Chapter 22
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Life Changing Incident
Chenglie realised he was found out by Shihong and tried to escape but was caught by Shihong. Shihong held Chenglie prisoner in a abandoned place and drugged him and tortured him for information about the divine ruler because he was sure he knew. Chenglie never revealed any information and that's when Shihong showed him a painting of Xing. That painting was done by Chenglie as he found good drawing materials in a mansion they looted. It was his hobby to paint back in the Imperial Palace and he missed Xing very much,in the earlier days he joined the gang, so he painted her. It was a painting of his first sight of her, when she was playing in the snow with the white tiger and the cubs. It had been two years since then and Chenglie always had that painting hidden it on himself and it was now in Shihong's hands.
"Is this girl your lover? Cute girl! Should I bring her head here for you to reveal what you know? Or should I bring your ninth brother to accompany her too? Maybe they'll be lovely together in the underworld", he threarened and gave him time to think about it and left.
Chenglie felt helpless, angry and despair all at once and he thought his life would end and that's when a masked man in crimson robes entered and saved him. He gave the antidote for the drugs and left wordless. Mysterious man!
Chenglie then stayed in Caijing, the capital of the Western Province and was plotting to kill Shihong who was said to be there. He cannot allow him to live any longer! He knows way too much!
That day he saw Shihong entering the library in the dark after hours . He smiled as an opportunity had presented itself and followed him inside secretly. Shihong started reading in the history section with a lantern by his side.
Chenglie attacked him by surprise ,but Shihong dodged him with his halberd. It was the same halberd that their master had saying a god was trapped inside. Shihong told him how he had killed their master and the next one would be the divine ruler. In their fight, the lantern fell to the wooden floor and the fire began to spread. Since the library was filled with dry paper the entire place started spreading inside in a high pace.
Till now Chenglie didn't know why or how long Xing was there that night, but while he was escaping the fire planning to leave Shihong trapped in there, Xing appeared in front of him. She had grown taller and she was stunned to see him too. But soon her expression changed and she was in despair looking at him, "My Prince! What happened to you?", she asked softly holding his cheeks. She had tears in her eyes, probably because of the fire because he had never seen her cry.
Right! What happened to me..... ?
But is she crying for me? He looked at the tears falling from her eyes.
Chenglie held his heart that hurt like it would burst. All the stuff he did in the past two years came to his memory. All the pleadings and all the blood he spilled. Even now after knowing Xing was in danger his mind only thought about how to kill Shihong and not on how to protect Xing....
What have I turned into?
He placed his head on her shoulders and started to sob and she held him gently. Just then Shihong got to them and seeing them two, he tried to attack them sneakily. Xing who was facing Shihong noticed him and her eyes turned like amber and she raised her hand,
"You dared to raise your hand against MY PRINCE?" she said and a gust of wind formed from her hand and knocked him to a pillar and he became unconscious immediately and the halberd in his hand fell on the ground.
Chenglie saw her hair turned golden and with a twist of her hand numerous cuts appeared on Shihong's body as if he was slashed by invisible razors. And then numerous book racks fell on him as if they were dragged by a heavy wind so that he cannot leave. By now the fire had spread widely and as Chenglie wondered how to escape, an eerie voice was heard in Guyu language..
"Ha! Ha! Ha! So the one you gods chose was a human female? That was a nice misleading! Ha! Ha! Too bad she is going to be toasted now!"
The sound was coming from the halberd on the ground and just then all the fire in the library accumulated to form a phoenix and came towards Xing and Chenglie who was standing in front of her immediately hugged Xing who had just fainted so that she was covered by him and he expected scorching heat on his back, but it never occurred.
Chenglie who was confused as to what was happening around him, saw the golden tiger Xing usually meets standing in between the fire phoenix and them. Chenglie didn't want to stay there any longer and he heard notices outside of the library, people noticing the fire. He carried Xing and jumped through the window and ran as far as he can. When he was at a safe distance, he looked back to see the fiery glow inside the library disappeared as if it imploded.
Just then that same man who was completely covered in crimson robes and mask appeared in front of him. Only his amber eyes were visible. He had an imposing and majestic aura around him and Chenglie froze. He put his hand over Xing's forehead and his eyes were filled with love. "This child! She's fine. Take her home. And little man, you should be good too!", he said with a lovely deep voice. Unknown to himself , Chenglie had bowed his head to him. When he raised his head that man was gone. That was not the last time he had seen him, but this is the only time he had heard his voice.
