A ring [Bonus chapter]

Licheng was impressed with Xiana's decision. She believed him and decided to stay with him. "Xiana, in the future, you would like to marry. I do not want to stay selfish with you. Do you think you can stay with me your entire life?" Licheng asked her.

Xiana looked around first to make sure no one would hear them. "After you told me about yourself, I thought about many things. You are born with a purpose so were the five martial warriors. You know my life's purpose too, so I believe, I should not be thinking of marriage for a long time," Xiana asserted.

Licheng grasped Xiana's hand, which made her ask why he held her hand. "Stay still," Licheng said and took out a ring from his little finger.

"Don't do that," Xiana said as she understood what he was going to do.

"It is for your protection, Xiana," Licheng said and inserted it in her little finger. "We will soon encounter the demon too. If we have taken rebirth, then he must have too. That is why until you learn better defending skills from me, you should keep it on your finger," he explained to Xiana.

Xiana was stunned to find out that there was a demon too. "Why do you not tell me everything at once?" She asked.

"There are a lot of things, which I do not know about you. I only remember how you saved me in my previous life. That is why as soon as I recalled it, I went to the Yu Kingdom to bring you with me. You have an important purpose in all this, Xiana," Licheng said. He assured her that he would tell her slowly whatever he knew. But for the present moment, he wanted her to know only limited things.

"Saved you? I do not want us to be lovers," Xiana muttered and she lowered her hand.

"Who said we were lovers in the previous births? I think you were my servant that time too," Licheng remarked. A tiny smile was carved on his lips, which he wanted to hide, but before he could do that Xiana noticed it.

"I might be your master," Xiana said and saw him walking ahead of her. She walked behind him and said, "You should not keep me as your servant anymore. I am a born princess."

"I have given you enough privileges," Licheng stated.

"Making me do your personal chores are not a privilege," Xiana stressed on the word 'privilege'.

"I only asked you to bring me fruit yesterday. I could not ignore my brother's request to punish you. You are lucky that I did not give severe punishment to you," Licheng pronounced.

"What did I even do? Xuanzi can insult me, but if I do it, then it is wrong! Huh!" She chuckled and told Licheng not to cloud his vision in his siblings' love.

"You do not have to involve with any of them. Better stay around me," Licheng asked her to follow this command of his.

"You want me to stick to you all the time," Xiana arched her brow. Licheng shook his head. She misinterpreted his words. "You have to beg me to stay with you all the time," she asserted and crossed her arms.

"I mean, to stay in the manor. Do not get involved with my siblings and cousins. They will only waste your time," Licheng affirmed.

Xiana stopped walking and a few steps ahead Licheng halted. He turned to glance at her. "Why did you stop?" he inquired.

"Licheng, getting involved with the people is not a waste of time," Xiana stated.

"What good it brings then?" Licheng questioned.

"You feel alive," Xiana answered. "Your brothers awaited your return, and so did your cousins. I heard from Yuan how happy he was to see his first brother in the palace. Xuanzi does not speak much, but his expressions and his gestures toward you say everything. Your three cousins wanted to meet you, but you asked Eunuch Jize not to let them enter your manor. Your sister is still upset with you. Having one time meal with her is not sufficient to believe that everything is well. This is not how a human lives." Xiana said a lot of things to Licheng to make him understand, so that he would come out of his shell.

"I understand," Licheng said with a careless attitude and turned to go ahead.

"Licheng, do not walk away like this. You do not understand anything. You only think about yourself. This is not how you will survive in this world," Xiana affirmed and walked behind him. When Licheng did not respond to her, she understood there was no use in elucidating him.

"I am not you, Licheng. So, I will do what I feel is right," Xiana affirmed.

"Do not complain to me later if anyone treats you badly," Licheng warned her.

"I can take care of myself," Xiana stated.

"Not in every situation," Licheng countered her.

Xiana fisted her palms and stood up in front of him. He almost bumped into her, but timely stopped his feet. Xiana grabbed his collar and pulled his face to her level. "Licheng, I do not know how you lived all this time. But since I have entered your life, I will definitely change your habits. I do not like people who are adamant about something. You get on my nerves. It makes me want to punch you so that your thoughts get aligned in the right direction."

Xiana expressed her thoughts to him, and let go of his robes. "If you want me to help you fight this anonymous demon, then go and apologize to your mother first. Then, you have to see your sister. If you refuse to do it, I will ensure you do not get any of your meals today. I mean it, Licheng," Xiana said with a challenging smile and took backward steps.

"Go, Licheng," Xiana told him and waved at him before heading to the manor.