The Princess And The Lord

Late at night inside one hundred herbs apothecary at the top floor on the third floor, Jin Hao plays chess alone on the small jade table in his lavish monochrome slightly boring bedroom then suddenly someone knocked his room gently.

"Come in," Jin Hao said calmly while his eyes remain on the chessboard.

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A young man with white robes uniform enters the room with a wooden box in his hand, he cupped his fist than he said with a careful expression "Master, we found something"

Jin Hao hand froze on the air, he lifts his head slowly than he looking at the man in front of him "What did you find?" he asked with calmly but his eyes glint impatiently.

He opens the wooden box inside the wooden box theirs's an arrow inside the box who obviously had been used before from all the damaged on the feather and there also a stained of blood on the tip of the arrow "We found this quite far from the waterfalls, we almost missed it" he said again.

Jin Hao carefully lifts the arrow then he examined the arrow carefully he recognizes this arrow is the same arrow that the wolf gang usually used he recognize it because the specific feathered tail they used to make there own arrow, who would have thought that rowdy gang would make there own weapon but they are, maybe because they want to press down the budget from buying new weapon.

"Do you see anyone there?" Jin Hao is slightly hopeful.

"No, perhaps its wash away from rain or something," he said dejectedly.

"Or perhaps it was nothing…" Jin Hao sighs, he also feel disappointed.

"What should we do then Master? should we report this to the Lord" he asked timidly

Jin Hao takes a deep breath "Not now, but keep looking, I want you to search the whole jungle don't leave any stone unturned, you understand?!" he warned his subordinate.

"Yes Master" he cupped his fist firmly then he left the room leaving Jin Hao alone in the room again.

His elbow withstands his arms on the table while his palm clasped together and his forehead rests on it, he feel very conflicted.

He had been secretly searched for Luo Ri Yi 'dead or alive' behind Zhao Li Xin back, at this time Zhao Li Xin didn't want to face the possibility that Luo Ri Yi most likely is dead, he avoids using the word 'Dead' he always uses the word 'Gone' he even avoid calling her name he keeps saying 'Her' as if saying her name would break his fragile reality that the fact she was dead he just can't accept it.

Jin Hao reminiscence that night after he destroys Fu Hua, he sits quietly inside the pavilion stare at Luo Ri Yi necklace he was left alone not even Mong Ki or Mong Yi was there to watch him, Jin Hao never seen him so devastated.

Jin Hao slowly walks towards him, Zhao Li Xin acted like he didn't realize Jin Hao was coming towards him or maybe he just doesn't care.

"We should search for her…." Jin Hao said with a quiet voice who almost like a whisper.

Zhao Li Xin's eyes fixed on the necklace "Its fine…she 'll come home when she's done" he answers casually.

"Milord, she most likely hurt or heavily injured….she might not….."

"She said she will come home!!" Zhao Li Xin rises from his seat and he shouts at him furiously.

Jin Hao flinched he look at Zhao Li Xin with dumbfounded expression because he never hears him shouted like this before and he knew him from a child, Jin Hao takes another step forward.

"She will….she have this mysterious power that we don't know of…but we still need to search for her" he insists Zhao Li Xin again.

"And to find what…." Zhao Li Xin grips the necklace inside his fist.

"TO FIND HER, of course!" Jin Hao unconsciously shouted angrily, he can't understand why Zhao Li Xin who love her so much acted like this as if he doesn't want to find her.

Zhao Li Xin turn silent then he stares deeply at Jin hao " That scumbag pierce her heart with an arrow then she falls from a high cliff, she swept on the fast current and….she falls from the waterfall, even by a miracle she survives she would still crush beneath the waterfall" he said in desperation voice "Tell me Jin...if I search her….what would I find?" he said in distraught.

Jin Hao closes his eyes, he let out a heavy heaved "You afraid to find her..." the words 'Body' stuck on his throat, his heart torn for Zhao Li Xin, is not like he didn't want to find her he scared what would he find because deep down he knew she can't survive that, she might have mysterious power and yet she still can bruise and bleed so that's mean she can die.

"I am…" Zhao Li Xin fall back limping on his chair he looks tired and hopeless "At least, for now, I can pretend she's out there, maybe she caught on something….finding trouble" he faintly smile his expression look somber "I can pretend she will come home…eventually"

"Li Xin….."Jin Hao wanted to say something but unfortunately, he didn't know how to comfort other people, this is beyond his expertise.

Zhao Li Xin eyes back on the necklace on his hand "She warned me not to get crazy" he stifles wit sadden smile "But how could I….without her, this world mean nothing without her in it, Jin I don't care if the whole world is burned to the ground, perhaps I could just get burned with it, what do you think?" he said nonchalantly with cold gaze.

"She will hate you for that…"Jin Hao replied with a dry smile.

Zhao Li Xin becomes quiet for a second then he murmured to himself "Yes, she will…." Then he looks at the night sky cover with million stars who are shining brightly without grey cloud hinder they bright light such a beautiful night and yet his heart never been darker.

Zhao Li Xin raises his hand "Leave…." He signs Jin Hao to leave him alone.

He didn't know what to say so he bows himself "Good night, Milord" he said politely than he turned around and leave but faintly he heard Zhao Li Xin mumbles.

"Nothing is good from now on….."

Back to present Jin Hao let out a long sighs, he had been through a lot with Zhao Li Xin but he never see him fall in despair like that, is like he lost all hope to the world, to himself, to everything he looks even more detached than before he met Luo Ri Yi, Jin Hao didn't know how to help him, in his heart Jin Hao always feel on debt because he save him when he was a child when his owned family wants to kill him.

And through all the years Zhao Li Xin never asked him for anything to return except asking him to follow him but that also gives Jin Hao a lot more benefit until he become what he is now, he never have chance to return his debt he even failed to cure his poison he can only prolong his life or eased his pain.

Jin Hao put down the broken arrow back to the wooden box, he softly closes the box with an inexplicable expression "I hope you alive Luo Ri Yi, no matter where you are….for his sake"