Every Lifetime I Fall {COMPLETED but undergoing revisions}

Chapter 70: Fourth Life - If You Could Only Remember

"Such a nice day today." Smiling to myself, I walked down the outside corridor from Master's chambers to the stream on the outer walls of Bleak Night. Carrying a woven basket of Master's clothes, I planned on washing them in the cool water.

Master was essentially a powerful, immortal, supernatural being, which meant there wasn't much for me to clean or do. Master did not have much of an appetite, so I only served him tea. Master never became dirty over months, so I didn't prepare him baths. But one thing Master did need my help with was washing his clothes. Not because he had an overwhelming smell or was of sloppy character, but his constant fighting with humans and demons left so many blood stains on the clothes.

I have only met two demons in my lifetime and was scared to death, yet Master sought out demons and killed them fearlessly. Master really was an amazing hero, gracing this world with his existence, and I was happy to help such a person. I didn't understand much about Master's rivalry with the Immortal Sects, but he didn't dedicate his life to killing them. Master also helped the people by providing farmland and donating silvers to aid the poor.

A dagger sliced through the air causing a ringing sound of metal to penetrate my ears. My hold tightened on the basket of clothes as the dagger flew with incredible speed at my face.

What do I do?!

Too unskilled to react, I closed my eyes wishing that I had lived more diligently. Hopefully, the dagger would not cause me too much pain as  I die.

"Why didn't you move?" A low voice spoke in a harsh tone.

Opening my eyes, I felt the shivers down my spine. It was Lord Wu who held the handle of the dagger in his hand.

Oh my God! He was trying to kill me! Again!

"Lo-- Lord Wu!" I said, bowing my head.

Eyeing me up and down, he stared at the basket of clothes.

"You don't have any form of martial arts... Very poor skills."

Swallowing my nervousness, I felt my body become stiff.

"Tell me. Who are you?"

"This lowly's name is Rong Xin. Master brought me here from Pingfan village."

"What are your intentions for being here?"

"Intentions? This lowly has no intentions. I just want to be a good maid for Master."

"Really?"

"Yes."

He crossed his arms, still eyeing me with skepticism. "I'll trust you for now."

Oh, thank goodness.

I let out a breath of relief.

"May I take my leave, Lord Wu?"

"Mm."

Walking around him, I continued my way to the stream. Looking over my shoulder, I was paranoid about Lord Wu trying to kill me with my back turned. Instead he stood there, watching me take every step.

Why does he want to kill me so much?

Entering the forest, chirping of birds and rushing water from the stream allowed my heart to beat steadily again. The trees blocked the sun from being overbearing. The hot summer weather was bearable because it was always cool inside Bleak Night. However, we suffered from the heat as soon as we stepped outside the sect's grounds.

Setting my basket to the side, I splashed the cool water onto my face. Wiping myself dry with my sleeve, I grabbed a robe from the basket and immersed it into the stream.

Suddenly hearing splashing from the flowing water, I looked to my left and found a half naked Lord Wu pouring water over his body with a big wooden spoon.

"Ack!" I let out a weird sound. I was too shocked! His glowing tanned skin and muscular stomach was too much to witness. I could hear the thumping of my heart in my ear drums.

"Lord Wu! What are you doing?"

"Can't you see? I'm trying to cool down."

"Bu-- But I'm right here!"

"So what?" He paused and said, "Your clothes is floating down the stream."

Oh, no! Master's robe!

Stepping into the water with loud splashes, I raced after the robe. Following the robes down the flowing stream, I wasn't careful and slipped on a rock. I felt its slippery surface as my foot slid, and I fell sideways into the water. Taking a huge gulp of fresh water, I sat up and spat out what was left of it in my mouth. Quickly reaching out, I grabbed the floating clothes and returned to my basket.

I found a laughing Lord Wu who had the biggest smile that reflected the shine of the sun. He looked nice when he was smiling. He looked a bit mischievous even.

"I-- I'll come back when you're done bathing," I managed to say while wiping the wet hair off my face.

Lord Wu continued laughing and said, "Why do you wash Zi Huo's clothes anyways? He throws them out regularly."

"Ah, I don't know. It's the only thing I can do for Master." I stuffed the robes back into the basket and climbed out of the stream.

I heard Lord Wu made his way out of the stream as well. The sound of water pulling away from his athletic body and the way his eyes became silvery seductive tugged at my unstable heart. With the basket in hand, I hunched over to avoid looking at Lord Wu. His bare chest came to a stop right in front of me, and the water dripping from his chin and hair landed on Master's clothing.

"Lor-- Lord Wu?" I took a step back, almost stumbling back into the water.

Lord Wu pulled my arm and his low voice whispered, "Careful, you don't want to fall back in."

Removing myself from his hold, I nodded hoping that he wasn't going to try anything.

"I like you better like this." He leaned his face toward me, observing every inch. Intimidated by his stare, I avoided his eyes. "Although a little spice doesn't hurt."

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

We- Weirdo!

"Do you not remember me?" Lord Wu grabbed my hand and held it so delicately, making me drop the basket of clothes to the ground. Rubbing his thumbs along the skin of my hand, I felt a sensation of energetic tingling throughout my body.

He looked down at where our hands connected. A look of perpetuate melancholy became noticeable on his face. I thought perhaps he found comfort in holding my hand, and decided to stay still while his mind was gone. He really was delusional, but I wondered what made him like this.

"Of course if you remembered, you'd probably hate me." He half smiled, although I could tell that there was pain behind his comment.

I don't know him. I've never met him in my life. I've never seen anyone like him inside or outside of Pingfan. Master was the first man I've met that wasn't from the village.

"You have the wrong person." I pulled away and yelled, "I have to go!"

Picking up my basket, I ran back to Bleak Night. If rumors were to start that I was trying to seduce the Captain of the Night Ravens then I was afraid Master would kick me out. Yet, the sadness in Lord Wu's eyes made me curious as to who he was talking about. Had he met someone who looked like me in the past? It didn't make sense since he was alive for hundreds of years. Could it be possible that like Ming Yan to Master, Lord Wu saw me in that way?

Preposterous! It could never be.