1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
Fading Moon Light

“Then, what will we do after this?” jiao asked breaking the silence.

“First treat Shuwan body. You heard it too, right? That the lotus flower pill is only able to reduce pain, not to cure it in total,” Zhang said.

It seemed that Jiao understood what Zhang was saying.

“Good. You two better get out of the way first. How could I treat Shuwan with you guys still on standby here?” Jiao asked Zhang and Yu Hao to step aside briefly from Shuwan and Jiao's place.

While Shuwan, the pain he felt was indeed reduced. But the confusion he had in mind was still floating in his brain.

After Shuwan lives alone with Jiao, he starts a conversation. “Jiao, what exactly happened when I was unconscious? And, that creepy creature earlier, who is he?”

Jiao took out the bandage she had stored in her medicine pouch. “The creature was named Gao Chun. He also helped Zhang pick you up. Do you know how worried we are about your condition? You just fell into the ravine, now you're getting hurt worse. In the meantime, you can't fight.”

Shuwan remained silent. He understood Jiao's words which implied his condition was very bad.

Jiao examined Shuwan, her eyes soft, even her tongue unable to speak.

“Jiao, I understand. I promise, as much as possible I won't fight for a while. Hopefully, our journey does not require me to fight head-on,” Shuwan said with an empty eye. 

Jiao nodded. He continued to apply the wound medicine to Shuwan's body, and tore his broken left hand. “We will try to protect you Shuwan. All this time, you've done a lot to protect us.”

Shuwan. “I've considered you my family, of course there must be an effort that I do to protect you. Including you, Jiao. I consider you like my own sister Even though, I don't know what it's like to have a sister,” Shuwan chimed in.

Jiao's eyes glazed over, there was a happy mixed feeling that enveloped her heart. “Thank you,” reply Jiao while finishing her bandage.

Now he has finished treating the bruises, as well as Shuwan's fractures. He called back Zhang and Yu Hao who were not far from there. “Zhan, Yu Hao, you guys can get out now.”

Zhang and Yu Hao came out, and walked over to Shuwan, whose body was now covered in bandages.

“What's next?” ask Yu Hao.

“We'd better leave this place. I'm afraid something bad is happening again,” Zhang said.

Yu Hao nodded, “You're right. We can't stay here anymore. Then let's continue the journey.”

The four of them continued their journey by riding the horse they had previously used. Before leaving, Zhang removed the robe he was wearing, and gave it to Shuwan. “You can't get cold. It can make your pain even more painful.”

“Then, how about you?”

“You don't worry about me. I'm doing fine. You should worry more about yourself,” Zhang said.

“Hyaa!” Zhang sped his horse as fast as he could. Hope after this can find an urban in order to find a healer who can cure Shuwan.

In the pace of the horse that echoed in the middle of the wilderness, Shuwan asked a question he had been waiting for during his stay at Ying Jie's residence. “Zhang, what's your real name? All this time, you introduced yourself only with your margin?”

Zhang was shocked to hear Shuwan's question. The horse they both rode slowed down. They stopped, in the middle of the forest, surrounded by trees that left room for moonlight to enter. As if, the moonlight spot was indeed aimed at Zhang and Shuwan.

“Why do you want to know?” ask Zhang again.

“I just want to know, before I go away from you.”

Zhang's eyes widened. His hand was tightly holding the horse's controlling rope. He was again devastated to hear the sad answer of the woman he loved. So he finally gave up, and told him his name. “Zhang Wu Liem, remember my name well.”

“Hyaa!”

Shuwan already understood that Zhang was the Liem he had met. But again he felt like he was being slapped. Along the way he just daydreamed. Not even the sound of horse footsteps could be heard in his ears. There was only the thought of Liem, and the remnants of the journey he had been on.

Why do you have to remind me again of a farewell, Shuwan? So soon ‘did you want to part with me? Zhang snorted in annoyance. His mind was now filled with Shuwan. He diverted it moment by moment through his horse race.

Shuwan understands that Zhang may be angry with him. He tried to open his mouth again. “Zhang... Ah no, I mean Liem. Do you see the moonlight that shines on our night trip? The light is so shady and beautiful isn't it? But he will start to fade when dawn comes.”

