Chapter 2: Compensation From The Heavens
Contrary to the beliefs of many who witnessed Anji's birth that day, the youngest princess of the Celestial Dragon Sect did not feel unfortunate. Ever since she could speak, her mother and older siblings often told her the story of their father sealing her cultivation core when she was born because it was too powerful for her. After three years, almost everyone in the Murim's heroic sect knew her story. Today, everyone was busy preparing for the Rainbow Alliance's banquet.
"Anji," Madam Zhao called out to her youngest daughter. "There will be many guests walking around in the sect. Some of the younger ones might be rowdy, so stay close to mother at all times. Your father and brothers are busy greeting the guests."
Approaching her third year, Princess Zhao Anji embodied a charm and adorableness that could melt even the sternest of hearts. Petite and dainty, she possessed a diminutive stature that even novice disciples of the Initial Core foundation could effortlessly scoop up in a single arm. Her locks, as dark as the midnight sky, framed a pair of eyes that sparkled with a precocious intellect capable of captivating even the most learned scholars. With cheeks flushed rosy from the chill air, her delicate features stood out against her porcelain skin, casting a picture of innocence and loveliness as she toddled towards her mother.
If there was one thing three-year-old Anji was dissatisfied with her life, it was the excessive coddling she received from everyone in the sect. Her young heart yearned for independence, a desire that burned brightly despite her tender age.
"Mother! I'm old enough to walk by myself!" Anji protested in her mother's arms when she was carried before she could climb the short flight of stairs up the pavilion. However, as usual, her resistance was futile.
Radiating warmth and grace akin to a gentle spring breeze, Madam Zhao enveloped her youngest daughter in a tender embrace, her laughter carrying a melody of joy. Despite the blessing of motherhood four times over, the mistress of the Celestial Dragon Sect bore a beauty that defied the passage of time. Her serene smile, like a beacon of tranquillity, adorned features untouched by the years, leaving her visage as youthful and radiant as if she were but thirty springs old. However, it was her playful demeanour whenever something pertained to her youngest daughter that shone the brightest.
"Mmm! Anji is so mean! How could you deny me the right to cuddle? Mother won't be able to do much longer once you get bigger. Just last week, you grew an inch taller. The seamstress had to make new clothes. If you grow three inches taller, Mother might not be able to enjoy having a human warmer around anymore."
Rolling her eyes at her mother's silly antics, Anji couldn't help but let out a big, dramatic sigh. Sometimes, she wondered who the adult was. Then again, what could she do? With these flimsy arms of hers, she could never hope to win against her mother's strong hugs. With a shrug and a pout, Anji gave in and slumped into her mother's arms, returning a big, squishy hug. As a great strategist once said, a general knows how to advance without coveting fame and retreat without fearing disgrace. This was simply Anji's tactical retreat.