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Guozhao Hunters

UndyingSoul
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Completed
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Synopsis
Syaoran was created as the most powerful mortal guarding the northern fortress. He fell in love with two souls secretly, which angered heaven. His punishment is to be reborn as a human being, and he must suffer humiliation, pain, illness and death in the form of a woman.
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Chapter 1 - Peace Town

Ping'an stood before Siyuan, tears blurring her vision. Soldiers screamed in agony around them, while people frantically crossed the lake on boats. Above the chaos, some hunters rode on their flying swords, and graceful fairies soared across the shimmering water.

Everyone kept shouting, "Fall back across the lake! Retreat!"

Ping'an, her voice trembling, asked, "Siyuan, do you remember that promise we made?"

"Yes, I do," Siyuan replied, his gaze unwavering.

"Will you ride with me for one last time?" Ping'an's voice was barely a whisper.

Siyuan smiled, looking down at Ping'an with a gentle strength. "It would be my honor." He reached out his left hand and pulled Ping'an onto his equine back. Turning to his fellow soldiers, he declared, "If any of you don't wish to return to battle, I will not force you."

The ten remaining soldiers powerfully banged their spears against their shields, roaring their encouragement.

"Let's go save King Shammek!" Siyuan bellowed, raising his spear high.

The ten centaur soldiers chanted in unison, "Save King Shammek! Save King Shammek! Save King Shammek!"

Siyuan turned his head to Ping'an. "Hold on tight."

With a thunderous charge, Ping'an, Siyuan, and the ten centaur soldiers surged back into the battlefield. Following closely behind were Fang Yaoting and Lim Peizhi.

Fang Yaoting called out, "Ping'an!"

Ping'an turned left to see Fang Yaoting, then right to Lim Peizhi, who was smiling brightly at her.

Lim Peizhi's smile widened. "Let's go save our friends!"

Ping'an smiled back at her friends, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Siyuan, head straight to the Northern Fortress Magic Circle!"

"Arrowhead formation!" Siyuan commanded.

The centaur soldiers swiftly fell into an arrow formation behind Siyuan, their unified charge a spearhead aimed directly into the hordes of incoming demonic creatures.

Sixteen years earlier:

Ping'an and Xiong Grandma walked side by side toward Sunset Street. At this hour in the morning, the street was crowded with people. Compared to its surrounding neighboring towns, Peace Town was considered a large town. When the sun began to rise, everyone ran their businesses as usual. The streets were bustling with vendors setting up their stalls, and every morning, Sunset Street was always teeming with people.

On this street, there was a very famous establishment: Sunrise Inn. The Inn was known more for the beauty who resided there than for its food. Sunrise Inn was always full; if someone arrived during noon, there would not be any seats available. Sometimes, seats had to be reserved in advance.

"Is the line long today?" Xiong Grandma asked, holding onto Ping'an's left arm.

"Yes, as usual," Ping'an replied softly.

"We should take the back door then," Xiong Grandma decided.

The two slowly disappeared through the back door. The rear of Sunrise Inn was not too big. Inside, there was a small open area with a wooden table and two chairs, two small rooms, a well, and a humble washing area. A sturdy brick wall separated this back door area from the kitchen. Before entering the kitchen, to the right lay an open field with clotheslines and two more wells. Next to it was a large, open kitchen. Beyond the kitchen, another brick wall separated it from the main dining hall, which boasted twenty-five tables. To the left of the dining hall was the Inn's bustling main entrance. The second floor of the Inn housed the guest rooms, and on the other side of the guest building was the main building where the owner and workers lived.

Ping'an helped Xiong Grandma onto a wooden chair. She peeled an orange and placed it carefully in Xiong Grandma's hands. Then, she lowered the wooden bucket into the well, pulled it up brimming with water, and poured it into a small wooden tub. She began to wash the bedsheets by hand.

"Thank you, dear," Xiong Grandma said, a serene smile on her face. "Ping'an, what are you doing this morning?"

