Indignation arose through the young man's heart. Mufeng was bewildered; who would have thought his life-time teacher would also be the cause of his all his despair and anguish? He no longer abided to his beliefs that anything else he says would be believable.
No matter how hard he had tried to rectify his deeds, none would be forgivable. His parents? Forgive him? Not a chance. He felt humiliated; he had only attempted to ease the man's heart, but the truth eventually came to light.
Without another word, he returned to the cave, feeling the despair he once felt. He turned to his beloved sister, unbearable guilt rectified through his veins.
"Oh, my dearest brother. Has the truth finally exposed itself?"
"Did you know the whole time?...(Just when I was finally began to accept his words again...)"
"Not at all, but I figured...comforting lies, certainly hurt less but worsen over time; hurtful truths eventually relieve of all the pain and guilt."
"It doesn't matter... he'll have to face what I've felt...Assumptions, they've always been right when it comes from them."
Mufeng snatched his sword from the mud below him right before leaving, with his sister having to consistently deal with worry due to his recklessness.
"Endured despair, consumed by anger...has this always been the fated outcome?...Father would be disappointed...you haven't changed at all since he taught you, Yu Mufeng."
Feng, on the other hand, had already run away with his horse without saying anything; was he really just a coward? He had been galloping past the serene trees for quite a while now, remorseful.
"(We have to go...Xiao chen...he's going to murder us if we stay here!)"Why was he scared? Was it because of the man's capabilities? No, it wasn't him...it had already been someone else preliminarily.
Why has one never noticed? Was it because they hid themselves too well? Neither was, 'tis because we had never known in the first place."(Luo Xi...do not fret.)"
Feng narrowly suppressed his horse, as soon as he had heard of the voice."(Oh, I'm surpised you could hear me...your mother was surprised to hear me as well.)"He took a look around for a good few seconds, before further realizing the voice lingered in his thoughts.
"(Unfortunately, your father could not hear me...forgive me for being a little late."
"And you are?..."
"(We bear no names.)"
"What do you mean...we."
"(That is for you to find out, Luo Xi.)"
"But...how?..."
"(I may only be able to assist you, but...I am allowed to intervene from time to time."
"Where am I supposed to go after this...do I leave Xiao Chen?..."
"(You musn't; he is but the final flash of hope.)"
"The final flash of what?"
"(Please head to Ho city after this. This is the first and last of what I will be able to hand over."
"Wait!—"
The voice halted, and it was but him again...all alone, to carry along his parents' burdens. He felt confused; who could help him now?...He remembered.
"..."
"You're...Feng.Feng Luo Xi, my friend. Isn't that you?"
"..."
He proceeded to calm himself, immersing in the bitter cold. He got down from his horse, and sighed inwardly. He closes his eyes, and tries to remind himself of Xiao chen's ability to heal one's self."(Feng Luo Xi...calm yourself...)"Xiao Chen's silhouette coalasced from behind him, his hand intwertwining with his. It was not him, but why is it that it feels so...vivid?
He soon found himself in a seemingly endless field of...purple lilac flowers? Two figures can be seen from the distance; one wearing a white dress adorned by black roses, as ice lingered by the latter end of the gown.Meanwhile, the other simply wore red robes, but still felt magnanimous even with such simplicity.
He wore no crown, no jewelry, and yet you could sense an aura of an emperor which gave off a golden glow...but how was it possible?...
"...Forlorn."Neither could see Feng, but they were clearly immersing in a conversation of their own.
"Condescension, you need not worry. We're but a fragment of all of this...you must find your way back, and continue our existence as sword arts."
"I can't leave without you, you only have two descendants right now...how will you survive...?"
She smiled at him and her tears slowly fell onto one of the flowers, freezing it completely."
"I will find a way...do not press your worry towards me."
"..."
Feng re-opened his eyes, only to find no one beside him. What a strange dream, was it perhaps just his exhaustion that led him there? However, even as far as he cared...although his parents really were willing to help someone in need; they failed miserably.
