"Xiao Lang huh? Wolves are the most mystical creature in the tales of the olden days. Bestowed with strength and power yet with strong loyalty bonded by blood of the pack. You indeed have a good name."

Xiao Lang turn and look at this weak looking man, fed with 'Ruan Jing San' yet holds calmness in his eyes. A part of him is drawn towards him, the other is wildly reminding him the danger that he will face if he gets too close.

Never in his life, he would ever think that his name held such deep meanings and it is told by a man, who will be sold off as a male slave. To him, his name is just a convenience for others to roll it out from their tongue. Without him knowing, he let down his guard down towards this bewitching man.

Maybe he was a lonely individual from the start, wanting people to look at his way or probably he wanted someone to talk to.

Following his heart, he stopped walking towards the door and sat down onto the straw mat with the food place directly in front of Jae-in. Jae-in remain calm with his unexpected actions and look at this pitiful man. She knew the right things to say to the right person, after all she is skilful in this area since she had dealt with so many people of different personality in her previous life.

Looking at this rough looking man, face filled with unshaved beard and some ugly battle scars on his face, she knew that he is a man that has yet to hit his 30s despite how he look. He has the look of an adult, but a spirit of a child.

"Xiao Lang, why are you doing these?"

"Doing what?"

"This! Kidnapping people and selling them off to other nobles. Don't you want to lead a normal life?"

"..."

Xiao Lang look up to face Jae-in, the unspoken sorrow and desperation in his eyes, are the answer to her question. Sighing to his fate, he looks down and position the chopstick onto the bowl for Jae-in to eat.

"Eat now. We will leave tomorrow morning."

Just before he stands up and leave the room, Jae-in abruptly grab onto his calves and prevent him from leaving.

"Xiao Lang, can you at least let me know ... how is she doing? Is she safe and free from trouble?"

Xiao Lang look down and saw the pitiful look of Jae-in, miserably grabbing on to him like how he once did to his father when he was sold to this house. A flashback of his childhood hits him hard, and he softens up. Bending on his knees to reach Jae-in's height, he places his rough palms onto Jae-in's head and pat her.

"I promise you that she is fine and will be safe till we deliver her to the noble."

*** ***

The day passed real fast and soon it is nighttime.

Jae-in chose not to consume any food given to her because it is her habit to be wary of things to be eaten. Observing the moon position in the sky from the small window at the top of the wall, it is probably 8pm or so.

'I wonder how is Yu-ji doing ... Qing Feng, did he manage to pick up the scent to find us?'

After Xiao Lang left the room, Jae-in resume back to her acupuncture to relieve the block points in her system. For now, she no longer feel as weak from the 'Ruan Jing San' but she is definitely weakened in her body strength because the pill took a toll on her stamina, so she is no different from an ordinary human without martial arts.

Standing up to oversee the wooden doors that locked her up, peeking through the gap of the doors, the place outside seems to be empty with no guards.

"Great!"

Taking a wooden bench and place it near the wall, standing on them and her hands barely manage to reach the bars of the window. Using her strength to pull the bars, wanting to break it in any ways, however her weak hands did no result. Looking around for additional tools to help her, only then she recalled a method. She picks up a wood plank thrown at one side, and tore parts of her outer wear, wrapping it around the bars while connecting the wooden plank to it.

Twisting the wooden plank in a circular motion for several times, finally the bars of the window is broken. Internally she was shocked as she did not expect this method to work. It was one of the casual conversation she had with Qi Yuan that he shared his infamous method to escape from the punishing room in the palace when he was younger.

Just as she is ready to push her body upwards to crawl out of that small little window, a loud bang from the back, stopped her. The door has been broken, revealing a worried Xiao Lang who is carrying a fire torch. As she stopped right in the middle of escaping from the window, for a moment she felt embarrassed to be caught.

However, Xiao Lang paid no attention to her attempts, rather he is more concern of her safety. Rushing up towards her with an anxious face and grab hold of her wrist.

"You! Are you okay?"

Perplexed by the abnormal behavior of Xiao Lang, Jae-in answered him dutifully.

"Yeah, I am alright. What happen?"

"Come, follow me! Let's go!"

"Wait! What is going on?"

"I got no time to explain! Follow me now, I will bring you to escape!"

"Then ... Then what about my friend! I AM NOT LEAVING WITHOUT HER!"

Xiao Lang look at the determined look of Jae-in and he sighed.

"She is gone."

"What do you mean by she is gone?!"

Jae-in's mind stopped for a moment as she takes in the information.

'What does he mean by she is gone? She got taken away? Or ... Is she ...'

"She got taken away. I guess there is another association attacking us and trying to steal our goods, ruining our business." Xiao Lang explained.

"Now, follow me because I don't want you to be hurt."

Dragging Jae-in by her wrist with a tight grip, Xiao Lang led her through the captivated area and finally escaped into the nearby forested mountain. She was right, they were hidden at the excluded areas of the nearby mountain at Luo City. As she turned behind, only then she realized a part of the "village" was on fire.

