Solstices

Chapter t.i.tle: A b.l.o.o.d.y Stranger

Chapter no. 10

Author: Ahce Darato Torres (@BunnyDeanAhce)

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(Yao Xue Rong"s POV)

The travel to mount Cuixia would take a day and a half so we need to speed the ride as midnight falls. But I have enough faith in Yao family"s army, they are surely well versed and experienced in travelling through the night within this area. It was known to the kingdom that there are always ambush cases every night, but the perpetrators were too fast that they could escape from the piercing clutches of the victims. Yet the road was too silent, and not a single leaf dancing with the wind could be heard.

This place felt like vacuum where sound cannot travel, thus victims are silenced to their deaths. I prepared a sword beside me while I made sure that Xiemen is enveloped in the warmth of my cloak. The same goes for the sleeping Zetian, luckily her fever subsided but the after effects of the medicine she drank earlier was too strong that it kept her asleep. Right now our carriage was running behind a batch of guards who were settled in a carriage. Surprisingly they intended to attack upfront if emergency arises.

Another batch of guards followed using a carriage behind, then ten knights were positioned at the end to guard the carriages and deceive anyone who will try to harm us. The temperature suddenly dropped a few degrees down making me hug my cloak and more vigilant with the surroundings. The sound of someone running broke the eerie silence. I readied my sword and closed my eyes as the intruder approached our carriage. But why did that ent.i.ty chose the second one?

When the intruder entered, the person was met with my sword which eventually wounded his neck and tore his mask down all at once. He put his hands up and dodged my next attack with pleading eyes. Then he reached for a token and gave it to me.

"Please, I beg you. I cannot travel back alone, the Yao Family of Cuixia mountains will give you what you want. I"ll owe my life to you." Then he collapsed.

I reached for his pulse.

He was poisoned and he had internal injuries, too many to count.

"Fu Si, transfer Xiemen beside Zetian, give me medical equipment and herbs for treating internal injuries."

"Yes mistress" then Fu Si flew towards the next carriage

Who is this man and why does he have a token from my clan? Even telling me that the clan will compensate me for saving his life. Maybe he doesn"t know me at all, because the carriage we"re using is from the imperial palace, and that might be the reason why he dared to step into one of the carriages. With needles at hand I stopped his bleeding and forced his body to be frozen. This way he won"t suffer from internal injuries while I"m treating him.

"Mistress these are the tools and the herbs" Fu Si said as she appeared

"Lay it down" I ordered

Then I checked his pulse again to find the origin of his injuries or at least find major wounds in his body. I inserted a pill on his mouth to keep him unconscious, and the pill is similar to a sedative but with stronger effects. I unhurriedly started treating the wounds inside his body, even using a potion to stop the cells from self-destruction and then I used the art of Sun and Moon Sealing technique to let his body use momentum energy and withstand the treatment.

Then I used my needles to perform Winter Blade Healing technique, which will turn the needles into ice and st.i.tch the damages inside his body. It doesn"t consume much of my energy so I will be safe in performing this art. Next, I let him drink a Soul Binding Pill, a Blood Strengthening Pill and a Poison Cleansing Pill. When he"s already stable I started to clean his outer wounds to stop the bleeding and st.i.tch them in place. I also used a stronger healing cream to avoid blood leakage. And when everything was done I gave him a vitamin pill.

"Fu Si, bring clothes for him and change him"

"Yes mistress" She flew to the first carriage with a flushed face, I knew she"ll never get over this incident.

As a princess treating him is already a big help, but undressing him and changing his clothes is improper and I don"t want to break the rules with men and women. A woman should never touch a man if they are not married. Fu Si arrived and changed his robes into the finest palace robe. She also braided his hair and wiped his face clean. Enhancing his handsome features. And Fu Si blushed even more.

When morning came we were already nearing Cuixia mountains. Fu Si was serving meals while Zetian and Xiemen woke up with questioning looks. I told them that he is my cousin and they believed it too. Then we started to dine, yet halfway that stranger woke up. He was too shocked that he was facing us, yet his stomach betrayed him and he felt ashamed that he is hungry.

"Join us" I said

"Thanks" he replied

"Who are you and where are you traveling to?" He asked

"We are from the imperial family and we are heading to Cuixia to check the residence" I answered

"Residence? Do you think everyone in the palace could buy a residence there? Ha! You think so highly of yourself!" He scoffed, which I ignored

"Is that so?" Zetian asked

"Of course, but if you beg me I might let my grandmother talk to the elders and let you buy some land" he negotiated shamelessly

"We don"t need your help" Zetian answered

"Hmmph! As if you could get into the mountain!" He said

Later on we arrived at the mountain. Then he detached himself from us, making himself boastful and haughty. He went down first and ordered some of the maidservants around. Zetian got out with the help of Fu Si, then I got down on my own and scooped Xiemen into my arms.

An old man suddenly appeared.

"The princess has arrived, old Yao! Your granddaughter the imperial princess has arrived! Come, come let"s gather" the old man said which made me smile and we saw how shocked the stranger was.

"You"re the princess?" He asked