Qi bowed to his master before straightening with a warm smile. It had been quite some time since he had seen the man. Nearly half a year, at least. Him and Zen had been on the road for quite some time visiting different villages before they had been sent on their trip to Han.

"I am glad to see you are doing well, master," he said as he stepped forward into a quick hug, then began to follow the man as he turned toward the entryway to the palace.

He had met him there, surprising him slightly, since he hadn't announced that he had been coming, nor had he seen many people milling about that seemed to take notice of him with his hood up.

As they walked into the massive building Qi made sure to fall back slightly, giving himself plenty of room to react in case something wasn't right. He knew the man before him very well, but he also knew that something was definitely amiss, too. There were very few guards about and the ones that were there did not seem very well groomed or well mannered. He also did not recognize a single one.

It almost appeared as if they weren't guards from his palace at all. They seemed like they would be much more appropriate for guarding the Didui tribe borders.

Not that he had issue with how people wished to dress or behave, but he was not interested in playing into a trap.

"Master Lu?" he said after being lead through the first poorly tended courtyard.

There was no way his master would let such plants wither and die without true reason. When the man just gestured for him to keep following and said that his adoptive father was waiting to welcome him home, Qi nodded slowly and kept moving. He remained silent as he discretely looked around, then lifted one hand to tap at his lips, as if pondering his situation.

After a few moments he moved that hand to slowly tuck a few loose strands of his hair back behind his ear, leaving his palm cupped over it, muffling the incoming sound for a few moments before lowering his arm back to his side.

"Just inside here, your highness," minister Lu said as he stopped beside the large gold double doors that lead to the inner chambers.

Qi turned to the man and offered him one more formal bow.

"I thank you for your years of loyalty," he said, a slight edge to his voice that was extremely rare for his stoic attitude.

The old man before him clearly sensed it, but he quickly hid his unease with a respectful bow, then turned and opened the door for him.

Peace to you, old friend.

He was not surprised to feel a heavy gloom settle over his body as he stepped inside. His adoptive father, the king of his small kingdom, was also not there. At least, not bodily any longer.

The man's figure lay upon his bed far across the beautifully decorated room. His arms were crossed over his chest and his attention rested upon the ceiling. There was no soul in that vessel any longer.

Folding his arms within their opposite sleeves, Qi calmly began walking forward. He could sense cold eyes on him, but he was not worried. He knew who was present, and who had long-since gone.

He focused on remaining calm as he made his way across the massive room, then stepped up onto the raised dais where his adoptive father lay. His heart ached at the sight of the old man. Black curse marks riddled what he could see of his body. It was a spell he had become all too familiar with. It was what currently affected the toxin within his sweet Zen, and he had no doubt that it was used specifically for that reason. He had felt his love's anguish earlier, but thankfully it had subsided enough for him to be able to continue onward without needing to return to his side.

Of course, he'd hesitated and intended to go back and find Zen, but when the pain had dispersed, he realized that prince Yuen had likely come to his aid.

Take care, love. I will return to you as soon as I can.

Reaching forward, he gently closed the man's wide eyes, silently saying a prayer for him as he did so. He remained standing there quietly until he heard heavy footsteps slowly begin to approach from behind. When he heard the unnerving sound stop at the bottom of the dais, Qi slowly turned and looked toward the large man staring up at him.

The leader of the Didui tribe...

"Lee Shaan," Qi said respectfully, bowing his head slightly but remaining where he stood.

The well-muscled man pressed an arm to the middle of his chest and bowed deeply, then straightened. The thick pelts draping over his armored body swung slowly with the action, then settled as he returned his attention to him.

"Young master, Qi. It has been quite some time," he said, his deep voice resonating easily throughout the large room.

When Qi simply nodded in acknowledgement, Lee Shaan licked his lower lip and narrowed his eyes on him.

While his adoptive father had clearly been affected by the king of Han's curse, the man before him had ended his suffering with a well-placed stroke of his blade. He owed him, but he also knew what he wanted, and that was not something he could give.

