She fell asleep in his arms. He stared at her with his concerned eyes, the emotions flowing through his heart like it never happened before.
He stroked her tender skin and tucked her hair strands which were lingering over her face.
"How can I not fall in love with you ?" He murmured ; his voice full of affection. Then the thought of heaven's knights meddled with his peacefulness.
His hands hold her tightly, he can never let them take her away. How hard it was for him to get someone to love, he can never let them separate him from Yu Yan. Even if it costs the world's destruction, he will not let her be taken away.
After a few hours of resting, Zhong gets up. Wearing his robe he secured his long hair into a bun with the golden hairpin decorated with ruby gems. He forwards his palm and with a flash a small baby dragon appears.
Poking its head softly, Zhong murmured,"You'll have to wait until I solve everything." He closed his palm and the dragon disappeared in his demeanour.
Zhong was first going with his brother's suggestion to give Yu Yan a dragon hunt to show his power but the thought of what the mortal dead soul said hindered inside his confused head so he just went for the baby dragon. The mix of cuteness and power, perfect gift for his precious wife. But now the atmosphere doesn't seem like Yu Yan will accept anything from him.
His long eyelashes fluttered downwards, picturing his woman. The meagre amount of attractiveness was flowing from sleeping Yu Yan. In dim light her skin was shimmering sliverly shades fueling his desire to make her submit her heart, soul and body to him.
"Yu Yan...Yu Yan..what should I do with you?" He steps close, bends over sleeping Yu Yan and slightly kisses her forehead before leaving.
__ __ __ __
"Lord Zhang Xing Wang is entering the court."
The guard at the entrance made an announcement.
Although there was no one except the two guards at the entrance. Other than that , the court was like a huge empty shell covered in gold with no attendees.
Zhong walks inside ; with each step of his, the hair jewellery on his hairpin jingled and his black robe hung loosely over his shoulder brushed the ground behind him.
He was dressed lavishly and in a classy manner but his efforts were not so appreciated because his front chest muscles were revealed to everyone. Like he just doesn't know how to tie his robe's knot to cover his upper body.
Qiang was there, sitting alone. His face was buried in his hands.
"Did something happen?" Zhong asked him , while getting seated.
Qiang looked up and immediately unsheathed his sword and placed it on his brother's neck. The golden eyes of Qiang gazed irritably at the confused crimson eyes of Zhong.
"Brother, what do you mean by what happened? Do you know that almighty god has dispatched heaven's knights to attack the netherworld!"
The thing he was afraid of. Zhong sighed and removed the blade of Qiang from his neck. He shook his head in distress focusing on what he should do next.
Qiang placed the sword beside him and covered his face in depression. He was not sure why his brother was desperate to save that mortal woman. He has never seen his brother behaving like this for anyone. But Qiang also loved his brother's changes. The deity who never smiles was now someone who can smile beautifully all because of one mortal woman.
After their mother's death, Qiang only saw hatred and disgust in his brother's eyes, the bloodthirsty sword of his which always slashed the heads. Qiang never had thought his brother had such an emotional side too...he was trying to fight for someone whom he cares for.
Qiang took a deep breath and held his brother's hands. " Do you love her?"
Zhong was surprised to get asked such a question from Qiang. What should he answer? It was indeed true that he had fallen in love with her at first sight and he can't deny it any more. But if he answers that question, what outcome will come? Will Qiang go against him or will he support him? They're born from one mother, only their fathers were different.
Struggling for the correct answer, Zhong felt something heavy in his heart.
Qiang pressed his hands on Zhong's.
" Brother no matter what you decide, I'll always stand with you."
Zhong nodded his head. He was still embarrassed to confess that he loved Yu Yan.
Qiang stood up abruptly and grabbed his sword. Puzzled by his brother's action, Zhong asked"What happened?"
Qiang looked at Zhong and smiled evilly. "What will happen? I'm going to shred blood of Heaven's knights..."
Zhong stood up. "So they're already here?"
Both of them rushed outside , using the magic circle they appeared at the borders of the netherworld. Far distance , the shiny golden armoured knights were heading to the netherworld.
Zhong clenched his fist in rage. "Bastards, How can they make a move when the knight magistrate of netherworld is not available."
He cursed and summoned his immortal bow. A bow covered in gold appears in Zhong's hand, it was jewelled with rubies and diamonds.
Qiang also took his stance but Zhong stopped him.
"Go to the palace and protect Yu Yan...I don't want her to get scared." Zhong immediately leapt high in the air and showered flame arrows from his immortal bow at the marching knights.
Qiang hesitated for a moment but seeing his brother attacking brutally at the knights he assured himself that he should return back to the palace.
Half of the knights were turned into ashes after getting pierced by Zhong's arrows.
Another troop of knights marched towards Zhong, he vanished his bow and unsheathed his sharp blade.
The mocking remarks of knights were fueling his anger. And it didn't take him more than a minute to snap their heads from their body. Zhong menacingly stood there in the ghost valley, his sword covered in blood.
His long hair strands fluttered effortlessly in the cold breeze, the hairpin was no longer in them. His face was all covered in blood, and there was an evil smile playing on his thin red lips.
And exactly that moment Qiang appeared with sorrowful news. Delaying no second, Zhong rushed to the death palace.
"X-Xing..."
The voice left him aback. His hands trembled... Seeing tears in Yu Yan's eyes.
He shouted at Guang,"L-Leave her alone."
But Guang was not someone who would listen to Zhong's request. He was solely a devotee of the Almighty god. He threatened Zhong to give up on slaughtering and surrender himself to Heaven's knights.
Zhong looks at Yu Yan , she shudders in fear. The point of Guang's sword on her delicate skin left a small cut due to which thick red blood started bleeding .
His heart bleeded and it was so painful. Yu Yan was now his wife and he has taken an oath that every pain Yu Yan will experience he will experience it too. That was still unknown to Yu Yan because Zhong thought if in any situation he gets separated from her and she gets hurt, his body will absorb her every pain.
His hands left the grip of the sword and the knights chained him .