Chenglie took Xing home. Her hair colour didn't change back like before and she was sleeping deeply. He left telling her mother to be careful as he didn't know how to face Xing and he later learned from Haru that she had no memory of the fire. He had never let anyone know what happened inside the library that day till now.
Chenglie came to know no one died in the library that day and also that Shihong had killed everyone from their gang and stole their treasures. He went to the pond and started to ruminate the happenings in the library. Obviously Xing knocked Shihong down with wind that appeared from her hands...? So... She has the ability to control wind.. ? And that God protected her but let Shihong go too! Chenglie had learned from the ancient books that gods used to control the humans and the Emperor in the olden days but later they left the affairs of the humans to themselves. But why are they active in the human realm now? Is my Xing a pawn in the fight among gods? If so, what can I do to help her?
Chenglie had learned from his gang life that the one running the government is not the Emperor but the people who are rich. The Emperor is controlled by the court and the nobles in the court are controlled by the rich and powerful people who spend their money freely to control the nobles who are thirsty for power. That day he made a firm decision to not become the Emperor only to be controlled but be the one who has actual power. That's right, he had to be the one with wealth and actual power so that when Xing needs help, he can assist and also the next emperor should not be controlled by underground forces but work together with the officials who care for the people. For that someone who is smart and of good heart should be the Emperor. Only his ninth brother came to his mind. That's right, to protect and help the ones I love, I have to be powerful, so that I won't feel helpless as I felt when I left the palace, unable to help those who I love.
Chenglie had a good reserve of wealth hidden secretly from being an assassin and he started to use them wisely and made connections. In his free time, some local young boys who were tired of the gangs and the government's negligence joined him and got trained by him. Thus the 'lone wolf' became a vigilante and he formed a pack who are still in contact with him. They were together like brothers and started helping people. His darkness slowly receded to a corner.
He started to watch Xing from afar. He was against the idea of her training as he knew how hard it was and how much sacrifices to be made, but Haru's words changed his mind, "Brother Lie! You know how good she's with a sword and how much she enjoys it? Or do you expect her to sit by the window expecting your return?"
Chenglie as usual watched her grow up and soon a year passed and that's when Lord Huang Feiye found him and he said he was on a mission by his Imperial father to find him and bring him back as he was sick. Chenglie wondered about his intentions at first but went along with him anyway to see the situation in the imperial city refusing to be acknowledged as the third prince. The power struggle had already started and his brother's were fighting for the throne. He felt bad for his brother Junjie and kidnapped him from the palace secretly and left him with Huang AoTian, who had been a right hand man to the sick Emperor and performed most of his duties. Junjie stayed there for a couple of years until his father died and that kept him safe.
Chenglie was later adopted by Huang Feiye as he refused to take his title as a Prince and join the fight to the throne. He was offered many titles and jobs in the imperial army. Lord Zhong offered him to be a Commander, but he refused, not wanting to be involved with the Palace directly. But he did everything he could to make his brother Emperor as it would be better for everyone.,all the while doing his private affairs, making money and connections. It's not like he hadn't killed a single person afterwards but that his reputation preceded him and most people surrendered to his wishes and others he eliminated. It was a kind of war after all and every war has casualities. He heard about Shihong here and there and he was becoming prominent in the underground world too. But he had no close encounters with him. Xing also had started to dress like a man and had been continuing the vigilante work he was doing, along with Haru. Although he didn't know why she dressed like a man, but with the change in her hair colour and her decision to hide her gender only aided him as he wanted to hide her from Shihong. He deliberately spread rumours to make her appear as a frivolous playboy so as Shihong never doubts her as otherwise.
Although he refused the throne to silently spy on Shihong and gain power, another reason he didn't want to be emperor was that, he knows his darkness. The throne corrupts even people with kind hearts. He has to follow the rules of the throne and won't be free. Also He cannot even choose his wife himself. He'll be forced to have many women. He would never take someone pure and kind as Xing into that place. She'll be like a bird in a gilded cage and it would break her spirits.That place made his mother like that too. He will never return to the place that only brings him bad memories.
