The Rise of the White Lotus

After Tora left Aki's manor, she aimlessly wandered around the capital with a bottle of sake in her hand that she was chugging down. If one could recognize her as the general, it would literally bring shame to her name by acting like a mindless drunkard on the street.

As she took the dark route near the slumps, Tora saw a group of men beating an old man ahead of her way. If she wasn't tending to her nonexistent heart, she would have already shouted and rescued the poor man. 

However, she was tired. She was tired of being the hero, fighting for what was right and defeating the vile man. After all, no matter how good her heart wanted to be, people would still see her as the fearsome general.

The true and rightful owner of the throne. Hell. She never wanted the throne in the past but because of that, she had placed Churu in a tight spot. She even let a man that only wanted her demise in their life. How foolish of her.

"Please! Spare me!" Tora heard the old man desperately plead for his life as she drew closer and closer.

"Ha?! Do you know who you just offended? You peasants dared asked for mercy after staining our master's silk clothes! You can't even pay for that even if you used all your life working in our young master!" Despite the pitiful old figure and his pleas, the man hissed as he launched a kick in the old man's abdomen.

Tora heard the pitiful sound the old man was producing and yet, she continued to walk, her steps swayed on the other side of the wide empty road. She didn't even glance at the atrocity, as if she didn't have an eye to see the injustice before her and passed by them.

"Peasants like you don't matter in this world! Every one of you shall perish!" The man shouted as he continued to beat the old man without any restraint. Tora wanted to keep on walking, but her feet stopped, and her mouth opened.

"Who are you to decide if one shall be punished and perish?" Slowly, she turned to them who stopped hounding on the man and looked at her direction.

"Ha?! Who are you? Boy, continue walking and don't look for trouble." The man scoffed in disgust as he magnanimously warned her. In his eyes, Tora was just a hopeless drunkard despite that her clothes looked a little decent.

"Trouble, huh…" Tora faintly scoffed at the word. Well, her body wanted to blow off some steam actually, which she just realized until she heard those remarks. Tossing her bottle of sake to the side, Tora stretched her neck in a circular motion before lifting her arms, gesturing them to come at her.

"This —" 

"What? I am looking for trouble. I might as well blow some steam in a facade of bringing justice for this old man." Blunt as ever, Tora spoke her mind as she deliberately taunted them. "Oh, you can attack me all at once so we can get over it as soon as possible," She added in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You! Don't show him mercy!" Irked at her oozing confidence, the man drew his sword as he, together with his four companions dashed to her direction. However, just as they drew closer, Tora suddenly vanished.

After a beat, one man was knocked down and crashed to the ground with a loud thud. Upon hearing it, the four men that were left turned to its direction and without further ado, Tora used the handle of her sheathed sword and knock another man down.

"Man, here I thought you could give me a little diversion." Disappointed, Tora muttered as she shook her head. "This is tiring — truly a waste of time." She flung her sheathed sword over her shoulder as she turned, uninterested at the three men who remained standing.

However, just as she took two strides towards the elderly, Tora turned and grabbed the attacking sword with her bare hand. Blood instantly flowed down from her palm to her elbow and yet, her front wasn't fazed.

Instead, the man who should be glad at the injury he had caused was petrified. He tried to pull the sword from her grip but to no avail. Hence, all he could do was let go as he plopped down while keeping his distance from her.

He wasn't mortified about Tora being able to stop his attack, but her eyes seeped of overwhelming danger. He sensed it firsthand. Hence, his instincts screamed that he must run away from her. Meanwhile, the other two who witnessed this took a step back with their swords shuddering in fear.

"The next time you think about doing this injustice, I will exterminate you and your whole clan. Scram!" Giving them a piece of friendly advice, Tora warned before she scooted them away. Of course, the three men run for their lives with their tail in between their legs. They didn't even think about their unconscious comrades as they saved their own lives.

"Young master, thank you for saving me!" Kowtowing, the old man uttered his utmost gratitude to his savior. And yet, Tora just glanced at him, bearing no emotions.

"No need to thank me." Shaking her head, Tora said as she fetched her sake that she tossed on the other side of the rode before sitting next to the old man. "I just did what I did due to personal reasons. It's a mutual gain so, no need to thank me," she said as she gulped a mouthful of sake.

The elderly stared at her, who just sat next to him as if they were close. Despite that, he looked baffled. He courteously bowed his head.

"Still, young lord, I must thank you for saving me." After some time, the elderly insisted which only made the corner of Tora's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Although I don't have riches to offer, I prayed for your young lord's good health." He sincerely uttered that only made Tora faintly scoff.

"I don't wish for good health," Tora humored. However, the old man suddenly asked.

"Then, what's your wish, young lord?"