General Lin's Past

"Am I right?"

Lin Gong asked with a smirk. "In our 'relationship'... The one who cheated first was you."

As Lin Cang stood there frozen, Lin Gong wave her off.

"I'm certain that daughter of yours wasn't mine to begin with." lin Gong turned around and was about to close the door again, when Lin Cang stop him, by grabbing his arm.

"Let go."

Instead of letting him go, Lin Cang tightened her hold. As Lin Gong started to lose his patience, he slowly warned.

"Leng Cang... Our relationship back then was because of my naiveté, nothing more."

"So you're saying it was all an act?"

Lin Cang asked scorning. "I told you back then I was drunk! If it weren't for my family's request, I couldn't have been stuck with you now, engage with you back then."

He break free from Lin Cang's hold and fix his clothes once again.

"I let you stay here, do what you want and even got married with you was because of my late wife's last pleading wish... so don't be full of yourself. Leng Lin will be forever my first and true love."

23 years ago: General Lin's Study

"Gong'er... You'll become become the next general Lin soon. Study hard and work hard on your martial lessons, alright? Do not disappoint me, your father."

15 year old Lin Gong nodded his head and left.

When he was practicing the basic martial step, a girl younger than him by 1 year disturb him.

"You're doing it all wrong. Try on focusing and change your position. Lie this."

The young lady said and mad an example. He was dumbfounded for a second as the girl fixes his position while instructing.

"Like that. Now try again."

Lin Gong stopped her and asked. "What...! How... Who the heck are you...?"

Leng Lin stopped and smiled joyously at him while introducing. "I'm Leng Lin. The second daughter of Prime Minister Leng."

"Oh?"

Lin Gong gave her a surprise look for a second and then it become cold.

"Then back off! Can't you see? I'm training here."

"I can see that." Leng Lin answered back.

Lin Gong forced a fake laugh. He pointed at the north using his sword. "There's the way to the waiting room. You are welcome."

Lin Gong said with a fake smile and left. As Leng Lin watched him leave coldly, her smile that is joyous earlier turned into a confused and sad smile.

"Is he... okay...?"

"Lin'er? Let's go?" Her mother called her softly from behind and nudged her to come forward to them in a gentle way.

Leng Lin again joyously smile as she approach her mother and elder sister.

Lin Gong watched their back disappearing and sigh in relief. [Was I being too harsh?]

that was Lin Gong's first time meeting a complete stranger who's friendly, since he wasn't allowed to go out on his own without guards by his side, everyone distance themselves from him because of it.

A few days later: Prime Minister Leng's Resident

Leng Lin walked absentmindedly as she think of what her parents had said once again.

"Lin'er... General Lin and I discussed about your engagement with his only son, and heir. What do you think about it...?"

"Father..."

She nervously fiddled her fingers together and spoke, while hesitating.

"I... I'm thinking... I'm still early for this... I don't think..." Leng Lin's father nodded understandingly and massage his head.

"I see... It's okay... Then... Think about it... There's no need to rush. You all have time."

Leng Cang tightened her grip on the chair and open her mouth to speak, when another knock sounded, cutting her off.

"That's it for today. You may leave."

General Lin's Study

"Gong'er. the Prime Minister and I talked about engaging a marriage with his daughter and you. Be ready in a few days. You may be excused."

Lin Gong bowed respectfully and left, not complaining.

He went to his room and change his clothes into black all over and also wore a hat with veil. He sneak out and went to his secret and favorite place to meditate, where he always came when he have a problem.

A lake hidden behind a huge and scary creepy looking mountain because sun can't reach it. Lin Gong called it the 'Cursed Dejected Mountain'

Lin Gong took of his hat and lay on the ground, looking up at the sky.

[Mom...]

[Why... Why do... Why did you leave us all of a sudden...?] A shadow cover the sky from his face, which made him to open his eyes.

A pretty tanned skin woman in her 40s with tied hair, but still looked young looked down at him and greeted him with a smile.

Before she could speak, Lin Gong jumped into her hugging her tightly and started to cry like a child.

"Mom...!"

Leng Lin was startled, taking aback and confuse at the same time but stiffly yet gently patted his back in comfort.

"Mom... Why...? How could you be so cruel...? The one... the one who understands me the most... Why?"

As he continued on sobbing, Leng Lin's soft heart broke for him. "Alright... Alright... I'm here... Mom's here..."