Love Sword

40

Jin Shan turned towards the sound. He turned back to the crying Xiang Ning.

'Listen, your highness. I cannot explain much right now but please trust me and go back to Da Dong. Some of my men will escort you out of here and safely back. Stay there and wait for me.' Said Jin Shan.

He rubbed Xiang Ning's tears before hastily putting the human skin mask back on Xiang Ning's face. He then gave one last look at the prince before leaving the room.

Xiang Ning heard silence for a moment before the same feminine voice sounded again.

'Gege! Where did you go? I missed you.' The voice was coquettish and whiny. It feels as if the woman is trying to seduce the person she is talking to.

'Hmm, I was looking into some matters regarding the clan's affairs. Let's go back, don't you like red ginseng soup the most? Gege will have someone prepare some for you.'

The deep male voice that came after was especially gentle and soothing. No doubt that it belongs to Jin Shan. The female must be Xie Ting Ting, his new fiancé.

Hearing the sweet voices and seeing the silhouette of a loving couple walking away, Xiang Ning bursted into tears. His body began to shake uncontrollably. The pain in his chest was tightening.

How come he feels like his soul is being split in half?

———

Ping Shi searched everywhere in the residence for Xiang Ning but could not find even a trace of the small guy. He sighed in frustration.

He shouldn't have let Jin Shan take the boy away from him. Who knew what that guy is doing to the younger guy? Ping Shi is confident that Jin Shan is of no good.

He strolled around aimlessly a little more until he gave up and returned back to Hu Long.

'Where have you been for so long?' Asked Hu Long when he noticed that his favorite spy has returned back to his side.

'This one is careless and got lost when I went to the bathroom. Apologies to the lord.'

Hu Long scoffed and dropped the matter.

He turned back towards the beauty on his lap and continued to kiss her passionately. It is not unusual for him to do this in front of Ping Shi as he have done this multiple times before. Ping Shi have already grown accustomed to this immoral act of his lord.

Hu Long frowned and pulled away from the girl.

'You! Just return to the Hu mountain and don't show up here. Your presence disturbs me so much, I don't need protection from you anyway.'

Hu Long returned to kissing the girl and proceeded to do more after Ping Shi left.

Ping Shi felt relieved, it is normal for his lord to suddenly chase him away. Now he can continue his search for Xiang Ning.

He flew out of the Hou Quan residence and began searching the forests in the mountain. Soon enough, he spotted the small figure surrounded by two seemingly well-trained martial artists.

He frowned and thought the prince got kidnapped.

He took out a black mask and covered his face. He then jumped in front of them.

'Hand him over.' He demanded.

The two martial artists looked at each other

'Who are you? Get out of the way before we kill you.' Said one of the martial artists.

Ping Shi did not say anything and pulled out his sword to start the fight immediately. Noticing that the martial arts level of these two are on pars with him, Ping Shi quickly found a quick way and slipped out with Xiang Ning.

Xiang Ning was scared but as soon as he saw the face of the other without the black mask, he relaxed immediately.

'A'Shi, you shouldn't have done that. They were actually sent by Chang'ge to assist me back to Da Dong.'

Ping Shi looked down at the prince.

'Little prince, if you wish to return to Da Dong, it will be more dangerous for you.'

Xiang Ning lifted his head to look up at Ping Shi curiously. What did the other mean?

Ping Shi turned his head away, avoiding the eyes contact.

'Da Dong is suffering from a rebellion of the third prince right now.'

———

Li Jun breathed heavily, his eyes filled with chilliness and mirth. His body is covered with dirt and mud. Dark red blood mixed in with the dirt, causing his appearance to look even more haggard.

He tiredly lifted his silver sword, soaked with blood, to put it back in its sheath.

Right now, he and two of his surviving men managed to escape from the imperial palace, is hiding in the southern jungle of the empire.

Back then, he had wanted to go out and look for Xiang Ning as well. Who would've thought that as soon as he left the empire, the emperor faced a fierce assassination attempt. Unfortunately, the assassins succeeded and they killed the emperor.

The royal court was sent into chaos. The third prince, Jiang Yulang, had actually been planning this rebellion for a long time now. He was furious that he wasn't given the throne and some illegitimate offspring get to bathe in that imperial glory instead of him.

He had deployed many spies throughout the royal palace and near Xiang Ning as well when he figured that Li Jun took a liking to that young prince.

Lan who was formerly the servant of Xiang Ning, fell to Jiang Yulang's bribes as well. Jiang Yulang had promised her that after he ascends the throne, he will assign her as one of his imperial consorts and she was immediately tempted.

Princess Ruo An was captured and killed on the spot when she opposed of Jiang Yulang's idea.

Li Jun had to come back, but he was far too late. The empire was already engulfed under Jiang Yulang's clutches. His men roamed the whole city of Da Dong. At the moment, the fallen crown prince, Li Jun, is the most wanted person in the whole of Da Dong.

Anyone who can capture him and hand him over will be given a grand prize of one hundred taels of gold. This can last them many lifetimes of wealth and luxuries.

This is the reason why Li Jun has been facing with many enemies everywhere he goes.

'Your highness, please drink some water.' Said one of the guards, who is looking just as wrecked as tired as Li Jun.

Li Jun shook his head.

'You drink, I'm fine.' He replied.

'Your highness, please don't be too hard on yourself. Our reinforcements have received our message and they are returning as soon as possible.'

Li Jun sighed

Even if they do return, what is awaiting them is a vicious civil war which could destroy the whole well-built empire of Da Dong. The people could not do anything but wait for famine, poverty, and slaughter.

To Be Continued...