Morning had never come in Lichan's life. Time never stops… slowly, time kept passing. Days turned into months, months into years, and that little girl Lichan had now become eight years old.
The cloth tied over her eyes was still the same tied just as tightly as it had been eight years ago. Eight years had passed, yet she had never seen light. Not the sun, not the sky, not even her own face.
She had learned to walk, but not by seeing by falling, by remembering. She had measured every corner of the house with her steps. How many steps until the wall would come, where the mud stove was, where the wood was kept she remembered everything.
Mei Lian made her work every day. As soon as she woke up, she had to clean the courtyard, sit near the stove and peel vegetables, fetch water, and pull the small bucket. If she made a mistake, she would be scolded, sometimes even lightly hit on her hands.
For Bao Lin, she was just a burden… but a necessary burden because of greed.
"As long as that thing is with her, keep her safe," he often said.
The child stayed silent. She had gotten used to it the darkness, the pain, and punishments without reason.
But one thing never changed.
The bracelet tied to her wrist.
Sometimes, in the deep silence of the night, it would start to give off a faint warmth. Then she would hold it with both her hands… and for the first time, a faint smile would appear on her lips. As if, even in the darkness, someone was taking care of her.
Lichan stood near her mother, eyes closed, and softly said,
"Mother… my eyes are hurting…"
Mei Lian gave her a strict look, then said in a slightly harsh voice,
"Don't make excuses of pain to avoid work."
Lichan tightened her eyes even more. Her breathing became fast, but she stayed silent. She lowered her head slowly… as if pain was nothing new for her.
Mei Lian placed a broom in her hands.
"Finish quickly, then you have to cut wood," she said in a cold voice.
Lichan extended her hands without saying anything. Her fingers were small, delicate… but they had tiny wounds on them. Old, dried, yet not fully healed.
She slowly started cleaning the courtyard. Her steps lifted carefully, then fell on the ground from memory. Sometimes a lump of mud hit her foot, sometimes a splinter of wood scraped her finger… but she never complained.
In her world, pain was not something worth speaking about.
Bao Lin stood at a distance watching her. But his gaze did not stay on the child even for a moment it was fixed directly on the bracelet.
"It still hasn't come off…" he said softly.
Mei Lian replied, "We'll try again tonight."
Greed flashed in Bao Lin's eyes.
"Of course. I won't leave something this valuable."
Lichan did not understand their words, but the tone of their voices scared her. Unknowingly, she held her wrist with her other hand.
The bracelet grew slightly warm.
As if it had sensed her fear.
At the same time, far away, beyond mountains and dark rivers, inside a deep cave, a blue light was still slowly pulsing.
Drops of water fell from the ceiling onto the rocks in a steady rhythm… as if time itself was counting.
Among those rocks, Lixuan's body still lay there. But now, everything was not the same as before.
His breaths had become deeper than before. The rise and fall of his chest was slow but clear. As if the journey of returning from the edge of death was about to be completed.
The blue light suddenly grew brighter for a moment.
His finger moved slightly.
A small ripple formed on the surface of the water.
And for the first time in so many years… his eyelids trembled slightly.
As if the sleep had been very deep… but was now about to break.
The woman in red robes sitting inside the cave was calm. As if she had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
She softly said,
"It is time to wake up…"
The blue light pulsed again.
Lixuan's eyes slowly opened. His breathing was heavy.
In the blue glow, his gaze stopped on the woman sitting in front of him red robes, a calm face, but deep pain in her eyes.
He slowly got up and walked toward her.
"Who are you?" he asked in a slightly trembling voice.
The woman stood up. Without saying anything, she came closer to him. She gently placed her hand on Lixuan's cheek.
With that touch, it felt as if all forgotten memories returned in a single moment.
"Lixuan…" she said softly.
Hearing his name, Lixuan's eyes filled with tears.
He immediately hugged his mother.
"Mother… where did you go? Why did you leave me alone?"
His voice had become like that of a child.
His mother ran her hand through his hair. There was pain in her eyes… but also a smile.
"I was not far, Lixuan… I was just waiting for you to return."
There was silence for a few moments.
Then she softly said,
"Do you even know how long you were asleep?"
Lixuan asked in surprise, "How long?"
Her gaze softened.
"A full eight years…"
As if time had stopped for a moment.
"Eight years…?"
His breath got stuck.
"Then… everyone must have thought I was dead…"
His mother lowered her head slightly.
