Bai Cao was standing over the bridge guardrail.

"No more of you, Bai Cao." She jumped off the bridge as she said that.

She was looking at the sky with tears in her eyes while falling.

A couple of hours ago.

Bai Cao was sleeping on her bed peacefully when suddenly, her phone started ringing. She opened her eyes to see who the caller is.

"An unknown number! At this time! Seriously!" She said in an irritated tone and puts the phone back on the nightstand while saying, "I am not going to take this call. Sorry whoever it is."

The phone kept on ringing a couple of times. Bai Cao was tired of hearing her phone ringing. She got up and answered the call, but she was still sleepy.

"Hello! Who is this?" She said in a sleepy tone.

"Hi, Bai Cao! Come out in the garden or else I will kill your beloved Senior Ting Hao." A woman said on the phone.

Bai Cao's eyes went wide and her sleep vanished as she heard that.

"Who are you?" Bai Cao asked. Her fear and concern... the fear of losing Ting Hao and the concern for Ting Hao's safety was clearly visible in her voice.

"It doesn't matter right now, Bai Cao. Come out to save your Senior Ting Hao" said the woman.

"Okay, I am coming. Please don't do anything to him. Please don't harm him," said Bai Cao in a concerned tone.

"It depends on your arrival," said the woman.

"I am coming," Bai Cao said and hangs up the call. She ran outside and in no time, she reached outside in the garden.

As she reached there, she started shouting "Senior Ting Hao!"

"There is no use of yelling, Bai Cao." said the woman.

Bai Cao turned her face towards the woman. That woman was wearing a hoodie that's why her face was not visible.

"Where is Senior Ting Hao?" asked Bai Cao.

"He is where he has to be." said the woman.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, he is in his room sleeping peacefully."

"What! Then why did you... wait... who are you? "

The woman smirked after hearing that and turned her face towards Bai Cao while removing the hood from her head. Bai Cao was shocked to see the person's face.

"What are you doing here, Yin Xiu, and how did you get to know that we are here?" asked Bai Cao.

"It doesn't matter how I got to know that you all are here. Don't you want to know why did I call you here?" Yin Xiu asked.

"No. You are not so important that I will waste my time hearing you," said Bai Cao and walked towards the door to the farmhouse.

She was about to enter the house but before she could, Yin Xiu stopped her by saying "Not even for the love of your life... your Senior Ting Hao?" said Yin Xiu.

Bai Cao turned back at Yin Xiu with astonishment and Yin Xiu smiled looking at her face.

She went towards her and said, "Why are you so shocked, Bai Cao? I know you love drillmaster. I knew it since you all went to Leavenworth. You know, there is nothing similar between both of us except one thing... love for Ting Hao. Because you confessed your love for him, I understood that I love him. So, thank you, Bai Cao, for making me understand my feelings for him."

Bai Cao said nothing and maintained a cold look on her face.

"But I don't think that you truly love him," said Yin Xiu.

Bai Cao giggled and said, "As if I care about what you think."

"If you really loved him, you would have stayed away from him. Actually, you love no one. You know that you are a jinx on everyone around you but still, you are not staying away from them because you are selfish and shameless." Yin Xiu accused.

"You're saying all this will not affect me, Yin Xiu. It will be better if you go back," said Bai Cao with a smile.

"Why are you so selfish, Bai Cao? You know that you are a jinx. You know that you are dangerous for the people around you but still, you are not staying away from them. Why? Don't you remember how many times drillmaster risked his life for you... to save you? If I would have been in your place, then I would have killed myself. At least, it would have been better than seeing my loved ones dying in front of my eyes that too because of me," said Yin Xiu in a little loud voice.

"Enough, Yin Xiu." Bai Cao raised her voice."Go back or else you will regret it."

Yin Xiu folded her hands and said, "I won't go anywhere."

"You won't! Fine. Then I will go." Bai Cao said and went inside the house.

She walked straight towards her room and locked the door. She sat on the floor while resting her back on the door and tears started rolling down her cheeks. She pulled her knees closer to her and pressed her face between the knees.

Whatever Yin Xiu and Donghai said was echoing in Bai Cao's ears. Bai Cao puts her hands on each of her ears while crying. She was shaking her head left and right to stop the voice from coming while saying, "Enough." in a low voice but it didn't help.

"Enough!" Bai Cao yelled and removed her hands from her ears, but her tears didn't stop falling.

