AS PURE AS A JADE

"I want to go." 

Megara said while reclining against the wall. All the masters of the Liberation Front sect and Zale were standing in the restaurant of the inn. Each one has his different views and perspectives about the plague and the evil stone. Each Sect and Clan wanted one of their trusted men to go to Shu Clan for support but deep down everyone knew it was for the stone.

When Zale was assigning who to send...Blossom stepped forward. She truly didn't have any interest in the missing evil stone. She was apprehensive about her comrade, Agnes.

"No, I will go," Evenor said, stepping forward with his reasons. "You went last time, I will go this time." He said without looking at Megara. His persistent gaze was fixed on Zale. Megara wouldn't have stood in front of him but after knowing that Evandros was also joining in the voyage, she didn't want Evenor to go. Even back then these two did not have a good relationship.

"No...I will proceed." Megara said, stepping forward as well. Master Shin cleared his throat and looked at Chief Zale. "Why don't you send both of them?" Master Shin asked in a low voice but it was loud enough to drop on Megara's ear. 

Going together doesn't sound bad to her.

However...

"I would have sent both of you but more than two members are not allowed as per settings. Evenor....you will go back with us while Megara can proceed with the others. Just make sure not to catch the plague." Zale announced his answer and Evenor looked truly dissatisfied. Megara nodded at Zale and turned towards Evenor, not giving him any chance to speak any further.

She slowly raised her hand and put it on his left arm.

"I leave Luna to you. When you reach there, introduce her to my four disciples and tell them to take good care of her until I'm back." She said and Evenor sighed. He didn't wish for her to go but he knew how tenacious she was. Once she decides something it is hard to get her mind off that thing.

He was internally happy...because she still looked after him and leaned on him enough to hand her Luna instead of her uncle.

She didn't have much time to waste so she quickly went up to her room, grabbed her money pouch, wore her white cloak, and strolled downstairs. She didn't see Luna around as that girl would be wandering somewhere in the inn. 

"Let me lead you outside," Zale said and walked out of the inn with Megara. Once Megara was out of the inn she saw Evenor holding onto her horse reins at the side of the entrance.

He gently handed her the reins of her horse and Megara nodded at him before mounting her horse. She slightly looked down at Evenor and found him staring at her with puppy eyes as if he was sad. Megara couldn't help but faintly smile. 

"I will be alright." She said and he nodded before getting away from the horse and standing beside Zale. "You better be." He said. She nodded at both the males as a goodbye before turning her horse around and joining the crowd of martial arts brothers and sisters who were standing near the entrance of the sect to start their voyage. 

"You better come visit me again." 

She turned her horse to the left side and saw Marco standing beside his wife, sending the guests off. It was their first night of the wedding but things turned out a little hectic. 

"I will." She said while nodding at them. 

"Just make sure to send me a message if you see Agnes,"  Marco said and she nodded. "Leave it to me." She let out. They stood there for more than five minutes until everyone was present in the crowd. The crowd consisted of merely fifteen people. Mounting on their horses who were desperate for a run. 

Everyone bid bye to Marco before leaving the cross-sect squad behind. Of the two men of the Shu Clan who arrived here for help, one of them was in the crowd while the other one was dead.  

To make sure the plague does not spread in the Cross sect squad, the body was burnt in the nearby forest. Burning his body was suggested by his friend as they did the same thing with their deceased ones back at the Shu Clan.

Dust was left behind on the path as the group led ahead at a fast pace. Riding on a sword would have been reasonable but according to the man from the Shu Clan, there is a dark fog clouding above the Shu Clan and even enclosing it. Since Shu Clan is not very far, riding on horses was more appropriate since the fog affects spiritual energy one must cover their face while passing and try their best not to inhale the fog.

'Fog? It must be there to keep us away. Whoever he is, he is pretty strong in dark magic.' Megara thought and rode her horse beside Chief Azure of the Healer valley. Her eyes wandered around the mass of people riding on their horses. Her eyes paused on a familiar figure riding on a black stallion. He was wearing a black cloak that swayed in the air with each step the stallion took forward.

