"The food is ready. Come eat."Feng Shao called Lui Xian who was busy writing something on paper.He grabbed the pot still on fire with his bare hands, resulting in him having a scalding wound.When he cried out letting the burning hot pot go, Lui Xian was already on his side, putting the burnt hand in cold water and blowing at it. "What were you thinking? Now, look what happened." Although he acted like he was scolding him he was just pained to see him hurt. He searched for some balm in their things and gently applied it before wrapping the wound with a bandage.When he was done. He made Feng Shao sit a little away from the fire and then took the pot with a used paper and shared the food between them. Feng Shao had burned the hand he used to eat with so it was up to Lui Xian to feed him.Lui Xian went and sat close to him. He took a spoon and deeped it into the beef stew. He blew at the portion on the spoon and put it on Feng Shao's mouth for him to take. Feng Shao felt like his life
Feng Shao's hand had healed and also his cold was gone.They now had time to continue their search.Lui Xian made absolute arrangements so that he would not be sick again."Which mountain do you think we should check today. If you choose we might be lucky" Feng Shao asked looking at Lui Xian in the eyes. Lui Xian just pointed at a random mountain knowing very well that the results may be the same."Okay then. Let's go." This time they rode their horses and left them at the foot of the mountains before climbing up. Although it wasn't easy, it made them a lot closer. Lui Xian helped him through it all."This one feels pretty much cold. The herb must be close." "Yeah, hopefully, we must find it soon." The two conversed whilst looking around for it. The top was clear and blanketed with thick snow. No plant was in sight. The two even searched at the edges thinking that they might be lucky. Unfortunately, the results were discouraging.They got down sliding on a board they had brought. It
"We are lucky we ended up finding it at the very last mountain. I can't believe that it is only a shoot." Lui Xian commented organizing Feng Shao's workplace just at one corner of the cave. A shoot and several types of herbs were splattered on the ground. And Feng Shao had a small mortar and pestle pounding at some herbs to make it into powder. At the side, there was some water in a small container."I am happy we got to find it. Now I can make the antidote without missing any ingredient. How I wish I had found it sooner." Feng Shao spoke, mixing the now wet powder with little bits of the green shoot which had been boiled in a pot."Great. Also, we will be on the road early in the morning. I think I should gather our horses and keep them close. This place is very cold, I don't like seeing you sick again." Lui Xian showed concern earning a big smile from his companion.He reached for some wood and added it into the fire, thereafter, putting a pot with dried meat so to make lunch. It d
Creak.Creak.The two men were back on the road.Their horses were moving at a slow pace making it very comfortable to travel in the small cart. They passed by tall trees that were beside the road, giving a sharp effect on the track that led them back to their home. The weather had changed, unlike the time they left from here. The nature around them was blooming beautifying the whole place. Butterflies fluttered about showing their beauty. Birds chirped on top of trees, some dancing around with their wings spread wide flapping about. The sky was sky blue, with traces of clouds.There was also a cool breeze and also lots of shades under these trees. All the coldness they had been through for a month and a half in the mountains had been drained and replaced by the warmth of spring.In the small cart, Feng Shao leaned on Lui Xian's shoulder, his right hand clutching something. He was absent-minded. His eyes were focused on the floor beneath him. He was deep in thought, trying to decide i
"I like you." Feng Shao confessed. His balled hands getting sweaty. And his eyes wandered anywhere but him. He couldn't keep it in anymore. He couldn't hide by the term friends anymore. Was it really being greedy to want him for himself? The moment they had left the mountains, he had an unsettling feeling, like Lui Xian was going to be taken away from him the moment they returned. Feng Shao didn't want that. He couldn't bear it. "I really like you." He emphasized taking a step closer to Lui Xian who took a step back.Then there was silence overwhelming the small place then followed by the sound of a bottle crushing. Feng Shao gazed at the ground where glass shards scattered there on top of wet soil. His heart stopped. The disappointment he felt when he saw that his hard work was all for nothing, made him crazy. He dug his sharp nails in his palms then looked away. The antidote he had gone to such pains to search for a rare ingredient for was lost in mere seconds and his feelings were
Feng Shao treaded in the forest making sure that he wasn't noticed by the two men he was tailing. He watched them stop at a giant tree that was green and brimming with life. Lui Xian was behind The Emperor and left some space between them so that he would not step on his gown that swept the ground. The two stopped and started talking to each other.Feng Shao drew closer to their spot. He wanted to hear what they were saying. The moment the monarch came, Feng Shao had started to fear that he would take Lui Xian away. He couldn't let that happen. It hadn't been easy to put his feelings across to that fool and as matters stood he was likely to be rejected. However, he couldn't give up. There was some hope. He believed in the time they spent together.'He will come to me.' Feng Shao seemed to be telling himself that. He was trying to convince himself as well as some of the doubts that were lingering in him. He continued observing the two scanning at any abnormal behaviour that could possi
After a while grieving and immersing himself in the depths of his abyss, Feng Shao staggered back to the place he had once felt the enthusiasm to return to but now dreaded to see the sight of it.He had exhausted all his tears. His eyelids were swollen and made him look a mess.He took each step towards the house, feeling as if his heart was being pricked by a sharp needle.When he arrived at the doorstep, he noticed that most of the things in the little room were gone. All that was Lui Xian's belongings were nowhere to be seen. His book he liked to read, his clothes that were always suspended on the window, his sac and also his sword which is the root of all evil.'If only I had got rid of it.'Feng Shao entered inside dejectedly. He took a seat on a cushion and gathered all the equipment he used to make the antidote. He planned to throw them away. He even considered throwing everything away that linked him to the jerk he once desired to have.Looking back, he realized he had been too
"Xian!"Lui Xian welcomed Rushan who fell into his arms. It had been a long time since they last saw each other. Lui Xian could see some changes in him."Your highness, how are you?" Rushan didn't wait for Lui Xian to continue asking him questions. Instead, he hugged him once again smiling ear to ear. "I didn't think you would come here this early. Did you bring the one you wrote in the letter? I can't wait to see him. Where is he?"The prince was too excited and didn't put in mind the fidgeting behaviour Lui Xian was showing at the side.All he thought of was seeing the beautiful person the other wrote with such detail in their previous letter. When he received the news, Rushan had been extremely happy knowing that he was finally moving on.He knew it was hard to do so but it wasn't entirely impossible."Come on, show me the way to him." The prince demanded in an effort to drag him to a pathway that led to his new quarters. At the sides, various types of colourful flowers had bloome