"Are you sulking?"

A sweet voice called to him, Zhao Li Xin is in his study room and has already heard her light footsteps miles away but when she peeked from behind the door, his heart still stirred by her beautiful big doey eyes with her cheeky smile plastered on her face. Zhao Li Xin's bad mood dissipated tremendously, he beckoned her to get close.

​​

Lory closed the door gently then took small strides towards Zhao Li Xin who's sitting behind the black big desk, she never saw anyone more intimidating than him except her father. Zhao Li Xin made her sit on his lap, then rested his head on her chest… again, the heavy aura around him disappeared, he suddenly became sweet and gentle.

"I'm not in a good mood, comfort me," he complained like a spoiled lover complaining to his girlfriend. No one ever saw this side of him, but if they did, they would wish to never see it again as it's too much for their heart, it's earth-shattering.

Lory stroked his head softly, "Who made you angry?! I will deal with him!" she said, pretending to be angry.

Zhao Li Xin chuckles, he imagined this small woman scolding other people who are taller and stronger than her, it would be quite a sight and a hilarious scene.

Zhao Li Xin tightened his embrace on her small waist, the unique faint scent from her skin is like an addictive drug for him, he can never get enough.

"Is it about your master?" she made a wild guess.

Zhao Li Xin's mood turns better since she came, so he answered her with a calm smile, "My princess is so smart," he teased her.

Ever since she told him about her real identity, he began calling her 'Princess' when he teases her, being called like that with an endearing tone and a face like Zhao Li Xin's, she can't help but blush profusely. She never knew that someone could call her princess in such a sexy way that could make her heart leap from her chest.

"I'm serious!" she pinched Zhao Li Xin's cheek.

He laughs, how could she be this cute? He hid his face on her bosom quietly, taking advantage of the kind lady in his embrace, Lory wrapped her arms around his neck, she rests her cheek on top of his head. They stayed like that for a while as silence accompanied them.

__________________________

Meanwhile inside a lavish bedroom, Yang Xi Ying walked back and forth while bitting her thumb anxiously, her maid; who's also anxious like her; can only watch her young miss move aimlessly, then suddenly, someone knocked on her door. Yang Xi Ying froze for a second, but her maid opened the door in haste.

Behind the door is an old man with white hair and a white top knot, long white eyebrows, and long white beard, the old man is wearing a silk robe that is white as a cloud, he has an amicable face and exuding a calm air around him.

"Miss Yang," the elder greeted her with a slight nod.

Yang Xi Ying cupped her hand elegantly, "This one greets Elder Mu."

"You will become part of our family, please don't be so formal," the elder helped her to stand, "Let's talk about the important matters. Are you sure Hei Shen Sect will help?" the elder's name is Mu Jan Ge, he is one of the three elders in Jiu Yun Sect. He also raised Li Mo Zhen since he was a kid, so he cares about his well-being very much.

Yang Xi Ying softly nods her head, "That's what she said, but I haven't heard anything from Hei Shen Sect's leader himself, and to trade Chienzi Flower, I…" she looked down with a forlorn expression.

"Mo Zhen's life is more precious than any flower," Mu Jan Ge calmed her down, at first he didn't really approve of Li Mo Zhen taking her as his wife because of all the bad rumors about her, but his disciple insisted so he can't say anything about it, but then this happened and yet this woman didn't leave his side, she stayed with him all throughout.

She also did everything she can to help Li Mo Zhen without any complaint, who knew how much money and resources she spent to invite all the great alchemists and physicians to help Li Mo Zhen?

More than once, she begged and pleaded to all the alchemist to help Li Mo Zhen. No matter how hard Mu Jan Ge's heart is, how could he not be moved by her genuine care to his disciple? Now he heard from a Jiu Yun spy how she tried to contact Hei Shen Sect to ask for their help.

Mu Jan Ge actually also wants to contact Hei Shen Sect but Long Ming's temperament made him hesitate but who knew this frail woman moved faster than him, he is very satisfied with her. Turns out, his disciple didn't choose the wrong girl as his wife.

