'Ren Shou's face was getting darker as he walked.'
'That damn emperor ran too fast. None of the royal family's shadow was on the back palace.'
''Hengg.''
'A group of people with horses stopped by him.'
'"Your majesty
these are the fastest horses. I believed that the former emperor will make a stop on Gong City. The former emperor's men were all stationed in that area. That is the safest place for the late royal family." The former vice-captain said as he handed the horses to Ren Shou's men.'
'Ren Shou had a scowl on his beautiful face. This plan was supposed to be a perfect annihilation for the royal family. He doesn't want to kill the remaining imperial army. Now
it seems he doesn't have a choice. To kill the emperor
he needed to kill his protector first.'
'"Gather all the men. We will march on Gong City in a couple of hours. " Ren Shou knew that he needed to act quickly and attacked before first light.'
'The emperor could run to the southern provinces and gathered his men. If that happens
then there would be more casualty on both sides. Whoever wins would be left by a diminutive army.'
'With just a small number of men left
then this empire wouldn't be safe from the invaders of the northern border. Ren Shou
who joined the army at thirteen
knew how important manpower was. He needed to save as much as he can.'
'"Yes
Your majesty." His subordinate at his side bowed before leaving.'
'Ren Shou marveled at that title. He was not yet the official emperor without any ceremony. But his people already hailed him as the new Emperor. The moment the Emperor left the Royal Palace
he also left the seat of the throne empty. It was already a sign of his defeat. However
with him alive
there would be opposition from the nobles loyal to His majesty.'
'Ren Shou knew that it was essential for him to kill the emperor at first hand.'
'"How is it going in Lin city?" He asked his men.'
'"Your majesty
the army in Lin city was currently facing two armies at both sides. The bandits that the Emperor poached on were mostly annihilated by the fire
but the army that the Emperor sent was bigger than our numbers in Lin City. They sent pigeons asking for reinforcement." His soldier said.'
'Ren Shou closed his eyes. Since he doesn't catch the Emperor yet
his two thousand men need to wait. It was a difficult decision
but he had to make a sacrifice.'
'"Tell them we need more time. They need to hold for two more hours. Tell them that I
the new Emperor
is grateful for their sacrifices. And I wish for them to be alive in two hours."'
'"..Yes
Your majesty." The soldier went away to deliver the news.'
'Ren Shou glanced up at the dark sky. What would be left in his two thousand men after two hours? His heart was aching for the lost.'
'Ren Shou clenched his fist. That was because of that damn emperor.'
'"Your Majesty! Be careful!" A soldier was running to him and shouted these words.'
'"What's the matte-" Then he felt a presence before him. He instinctively unsheathed his swords and was about to behead that person when that person suddenly kneeled.'
'"G-general. Lady Ren is held hostage at Gong City." A man in black clothes said with difficulty.'
'Ren Shou studied the man
the man's back was burnt. He suddenly remembered who this man was.'
'"You have been my following wangfei
shadow guard. Don't think I wouldn't know that. What kind of scheme the emperor was plotting this time?" Ren Shou didn't believe Twelve. His wangfei just came to his residence hours ago. She was safe there.'
'"G-genral
we shouldn't waste time. The emperor was already in Gong city. He might kill the lady. If you think I am bluffing
let your men visit the Ren residence and look for her. You will find a pillow under her blanket."'
'Ren Shou's eyes flashed with worries. His back turned cold with a sudden premonition.'
'"You! Check the Ren residence quickly! Look for my wife!"'
'"Yes sir!" The man at the side quickly followed his orders.'
'Ren Shou turned to Twelve.'
'"Death with a hundred cuts will be brought upon you if you lied. Soldier
attend to his wound."'
'They dragged Twelve to a tent near them.'
'Ren Shou faced back and forth. Knowing his wangfei
there was a possibility that she went away on this dangerous night. But what for? She would not suddenly have a change of heart and still side with the Emperor
right?'
'"Your majesty! Lady Ren is not in the Ren residence!" The soldier came after ten minutes.'
'Ren Shou's face turned pale.'
'"Young Master
it's our fault. The lady asked us to go to Lin City and saved the two children she had promised to save. But we stubbornly held to our orders and rejected our Lady. We don't know that the lady was so courageous to face the night and traveled alone. We deserved to die!" The two experts kneeled and cried to Ren Shou.'
'Ren Shou couldn't hear them.'
'His wangfei..his wangfei was in danger.'
'With a worried mind
he grabbed the horse and mounted on top of it. He ordered to his men
'
'"In one hour
I want all my men to march on Gong City. I'll see you then. Hiyah!" Ren Shou then went ahead with his army.'
'"Your majesty!" The soldiers shouted at him. But their worried shouts merged with the sharp winds that Ren Shou opposed during this chaotic night.'
'*****'
'A black horse was blending with the night as it traveled at a very fast speed.'
'At the entrance of Gong City
two guards were on the lookout for any attacks.'
'One moment
a silver flashed by and only one man remained standing. The other guard was stunned. He turned and was about to lit the fire of signal when a glimmer of silver flashed through his eyes
in a blink
a sword was pointing at his neck.'
'Gulped.'
'The guard looked in horror at the man in black clothes. The man has drops of blood on his handsome face.'
'"Where is Lady Ren held hostage?" His deep voice and dark eyes were so frightening that the guard wet himself.'
'"Answer me. Or else I kill you." The man in black warned.'
'"Y-you'll k-kill m-me r-regardless.." The guard stuttered.'
'"No. I won't if you answer me." Ren Shou was telling the truth.'
'"I-I s-still d-don't k-know.." Slash.'
'The guard was mercilessly killed.'
'"I don't have time for you." His shadow was then gone
not leaving any warmth behind.'
