"My Lord, are you alright?" Qing Yu asked. Bai Li and his swordsman had returned indoors, taking rest from the sun as Shang Wu and Yun Tian packed up the clothes outside. He purposefully sat with his back towards the window, facing the dark wooden room instead.
Dark brown was an awful colour.
"My Lord?" Qing Yu made his way towards the window, unbinding the soft silk blinds that were kept to each side. The white semi see through cloth fluttered against the wind as it was pulled across the window, turning the hot glare of the sun into a warmth embrace on Bai Li's back.
Bai Li enjoyed the heat of the sun, but he said none of this to Qing Yu.
"Do I look pale to you?"
"No, my Lord. In the years I have served you I have never once seen you struck with illness."
"Then why wouldn't I be alright?" But Bai Li was no fool. He was aware of his own actions, the consequences and what they may look like to others. Usually, he would have spent hours sorting through the clothing brought by Lady Lin. She had spectacular tastes, only ever purchasing clothes that matched not only his build but his facial features.
However, Bai Li had no patience for her theatrics today. Not when Yun Tian had spoken up.
There was nothing special about his new guard. Yun Tian was a tall man of subtlety and honour. Bai Li could tell by the wideness of his shoulders and the roughness of his calluses that the blood on Yun Tian's hands, whether it be spirits or humans, ran deep. But even then, with a spirit as his master Yun Tian still treated him with the utmost respect a concubine demands.
He would avoid Bai Li's eyes, not out of disgust or fear, but of formality. Yun Tian would hover behind him constantly at a respectable distance, his presence alone making Bai Li's skin crawl. The man had a way of making his silence known.
And when he spoke. Bai Li remembered the way his own throat clogged up, the sudden cry that threatened to leave his mouth. The fear that latched onto his own heart along with the feeling of anticipation, curling around his neck like a snake. But what was he anticipating? Why was he so afraid? Bai Li couldn't remember any of it.
Bai Li was a feared and powerful spirit. That he was sure of even without his memories, for a power so great it was no longer contained in his soul, seeping into his very own flesh and bones.
So then what was Yun Tian?
"Were the clothes Lady Lin brought not to your taste?" Qing Yu tried once more, but the blind swordsman had spent too long in the spirit's presence to truly believe his lies. They often indulge in this game of deceit. Bai Li feigning indifference and Qing Yu pretending to be none the wiser.
"It'll get colder sooner than later." Bai Li began, eager to put an end to Qing Yu's questioning. "Inform Lady Lin to buy heavier robes, scarves of furs would be lovely. I have enough fall clothes as is."
"Yes, my Lord."
The heavy wooden doors pushed open as Yun Tian emerged, making the hairs on the back of Bai Li's neck rise once more as his body became alert in Yun Tian's presence. The tall swordsman was carrying a tray in his hand, an emerald tea cup placed in its centre.
The eldest son of the Tian family had cut his hair short, leaving it flowing against his shoulders. Yun Tian, like every other day since they've met, has tied some parts of his hair up in a knot behind his head which he secured with a red hairpin. The colour of their family, Bai Li guessed.
Yun Tian's eyes were always kind in its structure, but indifference in its gaze. Whenever they were to pin themselves on him, Bai Li would see the blade by Yun Tian's waist piercing through his own chest. He felt naked and seen in the swordsman's presence, and that was what bothered him most.
This average looking man who he could kill if given the chance dares to bother his peace. Bai Li huffed and turned his head swiftly when Yun Tian met his gaze, already irritated.
This did nothing to discourage the man from coming closer as he gently placed the tray on the wooden table, folding the sleeve of his robes as he did so.
"Physician Huang Fu asked me to deliver this in his stead." Yun Tian said as he straightened and took a step back. "Oolong tea, my Lord."
Bai Li felt his body stiffened at the words. His nose was filled with the scent of rosemary and vetiver, so much so that Bai Li failed to pick up the smell of his tea. The spirit quickly grabbed a hold of the cup, using the sleeve of his robes to block the scent of the guard before him as he sniffed at the liquid inside. It was indeed that old man's warning.
"What is it, does it stink?" Shang Wu poked his head from somewhere in the room, watching Bai Li with as much caution as he felt intrigued by the spirit's presence.
"No. Shang Wu, guard the doors and do not let anyone in unless I've said otherwise." Qing Yu quickly instructed as he finally left his place by his master's side. The blind swordsman opened his master's cabinet, quickly pulling out a deep green robe that was hidden within.
Shang Wu nodded curtly, not daring to raise a question in the presence of his master as the small male quickly slipped out of the door to stand guard.
Bai Li had set the tea cup down, finger trailing amongst his rim. His face was the perfect picture of calmness as he stared at the swirling tea inside.
"What is it?" Yun Tian asked, noticing the disturbed frown on Qing Yu's usually composed face. His hand had automatically returned to its hilt, body positioned defensively in front of the spirit. Bai Li noticed this and it bothered him greatly. So he stood, shouldering Yun Tian aside as he went behind the folding screen just as Qing Yu rounded the corner to help him dress.
