"What?" She gasped. "You checked everywhere including her bed?"

"Sounds like you were expecting it to be there?" Her eyes flickered to whoever let the comment slip within the crowd, taking in a deep breath.

"We checked everywhere and as Head Feng announced, there is nothing. The room is clean. "

"What is that horrid lingering smell?" Head Feng interrupts Lady Ting Yu to comment. It didn't take long for hers and everyone's eyes to find mines and acknowledge altogether that I was that horrid smell. I lowered my head. It's not like I can fix it now since I've been accused of stealing so we'll all have to just deal with it a bit longer. And so Head Feng ignores it to continue. "Since it's not in Huang Fei's room as you proposed, it better not be in yours. Not only will I take away your rations but you will be greatly punished for your actions."

Anyone could see the panic that grew in Su Tan's eyes. She was expecting the necklace to be there because she placed it there to begin with, but it wasn't there. It never was. Not for long at least.

Once again, we follow both Head Feng and Lady Ting Yu to Su Tan's quarters. They had to empty the group of girls who were inside gossiping before they began their search. I stood confidently near the door across from Su Tan knowing that I didn't steal the necklace Su Tan accused me of having which already painted her as a liar and even more when it all falls through.

A brazen sound of something being flipped to the ground followed by an ear-piercing shout from within the room caused us all to be on our toes. All but me. It's clear they found something in Su Tan's area, or else she wouldn't be shriveled in fear or unsettled with a sick feeling in her belly. Her chest visibly puffing harsh slow breaths. Everyone is looking at her, the definite liar.

Head Feng pushes through the door like thunder and tosses something at Su Tan, which she recognized it to be the necklace and stumbled back in alarm to avoid it from touching her skin. "You lying pig! You stole my necklace and had the nerve to put on a show while it was lying in your room, in your bed this whole time? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I — How — that's impossible — I — " her words stutters over her tears.

"Speak now! Can't believe all that I've done for you, spoiled you and treated you like my own and this is how you repay it back? Stealing from me? Have you lost your damn mind?"

It satisfies me to see Su Tan this way — a pathological liar who's not the nice girl everyone perceived her as. To see her choked on her words, her thoughts scrambled and fried trying to make sense of how the least expected happened to be expected. But it all came together the moment my head cocked slightly to the side and my lips formed a cornered smirk, giving her enough time to catch it before it quickly disappears.

Her face fell with a lip tremble and her knuckles clenched tight.

The truth is, I knew exactly what Su Tan was planning the night I saw her leaving Head Feng's quarters. It was when I came back from washing myself up, instantly noticing her creeping figure tiptoeing out the door shoving an item in her dress. And just before I left for the lake today, I returned to check on Zhao Ji's whereabouts and saw Su Tan leaving my room. It wasn't hard to put together and I guess it was luck that a moment like this fell right into my hands so effortlessly.

"It was you," She grabbed me by my dress and pinned me to the wall the second my smirk disappeared. "You sly bitch. You set me up!" She turns to Head Feng hoping it'd bring her back to light and her sisterly reputation has been restored. "It was her, Head Feng. Huang Fei lied on me and did this to ruin my reputation!"

I push myself from her hold. "How could it be me if you accused me of stealing Head Feng's most precious necklace first?"

"And it was found in your bed, not Huang Fei's. Explain yourself." Added Lady Ting Yu.

Others agreed. Quickly turning their backs on her as they did me.

It was then, Su Tan finally understood the lonesome feeling of having no one along her side, everyone quick to judge her character even before hearing her side of the story, and no one wants to defend a liar with clear proof. Though this wasn't enough to make everyone hate her, it was enough to change their views about her but Su Tan couldn't let it slide.

Hard to her knees, she dropped and begged for forgiveness. A sight I never thought I would see a day in my life. "Please believe me Head Feng. I would NEVER steal from you, you are like a mother to me. You've treated me so kindly and well and I've learned so much from you, and I have much to learn. Someone has set me up — " she looks to me. " — and I ask for a full investigation to seek justice for who truly stole from you and dares to tarnish my reputation. Please, allow — "

Head Feng slapped her, hard. "How dare you ask for an investigation when the evidence is here in my hand found in your room! I expected this from Huang Fei, but not from you. And since you refuse to admit your crimes even before embarrassing me and yourself, you will kneel out here until I let you up. And when I'm finished, you will be punished."

She cried. "No Please!"

"Everyone back to where you were," Lady Ting Yu says. "Now that this has been settled, you are free to your duties. Surely this will teach you not to make the same mistake or you will live with the consequences."

