A chance of a lifetime

She stares into the bronze mirror as she takes a deep breath. It happens, as luck has it, she has been reborn after she had suffered a long ordeal of cruel fate caused by her own family members and the man that she loved dearly.

In just a few days, she will be celebrating her fifth birthday where a huge birthday bash has been planned by both of her parents who have high hope on her to become just like them, a pair of powerful cultivators. She takes a deep breath as she further put her thought into that particular matter.

Her father, Duke Bao Biming, possesses fire attribute and has reached the seventh of the tenth levels of cultivation. He is also the only heir of the Bao family whom for generations have been loyal supporters to the imperial family and the one who controls almost all of the trading businesses within the Kingdom.

Her mother, Duchess Fen Liling, is famous not only for her beauty but, she also possesses the water attribute and has reached the eight of the tenth levels of cultivation. After all, she used to be the prized disciple of the Manyue Sect, a Sect famously known for their alchemy prowess. But she has since been kicked out from Manyue Sect for marrying her father as those in Manyue Sect can only marry those from Xiongwei Sect, a Sect famously known for their exceptional fighting skills.

As their firstborn, everyone expected her to inherit her mother's beauty but, as luck has it, she is not blessed to inherit even half of her mother's beauty. She is not even considered as intelligent as her father as well. Soon, her parents will be totally broken-hearted upon discovering that she has absolutely no talent whatsoever when it comes to cultivation. None of it... She is not as beautiful as her mother. She is also not as intelligent as her father. And the final nail in the coffin is that she is a trash. An absolute good for nothing who is not beautiful in appearance and naturally stupid in nature with zero cultivation skill. Her life, as a whole, is pathetic.

The Three Elders will be attending every birthday in the Kingdom to give a special test for those children who will be celebrating their fifth birthday. That is a norm in their Kingdom where those talented in martial art and possess exceptional cultivation skill are highly appreciated by everyone. Trash like herself, regardless of his or her status, will be looked down by everyone and will be treated as such.

Ironically, with all of the expectations of others for her due to her respectable status, she will soon be discovered to be one without any trace of talent for cultivation nor is she one with talent in martial art. Her fifth year of living will be the start of her living hell despite her status as the legitimate daughter of Duke Bao Biming.

Three years later, one of her father's concubine will give birth to a daughter, the very same half-sister that married her husband in her previous lifetime. It will be another ten long years before she will meet the man that has completely crushed her heart and, the reason for her rather ambiguous death. She can recall every single thing that had happened in her previous lifetime but the missing piece is that the cause of her untimely death.

She clenches her small fist and swears that this time around, she will change her so-called fate. If she did not possess any talent to cultivate herself, there is always the dark side. She did not mind choosing the demonic and dark side if that what it takes to change her rather tragic fate.

Days and nights have passed ever since her 'awakening'. She promised herself that she will entirely separate herself from her family when the chance arises. She will even prevent herself from ever meeting that person ten years later. She will do her very best so that her life will not be ended a day before her twenty-fifth birthday.

"Bao Baiyu! Are you listening? Stay still... The seamstress has to take your measurements, my dear. Stop squirming around. What colour do you like for your new outfit? Look at this… Isn't it beautiful? It suits you…"

Her mother stares at her as she checks each of the materials brought along by the seamstress. Her beautiful yet cruel mother who cold-heartedly discarded her daughter upon discovering that she is nothing but worthless trash. This mother of hers is only interested in her father and their soon-to-be-born only son.

"Black..." She said as soon as she turns her head away to look at the empty corner in her spacious room.

Duchess Fen Liling slams her hand on the table and says, "Nonsense! It is your birthday, Bai-yu! Not a funeral. Seamstress, soft pink... It will suit her well. This soft pink-coloured silk with embroidered peony is lovely…"

As her mother keeps on talking with the seamstress, Bao Baiyu yawns and thought that her birthday could certainly be a 'funeral' if she will not change her course of fate for the better. She might not be blessed in the cultivation aspect, but she can always improve her study. Read... She has to read more books so she will be a knowledgeable individual. If she lacks brawn, she can always compensate that part with a brilliant mind. Her life will be her own for the taking and not others.