"Oolong tea, the head physician would only ever serve that to master whenever the Empress had made a move. Consider it a warning of sorts, for master to ready himself."
"Ready himself?" Bai Li heard Yun Tian ask, but he was no longer in a mood to indulge in idle conversations. He quickly undid his robes, letting it fall to the ground before sliding into the emerald clothing Qing Yu had picked out for him. The special robe of silk was always folded at one corner of the cabinet. He had multiple sets, given to him by the Empress for whenever she were to call upon his service.
"The Empress is not a gentle ruler nor a loving wife, Yun Tian." Qing Yu said quietly. Golden eyes glanced towards his guard who immediately knew to shut his mouth before his words got taken too far. Satisfied with his clothing, Bai Li walked out from behind the screen to sit in front of the large bronze mirror the Empress had gifted him.
He met Yun Tian's eyes in the mirror briefly. "Golden hair pins only."
Taking it as permission to approach Yun Tian wasted no time in going through the drawers beside the mirror, rummaging through the many pins Bai Li had kept inside. Most given as gifts from the Empress, or bribes sent from other families in hopes to get on his good side and inevitably, the Empress's.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Qing Yu gently started to comb through his master's long hair, careful not to break any strands as Bai Li watched the man kneeled beside him. When Yun Tian's fingers brushed past a certain pin the spirit stopped him.
"That design, find a set like it."
The two worked in effective silence around the spirit and before long, Bai Li's long, dark hair was held up beautifully on his head. Qing Yu had braided his hair into small strands that framed the sides of his face, while a small bun rested on top adorned with golden hair pins that glimmered and sang with its dangling gems. The rest of his hair flowed beautifully down his back, reaching well past his waist.
Bai Li leaned closer towards the bronze mirror and lifted a sharp claw like nail towards his face. He lightly poked the softness of his lips with it, drawing droplets of blood before smearing the red across his lips' surface, tinting his already plump lips and giving it more colour.
Qing Yu was back behind him. This time, there was a mask in his hands. The mask itself was made out of blood red ruby beads, small and glittering like fallen trails of blood. The blind swordsman carefully placed the mask over Bai Li's lower face. Covering his beauty from his nose and downwards.
This way, it made the gold of his eyes shine even brighter. Like a light in the dark, luring in the unexpected visitors of night.
Movement caught Bai Li's attention as Yun Tian came to stand at his side, his posture straight and composed like a guard ready to escort his master.
"You won't be accompanying me tonight." He said, eyes still on his own reflection in the bronze mirror.
"My Lord, I'm well aware of how much I lack compared to Qing Yu-"
"Qing Yu won't be coming, either." Bai Li cut him off, rising gracefully from his chair as he finally turned his golden gaze upon the man.
It could have been the sharpness of his tone, or perhaps the provocative way he was dressed with the front of his robes left open, the smooth skin beneath exposed for all to see. But Yun Tian avoided his gaze, turning his head slightly to the side.
"Before the Empress is satisfied, none of you are permitted to enter her palace. Do you understand?"
Qing Yu bowed, clasping his hands in front of him as Yun Tian remained with his head lowered. They replied in unison. "Understood."
"My Lord?" Shang Wu's nervous voice called from behind the door. "The ladies of the Empress's palace have arrived." His voice rose slightly at the end, framing it as a question rather than a statement.
Bai Li had already heard them arrive. Their silent, light footsteps echoing through the halls while Qing Yu was busy decorating his hair. Golden eyes glanced sharply towards the door.
"Let them in."
The door opened and a group of at least six women walked in, flanked by ten members of the Emperor's guards. The women carried themselves differently than those in Bai Li's little palace. They did not keep to the walls and gardens, nor did they avoid the spirit's presence. Instead, they take up space with their straight shoulders and raised chins.
Bai Li had never seen the faces of these women. Each of them was covered with a piece of cloth that dangled from their head piece to their necks. Charms and spells drawn by the royal shamans to weaken Bai Li's power in their presence and protect them from any tricks he may have.
They wore simple clothing. Robes of pure white that fluttered whenever they walked like ghosts drifting through the wind. But their hair was braided into different flower-like shapes on the back of their heads. Adorned with emerald hair pins.
The guards dressed in royal armour, talisman tattooed directly onto the flesh of their arms and necks. Black ink that curled around their body like serpents. Instead of swords around their waist, these guards had ropes made of steel, engraved with letters too small for any to read.
The tailsman of his little palace, Bai Li could bear. Other spirits would have already perished living in a cell of spells but he was no ordinary spirit. The spells written on the walls and vases of his palace were like little bugs. Nibbling at his skin only when he were to try and summon his power.
But these spells and charms drawing energy directly from the life force of humans were different. It made him dizzy, his chest contracting uncomfortably like he was being wrapped in a snake's embrace, ready to be devoured any time he pleased. Without his soul, he simply had no means to defend himself.