"Come back with me," Lee Shaan said sternly, not one to waste his time with unnecessary words.

"I thank you for your assistance, lord Lee Shaan," Qi said as he carefully descended the few steps of the dais, ignoring the man's previous order.

As soon as he stepped down onto the red carpeted runner Lee Shaan was beside him, reaching up and brushing Qi's hood back from his face. He knew that the man wanted any kind of reaction from him, but he was hesitant to give him one. They had gotten along very well when they had first met, allowing them to eventually come to an agreement and quell the fighting at their borders.

Unfortunately, the man wished to get along much more-so than Qi did. There was already a man in his heart, though.

They had walked about halfway across the room before he felt fingers sift through his hair, their grip strengthening as they moved, silently warning him that his hair would soon be pulled if he chose to continue ignoring him.

Bracing himself, Qi slowed to a stop and looked over his shoulder. Lee Shaan wasted no time in weaving his fingers tighter into Qi's hair, then gripping it carefully but firmly.

"Your highness, we have been on good terms for many years. I have watched you grow into a soft-hearted, brilliant young man... and I know that your current situation is not one you are likely to be able to handle alone," Lee Shaan said as he allowed his hand to slowly descend until he was gripping the back of Qi's neck beneath his long hair.

Qi knew that he was on his own for the time being, considering that he'd only seen Lee Shaan's men guarding outside the palace.

No wonder master Lu had remained.

The man had likely negotiated with Lee Shaan to somehow try and help him, perhaps that was why the king of Han had not been the one to meet him, even after killing the emperor of their little country.

"I truly owe you more than I can ever repay, but I've nothing to offer at this time," Qi said calmly, though his heartbeat was already starting to stumble about in his chest.

Lee Shaan stepped in front of him and lifted his free hand at that moment, settling his thick, gloved fingers beneath Qi's chin.

"You are exactly what I have wished for ever since you came to our territory as a mediator many years ago," Lee Shaan said, making Qi blink a few extra times, then glance to the side for a brief moment before returning his attention to the man before him.

Lee Shaan moved his hands to grasp both sides of Qi's face as a grin grew upon his lips.

"You are even more beautiful when you are nervous," he said, making Qi quickly take a step backward and straighten out his robe, making the man's hands fall away from his face.

"I do apologize, but I truly am not able to return your affections," he said, his words making the man's eyes flash with frustration.

To his credit, Lee Shaan masked his anger quickly, which only made Qi more nervous. The Didui tribe was not known for its patience. Lee Shaan had been quietly but persistently pursuing him for many years. He had no doubt that he would no longer remain stoic with their current situation.

It was unfortunate that the man was so fixated on him, too. As far as looks went, Lee Shaan was extremely handsome and was excellent with a blade. He was also a master of the dark arts, but preferred to solve situations with words over fighting... as long as his tribe got the better end of the deal.

The final piece of the deal for all of their comfortable years of peace with the tribe of warriors, he now realized, was likely the man's intent on obtaining him.

"My lord, I thank you again for your kindness, but I must leave here now," Qi said as he slowly turned and began walking toward the door.

He could hear the man closing in on him quickly, no doubt disliking the fact that he'd turned his back on him, again. Qi counted his steps as they echoed loudly over his own, and when a thick arm swung around to his front, then jerked backward, intent on putting him in a headlock, he ducked, allowing him to dodge just in time before taking two steps forward and spinning around to face the man.

Lee Shaan stood there holding a thick length of Qi's hair, having taken advantage of the situation after having missed his original attack.

Standing straight, Qi took several calming breaths as the man before him gave a half-smirk and gently tugged on his captured length of hair.

"You do realize that if you step outside of this building, no one can save you," he said, making Qi swallow down the nerves that continued to grow within his chest.

I will not die. I cannot put my sweet Zen at risk from our switching curse.

"There is quite a large sum of money set upon your head, your highness. And while I am quite good at controlling my men, they are only human," Lee Shaan said as he calmly closed the short gap between them, then leaned forward until his mouth was nearly brushing his, making Qi's eyes widen in surprise.

