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 With my hands crossed, I take a step back while the others converse on what to do next. As my feet trudge backwards, the little boy spots my movements. Overwhelmed by me, he attempts to run off but I grab his shoulder before he can take a run.

"Where do you think you're going?" I ask raising my eyebrow. He quickly looks away and drops his hands by him in defeat.

"What do you want?" A little smile pops up from the corner of my lips from his brazenness. This kid was much smarter than I thought. Cheering with my eyes closed, I slowly get down to his level and squeeze his cheeks. Irritated, he pushes my hands off and grunts.

"Get to the point! You want to secretly join them?" Although his croaky voice was aimed at me, all those around me could hear perfectly well. Perplexed by his words, my hands fall from his shoulders and cover his mouth while I quickly turn around to check if anyone heard.

Ending with affirmative nods, Su Ruo and the others relate their respect to Elder Yu. I could tell from their glares that they were quite confused with the look on my face. Smiling, I wave at them one time and grab him along out of their sight. Mo Yan spreads his bamboo painted fan across his face and fans himself with a raised eyebrow.

"Such a weirdo," he comments. Su Ruo on the other hand lets out a sigh and traps her sword beside her. "I'll take my leave now." Elder Yu nods and stares at the two guys. Grasping his attention back to the situation, he clears his throat and swaps his fan backwards.

"I'll also take my leave. Shall we?" None of them reply him though. They just turn down and proceed moving down the mountains. Disciples along their way stop to exchange glances as they move out. "Wait for me!" Mo Yan yells and rushes behind them with his fan in his left hand.

He only manages to catch up after a few yells. "Who's she anyway?" Walking along the trees, Xiao Fan pulls a long face and walks out on his question. After realizing his question was abandoned by Xiao Fan, he scoffs and moves closer to Su Ruo.

"You seem much polite than him. I bet you know?" Darkness begins to shield the forest making the clouds catch up against each other. With the sun settling, the sunlight bounces from his glassy fan over her eyes. As she boils with anger at his attempts to get her to talk, she finally stops by a tree.

"Princess Li You Rong of Liang State. If you're that interested, why bother asking me?!" With the horrifying glare she returns, he gradually steps back and clears his throat. "Interested? You've been like a mute all along the way. I finally got you to talk."

Covering his lips with a light smile, she tears her gaze from him and continues walking. After taking a deep breath, he fastens his pace to walk along with her. "Would you believe me if I said you look familiar to me? Have we met before?"

Xiao Fan quickly turns his gaze to them surprised by his question. As they walk along the trees, the cold breeze rush through the atmosphere shaking up the trees. "No, and keep your distance from me." He keeps a surprised look in his eyes and chuckles.

"That's not possible. My instincts never fail me. Are you one of those crushing on me by chance?" Hearing this, she looks up with a death glare and steps on his foot. "Ouch! That's hurts. It's just a question." She steadily grabs his hand and stares right into his soul.

"We have a long way to go. I don't think any of you have time to flirt around?" Xiao Fan exclaims after standing right in front of them. With her gritting teeth, she steps back and yanks his hand off to keep walking ahead. Xiao Fan relays a heinous glare at him.

With his unmoved nature, he scoffs and rushes after her. "But you didn't answer my question."

 As my feet drag over the grass, I quickly dash behind another tree and chuckle at his brazenness. These three were going to have a nice trip with Mo Yan inclusive. Thanks to him, this trip isn't going to be as boring as I thought

One glance at Xiao Fan was enough to tell how quiet he was. Su Ruo was no exception. She seems to be a strict martial artist working like a robot. But Mo Yan was different. He's a whole mood alone.

Snorting at me, he crossed his arms after hiding behind a tree. Their movements were visible enough from the angle we both stood. After staring at the direction they walked along with, the little boy turns to me with an irritated face.

"Can I go now?" he asked. Before I could add up, he completed whatever I wanted to say with his last words. "My lips are sealed. The spell has already been set at Zizhu Peak, no one will notice you absence. But you have just a month to get back."

I pat his shoulders and glare at them as they walked. "I didn't know you were a pro. Don't worry, I'll get you delicious wonton when I get back!" Although he doesn't respond before going, I could tell he was a bit happy hearing 'wonton'.

"I can finally step out of this mountain. Shifu, wait for me." Cupping my cheeks, I stealthily follow their trail.

Blood spurts spread over the peak painting the floor read. With dead bodies cut across their necks, their innocent eyes stare into the sky lying lifeless. Deprived of their blood, red tints smear over the green grass covering the blurry peak.

His feet stumble back at the bloody sight before him. The lively green peak had now become a pool of blood with countless disciples lying dead. Walking in between the bodies, his trembling eyes recognize his companions one by one, silenced with a neck slash.

