WARNING: VIOLENCE BETWEEN ML AND MC.
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The next day I woke up only to find my bed sheets stained red. My head was spinning badly and my sight was also blurry. When I tried to get off the bed, a sharp pain stabbed me in my limbs and back causing my foot to loose strength. I fell onto the hard floor that was already a pool of blood. I was shocked. Is that all my blood?
When I looked at myself, I realized it had to be so. My skin was paler than a corpse. Looking out the window, I saw that it was already noon. My scalp went numb. Today's working sessions aught to start at morning five. And I'm already late. Strange. Why wasn't anyone coming to drag me out to work?
I slowly pulled myself into a sitting position on the floor and leaned my back against the bed post. I was hungry. But the pain that I felt through my wounds felt even agonizing.
I gulped and closed my eyes, lowering my head to endure it and calmed down. It was suddenly when the door of my room pushed open. A familiar face peeked in. It was the girl I saved from the tusker the day before.
She was carrying a tray in her hands. The moment she saw the situation in the room, her eyes widened, going horror struck. She immediately hurried into the room and placed the tray away. She knelt down beside me with eyes full of tears and grasped from my wrist apprehensively. "Big brother... Are you... Are you alright?" Her voice was a bit horse.
I simply nodded. "How did you find here?" I asked furrowing my brows. "You know, you're a girl. You're not supposed to come here." My voice was a bit stern. I didn't want her in trouble. After all, this place wasn't safe either. There were hundreds of strong and burly men who had become prisoners for the sake of assaults and violence...
She wanted to say something at first. But then finally she decided to remain silent. "Big brother, other people had already gone out for work. They won't be here until midnight. I only came here to provide your breakfast."
"I'm not hungry. Just get out."
"But-" her voice was furious. "I worked at the altair for seven hours yesterday night just to earn money and buy this for you..."
"!!!"
My heart burned. Doesn't she know what kind of a person I am? No matter what, I did not worth it.
But she did not know. She bit her lower lip. "Please... Big brother saved me. I only wanted to repay what I owe you."
"You don't owe me anything."
"I do."
"... ..."
Her words were so convincing that even I couldn't find words to refute this time. Thus, I smiled with a sigh, patting her head. "Bring it here then."
The girl was over joyed. She quickly brought the tray and sat next to me cross legged. "Big brother, I'm Yu Lindai. Call me Ahyu. And I'm fourteen years old this year."
She placed the tray with food on my lap and looked at me excitedly. "Big brother, what is your name? How old are you? Where do you originally belong? And what else do you want? Do you want me to help you clean your room?"
"... ..." The chopsticks that I picked up nearly fell down from my fingers. I looked at her with raised brows. "Which should I answer first?"
Her smile broadened. "Wait for me." She ran out again. I couldn't help but shake my head, smiling. What an energetic excited chick! I lowered my head and started eating, trying hard to ignore the pain at my throat and stomach.
Fifteen minutes later, the door of my chamber unceremoniously opened again and Ahyu entered inside with a basin of water and several folded clothes over her left shoulder. I was stunned.
She didn't say anything. She only smiled to me before squatting down and cleaning the messy floor. She moistened her handkerchief and started wiping the blood stains on the wooden tilea. When the handkerchief got drenched with the blood, she dipped it in the water basin and wringed the blood out.
Though she was yet fourteen, it seemed that she was trained well. Her moves were swift and skilful.
I couldn't help but be a little curious. I lowered the chopsticks. "Where do you work? And why do I smell of medicine from you?"
She looked amazed. "You can already smell it? Hahaha, big brother, I'm actually from the medicine department. I'm the only and straight way disciple of Lord Qianghu."
My eyes widened in disbelief. "Your mentor... is the imperial doctor!!?"
She nodded and then her face went red with embarrassment. "Due to some careless mistakes I did while helping my master to brew medicinal decoction, I was punished to work as a maid at the medicinal store of the palace so that I can become more handy with the medicines there."
I laughed. "Don't tell me you accidentally dumped some honey sugar instead of salt in the decoction."