Chenglie broke from his thoughts when Xing tried to adjust her position. Chenglie tried to put her on the bed so she could sleep comfortably, but she held his clothes tightly and wouldn't let go. A smile formed on his lips as he remembered how she used to sneak into his bed and hold his clothes and go to sleep in his bed in the middle of the night when she was little. Cute little cat!
He would leave her in her bed each morning early before her mother wakes up. And there was this day when he was caught by his mother placing on her bed. That was an awkward situation to explain!
You worry I will leave you again don't you?
Chenglie felt a tug in his heart, Xing! All this while, I made sure I had enough power to assist you. And now I do. We both went through a lot in these ten years and it made us stronger. But when I think about what the future holds,I am scared. With Shihong surfacing again and how you met the Emperor, and you travelling to the Imperial city, my heart cannot feel but restless. Will you stay with me always or leave me as my greatest fear? I know your father must be someone impressive, since your mother is sending you to him and also with everything told about your destiny, you must have an impressive background. But will your father be on our side? If he is not which side will you choose? I am happy you promised my brother you will serve him as the Emperor but why is that making me uncomfortable too? Why do I have the feeling that everything that is going to happen in the city will have something to do with you and you will decide the future of our Kingdom? And you smelling like agarwood and that assassin saying Shihong did too.... Why do I feel Shihong already had set his eyes on you?
He held her closer and lied beside her, "My moon! Whoever you are or whatever you have to do, I will always love you. I may not be powerful to stop a god or change your destiny, but in this kingdom, I can help you in every way as I have gained the power to do so. Also I know there are plans made for you by the Gods and you'll have to abide by it if you wish to. So, I will wait for you to complete it as you had waited for me for ten years and assist you in anyway I can. I, Lu Chenglie will make you my wife and love only you and cherish you till death separates us. This is a promise. I will give you the life of an Empress with riches, respect and grandeur with peace and my love, without the troubles and struggles of the inner palace. You deserve it, my queen! ", he said in a soft voice and kissed her forehead. He fell asleep holding her and that was the best sleep he had in ages.
The next morning he had to wake up under the scrutinising glare of Lady Shaoyao's personal maid. Geez! Why does everyone treat me like a pervert!
Xing was told to rest for one week, but she could not keep still and sneaked away to gamble and returned with a lot of gold. Lady Shaoyao gave her an earful for running around and she was then locked in the Peony courtyard with books to pass her time. Only those books were of erotic nature and Shengli had to endure her curious questions concerning male anatomy and wanted to run away. Girl, have some tact! he thought.
Lady Shaoyao told him stories about how she was caught red handed peeping someone in their 'act'. She also told about how all the women here wanted to kiss her, because she's the best they've known. Apparently there's a poll going on who'd be the thousandth one she'll kiss. Also how the gamblers are scared of her and she's only allowed once a month for one game because she always wins. Shengli didn't know whether to laugh or cry. His cute kitten is actually a tiger.
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Life Changing Incident
Chenglie realised he was found out by Shihong and tried to escape but was caught by Shihong. Shihong held Chenglie prisoner in a abandoned place and drugged him and tortured him for information about the divine ruler because he was sure he knew. Chenglie never revealed any information and that's when Shihong showed him a painting of Xing. That painting was done by Chenglie as he found good drawing materials in a mansion they looted. It was his hobby to paint back in the Imperial Palace and he missed Xing very much,in the earlier days he joined the gang, so he painted her. It was a painting of his first sight of her, when she was playing in the snow with the white tiger and the cubs. It had been two years since then and Chenglie always had that painting hidden it on himself and it was now in Shihong's hands.
"Is this girl your lover? Cute girl! Should I bring her head here for you to reveal what you know? Or should I bring your ninth brother to accompany her too? Maybe they'll be lovely together in the underworld", he threarened and gave him time to think about it and left.
Chenglie felt helpless, angry and despair all at once and he thought his life would end and that's when a masked man in crimson robes entered and saved him. He gave the antidote for the drugs and left wordless. Mysterious man!
Chenglie then stayed in Caijing, the capital of the Western Province and was plotting to kill Shihong who was said to be there. He cannot allow him to live any longer! He knows way too much!
That day he saw Shihong entering the library in the dark after hours . He smiled as an opportunity had presented itself and followed him inside secretly. Shihong started reading in the history section with a lantern by his side.
