After a while of traveling, Xiu Ying's voice was heard from the inside of the carriage. "Find a place to take a break."
Jin Hai and Luo Li were surprised that they would be taking a break for the first time since they've been with Xiu Ying. They followed her order and stopped the carriage next to a tree by the river.
Jin Hai got off the carriage and waited outside with Luo Li. After five minutes, Xiu Ying didn't come out of the carriage. Jin Hai then nudges Luo Li's elbow, eyeing her to go and check on Xiu Ying. Before Luo Li could check on Xiu Ying, her voice was heard. "We will be camping here tonight. Jin Hai, you go hunt for dinner while Luo Li, you go get some firewood."
"Yes, master," Jin Hai and Luo Li replied and left the campsite together.
Oblivious of their master's situation in the carriage, Jin Hai and Luo Li left. Inside the carriage, Xiu Ying was held captive with a knife to her neck. One of the rebels that came to rescue the prisoners had snuck into her carriage before she got in. The rebel still had his face covered, but Xiu Ying can see that there was sweat all over his forehead and blood bleeding out from his stomach. "I sent my guards away already. You can put down the knife now."
The rebel was surprised that Xiu Ying remains unflustered by the situation.
"Who are you?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that. You're a stranger who came into my carriage without my consent."
"Why didn't the gate guards stop you from going out earlier?"
"Don't you already have a guess."
'This young man must belong to a high-rank family. He was able to pass through the gates easily without no one stopping him during such commotion. I must leave before his guards come back, or I'll be at a disadvantage.' The rebel thought to himself. He then leads Xiu Ying out of the carriage. Only until then, he released Xiu Ying.
"You're injured. With that kind of injury, you will die if you don't get treated. It's been about an hour and a half already since you started bleeding. As of now, you should be feeling light-headed. You will only be able to travel five meters at the most before you collapse due to blood loss," warned Xiu Ying, but the man then glared at her and walked away at a slow pace. With only a couple meters, he collapses to the ground.
Xiu Ying sighs and walked up to his body. "I warned you already..."
The rebel had fainted. Xiu Ying can hear his panting; she then removes his mask. 'Such a pretty face.' She thought to herself. After seeing this rebel's face, Xiu Ying felt that he looked very familiar, very like Jian Yu, but more mature and manly.
Jin Hai and Luo Li got back from getting the firewood and dinner. They were surprised to see that there was a man on the ground next to their master. After Jin Hai and Luo Li set down the wood and food they found, they walked over to Xiu Ying, who just stood quietly next to the man. Jin Hai took a peek at the man on the ground and found that he had a black mask wrapped around his neck.
"Master, this man...., is he one of the rebels who came to rescue the prisoners?"
"Yes. He snuck into my carriage before we left the restaurant."
Jin Hai and Luo Li were horrified. They both got onto their knees and begged for forgiveness. "Master, we apologize for putting you in danger. We should have inspected the carriage before you got in. Please punish this servant."
Xiu Ying then turned to look at them. "Both of you get up!" she ordered.
Jin Hai and Luo Li jolted up frightened. "Luo Li, go find some herbs to stop this man's bleeding. Jin Hai, carry this man and lay him against the tree. He is still of use to us; take this as your punishment."
With that, Luo Li went to find herbs while Jin Hai carried the rebel to the tree. After Jin Hai finished building a fire, Xiu Ying then ordered him to help Luo Li look for herbs. He reluctantly left Xiu Ying with that unidentified rebel.
Xiu Ying's surroundings became quiet, with only the sounds of the flowing river and flickering fire. She then heard a groan from the man. Xiu Ying walked up to him. Seeing that the rebel was drained in sweat, she took out her napkin to wipe his forehead.
Out of nowhere, the rebel then grabbed on to Xiu Ying's sleeves and pulled her close to him. Xiu Ying was surprised but remain calm. She then heard the rebel mumble something. "Please don't go. Stay with me."
Xiu Ying's face became dark. 'These words are the same as...his last words to me. Could it be...No. Xiu Ying, wake up, there's no way this man can be him. You buried his body yourself.'
Xiu Ying sense that Jin Hai and Luo Li are back. She then pulled her sleeves away from the man's grip and went back into her carriage.
When Jin Hai and Luo Li got back to the campsite, the sun was setting. Jin Hai strips the man's upper body part to apply the medicine and bandage his wound. Meanwhile, Luo Li grilled the fishes that she had caught from the river.
"Master, the fish is ready, would you like to have it?"
"I'm fine. I will be going to sleep."
Jin Hai and Luo Li finished their dinner. They then separated and went out to patrol the surrounding. After some patrolling, they went to their perspective place to sleep.
During the night, Xiu Ying was unable to sleep, so she came out of the carriage to get some air. As she went out, she saw the rebel trying to escape.
"Stop!" yelled Xiu Ying as she chased after him.
Jin Hai and Luo Li were not at the campsite during that time, but they heard her voice. When they got back to the campsite, Xiu Ying and the rebel was missing.
"Master! Master!" both Jin Hai and Luo Li shout for Xiu Ying.
Jin Hai turned to Luo Li. "Let's separate and look for her."
From afar, Xiu Ying can hear their faint shouts for her. She wants to call to them but saves her breath and chased after the rebel. Even if Xiu Ying were to call for them, they wouldn't hear because she was already far from the campsite.
"Stop! If you keep running, your wound will open up." Xiu Ying tried to convince the rebel. But he just kept running. He kept running until he reached a cliff, down below was the river.
Xiu Ying saw that the rebel had stopped and caught up to him. "Let's see where you'll run off to this time, just obediently go back with me if you don't want to die."
Xiu Ying tried to grab the rebel, but he took a step back. Not looking at where he stepped, the rebel tripped and fell backward into the river. Xiu saw that the rebel was falling over the cliff and rushed to get a hold of him. Xiu Ying may be strong, but she can't overcome gravity and the rebel's weight. They both fell into the river, causing a loud splash.
Xiu Ying had released the rebel when they fell into the river. She swam to the surface to get a breath. Not seeing the rebel come out of the water, Xiu Ying quickly swam back into the water to pull him out. She grabbed on to a log that was flowing in the river with her free hand. Xiu Ying then swings the rebel over the log to keep his face out of the water. She then checks if he's still breathing. The rebel was still alive.
'Ugh, what have I gotten myself into this time.' She then asks herself. 'Why did I even save you in the first place. I should've let you bleed to death instead of having you become a burden to me. It seems like I must have owed you last life.'
Xiu Ying scans the surrounding area to see if anyone is passing by. Luckily there was a ship close to them. "Help! Help! Please Help! I have an injured person with me."