Two strangers were under the moon in a secluded place, one on top of another.

Really awkward, ah!

Shou was in a very tight position. He hoped that no one saw them like this. 'Now, what should I do...' Shou looked at the moon, trying to think of something.

"I just... want to be useful and become my family's pride." Hu Zi finally stopped choking. She wanted to let out what was inside her heart. She opened her red eyes, which were full of stubborn tears that refused to fall. "But it's impossible with these eyes!" She spoke in a whisper so low, even Shou could barely hear her. She choked again after that. 

"Purple, blind eyes..." Shou’s eyes widened. There was only one household in the capital that had a purple-eyed blind daughter, the Great General Hu's Household. He frowned, as the general’s household was known to be full of warm hearted but strong people; they would definitely protect the blind girl. However, looking at her condition, being protected might not be what she wanted. “The purple-eyed girl, Xiao Zi?”

“How did you know my name?” Hu Zi abruptly looked up.

Shou broke into a cold sweat. He hadn't realized he'd called out her name. He somehow felt guilty. "Xiao Zi, do you no longer want to be your family's weak point?"

Hu Zi nodded.

"Do you want to be independent without relying on others so much?"

Hu Zi nodded harder.

"Then I will help you achieve that."

Hu Zi nodded again, but a second later realized that something was amiss.

"You're going to help a stranger?” Hu Zi’s eyes widened and she gasped. Her purple eyes glinted because of the tears, but her irises were still dark and blank, indicating that she could not see light from them. “Why?”

"Well, umm…” Shou looked to the side. “I have a huge favor I need to return to the Hu household, so I think helping you will be a good way to repay it. I'm called Shou, so you can call me Shou Shifu, or Master Shou, from now on."

"Uh... ah... wait!" Shou suddenly grabbed her by the waist and carried her. Hu Zi's head now laid on his chest. Her cold body suddenly felt a comfortable touch of warmth.

“I know a way to make you stronger than anyone despite your handicapped eyes.”

"Really? You know how?"

"Yup!" Shou got up. "It will not be an easy thing to do, though."

"It's okay, I have good endurance and willpower," Hu Zi said quickly, afraid that Shou might change his mind. "I will be a good disciple!"

Shou smiled at Hu Zi’s excited face. "It's late now. You should go home first. We will start tomorrow."

Because of Hu Zi's small body, Shou was easily able to carry her whole body in one arm. Actually, this was the first time in so long that Shou carried a child. When he realized how small and fragile she was, he unconsciously loosened his grip on her, making his touch gentle and comfortable.

Shou gave Hu Zi his steamed bun after seeing her shivering in his arms. The hot steamed bun and the warm chest that pressed on her made Hu Zi smile brilliantly.

She looked up and tried to touch the face of her new master with her free hand. She felt that her master had smooth skin like her and her sisters’ despite being a man.

Shou knew what Hu Zi was trying to do. He let her touch his face and hair as she pleased, mapping all his features.

He had short, albeit a bit slanted, hair and almond-shaped eyes. His chin was not that pointed but it was proportional. The edge of his lips and eyes were narrow, making fine lines on his face.

When she was inspecting his long eyelashes, a drop of something cold fell on the back of Hu Zi's hand.

Snow!

"It's snow! Mommy, Daddy, look!" a child said.

"How beautiful!"

The people who were enjoying the festival looked up and saw the snowflakes falling down on their faces.

Hu Zi chuckled when some snowflakes fell on her closed eyelids. Shou saw that the melting snow in her eyes made her look like she was laughing to tears. Shou smiled softly.

Shou approached the exit gate where the other siblings were waiting for Hu Zi to show up.

When they saw Hu Zi being carefully carried by an unknown man, they figured out what might have happened after they lost her.

"We thank the sir for finding our sister," said Hu Bai, leading her siblings. Hu Zi was too tired after running and was currently sleeping. Hu Cheng Se carried her sister on her back.

"It is nothing, but you're welcome." Shou showed his mature side and accepted their thanks while showing courtesy.

