“What do you want?” Liu Bugun quickly caught her hand. “Rogue!” She was unsure if he was a good or bad person, fearing she had just escaped one danger only to fall into another. “Who’s a rogue? Be reasonable. I am your…” Liu Bugun started to say he was her future husband but stopped, unsure of why she had left home. “You are my what?” Xu Caitong, still struggling, demanded. “Your savior. If it weren’t for me, you would have been violated by that scoundrel. Miss Xu, shouldn’t you thank me instead of hitting me?” Liu Bugun had seen Xu Caitong several times at the Xu residence, though always in secret, her image was deeply imprinted in his soul; he loved her.
“Savior? How do I know if you’re good or bad? Let go of me!” Xu Caitong demanded. “Please forgive my rudeness,” Liu Bugun quickly released her hand. “Hmph!” Xu Caitong rubbed her wrist, which was red and sore from his grip. “Miss Xu,” Liu Bugun bowed deeply to her. “How do you know my surname is Xu?” Xu Caitong asked, turning her face away. “You don’t know? Xu Fu and Xu Lu hired me to save you. I met Xu Lu on the road, and Xu Fu was severely injured by that scoundrel while trying to save you. Miss Cuilian is with them now,” Liu Bugun whispered into her ear, his warm breath brushing against her cheek and ear, making her heart flutter. “You’ve seen Cuilian?” Xu Caitong asked, her voice trembling, feeling the warmth of his chest against her back, fearful of this strong man beside her.
“Yes,” Liu Bugun said, turning her around to face him, capturing her hands behind her back, and kissed her passionately. Xu Caitong struggled, feeling violated, thinking she had been rescued only to be taken advantage of again. Her tears flowed into Liu Bugun’s mouth as he kissed her. “You’re crying?” he asked, releasing her hands to caress her beautiful face. “Let go of me!” Xu Caitong, filled with anger and resentment, pushed his hand away. Liu Bugun embraced her tightly, asking, “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Xu Caitong struggled in his arms, kicking with her feet. What kind of man was this? Were all men of this era so rude and barbaric?
Seeing Xu Caitong’s fierce resistance, Liu Bugun looked into her furious eyes and kissed her again. Xu Caitong, breathless from the kiss, pushed against his solid chest, panting softly. “Why did you run away from home?” Liu Bugun asked, unmoved by her push. “None of your business!” Xu Caitong retorted with a sob.
“You have quite the temper. Wouldn’t it be better to stay home? Running around the streets, look at how dangerous it is. If I hadn’t come to save you in time, you’d have become someone else’s bride.” “What does it have to do with you?” Cai Tong said irritably. “How does it not concern me? Come on, stop crying, I’ll take you back.” Liu Bugun approached, pulled Xu Cai Tong over, and helped wipe away her tears. Xu Cai Tong swatted his hand away and roared, “Don’t act like a cat playing with a mouse.” “What are you talking about?” Liu Bugun couldn’t understand why she was so furious and asked with furrowed brows. Xu Cai Tong surveyed the surroundings; it was pitch dark ahead. She wanted to find a way to break free from this man. In this place where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, no one would know if he killed her. Just as Xu Cai Tong was about to step away, Liu Bugun suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. “I love you,” he whispered softly in her ear. Xu Cai Tong was stunned; he loves her? Is he crazy? Before she could react, Liu Bugun, still holding her, leaped onto the wall and then gracefully floated down.
Chapter Five
Xu Cai Tong was carried by Liu Bugun as they leaped down from the wall. She felt both embarrassed and angry, and as soon as her feet touched the ground, she quickly broke free from his embrace. Suddenly, the sound of clashing blades came from the alley ahead, getting closer. Xu Cai Tong was speechless with fear, thinking it was people from the Yang mansion again, she clung tightly to Liu Bugun’s sleeve. The men from the Yang mansion were scarier than the man beside her; her expression changed slightly as she held onto Liu Bugun. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here,” Liu Bugun pulled Xu Cai Tong behind a large nearby tree. A heavily injured man staggered forward, chased by two men in black. “Where do you think you can escape to?” A hollow voice echoed. The injured man stopped, and the two men in black raised their swords. The man parried with his sword, the clash of metal chilling in the eerie silence of the night. One of the black-clad men quickly drew his sword and thrust towards the man’s face; the man blocked it, but the blade sliced his face, blood flowing freely. “You can’t escape, surrender,” the hollow voice laughed coldly. Liu Bugun pressed Xu Cai Tong’s face into his chest, not letting her see the gruesome scene. Xu Cai Tong struggled fiercely; although the man beside her might be frivolous, he wouldn’t harm her, and with him around, she’d definitely be safe, but how could she trust him wholeheartedly?
