1 One
**ONE**
**** ONCE UPON A TIME IN HEAVEN,THE HEAVENLY EMPEROR HAD THREE DAUGHTERS. MEI LI, SU YIN AND NU YING. ALL BORN FROM DIFFERENT WOMEN, MEI LI THE DAUGHTER OF AN UNKNOWN WOMAN,SU YIN THE DAUGHTER OF A CONCUBINE AND NU YING THE DAUGHTER OF THE HEAVENLY EMPRESS.
MEI LI WAS BORN WITH GREAT INTELLIGENCE AND KNOWN AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN THE HEAVENLY REALM. WHILE SU YIN WAS BORN WITH UNMATCHABLE STRENGTH AND KNOWN AS THE GODDESS OF WAR FOR SHE HAD CONQUERED SO MANY ENEMIES. NU YING WAS SIMPLY THE EMPRESSES DAUGHTER.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO A WAR BROKE OUT IN THE HEAVENLY REALM,THE HEAVENLY EMPEROR'S FIRST DAUGHTER MEI LI STARTED A REBELLION. SHE WAS CONQUERED BY HER OWN SISTER SU YIN. ORIGINALLY SENTENCED TO DEATH, SHE WAS PARDONED AFTER SU YIN PLEADED ON HER BEHALF. ESCAPING DEATH BUT NOT PUNISHMENT, MEI LI WAS LOCKED UP FOR ETERNITY.
AFTER MEI LI WAS LOCKED UP, SU YIN RENOUNCED HER TITLE AS GODDESS OF WAR AND GAVE UP MILITARY POWER DISAPPEARING IN TO THE MORTAL WORLD
****
The streets of chang an was bustling as usual. The pickpocketters doing what they knew how to do well, a fortune teller on the left sitting on a bench with people queued up waiting to get their fortunes read. And a noodle shop at the right filled with people listening to the story a strange old man told.
"The goddess of war Su Yin was also part of the rebellion," he said. Gasps and a few impossible erupted from the people seated down. The old man continued his story regardless. "But she betrayed her sister at the last minute, making her appear as a hero." He cleared his throat at that, stroking his beards.
People spoke in hushed tones and whispers, some nodding and others shaking their heads. The goddess of war Su Yin in stories was a hero, she had saved the three realms so many times, battled against devils, demons, even pretentious celestials from heaven and people like her sister who started a rebellion and came out victorious. She was highly worshipped by mortals. But then rumors have been spreading, that things were not the way they said they were, and people were starting to believe it.
"Ungrateful mortals" a woman in a white dress, sitting at the last row with an wine jar in her left hand, and head resting on her right hand, eyes closed, said.
Immediately all eyes were on her, she didn't realize she had said that out loud, but then who cares.
"Who are you to call us ungrateful?" A man asked diverting attention from her to him. But it only lasted a second as all eyes were back on her expecting an answer.
"You called on her when you needed her, when you needed help and she was there. The mortal realm would've ceased to exist if it wasn't for her. You worshipped her for a few years and now you're tired, now that she's no longer here you believe rumors slandering her, the same goddess that was there whenever you called. Tell me," she paused opening her eyes slowly, "if you aren't ungrateful, what are you?"
"You speak like you know the goddess personally," the old man who was telling the story said.
"Me?" She laughed taking a swig from the wine jar in her hand. "I'm just a mortal, how would I know a goddess."
"Why then do you speak up for her?" He asked eyes fixed on her, and the people nodded to his question, awaiting her answer.
She paused for a long while before replying. "Because I'm not like the rest of you." She simply said, standing up with her wine jar tightly clenched in her fists.
The people sitting close to her covered their nose as she stood up, she reeked of alcohol."No wonder." They whispered to each other, it was a shame, she was too young and pretty to be an alcoholic.
Su Yin shamelessly staggered out of the restaurant, with the people's looks burning a hole through her back. She gave the old man one last look and smiled. He was clearly an immortal, but why slander her? He knew very well what happened. There was one person good at twisting the truth and slandering people, and she knew very well who.
"Pour dirt on my name all you want." She shouted to the sky, "I won't give you the attention you want." A silly laughed followed it next.
"I wish it would rain." She sighed walking through the busy street. Almost immediately a lightening appeared in the sky and it started to pour down heavily.
"The only time you ever listen to me." She tucked a strand behind her ear and proceeded to walk in the rain, drinking the wine in her hand.
Suddenly someone dragged her into a corner, causing the jar in her hand to fall an break.
"Who!" She screamed turning to give whoever it was a death glare that could send them six feet under.
Three shabby looking men gathered around her, eyeing her like a piece of meat.
"Considering yourself lucky for catching the eye of our young master." One of the men said.
"He saw you in the restaurant and liked you immediately." The chubby looking one added smiling like a fool.
"You have two options," the third one spoke up, "you let us escort you back safely, or-" he paused.
"Pay me for my wine" she said after minutes of yawning.
"Huh" they all looked at her confused.
She pointed to the shattered jar and spilled wine on the floor.
"Go with us, I assure you our master will pay you in two folds." The chubby one assured.
"No I want the money now." She stuck out her hand.
"Young lady I think we've been polite enough." The stone faced one said, "go with us or else." He threatened.
She simply laughed, but soon turned serious,"I think I've been polite enough, pay me for my wine or else."
The stone face signaled to the other two to attack and the charged forward.
"I hate to do this." She blew hair from her face. The two men went flying to the wall with that.
Meanwhile the stone face was launching a sneak attack from the back. Not so fast.
Just as she raised up her fist to punch him, she felt something, or rather someone stop her.
She looked up at her words got stuck in her throat, "who-" was this young man in Black holding her hand.
There was a moment of intense staring between them before the young man decided to break the silence.
"Immortals stay shameless." The word 'immortal' rolled off his tongue with hate and venom. "Bullying a mortal I see? Can you go any lower." He said leaning in like he was about to kiss her.
Su Yin took two steps back as his hold on her hand could not allow her take more.
She swallowed nervously, 'Su Yin get a hold of yourself!' her subconscious screamed.
Opening her mouth to say something, she paused as she caught a whiff of his scent. Devil. He had a devils aura allover him, and it was strong. Since when did devils get so brave? Brave enough to challenge an immortal.
"You little devil." A smile crawled it's way up to her lips.
He paused, amazed that she had figured out he was a devil in seconds. He quickly replaced the shocked expression on his face with an amused one.
"Let go you little devil." Her tone was fierce and commanding.
"And if I don't?" He sounded like he was up for the challenge.
"Or I'll-" she stopped half way as he released his hold on her hand.
"Nevermind." He turned around to leave.
"Why?" She folded her arms amused,"not sure you can beat me?"
He ignored her words instead and said. "If I ever see you bullying mortals again, I won't let you off lightly." With that he disappeared into thin air.
SU Yin laughed amazed at his guts. "You overrate yourself little devil."
