“Grandpa, why do I have to do this training? I feel very tired! I have been doing this same move for several hours without any break and I still don’t understand it!” gasped a young man, who looked no older than 15 years old, as he tried to catch his breath. His bloody hands wrapped in a white linen cloth were leaning on the beaten trunk of a tall tree.

“You need to do this because I will not be able to defend you for all my life! One day, I will be gone and if you can’t defend yourself, who will defend you? Nobody! You will need to live in this harsh world that only looks up to the strong and discard the weak.”, screamed an elderly man, who was walking to the young man, his cane striking the ground with each step that he took.

“Okay, grandpa I will try to learn this, but it is too hard. Can you show it to me again?”, asked the young man, whose eyes glistened with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. Although his hand was injured to the point that most of its skin was peeled off underneath the wrap, he did not seem to care about the pain as he was set on becoming just like his grandfather, a powerful Will, and lifeforce practitioner. Many thoughts of how his future would look like once he reached the apex started to rush through his mind.

Looking at the movements being performed, he shook his head to clear his mind and started to carefully observe his grandfather. Each of the movements was as fluid as water and contained a strong aura of Will unlike his own. As he tried to understand the mystery behind these movements, he noticed someone watching from afar. He knew who it was, but he ignored it as he did not want to miss any of the movements that his grandfather was showing to him. Nearing the end of the demonstration, he caught the glimpse of a painful grimace covering his grandfather’s face. He understood that it was his leg that causes it.

“Grandpa, you never told me how you hurt your leg? Please do not try to show me these movements, if it causes you pain. Although I still don’t understand any of these movements that you showed me, I will learn them by myself…”, said the young man while stroking his curly blond hair with his bloodied hands. This scene made him seem like a demon from afar as his hair was slowly dyed with his blood.

“Oh, my boy…Do not worry about me, I am old…You have still much to learn, but so little time to understand all of it. As for my injury, you will soon learn the story behind it. For now, try to improve your technique and try to see where you lack practice…I will come back in an hour to see your progress, do not to disappoint me…”, said his grandfather as he walked away while dragging his feet. This demonstration had exhausted him and his old injuries had once again flared making him feel intense pain. Fortunately, he was able to contain it with his lifeforce. He did not want to cause his grandson any worry as he knew how hard it was to learn and perform the mysteries behind these movements that he taught him. Leaving the training grounds, only silence could be heard, he knew his grandson was still trying to decipher his movements. Tears started to stream down his face, as he painfully smiled.

“Grandson, do not blame grandpa…I will meet my end soon, I can feel it…Cui’er, I have failed you!”, murmured the old man as he continued walking down the unpaved road that led to a small dilapidated mansion.

Seeing his grandfather leaving the training ground, the young man sighed. He looked over to a tall tree nearing the edge of the field. A faint shadow of a person could be seen.

“Come out Li Na, I know it's you!”, exclaimed the young manas he pointed at the tree.

“Young master, how did you know it was me and not someone else. I made sure that you couldn’t see me at all! Don’t tell me that you can recognize someone based on their breathing pattern...or sound?”, timidly asked Li Na, who was stunned, as she came out of her hiding place and walked towards the field. Her copper-colored hair flowed in waves fluttering in the wind to adorn her glowing, porcelain-like skin. Her eyes, framed by long lashes, were bright, emerald-green and seemed to brighten the world. Suddenly a heavy wind battered against her, revealing her exquisite figure underneath her white robe. Without a moment to spare, she quickly tidied herself, while displaying a beautiful smile that mesmerized the young man.

As Li Na came closer to him, she blushed as she felt the intense stare of her master, who seemed to be paying attention to her every move. Arriving a few inches away from him, she stopped and sat down on the dirt. Noticing that he was staring at her in a daze, the young man laughed and seeming to ignore her question, he asked “Li Na, when did you come back from your training? I thought it would last for a few more days!”

“I only recently came back and I heard from others that you were training, so I headed here in hopes that I could find you”, she said while displaying her dashing smile. The young man could not figure out what Li Na was thinking. The more he thought about it, the more he wondered if she learned this in her training. His memories of the Li Na being flustered as he teased her and her ever-changing emotions were day and night compared to the young woman that was sitting in front of him. At least before, he could understand her intention behind her action through her behavior and emotions she displayed to him, but now it seemed that it would no longer be possible as she put a façade, a thin yet insurmountable wall, that blocked him from viewing her feelings in her heart. Through this revelation, he became quite curious as to what progress she achieved.

“Li Na, tell me what did you learn in these past 5 years of training in the Lonely Peak? I am wondering...Did you learn how to hide your feelings from me in there?”, asked the young man as he laughed.

“Yes, I did...I wanted to become more like you! You were always able to control yourself and your emotions. Although, I haven’t learned this to the extent of completely hiding my feelings, I able to at least control them, so I don’t become a nuisance to you...”, said Li Na, in a sweet yet melodious voice that touched the young man deep within his heart.

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“Don’t tell you also learned to change the tone of your voice? What about martial arts did you learn any?”, asked the young man, while scratching his head. He was truly confused as to what Li Na learned in there.

Seeming to ignore his question, Li Na asked, “Are you ready for the ceremony, master?”, while twirling her hair.

“Li Na, you know there is no need to call me master...Anyways, I think I am ready for this...What about you? Are you ready?”, replied the young man, desperately trying to hide the fear in his voice. The thought of that accursed ceremony caused him to feel intense fear, but also anger at the beings who would be deciding his fate in this life.

“I am as ready as you are, master. You know, I promised you since the day you protected me from the mob, who were trying lynch me, that I will follow you as my master. You were the only person that never truly abandoned me in my time of need. For that, I will be forever grateful to you...As for the ceremony, well as you are doing it, I will also do it, although I just wish we would live a more peaceful life, just you and me...”, said Li Na, while leaning closer to the young man, until her face was just inches away from him. The last few words of her sentence were murmured so softly that the young man could not make out the words that she said.

