It took a while for Xiao Cai to prepared A’Li. At first, A’Li had to bathe in some warm milk water and then be dressed in the red gown. The gown had a lot of layers and too much for A’Li to handle because she never had worn female clothing before. She had always had worn male clothing because it was easier for her to move and fight in. As for her hair, she never had many accessories on it which made it felt odd to her when Xiao Cai started pinning a large amount of hair pieces onto her. It was hard to balance such amount and keep them still without it pulling her hair out. A’Li groaned when Xiao Cai accidentally poked her scalps with the hairpin.

            “Why must girls be so diligent about theses annoying hairpieces?” A’Li asked.

            “Miss Feng, don’t tell me you never had hair accessories for your hair?” Xiao Cai asked.

            “Why must I? They are in the way when I’m fighting.” A’Li answered and Xiao Cai shook her head in disapproval.

            “Sit still, I am almost done.”

            A’Li looked around and took the chance to escape.

            The carriage arrived at the doorsteps and Ao Han came out to greet the bride. He escorted her inside as the guests all congratulated Ao Han on his way to the ancestral hall. As soon they arrive the hall, they faced the parents and waited to be guided to start the ceremony.

            “Wait Young Master!” one of his men rushed inside, “Miss Feng escaped!” Everyone looked at each other and Ao Han glared at his men. He turned to the bride in front of him and lifted her red veil.

            “Xiao Cai?” Ao Han said, confused and noticed that she was unable to speak. He hit her pressure point making her able to speak.

            “Miss Feng knocked me out and had me dressed in her gown. She told me that she will never marry you and had me replace her.” Xiao Cai explained.

            “Where is she now?” Ao Han asked.

            “She had left.”

            “My men saw her at the west gates, but was unable to capture her.” One of Ao Han’s men said.

            “Block all people from leaving! We must capture her before she escapes into Western Liang!” Ao Han yelled and rushed out.

            A’Li rode the black horse across the grain fields as a bunch of men dressed in armor chased after her. She was unarmed, but that won’t stop her from attacking them with other tactics. One of the men pulled out his bow and arrow as he was riding the horse and tried his best to aim at A’Li. They were all approaching the forest which was only 2 feet away from them. If A’Li traveled fast enough, then she would lose them in the forest; that was the only advantage she had. The guy with the bow released his arrow and hit the horse in the leg making A’Li and horse both tumbled forward. A’Li immediately rolled away from the horse spraining her wrist and got minor scratches on her face and body. She glanced back and quickly sprinted her way towards the forest.

            “Catch her!” Ao Han shouted and caught up with his men.

            “Young Master,” they all greeted him.

            “Which direction did she go?” Ao Han asked them.

            “That way.” One of the men said and pointed to the direction A’Li ran.

            “The forest is huge and we are likely going to get lost; make sure to mark your path so that we can get out of the forest. We’ll split into 3 small groups; Gui Ming, you lead your three men to the left and circle back to catch her, Yun Kai will lead his men into the center and make sure she doesn’t cross further, and you two follow me.” Ao Han commanded as everyone dispersed into their directed paths.

            After not hearing any movements chasing A’Li, she stopped and hide behind a large tree. She leaned her body against it and tried to pull her sprained wrist back into place. She groaned and quickly yanked it. The intense pain traveled her body as she grinded her teeth against each other. Releasing a quiet sighed she sat down to rest for a bit. Considering that she hasn’t ate, she is starting to feel fatigue and wasn’t sure she could fight them off when they find her. She closed her eyes for a moment and heard march footsteps nearby. She turned her head towards the sound and saw an army marching pass her. She was certain that they didn’t belong to the Shan tribe because they were dressed in metal armors and were hauling a large amount of cargoes on the wagon. Pondering whether to seek their help, she decided to take her chance.

            “Help me,” A’Li revealed herself to the army and they all halted as they drew their swords at her.

            “Who are you!?” One of the warriors asked.

            “I’m Xiao Li, my families were murdered by the Shan tribe! Please help me,” A’Li pretended and tried to use sympathy to gain their trust.

            “Lift up your head,” he commanded and A’Li did so.

            “Look at her, she isn’t too bad.” Another warrior commented as everyone stared at her.

