Meeting With The Rebels - Part 2

Shufeng tried to run but it was with faltering steps that he followed Li Ji. He groaned and finally collapsed, his knees sinking into the moss and the mud. He struggled back to his feet and forced his legs to drag his body.

Somehow, he needed to stay strong and keep on going forward until Li Ji was brought to safety.

Then, five minutes later, Li Ji's ankle twisted painfully when she made a mis-step.

He extended his hand but was met with her refusal to take it.

"Your Highness, my hands are filthy."

As she wiped hastily her palms on her ragged dress, he stopped her by taking hold of her hands and he pulled her up.

While she limped besides him, he could feel that the bony hand laying flushed against his was trembling ever so slightly. His grip tightened a little more hoping to transfer some of his warmth to her cold fingers.

"Your Highness, I need to rest a little."

He sat her down against a tree.

"Only for few minutes then."

Shufeng took laboured breaths as he moved a few steps away from Li Ji. Sharp bolts of pain jolted through his ribcage, and with each breath, the pain was swelling.

He discreetly peeked underneath his overcoat, and saw blood seeping through his clothes. He held himself upright by sheer effort of will and walked back towards the young woman.

His remorseful eyes surveyed her from head to toe. She looked but a shadow of the youthful and delicate woman she was once, with her skeletal body twisted in fear and her gaunt ghostly face.

"Your Highness," she handed him a handful of berries and mushrooms.

"I am not hungry. You may eat it."

But she insisted by stretching out her arm.

He waved his hand in refusal.

"Li Ji Tao, eat it, this is the Prince's order."

Her smiling eyes narrowed into crescent moons.

She was about to split the food in half, when suddenly, an anxious voice resonated in the crisp air.

"Your Highness!... Li Ji!... Your Highness!"

Their head jerked up.

"Jian! Over here! ... Jian!" Li Ji shouted, relieved to see him make it back alive.

Soon after, Jian appeared before them, sword and clothes still dripping with fresh blood. His eyes flashed, and he growled a warning. The enemy was right behind him! And the enemy was a bunch of vengeful soldiers who had served under Great General Yun Hishoku.

"They will disobey the imperial decree and will not capture you alive…"

"Then my blade won't feel any regrets," said the prince.

At that moment his survival instinct taking over with great determination, Shufeng moved past the pain and raised his sword.

The smooth blade mirrored the first golden rays of the morning sun.

Li Ji locked her frightened eyes with Jian, "What should we do? We are outnumbered."

He swiftly wrapped a hand around her neck and pulled her towards him.

"You run as fast as you can! Uncle is waiting for you."

She strongly refused. "This is suicidal!"

Tears continued to flow and her sobs barely allowed her to draw a breath. Jian stroke her hair and kissed her forehead, "Leave! Now!"

She glanced upwards at Shufeng who gave her a nod of assent.

"But... Please, Your High–"

In the distance they heard the nightmarish howl of soldiers splitting the air: "Kill them all!"

Shufeng grabbed her wrist and yanked her away from Jian. Then he turned to look at her and screamed, "Run! This is the Prince's order!"

Tears of resignation swirled in her eyes, and her gaze brushed over Jian's farewell smile and His Highness resolute frown wondering if she would ever see them again.

Overwhelmed with panic, she hadn't noticed the suppressed teardrops shimmering in the corner of Jian's eyes.

In the next instant, as Jian looked at her willowy figure disappearing, his heart wanted to scream three little words.