“Would you like to accompany me for a night stroll?” Su Wei asked, setting down his cup.

“I’m afraid that wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“Why wouldn’t it be appropriate? Or are you afraid that---”

“I’m not afraid. I just don’t want other suitors to be finding trouble for me. Consider this; if I strolled with you, then I would have to go with the others to make it fair.”

“Or you can just refuse them like how you refuse Gao Yang.”

I laughed, “How about I refuse you and we call it good?”

He nodded, “Sure, but would you stay here and talk with me?”

I smiled at him and set my cup next to his cup. I was about to sit next to him, but Gao Yang called for me. I groaned and turned to him.

“Xiang Yun,” he gestured me to come closer, “Can you play us another song?”

“My apologies, I am not in the mood to play another song. If you don’t mind, I can have one of the performing ladies to come and play another song.”

“Of course I don’t.”

I turned to A’Li and she nodded. She left to go find a lady to play another song for the guests. I glanced to Su Wei and he smiled at me, still waiting for me to sit beside him. I bowed to excused myself as I left the hall to go rest. He watched me leave, feeling a bit disappointed. Walking back to my residence, I couldn’t stop thinking about Su Wei and how he smiled at me. It was a mysterious yet tender smile; one I wouldn’t be able to forget.

After summoning a lady to entertain the guests, A’Li headed out of the palace. This was because Xiang Yun’s father ordered her to prepare the landscape for the competition. All she had to do was make sure there were enough obstacles that will hinder their success in winning, so that they can perform their best. A’Li headed to the field that the white-eyed eagle usually travels in and built traps. Alone in the darkness and only the moon shining down at A’Li, she felt a soft breeze hitting her. She bent down to lay out the spikes and heard more shuffling from the long grasses afar. She cocked her head and listened carefully. Swoosh. She had already quickly moved from the arrow that grazed her cheek. She immediately threw a few daggers towards the direction that the arrow came from but she wasn’t sure if it hitted anyone. More arrows flew in the night sky, but this time they all at once. A’Li dodged them and heard them approaching her furiously.

“An ambush?” A’Li thought, “But from whom?” She took out a flare, but as she was about to ignite the flare an arrow pierced her hand causing her to lose grip of the flare.

“Crap. How many enemies are out there anyway?” she thought and climbed on the horse that she rode to the fields. “No. If I leave the fields, wouldn’t they reach the city and have an advantage to invade? But if I die on the fields, who will report that an ambush is happening?” A’Li thought to herself and yanked on the horse to turn to the enemies. “I must not die then.”

She pulled out her sword and rode towards the enemies. As soon as she approached them, she noticed about 20 men among the fields with armory and bombs. She struck the first man she saw and continued to do so with the rest. She managed to kill the first 7 men she encountered, but fell down her horse after attacking the commander. The enemies surrounded her making it easier to see them because all of them were in the moonlight. A’Li catches her breath and clutched on to her sword.

“If I am not wrong, they are from the northern lands.” A’Li noticed the badge on the commander’s waist. “As long as I kill the commander, they will retreat.” A’Li took the first attack at the commander. The commander dodged A’Li’s attack and struck back with his spear. She dodged it and sliced the commander's thigh. In this exact moment, the commander cut the air and missed her. He jerked back from A’Li and observed before making another move. A’Li did the same and watched him closely. She pinpointed his form as being stable and accurate. He knows exactly where the deadly parts are based on how he attacked her. If didn’t moved fast enough, he would have pierced her right in an important organ. He doesn’t seem like any regular commander, but a well-educated man in the human anatomy. A’Li scoffed and waited for his attack. She noted how he stood; firm and strong but that means he leaves no room for flexibility. As long as A’Li struck him any place where the important organs are, she would have no chance because he would protect them well. But if she attacked the less important organs, she can make him bleed out. Yet that takes a lot of effort and energy because the chance of hitting him is small. A’Li is willing to put her bet into doing that though because she needed to win.

The commander struck first this time and A’Li swiftly passed him as she sliced his stomach. They both stopped and she felt a tinge of pain coming from her waist too.

“How did he---?” A’Li thought and tried to maintain her stance. He somehow managed to cut deeper than what A’Li did.

“Wasn’t expecting that, huh?” he laughed, “You must not be a warrior even though you behave like one.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You underestimated the enemy's tactics and your lack of experience proves otherwise.”

“Lack of experience in the warfare?” A’Li chuckled, “trust me. I’ve experienced plenty of war battle to know that I won’t lose.”

