18 Damsel and I (1/2)

Emperor Huizhong

Dragon Palace

He could hear them getting closer and closer by the second. The more he sped up, the greater the disturbance behind him, the leaves rustling and the ground thudding after him.

He slowed his pace and breathed for air. No matter how good his stamina was, after racing up and down for miles, exhaustion had to begin tempering with him. He looked up and noticed that it was getting dark. What were the chances that his entourage had caught on to his disappearance and sent out his military servicemen to look for him?

His keen ears suddenly picked up on something, giving him only seconds to prepare before a group of men in black appeared from behind the camouflaging vegetation, surrounding him. All of them held their sharp swords towards him, greatly anticipating to help him enter the afterlife earlier.

Huizhong also pointed his dragon sword toward them, slowly turning around in a circle as he assessed them with his steady gaze, considering where to start.

His eyes twinkled with dark amusement. ”Do you know that this dragon has a record of never losing?” He laughed to himself. ”I don't think today will be any different, either.”

These men did not seem to be strangers to his feats, as some of the tightly held swords started shaking in their shadowing owners' trembling hands. Utilising the instance of vulnerability, Huizhong briskly jumped forth. His menacing blade flashed as he brought it over his head then hummed a low swift tune when he brought it down.

Small screams and grunts littered the air as he maneuvered from one person to another, blood spattering with the end of each cry. As he sidestepped an approaching attack, the charge that was meant for him ended up slashing an ally of the men in black. He used his sword to parry with his next opponent, and a blade clashed against the tightly strapped metal on his wrists. As a shriek deafened their ears, sparks were sent flying into the air.

Avoiding a kick meant for him by throwing himself backwards, he swiftly coiled his body around before slashing the last man left.

Gore encompassed him as he breathed hard, his eyes flashing coldly as he scanned his surroundings, blade still out and on guard for any stragglers. Considering how little time it took to end them compared to the previous times, maybe he could regard his gongfu to now be ameliorate from the countless years of practising.

He pursed his lips as he surveyed the wreckage of bodies on the ground, their owners' eyes glazed and unseeing.

”Now don't look at me like that.” He accused the fallen body that held a blank stare towards him. ”I did warn you.”

Determined to resign himself from the revulsing scene, he wiped his bloodied sword using the clothes of a cadaver by his leg, staining the fabric with a dark descending color.

Without the sound of screams and clashing swords from before, the scene now seemed utterly silent. For a moment, he simply stood there in the stillness and quiet, nothing but the sound of his own breathing and heartbeat ringing in his ears.

The silence finally broke when he spoke aloud to himself. ”Huticah, you stole my father's heart and killed him without mercy. Count this as just the beginning,” he spat. ”Soon, your traitorous nation will be next.” He spoke valiantly, his voice heavy with anger and promised retribution.

Huizhong sheathed his sword and flung it to his back. With unrestrained anger that was effluxing within his veins, he felt like cutting their heads and feeding their carrions to hyenas. Huticah was his enemy and each and one of its people deserved death, innocent or not. He believed that his father's death was worth at least that much.

Frustrated by the woes that haunted his soul, he skipped the corpses.

The young emperor abruptly crouched in surprise as surges of pain began to shoot from his abdomen. Adrenaline had been pumping throughout his body that he did not realise that he had been wounded.

”Damn it.” He grunted and slogged his way towards the Borderlands' military camp. He trusted that it wouldn't be a while before his people found him.

”I have no money. I'm just a poor boy!” A feminine voice cried in desperation, catching his attention. He almost sought out the voice but chose to mind his own troubles instead.

Unanticipated mocking laughter followed the feminine voice. Why were men bullying a helpless maiden at this late hour? It was so typical of Huticah; so weak they were, yet eager to 'take', trusting that someone would save them.

Huizhong trudged to the left and rested against a huge tree, pressing his right hand on his wound to cease the bleeding. From the corner of his eye, he could see a tall, raddled man yank a helpless figure to the ground.

”Ahh…” The little person winced, causing the men to erupt into laughter.

”What kind of boy are you?” The man who had just pushed the victim to the floor scoffed. ”You are quite laughable.” Another bout of laughter made its way around.

This is the moment when Huizhong stepped forward. ”That's because she is a girl.” Others might be easily fooled by her clothing disguise, but not him. All his life, he had seen Princess Yang Liu pretend to be a boy, so identifying her gender was effortless.

By the time the surprised men whipped around and thought to ready themselves, it was already too late.

How he pounced on them, who he beat, how he flew in the air or even broke bones, it was all a blur. He only remembered when it was done with, only to find himself standing before a damsel in distress. She lay on her stomach with her ears covered, trying to silence the ugly world that so wanted to torture her.

He looked down at her cooly. ”Boys don't cower away like that during a fight,” he said, nudging her leg carelessly. Her huge eyes looked up to meet his, and slowly, the biggest of smiles spread across her face, clear appreciation glowing from her pupils. He frowned.

As if being careful to not strain her back, she pushed herself up slowly, struggling to lift herself like a child who was learning to stand up by herself.

Remembering himself, he was quick in pulling his cloak hood and draping it over his head, concealing his identity.

”My saviour.” A small sound that appeared to be a giggle escaped her as she wrapped her small arms around his sturdy body. He tried to keep his balance but stumbled backwards due to her weight, which was profusal due to his circumstances. He sucked air through his teeth and pushed her away. Not giving her another look, he turned and walked away.

”You are bleeding,” she called from behind, sympathy dripping in her tone.

He didn't reply but continued to stagger along. Although he tried to increase his unsteady pace, she still caught up to him.

”How did you defeat all of them so fast?” She reached for his coat with the intention of bringing him to a halt.

He moved away. ”A girl should not walk alone at this time of the day,” he reprimanded and tried to increase his strides.

”Girl?” She choked, the surprise causing her to miss a step. ”I'm a boy!” She was quick to deny by trying to spin tales about how she could have killed them all if he did not show up.

He sighed, not bothering to respond. She was too loud and tiring to be around.

”I will be leaving first,” he said, hinting that her companionship was unrequired. Her face turned sullen.

To give himself a head start in arriving at the military camp before he could faint due to blood loss, he started running.

”Wait!” She shouted from behind but he was already done with her. It was no crime to save someone, but she was making it one for him. He ran through the woods with much determination but soon, his vision became hazy, a fog clouding him while darkness took over...

”Young sir!”

He later felt his body being rocked back and forth but felt too warm and fuzzy to answer back.

It felt like only a few minutes had passed by when he opened his eyes to a lit stygian room. He blinked away the blurriness that obscured his vision, but still, his eyelids were heavy with drowsiness. The room was stuffy with the pervasive smell of blood. He looked around at the messy room which had discarded wine bottles all over and didn't recognise any of it. How had he gotten there?