PROLOGUE

Sparks flashed... The crowds cheering, never ending, booming loud all around. The swift feet of a child rushed towards her enemy, and jaggedly cut the head off the monster with her claws. "YET ANOTHER WIN!! LAST ROUND EVERYBODY!" Roaring yells and laughs loud to the child. They wanted more bloodshed, but the girl felt as if she could collapse. Her tail long since soaked with blood sagged low, much too heavy for the young girl to keep up high now. The feeling of dirt and grime clinging and drying on her tail disgusted her, but as a battle slave she knew she wouldn't get any sort of freedom here. Never mind warm food, she knows the most she can get is dirtied, cold, moldy bread..

She felt lost and hungry, she wanted to leave, but she has no where to go. She was covered with dirt and grime, blood not sparing her any less, she could be considered barely recognizable by this point. She was shaking so much, she just wanted to sleep. To die. This is the only life she's ever known, fight, kill, and pray to Buddha you win. She's seen what happens to others when they lost. She won't be another number to add to that body count. She can't yell back if they yell, she can't hit back if they hit, she can't eat unless they say so, it's so.. So tiring. She doesn't want to fight anymore, but she doesn't have a choice. Her hair is ragged and long, stringy, and dark. If it were to ever be washed, maybe it'd be silky smooth. Maybe even soft. But, baths are a type of luxury.

The arena rumbled as the gate opened. Something haggard and hulking made its way out. Bandages loose and sticking on by blood. A metal mask, shaped rectangularly, seemed melted on. Boney some parts, but meaty others. Robe hung loosely onto it's waist. Shredded and torn but mended together with spare fabrics. It.. It was outright deformed. No part of it's body the same length. But, regardless, it was huge and could crush the girl easily. The air suddenly started to enclose on the girl. Her ears pinned back and her eyes widened a fraction. She was terrified, but if she showed even a fraction of her fear, they'd close in on her and take advantage.

Shaky scar ridden legs rose from the kneeling state they were in previously, clawed hands flexed, and a heart beat oh so loud but could only be heard to one person. The owner of that heart beat. Dangling eyes watched in anticipation, the world felt all to silent at that moment. But when morning came only one of them would see that light shine from above as the sun rises. And she wasn't gonna lose that last blissful thing, even if it was a reminder of the impending life she repeated day to day, not mater how ugly the day, it was the only thing that was close to a hug. She wasn't willing to lose that so easily, not without a fight.

A gust of a dirt cloud, convulsing pain, the feeling of ripped limbs, and praise. It felt filthy. She felt filthy. The walk back is blurred, was she even walking? Did she win? She guesses she did. Everything felt so distant at that moment. How did she even win? They aren't beating her, they haven't pulled out their whips or metal branders yet... So, she won right? They're even giving her praise, but it felt so mumbled. She couldn't understand what they're saying. Clawing.. She remembers clawing, at something. The ground? That.. That thing? Her breathing is unsteady and she looks down, her hands. Her arms. She felt so light headed, why? Why did she always get so lightheaded after the rounds?

It looked so grainy, red, and wet. Drip. Drip. Drip. The blood puddled and followed after the girl. The grainy meat took place where nails should be. Blues', purples, and yellow greens painted her body, some splotches spanning over half her body. The biggest patch a stringy, thick, pink and red meat shown. Shining and wet. She felt numb. So fucking numb. Her eyes were hazy and unfocused. She wanted to fall but couldn't. Before only two, blood soaked, and almost rat like tails followed her. Now there was a third. Though, less soaked. She swayed side to side as she followed the two, others stared blankly at her passing by, some simply snickered, and a select few found pity in their hearts. All children. At least, those who watched on. The two men, one delicate looking, the other a old looking thing. Despite the frailness of their looks, she knows better. Had to learn better. Old fools who believe they have a right to do what they want due to their righteous titles. Humbled at birth, cultivators in life, and rotten at heart.

No amount of will can change their style, cramped lungs, or soiled hands. Who is she to say what they do is faulty? Or dishonorable? This is the Silent City, mouths stay closed and untrustworthy. See a murder? See a war? Stay quiet and hide away. No amount of reasoning will change this slaughter market of a city. Nothing will. Beasts and demons kept against their will. Children are no different than animals, treated and sold as slaves. Not even human children are safe from this world clutches. But they are held in much higher priority than spiritual beasts like her. Hulijing's are to be shown no mercy. But, she wasn't so ignorant to never realize what life she could live if she were to receive the heavens mercies. The heavenly realm. A dream to all. But a dream within her reach.

