MHA Forest

Xiao Ling, a wisp of a girl with eyes like polished jade, lived a life shadowed by injustice. Orphaned young, she was taken in by her aunt, a cruel woman who treated her as a servant, heaping upon her endless chores and bitter words. Her aunt’s son, a hulking brute named Bao, added his own brand of torment, his sneers and threats a constant reminder of her powerless position. One day, a traveling merchant passed through their village, his cart laden with silks and spices. He saw Xiao Ling’s quiet dignity amidst her suffering and, recognizing her sharp mind, offered her an apprenticeship