I wait till most of everyone and Wanue has left when I choose to bend down to Su Tan's level. My heat lets her aware that someone is near but she doesn't look back as she is riddled with tears and a broken heart that I couldn't help myself but say, "I guess girls from Quying aren't as smart as you say they are." She could hear the smile on my face, mocking the words she once told me. "And if it's fear that lingers for me then hold onto it because this is only the beginning —" my lips are brushing her ear. " — and you haven't seen all of it yet."

I pull away to my feet with a gasp as her red eyes met mines. "YOUU!" Su Tan disregards Head Feng's order, unkneeling herself from the ground so she has faced me fully. "I should've killed you back then with my bare hands and that was my mistake, but I won't make it again."

I foolishly took her vow for my blood on her hands as merely a bluff though my humous façade fell. She won't actually try to kill me, I thought. But if she's bold enough to lock me in an inhabitable room then what's to stop her now? Even in sight of everyone watching her, doesn't she have much to lose?

Once others have noticed Su Tan on her feet, we are all taken by surprised when she pulls out her hairpin letting her hair bound flawlessly , and jumped to attack me with the pointed end aiming for my chest. I'm quick to move out her way but her attack caught me off guard, finding nothing but the wall supporting my back and left with nothing but to protect what I could — until a shadow moved in between us quick like lightning, grabbing a hold of Su Tan's wrist which held the weapon inches away from piercing my skin. I sighed heavily with relief.

"It was found in your bed yet you leash your anger on another who is innocent? Is this how all your ladies behave?"

I instantly pulled aside the moment I heard the voice that belonged to the man who saved me. Even more when his nose caught my odor yet he doesn't follow the smell though I'm sure he knew where it was coming from. He instead, looked over Su Tan's face of regret to Lady Ting Yu who came back the moment she heard Su Tan was up.

She pulled Su Tan from the man's grip and scolded her for many things she had just done before she faces the man with a welcoming smile as if nothing happened. "No, no this is not how we are. I am very sorry on her behalf to have disturbed your peace with her violent way of thinking. Were you lost? Shall I appoint one of my ladies to guide you back?"

"No, thank you. I was looking for someone but I have found her."

His eyes found mines only to look away when Lady Ting Yu forced Su Tan to apologize and back on her knees. I shivered at his words. Why is he looking for me yet again? I thought I made myself clear the first time, but he came back. Whatever the reason is, I should leave now. I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea and I stink.

And just like a puppy, the man follows along. I walk a bit faster hoping the wind remains calm for the time being. "Will you give me some time now?" He asked.

"No, sorry. I'm busy now."

"Then will you not thank me? I saved your life from that girl wanting to stab you to death."

Mentally, I let out a sigh. He did save me. In fact, it's his second time saving my life from almost dying at the hands of the same person. I'm already in debt to him which I plan on paying off soon. I don't want to add any more to that debt or I'll be stuck with him forever so I'll use this to knock it off the list.

"I didn't need your help but thank you." He offers a smile upon giving my thanks. A pretty smile, but not one to stop me in my tracks so I continue my journey. "Also stop following me or I'll report you to my husband and he'll kill you."

"I'm sure." The humor in his tone offended me.

Zian isn't here to kill him on my behalf, but he has the skills too. And if he loved me back as I did him, then I trust he won't hesitate to pull him off.

"I never thought you'd be so bold to set someone up like that. I assumed you to be a shy and virtuous woman, not cunning. But I like it. Makes me even more interested to share a conversation with you." I paused to scan for any listening ears — a few passed by but none heard what was said so I remain calm. The man is obviously amused he's caught my immediate attention and continued, "I heard the chaos and listened from afar — and I heard the words you exchanged with the girl I'm assuming locked you up? Interesting woman you are."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about. I have private business to attend to — women's business, so please don't follow any longer."

My fingers fidget with each other as I forced myself to walk like an innocent person who's not guilty of any accusations this man speaks of. He didn't look the type to rat me out to Head Feng, but also didn't look the type to hold on to secrets for long. Especially since he was a talkative person who spoke with no restraint which made it easy for words to slip out off guard. Regarding this, he is still on the suspicious list so I must be on guard.

I turn my head slightly, seeing the man caught up with me. He does keep his distance but is closer than before, more prone to catching my whiff. I pick up my speed. "MoLian Tan. Is my name. What's yours?" 

He has got to be a special person in the head. For someone of his slight older age, I would think he understood what 'don't follow' and 'women business' meant or else he wouldn't defy my orders unless he was just hard-headed and didn't care.

"This is where you come in and say 'my name is Huang Fei'"

I try to show no reaction. "Since you knew my name then why ask?"

"It's better hearing it from your lips."

He's so bold to speak whatever is on his mind with no fear of retaliation. Quite opposite from Zian who was careful with everything he said.