She lays in bed, bandaged and bruised, but hopeful. She still has hope. She always wondered what the Heavenly realm was like. If she were to ascend, would she meet the Jade Emperor? Would she still get to frolic in the heavens despite how dirtied she is? Could she truly be free and enlightened with kind and gentle touches of the wind? She hopes so. Even with how sullied she is. She's hopeful for that glimpse of freedom. The world's only mercy for the poor little fox girl, is but a small promise. But she holds onto that ideal tightly, and she holds that wish as close to her heart as possible. She hold her arm out and looks above her. An old stone roof, mangled and scratched, blank and bland, was all she saw. Yet, despite what she saw through her eyes, she imagined much grandeur things.

Then she heard it; mocking sounds and other boys and girls her age. She stared with a blank face before turning her attention back onto her rooms walls. It wasn't really a room, it was more of a cage to keep her locked. Talismans and chains encasing her room. More banging on the bars, she glanced back at the source of noise yet again. Snickers went in one ear and out the other. They never left it be, huh? She looked at the two standing at the bars with half lidden eyes and a deadpan expression. Her body already felt so limp, and she didn't have near enough energy to tell them to leave her alone like how she normally does.

A boy and girl snicker once again seeing her only lay still as she stared onwards. "Is bitch too tired to move? Gonna bark? DO IT DOG. COME ON!" Dust was kicked her way, aggravating her wounds, but her wounds seem numb to the feeling. Much too used to the other children's antics. At her lack of a reaction the girl and boy grew annoyed. She only looked away and closed her eyes planning to rest. "GET UP MANGY MUT! FUCKING COWARD!." They yelled as they kicked more dust her way and scampered off. She scoffed at them but relaxed at their leave. She was so tired, but she smiled. Her smirk grew as she heard those children from earlier screech. She glance as she saw the boy from earlier come running back but quickly turned a corner. He was holding his arm as if he had been hit there. She could already see it, a big bruise blooming right there. Though, she wished he had been hit on the head instead. It wouldn't have given him more brain damage than he already had, if anything the hit would've probably fixed him.

She sighed as she saw the girl coming back, tears in her eyes, she had gotten it worse than the boy. The girl stopped and stared at her for a moment, and apologetic look on her face, she didn't blame the girl. She was upset but the girl had at most sat their and let the boy yell his part, and let it happen as she showed pity on his pained face. A small demon girl with slanted eyes, but a soft face. She was only doing what it took to gain protection. They could understand each other, woman were treated much differently than men. As if they're something you could take your anger out on and get away with it. They weren't entirely wrong either. But she wasn't gonna stand there and take it. If she ever made it out of here, she's gonna do her damn best to bring that girl with her.

Despite the girls' idle nature, she was quite kind to the fox. No matter how scared she seemed, she was still pleasantly warm to her. She felt a sense of pity, but also understanding. Neither wanted pity. And they both understood that. A mutual understanding of their situation. One day, she'll bring the other with her and they'll become temple maidens. Live righteously and live peaceful days away from here. A shared dream, one she hopes to live up to. She smiled at the thought as she closed her eyes. Yes, they could live a life without any further pain.

It's what she hoped for.

No pity.

Just blissful grace with one another.

Mutual understanding.

A fools wish in all honesty.

The body had long since gone cold.

She had dreamed and hoped. But it was just that. A very, very, fickle dream. She had no name, only a number. Branded onto her with searing hot metal. A permanent reminder, but she wasn't alone. She had the demon girl. But now, she had nothing but the bloodshed of faulty righteousness. She did it.

She finally did it.

She never felt more free than today.

Three blood soaked appendages followed a being into the massacre. It felt so exhilarating and it was pleasing to her eyes. Lungs punctured, hearts splattered, bones cracked, and organs spread about like decorations. It was red. Everything was red.

Despite the carnage, she brought the cold body with her. The only thing left untouched by her hands. Hands that had ripped cords from throats. Gently held the body, cradled it as if it was the most precious thing in the world. It was curled inwards as if trying to hide. It seemed so small. She wanted to cry.

They were supposed to leave together.

Alive.

They were leaving.

But the other would never get to see the recently wet grass or smell air that wasn't sullied with the distinct scent of musk.

But she could still bring her body and burry her in the fresh new world.

A world without their filth.

A world clean of the blood she had to spill.

And of the blood she spilled for the notion of freedom.

But for her.

She..

She would continue.

Continue to walk on.

Continue to fulfil what dreams they shared.

And to live on for her.

It felt so bitter.

She ran as fast as she could.

She felt so weak and lightheaded.

But she can't stop yet. Not when she still had to bury her.

The sun was brighter, so much bright outside.

The air was clean and breathable.

She stumbled to a stop in front of a tall structure.

And laid the body to rest.

"Tóng Bā" Engraved on a rock.

Red eight.

Red...

Fitting right?

Plum blossoms in bloom.

They were Xiao'Bā's favorite.

They were the last thing she saw before she was capture.

The fox wept for the first time in years.

For Tóng Bā she would.

She would outlive every last bastard and live their dream.

For her she would.

She was only ten.