Jinghua woke up to the bright sun shining through the window of the inn. Bingwen was pouring tea. Tao Wen was sitting at the tea table. But it was strange. Her hair was combed and put up. She was wearing proper clothes and shoes. She looked completely different. "Good morning, Ning Cheng. Come have some tea before we leave." Bingwen called. Jinghua got out of the bed and joined the two. Tao Wen drank her tea, Jinghua oy now just noticed something about her he hadn't before. Tao Wen's left eye was a lighter shade than her right eye. She noticed him staring at her eye. She smiled and put her cup down, Bingwen took a seat next to Jinghua. "You're staring at my eye, aren't you?" She said, she then chuckled nervously but continued to smile. "It's actually quite a sad story. My father used to abuse me and my mother. They were both hybrids but mother was more demon-like than most hybrids around here. I think I'm a hybrid but I just have more demonic features. But he used to hit her and call her mean names. When she wasn't around he would go to me and hit me. He hit my eye once with a porcelain pot and the shards got stuck in my eye. I went blind a few days later." Her smile went away as she touched the outer area of her left eye.
"My sister, Yuming, is also blind in one eye. Her left one as well. She was born with only one eye so she hides her left eye with an eyepatch. In a way, she's kind of similar to you, Tao Wen." Bingwen said, but thinking about Yuming made him realize that he missed her. A lot.
"We should get going to the palace in the Xue mountains soon." Jinghua said, finishing his tea and standing up.
"I never seemed to get your names." Tao Wen said, Bingwen smiled at her. "I'm Yusheng Jin and that is Ning Cheng." He said. She came to realize who they were. "You two are from the northern region? You traveled down the icy river? Wait..You two are kin disciples!" Tao Wen dropped to her knees and bowed. But Jinghua lifted her off of the ground. "There's no need for etiquette. We're just passing through." He said.
The three of them left the inn and walked to the Xue palace. "So where are you guys going? I mean you're pretty far from your home now." Tao Wen asked. Jinghua frowned and Bingwen had a nervous look across his face. "I'm guessing you both came from a bad place." Tao Wen said,
"Let's just say we're being chased after by people who want us or atleast want Yusheng Jin dead." Jinghua said,
They eventually made it to the steps that lead to the palace in the mountains. And coincidentally, Xue Qi was walking down the palace steps as the three were walking up. Xue Qi recognized Tao Wen. "It's you!" She said to Tao Wen. "Qi, don't you dare." The white hair, the robes, it was Xue Quan, Xue Qi was his younger sister. "What do you mean 'don't you dare'? I can talk to whoever I want to!" Xue Qi said, taking Tao Wen's hand. Xue Quan scowled and continued down the steps. But then he glanced at Bingwen and quickly changed his attitude with a sigh. "That girl is a thief! She stole that family heirloom!"
"I gave it to her, she stole nothing! And it isn't a family heirloom, Hai! Father just so happened to give it to me before he passed away!" Xue Qi argued. Tao Wen pulled on Xue Qi's sleeves. "Actually, I…lost the..umbrella. I'm so sorry…" Tao Wen said. Xue Qi could see the sadness and loneliness in Tao Wen's eyes. The dread filled Xue Qi's heart. "Well then, from this day forward, I shall train her to become my own personal royal guard!" Xue Qi said, her brother in awe and anger. "I shall let mother know! Please follow me, all of you." Xue Qi said to Bingwen and Jinghua.. They followed her inside. While they walked, Xue Qi continued talking. "If you all decide to stay in Xue, you can go up to our mountains. It said that the mountains hold memories. The mountains of Xue hold lots of good memories!" They entered a bright throne room. The madam of the clan, a widow, was sitting at a small table, writing. Stacks of scrolls piled around her. She looked up at the five of them. "Qi, I said no more disciples. I don't need more work on my hands."
"Mother, this girl, Tao Wen, I want to train her to be my royal guard." Xue Qi said, but her brother butted in, "Mom, this girl has come right off of these city streets! She's a demon, a thief!"
"Like I said before, she isn't a thief, I gave her that umbrella!" Xue Qi argued back. "That's enough out of both of you! Are we not going to acknowledge our two other guests? Young master Yusheng and young master Ning, welcome to our city. I am the leader of the Xue clan, Xue Qiao." Xue Qiao said, she glanced at Jinghua and smiled. "Ning Cheng, I'd like to talk to you if that is alright." She said, then she turned to her son. "And Hai, why don't you show Yusheng Jin around the palace." Xue Quan nodded and started to walk away as Bingwen followed.
Xue Quan walked down a long hallway through the palace, Bingwen following behind him. "The palace is very beautiful. Madam Xue must work really hard to keep the place up and running." Bingwen said, Xue Quan nodded. "She sure does." He said, the two turned a corner, passing many rooms. "Where are we going? When will Ning Cheng be back?" Bingwen said.
"That doesn't matter." Xue Quan said, quickly turning around to face Bingwen. He then slammed his hands against the wall, pinning Bingwen against it. The two were face to face. "Enough about Ning Cheng. Why do you even care about him? Didn't he nearly kill you? You two are traveling together so he must be your royal guard. Leave him and make me your royal guard! You don't need him, I'm stronger!" Xue Quan said, his face now really close to Bingwen's. "S-stop it get away! You're scaring me…"
"I'm much stronger than him. I can protect you. You can always stay with me wherever we go." Xue Quan said again. He was about to press his lips against Bingwen's but he stopped when he heard the small sound of a sword aiming for his neck. "So the rumors were true." Jinghua said, holding Jin Si towards Xue Quan's neck. "You are attracted to males. But that doesn't matter. Can't you understand when someone tells you to get away, you listen?" Jinghua said. Xue Quan's hands left the wall and Bingwen slipped away, then hid behind Jinghua. "You stay away from Yusheng Jin. got it?" Jinghua said, Xue Quan smirked.
"Just know, Yusheng Jin, I will always be willing to be your royal guard!"