Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

After realizing what she had done, Ming Yue dropped the sword and backed away.

"O-oh... oh... I..."

Her entire body seemed to tremble and quake, she was scared and she had every right to be so.

Such a pure girl who could never hurt someone had killed for the first time. She dropped to her knees and started crying, not knowing what to do next. The only ones still alive were Rou Meng and Teacher Fan, but they were very hurt. 

Both of them looked at the girl in pity and slowly approached her, limping to her. 

"It's ok now, the danger has passed, we are safe."

Her father tried his best to console her but even he knew that there was no hope here. 

They might have won but the cost was too much, the entire village had been destroyed and they were what was left. Unfortunately, that will not stay true for long. 

Both her father and Teacher Fan groaned in pain as they fainted on the ground. 

"No, father, Teacher Fan!"

She helped them back to the medicinal hut and dressed their wounds in vain. It may have slowed the process but it would not stop their impending death. The medicine in her home was not enough. 

"Ming Yue, you should leave us, we will only slow you down, get away from here", said both Rou Meng and Teacher Fan.

"No!" She said," I can't leave you here, what will I do without you?"

"Please, do not worry about us, depart from here."

"I want to stay here with you for as long as possible!"

"Go! We're both on our death beds at this point! Just go!"

"But..."

Despite her protest, she could only follow what they said. And so, she had begun to pack up her belongings and prepared to leave. Although both Teacher Fan and Rou Meng were unable to move much, they did what they could to help Ming Yue be prepared for a life outside of the village.

Teacher Fan told her that in his home is a manual.

"It's a simple manual from when I was in the army and it has my notes and understandings about using the sword. This should help you, especially now that you have a sword of your own. Although this isn't some great martial art, Hopefully, it will aid you at the start of your journey," he said.

Her father had then called Ming Yue and decided to reveal a small secret. He looked at the sword with a sense of regret. 

"This sword Is called Parting Sun and was originally created along with another sword called Splitting Moon. Although I do not know the exact origins of these blades, there is a story behind these blades."

"The blacksmith who created these blades was a master. At the time, his wife had just given birth to a beautiful boy and he was extremely happy. In such a state, he created two swords, Splitting Moon, a smaller blade that was for his wife, and Parting Sun, a gift for when his son grew older."

"Unfortunately, some corrupt officials heard of these blades and wanted them but no matter what they offered, he would decline. In anger, he ordered the deaths of him and his family. They tried to escape but did not have much luck. Only their son had survived, holding the two swords. Years later, he would come back as a powerful cultivator and killed the corrupt officials but he had been poisoned and also died. The swords were missing and never to be found."

Ming Yue's father placed his hand on the sword while looking at her. 

"I found this blade when I was scavenging through the forest but I never used it. I vowed that it would only be drawn if I had no choice. I feel like such a fool, pleading with that bandit. I should've taken it out instead."

After that, he revealed a heavy sigh.

"If only I had this blade before your mother died", he spoke weakly, showing a tinge of grief in his eyes.

But they were soon replaced with some hope for his daughter. 

"Now, I entrust this blade to you and perhaps you might find the Splitting Moon. However, you must remember one thing, once you go out into the world, it is incredibly cruel. You must learn to steel your heart and prepare your mind. The next time, you see another scene like this, you would not be so helpless, okay?"

She nodded, trying her best to hold her tears in.

With his dying breath, he said one final goodbye, "You will forever be my precious daughter."

With that, his hand which had been caressing Ming Yue's cheek fell to his side.

Despite such a sad moment, She did not cry. Not a single tear fell. She only looked at her father's peaceful face.

"To think... this is how my life would end. I hope that you live well in life Ming Yue, whatever trials there will be..."

And then, Teacher Fan had fallen to his injuries and died on his bed.

Ming Yue looked at them both before walking outside. She dug graves for them and buried them with the proper respect, doing it silently.

As for the rest of the village, she had burned it all down, leaving not even a trace. Her home was gone, the only traces of it ever existing were the pile of ashes drifting into the wind.

Once the village had stopped burning, any resemblance of Ming Yue was gone from her eyes. What was left was a cold and heartless girl.

From this point on, she was alone.

She carried a small bag on her back and her sword in its sheath, fulfilling its duty as a walking stick. With each step she grew colder, her emotions locked away. The joyful smile on her face had been replaced with an ice-cold frown.. Her kindness was no longer there, gone like her home.

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