'You desire him.'

Jiangjun Han Li's words never left Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei's thoughts. He never dared to think that way and tried to dismiss the idea whenever the thought came to him. He never came to terms with it until Jiangjun Han Li slapped it on his face.

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei momentarily left Jiangjun Han Li to contemplate knowing that the latter would not be able to escape. He massaged the side of his throbbing temples and looked at the sky in contemplation.

Did he truly desire the boy?

He truly cared for the boy more than anyone else he cared for including his own life but was it desire? He highly doubted it.

Desire was something different; something he considered shallow; something that was selfish and more inclined to sexual gratification. If he would be honest with himself and did not give a damn to whatever people think about convention, then he would admit that what he felt for the boy was more than what one could consider desire.

Throughout his life, he had never experienced an emotion so strong towards same sex that was not deemed as platonic but this war was different. This emotion Tang Lao Fang evoked in him had terribly disturbed and terrified him. Was the boy's strong resemblance to the fiery beautiful girl that he met in townsquare the reason? Then perhaps this feeling was an illusion.

Abomination! What he felt was abomination for it defied the rules of humankind. He could not succumb to this terrible weakness that was slowly tampering with his sanity. How did he let emotions overrule him? How could he not control the feelings that kept on growing as each day passed by? He was weak - very weak.

The celestial gods and his ancestors would definitely be ashamed of him. He had to find a way to eradicate this feeling and keep his sanity intact.

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei breathed in in an effort to calm the chaos that was in his heart. He had to go back to that despicable jiangjun and not allow his words to manipulate his mind. He had to be the best officer that the Son of Heaven ever had.

Jinzhou walked back to the place where he left Jiangjun Han Li with a steely determination. The moment that he arrived, he was surprised with what he saw.

Jiangjun Han Li was lying on the ground with tears on his eyes and blood sputtering furiously from his mouth.

"What happened?" He said and rushed to him.

"You... arrr desspipibol.." Jiangjun Han Li incoherently said; his eyes blazing with ire.

Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei forcefully opened the jiangjun's bleeding mouth and his eyes widened when he realized that the latter's tongue had been cut. He was enraged. Who dared to cut the jiangjun's tongue?

True, this despicable creature could raise the hackles in anyone but he needed him to track the princess. Now that his tongue had been sliced, taking his ability to speak coherently, obtaining information from the jiangjun would be very difficult.

"I will find out who did this to you." Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei muttered coldly and dragged Jiangjun Han back to the camp Li without any care.

"Arghmmmm!!!" Jiangjun Han Li cried helplessly, terribly subdued. He never felt shamed in his entire life that he fervently wished that Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei would just kill him.

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The noon had yet to invade the day as proclaimed by the clear blue skies and cool breeze. Chao Biming and Lee Sui Song was concocting a broth to alleviate Tang Lao Fang's body pain outside the boy's tent.

"Tang Lao Fang is the Ninja Boy?" Lady Chao Biming asked in disbelief. She was surprised but the joy that was in her heart overwhelmed her. Just when she thought that she would never see the warrior who captured her heart, she never expected that he was the same person who had saved her. How could she not feel elated? Her feelings had grown in extreme magnitude. She was utterly in love with Tang Lao Fang.

"Yes, he is, Lady Chao Biming." Lee Sui Song, the timid yet kind healer, confirmed. "You can ask Lao Fang. Do you want me to call him? He is resting in his tent but talking can't do him any harm."

"Ahmm.. No need, he needs to rest. Ahh.. We need to finish this soup so that he will not feel any pain." Lady Chao Biming shyly said while blushing profusely. She continued adding herbs to the claypot that she and Lee Sui Song were heating.

Lee Sui Song observed her in wonder before smiling. "You like Tang Lao Fang, don't you?"

"Ahmm, what?" Lady Chao Biming struggled to speak. She was probably red all over; her face was burning with embarassment.

Lee Sui Song laughed at Chao Biming's reaction. "Yes, you do. You like Tang Lao Fang."

"I do not!" Chao Biming denied. "Ahm.. Not in the way that you are thinking."

"No, don't deny it. Your face says it all." Lee Sui Song laughed good-naturedly. After a moment of laughter, his face became serious as he stared at Lady Chao Biming. "I cannot blame you for what you feel for Tang Lao Fang. He is an extraordinary warrior with a kind heart. But your feelings might not be reciprocated in a way that you want to."

Lady Chao Biming frowned at Lee Sui Song's words. "Why? I do not understand you. Is it because of the princess?"

Lee Sui Song mirrored her confusion before sighing despondently. "It is not in my place to say."

"I know it is the princess. I know that Tang Lao Fang loves her. I cannot blame him though. She is beautiful, admirable and kind. She is perfect. How can one not love the princess?" Lady Chao Biming said with sadness in her voice. Tears of jealousy struggled to overwhelm her.

Lee Sui Song looked at her with sympathy. Chao Biming would never understand why loving Tang Lao Fang was bound to be for naught. Tang Lao Fang was not real, Yan Mei Ling was. Two women could not possibly be lovers, couldn't it? And, if love between two woman was possible, would Yan Mei Ling felt the same way for Lady Chao Biming?

