Gate of the travel station was closely ahead but I should not be rash to ask for a rescue as there were crowds inside in which I could not distinguish trustworthy one from the enemy.

It was all dark and foggy outside the gate but I did not hesitate any more, clenching my teeth to dash out.

With light flickering, a big figure shadowed me. A man popped up aside.

I was frightened to look up while the man covered my mouth with his palm, drawing me to a nook under eaves.

“Prince, please keep calm. I am a subordinate of Yu Zhang King to follow you and must protect you.”

I was eye-popping, not believing.

What did he said? Yu Zhang King. He mentioned the king?

In darkness, I could not discern his face and just had sense of deja vu to his heavy accent of the area outside pass.

Before I aroused from the surprise, the man held my waist on his shoulder and strode back.

On his shoulder, I was frozen and shocked. Ideas flew around in my head.

As he stepped in the compound, he shouted, “Whose prostitute escaped? I catch her and she is mine.”

“Damn it. This bitch is idiot! ” The bearded man's voice was heard. “Bro, thank you for catching her, or my money is wasted.”

Dazed, I was thrown back to the bearded man.

He twisted my arms. I felt pang in my shoulder but sad and delighted in my heart.

I pretended to struggle desperately; meantime I watched the man who had caught me.

The man in grey and boot gave an uninteresting smile. “Well, well. However, such a woman, I should not return without any reward.”

The bearded man smiled back and fished out a silver nugget. “A little silver for your wine. It is my first time to do this business. Please help me more in the future.”

The man in grey received the silver, spitting on ground. He grunted to him, “This woman is pretty. She must be sold at good price.”

When he said, he reached out his hand to pinch my chin.

The bearded man drew me back, covering me behind him. He laughed. “Bro, tell truth. She is mad. It is nice just to sell. I don't expect good price. After my deal is done, I treat you with good wine.”

The man in grey gave off loud laughter and approached me to give a covetous glance. “So pretty face but mad. It is pity... Bro, guard her well. The deal is to be done within these two days. Don't let money lose!”

With a smile, the bearded man drew me back.

My twisted arms made me so painful while I recalled what the man said, feeling so excited.

He said that the deal was to be done within these two days, which meant much.

If he was really dispatched by Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi must have known Helan Zhen's scheme. They would act after three days while Xiao Qi had planted a man beside them. The man would act to rescue me anytime. Within two days, he was to forestall them.

This was Xiao Qi, who I married.

I clenched my hands, palms full of sweat, and I was very excited for pleasure, grievance, or yearning, which I did not distinguish.

After all, he was ready for rescuing me.

I had been aware that I had been abandoned and desperate, not expecting anyone... However, when I was in the most desperate situation, a brightest light flash in darkness. He was the last one who I expected but emerged in moment of truth.

Biting lips, I could not help but smile.

Voice and face of the man in grey recurred to my mind. I racked my brain to recall. It flashed on me!

It was him, who I ever saw.

On that day, before I got onto carriage, a big man whipped the wailing woman. He was the man, as I remembered.

Waking up to him, I nearly exclaimed with surprise.

Did Xiao Qi already know their trace since I had been kidnapped to the hay yard?

When they acted as prostitute traffickers by all means, Xiao Qi had deployed in secret way to wait them falling into snare.

My heart shrank abruptly as if I was tossed onto cloud and into abyss.

Why? What did Xiao Qi try to do?

He ever knew that I in danger felt fear day and night?

He ever considered my safety?

My cheeks, which were hot just now for excitement of pleasure, gradually chilled to whole body.

The fire had been extinguished. There was a trail of burning destruction at corridor.

The bearded man pushed me into Helan Zhen's house.

A group of his underlings stood silent and serious.

Helan Zheng in thin and white clothes sat upright and deadpan on a chair.

Xiao Ye kneeled on ground, smoke stains on face.

Helan Zhen, hands in back, approached me, giving a quick glance at her. “Xiao Ye, how did she escape?”

