🥀

My fingers grazed the cool fabric of his blue mask, and I instinctively looked up to meet his eyes. A raw fear flickered within them, a primal terror unlike anything I'd ever seen. It defied explanation, no matter how I tried to unravel it in my mind.

Before I could dwell on it further, his hand shot out, grabbing mine in mid-air. His entire body trembled silently, his anguish mirrored in the wide, terrified pools of his eyes.

"You're hurt—" I rasped, but the words died in my throat. All I could manage was a shudder, a strangled cry held captive by my clenched teeth.

The sudden bang of the door shattered the darkness. Light flooded the room, revealing a stout man standing in the doorway. He blinked in surprise, then slowly shifted his gaze downwards, bowing stiffly.

A quiver of brown-fletched arrows hung heavy on his back, accompanied by a container strapped securely in place. As the man cautiously raised his hand, Zhao Yun released mine and hurled a dagger. It sliced through the air with deadly accuracy, severing an arrow in half.

The stout man recoiled in horror, his eyes widening at the sight of the shattered arrow lying in pieces on the floor.

"How dare you!" he roared. "Who are you and what are you doing in my house?!" Indignation colored his voice as he marched forward, his lips pursed tight at the audacity of these unexpected guests.

My jaw slackened as I stared down at the broken arrow.

"You're incredible! I told you that heat transfer method would be effective. You're perfectly fine now—"

"—shut up!" he snapped, his harsh tone grating on my already strained nerves. Unable to speak further, I rushed to stand beside him as the man advanced toward us.

"Lu Zhao Yun, from the Martial Arts Circle," Zhao Yun announced, his voice respectful. "We apologize for this intrusion. Yesterday's ambush forced us to seek immediate shelter here."

The man's eyes bulged in disbelief at the introduction. He quickly brought his hands together in a deep bow, his earlier aggression replaced by a flustered rush to appease.

"No need for that, Uncle," Zhao Yun interjected.  "The apology is on me. Our actions earlier were inexcusable."

My head jerked up in surprise. Witnessing him apologize to someone, especially someone like this, was utterly unexpected. 

He even knows how to apologize. Awesome! What about me?!

A flicker of understanding must have crossed his face, for Zhao Yun turned to me, lowering his head as the stout man's gaze shifted in my direction.

"She's not with me—" he began, his voice laced with a hint of explanation.

"—I am his disciple, Princess Li You Rong," I declared before he could finish, a wide smile blossoming on my face. Zhao Yun shot me a look of amusement, bordering on exasperation, but I merely pouted and flashed another grin before dashing out from behind him.

The stout man, surprised by my unexpected introduction, bowed deeply, his head lowered in deference. Before he could complete the gesture, I rushed to him, concern etched on my face.

"Please, no need for such formality," I implored, gently guiding him back to his full height. "You are elder to me, and I cannot bear to see you bow so low."

He offered a sad nod in response before walking towards the window, where a jar of honeyed wine sat nestled amongst other ceramic vessels. With practiced ease, he retrieved three bowls, setting them on the table with a gesture that invited us to partake.

Zhao Yun bowed again before taking a seat at the table. I, however, lingered behind, a playful glint in my eyes. With a flourish, I took the seat next to him, eliciting a subtle shift in his posture. He turned slightly towards the man as I settled in, his voice regaining its composure.

"I am Mo Qing," the man introduced himself, his voice gruff but kind. "You must be weary from your journey. I have buns and dumplings prepared, if you would like something to eat."

"We appreciate the offer," Zhao Yun began, but I cut him off with a playful lilt in my voice.

"—But we wouldn't mind some green onion pies! Any amount would do," I interjected, a mischievous glint twinkling in my eyes.

Zhao Yun, unable to suppress a hint of amusement, turned to face me. I met his gaze with a wide, unrepentant grin. Mo Qing let out a sigh, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. With a nod, he retreated to the kitchen.

A short while later, he returned with a steaming package cradled in his arms. With a practiced hand, he placed two packages on the table, one in front of each of us.

"Please, do not consider yourselves a burden," Mo Qing stated, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Thank you, Uncle Mo Qing," Zhao Yun replied, raising his hand in a short bow. A hearty laugh escaped the man's lips, a sound that filled the room with warmth and dispelled the earlier tension.

Unable to contain myself any longer, I reached for the package, my stomach growling in anticipation. The aroma of savory pastries filled the air, further whetting my appetite. I eagerly tore open the package and popped a green onion pie into my mouth, savoring the explosion of flavors. Lost in the culinary delight, I devoured both packages in a matter of minutes, leaving me with a satisfied sigh.