He intends to cast a curse...

"Your soul to sheath, within my hands. Release to me, y—" Lee Shaan coughed abruptly as he stumbled backwards, reaching up as he moved a hand to cover his mouth.

Qi felt the tiny flecks of the man's blood from his first cough dotting the left side of his jaw and neck, but he remained stoic as he stared at the person currently hacking up blood.

"You...?" Lee Shaan rasped after spitting out a mouthful of dark red liquid onto the carpet.

Knowing that he was walking on very thin ice, Qi lifted his arms and clasped his right fist into his left hand, then bowed formally.

"I do apologize, but I had sealed my mouth before I walked in here so that no curse can harm me," he said, drawing a furious scowl from the larger man as he straightened back up and wiped his reddened lips.

Lee Shaan swiped his tongue along his bottom one for a second time as he stomped forward, not stopping until they were toe to toe and his right hand was painfully holding Qi's chin within its clutches.

"I should have known that you'd come in here as prepared as possible," he said, his words relaxed, even as his grip tightened bruisingly.

Qi wanted to respond, but he knew that the man would likely become more aggressive if he declined his offer again. So, he simply remained silent, allowing his eyes to lower away from Lee Shaan's gaze.

"Very good. You are not a fighter, your highness. You never were," Lee Shaan said as he released his chin, only to abruptly pick him up as if he weighed nothing more than a child.

As the man began walking toward the exit, Qi thought through a plethora of options. Most of them were illogical and discarded immediately, but several others were quite considerable for his situation. Of course, he knew that he couldn't just fight Lee Shaan one on one and expect to win, but he wasn't against trying if it came to that.

Qi allowed his eyes to drift closed as he began to chant silently. Normally it would be hard for someone to focus on such a task while being carried against someone's chest, but after years of training, he had no issue building his spell as he pretended to simply look over the man's shoulder.

They were nearly to the door before he leaned back, allowing his slightly-glowing eyes to meet Lee Shaan's curious light brown ones.

"I will say this only one more time. Lee Shaan, I cannot give you what you seek. Please put me down. If I die walking out of this palace without your protection, then that is how I wish it to be," Qi said as he felt his heart beat hard against his ribs.

He could see the man's mind working behind his eyes, trying to figure out which spell he had triggered to make his eyes shine. He wanted to know what he was up to, except, he truly did not want to be up to anything.

"Must I hurt you to save your life?" Lee Shaan finally said as he moved one of his hands a little higher on Qi's back, then guided him forward.

Qi allowed himself to be moved and eventually wrapped his arms around Lee Shaan's neck, settling his left cheek against the thick pelts as he felt the man begin to rub his back with his free hand.

"I know it is hard to accept the situation you have been forced into, but I am doing all I can to give you a chance to escape it with your life."

Taking in a deep breath, Qi smelled the cleaned hides beneath his nose mixed with Lee Shaan's woodsy scent. The man's assuredness and strength had always been a comfort when he'd had to go to the border for peace talks.

He let his breath out on a slow, quiet sigh before speaking.

"I cannot give you what you want from me," he said in a near-silent whisper that he knew the man could easily hear, considering their proximity.

He felt the hand against his back press him closer against Lee Shaan as the man sighed and turned his head to nuzzle his nose into Qi's long hair.

"Your highness..." Lee Shaan whispered quietly.

He could feel the man building up energy beneath his skin, making Qi's body tense.

"Say that you will not fight me on this. Please, tell me that you will just behave... at least until we are back in my territory," he said, making Qi's heart sink in his chest.

Lee Shaan was begging him to lie. One of the strongest warriors he'd ever known, and one of the most dangerous, was giving him so many chances to allow him to save him. He just wanted to get him out of danger first and foremost...

Pursing his lips, Qi shivered as a chill began to creep through his skin from where Lee Shaan's hand rested against his clothed back.

"I cannot."