Fei Shang opened his eyes. Fei Qianchi was able to find out that he had hurt that man at least, that was a step. As he stood up, a maid hurried to his side.

"General Fei, Immortal Zhu Luishui has left to attend a meeting ordered by Immortal Bai." The maid lowered her head, avoiding Fei Shang's piercing gaze.

Fei Shang looked at the maid, scanning her to see if she was trustworthy before he finally nodded. "You may leave."

The maid bended her back down once again before she finally turned around and left.

Fei Shang rubbed his head, his eyes closing for a second as he began thinking. Zhu Luishui's relations with Baicheng were like fire and water. The enmity between the two ran deeper than what anyone knew. Though, whose fault it was was unknown.

He could only sigh as he stood up and exited his room. As soon as he stepped out, a strange aura made him alert. But he already knew who it was. This has happened too much for him not to know.

"General Xue, come out," Fei Shang said as he kept his pose, not threatened at all by Xue Lu.

A rustling was heard as Xue Lu appeared. He didn't have a smile on his face, his expression cold and harsh, his eyes deep and unknown. He looked at Fei Shang for a second before he opened his mouth and said, "General Fei, I assume that things have been going well for you."

Fei Shang looked at Xue Lu. This man was his enemy but whenever Zhu Luishui was gone to meet Baicheng, Xue Lu appeared without fail.

"General Xue, what is your purpose in being here?" Fei Shang's voice was cold. His eyes flared at Xue Lu, his voice demanding an answer.

Xue Lu merely looked at him, not affected by Fei Shang as he replied, "My purpose...I wish to know it too. All I know is that if I stay there, it would only hurt me more." Xue Lu turned his eyes towards the sky as he said this.

Fei Shang finally remembered. Whenever Baicheng was seen, Xue Lu was too. In fact, many people were more afraid of Xue Lu than they were of Baicheng. Baicheng had tried not to appear often or kill anyone, but Xue Lu had been the one who did that. He killed without flinching and he followed all of Baicheng's tasks.

Thinking upon it now, Xue Lu had been by Baicheng's side for a long time. In such a long time, maybe his feelings had turned to something more?

Fei Shang scoffed as he said, "You love him."

Xue Lu merely looked back. "Who knows? I would rather my feelings not extend to that point." His voice was almost as if he knew the sacrifices behind it.

Fei Shang had asked this man many times. Why was he standing by Baicheng's side? But Xue Lu had always given a reason why he was willing to fight for him. Fei Shang didn't understand how Xue Lu could overlook everything that Baicheng had done, why he was still so loyal.

Then, Xue Lu grabbed a small bottle from the sleeves of his robes. "Give this to Immortal Zhu when he comes back. I'll be taking my leave now."

Fei Shang looked at the small bottle of pills in his hand. "How do I know this isn't a trap?"

Xue Lu shook his head, "You don't. You can decide rather or not you can trust someone like me." Then, he turned to leave. His footsteps heavy as he finally ascended into the air and returned.

Fei Shang knew that Xue Lu wouldn't use underhanded tactics to kill Zhu Luishui. Even though he was cruel in ways, he wasn't to that extent.

Fei Shang clenched the bottle and finally returned back into his room to monitor Fei Qianchi once again.

Xue Lu left in a hurry. Baicheng was close to finishing his talk with Zhu Luishui and Xue Lu didn't want him to notice his disappearance.

As he arrived back at the sect leader's courtyard and walked towards Baicheng's room, he stopped in front of the doors. The two were still talking, or more like arguing but Xue Lu listened in, his heart felt like it was being stabbed.

He would rather his love for Baicheng not exist and it was merely his loyalty for this man that was there. After all, he knew that Baicheng was still wounded and wouldn't be willing to trust someone as his lover. That man was unwilling to move on, and Xue Lu wouldn't force him to.

With a hardened face and a stoned heart, Xue Lu continued to suppress his feelings. Growing up with Baicheng had changed his outlook on life and it would remain that way. Though there were many that scorned him and cursed him, Xue Lu knew that Baicheng was like that because of many factors.

