- Li Xun -

The moment he saw how the woman he loved getting shot by arrows, he was struck with fear. When she collapsed in his arms, his first instinct was to feel her pulse. Her blood smeared across his skin, sending an involuntary tremor through him .

Her heart was still beating, he noted, but gradually weakening.

Around them, swords clashed everywhere. Both sides were equally matched, but if the assassins called for reinforcements, they would be outnumbered.

General Guo Jie grabbed his shoulder, yelling into his ear.

"Your Highness! Let's go!"

Li Xun nodded. He lifted the unconscious girl into his arms, following his general's lead. As they escaped, Ling Yao and the rest of the surviving soldiers surrounded them protectively. Fending off any assassins that pursued them.

Escaping to the nearest village, they took shelter in one of the secret quarters that belonged to a minister of their own. Li Xun carried Long'Er into one of the guest rooms and placed her on the bed.

In the meantime, General Guo Jie wasted no time in ordering the servants to fetch a female physician. After tending to her injuries, Long'Er's condition was declared stable. No one stayed in the room, except for Li Xun. For the entire day and night, he remained by her side and gently wiped the sweat and dirt off her sleeping face with a wet cloth.

He hadn't slept a wink for more than a day. Yes, he was exhausted but he didn't wish to leave her side. Staring at her blood-stained bandages, a swell of guilt resurfaced.

He had lost a couple of his men and now, Long'Er was hurt. She was never a target in the first place, but she was caught in the crossfire.

Everything stemmed from him. It was all his fault.

Because of his status.

Being born into royalty was never a blessing, it was more of like a curse in disguise. And there was nothing he could ever do to change that fact.

A gust of breeze ruffled his clothes and hair. Sensing the presence of an uninvited guest, he flipped around with a half-drawn sword, narrowing his eyes at the intruder. His first thought was that an assassin from earlier had caught up to them with the intention to kill Li Xun.

But he was wrong.

Dressed in a dress that was the colour of snow, a woman sat on the windowsill casually. Her face was as pretty as a painting. Wearing a calm, observing expression, she greeted him with a gentle smile that warmed her eyes. She swept her gaze over to the sleeping Long'Er beside him and concern flashed in her eyes immediately.

Her question surprised him. "How's her condition?"

He should be guarded against this strange woman, but he wasn't. Because right there, perched on her shoulder, was a phoenix he recognised.

Jade.

From this fact alone, he relaxed, shoving his sword back into its sheath. He knew that there was only one reason behind the appearance of the divine bird, and how it was behaving comfortably around the mysterious woman.

He was, perhaps, speaking to Long'Er's godmother herself in person.

She was a lot younger than he had imagined. She barely looked any older than thirty years old and could easily be mistaken as Long'Er's sister.

"Her wounds were tended to," he informed her. "She's running a slight fever now, but the physician has prescribed the necessary medicine for her to make a full recovery."

She slid off the windowsill and approached him slowly, throwing him off guard with another grateful smile. "Thank you for saving my daughter, Your Highness."

He lowered his head. "What I did for her is nothing compared to what she has done for me. She has saved my life a few times."

"That's not the only reason, isn't it?"

The knowing smile on her face was more than enough to burn his cheeks with embarrassment. She was quick-witted and not to be underestimated, he thought. This was the same intelligent woman who educated and brought up Long'Er into the strong woman she was today.

He bowed slightly. "Forgive me for being curious, Madam, but you look far too young to be a godmother with a daughter that's reaching adulthood soon."

His bluntness surprised her briefly, but it was quickly replaced with amusement. "Well, well... Your Highness, why don't you guess my age? If you answer it correctly, I'll let you borrow Jade for a day just like how you wanted."

He shot her an incredulous look. It wasn't possible she could have known any of this, because Long'Er was the only person he told earlier.

"How do you know about that–"

She shook her head and refused to answer. "Why don't you try guessing my age first?"

While he considered his answer, she crossed the room and sat beside Long'Er's bed. As she caressed her daughter's hair, she spoke once more.

"So what's your answer, child?"

"Thirty-five?"

Disbelief coloured her tone. "That old?!"

Her expression startled him, believing that he had offended her. After all, age was always a sensitive topic to the females.

He corrected his answer quickly. "T-twenty-nine?"

Hearing his answer, she beamed. "That's not quite correct, but I definitely do like the sound of that."

Something sat on his shoulder and startled him. Glancing to the side, his eyes met Jade's, whose head tilted at him in curiosity. An urge rose and his hand reached up to touch the feathers, marvelling at how silky and flamboyant they were.

Returning his attention back to Long'Er's godmother, he swallowed hard. "I don't know your age," he admitted truthfully, "but I can definitely say that you aren't a human, seeing how you've a phoenix as your pet." He stopped for a brief second, before asking with a voice laced with suspicion. "What are you?"

She chuckled. "You're a bright boy, aren't you? I guess there's no harm in letting you in on the secret. However, you've to promise me that you won't spill my secret to other humans."

