'So that's all you care about?' Zhao Yun asked with his head bowed. 'Your sister's happiness?' From the side of his eyes, Zhao Yun could see Ma Chao staring at him incredulously as he scoffed. 'Of course, why else should it affect me?' Zhao Yun's hands were slowly clenching into a tight fist and the tears were struggling to escape. No. I must not cry in front of Ma Chao, Zhao Yun thought as he blinked back his tears forcefully. 'Don't you felt anything when you saw me with another man?' Zhao Yun asked as his voice cracked slightly. It might have been a trick of an eye, but Ma Chao recoiled for a fraction of a second when he heard that. And then Ma Chao's face hardened and he replied stoically, 'Of course not. If it was not for my sister, you can be with whomever your heart desires.'

Every words pierced right into Zhao Yun's heart and shattered it to a millions pieces. Zhao Yun's breath started to get ragged and his view was starting to blur with unshed tears. 'Get out,' Zhao Yun muttered quietly as his body trembled slightly. 'What?' Ma Chao asked with his brows furrowed. 'I said get out!' Zhao Yun shouted through gritted teeth. He badly wanted to push, damage or rip something. 'No, I am not leaving until you explained to me what really happened.' Ma Chao still didn't get his message as he continued to blab on. 'What were you doing with Ji-?'

'I said GET OUT!' Zhao Yun yelled at the last two words with so much force that he strained his throat and his chest was heaving. Ma Chao's words died in mid-air as he started at Zhao Yun with the utmost surprise. Before waiting for Ma Chao to say anything, Zhao Yun pushed the surprise Ma Chao out from his room with all his force. Zhao Yun could feel that Ma Chao was trying to tell him something but nothing matters anymore. 'I don't ever want to see you again!' Zhao Yun shouted as he slammed both of the heavy wooden doors shut. 'Zi Long,' Ma Chao managed to slid his hands between the cracks as he pleaded.

Zhao Yun tried to shove Ma Chao's hands away as the first tear slipped out from his eye and dripped down to the floor. Ma Chao looked startled and he paused for a second. Zhao Yun took advantage of Ma Chao's hesitation and finally managed to push his hands away and slammed the door shut right in front of Ma Chao's face. The last sight Ma Chao saw was Zhao Yun's tear stained face.

The second Zhao Yun was alone, he let the tears flowed freely as all his energy ebbed away. Zhao Yun crumbled down to the floor as he sobbed silently. This one-sided love, these strong feelings he had from Ma Chao was slowly crushing him inside until he fell apart. His heart was in so much pain but there was nothing he could do to heal it.

After note:

Ma Chao stared at the closed doors with his fist clenched tightly. He could hear the muffled sounds of Zhao Yun's sobbing and his heart ached in a way he did not understand. He had the urge to barge in and took Zhao Yun in his arms as he cradled him. To tell Zhao Yun that everything will be fine and comfort him until he stopped crying. Yet, Ma Chao's nagging conscience stopped him from doing so. 'Damn,' Ma Chao muttered as he kicked at a rock and ruffled his hair. Ma Chao took a deep breath and pressed his back against the door, his face tipped towards the sky. What had changed so much between the both of them and will things ever go back the way it once was?

xxxx

Ma Chao marched through the palace hallway, bumping into people and knocking over things. He was like a whirling devil that stopped at nothing as he tore his way down to his destination. Everyone stopped to stare at Ma Chao with their mouth gaping wide but Ma Chao ignored all the looks he received. An ominous dark aura was exuding from Ma Chao as he thought of the sight he saw between Zhao Yun and Jiang Wei.

His footsteps echoed loudly and his robes swished from side to side as Ma Chao made his way to the room. His eyes narrowed into tiny slits when he saw the wooden doors with its amazing carvings. He was finally here. Without even knocking, Ma Chao barged his way in. 'Jiang Wei!' Ma Chao yelled as soon as he entered the room. His gaze locked with Jiang Wei's whose head was raised while in his hands he held a scroll.

Jiang Wei's room was wide but it was there was only little wooden furniture. Even so, all the wooden furniture had elaborately carvings on them which made them unique and special. Ma Chao had heard of Jiang Wei's famous wood carving skills, people would even pay lots of money to buy his wood carvings. But he was not in the mood to examine Jiang Wei's handiwork. He had more important things to do such as interrogating Jiang Wei. The light from the room came from the candles which Jiang Wei placed at strategic places. While the floors and all corners of the room were covered with scrolls. It was like mounds of small mountains.

Jiang Wei didn't seem perturbed at all as he merely continued to read from his scroll. 'Do what I owe you for you to grant me the honor of your presence?' Jiang Wei asked airily. Ma Chao stormed his way until he was right in front of Jiang Wei. 'I want to know what happened between you and Zhao Yun,' Ma Chao snarled, his eyes livid with rage. 'What about it?' Jiang Wei placed his scroll down on the table as he turned to stare at Ma Chao with a smile carved on his lips. 'I am sure you saw the whole thing. What more is there to explain?'

Ma Chao swallowed hard as he glared at Jiang Wei. 'Don't play with me!' Ma Chao shouted while he slammed his fist into the table. There was a loud crack and a huge hole appeared in the middle of the table. Fear flickered in Jiang Wei's eyes as he stared at the hole but then he gave a loud laugh which rang around the room. 'Impressive skills,' Jiang Wei clapped his eyes slowly. 'As expected of a Tiger general.'

To be continue…

Ma Chao had showed his over protective side for Zhao Yun as he demanded an explanation from Jiang Wei. But where would this confrontation lead them to? Stay tune and find out. Please leave a review/comment. Thank you for reading.