Introduction
The howling wind gushes towards him with brutal force, compelling Shen Zhi's body into the soft snow. He gulps a mouthful of snow as he tries to take a breath, only to cough violently in the end. The wound on his shoulder once again emits painful spikes as his body shook. Calming down a little, Shen Zhi puts his palms into the chilly snow in the attempt to push himself up. Unfortunately, with that effort, he only managed to push himself onto his back.
Looking up at the dark sky, Shen Zhi felt at a loss. This task bestowed onto him from his Imperial Father was obviously to take his life. Unwilling to let any other princes go on this lethal journey, as a child of poor background, Shen Zhi was chosen to go. He does not know why the heavens has always been so cruel to him. Since his youth, Shen Zhi has been bullied by his siblings, simply because he was birthed from a maid. No matter how nice he was or how obedient, not even his Imperial Father would glance at him. He still remembers once, in the attempt to get close to his Imperial Father, Shen Zhi was pushed away by an elder brother. The words often repeats in his mind,
"You are a piece of worthless trash that should have never been born. Nothing here belongs to you, not Imperial Father, not your title, not even your life."
Shen Zhi laughs at the pathetic memory, but is devastated as to how true it is. Even his life was not his to have and his Imperial Father did not care if Shen Zhi died on his trip or not.
Looking up at the dark sky that only held a full moon as it's light, Shen Zhi almost felt as if it was an analogy of him. Like a moon with no stars, Shen Zhi never had anyone in life who stood along his side. What a lonely life he has led thus far.
His eyes leave the bright moon and moves over to the bare darkness around it. Realizing that his life may end here, he opens his mouth to make a silly wish, one he has held in for a long time.
"If the heavens can let me have just one thing I will treasure it with my life as if it was my own soul. Something that no one else can have, something that I will always keep me company. I can let all the people to walk out of my life and let all material goods turn to ashes with them. But please let me have one thing that will belong to me. I will treat it well and never let any harm come to it. Please grant me this one wish…"
Shen Zhi once again laughs at himself. Instead of wishing to live another day, he wishes for something so silly. His lids began to fall from the tiredness and the pain of his wound. The wind continues to howl while the snow started to numb his body.
In the corner of his eye, Shen Zhi spots a light of flames crossing over him as if attempting to cover him whole. But he was not fearful; instead, in that short moment Shen Zhi admired the light that was brighter than the moon. It was a scarlet flame with an essence of violet on its tail. A type of flame that Shen Zhi has never seen before, covering him with some warmth.