As I glanced at the untouched packages before Zhao Yun, I noticed him lower his sword and turn to Mo Qing with a sigh.

"Do you know of a disciple by the name of Mo Yan?" he inquired. The question seemed to catch Mo Qing off guard, and he turned towards Zhao Yun with a furrowed brow.

"Yes," he replied, his voice hesitant. "He arrived here recently for the competition. Why do you ask?"

Zhao Yun shook his head, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "He is…revered by many in Guanming Town," he finally offered, a short nod completing his cryptic response.

My curiosity piqued, I stole a glance at the untouched green onion pies before me, a silent question hanging in the air.

Regret washed over me as the last green onion pie disappeared from my grasp. "They're really good, Uncle," she chirped, a touch too loud in the sudden stillness. "Thank you. I'm sure your wife was pretty good in culinary too."

Mo Qing's faded smile faltered, a flicker of pain crossing his features before he looked down in silence. I clamped my lips shut, the half-eaten pie forgotten in my hand. The weight of my unintended remark settled heavily in the air. The man's solitary existence, hinted at by his surprised reaction to their arrival, now seemed tragically clear.

Across the table, Zhao Yun looked up with a start, surprised by the lengthening shadows. The warm hues of the setting sun painted the room in a melancholic light. With practiced ease, he rose to his feet, retrieving his sword.

"We must depart now," he announced, bowing deeply to Mo Qing. "Thank you for your hospitality. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by our intrusion."

I scrambled to my feet, my forgotten manners momentarily forgotten. Stuffing the last, embarrassingly large bite of pie into my mouth, I mimicked Zhao Yun's bow towards Mo Qing.

He nodded sadly, a hint of his earlier warmth lingering in his eyes. Rising slowly, he escorted us towards the door. With a final, lingering wave, Mo Qing retreated back into the quiet solitude of his home.

As we stepped outside, my nimble fingers darted towards my hanfu, expertly tucking away the remaining pack of green onion pies. Catching up to Zhao Yun's purposeful strides, I ventured a question, my voice barely a whisper.

"Did I do something wrong yesterday?" I inquired, walking sideways to keep pace with him. "And the day in the water?"

He paused in his tracks, his gaze sweeping the deserted street before settling back on me.

"The mind control seems to be taking effect, especially with the renewed exposure to the cursed flute yesterday," he explained, his voice serious. "I was able to temporarily stabilize the process, but the poison's potency remains unknown. You need to seek expert care, Rong'er."

A cold dread settled in my stomach. "So the scratch on your face… that was me?"

He remained silent, but the grim set of his jaw spoke volumes.

"Please, Zhao Yun," I pleaded, my voice trembling. "Don't tell anyone. We can find another way. There has to be another solution."

He turned away, resuming his walk without acknowledging her plea.

"Lu Zhao Yun!" I cried out, my voice cracking with desperation. Still, he didn't respond.

Frustration and fear ignited within me. With a swift movement, I lunged forward, my arms wrapping around his neck in a desperate attempt to stop him. He reacted instinctively, a light push sending me stumbling back.

Facing me with a resolute expression, he spoke in a firm voice. "That's not your decision to make, Rong'er. My duty is to protect the citizens. Any threat, regardless of origin, cannot be ignored."

Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill. In a final, desperate act, I lunged for the dagger I always kept hidden within me hanfu. Brandishing it before him, I pointed the sharp tip at his throat.

He reacted with lightning speed, disarming me with a flick of his wrist. The same dagger I had intended for him now gleamed in his hand, held threateningly close to my throat.

"Attacking without cause violates the code of a princess," he stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "Such actions carry a severe penalty… even death."

A tear escaped and traced a cold path down my cheek as I stared into his emotionless eyes, searching for a flicker of doubt, a sliver of mercy. "A-Are you going to kill me?" I managed to stutter, my voice barely above a whisper. My breath hitched in my throat as the cold metal pressed against my skin, sending shivers cascading down my spine.

Minutes seemed to stretch into an eternity as my vision blurred with unshed tears. The weight of the dagger seemed to grow heavier, threatening to suffocate me. Finally, with a sigh, he relented.

The metal slowly lifted from my throat, leaving a raw, red mark in its wake. He stepped back, his gaze unwavering, and turned to walk away, leaving me alone with the weight of my actions.

My hands trembled as I reached up and touched the red mark, a stark reminder of my outburst.  His words echoed in my mind: "Until you don't harm anyone, I won't kill you."

