"...Princess Feiyun, may I ask...what is that?"
Pointing towards the worm-like wrapped shape, wriggling about on Ruyi's horse, Abbess Hu finally couldn't help but ask, wondering where 'that' came from.
"Ah...just making sure the Abbey is safe. I will come by as often as I can to visit."
Feiyun bowed with both hands in front. Tianhuo was already seated inside waiting for Feiyun to finish her business, a bored look on his face as he read the scroll he had with him.
"Heavens blessings, wishing 4th Prince and Princess Feiyun a safe journey."
With a bow, Abbess Hu said a short prayer for safe journey as she watched Feiyun went up the carriage.
As the carriage made its way back down the winding path of the valley. The half mask Feiyun wore couldn't hide her amused expression as she leaned out the carriage window.
Ruyi was on his horse right beside, while the wriggling worm like creature was flung over in front of Ruyi like a sack of potatoes. Ruyi's foxy smile appeared as he untied the string around the bag.
A head full of hair popped out, revealing a nasty looking face. Clearly a hoodlum who makes money off the black market and assassination.
"So? Who are you?"
The man remain silent, glaring at Feiyun, the vein on his forehead protruding out. Feiyun merely propped a hand under her chin, an amused expression on her face as she observed the man's face.
"Oh. Don't feel like telling me... What to do, you seem too comfortable."
After thinking for a bit, Feiyun finally spoke again.
"We have at least 3 more days of travel until we reach the western camp right? Hmm...okay let him down."
"What?"
"Yea, Carrying both you and that man... I pity your horse. Let him follow behind until he is willing to talk. "
"Ohh..."
At this point, Ruyi finally understood, if he thought he was crafty, then Feiyun must be the goddess who created foxes.
With his hands bound and tied in a small pouch so he couldn't try anything funny. Ruyi stopped his horse and dropped the man down, pulling along a long rope connected to the man's wrist as he's forced to follow on foot from behind.
Back in the carriage, Feiyun was simply playing a game of War with Tianhuo. She had created this game back in her past. A simply game of strategy.
The opponent has 100 "soldiers" and will create a puzzle/strategy on a large board similar to chess but with a hundred squares. Terrain and obstructions can be strategically place to replicate a battlefield.
The other opponent has to figure out how to reach the general in the smartest and quickest way. In a way it is like a war but on a much smaller scale, hence the name War.
Stuck on the puzzle set by Tianhuo, Feiyun couldn't help but scratch her head. No matter what she did, it didn't seem like the right choice. Tianhuo gave her a charming yet mischievous smile, prompting her to solve the round.
Frustration kicked in and the groaning and moaning of the man outside made it worse. Finally, unable to take it, she peeked outside, when the man saw her, his face immediately shone with hope.
He had been calling and pleading. Surrendering himself many times but Feiyun refused to show her face. Finally she was looking at him.
"P-p-please. I will talk! Everything!"
A sly smile appeared in Feiyun's face.
"Oh? So what do you want to tell me?"
The man quickly swallowed, his throat dry and itchy. He hasn't had a single drink since his capture.
"E-everything! Anything you want to know."
"Stop! We'll break for camp."
The entire group came to a halt. The man sigh out in relief. Finally after walking for more than 12 hours without food, water or rest. He dropped to the floor, his legs weak and exhausted. his body drenched with sweat, blood and mud, walking and falling non-stop under the burning sun and humid forest.
As the guards went about setting up, Feiyun sat in the carriage, leaning out the window, her eyes staring down on the man slumped on the floor.
"Who, what, where, why, when."
The man looked up and understood. At this point what's the use in hiding anything. The woman in front of him wouldn't spare a glance or care whether he dies walking behind their carriage.
"P-prince Ruofeng... We work for the prince. He told my leader to assassinate..."
Hesitating to continue, the man glanced to the inside of the carriage. The whole journey he hadn't even had a glimpse of Tianhuo, only heard his voice occasionally. Who didn't know of the merciless god of war, he could already feel his throat getting sliced through.
"A-assassinate the 4th prince...as long as he doesn't return to the capital it doesn't matter where or how. That's all I know."
"Really?"