She looked up at me suddenly. Her eyes seemed to bleed.

“It was my fault. She took a chance to set fire on the room and escaped in chaos.” She cringed with a lip biting.

Squinting at me, Helan Zhen smiled instead of anger. “What an unyielding woman, nice, great.”

I made a proud eye contact with him, more dauntless, as I was more composed than ever.

He squinted at Xiao Ye. “Your negligence almost spoiled my scheme.”

She quivered and kowtow in big sound. “My fault. I beg your punishment.”

His face fell. “A dead dog. Punishment does not work.”

She in tear choked with sobs, biting lips to hold back cry.

He turned away without one more glance at her, and said coldly, “Without severe punishment, nothing is warned of. Suotu, go and disable her right hand.”

Xiao Ye's face paled suddenly, body being stiff. His eyes widened, looking at him in emotionless way.

With face having fallen, the bearded man reached out his eagle-claw like right hand whose knuckles stuck out, sounding terribly.

“Don't disable me! I still want to serve young master. Don't disable me--” Xiao Ye aroused as if she had woken up from a nightmare, coming up to Helan Zhen and grabing lap of his clothes.

The man pulled her hair, twisting her right arm. Her hand was going to be broken.

“Stop it!” I shouted.

Helan Zhen turned and squinted coldly at me.

“My escape had nothing to do with the others. Even you guarded me in person, I did same.” I raised eyebrows and stared at him. “Helan Zhen, do you just vent your anger to the innocent and bully a weak woman?”

His icy gaze was at me for long while and he gave a sudden smile, as spring wind rippled a green pool. “Nice, I guard you in person.”

When it dawned, we headed for Ning Shuo.

Helan Zhen and I still stayed in the same carriage. On the way he just closed eyes for doze or pondered over something.

In this travel, I was eventually bound and gagged.

Traveling within boundary of Ning Shuo, Helan Zhen became more discreet, which reflected his dreading Xiao Qi.

Thinking Xiao Qi who was near, I could not help feeling pleased, though I did not know what his plan was.

My suspending heart seemed to fall down.

I was no longer alone.

Even though I was stuck in wolf group, I saw dim fire in far place.

Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi, the name always lingers in my mind.

Wheel spinning, Ning Shuo was coming towards me while surprisingly a trace of expectation occurred to me.

What was my husband like on earth?

If we met here, what were his and my reactions?

It was now in dangerous situation yet, but I was rambling in thought.

At noon, carriage slowed down. I heard clamor of people and horses. It seemed buzzing place.

Hidden behind curtain of the carriage, I could not see anything and discern the noise.

I leaned and listened behind the thick curtain, taking deep breaths. In this cold and dry place, a hint of amiable air was enough to me.

Was this Ning Shuo where the man stayed? Thinking of this, I found myself in gaffe as my cheeks blushed a bit.

Entering the town, the carriage galloped for long while and slowed down to stop.

Someone knocked carriage door twice through the curtain, and Helan Zhen nodded, knocking back to signal safety.

I was pushed off by him, just glimpsing surroundings. Being covered with wind hood, I sank in darkness again.

By the glimpse, I seemed to see barracks in distance.

I was taken to step over several high thresholds, turning left and right. I was asked to stop at last.

The wind hood was pulled off. Before me was a bright and clean room, outside of which was a small yard with white walls and black tiles.

Being amazed, I turned around but did not see Helan Zhen, and only Xiao Ye stood unfriendly in front of me.

In the whole day, Xiao Ye stayed beside me and Helan Zhen's underlings guarded outside door. Helan Zhen seemed to disappear.

All were still as backwater while below the still surface, undercurrent surged.

At night I lay on bed without undressing and Xiao Ye, who held a saber, stood beside the door.

The moon over north border shed its light through windows on ground, which looked like frost.

I had occasional eye contact with Xiao Ye while she was still cold to me, but previous hostility faded away.