            “Miss Xiao Li, good timing. My men are starting to feel bored, so how about you entertain us for a few hours?” Another warrior said and reached over to grab A’Li by her arms.

            “Hold on,” A’Li pretended to be shy, “I haven’t ate in a while. After I am done eating, I can then have the energy to entertain you all.”

            “Okay! Someone give Miss Xiao Li some food and water!” he responded with enthusiasm. They handed her a steam bun and a bottle of wine. A’Li took them and immediately ate. She gnawn on the bun and gulped the wine quickly as she can and wiped cleaned.

“Thanks.” A’Li bowed to them.

“Now for the favor,” he gripped on A’Li’s hand. She smirked and snatch his sword from him slashing his neck.

“You!” all of them pulled out their swords.

“Thank you, men. I now have the energy to play with you guys,” A’Li smiled and attacked another warrior. Her intentions weren’t to kill, but raid them for their weapons. If she has a few of their weapons, then she can escape safely from Ao Han. She dodged one of the men and grabbed his dagger hidden on his side hip.

“Catch her!” the commander ordered getting furious. A’Li headed towards the cargo and notices a bomb sticking out. She scans all the men quickly for anything that can light up the bomb to make it explode. Another man attacked her, but she pushed him out of the way and grabbed a small piece of a flint stone. She scratched the stone against the bomb and it caught on fire. She threw the stone at one of the men’s head and ran for it. Another man noticed the spark of the bomb and announced them to take cover.

Ao Han his men saw a black smoke flowing into the air and he gestured them to head to the explosion as he took a different route. He assumed that it was A’Li who started that explosion but that means she had continued moving already. All that means she is nearby and won’t move far. A’Li slid down the hill and continued to run as a bunch of warriors chased her. Suddenly she felt something flying pass her and she stopped to dodge the arrow that swoosh passed the side of her cheek.

“Continue to shoot!” the commander ordered.

A’Li took cover and tried to dodge the arrows heading towards her. Out of the blue, Ao Han showed up and helped knock a few arrows down that was about to hit her.

“You again?” A’Li said, not pleased to see him.

“You’re destined to forever see me.” Ao Han smiled and didn’t notice an arrow heading for him. A’Li saw it coming and immediately jumped and tackled Ao Han from the horse. Both rolled to the side as A’Li groaned in pain.

“You’ve been shot!” Ao Han said, concerned.

“I’m fine,” A’Li reached over for the arrow that pierced her right upper chest near her shoulder and pulled it out, “Let’s go.” she dragged him to stand up and run.

“We can fight them off!” Ao Han shouted as they were running.

“Are you crazy? They is like over 20 of them and only two of us. We are outnumbered.”

“We can hold them off until my men comes.”

“No. I am not going to wait until your men comes when I can use this chance to leave you.”

“Then why are you still holding my hand?” Ao Han asked and A’Li turned to look at her grip on his hand. She lets it go and continued to run. They both reached the corner of the cliff and A’Li turned back.

            “Are you ready?” A’Li asked, waiting for the warriors to get closer.

            “Ready for what?” Ao Han asked, confused.

            “To jump!” A’Li turned to him and grabbed his hand and jumped off the cliff.

SPLASH!

            Ao Han struggled to get back to surface and A’Li was already gasping for air above the water. She noticed he hasn’t gotten back up and dived back into the water to find him. He was panicking and tried to breathe, but couldn’t maintain from swallowing water in. A’Li swam and grasped his shoulders. She pulled him in so that their lips would touch. Slowly breathing into his mouth and enough to save him, she pushed him upwards and followed. Once Ao Han reached the surface, he gasped heavily for air. A’Li did the same and dragged him to the shore.

            “Are you crazy!? You told to jump when I wasn’t prepared!” Ao Han shouted and coughed at the same time.

            “You have to be prepared for anything or else you’ll be dead by now.” A’Li coughed and got up. “We have to keep moving or they’ll catch up.”

            “Hold on. Let me catch my breath first,” Ao Han said and A’Li waited for him. She felt her body swayed, but caught her balance.

            “Are you okay?” Ao Han asked, staring at her.

            “I’m fine,” A’Li insisted and shook her head to clear her vision, but collapsed afterwards.

            “Hey!” Ao Han shouted.