Chenglie attacked him by surprise ,but Shihong dodged him with his halberd. It was the same halberd that their master had saying a god was trapped inside. Shihong told him how he had killed their master and the next one would be the divine ruler. In their fight, the lantern fell to the wooden floor and the fire began to spread. Since the library was filled with dry paper the entire place started spreading inside in a high pace.
Till now Chenglie didn't know why or how long Xing was there that night, but while he was escaping the fire planning to leave Shihong trapped in there, Xing appeared in front of him. She had grown taller and she was stunned to see him too. But soon her expression changed and she was in despair looking at him, "My Prince! What happened to you?", she asked softly holding his cheeks. She had tears in her eyes, probably because of the fire because he had never seen her cry.
Right! What happened to me..... ?
But is she crying for me? He looked at the tears falling from her eyes.
Chenglie held his heart that hurt like it would burst. All the stuff he did in the past two years came to his memory. All the pleadings and all the blood he spilled. Even now after knowing Xing was in danger his mind only thought about how to kill Shihong and not on how to protect Xing....
What have I turned into?
He placed his head on her shoulders and started to sob and she held him gently. Just then Shihong got to them and seeing them two, he tried to attack them sneakily. Xing who was facing Shihong noticed him and her eyes turned like amber and she raised her hand,
"You dared to raise your hand against MY PRINCE?" she said and a gust of wind formed from her hand and knocked him to a pillar and he became unconscious immediately and the halberd in his hand fell on the ground.
Chenglie saw her hair turned golden and with a twist of her hand numerous cuts appeared on Shihong's body as if he was slashed by invisible razors. And then numerous book racks fell on him as if they were dragged by a heavy wind so that he cannot leave. By now the fire had spread widely and as Chenglie wondered how to escape, an eerie voice was heard in Guyu language..
"Ha! Ha! Ha! So the one you gods chose was a human female? That was a nice misleading! Ha! Ha! Too bad she is going to be toasted now!"
The sound was coming from the halberd on the ground and just then all the fire in the library accumulated to form a phoenix and came towards Xing and Chenglie who was standing in front of her immediately hugged Xing who had just fainted so that she was covered by him and he expected scorching heat on his back, but it never occurred.
Chenglie who was confused as to what was happening around him, saw the golden tiger Xing usually meets standing in between the fire phoenix and them. Chenglie didn't want to stay there any longer and he heard notices outside of the library, people noticing the fire. He carried Xing and jumped through the window and ran as far as he can. When he was at a safe distance, he looked back to see the fiery glow inside the library disappeared as if it imploded.
Just then that same man who was completely covered in crimson robes and mask appeared in front of him. Only his amber eyes were visible. He had an imposing and majestic aura around him and Chenglie froze. He put his hand over Xing's forehead and his eyes were filled with love. "This child! She's fine. Take her home. And little man, you should be good too!", he said with a lovely deep voice. Unknown to himself , Chenglie had bowed his head to him. When he raised his head that man was gone. That was not the last time he had seen him, but this is the only time he had heard his voice.
Chenglie took Xing home. Her hair colour didn't change back like before and she was sleeping deeply. He left telling her mother to be careful as he didn't know how to face Xing and he later learned from Haru that she had no memory of the fire. He had never let anyone know what happened inside the library that day till now.
Chenglie came to know no one died in the library that day and also that Shihong had killed everyone from their gang and stole their treasures. He went to the pond and started to ruminate the happenings in the library. Obviously Xing knocked Shihong down with wind that appeared from her hands...? So... She has the ability to control wind.. ? And that God protected her but let Shihong go too! Chenglie had learned from the ancient books that gods used to control the humans and the Emperor in the olden days but later they left the affairs of the humans to themselves. But why are they active in the human realm now? Is my Xing a pawn in the fight among gods? If so, what can I do to help her?
Chenglie had learned from his gang life that the one running the government is not the Emperor but the people who are rich. The Emperor is controlled by the court and the nobles in the court are controlled by the rich and powerful people who spend their money freely to control the nobles who are thirsty for power. That day he made a firm decision to not become the Emperor only to be controlled but be the one who has actual power. That's right, he had to be the one with wealth and actual power so that when Xing needs help, he can assist and also the next emperor should not be controlled by underground forces but work together with the officials who care for the people. For that someone who is smart and of good heart should be the Emperor. Only his ninth brother came to his mind. That's right, to protect and help the ones I love, I have to be powerful, so that I won't feel helpless as I felt when I left the palace, unable to help those who I love.
