Wind Flower
The villagers took us to their town. When we get to the entrance of their village, seven to ten bandits welcomed us with swords in their hands.
"Who are you?! What are you doing here?!" one of the hideous bandits shouted.
"We are the one who are supposed to ask you that. What are you doing here in this town? Why are you subjugating the village and enslaving the people?" Hong Rong angrily said.
This is the first time I have seen this side of Hong Rong. He is always soft, bubbly, and kind. But today, his eyebrows are furrowed and his eyes are blazing with fire. His voice is also filled with rage. He's far different from the Hong Rong I knew.
"We already conquered this land and this ours now! You should leave this place before we cut you into half!"
"This is the land of the Great Emperor! You don't own any of these." Hong Rong yelled and looked at cold face.
"We warned you already but you didn't listen! Attack!"
The bandits yelled and run to our direction. Cold face whispered something to Hong Rong and he nodded. Then the two of them raised their swords and run to the enemy.
My knees trembled with fear for those two guys. They are outnumbered. How can they beat the bandits?
I watched how their swords clashed. Hong Rong kicked one of the bandits directly in the head that made him fall on the floor. Hong Rong used that opportunity and striked him with his sword. I don't think that image of him killing people will be erased from my memory.
Cold face on the other hand is gracefully slashing his sword to his enemy. I am in between feeling amazed and scared when I saw how easy it is for him to pierce his enemy's stomach. I closed my eyes when I saw him slashed the head of one of the bandits.
Like what cold face said, I really tried to get used to killing so I watched how they fight. But my stomach is refusing the view of violence.
"Are you all right Young Lady?" one of the villagers asked me.
"Yes. It's just that I can't watch these killings."
"We can't blame you for feeling like that. We also don't like the idea of taking someone's life but they are evil people. They're making our lives a living hell and they are killing our friends with no hesitation too. They deserve to die!"
I didn't answer him. They all experienced hardships because of the bandits. Of course they will really loathe them.
When I heard how the people beside me yelled in happiness, I already know that Hong Rong and Cold face successfully killed those bandits.
"There are still some of them inside." one of the villagers said.
So we started walking inside. My face turned sour when I saw the dead bodies of the bandits they killed. Some of them only have a pierce on their stomach while some of them are missing their body parts. I knew who did that.
When we get inside, I noticed how different this town is compared to the one I went last time. This town is not sumptuous like Luoyang. The buildings are all wood with no touch of color or paint. The houses are small and the roofs are made of dried coconut leaves. The people aren't wearing silk clothes and they are wearing ragged cotton instead.
Luoyang is a city while this is like a town in a middle of the forest.
"There! There they are!"
Large number of bandits arrived and the fight continued. One of the villagers pulled me behind one of the houses and we watched the fight silently.
"Mercy! The heavens finally answered our prayers and heroes came to save us!"
Sound of torment and sword clashing filled the air. The villagers are all screaming support for Cold Face and Hong Rong.
"Bao'er!" a woman suddenly screamed.
I looked at the woman's eyesight and my eyes widen when I saw a young child walking in the direction of the fight.
I don't know what happened to me but my body move automatically. I stood up and run to the child's direction even though there's a bandit near him. I hugged the child when I got near him.
"Stupid child! You already know that there are people killing each other here and you still wander around!"
"Oh no! Young Lady!"
My heart stopped when I heard the villagers screamed. I looked at my back and saw a bandit smiling devilishly as he raise his sword in front of me.
Fuck.
So this is how I'll die.
Shit.
There is still a lot of things I want to do.
A lot of words to say.
But still, I'll end up with a cold body.
I embraced the child tightly. At least I have saved a life before I leave this world.
I close my eyes and wait for my demise.
I waited for the cold metal to pierce me but I felt none. Instead, a loud yelp of pain blasted behind me. When I looked at it, I saw cold face holding his sword bathing in blood. He look directly in my eyes and shouted.
"Are you stupid? Leave!"
I didn't mind his hurtful words and just followed him. I stood up and carried the child then quickly left the place.
"Bao'er! Thank you Young Lady! Thank you so much."