One of her maidservants suddenly enters her room. Where she lacks love and attention from her own family members, her maidservants have always been there for her. They are even more than willing to do all the dirty works for her benefits.

The reason why that man hates her so much was that she was very possessive towards him. Many of his concubines have died because of her and her maidservants. Her four maidservants are five years older than her yet fiercely loyal only to her. It might have been a stroke of pure luck on her part when she simply chose the ones with four different attributes consisting of fire, water, earth, and air.

Her head maidservant is Lu Huo and she possesses the fire attribute and has amazingly reached the fourth of the tenth levels of cultivation. Due to that fact alone, she is always by Bao Bai-yu's side in order to protect her from any harm.

Yushui, on the other hand, possesses the water attribute and has reached the third of the tenth levels of cultivation. She specializes in taking care of Bao Baiyu's appearance and outfits. Due to her diligence in her responsibility, Yushui is someone who values cleanliness and impeccability when it comes to outward appearance.

The one who possesses the earth attribute is Diqiu and she has reached the second of the tenth levels of cultivation. When it comes to Bao Baiyu's food and drink, Diqiu is the only one allowed to prepare it for her due to Bao Baiyu's particular taste.

Last but not least, is Yangzi who possess the air attribute and she has reached the first of the tenth levels of cultivation. She has become the caretaker of Bao Baiyu's beloved pet white tiger, Bai Laohu. Though she is the weakest one out of the four now, she will become the most powerful one in another five years with the discovery that Yangzi is, in fact, a dual cultivator possessing both the air and nature attributes.

She, on the other hand, is the only one without any attribute nor the ability to cultivate which is a minus and a detrimental fact that will cause her rather mysterious yet untimely demise in the future. She should focus on her study then. At least, she will not be that hopeless of a child for her parents for the time being.

"Lu Huo, I wanted to take a short nap. The four of you can take a break as well. Remember... No one else but me should ever know that all four of you are able to cultivate. Not even my own family members."

Lu Huo looks at her little mistress and then at Yushui who has just entered the room, "Noted, Eldest Miss. After all, if it is discovered that we are actually able to cultivate, the imperial family will command us to become imperial maids. None of us ever wanted that..."

"Excellent. I do not wish to live in a golden cage as well. If there is a slight chance for me to get away from here, I would make it happen. I need to experience living far from all of these... People."

Both Lu Huo and Yushui stare at their little mistress whom they had served for more than a year now. Their little mistress is the eldest and legitimate young miss of the Bao family. Everyone including her parents have high hope and expectations for their little mistress especially when she will become a 5-year old soon.

But, for the last few days, they noticed that their little mistress has become more dignified and somewhat aloof in nature. In their eyes, she no longer acts like a child. They pretended not to notice these odd changes of hers, but their little mistress has indeed changed.

Duchess Fen Liling, who is walking nearby her daughter's sleeping chamber, is feeling some-what disappointed when she realizes that her daughter did not inherit her ethereal beauty, but she expects that her daughter will be one with the ability to cultivate and possess attribute/s as well. After all, both she and her husband are a level 7 and level 8 respectively so their daughter has to be someone exceptional. She turns her head to look at her daughter whom by now is sitting next to the window while she rests her small head on the windowsill as she blankly stares outside not noticing her standing there.

She noticed that her daughter no longer clings onto her as she usually did. Her daughter has become quieter and smiles even less. Something is bothering her daughter. She can feel it. What worries a young child? She must tell her husband of this. Something must have happened as her daughter no longer acts like a spoiled brat. She might be unwell, a physician should be called to check on her daughter soon. She turns her head to look at her personal maidservant, "Luye, find a physician to check on Eldest Miss. Once the check-up has been done, as the physician to come and see me at my courtyard."

A middle-aged maidservant answer, "First Madam, this servant will get it done."

绿叶 Green leaf