Fire Phoenix

Yun Shu and Yun Hua grabbed swords off two of the closest men and joined the scuffle. Yun Canglan was able to relax a bit, even though a couple of times one of the antagonists would go after Yun Canglan and then beaten back by Yun Shu and Yun Hua. The thugs hit Huo Liuyun as hard as possible.

Yun Shu and Yun Hua fought against three of the men apiece, while seven others worked together to engage Huo Liuyun. Although Yun Shu and Yun Hua were able to work in unison, helping one another, Huo Liuyun was having difficulty managing as the melee continued. They slashed his clothes, and gave him some minor cuts and bruises.

The white ground had patches of red.

On the wall not far away, someone saw the scene below, and a troop of palace guards, spears in hand, ran towards Huo Liuyun when the imperial gate was flung opened.

Yun Canglan gave a wry smile as she watched the approaching guards.

Things had finally come to such a situation.

'Huo Liuyun, from now on, you are my enemy!' She thought.

"Protect the Crown Prince, hurry, be quicker about it!" The head guard shouted at his men. The closer the guards came, the more intense the fight became.

"Speed up!" The leader of the assailants barked, demanding more results from his men, in a last ditch effort, as he saw the approaching guards.

It was clear the lead of the attackers was a kung fu master, by the way he pierced Huo Liuyun's defenses, stabbing him where he was weaker.

Huo Liuyun was weakening, finding it more difficult to defend against the desperate onslaught. He saw the flash of metal, and knew he needed to block the sword, but there wasn't time for it. He gave up in despair and closed his eyes to embrace death.

However, instead of the cold metal cutting through him, he felt warmth of a body as it fell into his arms. He caught the faintest hint of lotus mixed with an overpowering odor of blood.

Before he could react, or open his eyes, he heard Yun Shu and Yun Hua screaming.

"Mistress!"

Huo Liuyun's eyes flew open in shock. He held the limp frame of Yun

"Liuyun... have I told you...how...I...I...love you..."

Huo Liuyun's body went rigid. The words warmed him, and he was filled with a bittersweet feeling.

She had not told him she loved him. She didn't need to, he knew it. He used her love as a weapon. She loved him, but he was using her all the time.

He was the most selfish people. She said she would seek revenge, but instead she blocked a deadly sword with herself for him.

Why did she do this? He kept asking himself and still, he didn't understand.

He regretted.

Yun Canglan looked at Huo Liuyun affectionately, and though it was painful and difficult, she raised an arm in a feeble attempt to touch his face.

Yun Canglan wanted to feel the warmth of his face one last time.

Huo Liuyun looked at her arm feeling a deep heartache.

Yun Canglan almost touched his face, but failed. There was no strength left in her.

When Huo Liuyun realized what she was doing, he immediately held her hand in his, which froze his heart.

His warm hand wrapped around her cold hand, Yun Canglan smiled in a satisfied way.

Huo Liuyun pressed her hand to his face. He looked at her smile, saw her eyes close and felt her hand fall away, lifeless.

A gust of cold wind blew and the snow danced through the air.

"Ah...ah...ah..."

Huo Liuyun cried out, sounding like an animal who lost its partner.