LoT Phoenix 1

Chapter 100: Live & Die Together

His eyes shine bright in the darkness. You catch your breath, and before you can speak he picks you up around the waist and leaps deftly onto the roof. Looking down you see black-clad assassins moving like leopards through the rain. In seconds they spot you on the roof and give chase. The rain fills your eyes. You're soaked through and the wind is cutting is to the bone.

Xiu Ying: (But Yin Zhen's still here.)

Yin Zhen: [Quietly] Don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt you.

His soft voice cuts through the sound of the rain, making your heart beat faster.

Xiu Ying: Is everyone dead?

Yin Zhen: My men have cornered some of the assassins.

Xiu Ying: [Perplexed] Did you come back... to save me?

Yin Zhen: If I said yes, would you believe me?

Xiu Ying: [Calming down] There's a small side door in that courtyard up ahead. It leads out into the forest... but we'd better lose them first.

Yin Zhen: What's in the courtyard?

Xiu Ying: The kitchen.

Yin Zhen: [Smile menacingly] Have you been raiding the pantry again?

MC:As if!

Yin Zhen: [He picks you up, turns around and runs off in the other direction] Hold on tight.

You realize he's drawing the assassins off in the opposite direction, so you can come back and escape our the kitchen. The darkness and rain help to conceal your movement. You hold on tightly as Yin Zhen leaps onto roofs, vaults over walls and dives into rooms. The assassins soon lose your trail and you return to the kitchen and disappear out the side door, into the forest.

Xiu Ying: Okay, you can yout me down now!

Yin Zhen: Wait, there's no rush.

You blush slightly. You have to ask two more times before Yin Zhen reluctantly puts you down.

Xiu Ying: There were four princes here! Surely you had a contingency plan?!

Yin Zhen: We did. I already sent people to the local garrison. Reinforcements should get here any second. We just need to sit tight.

Xiu Ying: [Frowning] Really? Sounds too easy.

An arrow pierces the rain, slamming into a tree next to you. Yin Zhen grabs you around the waist and runs deeper into the trees.

Yin Zhen: [Joking] You were supposed to be our lucky charm!

You want to retort, but cold and fear sweeps through you, robbing you of words. More arrows whistle overhead. Yin Zhen starts to slow down. The strain of carrying you is beginning to tell. You make your mind up.

Xiu Ying: Yin Zhen... Yin Zhen... You go.

Yin Zhen: Nonsense!

The idea confounds him. He won't consider it, even for a second.

Yin Zhen: We're not getting anywhere. I'll go and deal with them. You stay here. Don't complain. There's no way I'm leaving you behind.

He puts you down gently and draws his sword, swiping an incoming arrow out of the air. He charges into the trees, after the hidden archer. You take a deep breath and try to calm your screaming nerves. Yin Zhen has the upper hand, but the assassin's companions quickly catch up.

Yin Zhen: Xiu Ying! RUN!!!

Your pupils contract and you bolt.

Xiu Ying: (I can't help Yin Zhen, but I can get him help!)

You run frantically through the trees. A figure suddenly appears right in front of you, causing you to stumble forward and scream.

Fan Wencheng: My Lady!

Lamplight illuminates a soft, scholarly face. You know him. It's Minister Fan Wencheng, part of your entourage. Yin Zhen must have sent him down the mountain for reinforcements.

Xiu Ying: Lord Fan... 4th Prince is back there! There's assassins!

Fan Wencheng: [Addressing the guards at his side] Save the Prince!

Seeing the large contingent of armed men behind him, you feel somewhat reassured.

Xiu Ying: Thank goodness you are here. Lord Fan!

Assassin: [A distant horn sounds] We're trapped! Cut your way out!

Unbeknownst to you, a random arrow flies towards you from the skirmish. By the time you realise the arrow, someone has already deflected it with a sword. Yin Zhi is holding the sword. Gold-rimmed spectacles perch on the bridge of his nose, his eyes are unreadable. He is soaked.

Yin Zhi: [Looking at you] Are you hurt?

Xiu Ying: No...

Yin Zhi: I'll have someone escort you to your room.

[You shake your head] Thank you 3rd Prince, I'm fine. 4th Prince brought me this far. I'll wait for him.

Yin Zhi: [Looking askance] Whatever.