Long Fei followed Ling Yue to a splendid bamboo hut nestled beneath the graceful wisteria trees. The air was filled with their delicate fragrance, and the faint rustling of bamboo leaves echoed in the serenity.
She turned to him with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Wait here," she said, her voice light with excitement. "Shui Yi has been waiting for you all this time. Just so you know, she can be impulsive." She walked backwards, a finger on her lips.
Before Long Fei could respond, she disappeared inside the hut, the bamboo door slamming behind her. She spoke as though he should know who Shui Yi was. But should he? He didn't have any female friends, so her name didn't ring a bell.
He gazed at the horizon, the mountain cloaked in mist and draped with wisteria. His thoughts lingered on his encounter with the blue-skinned woman. Why did he feel so at ease with her, as if she'd grown up alongside him? It was strange. He usually preferred solitude, yet her presence brought a warmth he hadn't realized he'd been missing. It felt as though he had finally found a long-lost family member. She even seemed to dislike his mother, which was odd. His mother was the most loved across the kingdom.
After a beat, the door to the hut opened again, and Ling Yue reappeared grinning from ear to ear as she slammed the door behind her. The door slowly creaked open, silver-white hair flowing out from the gap. Part of a fair-skinned face peered out, her eyes narrowing. "You're not going to test your crazy traps on me, are you?" said a melodic voice.
Ling Yue paused as if considering it, then cleared her throat. "I've got a special guest for you. But I should warn you—he's got amnesia."
The door slowly swung open, revealing a beautiful woman with long silver hair that flowed down to her waist. He had never seen anyone so mesmerizing. She was even more beautiful than his mother, the muse of many scholars' poetry.
She stepped out of the hut, her gaze settled on him as her eyes widened. After rubbing her eyes, she stared at him, mouth agape. Her eyes welled up, and her smile took his breath away. She darted toward him with arms outstretched.
Long Fei's back stiffened as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She must have mistaken him for someone else. He immediately backed away as her lips reached for his. His heart pounded as he felt a strange temptation to close the distance. He had never felt this way before.
Ling Yue clamped her hands around the beautiful woman's mouth and pulled her away from him. "Shui Yi, I've told you many times: keep your hands to yourself! My master has amnesia!"
Shui Yi brushed her companion's hands away from her mouth. Her cheeks flushed a deep red. She pursed her lips and furrowed her brows before letting out a soft breath. "Right… what's amnesia?"
Ling Yue groaned, running a hand down her face. "You... never mind. This is going to be more difficult than I thought."
Long Fei, still reeling from the unexpected proximity to a woman, slowly regained his composure. He cleared his throat. "I'm afraid there must be a misunderstanding. I must formally introduce myself. My name is Long Fei. Would you be the famous Enchantress?" he said apologetically, giving a courteous bow.
Shui Yi bit her lower lip, disappointment flashing across her face. "Oh... that's… that's not good. You don't even remember my name..." Her voice faltered as her gaze dropped to the ground, a single tear streaking down her face. A soft sniffle escaped her before she quickly wiped away her tears. She turned around, hands covering her face as she wept. A gentle breeze carried her silver hair to the side.
"Master..." Ling Yue gently scolded, "You made her cry." She placed a hand on Shui Yi's back. Tears welled up in her own eyes, and she too turned around, leaning her head on her companion's shoulder as she joined in weeping.
His chest tightened, and despite his confusion, his heart ached for them. He scratched his brow, raking his memory to understand how this misunderstanding could have come about, but found nothing. It was utterly baffling. One woman was blue-skinned; the other, an unsurpassed beauty. They were clearly not from his world. And yet, being around them felt so natural, as though the void he'd carried in his heart since birth had finally been filled. As though he belonged with them rather than the palace.
The two women continued to weep, as though the flood had been held back for far too long. Long Fei scanned their surroundings, unsure what to do. Even the wisteria drooped, like tears suspended in bloom. How did he manage to make two women cry just by showing up? This had never happened before. Maybe this was why he preferred to stay away from women. They both seemed convinced he was the person they'd been waiting for. Even his mother had been behaving oddly ever since he returned from the army camp. What was happening in his kingdom?
He rubbed the back of his neck, his shoulders slumping as he let out a sigh. Then he gingerly approached them. He gently rested a hand on Shui Yi's arm, the other patting Ling Yue's head in a rare, comforting gesture. His eyes softened as he spoke, his voice a low murmur. "I'm sorry, I cannot recall... but... I feel your pain. I wish I could remember." He hesitated, then added, "Perhaps we can make new memories together."
The words felt foreign coming from him. The whole situation was unfathomable, yet he felt responsible. It was a promise that would be hard to keep, but somehow he would deliver on it. His word was his bond.
Shui Yi placed her hand on his and gave him a sweet smile that made his heart melt. He fought the urge to withdraw his arm, not wanting to offend her. The way her beauty could disarm him made her dangerous. He may have to keep his distance from her from now on. She lived up to her reputation as an Enchantress.
Ling Yue wiped away her tears, then scrunched her nose at him. "Let's pretend I never had that little breakdown." Her face brightened as she jumped up with her fist in the air. "Yes!" she exclaimed, her cheerfulness infectious. "It's time for a new adventure!"