The Ageless Dream

8.6 Hundred Scar of the Past (35)

"What should I call her? Hm... Bai Mei? Since she is white and cute?" Dong Li Hua asked, the kitten is calmly resting in her arm like an angel, purring softly every moment.

"What about Xiao Hu? You said you wanted a smaller version of Lan Hu." Huang Zhao suggested, they reached a vermillion painted bridge where there are more crowds. He tightened his hold but Dong Li Hua pulled her hand.

"Xiao Hu! Where are you going?" she parted far from Huang Zhao, following the kitten amidst the crowds.

"Ah Li! Ah Li, come back here!" he shouted, going against the flow of civilians when he noticed a sharp glint nearby. Huang Zhao glanced to the side where a small forest is located, a person in black moved out of that area. Its obvious the man is eyeing at Dong Li Hua's figure with a dagger in his grasp. Huang Zhao hastened his pace, trying to catch up with Dong Li Hua.

"There you are." she caught Xiao Hu in time after reaching the other side where there are lesser crowds.

"Miss Lizi." a deep voice called out. Dong Li Hua raised her head to see a man in dark robe approaching her. Without a chance to ask who he is, the man lifted his hand and showed a dagger in his possession. Dong Li Hua was too shocked to move, her brain processing slowly from fear. She thought it will be her end.

"Ah Li!" Huang Zhao loudly shouted as a warning. He came forward in time and blocked the inevitable attack. The dagger scraped his back while he pushed her to the side. Their movements caused a commotion and every passerby ran away from the place.

"S-Sir General...?" Dong Li Hua was pulled up by Huang Zhao, he placed her behind him and unsheathed the sword he kept hidden in his outer robe. Huang Zhao successfully drew it out and without a waste of time, stabbed the sword to the assassin.

"Are you alright?" he worriedly turned to Dong Li Hua that is already trembling in fear. She witnessed death in front of her eyes, a b****y scene that will remain in her memory. Dong Li Hua's whole life, she never saw this sort of violence. Her eyes went dazed and her hold around Xiao Hu started to tighten.

Huang Zhao saw her tremble. He didn't expect there is a fragile side of this woman before him. From what he knows, she is quite stubborn and likes to bicker for self-defense. Unable to help it, Huang Zhao embraced her. He rubbed her back to tenderly coax her.

"Its fine. No one can hurt you." he whispered softly, not minding the pain from his back. Donh Li Hua regained her senses but she can't fins her voice. Tears rolled down from her cheeks, she nearly died if not for Huang Zhao. She buried her face on his chest while trying to minimize her sobs.

"General!" a group of soldiers came, some of them dragging the corpse away and the others guarded the area.

"Clean that sword. Bring it back to the manor." Huang Zhao ordered. Some guarded the two of them while most of them searched the place. "Ah Li. Speak, don't be afraid, en?"

"H-Huang Zhao... Lets go back. I- I just need to rest." she spoke with difficulty between her silent sobs. He nodded his head and guided her back to their carriage.

Once they arrived in the manor, Dong Li Hua was the last one to leave the carriage. She stood outside first to pick herself up when she noticed the cut in Huang Zhao's back.

"Sir General!" she caught up with him and sauntered next to Huang Zhao. "There's...there's a wound. Your residence is too far. Please go rest to my courtyard for the meantime. I'll go call a physician."

"No need-"

"No! Its my fault you are harmed. I have to take responsibility." Dong Li Hua stubbornly said, her usual attitude came back as Huang Zhao faintly smiled. He ruffled her hair with gentleness.

"Sigh, alright. I'll wait for you here." he went ahead while Dong Li Hua watched him leave. She is truly grateful to Huang Zhao. They were strangers at first but because of his caring side, she started to remove that boundary.

Inside Dong Li Hua's bedchamber, she is on the side and a physician she called. Huang Zhao is sitting on her bed, his back facing the physician.

"It's a good thing there is no poison from the dagger used. The wound will heal for few days." the young physician Wu Qiu said after he finished wrapping the gauze around Huang Zhao's back. "As long as General rests first and avoid lifting heavy materials, the wound will close and it won't leave a scar. Excuse me first."

When Wu Qiu left, Dong Li Hua turned to Huang Zhao. Her eyes widened upon seeing his back. It has long thin scars, a hundred or less. Why...why does he have that much os scar?

"Something wrong?" Huang Zhao wore his upper clothes back; he noticed her staring towards him in a strange way.

"Where...where did those scars come from?" she asked before covering her mouth. "I mean its fine if you don't answer. So careless of me."

"Its nothing." he bitterly smiled and stood up. "I got these from when I was a child."

"Oh... Sorry." Dong Li Hua lowered her gaze. She felt pity for him. A warm pair of hand cupped her face, Huang Zhao made her meet his gaze.

"Sorry for what?" he formed a sly smile with his naturally curved lips but Dong Li Hua is no longer annoyed at his playful expression.

"Im so careless to leave your side. Its because of me you had a wound even before war. Sir General, really, I am very thankful." she sniffed lightly. Dong Li Hua is ashamed for what she did, not understanding their current situation.

"Don't fret about it." Huang Zhao chuckled then took out something from his sleeve pocket. It was a silver lace bracelet with red plum flowers hanging around. "Like I promised, before the end of this month."