"You know I can't tell you that, don't you? Even though you are my friend, your sister tried to murder my cousin. You did as well. Granted that you didn't go through with it, but for all I know, you are nothing but an imposter trying to win my trust and sully my name."

Xiao Yao's words pierced the demon's heart. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked at the woman who owned his soul but was blissfully unaware of it.

Yes, it was true that when they had met for the first time- in what felt like another lifetime when Xiao Yao went by Wen Xiao Liu- he was terrible to her. He had had her whipped, shoved her off a tree, tried to drown her, bit her neck to suck her blood, albeit to heal himself, and forced her to help prepare medicine for his army, but as he had come to know her, he had done everything in his power to keep her from harm's way. That counted for something, did it not?

It probably meant nothing to her. After all, in her eyes, Xiang Liu was Fangfeng Bei, an almost always broke playboy whose sole mission was to have fun and get his way with as many fair maidens in the land as he could.

The thought unexpectedly brought him an ounce of peace. Yet, his mind failed to supply him with a witty reply. He kept staring at Xiao Yao. Why he couldn't look away, he did not know.

The woman blinked. Her lips fell open. Regret shone in her ebony eyes. "Fangfeng Bei, I didn't mean it. I know you would never sully me."

The serpent demon stepped closer to the princess. "Are you sure about that?" he demanded. It came out more heartbroken than he intended.

Xiao Yao nodded her head vigorously and rubbed her palms. "Lord Fangfeng, please forgive this princess for talking nonsense. I promise I won't-"

Her words died on her lips as, at that moment, her escort grabbed her by her waist, pulled her into his chest, and turned them around.

"Fangfeng Bei, how dare-" The woman struggled in his arms, eager to get out of his embrace when he whispered, "Take cover. Summon your weapon." With that, he spit out blood and pushed her to her right into the shadows behind the empty chicken crates.

Xiao Yao froze as her friend fell to his knees. Her eyes landed on the three silver arrows that were lodged in his back.

Chapter word count: 422
Word count so far: 2277