The Attack of the Nian Beast (VII)

I was restless,

Even then, I'm helpless,

It was just that I am selfless,

And I would not be in there unless.

***

THE YEAR 1904, a century away from the present time.

Wang Qing Long heard the torrent of the Yangtze River, followed by the silence after Lei Jie said the words, and he didn't know what to answer. Wang Qing Long stood there, stunned, raising his left hand to cover Althea's head.

"I remember what I wanted to say to you earlier... you looked like someone I've read from the books...," Lei Jie tilted his head to one side and smirked. He was still pointing that sword, a classic one, not the same as the one with Qing Long's Jian. He was pointing it to him, threatening to kill him anytime, but Qing Long was shielding Althea's body.

"You look like...," Lei Jie stuttered as he could not continue what he had to say. It was different from what he had seen, but the aura of the man that was holding his destined Queen emanated the same energy he had read since he was a kid. Lei Jie took a step forward but Qing Long took a step back, holding Althea's body tightly.

Qing Long looked at her and she saw that her lips were now frozen. Althea was still unconscious, and she was laying her head down on that brusque muscles. The attack of the Nian beast must have drained a lot of her energy, and now, she was near to her death. Qing Long can hear her weak breaths, the pulse that was slower than usual, and her struggle to open her eyes like her soul was thumping through the doors of Fang Ying Yue's body.

"I don't know what you are trying to say, Your Highness, but the Crown Princess is now unconscious. Her health must come first above all," Qing Long mumbled as he changed the course of their conversation. Qing Long touched her cheeks with the back of his hand and it was freezing.

Lei Jie looked at his destined Queen and furiously withdrew the sword. He put it back on the sheath as Qing Long didn't move an inch at his place while Lei Jie's mind had drifted from his face. Althea was in the man's arms, and he needed to do everything for the safety of the Crown Princess. Lei Jie stood in front of her and saw how her lips were now bluish, close to the dark purple tinge, indicating that the oxygen that was passing through her body was insufficient.

"Your Majesty...," Lei Jie whispered as he grabbed a hold of his destined Queen's hands and it was frigid like ice dipped in the buckets of the freezer. Qing Long lent Althea's body to him as Lei Jie sighed and looked up at the man. Lei Jie's perspective towards him changed in a matter of seconds after Althea's head had rested on his shoulders.

He gripped Althea's body on his arms and he endured the pain on

"Thank you... for making the destined Queen safe in your arms...," Lei Jie didn't know how he could continue it but Qing Long butted in with his manly voice.

He shook his head as he gripped the Jian sword on his side while saying, "It's nothing. I will be here when the destined Queen needs someone to be there for her. It's a pleasure to serve you, Your Highness."

Qing Long bowed down his head even though he loathed it. How could he explain what happened there? That everything will not be alright once the Nian beast got to know the Last Healer?

Lei Jie bowed down his head a little slightly and turned his heel around, not bothering to say any more words again. He held onto Althea's body, hitched her closer to him, and he walked at a slow pace. Lei Jie sighed as he looked straight ahead while he turned the curb, disappearing from Qing Long's sight.

Wang Qing Long breathed as he fell down on the floor. His body went weak as he held onto his abdomen and felt the warmth of the blood there. He grunted a little as he took the Jian sword as his cane and breathed. He held onto his abdomen while he walked slowly, the drips of blood were dipping on the lawn a few times, and he was holding the sword a little.

He was walking with his head dropped down, flailing, and he swallowed as he looked up.

At the same time, Lei Jie was walking down that path as he showed himself to the people. He rushed to get inside the square, only to find out that the Fang Clan had now settled upon the feast. Their palanquins were on the side, and Lei Jie was stunned as he hid Althea's face, but it was too late.

"Oh! Your Majesty!" The head of the Fang Clan, Fang Dai Yu, approached them immediately and held onto her hands. Lei Jie fell down on the floor, his knees weakening, and Althea's eyes were still shut tight. Fang Dai Yu and his husband, Fang Chen, were looking at her with anxious eyes. One of the ladies that served Ying Yue's was crying at the corner, while the people around were observing the destined Queen's body.

The Emperor and Empress came out once again. They saw the destined Queen, and they looked at each other. Emperor Li Jing's voice erupted, "Put the destined Queen inside the hall now!"

The knights and the court ladies respected the order and hurriedly went down. Empress Zhang Lian pursed her lips as she looked up at the sky and saw that the moon was now full, signaling that everybody should be alert towards what will happen. She looked at one of the court ladies and said, "Call the royal physician. The destined Queen is unconscious."

Lei Jie looked up at his mother and the tears welled up in his eyes. Empress Zhang Lian sat down on her throne and put her hands by her forehead.