第十三章Chapter XIII
第十三章
Chapter XIII
The night began in extreme darkness, as there was no light other than the faint glow of the moon among the condensed clouds. Suddenly, silence reigned among the trees and the wind turned into a cool breeze. In the camp, specifically in the medical room, the room was dark, But some oil candles lit it dimly. In this weather, the first raindrops began to fall gently, as if the sky was whispering to the ground. The drops hit the leaves and rooftops, making a faint sound. The speed of the drops increased and became more powerful.
Li Xiao woke up to the sound of heavy rain and slowly opened her eyes. I noticed that she was still in camp. She felt agitated and grumbled that she had not returned to the temple, which meant that Rory would be worried about her and might discover her absence. She whispered to herself worriedly, "Oh no, Rory will be worried about me now... Feeling remorse, she got out of bed and tried to sort out her thoughts.
The sky was dark and the rain was getting intense, droplets falling the surface, increasing their tension. She looked out the window and saw how the rain had turned the earth into a sea of mud and water. She insisted that she should return to the temple at all costs. She took a few steps towards the door, but stopped when she saw the heavy rain in front of her. I hesitated for a moment, "I don't have an umbrella. However, I can't stay here any longer, I have to go back."
Li Xiao walked out of the room and stood for a moment in the corridor before stepping under the rainy sky. Then, she noticed someone close to her. He wore his dark uniform, his robe hanging over his broad shoulders, and that cold face I once fell in love with. She was firmly in place, contemplating him with longing and tenderness. With guilt and pain, she said to herself, "When will I get rid of this poisonous love? When will I forget this face and this shape? When will I feel free from you?"
She looked at him as he passed by her. He then turned his face to the side and saw those eyes. He stood for a moment with his umbrella in his hand, which was hit by water droplets and falling downwards, making a noise by touching the ground. Jin Xin looked at her carefully, as if trying to remember something. He felt something familiar in her, but couldn't identify it. He was confused. Each stood for a few seconds, one party nostalgic for his old love, and one looking for the lost in him, as if the world had stopped for a moment without moving.
Jinxin then took another step, wondering if she was here at this time. He spoke in a stern and rigid voice, "What are you doing at this hour, apprentice?" and then looked at her from top to bottom and checked.
"You don't seem to suffer from a circus, you healed quickly," Jin Shen said in a cold tone.
Li Xiao replied confusedly, "Oh, yes, Mr. Ma's medicine is so fast that it made it easier for me to walk now."
Jinxin's gaze was steady without emotion, and then he said, "It's already late and with bad weather, you can stay here."
Xiao said anxiously, rejecting the offer, "No... I have to go back to my home, I'm already late so my family is worried now."
Jin Shen didn't care after hearing her answer, just shut up, and then went back on the road. Suddenly, they each glimpsed something strange and a movement that could be heard despite the sound of strong rain. They turned to the sound and saw a black-clad man quietly walk out of Jin Xin's head office. The intruder did not see them because of the darkness of the place.
Jin Shen took quick steps towards the intruder trying to catch him, but it didn't go as well as he wanted. The intruder noticed him and avoided his grip and fled towards the square. Li Xiao, without hesitation, quickly set off behind him to try to stop him. Indeed, she approached him and grabbed his shoulder firmly to bring him down, and Jin Xin left her to block the intruder's path as well.
The intruder stopped steadily, alert, with both Jin Xin and Li Xiao surrounding him. Suddenly, more people appeared, surrounded from every side, carrying their swords. Both Jin Xin and Li Xiao were trapped, but they did not stand idly by, but were prepared for confrontation.
Jin Shen prepared for the confrontation and put his hand on his sword, "Get ready, apprentice, it looks like we're going to have trouble."
Li Xiao hesitated for a moment, but tried to gather her courage. "Sir, I'm ready, I'll protect your back. Go."
Li Xiao and Jin Xin were standing in the middle of this scene, motivated to fight. Jin Shen advanced with his luminous sword under the flash of lightning, he was the first to move. He rushed towards the attackers at unbelievable speed, his movements were precise and determined. Every strike was struck with precision and clarity, hitting the target for sure. The sound of swords hitting reverberated through the air, mixed with the sound of rain falling on the ground.
Li Xiao was standing next to him, grabbed her weapon steadily and stepped forward, fighting alongside him. The rain was flowing down their faces, making it difficult to see and movement harder, but it didn't stop them. When a striker rushed towards Li Xiao, she reacted quickly. She skillfully repelled the attack, then moved lightly to avoid another strike. Jin-Shin was nearby, noticed the attack and stepped forward to help her. With a quick and focused strike, the attacker turned it away.
