Blood Bonds And Golden Ties

Chapter 16: We're Friends?

[Shi Han Jun]

Han Jun scurried away, hoping to find the flower. He went out on the streets and went to a flower stand. After inspecting the many bouquets of flowers he asked the owner, "Hey, do you a Ce Xin?"

The owner of the stand was busy with another customer but glanced at him and replied, "Ce Xin? No."

"Oh okay," Han Jun said a little disappointed. He went to the next flower stand and asked the same question. Same answer.

Seeing that there were no more flower stands, he sighed and returned to Bai Hua Lou. Though Han Jun never went out much, he did do a little research on Chang Long and found out that up until recently, Chang Long was a small, quiet town. However, because of the raids in the south, many people were forced to move through Chang Long. Because of the sudden visitation of many refugees, businesses sprung up overnight. Despite only having one long street that went through the town, Han Jun could see the development of other buildings in the surrounding areas.

When Han Jun arrived back at Bai Hua Lou, he ascended the steps and walked to the room he last saw Li Qing in. He was about to go in when a waiter hurried up to him and blocked his way, saying, "Sir, I'm afraid you can't go in there right now."

"Why?"

The man glanced at the door and replied, "They are rather...busy."

"Busy? Busy doing what? Get out of my way," Han Jun said as he tried to brush past the waiter. The waiter used his body to shield the door and held up his arms.

"I-I'm afraid for you to barge in would be highly inappropriate, especially because they are doing THAT."

"What?"

"You know...the thing husband and wives do..."

"Ohhhh," Han Jun's face turned red as he realized what he meant. Taking out his fan (thank goodness he didn't loose it), he started to fan himself.

"Since that is the case, tell him tomorrow I will come back," Han Jun ordered.

"En. I got it. Please," the man said as he spread out his arm to show Han Jun out.

Han Jun nodded and strode away. The woman who served him, upon seeing he was about to leave, caught up with him and stopped him. "Sir, this is your box of food," she said as she handed him a basket woven by grass.

He took it with his left hand and nodded. "Thanks," he said.

She nodded and said, "If there's nothing else, I have to go now."

"Go ahead."

She scurried away.

Han Jun set the basket down on a table and removed the lid. All ten dishes were inside. Satisfied, he put the lid back on and started on his way to the medicine store.

[Luo Xiao Zhao]

Xiao Zhao woke up to find himself staring at a net a couple of feet above his head. His joints hurt so much he felt like he was paralyzed, but this time, the pain felt different. Not only did his joints hurt, but he felt a burning on his right leg. He remembered he had injured himself when the wolves were chasing him and a deep gash ran along his left leg, but it didn't hurt as much as it did now.

He glanced down but saw nothing. After getting himself into a sitting position, he threw the blankets aside. On his left leg, was a piece of wood that was tied around his leg. He knew immediately it was broken. Oh, my leg is broken. He looked away. WAIT A MINUTE! MY LEG IS BROKEN? Xiao Zhao looked at his leg in surprise mingled with confusion. How could his leg be broken? He didn't really do–