Her face went even red. "No, I accidentally dumped pepper powder instead of honey sugar."
This time, the chopsticks really slipped down my fingers. "... ..."
She giggled. "That old man had a heart attack after drinking that. Lord Qianghu was furious and nearly blew off the kitchen. I had to make a run and avoid him for several days in a row."
"You don't hate him for punishing you too hard then?"
The girl smiled with gentle eyes that slowly unfocussed. "No. Even if the punishment is a bit too hard, I'm still willing. He did it for my own betterment and I'm personally happy for it. Besides, master was kind enough to pick me from the roads when I had no one to rely on. He taught me letters, manners and medicines. Isn't that already too much?"
My heart twisted in an inexplicable agony. She was a good and a virtuous girl and was wholeheartedly grateful for her master just for teaching her arts. But what about me?
I couldn't even keep the promises I gave to my master. I broke his hopes and trust. I betrayed him... I pursed my lips. At this thought, even the food that I took to the mouth felt like a fish bone stuck in my throat. I had to swallow it several times in pain before I succeeded.
I sighed. Ahyu ended cleaning the floor and scrubbed it back and forth a few times. My room was already small and it didn't take much time. Then she pulled away the blood stained sheets off my bed and replaced them with new sheets that smelled fresh.
"Don't stare at me like that." She chuckled. "These are the sheets that we normally use to cover medicine boxes at the herb store. I chose the sheets with ginseng fragrance. It's good for your wounds, you know?"
"Oh." I replied in a low voice.
She ended everything and took a deep breath. "Ok! Now follow me!"
"What-!?"
She raised her brows. "Follow me. I want you to take a wash before I apply medicines on you. You don't fancy me bandaging you in that fashion, right?" She pointed at my dirty and torn blood soaked clothes with a serious expression on her face.
After a long time, I spoke again, hoarsely. "Ahyu, can you do me a favour and take me to the medicine store. I want to investigate something private."
*** ***
After a bath, that evening, Ahyu bandaged me and took me to the so called medicine store of her's. I was amazed. It looked as if she held some considerable power here since no one dared to stop us.
A dark and a gloomy building loomed infront of us. The place was enormous and had several storeys. "Do you want me to help you?" She asked anxiously.
I shook my head. "It will take me some time. Can you keep watch? I really can't afford being caught up doing this now."
Her face was thoroughly excited after hearing this. "You're going to do something illegal?"
"Er... Yeah." I said uneasily. I did not know why I was suddenly trusting her so much. She nodded smiling. "Take your time. No one will hinder you. This place is mine after all."
I nodded thankfully and shut the door and locked it from inside. The dense smell of medicines assailed my nose. I picked up a lamp from the desk by the door and held it up. It dimly lit the hall in a strange gloom.
I took a deep breath and concentrated. After a long time, I felt a deep sense of some unfathomable feelings that devoured me. It made my heart inexplicably beat faster. I was going to investigate the main thing that led to the devastating calamity five years ago - a cup of herbal tea.
Yeah, it was simple as a cup of herbal tea which ended up flaring the discord between me and Lóngxuan in the rebel which caused me to unexpectedly betray him and flee.
Five years ago, Lóngxuan had to work for seven days continually without sleep or rest in order to suppress the riots arising from the south and to make amendments for the flood disaster in the far west that made many civilians loose everything.
It must have been tiring for Lóngxuan because he was suffering from a terrible cold. But he never cared about it and coldly turned to approve the memorials and summoned the court to discuss the current situation of the issues. I was concerned.
And...
It was me who ordered this cup of tea...
My heart was beating violently as those memories flashed past my mind. I picked up a basket from a corner and walked past the desk collecting the herbs as I remembered in my mind.
Jue Mingzi, Lin Mogu, Tan Xiang, Yulan Hua, Yuhua leaves and also Lianhua seeds...
These were few of the most expensive valuable medicines capable of curing deadly diseases. Not everyone could afford them just in a tea. I gulped and took the basket full of medicines into the kitchen room and lighted the stove.