But, even that didn't change the fact that his heart was for that man. And Xue Lu knew all too well that he shouldn't have these feelings for Baicheng. Even so, his heart persisted on being in love with Baicheng.

Xue Lu stood still by the door, his body wanting to enter but he knew that he shouldn't. Soon, he heard a loud scream as the sound of glass shattering fell to the ground. He wasn't suppose to enter, but he also didn't want any accidents to happen. Finally, he entered, pushing the doors back.

Baicheng sat, still looking as daunting and vicious as always. With a smirk on his face, he merely watched as Zhu Luishui glared at him. Then, he turned his eyes at the sound of the door opening. Upon seeing Xue Lu, he smiled, a smile that wasn't cruel or cold, at least not in Xue Lu's eyes.

"Xue Lu, any reason as to why you entered?" Baicheng asked as he twirled the cup in his hand, looking at Xue Lu and dismissing Zhu Luishui whom was still in the room.

Xue Lu walked over, his steps neither light nor heavy and with a nod of his head, he replied, "None, Baicheng. I thought that an accident had happen so I came in to check." Many were afraid of Baicheng, but Xue Lu wasn't. He looked at Baicheng, his eyes not backing away.

Baicheng merely raised a brow at that, then with a smirk on, he looked at Zhu Luishui. "You can go now, I hope you remember clearly what I told you. You can never escape, at least not in this lifetime."

Zhu Luishui glared at Baicheng, his eyes flaring with hatred as he turned away, his sleeves waving and slammed the doors as he exited.

Xue Lu looked at Zhu Luishui and his eyes turned to Baicheng. Hiding the feelings in his heart once more, he gently smiled as he asked, "Is there any tasks you have for me today?"

Baicheng looked at Xue Lu for a second, his cold yet villainous face remained unchanged. Taking a sip of wine, he said, "No, accompany me though. This will be your task."

Xue Lu nodded, knowing well enough where they were going. Baicheng did this everyday without fail and Xue Lu followed to protect him. He was the only one that Baicheng trusted enough to leave himself a bit vulnerable, though not too much.

After Baicheng had taken back the position of sect leader, he built a memorial for his mother and father. Everyday, Baicheng would visit them, giving an offering and pouring a cup of wine for them. This was the side to him that others no longer were able to witness, this was the side that others had killed.

Baicheng stood and Xue Lu followed him. They turned many twists and turn before they finally stopped. As they entered the small entrance leading to a garden, one portrait was hung up. In the portrait, a man and woman stood, holding hands with a smile. The woman was beautiful and the man was handsome, they perfected each other in more than words could describe.

Baicheng approached and stood three feet away from them before he got on his knees. Xue Lu did the same but further away from them. Baicheng poured a cup of wine and set it on the small table ahead of him. Then, he lit three incense and stuck it into the ground. As he stood on his knees, Baicheng looked at the portrait. He didn't say a word, but his eyes spoke it all.

"Xue Lu, if my parents were alive, they would be disappointed with what I have done. They loved this place and called it their home. They protected its people without fail but even in the end, they were tortured to death. I have gotten revenge but I have also destroyed what they had fought to protect. I don't regret it though. I am in the wrong, but those who I have called family were the ones who turned their backs on me. Those who I have trusted wanted my own life all for this position." Baicheng's voice didn't change, but a sneer did appear on his face as he said the last sentence.

"Baicheng, everything you have done has its own story behind it. I may not understand everything you have gone through but I don't think my outcome would've been so different. You lost your parents, those you called family betrayed you, and...he betrayed you." Xue Lu spoke from the bottom of his heart, knowing that he wouldn't have been much different either.

Baicheng chuckled at that. "You were a mere child when you saved me and protected me. Back then, you didn't even know who I was but you didn't hesitate to save a person like me. Even though you grew under my care, you will still be so different from someone like me."

Xue Lu softly smiled at that, "It is because of you that I have a purpose in this world. Though the road ahead is difficult, I will walk it for you. As I've said before, I am your sword and shield. This will remain the same throughout anything."