"Yin Xiu was right... it's better to kill myself rather than to see my loved ones dying in front of me for me." Bai Cao said and stood up from the floor. She opens the door and ran straight towards the bridge. The street was empty, but Bai Cao was not alone who was running on the street. There was someone who was following her and that person is no one else but Yin Xiu. Bai Cao didn't realize that she is being followed. She kept on running while crying.

She climbed the bridge guardrail and stood on it. She closed her eyes and started crying her heart out.

I know it must be really hard for you, Bai Cao... I know it's hard but your death is important for me. If you will die only then I have a chance to be with the drillmaster. You need to die, Bai Cao. I never had a soft corner for you and I will never have one. Die, Bai Cao, die. Yin Xiu thought while looking at her from a corner.

On the other hand, Bai Cao wiped her tears and said, "No more of you, Bai Cao." Then she jumped off the bridge. Seeing her jumping off the bridge, Yin Xiu had peace in her heart. Then she went from there.

Present

Bai Cao was falling off the bridge. She closed her eyes. She started getting flashes from the past when suddenly, she saw Ting Hao saying "You are not a jinx. You are Qi Bai Cao... The Queen of Yuan Wu Dao. You are Chang An's sister. You are Ting Yi and Xiao Ying's best friend. You are the inspiration of many girls. You are the love of my life, Bai Cao. You can't be a jinx. You are a blessing for us, not a curse. Bai Cao, you can't die like this. You need to give a punishment to them for killing your parents and master... for snatching away your childhood. We need to punish them and we will."

Bai Cao opened her eyes when she saw that and quickly holds a railing of the bridge to prevent herself from falling.

"I am not a jinx. I must punish my parents' and my master's murderers. I can't be dead until I do this. I am not a jinx." Bai Cao said and pulled herself up and stood upon the bridge.

She looked at the lake with a smile and then started walking towards the farmhouse when suddenly, she saw someone coming towards her and he was yelling her name. Bai Cao stopped after seeing him coming. There was very little light and it was a cloudy night that's why she was not able to see that person's face clearly from afar but that person kept running towards her. As he was coming near her, Bai Cao could see his face more evidently.

As he reached near her, Bai Cao kept looking at him. The clouds slowly moved away from the moon the light of it fell straight on them like a spotlight. That person was no one else but Ting Hao.

"Senior Ting Hao," said Bai Cao looking at Ting Hao's eyes.

Ting Hao said nothing and hugged Bai Cao tightly. Bai Cao was surprised for a second, then she smiled and hugged him back.

"Bai Cao, what are you doing outside the house at this time? You know how scared I was?" Ting Hao cried.

"I am sorry, Senior Ting Hao. I was not feeling sleepy, so, I just came out for a walk," said Bai Cao while softly rubbing Ting Hao's back.

"You should have told me before coming. I would have accompanied you," said Ting Hao.

"I didn't want to disturb you, Senior Ting Hao."

"Walking with you is the best time for me, Bai Cao."

"Okay. From next time, I will tell you whenever I will feel like having a late-night walk," said Bai Cao with a smile.

"You must."

"Yes, sir," Bai Cao said while saluting Ting Hao.

"Okay. Let's go home now," said Ting Hao while lowering down Bai Cao's hand and holding it.

Both of them were walking slowly with the soft cold breeze hitting their faces.

I am sorry, Senior Ting Hao, for lying to you. But I can't tell you the truth or else you will be hurt... you will be angry at me. What if you won't talk to me ever after knowing what I was going to do? No, I can't afford that. I am sorry, Senior Ting Hao, but I can't tell you the truth. Thought Bai Cao while walking and looking down.

"Bai Cao, I hope you are not acting to be happy," said Ting Hao.

Bai Cao turned her face towards Ting Hao with a smile and said, "I am not acting, Senior Ting Hao. I am genuinely happy."

Ting Hao holds Bai Cao from her arm and said, "See, Bai Cao, I just don't want you to hide your feelings... your sadness just because I said that you need to stay happy for everyone. You know that you can cry in front of me. Right?"

Bai Cao smiled and said, "I know, Senior Ting Hao... I know I can cry in front of you. I know that whenever I am sad and want to cry, I will always find you... your shoulder to put my head on it and cry. And I am not hiding my feeling or my sadness. Okay, I am not saying that I am happy but I am ok. Thanks to you all for staying next to me like my shield. Don't worry, Senior Ting Hao. I won't hide my sadness or feelings... anymore."

