Touched the skin [Bonus chapter]

"How am I strange? I vanished the pain from your wrists," Licheng said as his hold remained intact on her hands.

"That is what is strange about you. You care, but you show it at a random time," Xiana said and slowly pulled her hands back.

"You are a wonderful sorcerer. I would love to learn a few magic tricks from you," Xiana said with a smile.

"It's not sorcery. It is called healing," Licheng corrected her.

"Healing with magic as sorcerers do," Xiana muttered.

"Cultivators do the healing. By learning about your inner energy," Licheng pronounced. "Do you think I wasted my seven years in a secluded place for nothing? I learned and grew up as a cultivator. It is what you have to learn too. The demon is powerful and to free the bird in the sky, I need to win this time," Licheng stated and furrowed his brows together.

"You mean the phoenix?" Xiana asked to confirm.

"Yes. Soon, there will be unexpected incidents. I am more concerned about finding the demon, some answers from the past than thinking of marrying and having kids, or growing my family." He gave the answer to Xiana, which she was looking for. Xiana realized that Licheng was under some sort of stress.

"I understand," Xiana replied. "Let's have lunch. I'm famished. Should I bring the meals here? It is peaceful here," Xiana said and inhaled a deep breath.

"Sure," Licheng allowed her.

Xiana quickly stood up and left to bring the meals for them. Eunuch Jize sent a servant to help with Xiana and was surprised to find Xiana convinced Licheng to meals.

"The Princess is different," he said and smiled a little.

Xiana returned soon along with the maidservant and they set the lunch table on the patio. After the maidservant left, Xiana asked Licheng to come to the floor mattress. He nodded at her and the two sat around the table. Xiana started eating first and at the same time, she talked to him.

"Licheng, what did your mother say? I know you went to Her Majesty earlier," Xiana said.

"Mother is still upset," Licheng said and paused for a while. "I never explained her anything, so that is another reason why she is angry with me," he asserted. "Let's not talk while eating as it is not a good habit," he urged her.

Xiana silently finished her meals and felt energetic. Licheng called for the maidservants and asked them to take away the dishes. "You should head to your room to take some rest," he said.

"I am not sleepy," Xiana said and got on her knees. Licheng glanced at her with inquisitiveness and saw her approaching him on her knees. She stopped upon reaching next to him and sat on her knees. "I would like to know the story behind this scar. Six months ago, it was not there," she affirmed.

Licheng ran his finger through the scar and told her he wanted to do rest.

He was ready to stand up when Xiana held his arm. "Answer me, first," Xiana said.

"I do not want to," Licheng stated. "You are disturbing me," he said.

"Me? Disturbing you?" Xiana chuckled. "You were the one who told me to be around you all the time and I am in your manor, in your chamber," she faked a smile at him.

"My fault," Licheng said and asked her to leave. He rose to his feet and went to the bedchamber while Xiana followed him.

"Why did you follow me here?" Licheng turned to her as he reached the bed. He removed the crown from above his head and then unbuttoned the outer robe. "Do you want to watch me undress?" He asked.

"Don't divert me from the topic. I know you will not undress," Xiana said and leaned against the sliding door of the bedchamber. "I do not know how to face my father. You want my help and it is my destiny to be with you, with the five martial warriors. Father soon be here. I want to leave, but at the same time, I do not want to betray you. What should I do?" She put forward her worry and asked for his advice.

"Do you want me to help?" Licheng inquired as he hung the robe over the chair.

"I-I miss them, Licheng. What if in the future it will be tough for me to survive without them?" She exhaled a deep breath and stood straight. "What if I want to go to them? What if I want to get married and have a family of my own? You know we are different. Because you helped me I want to be here, if I have to consider the first reason. I'll talk to you because I feel better then. When I argue with you, at least, I stay away from those thoughts. I know it is my destiny to come to you, but those thoughts came to my head a few minutes ago while eating," Xiana smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

Licheng walked up to her. "Who knows you fall in love with me and get settled with me?" He remarked.

"Stop joking, Licheng," Xiana laughed at his remark. "You and I can never be together. I am not your type of woman. SUBMISSIVE!" She loudly said.

Licheng smiled to hear that. "Ah, yes. You are not the submissive type," he stated.

"Are you falling for me?" Xiana arched her eyebrow and with amusement gazed at him.

"What do you think?" Licheng questioned her instead of giving an answer and took a step forward.

Xiana blinked a few times and slowly took a step back. "That is not possible. I know I am charming, beautiful, and smart. But how come my charms swayed your heart?" She tried to tease him.

"Who said you are charming, beautiful, and smart?" Licheng took another step toward her. Her back hit the sliding wooden door behind her. However, she kept her head high.

"Everyone says!" Xiana was stunned to find that he did not find her beautiful.

"Fortunately, I am not in that 'everyone' category," Licheng said and passed her a smile before turning his back to her

"Do you think I am ugly?" Xiana suddenly turned angry and asked him to answer her. But Licheng did not. He sat on the mattress, removed his shoes, and pulled the quilt up to sleep when Xiana snatched it away.

"Xiana, I have to call Eunuch Jize to throw you out," Licheng said.

"You called me ugly," Xiana said.

"I never said that," Licheng stated and he sat up to take the quilt from her.

"But-but you meant that. It was clear after you smiled," Xiana asserted. Licheng tried to take the quilt from her, but she was too adamant about not leaving it. He had to get on his knee to reach her height and pull it from her. Xiana also used her strength.

Licheng was unable to understand why she was reacting that way and he used full force.

"Ahh!" Xiana screamed as she fell forward along with the quilt. Her hands rested on his chest and she landed above him on the mattress.

Licheng widened his eyes when her lips touched the skin of his neck and he curled his fingers.