Smelling her exquisite scent emanating from her body, he blushed and, without thinking, he leaned towards her. After a moment, he felt the soft lips of the girl touching his. He had kissed her. Instead of getting mad at him, Li Na reciprocated his feelings towards her and kissed him with the same passion and intensity as he did. The young man was in bliss as he slowly touched the girl’s snow-white cheeks. He wondered how long he would be able to keep this feeling that he felt at this moment. As for the girl, she was elated, but also confused, as she had concealed her feelings for quite some time. The confusion came from the behavior of the young man. She had never seen him take the first step for anything they did together. She was the one that led him everywhere. Smiling to herself, Li Na began to like the changes in the young man’s behavior. It made him seem more mature and appealing to her.

After a while, the young man stood up, Li Na looked at him, her eyes previously showing her joy had now a sense of regret lingering in them. Li Na knew that she and the young man could never be together. This moment was one of the few that they will have before that fateful day. As Li Na tried to unscramble her various thoughts, the young man said, “I have something that I need to ask you about...I wanted to ask you this before, but I could not find the right moment to do so...I guess now is the best time to tell you this...Li Na, I am not sure if you know this, but I love you. Since the day I protected you from them, I could not keep my eyes off you...I thought maybe these feelings would go away, but they did not...Li Na, my grandfather and I have a lot of enemies...Many of them want us dead...That is why I also need to ask you this...Would you run away with me and my grandfather?”

Li Na was at a loss of words. She did not understand this. He was already engaged. Why would he commit this act that could only lead to him marrying her? As an orphan and the young man’s bodyguard, Li Na could have never imagined such a scenario occurring like the one upon her. Li Na blushed as she thought of him fathering her children. Maybe she could also get her happy ending that she had always desired deep within her heart. However, thinking of the consequences of these actions, she decided that maybe it would be best to stay by his side not as his wife, but as a shield for him, a disposable shield. She would see him get married from afar and live a happy life. Although she did not want to think of this, she knew that it would be the most likely outcome for her life. No happy ending. A life full of regret. These thoughts strained her mind, as tears streamed down her fair face.

Seeing her shedding tears, the young man, who did not know if these were tears of joy or sorrow, quickly reached out hugged her. With her head bend over on his shoulder, he whispered in her ear, “I know that I am engaged with Wang Xiu, but she does not truly love me as you do. I do not care about appearances...Wang Xiu is a top-class beauty...Many people say that she is the most beautiful woman in this city...but for me, it is you who is the most beautiful! Beauty fades with time, Li Na...What I truly care about is what lies within the heart as that will stay with you forever...When you were gone, grandfather made me go and visit her. What I saw when I came to her was not the girl that I thought she would be. She was manipulative, prideful, envious and she even looked down at me in disdain as though I was some disgusting thing that was plaguing her life. Even if she was the perfect woman, I would not marry her, because my heart already belongs to you and only you. So, will you follow me to the unknown, because together nothing will ever stop us from getting our happy ending?....” while holding out his hand towards her, his eyes displayed both the fear of rejection and the love he had for her.

“Would you truly leave everything behind for me?”, asked Li Na tearfully.

“I will...No matter what! Even if I have to face the world as my enemy, I will do it! Death does not scare me, Li Na, it is thought of losing you that does!”, said the young man as he gently hugged her from behind. Seeing her trembling figure, he knew that she was fearful of what the future would hold for them. Her delicate yet firm hands slowly touched his arms, as she slowly burrowed her face on his shoulder. Li Na wanted this moment to stay like this forever, but she knew that fate was against their love. Sensing his burning gaze, Li Na turned her face to face his. The young man smiled, once again, as he saw her eyes sparkling with a renewed sense of love and determination that he hadn’t seen in her for quite a while. He knew that she was now his woman. As he continued smiling, Li Na blushed and whispered, as she pinched his arm, in her sweet yet melodious voice, “Pervert was this your idea all along...Was this why you were so calm when your grandfather told you about the engagement with Wang Xiu?”

“Ouch! Li Na...”, said the young man, as he tried to reply to her questions. However, seeing her resting peacefully in his arms, he could not bring himself to say anything. He wanted to treasure this moment. As he slowly bent his head to kiss her, Li Na, unexpectedly, stretched her arm and grabbed hold of his face as she kissed him passionately.

“I am yours forever, my love...We must hurry to your grandfather to see how he would react to this!”, whispered Li Na as she parted her lips from his. The young man still in a daze slowly nodded his head as a sign of agreement. As the young man stood up, he could see Li Na's gorgeous figure as she tried clear the dust-off her clothes. Seeing him, once again, staring at her, Li Na blushed as she harshly stated, while pinching him once more, "You must control yourself...There will be time later on for you to look at me for as long as you please, but for now, we must not delay in seeing your grandfather!”

“Yes, my love!”, exclaimed the young man as he grabbed hold of her legs and hoisted her off the ground. Seeing her blush with such a sweet yet innocent expression, as she burrowed her face on his shoulder, he smiled and proceeded to run towards the unpaved road that led to a towering yet run-down mansion, which belonged to his grandfather.

“I hope that I will still be alive on the day we truly get married...3 years do seem like a lot...Many things can happen to us during this time...”, whispered Li Na, her hair fluttering in the wind. Her face hidden from her beloved displayed the expression of a maiden in love. This expression, however, did not last for long as she knew that the hardship that would come from this predicament could lead to their untimely deaths. Thinking of this, she resolved herself to protect her love...her master...her husband from this, even if it would lead to her being separated from him, in this life...