“Answer me!” he ordered. She snapped out of her confusion as she stood up.

“Antidote,” her husky voice rang out as she walked pulled his robe off of a rock.

“Antidote… you better not lie to me or el-”

“Shut your mouth and dress yourself,” Yu Lin said as she his robe at him. He looked at her wide-eyed as he noticed his nakedness.

“Y-you pervert!” he yelled as he grabbed his robe.

“Pervert?” Yu Lin glared at him.

“If not then why would you take my clothes away and kiss me?! I don’t care what your preference is, but you should know not to this without consent! You’re a man aren’t you? Men don’t take advantage of unconscious people like that! You pervert! You predator!” he continued to yell as he pressed the robe against his chest.

“I’m no-”

“Pervert!”

“I’m fro-”

“Predator!”

“I sa-”

“Liar!” Yu Lin ground her teeth together before stomping up to him and grabbing his chin and facing it towards her.

“Listen to me, you brat! I am a physician from Jongan academy that was sent to help you guys because the carriage you were on had an incident. I only treated you as a physician would!”

“Would a physician kiss their own patient?!”

“You were poisoned and you didn’t drink antidote because you were muttering nonsense! If I didn’t do that then you would have died!”

“How can I believe you?!” he pushed her away. She looked back at him and glared at him before turning her head away.

“Alright then, believe whatever you want, Hu Tai Yang,” she walked up to the fireplace and sat down. She heard nothing after that as a pot appeared in her hand and she hung it over the fire. After that she poured some water inside and some rice grains, then started stirring it.

“Hu… Tai Yang?” she heard the man say behind her after a while. “Why did you call me, Hu Tai Yang?”

“That’s your name isn’t it?” she replied.

“How… how do you know that?”

“Your identification plate came out of your pocket when I was washing your robe and I saw it. I put it back in there afterwards.”

“Oh… uh…” she heard him stuttering as she poured some congee into a bowl. She turned around and held the bowl of congee and a spoon out towards him.

“Eat,” she ordered. He stared back at her with a blank expression and she cocked her head. “Do you want to eat, or do you want to starve?” she questioned. He looked back at her with alert eyes before taking the bowl and spoon out of her hand. She turned back and started to ladle herself some.

“Ah!” she heard the man yelp.

“Oh yeah, it’s hot so remember to blow on it,” Yu Lin said as she turned around and sat on a rock across from him. He looked up and glared at her.

“You could’ve said that before you gave it to me.”

“You saw me cooking it the whole time. You should’ve known,” Yu Lin said, nonchalant as she blew on the congee and then stuffed it in her mouth. She watched as he just gave her a look before continuing to eat.

“You,” he suddenly said, “where are we?”

“Near Jongan,” Yu Lin replied as she continued to eat.

“Jongan?”

“Jongan, the capital of Middle Continent. You were going to attend Jongan academy without knowing what it was?”

“Huh? No. I know… it’s just... my head is a bit fuzzy…”

“Or you’re just stupid.”

“You! Ho…” she watch as the man stop himself and take in a deep breath, “alright… then… do you know who I am?”

“If you don’t even know who you are, how do you expect me to know who you are?” Yu Lin answered.

“Y-you… alright… I understand… thank you…” she watch him look down, his cheeks flushed red. She frowned as she set down her bowl and spoon and walked up to him. She tilted his face up as she set her hand on his forehead.

“Wha-what are yo-”

“Are you burning a fever again? Your face is really red,” she turned his head back and forth. “That’s strange. I thought I healed everything,” she moved the blanket and robe away as she started to touch his body.

“I-I-I am fi-fine! Stop!” he said as he grabbed onto her wrist. She looked up into his nervous blue eyes.

“Alright,” she said as she pulled her hand away and returned back to her food. She watched as he looked at her with cautious eyes. “Don’t worry,” she started, “you are not my type.”

“Ah! You… you do like men then!” he exclaimed. She just shrugged at him and continued to eat. She watch as he stare at her as he started to pull his robe on.

The rest of the time they ate in silence as he continued to stare at her, watching for her every movement. After she was done, and she saw that he was done, she got up from where she was sitting and walked towards him.

“What are you doing?!” he pointed a finger at her. She held the bowl up and he nodded as he handed her his dishes. She took it, and after washing it she walked back to him. “What are you doing?!” he asked again as he held his hands in front of him. Yu Lin’s eyes danced with playfulness as she cocked her head at him.

“Why are you so scared? If I wanted to do anything to you I would’ve done it when you were sleeping but I didn’t,” Yu Lin said as two bottles appeared in her hands and she set them in front of him. “Take one now and in another four hours take the other one. Do you understand?”

“Uh… yes. I understand,” he reached out and snatched the bottles away. Yu Lin bit her lip as she went and laid on top of another rock.

“I’m going to rest now. If you bother me before I wake up… I am going to think that you want something out of me… do you understand?” she narrowed her eyes at him and watched as she swallowed hard before nodding. She laid down on the rock and her eyes closed as sleep came and took over her immediately.

-

Yu Lin opened her eyes. She noticed that she did not hear the rain pouring anymore. She looked down to see a blanket covering her body and she pushed herself up. She looked around to not see Tai Yang anywhere. She jumped off the rock.

“Sir Hu?! Sir Hu?!” she yelled as she ran out the cave. “Sir H- ah!” she bumped into a man’s hard chest and almost fell back but, she felt strong arms wrap around her. She looked up to see bright blue eyes looking down at her.

“Are you alright?” she watch his lips move as she jumped out of his grasp.

“Where did you go?” she asked as she looked him up and down.

“The rain stopped, so I came out here to take a look and found a nearby pond where I took a bath.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before you left?”

“Hee… I thought if I woke you…” Tai Yang look away nervously and she took in a breath.

