223 Retrea (2/2)

”Tsk, all this trouble for one kid.” A man's coarse voice complained.

”Quit complaining and just follow your orders.” A resounding smack sounded as the man hit the other on the back of his head.

It was only two men. She could take them out. For half a heartbeat, Rin stood still as stone. Her sweaty fingers curled around the hilt of her sword. The men's footsteps drew closer and closer…

”I'm just saying. I mean, who would believe one kid could…” The man's eyes widened, and he suddenly stopped to grab his throat, blood seeping between his fingertips.

Before the man beside him had any idea what had happened, a sharp and piercing pain plunged through his chest. He stopped short, his eyes surprised; his sword dropped from his hand, and his free one felt at his chest. He looked down stupidly from his ribs, then his eyes glazed over. When he looked up, his breath hitched as a pair of emerald eyes filled with cold, murderous intent stared back at him.

”You…” He whispered before the sword dug deeper into his chest, and his words were disrupted by blood and he collapsed.

Staring down at their bodies, Rin's eyes narrowed. She had never met either of the men. And yet, just before she killed him, he had seemed to recognize her.

Before she had time to think, Rin had heard a man's voice from behind her.

”The sound came from over here!”

A cold glint flashed across her eyes as she slowly turned around to face five Tuhan men. Their bulky and tall bodies were bundled in greasy bearskins, their large hands clutching tight to their axes. Rin saw their eyes glance down at the slain bodies beneath her before glancing back up. When their gazes met, the Tuhan men's eyes shot open even more.

”You're stronger than you look, boy.” The burliest of the Tuhan men gave her a slimy smile and watched her greedily. ”Though as strong you may seem, you're outnumbered now.”

Rin's eyes observed the men's movements with cold eyes as they slowly began surrounding her. Their snickers echoed on all sides.

”Come with us peacefully, and we'll pull back our army.” The Tuhan man grinned at her through a mouth of brown and broken teeth.

Hearing his words, Rin fought back a sneer. Pull back their army? After raiding and killing without mercy, they were willing to retreat so easily?

Again, they were looking at her with the same expression as the others. Nothing more than greed, excitement, and wonder.

It was a sickening gaze. A gaze her Uncle, Li Chang, used to look at her mother.

A trace of murder flashed across her almond-shaped eyes. Calmly, Rin picked up the sword from the corpse on the floor and closed it around her fists. With two swords, in both hands, she declared her stance. She made no sound, but her emerald eyes spoke a craving for blood.

The men were taken aback by her silent defiance but still smiled confidently. Holding the axes in their hands, they were all ready to knock the young man out...when one man was cut by the throat nearly ripping the head off of him!

The attack was all it took to wake the men. Rin stepped back quickly and stretched both swords out to distance herself.

”Bastard!” A Tuhan man angrily charged toward her.

Rin swung her sword at the man's face. She heard his nose break and saw the spurt of blood. The man flung his axe wildly, hitting only the air, as he collapsed. Rin stared at the three remaining men. Her chest rose in ragged breaths, but her eyes looked at them wildly.

She was stronger of an opponent then they thought!

Glancing at one another, all men nodded their heads and looked back at Rin with intense glares.

”Aaargh!” At the same time, they all charged, unaware of the cold smile spreading across her face.

If they wanted to fight her so badly, then so be it. With both swords in her hands, Rin sped forward!

…

Steel sang, sparked, and scraped through the air. Before long, only one figure stood. Gasping heavily with clouded eyes, Rin stared at the ground. Sweat had stuck strands of her dark colored hair to her forehead, and her grimace made her look more tired than ever.

Her head still rang with the fierce anguish of the emotions she encountered; she breathed deeply in the air. Blood, grease, and sweat invaded her nostrils.

Through her ragged breaths, she could detect the sound of a horn. Looking up, Rin heaved a deep sigh of relief.

”Thank goodness,” She leaned tiredly against the stone wall.

The Tuhan army had retreated.