Xie Lian

Adrenaline rush through my veins, I gripped San Lang's hand tightly -- I worried for him. He got hit from who knew what. White No-Face had terrorized my existence -- he had lied and clawed his way to ruin my life.

I had done nothing to deserve this.

And San Lang got dragged into it. What luck that was.

There was a loud snap and a sharp pain through my body -- I slowed down a bit and looked down at my arm. The dart's substance coursed in my veins and a wave of nausea followed. I swatted it off and pushed through.

Cheng blocked his face and swatted branches away before spotting a hole beside a tree, big enough for the two of us. White No-Face had lost us for a moment, but he was sure to find us soon.

"Did it hit you?! Are you alright?!" He gripped my shoulders and blocked me from White No Face's eyesight.

"No! San Lang, it's okay!" I said back, trying to assure him. He didn't need to worry.

He stopped us in his tracks and turned his head to me. "In! Now!"

I quickly let go and dropped in -- the hole was much farther than I thought. I yelped and landed on the ground, wincing at the impact. Ruoye slithered loosely from my arm, my clothes were torn in a few places, but I was still intact.

There was a loud swoosh and a bright silver butterfly landed on my fingers.

I smiled at its presence, and a few more followed and hovered. I looked up before feeling a warmth on my fingertips.

San Lang's hand grasped mine -- his body replaced the butterflies, and his face was inches from mine. I let out a heavy breath and stared with wide eyes.

San Lang gave me a smile, his chest was pressed against mine, his knee pushed against my crotch. I flushed and turned my head away, not daring to utter a sound.

San Lang chuckled and let go of my hand -- I dug my hands into the dirt walls, steps heard above us.

We both looked up and watched the entrance.

"Something's got its eye on us." San Lang whispered.

My heart skipped a nervous beat -- there were two things I had only imagined to see in my life: Xianle not crumbled to ruins, and San Lang with his shirt off.

And before we went in the woods, I had thought how ridiculous that was. But, now that I have a good glimpse by my stance, it seemed that my heart beat faster than when we were getting chased.

"Yes-.." My voice got softer as he leaned his head to mine -- I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came. And his knee dug further, it only caused me distress.

The footsteps started to descend after a few minutes. We kept quiet even before then.

San Lang looked in my eyes before burying his head in the crook of my neck, taking in my scent -- I wasn't sure what to do in this situation.

"San Lang-" I huffed and stared in his eye. There was no doubt my face was burning.

"5 more minutes," He breathed out -- his hot breath brushing against my neck.

"You know, I remember what you did with me." He mused, gripping my waist with such intensity.

I have told myself so many times to resist, but he had made it so hard.

I pressed hands on his chest, he was aware of last night. "Yin energy, you must know what I told you..We had done nothing-"

"I'm aware. Do you not want to explore it further with me?" He asked.

"He should be gone.." I changed the subject and nudged his chest a bit harder. "Let's go."

"As you wish." San Lang sighed and gave me a nod before moving to his knee, the relief on my body finally fell over.

"I'm lost for words. I mean, you look so attractive, it distracted me." He snickered back.

Before I could take a breath, San Lang glanced down -- a smirk curved his face. He couldn't stop smiling.

"Please, let's go," I sat up and covered my burning face with my hand -- it was too hard to look at him.

"Of course, your highness." San Lang kneeled and gave my nose a kiss before poofing into a kaleidoscope of butterflies.

He had exited the entrance and took a look around -- he extended a hand and helped me soon after.

I held the back of my head, and San Lang examined it thoroughly. "It should be fine. The wound is only a cut."

I smiled and looked over my shoulder. "Thank you. And are you okay?"

"Me?" He scoffed. "I'm great."

I felt my neck and sighed. "Then the darts must have been a scare. We should be more careful, and I shouldn't have been so distracted."

"Nobody knew what would be out here," San Lang grabbed the basket, he noticed a few fish missing but collected what he could. I assured that I could help, he gave the basket to me and stood up quickly.

He held his head and groaned in frustration. "The world is spinning.."

"..Hm?" I answered back -- I hadn't noticed he was behind me and knocked him over. He yelped and fell into the water in the deep, rushing current.

I flinched and stared in horror. "San Lang?!" I dropped the basket and immediately dove in after him.

I'm such a fool!

My lungs closed up and starved for air.

I tried focusing on the task at hand, but the feeling never went away.

I kicked the space behind me, my legs burned as I got closer to him. My adrenaline kicked in and my stomach churned from the lack of oxygen.

The feeling got worse -- my fingertips brushed against his arm. I was almost there. My body screamed to rebel against the lack of air.

I wanted to live.

I grabbed his arm before pulling him close -- I grabbed from under his arms before kicking to the surface.

I gasped once I reached the surface, hoisting San Lang onto hand. I crawled onto the grass and coughed off water. The taste made my throat close up.

With a few heavy pants, I got San Lang on his back. I checked his wrist -- there was no heartbeat. My eyes got wider as I started compressions.

There was no time to tend to my dizziness, or the ache in my limbs.

Please, I want to save him!

I moved on top of him, holding his face before giving him a kiss, trying my best to give him the air he needed. Even if it would wound me. Although, the kiss tended to my body soon enough.

The feeling was almost addicting.

Before I knew, a set of hands held my waist, and the kiss was returned. I gasped and pulled my mouth away before covering it -- my face was a bright tint of red.

San Lang moved on his elbows and grinned at me, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'm the Ghost King, Gege. Think about that."

Think..about-

Oh..OH-!

He's a ghost, of all things! It should of hit me that he wouldn't die that fast..

"Ah! I didn't think about that!" I panicked, before San Lang's grin softened. "Gege. You would save me?"

"Of course I would." I say back -- he sat back so I sat onto his stomach. "You mean a lot to me."

His eye widened more. "What?"

"You didn't know that?" I laughed a bit and held my head. This headache couldn't stop aching. "I care about you as much as I do for anyone else!"

"Gege,"

"It's true. And I also cared for all my subjects when I was Dianxia." I stared in his eye, it started to close. "San Lang-?"

"I'm tired." He scoffed and held his head. "This is a first in centuries."

"A first? Then does that-" I winced and sighed. "My head hurts.."

"Mine has been hurting as well," San Lang pressed a hand to my head. "For you, how bad is it?"

His words started to muffle, like I was underwater and the air left my lungs.

"Gege?"

"..."

"Answer me!"

"...San-"

I squinted and dropped my head low before blacking out.