Author note: Super late but I got it done. Was really going to put it off til next week as I didn't have time to write during work. Instead I stayed late to get it out. Haven't missed 2 chapters/week yet! Rain or shine! I really should just write some chapters ahead of time though just in case... Oh well. That wouldn't be very arrogant of me would it! No side story though which really sucks because I have some pretty fun stuff coming up in BK's story. Undercover mission, a new friend, and an old 'friend'!

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"Ah! Hi...um..Wel..Welcome back m-master!"

Seeing such a reaction caused Sun Jiao to smile. With a sudden thought he reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Come with me."

Turning around he unlatched the gate from the inside and opened it carefully so as not to cause it to fall over again.

Pulling her outside he brought the nervous Xu Rong far enough away from the cliff face to see the sky and pointed up in the direction of the valley.

In the distance the purple lights were still visible and caused Xu Rong to gasp in surprise.

"Master! Master! What are those? They're so beautiful!"

With guidance from Xiaobo Sun Jiao explained the origin of the lights and their purpose. He himself was surprised at the flower's rarity and mysteriousness. Xu Rong, who knew nothing about the mysteries of the world, was even more impressed.

"Ahhh. I wish I could have seen them bloom." she mumbled to herself.

Standing so close to Sun Jiao he was naturally able to hear it.

"Face me and close your eyes."

Xu Rong hurried to obey as she fully trusted Sun Jiao at this point.

"Now hold out your hands."

As she held them out Sun Jiao reached into his bag and pulled out a Midnight Devil Lily to place in her hands. It's purple and red glow still shown and the petals hadn't wilted at all. As long as they were harvested in the hour the flower would maintain its brilliance.

"Open your eyes."

As Xu Rong opened her eyes they were immediately drawn to the flower in her hand. Her pretty red lips parted and she drew a deep breath in shock. She blinked several times, but when the flower remained she didn't blink again for a while. After the time it takes for a few breaths she finally realized she had stopped breathing and exhaled.

"I harvested a few. You can keep that one."

Xu Rong looked up at Sun Jiao with tears in her eyes and hesitated for a moment before asking in a shaky voice.

"For me?"

"Yes for you."

She looked back down at the flower and bit her lower lip in worry. This caused Sun Jiao's heart to raise and Xiaobo to start teasing him, but the thought-speak was quickly blocked by Sun Jiao.

Turning her gaze back to the man in front of her she opened her mouth to say something but stopped as she saw the purple lights begin to fade one by one.

"Awww. It's over."

They both turned to watch the lights fade together. Sun Jiao encouraged by his victory against the snake decided to boldly reach out and grab her waist to pull her next to him. Xu Rong didn't resist and instead moved even closer.

They stood there watching the lights and enjoying each others company until only a few lights remained. The few lights were so far in the distance that even with vision enhanced through cultivating they were hard to see. Neither wanted the moment to end however and so they both just stood there.

Finally Sun Jiao began to move them inside, but just as he was moving a red burst of light in the sky exploded drawing his attention.

As the red seeds fell the heat from falling would cause all the energy stored inside to explode in a brilliant red lily shape.

Sun Jiao had seen fireworks in his previous life so he wasn't as impressed as Xu Rong who was again driven speechless with wonder. Instead of focusing on the beautiful flowers in the sky he chose to watch the one in his arms.

Seeing the innocent childlike excitement on her face caused Sun Jiao's heart to melt and filled him with a desire to hold her even more tightly in his arms and protect her from any possible harm. If Xiaobo wasn't being ignored he would have warned against falling in love especially with a slave, but even if he been able to give his advice Sun Jiao would not have listened.

Sun Jiao had left everything behind on earth and the first chance to form a real connection caused him to desperately grab onto it.

Xu Rong had never been considered as anything but a slave by those around her and so she too desired a real connection.

These two souls had traveled vastly different paths; one had friendships and family, but unwillingly left them behind and the other had never known the warmth of love. It was hard to say which one had cause to feel the most alone, but both souls were drawn to the loneliness in the other and even without words felt a resonance of acceptance and desire to be together.

The two stood together without speaking and watched the seeds noiselessly explode in the sky.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

As the show began to end Sun Jiao was the first to speak.

"I...I'm not the prince you've heard about."

"I know."