"Concubine Bai Li." The woman up front, Madam Xin, said in greeting. Her voice sounded like a drum in Bai Li's ears. One of the head shamans, a woman who stayed by the Empress's side from the moment Bai Li was dragged from his slumber.
"Old hag." Bai Li responded, turning his body fully towards Madam Xin. "Your theatrics never fails to amuse me. Has the little human Empress grown bored already?"
"You will do well to watch your tongue, Bai Li. It would be great pity if you were to meet the same fate as young master Ge."
So she has heard. He was wondering why he hadn't been punished for pulling out the poor man's tongue that day.
Bai Li's smile was sharp and sudden. Like a tiger ready to lunge towards its prey. "What to do indeed, when my tongue is one of the things her Majesty favours most?"
"You will show respect, soulless spirit!" One of the guards raised his voice and at once, the men around him uncurled their ropes with a snap.
–
Yun Tian had never seen anything like it, his hand went to his sword, eyes meeting Shang Wu who stood at the doorway, unsure of what to do in such a situation.
They were assigned by the Emperor to serve the spirit. So who exactly were they supposed to protect?
The moment those ropes snapped against the ground Bai Li bared his canines, golden eyes flashing as the pupils inside shrunk to a slit. Qing Yu did not waste a moment to unsheathe his sword but the blind swordsman never got the chance to defend his master.
As the guards rushed forward Bai Li had roughly shoved Qing Yu aside, far enough that none of the ropes could harm him. Yun Tian's breath hitched as he watched the concubine lunge forward, claws glinting with the promise of blood.
He fought low like an animal, making it hard for the humans to counter his attacks as Bai Li sunk his claws into one of the guard's jaws from below. The guard's mouth opened in a scream and Yun Tian could see the tip of the spirit's claws in his mouth before the spirit had thrown him away like a rag doll.
Two more guardsmen charged in, ropes slithering towards Bai Li. If it hit him, Bai Li showed no signs of pain. HIs eyes were locked on the woman at the centre of the group, an elderly that continued to remain composed throughout the chaos.
Bai Li grabbed a hold of one of the ropes, the sound of skin sizzling could be heard as he made contact before the spirit yanked the guard closer by his weapon. His companion whipped his rope forward only for the attack to be blocked by the human and Yun Tian felt himself stiffen when Bai Li dodged to let the guard fall, lunging towards the other one.
With swift movements Bai Li hopped into the air, his feet landing on either side of the guard's shoulders before sinking his claws into each of the human's eyes. Blood spurted out as the guard fell in a scream, taking the spirit with him and with that, all the other guards charged in at once.
As they fought, skin sizzling and whips snapping against the floor, the maid servants in the centre had begun to mumble. They had their hands in front of them, all of their fingers curled except for two as they began to chant.
Bai Li wobbled, and Yun Tian pulled out his sword.
"Don't." As Yun Tian took a step forward Qing Yu had managed to come in front of him. A rough hand pushing his shoulder back. "Sheathe your sword, Yun Tian. Master made himself clear."
"He's going to be killed!" Yun Tian hissed, but Qing Yu would not budge.
"If you pull out that sword, are you certain the one you'd hunt wouldn't be the spirit you're trained to kill?" He halted at those words, staring down at the blind swordsman. There was dust and pieces of wood stuck in Qing Yu's hair from colliding with the wall when he was shoved. "You fight, and it must be a human's blood that stains your steel."
An animalistic call, sharp and aggressive sliced through the air made Yun Tian snapped his head up towards the scene. Bai Li had reached the elderly woman in the centre, his eyes blazing with hatred Yun Tian hoped would never be directed at him. But the spirit could not move.
Three steel whips were wrapped around Bai Li's neck, two on each of his arms and one wrapped around his torso. The guards stood around him, pulling the whip taunt as they prevented him from moving any further. The spirit's skin burned red where it made contact with the whips.
The woman was still composed, the young ladies behind her continued to chant. She had her hand lifted, two fingers pressed between Bai Li's eyes as her voice grew louder with each spell. The animalistic voice wailed again and Yun Tian realised with a start that it was Bai Li.
His skin wasn't just red, but the blood underneath his flesh had started to swirl to the surface. Creating patterns similar to the ones tattooed into the guard's skin. Yun Tian recognised this, he'd seen it many times during his hunt and has done so himself time and time again.
It was the first step to exorcism.
The hand on his shoulder gripped painfully. Qing Yu had not turned back around but instead, hung his head lower in shame as his master let out another scream.
Just as the red swirls reached his collarbone the elderly stopped, removed her finger and swiftly turned around as she and the other young ladies started to walk out the door. The guards followed, tugging slightly on the whips and to Yun Tian's surprise, Bai Li completely fell over.
The spirit crashed onto the floor, hands clawing at the whips against his neck as he choked on his own blood but the guards were already walking, already dragging him along and leaving behind the corpses of their fallen friends.