LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

Usually when a man wants to take a woman out won"t they go to tea shops or restaurants or someplace with entertainments? The Underground Black Market is an illegal Market that changes places each day in the outskirts of the city and it is said to have many rare artifacts and treasures and is hard to enter. The stalls are said to be owned by the n.o.bles secretly and no one knows who the organiser of the black market is. All he knows is the organiser is someone powerful and no one even has a hint of who he is or had the power to go against him. So why is he taking her to such a dangerous place when s.h.i.+hong is after her?

When he looked at her daughter"s ecstatic face after she heard him, he realised... His daughter is not like other girls who would be happy with a teashop or a restaurant , right?

AoTian looked at his daughter jumping in excitement. His Manor"s stores are filled with jewellery of all sorts of precious metals and gems and there his daughter was with just braids and not even a single piece of jewellery on her. Even Rijun wears Jade belts and rings but she has no interest in any jewellery. Only she wears clothes of the topmost quality of silk and it was not embroidered much either. She usually preferred dark colours like crimson or navy blue and at a distance her clothes won"t look much different from that of a commoner. Only the silk she was wearing was the kind that even the Emperor wears for special occasions not only because it was expensive but also because it was a rare type of silk. She wears that as everyday wear and since it is not embroidered or brocaded it had a simplistic charm to it. Thinking of clothes made him remember about the family banquet and he decided to visit Lord Ming"s clothing store later to give orders for her clothes.

What a peculiar child I have! Sigh! That Shengli knows... He knows her preferences and is trying to win her heart.. But I had already promised I won"t interfere and sending someone to follow them will be fruitless as Shengli had always dodged his tails previously, AoTian thought.

So AoTian just reminded them of their promise and let them go with the condition that they must return before sunset. Both Xing and Shengli bowed happily and left immediately fearing AoTian might change his mind.

Shengli brought her to the outskirts of the city through many alleys and abandoned places which Xing can never remember in her lifetime and they reached a small forest. There was a small cave nearby and Shengli told her that they should go through that way to go to the black market.

Xing nodded and Shengli gave a dark brown coloured cape with a big hood to cover her hair. As she struggled to wear it, he helped her wear it before wearing one himself.

Shengli looked deeply at Xing who looked like she didn"t have a care in the world with her eyes clear and her lips curved upwards and felt a tug in his heart.

"Xing, this is a dangerous place"

"Oh", she tried to walk forward when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her and pinned her on a tree trunk.

Shengli looked at the surprised Xing with his voice deep,

" Xing, aren"t you scared of me? You told me not to say hurtful words to your father and yet I did! I"ve used you as a bait and you didn"t mind and you just follow me to places I say are dangerous and you are fearless. Can you even escape from here if I try to hurt you or worse try to sell you off? Don"t you know I am a Lu? Like you told yesterday we are ungrateful and ruthless.. We of Lu blood get what we want using people and throw them away the next time fearing they might surpa.s.s us. We don"t even let our brothers of the same blood alone. It is the truth. Isn"t that why your father doesn"t allow our marriage? Are you scared yet? ", he stood facing her. His emerald eyes with those golden speckles generously revealed that dangerous and imposing and intimidating aura he usually suppresses around her. The look of a hungry predator that wants to devour, the look of a demon l.u.s.ting for blood is what he showed now.

Xing looked at the man almost a head taller than her looking down on her and saying those things with an imposing aura and wondered what got to him suddenly. Scared? Why should I be sacred of you? Lu blood? Like I don"t know that. Rare that you admit that you are a Lu blood and you are also a wolf who wants to devour everything. Still, you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. What"s the big deal about it? She thought and that made her eyes s.h.i.+ne.

" Guess, this is the reason you refused the throne, not wanting to follow the path of your ancestors", she spoke firmly looking straight in his eyes that were still cold.

"You are not scared of me?", he shouted, "I might use you for your amazing powers and throw you out once I find someone more valuable than you . It is in my blood after all", he paused raising his eyebrows still standing there like a beast. If it was anyone else, they would have shuddered and kneeled in front of him but only Xing could see the slight longing in his eyes, the longing to be accepted for who he was.