"You should not look down upon your own self. You are beautiful and special in your own way. The question should have been, 'How can one not love you?' Cheer up and look into the bright side."

Lady Chao Biming smiled at Lee Sui Song's encouraging words but she still felt sad. "Your comrades hate me for what happen to your fellow soldiers when they visit our village."

"I do not hate you nor does Tang Lao Fang. You have redeemed yourself in the eyes of my fellow soldiers when Jinzhou Lu Wang Wei believe in you. Don't let the opinion of a few people bother you."

Lady Chao Biming smiled weakly at Lee Sui Song's words.

"Oh, Tang Lao Fang is finally awake." Lee Sui Song told Chao Biming. He waved his hand to Mei Ling. "Tang Lao Fang, come here. We made something for you."

Yan Mei Ling approached them but she grimaced every time she took a step. "What is that you are making?"

"A broth to cure your pain." Lady Chao Biming timidly answered with a smile.

"Did Lim Hok Se help you make that?" Yan Mei Ling asked as she looked at the broth with skepticism.

"Lim Hok Se?" Lady Chao Biming asked in confusion.

"He is the appointed cook of this army. He is very great with ingredients and can turn any bland tasting dish to something tastefully good." Lee Sui Song informed Lady Chao Biming with pride.

"Oh, I see." Lady Chao Biming mumbled awkwardly. She gazed at Tang Lao Fang with longing and immediately lowered her eyes when he looked back.

Yan Mei Ling arched her brows in bafflement. What was with this girl giving her weird looks? "Did Lim Hok Se help you with that? Lady Chao Biming? Lee Sui Song?"

"Uhm, no," Lady Chao Biming stammered; the beating of her heart was erratic. "It is only Lee Sui Song and I who make this."

"I am not going to drink that." Yan Mei Ling vehemently said as she wrinkled her face in disgust.

Lady Chao Biming bowed her head in disappointment upon hearing Tang Lao Fang's words.

Lee Sui Song looked Lady Chao Biming and felt sorry for her. He tended his stare at Yan Mei Ling and implored her, "Come on, Tang Lao Fang. Lady Chao Biming put forth so much effort in making this for you. Surely, you can drink even just a small bowl of it. It smells good too."

"Look, I know you mean me well but I don't want to eat something just to spit it, okay? I can take the pain but not the terrible taste"

"I add flavoring herbs to mask the strong taste of the healing herbs." Lady Chao Biming said softly; she was disheartened. Her stare remained on her lap.

Yan Mei Ling felt guilty upon hearing Lady Chao Biming's tremulous voice. She wanted to slap her face for speaking without thinking sometimes. "I am sorry, Lady Chao Biming. Ah, yes, I will definitely get a bowl. Yes, a bowl please?"

Lady Chao Biming smiled happily at Tang Lao Fang and immediately served him a bowl. "Please be careful, it is extremely hot."

Yan Mei Ling forced a smile on her face and dreaded the taste of the broth. She braced herself as the bowl neared her lips. Her eyes widened at the smell of the broth - it smelt different. Different in a good way. "This smells good!"

Lady Chao Biming smiled at Tang Lao Fang and encouraged him, "Drink it and you will feel good."

"Yes, I will." Yan Mei Ling answered and started to sip the hot broth.

Heavenly!

She never tasted something this good in a long time. Was it in her house or in the palace? This was better than what Lim Hok Se cooked, and it made her feel sentimental. It was so good that she immediately drank the entire content of the bowl and burned her tongue. "Ouch!"

"Oh, are you hurt?" Lady Chao Biming said with concern and moved near Tang Lao Fang to gently touched his face.

Yan Mei Ling widened her eyes upon hearing Lady Chao Biming's question. Her words brought back a joyful memory during Summer; of visions of beautiful butterflies and blooming flowers vibrantly coloring the gardens; of small happy talks in front of fine hot tea; of her wonderful experiences with Li Lei Shuang.

"I burned my tongue." Yan Mei Ling said with a watery smile, she wanted to cry but she would not - not in front of Lee Sui Song and Lady Chao Biming. "It tastes so good. Can I have another one?"

Lee Sui Song laughed at Yan Mei Ling's reaction. "See?"

Yan Mei Ling scowled in irritation at Lee Sui Song who just laughed again.

"I will get you another." Lady Chao Biming said enthusiastically and took the bowl from Tang Lao Fang's outstretched hand.

"I feel immediately great. All of the aches in my body have miraculously vanished" Yan Mei Ling exclaimed in amazement.

"You can thank Lady Chao Biming for that. I am just her mere apprentice." Lee Sui Song told yan Mei Ling.

"Thank you, Lady Chao Biming. You are definitely heaven-sent." Yan Mei Ling said with gratitude as she received another helping of the broth.

Lady Chao Biming flushed from Tang Lao Fang's words. Her heart was beating so fast, it kept on spilling love. She was extremely glad that he appreciated her effort no matter how small it might seemed to be.

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Author's Note:

I looked at the reads and I am very happy. I almost reach 10,000 reads. I am very grateful to those who read this story with extremely slow updates. :)

-Midnight_Carousel