Rin just stared at her father leaning on the doorway covered in blood . His legs gave out and he fell down . Rin rushed towards him and caught him before he fell down . 'Pops wait here , I'll go fetch some medicine ' , Rin said as she stood up to go fetch medicine . She knew how to treat people well. Her father taught her well. As she stood u yo fetch the medicine , her father pulled her back . 'It is useless', he said weakly . 'I will still die , let me go peacefully '. 'Don't be ridiculous father', Rin said at the verge of tears. Rin just wanted everything to end . She sat on the floor and placed her dad's head on her laps . 'Happy birthday baby. I've not forgotten' , he chuckled and cupped her face . 'Don't ever trust anybody, Rin and remember alchemy is art not necessarily being powerful', he said and sighed . 'Take this', Absel shoved a pendant in her hand. 'Don't show it to anyone or even give it to anyone. Take it to your grave' , he said seriously. 'I love you very much and don't miss me too much ' , with that he breathed one more time and then it was over . Just like that her father passed away in front of her . It started as silent sobs then she started crying like crazy . This made her mother come out from her room . She saw what was going on but was unbothered. 'You are disturbing my beauty sleep , Rin ' , she said and went back to bed . Heartless, extremely heartless. How can your husband die and you are okay with it . You are treating it like a bug's dead . Rin thought . 'Maybe it is just a dream . I'm being paranoid' . She wiped her tears and stood up. When I wake up , nothing happened . It is just a bad dream , she said to herself and went straight to bed.
The night passed quietly. Morning came quickly .As the early rays of light hit Rin's face , she jolted out of her sleep . She was relieved at the thought of her father being dead as a dream but froze when she realized her hands were blood stained . She began panicking as tears welled in her eyes . She got up quickly and went to the scene where her father had died . The village chief and the elders were there comforting her crying mother . She tried hard not to cry but she still did . 'Child , your father has passed away . Don't worry , we'll take care of the funeral and the expenses . He was a good person' , the village chief said and bowed to show respect . It was not a dream , her father's really gone .
Days passed into weeks and it was a month after Absel died . Rin knew it was now the world and her . She had to work hard to put food on the table. Her mother took all her money she earned from the farm to buy cosmetics and clothes while Rin starved . Rin thought it would end there but that was just the beginning.
Rin was watering the garden when she noticed a carriage . It looked expensive so she guessed the people were rich. It stopped right in front of the house . A boy slightly older that her maybe a year or two stepped down followed by a man then Lotus , Rin's mother. The man looked like he was from a cultivator clan . He was handsome with dark hair and pale green eyes and it was easy to point out the boy around her age was his son because they looked very much alike . 'Rin!' , Lotus yelled . Rin quickly wiped her dirty hands on her dress and rushed to the house . She knew what her mother was capable of . She'd beaten the hell out of her a couple of times so Rin always liked it when her mother was not in the house. She entered the house and wiped sweat out of her brow . It was hot and sunny .
Rin bowed slightly respectfully in front of her mother then the visitors . 'Sit down with me ' , Lotus said in a sweet voice . Rin was taken aback . What is with that voice . Her mother usually yelled at her for no reason . Lotus gave her a cup of water which even surprised Rin more . With a gentle tilt of her head , she urged her to drink the water . Rin nodded slowly and took a sip . 'Now Rin , this is my husband Liam and our son so your brother Kian ' , Lotus casually said . Rin nearly choked but managed to stop it before Lotus could notice . 'Any problem?' Lotus asked raising her brow. 'No , no it is fine ', Rin gasped . 'Then they will be staying here from today forward. Pack your things from your room and move to the animal shed . As for my husband , he will stay with me', Lotus said as she kissed his cheek . Rin knew that her life was never going to be the same again.
Her life turned more miserable with her mother's new family around now. She was forced to completely stop school as Kian was the only one who went to school. He became very famous because he was from the capital . He was also a prodigy. As such a young age he was at the second level of the Foundation establishment stage. Most of the children in the village were still at the Qi Refining stage. To reach the Foundation establishment stage , you need a Foundation establishment pill that if you are of mediocre talent . But those born with rare talent did not need it . Rin had not began cultivating . It is not that she was lazy to do it but she could not do it. She did not know why . Most of the village girls were crushing on him. He was handsome and powerful and soon everyone forgot about Rin. She just continued to suffer in silence.
It was almost evening and the sun was hiding below the horizon painting the sky crimson . It was such a wonderful view that made Rin's day happy . She spent the entire day working on the farm , cooking , doing the laundry that includes her mother's and Kian's. Day by day she was getting fed up and tired but there was nothing she could do. Liam, her step father had gone back to the capital leaving Kian with Lotus. Rin served the food and went to her animal shed home to take a break before any work came .Immediately she laid down on her bed made of hay, she heard her name. 'Rin!', Lotus called out.' What have I done ? It seems mother is angry', Rin said in her head. She lunged forward , driven by pure fear. She went to the house just to see an angry mother and an expressionless brother . 'What is the meaning of this?' Lotus snapped. 'The food is tasteless. Can't you do anything sensible in your life for once!' Lotus hissed. The moment Rin heard her mother's footsteps, her stomach knotted. Her mother's shadow fell across the doorway like storm cloud.
'Didn't I tell you to stand still', Lotus hissed. Rin straightened her back. Rina straightened her back so fast that it began to ache. She'd knew what would happen if she hesitated . She learnt that a long time ago. Her mother's grip closed her arm and tried to drag her but it was futile. 'Oh , seems someone has put on weight . You lazy child. The only thing you know how to do is eat. Kian , help me a little'. Kian stood up and gripped her hand tight and dragged her as if she weighed nothing. He was powerful. A small gasp escaped her. 'You can't even breathe right without messing something up', her mother snapped. Rina stumbled nearly falling but her mother yanked her upright again. her vision was blur due to the tears stinging in her eyes. She stood silently , terrified of making a sound.
Her mother leaned close , her voice cold and icy ,'You don't get to cry in front of me honey'. Rina swallowed her sob and stood there silently afraid to move, afraid to speak - afraid of what her mother might do next.