I would never forget that night. The night I met him. The night he saved me. That one night of Autumn.

Wei Lan's POV:

Hooves of galloping horses could be heard across the warm evening as my men raise their weapons to fend of our enemies. Wails of wretchedness play with the air around. The king's men were terrorising a village where we were passing by. For a sum of unpaid taxes, they were worst than any animals known to mankind. As for my men, we had just one principle Never to hurt an innocent. Rest, we didn't give a fuck. This is my playground and these men from the royal society were my prey.

"Night" Zed calls me by my nickname "we're ready." I grin at the sight in front of me. Half the village was burning and all my eyes could detect were the royal guards "End them." My men barged into the blazing fire and soon we turned the tables. Zed and Cat were rounding up the villagers to a safe place whilst I brought out my flute and played a song. Minutes pass by and I smile when finally as expected my men bring me the news of decimation.

Turning to face them my eyes trail over what once was a battlefield, now it's merely a place of what once it had been. A frail man walks over to where I was standing and falls on his knees with folded hand "You saved all of us. You saved our families. Thank you." Tears of gratitude shines under the faint light from afar, when a young girl not more than 10 years joins her grandfather. Her clothes were shabby and almost torn to fringes. The plight of what could have been aches my heart and so I dismount my horse. Shrugging the cloak off on my body and cover her shivering one, I look around and find rest of the villagers have now joined our group. "They have been torturing us and have taken away all our sources. Except for dignity we have nothing left. Please help us." The old man pleads and my stone heart refuses to melt.

"You have mistaken our magnanimity. We're not good people. All we enjoy is the scent of blood and booze. We were mere passerbys." Turning back to Cat I whistle "Boys!" With a nudge to Crimson, my horse, I gallop and soon my men join leaving the village in dust.

"Drinks are on me boys!" I yell over their raunchiness. We were lodging in an inn for the night which thankfully had a liquor house. The inn was situated in the next village and this was definitely free from Royal menace or so it seems. This village was far more richer in trade and boisterous too. Women were plenty and liquor even more.

A lady approaches our table with a wink and places varied jars in front of us. Jin was already salivating and we all knew he's done for tonight. Half my men had already found a partner to keep them warm for now and that left only Cat, Zed and me.

Cat and Zed are twins and closest to me. All my men were trustworthy. We were all brothers. For me, they all would lay down their lives without blinking an eye. I met Cat and Zed when we were just 12 year olds. Our past is horrendous and the deeds of our youth even more questionable. As for them, their partners had to be unique. They were all players and as for me, liquor is my lover.

"Zed" I tap the table for his attention.

"Night?"

"The village we left behind, find more information about them and see what can be done." They knew what I wanted and with a sly smile he nods and walks out.

"You're a good man" Cat takes a sip of his drink as a petite man places a bowl of snack in front of us. Just like his name, I hear Cat mewl and knew that he's done for tonight. His eyes meets mine with a plea and I nod. Instantly Cat drags him away and the rest I don't wish to play out. With a sigh I place a pouch of coins on their table and walk out of the liquor house.

Just as I take a sip from my jar an arrow is shot and it pierces my shoulder. The jar falls and crashes against the rough cobbled path and a warm body catches my fall. Whoever shot the arrow flees as the man behind me helps me sit upright on the patio. Crouching in front of me his sedge hat covers his face as his fingers apply pressure on my wound. He was about to part my cloak when my hand captures his and I growl "Who are you?" and my other hand undoes his sedge hat. His piercing gaze meets mine and my heart thunders one word.

Beautiful.

"Who are you?" I enquire again with great difficulty as my vision starts to blur and all I could hear is his name "Han Xian."

I smile. Beautiful name for beautiful eyes.

Darkness envelopes me and I fall forward into his arms. The last sound I could hear were his heartbeats.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Please check the Casts Page for Cat, Zed and Jin.