious and her eyes filled with a look that she couldn’t ignore, she wondered if, just this once, it might be worth the risk?
“I’ll help you,” the woman said, her hand resting lightly on the bars of the cell. “But you need to believe that there’s more for you beyond these walls.”
She took a deep, shaky breath, her eyes still locked with the woman’s. And for the first time since her capture, she felt a flicker of something other than fear—a glimmer of hope, small but real. Maybe, just maybe, this stranger was the key to her freedom.
“Who are you?” She asked.
“It’s not who I am, but who you think I can be for you. Do you want your freedom, or shall I take my leave and help another?” She asked, holding her gaze.
She quickly got to her knees, terrified of being left behind. Shaking her head, “Won’t they catch me? How can I trust you? You’re hiding from me just like you’re hiding from them. How did you get in here?”
The woman watched as the tears that welled in the giant woman’s eyes slid down her cheeks. The hope she needed was here, but she was too clouded by fear to see what was in front of her.
Taking the hood down, revealing her sharp, almond-shaped eyes with a piercing gaze. Her irises were a deep, intense brown, almost black, that reflected her cautious nature. The long, jet-black hair cascaded down her left shoulder that was tied in an elegant high ponytail, allowing her to move freely. Loose strands framed her face, softening her stern appearance.
“I am Liang Xiuying. I used to be in here just like you.”
The giant woman stared at her, conflicted. Wiping her eyes, she asked, “What do you mean?”
Xiuying’s full lips curved into a slight smile. Shaking her head, “Not here. I’ll explain it to you when I get you out of here. The auction is about to start. Are you coming or not?”
“What?” she questioned, then heard a door slam in the distance. Her eyes widened as she focussed on the footsteps getting closer to where she was. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Xiuying. Nodding her head, “I’ll go with you.”
Xiuying smiled. Circling her wrist, she pointed two fingers at the woman’s feet and a crimson red magic formation appeared beneath her.
She stared down at it and watched as her body slowly sank into the formation. Looking at Xiuying she asked, “What did you do?”
But Xiuying stared at her, watching as she sank deeper and deeper. As the last of her was seen, she covered her head with the hood of her cloak and stepped into the shadow. Soon the place was covered with guards ready to retrieve the giant woman, but where is she?
Xiuying appeared in front of the Jade Sky Auction House, staring at it as the guards came rushing out yelling. Soon the Crimson Crescent Market was in shambles. Stalls were turned over and business property vandalised. In the history of the marketplace, never has something been stolen, or some being gone missing under the noses of the guards. And if they didn’t find it or whoever was responsible for this loss, the guards on duty would fall to the wrath of Zhao Wuyan.
*
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the cold, damp cell. Instead, she found herself enveloped in complete darkness. The silence was deafening, the kind that pressed against her ears and made her feel insignificant. She couldn’t see anything—just endless blackness that stretched out in every direction, swallowing her whole. Panic began to creep in, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
But then, in the distance, she noticed a faint light, no bigger than a pea. It flickered weakly in the void. She stared at it, unsure of what to do. Fear kept her in place, and the questions began to swirl in her mind.
Where am I?
What is this place?
And, more importantly; Why did Xiuying leave me here?
Doubt clawed at her. Did Xiuying deceive me?
Is this some kind of trap?
Her thoughts spiralled, each one darker than the last. Maybe she was better off in the auction house, as terrible as that had been. At least there, she knew what to expect, no matter how grim the future seemed. Here, in this void, she was utterly lost.
But then, something soft landed on her head, breaking through her spiralling thoughts. Startled, she reached up and felt a small, warm body. A tiny creature, fluffy and round, like a little pompom. She gently picked it up, bringing it close to her face to examine it. The creature had big, curious eyes and tiny paws, its fur soft against her fingers.
A sense of calm washed over her as she cradled the tiny animal in her hands. It was as if this little creature had the power to chase away the darkness inside her heart. The void didn’t seem as terrifying with this small companion here. She thought she was alone, abandoned in this strange place, but now, with the pompom nestled in her hands, she felt a sliver of hope.
Just as she found comfort in the creature’s presence, a woman’s voice cut through the darkness. “Why haven’t you entered the domain yet?”
Her head snapped up, her body tensing as she searched for the source of the voice. Her eyes widened as she saw a figure standing beside her; a woman who had appeared out of nowhere. The woman’s features were sharp and elegant, her eyes slitted like those of a snake. Her presence was neither menacing nor welcoming, a strange balance that set her on edge.
“Who… who are you?” She stammered, clutching the pompom tighter.
The woman’s gaze was piercing, her lips curling into a faint smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m Yexiao,” she said, her voice smooth, almost hypnotic. “I’m here to guide you to your new home.”
Her confusion only deepened. She studied Yexiao, noting the subtle scales that shimmered on her skin in the dim light, the sharpness of her gaze that seemed to see right through her. It was clear this woman was not human—she was a beast type, a serpent in human form. There was something ancient and powerful about her, yet she didn’t feel the urge to run.
Yexiao tilted her head slightly, as if sensing her hesitation. “This is not where you belong,” she said, her tone gentle but firm. “I will take you to the domain that has been prepared for you.”
Her mind raced with questions, doubt in the air again. But the pompom in her hands gave a soft, reassuring chirp, and she felt a strange pull toward the light in the distance. It was as if something deep within her was urging her to follow, to trust this woman, despite the uncertainty.
“Come,” Yexiao said, turning toward the distant light. Her movements were smooth, graceful, like a snake gliding through the darkness.
She hesitated for a moment longer, but then, clutching the pompom to her chest, she took an unsure step forward. The void felt less oppressive now; the light grew slightly brighter with each step she took. Yexiao moved ahead of her, leading the way with a confidence that was almost comforting.
As they walked, her mind continued to swirl with thoughts, but the presence of the tiny creature in her hands and the steady figure of Yexiao ahead kept her grounded. She wasn’t sure what awaited her at the end of this path, but something told her she had to see it through.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the light. It was no longer a tiny flicker—it had grown into a glowing portal, warm and inviting. Yexiao paused, turning to look at her one last time. “What is your name?”
“Yu… Yulan,” she answered, mustering the speck of confidence in her body. “Qin Yulan.”
“This is your new beginning,” she said, her voice soft but carrying an unmistakable weight. “Don’t be afraid.”
Yulan took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. With the pompom still cradled in her hands, she stepped into the light.
The void vanished in an instant, replaced by a stunning landscape that took her breath away. She was standing in a lush, green valley, the air fresh and filled with the scent of blooming flowers. The sky above was a perfect shade of blue, and in the distance, she could see a house nestled among the trees—beautiful and peaceful, like something out of a dream.
For a moment, Yulan simply stood there, taking it all in. The warmth of the sun on her skin, the soft grass beneath her feet, the sound of birds singing in the distance. It was everything the void wasn’t.
Bright, warm, and full of life.
