5.3 Random acts of odyssey

Shu XinYi was registering what was happening when he heard the angry voices ring outside the house. Only 2 seconds later it could be heard that a man was getting beat up. What the heck?! Shu XinYi couldn't comprehend. If the man could've broken free then why didn't he just run away? Why run into those men? Is he so sure that I will save him? No, he shouldn't be. Shu XinYi didn't know if it was his ego or his anger talking, but somewhere in his heart Shu XinYi was hurt.

Shu XinYi walked out of the house to see the situation. The burly men were all wearing only a cloth around their legs, their well built bodies were glistening under the sun. On the ground was a man wearing a black robe being kicked and shouted at by the burly men. Even if there was blood, it couldn't be seen through the all black the man was wearing.

I have no reason, Shu XinYi thought seeing as a burly man landed another harsh kick on the robbers gut. Shu XinYi didn't hear the robber cry out, like this beating was normal; expected even. Is he a masochist?

There were 5 burly men standing around the robber. The next second they weren't standing any longer. Shu XinYi had broken several bones on each of those men in about 10 seconds rendering them into a useless mess. There was only one man Shu XinYi knew to be a true masochist.

The farmers had already went back to their houses to save themselves. Shu XinYi bent down to raise the robbers face up. The face wasn't exceptionally handsome, not memorable. The thing that mattered to Shu XinYi the most was, there were no Pheonix shaped eyes that Shu XinYi had longed to see. Only scarred almond shaped eyes with black pupils. A dark elf. Not his amnesiac husband.

"Get up and go home. And if you are afraid of getting beaten up, then don't do things that make you worth one." Shu XinYi said in a disappointed tone. Even if this dark elf was not his man, he was still a man. Shu XinYi didn't want to have anything more with that man so he left to find his horse.

The dark elf also didn't try to stop him, he just wore an expression on his face that affected Shu XinYi in a way even he was unaware of. The dark elf seemed hurt, but also grateful.

Finding his horse Shu XinYi said goodbye to the old elf. In hopes to reach the capital in 2 days, Shu XinYi decided to head back. Just when he was about to leave, he heard the dark elf's voice from somewhere behind him, "Did you perhaps .. Did you perhaps, mistake me for someone else?"

Shu XinYi looked back to find the elf standing nearby, he seemed defenseless. Shu XinYi tunned back to focus on tightening the reins as he questioned, "What makes you think that?"

The dark elf slowly approached, but Shu XinYi didn't take an offensive stance. The dark elf was confident as he moved his hands to pet the white horse, saying "I saw disappointment on your face, when you saw me. People usually give me looks of disdain or hate, even pure disgust but I have never seen disappointment like yours. Or moreso, you were disheartened. Like the one you wanted to see was your most beloved, instead of me."

Shu XinYi softly laughed as he said, "Is it because you are a dark elf, that people show you disdain or is it because of your annoying behavior?"

The dark elf looked a bit embarrassed as he replied, "That.. I don't know. I am not usually like this, I don't steal. This was the first time I stole. I don't keep this .. hobby. Usually I just buy things."

Shu XinYi said mounting the horse, "Then why did you steal this time?"

The dark elf said in looking up to the sky, "It's been so long since I stepped on this land. I wanted to see if the people here have become more forgiving. I guess I want to learn something from my journey. The only problem is that this journey is long from over." The dark elf looked down to Shu XinYi and said with a polite smile, "The capital is far, I don't have a ride. Neither do I have the means to enter the capital. Master Calian, I hope you can assist me."

Shu XinYi became a bit vigilant now, how does this random robber know Calian, "Who are you?"

The smile on the man's face didn't falter, as he said calmly, "My name is not one I am fond of, so you may call me Saye. I abandoned my family a few years ago, now I am just committing random acts of odyssey. As for how I know you, no need to be vigilant. I am just able to catch the words in the air, you are more known then you think."

Shu XinYi didn't fully believe him so he asked Snow, "Who is he?"

For the first time in his life, Shu XinYi wanted to hug Snow after hearing it say, "Master, you should've figured it out. This is Huan WangZi , the northern dragon. He entered the kingdom disguised as an elf to see if the elves were really worth forgiving for the death of the second prince, who is also his brother. Huan WangZi , the first prince who ran away from home due to an event that occurred 26 years ago. Before you ask, I don't know what that event was. Even Bane didn't know much about what transpired 26 years ago. But the premise was that, WangZi believed himself to be indebted to the elves because of whatever happened. That's why he was ready to forgive elves for even such a grave crime. But thanks to Bane, and WangZi's identity as a dark elf, people-"

Shu XinYi cut in, "I get it. He was hated and abused everywhere he went. This may also be one of the reasons the dragons pushed for a war later. Saye saught war after losing faith of the elves' good will, or maybe he just gave up on morality all together. Explains why he was getting beat up without reacting, he thinks of that pain as well deserved for himself, because he believes himself as indebted to the elves. But even so, how much abuse can anyone really take without losing faith."

Shu XinYi could not doubt Saye's identity as his amnesiac husband anymore. Where would you find such a character who will take a beating and think of it as well deserved. Everytime. As for his eyes, Saye is wearing a disguise of an elf so obviously his features won't be his real features. Shu XinYi wasn't in a hurry to unmask his amnesiac husband.

Shu XinYi dismounted from the horse and said, "Well then, I never had a need for a travel companion, so don't let my first time be a disappointment. You don't have a horse, how do you suppose we'll travel?" Well he can't leave his lost and beaten up hubby behind.

Saye was a bit taken aback after this positive reply from Calian. He had never expected to be so hurt over the disappointed expression of Calian. Not only that, but he so easily looked away from Saye and walked away without looking back. Saye couldn't bare this, his heart hurt. Later he came to find Calian, only now. Saye felt weak when he was talking to this man. How can he not, knowing what he made Calian go through in the past?

Saye had asked with little hope. Saye thought himself to unworthy of asking Calian for help. Unworthy of even talking to him, being seen by him. But here Calian was, the military commander of the region who is faced with endless discrimination, smiling at Saye and offering him help. Why?

It is because of me that you have faced all that discrimination, if I told you this truth then will you hate me, Saye thought.

"You .. are you dumb? How can you even trust someone like me?" Saye said in a concerned tone. He couldn't comprehend this man.

Shu XinYi took a small knife from his sleeve and placed it on Saye's neck at lightning speed saying, "I choose who I want to trust. I trust my choices. Let's get us a ride, we will leave soon." Saying this Shu XinYi took away the knife and hid it again as he politely smiled to the dark elf, Saye.