The bustling market street in LongFeng City was alive with the vibrant sounds and scents of daily life. Vendors called out their wares, children laughed and played, and townsfolk haggled over prices. Amidst the lively crowd, HuaiAn, a young 15-year-old recruit, moved cautiously, her senses heightened by the dangers that lurked beneath the city's veneer of normalcy.
HuaiAn had only recently joined the resistance after being trained at the secluded training ground outside LongFeng City. Though she had participated in a few raids, her experience was limited, and the memory of those tense operations still sent a shiver down her spine. Today, however, her task was simple—or so she thought. She had been sent to fetch supplies from the market, blending in with the crowd as instructed. Her heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, each step deliberate yet tinged with unease.
As she navigated the crowded streets, a sense of foreboding washed over her. The market was bustling, but something felt off. She glanced around, her eyes scanning the faces of the passersby. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto a figure she recognized all too well—Shan Jun, the son of Marquis Shan.
Shan Jun’s reputation was notorious in LongFeng City. He was known for his cruelty, having accosted, defiled, and even killed many women before. His slimy demeanor and arrogant smirk sent a wave of dread through HuaiAn. She quickened her pace, hoping to slip away unnoticed.
But fate was not on her side. Shan Jun's eyes locked onto her, and his smirk widened. He pushed through the crowd, his gaze fixed on HuaiAn like a predator stalking its prey. Her heart raced as she realized she had no way to escape.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Shan Jun sneered, grabbing HuaiAn's arm with a vice-like grip. "A pretty little bird trying to fly away?"
HuaiAn's heart pounded in her chest, a mix of terror and defiance coursing through her veins. She struggled to free herself, but Shan Jun's grip tightened. He leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear.
"Don't think you can get away from me," he hissed. "I've dealt with plenty of girls like you before. No one will save you."
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
HuaiAn's mind raced, the training she had undergone flashing through her thoughts. She remembered the lessons on control, the importance of staying calm. But the weight of Shan Jun's presence, his taunts, and the memories of his victims fueled her desperation.
In a moment of heightened emotion and instinct, HuaiAn's magic surged within her. Flames erupted from her hands, engulfing Shan Jun in a dramatic display of fire. The market street fell silent as bystanders gasped in shock and incomprehension. The unmistakable use of fire magic left no doubt about what had happened.
Shan Jun screamed in agony, his body consumed by the flames. The crowd scattered, fear and confusion spreading like wildfire. HuaiAn stood frozen, the reality of what she had done sinking in. She had never intended to use her magic, but in that moment, her instincts had taken over.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, HuaiAn turned and fled the scene, her heart pounding in her chest. She darted through the alleys, her mind a whirlwind of fear and regret. She knew she couldn't lead the Enforcers to the hideout, so she ran in the opposite direction, hoping to lose any pursuers.
Word of Shan Jun’s death spread quickly through LongFeng City, igniting a storm of fear and outrage among the nobility. Marquis Shan, upon hearing the news of his son’s fiery demise, descended into a blind rage. Consumed by grief and vengeance, he vowed to make an example of whoever was responsible.
"This isn’t just murder—it’s an act of rebellion!" Marquis Shan bellowed during an emergency meeting with the city’s Enforcers. "Find the culprit, and bring them to me. I want justice served publicly, brutally, and without delay."
The Enforcers mobilized immediately, scouring the city for anyone matching HuaiAn’s description. Posters bearing her likeness were plastered across every wall, promising rewards for information leading to her capture. Checkpoints were set up, curfews enforced, and patrols increased. The atmosphere in LongFeng City grew oppressive, testing the resolve of everyone involved in the fight for justice.
Despite her best efforts to evade detection, HuaiAn’s youth and inexperience made her vulnerable. Exhausted and terrified, she sought refuge in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. But her hiding place was discovered when a group of scavengers, desperate for the reward money, reported her location to the authorities.
Marquis Shan personally led the raid on the warehouse, his face contorted with fury. When HuaiAn was dragged out into the light, her clothes torn and her face streaked with dirt and tears, she tried to speak—to explain what had happened—but her words were drowned out by the jeers of the gathered crowd.
"You killed my son!" Marquis Shan roared, striking her across the face. "You filthy commoner! You dare defy your betters?"
