Chapter 106 - The Path We choose

"Xin…." She said with hoarse voice, she didn't know if she faints or sleeps for not realizes someone gets so close to her without realizes it, but she pushes that thought behind her back when she sees a man with perfect carved face and dark robes stand kneeled beside her she's happy to reunite with him again.

"Your back, is it hurt?" Zhao Li Xin's hand trembles, how could she endure this pained.

Lory notice her robes on her shoulder fall her back clearly bare in the open, he remember the mark on her back she quickly put her robes again, her quick movement make her hissed from the pain.

"Careful!!" Zhao Li Xinn helps her to cover her back, he though she probably embarrassed showing her back to him she is afterall unmarried maiden. Not long after that Bei Li Yan and the others also arrived they sigh in relief when they see her alive and they all cheered the same thing inwardly.

'Thank God's, She's ALIVE!!!'

"Jin Hao, quick check her wounds" Zhao Li Xin order him quickly, Jin Hao expected Lory to be hurt so he not surprised. He quick his pace towards her, Lory feel conflicted she didn't want to show the mark on her body that mark represents her mistakes and failure as 'Lucient' heir even she can't stand to look at the mark on her body without being ashamed.

Lory's grip on her robes tightens, Jin Hao is aware of her reluctant but he didn't blame her, it's normal for a woman didn't want to show her skin to a man.

"Don't worry Miss Luo, let me take a look a bit" Jin hao comfort her.

Lory nodded her head slowly then Jin hao Lift the robes slightly he relief when the blister is not as bad as he thought, it only needs a good cooling ointment and covers the wound with gauze after a week it would be healed without a scar on it.

Zhao li Xin listened to Jin Hao's explanation seriously, Jin Hao feels conflicted he happy he gained his Lord's attention but on the other hand he feel sad when he remembered he was once reporting about the assault from alchemist society his Lord didn't pay his attention as much as this.

Mong Ki and mong Yi prepare the tent and mattress for Lory to rest, they become more relaxed after they found her alive, the tensed air around them has dissipated, Bei Li Yan make a bonfire and take out small table and drink his wine leisurely where Jin Hao also follow, at last, the subordinated can relax after 'The Demon Lord' tamed.

Unbeknown by others, Inside the tent Lory and Zhao Li Xin were doing a staring contest, Lory grip her robes tightly and Zhao Li Xin hold a bottle of ointment in front of her.

"I can do it myself?" Lory said firmly.

"How?" Zhao Li Xin ask sternly.

The blister is on her back she can't apply the ointment thoroughly on her own, that's why the wound on her back is the worst compared to her other wound because she can't reach all her back when she wants to apply the ointment.

"Don't worry, this Lord would take responsibility your reputation won't be damaged the slightest" he comforted her genuinely but Lory faces become perplexed, is she have to marry everyone who saw her back then how many men she should marry off.

She remembers she used to wear a halter top and leather jacket everywhere she goes in her old world.

Lory sighs she didn't know how to persuade this 'Demon Lord" he doesn't look he wants to relent judged by how tight he holds the ointment bottle on his hand, what a persistence Lord he is.

Lory take a deep breath "Okay, but you need to close your eyes"

"But, this needs to apply thoroughly" he coaxed her like a child.

"No way I'm still a maiden, how can I face my parents if I let this happened" Lory grateful for the first time with the stiff custom of this world.

Zhao Li Xin can't refute her "Fine, I closed my eyes" he yields reluctantly.

"Thank you, but wait do you have a scarf or something, I need to blindfold your eyes"

"You don't believe me?" Zhao Li Xin pretending he was offended.

"I do, but I need to be sure" she smiled playfully.

Zhao Li Xin sighs "Sure…" he takes out a red scarf from his ring then wrapped his eyes with it, even when he wrapping his eyes his move is swift and elegant make Lory ashamed with her years' training she could never reach that kind of elegance of him.

"Done, take off your robes now!" he said with a low voice, Lory's faces turn red with how vague his word is and why their situation become sketchy if people enter her tent they would see a half-naked woman with a blindfold man and why he used red scarf? Is it not ambiguous enough!

"What's wrong?" Zhao Li Xin asked casually, the truth is he didn't think anything else his head is filled with worry and ached for her, other than blister on her back he saw other bruised in her arms and shoulder who knows is another part of her body also have the same bruised, Jin hao also secretly said she might break her ribs and her ankle seems dislocated too.

Zhao Li Xin was struggle with guild everytime he see her in pained, he can't stop blaming himself for what happened.

Lory turn around she takes off her robes she took a blanket to cover her front, Zhao Li Xin take a heavy breath he knew it might hurt her a bit, when the cool ointment touch her back she was jolted as if ice cube touch her heating skin it's almost unbearable but she not make a sound just take a long exhales.

"Hold it a bit, it won't hurt anymore" Zhao Li Xin comfort her.

"Hmm, I'm fine…" she bites her lips.

Her tensed movement aware Zhao Li Xin, his eyebrows furrow every time his finger touch her skin no matter how careful he is her body keeps twitching, it must be hard on her but she never makes a sounds or even whimper he doesn't know for who she must acting strong, his heart aching like thousands of neddles pierce his heart he wishes he can replace her he doesn't mind to takes her pained or accept a thousand much worse than her as long she's not hurt anymore.

"I'm sorry…." Zhao Li Xin can't hold it anymore.

"Hnn…about what?" Lory still twitching from pained on her back.

"I talk big about protecting you, in the end, I'm failed…" he ashamed how confidence he was.

"What are you talking about" Lory sighs "If not because everything you give to me, I would be dead long time ago" she knew clearly with her situation right now if not because the ring and the special robes he gives to her, the robes protect her from damage, the amulet heal her wound and keep stabilize her body condition and the rings store all his survival necessity even the boots make her walk faster, without any of it her death is certain.

"But if I'm strong enough, none of this would happened" Zhao Li Xin still dwell in guilt.

This is not his fault, she doesn't want him blamed himself for something he can't control, Lory turn her body around she cupped his face gently "Li Xin, listen to me, it's not your fault…it's never was" she reassured him softly.

"No matter how strong or competent you are there's still something that you can't control, you know why? Because your just human and that's okay, no one would be blamed you and I surely never ever blamed you" her thumb caress his cheeks gently, Zhao Li Xin touch her warm hand, he can't see her face but he can imagine her sweet smile, his mouth slightly curved.

"Li Xin you must understand, this is not my first time and it would not be the last, pain, hurt, wound and scarred is inseparable in my life, someone told me my life never destined to be easy and I have accepted this faith since long time ago"

Zhao Li Xin takes off his blindfold, he stares at the beautiful big eyes in front of him, her eyes are clear as ever.

"What do you want to say?" he asks her.

"If you stay with me, there would be a times where you have no choice but to let me go….i know how painful is to let go, someone, you dear, trust me I know the pained, but at the end we choose our own path and there's no turning back the path I choose I'm afraid you will not be part of it, so when the times comes...I need you to let me go, can you do that for me?"

"No!" he said without hesitated "You once promised me you will take me wherever you go, are you gonna lie?"

"It's a long and arduous path even I don't know where it would end" Lory smiles bitterly.

"More reason for you to take me with you, if we are together it won't be painful as much" he cupped her small face, he smiles dazzlingly at her, there's no doubt or hesitation in his eyes he would follow her whether she wants it or not whatever path she chooses even is hell he would walk follow her gladly, anywhere is better when she's around for that he knows for sure.

She know it's useless to change his mind, although her heart feel warmed but he can't help scarred for him. Lory rest her forehead on his chest then she take a long breath "Oh well, I just need to protect you then…." She murmured.