Chapter 7

HHYL Fanfic chapter 7

Anhui Province was one of Datong's flourishing Provinces. Located across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, Anhui served as Datong's borderline of the Eastern Region. For the sake of Conquering the East Expedition, Mu Yue set his stronghold in Anhui, as the transit area for the troops before crossing the border into the enemy territory.

Though it was part of Datong, nonetheless, given its strategic position, there were many threats from the surrounding countries. Mu Yue was obviously displeased to have Jing in this dangerous place. If word ever went out, about Datong's Emperor being in this kind of place, surely other kingdoms would dispatch their most skilled assassins. But Jing was not the kind of Emperor that would obediently listen to his subjects' advice. Once his mind was set, even a typhoon could never sway him.

A month prior, Jing and Ding Peng arrived at Anhui to join Mu Yue's troops who claimed that they had gotten a clue about Lu Cang's possible hideout. A teahouse owner by the roadside claimed that Lu Cang had stopped at his place last summer. He could remember him because Lu Cang left a very deep impression on him. His description matched with Lu Cang's profile perfectly. --- An outstanding handsome face, tall with a perfectly proportioned figure. Calm and courteous with a hint of arrogance between the brows. But what stood out the most was the Emperor's golden emblem hanging on his waist.

According to this old man, Lu Cang and Xiao Sang were heading south. Southern of Anhui was the Yangtze River, which meant, Lu Cang was heading to the outmost borderline. Jing could only think of one country, Xiang. Summoning Captain Wang who was currently on duty in Xiang's Country, Jing questioned him about Lu Cang's visitation to Xiang's Country. Unfortunately, Captain Wang couldn't give them any good news. Lu Cang had never reached Xiang's Country. The borderline soldiers also confirmed it. They saw no one crossing the borderline for this past year.

Once again, the thin thread of hope seemingly was about to vanish.

Standing regally with his all majestic-personage, Jing gazed at the faraway mountain, drowned in his own thoughts. All the while, his white as snow robes fluttered in the autumn breeze. Playing in the wind with a kind of careless grace.

While his face might be the reflection of a clear and calm blue sky, his heart was in turmoil. Each passing day served as a stimulant for his distress, growing more of his impatience and anxiety. He had been diligently pressing down his restless heartbeat as it pounded against his chest with painful anticipation. Waiting and waiting. For the day he could be with the one he had chosen to be with.

He still couldn't believe that Lu Cang would leave him over such a trivial thing. They had been through so much more trials before reaching to this point. He still couldn't accept that Lu Cang would walk out of his life after all of the barriers that had been passed. It must have been something more. Something that had been weighing on Jing's mind all this while. The actual reason he wanted Lu Cang to move into his Royal Quarter was solely to keep him close, to avoid this kind of situation.

From the corner of his eyes, he could see Ding Peng approaching. He couldn't help but twitch and mentally prepare for whatever news Ding Peng might bring forth.

"Your Majesty, we have caught him." Bowing, Ding Peng delivered his report.

"Bring him here!" Without looking back, Jing rigidly voiced out his order.

Two days ago, another light of hope was shining. In the city of Anhui, a gang of scoundrels had flaunted the Emperor's Emblem. Taking whatever they wanted by using the Emperor's name. Of course, the officials of Anhui, knowing that there were higher figures coming from the Capital, hurriedly reported to Mu Yue. Allowing Mu Yue to act fast to capture those scoundrels in no time.

The bandit leader was reduced to a very pathetic state. Both hands tied up behind his back, pushed to kneel, his head pressed to the ground. Not allowing him to have a look at the majestic figure of the Emperor standing before him.

Jing eyed him coldly, intimidating the very soul of this bandit. --- Although he couldn't see it, he could sense that the freezing aura around this seemingly important person was a truly dangerous one.

"Where did you get it?" An icy cold voice, like the harsh winter wind, resounded right in his head. A result of a Qi filled voice.

Shuddering, as if talking with the God of Death, the bandit leader answered with all the courage he could muster.

"We robbed it. Two months ago."

"Where?" A tremendously awful atmosphere pressured him with every word he heard.

