“I will rather die, than tell you anything!” Hen Huo spat at Yu Lin. Yu Lin dodged his spit before bringing the sword and slicing his wrist. “Auughh!” the man cried as Yu Lin watched his blood drip out slowly.

“If you don’t want to this the civil way, then I can only do it the way you want me to,” Yu Lin brought the sword to his private area as the man shuddered and shook his head.

“No! No! I will talk! I will talk!” Hen Huo pleaded. Yu Lin’s rings appeared on her fingers as she healed his wrist. He panted in fear as he looked up at Yu Lin.

“First, tell me how many people have you done this to?”

“Why?” Yu Lin moved her arm up as blood splattered out of Hen Huo’s thighs. “Auughh!” tears trailed down his face as he shook his head.

“If you keep wasting my time, my mercy will soon also run out. Do you understand?”

“I-I-I understand,” Hen Huo’s face turned completely white. Yu Lin healed his thighs and then held the sword up to his neck again.

“Answer me, how many people have you done this to?”

“I… too many to count…”

“What races?”

“Humans… dark elves… normal elves… whatever people demand, I supply.”

“Why?”

“This is the only thing I know to do that will keep me alive.”

“Alright… then tell me, who told you to kidnap me?”

“That… tha-that…” Hen Huo’s eyes darted around and Yu Lin raised her sword again, “No! I will tell! I will tell!” Hen Huo shook his head, “The Dragon Lair. They told me to kidnap you!”

“Have you work with them before?”

“Yes. If they ever find anything with dark elf blood, they will contact me first.”

“Where do those dark elves go?”

“S-Sky Continent. They pay higher for dark elves.”

“Who are they?”

“Huh? Oh! I-I-I don’t know. I have never met them personally.”

“Then tell me anything that you remember or know.”

“This is all I know,” Hen Huo’s eyes darted away. Yu Lin narrowed her eyes as she moved her hand again and the sword now sliced closer to Hen Huo’s private part. “Noo!” Hen Huo could barely handle the pain.

“Do you still not remember or know anything else?”

“I-I-I do- AUUGHH!” Yu Lin sliced closer, “Stop! I remember! I remember! The-there was a member who… who was of a beast tribe…”

“What kind of beast tribe?”

“I don’t know! Please! This is all I know!” Yu Lin looked into his desperate eyes and for the first time she did not see any dishonesty.

“Alright, then tell me, how do they contact you?”

“By bird messengers.”

“Do you have a message from them?”

“N-no… I thrown them all away! I swear! Don’t hurt me anymore! I don’t know anything else!” she watched this old man cry like a baby in front of her. She healed his wounds. After that she nodded her head as a herb appeared in her hand. She held it up in front of the man and started to burn it. She watched the fumes enter Hen Huo’s nostrils. Hen Huo started to sway back and forth as his pupils dilated.

“You will forget everything that has to deal with me, other than the fact that you tried to kidnap me. You will forget everything that has to deal with me, other than the fact that you tried to kidnap me. When this has indulge itself into your conscious, insert all your chi energy into this stone,” Yu Lin held the chi energy stone up.

“I will forget everything that has to deal with you, other than the fact that I tried to kidnap you… I will…” Hen Huo continued the repeating the phrases and after a moment he looked straight at the chi energy stone. Yu Lin untied his ropes as he placed his hand on the stone and insert all his chi energy inside. Afterwards, she stuffed Hen Huo back into the bag and summoned another one of his followers to repeat the process.

-

Yu Lin, who had her disguise of Hu Die back on, crept back into the house. She started to head up the stairs when she felt a presence behind her.

“Where are you coming back from?” she heard a voice ask. She turned around to see the moonlight shine on Lui Hong as he leaned back against a wall.

“On a walk,” she answered.

“For three hours?”

“It takes a long time for me to feel tired.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Is there something wrong with going out in the middle of the night?” Yu Lin cocked her head, feigning innocence. Lui Hong bit his lip before shaking his head.

“No.”

“Then all is good. Now then, I will go rest now. Please excuse me,” she turned back around.

“Wait,” she paused as she heard Lui Hong call out to her, “you… forget it. Just go rest now.”

She nodded her head as she continued upstairs. She entered her room and closed the door behind her. When she looked up, she saw Tai Yang sitting on a chair.

“You!” she rushed up to him and grabbed his collar.

“Woah! Woah! Calm down!” Tai Yang whispered and yelled at the same time. Yu Lin glared at him.

“It’s all because of you that I had to waste so much unnecessary time.”

“But, you are a physician and they needed one!”

“I don’t mind that part, but, why did you accept the offer to stay here!”

“That’s cause… can you let me go first?” Tai Yang gave her a smile. She narrowed her eyes as she pushed him back and let go. “Whew… thought I was going to die there…”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing! Nothing at all! Anyways, I accepted the offer because I didn’t think they were bad people.”

“And how would you know that?”

