"Mama!"
Mò Lián called out in her sleep.
The night lantern flickered and went out.
Her body twisted beneath the blankets, drenched in sweat.
"Mama!"
She jerked up, panting.
The door flew open.
"Lián?" her grandmother cried, rushing to her side.
Mò Lián fell into her grandma's arms.
"It's a bad dream, I'm here!" She held Mò Lián's quivering fingers.
"Your body is so cold."
"Lián?" Her grandfather stood at the edge of the bed.
He followed her fixed gaze, his brow knitting in confusion.
"Mama." She whispered, raising her finger.
Her eyes were wide, fixed on the empty wall.
"Stop!"
Lián trembled, noticing her environment.
"There is no illness in her body; it's a demon," he said.
Her grandmother's voice trembled.
"What is happening to her?"
"When will Chen visit?"
Mò Lián tilted her head, releasing her grip.
"Lián?"
A noise was heard from the courtyard.
Lord Chen just arrived.
He entered quietly, his cloak still damp with morning dew.
"Papa, Mama."
He entered the quiet compound, and he settled his luggage, scanning the environment.
"Lián…"
No reply.
"Mama!"
He walked down the passage to his daughter's room.
He pivoted, entering the open door.
"I took the night…"
His voice cut mid-speech as the unspoken words weighed his shoulder low.
The tense air unsettled him.
He stepped inside, eyes scanning the room.
His step slowed.
"Chen…" His mother-in-law noticed him.
Her trembling hands wiped the tears from her eyes.
His gaze fell on his daughter lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling as though she were no longer part of the world.
"Lián…" he whispered.
She turned at the sound of his voice.
He hurried to the bedside in confusion.
"Fa…ther…" The word came forcefully and weakly.
"I'm here," he said. "I won't leave ..."
His heart ached as a smile tugged at her lip.
He knelt holding her hands.
I'm not losing you!
He turned towards his In-law in fear.
"I will invite the temple priest," his father-in-law said in urgency.
"I've seen her," she murmured, "She's alive…"
Lord Chen could not explain the grief he saw lingering in his daughter's eyes. It unsettled him more than his teary eyes.
"Papa!" She rose from the bed.
Her grandfather halted mid-step.
He spun, worries worn out his face.
She waved her head in disapproval.
"You are not sick, you had a bad dream!" The granny cried, standing by the bed.
She held her gown, sobbing.
"Mò Lián?"
"I don't want to go anywhere!" She took a breath, facing both her grandparents.
"Lián, your body is cold," she said." Your dream is not normal; you encountered a demon in your dreams."
Chen sat, confused, staring at his daughter's stubborn face.
"I saw my mother, not a demon." She turned to the other side of the bed, crossing her arms.
"Lián…."
The granny wept, leaving the room.
"You are just as stubborn as your mother…."
"I saw my mother. She was with me just now…" She folded her leg to her chest, remembering the face she saw in the dream.
Mò Lián's grandparents left at once for the temple.
"Lián…"
She tilted her neck slowly.
"The priest won't hurt you," he patted her hair. "We need to know why you met your mother in your dream."
He paused as she turned.
"A dead person is a bad omen. I love you, I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
Tears dripped from her watery eyes.
"Mama is not bad! I want to see mama…" She blink remembering how her mother hugged her in her dream.
He embraced her.
"I will take you to the capital, your…."
She pulled out smiling.
"Really!" She beamed, eyes shining in excitement.
"Yes."
She let out her breath.
"Tell me your dream."
He looked straight into her eyes.
A footstep redirected their gaze to the door.
Both turned at the same time.
"Lián…"
A voice called, entering.
Yù Xuān.
She bowed slightly, holding her gown.
Lord Chen straightened, looking at the girl that just entered.
"You are welcome."
He turned to his daughter before walking away.
She smiled as Yù Xuān straightened.
"Yù Xuān?"
Lord Chen stepped out.
"Lián, how are you doing?" She moved forward.
She opened her blanket, stepping onto the cold floor.
"I thought you were still angry with me."
"Even if I'm, it doesn't mean we won't visit."
"Who?"
"My father was summoned, so I joined him." She sat behind Mò Lián.
Mò Lián sat calmly, looking at the floor.
"You look pale. What happened?" Yù Xuān took a deep glance at her friend.
"I can hear your heartbeat…" She paused, adjusting. "You are not sick," she mumbled, examining her.
"You had a dream!" She exclaimed, covering her mouth with her palm.
Mò Lián tilted her head slightly as their gaze met.
"I don't believe in all that, don't start. There is something you have to know." She rose, sighing.
"Lián! You have to…"
"A lot happened while you were busy with your temple work." She grinned, raising a brow.
They smiled at each other.
"But Lián..." She stood up holding her gown.
"Join me! It's not a light one." She turned away.
"Tell me about it…"
"First, tell your father I'm not sick."
"I will just give me a tip of the fun." Yù Xuān smiled, walking beside Mò Lián.
"Yes, my lady." She laughed out loud, pivoting.
They entered the corridor.
"This is the right time."
Yù Xuān turned to the compound.
"There they are, my lady." Mò Lián turned to her, winking.
Yù Xuān sighed as her shoulder dropped.
"You can do it, you taught me."
She descended the pavement, approaching her father, who was conversing with Lord Chen.
Mò Lián stood in the corridor watching, but her mind was still on her dream.
"Chen, I can't do that. What if she is summoned?"
"What if she finds out, and…" Chen paused mid-speech as his gaze fixed to the girl approaching them.
"Father…"