"In the small village, Jinzhai."

A foot was on his head instantly, pressuring him deeper to the ground. Causing his breathing spell to be disrupted and his mouth soiled by the earth.

"What happened to your victim?" The clear voice was tranquil. Yet, it infused fear to the very core of his life.

As a bandit, he used to ignite fear into people. He enjoyed the sight of their pure fear. But this kind of fear was beyond his capability. This kind of dreadful and heavy intimidation, even without seeing that terrifying person's face, he could feel all of his malevolent auras. ---Pure cruelty, merciless. He was shaking all over. Secretly he made an oath, if he could escape safe and sound from this predicament, he would turn over a new leaf.

"We...We killed him."

He didn't even have the chance to scream from the pain when Jing kicked him, sending him flying. Lost his consciousness on the spot.

There was no way in hell this bandit could kill Lu Cang. His kung-fu level was nothing compared to Lu Cang's.

Despite telling himself this fact, Jing was still unable to push his agitated feeling aside. Trying his best to hold back his anxiousness, he ordered Ding Peng to prepare his horse. This time, he would personally go to Jinzhai instead of letting his subjects do the investigation and waiting impatiently for the result.

The qualm, burdening his heart, straining his mind, forced him to lose the last thread of his self-control. Jing actually let his momentary excitement and hope upon hearing the thinnest possibility about Lu Cang's whereabouts take control.

Without paying any regard to Mu Yue's protest or waiting for any trustworthy confirmation that Lu Cang was there, he charged to Jinzhai, a very reckless action that the usually proud and arrogant Jing wouldn't do. But this was not the usually haughty Jing. He casted aside his imperious self and let his presentiment lead him. ---His heart just told him to go.

It was quite a distance from Anhui to this small village. Surrounded by many mountains, the path was kind of tricky. One could lose their way easily in this kind of secluded mountain.

"Your Majesty, there is a small house not too far ahead. Let's stop and ask for directions." They were riding too deep in the mountain. Ding Peng couldn't help but worry that they might lose their way. They couldn't afford to have Jing stay the night in the wild.

Jing nodded slightly as his approval. Leading the way, he impatiently jumped off his horse and rapped on the door.

--- Presently---

Jing's heart couldn't help but beat rapidly upon hearing the voice that he had missed for this entire year. Unconsciously, he clenched his fists in all excitement. Trembling. --- Mu Yue and Ding Peng eyed him closely. Ready for all possibilities.

The small wooden door slowly opened. Revealing an extraordinarily handsome face from behind the door. ---His exquisite features seemed so out of place in this kind of humble hut.

In that instant, time seemingly froze. Other's existence was ceased to none. In this whole wide and vast world, there was no one but the both of them. A moment of eye contact felt like a thousand years had passed. Breathless, Jing gasped at the sight in front of his eyes.

Staring at Jing, he smiled widely. Seemingly he was pleasantly surprised to see him. --- His eyes were sparkling with the same yearning as Jing. This was definitely him. There was no other who had the same brilliant spark as those eyes.

Couldn't restrain his smile from floating up as well, Jing calling out the name that he had been missing so much, in such a longing sigh. "Lu Cang......"

Jing's face was freed from a year's worth of turbulence. Relaxed and relieved, seeing the Lu Cang he craved so much for all this year was safe and sound. His efforts during this desperate search had paid off. Lu Cang was here, in front of his very eyes.

An unsure tone was responding to his gentle call. "Yes, I am.... Good Sir, Who are you??"

Halting his initial intention to secure Lu Cang in his arms, in a tight embrace, Jing widened his eyes in disbelief. His smile disappeared as fast as it emerged. Stunned.

Lu Cang actually asked him this damned question??!

WHO-ARE-YOU??

Devastated by the unexpected question, Jing froze on the spot. How could he ask that? With such an innocent face? What had he done behind Jing's back to make him act like this? Surely, he had not done something that he perfectly knew Jing wouldn't approve of?

Upon this thought, gradually, his initial wrath was coming back to him in full force. ---His anger when he learnt about Lu Cang's disappearance, all at once flowed back from the depths of his mind, flooding his heart. All of his suppressed feelings were threatening to explode.

