No one bothered to look for Chisheng Wei at the Yusheng palace. Only because she left to return to Ning. It was midday as she walked up the steps of the Ning palace. Surprised, she saw that Ning Lin had returned, sitting on his throne once again. Xue Quan stood by his side and Chisheng Wei's sister was sitting on a pillar, sharpening her sword. Chisheng Wei wasn't afraid, she wasn't scared of dying anymore, at least not when it came to Chisheng Lei. She had a secret. The past two years she had grown feelings towards Jinghua but she couldn't tell him. She thought she would be perfect for him. They both were Hybrids, their parents were the worst, and both were about the same age. However, Jinghua is supposed to marry Bingwen's sister anytime now that Yuming has come of age. Chisheng Lei's sharpening stopped as everyone in the main hall of the palace turned to Chisheng Wei. "So you have returned?" said Chisheng Lei, Ning Lin scowled.
"Why have you returned instead of my son? You have no right to be here, this is not your place, young Lady Chisheng!" he exclaimed. Chisheng Wei frowned.
"Master Xue and my sister have no right to be here. They don't seem to know their places. This clan isn't for them." Chisheng Wei stood her ground. She had enough of refusal and abuse from others. She drew her sword. "Now tell me," she pointed her sword at Ning Lin, he frowned. "Where is the body of young Lady Yusheng Li?" Xue Quan laughed and walked toward Chisheng Wei, leaving Ning lin's side.
"Are you superior to us? That isn't something for YOU to ask. In fact, it's not even your problem so why do you care?" he said, in the background Chisheng Lei crossed her arms.
"Because Meiling just wants to get on his dick! It's pretty obvious. My younger sister likes Ning Cheng!" Chisheng Wei started to fume with anger and embarrassment. Holding back tears, she ran towards her sister, her sword out. Ning Lin blocked her attack on her sister though. He then looked at her, staring into her eyes with his maroon iris. "Well that will never happen. Because he will marry lady Yusheng and once he does, I will make him destroy the Yusheng nation and take it over." Chisheng Wei growled.
"Shameless!" she yelled as Ning Lin pushed her back. Her sister stood up from the pillar and walked towards Chisheng Wei, who was cornered now by all three of them. "You will always be overpowered by the axis team! You don't trick me, Meiling. You will never get what you want."
It was night, starry and cold, and a full moon shone on the roof of the Yusheng palace. Yuming was asleep, Hung Meifeng close by, Yusheng Min worried herself to sleep, her youngest daughter's belongings next to her as a memory. And Bingwen lay awake, wondering and constantly thinking. But the second he tried to close his eyes, he heard the door of his room open. He opened his eyes but saw nothing so he closed them again. He heard yet a second sound of something moving around in the darkness. He opened his eyes again and sat up, trying to reach into the darkness for his sword on the nightstand. He gave up though as he heard silence and saw nothing and laid back down, turning his back, only to hear the sound of rustling. He turns back over to see a dark figure laying in his bed with him. He panics as the figure pulls him close. And instead of asking who the figure was, Bingwen felt the figure's face. It was Jinghua by the marking in the middle of his forehead and the structure of his face, the long eyelashes and soft lips that had kissed him that day.
He pulled his hand away. Why was he thinking that? But more importantly, why was Jinghua here? "Ning Cheng, you shouldn't be here." Bingwen said, trying to escape Jinghua's arms that were wrapped around him. He was starting to think Jinghua was almost taking this too far but Jinghua didn't seem to mind. "I just want to be with you right now," said Jinghua. It was a silly excuse. But Bingwen started to wonder. When he did remember, did he have feelings for Jinghua? He realized Jinghua hadn't even gotten undressed for bed. "I have something for you." said Jinghua, reaching into the left sleeve of his robes, his arms still around Bingwen. Bingwen heard the sound of jingling. He first thought it was a bell but it was too quiet. Jinghua pulled out the lotus necklace he bought from the market. He had kept it for a while now. He put the chain around Bingwen's neck. Bingwen felt the necklace, feeling every edge of it trying to see what it was since it was too dark to visually see it. "What is this?" he asked, Jinghua nuzzled his chin on top of Bingwen's head. "An old lotus ring on a chain. It has a big backstory. I bought it last year when we were with Dai Fang and Chen Hai. I found it in the market in Deadnight city. It caught my eye so I bought it, thinking it was meant for someone special. I just didn't know who yet. But now that you come to mind, I thought it would fit you." Bingwen thought about Dai Fang and Chen Hai. He missed them. He never knew them well but they took care of him and Jinghua and Chisheng Wei. Chisheng Wei..where was she? She never came out of her room or to any meals. But Bingwen couldn't fall asleep. His chest was pounding uncontrollably. What is he supposed to do?
The two lay there in Bingwen's bed, Jinghua clinging onto him. Not only was Bingwen's heart racing but also his thoughts. Why did Jinghua like him? And he kept thinking that he almost didn't mind the kiss earlier. He paused, his face extremely red. His ears felt hot. What was he thinking? 'He didn't mind the kiss?'
Jinghua suddenly kissed Bingwen's forehead, which, of course, surprised him. "You're worrying too much. I can sense it. Just go to sleep." said Jinghua, Bingwen sighed, fidgeting with the lotus ring. He slid it on his finger to find that it fit perfectly on his ring finger. He forgot the fact that he was sleeping with Jinghua. Jinghua had already fallen asleep. It was all shameless. They would surely be caught! But all the useless thoughts disappeared as Bingwen drifted off and fell asleep.