The Pain (3)

Let our resentments and debts stop here.

Let's never meet again.

Li Jun Jie

***

"If you want. I will."

Cheng Sheng Lin laughing. "Don't worry, I don't need you to become my slave. Maybe I will claim your promise when I need it."

"As you please, General."

"Alright. Now, I want ask you about your-"

"Report General! Yu Wen and Jia Ming Yue kill General Cheng Zhou Wen when they cross our borderline. They are running to the East."

I see Cheng Sheng Lin's face become reddish by anger. I can feel something bad will come. Soon, I am kneeling in front of him and grabbing his leg.

"General, please spare them. Remember that you have promised to spare them."

"Li Jun Jie, that's true that I promised to let them free yesterday but now they have killed my family. Do you think I will let them free after all? And you still owed me. Yesterday you had said if they make mistakes I can punish them, right? But what are you doing right now?!"

I know all that he had said is right but I don't want to see Yu Wen and Jia Ming Yue die in Cheng Sheng Lin's hands.

"Where are they?!"

I know Cheng Sheng Lin is so angry about this matter and I couldn't appease him anymore. I tried to beg but he didn't hear me. Honestly, I am so afraid when I see Cheng Sheng Lin who is possessed by anger. I think he will kill Yu Wen and Jia Ming Yue.

"They are still borderline, General!"

"We will catch them now. Be ready!"

"Yes, General!"

His subordinate dismisses and a few seconds later, I hear the loud sounds of armies. That makes me shudder. Cheng Sheng Lin left me and after that two armies held me to follow them going to the borderline.

The lotus on my back becomes warm and that time I know, something inauspicious will happen.

The armies walked faster accompanying their General who was riding his horse. I couldn't see Cheng Sheng Lin from behind. Perhaps, I am so difficult to see at dimly lit. Just torchlights illuminate us along the way.

At least we arrive at the North borderline at the dawn. North borderline bounded by valley. We have to climb up the stairs to reach the fortress. Gradually I can see Yu Wen and Jia Ming Yue still fighting with the armies.

The morning ray helped me to see how perplexed the situation was. I don't know why I have to get involved in this chaos situation. Jia Ming Yue and Yu Wen look so tired but I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

Cheng Sheng Lin gets down from his horse and runs faster with his sword towards Yu Wen direction. They fight each other in front of my eyes.

I can't let him kill Yu Wen or Jia Ming Yue. I know they betrayed me but I have to protect them as I had promised before. They fought like scenes in front of me then soon I slipped between Yu Wen and Cheng Sheng Lin. My body gets backward when Cheng Sheng Lin's sword penetrates my chest through the heart. Fresh blood dripping from my mouth. My body gradually became chilly. Cheng Sheng Lin is still holding his sword. He was shocked when see his sword piercing my heart. I holding his arm and coming nearer made the sword deeply pierced.

"General, let them free as you promised before. I will pay my promise. I will do whatever you want in my next life. General, please consider my death as change General Cheng Zhou Wen death. You can consider that I had killed your brother. I beg you."

Actually I just know this fact when the armies talk about their relationship on the way.

Cheng Sheng Lin removed his arm from his sword. I feel so dizzy but I keep standing up in front of him.

"Young master!" Yu Wen came closer to me but I decided to walk backward.

"I fulfilled my promise to protect you from now on. Let our resentments stop here and be buried with my death. I am not your young master anymore.", I said with all strength that still remains.

"No. Young master! " Yu Wen shouting out loud.

The archer darted the arrows at Yu Wen direction. I don't have time for my own life but I have to keep my promise till the end. For the second time I come nearer to protect him from the arrows.

"Young Master!! This is Yu Wen's fault! Yu Wen apologize!"

Yu Wen caught my body full with arrows on my back but I pushed his shoulder with my last strength before he could touch me. I don't want him to die but I don't want Yu Wen to touch me as well.

"Young Master, I am sorry! This is Yu Wen's fault!"

I stare at him and Jia Ming Yue who stand behind him with a smile.

Let me say goodbye with my best smile.

"Stop!!!!"

I can hear Cheng Sheng Lin's voice to stop his armies from harming Yu Wen and Jia Ming Yue.

Now, I can rest in peace. Let Li Jun Jie be buried in history.

Now, I want to give my best smile to Cheng Sheng Lin as my gratitude. He is so kind. I want to say thank you to him but I can't speak out right now. I can't fulfill my promise to him now but I will in my next life.

"Young Master! "

I didn't realize when I was on the guardrail. The lotus dragged me down into the valley. I know Cheng Sheng Lin tried to catch my arms but he was unavailing.

I can feel his sword on my chest give me huge pain. I know the arrow on my back wants to take my last breath.

So let it be.

The morning breeze accompanying me into the darkness. Then they disappeared or I am. I can't distinguish anymore. I know one thing. I am gone accompanied by beautiful morning rays. It's more than enough. I don't want to ask for more.

I know the lotus burns me into the red smoke. I completely disappeared forever.