I just stared at her. I was still shocked with my near death experience earlier. I looked back to the battle and searched for cold face. He saved me again.
The brawl ended and they have successfully annhilate the bandits. The villagers went out of their houses and rejoiced.
"Rejoice! Rejoice! The evils are now all gone! Thanks to these two heroes who saved us! Rejoice! Rejoice!"
"Let's bow down to these two warriors who brought back our freedom!"
The people got on their knees and started bowing to Hong Rong and Cold face. They endlessly glorified them and some even cried while expressing their gratitude.
"Father!"
Out of nowhere, a loud cry resound and a boy aging like ten run to one of the dead bodies on the ground.
"Father!"
The boy weep and hugged his soulless father. Pity took over my whole body. The sound of his cries is really painful to hear. Another child become an orphan. My heart is aching for his loss.
"Master." I heard Hong Rong uttered.
When I glance at cold face, I saw him walking to the boy's direction. Impulse controlled me and I went in front of the boy. I extended both of my arms and blocked cold face.
"What are you doing?" he said with a cold voice.
"He's just a boy. Just set him free."
"Move."
"No!"
"I said move!"
"I will not let you kill him!" I screamed.
Cold face didn't speak a word and just stared at me with his emotionless eyes.
"You already killed his father! What do you still want?! Are you still not satisfied with the lives you've taken?!"
"Roseanne, you don't understand." Hong Rong said.
"What did I did not understand Hong Rong? Your Master wants to kill this poor boy!"
"No. That boy could still do something to you that's why Master is telling you to move. And we're just going to interrogate him."
"What? What can this boy do to me? You're just overthin-"
But before I could even finish talking, I fell on the ground with pair of hands strangling me. I gasped for air and when I looked at the person who's strangling me, I saw the murderous face of the boy I defended earlier.
How ironic.
I am being killed by the child I protected.
Suddenly, he was hitted by something and become unconscious. He landed on my body as I gasped for air. When I looked at the one who save me, I saw cold face with a strange look in his eyes.
"Hong Rong, apprehend the child. We will question him later."
He glanced at the old man near him and asked.
"Do you mind if we stay here for a while?"
"Uh, sure sure. You can stay here for as long as you want!"
The old man started walking. Cold face looked at me again before he started walking too. A pang of guilt filled me. I'm so fucking stupid!
"Roseanne are you alright?"
I looked at Hong Rong and saw his worried face. He's supposed to be mad at me too right?
"Aren't you mad at me Hong Rong?"
"Why would I? You're even hurt!"
Geez. This kind dude.
One of the villagers helped me get up. The mother of the child I helped earlier offered me to stay in their house. I expressed my gratitude and followed them. Hong Rong told me that he'll stay with his Master and we bid our goodbyes for the mean time.
The house I was invited was a small hut with wooden barricade. There is also a fireplace in smaller hut separated from the main house.

"I apologize for the looks of my house. I hope it's okay for you."
"Why are you apologizing? Your house is fine. It's pretty, neat, and simple. The air is fresh and cool!"
The woman smiled at me. Again, it's my first time staying in a hut. It feels different but not in a bad way. I am still so lucky that there are many kind people here.
I asked her where can I take a bath. She told me that usually, they are washing in the river. She also offered to get me the water which I strongly refused. I don't want to sponge off her.
She already have a child to take care of.
So I decided to take a bath at night. She will also lend me clothes. This woman is really generous.
"What is your name?" I asked the woman.
"I am Ping Hua."
"I am Roseanne."
"Roseanne?"
"Odd name right?" I said while laughing.
Ping Hua told me that she'll cook our dinner. I volunteered to help but she refused. She just asked me to watch her son.
"Bao'er come here." I called the young boy.
Bao'er looked at me and started walking towards me. I spread my arms and hugged the child.
"You little dimwit. You were almost doomed earlier! If I didn't catched you."
Out of nowhere, cold face's appeared inside my head. He was the one who saved us. I remember the look in his eyes after I said those mean words to him.
Did I really saw that?
He looked hurt?
Who will not feel hurt because of my words earlier?
After saving my life, I repay him with that.
