Being alone

Soon after the everyone had left, just two of them remained in the big pavilion. Yusheng slowly started to walk out of the pavilion after taking five steps she looked back " why don't you take the lead qinwang?"

Getting out of his daze, while putting his energy in the wheels he slowly reached at Yusheng' side, then starts to lead the path. On their way none spoke to each other, but it was a comfortable silence.

After reaching the lake pavilion Yusheng gave a good compliment inside. Taking their seat which had a table prepared with the board of Qi. On the side a copper pot with water was boiling, as instructed by xiaoqing with a exquisite tea pot, leaves and cup.

Taking their seat Yusheng gently took the water out from long thin handled bamboo laden, washed the pot and cups. Her sleeves fluttering lightly while she started to make tea, each movement graceful and beautiful.

Pei jin felt the smell of tea was heavenly today, though having tasted many kind's of teas made from many tea makers. Looking at the clear tea with a hint of blueish green and wonderful smell though yet to taste he knew it was one of the best tea in the world.

"It's never too early to have the strategy ready before you place your piece qinwang. Though there are invariable changes out of your expectations one would still have to be ready, calm along with the next move to tackle, turning the table for your opponent" instructs Yusheng waiting for pei jin to place his piece.

Benwang has been careless.. though as if seemed to have been talking about the board but they were talking the viewpoint of the current situation.

After placing his piece... "benwang never thought the enemy would trap benwang's movement rather than going for direct victory. Don't know whether it's benwang carelessness or the enemy taking benwang lightly."

"Hmm ...this lordship would say clever yet a foolish move. Letting the wounded tiger back to its mountain after fighting tooth and nail shows how arrogant the thinking of hunter would be... yet forgetting the fact that the tiger never changes its stripe."

With a slight smile on his face pei jin places his piece.. and continues to listen to Yusheng. May be he wanted to know how she thought or listen more of that beautiful voice of hers.

Unknown to Yusheng with her eyes on the board.

"Though wounded it won't turn into a vegetarian, it will still hunt and eat meat till its death. There's only one option... either kill it or bring back to ones domain to have it domesticated. Seein as how the neither is done... this lord feels the hunter or hunters are overly confident to the point of turning utterly foolish."

Or may be though wounding the hunters came to a stalemate... unable to kill or chase it, and only watch as the tiger went back to its domain....replies Pei jin.

Hmm may be so... towards the implication of pei jin Yusheng accepted the fact. She knew though being wounded and chased he still had the mind and resources to save himself from being killed. He being able to still live was through his own ability. After the roundabout talks of his situation they finally reached to the main point.

"Say qinwang if this lord were to heal that tiger what would the result be? Would this lord be able to reap benifit or it would be just loss of time and resources of this lord."

Definitely a gain though a beast.. but still knows friend or foe from the smell. Even if the tiger is not healed back to the prime, the gesture would still be taken by it and if possible would be his friend till death.. answers Pei jin.

He not only gave Yusheng assurance to letting her have benefits with or without the success of his legs being completely healed but also offered to be her friend.

Yusheng gently looked to pei jin and saw his dark eyes looking back at her with utmost sincerity. She knew he was serious.. even if failed to cure him he was sincere with his offer. She looked back at her board that was waiting for her next move.

"This lord feels an intimate friend is hard to find. But would not be a problem to have the tiger as an acquaintance"... hinting the relation they would have in coming future.

"Each one has different thoughts benwang thinks...that tiger would regard the healer as an intimate friend whatever the reasonings for healing him are even if the feeling are not reciprocated back".... implying whatever the reason he would still think of her as an important friend even if she thinks of him as an acquaintance.

Yusheng's hand stop mid air, she looks to see pei jin looking back at her. His eyes sincere, hint of stubborness and of something else ...may be curiosity or eagerness but just a moment and she had that not caring attitude back and placed her piece.

Pei jin didn't know why he was eager to be her friend so badly, or the strange emotions that should not be sprouting for a girl of just 8 years old. Though she was beautiful, talented genius still was a small girl for their age was close to a generation apart. Still he wanted to step forward and see for himself to learn what it was.

Yusheng unknown to his feelings was about to be confused to the point of feeling helpless by the things he would do in coming future.