"Washing bedsheets, Grandma. Just sit there and enjoy the sun and the orange," Ping'an responded, giving Xiong Grandma a smile, though she couldn't see it. "Yesterday, when I helped Aunty Mu carry baskets of oranges from her home to her vendor stall, she gave me ten. I had already eaten one; it was very sweet."

Xiong Grandma's eyes were not completely blind; she could still perceive shadows if someone stood directly in front of her. However, if they didn't speak, she wouldn't recognize them. Ping'an was immensely fond of her grandma, who had raised her. Her grandma had even given her name. For as long as she could remember, it had always been just she and her grandma. Her father had remarried after her mother's death. Xiong Grandma never spoke a word about Ping'an's mother. Her father, on the other hand, made it abundantly clear that he detested her.

Ever since she was a child, she was raised like a house servant, not the lady of the house she ought to be. He called her the child of a devil because of the two distinct birthmarks on both of her palms. He blamed her for her mother's death. Rumor had it that her father even tried to drown her when she was just a day old, but her grandma had saved her. Worse than that, on the fifteenth day of each month, her hands would burn with agonizing pain, rendering her unable to work. To ease her suffering, her grandma suggested she recite the Buddha Manual's teachings, eat only vegetables on that day, and help clean the local temple.

A loud voice from behind startled Ping'an. She turned to find Boss Xiong. Ping'an's father, Boss Xiong, was in his late fifties. He had some graying hair, slightly dark skin, and a prominent belly that spoke of his chubby frame.

"Where have you been all morning?" Boss Xiong bellowed. "Don't you know we were very busy today? Can't you see all the people waiting in line?" He stood directly behind Ping'an and hit her head twice with his right knuckle.

"Ah Fong..." Xiong Grandma began, her voice soft. "I asked her to take me to the temple this morning."

"Ma," Boss Xiong complained, his voice laced with annoyance. "You know we were busy today. Why couldn't you wait?" He stared straight at Ping'an. "Today was only the tenth day of the month; she could take you in five days."

"Ah Fong," Xiong Grandma insisted gently. "I had a bad dream last night. That's why I decided to go this morning."

Madam Xiong emerged from behind, dropping down some more bedsheets with a thud. Beside her stood the elegant Lady Xiong, Ping'an's half-sister, who offered a disdainful glance.

Old Lu, the Inn's famous chef, ran out from the kitchen, panting heavily. Everyone in the Inn called him Old Lu instead of Mr. Lu, a sign of their casual familiarity, but his struggle to speak was evident.

"Madam, we're low on firewood!" he declared between gasps. "I needed firewood soon!"

Madam Xiong snapped, "Ping'an, stop washing those. I'll have someone else wash them. You go chop some firewood, and make sure it's dry. I don't want wet firewood like last time!" She gave Ping'an an evil glare.

"Right now?" Ping'an hesitated, looking up at Madam Xiong.

"Yes, right now!" Madam Xiong stared intensely at Ping'an. "Or do you want to wait until sunset?"

"But I had just chopped some last night...?" Ping'an tried to explain.

Boss Xiong roared at Ping'an, his face contorting fiercely. "Are you deaf? Did you not hear Old Lu? The firewood was going to run out soon!" He grabbed Ping'an's right ear and yanked her upright. "Get up and go! Stop being so useless around here!" He shoved her toward the wheelbarrow.

Ping'an scrambled to her feet, wincing from the pain in her right ear, grabbed the wheelbarrow, and hurried toward the back door, disappearing from sight.

"Ah Fong..." Xiong Grandma's voice held a plea. "Don't be too hard on her. No matter what, she is still a girl, and your child. Why do you treat her like this?"

Boss Xiong snarled, "You know why! I don't need to say it anymore. She shouldn't have been born in the first place!" He turned and walked away from Xiong Grandma, shouting at the other workers. Madam Xiong and Lady Xiong followed him back into the main Inn, leaving Xiong Grandma alone.