Her eyes narrowed when she saw someone sitting in front of him. Her jaw almost dropped when she saw a delicate maiden sitting in front of him. Her legs were on one side and her left arm was around his firm waist. Megara could see half of her face but not make out her features since they were far and continuously moving ahead. 

Her grip tightened on the reins she was holding as she darted her eyes away in annoyance. 

'Shameless bastard, Can't live without a woman even when going on such a serious mission. Shameless! Shameless.' She thought and gritted her teeth as her brows were knitted in a frown. 

She was going for Agnes, Chief Azure was going to help people and Evandros was going for the stone. If Evandros is going, why do these little chickens think they can get a stone? They are just squandering their time but every Sect and Clan must have their name on such occasions even if they are of no advantage.

Riding for God knows how long everyone decided to take a rest near the flowing lake before taking off again. Everyone was busy standing in small groups and giving their opinion about the incident. The man from the Shu Clan was silently sitting under the tree beside his horse, covered in a thick blanket as he felt very cold and shivered occasionally.

This plague...maybe it causes you fever and allergies. 

While observing him, Megara walked towards the lake while holding onto her horse reins. She turned her face towards her horse and with a gentle smile on her face, she patted her horse's head, combing its long white hair. 

"Drink the water." She said, since the horse was thirsty it lunged forward, bent down its neck, and started to chug the water down its throat. She continued to comb its hair until a giggle landed on her ears.

She slowly turned her head to the right side and found Evandros sitting on the huge rock beside the flowing lake with the girl sitting on her lap. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and she didn't look scared of him, like the three women in his bed. She was rather dressed like royalty. Was she his lover? Whatever it was...the scene was obscene in Megara's eyes. They were acting like this in front of so many people and weren't ashamed at all. 

Even when Megara and Evenor were considered lovers in a few people's eyes. They truly never acted like this. They never properly touched each other, the eyes were enough to say it all and do it all. Their love was as pure as a jade....because love is meant to be pure. 

Only if she wasn't marked...only if she...

Megara diverted her gaze away and looked down at the ring on her thumb. Caressing it with her fingers as she recollected her days with Evenor. This ring was put on by him...even though she has been commemorated she can't seem to take off this ring neither she will take it off in the future because she believed her soulmate will never win her heart nor she will win his. There was a huge wall between them...

The wall of hatred.

She looked back at the crowd...everyone was busy...no one approached her...no one approached him. Both of them didn't care but if Evenor was here...he would have been standing by her side. Indirectly flirting with her and keeping her company. While being in the Front Liberation Sect, she was so accompanied by others, she forgot what her origin was in the outside world.

She was regarded as someone who killed her master.

Regarded as a two-faced coward.

She truly cannot defend herself even after so many years...

She has reached a point where she believes she is to blame for whatever happened in the past.

She has trailed off her thoughts when all of a sudden her horse 'Neigh' abruptly rose in the air before going back on its four, almost crashing into Megara. Megara quickly held its reins and tried to calm it down but the more she tried to calm the horse the more triggered it became. That's when she noticed a black fog dancing around her horse. When her horse sensed the demonic power it immediately got alerted and tried to his alert the owner as well. It only calmed down when the screeching sound of her taking out her sword fell on its ears.

She almost stabbed the black fog but it dodged her attack and once again rushed toward its owner.

"Evandros fucking Linya." She whispered under her breath and raised her right hand. The chains around her wrists enlarged in size and like a lightning rushed behind the black ball with a sizzling sound...the sound was so harsh it was like the sky was tearing apart. Everyone turned to look at the drama, their gossip dying the moment they heard the sound of her chains. 

The black fog-like ball quickly settled itself around his wrist, forming a demonic tattoo but she did not pull the chains away instead her chains were now wrapped around his wrist, the chains tightening their grip on his wrist as if choking the demonic tattoo around his wrist.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" The girl on his lap asked arrogantly, her voice as sharp as a blade, almost making Blossom's ear bleed. 

