The air was repeatedly wrecked by howls of agony and the whizz of barbed whips as they sliced through the air and cracked the skins open.

"AAAAAHHH!!! STOP!! PLEASE STOP!! AAAAAAARRGHHH!!"

CRACK! CRACK!

"PULL THAT FUCKER UP! FIX THE ROPES!! HIT LOWER!!"

CRACK!

"AAAAAAAHHH!! LET GO!!! STOP!"

The prison cell was barely six feet by four. The walls were built of thick grey stone, but instead of a wide window with a flower box, there was a mean barred opening with thick metal bars.

"Why the fuck isn't there a proper window in here?!" A guard cursed for the umpteenth time, wiping in vain at the sweat that was rolling freely down his face. He shook his arm a bit to ease the kinks in his shoulders before swinging again.

"That's because it wasn't made for you to live in unless you start being naughty," one of the two guards accompanying him panted.

All three of them snickered.

In the summer the fresh air was a relief, helping to alleviate the stench of festering sewage, but in the cold seasons, it let in a wicked draught and reduced the temperature to near freezing.

"Please let us go... Don't whip us anymore, please... AAAAHHH!!"

"AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!"

Three men, now emaciated due to lack of food and fluids for a whole week, screamed and writhed with crippling affliction in the ropes that bound them upside down to the ceiling, as blood from their lacerations splattered onto their faces, hopefully reprimanding them of their despicable crime.

"STOOOPPP!!"

It was no brighter inside than the gathering gloom of dusk, even at midday.

The whips cracked loudly as their twin tails rippled through the air and wrapped cruelly around the bare torsos of the three criminals hanging upside down from the ceiling. The falls mercilessly wounded every inch of epidermis they touched, peeling off bloody layers as they swung back into the air, wrenching blood-curdling screams from them.

"Alright, boys, thirty more to go!" One of the guards announced, quickly stripping off his upper robes which were drenched in sweat.

"NO!! NO!! NOT ANYMORE!! PLEASE STOP!!"

"Why can't I use my knife on them, brother?" Another guard asked.

"Hey, I'm sure Sect Leader has more plans cooking in there than just that," the third guard smirked, as he bent a bit forward, preparing himself for dealing out the next round of lashes. He twirled the handle of his double-tailed whip between his fingers, as he acknowledged the gory masterpiece he had created out of the groaning rogue dangling in front of him. With each twirl, the tails kissed the dust and a loud snap echoed throughout the cell, making the culprits flinch with fear and agony.

"Please stop..." The sinners begged.

"MOTHERFUCKERS!" The guard who had stripped out of his upper robes slapped one of them across the face. Crimson fluid instantly made its appearance.

The three thorny whips began to flay their crotches and feet with vengeance, wails of excruciating agony bouncing off the prison walls.

*****

"Ren!" Caihong yelled.
Taking a deep breath, she took his bleeding hand in hers, and said, "Breathe."

Ren's eyes were brimming with tears. Bravely wiping them away with his uninjured hand, he watched as Caihong pressed down on both sides of the wound with her fingers.

A sharp pain shot through him, as she yanked the arrow out.
His teeth sank into his lips in an attempt to bite back the gasp and the tears that would ensue.

"Hey!" Caihong called. There was a girl who was walking down the corridor. From her clothes, she assumed that she was most probably the daughter of one of the maids.

The girl stopped, looking for the voice and trying to figure out whether it was meant for her.
Her eyes fell on Caihong, who was waving at her.

"Please lend me your cravat. I need it."

The girl quickly unfastened her scarf from around her neck. She rushed over and handed it to her.

"Thank you so much," Caihong hastily replied, snatching the scarf from her hand. She tied it in a quick knot around Renshu's hand to staunch the blood flow.

"Come with me," she pulled him towards the Royal Physician, Doctor Cheng's quarters.

******

Zhang reached the balcony of the watchtower, just in time to spot the black figure disappear into the trees like a fleet-footed panther.

"Fuck!" He grunted as he took off on his sword in mad pursuit.

Dusk rolled in faster than expected, whether he liked it or not. The stars and moon cowered behind a dense layer of cloud, giving the air that tincture that he would associate with the world before a storm.

The figure was blending effortlessly among the evening shadows of the forest.

