Happy New Year readers! Enjoy the first half chapter for the year!

As her stolen steed galloped through the forest as it pleases, Lin Ling raised her head. She can feel the cold and wet night breeze on her cheeks. She urged her horse forward because it is the only way for her to ride faster. The faster it gallops, the quicker she'll get to meet him.

The sun will soon rise, and Lin Ling finally reached her destination by the hillside. The banner flying high above the encampment bears the emblem she is familiar with. It was Arthur's! She can feel and hear her every heartbeat and breathing clearly now. At every quivering of her body, she can feel her jubilation just imagining how they'll meet. What kind of surprised expression would he show when she shows up right at his doorstep?

She urged her horse to pick up the pace, and rushed towards the encampment's entrance. While she suppressed her excitement, Lin Ling quickly dismounted and headed straight towards the camp.

"Hey! Who are you! Halt!"

She heard a familiar voice from the sidelines calling out to her. Lin Ling turned her head, and revealed a relieved smile. She waved happily at the familiar face.

"Ramorak! I'm back!"

However, Ramorak only looked dumbfoundedly at her seemingly friendly wave. It seems like he does not recognize her.

"Who are you? How did you know my name?"

Lin Ling kept smiling unknowingly.

"Ramorak, I never knew you can crack a joke looking at how serious you usually are! Seriously, stop fooling around. Where's Arthur?"

Ramorak's expression turned dour.

"Me, fooling around? Just who are you?"

Lin Ling beamed even brighter.

"Ramorak, your acting is really impressive! How come we never found out about this talent of yours?"

"I do not understand what you're talking about, miss."

His gaze turned strange.

Seeing how serious his expression is, Lin Ling was dumbfounded. His acting was way too real. Besides, Ramorak is not one to crack jokes. Could it be that his brain got fried?

"Stop fooling around already. I'm going to go see Arthur."

She was a bit confused at his reaction, but her current priority right now is to see Arthur. So Lin Ling swept her confusion aside and stepped forward.

SHUA*---

*sfx sword unsheathed

All of a sudden, Ramorak unsheathed his sword and blocked her path.

"Although I do not know of your identity, but should you come any closer... Even if you are a woman, I will not show any mercy."

"Are you crazy! Ramorak!"

Lin Ling stared at the glinting tip just a few centimeters from her, and anger bubbled from within. Looks like she was right after all, his brain must have been fried.

"What is going on out there?"

A cold voice pierced the sky.

She trembled slightly from the voice. Her line of sight went past Ramorak, and her gaze fell onto a golden-haired man that she yearned to see. She stared at him in a daze, as though she has seen the most wondrous of all things in this world. It was as though he was the embodiment of the most wonderful glow there is. It was as if he was the solitary blooming rose in this world. The expression he has siphons her breath away*.

TL: Yes, the Chinese was so bombastic, I knew I had to maintain it. Yea!

She could almost predict what will happen next. He will frown, and put up a disagreeable attitude that speaks otherwise. He'll say,

"Stupid woman, back so early?"

Just like she predicted, he did frown. His expression turned icy cold and with an equally chilly tone, he spitted out three words.

"Who are you?"

Lin Ling took a deep breath. The autumn's night breeze had an icy taste to it. The cosy, warm feeling she previously had was quickly replaced, as though someone had poured icy cold water over it. That chilling feeling spread all over her body.

Could Arthur be joking too?

"Arthur... This joke is not funny at all."

She spoke up nervously.

"This brazen, ridiculous* woman! How dare you address His Majesty by name!"

TL: He says that she is making no sense.

Ramorak cried out from the sidelines.

"What is wrong with all of you? Arthur, it's me, Lin Ling!"

She cried out in panic as she looked at them in the eye.

"Please stop scaring me like this! Where's Lancelot? Tristan? Where are they?"

"Woman, you actually knew my knights' names."

Arthur's expression turned even more inexplicable.

"You must be a Roman spy."