I'm so stupid!
Maybe I should apologize to him.
I really should say sorry to him.
And thank him for all the good things he did for me.
I'll do that tomorrow when we meet.
The sun had set when we had already eaten. The sky is already dark that's why Ping Hua walked me to the river. The river is not that far and I already memorized the way so I told her that she can go back to the house now.
"No one comes here at night and all of the villagers are kind so don't worry. If you insist on staying here alone, I will just leave this lantern."
"Thank you."
Ping Hua, together with Bao'er, turned away and I was now left alone. I looked around the area to make sure that there is no peeping bastard here and like what Ping Hua said, there's really no one here.

I untied my hanfu and started taking them off. I also remove my wide inner garments. My long black hair fell down and covered my chest as I walked in the water. Goosebumps filled my skin when I felt how cold the water is.
"I hope I won't catch a cold because of this."
I am stinking for two days so I really have no choice but to take a bath. I continuously walk to get deeper. The river is running fast so I made sure that I won't get carried away. Fortunately, the river is full of stones that's why it's not that slippery. The water is only higher than my thighs so I sat down and leaned on the stone. I am skinny dipping lol
I dipped my head under the cold water and started scrubbing my whole body. There are no soaps and shampoo so I should take my time here.
After cleaning, I closed my eyes and just feel the flow of the cold water. My ears stay alert to the sound of nature. All the tensions in my muscle relaxes as I let every part of myself go into calming state. I then leaned my head on the rock and start to sing.
🎶 If you're going to turn your back like this
Disappear like this
Then it hasn't bloomed
As I watch on like this
It's hard to breathe
Wouldn't it be nice to live with my eyes shut? 🎶
This is one of my favorites. The song's message is about longing for someone you cannot be with. And I can relate so much right now.
🎶 Without looking, I see you
Without listening, I hear you
I'm being revived by your breathe like a wind flower 🎶
How funny it is. Even here in this era, I can still see Felix. I can still see how his eyes formed a crescent shape whenever he smile. The way he talked. His sweet voice. I can still hear it. It's still ringing in my ear.
🎶 Though I wish to go, I cannot
Though I wish to embrace you, I cannot
Carried of by the wind and scattered as I fly away
Scattered in your heart as I fly away 🎶
I really miss him so much. I want to touch him. I want to hug him. I want to kiss him. I want to feel him.
But I can't.
We're so far away from each other. Our world is separated. Despite the strong desire of going back there, I can't do a damn thing. We're like two boundaries that could never met, as was fated by the heaven itself.
But I'll do anything to get back. After all the farthest distance is but life and death.
One day soon, we'll be together again.
"Okay. I'm already fresh as fuck. Yay!"
I stand up and started walking. But shits really like me because the moment I step on my right foot, the stone suddenly moved making me out of balance.
"AHHHH." I screamed my lungs out.
But before I hit my head on the awaiting big rocks below, splashes of water appeared and a hand pulled me. A pair of muscular arms encircled my waist. I can feel how warm the skin is that is currently brushing to mine.
"Are you alright?" cold face asked me with worry in his voice.
I was flabbergasted with my third near death experience. And here he is, saving me again from my recklessness.
I raised my head and looked at him. Our eyes then locked to each other.
My heart pounded very hard.
His dark eyes are staring at me as if he's reading through my soul. I can't tell what it is but there is something in it that is so alluring.
That you can't help but feel captivated by those dark orbs.
Then I saw it moved and stared at my lips. He looked back in my eyes and gulped.
That made me came back to my wits.
I pushed him and sat in the water to hide my naked body. Despite the cold water surrounding me, I can still feel the warmth from his skin.
"I didn't see anything!" he defensively said.
"What are you doing here?! Are you peeping? Did you watch me taking a bath?! How dare you! " I shouted.
"No! I will never do that! I was here taking a bath when I heard you singing. I was about to leave when I heard you scream that's why I came near you!"
"Don't lie to me! I'll kill you!"
"I swear that I never did that! But if that's what you want to think, then so be it. Think of that way. I will never explain my side because you already have your own assumptions. Like no matter how I clarify, you've already fixed your mind."