A movement in the shadows made him freeze; it was no more than a rustle but in the failing light his heart was on a hair-trigger.
Zhang stepped back and crouched low, his lungs rapidly inflating and deflating with sweet rain-scented air.

His sterling grey eyes caught a glint. He snapped his head towards the direction where the light seemed to come from and ducked just in time to dodge a whizzing dart.

"That bastard!" He quickly vacated his position as he watched a black figure leap swiftly from tree to tree.

Zhang swung himself after him. He would not lose sight of him this time. His breath became scarce as brambles and vines began to brush and claw at his face. His rapidly inflating and deflating lungs burned as much as his exposed skin. But now wasn't the time to worry about poisoned prickles.

His sword glowed as he changed his direction in an agile swerve, striving to close in on the wrongdoer. But the assassin seemed to have foreseen this, as soon as Zhang was almost neck to neck with him, he shifted closer.

All of a sudden, throwing stars began to rain down on Zhang.

----------------------------

( Throwing Star/ Shuriken )

-----------------------------

******

"Are you mad?!" Caihong yelled at Renshu. He stared back at her. His hand had been taken care of by the Physician and the arrow had no traces of poison on it. It had been a dreadfully quiet walk back to the Royal quarters.

"What were you trying to do?!" Caihong screamed, tears filling her eyes. "What if the arrow hit you somewhere else?! Are you crazy, Ren?!"

Renshu flinched a bit at the rise in the pitch but held his intent gaze.
Caihong hugged him tightly.
'If something happens to you, how will I face Elder Lord Li? How will I face myself?'
She buried her face in his neck, completely shielding him from the cold breeze of the sundown.
'Don't you know that I love you, RenRen?'

She released the hug to rub at the tears streaming down her face.

"A-Hong..."

She chuckled a bit, trying to smile, but it was without any humour and turned out to resemble a grimace.

Renshu looked into her reddened eyes and began again, "A- Hong, the arrow..."

Suddenly, a pair of lips landed on his cheek in the softest, most cherishing kiss he had ever known in his very brief life of ten years. He had received innumerable affectionate kisses from his parents, his grandparents and his aunt, but this hit differently.

His pulse raced, and Time came to a halt, bringing his heart to a stop along with it. His breath caught in his throat. As the soft skin of her mouth left the side of his face, the exact spot where they had come into contact burned and tingled. A small grin crept onto his face and his cheeks painted themselves rose red.

She pulled away silently. Looking into her eyes, he saw two deep pools of brown that revealed her soul. Not being able to hold his gaze anymore due to the embarrassment scorching him, he quickly turned away, hiding his face with the shawl.

"Hehehe!"
Her childlike giggles made him purse his lips and smile broadly as he felt the blood rush to his cheeks.

"Hehehe! RenRen likes kisses! Ren is blushing, heeheehee!"

He couldn't handle it anymore. He darted away, as fast as his little legs could carry him.

Though he couldn't hear Caihong's footsteps, for by now he knew that she was as soft and sure-footed as a cat, he knew she was closing in on him. He could hear her voice chiming with laughter and giggled, for it was melodious.

******

"Hah! Trying to capture me? Numbskull," the assassin jeered, as one of the throwing stars hit the sword, sending his chaser plummeting down to the ground. He whirled around and raised his arms to grab onto a higher bough.

What he wasn't expecting was a glowing rope to come flying at him from below and tighten itself around his torso to the point he couldn't breathe. He found his arms pinned to his sides and with a powerful yank, he was rasping at the sudden impact and the dust in his nose and mouth.

A sudden punch made him double up and without giving him a chance to recover, he felt a kick to his guts.

He felt powerful grips push him against a tree trunk.

"Who sent you?"

His eyes locked with a pair of blazing grey eyes. He smirked when he realised who it was.

"Not telling you, idiot," he sneered. Using his captor's arms as an impetus, he kicked out, striking him successfully in the lower abdomen.

Zhang almost collapsed at the force of the blow and gritted his teeth at the familiar burn of acid in his throat. Grabbing the assassin's legs, he hurled him to the ground.

Crack.

The captive howled as a deep, intense ache stabbed him.

Crack.

Zhang brought his metal pad covered elbow down on the assassin's other leg, the scary sound of the splintering of bones almost drowned out by the assassin's wails.

