OP Character - Ancient Being Predecessor of the Primordial Era [Bk 1 Complete]

"Shui." Her mother whispered. She looked back towards the closed door. Holding her arm tight.

Then looked back towards her. Shui had never seen her mother's eyes so wide. So beautiful in every way possible. Bright yellow with flecks of green. Two twinkling stars like the ones she could never reach above their heads in the sky.

Her mother was the best epitome of being… well, a mother. The perfect existence. She had to be. How could anyone compare to her when she made her food every day? Cleaned her up and even played with toys with her. She also gave the best hugs.

It's like father. But different.

Shui's father was the strongest person in the world. He could pick her up and fling her so high up into the sky only to catch her before she fell to the ground. She didn't like it much, but didn't want to break his heart. It was his favorite game after all. Being with him was enough for her.

There were others that were the best at what they did. Uncle Zheng was the world's biggest mustache person. Aunty Mei was the greatest cookie maker. Guard Bao was the fattest person in the universe. And many more that were so outstanding.

All with bright spirits and usually cleaner than the rest.

Mother turned to her. Kneeling to get face to face with Shui. She could see her mother's eyes tremble. Why? She wasn't sure exactly.

"Shu-Shu," Her mother's hand tightened. She studies Shui for a moment. "Listen to me, baby."

They were hiding in the darkness of a random uncle's home. He would be mad if he found them. Even if her mother was with her. She could already imagine the amount of yelling and saying bad words. Things that would make her mother cover her ears from listening. Even though she knew them all.

Most of the boys she played kick ball with tended to have potty mouths—

Hu Shui whined. "Mama!" She tried to pull her arm away but couldn't. "You're hurting me." Her mother's grip had tightened. Enough to be extremely uncomfortable—

No! They noticed!

Clouds of doom and destruction seemed to drift above her. Paling and trembling. They surrounded her very being. The thought of escaping was fleeting. She knew better than to attempt to outrun her amazing mother. Other than being the greatest person ever, she was also the fastest. There was nowhere to run from the fury and wrath she knew was destined to come.

She couldn't put it together. How had they figured out her crime? She had cleaned up and covered all of her tracks after eating the candied sweet and cookies yesterday. Wiped her mouth. Hid the jar behind other jars full of things in the kitchen. Even went to the lengths of washing her hands and wiping them on her robes.

There was no way they could have—

I forgot to clean the table!

Crumbs and wax papers. Evidence of her crimes sat there untouched and linking directly back to her. A failed heist attempt. It would not be a good day for her. Hopefully a few hugs and giggles would aid in her escape.

"…are you listening?" Mother said.

She had been speaking the entire time. But Hu Shui could not hear anything in the maelstrom of innocent fear and guilt. It was almost a guarantee she would get the paddle. Back side aching already. Especially if father had anything to do with it considering it was his favorite snack.

"Yes." She lied.

Mother pulled her into a tight hug. "Good."

It's about to happen! The paddling!

She closed her eyes and waited. But nothing happened at all while her mother kept her in a tight hug. No anger. No sadness. It left her bewildered. More so when she recognized it as it was. A hug hug. Not a catch hug when she tried to escape.

Hugs were happy things. Good things. Those were the rules. Everyone had to follow the rules.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Even father and the mean uncles could not break them. Though they tried to run away and dodge her wonderful hugs by flying or jumping over buildings. They were funny that way. If only she could chase after them. Start cultivating like everyone else in the entire clan.

Shui looked up at her mother's face. It made her pause. Her bewilderment and confusion only grew as tears dripped onto her robes from her mother's eyes. She reached up, wiping them away.

"Mama?" Shui asked. "You're crying."

Mother cleared her throat and tried to separate. "Everything's fine. Everything will be fine. I promise."

"Do you need more hugs?"

Hugs always fixed everything. Perfect for the job. Her mother tended to always smile wide and large after one. No matter how badly she cried or how angry she looked. They were the solution to all bad feelings and the reason for all good feelings.

She pulled her mother into her embrace. Trying to give her the tightest, warmest, best hug she could possibly ever give. She even let it last for longer than usual.

But to her surprise it didn't work. The exact opposite.

Mother started crying harder. Leaning into shui and covering her with her robe. As if they were playing hide and seek. Father never could figure out where she was when she and her mother worked together to hide Shui. An unbeaten tactic.