"Back off a little, intern, I'll cover you!" said Jin Shen in a firm voice.
Li Xiao took a step back, took a deep breath and regained her focus. She then stepped forward again to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jin Shen. They were moving in unison, as if communicating without words. Their eyes meet every now and then to coordinate attacks. The collision of swords reverberated strongly.
Each blow was followed by a splash of water flying through the air. Jin Xin was striking cautiously, leveraging his strength and experience. Every move he made showed rigorous training and a strong will. He swore at another attacker, then quickly turned around to face a new striker.
Li Xiao benefited from her lightness and speed. She moved in circular motions, dodging blows and responding quickly. When someone attacked her from behind, she could hear his footsteps through the sound of rain. She turned quickly and repelled the attack, then dealt a heavy blow to her opponent, causing him to fall to the ground.
One of the attackers was dangerously approaching Jinxin, but Li Xiao was vigilant. She rushed at him quickly and, with a quick blow with her sword, kept the attacker away from him. Jin Shen turned towards her, then continued the fight.
"Well done, apprentice!" shouted Jinxin, and met their swords in a simultaneous strike, repelling a joint attack. The rain was getting heavier, filling the weather with rumbling. The ground became muddy and slippery, making movement harder, but they did not retreat. They were fighting fiercely.
After a period of heavy clashes, the attackers began to retreat and try to get out. Suddenly, one of the attackers threw a dagger at Jin Shen to try to hinder him. Xiao quickly noticed me, squeezed her fist on the sword and stepped towards him. Their eyes met, and then the dagger hit the center of the sword and fell to the ground, making a clear impact sound. The remaining attackers retreated intermittently, trying to escape the tight siege inflicted by Jin Xin and Li Xiao.
The rain is getting hotter, and lightning lights up the sky from time to time. Xiao said to me loudly, "Let's follow them sir, come on quickly!"
Jin Shen grabbed her wrist to stop her, "They've already moved away."
Jin Xin and Li Xiao were standing close to each other in the middle of the square, both wet and mud-stained, their breath rushing from effort. Jinxin glanced at Li Xiao, speaking in a calm and balanced voice, "Well done, apprentice."
Xiao smiled at me lightly, "Now we're even, you saved me once and now I'm saving you."
She looked at him and said, "Sir, my wrist."
He put his hand away, and then said, "Don't go home, it's dark and there are no vehicles at this time and the weather."
Xiao sighed to me in despair as she felt the raindrops flowing down her face, "Your words are true, I will not be able to go back, so what about you?"
Jin Shen replied, "My residence is nearby, so I'm going to go on horse. Use the medical room for tonight, you'll find some clothes, use them until your clothes are dry."
He then turned a step away from her, and Jin Shen headed to his office to inspect the damage and look for any evidence the intruder had left behind. The room was muddy with the intruder's footprints and the objects randomly scattered. He stood up for a moment and said to himself, "Why did he break into the place in such a clear way?"
In the Star Bar, the atmosphere was lively and dynamic. The bar was full of customers talking loudly and laughing despite the rainy weather. The sound of glassware was in harmony with the soft music playing in the background. The lighting was dim, adding a noisy and intimate atmosphere to the place, and the walls are decorated with traditional paintings and illuminated red lanterns, adding a unique touch to the place.
However, the atmosphere is different in a certain part of this pub, and in Miss Chan's room. The lighting in the room was softer, with paper lamps hanging from the ceiling, lighting up the space warmly and comfortably. There was a round table in the center of the room, made of polished wood, with some small pots of traditional tea on it, smelling of aromatic herbs.
Miss Chan and the masked master sat at the table, opposite. Miss Chan was wearing a simple but elegant dress, her hair falling softly over her shoulders. The masked master wore a dark uniform that covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible.
The masked master spoke in a quiet but serious voice, "What has happened so far?"
Miss Chan looked at him concentratingly, her eyes shining with curiosity, asking, "She ordered us to observe the camp privately, why is this so important?"
The masked master replied heavier and more seriously, "It's not your habit to ask about things you're not supposed to be asked about."
She looked aside for a moment and noticed his serious tone, "Sir, I was curious, I will be careful in speaking in the future, excuse me. One of my followers told me that the camp had been infiltrated and there were some clashes with General Jin Shen, and there was also a guard with him. They were defeated by the general and the guard, yet they could not catch the rest of them."
