Ye An looked out from the open window. Heavy, low-hanging grey clouds were slowly gathering above the small hut. There was a low rumbling of thunder in a distance with a flash of lightning following shortly after. The branches of the tall bald trees outside swayed as a testament to the wintry night breeze that had gradually picked up in the last couple of hours. Ye An wrapped her clothes tighter against her body as she mused quietly, "A storm is coming."

Xi Chen who was watching her as he fastened his clothes said, "We should probably head back before the snowstorm rolls in."

Ye An turned to look at Xi Chen. The last few hours cocooned in Xi Chen's warm embrace as they talked about whatever that came to mind had been a bliss. A small gift from the heavens.

There was a snowstorm approaching and the only thing that Ye An yearned for was to be an ordinary woman living in this tiny hut with Xi Chen as they braced the snowstorm together. But she knew that was not to be. And once they leave this hut, she would need to return to her role as sovereign and him the lieutenant general, and they would be heading their separate ways. Ye An couldn't help but think if it was possible for her to be selfish this once as she caressed Xi Chen's face with her gaze. Even though she didn't want to admit it, the answer was a glaring no. No, she couldn't be selfish. Not this time and not ever, if she remained on the throne.

She looked down on the ground, her heart sinking. Xi Chen stood up at the slight shift in her demeanor and took a step towards Ye An.

"Hey." Xi Chen coaxed Ye An in the quiet manner that was unique to him as he rubbed her arms.

Ye An lifted her head up. Her eyes were already glistening and she hated herself for it but not as much as how Xi Chen hated himself because he knew that he was the cause of it. Xi Chen sighed with his brows furrowed. He pulled Ye An into a hug. "Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it."

Ye An burrowed her face in his chest without a word.

"I love you." Xi Chen muttered as he kissed the top of Ye An's head which made her look up.

"I-" Ye An started to speak but it was obvious that she was struggling to reply those same words to Xi Chen.

Xi Chen tenderly placed his forehead against hers as he stared into her eyes. "It's alright. I know."

*******

"Be careful once you're on the other side." Ah Lin said as he checked the straps on Xi Chen's horse.

Xi Chen on the other hand was making sure that the two other horses were secured to his horse. "You know that I'll be careful."

The plan that he had come up with earlier today involved him breaking both Northerners out from captivity. Since the main gate would be heavily guarded on both sides not to mention the wide clearing on the Northerner's side which would deter Xi Chen's plans of entering the North undetected, Xi Chen decided that they were going to cross the border where the wall ended at the mountainous terrain. With the snowstorm that was steadily rolling in, it would be impossible to cross the border that way on foot. Even though riding on horseback wouldn't ensure safe passage through the treacherous terrain, it would definitely improve their chances of surviving.

"He's all ready." Ah Lin said when he completed his final check and handed the horse's reins to Xi Chen. Ah Lin then picked up a cage with a preening white pigeon in it and passed it to Xi Chen as well. "And here, send a word once everything's settled or if you need any help."

Xi Chen thanked him with grateful eyes but those eyes quickly roamed towards the direction of his own quarters where he knew Ye An was currently at. Their walk back from the wooden hut earlier was silent and the only thing that Ye An told him when they reached the military barracks was that she didn't want to be there when he left. That was the last that he saw of her.

Ah Lin followed his gaze and sighed.

"Could I ask you for a favor?" Xi Chen asked without taking his eyes off the direction where Ye An was.

"What is it?" Ah Lin asked even though he was pretty sure that he already knew what favor Xi Chen would be asking him for.

"Please take care of her in my stead while I'm gone." Xi Chen made the request quietly.

Ah Lin sighed again. "Of course. I would've done so even without you asking. Don't worry, I'll take care of His Imperial Majesty. You just focus on coming back in one piece."

Xi Chen finally focused on Ah Lin. "Thank you. I owe you one."

"I'll be waiting for a treat when you return." Ah Lin smiled to lighten up the mood. "You just wait. I'll make sure that I burn a hole in your pocket."

Xi Chen finally smiled. "You do that."

Ah Lin returned Xi Chen's smile as he patted his back. "Alright. I guess this is it."

Xi Chen nodded solemnly. "I guess so."

"I'll distract Yue Fei's disciples who are guarding the door of the medicine room. You should come in five minutes." There was an uncharacteristic heaviness in Ah Lin's demeanor.