Xing stood on her tiptoes and and put her hands around his shoulders and made him look into her eyes , " My Prince", she spoke with a crisp voice, "When I met you after ten years, I knew you"ve become a darker person even darker than the twelve year you I saw fighting the a.s.sa.s.sins. But the way you looked at me was the same. Only then, I realised why you liked to call me your "moon". The darker place you are in, no sun can s.h.i.+ne there to make it bright and only a moon can bring that gentle light for you to get through that darkness... Yes, I know who you are and am well aware of what you are capable of doing! Now look in my eyes and tell me if you find any difference from the way I looked at you when I was a six year old and the way I look at you now. Do you see fear, disgust, hate or mistrust or any other thousand things there is? Or what do you see? " she looked at him with a gentle smile and she could see his eyes clouding with tears and his expression softened.

I know only I can see your eyes like this and it is enough that I am the person you chose to show your love, your gentleness and your weakness, Xing thought.

Shengli looked at Xing who was looking at him with her dark eyes darker than a moonless, starless night yet with a s.h.i.+ne in it. The eyes looking at him had that same admiration and love she had when she was a kid and running with him always holding his hands and never letting go. He as a person grew up in the palace didn"t like to hold anyone"s hands and another one of his pet peeves was people touching his face. But somehow he never minded when she did it and he loved the way her hands caressed his face, with love. Also, it is right what she said, she wasn"t scared of him or those a.s.sa.s.sins when he was fighting those a.s.sa.s.sins. She looked at them as bad guys and she looked at him with admiration, even when his own mother didn"t. She still looks at him with admiration and love and he could clearly see the slight possessiveness in her eyes too. He had always thought that he had to hide his darker side to her since a kind person like her would not like that part of him. But that day when she was drunk she clearly stated she was fine with whatever he did in the past. But still he had reservations about talking about his past to her. His eyes clouded for knowing for sure that she knew he was not a good person and still she loves every part of him.

I"ll tell you everything about me, my moon, really soon.

Shengli placed his forehead over hers and wrapped his hands tightly around her waist. Xing saw his eyes closed and his long lashes were quivering and almost touched hers and she closed her eyes too and hugged him back as she wanted to show him her love.

The smell of blossoms entered her nose. He never used any fragrances as he was an a.s.sa.s.sin but he liked to drink floral teas and his breath always smelled of it. For a moment she forgot where she was with his breathe falling on her making her warm and it made her heart tingle. She could hear both of their hearts beating at the same pace fast and loud.

Just then they could hear a rustling noise and Xing jumped from his embrace and got away instinctively. Shengli stood there looking at his empty hands and touched his chest as the warmth that was there a moment ago had left prying his hands. For some reason, from the day she got drunk, she had been keeping a distance from him. Although they had promised her father doesn"t mean they cannot even kiss right? Previously she had initiated intimacy many times. But what happened these days? That made him wonder if she had reserves about the things he had done in the past but that doesn"t seem to be the case. So why?

Whatever! Let"s leave her in her own pace for now! Shengli decided.

Xing looked back at him and suddenly pinched his nose making him gasp,

"Xing! Don"t do this.. It hurts.. A slap would be better.. But why did you?", he asked in a nasal tone as he had tears falling and his nose was running too.

"Scared of you..?", she laughed, "You cannot even hold that demonic glare of yours for five minutes on me and you want me to think you can hurt me? In your dreams... Also as I said before, as long as you smile at me gently like that and look at me with love, I can accept whatever you do with no regrets. And my father.. He must have provoked you first, right? As a man it is not wrong of you to stand up for yourself", she said smiling and that smile made the dark clouds in his heart disappear making the warm sun s.h.i.+ne in his heart.

You really trust me and know me this much! Shengli felt like he was floating.

They saw a person approaching them and looking at Shengli Xing understood that he was an expected visitor.

Shengli introduced him to Xing, "This is Lin Mubai, My.... "

" I"m big brother Wolf"s right hand man", he introduced himself and Shengli just looked at him blankly. He was a well built man who was probably the same age as Haru and he spoke with a western accent.

Guess he is one of those people Shengli trained back in the western province , Xing thought, "I"m Lord Táng. I"m.."

"I know who you are sister-in - law", Mubai said interrupting her and Xing looked at Shengli with surprise. Guess that Mubai is the type who speaks a lot. But, Is Shengli that close to this man to tell him about me?

Shengli cleared his throat, "Is everything ready?"

Mubai nodded and Shengli held her hands and took her inside when Mubai followed them. The cave was lighted with torches and soon they reached some tunnel like structure and there were many stalls lighted with lanterns having many products from food ingredients , wine, jewellery, furnis.h.i.+ngs and many more.

