Yuxuan (REMASTERED)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"I swear it. That's not the case." I huffed, denying Lester for the umpteenth time.

"Those words may bite you back in the Arse, Alexandrea. I may be up in age, but I can't be fooled easily."

"I care a lot about him. Yes. But, love? That's..." I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him. Lester smiled softly at me.

I honestly didn't know what I felt for Yuxuan. But I did know that I was afraid.

If I truly did bring myself to love a man like Yuxuan, everyone at home would torment me for it. I was terrified of what my father would say to me.

What would my mother think? Her daughter, whom she raised under the morals of the church, had given herself to someone easily.

She'd be heartbroken.

"Anyways... let's not discuss it further." I brushed the subject off casually and continued walking down the busy road. At every glance, there were carts and wagons next to kiosks full of various foods.

The people here all seemed lively, fully focused on their work. It was very similar to the streets in London.

I was mesmerized by the clothes everyone wore. Beautiful silk dresses or robes, and some of the women had accessories in their long black hair. Their skin was brighter compared to the women of the tribe Yuxuan belonged to, most likely because of their beauty provisions.

It caught my attention for a while, their stylish traditional wear. I even stopped to touch the fabric of one at a trading cart.

"About the fellow..." Lester hummed and stood next to me.

"Yuxuan?"

"Yes, that's his name..." Lester scratched his mustache. "If he is as you say he is... the leader, chief... then he should be covered in ink... right?"

"He is... there's plenty of ink on his arms, many shapes and patterns. How did you know?"

"Many years ago, the chief I encountered had them as well. As well as another young man by his side. Based on that observation, I found that leaders inherit the position from birth. But it was the woman who brought me there, who told me that the ink is a must-have to explain the story of their tribe."

"That's... interesting."

"What interests me are the patterns I've yet to see. I wonder what stories his arms will tell."

"Over there." I pointed to an open area with a wide trading stand and tarp covering the make of it. Hansel stood next to it.

"That is?"

"He's the Zoologist I came with." I raised my dress and quickly sauntered over to Hansel. A frown formed when I didn't see Yuxuan anywhere.

Hansel's eyes lit up when he saw me, almost as if he were surprised. "Alexandrea!"

"Hansel, where's Yuxuan?"

"Calm down..." He pressed his fingers to his lips and placed a hand on my shoulder to console me. Then he pushed the tarp aside slowly, revealing Yuxuan, who was sitting on the ground.

His arms were still bound together but tied and secured at his front. I noticed there were two apples in his lap, and it seemed like he couldn't reach them well. What disturbed me was how disheveled his hair was.

Did those brutes put their hands on him? I quickly threw myself next to him when I saw a black bruise on the side of his head.

"Yuxuan! Oh no!" I grabbed his face and raised it to examine his injury. "What did they do to you!? Are you alright?"