"Yes… the outside world has moved on. Perhaps many people have even forgotten you."
Lixuan's fist slowly tightened.
"I have to go back…"
he said in a voice filled with pain.
"Now?"
His mother stopped him.
"Not now, my child. Until you understand and control your powers, going back will only put you in danger again."
She touched his forehead.
"Stay here… learn, understand. Ahead, you will meet someone who will help you regain your lost powers."
The blue light started swirling again in the cave.
Lixuan understood.
His sleep had ended… but his real journey was just beginning.
Lixuan did not insist on leaving the cave again after that day. His mother began taking him to the deeper parts of the cave. As soon as they went there, the blue light became stronger, and the ancient symbols on the walls felt like they were breathing.
In the beginning, Lixuan could not even feel his powers. Sometimes when he sat in meditation, energy rushed rapidly through his body, sometimes when he extended his hand, the surface of the water moved on its own… but there was no control at all.
Once, his power became so uncontrollable that the entire cave shook.
Then his mother stopped him and said only this,
"Gaining power is easy, Lixuan… but controlling it is your true test."
Slowly, not in years… but in the flowing stream of time, Lixuan began to learn. To keep his breath steady, to calm his mind, and to turn pain into power.
But one thing in his eyes never faded the desire to return.
And on the other side, the Lianyu tribe was glowing under the light of deepmala tonight. The red flames of torches flickered in the air. The echoes of drums were reaching the mountains, and people from all the major tribes had gathered to witness this special day.
Today, Mingzhao was to be declared the leader of Lianyu.
But far from all this noise, in the dark corner of his chamber, Mingzhao sat alone.
In his hands was the ceremonial robe of the leader, but despite holding it tightly, his fingers felt lifeless. His gaze was fixed into emptiness.
"Brother…" he said very softly,
"I wish you were here today…"
Just then, the door burst open.
Chenyu walked in. His steps were firm, his gaze even harsher.
He looked at Mingzhao sitting silently for a moment, then said in a cold voice,
"Still remembering him?"
Mingzhao said nothing.
Chenyu stepped closer.
"Lixuan is dead."
For a moment, the air in the room seemed to freeze.
"The time to mourn him is over," he said more sternly.
"You are about to become the leader of Lianyu… not the brother of a dead man."
Mingzhao slowly clenched his fist, but did not resist.
Chenyu said one last thing,
"Stop remembering him. Tribes are not led by those who cling to the dead."
After a moment of silence, Mingzhao slowly stood up.
His eyes were red, but his voice was steady.
"I am going to become the leader… that is why I am going."
That was all he said.
In the assembly hall, amidst rituals and the oath of the ancestors, Mingzhao was declared the leader of Lianyu. Everyone bowed, but his eyes were searching for one face in the crowd… a face that wasn't there.
The celebration began. Traditional liquor was distributed, jars of jiu were opened. Laughter, songs, and the noise of victory filled the air.
Among the crowd, the Shenmai tribe was also present. Their leader Xiangu and his younger brother Zhichen were there.
Xiangu filled a cup and extended it toward Zhichen.
"Zhichen, you should drink too."
But Zhichen remained silent. His gaze was fixed on Mingzhao standing at a distance.
"Why aren't you drinking?" Xiangu asked.
After a moment, Zhichen said softly,
"This celebration feels incomplete…"
Xiangu understood.
"Do you still remember him?"
Zhichen's fingers paused at the edge of the cup.
"I never tried to forget… because my heart never accepted that he is gone."
Xiangu pulled the cup back. This time, he did not insist.
Because he knew
two people were standing in this celebration, but both had grief in their hearts.
One a brother… and one a friend.
Both felt Lixuan was still alive somewhere.
But that night's celebration was not limited to Lianyu.
Beyond the distant mountains, a small village lay drowned in darkness.
Mei Lian called out to Lichen in a hurry,
"Lichen, come here!"
Lichen walked toward her, using the wall for support.
"Yes, mother?"
"Go beyond the village, to that big house… bring flowers from there. We need them for the ritual."
Lichen nodded slowly.
"Alright, mother…"
She picked up a small basket and started walking slowly. She remembered the path—counting steps, the smell of soil, the direction of the wind… everything was a marker for her.
After some time, she reached the house. But the moment she stepped across the threshold… her steps stopped.
There was a strange smell in the air.
Like heated iron… like blood.
But she couldn't understand it.
