One Lifetime Is Never Enough

1.41 Unrest

SongLi was leaning against the outer wall of Li YangHuan's residence, still trying to shake off the turmoil that was his mind and heart. Then a low voice woke him from his stupor,

"Young Master Ji!"

He looked up to see a familiar young man with wheat colored skin. The man had clearly been exerting himself - judging from his  slightly short breath and hoarse dry voice. Fatigue was clear from his slightly slumped shoulders. SongLi remembered that this was JingMo. 

After SongLi arrived at Ming Town from the Eastern Deserts and when he heard about the pond incident at Lian house, he was then introduced to JingMo. Previously, SongLi thought that JingMo looked way too sturdy; his persona exuding similar aura to martial arts practitioners of Zhang Empire. But his facial profile and skin color were some traits more commonly belonging to the Northern Plains people. Because Da Lang and the Northern Plains had been in harmonious relationship for some time, he did not think JingMo would have any malicious intention. His impression was that this man did not seem to be just a normal servant, let alone just a common servant serving at a tea house.

Observing the well-defined body wrapped under a black-colored body fitting robe, and his rapid but controlled breath, this JingMo was definitely not a commoner. But SongLi did not have a chance to question the man further as JingMo further said,

"Your father is in trouble."

SongLi heart sank, 

"Please explain!"

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"Li-er," Hai FenChu noticed her son running towards his room, but she swallowed her words as his figure quickly disappeared out of sight. His face was still pale, but there was an urgency on his grim expression. There must be something more important suddenly happened.

She initially wanted to ask him about the earlier song. As a mother, how could she not notice the sadness behind his voice when he sang.

Well, to start with, she did not even know SongLi could sing. Thank the gods that he did not inherit Ji ChanFang's vocal chords.

As he had to pass the central courtyard to get to his room, his fleeting figure was noticed by the still congregating audience, now murmuring in confusion at his sudden arrival, then disappearance towards the other end of the courtyard. 

Not long after, SongLi went out of his room. He had changed into a a simpler robe, more fitting for ease of movement than his previous garb.  His whole persona was currently mirthless, his aura sharp like the sword he currently gripping in his right palm. 

Princess XiuYa and Chao MeiHua were inwardly both frightened and fascinated of his seemingly sudden change of personality. The gentle soft spoken young man was now exuding the might of a ferocious beast. The tiger jade insignia hung on his belt was fitting to his image.

Wu JianRui, Hai FenChu, Ji LanBai, and Bai YuLan were now approaching him, clearly concerned. SunChen and HeShan trailed behind them. Understandably, the continuation of their performance was no longer possible.

Gripping his sword, SongLi kept walking. It would be better for himself to make haste for now so he could act accordingly when he reached his father.  

"Mothers, Bai-mei, YuLan, teachers," he uttered, "The Dong tribe has been on the move. I will offer assistance to Father." 

That was all he said, not wishing to disclose what he had heard earlier from JingMo;

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En-route from Ming Town to Da Lang, JingMo had to pass the outer area of the infamous barren land. True to his initial concern, the place was precisely the black clad group of suspicious people - that had broken to the Ji estate - had seemingly lured General Ji and his people into. True to his deduction, he had encountered several lifeless bodies with external wounds, clearly having engaged earlier in a fight.  A few swords with tiger engraving were strewn on the ground, blades still moist with blood. The deadly fight had not even finished that long ago before JingMo's arrival.