The prior time she endured it but this time the target was her dear horse and she is kinda over-protective with her things, ain't no way she will let it slide even if lord Linya was standing in front of her, he did it deliberately.

She tightened the chain around his pale skin. He kept staring at his chained wrist with a deadpan face until he raised his head and turned to look at her. She ordered the girl sitting on his lap to get up.

Master Azure quickly approached Megara, telling her to let go of his wrist. Although she always appeared calm and cold front the outside, this time the manifestations were the same but her face was slightly red in malice. She is done with his bullshit a lot earlier.

She doesn't know a mountain of crisis awaits her...

He stood up from the rock and grabbed the chain with his left hand. He caressed the cold metal with the tip of his fingers before grabbing it, collecting the long chain slowly as he made his way toward her. His steps were short and slow.

"Let it go, Megara. We are on a serious mission." Master Azure said in a concerned tone. He stood beside her but with a great distance between them. "He started it." She said in a low voice. Although she was angry her voice was calm yet a little harsh. 

"You're a child with great endurance. Why must you act so rashly?" He asked. It was clear he didn't want these two to clash with each other. Judging by past incidents Megara shouldn't stand against him as it will bring great chaos upon her.

Megara eyed him, like a predator's eyes, its prey but to be exact his stare was way more intense than hers. His gaze was hooded and dark. Why is he so angry? Wasn't he the one who started it? Or is he so spoiled by his power he didn't expect a backlash? 

He slowly approached her while collecting her chains in his left arm, until they were almost touching the ground even after being wrapped in a circle. He stopped in front of her a little far. 

She was sure if these people weren't standing here, he would have knocked her up against the tree but since when did a lunatic like him start to care about people? She was ready to have combat with him, her spiritual power was there, unlike last time. 

But he...didn't fight her, although his expressions were deadly.

He tried to raise his right hand but it was held down with great force by her chains.

"My pet is dying." He said in a calm voice. His voice was so deep and chilly, Master Azure unconsciously stepped back. "You almost killed mine." She spat back at him. The left side of his mouth twitched and he nodded.

"I know...my pet was hungry." He said and she snorted. "Your pet is not in your control. Is he the pet or you?" She asked. Those who heard her questions almost fainted in shock as the other grabbed their arms asking them what she said. Master Azure took a deep breath...the expression on Evandros face darkened. Just as the young man took a step forward Master Azure quickly stood in between them.

"Pardon me, Lord Linya. She is very outspoken. I ask for forgiveness on her behalf as I'm one of her elders." Master Azure said and bowed down in front of Linya. Megara stared at the old man in shock and disbelief. She can't believe how everyone was so frightened to stand against this bastard. She will make sure one day she will convene all the masters of the Sects and Clans and make a whole plan to slaughter this man. 

She will never get along with him even if he is her mate. Once he is gone she will gladly marry Evenor. 

The old man stood up straight and turned towards Megara.

"Draw your chains away, right now." He said in a scolding manner. Megara stared at the ground before unwrapping her chains away from his right wrist. The chains reverted into her sleeves, vacating his palm and settling on their owner's skin. 

She kept her gaze on the ground before abruptly turning towards her horse.

"Everyone, we are leaving." Master Azure ordered. Since he was the oldest one in the group, he led all of them. Megara caressed her horse's head, feeling his heated gaze on her back. 

"Let's go, Master. Stop wasting your time with her." The girl clung to his arm and walked away with him. Only then did Megara take a breath of relief and mounted her horse. This horse was dear to her...this was her very first gift when she graduated. A gift from her master...everything she owned was given by someone who is no longer alive..such as her sword...this sword was her father's which then he passed to her. Her chain technique was given to her by her mother....all of them are now gone. With a heavy heart, she grabbed her horse reins and joined the crowd.

A lot of the past was to be unfolded.

A lot of misery was yet to come.

In both of them...she found herself on the edge of the cliff.

Can she endure what awaits her?