"Pick whatever you want", Shengli told Xing surprising her. Then she noted every guard there nodding at Mubai and the stall owners looking at Mubai with respect.

Xing pulled Shengli"s sleeves and whispered in his ears, "You are the organiser of this black market and Mubai is your proxy isn"t he?"

Wow! My Prince is impressive, she thought. Having a black market helps monitor the evil activities of the n.o.bles and also a good way to get rich.

Shengli gave a proud smile, " You never fail to impress me", he rubbed her head, "Now go pick whatever you want. May be a sword since you refused your father"s sword".

Xing grinned, " Then find me Shensheng Leidian ( 神圣雷电 Divine Thunder and Lightning ). I"m not carrying anything less impressive than that". Well! He is rich and has connections. I had tried for years to find it but couldn"t. He should be able to find it for me, right?

Shengli sighed deeply as he felt his heart squeeze. The sword Xing mentioned is the legendary sword of the Tians.h.i.+ Emperor and said to have been forged in the heavens. After the Tians.h.i.+ Emperor split the kingdoms and gave it to his brothers, it is said that he left the palace to live a secluded life taking only his sword with him and no one ever heard about him ever again. Till this day he is the only Emperor who don"t have a grave in the Imperial burial ground.

Shengli knew Xing"s admiration towards the Tians.h.i.+ Emperor and tried to find the sword for the past three years but to no avail. There were many obvious fakes in the black market but there was not even a single one even close to the original one. Now she asks for it? He felt helpless that he cannot give her what she wants.

Seeing him helpless made Xing feel sorry too, "How could such an impressive sword get lost without a trace? I bet it would be kept locked in the weaponry of the Imperial Palace", she mumbled and she picked a dagger that seemed to be old and Shengli was relieved slightly as she found something that caught her eye.

Xing then told him, "Shengli, I want you to give me that Divine Sword as betrothal gift. Only then I"ll marry you", she patted his shoulder.

"Oh, come on Xing", he pouted, " Already we have many hurdles in our wedding. Why do you have to add one more? Also which bride in this world would ask for a sword as a betrothal gift? You are loving that Scarlet Tiger more than me. I wonder if you even want to marry me at all... You are not being fair to me, Xing! ", his pout turned into a frown and he started blabbering surprising Xing. He had never behaved this way before... Like a jealous little boy.. So cute!

" There, there! ", Xing patted his back." I don"t love him more than you", she coaxed him and he smiled, "Really? "

" Yes, I just love you both the same", she smiled and the smile in Shengli"s face disappeared and he pushed her hand away and turned showing his back to her,

"How could you like a person like him. You say you don"t like the people who hurt their own blood. He was the one who killed his siblings and his father"s concubines and everyone in the inner palace when he was just fourteen and he had killed millions in his war campaign that lasted for a decade. How can you like him? ", he kicked a stone by his feet.

" Come on, Shengli! Why are you acting like this? Yes, he killed his siblings but also saved three of them. Also war is war and deaths are unavoidable in a war. After that war everything he did for the development of the kingdom was incredible and his policies were impressive that helped the commoners. And why are you acting jealous towards a dead person? You are too cute! ", she chuckled and got in front of him to look at him. But his expression was dark and Xing didn"t understand why he got so worked up just because of this and her smile disappeared too.

Is it something related to his past too? Xing wondered and decided to let this matter pa.s.s for now.

Xing hugged Shengli tightly around his waist,

"My Prince! If you don"t want me to talk about the Scarlet Tiger, I won"t anymore, ok?", she patted his back.

Shengli who was in deep thoughts was brought back and he hugged her back and kissed the top of her head, "I"m sorry, Xing... It"s just I... Being too impressive is not very good", he said softly.

Xing didn"t understand what he meant so she just nodded and went to look for other things in the market. Shengli felt bad for behaving this way with her but seeing her acting like nothing happened made him a bit relieved. Xing was her usual self and somehow as usual she inadvertently solved a murder that happened two months ago by a vase in a stall.

Lady Ning whose murder was unsolved was a big talk until the banquet but the murderer was not found till now. Xing saw the golden vase and found the spirit of Lady Ning attached to it and deduced that the one who sold it here would be the killer. Apparently it was a guard in their Manor and she was killed because she became pregnant with the affair between her and the guard and forced him to elope.

So with the good deed for the day done, Xing and Shengli returned back to their Manor.