Chapter 3

Wei Li Lian
The Black Sword Academy

Yuwen Hong did what he knew to―taking over any place he sat his foot on. The surroundings were scattered with servicemen on guard, standing against anyone who dared to impose.

The court lady escorting Li Lian was not someone she had seen before when she was in the palace, but she couldn’t ask that if she was serious about abiding to her plan.

“Please, My Lady.” The woman bowed by the entrance into the quarters of Yuwen Hong. Li Lian had been around it but never inside.

The court lady pulled the curtain at the entrance and Li Lian entered, not feeling her feet.

The welcoming chamber had dark tones just like Master Oren’s but with the windows facing where the light came from, it was well lit. She saw Yuwen Hong sitting on a small make-shift throne seat made of less glamorous stones than what he had in the palace.

He was still the same, the same confidence, the same air of nobility around him and the same love in his eyes.

He however, wore casual robes, the same he wore when he first took her out of the palace. The matching outfit.

She didn’t know if he was aware of it but his legs shook nervously as his index finger continuously thumbed the wooden table before him. He was not yet aware of her presence as he seemed too consumed by anxiety to notice.

He lifted his wine bottle and messily poured the liquid into the tiny cup, splurging a lot on his table.

Yuwen Hong drank in one go and banged the cup on the table. Another fill, then he hurriedly drank, before breathing out slowly, waving his hands through his hair, although it was tightly tied. Again he went on his anxious trail, thumping away. This part of him was not the “same”.

She took another step and that is when he realised her presence.

Their eyes took each other in, an exchange that said a thousand words. His rested on her, not unblinking, but slow and wanting to pause the moment. The warmth and softness could not be mistaken, they missed each other.

He rose like an agile lion, not sure where to step and how to act. There was no competition about “the one who speaks first is the loser to love and will love the most in the relationship”. No. He wasn't afraid to admit his loss and the mountain of feelings he couldn’t wait to express and get out of him.

“Li Lian,” he blushed.

“Grand General?” Outside the palace, he was not to be addressed as His Majesty for safety reasons.

He frowned. "What do you mean by that formal greeting?"

She shifted. “I don’t know how to say it, but I don’t remember you.” Her stomach dipped. She should not lie, it never ends well.

His eyes went expressionless, his cold visage replacing one he had of familiarity.

“They say I was your concubine, but I don’t remember―” She had started with it, but she never got to finish the sentence.

He slammed her against the wall behind her, his lips taking hers and silencing her. Her eyes rolled to the back, caught off guard, and a slight moan escaped her mouth.

This wasn't the plan. Not the plan at all. But she was a goner. She clutched onto his shoulders as he hoisted her up into his arms and dug his fingers onto her behind.

Her legs did not waste time in betraying her by snuggling around his waist, craning her neck onto him as she opened her mouth and let their tongues war against each other. He grinded against her, groaning in pleasure and lust. His breath was hot, just like his wet lips that smeared her and tried to suck out her soul for possession.

Her feelings were ravenous for him, but a part of her still fought against what they had and felt. She tried to back away, biting his lip as she pulled away in the agony of wanting a whole lot more to transpire between them.

He moaned in appreciation of the sexy bite and grinded a little more on her, pressing his erection on her pelvis.

They were hardly breathing, breathless and worked out. However, he did not let up as he yanked her hair to make her head tip up and look at him. He was still thirsty for her.

She gave it to him―although she knew better―taking his lips one last time, and then pushed him away, unbuckling herself to her feet.

She missed that. It was hot and she wanted more of that.

They looked at each other, the air cackling, their hearts still in sync by beating fast. He pulled her hair to the side, revealing her neck, and refusing to allow her to think more of it, he shoved her against the wall, painfully. And gave it to her. Hard.

He bit a vein which had her squeal and digging her nails on his shoulders. A wave of arousal washed her, possessing her to keep his head on her neck as she writhed.

But that's when he pulled away, standing to his full domineering height.

“You were telling me something?” he reminded her hazy mind, daring her to continue with the lie, yet a warning hid in his words.

She shook her head. “I… I… uh…”

“Shut up, Li Lian. I missed you.” He pulled her to him and hugged her tightly, his hard familiar body taking her in. “My Little Fox is still a lying wanton, I see,” he whispered.

Why was he doing this? He was way sweeter than what she remembered.

Freedom, can you be enough as him? Definitely not.

“She is not a lying woman, but just a girl who is afraid,” she muttered. Those arms, she missed them so much. In them was she the safest. In them, she was home.

He finally released her and looked at her up and down. “How have you been?”

