Chapter 97 - Warrior Bai

The royal entourage of Qi kingdom advanced through the forest path, escorted by a troop of twenty well-trained soldiers and palace maids. 

"Major Jing, I think we have lost the way," a soldier who led the entourage reported to the man who rode beside the royal carriage with an alarmed expression,

Jing Junhai, the leader of the royal guard of Qi kingdom, glared at the soldier, who brought the bad news. 

"I thought if we took the shortest route we will be able to reach the town before sunset." The soldier said with an apologetic face, 

"What happened, Major Jing? " A melodious voice followed by a beautiful face appeared in the window of the carriage. Xue Lian, the princess of Qi kingdom looked at the general with a smile. "Did we lose the way?"

"I am afraid so, princess." 

"What will we do now?" Her pale face filled with worry,

"We will look for some alternate path, princess. You don't have to worry."

The king of Qi kingdom, Xue Fu Cheng cherished his only daughter more than anything else in the world. It was a well-known truth across the kingdom, that the king favoured his daughter who was birthed by his late royal consort rather than his sons birthed by the current queen. Xue Lian was considered as the lucky charm of the Qi kingdom. With her humble and caring personality, she earned everyone's love and trust. 

She was generous and benevolent, that's why when the queen was diagnosed with a deadly disease, Xue Lian personally travelled to the Zhiruo clan in the south, who were famous in the medical field and bought medicines for her step-mother,

"Major Jing, we have been travelling from the morning, can we take a break?"

"As you wish my princess," Jing Junhai instructed his soldiers and all of them halted.

"Let's find a place with water and rest for a while."

As soon as they found a river valley, the soldiers got down from their horses and started to feed the animals. 

Xue Lian also got down from her carriage and sat under the shade of a tree. 

"It is really beautiful, General Jing. You should let down your guard first and enjoy as much as possible," Xue Lian looked at Jing Junhai who remained stern and said with a smile,

There was a meltdown in general's ice-cold demeanour. He replied with a faint smile.

Their princess's looks were otherworldly, even from a younger age countless proposals were sent for her betrothal. But somehow, Xue Lian was not interested in any of them and kept on waiting for her prince charming.

"There, there you should smile more," Xue Lian chuckled while looking at general. However, suddenly her laugh stopped all at once and replaced with a shy smile.

"Major Jing," a young husky voice heard from behind. 

Jing Junhai turned and met with a handsome man, wrapped in iron-clad armour. 

"Yes, warrior Bai," Jing Junhai acknowledged his presence,

Bai Yu Yue, a young warrior from the great Tu sect. He is serving the army of the Qi Kingdom on special deputation. 

"We must leave early, the weather doesn't look good," He reported, 

Jing Junhai looked at the sky filled with puffy, round, small clouds,

"It doesn't look like it's going to rain," Xue Lian said, "it looks pretty," her pretty face adorned with a childish delight.

"No miss, these kinds of clouds may bring thunderstorms," Jing Junhai corrected her,

"Especially in afternoons," Bai Yu Yue added,

"How do you know these things, warrior Bai. Did you learn it from Tu sect?" Xue Lian eyes were filled with curiosity.

The Tu sect, one of the top five sects which are for famous for training the youth across the Mainland. Just like every other youngster in the mainland, Xue Lian also wished to study in one of the sects. However, after the strenuous and strict entrance examinations, only 3 per cent of the applicants will get the opportunity to study in Tu sect. And those who are studied from these schools had a high reputation and status in society.

"No, miss. It was taught by my sister," Bai Yu Yue's cold eyes gleamed when he talked about his sister.

"Oh really," Her eyes were filled with admiration and surprise, "Did she also studied in the Tu sect?"

"No, miss. She learned it by herself,"

In the mainland, only a few schools offered entry for woman. Most of the female members in wealthy and powerful families were taught the basic of language and mathematics in their households itself. 

"Where is your hometown, warrior Bai?" Xue Lian couldn't help but to ask,

"Shhhushhh," Suddenly Jing Junhai silenced them and looked around with an alarmed face.

"What happened?"

Jing Junhai kept his finger in lips and asked the princess to keep quiet. He looked at his soldiers signalled them to stay alert.

The whole place went deep silence. The only sound heard was the murmuring of leaves and chirping of birds.

Even after a few minutes, nothing happened.

Jing Junhai took a deep sigh and he asked his soldiers to stand at ease.

"I think I heard voices of horses".

"Maybe you heard it wrong, drink this." Princess Xue Lian gave him the water container.

Woooshhhh,

Suddenly an arrow came out of nowhere, aimed at Xue Lian. 

"Princess," Bai Yu Yue quickly pushed Xue Lian to the other side and avoided the arrow hurting the princess. 

His timing was little off, the arrow pierced into his right upper arm. 

"Warrior Bai," Xue Lian yelled his name in horror, "are you okay?" 

"Yes," Bai Yu Yue looked at his upper arm and pulled out the arrow effortlessly. 

" Soldiers, take positions and you," Jing Junhai looked at Bai Yu Yue,"are you okay?"

"Yes,"

"Protect the princess," Jing Junhai instructed Bai Yu Yue and took out his sword.