Ding Peng and Mu Yue, though feeling the same puzzlement, couldn't let loose their on guard position. They could feel Jing's terrifying ominous air seeping out from each and every one of his pores.

Watching the beautiful face in front of his eyes change to an enraged expression without a clear cause, Lu Cang retreated a few steps. His survival instincts told him that this man, with an aura of nobility, was a dangerous one. Fear was crawling out from his heart.

"Brother Cang, who is that?" A sweet voice, as gentle as a ringing bell, came through from a room inside.

"Ahh... Chu Mei... Don't come out. You are still in your recovery stage after giving birth to Xiao Yang..." Lu Cang, so softly, in all of his kindest voice, answered the woman who emerged from a room.

"But, who are they??" The woman he called Chu Mei was holding a newborn baby in her arms.

Lu Cang casted them a brief glance, then frowned upon seeing their complicated countenances. ---The face of the most glamorous beautiful one was twisted with rage, the one to his right, about the same age as the beautiful one, was wearing a snobbish yet puzzled face. And the mature one to the left of the beautiful person, was looking at him so intensely, as if trying to warn him, and his expression was of pure concern.

Shaking his head, he faced towards Chu Mei's direction. "I don't know...."

Having Lu Cang ask him "Who are you?" was more than enough to raise his fury to its peak. And now he was saying he didn't know them. Moreover, upon the sight of a woman and a baby, Jing, consumed by his own deadly wrath and hatred, wholeheartedly charged into the house to kill this woman. --- Lu Cang disappeared for more than a year, the woman just delivered that baby, calculating the time, Jing immediately concluded that this woman and the baby belonged to Lu Cang. Moreover, Lu Cang talked to her in such an affectionate way.

Sensing the ultimate danger, Lu Cang instinctively jumped to protect Chu Mei and Xiao Yang. ---Positioned himself between Jing and his little family. Shielding them from any potential threat.

"Stop!!! What do you want?!" Opened both of his hands as a protective gesture, while throwing Jing a suspecting eye.

"HOW-DARE-YOU!!!" These words were all Jing could squeeze out from all the different kinds of emotions circling in his head. There were too many unpleasant feelings floating and sinking continuously in his mind. All of the negative feelings could only be represented by potent rage.

Despite all of Jing's hardship and effort to find him for this past year, he was actually hiding himself in such a secluded area and living happily ever after with his family??!

Mu Yue and Ding Peng could hear the distinct sound of something snapping within him. Despite their stay-alert positions, they were still not fast enough for Jing. All of a sudden, all they could see was a flying Lu Cang. ---Jing had already grabbed Lu Cang and threw him out of the house.

He honestly wanted to kill this ungrateful Lu Cang right here right now.

All words escaped his now chaotic mind. He didn't even care to swear or to curse anymore. Like an angel of death, step-by-step he advanced closer to the still lying on the ground Lu Cang. Emitting his immense genuine killing intention.

This time, Mu Yue and Ding Peng were in time to stop him.

"Your Majesty!!" Mu Yue and Ding Peng called out in unison. Trying to pull him back from his raging world. Both of them were holding Jing's arms to halt him from his movement. Jing's eyes were so dark, almost like in a trance.

Lu Cang lye dazed, however his eyes formed a round shape upon hearing the way they addressed him. --- An Emperor?? What was the Emperor doing in this secluded area? And why did he attack him?

"Big Brother...!!!" Xiao Sang's shrieking voice resounded from the direction of the forest. Apparently he had just returned from gathering firewood in the nearby forest. Seeing Lu Cang on the ground, with three people advancing towards him, Xiao Sang couldn't help but cry out in alarm. He threw all the firewood down and ran as fast as he could to protect Lu Cang.

"Get away from my Big Brother!!" He shouted out his warning to the people who seemingly wanted to harm Lu Cang.

It wasn't until he got to Lu Cang's side that he had a clear look at Big Brother's attackers.

In a great shock, he knelt down to greet Jing. "Your Majesty...." Obviously, he couldn't hide the trembling of his voice. All color drained from his face instantly. His body was shaking like a newborn calf.

