A Wuxia Tale: Blades and Flowers

Impossible

(AHRAN)

I was sleeping and dreaming about something I would never remember when I felt what seems like a hammer coming down on my head. I forgot to breathe for one second as pain, something that I have never felt before, wracked my body. Then I felt the world shaking violently as I tried my best to open my eyes.

"AhRan! Master AhRan!" Adda cried for me.

"Uhm..." I shook my head to try to dispel the dizziness and pain I am feeling. "What happened?"

"You have to tell us. Wang Hua...Wang Hua..."

"What happened to Wang Hua?" I asked in confusion. "Help me up," I asked Adda while lifting my back from Dao's bed. Everytime I am staying at Wang Estate, Jian Yu let me use Dao's room. Since his son is currently in the kingdom, it is quite safe for me to sleep in Dao's bed.

But that is not whats on my mind in the moment as even before we can leave the bed, I heard the bloodcurdling scream of Jian Yu outside of the room.

"NO! NO! HUA!"

I hurriedly rushed to the open doors to see whats going on inside. I blinked several times at the scene that greeted me. Jian Yu is sitting slumped on the floor while holding an unmoving Hua in his arms.

"HUA IS NOT DEAD! SHE IS NOT DEAD! HUA! HUA! MY DAUGHTER IS NOT DEAD! DON'T TOUCH HER! SHE'S NOT DEAD!" Jian Yu shouts at anyone who tries to come near him and Wang Hua. Even General Wang looked helpless and in despair as he watch his partner clutch their unmoving daughter.

"No..." I heard myself saying softly. It cannot be. Did Jian Yu really said that Wang Hua is dead? Thats impossible. That cannot be true. I forced myself to move. I lifted an arm and try to reach out to them. "Wang Hua..."

"Master AhRan," Adda touched me. Trying to help me move.

When Jian Yu heard my name, his wide eyes found me. "AHRAN! HELP ME! AHRAN!" He called my name in desperation.

I took a step but stopped as well when dizziness assailed me again. "Master," Adda exclaimed in worry. I shook my head to dispel the dizziness. I have to help Jian Yu and Wang Hua. I willed my feet to move. It took almost all my energy not to vomit while coming close to Jian Yu and Dao's twin. I collapsed in front of them.

"AhRan!" General Wang helped me. All of us are in our sleeping clothes. Whatever happened assailed us during our sleep.

"AhRan, help me. Help us," the Consort is now begging. Tears are running nonstop from his eyes. I felt for the pulse on Wang Hua's arm. There is nothing there. I tried again on her neck...still no heartbeat.

She is dead.

I closed my eyes. "P-prince Jin is dead." I said.

"What?" Every eyes on me are showing extreme surprise at what I said. I swallowed saliva again. "Prince Jin and Wang Hua's deaths are connected to each other. If Wang Hua is dead, Prince Jin is dead as well." I winced as pain lanced on my whole body. "I also cannot feel Wang Dao..."

"NO! No, don't say that! Not my children! NOT THEM!" Feng Jian Yu is close to losing not just his composure but sanity as well. I don't blame him...it seems like he will lose both his children tonight. But him shouting won't help our case.

"Stop shouting!" I shouted back at him. I closed my eyes as I felt a blanket of blackness surging in me. I am about to lose consciousness as well. Adda steadied me by sitting on my back. She made me lean on her.

"S-something is wrong. Something. Someone..." I cannot get my thoughts aligned to make sense of whats happening.

"My daughter is dead! You are telling me she is dead..."