*** ***
Outside the building, from the heavy eaves of the sandalwood trees, several dark shadows emerged. Their faces were masked, revealing only their eyes that were full of killer intent.
Their eyes were fixed at the little ignorant girl who played around with a bunch of linden flowers in her hand with a somewhat lost expression in their faces. They expected something like tens and hundreds of guards standing guard on this place and then they saw this?
"... ..." They exchanged cold glances and decisively leapt down the tree. At first the girl was stunned. She looked at them with big eyes. Then she grinned excitedly. "Are you the so called shadow assassins capable of untraced and quick assassinations?"
"... ..."
One of the figures spoke. "Yeah, so do you count yourself lucky?"
The girl jumped in delight and said excitedly. "Very lucky!"
"... ..."
The assassin's were speechless. One of them finally stepped forth. "We have some work. So get aside and make way. Pretend you heard and saw nothing!" His voice was cold.
"But you're not allowed inside."
*** ***
Within minutes, embers cracked and flames rose, boiling the contents inside the little cauldron. A soft veil of smoke rose, casting queer shadow up the gloomy lamp lit walls of the room. A strong fragrance evoked, making my eyes go hazy and my sight go blurry.
The fragrance was refreshing.
I added tea leaves and mixed it. The fragrance got mingled with tea. It was still very light and fragrant. I lifted the spoon and blew on the hot tea and drank a mouthful.
The burning liquid seethed down my stomach, warming the chilling coldness of the night. My mouth was full of a strange sweetness. I felt my heavy body gradually lightening. And the soreness slowly wore away. A single mouthful had this kind of a strong effect. This was indeed a heavenly medicine. It definitely was capable of curing weariness.
I slowly opened my hand and looked at the root of Ren Sheng that was on my palm. The most important part of the tea was this. When I added it to the cauldron, it sizzled amid boiling bubbles and slowly withered away.
The fragrance gradually changed. This time it was a cross between tea and some strange herbal smell. My heart was beating wildly. I simple threw a bowl of water to the fire and the embers died down. I let the tea cool down with a beating heart.
I only wanted to know. All these herbs were heavenly medicines. But when they all mix up with tea, I wanted to know whether it was still the same medicine or some other highly toxic poison capable of instantly taking a life...
This was the tea I made Lóngxuan five years ago. After asking for the recipe myself from a doctor, I only wanted to make this and give it to Lóngxuan to recover his health. I did not add Ren Sheng. But when the tea was done, I found a Ren Sheng root that was not added by me. I was too worried about Lóngxuan back then and the matter of Ren Sheng did not come to my mind.
I remembered that evening I brought the tea to Lóngxuan's study. He was still working. I had to keep the tea on the desk and wait for him.
After reading the scroll, he waved his palm grimly. I brought the tea. It was perhaps fate. I stumbled upon the steps and crashed onto the desk, spilling the fragrant tea onto his scrolls. The scrolls that got drenched with the burning liquid let out a low hiss amid a little tail of smoke and burned.
I was stunned. Lóngxuan pursed his lips and stared at me, as if waiting for an explanation... No matter how cold his face looked, I still saw the incredulous disbelief in his eyes. This was the day that the conflict between me and him officially aroused.
When I went to meet the doctor who prescribed the herbal tea, he was already assassinated. Events followed tensely of which I would not like to remind. Few weeks later I betrayed him...
As my mind blankly swam through those memories of my hateful past, I was too unfocussed and did not pay my attention to the sound of the door of the room being slid open and then the extremely light sound of footsteps that followed.
Suddenly my back got pressed against a cold chest. My eyes widened in horror and I struggled to turn around. But I was restrained hard and pushed against the desk. And the chilling fragrance of sandalwood immediately covered my nose. Blood drained from my face. My entire body trembled incessantly. My head that was hanging above the boiling cauldron sweated. I swallowed.