Xu Rong had been nervous and bashful at the start, but having spent so long in Sun Jiao's embrace her mind had calmed and she felt a sense of peace and security she'd never felt before.

"I mean. Oh how can I explain this. I mean the things you've heard about the third prince being cruel and all that. It's true."

Feeling Xu Rong tense Sun Jiao quickly continued.

"But that's not me. That Sun Jiao died just before I met you. I actually died and reincarnated into his body. My soul traveled from far far away and landed in here." He said and tapped his chest. "Does that make sense?"

Xu Rong thought for a while and decided that it made sense. After everything she experienced since leaving the coliseum she found that there was a lot she didn't know about the world and it was easy to accept what he was saying as truth. It also fit with everything she knew about Sun Jiao and explained why the rumors were so wrong. Thinking further she realized why he acted like he had and a worried expression appeared on her face.

"Your sister-" she began, but Sun Jiao interrupted her.

"Leave that for later. You understand right?"

"I do. That's why you let the boy go?"

"Yes. Where I am from is not like here at all. Killing a child is considered incredibly evil."

Xu Rong shivered and tried to say something, but had trouble speaking. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish before finally she broke down in tears and clenching Sun Jiao's cloths buried her head into his chest.

"What's wrong Xu Rong? Calm down whatever it is it will be okay."

Sobbing she tried to explain and after a long while Sun Jiao finally pieced together what she was trying to say about the boy she had been forced to kill. Understanding why she was so upset Sun Jiao quickly spoke words of comfort while rubbing her back.

"Oh Xu Rong. Shhh. That wasn't your fault. You didn't kill that boy those men that ordered you to kill him did. You were just the weapon. It's not your fault."

"*Sniff* I-it isn't?"

"No. If a man took a spear and killed someone it's not the spears fault that person died. You had no choice. Shhh it's alright."

"You don't think I'm evil?"

"Of course not. I think think you're a kind girl who was in a terrible place. I'm actually surprised you turned out so kind growing up in that place. I can't imagine how I would have turned out."

"You...you would never have let them tell you what to do. You'd have fought the whole place!"

Sun Jiao choked a little at the thought. He didn't think of himself as someone that would stand up for himself like that, but found that he wanted to be that person so he didn't correct her. Instead he chose to redouble his efforts in getting stronger.

Xu Rong hesitated before continuing.

"I...I will be like that too. I want to be the best dog in the world. I promise I'll get stronger so that I can always stay by your side!"

Realizing what she had just said about being by Sun Jiao's side caused her entire face to look even redder than the explosions that had been in the sky.

Having forgotten about the whole dog mess thing he had started Sun Jiao felt a bit awkward. Not knowing how to fix it without causing problems in the future he decided to ignore it.

"Good. I..." hesitating for a moment Sun Jiao decided to hold nothing back.

"I want you by my side as well."

Xu Rong looked up at him and they stared into eachothers eyes. Sun Jiao, with one hand holding Xu Rong, lifted his other hand and wiped away the tears that had been on her face. He then placed his hand on her neck and drew her in. There lips met just as the last seed burst in the background.

Xu Rong lost control of all her thoughts and her mind went blank. Both their hearts began beating even faster causing them both their faces to redden with excitement.

Even on earth Sun Jiao had never had a kiss filled with so much emotion before. He pulled her even closer as if trying desperately to merge the two bodies into one. With a smell of flowers and the taste of her sweet lips Sun Jiao knew he'd never forget this moment.

As they pulled away for a breath Xu Rong's lips were curved upwards in a smile and a thousand thoughts came rushing in as her thoughts came back to her.

She tried desperately to get out her impulsive thought, but it came out with a stammer.

"I...um...Sun Qing said, that is, there is um. I should make you a bed? I mean you're not a bed, but that there is a bed? For you that is. Um. She said a good dog would make it warm...if you want? Or I could make something to eat?"

Looking like her ramblings would continue('Did she pick that up from Sun Qing?' Sun Jiao thought with a laugh) Sun Jiao interrupted her with a stern voice.

"Xu Rong."

"Ah! Sorry. Yes?"

"I order you to go warm my bed."

With a look of surprise and happiness Xu Rong quickly replied.

"Yes master!"

With a turn she ran forward right into the gate causing it to crash with a bang.

With a laugh Sun Jiao entered the cave ready for a good night sleep in a very warm bed.