Perhap this was more than he could ever comprehend...but he needed to find out how they originated from here, and that had to be set anteriorly."They had a goal...but what, exactly?..."
For now,he had to get away from Mufeng. He knew that the young man would kill him off with no hesitation, and most likely get rid of the imperial family as well. Perhaps...he could consult Wu Xiao Chen first. No matter how calm he was meant to be, he was still to escape along with Xiao Chen.
The city, he would not be able to leave it. However, he knows that he can rest easy for now. How else would he still be able to protect it if he's dead? His hesitation no longer perturbed him, as he headed straight back into the city to confront Xiao.
"General Feng, we are indeed contemptible at the moment, but we are not allowed to let you inside,unless the matter has been confirmed urge—..."
"Its urgent, I need to speak to the crown prince. Please."
The guards start at each other in confusion, before opening the gates for him. Before they could even fully open, Feng had already hopped down from his horse and rushed towards Xiao Chen's room.He busts the door open, quite literally interrupting the prince from his lonesome investigations.
"Feng Luo Xi?"He got up from his table and hugged him, patting his back."How did you get past the guards?..."Feng wasted no time chatting, he dragged Xiao Chen all the way with him to the palace entrance."We have to go. We can't stay here; he's after us."
"Who?"
"...Yu Mufeng."
Before Xiao Chen could even respond, Feng had already thrown him on top of the horse as they sped off. The guards, of course, eventually realize that the General had taken the crown prince with him with no permission at all, so they incontinently inform the emperor about what just occured...
As the two approach the exit of the gates, the city's soldiers are in hot pursuit. They soon exit the city's jurisdiction, crossing through the south post; a baffled Ye Zai shan and Yan Hai witness the whole event unfoled before their very eyes.
"Your royal highness!" Zai Shan lifts her arm towards them.
Xiao Chen lifts her up onto the horse as he knocks out a couple of soldiers with some of his daggers."XIAO CHEN, DON'T INFLICT ANY HARM TOWARDS THEM. JUST LET THEM CHASE US, BUT IF WE GO ANY SLOWER, WE'LL HAVE TO PART WAYS."
"WHERE ARE WE EVEN GOING?!"
"HO CITY!"
"BUT THEY'LL STILL BE ABLE TO CHASE US FROM THERE!"
"I HAVE A FEELING THEY WON'T, TRUST ME."
Zai Shan turns her head to keep track of what's happening."YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, MY LORD—THIS TRIP IS MUCH FARTHER, WILL WE BE REALLY ABLE TO MAKE IT?"
"IF WE STILL DON'T LOSE THEM, THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE FOREST OUTSIDE THE CITY WALLS.
THE CITY IS HOME TO A LARGE FOREST, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE STILL IN THERE ANYWAYS.
"YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS?"
"YEAH, BUT WE'D BETTER HURRY—I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER!"
The whole trip was by far 1 hour and 30 minutes, but they somehow managed to lose them halfway through the first 15 minutes. What a rather odd miracle...however, they've already snitched out their destination for themselves.
Losing them was only to slow them down, but Ho city strangely opened its gates to them altogether.(They most likely wouldn't, considering the fact its been closed for a long time now.)
"...Xiao Chen...it opened."
"I can see that."
"It certainly is strange, my lord, your royal highness...however, we may have to stop by an inn for today. Dusk is coming to a close; we must find refuge immediately.
The guards by the gates eyed them, but further ignored them sooner or later. Why was it that they weren't apprehending them? Was it really just the freakish nature of Ho city?...The city wasn't even home to any forest upon entering, it was already filled with extravagant homes.
It felt far too strange that all of this was going on...however, none of them were to judge. All they could do for now was be grateful for the fact that the gates even opened.
[To be continued in the next chapter, please be patient for the next one. Thank you for reading.]