"Xiao Sang!" Jing hissed out his name. Demanded an explanation.

"Apology, Your Majesty... Please don't hurt Big Brother... His body is still recovering. If Your Majesty wants to punish, Xiao Sang is willing to take Big Brother's place."

"Recovering??"

Now they all looked carefully at Lu Cang, his face writhed with pain, blood trickling from his tightly pressed lips. Normally, despite how much power Jing put in that kind of attack, for a Jianghu man, it wouldn't inflict much damage. Not to the extent of coughing blood as what was happening to Lu Cang now. That attack was nothing but a throw. However, Lu Cang was unable to get up from that weak attack, instead, he was breathing with so much difficulty, gasping for air from that mere throwing attack.

All anger left Jing at once upon seeing Lu Cang's miserable state.

"Lu Cang..." He hurriedly went to Lu Cang, --- Mu Yue and Ding Peng shocked by Lu Cang's extreme condition, forgot to hold Jing. Jing took his hand and examined his pulse, as well as his flow of Qi.

Frowning, Jing wore a complicated expression. "Good Heaven!! How can this be? His Qi flow is in a mess. He is wounded from inside." He was saying this in a soft voice, as if talking to himself.

"Xiao Sang!! Explain!!" Facing Xiao Sang, he yelled loudly.

Xiao Sang was troubled. As much as he didn't have the courage to defy the Emperor's order, all he wanted right now was to tend to Lu Cang. He eyed Lu Cang with such obvious concern.

Jing understood him. Without saying another word, Jing carried Lu Cang back to the –makeshift house. It was even smaller than his Royal Chamber.

After Jing stabilized Lu Cang's flow of Qi a little, Lu Cang seemingly all worn out fell asleep.

Jing looked around unhappily, at the place where Lu Cang hid himself for the past year.

Xiao Sang was fidgeting in his place. Waiting for His Majesty's punishment. Ding Peng and Mu Yue also stayed on guard by Jing's side. Cramming into the already too small room.

"Xiao Sang! Explain what this is all about?" Couldn't hold his curiosity any longer, Jing started his inquires.

"Answer Your Majesty..."

"Drop it!" Jing was extremely irritated to see the way Xiao Sang answered him. Formality was a bother at this moment.

"Your Majesty, Big Bro...." Jing twitched a brow. Seemingly unhappy at the way Xiao Sang addressed Lu Cang.

"Master, he was on his way to deliver the Empress' letter when he was ambushed and attacked by a group of mysterious people." Xiao Sang quickly changed the way he addressed Lu Cang. Xiao Sang knew Jing loathed any over-familiarity towards Lu Cang.

All of them listened in all earnestness to Xiao Sang's story.

"That night, several hours after Your Majesty left, Her Majesty the Empress and her attendant came to see Master. Xiao Sang was there too at Master's insistence." Paused, as if trying to recall the memory. "Her Majesty was asking Master to deliver a letter to her father on her behalf. At first, Her Majesty didn't want to disclose the contents, but after being continuously pressed by Master, she was finally willing to say."

It was as if he was hesitating, Xiao Sang eyed the sleeping Lu Cang.

"Apparently, Her Majesty's country was plotting to attack Datong. Her Majesty was strongly opposed to that idea, so, Her Majesty resorted to asking for Master's help. She couldn't bear to see any wars between her father and Your Majesty. She didn't want anything like that to happen, so she desperately begged, asking Master to help her."

Jing didn't change his expression, not even the slightest. He looked at Xiao Sang coldly, sending a shiver down Xiao Sang's soul with those chilly as an ice block's coldness eyes.

"Master agreed to help her,...Master knew Your Majesty put guards to keep an eye on him, so we left from the back door. ---Her Majesty also didn't come from the front door. We secretly left that very night. Master said, Your Majesty wouldn't come for a while, so it was the perfect time to depart as not to let Your Majesty catch up that quickly if Your Majesty should find out."