"Will you continue to follow me after I told you not to?"

"Not for long," He looks at me with a smile, a smile that told me he was lying. "But I might if it means you'll spare a moment for me. If not, then I might just follow you wherever you go."

"You speak to your mother that way?" I said under my breath but not low enough to keep for myself because he heard me too. Loud and clear.

"My mother loves it in fact," he comments. "She told me speaking what's on your mind is a good way for others to know how I feel. At least you'll know my intentions are genuine."

I turned a corner ignoring him and his mother's saying. But I heard a strange noise of struggle when I was already around the corner and checked to see if the man, Mo Lian Tan would follow along — not that I was waiting for him or anything, just curious to what happened — he doesn't show.

Retracing back my steps, there's a familiar voice holding Mo Lian Tan hostage by the point of their sword pressing into the skin of his neck. His hands were up and held out to pose no threat to the person he couldn't see, a woman that was Zhao Ji. "She asked you to not follow her. Must she repeat herself once more?" She threatened with hard eyes.

It's been a while since Zhao Ji has protected me in this manner, I was almost not used to it which said a lot. I don't think I'd ever get used to someone putting their live before mines but it's a nice feeling. At least when things go south, I'm left untouched though I can't say the same for the other.

I catch her gesture for me to get behind her. I didn't feel Mo Lian Tan was much of a threat but he was surely questionable and I wanted him off my back so I do as told.

He failed to see her face and surrenders. "I mean no harm, I was just leaving." And then finally, he's able to catch the side of Zhao Ji's face before the pressure of the sword turns his neck back around. Coming into realization, he ah's with a small chuckle. "So it's you. The husband? I knew I would run into you one day — "

"Leave while I'm being nice." More pressure is applied, unphased he knew the truth behind our true relationship. "If you refuse, I will shed your blood. It's simple."

The only time she lowers the sword is when Mo Lian Tan finally agrees to leave. It was still aimed at him in case he tried anything but it wasn't at his neck anymore.

"I will leave," his hand is feeling his neck while slowly walking away. And then suddenly faces me but continues his pace sensing Zhao Ji's glare. "But you will spare me a moment, Huang Fei. One day you will and you won't regret it, and I'll wait however long I need. " looking to Zhao Ji "it's simple."

I stop her from retaliation since he was already gone and I'd rather not spin the rest of this glorious day associated with murder.

"Do you know him?" She asked after a short moment.

I shook my head. "Just met him." I lied.

"Stay away from him. I don't like him and I don't like the fact that he's here and he already knows your name."

She follows along with the sword pushed in her scabbard as I begin for the baths. She barely noticed my stench since she was caught up with  Mo Lian Tan and his motives for meeting with me. If she asked, I wouldn't know. I don't know what he wants from me besides a spared moment and to pester me with his curiosities as anyone would.

"It's not like it's my real name."

"That's not the point. If he's smart enough, he can trace Huang Fei down to your real name and your past life."

She looked at me with concern when I scoffed. I highly doubt a foolish man like him would be smart enough to think of anything as complicated as that. I'd praise him if he figured the difference of my hair from others.

Ignoring my scoff she continues, "let me know if he comes back again. I will follow his trail to see where it leads me to make sure he isn't working along side of someone important."

"I will," my thoughts then traced back to the sword Zhao Ji wielded, the same sword I stole from a dead man. "Why do you have that? I thought it wasn't allowed here?"

"I might sell it."

I stopped. "Why?"

I don't care what happens to the sword but at the same time I did. I wanted it as a souvenir as proof and a won victory that this sword was the one I used to slaughter my first kill. Zhao Ji says it doesn't count but to me it does. It takes the bravest person with a big gut to lay eyes upon death and become the cause between life and death.

She was caught off guard by my response and questioned. "Why not? It's not good to keep something that can link us back to General Wang. Also, It's made from fine steel which can be highly profitable at the right price and place."

Wanting to avoid another fight, I don't mention my desire for the sword and let Zhao Ji do whatever. She's right, the sword could trace us back to General Wang since these were gifted weapons, few with an unique design that's known to come from him as I learned from Zian. And anyone who knew General Wang or was gifted his fine swords, they'd immediately recognize the unique design and report back to him.

"Also," her trail and the lift of her finger moving to her nose pulls back my attention. "You stink." She laughed upon my expression

"Shut up." I rolled my eyes. If I'm reminded once more I will scream.

•••••

Sorry besties for not updating for a month ❤️ yk exams , school ending, family graduations and etc. but congratulations to anyone who's graduated school!!!!!!!! Hope you're going to the college you want to or taking the gap-year you need or just vibing. And I hope those graduating college will find what you're looking for and get the job you want.