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“Ain't you tired?” I tossed sleeplessly. At last I sat up. “Sit down and we chat?”

She ignored me.

Heaving a sigh, I felt unutterably sullen.

“I owe you a favor. If you have any wish before death, you may tell me.” She said deadpan without looking at me.

I got stuck on it and wanted to laugh but could not. At this moment, surprisingly there was no wish occurring to me.

The figures running through my mind were my brother, my parents and Zidan... If I died thus, after all they grieved for me.

Arms embracing kneels, I shook head and gave bitter laugh.

“You haven't wish?” Xiao Ye was amazed to stare back at me.

I suddenly thought it ridiculous: in past eighteen years, I had lived a luxury and distinguished life; nevertheless I had pursued nothing and had no wish.

Even if some day I disappeared from this world, my parents, brother and Zidan, they must grieve, but their temporary grievance would slipped into oblivion and they would go on living. They would enjoy their lifetime luxury and honored lives. There was nothing different.

Was this my luxury and distinguished life on which I had prided myself.

“Young master!” Sound was heard outside.

I sat up at once, pulling quilt to cover my body.

Brightness emerged and the door opened. Helan Zhen stood there, hands in back.

The moon cast dim light behind him, whitening his clothes much. He looked more desolate.

“Young Master!” Xiao Ye kneeled to greet but she stood at door, not shunning.

“Dismiss.” His face hid in deep darkness like a ghost, not distinguished.

Xiao Ye gave a shiver and said with trembling and low voice, “Your maid makes bold to persuade your majesty from indulgence in woman. Beg you for focusing on revenge. “

Helan Zhen looked down at her. “What are you saying?”

“My life is unworthy. For the sake of my usual serving you, let me complete.” She was persistent, looking up in tears. “In order to revenge, we had waited long and so many has died. Success or failure hinges on tomorrow's action. Young Master, do you forget our Helan's blood feud?”

Helan Zhen was silent. His pale face in the moonlight looked terribly.

“I don't and dare not.” He spoke without anger.

When he spoke, he stepped into room and gave a sudden palm strike to Xiao Ye. She flew aside.

She hit again wall corner, spouting blood out of her mouth.

Terrified, I jumped off bed. Ignoring my wearing underwear, I held her up in hurry.

Blood dripped from her lip corners and her face color changed. She trembled and could not utter.

“Helan Zhen!” I shouted with anger and dismay. I could not believe this man in white, who looked aloof, disparaged others' life as such.

He looked coldly at me, calling outside underlings. “Come, and pull this bitch out.”

The underlings pulled her out at once. Before pulling, she opened eyes and gave me a bitter smile.

Helan Zhen approached me to caress my face with his hand that hurt Xiao Ye just now.

I had no space to step back. Opening my mouth, I however could not speak.

“It is actually simple to kill.” He took a look at me and gave me a smile, setting aside a strand of my hair. “I don't care many people killed, but thinking of killing you... I am not happy.”

His dark pupils shimmered weirdly by moonlight, in which however I saw his melancholy.

“Why is it you?” He approached me, closer and closer.

“When I was given a good thing, it must be destroyed. The more I like, the sooner I lose. They are right -- I was born ominous and I was cursed. All I love are doomed to ruin before me.”

He looked full of solitariness and hatred, which cornered me.

“Look at me!” Clenching my chin in his hand, he gave me an amorous stare. “Afu, Afu... you hate me too?”

Do I hate him?

His malicious scoffs, capricious insulting and forced affliction. Do I hate these?

His sad and lonely look, his anger that resulted from mentioning his tribe people, and the warm that was give me by covering robe in carriage, do I hate these?

His affectionate gaze lingered on my face.

“Excepting Lao Tian, only you saw my look in sickness... Am I useless?” He looked down and smile bitterly. “For many years, nobody has treated me like that. After my mom passed away, nobody has fed me like so.”