Bai Yu Yue stood in front of the princess and guarded Xue Lian,

Suddenly a quick shower of arrows fell on them and a group of bandits in black clads rushed towards the royal entourage.

The path towards the Qi kingdom through the forest was considered as one of the safest routes, but no one expected that they will encounter with the group of bandits.

"Warrior Bai, are they going to kill us?" Xue Lian asked in a broken voice,

"No, miss. They are a bunch of thieves who attack the travellers and loot their belongings, how can they withstand the royal army?" Bai Yu Yue tried to calm the young girl clasping into his armour,

Somehow their calculations went wrong,

The fight has become more severe and both of the sides had fatal blows.

Bai Yu Yue carefully observed the bandit group's attacking style.

Bandits and other lowly thieves don't follow an order to attack. However, these peoples attacking and defending skills showed a well-disciplined practice.

"They are not bandits, they are well-trained warriors. It is difficult to hold them. "Warrior Bai," Jing Junhai called out for his efficient warrior, "Retreat with the princess."

"Yes, major." Bai Yu Yue who was guarding princess with his shield replied.

"Go back to the capital as soon as possible, don't wait for us."

"Princess, come with me," Bai Yu Yue led the princess and helped her to get onto the horse.

In a flash of a moment, Bai Yu Yue rode away from the battleground with four other soldiers. 

"Chase them," the leader of the other group shouted.

Immediately a few of the bandits led their horses to chase the princess.

However, before they could tail them, all of them were shot down. 

"Not on my watch!!!" Jing Junhai snarled coldly and advanced towards the leader. 

_____________________________

Bai Yu Yue rode his horse far away from the meadow. On the run, they even avoided the walking trails and entered into the forests to reach the nearest village. 

Bai Yu Yue stopped his horse in front of a dead-end cliff.

"I think we took the wrong route." Bai Yu Yue reported in a disappointed tone.

Both of them were sitting on the same horse and Bai Yu Yue could easily see the trembling of the princess's body.

"Are you alright, princess?" Bai Yu Yue asked her. 

"I am okay." She took a deep breath. "What about you?"

There was small channel blood oozing out from Bai Yu Yue's upper arm.

"You are injured, warrior Bai,"

"This is just a minor cut."

He held onto the horse lash with one hand and held Xue Lian with another hand.

"We will look some other path to retreat." He said in a low husky voice and sighed

The moment his hot breath fell on her neck, Xue Lian's face turned into a deep shade of red. 

It was the first time she had come in close contact with a man.

She could feel the coldness of the armour touching her back, but the arms which wrapped around her waist emanated warmth and security.

"The man of your dreams," her mind reminded,

The day, Bai Yu Yue arrived in Qi palace, Xue Lian was attracted by his exquisite looks.

He was the prettiest man Xue Lian has ever seen.

Unlike other soldiers with bulkier bodies and manlier charms, Bai Yu Yue stood out from the rest by having a lean body with a handsome face which can smoothly capture everyone's attention. 

Every single woman in the palace had eyes for him, including the princess, but however, he rarely talked to anyone and immersed himself in practising and training others.

But none of them knew that the warrior Bai Yu Yue, one of the top students of Tu sect, a man who stole everyone's heart is actually a woman in disguise.

Bai Yu Yue, the princess of Yu kingdom.

Yu kingdom never gave importance to the military or any armed forces, they were the people who believed in peace and love.

However, their princess was highly interested in learning martial arts. Since Yu kingdom lacked proper schools to train martial arts, most of their soldiers were sent to other kingdoms for training. However, none of them offered entry for females in martial arts school. But Bai Yu Yue was not ready to give up, she studied her own, seeing his daughter's talent, the king finally asked his friend and a teacher at Tu sect, to train her.

Impressed by Bai Yu Yue's talents, the teachers at the Tu sect allowed her train under them. Since she belonged to Yu clan, her identity was hidden and she was forced to disguise into a man. 

In the beginning, it was a bit difficult for Bai Yu Yue to act like a man, but gradually she got accustomed to it.

When she finished her training with flying colours, the military representatives from various countries to scout her over. However, she chose to serve a small kingdom near the Tu mountains.

"Ah it's raining," Bai Yu Yue, said in dispirited voice and concentrated on the pitter-patter sounds of raindrops falling on the leaves.

"Let's try to look for some shelters," she suggested.

Xue Lian nodded in agreement.

The path they chose to travel was filled with large trees and creepy wines. Even the light remained dim because of the thick canopy. After wandering for a while they finally found an abandoned cave,

"Let me a take look," she said and got down from the horse,

"Take me too, I am scared to stay alone," Xue Lian almost begged her,

"Okay," Bai Yu Yue helped her to get down from the horse, the moment Xue Lian jumped onto the ground, she lost her footing and fell on to the "man" who stood beside her, 

Even before Bai Yu Yue could process what just happened, a pair of soft lips, pressed against her own lips, sending her mind in a dazed state,

At the very same moment, a bolt of lightning split the sky reached the earth followed by a peal of ear-splitting thunder.

Xue Lian, who got startled by the sudden thunderstorm clasped into Bai Yu Yue's body with trembling hands,

Bai Yu Yue gently patted her upper back to ease Xue Lian's pounding heart, and said calmly,

"Its alright, princess, It is just the dragons messing around,"