Crimson Red Blood Flowing Smoothly Like A River

*Author's Note: Lengthy Chapter ahead.*

Tengfei had heard some commotion coming from the venue where the feast was being held, but he made no move to check it out. He concluded that there were three able bodied lieutenants and four capable generals to checkmate any person, foolish enough to cause trouble.

One could Imagine the shock on his face when he heard someone shout that his bride had climbed over the fence and run away!

Without waiting to hear the entire story, he barged into his quarters and headed directly for his chambers, a mean scowl drawn across the general's features. He pulled apart the doors to see an open window and no trace of his bride.

"Yu Daiyu!" He gritted his teeth and curled his fists, the general picked up the sword that sat on his bed and then marched out of his quarters, like a possessed demon seeking it's prey.

**********

Grey clouds hovered over the trio, who stopped at a closed stall to catch their breaths. They were convinced that no one would come after them, and if the rumours surrounding the sour faced general had a shed of truth to them. Then, he would be far too outraged to want to retrieve his runaway bride.

"Do you have a map I could borrow?" Yu Xiaoguang asked, resting against the wooden stall, staring at the clouds, trying to predict the weather.

"A map?" Chen Yao echoed.

"I can't stay in the capital any longer, not that I had any intention to. Once the pandemonium is settled, brother traffic...I mean the Wang general will definitely seek his revenge on the Yu family." He explained, fanning himself with his red robe.

"Gege wants to flee the capital as well?" Chen Yao's sad voice asked for clarification, he exchanged glances with Jun Feng, who had an all knowing look on his face.

"Of course he would. Gege has to leave before the Wang's come after him, currently they think it's sister Daiyu whose fled. Once they search a bit and can't find her, who do you think they'll go after next?" Jun Feng said, explaining the situation clearly.

"But, is Gege going to abandon his mother and..." He stopped himself, it only just dawned on him that they had left behind Chunhua at the general's residence.

He looked at Yu Xiaoguang then curled his fists, he parted his lips to say something, but Yu Xiaoguang beat him to it.

"Mother, just like Daiyu has already fled the capital, and is perhaps plans on living with a relative. As far as Chunhua is concerned, once we arrived at the venue, I discreetly told her to disappear without getting sited."

Chen Yao and Jun Feng exchanged glances once more, their Gege was a man of fists, being calculative was not his area of expertise.

*Thunder*

Small droplets of rain started leaking from the clouds, a cold breeze flooded the empty streets, pushing back empty straw hats and baskets.

Yu Xiaoguang faced both youngsters with a gentle smile on his face, then rested his palm on each one's head.

"The only people left to disappear are the two of you. Return back to your homes, and try to stay out of too much trouble." Yu Xiaoguang told them, patting their heads warmly.

"Gege doesn't want us to accompany him?" Chen Yao blurted out in disbelief.

In the past, as Yu Xiaoguang's faithful followers, they stuck with him through the bad and good times, though the former happened more than the latter.

"If Gege thinks that we're having second thoughts about leaving too then..." Jun Feng was saying, but was cut off by Yu Xiaoguang, who smacked them both.

"I have to go look for Daiyu, if what you say is true, then she might be in trouble." He told them.

"Then we can help..." Chen Yao tried to convince Yu Xiaoguang to take him along, but he himself could see the man's mind had been made up for quite some time. As though he had banked on the situation becoming like this, and steeled his resolve beforehand.

"You both have lives to live, Chen Yao, who do you think will protect your sister, if you leave?" Yu Xiaoguang sternly interjected, tired of trying to coax them, choosing to seek out their weak points instead.

According to his memories, Chen Yao had a younger sister who was bullied by others for having a big ugly scar on the right side of her face. As a child, she was burnt by Chen Yao, who was playing with some fireworks and wasn't careful. Because of that, Chen Zi had to spend her life wearing a white fox mask.

Out of guilt, instead of playing outside like boys his age usually did, Chen Yao would spend all his free time playing with dolls indoors, alongside Chen Zi.

Whenever kids tried to bully his sister for her monster like appearance, the temperamental child would pick fights and end up getting beaten up badly. His parents would scold him for being hotheaded and openly blame him for running Chen Zi's life. The only person who did not hate his guts was the victim herself, his kid sister, who stuck to him like glue.

This dragged on for six long years, it was only when he was thirteen, that an older boy with unkept long hair, stepped in and mercilessly beat up all the bullies. Then, at the spur of the moment, he publicly declared...

