My fate really is cursed.
Every one of my lifetimes have led me to this point. The point of an undeserving death!
Why, yes! Marriage to me is a certain death.
That's why I snuck out from the village before Yang Zi Huo could stop me. Telling him I had to go the bathroom and then made my way to the stables.
Of course, the carriage driver didn't want to drive me anywhere. He still wanted to drink the night away in celebration of the festival. When he saw my last gold tael, he got on his carriage fast and eagerly awaited my instructions.
I slept for awhile on the ride. Awaking, I notice the shades of the sunrise penetrating through the carriage's paper windows.
The horses neigh loudly, stomping their feet. I fall out of my seat. The carriage driver yells as though he is going to meet his doom. A large shadow casts on the carriage curtain.
There is a raw stench. Like frozen meat. I swing the curtain open to see a half man, half demon about to consume the carriage driver.
Its scaly, green tail is that of a snake, wrapped around the carriage driver's waist. Its long tongue slithers in and out of its mouth. Long hair covers the demon's pale face.
Instincts kick in. The Meteor Sword appears in my hand. Aiming the tip at the snake demon's head, I focus all of my strength on killing it. The snake demon sees my attack, and evades it, still keeping a tight hold on the carriage driver.
I can take that demon. I can.
I remember the Distant Sword Tactic. It's been a long time since I've used it, but I can perform the technique to stun the snake demon.
Formulating the entirety of my inner powers into a source of energy inside the Meteor Sword, I slice the air in the snake demon's direction. To avoid being sliced in half, it drops the carriage driver.
I race over the the carriage driver and yell, "Get out of here now!"
I didn't have to tell him twice. He runs back toward the village without his carriage. Probably isn't his priority now.
"You aren't so helpless, are you little one?" Its voice is eerily smooth.
"And you aren't so intimidating yourself."
"Yang Zi Huo's new play thing, are you? You will be a fun meal."
His mouth stretches open and his fangs are the first thing I see. He is fast. He tries to bite my arm, but I avoid him by jumping back.
"You're a fun chase!" He says.
His tail whips around. It slaps against my waist causing me to falter over. I'm able to fix my stance as he deforms into a more human like form.
His tail morphs into legs. A green robe of tattered cloth falls over his body. Effortlessly, he walks toward me. His fangs poke out from the deranged smile on his face.
Using the Meteor Sword to shield myself, I warn him, "If you're after me because of Yang Zi Huo, let me tell you that you're making a mistake."
He doesn't care to pause his steps.
I continue, "I'm nothing to that blue fire demon as he is to me."
"I don't care. I wanna eat you."
He lunges at me with his hands. I use the Meteor Sword to block him, but his sharp nails slides in conflict with my blade. We fight continously as I block and he advances. After awhile I could feel my strength lessening.
He knocks the sword out of my hand. Grabbing either side of my arms, the snake demon is impatient to eat me whole. Hissing a misty breath, he is about to take a bite of my neck.
"Rong Xin!" Yang Zi Huo arrives in the nick of time. He conjures flames throughout his body. His eyes lightens to an intense whitened blue.
"Rong Xin?" The snake demon hesitates and his hold softens around me.
Yang Zi Huo strikes him with a flaming ball of energy, and he yelps. They continue their fight deeper into the forest. I follow them closely, observing their combat.
The snake demon flies into the air, letting his tail appear once again. However, his whole entire human form is gone. His upper body blends in with the long form. His head is a complete snake head with red eyes. A patch of burned skin could be seen surrounding his left eye. He spots me on the ground and swoops in with his gaping mouth.
I ready the Meteor Sword to stab its throat.
"Rong Xin!"
Yang Zi Huo runs to shield me, even though I didn't ask for him to do that. The snake demon uses his tail to wrap around Yang Zi Huo's body. The snake demon's breath of ice spreads all over Yang Zi Huo.
I'm surprised Yang Zi Huo cannot break out from the snake demon's hold.
"Yang Zi Huo!" I call him.
His fury of blue flames dissipates and reignites.
I have to do something!
My hold around the Meteor Sword tightens, and I run towards the snake demon. Yelling with passion, I cut into the snake's tail. Hitting the bone, the sword comes to a ragged stop. Forcing it all the way, the snake cries loudly. Its screech piercing my ears.
It spat a venomous acid in the air as its tail falls to the ground, flapping violently. The acid burns through Yang Zi Huo's sleeve and onto his left arm. He winces in pain.
Falling to the ground, I go over to him, clutching him in my arms.
"Yang Zi Huo!"
The snake demon slithers off, leaving its tail behind. The rotting meat crystallizes into a clear like gem. Steams of icy winds oozes off from it.
Yang Zi Huo's face turns blue. I grab deep into his clothes.
"Zi Huo, what's wrong?"
