Huang Dewei put away the book on the side table as he got up and sighed. The clothing he has been wearing all day was so heavy and he was exhausted by it now. He really wanted to get out of them, but he was asked to wear them till his bedtime. He was doing as much practising as he could. He did not want Wang Lei to be embarrassed because of him.

As night slowly approached and the sky was covered in a black blanket, he got up from his bed and walked inside the bathroom to freshen up. He took his time and when he came out, he saw Wang Lei sitting on the bed while reading something. Huang Dewei sighed as he walked towards him calmly. Wang Lei looked up at him and greeted him and then Huang Dewei saw the book he was reading. It was the book Fu Heng gave him. Huang Dewei's heart sank as his hand swiftly moved and snatched that book away from his hand.

'Before you judge me, I want to clarify that Fu Heng's teacher gave me that book.' Huang dewei quickly as he turned red with shame.

'I was not judging you. I think that is a good idea. I want to read it too so I won't hurt you while doing with you in near future and you should read it too and tell me what positions you will like or want to try doing in future.' Wang Lei suggested carelessly and Huang Dewei turned even more red at his sexual context talk as he bites his lips.

'Well still don't talk to me about it...I am embarrassed.' Huang Dewei said and Wang Lei sighed as he nodded his head

'Anyway, how is your training going?' Wang Lei asked

'It was fine...but these clothes are too heavy. I don't want to wear them.' Huang dewei complained irritated and frustrated.

'Well, in my presence I don't mind you are not wearing anything.' Wang Lei said as he smirk and Huang Dewei glared at him at his teasing comment while his ear turned even redder.

'Stop it, your highness. I am serious here.' Huang Dewei said as he warned him trying to save his reputation.

'Huang Dewei don't worry too much. You won't be wearing that on an everyday basis anyway since you will be my royal bodyguard in your uniform. You only be wearing this traditional clothing once in a while at the court hearing, gatherings or events. You will be fine.' Wang Lei said as he saw him struggling and he felt bad for him, but he was looking very pretty in these clothes even with an annoyed expression. He was looking majestic and magnificent. Huang Dewei nodded his head as he spoke up

'Thank you.' Huang Dewei said his supportive words while Wang Lei moved and touched the diamond pin on his clothes which his wife and concubine, all wears.

'You will be wearing this as well soon.' Wang Lei said and Huang Dewei looked at the pin and then nodded his head

'But I want to ask do I have to?' Huang Dewei asked and Wang Lei looked toward him and then nodded his head

'Yes, this is a sign for other people to give you respect and keep their eyes away from you.' Wang Lei said and Huang Dewei sighed as he nodded his head and spoke up.

'May I ask why you are here, your highness?' Huang Dewei said as he suddenly remembered to ask why he was here at this time of night in his room after many days.

'Yes, I came to get you. Zhi Feng got the guy we were looking for. We were supposed to get him, but we got late because of a poisoning incident. However, he caught him and put him in the secret room. We are going to meet him now so go and change your clothes.' Wang Lei said as he remembered why he came here and Huang Dewei nodded his head and then walked back to the bathroom. He changed his clothes and came back. He was wearing all-black clothes which they both always wear whenever they go out on their secret mission. He was back in his ordinary clothes and Wang Lei smiled as he felt he was looking more like the Huang Dewei he knew.

'Let's go then.' Wang Lei said as they both covered their mouth with the clothes and walked out. Huang Dewei followed him out for the first time he realised Wang Lei was not in his Emperor's clothing either. He quickly followed him as they climbed up the wall secretly and came out of the palace. They started walking right next to each other in complete silence as Huang dewei looked up and saw him wearing one of the hairpins he gifted him. He could not help and smile. When he thought of giving him a hairpin as a gift, he never imagined that he actually would wear those hairpins. As an Emperor, they were ordinary according to his appearance and status.

In the pin-drop silence, they quietly walked passed through the streets while walking towards their destination. In tranquillity, they walked past one street another and another then came out on the main road and entered the forest. Under the darkness of the sky, the forest looked more chilling and terrifying. The daunting atmosphere of the forest made a shiver go through Huang Dewei. He wonders where they were going. The coldness and horrifying darkness of the night could make even trees tremble in fear.

