Burning Bridges | | Jing Yuan X Reader | |

A loveless fool

Unable to grasp the concept that Jing Yuan might have been hiding something from you, you would toss and turn relentlessly. Shivering under the cold feeling of his arm curving around your waist, bringing you closer to him. He lightly lifted the blanket over your shoulders to keep you warm, as he had done time and time before. 

"Just relax Y/N. It has all been taken care of." He whispers. Oh so gently- his words manage to soothe your impenetrable nerves. Feeling the heat of his breath creep up on your neck. 

"Jing Yuan-?" You turn around in his arms, still with his hand on your back, he smiles. Looking down over you with affectionately tired eyes. 

Long hours of tireless effort into protecting the city had finally caught up to him. Unwilling to press him further at his most vulnerable, you ran your thumb gently over the bags under his eyes. 

"Nothing. Just- make sure to get a good rest for tomorrow." 

The General gladly closed his eyes. Lingering in the comfort of your embrace as he slowly drifted to sleep. Watching his eyes bat closed, resting calmly in the solemn touch of his beloved, you only wondered what his dreams were about. 

Thrashing and jumping as his nerves twitched ever so often. Entranced in a brutal nightmare, you moved his hair from his face. Noticing the long, strained wrinkles between his eyebrows. The moment your finger caressed his face, his turmoil ceased. 

As the storm had passed within his mind, only the truth of what he'd done would remain. A string of tears from his closed eyes. "What regrets do you still hold, Jing Yuan?" 

In between you observing him that night, and somehow falling asleep, the General had taken off to continue his duty to the city. Rubbing your eyes and adjusting to the light, your room was still filled with the red fabrics and ribbons from the night prior. 

"Hmm." That night had been the first in a long time in which you had actually went to rest in a bed. Normally you would have been camped out in a stable or under a bridge, the lack of mice and aberrant moisture was peasant. 

Continuing in your absent thoughts, you figured it would be best to get your mind off of what Yanqing had said. Stepping through the sliding doors, a few attendants rushed past you. 

"Ah! Y/N, is there something we can help you with?" Two young maidens approached, lowering their heads before you. 

"I will be going out." You informed them, loosely tying your old tunic to your waist. 

 The two ladies stared at one another in concern. "I'm afraid we can't allow you out of the estate." 

Your throat became dry. "I see. Then I will return to my room." 

Shutting the sliding door behind you, you pursed your lips. "There must be a reason. There must be." Repeating the phrase in the hopes it would be true, as time ticked by, you could no longer wait around. 

Slipping out from the window, you scaled the wall. Flipping over it and dropping onto the road beside the manor. Discreetly making your way into the city, you were eager for answers. 

With only one name in mind, you made your way towards the 'Hell Sparring Arena'. 

The entirety of the space was dirty and unkept. Rats ran amuck around the dingy spot for some of the top grovellers in the underdeveloped parts of the outer ring. It had not been long since you last stepped foot into such a place. In exchange for a good meal, your name was added to a roster of competitors- each with a fiery hunger as they brutalized one another for a scrap of molded bread. 

"Y/N. I thought you'd finally gotten enough of your teeth knocked out to stay away from the ring." A smoky and condescending voice mocked you from within the crowd. Strutting towards you with his arms extended outwards, the ferocious sword master himself welcomed you back.