Yet, even hide and seek didn't feel important when her mother was sad.

The door creaked open slowly. A small figure walked into the room coated by the blazing red light and darkness outside. The fires outside danced like the festival dragons. Snapping back and forth. Beautiful in ways Shui could not explain. The spirits that cried and screamed were not though.

"Jun," her mother separated from her. Wiping the tears on her face with a long sleeve. "You're finally here."

Her distant cousin gave a military salute. Slapping her head with the side of her hand and stomping hard on the ground. Jun was always mean. Running around with the guards and yelling at her and her friends when they tried their little pranks.

She was no fun.

"Come here, Jun."

The girl marched to her mother. "Yes, Matriarch!" Standing rigid and straight.

"Make sure you protect Shu-Shu. Please." Her mother patted Jun's shoulders. "I will buy enough time for the two of you to escape. Remember the route I taught you. None of them will recognize you, so don't give them any hints of who you are. Only two vagrant girls a few cities over."

Jun saluted again. "Your command shall be done, Matriarch!"

Her mother winced at the loud voice. Jun was shouting at the top of her lungs. How she had even made it here being so obnoxious, unfun, uncool, and mean was beyond Shui. Maybe she could frame her for the cookies and candies she ate? Would her mother and father fall for it?

Shui took a moment to study Jun now that she was close enough to make out details. She noticed the soot marks on her face. The wide almost blank eyes. The scary wooden sword she always swung during practice. But there was something deeper Shui noticed.

Her inner eye opened.

"M-Mama." Shui hid behind her mother. "She's scary, Mama."

Jun's spirit was marred with massive, jagged gashes. Bleeding dark purple and red into the ether around them. Disappearing before hitting the ground. A soulless face screamed in silent and perpetual terror. Said colored blood flowing from its empty eyes and face. Skeletal hands reaching out to the sky. Begging. Pleading.

It was intertwined into her soul. How could someone heal from something so deep within her spirit? How did she hide the pain? What caused her to be so hurt without there being anything on the surface of her body to show it? Shui had never seen anything so terrifying like it.

She was quick to close her inner eye. Too scared to open it again lest the screaming face would see her.

Her mother pulled her from behind her and directly in front of Jun. Shui trembled. Refusing to look her in the eyes. But her mother would not have any of it. Tilting her face to make sure they locked with Jun's almost blank eyes.

"I will repeat this one more time, Shui. Make sure you are listening." She pushed her closer to Jun. Keeping Shui in her spot with a vice grip. "Make sure you follow Jun's every command. If you don't—"

Mother's lips quivered.

Should I hug her again? It didn't work last time.

Learning that her hugs had weakened made the future look bleak. Her prank opportunities diminished greatly. Stealing cookies and candies were now a near impossibility considering the likelihood of the paddle. Bothering the uncles and aunties, even worse.

"—then expect the paddle! Little rascal! Now go."

Her mother stood up and was quick to reach the door. Opening it slightly to look out. She stepped out making sure to survey both directions. Red light coated her face. Before finally bolting to the left, slamming the door shut behind her.

Shui and Jun could hear the sudden shouting. Men and women yelling. Some screaming. Others made sounds she had never heard before in her life. Had her mother hurt the baddies? She'd been doing that a lot lately. Very evil, very bad spirits. Dark and demonic. She did not like any that she saw.

"Recruit Shu-Shu!" Jun walked up to her with her hands behind her back.

"I'm not a recruit!"

Jun grabbed her arm. Quickly manhandling Shui to her back with speed and quickness that shocked her. Arms pinning her legs to Jun's sides. It made it impossible to escape the mean girl. Her wooden sword dug into Shui's thigh.

"Martial rules, Recruit Shu-Shu! You must follow the commands of the highest ranked soldier! Which means me! Do you understand, Recruit Shu-Shu?"

Another one of her brutish games? I don't want to play.

Shui tried to fight off the other girl but failed miserably. It took a while before she ran out of energy and gave up any of her struggles. Plus her mother was very clear. If she didn't listen to Jun, then she'd get the paddle. Shui did not like the paddle.

Jun carried her out of the building using the opposite door. Deep into the forest and darkness. Shui took a deep breath, even the smoke and ash could not hide the smell of their family's favorite flowers. It was also her favorite smell.