"Now tell me. Who sent you?" Zhang demanded, snapping his fingers, making the ropes tighten around the black figure. If needed, the ropes were capable of crushing every single bone in the man's body.

"You think I'll tell you?" The man gasped, squirming in the ropes. He glanced at his captor and smirked. "Look down, blockhead."

Zhang looked down and to his horror, there was a dart in the assassin's grasp. His eyes widened and before he knew it, the dart was embedded in the flesh of the man's thigh.

"No! Fuck it!"

Within moments, the man began to spasm and foam at the mouth. His eyes rolled back into his head as he groaned his last.

Zhang banged his fist into the nearest tree trunk, not caring about the brambles that pierced his skin open.

******

"Father."

"A-Shing..." Li Liang couldn't believe his own eyes.

'How do I face you, my son?'

He closed his eyes and lowered his head.

'I will listen to whatever you say, A- Shing. I deserve it.'

"I..." He began.

Quite contrary to his expectations, he found himself engulfed in a tight hug.

"No," Shing mumbled. "It's not. It's not your fault, Father. None of this is. It's the fault of those..." He trailed off, gritting his teeth with rage and anguish. "Please don't blame yourself. Please, Father."

"But A- Shing..."

"No. It's not your fault. It's not your fault," Shing interrupted, wiping his father's tears. "Please don't blame yourself, Baba."

Li Liang finally leaned into the hug. His body trembled with the sobs of distress that he heaved.

"What is not Father's fault?"

Li Liang froze.

Both the men turned to see Ehuang who was blinking at them innocently. Jia was standing right behind her, pinching the bridge of her nose, looking like she would facepalm herself any moment.

"There's a lot that you need to know, Baba."

******

"HAHAHAHAHA STOP! TICKLES!! STOP!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Renshu yelled, wriggling on the bed, trying in vain to escape Caihong's mischievous fingers which seemed to be attacking him from all sides.

"Hahahahaha, then admit that you like kisses??" Caihong stopped for a bit so that both of them could catch up with their breaths.

"Hah, hah, n-no," Renshu panted.

"Oh really?" Caihong smirked.

"AAHH STOP STOP, HAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHA! STOP, PLEASE STOP!" He squealed at the assault, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes from laughter.

"Just admit it, RenRen!" Caihong laughed, her long fingers twisting actively at his ribs and alternating between his stomach and neck.

"HAHAHAHA, A-HONG, PLEASE STOP!! HAHAHAHA! CAN'T BREATHE, PLEASE STOP!" he cackled. "I LIKE KISSES!! I ADMIT!! HAHAHAHA STOP!!"

"Hehehe okay hehehe," she flopped down beside him on the bed. She raised herself on her elbow, admiring the mess she had created.
His face glowed with a healthy flush. His smile was one of growing happiness, like a blooming flower of spring. She could see how it came from deep inside to light his hazel eyes and spread into every inch of him. His hair was all tousled; although she had stopped, his body was still twitching with his giggles. His eyes sparkled with unshed tears of joy.

She couldn't help but chuckle and kiss him over and over again, all over his gorgeous face, till he was whining with embarrassment.

"Hehehe, you're adorable," Caihong lovingly nudged his cheek with the tip of her nose. Renshu smiled bashfully and hid his face in his hands, making her guffaw at his cuteness.

"Aiya, Ren, I completely forgot to take off these knee pads. No wonder my knees hurt."

Renshu quickly sat up and placed his hand on her knee, his doe-like eyes brimming with concern.

"Ah, you don't need to worry, they don't hurt much. They're just heavy, you know," Caihong squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"Ah, RenRen," she scrambled off the bed. "Can you stay here? I'll be right back after handing these over to Zhang Ge or somebody."

Renshu nodded in agreement and crawled over to the window. He rested his chin on the window sill, breathing in the steady night air, each inhalation of which felt like a soothing caress to his psyche.

******

"Please sit here, Ma'am," a maid bowed as she helped Jia to lower herself on to the bed.

Jia groaned once, her hips cramped from the ride in the carriage. "Thank you," she whispered, as she felt the maid's expert hands carefully massage her sore muscles.

"Do you feel better, Ma'am?"