Guilt wracked me. I bit my lip when I remember how I accused him earlier and I am doing it again.
Then I feel him taking his steps and started walking away. But before he could leave farther, I called him.
"Wait!"
He stopped.
I gathered all my courage and dropped my pride. I breathe in and out.
"I'm sorry." I silently said.
Silence filled the air.
"I'm very sorry!" I said out loud.
"I'm very for saying hurtful things to you. I'm very sorry for accusing you and judging you. I always misunderstood you. When in fact you're always there saving my life. I also want to thank you for that. I hope you forgive me."
There I said it!
I apologize.
I thanked him!
My heart is still beating so fast like I run for a hundred mile. I am also nervous for his reaction.
I waited for his response and after about a quarter of a minute, he talked.
"You should go back to your house. It's freezing cold. You might catch a cold."
And that earned me a smile. I don't know but even though he didn't say it out loud, I felt that he already forgive me.
Weird.
I glance at his direction and saw that he is already wearing a top and is looking at the opposite side. I stood up and hissed when I felt a piercing spasm of pain in my ankle.
"What happened?" I heard him say.
"Nothing. I think I sprained my ankle."
Regardless of my injured ankle, I tried my best to walk out of the water. I grabbed my used hanfu and wear it straightway. Then I continue walking. Pain strikes everytime I step on my right foot.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah."
We walked side by side. But the longer I walked, the more painful it is. When I couldn't take it anymore, I stop walking and rest my aching foot.
All of a sudden, cold face sat on his feet with his back in front of me.
"I'll carry you."
My heart beat wildly when I heard him say that. Different thoughts came inside my empty head and I shrugged it off immediately.
"No it's alright. I can still walk by myself. Thank you."
"Don't lie. I can see how your face crease whenever you step on your right foot."
Wait? He's staring at my face?!
"Don't think of anything. I'm just doing this so we don't have to carry you around during our journey. If that gets worse, that will be a bigger problem."
I glanced at his back. Is it okay for me to have a piggy back ride with another guy?
Like what he said, there's no meaning and malice behind it. He just doesn't want my ankle to get worse and make me a burden on our journey.
So shamelessly, I went near him and climb on his back. I put my hands above his shoulders and loosely encircled it around his neck. He stood up and started walking while carrying me. Silence prevailed.
"You're so light. With your weight, strong wind can easily blow you away."
Wait?
Is he teasing me?!
Well it's not funny!
"You should eat a lot. Tomorrow I'll buy you more food."
Woah.
Who is this guy?
Is he really the cold face I knew?
He's staring to get warm!
What happened?!
I didn't speak because I might ruin his mood and I don't want my butt to fall on the hard ground. So I remained silent until we arrived at Ping Hua's house.
Outside the wooden barricade, I saw her looking around with a lantern in his hands. Shoot! I forgot the lantern she lend me!
Her gaze stop at our direction. When she saw us, she ran to our direction.
"What happened?" Ping Hua said with worry in her voice.
"She slipped on the rock and sprained her foot."
"Poor Roseanne. Fortunately, I have oiled leaves inside."
Cold face putted me down when we arrived at the house's entrance. I stood up and looked at him.
"Thank you for carrying me."
As usual, cold face just nodded at me.
"Uh, I'll now go inside. Good bye and take care."
He gave me one last nod before he turned away. He started walking. Ping Hua guided me and we both went inside her house.
Ping Hua massaged my sprained feet and put the oiled leaves around it. After that, we both layed on the bamboo bed.
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep but my mind remained awake. I changed my sleeping position because I thought that I'm just not used with this hard bed that's why I can't sleep. But no matter how hard I tried, I just can't.
What happened earlier in the river remained playing inside my head.
I can still see how intense his gaze was.
I can still feel his fingers on my waist.
I can still feel the warmth of his bare skin to my naked body.
My cheek warmed up because of that. I cursed myself and shake off the thoughts I have.
Damn you Roseanne. Stop thinking those.
I really tried my best to remove all of that in my system and think of other things. And after trying for hundred of times, I successfully drift off.