Chenglie had a good reserve of wealth hidden secretly from being an assassin and he started to use them wisely and made connections. In his free time, some local young boys who were tired of the gangs and the government's negligence joined him and got trained by him. Thus the 'lone wolf' became a vigilante and he formed a pack who are still in contact with him. They were together like brothers and started helping people. His darkness slowly receded to a corner.
He started to watch Xing from afar. He was against the idea of her training as he knew how hard it was and how much sacrifices to be made, but Haru's words changed his mind, "Brother Lie! You know how good she's with a sword and how much she enjoys it? Or do you expect her to sit by the window expecting your return?"
Chenglie as usual watched her grow up and soon a year passed and that's when Lord Huang Feiye found him and he said he was on a mission by his Imperial father to find him and bring him back as he was sick. Chenglie wondered about his intentions at first but went along with him anyway to see the situation in the imperial city refusing to be acknowledged as the third prince. The power struggle had already started and his brother's were fighting for the throne. He felt bad for his brother Junjie and kidnapped him from the palace secretly and left him with Huang AoTian, who had been a right hand man to the sick Emperor and performed most of his duties. Junjie stayed there for a couple of years until his father died and that kept him safe.
Chenglie was later adopted by Huang Feiye as he refused to take his title as a Prince and join the fight to the throne. He was offered many titles and jobs in the imperial army. Lord Zhong offered him to be a Commander, but he refused, not wanting to be involved with the Palace directly. But he did everything he could to make his brother Emperor as it would be better for everyone.,all the while doing his private affairs, making money and connections. It's not like he hadn't killed a single person afterwards but that his reputation preceded him and most people surrendered to his wishes and others he eliminated. It was a kind of war after all and every war has casualities. He heard about Shihong here and there and he was becoming prominent in the underground world too. But he had no close encounters with him. Xing also had started to dress like a man and had been continuing the vigilante work he was doing, along with Haru. Although he didn't know why she dressed like a man, but with the change in her hair colour and her decision to hide her gender only aided him as he wanted to hide her from Shihong. He deliberately spread rumours to make her appear as a frivolous playboy so as Shihong never doubts her as otherwise.
Although he refused the throne to silently spy on Shihong and gain power, another reason he didn't want to be emperor was that, he knows his darkness. The throne corrupts even people with kind hearts. He has to follow the rules of the throne and won't be free. Also He cannot even choose his wife himself. He'll be forced to have many women. He would never take someone pure and kind as Xing into that place. She'll be like a bird in a gilded cage and it would break her spirits.That place made his mother like that too. He will never return to the place that only brings him bad memories.
Chenglie broke from his thoughts when Xing tried to adjust her position. Chenglie tried to put her on the bed so she could sleep comfortably, but she held his clothes tightly and wouldn't let go. A smile formed on his lips as he remembered how she used to sneak into his bed and hold his clothes and go to sleep in his bed in the middle of the night when she was little. Cute little cat!
He would leave her in her bed each morning early before her mother wakes up. And there was this day when he was caught by his mother placing on her bed. That was an awkward situation to explain!
You worry I will leave you again don't you?
Chenglie felt a tug in his heart, Xing! All this while, I made sure I had enough power to assist you. And now I do. We both went through a lot in these ten years and it made us stronger. But when I think about what the future holds,I am scared. With Shihong surfacing again and how you met the Emperor, and you travelling to the Imperial city, my heart cannot feel but restless. Will you stay with me always or leave me as my greatest fear? I know your father must be someone impressive, since your mother is sending you to him and also with everything told about your destiny, you must have an impressive background. But will your father be on our side? If he is not which side will you choose? I am happy you promised my brother you will serve him as the Emperor but why is that making me uncomfortable too? Why do I have the feeling that everything that is going to happen in the city will have something to do with you and you will decide the future of our Kingdom? And you smelling like agarwood and that assassin saying Shihong did too.... Why do I feel Shihong already had set his eyes on you?
