Chapter 433 - CURSED ENDING: PART IV

Was I really too late?

Is this all my doing? 

By the time Elizabeth reached the estate, it was more gruesome than before. More blood has been split and the sight of it made her stomach quiver. 

This can't be?

She fell down on her knees as she notice flames near the mansion area. She did not have any single ounce of hope for the people in the mansion. It was inevitable to begin with that such ending will occur. But, she hoped for the best yet it seems heaven was not in her side this time. 

It made her wonder if the workers working in the mansion survived. She did not worry for the mercenaries but more of the maids working there. Some of them were younger than her and for them to be put in a situation they are not prepared for made her guilty of everything. 

This is all my fault. 

One would indeed blame her for everything but others won't. For some it its there mission to protect her but those who have not accept the reality of the situation would indeed blame her. They have high hope and dreams and for it to be taken away in an instant was too unrealistic for them to accept. 

As she continue to contemplate on the situation, it suddenly occured to her as to why she returned despite she have escaped. 

Yun Shen. 

.....

Before Elizabeth's arrival, Yun Shen too had arrived at the scene. His men on station were all waiting for him already. As they approach the entrance of the estate, he notice a group of mercenaries on stand by. He too wonder who they could be and what reason they have come as well. Seeing his men have reported they been statued there for quite some time already. 

"Have you found out who they are?" 

"I'm sorry, Young Master, I'm still waiting for the reports."

"Are they Lord Knightley's men?" 

His assistant shook his head, "I think not, they aren't wearing of the Knightley's family crest on them."

"Hmm." 

It bother him to see such well trained mercenaires just on stand by. The situation did not look good already and for someone like them to be waiting there just wasn't a good sign. 

'I just hope they aren't here for Li Zi.'

Even though he prayed for it, it was already bound to happen that those men will soon be after the girl. All of them are here for her. Only he and Xiaotong are the fools going in a war zone to rescue the girl. 

"Where should we go?" 

"I'll receive reports that the first squad is on their way to meet us."

"Hmm." 

Yun Shen couldn't explain as to why he found the place familiar somehow. He looked around all confuse curious as if whether he has been to this place before. 

'Have I?' he thought, but he did not let him bother him as he saw his men all arriving. 

"Young Master." 

"Hmm, lead the way." 

Yun Shen was clever to sent scout to the area so they won't have trouble going through the mazed forest. He received reports that not a single soul has reached the mansion since the forest itself was hard to escape. But luckily, he was not a fool like the others (including Feng Xiaotong) who went to battle without even survialling the area. Only a fool would step into battle without knowing the situation. 

As he and his men headed inside the forest. Those men on stand by looked at his as he went in. 

"Should we go?" 

"Hmm, we better go since he went in already." 

Those elite mercenaries grab there gun as they headed inside the forest as well. They have been waiting not for the girl but for the man to arrive. 

If Yun Shen finds out that those men were after him and not the girl he would be so pleased, but confuse as to why they are after him. He would wonder who wish for his life and who knew that he'll be there. 

As things in the forest get even more bloody. The cries of men echoes making the forest felt even more eerie and haunted. There were so many gunshot all over the place and once would feel unease by it. It was dark and the only light was the moon. Thankfully, the clouds have disappeared making it easy for them. 

The fact it would be dangerous if they use their own light for it would make them an easy target. 

"Young Master Feng, should we really continue following that child?" 

Feng Xiaotong has experience so many bloodshed since following Jo. His men were unable to move at all when the real battle was brought in front of them. Luckily, Jo was with them and showed no mercy to those who dares appear in front of them. Which is why, they all felt unease by following him for the fact their necks could be next. 

"We have no choice, he knows where Li Zi could be. Plus, he knows the area better." 

"That true, but he did mentioned he is unsure of the Young Miss location as well. Young Master, if I may say. Somehow I feel that the Young Miss is no longer in the area."

"What made you say that?" 

Before the man continue his explaination, he gather his thought as to why he thought the girl is no longer in the area. "As you notice, we've encounter quite a lot of mercenaires already. THe kid always drag as to where all teh fighting are. From what I can see, it seems he expects the Young Miss would be were all the fighting are but somehow she's never there. What is she has found a way out and left already. I mean, she is in search of..."

"What?" Feng Xiaotong looked at his men who has turned muted. He saw fear in his eyes as he turned to whom he could be looking at. 

"What did you say? She no longer here?" 

....Ah?

Everyone looked all panicky when they wintess Jo's expression suddenly turned cold. They were so happy when he never showed interest to them at all. He has never looked back at them nor check on them if they were fine. But thanks to this babbler mouth, the beast have finally notice them. 

"What made you think she no longer here? Tell me before I'll cut that useless tongue of yours." Jo was not irritate at the man but to himself. He was stupid enough to think the girl would still be in the area. It didn't occur to him at all that she have left and continue her search for the professor. 

'What was I thinking... Of course she've left, why would she even bother with all this bugs. They are nothing for her.' 

"We-well... Well, you see... I've notice we've surveyed most of the forest already yet still have not found here. Seeing we are not heading to the mansion at all. I pressume she not there as well. I-I..." 

The words could no longer escape his mouth when he saw the expression on Jo's face turned sour even more. He dare not spout such nonsense and have his life be taken away from him. He was really happy by the fact they've made is so far without losing a single head. 

"Tell me the truth, is Li Zi still in the mansion or not?" 

Jo was pissed off by the fact Feng Xiaotong laid his hand on him. He had this mocking smile signifying that the fool has indeed forgotten who he was and where they were again. He was acting tough when he was only a bug to him. But, he dares not do anything... "Yeah, she not there..."

As if the world just collapse on him. Feng Xiaotong looked as if he suddenly aged and all the hopes he was holding onto soon turned to dust as the wind blew it away. 

"Young Master, we need to leave this place as once."

"Contact the chief police and have him lockdown the area." Feng Xiaotong commanded as soon as he realizes that there still could be hope. The fact Yun Shen is unaware of the situation, he is still on the lead and can take this advantage to find the girl. 

"Wait..." 

They all paused as the familiar voice spoke again. 

"How sure are you that she won't come back here?" 

HUH???

They all have this bewildered look on their face. Even Xiaotong who just gained his confidence back suddenly looked trouble again. 

"What do you mean?" He asked. 

"Since your here, it means the boy his coming here as well." 

"You mean Shen?" 

"Do you think she'll let anything happen to him?" 

It made everyone speechless. For what he said was undoubtedly true. There was a high chance that the girl will return if she knows the man would be here. Seeing that the person in front of them was aware of their arrive it just means the girl too knows about it. 

"She coming back?" Feng Xiaotong had this bitter smile of disappointment on his face. 

"Obviously." Jo answered, feeling sorry for the man. The fact even if he turned the world upside down, the two seem to be star-crossed lovers and were bound to be with each other even if death was the end for them. 

'Idiot.' 

He looked at him before he continued on his way. He couldn't understand why such a man would continue to hold onto something they were never meant to have. It was obvious the girl was in love with the man yet he continued to act blind about it. It made him wonder if he was one too… He wonders if he is an idiot the fact he continues to look for the girl even though she has left him behind.