Love Sword

35

'So what is your name?' Asked Xiang Ning while trailing behind the taller back.

'I don't have one.'

'How can I call you if I need something?'

The spy tried not to laugh. He'd never heard of anyone having the need to call their kidnapper if they needed something.

'How about you give me one?' Said the man casually.

Xiang Ning pondered for a moment.

'How about Ping Shi?' Said Xiang Ning.

'What a weird name to give to your kidnapper.' Said the spy.

Xiang Ning quickened his steps to catch up with the man.

'Whatever! I like the name, don't you like it?' Asked Xiang Ning.

The man turned away and slowly grunted in agreement which made Xiang Ning smile.

( Note: The author will be referring to the nameless Hu clan's spy as Ping Shi from now on. )

'So, why did you kidnap me? You don't seem like a bad person at all.' Said Xiang Ning.

Ping Shi didn't say anything. Yeah, it is true that he did not want to harm this prince but he is a slave belonging to someone else. And his master ordered him to go after Xiang Ning. An order from the clan's lord, he cannot ignore.

'Don't ask too many questions.' Said Ping Shi.

As they continued to walk for another half day time, they reached a populated village which is snowing. It seems like in this region of the country, it snows almost all year round!

No way, are they in the north?

Ping Shi took off his cloak and draped it over Xiang Ning.

'Don't freeze to death on me.' He said while tightening the cloak even further.

The warmth he felt made the prince feel a little more comfortable.

He was pulled towards a small teahouse where Ping Shi ordered tea and foods into a private room.

'You, stay here if you don't want to die. Although this village is crowded, bandits attacks are common around here.' Said Ping Shi.

He stood up and began rummaging through his pockets. After confirming something, he turned to look at the prince sitting across from him.

'I'll be back.'

And then he left the private room.

———

Xiang Ning was eating and enjoying his meal. He couldn't help but praise the chefs here for making such delicious foods.

After a while, Ping Shi came back and sat down.

Curious, Xiang Ning asked

'Where did you go to?' Asked Xiang Ning.

Ping Shi just turned to look at him and didn't say anything. Xiang Ning was lost, he suddenly realized that he was being way too friendly with his kidnapper. This fact made him retreat the words he was about to ask.

After they finished eating, Ping Shi paid for the foods and brought the boy out of the teahouse.

As they walked along a deserted road away from the village, trees started to appear and they are walking forward to a forest again.

Ping Shi turned towards the prince and pulled something out of his pocket. He brought it up to Xiang Ning's face and covered his face with the thing.

Xiang Ning felt a cool layer of something stretchy being stuck onto his facial skin. He felt a little weirded out by it but did not really resist.

'Keep this on and don't take it off. It will protect you.' Said Ping Shi quietly.

He gazed at the prince whose face is now covered with a layer of face mask made out of real human skin. The mask is so ugly that one wouldn't be able to look at Xiang Ning without having the urge to vomit.

He then grabbed some mud and patted Xiang Ning. Soon, the prince is covered with mud, dirt and his face looks like it is disfigured.

'Now don't make trouble little prince, we're about to reach the Hu abbot.'

———

The journey up the mountain is rough and cold. Snow fell so heavily in this part of the mountain that Xiang Ning find it hard to endure.

After long last, they finally made it to the top. The prince could see the giant gates in front of him. There are two guards standing in front of it, and a giant golden plate name on top of the two-hinged doors that read 'Hu Residence'.

'Pretend you're unconscious.' Whispered Ping Shi.

Because Xiang Ning is laying on Ping Shi's back the whole time they were climbing the mountain, coupled with the heavy snow, the two guards did not notice whether he was awake or not.

Thus, when he pretended to close his eyes and sleep, the guards did not know there was something amiss.

They saw Ping Shi and slowly bowed their heads, acknowledging him as the lord's most trusted subordinate before opening the gates for him.

The girl who came to welcome him is the same girl who did the last time he had arrived here. It seems like she is very fond of our Ping Shi. However, her pretty face dropped as soon as she saw that Ping Shi is not alone and there seems to be someone on his back.

Why would he carry someone? She always knew that this person hated physical contacts the most. Even when she accidentally brushed her hands against his, he would frown in discontent.

'Welcome back brother Du.' She said shyly, ignoring the unconscious existence on her crush's back.

Ping Shi looked towards her.

'I don't have a name.' Said Ping Shi.

Of course, the girl knows this very well. Nobody in this residence who is a servant or subordinate has an actual name. Their master never cared to give them one. It is just that the servants who are close to one another usually give their close friends a name of their own. Those who are not close has no reason to have a conversation, hence they don't know each other's name.

Some of them here have more than one name depending on how their close friends would want to call them. There are a few servants here who fell for each other and got married. They called each other by names they created themselves.

This little girl has only one name, Lai Da, because she is close to only one other servant. She called Ping Shi 'Brother Du' all the time but he never accepted or liked how she gave him a name. He also never gave her a name no matter how much she begged him to.

It almost seems as if this person is a lone iceberg that no one can approach, nor will he want to approach anyone either.

'Tell the lord, I request an audience.' He said.

Slowly flicking his gaze tot he shivering body behind his back, he continued.

'Hurry up, I'm cold.' He said.

To Be Continued...

Short Stage:

Lai Da: How can brother Du be cold? He knows martial arts!

The two guards at the gates: He obviously lied because that person on his back is cold, not him.