“Then I can only disappoint others, and go against heaven! We cultivators were originally destined to go against the heavens from the day we start practicing cultivation. Our existence on its own is a huge resistance against this natural order of heavenly rule. Attempting a worthy struggle to keep my love for you and be with you in all the difficulties and pleasures of life - how could I disappoint you in that vow? I promised, I will only love you -Ying Yueru! I will fulfill that, no matter what comes in my way. You just need to believe in me.”

And he was right, that man. That woman really was heaven's daughter - even if she never let anyone know. While the world searched for a sign of this chosen daughter, she was lurking in the shadows watching everyone play a game of tag. How she knew, or who let her know that she was the noblest of heaven’s creation – Wei Ziya could only wonder.

Wei Ziya thought and imagined with great intensity; a world where Ying Yueru was missing. What would such a world look like? Another woman will be the first to rank in halls and lists of greatest cultivators. Another person will snatch that alchemy inheritance she prided on. And that lover - he will lie in the laps of a different woman! All that just because she couldn't snatch a mere mortal soul-!

Wei Ziya panted tiredly, squinting out the water from her eyes. New tears kept flooding down her cheek, warming her face.

Yet still she had been unfortunate to only come back at this point. A year or two more - she could have done so much to help the resistance. But now, everything was already on the path of no return. Wei Ziya thought as she wrung water out from her cloak, which was now hanging heavily on her body. She wrung her long tresses. Wiped her cheeks of the tears but some more poured out. Salty water, drenching her face full of drops of heated liquid; making her lose all her grace and bearing. Her cracked lips lined into a whimper, shivering in emotion and cold. “But this time, when everything enters darkness – I wouldn’t be left alone wondering why.”

But was it really her soul’s rebirth tonight? Not a cruel joke by that woman’s father - or those high immortals of the spiritual realm? Showing her what she wanted the most to only snatch it away later - haven’t they already done that a million of times? But this event, to-night, was so personal to that woman - how could she let a soul know of this night? She hadn’t even shared that secret with her lover! After all, it was a taboo whether it be in the cultivation realm, or spiritual realm – to take over someone else's body was the most frowned upon thing. Only heathens did that, no orthodox cultivator would ever fall to such a degree.

Or could it be that she was dreaming? Was that all that happened in her previous life rather a dream, a premonition that unfolded her destiny foretelling all her fallings and victories? A forewarning? A blessing from the dark- from some unknown force that wanted her to escape those dark days and those vile men and women? Mother goddess-?

But Wei Ziya shook her head. No, the mother goddess is dead. 

‘No,’ she argued with herself softly. ‘How could someone give me this chance if he wanted me to fulfill my predestined role? And if he was against this predestined fate- why chose me, a shell with no value? I, myself, am not that worthy - to shoulder this heavy duty of saving a world. In fact, all my life, I have been struggling with bad-luck of the most horrific kind. Living like a mirror, stifled into an inhuman state - is there any ability still left in me? Always lingering on the periphery of being destitute and being shamed and facing blood curdling helplessness. As if the dictates of my fate were those fallings – and my sinful birth only deserving of this treatment. As a shell who cares what befalls me? But why…why only me?” 

As pain numbed, doubts arose in her mind.

Was this bad-luck result of her birth that had killed her in her previous life? Yes, she shouldn't have been born – as a proof of the sins of old, a detestable existence like her should never have a happy ending. Karma was never on her side. But – being born only to die? Who chose this punishment? Why should her life be taken just to fill in a gap for others - acting like a body container for a foreign soul -like an empty casket which could be emptied at will.

“Did I deserve being treated like that?” Her voice pierced the night. There was confusion, there was a solemn prayer in that echo.

‘No,’ Wei Ziya shrunk her shoulders and broke out into a more serious episode of shivering. ‘I am not made of wood. Of course, I shouldn’t have been treated like that! Look, when my ashes should have settled in the river of time, I am back here. Whatever the cause, I am still me. Look, no one, no soul knows I am back here! Look – look at these arms, these limbs and myself- I am still me! This is me! Even if this is another dream, I will break through it, one day…one day. Even if it’s another evil trick – I will live through it like all those other times. Yes, I was never an unthinking log of wood…I had always been a human. I will never think of myself so low…no-! No one knows what happened in a previous life. No one.”     

“Tip-tap-tip”

Water droplets dripped from the eaves.

Wei Ziya jerked awake. Her eyes took in her present surrounding, finally coming out of her deep thoughts. The pond and those time ravaged buildings…it was night time, still. Her eyes contracted with a strange, weird yet apprehensive glint. She looked around once more, finding no other figure near her. There were no maids around. Not even those who come into these ruins to make a round on their watch.

Way past twelve in the night. It was and without doubt it could only be such a deep hour. Perhaps way past even the most of the night! The silence was dead, as gloomy as penetrating despair. No cricket chirping. Even the wind had fallen down, leaving no trace behind.

Wei Ziya hurriedly retracted her feet which were still dangling inside the water. She crawled back with so much intensity that for a while her whole body ached and trembled. But she didn’t care for that. In the rush of the moment, the sharp blades of tall grasses cut several lines on her wrist – she didn’t feel that too. All she had in her mind was how to rush back. She had to run, but her legs would not rise. She limped along the unpaved path, while strenuously struggling to increase her pace.

She couldn't stay outside. The family warning resounded in her mind; her grandfather had strictly restricted anyone, not even night-watches and guards to remain outside their chambers during nights. She didn't know the reason in her past life, but she knew that whatever was restricted was for a reason. 

‘I should go back…’

Author's note:

 So, we have two people right here who have clearly reincarnated, reborn. Wei Zhiruo/ or the heroin is someone who has taken over someone else's body. Opposite to her, Wei Ziya is someone who had her body stolen in her previous life. Definitely, Wei Zhiruo is something Wei Ziya as a victim will abhor; and with valid reasons too. Having her life-stolen, and watching her body do things as a bystander - that's clearly the worst fate anyone could have suffered, and seeing it happening again to one of her sisters? That's a clear reason for antagonism. But with the world at the brink of end, does she have time to think about things like this? Wei Ziya is clearly ready to die anytime this time around, because she knows her limits as a human. She isn’t Wei Zhiruo with a special bloodline, a history of past struggle with forces far greater than her.

Wei Ziya definitely is a human with no strength or determination to face the upcoming end of her world and save everyone; that’s not something she could ever do even in her dreams. Her greatest determination ends with her declaration to not escape through the channels she knows she can escape (having watched the body-snatcher do it in her previous life). She knows she will never have a chance at getting things back to before, or save anyone in one years’ time. All this explanation, because i want to tell that Wei Ziya is not the antagonist of this story. She is not the heroin, of the book in which Wei Zhiruo finds herself. She is just another side-character who had everything snatched, and is surviving another bout of torture. The real heroin, will come later.

Thankyou and happy reading~