The Gu family entered the amusement park for a fun trip.
The amusement park was huge and colorful. Magic lights floated in the air like glowing fireflies.
Each building was shaped like something from a fairy tale — a castle, a flying whale, and even a giant teacup that spun in the sky.
People moved around happily, some riding on flying broomsticks, some throwing sparks of fire or bubbles from their hands as part of games.
For Gu Jin, everything was new.
Back in her earth, no such thing existed.
There were special rides like the Thunder Loop, where a giant storm cloud shot lightning (safe, of course) while the ride spun people in circles.
Or the Ice Slide, a super long magical slide that shimmered with frost but never made you cold.
In one corner, kids were riding on Wind Carpets, floating just above the ground, giggling as they zoomed around.
Music played everywhere, from instruments that floated mid-air and played themselves.
Gu Jin stood in line at a snack stall, trying to buy popcorn for her family.
The scent of caramel and butter filled the air.
Beside her was her little brother, Gu Jichun, holding a balloon shaped like a fire fox. He bounced on his toes, excited.
"I want the one with extra sugar!" Gu Jichun said.
Gu Jin smiled. "Alright, extra sugar it is."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.
"Move aside. I’m going first."
Gu Jin turned around.
A boy, maybe eight or nine, was standing there with crossed arms.
He wore expensive clothes made of spirit silk, and had a shiny jade pendant hanging from his neck.
His hair was neatly combed, and his nose was pointed high like he thought he was better than everyone.
Gu Jin stayed calm, but before she could speak, Gu Jichun turned to the boy and crouched down a little to be at eye level.
"We’re in line," Gu Jichun said, politely but firmly.
"You can’t just cut in. You need to wait like everyone else."
The boy rolled his eyes.
"Hmph! Do you know who I am? My dad is the deputy head of the Magic Law Division. I can go wherever I want!"
Gu Jichun blinked. "Even if your uncle is the king, you still need to learn manners."
The boy’s face twisted in anger. Then, without warning, he pushed Gu Jichun hard.
Gu Jichun fell to the ground with a small cry.
Gu Jin’s eyes turned cold.
She stepped forward and helped Gu Jichun up, brushing off the dust from his clothes. Her hand was gentle, but her face was serious.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
Gu Jichun nodded, trying not to cry.
Gu Jin then turned to the boy, picked him up by the collar with one hand, and held him off the ground like a kitten. Her eyes were calm but sharp like knives.
"I don’t care if your dad is the emperor of the heavens," she said coldly.
"If you ever touch my sister again, I’ll show you what happens when you mess with me."
The boy struggled, kicking his legs. "Y-You can’t touch me! I’m a wealthy person!"
Gu Jin leaned in just a little.
"If you’re a wealthy person, then act like one."
The boy dropped to the ground with a thud. He looked up at her, eyes wide but too scared to speak.
Gu Jin turned her back to him and gently held Gu Jichun’s hand.
"Let’s go get your popcorn."
The other people in line had seen everything. Some clapped quietly. Others whispered,
"She’s scary but cool."
"Isn’t that Gu Jin, the alchemist genius?"
Gu Jin ignored them all.
Just as Gu Jin turned away, someone pushed her from behind.
But before the person could even touch her, Gu Jin had already moved. Her body leaned to the side like a leaf in the wind, dodging the push with ease.
She turned around quickly.
It was a woman in a dark green robe, her hair tied in a tight bun. She had a sharp face and angry eyes. Clearly, she was the boy’s nanny.
"You dare touch my young master?!" the nanny shouted, her face full of rage. "You low-class trash!"
Before Gu Jin could even speak, the nanny stomped on the ground. A wave of earth spikes shot toward her.
But Gu Jin didn’t even flinch.
With a flick of her hand, green vines shot out from the ground.
They were fast, smooth, and glowing with faint poison energy.
The vines wrapped around the earth spikes, crushing them to dust, then flew at the nanny and tied her up tightly from her shoulders to her ankles like a dumpling.
"W-What?!" the nanny shouted in shock, struggling against the vines. "Let me go! How dare you?!"
Gu Jin’s eyes were calm, but cold.
"I only used one-tenth of my power. If I was serious, you wouldn’t be standing."
"You brat!" the nanny screamed. "You think just because you can fight, you’re above the law?! Do you know who my young master is?! Do you know who his father is?!"
Gu Jin rolled her eyes.
"I don’t care if his father is the head of the heavens. If you act like a thug, I’ll treat you like one."
The crowd began to whisper again.
"Isn’t she too cool?"
"That nanny started it..."
"She stopped the attack with one move!"
The nanny’s face turned red with anger and shame. She twisted her body and shouted at the crowd.
"Everyone! Look! This girl just tried to kill me and my young master!"
Gasps filled the air.
"She even said she’d crush us! You all heard it, right?!"
"I was just protecting my young master, but she attacked me with a deadly poison vine!"
"She’s clearly bullying us commoners!"
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. "Commoners?"
"You just said your young master’s dad is the deputy head of the Magic Law Division," she said calmly. "You’re twisting the story now?"
The nanny ignored her and kept shouting louder and louder, trying to drown out the truth.
"She grabbed my young master and threw him! Now she tied me up! Someone call the guards!"
"She’s dangerous! Look at her eyes! So evil!"
More people started gathering. Some looked confused. Some believed her. Others didn’t.
Just then, a staff member from the amusement park rushed over. He wore a silver badge — showing he was a high-level worker with the park’s security.
"What’s going on here?" the man asked, frowning.
Before the nanny could speak again, someone else stepped forward from the crowd. It was an old woman with white hair and sharp eyes.
"I saw the whole thing," she said. "That boy pushed the little brother first. This red-eyed woman protected her sister. Then this nanny attacked first. That girl only defended herself."
Several others nodded. "Yes, I saw it too."
"She didn’t hurt anyone. She only used vines to stop the attack."
The staff member turned to the nanny, who was still wrapped in vines.
The nanny’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, but she couldn’t speak. She knew lying now would only make it worse.
The man turned to Gu Jin and bowed slightly.
"Thank you for your restraint. I will report this matter to park management. You and your family may continue your day. We apologize for the trouble."
Gu Jin gave a small nod, then waved her hand.
The vines slowly unwrapped from the nanny and slithered back into the ground like snakes.
The nanny collapsed to the floor, pale and shaking.
Gu Jin didn’t even glance at her again. She took Gu Jichun’s hand and walked away calmly with the popcorn bag still in her other hand.
As they walked, Gu Jichun whistled,
"Sister, you are truly amazing."
..............................
In a shadowy corner, far from the bright lights and happy music, a figure stood quietly.
He wore a long black cloak with a hood that covered most of his face.
Only his sharp chin and the edge of a scar under his left eye could be seen.
His eyes were locked on Gu Jin.
"She’s stronger than they said..." he muttered to himself. "But no matter how strong she is, I have to kill her today."
His voice was cold like ice.
He watched as Gu Jin and her family laughed and walked away from the snack stall, heading deeper into the park.
The man narrowed his eyes.
"I’ll wait until they get on a ride. Then... I’ll make it their last."
................................
A little while later, Gu Jin, Gu Jichun, Gu Jihu, and their parents were standing in front of a large ride called the Sky Twister.
It looked like a flying dragon with seats on its back. It soared high into the sky, twisted and spun, then gently floated down.
Wind magic blew around it, making the ride feel like you were really flying through clouds.
"Jichun, want to go on this one?" Gu Jin asked.