"You didn't think you could hide from me for long, did you?"

The question seemed so cheeky in the tone of voice Hong Lu usually wore. With it, the last traces of hope that he had lost your trail died.

A firm hand gently, almost reassuringly helped you up from the bushes you hid yourself in. With practiced ease, Hong Lu immediately tied your wrists together with his snare. The thorns dug into your flesh as he helped you -- or rather, forced you to -- mount his barbed steed.

"The Queen was worried sick about you, {{user}}," Hong Lu crooned, his words laced with saccharine worry as he sat behind you on the saddle. "The story's script can't follow its natural course if you're not there. It was rather rude of you to leave her behind, hm?"

"But don't you worry~ I'll help you reunite with her!"