Chapter 120 - I鈥檓 On Your Side

"What do you want, Han Ru?" Su Xiang questioned him.

Han Ru appeared to be bone-tired, the way his under eyes creased and his chestnut brown hair tousled unflatteringly. He was typically well-put-together, but under the dim lighting, he appeared to look as if he hadn't slept in days.

Han Ru didn't say anything; the darkness swallowed most of his face, and Su Xiang felt like she was looking at nothing.

"What do you want?" she asked again, her voice rose defiantly. "Tell me you fucking bastard!" She grew impatient.

Quicky, Han Ru met her under the single lighting fixture that hung from the ceiling. She thought that his eye circles were dark, but no, they were red. She breathed hard, trying to calm the paces of her heart.

She heard of his betrayal, but she didn't expect it. She hated him, yes, but still, it shocked her.

"Song Luli cares about you," he said to her.

Su Xiang's eyes widened. She shook and thrashed wildly. "You want to lure her here?" She tried to get up. "Leave her alone; you can do anything to me!"

Han Ru overlooked her with a hollow, dark expression. "She was being watched like a hawk; there was no opportunity to take her. But it's a shame your boyfriend neglected his responsibility over you."

Su Xiang gritted her teeth. "It's my own stupid fault," she said. "He didn't know I went to the market."

"Well, Xiang, I can assure you that you won't die."

"To what expense?" she questioned.

Han Ru didn't answer; he then turned around, walking towards the shadows.

...

"We won't be able to assemble everything or everyone on time," Song Luli said anxiously.

"You're right," Xun Zichen said bluntly. "We'll try to find her," he said, "and then I will go alone."

"What?" Song Luli questioned. "Su Chen, you absolutely cannot."

"Xun Zichen," he corrected softly.

"What?"

Xun Zichen lifted his face, meeting her eyes.

"It's Xun Zichen. Long story short, Song Ren adopted me before you and Xi were born."

Song Luli widened her eyes, nearly gasping.

They all stood around a rectangular table, with their phones, a map of the city, and their weapons sprawled. Her palms rested on the surface, trying to register the information. He was adopted? She bowed her head. It made sense. Xun Zichen never looked like them distinctively, and there were moments where he and Su Xiang looked like more than what she believed them to be.

"You're a Xun?" she questioned, glancing at him.

"Hm," he said, not looking at her or Long Jie. "But I'm on your side. I promise."

"Oh, Chen," Song Luli said, striding towards him. She embraced him tightly, knowing that Xun Zichen must have felt burdened and worried.

Xun Zichen was surprised; he slowly lifted his arms, hugging her back gently. He daringly lifted his eyes to meet Long Jie's. He knew Long Jie was the son of the dragon, and in reality, they should be enemies.

But, Long Jie's face was soft with a smile, almost as if he knew the entire time. And it hit him; Xun Zichen always believed that as long as he had Su Xiang, he didn't care about losing those around him. But Song Luli and Long Jie's assurance鈥攁cceptance, made him feel free.

"You love her, don't you?" Song Luli asked Xun Zichen.

Xun Zichen faced her. He nodded slowly. "Very much," he said. Song Luli let go. "We'll find her," she said gently.

"I've called my parents, call yours, too. I have to do something first," Xun Zichen told them. "But I'll be back."

"Where are you going?" Song Luli questioned.

Xun Zichen glanced at Long Jie. "I have to visit Master Long Yuntian."

Song Luli glanced at Long Jie worryingly, but all he did was give Xun Zichen a curt nod of approval.

"You better come back!" Song Luli yelled as he left.

Xun Zichen stepped down the front porch. He then drove straight to the main residence of the Long Family. Long Yuntian was informed ahead of time of his arrival, so he was standing straight and formidable with his cane when Xun Zichen stepped into their training room. But he was speaking to someone.

Another old man stepped towards him, his eyes wide. He then bowed in front of Xun Zichen unexpectedly.

"You look like your mother," he said to him.

"Who are you?" Xun Zichen questioned.

The old man looked at him. "I am a loyal member of the Flock. I know where the girl is; I came to tell you."

Xun Zichen narrowed his eyes curiously. "How do I know this isn't a trap?"

"I can vouch for him," Long Yuntian answered for him.

"Your mother saved my life once; I am forever indebted to her family, but not to Xun Yaozu," the old man added.

Xun Zichen nodded. "You better give the correct information."

Xun Zichen then looked towards Long Yuntian. "May I borrow your sword?" he asked him.

Long Yuntian nodded. He escorted Xun Zichen to the glass case with the long, sharpened and engraved twin swords.

"Dragons are the only ones that ever wielded these, so treat them with honour and respect," Long Yuntian said.

"Them?" Xun Zichen questioned.

Long Yuntian glanced at him. "I want you to take both of these," he said. "You can wield them both if you'd like. It's your choice how you use them."

"Thank you," Xun Zichen replied. He then sheathed them, strapping them across his back in an X. He then left with the old man from the Flock.

Long Yuntian looked at Xun Zichen's disappearing figure fondly. The butler stepped to his side. His smooth, refined voice asked, "why you give him both, Master? He wasn't trained to use his left hand. It could be dangerous. Shouldn't we warn him?"

"I trust he knows what to do with that other sword," replied Long Yuntian.

The butler didn't appear reassured. He had been watching over the boy coming in and out, training and enduring for weeks, months. But, he didn't completely master it. Something then hit him.

"Does he know?" the butler asked his Master.

Long Yuntian knew what he was referring to; he looked at his loyal butler. "That my grandson is the best swordsman in the seven organizations? I assume Zichen will figure it out."