Rescue Me, My Love

Give Me Just One Kiss

     After Mao Qiang de Hei left, Mo Yuan turned to Bai Xue and asked him about the young man.  "Xue, I want every piece of intelligence you have on this young man on my desk tomorrow morning.  Tell me what you know, off hand."  "Fuqin, he has been an upstanding young man.  He doesn't trifle with women and he has trained under some of the best masters, not including you, that is.  As you could see, he is intelligent, a true gentleman and a very promising future monarch.  He could be an asset to us.  I will have more in the morning for you."  "Ye Hua could tell me plenty I'm sure.  I'll ask him."  He stared straight ahead as he called to him.  "Didi, tell me about Mao Qiang de Hei.  Is he all he's cracked up to be?  Is he really nice?"  Ye Hua appeared in the hall.  "What's up with Hei?  Why do you need to know?"  "He has asked to court Liang Lei.  What do you say to that?"  "Well!!  I say he would be a good match but only if he is her one true mate!  Tell her to open her dragon senses and tell you what she thinks of him.  Now I must go.  I left right as dinner was being served!"  "So it seems it's up to Lei Lei.  She will have to open up her senses to see if he is indeed her mate."
     Ru and Ming were out on patrol.  The compound wall had been repaired, the traps were repaired and set and repairs on the hut were going nicely.  Bo and Chu had been teaching the younger children a little more about dagger usage.  They had not had any more thieves or visitors.  Their work progressed and they were trouble free.  For now.  Baohu and Junjie were well aware that life at the compound had settled into an easy rut.  They were going to change that.  Their Fuqin had told them there were some beasts on the mountain.  Baohu had a plan to drive one of the beasts towards the compound.  He and Junjie were hunting for one when they came across a very large snake.  Very large.  They teased and chased it until it was near the walls.  They went behind a barrier and hid up in a tall tree right outside the compound wall.  Slowly but surely the snake inched along the wall.  Taiyang and Zhenzhu came out the gate to gather sticks.  The snake was almost upon them when Zhenzhu cried an alert.  They had no weapons, only their dizis.  Taiyang was staring down the snake when Ming and Ru returned from their patrol.  They were coming from behind it.  Zhenzhu was playing the lullaby on his dizi to try and charm the snake.  Bo heard the flute, grabbed her weapon and proceeded to ease out of the gate.  The snake saw her coming, but it was focused on Taiyang.  When it raised up to strike, Ming threw a dagger and hit the snake.  It turned toward him.  Bo took her chance to attack.  She jumped up and swung her sword across the snake.  She cleanly cut off it's head.  The body was thrashing.  It was getting dangerously close to Taiyang and Zhenzhu.  She called to them.  "Run Taiyang!  Run Zhenzhu!  Run from the body!  Run!"  Mo Yuan had decided it was time to check on his pupils.  He and Ye Hua were coming down the path when they saw the snake thrashing.  Mo Yuan jumped and grabbed the little boys before they could be hurt.  Baohu and Junjie, seeing his Fuqin, thought it best to retreat and then double back.  They jumped a ways down the path and then came out of the barrier.  They both played dumb.  They had their hunting gear so they looked innocent enough.  They came walking down the path very nonchalant and carefree.  Mo Yuan watched them coming.  He knew those two were up to something!  Ye Hua looked over the situation and thought the children had handled themselves very well.  Mo Yuan decided right then and there to make daggers for his baby boys.  "What has happened here?  Is everyone alright?"  Taiyang and Zhenzhu ran to their Fuqin.  "Fuqin!  Big snake nearly get us!  Ming throw dagger and hurt it.  Bo cut it's head off!  We saved!"  Mo Yuan smiled and admitted to himself that he was proud of them.  They showed no fear.  "Ming!  That was a very good dagger throw!  Remind me to have a lesson again on dagger usage!  Shifu is very proud of his students today!" 
     Later they all sat down around a bonfire as they told all they had done.  After the thieves were caught, no one had bothered them.  They had worked hard and had repaired and cleaned up the place.  Mo Yuan and Ye Hua decided they could return home.  "So have you learned from each other?  Have you learned things useful for survival?  Have you learned to keep your guard up no matter what?"  "Shifu, we have learned much, but I think we have all learned that everyone has a job to do.  Without each job getting done, it puts the others in a bind.  When we do our chores to help each other, things go smoothly."  Ru spoke for them.  They all nodded.  "Very well.  We will return to Kunlun in the morning then.  Be prepared."  Yu Yu cooked breakfast for them.  They cleaned up, packed up any leftover food and Mo Yuan placed a barrier over the compound.  They arrived at the gate of Kunlun at the same time as Mao Qiang de Hei.  He bowed low to Mo Yuan and Ye Hua.  "Hei!  I see you have come to visit!"  Ye Hua teased him.  "Tianjun Ye Hua!  I have come to pay court to Xia Liang Lei.  She is amazing!  And so beautiful!"  Ye Hua looked at Mo Yuan to read his face.  Solid as a rock.  "You children run along and tell Chang Shan to give you some cake.  Make sure you leave some for Ye Hua!"  They all left running and shoving each other.  Qiang de Hei bowed again.  "After you, High God Mo Yuan."  Mo Yuan nodded and turned to walk to the great hall.  Tea was being served.  Liang Lei was sitting by her mother.  Her hair was simple, like her mother's and she had her hair pin her Fuqin had made for her on.  Her robe was her favorite lavender one.  She was a picture of loveliness.  Qiang de Hei was struck dumb.  He was standing by Ye Hua totally dumbstruck.  Totally flummoxed.  Totally infatuated.  A total love sick fool.
     He bowed to everyone.  He stood as if waiting for her to ask him to be seated.  Bai Qian did it for her.  "Qiang de Hei, come sit here by Lei Lei.  Would you like tea?  Snacks?  Here!"  She poured tea for him.  His eyes never left Liang Lei.  He spoke to her.  "I'm not much for words, but I've written this for you.  He handed her a scroll that he took from his sleeve.  It was fine quality paper and was tied with lavender string.  His seal was on it.  She blushed as he handed it to her and his hand lightly brushed hers.  She broke the seal and read:
     It's right that I should care about you,
     And try to make you happy when you're blue
     It's right, it's right to feel the way I do,
     Because, because I love you.