After crying themselves out, the sisters fell asleep in each other’s arms and slept until dawn. The first rays of sunlight and the snort of a horse above their heads woke them. The animal was chewing hay, curiously sniffing at the uninvited guests. The younger girl wrapped her arms around its muzzle and stroked it gently. For a brief moment, a smile returned to her face. She nudged her sister awake, and the two quietly left before the stablehands arrived.

  The rain had ended, leaving behind large puddles and a soaked city. From an alley near the gates, they watched the guards, waiting for a chance to reach the river. The sun peeked out from above the city wall. The first carts creaked along the streets, and the guards began to push open the heavy gate doors. Before they had even swung all the way open, two small figures darted past the stunned soldiers.

  “Hey!” the captain of the guard managed to shout.

  “Should we chase them?” one of the soldiers asked, just in case.

  “No need. I think I know them. They sell fish.”

  Only when they reached the familiar spot where they used to fish with their father did the girls finally calm down, even managing to smile. Dried blood still clung to their hair, and uneven stains marked their clothes. Their stomachs growled loudly, so the first thing they did was pull fish from the traps and wash themselves in the river.

  Their father had built a small stash of firewood under big leaves and straw in case of rain. From there, they took a bundle of dry sticks and lit a fire. While the fish cooked, the sisters examined each other’s wounds. The younger one had a cut on her scalp and a large bump, while the elder bore a long bruise across her back, another under her eye, and a swollen cheek. For a while, they simply looked at each other with quiet sadness, as if comforting one another without words.

  “Do you remember that picture book?” the younger suddenly asked. “Let’s look for healing herbs!”

  “We don’t know where to find them…” the older shook her head, then touched her forehead. “We already have a way to heal. We learned it from Father’s scroll.”

  “That’s right!” the younger’s eyes lit up with understanding.

  “Mm.”

  They had inherited knowledge of martial arts, body training, and recovery after battle. With a special breathing technique, the mysterious energy within their bodies could be guided to move faster, helping wounds heal more quickly. Without needing to speak, they sat cross-legged and entered meditation.

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  After a few breaths, a warmth bloomed in their bellies, like after a cup of hot tea. It rose to their chests and spread through their bodies in waves, bringing relief. Goosebumps rippled across their skin as if driving out the cold. Gradually, the pain faded, and their stiff fingers grew warm again. After the rain and a night spent in wet clothes, they had felt weak and shivery, but the flowing heat chased away their weariness and aches.

  Their training was interrupted by the smell of cooked fish, which made them open their eyes. Their stomachs growled impatiently. Using a stick, the older sister pulled two large fish from the coals, scraped off the charred skin, took a small pouch of salt from her belt, and seasoned the meat. The girls savored the hot meal as they gazed at the river.

  The proper use of the scroll’s technique and the warm food restored their strength. Accustomed to the world’s cruelty, the sisters did not dwell on their suffering, soon they were smiling again, and the younger even yawned. After the horrors of the night, fatigue washed over her; her eyelids drooped. Fortunately, their father had once built a simple shelter of logs, branches, and reeds — windproof, for he too had often been caught in the rain.

  “I know you’re tired,” Xue said, gently stroking her sister’s head, “but we need to clean our weapons first, just like Father taught us, or they’ll rust.”

  “Mm. Father knows a lot,” Mingzhu murmured.

  “Of course.”

  “I wonder how he’s doing.”

  “He’s working — to bring home lots and lots of money,” Xue replied, glancing at her sister with a trace of worry. “He’ll be back soon, and everything will be like before.”

  “I hope so,” the younger sighed.

  For the next few days, the girls lived by the river, surviving on fish alone. But the monotonous diet soon became tiresome. They longed for rice and sweet dried fruits, the kind their father used to bring. Gathering their courage, Xue and Mingzhu decided to return to the city. Hiding in the roadside bushes, they waited for a large crowd of travelers, then slipped through the gates with them and darted into an alley, out of the sight of adults.

  Though the day had just begun and the sun shone brightly, they remained extremely cautious. Before going home, they circled the block and knocked on the door of their neighbor, Hong Shu. The woman was overjoyed to see them return. She reacted emotionally to their battered appearance — sat them by the hearth, fed them, washed them clean, and even mended their clothes, torn and dirtied from the beggars’ attack.

  The girls didn’t blame her and didn’t complain, not a word about her not coming to help them that night, which only made Hong Shu feel guilt-ridden. She had heard the noise even through the thunder, but hadn’t gone out; she had genuinely tried, even grabbed a stick. Her husband didn’t let her. To her shame, Hong Shu felt relief because didn’t want to get involved with vagrants.

  “It’s not our concern,” her husband said coldly. “Sit down.”

  “But there are two girls out there! We have to help! Just chase those thugs away!”

  “It’s not our concern. You’ve helped them enough. Think about your own family.”