"But still, we cannot be hasty, what if that woman lied to us? I will only agree and give the flower if Brother Li is healed," said Yang Xi Ying "This woman, for some reason, I can't really trust her, but our situation is dire, we can only try…"

"Good." Mu Jan Ge liked her even more, she's able to make clear judgment even in a tight situation, it's a good sign for a future sect madam, "I leave everything in your hands."

Yang Xi Ying sighs in relief, at least one problem is solved, then she must contact that woman again before it's too late.

__________________________

The next day, Lory and Zhao Li Xin are in the garden basking in the warm sunlight, Lory sits on the stone bench while absorbing the sunlight on her face, her mouth curved a bit. After what happened in her past, she never took for granted the sunrise ever again, Girsha is on the top of the pavilion roof, just like her, he's also enjoying the warm sun and gentle breeze beneath his feathers.

After a while, Zhao Li Xin lifts Lory from the bench and went inside the pavilion, the sun is getting hotter and it's not good for her health. Lory yelped for a second before chuckling. How considerate her boyfriend is?

Zhao Li Xin poured her cold water to fresh up, "You like to bask under the sun even before we knew each other."

"You knew?" Lory tilts her head.

"I like watching over you… sometimes," he said, emphasizing the last word to make him less guilty.

"Peeping tom!" she pretends, gasping while clenching her chest.

"Who?" Zhao Li Xin frowned.

Lory giggles, she drank the water he gave her, then she took a long deep breath. She's grateful for another beautiful day, she looked up to the sky, "Do you know what's the greatest gift the God bestowed to us other than love?"

She smiled profoundly when Zhao Li Xin didn't answer, "It's the sun."

When she smiled like that, the air around her suddenly changed. All of a sudden, she's not the same easy-going and lax young girl from before, her cheeky smiles, and her playful demeanor suddenly changed, she felt someone else, something enigmatic… something divine… something… he cannot touch.

"The sun?"

"Without the sun, the world would be overwhelmed by darkness. The plants will slowly die, the crops will fail, and the flowers will wither. The animals would be dying, the beasts will become restless. Anything that survived will turn into something else... something unnatural, but perhaps that's what survival means and then humans…" Lory closed her eyes, remembering the last decade of her old world.

"One by one, they will fall on the ground, just like the leaves in autumn without the bright colors, of course, death becomes natural. Diseases and starvation will be their constant companion, some people will stop crying after a while.

They will lose their family, their home, their faith, it's like the world has come to an end. Eventually, the only thing that will keep them going; the only thing that will keep them surviving is hope. Just one more hope… So, they will wait... and wait... for the King to return."

'Remember, you are the King's daughter!'

'When there is death, there is always going to be death.'

'YOUR SOUL IS MINE!'

'LORY, DON'T!!'

'We will always find each other...'

Waves of memories hit her like a broken dam, everything she buried deep inside her, surged up and came back to her. It has been hard facing her past because that means she admits that she is, indeed, broken. Ever since that day, she has been broken to pieces. When she met Zhao Li Xin, she slowly and eventually mended her broken heart, but the deep crack is still there, and with just a small touch, she knew her heart would fall apart.

Even though she convinced herself to be strong, to face whatever happens in the future, but could she really do it? She's not the same girl anymore. The last war had taken everything from her and sometimes she feels like she has nothing left.

"I'm here," Zhao Li Xin suddenly embraced her from behind, "Please don't make that kind of face…" he begged sadly. His heart is aching like there's a knife twisting his heart, it feels excruciating and suffocating. She's making the same expression she had when he first met her in the sea of Bluebell Flowers. She was standing there like a mirage in the desert, so beautiful and unreal as if she would disappear when he gets too close.

"If you like the sun, I'll protect the sun, and if you like this world, I will protect this world. I will protect you and everything you love, so please don't make that expression…" He whispered in her ears, his voice mixed of determination and desperation. Her heart was gradually engulfed with warmth, his right. She's not alone anymore.

With a quiet voice, she said, "Okay…"