"If it's like this, then I am happy, Bai Cao. I just want you to be happy"

"I know," said Bai Cao while yawning.

Ting Hao smiled looking at Bai Cao yawning and said, "You are sleepy now. We should go."

"Yeah. We should."

Then they continued walking and soon they reached the farmhouse. Bai Cao and Ting Hao went to their respective rooms.

Bai Cao lay on her bed and was smiling while looking at the ceiling.

"I won't hide my feelings anymore. I will tell you everything I will feel for you, Senior Ting Hao. But before that, I need to end this Feng Yun Hall chapter. I need to give them punishment for their deeds." said Bai Cao to herself.

The next day

Everyone came out of their rooms except Bai Cao and Ting Hao. Chang An and Ting Yi were sitting on the couch while Xiao Ying and Yi Feng were in the garden.

"Where is brother and Bai Cao? Why are they still not here? Are they still getting ready?" asked Ting Yi.

"I guess they are. After all, both of them woke up really late." Chang An answered.

"Why?" asked Ting Yi.

"Ting Hao said that they went out for a late-night walk yesterday and slept really late," said Chang An.

"I am hungry, Chang An," said Ting Yi.

"I know you are hungry, Ting Yi. But we can do nothing. There is nothing in the house so that we can cook. We have to wait for them." said Chang An while hugging Ting Yi from the side when suddenly, Ting Hao and Bai Cao came there.

As Bai Cao saw them hugging each other, she puts her hand on her eyes and said "My eyes! Get a room, guys."

"Hey, Chang An! Stay away from my sister," said Ting Hao in a loud voice.

"Why should I? She is my girlfriend and I am her boyfriend. Why should I stay away from her?" asked Chang An.

"Because I am saying," said Ting Hao.

"As if I care," said Chang An.

"Chang An, enough. Now leave me," Ting Yi said with a soft tone.

"Why? Are you ashamed of me or what?" said Chang An.

"Chang An, it's nothing like that," said Ting Yi.

"See guys, we both are together and I am proud to be called Ting Yi's boyfriend. I will hug her in public because I love her and I am not ashamed of being in a relationship with her. Bear with it if you have a problem." said Chang An.

"You are right, brother. I am okay with you hugging Ting Yi," said Bai Cao.

"That's like my sister. What about you, Ting Hao?" said Chang An.

"I am happy to know that you love my sister. Keep loving her like this forever. Never stop loving her. Understood?" said Ting Hao and left from there.

Chang An smiled and yelled, "I won't. Let's go to a hotel. Ting Yi is hungry and you have to choose the place, Ting Hao."

Ting Hao stopped and smiled. He turned back and said, "Fine. The location is on me and the bill is on you. Ok?"

Chang An went near Ting Hao said, "Okay."

Ting Hao gave a smile and took his phone out of his pocket. He opened a browser and searched The Most expensive restaurant. He chose the hotel on the top and said "I have chosen the location and I am going to eat a lot."

"Sure," said Chang An with a smile.

"Come, Bai Cao, Ting Yi. Let's spend some money," said Ting Hao. Bai Cao and Ting Yi went near them and they all went towards the restaurant.

Soon they reached. They sat at a table and gave their orders.

"I am really hungry," said Ting Hao.

"I know, Ting Hao. Even I am hungry," said Chang An.

"Get ready to spend a lot," said Ting Hao.

"I don't have to get ready. I just have to take out my phone to pay," said Chang An.

Soon their food came and they started eating. When suddenly, Ting Yi noticed that Bai Cao was not able to hold the spoon.

"Bai Cao, what happened to your hand? Why are you not able to hold the spoon?" asked Ting Yi.

As Ting Hao heard that, he holds Bai Cao's hand. He saw that there was a big red mark on Bai Cao's hand.

"Bai Cao, what happened to your hand? Why is there a mark and it's all red?" asked Ting Hao with concern.

Bai Cao looked at her hand, It must have happened because I held the railing really tight. Thought Bai Cao.

"Bai Cao, what happened to your hand?" asked Ting Hao.

"It's nothing, Senior Ting Hao. I must have held something when I was sleeping," said Bai Cao.

"Is it hurting?" asked Ting Hao.

"No. I am okay. By the way, I want to ask you guys something," said Bai Cao.

"Okay," said Ting Hao.

Bai Cao took a deep breath and asked, "Can we go back to Feng Yun Hall?"

Everyone was shocked to hear what Bai Cao said.

TO BE CONTNUED