“Stubborn much, huh? Interesting.” He rapidly turned and swung his spear. A’Li swung her sword and their weapons collided making a loud sound in the quiet night. Out of the blue, a dagger flew towards our direction and pierced the commander in the side. He lost his balance and A’Li took advantage of the chance. She hitted the spear away and stabbed the commander in the chest. He groaned and his men all charged at me. From the darkness, a man dressed in blue blocked A’Li from getting attacked. She turned to the man and they both made eye contact. The man in blue oddly grinned at her and continued to fight. Shortly the commander flew and retreated with his men.

            “Who are you?” A’Li held her sword out to the man in blue.

            “Woah..Shouldn’t you thank me for saving you?”

            “How do I know you aren’t with them?” A’Li drew the blade to his neck.

            “Here,” he flashed his badge at her, “I’m Ao Han. I’m from the Western Liang; my tribe is from the mountain ranges.”

            “Ao Han? You’re a tribal member of the Shan tribe?” A’Li inquired.

            “Yes yes.”

            A’Li withdrew her sword and glared at him. “Why are you here?”

            “I was on my way to deliver a message to the emperor.”

            A’Li continued to glare at him with suspicion. “Follow me.”

“Shouldn’t you go treat your wounds first?” Ao Han followed A’Li back to the city.

“No need, it’s nothing major. Plus, I have a report to make.”

“May I ask, what’s your name?” Ao Han fidgeted with his bronze dagger.

“I’m Feng Li.” She led him.

“What a manly name for a girl who has gentle facial features. Did your parents like wished to have a son, but ended up having a daughter so they forced you to become male-like?” Ao Han joked.

“Shut up,” A’Li stopped and glare at him.

“Did I say something wrong?” He pretended to act all innocent and twisted his dagger with his right hand.

“You did because my parents abandoned me, so my name was given by my shifu.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

A’Li stared at his dagger carved with an unique symbol. Ao Han caught her admiring the dagger and smiled to myself.

“You must think this dagger is plain and simple,” Ao Han said.

“No, I thought it looked intriguing. The details designed on the blade blended well with the sharpness and the carving perfectly carved in.”

            Ao Han smiled widely and took a step closer to A’Li.

            “Feng Li, isn’t it? I like you.”

            Puzzled A’Li stood still and looked at him as if he’s joking.

            “I like you,” he repeated, “you’re very observant.” his smile widened.

            A’Li exhaled in relief. “That’s what he meant, huh? Why is he even smiling at me?” she thought. “You’re weird. Are you even sure that you have a message for the emperor?” A’Li questioned.

            “Of course I do,” Ao Han answered, “if not, I wouldn’t even bothered to be here.”

            “Okay okay.” A’Li responded and annoyed with him already.

            On their way back, Ao Han kept talking about how the weather on the mountain ranges were colder than the plains. He mentioned how the snowfall always made the sky seemed lonely, yet the fire that they created lights up the coldness of their environment. On the other hand, A’Li patiently listened to him talk about how wonderful it would be if the tribal clans arranged a marriage to settle the territorial lands. He believed this because the tribal clans are always competing for the sacred lands, so if the arrangement did happened there will be fewer battles. Yet he knew all this was a wish because the power struggles among the princes are brutal. A’Li didn’t can care less about the political struggle among the princes. She believed that as long as everyone she loved is well and safe, then she is satisfied with the life she has. A’Li continued to observe Ao Han, but she couldn’t detect any threat. Maybe after all, he’s not an enemy but a peacemaker?

            Halfway to the city, A’Li felt herself getting weaker. She clutched to her body as it gotten colder with the night temperature. Shivered in an effortless manner, A’Li stumbled a few times and Ao Han stared at her oddly.

            “Are you okay?” Ao Han asked, concerned about her well-being.

            “I”m fine.”

            “You don’t seem fine.” Ao Han reached over to grab her arm to give her support. A’Li refused it and continued to walk. “You’re bleeding out.” Ao Han grasped her by the waist and she finally stopped moving.

            “What are you doing?!”

            “You’re going to die before you reach the city. We’d passed an inn a few minutes; we can go rest there for the night.”

            “I must return to report the ambush before more lives are taken.”

            “Well before you do, make sure that you’re actually alive to tell the report.” Ao Han lifted and threw her over his shoulder.

            “You! Let me down! Ao Han!” A’Li managed to gather her last strength and snatched his dagger to use it against him. “Let me down,” she demanded.

            Ao Han continued to walk and ignored her command.

            “You!” A’Li groaned and stabbed him on the shoulder blade, but he didn’t bulge or stopped. “Ao Han! Let me down!” she continued to order.

            “You’re not someone who I need to listen to.” He reached over with his other hand and pulled out the dagger as blood gushed out.

            “Why are you-” A’Li said a bit confused as to why he’s so stubborn to save her.

            “Quiet.” He shushed her and they both reached the inn.