A freezing cold breath brushed past my neck scorching it to almost burn. Lóngxuan gave out a freezing smile, lowering his head to look at the cauldron. "My general is brewing tea..."
My heart was thumping. In the position I was in, I couldn't move as I weakly leaned, locked between the desk and his body with my back pressed against his front and my front pressed against the desk. He banged his strong palms onto the desk either side my waist, completely locking me in the position. I gulped. "Jun... Junshang..."
My voice was hoarse to the point that it was unable to be distinguished clearly. It was true that I was very shocked. Lóngxuan never touched anybody. Besides, my body was covered with so much wounds and I smelt of blood. Isn't he...
Fuck!
Lóngxuan raised his hands and removed the lid of the cauldron. His elbows brushed against my waist and I felt an icy shiver down my body. It was suffocating, and my breath slowly scattered.
Lóngxuan didn't seem to care in what kind of a terrible mess my heart was in. His aura was cold and murderous, chilling me to the bone. A strong sense of fear devoured my heart. This was really frightening. What on earth was he doing!!?
Lóngxuan pulled the bowl from the desk and poured the scorching liquid into it with me in between his strong arms. "General." He said gloomily. "When you should be working in the construction site, Zhen finds you here in the kitchen brewing some pleasant casual evening tea? You really have some nerve..."
The coldness in that voice... I trembled. I wanted to open my mouth and say that it wasn't like this. But when I opened my mouth, no voice came off my lips. Tears frosted my eyes as I got carelessly tossed this way and that with his rough and coarse movements. My head was buzzing.
Lóngxuan laughed softly. It was frightening. "General, do you know what this tea is called?"
"... ..."
"Lingshen Cha." He whispered. "It used to be a poison used during battles. Do you know why it's so special and was banned from use many years ago?"
I gulped closing my eyes.
Lóngxuan answered. "Because it can kill a mediocre person in an eye blink's time. It can destroy a person's cultivation entirely and cripple him for the rest of his life. Do you know how lethal this poison is?"
I felt the taste of blood in my mouth. But I forcefully swallowed it back. My heart was aching.
He spoke again. "When arrow is dipped in it and is shot at a person, he would definitely die, even if the wound is just a mere scratch. Then do you know why Zhen banned this poison back then?"
"... ..."
"Because it was too merciless even to be used on a human. Enemy or friend, still they are human. Once they leave the battle field, they are no different than poor people struggling to make a living. Do you know what it would be like to be a cripple for the rest of your life? Hmm?"
I felt dizzy. "Junshang... I never intended on poisoning you. If... If Ren Sheng wasn't added back then, it would be a herbal tea. But I don't know... I didn't add Ren Sheng... I-"
Lóngxuan took the bowl of tea in his hand and spun me around with his other arm. Now I was facing his cold and scary face. It looked deadly... He smiled coldly. "You say this now? Do you think I would believe you?"
My voice shuddered as I spoke. "Yes, I must have betrayed you. I must have killed many. But... this wasn't something I wanted to do. I didn't add Ren Sheng..."
Lóngxuan's face darkened. His aura was extremely gloomy.
"General. Zhen will give you two choices. Either flee." He said pointing his pale finger at the opened door in the corner. "Or..." He raised the bowl of the tea towards me. "Drink this poison and die!"
These words were ruthlessly spoken. My heart bled. I tried hard to ignore the pain and irritation I felt. I did not know where my courage came from. For a moment, I found myself staring straightway at his merciless eyes. He was... Serious...
So was I.
A bitter smile curled up my lips. "Would you try to catch me back if I run?"
Lóngxuan tightened his jaws, narrowing his eyes. "No."
"Even if had betrayed you, poisoned you with tea, killed a thousand innocent civilians causeless, rebelled and added all these troubles, if I flee now, are you sure you would not catch me back?"
"No." The answer was firm.
My smile broadened. "Okay." I said in a hoarse whisper. For a few seconds, I quietly stood with a lowered head and felt my tears moistening my feet. Then without waiting further, I grasped the bowl in his hand and drank the scorching poison, closing my eyes.