2 The rumor says so

'The kingdom of Hua was a prosperous one. Since ancient times this was a city that had seen itself prosper and grow leaps and bounds.

However, even a kingdom as prosperous as the Hua had seen its down points. The biggest flaw that the kingdom boasted was gossip.

Yes, this one habit could not be escaped no matter where you go in this kingdom. No information could be hidden.

If you tried to hide something, chances were that it would be out in a day or two. The most you could do was to change the rumour. To create a truth that would favour you.

But even in a kingdom like this, there were five main rumours everyone acknowledged as truths.

First - The present emperor was no good. Despite his youth, all he knew was how to play around. Everyone agreed that this country was better run by his younger brother who had more power. There was pressure inside the royal palace but no one was willing to break this stalemate yet.

Second - the Royal empress was unloved. Despite giving the emperor a son, she was not favoured. Everyone agreed her position was only secured by her family background and imperial mother's favour.

Third - The newest concubine of the emperor was the childhood sweetheart of his younger brother. She was lost to the empire since young and had recently been found by him again. She was much loved and fought over by the two brothers, unwilling to yield her to the other.

Fourth - The emperor's younger brother had a lover once who had betrayed him. In the end, no one knew what happened to that love or who they had been but it had changed the person involved.

Lastly - The king's secretary had betrayed them. No one knew why he had done that but the 'loyal guardian of Hua' was no more. Once brought back, the emperor had dealt with him without anyone knowing. In the end, no one knew what had really happened behind the closed doors at all.

These were the truths and lies that hid behind a solitary mask of the happy palace and ones the common people would never know. As for what the nobles knew? That only they could tell'

The shadow of a person covered Fu Hua as he made his way away from the table he had been sitting on.

Currently, this young man had taken the liberty to check the nearby caravan, only to be met with these words and he had been interested.

Who knew they were home to such poorly written rumours? When noble Lee had asked him to make himself scarce, he had thought the tavern would be a good place to entertain himself.

Who knew it was a dumpster of such rumours and false information.

"We have the person in custody. My lord is asking for you to progress further" A soldier asked, his tone amused at seeing his superior with such a complicated expression.

The soldier was a local, having visited this tavern many times and heard the same story many times before. He had met Fu Huan under noble Lee and had felt sympathy for the other. The name of this slave sounded familiar but that had to be his imagination.

After all, this slave was recently acquired by noble Lee.

"Good, good. Finally, I can rid myself of such lies. What childhood sweetheart? What King's secretary? I'm a slave who's worked to his last bone" Fu Hua complained, his phoenix eyes looking vengeful. The servant could not follow those muttered words at all.

"Don't pay them any mind. You had your reasons and we are all thankful" This person in front of Fu Hua had a tired but pained smile. It was always the same consolidation and it was this face that made him realise his choice was right all along.

The thin body made noise as Fu Hua picked himself up. The noise of clank echoed every time he moved even a little indicating that he had something metallic on his person.

But since the person was covered in a cloak it was impossible to see what it was. Just for a few seconds, the cloak moved aside to give a glimpse of the handcuffs the person had. The very next second, they were once again covered by the cloak.

The biting cold of the night was another matter entirely. Once upon a time, he would have not minded this cold. Once upon a time, he would have weathered it all with a happy grin.

However, those times were long gone and he was left with the current situation.

"Ah, the dog is back. Good, for a second I was afraid you would bite the hand that fed you once again. Now do the work you are dragged here for" the cruel voice of the noble in front of Fu Hua mocked him.

There had been a time in his life when such people had feared him, they had bowed before him and sealed protection.

Now they mocked him and his inability to even protect himself. How humiliating but deserving.

Fu Hua sat down to take a look at the disfigured face of the other. The mark on his body was clear as any day to his eyes but not to anyone else.

"He's one of them for sure. Died of the energy he could not handle" it was obvious that the damage on this person had been excessive. It was a miracle he still had an intact body right now.

"Of course he did since he's a dirty dog as well. You would recognise a dog as the same breed as your own" the noble's words were degrading, his voice twisted. It did nothing to Fu Hua who was used to hearing worse things come out of the other's mouth.

Ever since he had made those decisions, he was no longer the 'loyal guardian of Hua' but the scum who planned a rebellion.

Even if those had not been his intentions, those were the marks he had carried over.

From the corner of one's eyes, the gossiping soldiers could be spotted. Words like 'the scum' 'the betrayer' made their way toward his ears even as the eyes averted from his person.

Even the slaves looked away, not willing to meet his eyes. They could not be sure if they would be cursed if they did meet this person's eyes or not.

"The person is dead and the body needs to be cleaned. Please leave so that I could proceed" the noble gave him the stingy eyes, clearly not willing to leave the other alone with the body.

Who knew what deprived and wrong tricks the other had up his sleeve. If anything happened to this person then the emperor would skin him alive. After all, this person had to be kept alive at all costs or he would die.

"I cannot trust you so I'll stay behind with you," the noble said, his tone not happy. He wanted to mock the other more but those dead eyes made him uncomfortable. They looked as if they held no soul at all.

"Do what you want but don't say I did not warn you. It's not a pretty sight to look at" the noble did not look affected by those words at all. People had said worse to him and people had done worse.

There was nothing a dog like Fu Hua could do that would scare him anyway. Not with those chains restricting his moment as well as energy. At worst he could have a few bruises and a hell of a case against the other.

How he had hated this person for a long time. Fu Hua, who had been a slave once, had risen far above he should ever have. He even had the emperor's ear once but he had fallen down hard and for what? Momentary glory?

People like him should really learn his place and he had waited for the other to fall. Now he had this high and mighty person in his grasp as a slave but he could still not touch the other to cause harm.

"Hurry up. Do your thing and go back to your cell" the noble was getting impatient but he was ignored by the other. What right did the other have to ignore him at all? He was no longer that high and mighty person but a traitor.

As for Fu Hua? He had to take a few breaths to stabilize himself. He had to check the person inside-out before he could give out a conclusion. It required patience and energy, both things he lacked right now.

The energy assaulted him as soon as he opened his senses and it stung him. This kind of energy was not something that could be harnessed by humans since it could cause a lot of harm to the body but some foolish people still did.

He had been such a foolish person once too. People had looked up at him and they had paid the price for it. This person too had paid the price with his life it seems. Even when the energy had not outright killed him, it had left a significant impact on his weakened body.

He made sure the energy inside that body was dispersed, never to be used again by anyone. This body shall not rise again after this and the soul shall find rest in the afterlife.

"Let your soul be in peace after this" the soft words were only for the body in front of him but the noble's scoff told him he had been heard by the other.

"As if there is any peace for people like you. Now get up or crawl out if you can't walk. Just get back to your cell" Fu Hua tried to stand but his legs gave out before he could stabilise himself. The world twisted itself and he knew no more.