"Eldest Young Miss, you found her?" said the family's head guard. As soon as he arrived and saw the white-robed Shou, he exclaimed. "Master Shou!"

"Shou? Don't tell me it is Shou the wind master, the youngest man alive to master the art of controlling wind?" Hu Cheng Se, the quick thinker, immediately said. Hu Bai and Hu Ye’s eyes widened with excitement.

"Yes, I am that Shou... Oh! Little Hu Miss, please inform the Great General Hu that I will visit his house early in the morning tomorrow," Shou said.

"Huh? Wait..." Hu Cheng Se exclaimed again but Shou suddenly disappeared, leaving them with wide eyes and slack jaws.

'Where did he go?' they all wondered.

Hu Ye was amazed but soon returned to normal. "Sister, what is older sis Zi holding?"

They finally realized that Hu Zi was gripping a white fan with purple flowers embroidered on it.

After the siblings returned home, Hu Bai told their parents about how they lost Hu Zi and encountered Shou. Both Hu Quang Lia and his wife were shocked, the latter almost letting the tea slip and fall from her hands.

In this continent, there were only a few martial art schools that taught their disciples how to use the three elements in battle. Those elements were fire, water, and earth. Although it didn’t give practitioners the ability to control elements freely, the steps or skill that they learned in the schools gained them a huge advantage when facing an enemy.

Someone who knew a few 'elemental moves' was rare, which was why those who mastered them were considered national treasures.

The last element, wind, was a bit unique. Since air was practically everywhere, it had the most advantage in battle. Wind masters could sense every air vibration that happened around them, thus being able to detect each move.

It was only a pity that mastery was very difficult, and it consumed the most energy. This explained why most wind element practitioners died before they managed to master all of the skills.

"To put it simply, that Shou lad is a real monster," said Hu Quan Li, the Hu siblings’ father. "Him giving Zi'er a fan means that he accepts her as his disciple."

Stunned, the three Hu siblings listened attentively.

"Ugh... so... father, is that good or bad?" Their father had explained it so fast that Hu Cheng Se could no longer keep up.

"It all depends on your sister." Hu Quan Li smiled.

-----

Early Morning

"Is he here yet?"

"No, not yet."

Fa Sui and Falcon were hiding behind the bushes. They were watching the front gate intensely.

Falcon was one of the young guards of the Hu family. Fa Sui was the apprentice of Fa Rong, the Hu family’s doctor.

"Shou, I have heard so much about him. He is a great hero, and I've looked up to him for a very long time. I need to see him, I can not let this opportunity pass!" Falcon popped his head up so he could see the whole gate clearer. The gate had two huge pillars, on top of which was a sign that had 'Hu' written on it.

"Falcon, are you sure that he will use the front gate?" Fa Sui pulled Falcon down so his head could be covered by the bushes again. Fa Sui did not want the whole household to find out that Falcon was skipping his morning training.

"Of course! Why do you even ask, Sui? It’s not like he can pass through the wall."

"No, but he is a wind master. He could control the winds to make himself fly. He does not need the front gate."

“...Ugh, that did not come across my mind..."

"See...I knew it! This is pointless!" The twelve-year-old Fa Sui rose from the bushes and irritatedly pointed his long and dainty finger at other boy. "Falcon, this is your fault for dragging me here! I should have stayed behind!"

"What?! My fault?" Falcon was bewildered. "Hold it! Why are you finding faults here? I only asked you, and you readily agreed to come here and wait!"

"Still, that was a waste of three hours of my life! I should have stayed inside and read books."

"Tch! I know you just want to find somebody to be your scapegoat when Doctor Fa comes back and realizes that you haven't finished your homework!"

"That is definitely right! Be obedient and let yourself succumb to Uncle's punishment!" Fa Sui bluntly pointed.

"You shameless—you!" Falcon stood up, his body towering over Fa Sui. "Let me teach you some lessons before your Un–"

"Stop it, you two!"