Xi Chen nodded again before returning a pat on Ah Lin's back. "Thank you. I don't think I've ever told you this directly but I always thought of you as my real brother. My own flesh and blood."

Ah Lin shivered. "Ugh. What's with the sudden sappiness? You just take care of yourself."

Xi Chen smiled pensively. "You take care of yourself too."

Ah Lin returned Xi Chen's smile with a similar smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "See you again." He said as he left for the medicine room.

*******

When Xi Chen entered the courtyard where the medicine room was located, there wasn't anyone guarding the room as was promised by Ah Lin. Xi Chen crept over the cobblestone pavement to the medicine room and swiftly unlocked the door.

At the creak of the door, Khenbish cracked his only visible eye open. He could only see Xi Chen's silhouette but that was enough for Khenbish to recognize him. "You're here. I'm glad you didn't go back on your word."

"Of course not." Xi Chen said with a voice that was void of any emotion as he stepped into the room.

Baagvai only watched them, his eyes wide with anticipation of returning to the North.

Xi Chen didn't waste time lighting the oil lamp. Instead, he quickly untied the men, starting with Khenbish. With expert hand movements that were only reserved to someone who was trained in the intricacies of the knots used by people in the military, Xi Chen freed Khenbish in no time. Once he was free of the rope's constraint, the scrawny Northerner rolled his wrists and ankles to remove the kinks in those joints. Xi Chen promptly moved on to Baagvai. With the same efficiency, Xi Chen freed the bulky Northerner.

"Come on, we don't have much time." Xi Chen said in a stoic voice.

"Well, what's the hurry, boy?" Khenbish sneered.

Xi Chen gritted his teeth before relaxing his jaw enough to speak. "One, the guards who were at your door might be back at any time. And second, we need a head start before the snowstorm settles in and we're buried alive somewhere in the mountains."

Khenbish thinned his eye at Xi Chen, taking his time to decide if he liked the his tone as Xi Chen stared back at him square in the eye.

Baagvai quickly came between them. "He's right. We need to get out of here before the snowstorm is here. It would be bad if the weather gets worse."

Khenbish waved his arms around carelessly. "Alright, alright. No need to be so dramatic. I know how this weather works. Lead the way, then."

Xi Chen gave Khenbish a stiff nod and led both of the Northerners out of the dark room.

Illuminated by only the moonlight, the courtyard was dead silent. The breeze had died down a while ago and the air felt stuffy with the pregnant pause that was inevitable before a heavy storm.

The three men crossed the large courtyard stealthily and exited the area onto the roughly-paved road where Xi Chen had left the horses.

"Here. Each of you gets a horse. We'll be riding through the night and will probably arrive on the other side by tomorrow morning." Xi Chen explained methodically as he handed the reins of two horses to the Northerners.

Xi Chen then climbed onto his horse. Without checking if the Northerners got on their respective horses safely, Xi Chen already galloped away.

Khenbish who was able to catch up to Xi Chen a few minutes later huffed disapprovingly. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Xi Chen asked as he turned to face Khenbish nonchalantly in time for Baagvai to make it to them to hear Xi Chen's reply as well.

"Couldn't wait until we've settled on our horses before galloping off?" Khenbish continued, obviously irritated.

"Oh. My apologies. I guess I'm just too excited to be going to the North." Xi Chen replied in an overcompensated enthusiasm which narrowed Khenbish's unpatched eye. "I guess I'll just slow down for a bit. We do have a long journey ahead of us."

Xi Chen slowed down to a trot as their horses cantered in the cover of the shadows. He guided them through the hilly area that was dense with vegetation that were now merely bare brambles that hugged the side of the wall. The short journey to the end of the wall felt like it was Xi Chen's personal torture as Khenbish rambled about the greatness of the North and himself. Thankfully, Baagvai kept quiet all the way.

"Oh. I see it! That's the way to the North, isn't it?" Khenbish chattered jovially as he galloped past Xi Chen to enter the dense mountainous forest with Baagvai following closely behind him.

The whole time when they were getting further and further away from the military barracks, Xi Chen stubbornly kept his gaze towards the front. However, as they arrived at the spot where the wall ended and the mountainous land started, he couldn't help but to look back at the military barracks that were now a mere speck of light. This would be his final farewell. He let out a soft sigh as he spared a moment to think about Ye An and everything that he was leaving behind before he turned to face the front once again and started his journey north.

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