11. The Mighty Guard, Jiao-long

After the ambush of the banquet, Liu Ming was traumatized by the incident that made him restless. He was agitatedly frightened that he can't swallow a single grain of rice.

"Where the heck are those bandits?! Why can't they just finish their jobs?!" Liu Ming felt like he was about to explode. Not just because he was nearly killed, but the bandits he hired disappeared into the thin air. Liu Ming was frustrated, he was shaking from fear from his chair. He grasped the handle of the chair and stared at the kneeling servant in front of his sight.

"Reporting to the master, the bandits...ran away." After the servant answered, the minister was beyond furious and threw all the things that have met his hand. He felt like he was being cornered, considering that the Chief Censor of the Qin Dynasty held a doubt from his existence. He couldn't help but to clenched his fist, so to let the matter not aroused, he thought that he will send his true daughter to the General's household for marriage. Not because he wanted to, but he felt like he was about to fall from the cliff and of course, he will naturally die.

"Bring my daughter here." The minister ordered, thus the terrified servant immediately nodded and went out of the office. He was scared to his wits. The servant was about to rushed off when another servant dashed into his office. The servant's face seemed to look twisted, confused and nervous painted his face.

"Master, the General declared to refuse all the appointments regarding the acquiescence of concubine for he found one already. The news spread into the Capital this morning."

"What?!" The minister enraged upon hearing such news. He was beyond furious that he laughed crazily as if he had a brain defect. His schemes failed again. Frankly speaking, he was so desperate about money and higher position which he didn't give a damn about the people all around him. So, hearing the news the servant brought, an overrated anger reached out to his head and to all his senses. At least, he believed that the General found out about his schemes and the Chief Censor was laughing behind his back. Unbeknownst to him that the General found out his brain all along since the beginning, and Chen Guang was only waiting for an opportunity when the other party was ready to strike him down. In short words, he was just like a stupid egg.

Now that he was going to fall soon, he raged to his office and got his servants beaten. Until they were covered with bruises when he finally calmed down. He sat down from his sedan chair and lifted his palm as it supported his head. The situation is a mess, and he feels afraid and furious. He kept thinking for a way to avoid the consequences, yet his mind retarded.

In the Chen household, Li Jie kept squirming to his bed again. His brother doesn't believe he was fine so he was 'imprisoned' in the house. He kept persuading him since last night, but Jiang Hua pretended he doesn't hear him. That made Li Jie puffed his cheeks as he looked at his brother who was always beside him doing an hourly check up. As their gazes met, Jiang Hua quickly avoided it and scolded himself.

'Although you looked pitiful and cute at the same time, I won't buy it!'

"Brother Jiang! I'm not sick!" Li Jie glared resentfully at his brother, but that only made him even cuter in his brother's eyes, acting tough in front of him had no effect. In Jiang Hua's perspective, he was just like an angry squirrel.

Well, who sent him into this body anyway? Don't blame me! I'm just a rotten but a beautiful author!

If he read my mind he'll surely vomit so it's better not to tell him. Don't ever tell him everyone!

"Shush! Be quiet or you'll not going with me tomorrow." Jiang Hua raised his left brow and crossed his arms. Right now, he looks like an evil stepmother and the other one...looks like a spoiled brat.

Now that he scolded his little brother, Li Jie didn't argue with him again and bitterly covered his whole body with a quilt. He definitely looks like a sullen, pale worm and it could definitely tell that he doesn't want to stay with the house and probably doing nothing.

As the hour ticks by, Li Jie unknowingly closed his eyes, maybe because of the current physique he possessed that he was clearly exhausted even when he only take a single step. Knowing this somehow made Li Jie's blood boiled. Incontrovertibly, his strength was doubtlessly there but how come he got exhausted so easily? It was like the energy inside him have been sucked into the black hole, leaving without a trace. Li Jie snorted as he thought this way, he just let his body react freely and sleep. Being with this body surely obliged him to be lazy. How would he be able to make money in this state?

Li Jie inwardly sighed and let himself drown into the deep slumber, waiting for the second sun to rise up and accompany with his doctor brother's appointment tomorrow.

***********

The sun had vertically aligned with the Earth and the doctor really didn't came today.

"Just how fatal is his brother's condition anyway?" Feng Delun mumbled slowly, he began to ponder what illness does the doctor's brother have that he really failed to go to the manor?

Lim Hao clearly told him that the doctor will go today, but was taken aback because of his brother's illness. He merely thought Lim Hao was bluffing, he always knew that sly fox wanted to trick him everyday but well, he did said the truth.

