Love Sword

41

'Ping Shi! What about my sister?' Asked Xiang Ning quickly, his face growing paler the more Ping Shi explains.

'Princess Ruo An....she was killed since the first act of rebel.' Said Ping Shi.

A single drop of tear fell from Xiang Ning's eyes. He just got his heart broken by the love of his life, now he's informed that the closest maid he ever had betrayed him and his sister was killed long ago.

His knees trembled and suddenly he felt his legs growing weak.

Ping Shi tightened his arms around Xiang Ning's waist. He wanted to coax the person in his arms with the gentlest tone he could make but he failed to do so.

Lifting his hand, he moved the long strands of hair from the prince's face and softly kneaded his head.

'Don't think too much for now.'

Xiang Ning shook his head, holding back sobs.

'Ping Shi, I have nowhere to go. Chang'ge is getting married, jie jie is no longer here to accompany me. Imperial father would never accept me back into the royal palace without jie jie around. I have no one.'

Xiang Ning lost all his balance and could only fall down to the ground helplessly. Ping Shi immediately crouched and prevented him from falling backwards, hitting his head with the rock behind him.

The world seems to be taking his existence as a joke. One by one god took away his most beloved people. First his mother, then the love of his life, now his sister and closest friend.

In this lonely and cold world, it is as if he is walking on a path that only he himself is there. Everywhere he turns, he sees no one.

His eyelids began to grow heavy and soon enough, he fell into a deep sleep. Tiredness consumed him and ate up all his energetic spirits.

Ping Shi hugged the limp body of the little prince tighter in his bosoms.

'Sleep well little prince, you still have me.'

———

Jin Shan's fist clenched tightly. His face is shrouded in a darkness that is hard to discern. The guards around him all stiffens, feeling beads of sweat running down their backs as they see their new lord this mad.

Growing up alongside Jin Shan, they know full well about their lord's temper. Now that he has become the head of the clan, he won't be as easygoing as the last madam. He takes after the late lord, his grandfather really well.

'You're telling me that you let an inexperienced newbie snatch Xiang Ning away and escape?' Gritted Jin Shan.

The two guards held their heads low, not daring to say anything.

The silence is a confirmation.

Jin Shan shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

In the swift of a second, he leapt off his seat and swung his long sword as quick as lightning.

The heads of the two guards immediately flew off. Blood splattered everywhere in the luxurious study, painting the area in a bright shade of red.

The guards around the area, although scared stiff, did not utter a single sound.

Jin Shan threw away the sword in his hand.

The sword fell down with a loud clang.

'Ru Tian.'

Ru Tian is the top martial artist in Jin clan after Jin Shan and Jin Xuan. He was appointed as Jin Shan's right hand man after his ascension of the clan.

Ru Tian is closer to Jin Shan than anyone else, but he was unexpectedly assigned to go train with an ancient martial artist in another empire by the madam.

He got called back right before Jin Shan's ascension and two reunited under these circumstances.

After hearing his name being called out, the young man stepped forward with a barely audible sound.

'Yes, my lord.'

'Send five men after that bastard and take Xiang Ning back to my private quarters.'

Ru Tian bent his body a little.

'Yes, my lord.'

———

The night is falling and the wind is impressively strong tonight. A white feet dipped itself into a clear and tranquil lake in the middle of the forest.

Xiang Ning submerged himself into the water and began to wash himself. His eyes are staring off into the distance, lost.

Nothing but sadness could be seen in his eyes.

In the distance, Ping Shi secretly peered at the scene. He involuntarily gulped down a mouthful of saliva. Xiang Ning's white skin is shining and glimmering under the silver moonlight.

The long inky black hair added a seductive charm to his enticing back.

Ping Shi tried to hold back to urge to just go in and embrace the beauty within his sight but he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to go bother that person when he is still sad and processing the informations he'd just received.

He had only came to check on the prince because of fear that the prince would try to harm himself. Fortunately, it didn't happen.

Xiang Ning quickly dried himself and put his clothes back on.

As soon as he reached the place where Ping Shi is supposed to be, he saw three freshly baked buns waiting for him.

He slowly sat on one of the giant rocks and ate the buns carefully.

'Have you had your share?' Asked Xiang Ning.

Ping Shi nodded without saying a word.

Xiang Ning lowered his head with a small smile.

'Why do we always end up together in the forest?' Giggled Xiang Ning.

Ping Shi sighed, he could clearly discern that Xiang Ning was trying to cheer up by the fake laughter he had just made.

'Little prince, you can...cry if you want.'

Xiang Ning looked up and realized that Ping Shi had came to sit next to him. He stared at Ping Shi's dark orbs for a while. Soon, a single crystalline tear fell from his eyes.

He shrunk himself a little and began sobbing.

'I just feel so tired.' Said Xiang Ning.

Ping Shi slowly gripped the prince's shoulders and gently brought him in.

'Everything's going to be alright.' Said Ping Shi.

His body was a bit stiff due to never coaxing anyone before. He could only awkwardly pat the prince's back but Xiang Ning felt that his gestures were weirdly reassuring.

It is hard to find words to describe what the prince feels at this given moment. All he knows is that if there is a chance to turn back time, he would never let himself meet Jin Shan, nor will he allow his sister to come to Da Dong.

To Be Continued...