Yu Bin. Immortal Of Water Land

The streetlights were on, casting a warm glow that softened the darkness. A car passed by from time to time. She sat wearily on a bench, waiting for the bus to take her to work. Despite her exhaustion, she still had the strength to smile at a stranger who sat beside her.

They chatted casually, and time passed more quickly. When the bus arrived, she said goodbye, boarded, and sat by the window. Raindrops tapped gently against the glass. The rhythmic sound of the rain, combined with her fatigue, lulled her into a light sleep. A soft smile appeared on her face—but it quickly twisted into a grimace.

---

"Is she dead?"

"That’s what I heard."

The scene had changed. Was it a dream?

---

"Hey, did you hear? That evil woman died."

"I heard. Good. She should’ve died a long time ago."

Good? Their faces blurred, their voices cruel. Why did it hurt so much?

---

"I heard she killed the Queen and the King."

"Yeah. What kind of person kills her own parents?"

A killer? The word pierced her like a dagger. But the worst part was her parents. Her heart ached, and tears welled in her eyes.

---

"I heard she killed Bao Fang, too."

"Wasn’t he her master?"

"Yes, I heard he trained her."

Bao Fang? That name… Why did it sound so familiar?

She clutched her chest and fell to her knees. The tears spilled freely now, streaming down her face.

---

"I can’t believe this woman. She killed her parents, her master—and before committing suicide, she killed the Prince of Heaven too."

The Prince of Heaven? Her breath caught. What are they saying? A hazy memory flickered in her mind. A soft, deadly voice whispered: “He killed everyone.”

---

"She committed suicide knowing she could never be reborn again."

"Even if she were, she could never become immortal again."

"That’s good. She was a sinner. A demon."

A sinner? A demon? Maybe she was. But why did it hurt so much?

The whispers swirled around her like smoke. Her knees shook. The crowd looked relieved, even satisfied, as if her death were justice.

But who was this woman everyone hated so much? No one dared speak her name—as if even mentioning it would curse them. Some called her a witch. Others, a murderer. All agreed on one thing: no one mourned her.

Wiping her tears, she stood up and took a few slow, uncertain steps. Her body felt heavy. Her heart felt crushed.

Then, a shout broke through the noise:

---

"How dare they talk about our princess like that?! They never even met her! Idiots—I should kill them now..."

He’s angry… for the killer? But why?

---

"Ziwan, stop. They don’t know what they’re saying."

"Brother Ruan, if they don’t know, why are they talking?"

"Ziwan… Brother Ruan is right. They’re just ignorant."

A small group stood nearby—loyal to the princess. Outraged, defensive, heartbroken. Their anger comforted her, eased her pain. Her heart still ached, but less than before.

She blinked.

The world changed again.

---

Clank! Clank! Two swords collided in a graceful, furious duel. A woman and a teenage girl danced through strikes and parries—not in deadly combat, but in a serious training session.

What shocked her most was the girl’s face—it looked just like hers.

---

"Resentment is born of pain. Love can turn into hate, and hate can be melted by love," said the older woman as she struck again.

"But forgiveness is the key to breaking the cycle," the girl countered, blocking. "It takes strength to let go of hate and choose love."

The older woman smiled, impressed. She pressed on, testing the girl's skill and heart. The clash of swords echoed like a song of willpower.

---

"Yu Bin, if you walk down a street and see someone kill another, what do you think?"

Yu Bin?! That was her name. Wasn’t it?

---

"Of course it’s wrong. Killing is forbidden," young Yu Bin replied quickly.

"You’re right, Yu Bin. But judgment is never easy." The master stepped forward. "People have reasons. Sometimes terrible reasons. We must never assume we know everything. We must seek truth before passing judgment."

The young girl nodded.

---

"But Master, isn’t killing always wrong? Didn’t you just say so?" Yu Bin protested, her voice sharp.

"Absolutely."

The master wasn’t upset by her tone. She knew her student well. The girl softened.

---

"Sometimes, Yu Bin, people kill to protect others. Imagine a man kills someone who destroyed his entire family—his wife, his parents, his friends. Would you still call him evil?"

Yu Bin’s anger faded into confusion. Her mind spun.

---

"You’re on his side now," the master added. "But what if I told you those he killed were inhuman? Human traffickers. Drug lords. Monsters behind masks."

Yu Bin gasped. Was he… seeking justice?

Her master nodded.

---

"Yes. Justice. But remember: nothing is truly black or white. That’s why you must keep your heart pure. Don’t let this world twist it."

After him... The phrase stung. Him? Her heart clenched. An image flashed, unclear but painful.

---

"Master, are you leaving?"

"I wonder..."

Yu Bin’s voice trembled. So did the other girl's—the one watching the scene.

---

"Yes, child. I’m getting old. My time is ending. But don’t fear. You are strong. You’ll be a great queen, Yu Bin. Not just because of your sword, but because of your spirit."

The master smiled, proud.

---

"Master, wait!" Yu Bin called, running to catch up.

But suddenly—

---

"Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?"

Her heart stopped.

Two figures appeared. Tears streamed from her eyes. Why does it hurt so much?

---

"Oh, wife, look at this little devil. She thinks we shouldn’t be here!" her father teased.

"Daaaaad, I didn’t mean that!" the teenage Yu Bin pouted.

---

"Change of plans," he grinned. "Your uncle had a meeting. So, we came here instead."

"Moooom, Dad called me a devil again!"

Her mother giggled, ruffling her hair.

---

"Don’t mind him. We just wanted to surprise you."

Yu Bin beamed. "You came for me?"

"Of course. Let’s make some memories together."

They walked off happily, laughing.

Meanwhile, the older girl—still dreaming—cried harder.

---

As the sunset bathed the scene in gold, Yu Bin’s family disappeared. And yet, the pain remained.

Then, the master returned. She reached out her hand, helping the girl up.

---

"You’ve grown up, Yu Bin. Remember what I taught you: not everything white is pure, and not everything black is evil. Most importantly... it wasn’t your fault, my dear Yu Bin."

She hugged her.

---

"Miss, wake up. Miss, wake up!"

The voice brought her back. She opened her eyes.

Was it just a dream?

Then why did it still hurt so much?

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