Scene eleven:

Inside the carriage, Mua Kong handed Hli Ja a tube of waters . She looked at him and hesitated, he saved her and now she is drinking his water? Mua Kong nudge the tube signaling her to go head and take it . She finally took the water tube from him and took a couple sips .

Satisfied, Mua Kong asked softly, "Were you coming from somewhere?"

Hli Ja slowly put the tube down on her laps and answered, "Mm . . . A poor family who lives on the outskirt of the city came to fetch grandma right before midnight yesterday . Apparently, their baby had a high fever and seizures too . They couldn"t afford normal doctors . Grandma is old and so I offered to go in her place . I was missing one of the fever herbal ingredients so I made a trip in to the mountain to find it . I got back this morning, made the medicine and took care of the baby until noon . . . " She just realized something, she shrieked, "Ahhh . . . "
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Mua Kong was startled, he tensed up and asked, "Are you hurt somewhere?"

"My bag . . . my bag that has my weapons, tools and medicines . It is in the ca.n.a.l," She looked at Mua Kong with her big sad eyes .

Unable to help himself, he gave off a gentle smile and calmed her down, "We will get it for you . "

Hli Ja shook her head, "No, that"s fine . I can always get new ones . "

Mua Kong looked at the map of her house that she drew earlier, it looked like a child"s scribble . He furrowed his brows at the map and then at her and down at the map . She knew what he was thinking and sighed, "I"m an herbalist, not an artist . Herbalist don"t necessary need to know how to draw . "

Mua Kong chuckled at the Hli Ja . She did not have this big of an att.i.tude six years ago . She was more of a quiet and reserved tomboy, but the her now is more a.s.sertive and strong headed, "Seems like you had a long night and morning . If you want to, why not close your eyes and rest . I will wake you up when we arrived at your house . "

Hli Ja learned to read and feel vicious animals while living in the mountain . It is a skill that she was able to apply to human as well and since she didn"t sense anything bad from Mua Kong and his men, she closed her eyes and rest her head on the wall . Of course, there is no way she could sleep when there is a stranger sitting across from her . She only planned to rest her eyes and get some mental rest .

Mua Kong looked at the beautiful girl sitting across from him, a sense of warmth and happiness flooded his heart . The corner of his lips slowly curved up a little . Twenty minutes later, the carriage arrived in front of a little house . The front of the house is a shop and there are a few people shopping for herbal medicines . Through the window, one could see an elderly woman a.s.sisting the customers .

When the carriage came to a complete stop, Hli Ja slowly opened her eyes and glanced out the carriage window . Mua Kong got out when he saw Hli Ja opened her eyes . He waited outside to help a.s.sist Hli Ja down from the carriage .

They entered the gate into the house . As they got in to the front yard, through the window the elderly woman saw Hli Ja looked tattered, wet from head to toe, wearing a man"s cloak accompanied by a man to the house . Her heart dropped at the sight of Hli Ja . She rushed out and stood before them and exclaimed, "What happened to you?"

"Oh . . . Grandma, I fell in the ca.n.a.l . This gentleman here saved me and took me home . "

Grandma relaxed her expression after hearing that Hli Ja fell instead, "Go in, shower and change out of your wet clothes . "

"Mm . . . " Hli Ja turned towards Mua Kong with a complicated look, "Um . . Your cloak is a little wet . I"ll wash it but it"ll take some time to dry . If you don"t mind staying here until then . "

"Mm . . " Mua Kong nodded . She did not have to wash his cloak she can even keep it, but he needed a reason to stay .

When Hli Ja left, the Grandma turned to Mua Kong to study him . She squinted her eyes looking at the familiar tall handsome man standing in front of her . Her eyes slowly widened after a minute and at this time, Mua Kong smile gently and greeted, "Hi Grandma . It"s been a long while . "

Grandma put on a smile and invited Mua Kong to the back of house, "You sure have grown! Go have a seat . I need to help these two customers first and I"ll come make you some tea . "