He held her closer and lied beside her, "My moon! Whoever you are or whatever you have to do, I will always love you. I may not be powerful to stop a god or change your destiny, but in this kingdom, I can help you in every way as I have gained the power to do so. Also I know there are plans made for you by the Gods and you'll have to abide by it if you wish to. So, I will wait for you to complete it as you had waited for me for ten years and assist you in anyway I can. I, Lu Chenglie will make you my wife and love only you and cherish you till death separates us. This is a promise. I will give you the life of an Empress with riches, respect and grandeur with peace and my love, without the troubles and struggles of the inner palace. You deserve it, my queen! ", he said in a soft voice and kissed her forehead. He fell asleep holding her and that was the best sleep he had in ages.
The next morning he had to wake up under the scrutinising glare of Lady Shaoyao's personal maid. Geez! Why does everyone treat me like a pervert!
Xing was told to rest for one week, but she could not keep still and sneaked away to gamble and returned with a lot of gold. Lady Shaoyao gave her an earful for running around and she was then locked in the Peony courtyard with books to pass her time. Only those books were of erotic nature and Shengli had to endure her curious questions concerning male anatomy and wanted to run away. Girl, have some tact! he thought.
Lady Shaoyao told him stories about how she was caught red handed peeping someone in their 'act'. She also told about how all the women here wanted to kiss her, because she's the best they've known. Apparently there's a poll going on who'd be the thousandth one she'll kiss. Also how the gamblers are scared of her and she's only allowed once a month for one game because she always wins. Shengli didn't know whether to laugh or cry. His cute kitten is actually a tiger.
Life Changing IncidentChenglie realised he was found out by Shihong and tried to escape but was caught by Shihong. Shihong held Chenglie prisoner in a abandoned place and drugged him and tortured him for information about the divine ruler because he was sure he knew. Chenglie never revealed any information and that's when Shihong showed him a painting of Xing. That painting was done by Chenglie as he found good drawing materials in a mansion they looted. It was his hobby to paint back in the Imperial Palace and he missed Xing very much,in the earlier days he joined the gang, so he painted her. It was a painting of his first sight of her, when she was playing in the snow with the white tiger and the cubs. It had been two years since then and Chenglie always had that painting hidden it on himself and it was now in Shihong's hands."Is this girl your lover? Cute girl! Should I bring her head here for you to reveal what you know? Or should I bring your ninth brother to accompany her too? Maybe they'll be lovely together in the underworld", he threarened and gave him time to think about it and left.Chenglie felt helpless, angry and despair all at once and he thought his life would end and that's when a masked man in crimson robes entered and saved him. He gave the antidote for the drugs and left wordless. Mysterious man!Chenglie then stayed in Caijing, the capital of the Western Province and was plotting to kill Shihong who was said to be there. He cannot allow him to live any longer! He knows way too much!That day he saw Shihong entering the library in the dark after hours . He smiled as an opportunity had presented itself and followed him inside secretly. Shihong started reading in the history section with a lantern by his side.Chenglie attacked him by surprise ,but Shihong dodged him with his halberd. It was the same halberd that their master had saying a god was trapped inside. Shihong told him how he had killed their master and the next one would be the divine ruler. In their fight, the lantern fell to the wooden floor and the fire began to spread. Since the library was filled with dry paper the entire place started spreading inside in a high pace.Till now Chenglie didn't know why or how long Xing was there that night, but while he was escaping the fire planning to leave Shihong trapped in there, Xing appeared in front of him. She had grown taller and she was stunned to see him too. But soon her expression changed and she was in despair looking at him, "My Prince! What happened to you?", she asked softly holding his cheeks. She had tears in her eyes, probably because of the fire because he had never seen her cry.Right! What happened to me..... ?But is she crying for me? He looked at the tears falling from her eyes.Chenglie held his heart that hurt like it would burst. All the stuff he did in the past two years came to his memory. All the pleadings and all the blood he spilled. Even now after knowing Xing was in danger his mind only thought about how to kill Shihong and not on how to protect Xing....What have I turned into?He placed his head on her shoulders and started to sob and she held him gently. Just then Shihong got to them and seeing them two, he tried to attack them sneakily. Xing who was facing Shihong noticed him and her eyes turned like amber and she raised her hand,"You dared to raise your hand against MY PRINCE?" she said and a gust of wind formed from her hand and knocked him to a pillar and he became unconscious immediately and the halberd