If it was scars he looked for, he wouldn't find any because of her blood. Another secret.

“Fine," she replied, suddenly shy under his intense gaze.

“Did you get hurt on that day? What did they do to you?”

Her heart fluttered. This man really cared for her so deeply. She started to amble away from him, to shake off the sudden shyness.

“I am all right.” She was well aware he was after the heads of the men he could have missed. Names are what she could not give him, that day was behind her and she wanted to move on. “You have a beautiful place here,” she walked around, trying to change the subject.

“Likewise.” She could feel his stare on her back. He didn't like small talk. It wasn't his style to begin with.

Behind his throne seat was a wooden stand with stacked numerous swords. It was a collection of different kinds.

“This is interesting.” She ran her hand on the butt of them.

Oh, it was awkward between them. They were beginning to tip-toe around each other and it was her fault. He had all the affection in the world but was unsure of how she would react to it. She was making it hard for him, she knew, but it was the only way she could curve an escape route for later.

She drew out two swords that she liked in appearance and smirked with a silly idea in mind. Let's see what it's like to fight against the renown Grand General.

She did a surprise attack by back flipping and charging at him. The two swords wheezed as they cut a tight line through the air.

Li Lian was indeed aware that he was surprised by the strength of the attack as he took a step from her and tilted backwards in defense. She laughed, finding his confusion funny as he seemed unsure on whether he should attack back or take a defensive stance.

“It is a friendly match,” she giggled as her blade whistled by his neck.

“Of course it is, you can’t kill me even if you tried in my sleep.” He then considered grabbing her and wrestling her to the ground so he could pin her.

However, she was fast on her wits, refusing to think too much when attacking. Master Oren mentioned that thinking when fighting was her weakness.

She drove her knee upwards, but he avoided it, and to follow up on her failed attempt, she twisted her attack and sprung on him, to which he side-stepped and angled away her strike.

Li Lian danced around him with deadly elegance, toe to toe, werging against him while he responded rhythmically to her sword dance for him.

It was almost sexual, but in it he started acting brutal by not leaving openings as he got serious.

In a swipe of silver, she was now on defence and he was attacking. He clawed against her wrist and made a wide arch using her blades that sent her stumbling backwards. She tried to take back the upper hand but it was too late.

He forced her to cross the blades with a hard shriek as they clung and locked her, thus she fell on his throne seat. Their breaths fanning each other’s faces.

“Not bad for a woman.”

That annoyed her. “Why would you say that?”

“Because you improved, well done.” He neared her for a kiss but she looked away.

That was why she did not want to go back, the place was an oppression system for people based on gender, a characteristic that could not be changed. No one chose to be born a woman.

"Why did you not send word when you woke up after the accident? I could have come here long back."

She loosened her fingers and released the blades that fell to the ground.

"It doesn't matter," he dismissed it when he realised she was not going to answer. "You have been through a lot. Why don't we set off to go back to the palace?"

No. Not yet. "I don't want to…" How to say this? "I don't want to go back."

He frowned. "You don't want to go with me?"

It wasn't about him. It was the place.

"I would rather I stay here, but we can work on our relationship surrounding that."

She saw confusion cross him and the iceblock of the cultural norms cut his line of thought, taking her suggestion as unacceptable. "You are my woman. What in the world are you talking about?" He stood.

"Yuwen Hong, I really want to be free." Might as well say it all.

Blank eyes glared at her.

"I know you won't understand this, but in the palace I feel like I can't breathe. It is tiresome."

Still blank.

"For my sanity, I really cannot live there." Couldn't she stay here, yet still be together?

"What is this nonsense, Li Lian?" he rasped.

Her eyes submerged with tears. By the sound of it, she was already at the palace, gates closing behind her because the finality of his voice spoke it all.

"You won't understand." She tried to blink her tears away. She wanted him, but not what he came with. She was indeed inconsiderate.

"I actually understand. I understand it all, Li Lian, that you are selfish."

Rightly said. She closed her eyes, fully knowing what was coming next.

“I was pining for you, going crazy, yet you hid here. Do you know what I went through? But here you are, not caring about anything concerning us, still playing games."

“Yuwen Hon―”

“Get over yourself!” he lashed. "First thing I did when I heard you were alive was rush here, yet what is the first thing you have done, than to play hard to get? You really think you are that special, don't you?”

She swallowed but her throat was dry.

"You were dead to me for almost three months, and mind you, it won't be a problem to have you dead in my heart again. I won't allow these silly childish lay bets in my life." He kicked the table which screeched on the floor. "Don't try me now."

S.V