The Ageless Dream

9.4 Red Fabrics (39)

Roars of men fighting against each other resounded within the outskirt of Zhao State. Inside a tent, Dong Li Hua had herself curled on a corner amidst the darkened place. She bit unto the rope with the hope to loosen it. Thankfully, the pale moonlight provided her a faint gleam of light to surround her. Suddenly, the tent flap opened. A dark silhouette stood there, holding a sword in hand. Dong Li Hua froze in place, her heart beating loudly in fear.

"Miss Lizi?" a familiar voice asked.

"Huang Zhao? Huang Zhao, Im here! Help me remove this rope." Dong Li Hua relaxed and her hope got ignited. That jade deep voice is definitely Huang Zhao's, she nearly cried because of joy. Huang Zhao is here for her, does that mean he defeated Du Feng?

"Miss Lizi." he stepped forward and chuckled with dark amusement. Dong Li Hua furrowed her brows, his tone seemed different from what she expected. Just then, he walked out of the shadows, the moonlight showing his real figure. Its not Huang Zhao, it was a young man in armor who has great similarities with Du Feng. "Seems like my elder brother is right. I have the same voice as that bastard."

"Y-you are?" she unconsciously leaned on the wall, inching away from him.

"Du Mingluan. Anyway, it's a shame elder brother have to ruin you." he sued the sword to remove a portion of the rope, there are still some part tightly binding her wrists. Du Mingluan pulled her up, he forcefully held her arm so she won't run away.

"Where are you taking me?" Dong Li Hua nervously asked. They went out of the tent to see the camp was empty. He led her to an unkept pathway upwards a hilltop. Not long later, she saw a drop ahead, Du Feng was standing there as if overlooking something.

"Serve Brother Feng well." Du Mingluan sneered and pushed her forward. She fell on the ground with a harsh thud which attracted Du Feng's attention.

"Go away! Don't touch me!" Dong Li Hua struggled to get far from Du Feng but he quickly caught her wrist.

"Miss Lizi, this will be fun. Furthermore, your husband is over there." Du Feng smiled cruelly to her then pulled her up to let her see the hundred thousand of soldiers. Infantry men were on the left and right plank. Archers in crossbows were in the mid plank while chariots are positioned on the back. Black banners waved through the cold spring breeze of that night, the archaic seal script 'Qin' was written on each banner clearly.

"Huang Zhao!" she elbowed Du Feng's abdomen that he let go of her from the sudden assault. Dong Li Hua moved forward and continued shouting. "Huang Zhao! Help me, please!"

"Don't be impatient, ah." Du Feng pressed her back and wrapped his arms around her waist while staring down the army. "Huang Zhao! You and I had been friends for months, no? Why didn't you invite me to your wedding? Even so, this is my gift for you! Having your pretty wife ruined is a unique gift, isn't it? Hahaha!"

"You're crazy! Let me go!" Dong Li Hua kept struggling with a small chance of escaping when Du Feng reached down and tore her skirt. Her creamy white legs were exposed, leaving only tattered red fabrics that is enough to cover her crucial parts.

"Miss Lizi, you will literally have an unforgettable wedding night." Du Feng swept his gaze over her before lowering his head and placing trails of kisses on her neck.

"No, no, no! Let me go, Im begging you!" Dong Li Hua pleaded, she is already crying and her tears uncontrollably strolled down her cheeks. Where is Huang Zhao? Is he just going to watch Du Feng ruin her? In front of Qin's army? Grief and disappointment invaded every space of her heart, the pain she felt is unmeasurable. She can't do anything aside from struggling hopelessly but Du Feng is already loosening her upper clothes.

"Dad, Sis, Brother... Help me. I want to go home..." she thought desperately, looking up the full moon above. Dong Li Hua's ignited hope diminished every single second. In a sudden, Du Feng unexpectedly let go of her  she stumbled back and held her clothes to cover her chest. Blood trickled down Du Feng's lips, a sword piercing his chest. The sword retracted and Du Feng fell on the ground lifelessly.

"Ah Li!" a familiar deep voice called out. Dong Li Hua raised her head to see Huang Zhao. He threw the blood-dyed sword and quickly rushed to her side. "Im sorry I came late. You suffered enough for me." Huang Zhao embraced her tightly as the inexplicable fear and worry in his heart dissipated.

"Huang Zhao... Why are you so late?! Wuwu!" she can no longer hold back her emotions. Even if she is relieved, angry, annoyed or in bliss, she clutched on his robe tightly to support herself. She relied on him for the first time and this is also the only moment in her life that she felt vulnerable. "Huang Zhao." Dong Li Hua called his name in a soft way. She kept muttering his name in gentle whispers, unable to say anything else because of her emotional state.

"Im here, Im here." Huang Zhao assured her. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead before using one hand to remove his armor's cloak. He draped it over Dong Li Hua to cover her nearly bare self. Without a word, Huang Zhao carried her in his arms. Secretly, her reliance made him want to protect her fragile side. He looked down at Du Feng's corpse with great animosity and left.

"He did this?" Huang Zhao asked, caressing the purplish bite mark on Dong Li Hua's neck. There were four to five of them, some planted on her collar. He can't understand why he felt painful for her and this caused him to let her stay in his tent here in the military camp for her safety.

"Mn." she nodded. Dong Li Hua is leaning on the headboard while Huang Zhao is sitting on the bedside to face her. His warm hand moved down to touch another mark but she instinctively moved back. She still had a trauma from what happened, even her guard was raised to Huang Zhao.

"Does it hurt?" he frowned. Why would she react like that?

"N-no. I- Im still scared." she bitterly smiled.