"You said Brother Zihui had woken up?" Yun Ren Xie is surprised as she stared at Jiang Yi Huai who is standing beside her bed. He had just arrived tonight to relay the news.
"En." he nodded his head gently. "That night, how did you use azure flames?"
"Azure flames?" she blinked her eyes with a confused look, Jiang Yi Huai knitted his brow.
"The fire you used, its a fearful power. Not to hide it from you but the demon clan are after it. Azure Flame can devour anything."
"Jiang Yi Huai, just who are you? Why do you know this much?" Yun Ren Xie had an inquisitive glance at him but he simply chuckled as if it was funny.
"If you hadnt drank the soup of oblivion, you will remember everything. I cant tell all the truth, figure it out yourself. And the only way to know it is to die." Jiang Yi Huai stood up and left the tent, she is about to call out for him to come back but he quickly left her sight.
Yun Ren Xie had her mouth gaping slightly. She prepared herself and dismissed all the questions in her thought. After dressing up and eating her dinner, Yun Ren Xie went to Xiang Zihui's tent. There she saw servants entering with food trays and water.
Sighing in nervousness, she calmed herself down and entered the tent. Her gaze immediately caught the stare of purple iris. Not long ago, they were closed but now, its looking at her with indescribable feelings.
"Dage...." Yun Ren Xie walked towards him, all the servants were ordered to leave. She immediately broke down to tears but hesitated to hold him as she stood in front of the bed.
Xiang Zihui is silent, he gestured for her to sit beside him. Yun Ren Xie obediently sat, she didnt expect he would hold her hand.
"I heard you drank wine every night and sleep inside my tent?" he asked while caressing her small soft hand, Xiang Zihui glanced upward to meet her wide almond eyes.
"Dont do that. And I will never hate you, alright?" Xiang Zihui smiled with pure tenderness as he planted a gentle kiss at the back of her hand. "I'll dissolve the marriage between you and Nian Feng. Ah Lian, do I..... Do I still have a chance?"
Yun Ren Xie cant speak, she had her eyes lowered in hesitation. "Is that a no?" he asked, it was for the first time Xiang Zihui felt useless. His heart is in pain.
She blinked to stop the tears from falling. "I... Brother Zihui, we cant be together."
The last four words were like knives stabbing him, he refused to listen so!
"Why? What do you mean? Have you loved Nian Feng? Is it because I've fallen into this state? Are you dissatisfied-"
Before he can even finish his question, the girl had her lips pressed unto him. He had no idea why she cant answer him. Xiang Zihui responded with gentleness, his heart is beating fast.
Yun Ren Xie broke the kiss and had their forehead touched with her eyes closed as Xiang Zihui stared at her with pleading gaze. They were both gasping for air while holding each other's face. He saw teardrops falling from her cheeks, she is biting her quivering lips and her long lashes trembled.
"Its no use." she meekly said. Yun Ren Xie moved away before gently removing his grasp and wiped the tears with a warm smile."Forget it. Im glad your awake. Dage... Dage should eat dinner."
Xiang Zihui's fist clenched, why wont she look at him? Cant she see his eyes were red as he tried hard to stop himself from crying! Why wont she answer him? Can she not feel how aggrieved he is jumping in conclusions that she had taken a liking to Nian Feng?
In their silence, Yun Ren Xie took advantage of the situation and walked up to pick a bowl of soup, she casually sat beside him while gesturing to feed Xiang Zihui. "If- if Dage wont mind..."
He stared at her for a while and released a sight before moving to lean on the headboard of the bed as his body lay in a relaxed position. They didnt speak, Xiang Zihui let her feed him but he refused to finish all of it.
Yun Ren Xie smiled helplessly. She stood up and set the soup back to the table, about to call the maidservants in-
"Stay."
Her body froze in a moment as she turned to look at him, he had his head lowered, Xiang Zihui's untied hair blocked his face. "Is there something wrong? Does Dage feel hurt? Do you want Ah Lian to call Sir Jiang?" she asked, her stride going towards the bed and stood at the side to wait for his answer.
In close proximity, she can see his cold expression. "It does hurt." he answered shortly, Yun Ren Xie was terrified and about to go out in order to find a doctor but before she can even take another step, Xiang Zihui had his hand gripping tightly on her wrist. Her eyes widened when he suddenly pulled her as she abruptly fell on the bed and Xiang Zihui's other hand was around her waist.
They were so close, her head is facing his chest but if she were to lift it, she would meet Xiang Zihui's lips. He placed her hand on top of his chest where his heart is beating, it was throbbing fast out of nervousness.
"My heart is in pain."
His words shocked Yun Ren Xie as she subconsciously lifted her head, their lips met but she quickly retracted. Xiang Zihui is stubborn as he drew closer to her however, Yun Ren Xie still moved back. He had enough and used his other hand to hold her head close, Xiang Zihui pressed his lips lightly on her before moving them. His eyes were closed, unable to see Zhao Chulian's surprised gaze. She is about to speak when he took advantage of it, sliding his tongue inside. The taste of plain soup were savoured by both of them.
Her heart is beating wildly, what if this gets out of hand? Yun Ren Xie's mind went blank, nothing can enter her thought. She is about to submit on him when a fishy taste welled up in her throat. Yun Ren Xie quickly uses all her force to break free from him, she pushed him in great strength but he wont move. Her hand raised and slapped Xiang Zihui.
He immediately let go, that slap had woken him up but before he can even reach out for her, Zhao Chulian hastily jumped off the bed. She tried to walk steadily but her vision grew blurry. The fishy taste of blood emerged as she coughed fervently, Yun Ren Xie reached her hand out and held unto the table to stand straight.
"Are you alright?" Xiang Zihui doesnt care about his injuries, he walked towards her. Yun Ren Xie removed her hands that covered her mouth, their eyes widened. It was covered in blood.
She gazed at him but she can barely make out his features. Xiang Zihui saw blood were dripping from her mouth, she is about to fall behind when he quickly pulled her close to him.
"Ah Lian. Ah Lian!" Xiang Zihui called for her yet her eyes were slowly closing. She refused to closed them, she wanted to be with him!
"Xiang Zihui, I cant breathe." her voice was close to a whisper as he carried her in his arms.
"Hold on, Jiang Yi Huai can cure you! Dont close your eyes, alright?"
"But Im tired." she leaned on his chest, his heartbeat resounded which made her feel secured. "Xiang Zihui, can you stop for a moment?"
As if he didnt hear her, he still continued to walk fast, there were no soldiers or maids around. "Stop!" she glared at him and tugged weakly on his colar.
Xiang Zihui bit his lip and stopped. "I want to see the wisteria blossoms. Not with the sunset but with the moon. Xiang Zihui, your eyes are the wisteria and the moon is your hair. Dont worry, I will.... will always remember you." Yun Ren Xie tried to reach her hand to touch his face and remove those tears but before she can even hold him, she became one with the darkness.
He saw her hand hanging, her body went limp as she finally closed her eyes. He wont see those limpid pair of red orbs anymore. Xiang Zihui lifted his gaze to the sky, his eyes went red. "Damn you (God of Fate)!"
Xiang Zihui lost his strength and knelt on the icy cold ground. Her body is cold, her soul is gone, this lifetime is a disaster.
"Wake up! Let's go see the wisteria in Shouchun, okay?"
"Ah Lian, do you hate me that much?"
"You said you wanted to have a glimpse of wisteria under tha moon! Why wont you open your eyes?"
"I wont force you anymore."
"I thought you love me? Then why wont you come back?"
"Please...."
"Ah Lian."
"Ah Lian...."
"I will always love you. Forgive me for being too heartless....."