A river of passion flowed through Li Jun's soul. Looking at Huoqiang as she ran with the wind, his tender spot was hit once again. As he watched her every graceful moves, his heart seemed to have thawed.
What was this that he felt? When he was around her, he felt like teasing her but became careful when he noticed her fragile nature. He loved her grumpy nature, her persisting haughtiness and the aura she gave off like a carefree princess who wanted her freedom.
Li Jun was always pleased to have her around him. He felt like he had to protect her; he had to shield her from the world and keep her to himself like a selfish man. She made different emotions rattle inside him
You could say he was obsessed! This was a man who, to everyone, seemed as though love could never reach his path but then it had walked right into Li Jun's life without seeking for as much as a permit.
That's the thing about love. It has the ability to brighten ones life if it's allowed to. When in love, it's like being drawn into a different world of fantasy. Everyday of your life was like living for that one person. To stay even a moment away from the one you loved was like punishment from the Heavens. Their scars are your scars and their pain, your pain.
Li Jun was caught between his rooted beliefs and his unexplained feelings for his beloved guest.
Alas! Thinking makes a man go weary, so they say.
Li Jun once again returned to reality and could only stare at his treasured pet.
Time passed and the two youths rested on a bench nearby. Huoqiang very exhausted from all the twirling she'd been performing.
"That was fun," Huoqiang sighed delightfully.
"It was, wasn't it?" Li Jun answered.
"Master Jun," Huoqiang softly called.
"Hmm"
"Why do always love staring at me?" Huoqiang asked for she had caught him gazing at her with such intensity she didn't fail to notice.
"_"
"Staring? At you?" Li Jun asked managing to maintain composure. This was quite unlike him. For other girls he was seen as a forbidden beauty but for this flamestar, he was just a cute teaser.
"You're denying it?" Huoqiang asked with a smile.
"Ofcourse I am," Li Jun said maintaining composure.
"In that case, you don't find me attractive to stare at Master Jun?" She asked faking a frown.
Li Jun smirked knowingly and held her chin to look at him in the most domineering manner ever.
"Why make conclusions Miss Huoqiang?" He said in a seductive voice. That wasn't good.
Huoqiang couldn't help but blush furiously. She turned her head away from him and at the tree.
"You turn your head away from me miss Huoqiang? Isn't that woeful?" Li Jun turned her chin back around and tilted his head slightly.
"I should stare at you then Master Jun?" His companion asked.
"That wouldn't be a bad idea," Li Jun said staring at her intensely. His icy blue eyes pierced through her soul.
"I could stare at you all day," Li Jun said alluringly.
Huoqiang couldn't help it. She stood up and ran away back to the mansion. Her face flushed with embarrassment. Was he teasing her?
The corner of Li Jun's mouth curled up. He hadn't expected that she'd get flustered and run off but he did find it rather amusing.
He sat there for a while longer, absorbed the refreshing evening breeze one last time before standing up and walked majestically to the mansion.
~At the Imperial Palace
The four commanders bowed heads down before the Emperor of the Imperial City; Lord of all four element tribes.
Lieing before the Emperor was a grievous offence but the four commanders had no other option.
This was really a narrow situation; they tell the truth they might likely die, they get caught lieing they also die.
"Speak!" The Emperor ordered, "what news do you bring from the battle grounds?"
They stood in the palace chamber the Emperor where the Emperor himself was sitted on his grand throne made from fine bog oak, adorned with precious stones and twenty elders-five from each clan were present-ten sitted at each side of the chamber.
The Emperor with all dignity sat on the throne dressed in clothing that spoke of luxury. His grey hair, neatly packed up in a bun, foretold wisdom. His face strict, his countenance dreadful.
"Your Grace, great trouble lies before us. I'm afraid we may once again be held in shackles," Li Kang said respectfully. His face not once leaving the floor it was faced on.
His statement perhaps caused a great stir among those present.
"General Kang, I hate riddles as much as I hate a whore in a noble man's nest. Speak to me plainly." The Emperor was known to be a man who hated indirect words.
"My apologies Your Grace," Li Kang appealed, "I shall explain broader."
The brothers each took turns to narrate how they had 'thought' they had defeated the Black Knights when they retreated but only for them to receive a rather distressing shock when the Black Knights returned stronger than ever and killed all their men sparing only their lives. Of course they didn't didn't leave out how they had 'heroically' fought against the enemies. They relayed the message on the tents, the only truthful thing the uttered, and how they feared it might be related to the Dark Lord.
Having said all these, there was a noisy disturbance among the Elders. This information had rather caused a distress.
The Dark Lord? He was free? The Heavens helped them all.
"Silence!" The Emperor ordered and at once the chamber became silent as a dead man's grave.
"Indeed this is disturbing news," the Emperor pondered deeply, "the Black Knights have grown stronger and it seems like our despised enemy has returned."
The Emperor stroked his long, grey beard. He seemed to be thinking of his next action.
The brothers seemed fulfilled. Assured that their plan had worked.
"Summon the Celestial King!" The Emperor ordered and a Royal Summoner rushed forward to commence his task.
The brothers seemed disturbed.
"Summon father?" They thought amongst themselves. That wasn't good!