The city disappeared in the January fog and snow. Yes, it was cold and the wind up in the air didn't help. Bingwen closed his eyes, the tears on his face freezing as the snow got caught in them. Bingwen not only left his sword but the lives of two people he had come to know. Chisheng Wei felt guilty for leaving. But there was no way that the three of them would be able to help the whole city.
Bingwen wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He felt childish for always crying. Jinghua held onto him, keeping him from losing balance on Jin Si. Jinghua did feel guilty too but it had to be done. They were all frustrated with the situation. "Where are we supposed to go now?" asked Jinghua. Chisheng Wei gave him a dirty look. "That's not for me to figure out! I only joined you two to protect you from things like this!" She was obviously angry, blaming herself for every unfortunate situation that occurred. And she was right, she only joined Jinghua and Bingwen for the action and to get away from her family and clan. But that break would come to an end in a year.
They decided to land not far from the western border. They need to gather themselves. It was only morning and this had happened. The sky was still dark because of the city's aura spreading across the sky. The three separated. Chisheng Wei walked away, Bingwen walked through a bamboo forest, and Jinghua stayed in the spot they landed.
While Bingwen was walking he found a small river. He bent down to cup water into his hands and splash it on his face. Jinghua had followed him though. He leaned against one of the bamboo stocks, watching Bingwen try to wash the despair off of his face. "It isn't your fault you know." said Jinghua,
Bingwen jumped, not realizing that Jinghua had followed him. He wiped the water off of his face with his sleeve. Bingwen stuttered, "Where..where will we go now? Now that everything is gone.."
"I..we don't know yet. Lady Chisheng keeps blaming herself for what happened. But we couldn't control it. So don't blame yourself." Jinghua tried to reach out and comfort Bingwen. He wasn't aware of his intention to do so, Bingwen stepped away to avoid the touch. This made Jinghua somewhat angry but he kept his tone lowered. "Do you still not trust me?" Bingwen didn't respond. Jinghua took a step closer as Bingwen took one step farther. "After everything? You held onto me when you were scared. I saved you and you still don't trust me?" Jinghua was sounding entitled. Bingwen shook his head. What Jinghua was saying reminded him of that dream he had. "Ning Cheng, it isn't like that-"
"Then what is it!? Why do you always back away? Why do you always run? What happened to our past? Why did you have to forget!?" Jinghua lashed out.
And all Bingwen felt he could do to make the situation better was approach Jinghua and hug him. 'Just embrace it, and try to remember, that's what he wanted anyway', "I'm sorry, Ning Cheng. I really am." Jinghua was shocked. He would never expect Bingwen to act the way he was now. But Jinghua hugged him back, wrapping his arms around Bingwen's waist and holding him close. That surprised Bingwen. But he didn't mind. And just in that moment, it seemed the world only stopped for them. It was a long moment. It might not have been normal for two kin of different clans to be embracing each other but the two didn't have time to care. In fact, it had brought back more memories of Bingwen's past. He was remembering more and more.
"You shouldn't apologize. It isn't your fault. I understand if you don't completely trust me. I just…want things to go back to the way they were before. But I know that can't happen yet."
Bingwen clenched onto Jinghua's robes. "But what if I continue to forget. What happens if I forget Chisheng Wei or my sisters and parents and my friends and all the people I've met and..and…you. What if I forget you?" Jinghua interrupted Bingwen and held him tighter. "You won't forget me! I'll make sure you won't forget. You won't forget, Bingwen." And out of nowhere, Jinghua began to lift Bingwen's chin up. The two got closer. Bingwen was confused "N-Ning Cheng..what are you doing-"
"Just…hold still for a second.."
But before anything could happen the two were interrupted by a scream. And when they thought all the screaming would end. It sounded like it came from Chisheng Wei. So the two hurried to the spot they heard her scream. But the two were appalled by the sight when they got to the scene. The Ning clan had finally caught up to them. And not only was it disciples this time, no… It was Ning Lin, the leader of the Ning Clan. Ning disciples had their hands around Chisheng Wei as she struggled to loosen their grips and break free.
Bingwen and Jinghua were speechless. "Longwei.." said Jinghua's father, "Why have you still kept him alive?" Xue Quan appeared behind Jinghua's father. He had a devious grin on his face. Bingwen was furious. "Xue Quan?! How dare you join this clan! You betrayed your own clan, your sister! What about you sister?" yelled Bingwen.
"I could care less about that infant. My mother only cares for her anyway so why should I return when I can take the side of the king?" Rain began to fall so suddenly. There was nothing more for the three to do except follow the orders of the Ning clan. Jinghua ever so wanted to kill his father at that moment. There had to be a way to escape.
"W-Where are we going?" Bingwen asked one of the disciples as they followed them through the bamboo forest. And the disciple replied, "Nowhere of your concern, young master."