Saw the future with you only

In the evening, Licheng sat on the floor chair in front of Yu Xiangkong, Xiana's father. He read the troubled expressions on Xiangkong's face and initiated the conversation.

"How much does King Xiangkong trust his daughter?" Licheng asked. Xiangkong lifted his eyes to gaze at him with inquisitiveness. "Whatever Xiana said is right. The Yu Kingdom could not have won the war. The King knows this better," he asserted.

"Why must my daughter serve the Crown Prince?" Xiangkong inquired.

"King Xiangkong did not answer my question," Licheng said.

"I trust my daughter more than I trust myself. That's why I went quiet after hearing her decision," Xiangkong answered. "Now, the Crown Prince should answer me. Xiana has come here earlier, but she isn't ready to tell me the truth to me. That day the Crown Prince's sword came flying to him. No one can do that." His brows furrowed because of the confusion.

"Does King Xiangkong trust me?" Licheng asked.

Xiangkong's reply came after a few seconds with a simple nod, followed by an answer, "Because Xiana trusts you. I also want to know if the Crown Prince will keep my daughter happy."

"Please forward your hand," Licheng requested Xiangkong. He was bewildered to hear the request at first, but then he forwarded his hand to the table.

Licheng placed his hand above Xiangkong's and a blue radiance was visible around their hands. Xiangkong was astonished and scared too. He tried to pull his hand back and looked into Licheng's eyes.

"I am the Fire Spirit Descendant, who could not accomplish his task in his previous life. At this moment, King Xiangkong is unable to move his hand because I have focused my core energy on my hand. Thus, the qi inside me dominates," Licheng asserted while looking into Xiangkong's eyes.

"So, it was true!" Xiangkong's eyes widened. The statement bewildered Licheng and he pulled his hand back. The radiance disappeared as soon as the contact was lost between the two hands and he asked the King to elaborate.

"At the time of Xiana's birth, an old man with long white hair and a beard came to me. I never believed his words," Xiangkong stated.

"Was it Master Tao?" Licheng inquired.

"How does the Crown Prince know?" Xiangkong exclaimed in surprise.

"Because Master Tao is the one who told my father who I am. I never told anyone in my family about me," Licheng briefed him. "So, what did Master Tao tell King Xiangkong about Xiana?" he asked.

"That Xiana will help the Fire Spirit Descendant and when the time comes I must let go of my daughter. Master Tao never revealed the name of yours to me because I refused to believe him," Xiangkong affirmed and pulled his hand back which was above the table.

"It did not hit my mind until the Crown Prince told me what he is and showed his true strength," Xiangkong stated.

"Now, the King knows why I need his daughter, so he should go back to his kingdom without any worries. Xiana is my responsibility and when everything will turn right, I will send Xiana back to you," Licheng drew another deal with Xiangkong.

"But Xiana has refused to come back. Also, Zhi Yawen may not wait for too long to marry my daughter. She has already asked him to move on. It is all my fault. I should not have asked Xiana to see Zhi Yawen three years ago," Xiangkong blamed himself for putting Xiana in a dilemma.

"King Xiangkong never thought such a day would come," Licheng opined.

"Yes. But I was the one who always told my daughter how good Zhi Yawen was for her," Xiangkong said and felt guilty for his actions.

"Her relationship with Zhi Yawen is a different matter, King Xiangkong. I want to send her back after the task is accomplished because everyone finds peace at home. This is my promise to the King of Yu Kingdom," Licheng stated.

Xiangkong smiled and thanked Licheng for saying that. "I will wait for my daughter's return. Please take good care of my daughter. Don't let her get harmed from here onward. I will make her mother understand," he asserted.

"I will take care of Xiana. She was my responsibility the moment I took her here," Licheng pronounced.

~~~~~~

"Our love meant nothing to you, Xiana?" Zhi Yawen asked as he pulled her arm and turned her to him. "We promised each other to be each other's," he said.

"I know. I did that. However, I apologize, Yawen," Xiana said and asked him to let go of her arm.

"I will wait. What do you say?" Zhi Yawen did not let go of her arm.

"I missed you but not much, Yawen," Xiana blinked rapidly. It was difficult for her to explain to him what thoughts she had in her mind. "Don't wait for me. You can find a woman better than me, who will give you the love you desire, the family you desire," she stated.

"Xiana, your words are breaking my heart," Zhi Yawen said. His grip on her arm loosened. "You are saying all this to me after meeting Licheng, aren't you? I planned and saw the future with only you," he muttered and his eyes turned teary.

"But I never saw the future or a family with you. I only saw myself marrying you. Nothing after that. You know as a princess I was supposed to marry early, but I kept extending it. You were my father and mother's choice. Indeed, I fell for you, but I do not feel upset today being away from you," Xiana truthfully told him. She did not want to fall weak in front of him by crying. She was a strong person.

"I will keep waiting for you," Zhi Yawen said and put his finger on her mouth as he saw her lips parting, "I do not want to hear anything. Princess Xiana will definitely come to me one day."

Xiana grasped his wrist and moved his finger away from her mouth. "Even if that happens, I will definitely not marry you. I know this, Yawen. I know myself better than you," she stated.

Zhi Yawen took a step back and dashed out of the room to see Licheng.