Larger Than Life, Bigger Than Us

Now back to the booklet, how did she unraveled the mystery? Looking back to all the events that had happened, the only sound explanation was that her spurt of blood was the key. That was the only difference. Though Ran wasn't aware, Lily suspected greatly it had something to do with the imprinting. She would have to wait before she could confirm her suspicions.

"Young Mistress, are you hungry?" Yang appeared with a wooden tray filled with a steaming porridge and delicacies, interrupting her in her thoughts.

No longer startled by the appearing/disappearing act of Yang, Lily nodded. It had been a few hours now and she was able to do light movements. Lily reached out for the spoon, but her strength failed her and the spoon ended up on the ground. Still unable to hold a spoon. Lily was a bit exasperated.

"It seems I will have to feed Young Mistress." Yang was quite content with this role and thus was enthusiastic in catering to her needs. But to Lily, it was nothing pleasant.

"Whose fault it is I am in that state? What kind of treatment leaves ones unable to even hold a spoon?" Lily's tone was full of grievances but she didn't dare to push all the blame to Yang. She knew fully her injury was to blame for her state.

"I apologize for failing to protect Young Mistress! If Young Mistress orders I am willing to repay this sin with my life" Yang kneeled right away with all the seriousness of the world.

Immediately, feelings of guiltiness invaded Lily. She didn't mean to lash out at him she just felt pathetic and powerless and needed to vent.

"Stand up Yang. I apologize for what I said. Please forget it. You are my only friend at the moment and this was in no way caused by you."

"Young Mistress will fully be healed soon."

"I need to return soon or my Master might worry...and I don't want to cause a commotion in the valley and attract unwanted attention."

"There is no need to worry Young Mistress, I have set up a dummy in your room for the moment. It still should buy you some time."

"Yang, can you call me Ran? We are friends after all it won't do for you to always call me Young Mistress."

Yang looked at Lily with sparkling eyes. He was deeply touched.

Meanwhile the Master of the Valley was contemplating the view from his office. Behind him, a row of men clothed in black were kneeling to the ground.

"Have you found her?"

"Not yet Master." The Captain of the elite squad answered.

"She is still in the valley. Keep on searching. What about the details of what happened? I want a full report."

"The assassin has escaped. We did not find out his whereabouts yet nor his origins."

"Do not come back unless you have eliminated the threat. Disperse"

The row of men quickly vanished in different directions.

The Master was slightly worried but with the help of the imprint, he knew his disciple was still safe. When he had felt that threatning aura of death, he immediately ran to her rescue but by the time he arrived at the library, both his disciple and the assassin had disappeared. From the residual energy left, he could sense the assassin was highly skilled in martial arts. The Master was convinced it was someone of the valley or linked to the valley but at the same time, he knew all of them and none had a motive to attack his disciple. This was concerning. He hoped his disciple would appear soon.

Normally, he would have been able to find where she was in an instant, this time he could only faintly sensed she was near but couldn't pinpoint the exact location.

The imprint seemed to have been disturbed by some interferences.

"Dear disciple where are you?" The Master tried to communicate with his disciple a few times without success.

In the secret room, Lily was now left alone with her thoughts and decided she would further her training.