"I won't," he promised, sweeping his arms wide. "Besides, who would believe me if I tell them the creatures I've seen today?"

His words assured her and she drew closer to him. "To tell you the truth, I'm a deity," she revealed. "You may also call me the Guardian of the Celestial Flowers. I protect them from falling into the hands of evil. On some days, Long'Er would help me out when I'm away. And that just happened to be on the same day when you encountered her."

Li Xun recalled that fateful day and once again realised how little he knew about the world. His mind swirled like a storm at the thought of meeting so many mythical beings today; the undead, the witch, the phoenix and now, a deity.

The world held so many mysteries that were yet to be discovered.

She studied him intently. "Aren't you surprised by what I am? Normal people would have begged me to grant their wishes and made their offerings."

"After what I've witnessed today? No," he answered honestly. And yet, a question weighed on his mind. "Madam, Long'Er is human, right? She feels human."

If he had fallen in love with a deity, what would become of them?

Long'Er's godmother assured him. "Oh don't you worry, she's human. We may not share the same blood, but I've raised her ever since her biological mother entrusted her to me. I don't wish to divulge details about her past, but I believe she will share them with you one day when she's ready."

Relief flooded him and he nodded in understanding. "Back at the Hill of Death, how did you manage to subdue the monsters?"

Her eyes twinkled, eager to share a piece of good news with him. "I didn't subdue them. I've eliminated every single one of them and captured the witch that was tormenting you both. You can rest your mind now, for she will no longer give you any more trouble."

Li Xun blinked in surprise, his mind trying to absorb her words. He was still finding the extent of her magical powers rather fascinating and unbelievable.

"Thank you," he told her. "I owe you a favour."

She dismissed his words. "There is no need for you to behave this way around me," she shot him a teasing smile. "That's if we're becoming in-laws. I do fancy the idea of a human prince calling me 'Mother-in-law'. That sounds wonderful."

A smile grew on his lips. He was beginning to think that he was going to get along well with Long'Er's mother. "If that's what you want, I will gladly abide by your wishes."

"Good."

They laughed softly among themselves. If Long'Er was conscious and witnessed their exchange, she might not believe what she was seeing.

Long'Er's mother gestured towards the sleeping girl. "Don't worry about her. How about I show you something special?"

Before he could question, her hands hovered at the space above her daughter's wounds. A soft, warm glow of light appeared in her palms as she worked on healing her.

His jaw dropped involuntarily. "That's amazing."

His response earned a lighthearted chuckle from the older woman. As he continued to watch her heal Long'Er, something gnawed at the back of his mind. There was something he needed to deal with, but he wanted to ensure that Long'Er would be in safe hands before he leaves.

He glanced at her godmother. "Will you be able to watch over her while I'm away?"

She assured him with a nod, fully aware of what he needed to do. "Go, but be careful on your way."

Deities certainly were remarkable beings. They didn't need to be told much to understand things.

"I will," he promised her.

With one last lingering look at Long'Er, he slipped out of the room, seeking for General Guo Jie and Ling Yao. Determination blazed in his eyes. He was going to track down the mastermind who plotted his death and hurt the people around him.

And he knew exactly who it was.

***

Before his departure, he rounded up his men and grabbed weapons from the storehouse. Just as he was about to leave, a small voice called out to him from behind.

"You're leaving?"

He spun around. His eyes widened at the sight of Long'Er stepping out from her room in her stark white sleeping robe and onto the veranda. Even if her face was pale and without makeup, she was still the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen in his life. Her hands held onto the wooden pillars for support as she teetered her way towards him slowly.

He caught her midway. "You're awake? But why aren't you resting?" he berated her lightly. "You shouldn't move around too much. You lost so much blood earlier."

She bit her bottom lip. "You're leaving," she said grimly, "but you will come back. Right?"

"I will," he promised. "Once I've settled the matter and it's safe, I will return for you."

She nodded sadly. "Forgive me for being incapable of accompanying you."

Up till this point of time, she was still working hard to be his bodyguard? "Silly," he said. "When I come back, I expect a plump Long'Er. You should rest and eat well."

Her eyes brightened slightly and she played along. "A plump me? What if nobody wants me?"

He grinned at her.

"I would."

Surprise played across her features and he grabbed that chance to lower his head and press a gentle kiss to her forehead. He could feel her body stilled with shock, but over time, she gradually relaxed. She reached around him for a hug, her hands gripping his clothes tightly. Neither one of them was willing to let go of the other.

At this point of time, he knew he was a goner.

He was very much in love with her.

Yet, now wasn't the right time for him to confess his love to her. Somewhere out there, there was a killer waiting for him. He would have to eliminate the threat first before coming back and bringing her back to the palace. Not as his bodyguard but a woman he wished to properly court. He would have to seek blessings from his parents and knowing them, there was a chance they might not accept her because of her lowly status.

He would think about that later. First, he would settle a far more pressing matter on hand.

With a painful lurch of his heart, he let her go.