The weather was so cold that if one stood naked in the snowy plaza, he would freeze to death.
A group of men was surrounding a bonfire. They were rubbing their hands while sipping alcohol from time to time.
"Dang, I ran out of alcohol." A middle-aged man greedily drank the last drop of alcohol in his drinking pouch.
"There is an inn in that alley. Five steps away from the jewelry store. Get me some too." One of the men said as he threw his bottle to the middle-aged man.
"Not me. Hey, Bin. You live in this city right? Get us some alcohol." The middle-aged man threw the bottles to a new recruit.
"Aye." The youngest, Bin, took their battle and went to the inn. He mumbled his complaint on how his seniors always make him the errand boy. As he passed the jewelry store, he heard some movements. His steps halted. There was another alleyway beside the jewelry store.
This alleyway was dark since it was far away from the plaza, the brightest place in this city. He took out his knife. He was just a trainee and not yet an official guard. He forgot his sword at the bonfire. He held his knife in front of him and ready to stabbed whoever it was hiding in the dark.
As he was about to take a step, a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder. His shaking hands acted quickly and was about to stab the person who grabbed him. But that person was quicker and stronger than him, he parried the knife off to the ground.
"What are you doing?" An indifferent voice came out from the tall man.
Bin heard the familiar voice. It was the new recruit who was sent today with the new batch of battalion from the prisoner's side. This recruit was a tall man with an expressionless face. He took note of him because he found this man too dull as his voice was flat without any trace of emotion. Besides, this indifferent man doesn't act like those fugitives who were rowdy and dirty.
"You scared me, Ping. I almost killed you!" Bin punched Ping's chest out of relief. But Ping did not even budge.
"Go get what you have to get. The seniors are waiting."
Bin looked at Ping weirdly. This man was really too dull. "Fine, you take care, or I say, you don't ran around and scare people." Bin countered back. This man was just here because they were granted freedom for being in the front line, who was he to act big in front of him, a guard of the palace? Bin wanted to teach Ping a lesson but since the latter had greater strength than him, he did not push on and just went away.
After Bin was completely out of sight, Ping looked back at the dark area where Bin was looking at earlier.
"Lady, we have been looking for you." The emotionless voice unexpectedly gave Li Amm a sense of peace and relief.
"Ping Bi, ah, where are you when I needed you? But thank god, you just redeem my faith on you." Li Amm's heart was hanging on a thread since earlier. Her gripped on the children became tighter when that young man stared right straight at them. The children did a good job and held their fear inside of them even their hearts were beating loudly.
Li Amm release her grip and rubbed their cold hands together with hers.
Ping Bi was still under someone's face. He just stared a couple of seconds to Li Amm before he speak.
"Lady, Master is waiting for you in the capital. Please follow me." Ping Bi quickly lead the way.
However, after a couple of steps, he halted and looked back at the dark alley.
"What is it? Are those men in the city are Ren Shou's men?" Li Amm asked. Ping Bi was here so it might be possible that this city was held by Ren Shou. But those palace guards were Emperor's man. So Li Amm was not sure if this city belongs to whom.
Ping Bi then turned away and continued walking while he answered.
"No. I'm a spy."
"..." Li Amm.
'Spy don't say they are a spy right?'
"Did you see Xiao Min?" Li Amm was worried about Xiao Min.
"No, lady. I am in a mission when I received a message that you are missing."
"..." Li Amm. Gosh. The whole residence would kill her. But she hoped that Xiao Min was alright.
Li Amm did not speak anymore as they ran and walk around the city.
Finally, they reached the outer wall that leads to the capital.
Ping Bi whistled.
Afterwards, two shadows jumped down from the wall.
Li Amm was not given a chance to have a look at the faces of those shadows when she was enveloped by a warm hug.
A strong pair of arms embrace her back shielding her from the cold. Her favorite scent reached her nose. Propelling Li Amm to take a huge sniff at the man's scent who suddenly glued his body to hers. His warm breath hit her neck.
"Wangfei, I missed you." His deep voice that croaked a little brought goosebumps to Li Amm.