Red Phantom

Chapter 8

I looked over at Xichen as tears ran down my face.
"It was my amulet," I whispered looking over at Wuxian.
Xichen followed my eyes and turned to Wuxian.
"Young Master Wei, do you know what happened?" He questioned softly.
"Has she told you the full story of being in the Burial Mounds for those months she was there?" Wuxian questioned softly.
"No, I don't think so," Xichen spoke looking back at me.
"Can you put a silencing ward over us please, only those in the room can know," I spoke looking at him.
With a nod he did as I asked. Looking over at Wen Qing I asked her to help me sit up, which she did rather quickly. Xichen took a seat on the end of the bed and Wen Qing next to me, whereas Wangji and Wuxian stood at the foot of the bed.
"After I had found Xichen and stayed with him for a month, I was captured by Wen Chao. I was beat and thrown into The Burial Mounds where I spent the next four months. I lived there for one month alone and then three months with Wuxian. I crafted an amulet while living there that helped protect me and fix me, it replaced the part of my golden core that had been crushed. That's what just surrounded me. I can't get rid of it or else I'll die, so I have to learn to control it better but with me getting hurt more and more, it's hard. It comes to life on its own when it knows I'm hurt or in danger. Xuè is also connected to the amulet that's why I have two swords. I didn't mean to be like this but I have no other choice. I only have part of my golden core so the amulet makes up for the rest of it. I'm sorry if I've kept it from any of you for too long, that was never my intention," I spoke looking down at my hands.
"So Wen Chao put you in this condition?" Xichen questioned softly.
"Wen Chao did a lot to me, but we won't get into that he's dead now anyways. It doesn't matter," I spoke quickly.
"Will you stay with us in Gusu?" Wangji suddenly asked.
"Considering in a years time I'll be marrying your brother yes," I spoke softly.
"Wen Qing thank you for coming," Xichen spoke before signaling for her to leave.
With a nod she walked out the door as Xichen took the ward down.
"Wuxian stay out of trouble please," I mumbled as he left as well.

(Four months later)

"Zhu!" A disciple called for me as I was walking down to the cold pond.
"Yes?" I questioned staring at him.
"Young master asked me to bring you back. Grand Master has called for you two," he spoke out of breath.
With a nod I followed behind him quietly. Taking in the scenery as we walked back into the main building, where the disciple bowed and left quickly. Walking into the main hall I saw the Grand Master sitting in his spot, and Xichen in his. Bowing to them both before quickly taking my seat just as Grand Master started to speak.
"Zhu as you know in eight months you and Xichen will be getting married. With that being said there's a lot to still plan. Who do you want to invite?" He spoke looking at me.
Looking down I bit my lip and played with my hands.
"Zhu? What is it?" Xichen questioned softly placing a hand on my back.
"Wuxian, Wen Ning, Wen Qing, and A Yuan is who I want there. I miss them," I spoke as tears came to my eyes.
"They can't be here, they're seen as public enemies," Xichen whispered.
"Wuxian saved women, children, and old men that were innocent. Wen Ning is a doctor in training. Wen Qing is a doctor and she helped me a bunch. A Yuan is a child. How is a child a public enemy the boy cries if anyone is hurts," I protested.
Xichen looked at his uncle who stared at my crying face.
"They can come but only them no one else," He spoke softly.
"Will I be allowed to have anything to do with them if they attend or do I have to keep a distace?" I questioned looking at Grand Master.
"You're asking useless questions," He retorted.
Quickly I stood up and went to leave only to be stopped by Grand Master.
"Where do you think you're going?" He questioned.
"To sort out who I want at my wedding," I snapped.
"Zhu please don't be angry," Xichen spoke coming over to me.
"How can I not be angry, the people that are family to me are being treated horribly. If it was Wangji being treated like that you'd act the same way," I spoke leaving towards my room.
Once at my room, I quickly went in and sat at my table with my writing material. Slowly I started to write the inventation for Wuxian, Wen Qing, Wen Ning, and A Yuan. As I looked at the paper a smile appeared on my face thinking about what was to come in the next few months. Finishing up the inventation, placing it to the side to dry fully. Standing up grabbing my swords and amulet, leaving my room. Walking down the path into the forest to the spot I practice at, I felt someone following me. Turning around seeing one of the younger deciples walking at a distance behind me.
"Do you need something?" I questioned softly
"I want to learn from you," The young boy spoke softly clutching his sword.
"Come along then," I spoke with a smile.
With a nod he walked over to me and we started walking to my practice spot.
"Why do you want to learn from me and not someone else?" I questioned curiously.
Before he could answer a sword came flying at us. Pushing the boy behind me and taking out my swords and blocking the attack. Looking around I noticed Xue Yang up in a tree infront of us.
"Quickly run back!" I yelled at the boy as I went after Xue Yang.
"Long time no see," He chuckled dropping from the tree and lunging at me.
"I thought you died with Wen Chao," I seethed slicing him across the chest.
"I can't be killed," He chuckled plunging his sword into my side.
Doubling over while reaching into my robe throwing up a signal, before falling completely to the ground.
"Zhu you've grown weaker," He chuckled coming closer.
Clutching my swords I forced myself up, sending them flying towards him.
"I'm not weak," I seethed going after him, while calling my swords back.
As his sword came down to strike me I held mine up blocking the attack, forcing him back.
"I'll be the one to kill you, Xue Yang," I seething slicing him across the face and arm.
"Zhu!" I heard someone yell in the distance.
Ignoring it I kept going after Xue Yang, feeling him stab me again, but I refused to fall. I kept swinging my swords at him until he kicked me back into a tree. With a thump I hit the tree and blood spewed from my mouth.
"Xue Yang!" I screamed pointing Ryuu at him as he chuckled at me.
Before more could be said I noticed Xichen and Wangji going after him as two deciples helped me steady myself.
"Until next time," He chuckled before disappearing.
"The boy is he okay?" I questioned looking at one of the deciples.
Neither answered me and just looked at Xichen and Wangji as they came over to me.
"Are you okay?" Wangji questioned.
"The boy is he okay?" I repeated.
"He's safe don't worry," Xichen spoke while he looked me over.
Before I knew it I was lifted up into his arms and we started to head back.
"Why were you so far in the forest," Wangji questioned.
"I go there to practice, I focus better there," I spoke softly.
Squeezing my eyes shut I tightened my grip on Xichen.
"Zhu what is it?" He questioned.
"Get the deciples out of here, my amulet, I can't fight it," I whispered before letting a pained cry out.
Pushing myself out of Xichen's arms, I crawled behind a tree and put a ward up around me.
"Go back Hanguang Jun and I will stay with her," I heard Xichen say softly.