They took a long narrow path filled with trees and grass and soon after a long tiring and drained journey they reached their destination. It was a small house in the middle of the woods. Under the bright moonlight, the unknown house-made Huang Dewei anxious and worried. There was a wooden door at the front of the house and the yellow light coming from the window was indicating that somebody was inside.

Huang Dewei's brain was filled with various thoughts but he asked nothing as he followed seriously looking Wang Lei inside the house. They entered inside and saw Feng Zhi standing and waiting for them. They all greeted each other as Feng Zhi started walking without a word. They both followed him as he took them into a room along far down the corridor. The room was empty and filled with darkness; a small candle lit in the corner was providing light to the whole room. Huang Dewei looked around as his gaze fell on a man who was in his mid-thirties with a tall and healthy figure who was tied down on the chair in the middle of the room. The man looked up as he seem like he was already beaten poorly and Huang Dewei recognised that he was the Bolin man they were looking for.

'I beat him and tried getting out the truth from him but he is not saying anything.' Feng Zhi informed Wang Lei who nodded his head as he coldly stares at the man.

'I know nothing about who is killing those poor kids. I already told you how much I know about it.' Bolin screamed said in his defence while they all were staring at him. Wang Lei walked toward him and pulled his hair while he screamed in pain.

'You better tell us the truth because that will be good for you.' Wang Lei said ruthlessly and the man screamed in pain.

'Feng Zhi, go and get me hot boiling water...he wanted me to punish him.' Wang Lei ordered and Zhi Feng quickly nodded his head and walked out. Whereas Huang Dewei was a little taken aback by Wang Lei's heartless and cruel behaviour since he never saw him acting like this ever again. He was a man who had fought wars and battles and won them for Wang Dynasty so he knew how to torture his enemy or people but Huang Dewei still never had seen his this side. Huang Dewei was still shocked and stunned over realising how nasty and callous Wang Lei could be if he wanted to be, but he was only like this with the people who deserved it.

'Who are hell are you people? I already told you what I know. Spare me some mercy.' Bolin screamed as he begged for his mercy while Wang Lei was in no mood. Huang Dewei did not go and stopped him either because he knew Bolin could be the person who could help them reach the person who was killing these poor kids. To give justice to those kids' unfair death was more important than saving a man from torture...and to a man who might actually deserve all the pain and torment.

'Are you kidnapping those kids?' Wang Lei asked as he slapped him across the face...once...twice...and thrice...

'Yes. I kidnap them and then sell them at a brothel to Madam Si. However, someone else is buying from her...she told me about some really rich mysterious man. He took those kids and after some days they always end up dead.' Bolin said telling them all the truth he knew in one breath but Wang Lei slapped him again and again making his face swallow up red when Feng Zhi came back with boiling water.

'Put his feet in the water.' Wang Lei ordered and Feng Zhi nodded his head as he walked towards Bolin and put the water next to his tied-down feet.

'No...please...have your mercy on me...' Bolin cried as he begged, but Wang Lei paid no attention to his begging and pleading and Zhi Feng put his feet in the boiling hot water. Bolin yelped in agony while Huang Dewei was just standing watching all this happening. His heart was rapidly beating as seeing this much torture was too much for him especially seeing Wang Lei like this but he wanted to know the truth...He was here in the search of honesty.

'Do you think I will just believe whatever you will say...stop lying.' Wang Lei screamed as he hit him more.

'Trust...me...I am not...lying...That's all I know...I have nothing to do with those kids' murders...It was someone else.' A painful scream escaped from his lips as he tried defending himself against the horrendous allegations that were being made against him.

'Are you saying there is a serial killer who is killing all those kids?' Wang Lei asked about the doubt he have been having for a long time. He knew if someone killed one after another kid, that probably means that killer was a serial killer hence he was not dealing with someone ordinary. They were probably dealing with a manipulative, smart and heartless cold-blooded serial killer.

'Yes.'

'Who is he? Have you seen him?' Wang Lei asked the next question as he wanted to get as much information as he could from Bolin because after being satisfied with his torture, he realised maybe Bolin was not the killer he was after. Bolin looks ordinary, not very smart and a weak criminal who just kidnaps kids and sold them. Something as huge as serial killing, he does not look like he was capable of that. There was definitely someone else behind all of this.

