Chapter 9 Part2 (1/2)
We are coming to the end of the story and will be done with 2 more posts. But before that, the problems at Yu Ling Sect need to be resolved. Da s.h.i.+ Jie and Er s.h.i.+ Ge has died – they might as well not have appeared. so short were their appearances – but there is still a missing girl and potential treasures to be found. What part does Feng Jin play in all this? Read on to find out….
Chapter 9 (Part 2)
Shang Guan Jing skirts past dueling swordsmen to reach Si (Fourth) s.h.i.+ Mei, who is being held by a big, burly man. Before she gets close, she can already hear the man's booming voice. ”….if you have come to any mishap, you would have totally deserve it. If you continue to be so reckless, see if I'll rescue you the next time!”
Su Xue Ying is unfazed by her husband's loud voice, nor the hands on her waist that are so tightly wrapped around her, that they may just break her into half if he squeezes any further. ”Hmph! I would have been able to escape eventually even if you did not show up.”
”Ha-ha! Do you think you would still be alive if I have not arrived in time? I think I should lock you up when we get home and throw away the key!”
”You… barbarian!” She recalls something and shakes her head resolutely. ”But I cannot go home just yet.”
His voice raises another notch. ”What did you say?”
”Look barbarian, Da s.h.i.+ Jie and Er s.h.i.+ Gie have gone to Nan Man to capture San (Third) s.h.i.+ Jie. I need to go to Nan Man.”
”You can continue dreaming! You are not going anywhere except home! I am….”
Shang Guan Jing interrupts. ”Si s.h.i.+ Mei!”
Su Xue Ying hears the familiar voice and looks up hopefully. She shakes free of her retrains without much difficulty and rushes up to the person who has been on her mind all month long. ”San s.h.i.+ Jie? Is it really you?” She reaches for her hand and when her hands contacted with something warm and solid, tears start flowing down her cheeks. ”San s.h.i.+ Jie, San s.h.i.+ Jie, it is really you! You are safe! You are back! I am so glad to see you! But teacher, teacher….” Grief overwhelms her and Su Xue Ying starts crying in earnest. ”I can't find her; or Qing Qing! But I'm so glad to see you! I have been so worried!”
Shang Guan Jin pulls her in for a big hug and pats her back gently. ”Don't worry. I am back and I am fine. I have been worried about you too.”
”Why have you gone to Nan Man? It is so far away! If you need help, you could have just come to the Western Desert.”
”I have not wanted to go there either but I have no choice.”
Su Xue Ying is inconsolable and nearly chokes on her tears. ”Don't go there anymore if you do not want to.”
”Hush, don't worry about me anymore. I'm not going Nan Man since you said so yourself that it is so far away. You must stop crying!” Shang Guan Jing tries to console her distraught s.h.i.+ mei but she feels a chill down her spine and looks up. Not far from where she is standing, Feng Jin is trying to stare a hole through her. He is as stiff and cold as a block of ice but Shang Guan Jin has no doubt that he is boiling mad beneath that icy demeanor.
Erm…. Have she said anything wrong? Why is he staring at her as if she has done him some grave injustice?
Feng Jin finally stared enough and turns to Zi Yan. ”Where is the cave? Lead me to it!”
Su Xue Ying finally notices the new comers with Shang Guan Jing. ”San s.h.i.+ Jie, are they your friends?”
Shang Guan Jing does not answer and looks at Feng Jin as he stalks off with his guards in tow. She thinks of the near full-moon she saw yesterday night and recalls that today is the 15th. He has mentioned before that if he will be fine so long as he refrained from using magic within 24hrs before the rise of the full moon. If not, it would just be a bit more painful at night, he has said.
She is a little chagrin to be so worried about him after he has fooled her like a monkey. Sighing, she figures she is just not the type to carry a grudge for long and wonders at what he is going to do next. Pus.h.i.+ng Xue Ying towards her husband, she rushes after the trio.
*******
She caught up with them at the cave entrance. Su Xue Ying and her husband have followed and on the short journey to the cave, Su Xue Ying asks about the strangers once again but Shang Guan Jing does not reply. When Feng Jin takes out the leaders token, Shang Guan Jing quickly walks up and stands between him and the cave entrance.
”Tonight is the 15th; you better not do anything rash.”
He laughs mirthlessly. ”Do you still care?”
She really, really hates to admit that she does so she forces herself to lie. ”Of course not!”
His chilly expression drops another 10 degrees. ”Then leave. Don't get in my way.”