The Untamed 2: The Unlikely Hero -Book 1-3

30. Kindling

KINDLING

Huang Jin gulped as she tried to catch her breath and say something, her mouth dangling open like a fish.

"Why are you here?" Jiang Cheng's deep voice was calm, eerily calm.

Huang Jin's eyes immediately lowered and she avoided his eye contact. Stepping back a step, she shuffled her feet and rubbed her nose checking to make sure it wasn't broken. "I am so sorry. I..." She stiffened as she remembered why she had come and straightened herself up. "I am here to give you a message from the leader of the Qinghe Nie Sect."

She was here for a purpose damn it. He should at least respect her station enough. She had dressed up and was wearing the robes of a second in command to the Qinghe Nie Sect, he should at least acknowledge that. Her position at least garnered her some sort of decorum.

Jiang Cheng said nothing, but his face darkened, and he closed his eyes, visibly trying to calm himself. Whispers around them brought attention to the fact that they were now being watched by some of the villagers and townspeople. It was rare for the head of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect to be seen wandering around the night market unless there was trouble, and usually he was surrounded by his guard.

"Come then, let's find some place more appropriate for you to deliver your message then." Jiang Cheng spat out turning on his heels in a flair of irritation, and began walking towards the main house.

Huang Jin didn't move. No. She wasn't going to follow him when he was like this. She came here for a reason and she wasn't going to back out of her promise to herself. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth and she looked up at Jiang Cheng's walking form.

"No. I think I will wander a bit more if you don't mind. I was pleasantly enjoying my time wandering around the market." She smiled even more as she watched him miss a step and turned around to look at her. His face a slew of emotions.

"Your town is renowned for its beauty at night. I have never had the time to properly enjoy it. Will you show me?" The sly smile on her face only made him even more furious. She knew he wouldn't be able to refuse. The crowd that had gathered and were quietly trying to hide their gossiping about the sect leader and her. He wouldn't be able to say no and not lose face. Afterall who would turn down such a beautiful lady that represented another sect?

Never in a million years would she have thought she would have been able to pull this off so well but for some reason her confidence that it would work was definitive.

Jiang Cheng straightened himself up and adjusted his robes. He bowed politely to her and as he rose up and made eye contact with her she had to stop herself from gasping out loud. The fire in his eyes was intense and she could almost feel it on her skin like waves of scorching heat alighting every nerve ending on her skin. She couldn't tell if he wanted to kill her or do something else.

"My apologies. As a representative of the Qinghe Nie Sect you have every right to enjoy yourself here in Lotus Pier. However," he stood erect as a statue of a porcelain god, his muscles flexing under his tight robes. "You will need to say please if you would like me to escort you."

Huang Jin swallowed hard as she stared at Jiang Cheng, the intensity of his stare . Her sly smile faltered slightly, but she didn't back down, meeting his intense stare with her own.

Fine you wanna play. Let's play...

"Please. Will you honor me with your presence and show me around Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng." Her tone of voice was a mixture of teasing and cockiness.

Jiang Cheng bristled, thought about it for a second, and shook his head, a defeated sigh escaping his lips. "Fine. Come." He held out his hand.

Huang Jin hesitated for only the briefest moment before confidently walking over to him, her sly smile dissolving in a gentle one as her hand made contact with his. Their eyes met once more and she stared into the deep depths of his eyes and there was no hint of anger in them, the fire that burned in them instantly set her own skin on fire and her core responded immediately lighting up within her. She almost missed her step as she felt him tug her hand to rest on his forearm underneath his arm and he began to escort her around town.