Why did I choose to practice the sword?
Sui Yi's hair flew about as she closed her eyes, memories suddenly flooding her mind.
The happiest moments of her childhood, she reckoned, were spent herding cattle on the mountain. She would watch the cows sway their tails lazily as they grazed on wild grass, while she picked wildflowers and wild fruits from the roadside.
Mulberries, wild strawberries, Chinese dates, and even the nectar-filled morning glory flowers.
Until one day, her father fell gravely ill. Her family was forced to sell furniture, jewelry, pigs, and sheep, and eventually, the old cow that had plowed their fields for many years. From then on, she could no longer herd cattle on the mountain.
Her mother became reticent, and her father started drinking heavily. He grew increasingly bad-tempered, frequently beating both her and her mother.
When the beatings hurt, she would occasionally curse under her breath, wishing her father would just die soon.
The curse came true.
