Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

By this time, the moon was high up and glowing above them. The mother and son had gone to bed whilst Ming Yue hung out in the open air.

She thought about the idea, liking it more and more. But Ming Yue knew that Xiao Bai and his mother would leave. To his mother, Xiao Bai's safety was above all else and if that meant abandoning their home then so be it. 

"Even if I want to protect them, I barely know anything about Savage Lands. If something unexpected happens, I don't think I could guarantee their safety" she thought. 

And the Xue Yue spoke out. 

"Why don't you just go with them?" she asked. 

The idea did cross her mind but Ming Yue chose against it. 

"I was lucky enough to have them discover me instead of others. Didn't Xiao Bai's mother say that her tribe, the Byakko, were territorial and always fought? What would've happened if I was found by them? What would happen if I were to meet them now?" she reasoned. 

Xue Yue scoffed at the idea. 

"So what? You could probably slaughter them all if you wanted to, even if you're not fully recovered."

Ming Yue couldn't help but raise a brow. 

"You want me to kill the tribe of the people who saved me? I think it's better that we stay hidden here instead. And besides, I don't think I'm ready to meet other people. Not with what fighting the True Idol has done to me."

When mentioning that, Xue Yue went silent. 

And Without speaking another word, she crossed her legs and began to meditate with Blood Moon on her lap. To a degree, she needed this more than she needed sleep. Ming Yue knew that something was wrong with her and she needed to find out what and how she could fix it. But for that to happen, she needed time among other things, time to figure it all out. 

When morning came, his mother called for him and broke the news. 

"Xiao Bai, we have to leave our home. Those wolves from the Savage Lands have come so close to us. It isn't safe for us anymore." 

She spoke to him very gently and sweetly, trying her best. 

"What? Why? Why can't we stay here any longer? Even if those wolves are here, Ming Yue can protect us right?" he said. 

But she shook her head. 

"We can't keep depending on her, what if she's gone or what if she dies? It's not right to ask her to protect us." 

"But- but, I don't want to leave our home! Where are we going to go? And Ming Yue won't die! I'll be there! I'll watch her back!" he cried out. 

Hearing those words, his mother revealed a saddened look. 

"What if you die then? What will happen to me?" she asked him. 

The young boy stuttered at his mother's words, not knowing how to answer her. 

"I- but I- I don't want to leave!"

His eyes moistened with tears before going out to find Ming Yue standing by the door and listening. 

"Ming Yue, you're going to teach me more sword fighting, right?" 

He looked at her with eyes so full of hope but she could only shake her head. 

"As much as I'd want to, even I don't know if I can protect you and your mother", she replied. 

Hearing those words, tears fell from his eyes as he looked betrayed by her. 

"You lied to me. You lied to me! You all lied to me!"

He cried out before turning to run but Ming Yue grabbed ahold of him before he could move any further. The little boy tried to yank his arm out of her grasp but he was too weak to do it. 

Ming Yue knelt down and looked at him straight in the eyes. 

"This is for your own good, Xiao Bai. Besides, you can't just leave your own mother. You said you wanted to protect her right?"

"But- but..."

"There is no but, okay? I can't come with you but I'll stay here and protect this place as best I can. And when it is safe again, you can come back here. You're not leaving forever, just for a little bit. I promise you that, okay?"

Xiao Bai seemed to have calmed down but his face was still full of sadness. He looked at Ming Yue before gazing at his home, looking at the stream and the green grass. He sniffled before wiping his tears away and nodded. 

"Okay, okay."

Ming Yue then held out her pinky for him. 

"Promise?"

He did the same and wrapped his pinky around hers. 

"Promise."

As they let go, Xiao Bai looked at the cultivator for a bit longer before going back into the house. His mother stood by the door, watching it all happen. She gave Ming Yue a thankful look before walking up to her. 

"I know that you won't be coming with us. It would be far too dangerous if the other tribes were to find out that there is a human among us. You're welcome to use this place aas you see fit."

Ming Yue nodded. 

"Thank you."

The mother sighed, looking at the house from the outside. Her eyes glistened as tears began to form. 

"Hah, I truly don't know what will happen next but I pray for your safety and wellbeing. Whatever is plaguing you, I hope that you will be better."

She glanced at Ming Yue before going back into the house to pack. And when they were finished, the mother and son stepped outside of the house, carrying small bags slung iver their shoulders. 

The wolves that Ming Yue had were laid out on the ground and Xiao Bai looked at them quietly. His mother then walked forward, reveaaling a ring on her hand that sucked them all in. It was a spatial ring, her spatial ring. 

Ming Yue saw it but said nothing. 

As mysterious as she was to them, this family was equally so. 

"We're going back to the tribe. Even if we aren't welcomed there anymore, they cannot ignore this. Come on Xiao Bai, let's say good bye to Ming Yue and our home."

She spoke quietly to her son, giving their home one last look. They then turned to Ming Yue, who lowered her head. 

"Thank you for helping me. I will keep this place safe, no matter what", she said to them. 

This promise was met with a quiet thank you before Xiao Bai ran forward to hug her. 

"Please don't die", he said. 

Putting a hand on his head, Ming Yue responded tenderly. 

"Don't worry, I won't." 

He let go and looked at her before returning to his mother's side. 

"Let's go."

Holding her hand out, he grabbed it and turned to leave. It was a quiet departure, somber even. Xiao Bai would look back every few seconds until their figures vanished into the lush forests. 

And Ming Yue was alone again. 

She sighed and walked back to the house, looking at her two pets. They were both resting, surrounded by blankets and kept warm. Taking off their bandages, she replaced them with fresh ones. The sensation of which awakened Xiao Yin, who looked at her and softly cooed. 

"I know, stay here, you need to sleep."

She spoke softly to the owl, petting its head and coaxing it back to sleep. 

Once she finished, Ming Yue looked around before noticing a pile of books on the table along with a letter placed at the top.

Looking at it, she glanced at the books, opening them up and skimming through them. 

"They're journals! Medical journals and collections of information about the Beast Continent! Did Xiao Bai's mother leave them for me?" She wondered. 

Turning her attention to the letter, she opened it and read the contents inside.