Chapter 124 - Kings Rising (4) M

Exhausted, Xun Zichen was drenched in sweat. His limbs grew wearier, trying to keep up with Yu Haoran's fluidity. She was fast and swift, creeping up on him every chance she got.

A knife had nicked his cheek, but it was nothing serious.

Xun Zichen was growing more tired. But he was pissed. Pissed that he hadn't found Su Xiang, pissed that his ex-fianc茅e wanted to murder him, and he had enough.

Xun Zichen charged directly at her as Yu Haoran patted her torso, looking for her beautifully carved lethal knives, and to her surprise, found one last one.

She looked at him and sprinted. She met him, tumbling over him. Xun Zichen fell on his back, dropping his sword. He tried to push her backward as the blade was mere inches from slitting his throat.

She locked him in with her strength, and Xun Zichen struggled. He wriggled beneath her, breathing heavily. She smiled venomously, and it irritated him more.

Xun Zichen gritted his teeth, fighting as the blade kissed his throat. He grunted, and she hissed. Xun Zichen sat up, and Yu Haoran's eyes widened. She thought exhausting him to death would be her advantage, but he was still fighting her with unprecedented strength.

Xun Zichen flipped her over, grasping his sword quickly.

Gleaming like starlight, he struck his sword, but it only hovered above her chest.

"Tell me where Xiang is!" he shouted breathlessly and angrily.

"No," breathed Yu Haoran.

The tip of his sword pierced the skin of her chest, and yet nothing escaped from Yu Haoran's mouth. She was really willing to die.

"Chen!" He heard Song Luli shout.

Xun Zichen didn't look up, not wanting to take his guard off.

"Help me聽tie her up," Xun Zichen instructed her.

"There's no point," Yu Haoran said, "I won't speak. Kill me now if you have to鈥?#34; her words stopped when she saw the cloaked-man behind then. "Wang Min?" she questioned.

The Cloak stepped forward.

Long Jie grabbed his collar, seething through his teeth. "You're a fucking Wang?"

The Cloak didn't flinch. "I'm not proud of my family, but yes, I am."

Long Jie let go of him, stepping away, not wanting to deal with it any longer. The Cloak straightened.

Song Luli was helping Xun Zichen tie Yu Haoran with some rope they found when he asked,聽"Where's Long Yuntian? I told him to find you guys."

Song Luli made eye contact with him, shaking her head.

Xun Zichen paused, stunned. He bowed his head unbelievingly, and Song Luli wondered just how much did Long Yuntian do to leave a mark on those around her.

"You're a fucking traitor!" Yu Haoran shouted from her side, directly at the Cloak. The Cloak crouched down close to her. "I don't believe in standing by people who cheat. That's what my cousin, Han Ru, has done his whole life. That's what Xun Yaozu did to the flock."

"You left me," she said grievously.

And suddenly, Song Luli felt as if she was listening to people arguing over a breakup.

"That's what happens when we're on opposite sides of the same war," the Cloak said.

Yu Haoran's lips quivered, not replying.

"Xun Zichen has nothing to do with what happened to your family. Let it go," he told her. "And give us the location of the girl."

Yu Haoran glanced away from him.

The cloak continued, "If you tell us where she is, then we can leave the city together, just as we spoke about before."

Yu Haoran's eyes widened as if hope glinted in them. Song Luli didn't expect her to be in love with this man, or in love at all.

Yu Haoran then glanced at Xun Zichen. "They put her in a crate, and they're most likely taking her to a shipment facility. I know you won't take my word for it, but they won't harm her, at least...not now."

Xun Zichen nodded, lifting her up. "You're coming with us, and if you say a word, or call for help, you won't get to leave with your lover," he said. Yu Haoran nodded, as Xun Zichen led her out of the building, holding her bound hands, pretending that nothing suspicious was going on.

The Cloak stayed back. "I'll meet you guys tomorrow. I will take your grandfather home and inform the butler. I'm sure he'll contact the rest of your family," he said.

Long Jie nodded and walked away, and Song Luli caught up to him. It was 3 in the morning when she drove most聽of them back home.

Upon arrival, she told whoever stayed where to sleep since they wanted to stick together, and Xun Zichen wasn't up for going back home, not alone, despite not being able to fall asleep anyway.

Song Luli locked Yu Haoran in a window-less room from the outside, leaving her with some food, water, and spare clothes since she was willing to cooperate. Xun Zichen and the old man stayed in separate guest rooms.

In the master bedroom, Song Luli watched as Long Jie barged into the walk-in-closet, arranging some clothes. He took out a jet-black tunic with high and round collars and large blue lapels with an azure dragon embroidered on the traditional Tang suit.

He hastily looked for matching pants when Song Luli sprinted towards him, grasping his hands. At first touch, he was strikingly cold. Song Luli held onto his hands, warming his skin. She looked up at his hollow eyes. "I'm sorry for what happened," she whispered, expressing her empathy.

Long Jie glanced at her sorrowfully.聽He then let go, approaching a case of bullets to reload his gun.

Frustrated, Song Luli said, "Can we just stop for a moment to take this time to grieve him."

"There's no time to grieve," Long Jie answered finally. "I need to keep going, and once I get my revenge, then will I take it in...that he's gone."

"Revenge?" Song Luli questioned, trying to make him see. "It's all roundabout. One person inflicts revenge, and it's a never-ending circle with loose ends and more vengeance. That's how it started."

Long Jie looked at her, considering her words.

Song Luli felt like she may have been too harsh. But, Long Jie wasn't taking the time to settle鈥攖o breathe and absorb.

Long Jie put his gun away.

"Let's wash up and try to get some rest for tomorrow," Song Luli said. "You don't need the blood on your hands and face anymore. You already have us as witnesses."

Long Jie nodded, listening to her.

Song Luli grasped his hand, guiding him to the bathroom. She stripped his clothing before stepping into the shower, and she took off her own. In the shower, she used a cloth to wash the blood from his body as the water below streamed red.

Long Jie didn't move, letting Song Luli wash his body thoroughly, and her own. Afterwards, she took a step forward, embracing him, allowing the water to rain over them. Long Jie held onto her, silently sobbing over her shoulder. Song Luli cradled his head, squeezing him tight, letting him know she was with him, there for him.

"I'm sorry," she said to him again. "I know he meant so much to you."

Long Jie hugged her tighter in response.

After a few long moments, she turned off the tap, guiding him out of the shower. She dried his body with a towel before taking him to bed.

Under the covers, Song Luli held onto him, bare and vulnerable.

Song Luli interlaced their fingers together, holding onto him. She then felt him shift on the bed, and unexpectedly he captured her lips. Song Luli let him kiss her slowly, gently immersing in each other's mouths. He became desperate, kissing her fiercely, breathlessly, as his hands ran over her body.

Song Luli gasped for air when he broke the kiss. He looked directly into her eyes with a deep burning desire.

"I want to be with you," Long Jie whispered.

"Me, too," she replied. "But not tonight."

Song Luli knew Long Jie wanted to bed her because he wanted to feel alive and connected again, but it wasn't the time.

Long Jie nodded as he rested his head on her chest. She held onto him, and they bother attempted to sleep.