The name seemed familiar but Tang Huan couldn't remember where he heard it before, he glanced at Guan Men Niang again to jog his memory but he still can't remember.

The woman looked very young, she might be even younger than he thought, she looked meek and harmless, but that might be a cover to hide her true purpose.

​​

"Who was infected by the cold poison, you?" Tang Huan asks.

Guan Men Niang shook her head "No, it was my younger brother"

"Your brother..." Tang Huan muttered then he asked again, "Who poisoned your brother?"

"Wei Zu Tian" he gritted his teeth.

"Why?" Tang Huan's curiosity piqued.

Guan Men Niang clenched her fists until it was white "Because that's the only way for that beast to make sure I don't kill myself" her voice trembled as anger and sadness swept over her like waves.

Tang Huan was an old man who had witnessed many things throughout his life and he had met all kinds of people so he could tell if someone was telling the truth or not and for now he believed that Guan Men Nian words but he didn't sure if her hatred is enough for her to betray Wei Zu Tian.

"Why did you come here" he changed the subject.

"Because I know the apothecary of the thousand herbs is part of the White Dragon palace and I... I also know that Lord Long Ming was once infected with the same poison and the king of the White Dragon palace was the one who cured him." Her voice grew smaller as she spoke, his behavior was at odds with the hatred he had shown earlier.

"Who told you that?" Tang Huan pretended not to know, even though he know clearly that the rumor was spread by Jin Hao and Bei Li Yan to protect Lory.

"I overheard it when Wei Zu Tian was talking to one of the Heavenly Knights," said Guan Men Niang. Heavenly Knight was the most loyal subordinate Wei Zu Tian had, just like the Palace King to Zhao Li Xin.

Tang Huan found it strange that he could hear such an important matter by chance, "What do you mean by coincidence, how could Wei Zu Tian let you hear such an important matter?"

She lowers her gaze and smiled bitterly, "Wei Zu Tian doesn't think of me as a person, to him I am like his pet or slave depending on how you want to see it, you should understand that Wei Zu Tian is full of himself, he's too confident by his own ability, therefore, he did not bother Long Ming these past few years because he had too much confidence with the poison he made, he thought no one could come up with an antidote, he was sure that eventually Long Ming wouldn't able to take it anymore and begged on his feet" she stifles a chuckle at how conceited Wei Zu Tian always been, he even built a special courtyard for Long Ming to stay.

Yes, that's how confident Wei Zu Tian was, so imagine how shocked he would be when Zi Quan Mei told him that Zhao Li Xin was not only alive and well, she was even stronger than what was reported.

The news was like a hard slap on Wei Zu Tian's face he was so angry he burned the courtyard he built for Zhao Li Xin, then he postponed all his duties and rushed to Liang Zu kingdom without further ado.

'What a pathetic man' Guan Men Niang thought.

"Guan...?" Tang Huan suddenly remembered where he heard the name "Guan Men Niang.... I heard four years ago Wei Zu Tian massacred the entire Guan clan so he could take the daughter of the Guan family... are you that person" he looked at Guan Men Niang The young lady did look very beautiful with a pair of pure innocent eyes, small lips, and a small nose which added to her meek and gentle demeanor. She did look adorable unfortunately her beauty was stained by the dark clouds in her eyes.

Guan Men Niang lowered his head in shame and sadness "Yes…." she answered weakly.

It goes without saying that Guan Men Niang has become one of Wei Zu Tian's toys, Tang Huan can't imagine what this young lady has been through for four years, Tang Huan looked up at the ceiling and sighed heavily. It was no secret how Wei Zu Tian treats his toys, he might treat some of his toys better when they could give him benefits like Zi Quan Mei but if not, one can only imagine what they had gone through.

"Okay, before that can I ask you how can you leave Wei Zu Tian's residence without being noticed, don't tell me they let you come and go as you wish" Tang Huan raised his brows.