'Ren Shou's face was getting darker as he walked.'
'That damn emperor ran too fast. None of the royal family's shadow was on the back palace.'
''Hengg.''
'A group of people with horses stopped by him.'
'"Your majesty
these are the fastest horses. I believed that the former emperor will make a stop on Gong City. The former emperor's men were all stationed in that area. That is the safest place for the late royal family." The former vice-captain said as he handed the horses to Ren Shou's men.'
'Ren Shou had a scowl on his beautiful face. This plan was supposed to be a perfect annihilation for the royal family. He doesn't want to kill the remaining imperial army. Now
it seems he doesn't have a choice. To kill the emperor
he needed to kill his protector first.'
'"Gather all the men. We will march on Gong City in a couple of hours. " Ren Shou knew that he needed to act quickly and attacked before first light.'
'The emperor could run to the southern provinces and gathered his men. If that happens
then there would be more casualty on both sides. Whoever wins would be left by a diminutive army.'
'With just a small number of men left
then this empire wouldn't be safe from the invaders of the northern border. Ren Shou
who joined the army at thirteen
knew how important manpower was. He needed to save as much as he can.'
'"Yes
Your majesty." His subordinate at his side bowed before leaving.'
'Ren Shou marveled at that title. He was not yet the official emperor without any ceremony. But his people already hailed him as the new Emperor. The moment the Emperor left the Royal Palace
he also left the seat of the throne empty. It was already a sign of his defeat. However
with him alive
there would be opposition from the nobles loyal to His majesty.'
'Ren Shou knew that it was essential for him to kill the emperor at first hand.'
'"How is it going in Lin city?" He asked his men.'
'"Your majesty
the army in Lin city was currently facing two armies at both sides. The bandits that the Emperor poached on were mostly annihilated by the fire
but the army that the Emperor sent was bigger than our numbers in Lin City. They sent pigeons asking for reinforcement." His soldier said.'
'Ren Shou closed his eyes. Since he doesn't catch the Emperor yet
his two thousand men need to wait. It was a difficult decision
but he had to make a sacrifice.'
'"Tell them we need more time. They need to hold for two more hours. Tell them that I
the new Emperor
is grateful for their sacrifices. And I wish for them to be alive in two hours."'
'"..Yes
Your majesty." The soldier went away to deliver the news.'
'Ren Shou glanced up at the dark sky. What would be left in his two thousand men after two hours? His heart was aching for the lost.'
'Ren Shou clenched his fist. That was because of that damn emperor.'
'"Your Majesty! Be careful!" A soldier was running to him and shouted these words.'
'"What's the matte-" Then he felt a presence before him. He instinctively unsheathed his swords and was about to behead that person when that person suddenly kneeled.'
'"G-general. Lady Ren is held hostage at Gong City." A man in black clothes said with difficulty.'
'Ren Shou studied the man
the man's back was burnt. He suddenly remembered who this man was.'
'"You have been my following wangfei
shadow guard. Don't think I wouldn't know that. What kind of scheme the emperor was plotting this time?" Ren Shou didn't believe Twelve. His wangfei just came to his residence hours ago. She was safe there.'
'"G-genral
we shouldn't waste time. The emperor was already in Gong city. He might kill the lady. If you think I am bluffing
let your men visit the Ren residence and look for her. You will find a pillow under her blanket."'
'Ren Shou's eyes flashed with worries. His back turned cold with a sudden premonition.'
'"You! Check the Ren residence quickly! Look for my wife!"'
'"Yes sir!" The man at the side quickly followed his orders.'
'Ren Shou turned to Twelve.'
'"Death with a hundred cuts will be brought upon you if you lied. Soldier
attend to his wound."'
'They dragged Twelve to a tent near them.'
'Ren Shou faced back and forth. Knowing his wangfei
there was a possibility that she went away on this dangerous night. But what for? She would not suddenly have a change of heart and still side with the Emperor
right?'
'"Your majesty! Lady Ren is not in the Ren residence!" The soldier came after ten minutes.'
'Ren Shou's face turned pale.'
'"Young Master
it's our fault. The lady asked us to go to Lin City and saved the two children she had promised to save. But we stubbornly held to our orders and rejected our Lady. We don't know that the lady was so courageous to face the night and traveled alone. We deserved to die!" The two experts kneeled and cried to Ren Shou.'
'Ren Shou couldn't hear them.'
'His wangfei..his wangfei was in danger.'
'With a worried mind
he grabbed the horse and mounted on top of it. He ordered to his men
'
'"In one hour
I want all my men to march on Gong City. I'll see you then. Hiyah!" Ren Shou then went ahead with his army.'
'"Your majesty!" The soldiers shouted at him. But their worried shouts merged with the sharp winds that Ren Shou opposed during this chaotic night.'
'*****'
'A black horse was blending with the night as it traveled at a very fast speed.'
'At the entrance of Gong City
two guards were on the lookout for any attacks.'
'One moment
a silver flashed by and only one man remained standing. The other guard was stunned. He turned and was about to lit the fire of signal when a glimmer of silver flashed through his eyes
in a blink
a sword was pointing at his neck.'
'Gulped.'
'The guard looked in horror at the man in black clothes. The man has drops of blood on his handsome face.'
'"Where is Lady Ren held hostage?" His deep voice and dark eyes were so frightening that the guard wet himself.'
'"Answer me. Or else I kill you." The man in black warned.'
'"Y-you'll k-kill m-me r-regardless.." The guard stuttered.'
'"No. I won't if you answer me." Ren Shou was telling the truth.'
'"I-I s-still d-don't k-know.." Slash.'
'The guard was mercilessly killed.'
'"I don't have time for you." His shadow was then gone
not leaving any warmth behind.'