'I met him just once...but not his face. He was covering it.' Bolin said Wang Lei looked dead in his eyes and he seem like he was not lying. Wang Lei signalled Feng Zhi to take out his feet from the boiling water and he did as he was told. Bolin felt relieved and ease went through his body but his feet were all red and burned...he still was in pain which was going to last him for a long time.

'Tell me anything you know about him?' Wang Lei demanded

'He looks tall and skinny...and he has long hair and he has a tattoo on his arms.'

'What kind of tattoo?'

'It looks like a moon and star.' Bolin said as he groaned in pain while Wang Lei just nodded his head as he looked at Feng Zhi whereas Huang Dewei felt his heart stop. That tattoo also reminded him of someone...about someone who was once very dear and precious to Huang Dewei.

'Find that tattoo shop for me where someone made this kind of tattoo for someone' Wang Lei ordered as he looked back towards Huang Dewei who look deep in thought. Bolin also looked up at Huang Dewei first time and he freeze. His mind was working fast as he stares at Huang Dewei dumbfounded and shocked. Huang Dewei felt his intense gaze and felt uncomfortable as he was already panicked and in shock over the information Bolin gave regarding the tattoo when he heard Bolin speak up.

'It's him...that man had his pictures painted in his room...all over his room.' Bolin whispered said as he pointed towards Huang Dewei as Wang Lei and Feng Zhi looked towards Huang Dewei who also seem to be surprised by Bolin's confession.

'What? Have you lost your mind?' Wang Lei said appalled and puzzled as Bolin shook away his head

'No...It was definitely him...Once Madam Si sends me to drop one of the kids at his house. I was taken with a blindfold and only allowed to open it once I was inside so I have no idea how I reached there. He examined the kid and pay me and I saw his room filled with pictures painting of a very beautiful man...it was him...it was his pictures...It was definitely him.' Bolin said as he confessed the whole story with confidence as he kept pointing towards Huang Dewei who was just standing expressionless. Wang Lei and Zhi Feng walked toward him

'Any idea what or who he is talking about?' Wang Lei asked and Huang Dewei shook away his head

'No, I have no idea...' Huang Dewei replied as he tried to stay calmed and nonchalantly he could about the man Bolin just told them about.

'Are you sure?'

'Yes, I think we are done here so let's go.' Huang Dewei said just steal away his gaze from Wang Lei and quickly walked out while Wang Lei and Zhi Feng looked between each other

'His reaction was strange. It looks like he is hiding something.' Feng Zhi said and Wang Lei nodded his head in agreement

'Or he is protecting someone.' Wang Lei said he thought hard because he kinda did not like Huang Dewei's reaction or the fact some man's room was filled with his painted pictures. That, someone, sounded crazy and psycho and Wang Lei did not want any involvement of Huang dewei with this kind of dangerous man. It was not safe for Huang Dewei.

'Well, what should I do about him?' Feng Zhi asked as he pointed toward Bolin

'Put him in jail and I will send out his punishment. He is still the culprit for kidnapping those poor kids and selling them. He needs to be put behind the bars too.' Wang Lei ordered him and Feng Zhi nodded his head

'You can't do that...I gave you what you want... just let go of me. You don't even have a witness against me.' Bolin screamed said upon hearing what they were thinking of doing with him and Wang Lei turned over towards him and then put down his mask as he revealed his face

'Well, I am the witness.' Wang Lei said and Bolin felt his heart stop working as his expression was filled with astonishment and dismayed upon seeing the Emperor of the Wang Dynasty standing in front of him.

'Your highness....' Bolin whispered shocked as he tried to bow down and greeted him while Wang Lei without responding back to his greeting, just turned over and walked out leaving Feng Zhi to deal with him. He came out and saw Huang Dewei waiting for him as he looked still deep in thought. He looked anxious and worried now. Wang Lei stopped next to him and they looked at each other. Their eyes were filled with questions but none of them asked anything from each other. In complete silence, they started walking again back to the palace.

The journey back to the palace was slow...They came out from the forest and were now walking through the streets...Wang Lei looked up towards him for few times and he wanted to ask about the unpleasant thoughts which were going through his mind, but he could not utter any words. Somehow he was nervous and hysterical because he has never seen him like this. He seems distracted and troubled...Wang Lei was sure that there was something which was bothering him and sooner or later he needed to ask him. Wang Lei thought as he sighed when suddenly heavy rain started pouring down from the sky.

'