.....

Note:

Yay! This is already Half of Book 1

The following chapters are going to be longer since I don't want it to have too many chapters.

*I'm too lazy..

.....

"When I leave, I will no longer be connected to the Residence. I wouldn't be able to tell you anything, even if I wanted to."

Dongzhuo was still shaking his head, "No. If you're like that, aren't you ungrateful to Master and abusing your authority?"

Pingting's shiny eyes flashed, "That's why I need your help. I need to leave without Master's knowing."

"No, no, no, I can't hide anything from Master."

"Of course not, but Master will lie to you. Let's bet, if he knows what we're planning, he will not only not announce it but secretly organise my escape."

"I just don't understand you!" Dongzhuo scratched his head, anxiously pacing up and down the room. Then he jerked towards Pingting, "its fine if I help you. Whether Master is at fault or not, all I know is that you were the unlucky one and I know that you will never betray our Residence. But...where could you go? Don't forget that you're sick and that it has only been two days since..."

Pingting interrupted, "No, I'm leaving tonight."

Her tone was soft, but Dongzhuo could hear unwavering decisiveness in it. He raised an eyebrow, "If you don't tell me where you're going, I refuse to help you. You'll be outside alone and if something happens to you, I'll never have another night of sleep." His hands were clutched at his chest and he was facing Pingting.

"After leaving here, I will be free so I can go anywhere I want easily. You know that a lot of people are searching for me and did you really think I'd tell such a carefree guy like you? But the direction I plan to go is..." Pingting whispered in his ear, "north."

Did spring arrive later in the north?

Back in the days while she lived in the Royal Residence, her good friend Yangfeng once said that her dream place was the endless grasslands of the north, where thousands of cattle, sheep and horses grazed upon. Occasionally one would break into a gallop and the other horses would follow, eventually increasing into an ear-splitting sound, like the earth being torn apart.

She couldn't stay in Gui Le, while Dong Lin was even more dangerous than a dragon's cave and a tiger's den.

Why not Bei Mo?

In the distance, the red sun had yet to rise. Pingting took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. She had been resting for too long that even her bones felt cranky. The place where she had been living was hidden in a valley and had little sun. Whenever she went outside, she suddenly felt a nostalgic feeling as she stared up at the broad expanse of sky. She forgot about everything as she thought about galloping away to find her friend in Bei Mo.

Yangfeng's smile should be more radiant than ever.

During the night, Pingting safely came out from her room.

In her hands was a small bag. Accompanied by Dongzhuo, Pingting glanced back and saw flickers of light hidden in the mountain.

Which one of those was her Master's room light? She suddenly felt a wave of sadness flood through her.

"You don't need to accompany me anymore," Pingting told Dongzhuo, "You can go back now."

"I..." Dongzhuo stopped himself and hesitantly handed the reins to Pingting, mumbling, "Take care of yourself."

Pingting got onto the horse, which was a bit sudden, for she and the horse swayed slightly. As farewell, Dongzhuo softly said, "Sis..."

Pingting couldn't help but look back.

Dongzhuo seemed to be unsure of what he wanted to say, but he raised his head and said, "To be honest, I told everything about tonight to Master."

Pingting studied Dongzhuo, then glanced back at the peaceful rooms where the people of the Jing-An Ducal Residence were sleeping in. They were supposed to find out tomorrow and leave for a better hideout. She felt a pang of sadness, "What did Master say?"

"Master said, if you believe in yourself, you would stay. If you don't, we won't stop you nor would we able to."

"Anything else?"

Dongzhuo lowered his head. "Nothing else."

The corners of Pingting's mouth lifted into a smile, feigning a sigh. "Dongzhuo, you've finally grown old enough to lie."

"I..." Dongzhuo lowered his head even more, refusing to speak for some time. "Master also said that you should be able to go by yourself, but you asked me to help instead, which was...which was actually a final plan to force Master into a dilemma. He said that he wanted to fall into your trap and have you by his side, but now..."

"Now is the crucial moment when the fate of the House of Jing-An is decided. It's not cruel to give up on a maid." Pingting continued, raising her face towards the starry sky, laughing bitterly. "I'll tell you this, Master isn't wrong."

Without waiting for Dongzhuo's response, Pingting flicked down her whip.

The finest horse of her residence screamed as it galloped away. She held tightly onto the reins, tears blurring her vision.

Goodbye, dear House of Jing-An. Your brilliance, radiance, no longer has anything to do with Pingting.

Departing Soul lies on the windowsill. When the sun rises tomorrow, the burning light reflected upon its blade will be printed on my empty bed. A silhouette game we played as children.

Sadly, Pingting isn't merciless enough.

If I were merciless enough, the blade would be slightly tilted towards the opposite building. The light would bounce off it, like off a polished mirror or a large bronze bell. The light would reflect into the distance, alerting your pursuers of your location.

Master, no, He Xia, what would you think then?

The sun began to slowly climb up the clouds of the east.

Every time she rode past, a cloud of dust followed. She continued to ride the yellow paths north.

The tear tracks on her face had long been covered with sand. Pingting glanced back, half squinting at the orange-red sun. The sun was rising soon and with it, a strong, warm feeling rippled through her body.

"Go!" She took a gulp of water before continuing her journey.

Towards the wind she rode, through the endless plains of yellow mud. Bei Mo lay beyond, a place where there was no He Xia and no Chu Beijie.

The wild yet fresh grass was just as pretty as Yangfeng claimed.

She had finally reached Bei Mo. A world of nature stretched before her, perhaps it was because of the proud mountains or maybe the passing of winter and the feeling of spring was much stronger than back in the South. In the midst of the lush green forest, energetic-looking shrubs dazzled in the sunlight.

A clear stream ran from the top to the bottom of the mountain.

Some other people had tied their horses to a tree and were busy filling their sacks with the clear water.

A slightly cold breeze enveloped her petite body which wasn't particularly pretty, but somewhat gaunt. Her eyes gleamed brighter than black crystals. She touched her forehead briefly before galloping away, her eyes never leaving the distance.