The morning arrived, birds nearby the mountain chirped, the cold dawn air embraced Yinuo as she woke up. She clutched her head, there was a sharp stinging feeling she can't explain. She felt like she forgot something ,"Whatever! I'm saving that moron first." she exclaimed, darting towards the direction of the Xin Kingdom. She had seen a totem that indicated their identities, swirls of black and white embedded in the horse of their shoes. She was certain it was the Wang Army.
The clan of the Wangs where men are born to be soldiers, and woman as healers; adept in poison medicine. A question is left, why did the Wangs of Xin Kingdom attack General Su Ning? Were they already an ally of my brother? She disregarded the thought for a minute
She arrived at the front if the kingdom's gate, she needed a badge to go in. "This won't do," frustrated. She resolved to a heinous plan; fake her identity, find a citizen then, kill.
She found a nearby citizen, "Mister," he looked at her direction. "Yes?" he curiously asked, the person in front of him. His voice was eerily familiar "Can I borrow your badge? I..." she had heard this voice before."...need to do something important," she switched her plan in the last second, she knew him. Definitely! his features alien but the feeling close who is this? She poundered.
The lad in front of him just smiled, it was familiar! She clutched her chest, her heart ached. Her mind does not remember, but her body yearns to remember. She knew that this man infront of her was important to the immortal. "Do you.. recognize me?" barely a whisper.
With a sigh, "Of course. But," he picked something in his pocket. "You're not her." he added, his hands now handing his identity badge. "You go now, they are preparing to execute them." he added, a bitter smile etched their faces. As he disappeared into the wilderness.
She stood in silence, her heart racing. Why did he helped me knowing my identity? How is he alive? How did he know the situation?
This body knew him. He was the immortal's lover. Just as she'd always hoped, he survived by a miracle. With no second thoughts, she dashed through the gates and presented her badge.
"Here," she handed the badge. The guard in front of her examined the wooden plaque. "You must be the representative of the Song Clan, the annual gathering in the palace is starting, please.." he smiled, gesturing her to enter.
She nooded and entered the city, checking the execution ground. Indeed there were men there, their faces covered with a sack. " His not here," barely a whisper. She followed a guard holding more captives nearby, "Psst!" she called him.
A smile etched her face, seemingly sweet and innocent catching one's attention. As the man approached her, she countered him in a swift move, leading him out of the crowd.
"Obey," she threatened him. The man in front of her nooded and kept his head down. "First, where are the rest of these men? Second, Why did they arrest them? Third, I want you to take me to them!"
Su Ning and Shen Dao was in a dungeon, tied. Shen Dao still unconscious. Xiao Li was being interrogated about what lies beneath the Jade Falls. It was clear that the Xin Kingdom has also its eyes on the treasure the two sides is fighting for. They weren't planning on taking anybody's side, they had already decided to act their own.
"Don't make it difficult!" the interrogator in front if him yelled, touching the hot iron rod in his skin. Xiao Li refused clenching his fist, he was determined. "Xiao Li, Xiao Li, my men is currently investigating you.." a sinister smile playing on his lips. "You wouldn't want me to touch your loved ones, right?" he added plunging the rod deeper in his skin, making him let out a bloody scream.
Just then someone as graceful as the wind knocked out the guards nearby with her tool, it was Yinuo. Her gaze meeting that of Su Ning, a curve forming in his lips "Why you?" he uttered.
"Why not me?" she annoyingly said, throwing the sword in his shoulders, cutting the rope, barely missing him by an inch. At one second he thought she would kill him personally. He adjusted his stiff arms, cracking his waist and neck for relief. Yinuo carried Shen Dao in his back, and Su Ning guiding Xiao Li to walk.
"Hurry," she said hurriedly. It was a temporary stall, just as about they were exiting, the wall started to move, it was cornering them.
"Get behind me," Yinuo said drawing out a sword, as she stepped forward a hand pulled her backward. "Too bad, I also like to be the hero." Su Ning said coming in front of her.
"Alright then, you have to be careful." she said accepting what his heroicness. "You! I can't believe you...you're my right woman after all. You should fight with me!" he replied awkwardly. The tense environment around them seemed to momentarily rejoice to what they once had.
Man in white gathered around them, it was the same man they had encountered upon entering Xin's territory. Both sides exchanged moves, the swords clanged, blood splattered, and the air swooshed in their lightning-fast moves. They were slowly being cornered once again.
"Lin Jian, I need you to run," Yinuo gasped, her voice ragged with exertion.
Lin Jian reached for her, his hand hovering just above her shoulder. "You-"
"I need you to do as I say," she cut him off, her eyes blazing with urgency as she turned to face him. "One of us might live to tell the tale today."
A cold knot of fear tightened in Lin Jian's chest. He knew she was right. Staying meant certain death. But Yinuo... she was vital to his plans. "Listen here you mother fucker, I'm not going anywhere without you so just stop wasting out time!" he yelled out.
She smirked, "You won't take the risk of dying. But I'm still important to your plans. Come back for me. I can stall them for a while." she said daringly.
With a desperate prayer, Lin Jian made a dash for the nearest house. Bursting through the door, he found himself face to face with a terrified citizen. "Behave," he said, agitation lacing his voice. " I need you to get something for me."
The man, trembling, managed to scrounge up a pigeon and some parchment. Lin Jian scribbled a message with trembling hands.
He released the pigeon, a silent messenger bearing his plea for aid. His mind raced, his heart pounding. He had to get to them, to find a way to save Yinuo. His plan needed her. He needed her.
Then, he remembered the three he'd rescued from the Jade Dragon Sect massacre. Susu, Li Yang and Zhang Li's right hand Bai Lin. Originally he had tried to kill Bai Lin, he must have knew all his masters schemes, making him involved in all of it, just to discover Bai Lin is working also to someday stop Zhang Li. He had seen through their facade, seen the potential for loyalty that simmered beneath their fear. He needed allies, and they needed a purpose. He would find them, offer them a chance to fight for something good, for a chance at redemption.
He would not abandon Yinuo. He would return, and together, they would face the darkness.