"No, they don't" she shook her head "There is a small hole behind the bush that connect the pond to the river outside, I found it by accident"

"No one searching for you?" Tang Huan was stunned by how lacking the security is.

Guan Men Niang shrug "They now I have no one to ask for help and the only family I got was held captive in Heaven Gate sect, they know I wouldn't go anywhere"

"But here you are" Tang Huan opens his arms and grinned widely.

The corner of her lips curved slightly "Here I am…"

__________________________________

Zhao Li Xin's eyelids trembled as he struggled to regain his consciousness, his body felt stiff and heavy but he could feel the Qi within him accumulating in his dantian coursing through his veins and nerves which was a sign he still needed more time to adjust to her new power.

It took a while before he could open his eyes, the first thing he saw was Lory's gem-like purple eyes followed by her beautiful smile.

"I wanted to say good morning but I forgot that time doesn't flow normally in this place" Her sweet voice was like a soft melody that always made her feel warm and fuzzy.

the light shining from behind Lory's back cast down shadows on some parts of her enchanting face giving a melancholy sense to her smile.

An incurable sadness welled up from within him, Zhao Li Xin thought just because he listened to Lory's story, he thought he could understand her pain, but after he saw what happened in Lory's past with his own eyes, he realized how foolish he was.

Zhao Li Xin stretched out his hand as he gently touched Lory's cheek, "You're always smiling" he muttered under his breath, "Since the first time I met you, I've always seen you smile..." he said in deep sorrow because of her.

"What, you don't like my smile now?" Lory pretended to be angry.

"No, I like it" Zhao Li Xin answered easily, he lifted his head from Lory's lap then sat on the ground beside her. "How is your leg, is it numb?" he helped massage Lory's feet.

"It's okay..." Lory straightened his legs, he did feel a little pain but she didn't complain not because she pretended to be strong but she has a high pain tolerance because of her past experience for her this type of pain is not even worthy to mention, on the contrary, rather than that she was more worried about Zhao Li Xin's condition "How about you, are you feeling better now?"

"Yes, and will get better after meditating for a few days" he replied casually.

"That's great..." Lory smiled in relief.

Zhao Li Xin saw her smile and his expression became complicated, Lory thought Zhao Li Xin was acting differently, she touched her arm and asked gently, "What's wrong?"

Zhao Li Xin stifled a laugh, "You smile a lot, you smile when you're scared, you smile when you're anxious, and you smile when you're sad, have you noticed it?"

"It's a habit I think" Lory shrugged "Anyway pouting won't change anything so why not just smile, it makes me feel better and it makes other people better, doesn't it?" Lori smiled.

Zhao Li Xin chuckled "I agree, and it's contagious too, I smiled a lot after meeting you" he knows that he had changed a lot after he met Lory, and it wasn't a bad change.

"I noticed, but don't smile too much in front of other women, your smile is too destructive for the maiden heart," Lory half-jokingly said.

Zhao Li Xin laughed heartily, "Okay, I promise!" it's not like he ever smiles at anyone other than Lory anyway, Zhao Li Xin covered his smile with his fists making him look manly and charming then he patted Lory's head gently "I won't smile at any woman"

Zhao Li Xin pulled her head closer then gently pressed his lips against hers, the kiss was slow and gentle as if he wanted to engrave the shape of her lips in his mind.

Lory closes her eyes, she follows his rhythm like a boat follows the current the sound of the waves crash, she couldn't hear anything but other than the sound of wave crashing to the sea and breeze played with their hair giving it the same buoyant wave as the sea around them for a moment Lory felt they were the only ones left in the world.

Zhao Li Xin reluctantly releases her lips, he pressed their forehead together in hailed the sweet scent from her "I love you, Lory, I love you so much...don't you know that" he whispered.

"I know..." she answered quietly.

smile creep into his handsome face he stares with inexplicable eyes, "No, you don't..."

Lory tilted his head in confusion although she knew he was holding something back however she didn't ask any further and Zhao Li Xin didn't explain either, the two of them hugged each other without saying anything.