The masked master sat silent for a moment, then slowly nodded, "That's to be expected. Jin Shen is not an easy opponent. Do you have any additional information about the guard he was with?"
Miss Chan shook her head, "Yes, he looked lean and possessed handsome features. I think he's a new trainee. For a moment, from the description of his appearance, I felt like I had met him before."
The masked master looked at her at length, then took a sip of tea. Then Miss Chan realized, "Do you... It's that person?"
The masked master gently placed the cup on the table, "You seem to understand by now. Keep a close eye on him for everything he does."
Miss Chan smiled lightly, "Yes, sir, I know what you mean, that girl who brought down Minister Zhou. So, as you order, sir. We will continue to monitor everything closely." The masked master retreated in his seat and stood in front of the window, contemplating the sound of rain and falling. Miss Chan then eagerly asked him in contemplation of a satisfactory answer, "Sir, have you found any information about my brother?"
As he continued to watch the rain, he replied, "Don't worry, he's alive. When my men found his place, he was Miss Chan smiled lightly, "Yes, sir, I know what you mean, that girl who brought down Minister Zhou. So, as you order, sir. We will continue to monitor everything closely." The masked master retreated in his seat and stood in front of the window, contemplating the sound of rain and falling. Miss Chan then eagerly asked him in contemplation of a satisfactory answer, "Sir, have you found any information about my brother?"
As he continued to watch the rain, he replied, "Don't worry, he's alive. When my men found his place, he was He has gone somewhere else."
I walked towards him with quick steps, "So what did he look like? Is he okay?" he raised his hand up and gestured to her silence. She was already asking for a lot because she was optimistic about what she heard. Then he said, "Stop, we don't know much about him. We just managed to locate him, and then we lost him."
She lowered her head and her eyes looked down, worried about her brother and whether he was okay. The masked master then looked at her, "I will not give up on my promise, your brother will come back to you." "Yes, sir, it's too late so I want to rest." The masked gentleman turned around and took steps towards the exit door and spoke to her nothing else.
Miss Chan remained alone in her room, sitting contemplating the candles around her and reflecting on the promise she had made to her brother. You remember...
Like a rainy and dark day, Miss Chan was young with her twin brother. weather was cold and wet in the small room she lived in with him. As water droplets seeped from the ceiling, only a light and frayed blanket and a few candles illuminated the room dimly. Little Chan would wrap the hood around her brother more and embrace him tenderly. His temperature was high and she was unable to get medicine to treat him. Her hands surround him with force, trying to warm him, and whispering words to reassure him. "Brother, we'll be fine. You know, when I grow up we'll live in a big house together, illuminated by lights that feel comfortable. It has everything, a lot of food, beautiful warm clothes, we are together, you and me."
I smiled at him trying to warm up with these words. He was trembling and coughing repeatedly, "My sister is the best, I'll be fine, I'll protect you and we live together. Little Chan gently patted him on the back.
At this moment, they heard the sound of the door lock opening clearly. They were afraid that their father might come back to scold them. Little Chan quietly got up from her brother's side, taking cautious steps, and then picked up a stick she was hiding under the bed. She held the stick in her hands, ready to defend her brother.
I smiled at him trying to warm up with these words. He was trembling and coughing repeatedly, "My sister is the best, I'll be fine, I'll protect you and we live together. Little Chan gently patted him on the back.
At this moment, they heard the sound of the door lock opening clearly. They were afraid that their father might come back to scold them. Little Chan quietly got up from her brother's side, taking cautious steps, and then picked up a stick she was hiding under the bed. She held the stick in her hands, ready to defend her brother. At all costs, with a pale face and stern expressions and also frightened. The door opened with a squeak, and a shadow reflection of someone entering the room appeared. The person took steps towards it. At this moment, Little Chan closed her eyes hard and hurried her steps to hit this person, but for a moment, the stick fell from her hand to the ground. A man in a worn coat appeared in front of her, looked at her with a tender look, and said in a quiet voice, "Don't be afraid, I'm here to help you."
Chan shivered and moved away slightly, but the man gently bent, took out a warm cloth and covered her sick brother with it. He looked at her and said, "We're going to get out of here together. She stood in front of him in stern terms and her brother behind her, raising both hands laterally and straight, "Don't approach my brother."
That person smiled and said, "It's good to take care of your brother like this, little girl, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help you." She still insists on her position, doesn't trust him because she's afraid that this person is taking advantage of her. "I don't trust strangers who could hurt us at any moment."
