At the battle grounds
~Battle between the Imperial army and the Black knights
The Imperial army stand victorious as the
Black knights retreat being outnumbered.
Li Kang, Li Wei, Li Zhu and Li Ren, the four great commanders of the Royal Imperial army stood triumphant admidst their men. Victorious battle cries are heard as the enemies fall back. They had worn the battle and the continuous bloodshed of nearly a month had come to an end although temporarily.
Night hand come and the men went about their activities. Some retired to their tents tired; poor creatures while some decided on making merry in groups. Such was the case of the Li brothers. With high quality lines kept before them at their tables, the four brothers drank in merriment and laughed heartily at each passing joke.
"At some point, I wish Jun was here," Li Zhu the third eldest brother said.
"Why's that? You know well Jun would never sit with us and drink with us like this," Li Ren the fourth brother stated.
"Ah that's true. That boy's far too stiff," Li Kang the eldest son agreed.
"He's a good fighter for his age, he's mastered the four elements. Quite an accomplishment but you know what they say 'no wine, no love'," Li Wei the second eldest said with a sneer and the brothers laughed.
"I doubt if that boy's ever going to find love at that rate; he's too strict and stiff. All the maids and girls at home admire him yet are scared of him. What life!" Li Zhu said.
"And he's quite handsome. All that handsome thrown down the vine," Li Kang said swinging his arms and swaying his head as they did so.
You know what they say; 'war and drinks are the two things a man is never too poor to buy'. The four men drank heartily without a care in the world and soon knocked out asleep but then tragedy is best realised when least expected.
They had won the battle but had they won the war?
**Lights out**
~At the Li Mansion
Huoqiang who had been quite upset about Li Jun's remark stood by the garden of flowers near the pond by the side of the house.
Li Jun who had been wondering where his little pet was went out to find her. Seeing her standing by the pond staring at nothing in particular, her facial expression not quite pleasant to see, he knew she was upset and he had caused it. He felt his heart clutch unhappily. Though he didn't know why, he got upset seeing her upset.
A gentle evening breeze blew around them. Huoqiang's blonde hair swayed with the wind making her charming as ever. Li Jun really felt attracted to her. He had never felt this way for no one else. He couldn't explain it.
"If you're just going to stand there and not say anything, it is as well the same as you not being here," Huoqiang said out of the blue.
She had her side facing him and didn't bother to face him. She too couldn't tell why she was just so upset about the whole issue. It wasn't a big fuss but then she was just upset about it.
"You're still angry, miss Huoqiang?" Li Jun asked.
"I really don't know but I do know I'm not happy Master Jun," was the reply.
Li Jun let out a sigh.
"Is it about what happened at the study?" Li Jun asked staring at her immensely.
"I should presume so," she said then added; "I know I ought not to be angry Master Jun but..."
"It's well justified miss Huoqiang," Li Jun interrupted, "I may have gone overboard."
For the first time since he came, Huoqiang turned her face and lifted her eyes to him.
Whenever ever those two pairs of eyes met, there always seemed to be a connection; a sense of shock wave ran through their systems.
"In other words, you mean to say you're sorry Master Jun?" Her misty eyes stared at him immensely.
"Assuredly miss Huoqiang," Jun affirmed with a warm smile.
Huoqiang couldn't help but let out a broad smile too; one that was capable of breaking a thousand Li Juns as there was.
"Would you like to take a walk with me?" Li Jun asked.
"__"
"I see you still don't know your way around so I offer to be your tour guide," Li Jun said.
"Ohh umm... okay then," Huoqiang agreed, the tip of her nose red with anxiety.
Li Jun led her farther away. He showed her every spot, not a one did he fail to mention and she on her part, being the fast learner she was, took note of every detail. They explored first the inner and then the outer portion of the mansion. They both talked as Li Jun led her to the back of the mansion.
"Do you like it here?" Li Jun asked.
"Yes of course I do," replied Huoqiang truthfully, "although I feel like a burden on you."
"I do remember telling you that it's no burden. I could feed a whole household for years unending if I wanted, not to brag ofcourse," Li Jun said.
"That's definitely bragging," Huoqiang said in a laughing voice.
"No it's not,"
"It definitely is,"
"How so?"
"Cause you're saying you could feed a whole household for years unending, how's that not bragging?" Huoqiang argued but not in a mean way though; in a way she herself found amusing.
"So? That doesn't mean anything. I was just trying to prove to you that..."
"Shhhhhh!" Huoqiang hushed him up placing a finger on his lips, "accept the fact. You were bragging."
Li Jun paid more heed to the hand on his lips than on her words. Such bravery! Other girls only dreamed of merely touching him while this flamestar had just put her finger on his lips! And in as much as it surprised him, he couldn't help but savour the moment.
Huoqiang probably hadn't been this shocked in her life but at this point, she felt she might die of electrocution.
Slowly and carefully, she laid her finger off his lips and looked shyly away from Li Jun.
"I'm sorry about that, Master Jun," she apologized, her eyes not dating to look at him for even a split second.
Although he was a bit displeased that she took her finger off, Li Jun tried not to show it.
"It's alright. It was probably an accident..," One that he certainly enjoyed.
"I guess it was," was the faint reply.
"I was planning on showing you something," he said, "would you come with me, miss Huoqiang?"
Without waiting for her to respond,he clasped his hand in hers and led her away hastily.
No words could dispute the fact that he only wanted to be around Huoqiang and with no one else at the moment.
Now what do you call that?