At this moment, he looked like a forlorn kid and was completely not the man who used to be violent and harsh.

“Your hands were warm... Just a little warmth made me reluctant to let you leave, neither that day nor today. He held my shoulders. Slowly, he embraced me.

His eyes seemed to have a kind of weird power to bewitch me.

I struggled out of his embrace, but I did not scold him, staring quietly at him.

He released me and gazed tender at me.

“Helan Zhen.” I looked into his eyes. This was the first time for me to call his name tenderly. “Why do you kill and revenge?”

Mist in his dark eyes came to clear.

“I tell you a story.” He raised head and smile calmly. Ignoring my reluctance, he pulled me to sit on bed.

“Helan tribe ever boasted a princess, noble and beautiful. She was so noble that one more glance at her was profanity.”

He looked down at me. “You are like her.”

“Helan King let her marry the noblest warrior. At her wedding, Tujue Prince who was invited for the event coveted her beauty. To the tribe's surprise, the prince abducted her in public. The king feared Tujue and dared not offend the prince. Her parents and brothers had to see her be humiliated. She was just a weak woman who had not strength to resist. After Tujue deflowered her, she gave a birth to twins.”

Helan Zhen seemed to tell a very old story, speaking tireless and wearing a faint smile.

“She and her twins were regarded as big shames. The king since then refused her and deported the three from her palace. Only a guardian chief in her palace who was loyal to her followed her out. He helped her bright up twins and taught the twins martial art and study.”

Looking at his craggy and handsome face, I felt sympathetic to him.

“Her twins grew up. The miserable three depends on each other to live a hard life. At that time Tujue Prince sent his subordinates to look for them. They took her son away.”

I blurted out the question. “Why? Before that he did not think him as his child.”

He sneered. “Tujue Prince had had not child for years. At that time he recalled Helan's prince and their son.”

I was silent.

“Short after the kid was taken to Tujue, the war broke out between Tujue and Langya while Helan was piggy-in-the-middle. The war afflicted Helan where people suffered much. The kid, staying in Tujue, knew his family were afflicted but was helpless.

Looking up, he could not hold back tears.

“Before Helan City was broken down, Tujue had been defeated. To save his mother, the kid begged Tujue King so hard that the king was reluctant to allow him take a guardian team to Helan. His voice got harsh and his pupils contracted much.

I turned my face away, unwilling to listen, but I listened to the last part that I want to listen to: “He was late a whole day.” In Helan City, corpses piled as hill and blood flowed as river. The king's clan, three hundred more people, were killed, including women and babies. In his first thinking, he still had a ghost of hope that his mother was spared as she had been deported from the clan. However, when he arrived at the village where she lived, the village was blazing. After the fire, he searched in his burnt house and found two charred corpses -- his mother hugging his sister, both of who died miserably in fire.”

My heart was clenched tightly as if I saw the horrible scene: the kid in deepest despair wailed in the ruin.

Helan Zhen still kept head up, stiff like a rock.

He clenched my hand while his hand was so cold.

“On that day, all I love were charred. Since then I has not my kingdom, tribe and home. I have been forlorn and despairing. Suotu, the guardian chief of my mother, as well as the attendants in the palace who escaped, supported me as young leader and we vowed revenge on the killers for Helan.” Weird craziness flared in his eyes. “So ridiculous. Why do I revenge for Helan? An abandoned Tujue bastard should be a young leader of Helan? Anyway, it doesn't matter, all doesn't matter! Despite bastard or young leader, as long as I can revenge for my mother and sister, I am willing to do everything! Who kills them will pay hundred times!”

He paled with red eyes, looking terrible.

I said nothing, tears gushing out.

Such a man, who was full of misery, sought for a trace of warmth but could not obtain it; he, who was full of hatred, reduced to solitariness and helplessness. However he vented his hatred and revenge on my husband.

And I was already his pawn in his revenge.