Slowly, I clenched my fist around my shaking hand and turned towards the exit, following him at a distance. It didn't take long to locate the competition grounds. As we emerged from the trees, the anxious chatter of the crowd died down, replaced by a tense silence.

Xiao Fan and Su Ruo emerged from another part of the forest a few meters apart, their concerned expressions mirroring those of the crowd. The elders rushed forward, relief washing over their faces.

My gaze fell upon the stage, and a choked sob escaped my lips. The sight that greeted me was one of utter devastation. Bodies – guards and disciples alike – lay strewn across the wooden platform, their faces frozen in silent screams.

"Rong'Er!" Zhen Lan's panicked cry pierced the silence as he rushed towards me, his arms outstretched for a hug. Instinctively, I recoiled, my eyes glued to the horrifying scene before me. Jing Yi reacted swiftly, forming a protective circle around me with her guards, scanning for any threats.

"Xuan Ji," Mo Yan muttered, his voice heavy with grief as he stepped back from the body of his fallen junior. Without a word, he turned and disappeared into the forest, his cloak billowing behind him. A'Ying lowered her head in shame, tears glistening in her eyes. His other junior brother followed after him, his cries echoing through the trees.

Lu Zhao Yun, his expression stoic, bowed his head as he witnessed Zhen Lan's embrace. But before I could respond, I pushed myself free, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. He straightened and turned, offering a respectful bow to his Shifu, who beamed with relief at the sight of him unharmed.

"Everyone's back safely now," the Duke boomed, his voice booming across the silent crowd. "We thought those cursed birds had taken you all! Especially you, Princess! You reckless child! Do you know how worried you've made everyone?!"

Duke Wei flung his sleeves dramatically, his anger momentarily directed at me before he turned his attention to Zhao Yun.

Zhen Lan stepped forward, bowing deeply before Duke Wei. "The Princess is still young and impulsive," he offered by way of apology. "I take full responsibility for her actions."

With a heavy sigh, Duke Wei lowered his gaze and then stabbed a finger in my direction, clearly restraining himself from doling out immediate punishment.

"Duke Wei," Zhen Lan interjected, his voice laced with a plea, "let's table this for now. The most important thing is to ensure everyone's safety until these contests are over. Did any of you notice anything unusual?"

Xiao Fan and Su Ruo stepped forward, bowing in unison as they prepared to offer their observations.

"Aside from the birds," Xiao Fan began, "there was a flutist manipulating them into a frenzy. We couldn't find the culprit."

General Su's gaze darted towards the elders, who seemed equally baffled by this revelation.

"A flutist?" he echoed. "Only disciples of the Yihua Palace are known to possess the ability to control nature through music."

This realization hung heavy in the air, and all eyes turned towards the Duke. He raised a hand, silencing the murmurs spreading through the crowd.

"I confess I used to be the leader of that sect," he admitted. "However, that knowledge is only passed down to the top disciples, not the elders. And I've sworn an oath to serve this very nation. As you can all attest, I've been present here since the contests began."

His words elicited a wave of affirming nods, but the situation had become considerably more complex than anyone had anticipated.

"No one infected with that mind control poison can be allowed to live," the Duke declared, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Anyone who harbors or protects them will be considered an enemy of the state."

My heart hammered against my ribs as I heard his pronouncement, and the chorus of agreement from the others sent a tremor of fear through me. A'Ying, noticing my terror, approached me with a concerned expression.

"What about the competition for the three spots?" General Su inquired, attempting to shift the focus. "How can we determine a winner?"

The General sighed and ordered his men to bring forward the various sacks containing the day's kills. Each bag was tagged with a number and a symbol indicating the quality of the prey.

"Here they are," he announced. "Although the competition was disrupted, the birds were initially meant to be the final challenge. Based on the scores, Disciple Lu Zhao Yun is currently in the lead with two hundred points, followed by Xiao Fan with fifty points more than Su Ruo."

Duke Wei inspected the scores with a nod before turning to the two male contestants. "The final round of combat will be between Xiao Fan and Lu Zhao Yun." A wave of agreement rippled through the crowd as Lu Zhao Yun stepped forward and bowed.

"Disciple Lu Zhao Yun requests permission to investigate the mind control poison further," he declared, his voice firm.

My eyes widened at his request. I stared at him, but he seemed completely oblivious to my precarious situation.

"Granted," the Duke boomed, "but under two conditions. First, you must not keep any victims to the poison alive. Second, take A'Ying as your disciple."

      Comment 🌸 Vote 🌸 Share

What will happen to Rong'Er now?

Why did he ask for permission to investigate on that?

Why does Uncle Mo Qing know Mo Yan?