Sweat draws over his forehead while he lies on a bed in a large decorated room. With sunlight balancing the brightness in his room, he bounces up unable to keep his eyes closed anymore. With heavy breaths, he looks around and quickly sets his arms together to balance his qi.

His eyes firmly close with deep breaths when his hands cross to prevent qi deviation.

"Mr. Lu?" a voice calls out at the door. As he lowers his arms, he opens his eyes and looks up with relief. "Who is it?" The stranger slowly opens the door and walks in with a tray of a jar of tea. "General Han wants to speak to you. He insists on having some tea before meeting up with him."

The maid lowers her head and excuses herself. With a short glance of the tray, his lips curve in thoughts. He quickly grabs his blue hanfu and fixes his mask properly after grabbing his sword from the table. When he moves to her chambers, he finds an empty room. His eyes spark up in curiosity. After looking around him, he moves to General Han's chambers.

"It's great you're here. Your fiance had been waiting with me. Have a seat." Turning to A'Ying, she swiftly gets up and meet him at the door. "Shifu," she begins but he cuts her off at the mention of his address.

"Why did you bring her here?" Her lips seal while slowly moving closer to him. "Don't be mad. I called her in first to wait on you. You two can go now. You don't have any suspicious items or movements. My men won't stop you."

General Han's assistant's face turns pale with his words. Rushing to him, General Han lifts his hand to silence him. "We're sorry for the untimely treatment. I hope you won't take this seriously. It's our work to protect the state."

Not only his assistant Yu Xi, but even A'Ying was confused. How did he change his mind so soon? What did the two of them talk about to make him change his mind to let them go? "Of course not. Work comes first." Lifting her head, A'Ying tries to question him but his eyes are fixed on General Han.

With a forced laugh, he retreats and orders his men to stand aside. "Great! That's great. Yu Xi, send them out." For a moment, he hesitates to move. But spotting the death glare from his master, he quickly steps down and directs them to the door.

"Shall we?" A smile draws from the corner of his mouth while he folds his hands at him. "Until we meet again, take care." He looks down and discharges him with a fling of his fingers. Yu Xi sends them out and rushes back to General Han.

General Han's eyes remain glued to Zhao Yun as he steps out with A'Ying. "What have you found out after the investigation?" With a heavy sigh, he shakes his head. "Nothing so far. No one knows who his parents are. He appeared in Jianghu a few months after the massacre of Yihua Palace."

Boiling with fury, he grabs him by the shoulder and pushes him to the floor. "Then what are you still doing here?! Investigate everything! I can only control him with his weakness." His trembling servant quickly stands up and dash out of the room.

 As he walks out of the cabin, A'Ying quickly follows up after him. "Shifu, are you okay?" He just returns a nod and looks up into the sky. "Follow my movements as you study from me. Jiang Hu is much dangerous than the court you lived in. You can only survive by playing smart. Until you go back, don't act recklessly. Do you understand?"

She nods and smiles at him. "I understand. I won't go back. I'll stay with Shifu and accompany you forever no matter what happens. I made that decision when I took you as my master."

Smiling, she stares at him while he looks up into the sky again. He doesn't comment but seemed to be surprised by her declaration. It was the first time someone said this to him in years. Was it worth it to follow him in her eyes?

"It's a promise. But what are we doing next?" Perplexed by what she said, he remained silent for a few minutes before speaking. "I'm sure victims of the war might catch up at Song. Let's check up on them." She nods happily and walks along with him towards the east gate.

When they get there, the cries and deplorable state of the atmosphere was nothing like they expected. It was even much worse than they thought. With children and women injured all over, their dirt smeared hands call out to passerbys for food.

"Mister," a little boy cries holding on to A'Ying's hanfu. With his wet eyes, his eyes trace a little girl lying by him with tattered clothes. Her arm was still bleeding from a sharp cut. "Help my sister, please," he cries. A'Ying quickly pulls out some ointment from her hanfu and smear it over her arm.

As she tends to her, she hears other cries around her. Several people were also injured calling for help.

Two soldiers pass by and stop at Xichun Restaurant. After ordering two bowls of osmanthus soup, they turn to the refugees. "Heard Liang officials are moving towards this direction. Are they seeking death in Song?"

Confusion settles in his thoughts while looking at the horrible state of the refugees. "Help!" a young girl calls out. Rushing to her, he checks her pulse. His eyes widen when he manages to detect het pulse properly. "Shifu, they're too many who need help. My supply of herbs to decoct medicine is limited."

As he glares at the dying refugees, his hands fall in surprise. "She's affected by Blood Venom too."

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How did Blood Venom get to Song?

What is the origin of Lu Zhao Yun?

Will he accept General Han's proposal?

What lies in his dream?