The maid Loan (2).

Ling Yue frowned slightly. The Clan Master - her father?

She inwardly sighed. Of course he'd know of the attack as soon as it ended. He was this Clan's Master after all, his eyes and ears were everywhere.

This Loan, maybe even she reports back to him.

Lotus fixed her gaze on the black-clad figure kneeling in front of her. She reached out and grabbed the shiny medical tablet in Loan's hands.

The tablet was an Upper-Class Healing tablet she said? So in this world tablets existed…

According to the information in her memories, Upper-Class tablets were extremely rare and valuable. Large clans like the Yue only possessed a certain amount. Tablets like these were rarely used by the Clan Masters, reserved for grave injuries, and yet here it was, given out by Hong Yue as soon as he heard his daughter was harmed.

Warmth seeped into Ling Yue's chest.

Her gaze softened. She had someone who cared, how valuable.

The tablet was a shiny black, with barely visible carvings running along the round shape. It glowed softly, a pleasant herbal smell faintly radiating from its core. Ling Yue popped it into her mouth.

A refreshing wave of herbs invaded her nostrils and throat. It felt as if there was a current of warm water running through every part of her body, fixing up the wounds inside and out.

The cuts on her body visibly knitted itself together, the new skin unscarred. After a moment, she was good as new.

Ling Yue tried working her arms and legs. Nothing hurt.

She sighed.

This world's "magic" amazed her. This tablet could have saved lives back in her days. If she had it, maybe so many would not have died under her hands...

"Loan." Ling Yue called softly.

Loan felt the hairs on her neck rose. Her back straightened as her heart-rate accelerated. She scolded herself inwardly; she was a Middle Yellow class Chi user! Why was she afraid of a mere girl without any Chi?!

At that thought, she regained a bit of confidence and raised her head: "Yes, my Lady?"

Ling Yue's face was expressionless. "Tell me who you really are."

Loan's heart skipped a beat. Sweat trickled down her back as she sucked in a breath: "My Lady, that…"

Ling Yue's eyes narrowed dangerously. She smiled softly: "Or I can go to my father and ask him myself, your choice."

Loan gulped. She stammered: "I-I…"

"I was an orphan… Clan Master Yue picked me up from the streets." Loan gave in.

Her identity was to remain a secret - her job was to protect the Lady forever in the shadows, yet tonight, she had failed her purpose. She was ready for punishment; telling the Lady the truth shouldn't hurt after all that...

"He trained me as a shadow guard, solely for the purpose of protecting my Lady. Five years ago, I became the Yue Clan's shadow guard leader. The Master then sent me over as a maid to serve you, my Lady."

Ling Yue slowly nodded her head. It was as she had guessed.

She had noticed something about the way Loan walked since the very beginning, and also her physique. Loan was lean, but had well-sculpted muscles that needed regular training, meaning she knew martial-arts and practiced Chi. She had never revealed that fact to the original Ling Yue though.

Loan's walk was also silent, like an assassin's, fading into the shadows. Ling Yue had her suspicions.

"Tell me, Loan, do you serve the Clan Master?" Ling Yue paused. "Or do you serve me?"

She stood up.

The long silk sleeves of her red hanfu flowed behind her, flurrying with her brisk movements, almost like wings. Loan's eyes blurred for a second, as if a majestic phoenix had appeared before her vision, overlapping her Lady's silhouette.

Loan shuddered, her pupils dilating.

Just for an instant, she was squashed by that grand presence, and she didn't dare breath.

The mirage, fast as it came, disappeared.

"Loan's life is yours, my Lady. You are my only master." Loan swore, bowing her head solemnly. Her heart was racing, for no real reason at all. Maybe it was because of the Lady's aura – she stood proud, oppressive, the presence of immense power.

How strange, because in this world, the Lady had no powers at all.

"Very well! Loan, your Lady has an order. Go and kill the Clan Master." Ling Yue smiled.

Loan nearly fell backwards. Her hands were instantly covered in cold sweat, her face pale as a sheet.

Her mouth open and closed. Determinedly, she bit her lip and picked up her sword. Bowing her head, she said: "Yes, my Lady."

As she was about to head to the Clan Master's yard, she heard the Lady laugh. Clear as glass shattering, like bells ringing; sharp with a hint of arrogance.

Ling Yue's grin widened as she slowly shook her head.

"My dear Loan, you can rest now. You have met my expectations."

"Wha-what…. But… Didn't you just say…" Loan stammered, dumb-founded. What was the Lady getting at....?

"I was just messing around with you, Loan. Now, I have no reasons to suspect your loyalty!" Ling Yue placed her hand on the maid's shaky shoulder. "If you are willing to take the life of your savior for my sake, then I can trust you enough. But know this, dear Loan--"

Ling Yue's smile stopped.

Her smirk widened into something frighteningly malevolent: "If you ever betray me, the price isn't something you can bear."