“You should’ve seen the way sir Lui Hong looked at you… it’s as if he was looking at someone he knew for a long time already… he had a sad look on his face. Also, when he offered the only one he was looking at was you as if he really didn’t want you to face any danger,” Tai Yang nodded his head. Yu Lin thought for a moment. ‘But… all the people I know in my previous life would be much older than him…’ she looked back at Tai Yang who stared at her with a smile.

“And,” she leaned into his face and crossed her arms, “why are you here? Did you… want something to happen between us?” she asked. His eyes widened as he jumped up from his seat.

“I-I-I just came to see how you were doing, and stayed when I realize you weren’t here. Now that you’re back, I-I am leaving! Good night, sir Yu Lin!” Tai Yang left the room at the speed of light. Yu Lin lip twitched as she rolled her eyes. She quickly took a bath, and afterwards, laid down to sleep.

-

The next day, Yu Lin woke up and went downstairs. She saw the men she healed from the previous day eating at the table with Tai Yang chatting with them. When they realized she was in the room they sprung up from their seats and bowed to her.

“Thank you, lady!” there deep voices echoed in the house. Yu Lin flinched for a moment, a bit startled before bowing back.

“It was no problem, please, continue eating,” she gestured for them to sit down.

“Yes,” they all smiled at her as they sat back around the table.

“Lady should also come eat with us. We saved a seat just for you,” one of them said. She nodded her head as she took a seat next to Tai Yang. She looked next to her to see that one of the seats was still empty.

“That’s for leader H-Lui Hong,” one of them said.

“Oh,” Yu Lin nodded her head as she picked up her chopsticks. She started to eat, and as she did she noticed how all the men looked at her with a shy expression.

“Lady, you are so beautiful,” one of them commented and Tai Yang almost spit out his food. Yu Lin gave him a nudge and he quickly grabbed his cup of water.

“Your looks match a description of one of the beauties from the city we grew up in,” another one said as they looked at her with a smile. Yu Lin frowned.

“Who?” she asked. The man opened his mouth to answer but didn’t get a chance to.

“She just woke up, and all you mongrels are going to start flirting with her? Did I teach you guys to act like this?!” she heard a voice roar as she turned to see Lui Hong crossing his arms at them.

“No! Sorry, leader!” the man bowed his head.

“They were just making small talk. Don’t scold them too hard,” Yu Lin said. Lui Hong’s arms straightened as he looked at her.

“...alright,” he only said as he took the seat besides her. After that, the men continued to talk amongst themselves as Yu Lin continued eating.

“Lady Lu Yin?” she heard Lui Hong say.

“Yes?”

“After breakfast, we are going to leave for Jongan right away. Will that be alright?”

“It will be good. Thank you for your free hospitality and transportation.”

“It’s the least I can do for you helping my men.”

“It was something that I should do as a physician anyways.”

“I see… lady, Lu Yin… do you… do yo-”

“That’s right! I agree, chicken is better than fish!” Tai Yang blurted out as the other guys cheered along with him. Yu Lin side eyed him before turning to look at Lui Hong.

“What did you say?”

“N-nothing,” Lui Hong answered. Yu Lin just shrugged her shoulder as she finished eating.

-

Yu Lin and Tai Yang stepped out of the carriage as they arrived in Jongan. They gave them men a bow.

“Thank you, generous sirs. I hope your trip will be prosperous from here on out,” Yu Lin said.

“Thank you, lady,” they all answered in unison with blushed cheeks.

“Goodbye brothers, may we meet again in the future!” Tai Yang waved at them.

“Goodbye!” they all smiled back at him.

“Then we will head out now,” Lui Hong gave them a headbow.

“What about your supplies?” Yu Lin frowned.

“Don’t worry, lady, we already have them with us,” Lui Hong answered. Yu Lin realized the situation and bowed.

“Thank you!” she said as she looked back up. Lui Hong looked at her with soft eyes as he stepped down from the carriage. He pulled off his outer robe and wrapped it around her.

“The weather is a bit chilly, please take care of yourself,” he said. Yu Lin paused for a second and nodded her head.

“You too,” she said. Lui Hong nodded his head as he walked back towards the carriage with all his followers looking at him while chuckling.

“Goodbye, lady and sir Di,” Lui Hong and his men waved at them as the carriage started to move.

“Goodbye,” Tai Yang and Yu Lin said back. Yu Lin watched as they continued to grow smaller as she saw Lui Hong pull a silver necklace out from beneath his robe. She saw a golden ring hanging from the silver necklace with the character ‘g’ printed on it before they got too small for her to read the rest. ‘...g…’ she thought to herself.

“Sir Yu Lin?’ Tai Yang’s voice broke her out of her trance.

“Yes?”

“Let’s get going.”

“Un,” Yu Lin said. The carriage was now too far to be visible to the eye as Yu Lin waved her hand and her disguise faded away.