The general took a sip of his tea before bringing it to his nose letting the steam enter his nostrils. He wanted to make sure if it was the same as his late mother's. To his surprise everything was just similar, the taste, the temperature and the amount of sugar put into it. He gently put the cup down and looked at Cheng Min."Where did you learn to brew this tea from?" He asked desperately trying to find some clues.Cheng Yan was confused, this was just ordinary tea, anyone could make it. Cheng Min also thought the same. No one had taught her any skills in brewing tea. She just made it randomly."Nowhere. It's simple. Do you want me to teach you how?" Cheng Yan answered back, she honestly wanted to help."No thanks. It just reminded me of someone."Xue Han answered softly. He remembered her soft smile and delicate facial features. When he looked up from staring at his image in the tea he was greeted by Cheng Min's face which was smiling widely at her brother who was refilling her cup
A few months have passed after his last visit to the siblings. Xue Han found it hard to face them. Especially the woman who couldn't stop appearing in his mind. At first he blamed it upon the tea he drank that day but later on he just couldn't keep at it at all.The mighty general managed to sort out his feelings and decided to act upon his heart. Once he woke up, he made his way to the closest stream and took a quick bath in the cold water. He didn't feel the coldness at all for he had grown up in this kind of environment when he was doing his training. And with years he had gotten used to it. His body had also developed due to the work out he had been doing almost all his life. When he was done. He changed into a light blue robe with beautiful bamboo leaves drawn at the helm. He plaited a handful of hair at one side and tired the rest into a pony. Some were left at the front where it fell into a pretty fringe. When he was satisfied with his look. He got onto his war horse and head
The city of Gai Wei filled in with travellers, coming from different villages, as they mingled around some carrying heavy loads on their backs. The locals do their daily routines. Creaking sounds of carts are heard, as they pass through inns and markets of the city.It is a time of festivities so it is normal to see the city fully packed. Lanterns hang freely as the cold breeze touches one after the other. Children run around as they chase after the light-lit hot anvil lanterns floating in the air. Young misses of the rich families wandered around looking for dresses for the night. Some took interest in hair accessories. The young men were at a close distance trying their chances with these beautiful ladies.Some men on horsebacks moved as fast as they could while shouting for the masses to disperse so that they could pass through. They wore shiny armour which was tainted with blood, carrying bows and arrows on their backs. Their swords were suspended at their sides. They were many fo
The inn became eerily silent as everyone who stayed there gathered to see the drama unfold. The hallway filled in, leaving every room empty.The two sisters looked at the man in front of them. Cheng Min fidgeted as she felt something cold on her neck. She looked at the shiny object slightly bending sideways to see that she was the target. The sword was nearly cutting through her soft white skin. She became confused as to why this man had picked her, instead of the villainess beside her. How unlucky is she going to be?She angrily looks at Xue Han who stares at her with that look he uses to order his man around. That look that sends chills to everyone when they look him in the eyes. That look that wills the victim to render to his command. He wanted to scare the little girls away so that he could get back to sleep. It had been a while since he had not slept. He had spent sleepless nights thinking through his plans to defeat the enemy. Now these girls. Surely the heavens did not want to
At Cheng Manor (at night)Two silhouettes could be seen from outside the main house. Two bodies hugging as if comforting one another. The candlelight reflected the couple's shadow on the windows. Cheng Xiao Shi was crying in her husband's arms. The Buddha had again let her down. She had spent months praying to conceive another child. She could not believe Cheng Min to be her last. The child is too ill-mannered. She sometimes wonders why she is so different from her other children, Cheng Yan and Cheng Sun. Cheng Min had left home a few months ago and now she has returned. Xiao Shi thought her child would come back as a better person, but now she has become worse. In the afternoon Cheng Min had arrived with Cheng Sun in time for lunch. They had joined in. The meal started peacefully as the family ate quietly but when she had asked Cheng Min's whereabouts from the period she left home. The little devil had reawakened as she rebuffed all her questions and left the meal. The food could n
The following morning, the young lady did not even pay respect to her parents. She rather hurriedly left without having any food with her close servant in tow. The two strolled in the street seeing the common folks getting ready as they set up their place to sell their things. She observed everything that was happening, the greetings the people exchanged, the smiles they showed as others shouted at passing people to come to stop by.The two continued to walk down the road looking at the inns and markets as they opened doors to let people in. Seeing the inn she had been in a few days ago, it reminded her of the argument she had with her sister. She could not feel any better remembering a certain someone degrading her. She felt like strangling him and she was certain that the next time they met he was going to die by her hands."My lady, we have been walking for so long. If you feel tired can I find somewhere to rest? Perhaps get some food, you haven't eaten anything since morning. You
...On the camp Yiding mountain where the cold ruled over the huge domain. Some tents were set up in a dome shape except one which was quite bigger than the other tents, and it was slightly at the top ground. All were pure white signalling the enemies or the ordinary people to stay away. A couple of red flags which were made of thin silk, flattered in the freezing air. Showing off the head of an eagle drawn in black at its center. The army had been staying at this mountain for a fortnight, waking and training, doing the same routine over and over again.The soldiers sparred with wooden swords, some enhanced their archery at the training ground. No one sat doing nothing, some of the new recruits were helping out with cleaning and wiping the weapons which were dirtied in the previous battle, some cooking meals and fetching water at the river which was a few meters away and some also carried the wooden containers in both hands. Of which two were per each person. Some lucky ones were sen
"My lady! Young master is back." Tian Li informed Cheng Min who is busy having her tea early in the morning. It is like any other day during this time when winter is near, every day she would wake up early and drink her tea before preparing to head out. It has been several weeks since it's been like this. After her return from the town that day, she thought of lying low before planning to do some small business but who knew that her favourite person would be back.She looked up, her eyes twinkling with stars. She let go of the cup which fell with a thud as it shattered on the floor splashing the remaining tea. She didn't mind the mess instead she excitedly stood up and hurried out not even putting on her shoes as she ran towards her brother, Cheng Yan who at the time had returned home after being away from it since the last winter. He sat in his house with his other sister, mother and father who were busy chirping, asking him about his journey and so on. He wore simple white clothe