It's been months since the war started. It brought great catastrophe to both parties. But everything was going to end if the Li Empire would agree to the peace treaty.
"Take care, Your Highness. Are you sure you won't take a few soldiers with you?" the General Luo Yu asked.
"Xuefeng is already enough. I put you in charge of the camp while I am gone. We will be back quickly after we check if these rumors are true. Has the messenger from the palace arrived?" Jiahao asked as he mounted his horse.
"Not yet, your Highness," General Luo Yu said.
"Make him wait for my return. We should get going," Jiahao said as they galloped into the woods.
After a few hours of traveling, they arrived at the area where the rumored lady would kill the enemy's troops. As they arrived at the scene, a big pile of dead bodies was there.
"Xuefeng, check the wounds of the dead bodies if there are arrow wounds or sword wounds," Jiahao said.
Xuefeng nodded as he unmounted from his horse. As he approached the dead bodies, he covered his nose as the stench was strong since the bodies were starting to decompose. He used his sword to turn a dead body over but as soon as he laid his eyes on the wounds, his widened as it was not a wound from an arrow nor from any weapons.
"Xuefeng, what's wrong?" JIahao called out as unmounted from his horse.
"Your Highness, you need to see this," Xuefeng said as he stepped aside for the prince to check on the body.
After realizing what it was, Jiahao was shocked.
The body's face was burned off.
"Take a look around, tell me if you see any presence in the area," Jiahao said as he went to check the other bodies. Xuefeng only nodded as he followed the prince's command.
Jiahao looked around the area and the bodies were all the same. Almost all the faces were burned off. Xuefeng scouted the area but no one alive was there until a red bird flew above them in circles.
The bird quickly caught Jiahao and Xuefeng's attention as a red fiery bird is rare.
"Your Highness, there is no one around the area," Xuefeng said as he reported to the prince. The prince, however, was still staring at the bird and it was showing no sign of leaving.
"Xuefeng, would it be possible for you to shoot that down?" Jiahao asked.
Xuefeng looked at the prince, confused with the strange order. The prince wasn't fond of a bird but nevertheless, he nodded and said yes.
"Shoot it down for me," Jiahao said as he never took his eyes off the beautiful bird as if he was under a captivating spell.
Xuefeng went to get his crossbow and aimed at the beautiful bird that just perched at a huge pile of dead bodies.
He breathed slowly and aimed carefully so as not to startle the bird away. And within seconds, he shot his arrow and struck the magnificent bird in its wings.
But as the bird cried in pain, it suddenly glowed as if it was to explode. But in a moment's time, the bird turned into a beautiful woman. A woman that was all too familiar to them. A woman who they thought had disappeared.
After realizing who it was, a tear fell from each of their eyes. Jiahao was in great shock that his knees lost strength while Xuefeng was stunned and his tears started pouring out.
Jiahao stood up and slowly went over to the wounded and unconscious lady. Her hair was no longer red but she was still beautiful. He removed his cloak and covered her naked body and gently lifted her in his arms.
He walked slowly towards Xuefeng who was still stunned from what happened. He couldn't digest everything at once.
Without uttering a word, Jiahao mounted her gently onto his horse as they turned the horse to leave.
"Xuefeng... let's go," Jiahao said.
Xuefeng who was still in a daze nodded without uttering anything. He mounted his own horse and followed pursuit.
He still couldn't believe that his sister was alive.
Yue was alive.