Fallen Immortal

About this story

I followed my mother up the mountain to cut pig feed. When we returned, a handsome young man with an easy bearing was lying in front of our house. He was clearly unconscious, yet I heard an agitated voice ring out in my head. “This little girl is the one with a heavenly spirit root; in the future she will ascend and become the Phù Ngọc Nữ Đế!” “Once this village is destroyed, tomorrow I will take her with me as we wander to the ends of the earth.” “Childhood sweethearts, mutual love—I want her to willingly set aside her sword and cook soup for me.” I was unsettled and doubtful, but who would have thought that in the middle of the night, a world-shaking fire really did erupt in the village. The young man gathered me, still drowsy, into his arms and carefully placed a light kiss on my brow. When I came to my senses, the small palm-sized short blade had already pierced deep through his heart. Watching that body dissolve in the furious flames, I curled my lips in a faint smile. “Never meet again, O strategist.”