Feiyun rose an eyebrow as she observed every detail and movement of the man's face.
"Truly! I, Luanlu, didn't lie to your highness!"
The man pleaded with both his hands together. Watching Feiyun hoping the young girl would turn soft-hearted and release him.
"Oh. Then this?"
Feiyun dangled a small pouch that FeiDu had recovered.
"T-thats... aphrodisiac...b-boss wanted to have fun before killing..."
Unable to look at the girl who was holding on to his pouch. Praying hard she didn't realise that the name on the pouch was the very same name he just mentioned. Looking through his nervous and lying eyes was more than easy for Feiyun.
"Lu-An-Lu. "
Feiyun spelt out the characters written on the pouch word for word.
"So Sir leader, why are you pretending there's another leader?"
A smirk appeared on Feiyun's face. Such an easy opponent, to call himself an assassin, if this is their leader, the rest must be a disappointment.
"I-i-i"
"Don't need to say anything. I'll let you go back. "
With a flick of her finger, Feiyun sent a silver needle right into Luanlu's neck. His eyes rolling back as he crumpled to the ground.
"Get one of our guys to send him back along with this letter."
Feiyun already knew that the one behind this could only be the crown prince, having prepared in advance a greeting letter, she took it out and passed it on to one of the shadows kneeling close to the carriage with Luanlu's body flung over his shoulder.
"Princess sure is forgiving."
Ruyi dusted his hands as he place down the firewood, his eyes watching Luanlu and the shadow as they fade into the distance towards the capital.
Feixu agreed as she place down the hunted pheasant.
"Master Feiyun has always been a kind soul."
FeiAn flicked Feixu's forehead. Settling down beside her.
"Idiot... he was being sarcastic. Sending an assassin back all tied up with a letter, that just says he have revealed everything. I wonder if dying by princess's hands or the crown prince is worse."
Rubbing the reddish spot between her eyebrow, Feixu stared daggers at Ruyi who simply smiled like a crafty fox and escaped towards the carriage.
"Princess, would you like me to bring over the stew once we're done cooking?"
Poking her head out the curtains, Feiyun beamed like a little child.
"No! I want to stretch my legs. Sitting in this carriage all day is even more tiring. Tianhuo let's go!"
Just as she was about to leave, Tianhuo pulled her back and quickly slipped on a coat over her shoulders. Watching Feiyun blush red as she escaped off the carriage, a warm smile flashed through Tianhuo's eyes as he followed slowly.
Sitting along side each other, in front of the warm fire, Feiyun caught Tianhuo staring blankly into space. The orange fire reflecting in his dark blue eyes, flickering and crackling. Rarely did he show any signs of unawareness.
Poking his cheek with a finger, Feiyun drew his attention back.
"What's wrong?"
Tianhuo stared blankly at Feiyun, then realised she had asked him a question.
"Hmm... The Southern Bu lords are known for their Archers. The West are at a disadvantage."
Feiyun figured it had something to do with the war.Nodding her head, she turned towards Ruyi hinting for some sort of elaboration. Tianhuo simply was a man of little words.
Upon recieving her stare, Ruyi simply let out a small sigh as he explained.
"As Princess knows, there are 4 main armies in Xing.
In the North is the Blue Dragons, in the South is the Yellow Vermilion bird, the East holds the Red Turtle and the West the White tigers.
The main job of the Blue dragons is guarding the most important border, the North which connects to many other countries.
While the Red Turtles guards the sea. The West is an open grassland and the South is a steep rocky mountainous landscape.
So to say, bringing the Tigers of the west whose experience is in open battlefield to fight against the Northen Bu lords who have adapted to the rocky mountains is simply a death wish.
Apparently their archers are one of the best, some even shooting 3 arrows at a time. Swift and deadly aim with enough impact to burst holes in the ground. "
"Ohh? That is called 'the best' ? "
Tianhuo glanced at Feiyun's cheeky expression. The crease between his brow softening up.
'this little lioness must have something up her sleeve.'
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Note:
Hi!!! thanks for waiting! I seriously cant wait to finish the next chapter! Will try my best to finish up soon! hehehehe <3
-Aerus