in his hand fell on the ground.Chenglie saw her hair turned golden and with a twist of her hand numerous cuts appeared on Shihong's body as if he was slashed by invisible razors. And then numerous book racks fell on him as if they were dragged by a heavy wind so that he cannot leave. By now the fire had spread widely and as Chenglie wondered how to escape, an eerie voice was heard in Guyu language.."Ha! Ha! Ha! So the one you gods chose was a human female? That was a nice misleading! Ha! Ha! Too bad she is going to be toasted now!"The sound was coming from the halberd on the ground and just then all the fire in the library accumulated to form a phoenix and came towards Xing and Chenglie who was standing in front of her immediately hugged Xing who had just fainted so that she was covered by him and he expected scorching heat on his back, but it never occurred.Chenglie who was confused as to what was happening around him, saw the golden tiger Xing usually meets standing in between the fire phoenix and them. Chenglie didn't want to stay there any longer and he heard notices outside of the library, people noticing the fire. He carried Xing and jumped through the window and ran as far as he can. When he was at a safe distance, he looked back to see the fiery glow inside the library disappeared as if it imploded.Just then that same man who was completely covered in crimson robes and mask appeared in front of him. Only his amber eyes were visible. He had an imposing and majestic aura around him and Chenglie froze. He put his hand over Xing's forehead and his eyes were filled with love. "This child! She's fine. Take her home. And little man, you should be good too!", he said with a lovely deep voice. Unknown to himself , Chenglie had bowed his head to him. When he raised his head that man was gone. That was not the last time he had seen him, but this is the only time he had heard his voice.Chenglie took Xing home. Her hair colour didn't change back like before and she was sleeping deeply. He left telling her mother to be careful as he didn't know how to face Xing and he later learned from Haru that she had no memory of the fire. He had never let anyone know what happened inside the library that day till now.Chenglie came to know no one died in the library that day and also that Shihong had killed everyone from their gang and stole their treasures. He went to the pond and started to ruminate the happenings in the library. Obviously Xing knocked Shihong down with wind that appeared from her hands...? So... She has the ability to control wind.. ? And that God protected her but let Shihong go too! Chenglie had learned from the ancient books that gods used to control the humans and the Emperor in the olden days but later they left the affairs of the humans to themselves. But why are they active in the human realm now? Is my Xing a pawn in the fight among gods? If so, what can I do to help her?Chenglie had learned from his gang life that the one running the government is not the Emperor but the people who are rich. The Emperor is controlled by the court and the nobles in the court are controlled by the rich and powerful people who spend their money freely to control the nobles who are thirsty for power. That day he made a firm decision to not become the Emperor only to be controlled but be the one who has actual power. That's right, he had to be the one with wealth and actual power so that when Xing needs help, he can assist and also the next emperor should not be controlled by underground forces but work together with the officials who care for the people. For that someone who is smart and of good heart should be the Emperor. Only his ninth brother came to his mind. That's right, to protect and help the ones I love, I have to be powerful, so that I won't feel helpless as I felt when I left the palace, unable to help those who I love.Chenglie had a good reserve of wealth hidden secretly from being an assassin and he started to use them wisely and made connections. In his free time, some local young boys who were tired of the gangs and the government's negligence joined him and got trained by him. Thus the 'lone wolf' became a vigilante and he formed a pack who are still in contact with him. They were together like brothers and started helping people. His darkness slowly receded to a corner.He started to watch Xing from afar. He was against the idea of her training as he knew how hard it was and how much sacrifices to be made, but Haru's words changed his mind, "Brother Lie! You know how good she's with a sword and how much she enjoys it? Or do you expect her to sit by the window expecting your return?"Chenglie as usual watched her grow up and soon a year passed and that's when Lord Huang Feiye found him and he said he was on a mission by his Imperial father to find him and bring him back as he was sick. Chenglie wondered about his intentions at first but went along with him anyway to see the situation in the imperial city refusing to be acknowledged as the third prince. The power struggle had already started and his brother's were fighting for the throne. He felt bad for his brother Junjie and kidnapped him from the palace secretly and left him with Huang AoTian, who had been a right hand man to the sick Emperor and performed most of his duties. Junjie stayed there for a couple of years until his father died and that kept him safe.Chenglie was later adopted