"Yes, someone broke into our village and burn one of the house down. The first thing I went to check is your friend, but her cell has been broken, and she wasn't there. Luckily I reach to you on time, now just follow me."

When Xiao Lang wants to take another step, a metal dart cut through the air and stab onto the back of his calves, making him collapse onto the floor. Pulling Jae-in along, she fell onto his chest as he turns around in the nick of time to protect her.

But not for long, the body of Jae-in is pulled back by a force, separating the distance between Xiao Lang and herself with his arms around her waist while taking a few steps back. As though she knew who was behind her, her visibly tensed shoulders relaxed.

"Let go of him!" Xiao Lang shouted.

"Ha ... Who are you to order me around? Filthy scum. You are the one who is to be branded as a criminal!"

"Hold on! Wang Xuan, he is a nice guy!"

"Nice guy?! Ha ... For someone who kidnapped and locked you up in a cell? Gods know whether he tortured you till death and now you are siding him when I am here to save you??"

Xuan Di stare down at Jae-in who looks visibly tired yet politely asking him not to harm another man. After going through so much trouble to follow the scent and intentionally hasten their pace to reach to them. All he could think of in his mind was the possibilities of her being hurt and tortured. He even endure his fatigue state just to save her, and now she is in his arms defending the guy who assault her?

An uncomfortable feeling grew in his chest, a prickling stabbing touch and a bitter feeling reach his tongue. He felt angry because he envisioned the scene when he saved her from the bad guys, like a white shining armour knight that scope off the princess from danger, and hopefully she might feel a sense of gratitude towards him. Maybe, after this ordeal, they might grow closer, and he can get to know her on a deeper level.

But reality hits him hard in his face, not only she isn't impressed by his saviour, she even side an unknown man who is the one who kidnapped her. He is definitely not happy. Xuan Di wants her to side him in all situations, she is supposed to be by his side no matter what. Why is she behaving like this towards him?

And this dangerous thought is a seed of an unknown obsession that is planted inside his head.

Angry or jealous, he pressed Jae-in's head into his chest with his hands at the back of her head. Unable to fight back, Jae-in protest minimally by using her fist to punch onto his chest and create a distance.

Xiao Lang, on the other hand, witness their interaction and was bewildered. Even though it is common to have male slaves or male lover for nobles, but this is the first time he sees this intimate exchange between males happening right in front of him.

"Y-You ... You need to let him go! This is improper for a male to treat another male like this! Let him go right now!"

Xiao Lang tried his best to sound aggressive but his crimson face filled with blush said otherwise. For a moment, he also wanted to have a chance to do such intimate actions with Jae-in, but he brushed the idea away.

Only after struggling away from Xuan Di's strength, she managed to catch a glimpse of Xiao Lang's red face, then she realized how improper they are as she is currently still dressed up as a man.

"Wang Xuan, let go of me!"

Ignoring the pain at his calf, Xiao Lang stood up so to overshadow the intense aura given out by Xuan Di. Xuan Di also totally ignored the "request" from Xiao Lang and held Jae-in closer to him, refusing to let her go any second.

Sighing, Jae-in adjust her body to face Xiao Lang with Xuan Di behind her, as she is aware how dangerous their situation is, she knew that there is not much time for this childish behaviors.

"Xiao Lang, this is my comrade, he mean no harm and so please forgive his rudeness. Wang Gong Zi, this is Xiao Lang. Although he was part of the kidnapping group, but he have never lay his hands on me even once. He was also the one who help me to escape. And right now, we have no time to waste with such childish bickering."

Losing his grip on Jae-in, finally break free from his control.

Walking towards Xiao Lang, she ask him in a gentle voice of his injury and Xiao Lang stared at her with a confused yet warm eyes. As though they are in their own world, Xuan Di is completed forgotten at one side.

'Tsk ...'

Xuan Di ignore the interaction between them and gather his voice to get her attention on him once more.

"For your information, you don't have to worry about Yu-Ji, she is safe with Qing Feng. By the way, Xiao Lang, we are the one who burn down your village so we are definitely not going to be walking on the same path as you, this criminal. Also Jae-in, there is too many things going on that I need to update you about."

Jae-in look at Xuan Di and his tired face, she knew how exhausted he was and for him to catch up to them within 3 days, he was definitely reaching his limits. Once again, a sense of gratitude grew inside her and she decide to ease her rude behavior towards him. Turning towards Xiao Lang, she reach out her hand towards him and did a warm smile.

"Xiao Lang, let's escape from this hell together!"

Hesitant as he look at the small fragile hand of Jae-in, a hand that look so delicate with no scarring. Xiao Lang's heart began to race as it got faster and faster, the aderaline of the possible outcome of the future if he take his hand right here, right now.

'Thump ... Thump ...'

"What are you hesitating for? Just take my hand." Jae-in coaxed him into it.

As he was about to reach out to touch that milky white hands, his gang members interrupted his action.

"Xiao Lang! Are you alright! Guys, capture them and lock them up!"

Every single one of them started to attack Xuan Di fiercely with no intention of backing down, it is as though the gods did not want to give him the chance to think, the end of this short disturbance lead Jae-in and Xuan Di back into the same old cell.