The General wanted to send the doctor here because of the stress his mind handled that had affected his health. Those jerks who was responsible for making his headache have been making a ruckus lately especially that dumb Minister Liu that was the root of his headache. Also, his concubine never showed up since that night. Since he declared that he will not take concubines because of the so called news that he found a lucky star and make him his legal wife, he was distressed of where he'll find him.

Bribing Min Zhe will not do much cause anyway. That will only make Min Zhe feel more angrier than now. Feng Delun was sure that Min Zhe wanted to kill him, but didn't do so since he was a decent soldier. No matter how he approached Min Zhe, the other will only give him a cold shoulder and eventually avoiding him.

He will just hope that Feng Delun will find Li Jie soon.

On the next day, Li Jie woke up cheerfully since he knows that him and his Brother Jiang will go out today. The sun had not risen up yet but Li Jie was fully awakened and rummaging through Min Zhe's wardrobe, happily snatched Min Zhe's robe. No matter how he tell himself that he had to wear his own clothes, he cannot bring himself to look at those brightly colored robes to wear. And honestly speaking, his favorite color is black!

Just as he was about to walk towards his room, he looked at the dagger that was stuck on the wall of his brother's room, Li Jie suddenly recalled how he killed the bandit with 'his' innocent hands. The guilt was still there, but he could not help it. After all, it happened already. He shook his head and went out of the room, the heaviness in his chest aroused again. Despite those events, he assured himself that it was fine. No matter if he changed, he was still blessed for the Gods above for giving him a second life.

Jiang Hua, who just woke up noticed Li Jie's frown as he accurately stepped out of his room. Min Zhe's room and Jiang Hua's room was only a step away compared to Li Jie. As soon as he went out, he then spotted Li Jie with a glance. Li Jie was leaning his back to Min Zhe's door, so he was sure that he just went out of Min Zhe's room. As he lowered his gaze to Li Jie's hand, it was obvious that he held Min Zhe's clothes.

"Li Jie, you are so early today. We are going at the appointment at noon. It's still dawn. Take a rest." Jiang Hua uttered and Li Jie looked sideways. He met his older brother's gaze and smiled, "It's alright brother. I'm not sleepy."

Jiang Hua doesn't know who made Li Jie upset, but seeing his brows knitted, Jiang Hua felt worried. Seeing his hard-nosed little brother who doesn't listen to him, he walked out to the kitchen and made a breakfast.

No one was in the household except the two. Jin Ping, Tu Fai and Cheung Chao already left yesterday leaving them behind. So, to save one's energy, Jiang Hua was relieved. He hurriedly made breakfast for the two of them and placed the dishes on the table. He then signalled Li Jie to hurry up and eat his fill.

"Eat first brother! I'm going to take a bath first." Jiang Hua nodded and let Li Jie do what he wants.

The water was chilly and cold, but Li Jie didn't mind the coldness. This cold water was incomparable from the place he dwelled in his previous life. He still remembered how he slept in the cold room for two days after the police found him escaping the prison. He was still young but the police officers doesn't show any sympathy towards him. Instead, it seems that seeing him in pain rose a hint of ridicule and amusement for them. Li Jie gritted his teeth while looking at those filthy animals and had a thought of killing them later on.

That thought, he granted it with ease. He remembered those faces and unknowingly drank them with poison. After that, he laughed at the corpses that have laid on the ground as he stepped into it. Ridicule and disgust filled his mind and heart, his black heart doesn't show a hint of mercy as he saw the police officers' bodies who ridiculed him.

As he reminisced those times, Li Jie laughed coldly. He finally realized how dark the society is. Even the laws, the order, the people, the system, he could still remembered the pain he went through.

After all, people worshipped money and power more than anything else.

Li Jie then scolded himself and shook his head.

"Why am I remembering it anyway?" Li Jie mumbled, he then undressed himself and went into the tub.

There was no heater so he could only endure the coldness that wrapped his body. Amidst the coldness of the water, his cheeks flushed red and washed his hair. After he took a bath, Li Jie put on Min Zhe's clothes. The robe he wore had a color of crimson red with a white cloud on the wristline. He looked at the mirror and stared at his heterochromia eyes. His eyes glowed brightly with a shade of sapphire and emerald, which he thought was attractive.

"I could have been a model if I had this beauty. But mostly women would be jealous about me." Li Jie was talking himself in the mirror, praising himself for how beautiful he is. But to his disappointment, he reluctantly put on his eye patch, covering his blue eye.

He then took a step on his way out and then be took a step back to glance in the mirror for the last time.

"Ah! Beautiful!"

"Li Jie?! Are you done? Come out and eat your breakfast!"

"Alright, alright!"