He leaned over his knees and lifted his headscarf, "It seems that the little girl has already forgotten my voice. You didn't come back to me to take the leftover medicine for your brother. Look, I've brought him."
Those tired eyes widened and she was in shock and joy, "Uncle, it's you! But how did you come here? And also, I couldn't come to you at that time. And also, I..."
He interrupted her in a whisper, "Shhh She shook her head, then grabbed her brother and helped him take the medicine as she looked at him nervously, "You're going to get better, my brother, you've been able to get the medicine, you're going to be fine now."
They waited for a while as they watched his condition, and moment by moment, her brother's temperature began to subside and his breath relaxed. The man looked at little Chan and said, "We have to get out of here before someone notices."
Chan replied worried,
"But where are we going? The man confidently replied, "I will take you to a safe place, where you can live in peace. I'm not going to let you suffer here anymore."
Chan looked at the man with eyes full of hope and fear, then hugged her little brother and whispered to him, "We'll be fine, we'll live safe together." Her heart jumped hard as she took this bold step, but she was willing to do anything to protect her brother, a child who took responsibility for her life and that of her brother at such a young age.
The man came forward with her little brother in his arms, holding his cloak tightly, and they walked out of the room watching carefully. Move with careful steps, avoiding any noise that might attract attention. The rain was falling heavily, and its cold drops were touching their faces.
When they reached the walls of the house, the man looked at Chan with anxious eyes, completely wet. Chan climbed on his back, clinging to him firmly, clinging to the hope of her life that would save her from her torment. The man climbed the fence using a thick rope he had tied when he entered. Skillfully and quickly, he jumped to the other side, but one of the guards noticed them and shouted at the top of his voice, "Thieves!"
Chan's heart trembled and she felt a horror gripping her, but the man didn't stop. Faster in his steps, he ran fast trying to escape from the guards. The sound of his footsteps reverberated in the dark alleys and the rain was falling heavily. He felt the weight of the task at hand, and knew he had to survive them at all costs.
Chan was clinging to him tightly, hearing his racing breath and her heart beating fast. Her heart was filled with fear and anxiety, but she trusted this man. Her little brother was hugging him tightly, and the heat began to recede from his body thanks to medicine.
The man continued to run, hearing the voices of the guards getting closer and closer. He took a sharp turn into a narrow alley, then hid behind old barrels. He put his hand over Chan's mouth, signaling her in silence. She remained silent as she heard the voices of the guards approaching and then slowly moving away.
After they made sure the guards were gone, the man looked at Chan and whispered, "We have to keep walking, the safe place is not far now." Chan shook her head affirmatively, but she was nervous and scared, yet determined to get her brother to safety. Keep walking through the dark alleys, and as they get away from danger, Chan feels hope grow in her heart. This man served as a savior for her and her brother.
After a long walk in the darkness and rain, they arrived at a small hut at the end of the city. The man opened the door cautiously, and brought them inside.There was a fire burning in the stove, and the room was warm. The man put her brother on the bed after that another child was looking at them, then the man noticed that he was "brown when you didn't even sleep" This child walked towards his father, "I didn't bring strangers into our house, who are they?" his gaze was uncomfortable and he didn't like little Chan, then the man spoke in a relaxed and loving voice, "Son, from now on, these two children will live with us, we will be together together, you will be their older brother who protects them." He didn't like this kid because he didn't want his father to share with other people, "I don't want that, you're just mine," he ran with quick steps towards his room, closing the door behind him strongly, his father understood how he was feeling, then he looked at the little Chan, "It's okay, little girl, you'll get used to each other over time," and looked at Chan with a reassuring smile, "Here you will be safe. I'm not leaving you."
Chan felt tears of joy fill her eyes, and hugged the man tightly, "Thank you, uncle. We will not forget what you did for us."
The man smiled, "No need to thank, little one. A few days later, Chan walked into the hut breathing heavily, as if she had run a long distance with tears in her eyes, "Uncle, my brother has disappeared, me... The... My uncle, my brother..."
*To be followed in the next chapter*
*Thank you for reading*
Chan felt tears of joy fill her eyes, and hugged the man tightly, "Thank you, uncle. We will not forget what you did for us."
The man smiled, "No need to thank, little one. A few days later, Chan walked into the hut breathing heavily, as if she had run a long distance with tears in her eyes, "Uncle, my brother has disappeared, me... The... My uncle, my brother..."
*To be followed in the next chapter*
*Thank you for reading*