"Yes, thank you."

She sighed as her back hit the soft sheets.

"I'll take your leave now, Ma'am. My Lady will be here shortly," the maid bowed. "I hope you are comfortable." After she nodded, the maid left the room.

"Ow, ow," She grimaced at the ache in her pelvis as she tried quite unsuccessfully to turn on her side. "Damn," she muttered.

"Let me help you," a soft voice chimed and a pair of slender, white hands soothingly gripped her hips and her back, helping her turn over.
"There."

Jia looked up. It was a lady who was far shorter than her, dressed in the royal green and golden robes of the Ruan Sect. "I'm Ruan Quinyang," Her smile reached her eyes.

"Thank you very much, Lady Ruan," Jia tried to sit up, but Quinyang stopped her at once. "No no, you don't need to get up. You've had a rough journey, please lie down, Mistress Li Jia."

They both smiled at each other in a relaxed silence for some time.

"So..." Quinyang began, looking at Jia's pregnant belly. "What do you think? Son or daughter?"

Jia was taken aback at such an open question for no one had ever asked her anything like it before.

"I know. You must be appalled at my behaviour..."

"No, no it's not like that, Lady Ruan, it's just that... I think it will be a boy," Jia smiled.

"You can ask me anything you want as well, and..." Quinyang trailed off and glanced around as if to look out for eavesdroppers, "Let's keep all these conversations a secret, shall we?"

Jia couldn't help but snort. "I would like to ask you something then," she added, clearly amused.

"Of course, Mistress Li."

"How far are you?"

"I thought my robes made it pretty inconspicuous," Quinyang laughed. "But it looks like you caught me, Mistress Jia. Approximately three months." She caressed her slightly swollen baby bump.

"Thought so," Jia grinned.

******

"Where's Jia?" Li Liang asked as he escorted Shing and Ehuang to Caihong's room.

"Her aches have worsened and she can hardly stand. Sect Leader instantly sent a maid to call Lady Ruan and see her to her room. I'll take Ren to see her soon," Shing replied.

When they reached the threshold of the room, Li Liang placed a finger on his lips. "Don't barge in. Don't be loud," he whispered.

As they entered, they found Renshu sitting cross-legged on the bed with his back towards them. He was gazing out of the window and absentmindedly playing a game of knick-knack with his knees.

"Ren?" The boy jerked as Li Liang placed a hand on his back. "Calm down, my heart. It's me, Yéye."

His heart warmed at the sight of the brilliant smile that his darling grandson flashed at him.  "Look, you have a few visitors."

"Ma! Baba!" Renshu cried with exhilaration. Grinning from ear to ear, he quickly scrambled to the edge of the bed where his parents enveloped him in a hug.

"I missed you, RenRen!" Ehuang sobbed, holding him to her breast and kissing him all over. Shing held both of them to his chest and breathed a prayer of thanks to the deities that his son was safe. He buried his face in Renshu's glossy hair. "I was worried about you, my boy," he whispered.

"I missed you too," came Renshu's muffled reply.

Joyful tears, hugs and kisses were exchanged and Renshu glued himself to his parents. He could feel their loving frames and the hearts that beat within. Their hands were folded around his back, drawing him in closer. He felt his body shake in sobs, and he set his heart on not letting them go anytime soon.

Shing gave him a once over, and as he turned, he saw his father standing quietly to the side.
"Baba," he called, patting the side of the bed. He nodded once, asking him to join them.
Li Liang gave him a small grateful smile as he sat down.

"RenRen!" A sing-song voice rang from outside the bed-chamber. Renshu perked up excitedly and peered at the door expectantly.

"I'm back! Sorry, I took so long but there was... Oops..."

It was a young girl who had appeared. The ribbon was struggling to hold her thick, silky strands in place. Her dark, almond eyes shone with amazement.

"Ah," she tried to compose herself. "Ah, haha, umm Ren, I'll come back later... Good evening," She bowed to them and turned to leave.

"A- Hong! That arrow, it wasn't for me, it was for you!"

The girl froze in her stride.

"Your head was the target!"

"What?!" A voice boomed.

Everyone in the room jolted and whipped their heads towards the door. The voice belonged to none other than Sect Leader Ruan Fai, who was standing there, his knuckles turning white.