He then went out with a smug look.

********

"By the way brother? Who's your patient?" Li Jie walked along with his brother on the street of the Capital. He kept following his brother without knowing the patient. So, after recalling then he asked Jiang Hua.

"Oh. It's the General-in-chief."

'What?'

"D-did you say General?" Li Jie stuttered as if he doesn't heard the other speaking. Jiang Hia looked at his little brother and was puzzled.

'Why is he nervous? Is he afraid of the General? He doesn't know him though.'

Jiang Hua stopped pondering about it and held Li Jie's hand. Just as he was about to go, Li Jie doesn't want to move as if he was a part of the ground. Jiang Hua wrinkled his brows and looked at his stubborn little brother.

"Li Jie, be good." When he spoke, Li Jie vigorously shook his head and attempted to escape. Due to his bad luck, Jiang Hua caught his wrist and lifted him up. He placed his stomach on Jiang Hua's shoulder while Li Jie facing in the back.

"Brother! Put me down!"

"I said be good! Don't you ever roam around again!" Li Jie was struggling at Jiang Hua's grip and wanted to escape. But Jiang Hua was stronger than him thus his struggling attempt failed.

"What has gotten into you?" Jiang Hua asked as Li Jie surrendered from the struggle.

"N-nothing! Put me down now! I will be good!"

Right now, just five steps ahead and they will be arriving at the manor. So Jiang Hua put his brother down and signalled him to behave. Seeing his big brother's glare, Li Jie could only pursed his lips and followed his brother. They finally entered the manor. Jiang Hua was calm and doesn't show a hint of excitement. However, Li Jie on the other hand, was sweating heavily and squibting his eyes from left to right.

"Okay. You can explore the manor but don't go astray. Don't go to dangerous place in the manor okay?"

"Y-yes, brother." Li Jie said dejectedly. He then leave and went to the General's office.

"Dammit! What should I do?" He wanted a way out so he went from one of the guards in the manor.

"Excuse me. Do you know where Min Zhe went?" When Li Jie spoke, the guard turned his back to Li Jie and was immediately stunned. Although the guard saw the latter wearing eye patch, he could still remember this face who knocked him out in one blow.

Guard 1, who was named Jiao-long has long suppressed his fear towards the young man in front of him. He always kept this sayings in mind,

'The fox was hiding in his rabbit form.'

His black eye was still noticeable so when Li Jie saw his handsome face with a black mark on his eye, he laughed dryly.

"Min Zhe had a task from the General so he was currently in Nanzheng. By the way, why are you here? Aren't you aware of the danger inside?" Jiao-long asked with an expressionless face as he looked at the person with an eye patch.

Li Jie was stunned when Jiao-long remembered him. It was probably because he had a grudge against him, Li Jie thought.

"W-well, it was an accident. My brother was here checking the jerk's condition but I'm so dumb for not asking my brother earlier. Well, thank you for telling me." Li Jie said. His eyes formed into cresents and his smile showed sweetly.

Jiao-long stared at those sweet smile formed on Li Jie's lips. He fell into a daze as he stared at Li Jie's beautiful face. Somehow, his heart tickled upon seeing him smile. As if his heart was floating in the air and his head feels light. Just as about he wanted to say something, Li Jie bid his farewell.

"Okay then, if a handsome doctor will go looking for me, just tell him that he went into the clinic first." Jiao-long nodded and smiled faintly. Li Jie smiled back and was about to go. But after that, Jiao-long reached out Li Jie's wrist and the latter looked back with a question above his head.

"What's your name?" Jiao-long asked as he looked at Li Jie. Li Jie was puzzled as he looked at Jiao-long and at the same time at his wrist.

"Why?"

"I-if he will look for your name, I will not be able to recognize it. So, it's better to know your name." Jiao-long's heart quivered, afraid of rejection. However, Li Jie found his statement reasonable so he thought there's no such harm to say his name from this person. After all, this person seemed trustworthy.

"Li Jie. And you are?"

"Y-you can call me Jiao-long." Jiao-long wanted to find a hole and bury himself. How come a mighty and fearless guard felt helpless towards this beautiful man?

"Okay. See you Jiao-long!"

"En."

Li Jie then dashed and disappeared from Jiao-long's sight. After he left, Jiao-long felt his chest thumped faster and it felt like his chest beats like a drum. He could feel his cheeks went hotter than his normal temperature and the Guard's brain was filled with Li Jie's smile.

'I'm just sick. Yes, I'm being paranoid!'

Jiao-long calmed his heart and went straight to his post. No matter what he's feeling, he should stop it, he thought nervously.

After all, he doesn't know what his feeling meant.