Our previous lives [Bonus chapter]

Licheng tightened the grip on the hilt of the sword while his gaze remained fixated on Xiana. She was awestruck by that and still could not believe her eyes that Licheng summoned a sword like magic.

She walked up to him and then held his hand which had the sword. It was a heavy sword, not easy to carry.

"You cannot carry it," Licheng said.

"Licheng, who are you? How can you do that?" Xiana asked him with a dumbfounded expression on her grimace. She had pulled her hand back and didn't blink at all.

"I am Su Licheng."

"Jokes apart, Licheng. Tell me the truth," Xiana urged him.

"Xiana, are you trustworthy? Can I share everything with you?" Licheng asked her.

"Of course, you can," Xiana said.

Licheng smiled at her. "I doubt that. Gain my trust and I will tell you everything," he asserted and opened his hand. The sword vanished into thin air. He lowered his hand and told her it was only a glimpse of his power.

"I am trustworthy, Licheng," Xiana tried to convince him.

"For now, you are not. So, if you want to put my faith in you, you will not tell anyone about this," Licheng stated.

"I promise, I will not tell anyone," Xiana said. "Answer my one question, so that I can put my trust in you," she requested him.

"Ask," Licheng allowed her.

"You have not brought me here merely for the servant's job, right?" It was important for Xiana to know because then it would give her a reason to live the rest of her life beside him, fulfilling his aim. She knew he had something bigger in his mind, which he would not reveal to her at this time.

"You are right, Xiana. That is why you should forget about your lover. You and I are bound with each other, not from this life but from our previous lives," Licheng pronounced.

Xiana furrowed her brows together to learn about that. She never believed in the theories of past or previous lives. However, after seeing the sword appear like magic in Licheng's hand, Xiana believed his words. She was curious to know what could be their relationship.

"Licheng, does anyone know you are a sorcerer?" Xiana asked him.

"I told you earlier too that I am not a sorcerer. I am someone out of your imagination," Licheng stated and he placed his hand above her head, "so, do not put stress on your brain."

He pulled his hand back and turned around to look at the stream. "Why don't you bring some fruits for me?" Licheng didn't order her, yet he made a request to her.

"Sure," Xiana said and walked away.

Licheng put his hands behind his back and looked at his reflection in the flowing water. He was too engrossed in admiring his own reflection that he didn't realize when Xiana returned with a bowl of tangerines in her hands. The bowl was covered with the plate at its top.

Licheng turned to look at her and asked her to follow him. She went behind him and they reached the pavilion left to the pond, where stream water would collect.

Licheng sat on the chair by the window while Xiana sat across from him. She peeled the tangerines for him and put them on the plate. Licheng ate them silently while enjoying the magnificent view of the garden through the pavilion.

"Why did you leave the palace? You weren't in the palace for seven years. Do you want to tell me about it?" Xiana asked him and peeled another tangerine.

"You cannot make me spill the truth to you this easily, Xiana," Licheng stated and pushed a piece of tangerine between her lips.

Xiana gazed at him as she stopped peeling what was in her hand. She took it inside her mouth and chewed it. After she gulped it, she said, "So, there is some big mystery involved. I am not asking you to spill the entire truth to me. I am astonished, Licheng. You summoned a sword in the air as they mention in the legends."

Licheng didn't speak and continued to hear her talk filled with enthusiasm while eating the tangerines.

"Did we know each other in the past?" Xiana asked and finally took a pause. "Answer me, Licheng. You are making me wait for too long," she complained.

"There is no use in whining before me. I will tell you everything when I find you trustable," Licheng pronounced and asked her not to peel any more tangerines.

"Okay. Then, tell me how you got this scar," Xiana shifted to another question. Seeing his silence, Xiana got irked and slammed her hands on the table.

"I will take these back," Xiana said while controlling her anger. She paused the chair back to stand up but stopped upon hearing Licheng's voice.

"Xiana, do you know how to make up with an angry sister?" Licheng's question puzzled her. Why did they suddenly come on a topic that was irrelevant to the one they were discussing a moment ago?

"My younger sister, Princess Su Ning, is upset with me. When I was fifteen, I left the palace. Sister Ning was ten years old. She was attached to me more than my two younger brothers. My sudden disappearance left a wound in her, I feel," Licheng said and met Xiana's gaze. It stunned her how Licheng was too caring for his sister. But, at the same time, it made her think about what could be more important for Licheng when he decided to leave his home, the palace.

"You are the only woman with whom I can discuss it more openly. So, I need your opinion on this," Licheng opined.

"Well, you need to sincerely apologize to your sister. Give her time so that she comes to see you," Xiana stated.

"What about a present?" Licheng asked.

Xiana refused him to do so. "Your sister wants to see if her eldest brother truly cares for her or not. No present can bring those seven years back and fill the gap," she asserted. Licheng thanked her while Xiana felt a bit sad for Licheng.