"…Is anyone there?" she called softly.
"I'm Lichen… Mei Lian's daughter… I came to take flowers…"
No response.
She stepped inside slowly. The ground was wet.
One step… two steps…
Suddenly, her foot hit something. She lost balance and fell.
"Aah!"
Her hand slipped onto something sticky. She touched it with her fingers.
Warm… wet…
She trembled.
"What is this…?"
Her breathing quickened.
"Is… is someone there…?"
In the darkness, someone was standing.
Silent. Completely still.
Lichen sat trembling on the ground. Her hands were soaked in blood, but she couldn't understand what she had touched.
As soon as she sensed footsteps, she quickly moved back. Her body hit the wall.
"Who…?" her voice was very faint.
The figure in the dark slowly moved toward her.
He bent down and looked at the cloth tied over her eyes… then waved his hand in front of her face.
No reaction.
A cold smile appeared on his lips.
Lichen moved back again.
And that person… was none other than Moren.
He said in a low voice,
"Don't be afraid…"
His voice was calm, but cold.
"I won't kill you…"
Lichen paused slightly… but stayed silent.
He came closer. So close that his breath touched her cheek.
"Because you cannot see…" he said softly,
"you are no threat to me."
Lichen was too scared to even move.
Moren slowly bent closer. With very light fingers, he touched her face… as if trying to feel something in the darkness.
Lichen's breathing became faster. She wanted to move back, but her body had gone numb.
Moren said softly,
"Remember this… after about nine years, I will come here again…"
His fingers were still resting on her cheek.
"To take something…"
A brief silence filled the air.
"So we will meet again then…"
He stood up straight and turned to leave… but after two steps, he stopped.
As if something was left unsaid.
Without turning back, he said softly,
"By then… you will become very beautiful too…"
The next moment, a strong wind blew… and he was gone.
Lichen remained frozen there. Her hands were trembling, her breaths breaking.
For some time, she couldn't even get up.
Her heart was pounding loudly. The sound of that stranger's footsteps had faded… but his coldness, his voice still echoed in her mind.
She gathered courage. Using the ground for support, she slowly tried to stand.
Her legs were shaking… her breath uneven… but she had to reach home.
She turned and started walking with unsteady steps.
She knew the path… but today every step felt heavy.
As if the ground itself was stopping her.
Once, her foot hit a stone she fell hard.
This time, her hand touched the ground again… and she felt that same warmth in her fingers.
Blood.
Her breath stopped for a moment.
But she didn't stop.
Her fear had grown so deep that even tears wouldn't come.
She stood again… and this time, she started running without stopping.
A blind run.
Her breath was heavy, her feet injured… but she didn't want to stop.
After some time, she reached the door of her mud house.
The door was half open.
"Mother…" her voice trembled,
"mother, open the door…"
Mei Lian came out irritably… but the moment she saw Lichen she froze.
Lichen's clothes, hands, feet… everything was covered in blood.
"What have you done to yourself?!" Mei Lian's voice had more fear than anger.
Baolin also came out immediately. His gaze went straight to the bracelet… then to the blood.
"Whose blood is this?" he asked sternly.
Lichen's breathing was still fast.
"There… that house… everything was silent… the ground was wet… someone was there…" her voice broke.
Mei Lian grabbed her roughly,
"What nonsense are you talking?!"
Lichen shook her head,
"He… he spoke to me…"
Baolin's face hardened,
"Who?"
Lichen said slowly,
"He said… he wouldn't kill me… because I cannot see…"
For a moment, silence filled the house.
Baolin and Mei Lian looked at each other.
Fear… recognition… and a sign—all rose together.
"What else did he say?" Baolin asked in a heavy voice.
Lichen tried to remember.
"He said… he has taken revenge… but didn't find something valuable… and he will come again…"
"When?" Mei Lian asked anxiously.
Lichen said softly,
"He said… after nine years…"
At that moment, the bracelet warmed slightly… but no one noticed.
Except Lichen.
She grabbed her wrist.
The fear deepened.
For the first time, Baolin's face turned pale.
"Nine years…" he murmured.
Mei Lian immediately shut the door and ran to the window as if the darkness was not outside… but had entered inside.
That night, no one in the house slept.
And Lichen, curled up in the corner of her bed… for the first time thought
The darkness was not only tied over her eyes…
but over her life as well.
And she had no idea…
That the knock of that man's return…
had already been written in her fate.