Jing narrowed his eyes and looked at the sleeping Lu Cang. Surprisingly, Lu Cang actually could use that brain of his. And here Jing always took him as the foolish and naïve but adorable Bandit King. --- Ding Peng and Mu Yue also couldn't help but see him in a new light. The fact that he could fool Jing's skilled guards was actually quite impressive.

"And after we almost reached the borderline, by the Yangtze River, we were attacked by a group of bandits. Thinking back, they were very highly skilled for mere mountain bandits. Master, had to protect me and defend himself, injured so badly from their assaults. Strange enough, they were focusing only on Master, intending to kill him. Not even once spared me a glance. It was as if they had been waiting for Master to appear. Luckily just before they managed to give him the final blow, I pulled Master and jumped off the cliff into the river."

Xiao Sang trembling greatly from the fearful moment when they fell freely down the cliff. Seemed like it was towards their death. He was controlled by panic and acted on impulse at that time. The normal him would never want to do that. Too scary.

Seemingly nobody wanted to interrupt him before he finished his story. ---Everybody clamped their mouths tightly. Xiao Sang continued.

"I honestly didn't know how long we had been drifting in that river before we finally met Brother Yi. Brother Yi helped us and brought us to this little hut. Brother Yi was a traditional healer. He had been trying to heal Master, but apparently Master's wound wasn't something a simple traditional healer could cure."

"Then, why didn't you contact the nearest government to have them send your word and asked for help?" Ding Peng couldn't quite understand why Xiao Sang went through such trouble when he could ask for all the help he needed given the Emperor's Emblem Lu Cang carried.

"Master was repeatedly falling into his unconscious state after waking up for only a spell of time. How could I leave Master under such circumstances? He was bedridden for more than half a year. I just didn't have the heart to leave him even only for a short period of time."

Jing understood Xiao Sang's predicament. He had checked Lu Cang's condition. His blood circulation was unstable. His inner wound was so bad that it disrupted his Qi. Without a doubt, the one who could inflict the extent of this kind of inner wound to Lu Cang ought to be a very highly skilled martial artist. Lu Cang's kung-fu was already at a very high level and had increased significantly. --- Jing knew Mu Yue had secretly trained Lu Cang. Despite that, he still suffered this fatal injury. And to be honest, Jing counted Lu Cang's current condition as a miracle. He would have lost his life had he been at the same level as before. Jing silently threw Mu Yue a grateful look, which confused Mu Yue.

"Master regained his full consciousness barely five months ago. But...when he woke up...he couldn't remember anything. Not even his own name. I suspected, it was due to a fatal blow he received to his head when he fought with those bandits."

Jing knitted his perfect brows in a frown.

"What did you just say?" Narrowing his eyes, Jing hardly believed his ears.

"Master lost all of his memories. Not even a shred remained. He could only remember the basic things, but remember nothing about his life." Xiao Sang was on the verge of tears, his voice slightly trembling.

Jing, Mu Yue and Ding Peng looked at each other. That explained it!

"Every time he tries to remember, his head would hurt like it's going to explode. I tried to arouse his memory by telling him the past couple of times, but each time he would cry out in distress instead and fainted from the extreme pain. Since then, I dared not try again, afraid of harming him further."

Hanging his head, Xiao Sang ended his story.

"What about that woman and the baby? Are they Lu Cang's?" Mu Yue asked about the woman that Lu Cang talked with ever so lovingly.

Xiao Sang unconsciously let out a chuckle. --- Irked Mu Yue to no end.

"How could that be? It wasn't until three months ago that Master could move freely."

Ding Peng also threw Mu Yue his amused look but quickly hid his smile when he saw Mu Yue was radiating with annoyance. Instead, he signaled the irritated Mu Yue to look at the calmed Jing.

After he listened to Xiao Sang's story, Jing finally could comprehend the whole situation. That was all he needed to know at the moment. Leaving any further investigation to Mu Yue and Ding Peng, he waved his hand. Asking them to leave the room.

Running his hand through Lu Cang's smooth hair, he spoke to the sleeping peacefully Lu Cang. "So.... You have forgotten all about me, huh?? Great!! Well done Lu Cang...."

End of Chapter 7.