Source Of Poison

Awakening the next morning, Rin could hear the soft calls of morning doves. She opened her eyes only to be met with the sight of a wall of flesh. She was still a little stunned at first, but she quickly realized where she had fallen asleep.

Slowly, she looked up and froze. In the sunlight, she could see the features of his face, the strong jaw, and gentle curves of his gray eyes.

"Good morning," Rin blinked her eyes, seemingly still processing her situation.

"Morning," An Sun's deep voice was low and husky, tickling at her ears.

At that moment, she couldn't help but flush and lowered her gaze only to meet his chest once again. Her lips tightened into a straight line. His skin shone white as porcelain in the soft glow from the sunlight, the faint lines of old scars visible on his broad chest. Ink-black hair, loose and unbound, cascaded over his shoulders and down his back, well past his waist.

The more her eyes lingered, the more she couldn't help but become aware of their sudden closeness. When she felt his hand against her cheek, she looked up to see him leaning in to kiss her lips, sending a warm ache through her body.

With wide eyes, she opened for him and eagerly took his tongue into her mouth. He continued kissing her deeply while holding her cheek, their bodies pulling closer together. They kissed deeply until she had to pull away for air. An Sun kept hold of her, their panting lips close.

"I love you." His husky voice made her shiver. However, his words made her heart tremble even more.

"I love you too," Rin whispered with a smile.

An Sun's eyes seemed to soften even more considerably as he kissed her again, more insistent this time. His hand started on her cheek, and then brushed over her side, fitting to the bend in her waist, curving over her hip, sliding to her bare leg, making her shiver.

Rin's fingers spread wide over the small of his back, brushing against the bandage on his waist. He shuddered and released a pained groan. Freezing, she leaned back carefully. For a second, they just lay there, their heavy breaths mixing.

"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" She glanced down at his bandaged waist.

"It's okay. Don't apologize." He said almost sternly, a smile in his eyes.

Rin stared at those beaming eyes a moment longer before she propped herself on an elbow. "I should go."

Before she could sit up, An Sun caught hold of her arm and pulled her back into his embrace. He rested his head on top of her head and released a sigh of content.

"Just a little longer…" He whispered, a hand rubbing the small of her back.

With a sigh, Rin reluctantly stayed in his embrace. But buried in his chest, a peaceful smile curled on her lips.

…

The troops had already left for the next battle. Due to his injuries, An Sun was forced to stay back and recover. Walking idly down the halls, An Sun felt a sense of boredom. Rin was busy helping the emperor and the court officials, and Manchu was testing the poison that killed Fan Mingli.

His footsteps suddenly paused.

Fan Mingli…

The mere thought of the freckled face young man made his heart sink. The look in his eyes before his death…it was one of fear.

He didn't want to die.

Thinking of it made the expression on An Sun's face turn even more frigid. Clenching his fists, An Sun made a promise in his heart.

He would not let Fan Mingli die in vain. He would make certain his death was honorable. His life will not be forgotten!

As he continued to walk down the hall, An Sun spotted a familiar figure leaning over a window. His tall and gaunt appearance was easy to identify.

"Yin Changpu," He called to him.

The young man shifted his gaze and looked at An Sun with wide eyes. He seemed thinner than when he last saw him, his prideful, smiling eyes now calm. Yin Changpu gave him a faint, slow smile.

"Captain Sun."

Standing beside him, An Sun looked down at the view. Immediately, he noticed the figure of Jin Yue below. Her cold and inscrutable face was currently flushed from training, her thick dark brows dripping with sweat. This appearance of hers seemed to highlight her beauty even more.

When An Sun glanced at the young man beside him, he inwardly sighed.

"Captain Sun, how do you do it?

An Sun's eyebrow raised. "Do what?"

"Death. How do you deal with the fact that someone you saw every day is no longer here? Can no longer laugh or smile. Can no longer enjoy the pleasures and struggles of life…How can you bear it?" Yin Changpu choked.

"I don't." An Sun said calmly. "Death will never get old, no matter how many men before you die, you will never be able to forget. But with time we learn to grow stronger and bear the weight of those we lost. We must live on and never forget."

Yin Changpu looked at him, and his face twisted. "That doesn't sound very pleasant."

An Sun suddenly chuckled, a smile curving his eyes. "Someone once told me this way of life was wrong and cruel, but we have to live with it. I think this fact makes me accept it a little better."

The words seem to wake Yin Changpu a little. He nodded in agreement and looked down at the coin in his hand deeply.

...

That night, Rin watched the men place Fan Mingli in the wood before striking a flint. The flames surrounded him, and everyone around could feel his existence slipping before their eyes. Thinning into a shiver of air and ash.

An Sun collected his ashes himself, though it was the servants' duty. He put them in a golden urn, the finest among all the dead.

"We will never forget the men you saved. Never forget the skills and knowledge you provided us. And we will never forget the friend you were to us all." An Sun's deep voice sounded clearly in the moonlit courtyard.

Some listened with closed eyes and lowered heads as if praying in their hearts. Holding the golden urn in his hands, An Sun turned to everyone. His face was still, almost peaceful. But everyone could see the fire in his eyes.

"It is the honored dead who provided us a chance to be where we are today. It is for us the living, left dedicated to the unfinished work. We as the living, shall ensure the dead will not have died in vain. We will kill and shed blood for every man we lost to the enemy. We will seek justice!" His words never paused, each filled with confidence and purpose.

Rin caught a glimpse of everyone's faces curled with hope, honor, and union. She felt the tension in the air ease, heard a few huffs of appreciative laughter and cheers. When there was justice, there was hope. Looking back at An Sun, he looked every inch, a warrior—a leader. Beautiful and strong, his face serious.

Though she wasn't smiling, her eyes glinted with tenderness. A little pride too.

"He's quite the man isn't he?" She heeded her uncle's voice beside her.

Bai Han huffed—seemingly unable to argue. Rin looked over at the two men and happened to meet the gaze of General Guo. His brows were raised in amusement. Holding back a smile, she looked back at An Sun to see him and the others holding up Fan Mingli's urn and cheering.

He truly was quite an interesting and breathtaking individual.

In the middle of the celebratory feast, Rin was suddenly pulled away from the crowd. When she looked up, she was surprised to see a pair of grave blue eyes looking down at her.

"Sir Manchu?" Her brows furrowed.

"The cause of Fan Mingli's death, it was poison." He said.

Rin frowned. "Did we not already establish that?"

"Yes, but the poison was not from the wine." His tone this time was more severe.

She swallowed, her heart slowly sinking into an ominous abyss. "What do you mean?"

Manchu reached into his pocket and took out a letter. When Rin saw the contents of it, her eyes widened. Pale and wordless, she looked back at Manchu to see his furrowed face.

"I found this in your office. This letter...had traces of a poisonous powder on it. Thankfully, I was able to remove it. However…whoever opens this immediately inhales the poison. The effects only take place after a day or two."

Although he was speaking, Rin could no longer hear his words. Her eyes were locked on the letter, her hands unconsciously trembling.

[As winter arrives, the flowers will fade. During the night and day, they shall fall.]

This was the letter she made Fan Mingli open that day.

Fan Mingli's death…was because of her.