2 The White Forest

There was a forest that stretched through the three realms--Mortal Realm, Deity Realm, and Heavenly Realm. The White Forest acted as their border, and was one of the most dangerous places of the realms.

It comprised a seemingly endless expanse of ancient white trees and was home to rare medicinal herbs, perilous traps and cliffs, hidden caves, and almost every kind of spirit beast.

Only those who sought death entered The White Forest. Children were taught to steer away from it. Hunters or adventurers never dared to venture too deep into it for those who did never returned. But what nobody understood was this: it doesn't matter whether you seek death or not; death always finds you in the end.

Peach blossoms fluttered off tree branches like butterflies, and the sweet fragrance mingled with the wind. The forest path was littered with pink and white flowers, and a woman walked along that path with near silent footfalls. 

She had a slender figure and fair skin. Her upturned dark eyes shone with joy, and her red lips were curved in a smile so soft and warm that it could melt the coldest heart. A smile of one in love. The red dress she was wearing contrasted with her long black hair and stood out in The White Forest like a drop of blood. 

Little did she know how true it would be.

She stopped when she saw a familiar figure in the distance. Her fist clenched the note he had left for her, requesting they meet in this forest despite the risks and dangers.

They would elope and travel to the Mortal Realm without worrying about fate and prophecies and scheming family members. They would finally be free, and their future together would start right here, right now.

It had always been their dream, even before everything. Now it would be their reality.

"Yuan," The woman whispered.

As if the wind carried her voice, the man slowly turned around and smiled at her. She would never get used to that smile. Everytime she saw it, her heart skipped a beat and made her believe that she wasn't the heartless devil she was supposed to be.

She was heartless to everyone but him, because he was the only one who mattered. She started running towards his open arms, but then--

Chu Yuan's smile froze, and his face contorted into an expression of pain. Pain, because the sword point that was plunged through his heart was twisted. Blood bloomed, though it was barely visible on his dark clothes.

He fell to the ground just as she reached him, mouth agape with shock and tears falling from her eyes.

The scene in The White Forest was like a painting--a pair of lovers in an embrace among the peach blossoms. Reality was far from the romantic atmosphere a painting would have portrayed.

The woman placed her hands over his heart, as if she could stop his bleeding. The man lifted his hand to caress her cheek one last time, and she could have sworn he mouthed something.

"What?" She asked in between sobs.

The cold wind blew, carrying with it a melancholic song. There was no answer. There never will be.

Memories of their past flashed through her eyes. He had shown her love when she needed it the most. He was always there for her, even though he was not supposed to be.

He who was always cold-faced and acted expressionless and emotionless would only smile for her. She loved that smile, and hated that she would never see it again, not for the rest of her life.

He had taught her love. He had taught her how to live.

That dream they had, was it impossible, or would they have another chance in the afterlife?

Her heart broke the moment that sword pierced his. Now he was dead, and her heart died with him. Was this what true, irreparable heartbreak felt like? At that moment, she hated the heavens for giving her love, then snatching it away. 

She would have taken that sword and ended her life, if only it could make them together again, but she could not--would not do it.

No, she would avenge him first, starting with the one who killed him. And she had an idea who it was.

Before she could get up, a mesmerizing male laughter sounded behind her. "Bai Rong, I told you to choose wisely, or you will regret it."