The girl's father had once been a general of the country.
The general was wounded in battle and forced to retire and return to his hometown. This was undoubtedly a tremendous blow to the girl—for she had always believed that her father was an unshakable pillar who would never fall easily.
Her father hoped that the girl would enlist in the army when she grew up—but the girl's personality was not as strong as he had imagined. On the contrary, she was extremely timid. She was also afraid of leaving the village she lived in and afraid of leaving everyone behind. What she feared even more was being unable to live up to everyone's expectations.
The girl was sixteen this year, in the prime of her youth, but fate had not been particularly kind to her.
"Mo-monster!"
"Quick, bring Xiao Yun's father here! He'll definitely be able to defeat the monster!"
"Th-that's right! Although the general has retired, he still has all his martial skills. Even that monster won't be a match for him!"
Thus, the villagers came to Xiao Yun's house, hoping that the retired general would be able to kill the monster.
"I'm sorry, everyone."
The middle-aged man lay in bed, smiling bitterly at the villagers who placed their hopes in him.
"My body is inconvenient. I can't even get out of bed and walk properly now."
Wanting him to go kill the monster? That was simply a pipe dream.
However, there was another hope present. Xiao Yun had learned swordsmanship from her father when she was very young, and her swordsmanship was now already not far behind her father's.
Looking at the girl standing beside the bed, the man made a decision.
"Xiao Yun, take my sword."
The girl hesitated for a moment, then picked up her