"It's the venom... Ugh."
"We are going back to Bleak Night. Ming Yan can save you. Bear with me."
My heart is pounding fast, sweat drips down my face. Ushering Yang Zi Huo on my back, I place him inside the carriage that the carriage driver had abandoned.
Forcing the horses to move fast, I keep a close eye on Yang Zi Huo. His face is pale and his lips blue, but he is still grunting here and there. Meaning he's still somewhat alive, and Ming Yan can definitely cure him!
I reach the gates of Bleak Night at last. Stepping off the carriage, I run over to the gates, widely knocking on the door.
"Hurry up! Sect Leader Yang is hurt! He needs to be treated immediately!"
The doors open quickly and the men follow me to the carriage. They see the exhausted Yang Zi Huo barely alive inside. Two men quickly escorts him to the medicine wing with me following along.
Ming Yan removes herself from her desk. She looks upset with her eyebrows furrowed. She directs the men to place Yang Zi Huo on a cot.
I step closer to observe her healing process, but she stops me.
"Please step back." Her eyes glare with intense disdain. She pulls a curtain to block my view, and soon her little disciple guides me outside.
Hours went by. I'm still outside pacing back and forth. My fingers are clasped together with nails digging into my skin.
I'm worried. Worried about Yang Zi Huo because I caused him to become injured.
Why did he come to save me? Why did he put himself in harm's way? You would only do that if you... really loved someone...
Not possible. He doesn't love me. And I don't love him. Although he's told me that he does, I've always ignored it.
I'm only worried because I was useless and couldn't defend myself. It was my fault.
I've seen him killed demons before, but why was it that this time he's allowed himself to get injured like this?
Ming Yan steps outside appearing exhausted.
"How is he?" I walk up to her.
She breathes through her nose, and her eyes displays anger.
"What have you done to him?"
"I didn't--"
"Ever since you've came back into his life, he's been hurt over and over."
"I..."
"You don't even care about him, so why are you still here?"
"I..."
I don't know.
She reprimands me, "He's been hurt significantly. I don't want him to continue being so careless."
"You want me to leave?"
She doesn't speak for a minute then confesses, "Yes."
For some reason, I want to stay. Stay and make sure he is really going to be okay.
"Don't worry, Ming Yan. I won't take Yang Zi Huo away from you. If you want me to leave, I'll leave... I really do hope it works out between you two."
I turn around, walking slowly back to the gate entrance. As if my legs are made of heavy rocks, my feet drags across the ground in short strides.
Almost nearing the gates, I hear a faint sound. A wind blows past. Pushing my hair back into place, I see a figure crouching on the ground.
He coughs vigorously until blood spatters onto the dirt.
I race to his side. "Yang Zi Huo, what are you doing?! You moron!"
He grabs ahold of my hand, squeezing it desperately. "You can't leave. Can't leave me."
"..."
He has difficulty breathing, wheezing air out his mouth.
"Yang Zi Huo!" Ming Yan runs toward us and so does Wu Jing.
They both stop in their tracts when they see that Yang Zi Huo is clinging onto me.
"Zi Huo, Yuxing won't leave. Please come rest, all right?" Wu Jing coax him as he would a child. He tries to help Yang Zi Huo stand, but Yang Zi Huo shoves him off.
"Yuxing... You can't leave. Can't leave me again," he mutters.
He is such a fool. I caused him to be hurt, and I don't even care for him and yet...
"Miss Yuxing, why don't you stay here for a few days until Zi Huo has recovered?" Ming Yan suggests.
I make a confused look. "Uh. Sure."
"Good. Please help Wu Jing bring Zi Huo to his room. He needs to rest."
I nod to her request. She calmly retreats back the way she had frantically ran from. She is allowing me to stay for Yang Zi Huo's sake.
Wu Jing helps me walk Yang Zi Huo to his chambers. Setting him down on the bed, I place the covers over Zi Huo.
"I'll take my leave." Wu Jing heads out.
I turn my attention to a meek Yang Zi Huo. His paper pale face has not improved, and his lips remain a blue hue.
"Why did you come after me like some abandoned puppy? Silly man." I lecture him.
He attempts to smile. "I didn't want you to leave me. You were trying to leave me before you ran into that snake demon."
"When did I..."
I guess what he said was true. I was trying to escape.
"Promise me that you won't leave me in my moment of weakness?" He pleads.
Yang Zi Huo's eyes. They were gleaming with desperation like when he begged me to take him with me after I saved him from slave traders. Those eyes.
"Fine. I promise. Now be good, and get better."
With those words from me, Zi Huo is able to close his eyes. His breathing returns to normal. His hand is still clutching onto mine, holding it in place, afraid I would go back on my promise.
Kneeling beside the bed and in an uncomfortable position, I find myself falling asleep.