Night was still early as the stars glimmered in the dark sky and the moonlight illuminated the ground with its pale light.
Xiao Jun's eyes opened wide while he looked at the woman in his embrace, her lips slightly pursed and there was a furrowed between her eyebrows as if she was worrying about something even in her sleep.
He caressed the spot lightly to smoothen the crinkled.
Amidst of the night, abruptly there was a distinct howl that cracked the serene of the atmosphere. The sound was so disturbing and pitiful.
Xiao Jun listened to the sound silently and when its finally stopped, he slid from the blanket and arranged it to cover the sleeping Qianru before he wore his robe and walked out of the door.
The two guards who was guarding the hallway of his room, surprised to see their Master this late of night, bowed their heads respectfully and asked. "Master, where do you want to go? Should I ask more people to come with you?"
"There is no need for that." Xiao Jun waved his hand lightly to dismiss them. "Stay guard here."
In the next second, he picked a remarkable speed and disappeared from their line of sight. The two guards looked at each other and resumed their position.
Xiao Jun stopped in his track in the middle of his backyard, listening for another sign of the disturbing howl. A little while later, as he had predicted, the sound echoed again.
This time, he wasn't in rush as he was heading to the north.
Under the plum trees, where the moonlight shone brightly, someone had been waiting for him. He was slightly taller than Xiao Jun and has a hint of aloofness in his eyes, the thing that he inherited from their father.
"Tianyao." He called out his younger brother as he stopped walking a few meters from him.
Xiao Tianyao's broad back was facing him, but he turned around slowly when he heard someone, who he was waiting for, called him.
"I am surprised you still remember how to make that sound."
When they were young, Xiao Jun sometime would bring his younger brother to sneak out from their chamber and it was their secret call. He taught Xiao Tianyao how to do it and later he taught Qianru, but the girl hardly could grasp it.
"What brings you here?" Xiao Jun was clearly upset with him, but he still couldn't ignore him.
"What do you mean with there is something wrong with Luna?" Xiao Tianyao didn't beat around the bush.
After their meeting in the palace and Xiao Jun's warning, he felt uneasy. He felt like he had overlooked something, but couldn't afford to confront it. The fact that he had spoiled their plan messed up in his mind.
Since he returned, he had not met Luna yet. He desired to see her, to look after her, she was injured after all, but his muddled mind stopped him.
"Is that even a question?" Xiao Jun asked sarcastically.
"Yes, that's a question." Xiao Tianyao replied stubbornly. He felt there was nothing wrong about the things that were going on between him and Luna. All of that felt so right and also… strange.
"What are you going to do if I say that woman is a trap?" Xiao Jun tasted the water, but when he saw his brother subconsciously reached out the hilt of his sword he sneered. "If you come only to listen what you want to hear, you better go home."
"Say it." Xiao Tianyao demanded curtly.
But, Xiao Jun didn't budge in the slightest.
"Tell me Jun, what is it?"
"Are you sure you can handle this?" There was mocking smile that grazed his lips when he was questioning him and Xiao Tianyao despised it.
"Do you think so little about me?"
"Yes."
Xiao Jun's answer earned a glared from Xiao Tianyao, he was trying to calm himself, checked his temper at bay.
Ever since he was little, even though he didn't show it blatantly, he always sought for his brother approval. It was Xiao Jun, the first person who taught him almost about everything, since their father was too busy to look after the Country to be bothered with frivolous children' things. He grew up with his brother, one could say, Xiao Jun would tag his younger brother along wherever he would go.
And now, to actually hear his brother looked down on him was hurt his pride. He clenched and unclenched his fist beside his body.
"I used to rely on you, but not now." Xiao Jun added. "You are blinded by her."