Zhang again stopped his horse abruptly. 

“It feels like you and I are like that fading moonlight. Our farewell is getting closer. Just like the distance at night and morning. You're... Also realize it is not?”

Zhang was silent. His face looks sad. Again he was reminded not to fall too deep on Shuwan.

Miris, and also stinging. That was what Shuwan felt when saying it. 

Zhang ignored him, a fact that would later occur. What a heart-wrenching farewell between him and the idol.

“Hyaa!”

The horse speeded up and overtook the horse that Jiao and Yu Hao were riding.

How could you throw me at another woman, Shuwan? All I want is you, and that goes on forever. The heart of Zhang was raging again, on a horse race crashing into the forest at night.

“What really happened? Why else would they have to be like this?” ask Jiao.

“Hm, we cannot interfere in the affairs of their hearts. Let them finish it by themselves,” Yu Hao said.

While on horseback, Shuwan felt a little frightened due to the speed of the horse that was so tight. “Do you want to kill me too, Liem?”

Zhang pulled the strap, so the horse neighed, and raised both of its front legs. 

Shuwan thought, Zhang would abuse him, but he was wrong. Zhang hugged her from behind. The warm liquid that had soared up in Zhang's eyes, fell onto Shuwan's clothes. Shuwan. The warm thing that became the symbol of sadness touched the skin of his shoulder.

“I won't let you go just like that, Shuwan. To be with you is my promise for life. I don't care if I have to step on thousands of sharp needles, or fall in the deepest troughs. I also don't care if I have to wait thousands of years for a heretic to meet you again. Because you are the source of my true happiness.”

Shuwan simply fell silent, listening word by word that came out of Zhang's mouth. Nor does his heart understand. 

After saying what he wanted to say, Zhang loosened his embrace.

Shuwan thought that Zhang was done with his business. He did not think anything of Zhang, until the next incident occurred.

Brug...

Zhang's body suddenly fell off the horse. Shuwan was fixated, full of silence and silence watching the person who had just cried him suddenly fall down.

“Liem!” shuwan shouted that he did not want to call him Zhang anymore. He also struggled to jump off the horse. Even after he managed to jump, he again grimaced in pain due to resting on his broken leg. “Ah!” Shuwan tried to ignore the pain he was suffering from.

He tried to walk up to Zhang by dragging his sick leg. “Liem, Liem! What happened to you?” shuwan shouted hysterically.

Jiao and Yu Hao who had just arrived directly descended from his horse, and ran up to Shuwan who was trying to wake Zhang up.

“Shuwan, relax,” Jiao tries to calm Shuwan who looks so panicked. He then took the medicine from Zhang's medicine bag. After getting it, he immediately gave it to Zhang. But, he was confused. “How can he take his medicine?”

“Just give it to me,” pinta Shuwan. He put the pill in Zhang's mouth. Afterwards, Shuwan drinks the water and gives it to Zhang, in the same way as the bird that feeds its young.

I'm sorry, Liem. He gave Zhang a drink with his mouth. He immediately wiped away the remaining water scattered around Zhang's lips. He looked at Zhang with a guilty feeling.

“What exactly is Zhang's disease? Why did he get to this?” ask Shuwan.

Jiao and Yu Hao bowed lethargicly at the question that Shuwan had just thrown out.

“I don't understand either, Shuwan. On the way to find you, he also had time like this,” replied Jiao.

“A-what? Why didn't you guys tell me?”

“Zhang asked us not to tell you. He was afraid, you would worry about him,” Yu Hao chimed in.

“He's too worried about you, Shuwan. He's so scared of losing you. That pressure, that might make it this way. As for his illness, I really didn't know it. My medical science is not that high to be able to predict diseases like this,” explained Jiao.

Shuwan's feelings get mixed up, until he decides to postpone the trip. “Then, we rest here. At least, until his condition improved a little.”

Jiao and Yu Hao threw eyes at each other, until they both nodded in agreement.

On the night that was almost morning, Yu Hao tried to turn on the fire to warm their bodies. At least until the sun illuminates the place, and brings more warmth.

Now, Shuwan who turned around was guarding Zhang. The robe that Zhang had given to warm his body, now he used to cover Zhang's body.