That Fair-Faced 'Sage' {Completed}

68. The Zhou Manor

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A short while later, LanFen had just stepped out of the small shed, when an arrow wheezed straight for her heart.

Her hand moved, and she caught it with sheer reflex.

However, a shower of arrows were already raining down on her...

A flurry of robes was all LanFen saw, and the clangs of a sword, was all she heard.

The sword swiftly deflected the arrows, as a firm hand snaked around her waist and leapt upwards with her, unto the shed's roof, and then down into the trees behind the shed.

Another shower of arrows were shot after them, but LanFen's instinct had kicked in. Her fan had appeared in her hand, and she flung it backwards.

It flew in a wide arc, deflecting the torrent of arrows, before returning to her.

Her saviour had leapt into the air with her, and they both treaded the air, till they leapt clean over the manor wall, then he pulled her down into a lone cart.

His body covered hers and with a call motion, he hastily covered them both, with a dirty brown looking sack cloth.

"Zhao LanFeng, why would you do something so dangerous on your own?!" Shuǐ ChénLín demanded in a harsh whisper.

Luckily, he had woken up, just when LanFeng had been leaping off the window ledge.

Remembering LanFeng's past foolishness, in following the wraith into a trap, Shuǐ ChénLín had decided to follow him, just in case.

And here they were...

"Shh!" LanFen shushed him and an instant later, a rush of feet ran past where they hid.

"Clan Leader Zhou was right to suspect he would come to the shed!"

LanFen's eyes widened in the dark, as she realize her carelessness had led Shuǐ ChénLín into trouble!

"Have you seen them?!" Another called out.

"No! Double back and check through the Manor grounds! Send another team to check the other walls and as many streets as possible!"

They waited in silence, breath held, as a pair of feet approached.

"Let's check that cart, just to be safe." One said, and about three of them approached the cart cautiously.

LanFen was filled with dismay.

She looked up at Shuǐ ChénLín in the dark, and he slightly nodded his head, signaling that they would jump out and attack at the right time.

She nodded in understanding.

But just before the men reached the cart, a loud crash rang into the night, on the street behind this one.

"Over there!" They all cried and ran off in the direction of the noise.

Shuǐ ChénLín and LanFen breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

"Zhao LanFeng, how careless!" He whispered furiously. "What if I wasn't present?"

"Tch! I was more surprised by you, than the arrows! Rather, Elder brother, how could you jump into such a dangerous situati--?!"

"Zhao LanFeng! I have made a decision to protect you, whether you want it or not!"

LanFen stared up at him in shock, as she felt that disturbing little flutter again, and Shuǐ ChénLín stared down at her stubbornly.

All too soon, the cart began to feel hotter, and Shuǐ ChénLín made to rise off her.

But LanFen gripped the sides of his waist and pulled him back down immediately, and he fell on her, even closer than before.