"Anyone who goes messing with my little brother and sister will have to answer to me!"

Even up till date, although his sister hadn't received any marriage proposals, no fool dared to cross paths with her. Before, the saying would go: Chen Zi is so fierce! She has a wild beast Gege.

But now, people would say: Chen Zi is too fierce! Who would have thought she could tame TWO wild beast brothers?! Better steer clear.

Chen Yao upon reflecting over his sister's state, clicked his tongue in helplessness and looked the other way, he knew his sister was his responsibility.

"Gege! I don't have anyone to return to, I can follow you to find your sister..."

Yu Xiaoguang swayed his head from side to side, giving Jun Feng a disapproving look.

It was true that he had no one to go back to, after his mother died in a fire outbreak, his father turned to drinking. One would imagine that it was to cope with the loss of a loved one, but the reality of the matter was harsher.

All of the man's money was stored in the house, after his wealth had gone up in flames, he took out his frustration on Jun Feng who was merely seven years old at the time.

Beating the child till he had to sleep in the neighbour's house or under a bridge, till the next morning.

It was one faithful morning, when Jun turned twelve, when he was returning from under a bridge, tired and hungry, then stole a rice bun to eat. He was caught and was about to be punished by the stall owner, when an older kid appeared out of nowhere and beat him up mercilessly!

Jun Feng at first hated Yu Xiaoguang for beating him in public and scolding him about stealing. But he could see the older boy was strong and stalked him. When he found Yu Xiaoguang, he picked fights with him each day, claiming it was a revenge match. When in truth, he was training to become strong, strong enough to fight back his abusive father.

Initially Yu Xiaoguang was amused and would beat up his challenger, but when he noticed the scars of Jun Feng's body would multiply the next day he investigated. Jun Feng who returned home the next morning, to prepare to change and fight Yu Xiaoguang, was left dumbfounded. He returned home to see his father on the floor, beaten up badly, and Yu Xiaoguang towering over him with a bloody fist!

Since then, Jun Feng had stuck to Yu Xiaoguang, and when Chen Yao came along, he openly welcomed him as a brother.

Mei Deng looked at both youngsters with eyes filled with only warmth, they were kind at heart, despite the rumours about them being his delinquent followers.

"Jun Feng, I trust you to take care of Chen Yao while I'm gone, and please stop failing the imperial college entrance exams on purpose. Next year, make sure you rank first." He told them with stern yet caring eyes.

The youngsters could only nod, "well then, I'll be off, I told Huahua to wait for me at the house." He announced, turning to take his leave, battling against the conflicting feelings he had.

It was only after he took some steps forward, that he heard some rushed footsteps running through the rain towards him. He turned around, only to be almost knocked down by Jun Feng and Chen Yao, in a tight hug.

"You two..."

"Take care Gege." Chen Yao whispered, using the rain to shield his tears.

"Make sure to return one day."

Mei Deng relaxed his face and ended up smiling at them, patting them both on the back, under the soothing rain.

*Yu Residence*

Mei Deng ran as fast as his legs could carry him till he reached the abandoned Yu residence.

"Huahua! Come out it's me! We have to leave!" He called out.

A figure appeared from inside the house, Mei Deng heaved a sigh of relief, "we still have time before General Wang comes looking for his bride." Yu Xiaoguang said, running to meet 'Chunhua' in the middle.

However, it was when he got closer that he realized that the figure he assumed was Chunhua was in fact two figures.

"Young master Yu! Run!" Chunhua yelled, as she fell to her knees, a sharp sword pointed to the side of her neck. Yu Xiaoguang was taken aback by this act and stepped back to regain his senses.

When he looked again, he saw that the person wielding the sword was none other than Fu Bao!

"I don't believe it!" Fu Bao exclaimed, a murderous look imprinted on his face.

"This loser Yu Xiaoguang dared to cross dress and try to fool the general! Scum like you deserve to die!"

Without warning, Fu Bao pushed Chunhua down to the wet ground and lifted his sword over his head!

*Swoosh!*

*Slice!*

Mixed with the transparent rain,was crimson red blood flowing smoothly like a river, Fu Bao immediately let go of his bloody sword, and backed away in a fidgety manner.

"Why..." He mumbled under his breath, his lower lip quivering in fear.

Mei Deng, whose body was too stunned to react as swiftly as his brain, was left stunned beyond measure at the outcome.

"Brother traffic?" He whispered, staring at Wang Tengfei, who appeared at the scene and used his own palm to grab hold of the sword, bleeding profusely!