It is the first day of cherry blossom this year. quiet and peaceful it is at the yellow riverbank. the branch of cherry blossom moves in a harmony played by warm wind. cheering voice of children fills the riverbank, where they are trying catching the butterfly. the river flows lazily drifting leaves and flower petals. some leaves and petals get stuck in the hand of broken tree bank which half sunk in the cool water. on the broken tee bank, lay there a guy with dark brown hair and pirate bandana on his forehead. his arms crossed below his head. his eyes closed and his face expresses peace. one of his legs move backward and forward in the water.
'It is spring already,' he thought lazily, 'new beginning of new year and new war. when will this stop?' he splashs water with his foot making the fish running away scared.
the guy thinks again about the last war. corpses laid here and there, fire burnt like hell, scream of terror fullfilled the air. smells of blood was so strong made him even wilder and wilder. his hand was dirty of human blood, his veins was filled with murder. he is flithy, even filthier than a rotten flesh.
'now this filthy man is sitting here while many innocent souls are burnt in hell because of him,' he thought bitterly, 'world is no fair'
suddenly a familiar shade blocks the sunshine above when a dark haired girl leans her face on his and kisses him softly from behind. the girls' cold hands grab his shoulder gently. she whispers on his hair, 'what are you thinking? you know however filthy you are my love is still unlimited.' she kisses his top head.
the girl sits on his left side leaning her head on his bare chest. the smell and touch of her hair makes his feeling alters to passion. the guy wakes up and then smoochs the girl tightly. 'my passion is only for you, Lady Qiao,' the guy whispers back before kissing the girl passionately
--
the moon shines brightly tonight, clearing up all the path on the castle garden. on the right corner of the east side of the castle garden, the guy is laying in a luxurious room. the girl beside him is sleeping, her head on his shoulder. he covers the girls' naked body by a silk blanket before he wears his clothes then exits the room to the garden. he walks in the shade of castle wall and shrubs slowly trying not to be noticed.
'please do not stand on those flowers! i have taken care of those carefully,' said a calm voice from behind the shrub nfront of him, 'i believe Lady Qiao would be upset if those flowers are damaged.'
the guy stands still since he is aware that someone has been watching him. he might have been noticed when he exited the room. he tries to remain silent but the voice turns into low chuckle, 'i know you are there, Lord Gan Ning. please show yourself and enjoy this moonlight with me, too beautiful to waste the time hidden under the walls' shadow--terrified i suppose.' said the voice calmly.
Gan Ning--still alarmed--walks out of the shrubs to a narrow footpath where a short-haired woman stands as staring her brown eyes to the sky. her brown hair is played by the wind. she does not take a glance to him when he shows up. he stands beside her pretending to enjoy the sky as well.
'I have been wondering,' she said in the same calm tone to him, 'how can a little girl like Lady Qiao have such a noise. i have figured out then.'
The pirate give nothing to answer. he knows this is the time since a long time, somebody finds out his liaison. surely he will be faced to a noose or an axe edge before his neck. these are too noble for this filthy pirate. he should have been slaughtered and wasted along with animal corpses. he looks to his side.
the woman beside him is amazingly beautiful. her brown hair frames her perfect sad face. her brown eyes simply shows hidden toughness and bravery although now she is staring upwards full of sorrow. her red kimono with golden embroidery makes her figure even unspeakable. when the woman turns her eyes to him, he can not escape them. suddenly some warm sensation in his stomach makes his insecurity--because he has been found guilty--ceased. he bows to the woman as politely as he can.
'i will not bear a dirty lie to you, My Lady. execute me for your pleasure,' the pirate said in a tough voice, 'this dirty man has stained your holy castle.'
the woman replies still calmly, 'it's shang xiang. what do you mean, My Lord? i said i was wondering how could a little girl like Lady Qiao be so noisy. nothing to do without you,' she gives a meaningful glace at him with her sad brown eyes before staring back at he sky, 'please understand not to stand on my flowers any more,' she said with a final tone.
'no,' he opens his mouth, 'I'
a small fore-finger lands on his lip, makes all the words gone and meaningless. she says nothing then walks past the stunned pirate. Gan Ning stares at her walking figure feeling confused. 'thank you,' he whispers. a sliding door closes between them.
--
The sun shines brighter and hotter as each day of spring passes. cherry blossom greets every eye which is wondering in the town. once again the yellow riverbank is filled with children laugher and cheer. harmonically, a sound of slashing spear comes out from around the big oak tree. The pirate is trying to clear his broken mind. after conducting 100 bouts, he stabs the spear hard to the wet ground. he lays under the shade of oak tree. his rapid breath is overwhelmed by the children laugher.
'Getting tired faster, eh,' said a jeering voice beside the oak tree.
'shut up, Ling Tong!' Gan Ning replies without looking at him.
Ling Tong unsheathes his sword to ground. Gan Ning rolls his body avoiding the sudden attack. They change several bouts as running along the riverbank. a wooden wall blocks their front just several feet away but they keep moving closer. Ling Tong throws his sword hard and it stuck at the wooden wall. He pulls it off but the pirate grabs his hand, completely block the mans' movement and throws him forcefully on ground. but the pirate attack stops all of the sudden.
'Lady Xiang,' the pirate whispers in a surprise. he stands still holding Ling Tong tightly but his eyes sticks to a hole where Ling Tongs' sword stabbed before.
the princess is not dressed in imperial clothes but in a flexible silk clothes--a warrior clothes. her body is covered by sweat but she breathes harmonically as if she was presenting a sword dancing. the pirate takes a notice at her face. her brown eyes.
'why is that sad looks in your eyes?' he thought curiously, 'where are those sweet smile like the one Lady Qiao has?'
Ling Tong notices his foe attention has broken and instantly he recognises the cause.
'Bloody hell!' Ling Tong whispers a sworn word, 'Lady Xiang is truly a magnificent blood butterfly in this spring.'
the pirate does not take any attention to his foe. the dance has taken his mind like he would never able to think again.
'why bloody butterfly?' the pirate asks as normal as he manages, 'her movement completely perfect.'
'because she never smiles.'