记得

Huang chuckles as he makes his way through the valley. He travels alone and with only his trusty sword. It isn't unusual for him to be bombarded with questions on the rare occasions when he enters a village. So many people crowd about him asking him how he survives with only a sword. They question him of demons and temptresses and warriors and evil priests and he doesn't care to tell them – but he does. He tells them so they don't follow him with reverence in their eyes and so that the women abandon their doubts of him.

His face contorts into a vicious smirk. The women of the villages revere him, staring adoringly and sighing in their delirium. Huang has every intention of spending his time in the women's company despite having become engaged. Kun, the imperial leader, has arranged for him to marry his daughter Yanmei. He has no intention of turning his back on such an arrangement but he has no intention of giving up his pleasures because of it.

He lifts a branch and passes under it. To his right is a river that gleams white by the reflection of the light on its clear surface. He doesn't spare it a glance as he continues forward. The sun still has an hour or so before it must be slaughtered but a village is before him. He casts it a distasteful glance. He rarely visits villages; the inhabitants annoy him to no end. Their questions have all been asked before and it isn't as though his answer will make a difference to their pitiful lives.

He nearly turns away; ready to continue walking, when laughter is brought to him by the wind. He pauses and looks over the river to find two women. He can tell since they're washing clothes. The first girl, the closest one, is who he watches. From his place on the opposing river bank he can only watch her. She has long black hair that flows loosely down her back – she hasn't tied it well. Her clothes are pale despite her crouched position at the muddy bank. She must care for her appearance to still have such clean clothes despite her chores.

She has her back to him so he can't see her eyes. He's sure that they're beautiful just by what he has seen of her. He doesn't know her yet she has managed to capture him. His menacingly dark expression softens and soothes as he watches her. She nods to her companion before laughing once more. She covers her mouth – he finds the action endearing – to stifle her giggles but the one eye that is visible to him gleams with mirth.

She pulls a garment from the river and places it into the basket at her side. She laughs with her companion one more time before picking up the basket and heading into the village. She carries the basket on her right hip so she can watch the ground carefully. It would do her absolutely no favours no trip and soil the clothes. Her step-mother would never forgive her for it. She doesn't mind because her sickly father clearly loves her step-mother. She smiles, batting her eye lashes towards the ground as she thinks fondly of her father.

"Oh, yes, master!" Lei exclaims. "Right this way."

Lei scurries past an empty room as he leads Huang to a room. Huang pauses at the doorway and watches the sole inhabitant curiously. She pauses and lowers the wood before turning to him. He smiles at the sight of her eyes and starts to follow Lei once more. She moves to follow him but stops herself. She forces herself to forget about her curiosity and returns to her chores. However, no matter how hard she works she can't forget the strangeness of their encounter.

She knows her chores well so she allows her thoughts to wander as she works. Her mind replays the image of him watching her in such a curious manner. She focuses on every detail of the scene. She knows everyone in the village and he is unknown to her. His clothes are different, more detailed and finer than any of the villagers. She ponders his circumstances and status.

The sound of footsteps reaches her in the quiet house. She drops the wood and looks out the doorway. The footsteps are hurried, sounding different than they usually do, yet she thinks she knows who it is. She severely hopes that she's right because the thought of being scolded revives fear in her heart.

"Lei, wait, please," she calls to him as he passes.

"Eh?" he frowns, kneeling by her side. "What is it? I am busy you know."

"I don't mean to keep you from your work. I'm sorry to be a disturbance," she nods. "Who is that man? I've never seen him before."

"Ah, that guy," Lei nods sagely. "He's a travelling warrior. His tales are marvellous… Don't worry, he won't be here long. Now, get back to work Ching Lan; no slacking."

"Of course, cousin," she says, obediently.

She smiles warmly once he's gone. Lei's trust in him does little to calm her worries as to who he is and what his intentions are but knowing even the slightest piece of information has soothed her. Whether he is an ally or a foe is yet to be known, but for now she's content to continue without glancing over her shoulder every second or two. Her step-mother wouldn't accept such behaviour. So now, not only can she relax and continue with work, but she needn't fear being scolded for slacking off.

Ching Lan grins. The day has been so far good to her.

Huang frowns as he sits on the uncomfortable mattress of dried grass. The stray blades poke and prod at him mercilessly. He rests his head on his hands as he peers at the dusty ground intently. He should stay indoors to avoid the havoc of proposals, wide-eyed children and delirious men with impossible dreams. He knows that staying indoors is for the best but he can't help but feel a pull drawing him away from the room.

After seeing her for the first time he had found himself drawn towards her. He certainly couldn't tear his gaze away from her. To him she is beautiful and elegant. He needs nothing else in life. This pull is different from when he had seen her. When he saw her it was simply curiosity. The pull he feels now is almost impossible to fight. He can't ignore it or push it away. The feelings and the thoughts are there in his head and they're unwilling to relent. He growls in frustration, pushing away from the torture device that is the bed.

This pull is driving him closer and closer to insanity. He doesn't know what is causing it or why it even began in the first place. All he knows is that he will lose his mind if he continues to disobey the urge. He claws at his hair to try and distract himself. The thought of what the cause may be still eludes him but he intends to find out.

Huang sets towards the door when a voice stops him. He turns around warily and finds Ching Lan outside. She's kneeling by some vegetables and tending to the leaves. Her movements are careful and precise. He narrows his eyes suspiciously and sets forward. He stops at the window but his eyes are fixed on her and her alone. She is what this feeling is directing him to. She is what he finds himself longing to be next to. He wants to cast aside his feelings and simply choose his own path but he knows that it could never be so simple. He frowns, resigning himself to watching her.

Author's Note: Yes, this is another three-shot. This story won't be left for a long time like the last three-shot which I had written. This one will not take so long and it will be of a reasonable quality. I do hope that you enjoyed what you read and I apologise for the lack of tones. I do detest when tones are not used but they will not have a place in this story. I do apologise sincerely to you all. You will find a list of meanings below to ease your confusion. Thank you for reading.

Huang – Imperial, August, Majestic.

Ching Lan – Beautiful Orchid.

Lei – Thunder.

记得 – Remember.

The time period is most likely in the later stages of the Shāng Cháo – Shang Dynasty. It has also been known as Yīn Dài – Yin Dynasty.