Kenji moved through the smoldering remnants of Xun Yu's isolated colony, which was basically abandoned. The air hung heavy with ash and the acrid scent of burned timber, while the silence was broken only by steps of the advancing troops, Kai followed Kenji behind. This time, there were no creatures, no mist, no fog or poisonous weapon.
Kenji's thought spiraled, 'Is this the truth behind this mission? The tangled webs of deception? Wipe away everything before something gets disclosed?
As the sun dipped low behind jagged mountains, casting long shadows across the ravaged land, a lone figure emerged from haze. Kenji's eyes narrowed and his hands moved instinctively in motion, ready to draw out his sword but then he stopped. The silhouette was unmistakably Liuxing, but this time Kenji felt no energy, or shift in air.
"You move swiftly, your highness." Liuxing's voice came like silk laced with steel, it echoed across the charred field.
"How are you now?" Kenji asked.
"Not able to fight or project out my energy, feeling weak and not able to activate my core to practise my energy, that's all. Do I look weak?" Liuxing asked, tilting his head towards Kenji as if he was giving an agle of his face for Kenji to look.
Kenji did not say anything, he just glanced at his tilted face once and then turned his face to the other side examining the land.
"My lord, why do you always wear a veil?" Liuxing asked crossing his hands.
"Why are you here? Should you not be resting?" Kenji said without looking towards Liuxing.
"I was resting...here ….I could not use teleportation talisman because of…the damage to my energy. But then your soldiers started investigating and eradicating this place so I had to get up and find somewhere to lay low…because I can't even fight if they use their energy..since your sword damaged my core …a lot….so the safest place was by your side." Liuxing said…his eyes glancing down.
Kenji hummed in response…
"Your highness.....you should not have projected the pain to-"
"I did and I will gladly do it again….so do not discuss about that and do not think about it too…." Kenji said.
"And are you still feeling pain?" Liuxing asked, lifting up his gaze towards Kenji's face.
Kenji did not say anything, instead he kept on investigating the place. Pain? What would he tell him? That he did feel the pain, and it was hurting too much. Not just the physical pain but the pain of causing Liuxing harm…..when he was once his safe place, when he started to love that kid and care for him because he saw his younger self in him and now Liuxing's safe place is up against him. What would he say? Would he tell him that he wants to stab his hands a thousand times for stabbing Liuxing? And he would still feel disappointed in himself.
After a moment of silence Liuxing approached Kenji again.
"Your highness, would you not ask about Xun Yu or about anything else ?"
"All I care about is eradicating the place right now…..let me do my work."
"Your highness…..why not end me right now? Why project the pain to yourself ?" Liuxing asked again, his voice like a still water hiding it's depth.
Kenji sighed, he turned to face Liuxing, "Why scream, beg and cry to get hurt when it's better to not feel any pain?"
"Because I can never see you getting hurt your highness, it maddens me to even think of you getting hurt. You have no idea your highness...….you have no idea that I would go against the heavens just for you…." He said, his voice jaw clenched as the moment when kenji getting hurt was so vivid in his mind.
Kenji looked at him, somewhat confused, somewhat shocked, he was lost for words. Kenji's breath caught.
"My lord." Kai's voice broke the silence that prevailed between them.
He was there with his sword drawn out.
"Liuxing." He called out, his expression reflecting hate and animosity.
"Leave him be Kai." Kenji commanded.
For a moment Kai hesitated but then he put his sword back in its sheath.
"My lord, I came here to say that there has been relics found at another cave here, if you would-"
"I'll be there." Kenji said.
Liuxing folded his hands and shifted his gaze towards Kai as if he was threatening him, Kai looked him up and down, criticising Liuxing with his gaze and then he left.
"Leave now Liuxing, I will order my troop to not even bother you."
"Your highness...please visit my kingdom once."
Kenji furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Visit your kingdom? For what Liuxing?"
"I have something for you."
Kenji looked at him with confused eyes, Liuxing's eyes softened.
"Your highness…." He sighed and spoke, his voice melting like a cold snow under the influence of warmth, he stepped closer to Kenji lowering his face and closing his eyes as he sighed. Kenji stepped back instinctively, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Before he could take any more steps backward Liuxing's hand gripped Kenji's waist and he rested his head on Kenji's shoulder, closing his eyes as if he found relief. Kenji felt confused, 'What should I do? What is with him? What is he trying to do? Why is my heart racing?' He thought.
"You are my relief your highness, my safe place and my home….just like you were when I was a kid. But I am sorry that I turned out to be like this. I am sorry for all the things you had to suffer because of me. I was a child back then, not capable of understanding the gravity of situations. I am sorry your highness that I do not listen to you anymore. I have no choice....please forgive me." Liuxing said, without lifting his head from Kenji's shoulder, Kenji listened to him without a movement, his voice felt as if he would cry, Kenji felt his heart race with each of his word, he felt a stillness of sorrow settle over his mind, he did not know what he was feeling right now. He could not even put into the words, the blend of emotions that he himself could not distinguish. His hands reached up to Liuxing's hair, his hands caressing the side of Liuxing's cheek.