by Huang Feiye as he refused to take his title as a Prince and join the fight to the throne. He was offered many titles and jobs in the imperial army. Lord Zhong offered him to be a Commander, but he refused, not wanting to be involved with the Palace directly. But he did everything he could to make his brother Emperor as it would be better for everyone.,all the while doing his private affairs, making money and connections. It's not like he hadn't killed a single person afterwards but that his reputation preceded him and most people surrendered to his wishes and others he eliminated. It was a kind of war after all and every war has casualities. He heard about Shihong here and there and he was becoming prominent in the underground world too. But he had no close encounters with him. Xing also had started to dress like a man and had been continuing the vigilante work he was doing, along with Haru. Although he didn't know why she dressed like a man, but with the change in her hair colour and her decision to hide her gender only aided him as he wanted to hide her from Shihong. He deliberately spread rumours to make her appear as a frivolous playboy so as Shihong never doubts her as otherwise.Although he refused the throne to silently spy on Shihong and gain power, another reason he didn't want to be emperor was that, he knows his darkness. The throne corrupts even people with kind hearts. He has to follow the rules of the throne and won't be free. Also He cannot even choose his wife himself. He'll be forced to have many women. He would never take someone pure and kind as Xing into that place. She'll be like a bird in a gilded cage and it would break her spirits.That place made his mother like that too. He will never return to the place that only brings him bad memories.Chenglie broke from his thoughts when Xing tried to adjust her position. Chenglie tried to put her on the bed so she could sleep comfortably, but she held his clothes tightly and wouldn't let go. A smile formed on his lips as he remembered how she used to sneak into his bed and hold his clothes and go to sleep in his bed in the middle of the night when she was little. Cute little cat!He would leave her in her bed each morning early before her mother wakes up. And there was this day when he was caught by his mother placing on her bed. That was an awkward situation to explain!You worry I will leave you again don't you?Chenglie felt a tug in his heart, Xing! All this while, I made sure I had enough power to assist you. And now I do. We both went through a lot in these ten years and it made us stronger. But when I think about what the future holds,I am scared. With Shihong surfacing again and how you met the Emperor, and you travelling to the Imperial city, my heart cannot feel but restless. Will you stay with me always or leave me as my greatest fear? I know your father must be someone impressive, since your mother is sending you to him and also with everything told about your destiny, you must have an impressive background. But will your father be on our side? If he is not which side will you choose? I am happy you promised my brother you will serve him as the Emperor but why is that making me uncomfortable too? Why do I have the feeling that everything that is going to happen in the city will have something to do with you and you will decide the future of our Kingdom? And you smelling like agarwood and that assassin saying Shihong did too.... Why do I feel Shihong already had set his eyes on you?He held her closer and lied beside her, "My moon! Whoever you are or whatever you have to do, I will always love you. I may not be powerful to stop a god or change your destiny, but in this kingdom, I can help you in every way as I have gained the power to do so. Also I know there are plans made for you by the Gods and you'll have to abide by it if you wish to. So, I will wait for you to complete it as you had waited for me for ten years and assist you in anyway I can. I, Lu Chenglie will make you my wife and love only you and cherish you till death separates us. This is a promise. I will give you the life of an Empress with riches, respect and grandeur with peace and my love, without the troubles and struggles of the inner palace. You deserve it, my queen! ", he said in a soft voice and kissed her forehead. He fell asleep holding her and that was the best sleep he had in ages.The next morning he had to wake up under the scrutinising glare of Lady Shaoyao's personal maid. Geez! Why does everyone treat me like a pervert!Xing was told to rest for one week, but she could not keep still and sneaked away to gamble and returned with a lot of gold. Lady Shaoyao gave her an earful for running around and she was then locked in the Peony courtyard with books to pass her time. Only those books were of erotic nature and Shengli had to endure her curious questions concerning male anatomy and wanted to run away. Girl, have some tact! he thought.Lady Shaoyao told him stories about how she was caught red handed peeping someone in their 'act'. She also told about how all the women here wanted to kiss her, because she's the best they've known. Apparently there's a poll going on who'd be the thousandth one she'll kiss. Also how the gamblers are scared of her and she's only allowed once a month for one game because she always wins. Shengli didn't know whether to laugh or cry. His cute kitten is actually a tiger.
