Let's Swim

The clear water from the river flows between the rocks, you can hear the sound of swords and other weapons clashing not far from the small river which is slowly turning red with blood.

Many groups of young people dressed in black were surrounded by people dressed in red and gold dominant who seemed to dominate the situation.

Not far at the end of the road, several people dressed in magnificent red and gold with long robes flowing in the wind sat on their large horses. One of whom appeared to be Pai, and on his left and right, were two large men resembling giants with a rank equal to his, namely one of the mainstay generals of the Golden Cloud valley, chairman Kang and chairman Yo.

"Why does this King suddenly want us to wipe out the Black Flower Valley? They dare to offend the King, don't they?" Asked Chairman Kang, a man with a bald head who left the hair on top of his head in a long braid, his face was full of scars which made him even more feared by his enemies, not to mention one eye which was white because it was said that he had to pierce his eye to prove his loyalty to the King of the Valley, Tai Yang.

Pai shrugged his shoulders, he had started to get bored on his horse earlier.

"Well, I don't understand, actually, who dares to oppose our King? If they knew, they probably wouldn't dare."

Not long after, several of his men succeeded in capturing the elder of Black Flower Valley who was tired of fighting for days. The two men, one with a rather stocky build, the other still young and tall and thin.

Pai's men pushed the two men in front of Pai's horse and knelt.

"Kneel!"

Elder Zhou, the stocky old man, and his disciple XuYa, both still filled with the fire of resistance but helpless due to their limited strength, both looked at Pai and Kang with big eyes full of hatred.

"We have always been loyal to Cloud Valley! Even though we don't have much contact we have not done anything against orders, why does the King want to destroy us so much, we ask for justice!" Elder Zhou exclaimed.

Pai and Kang restrained themselves from laughing at the tough attitude of the elder who could have died ridiculously in their hands right now.

"Never offended? But Old man, the King was kind enough to shut his eyes to whatever you guys were doing in the Valley of Flowers, none of it was the King's business. Whether you want to collect high taxes, seize people's land or have your men rape other people's girls, the King doesn't want to intervene, but, unfortunately, this time you guys have made the wrong move"

Elder Zhou and his disciple dodged slightly when something shot in front of their knees.

"Sheet!!"

Elder Zhou's eyes widened, he recognized the long golden needle that was stuck in the ground in front of him.

"This"

"Yes, you have violated territory. The king doesn't like it when one of your assassins crosses the Lotus forest and makes a fuss while he is there. This is the golden needle, one of your secret weapons."

Elder Zhou raised his head, he didn't know what to say. The golden needle was indeed their secret weapon but the one who could master it was the disciple of their leader Wan Phai, whose whereabouts had now unknown since the first day of the attack.

Elder Zhou knew he couldn't escape anymore, lowering his body to his knees.

"Please spare our life, I and my students don't know anything about the movements of the chairman and his subordinates."

Pai grinned, he glanced at Kang who immediately raised his hand to summon his men.

"You guys! Take them to the Cloud Valley, the King's crocodile Tutu hasn't eaten for a few days, it's good to have appetizers"

Elder Zhou and his disciple XuYa couldn't do anything when Chairman Kang's men led them away.

"Get up!"

 .....

The sound of birds singing is beautiful, the sound of rodents playing in the trees and chasing each other over the fertile, mossy soil that is always wet.

Yuen and Tai Yang had stopped at the edge of the Sparkling Sun waterfall, which was quiet and beautiful. Anyone who saw the water so clear would jump down because they could feel its freshness from afar.

Yuen couldn't wait to take off his layered top, he didn't succeed in attracting Tai Yang who refused to wet his body free by going down to the water. He is the King, how can a King playing in the water in the open area? If someone sees him, he can lose his authority as a king of the valley.

"Ah Brother Yang, this is so refreshing, come on"

Yuen took off the last layer of his top and left his shorts on. Tai Yang turned his face quickly when he saw the smooth, shiny white body that dazzled his eyes.

Although he is so skinny, Yuen has quite broad shoulders with clearly visible bones. A rather wide chest, and a slim and small waist. Tai Yang subconsciously stared and forgot to close his gapping mouth.

But Yuen's loud voice woke him up.

"Brother Yang, come here, it's so fresh."

"No need, Yen, I will just look from here."

Tai Yang was still reluctant to wet his body until Yuen swam further to the center. Visible from the other side, Tai Yang saw a small snake come down from a rock and swim closer.

"Why there will always an intruder come at the very perfect time as this?"

Tai Yang raised two fingers and released wind which from quite a distance shot wind into the snake's body until it flew far up the hill.

"Whoosssh"

Yuen, who was enjoying his swimming didn't even realize it at all. The kid looks so happy swimming in the clear and refreshing water, this was fun for him.

Tai Yang who was sitting on the tree trunk lying over the river never off sight of the kid at all, he wouldn't get bored doing this all day. Just sitting looking at Yuen's sweet and adorable face, his heart felt even warmer. A very happy feeling just seeing the young man's boundless smile. The kid really made he felt what he had been missing for so long, very deep happiness, a sense of relief, and a feeling of always wanting to protect him from all harm. Tai Yang had never felt that before, and the feeling was so pleasant.

While Tai Yang was still fascinated by Yuen's soft face, Yuen's groan made him sit upright quickly.

"Ah!"

Without thinking, Tai Yang dashed towards Yuen who was suddenly gone from his sight.

"Yen Yen!" Tai Yang had only been daydreaming for a second and he lost the kid. Tai Yang was panicking, he jumped to dive into the water.

"Yen Yen!"

Yuen tried to float but his right ankle hurt beyond belief, he was experiencing cramps.

"Eulp"

Tai Yang dived into the water and grabbed the boy's waist, take him to the surface.

"Burr"

"Yen Yen, are you okay? Did something bite you?" Tai Yang asked and checked the boy. Yuen shook his head. He holding on Tai Yang's neck who hugged him to the surface.

"I'm fine, Brother, it's just my leg a bit cramp."

Tai Yang smoothed the boy's wet hair that covered his forehead.

"This brat, I told you not to swim, you never listen to me at all."

Tai Yang flicked Yuen's forehead. The kid pouted his face.

"Brother, I'm hurt, why do you still hit me"

Tai Yang takes Yuen and swims to shore.

"Come on, let's just go home"

Arrived at the edge of the river.

Yuen sat on a rock while Tai Yang helped him get dressed.

"Put your hands up"

Tai Yang gently helped Yuen put on the first layer of white clothes, but he stopped when he saw the long scar on the kid's back.

Tai Yang's hand slowly touched the scar, which look like a sharp object wound, making Yuen turn around and smile.

"This, the scar from the wound when I was just a baby. Teacher said the bandits came to attack our house at the small vilage right at foot of the valley. They killed my parents the day after my birth, our house burned to the ground, and Uncle teacher He Tao the one who found me. They thought I was already died because there was so much blood in my body, but they didn't expect that I would cry so hard when they touched me. Until now, this wound will feel painful when the winter night comes, it doesn't hurt that much, it just hurts a little"

Tai Yang felt silent, he couldn't imagine what little Yen Yen had experienced to have to survive when he was just born, he must have suffered a lot. Not to mention the poison in his body. Black Fairy poison is not ordinary poison, not just anyone can get poison that is known to be deadly and extremely it is so painful that all the organs in the body will burn and melt because of it. Then, how can a very small child get poison whose antidote is only possessed by the person who created this poison? Who's known to be killed fifteen years ago.