The King of Kings: Three Days Emperor

Chapter 05: In The Bamboo Forest

Warning: Severe violence and tragedy. Death of Minor character. 

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As soon as the doors shut Lu Si untied her bun to let her long silky hair dropped. She disrobed and ordered her servants to prepare the hot water. While Xia'er rushed to prepare the hot water, Xian'er went over to help Lu Si with her robes. Lu Si quickly took it all off, especially the white sashes that were tightly wrapped around her breast. She let out a gush of air when they were off her. "Every day I wish that I'm a man so I won't have to wear this thing!" She threw the white sash on the table and poured out a cup of tea then gulped it all down.

"Mistress don't say that! Being a woman is not so bad! We get to put on makeup, dress in pretty clothes!" Xian'er said, but Lu Si uttered a humph.

"Men also wear pretty clothes! Men can freely travel without dressing in disguised. Men aren't also required to stay at home and be a unique and useful flower. Flowers aren't meant to be useful! They're meant to be put in a vase and be gazed at!" And she went on and on at the injustice of her gender, regardless wherever she is. Even in her homeland, Baimu, a place with matriarchy rule.

"Mistress, flowers prettied up the atmosphere! It's pretty useful!" Xian'er retorted, angering Lu Si. Xian'er bit her tongue and closed her mouth when she saw the glare from her mistress.

Lu Si waved her hand, "Forget it, I'm going to take a bath!"

Xian'er sulked at her young mistress, but cheered up when she thought of surprising her young mistress with her favorite dessert to calm her down.

—

Wu Lei stared out the window of the pavilion to watch the lanterns floating in the sky. An immediate flow of childhood memories overwhelmed him. The servants that was bestowed to mother and him did similar things back then. They lit up lanterns and released them. He would be on the roof creating mischief and his mother would be calling out his name, searching for him. When she found him, she pulled out her most trusty thin and flexible bamboo stick and chased after him. He would run around in their manor's courtyard, finding places to hide.

"Young Master, what are you thinking of?" Xiao Tian asked when he saw Wu Lei smiling to himself.

"Home," Wu Lei answered.

"It has been a while," Xiao Tian agreed.

"How long has it been?"

"Five years," Xiao Tian answered.

"I've been on the battlefield that long?" He asked.

"Young Master, you have kept your promise and embedded yourself to the mountains and the seas." Xiao Tian said, speaking of their own estate up the mountain of Jinxue, "To the point where you don't even know the time and day of the year."

Wu Lei smiled and responded, "When your job is to kill the innocent for your own goals, it is best to not know the time and day of the year, or you'll be dreading life."

"I agreed. However, Young Master, your mind seems to be occupied with unusual thoughts after the competition."

Wu Lei took a minute or two to organize his thoughts about the competition. There was something that didn't add up, "Xiao Tian, I think there is something off with this event," Wu Lei expressed. "Did you notice how easy it was for me? I was hoping for a more challenging competition."

"Young Master, are you bluffing?" Xiao Tian asked in jest, taking a jab at Wu Lei's ego. "Young Master, it has been a while that I've seen your conceitedness resurface."