“That was a joke! I already told you that you aren’t my type, didn’t I?” Yu Lin said as she noticed water dripping from his short hair. “You… was your hair always this short?” Yu Lin had not noticed his hair length as she was too busy making sure he was going to live.

“Yes… why? Isn’t your hair short too? Is this weird?” he asked as he ran his hand through his hair.

“Uh… people usually keep their hair long so… anyways, forget that. How are you feeling?”

“I… I’m feeling well.”

“Okay… that’s good. If you can walk now then that means we can return to the academy then since the rain has stopped. Let’s get packed up and then leave, alright?”

“Huh… okay.” Yu Lin turned her back on him as she went into the cave and started packing.

-

The two started to walk back to the site of the incident. Yu Lin had given Tai Yang a cloak as the weather was a bit chillier.

“You’re body is still recovering, so try to avoid any physical activities in the meantime. Do you understand?”

“I understand… thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Yu Lin said as the two continued to walk.

“But… what is your name?”

“My name?”

“That’s right… you know mine, but you’ve never introduced yourself.”

“Ah… I’m sorry, sir Hu. My name is Du Yu Lin.”

“Oh… Du Yu Lin… I see. Thank you again, Yu Lin.”

“You’re welcome, sir Hu.”

“Sir Hu?” she saw Tai Yang cock his head.

“What?”

“That’s too stiff… why don’t you just call me by my name also?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Look, we are here. Those people must be here for us,” Yu Lin ignored him as she sped up her pace. She reached the carriage and saw men standing there.

“Hey!” she heard Tai Yang said as Tai Yang stood next to her. The man in front of them heard Tai Yang as he turned around. Yu Lin watched as when the man’s eyes landed on Yu Lin he smiled.

“You must be Du Yu Lin!” the man said.

“Who are you?” Yu Lin watched as other men walked out to stand besides him.

“I am Hen Huo, a teacher from the Martial Arts studies. I was asked to come pick you up… who’s that behind you?” Hen Hua pointed to Tai Yang.

“I a-”

“He’s a student also. Can you show me your Jongan academy identification emblem?” Yu Lin pulled onto Tai Yang’s cloak and moved in front of Tai Yang.

“Huh? Ah, that little thing? I forgot it back at the academy. Don’t talk much, let’s just get going before it gets dark,” Hen Hua took a step towards Yu Lin. A sword appeared in Yu Lin’s hand and she aimed it towards him.

“A teacher from Jongan academy will never forget their emblem. Tell me, who are you?!” Yu Lin demanded. The friendly smile on Hen Huo’s face disappeared as he bared his fangs.

“Capture them!” he yelled and his men rushed forwards. Yu Lin pushed Tai Yang behind her as she scooted back to create some distance. His men yelled as they rushed towards her and another sword appeared in her hand. She turned her head back.

“Run, sir Hu!” she yelled. He looked at her and nodded his head as she watched him turn around and head towards the forest they just came out of. Yu Lin turned her attention back to the men to see one of them swinging a club at her. She moved to the side to dodge the club as she swung her sword at another man. The blunt side of her sword hit the man with a strong force as the man fell to the ground.

She looked to the side to see another man running towards the direction Tai Yang ran. She ran and kicked the man onto the ground, while also swinging her sword towards another man, slicing that man’s arm. Yu Lin continued to fight as she tried to stop all the men from running after Tai Yang, however, her eyes caught a glimpse of Hen Huo and a chill went down her back. ‘Why is he smiling?’ she thought to herself as she kicked another man.

“Stop!” she heard a voice from behind her as the man she kicked fell to the ground. She saw a figure holding a sword towards Tai Yang’s neck, as blood dripped out of Tai Yang’s mouth. Tai Yang held onto his chest as his eyes looked like they were going to close any moment. The sword disappeared from Yu Lin’s hand as she held her arms up in the air. She watched as the figure inched closer. The figure was wearing all black clothing, and a straw hat that had a net covering his face.

“Damn monster!” she heard Hen Huo’s voice before she felt a kick from behind her and she fell to the ground. She felt Hen Huo’s fingers pull her wrist up and pulled her endless bracelet away from her, before wiping away his hand that had touch her bare skin. “This will fetch quite a price,” Hen Huo snickered before Yu Lin felt him pull her arms back and tie them together. After that, she felt him tie her wrists to her ankles. Yu Lin clenched her teeth as she watched the figure bring Tai Yang over. She watched as the figure pushed Tai Yang onto the ground.

“Sir Hu!” she yelled out before she felt her hair being pulled back. She looked as Hen Huo forced her mouth open and poured a bottle of liquids inside of her. She started to cough as she tried not to swallow the liquids, however after the contents were done being poured Hen Huo forced her mouth closed, and she had no choice to swallow. She tasted the liquid and she breathed for air. Afterwards, she looked up and glared at Hen Huo.

“Y-you…” she fluttered her eyelids for a moment before she fell to the ground, pretending to faint.

“What did you give him?” she heard the figure ask.

“Just a poison that will shut him up,” she heard Hen Huo reply.

“Aren’t you damaging the goods?”

“Haha! Don’t worry, it’s not enough to kill him… just enough so that he won’t fight back. What about that one? What should we do about him?”

“I don’t care, do what you want. I will be leaving now. Clean up the mess, and make sure no one finds out.”

“I understand. It’s a pleasure working with Dragon Lair,” Hen Huo chuckled. ‘Dragon Lair!’ Yu Lin felt someone start to drag her to the carriage as her face scraped across the grass. She slightly opened her eyes to see the figure walking away. As the figure walked away the figure took off one of their gloves and Yu Lin saw the figure wearing a golden ring with a character that looked like ‘e’. She closed her eyes again as she felt herself being lifted and thrown into the carriage.