The sky was tar-black that growled and produced a loud thunderstorm. In an instant, the large pillows of clouds spat out their beads of water, slowly drenching each and everyone. After a while, the rain became more intense, and the sound blurred into one long whirring noise as if the heaven was upset with its people.
"Carry her body to the Pavilion." ordered the man in mask. Tearing away his gaze from Anchhi, he disgustedly stared at Jiang and spoke, "For him, let his body get decomposed in this woods."
As being ordered, the guard's inclined towards Anchhi in order to carry her. But they heard the horse's loud neigh at a distance, only to halt at their respective places.
Immediately, the man in mask snapped his head to witness a brash figure riding on a black horse, which seemed rather familiar, accompanied by another man on another horse.
His black silhouette came into light when he pulled the reins of his horse to stop it right in the middle of the field, near Anchhi's body.
Every one of them present there immediately got on their knees, lowering their gazes with a fist on their chest as a sign to show their courtesy. That man in the black horse was Shuo Jin, a daunting man. Even in such heavy rain, they didn't fail to recognize their Master. Their eyesight indeed needs to be appreciated!
On the other hand, Shuo Jin's gaze caught the restless body of Anchhi. From the trail of blood dripping from her mouth to the injuries torn open, her body all bloodied and throbbed, soaking wet along with her clothes that were torn into pieces. Her garish scarlet pooling underneath her body, mixed up with the rainwater.
Shuo Jin got off his horse, and stood for a long moment, staring at her while numbness filled his heart. Then, he cautiously stepped closer to Anchhi.
No sooner had he reached, he bent down and swiftly caught the hold of her, in his arms. The tip of his fingers slowly traced her pale face, caressing her. Countless thoughts flashed across his mind and the mixed feeling, arousing deep inside his heart amazed him even more.
When Shuo Jin grazed her wounds, he felt the excessive amount of bleeding. Without further delaying, he took off his outer robes and covered her with it. While he gulped and buried her head into his chest.
Then, he carried her, his hand around her waist as her body turned lax in his arms with her head lulled back. Those guards alongside that man in mask didn't dare to raise their lowered heads and utter a single word from their mouths.
Only when Shuo Jin was about to depart, he nodded his head, signaling Hao Ran to free the unconscious body of Jiang from the pole's grip. With that small gesture, Hao Ran understood his Master's command and did the way he was gestured to do.
For his guards and his own people involved there, Shuo Jin would love to take care of them personally!
Beforehand, Hao Ran had already called two carriages when he sensed this intimidating scenario on their way.
When the carriages arrived, Shuo Jin slowly made Anchhi lay down comfortably, to sit next to her. Whereas Hao Ran lifted Jiang by his arm and placed him inside another carriage.
After they were done, the coachmen pulled the reins of the horses, starting the carriages. Shuo Jin looked out of the window and saw the heavy rain pouring from stormy clouds that helped to cover their tracks but also hindered their progress.
~~~~
In the Palace of Tranquility,
The Royal Consort Yimu, Shoumen and Court Lady Xu were heavily worried regarding the sudden disappearance of Anchhi as it's been a day since she has fled from the market.
"Why did you even buy her words?" The Royal Consort objected who was wandering here to there.
"This maid deserves to be punished. Please punish me, Your Majesty! Punish me!" apologized the mere maid Shoumen, kowtowing before the Royal Consort.
"Jiang is also nowhere to be seen since morning. Otherwise, he would have left no any stones unturned to find Jia'er." sighed Yimu as she rubbed her tensed forehead.
"Your Majesty Royal Consort! Y-o-u-r Majesty !" a frightening call could be heard from behind the red ornate doors.
The door was opened by a eunuch, panting heavily. His current state of appearance seemed as if fear and anxiety had welled up inside him.
"Is there any news about Jia'er?" queried the Royal Consort, raising her pair of arched brows.
The eunuch suddenly bowed his head and stated, "H-i-s Highness Fifth Prince...." before he could complete his puzzled words, Yimu had left her chamber, rushing towards the direction from where the Eunuch had come.
Upon reaching the main hall of Palace of Tranquility, Yimu's gaze didn't spare the lifeless body of Jiang, lying on a wooden stretcher as being carried by the eunuchs.
"Jiang!" A tidal wave of despair washed over her. Her body trembled, fearful of the sight in-front of her. "Call for the Royal Physician." She further yelled.
~~~~
In the Crown Prince's residence.
"She's out of danger for now." said ChaoXiang, a physician and good friend of Hui Jing, as he examined Anchhi's condition. After she was brought, a nurse immediately cleaned her wounds with sterile water and completed her dressing.
After a while, Hui Jing quietly sat next to Anchhi, who was pallid enough, her hairs ruffled and her chest and stomach area bandaged with white cloth.
He gently stroke her cheeks, tears burned his eyes as his lower lips trembled, "Jia'er, everything's fine! I am here."
"Hui Jing, come out with me for a while." ChaoXiang called, ambling himself outside of the chamber. As instructed, Hui Jing, who looked sorrowful and dejected followed his dear friend to the outside.
"How did she get injure so severely like that?" with a furrowed brows indicating worriness, ChaoXiang queried.
"I took Shuo Jin lightly. My men had seen him with Jia'er and I suspect he has something to do with her situation." Hui Jing grumbled and clenched his hand into a fist which was the only outward sign to show his anger.
"It's no doubt that she was trapped by the Soul Locking Needle. It contained a seal poison which is getting stronger and is slowly affecting Fei Jia's internal organs. If we drag this any longer, I fear that..." ChaoXiang expressed before he paused to complete his sentence.
No sooner he could resume his words, his one arm was being grabbed by Hui Jing, who hastily objected, "You fear what?"
In response to his question, ChaoXiang only lowered his eyes in fret. Then, Hui Jing restlessly caught both of his arms and howled in agony, "What are you fearing? Say it!"
Taking a deep sigh, ChaoXiang let his mouth escape the truth that pierced Hui Jing's heart like a sharp arrow. "I fear that.... I fear that her life will be in danger."
Tortured by ChaoXiang's words and his own emotions, Hui Jing's voice quavered with his eyes's moist.
He pondered for a moment and explicitly stated, "You surely have a way to cure it.... You surely have a way to cure it, right?" as he continuously shook ChaoXiang's arms.
"I believe there is an antidote for this poison but the one who has inflicted this poison, only knows about the antidote." ChaoXiang briefly responded.
"I will search the owner of the poison. I won't let anything happen to Jia." Hui Jing bellowed sorrowfully before he crumbled down, shrunking into a ball.