128 Chapter 128: Skirmish (2/2)
A lightning storm crackled and blasted across the entire district, knocking scores of men off their feet. Being professionals, however, a good number of them were able to evade, jumping back to avoid the devastating web of electricity. Unfortunately for one side of them, a massive White Tiger had landed in their midst, maiming them and tearing them apart. Screams filled the air as the men in suits scrambled quickly to deal with the new threat.
On the other side, Aries, Taurus and Capricorn materialized to form a wall of horn and muscle between the girl and the men in suits. As expected of professional mages, they didn't back down and immediately bombarded the poor trio, bathing them in destructive mana. They wouldn't last very long, but I didn't need them to.
”Follow me,” I instructed the girl, grabbing her hand and dragging her toward my house. ”And don't let go of my hand unless you want to be burnt to a crisp.”
”Eh? What? What's going on?!”
The girl gaped at me, but we were through the front gate and in my courtyard, safely behind the fiery barrier. At the same time, my trio of Constellation spirits winked out, finally overwhelmed by the professional mages. White Tiger fared a lot better, but with reinforcements arriving behind him, even he wasn't going to last much longer as well. I quickly dismissed him as well.
”After them!”
As one, the men in suits charged into my house, ramming into the barrier and tumbling right into the courtyard. Every single one of them didn't hesitate, throwing themselves into my dad's territory in a furious attempt to get the girl.
”…!”
The girl tried to spin around to face them with her sword, but I kept my grip tightly on her wrist and pulled her back.
”I told you not go let go of my hand.”
”But…!”
”Just shut up and watch!” I snapped.
The girl wanted to protest further, but a spark caught her eye. Turning around, her jaw dropped when she saw the entire group of pursuing men in suits catch fire. Shrieking and bellowing, they fell onto the grass, which for some reason didn't catch fire (because the enchantment recognized them as friendly objects), their bodies ablaze.
Rolling about for a few seconds, their entire bodies engulfed in roaring flames, they screamed before they were incinerated completely, leaving nothing more than piles of ashes and soot behind.
”Oh, I'm going to have to clean that mess up,” I complained. The girl continued to gape in disbelief and I pulled her gently.
”Come on. Inside here. Once you're in the house you'll be safe.”
Turning toward the door, I spoke to the runes carved into the porch.
”Recognize this person as a guest, please.”
They glowed, and then I let go of her hand. The girl rubbed her wrist absentmindedly before sheathing her sword. She turned to stare at me.
”Just who are you?”
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
”Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking others for their names?” I replied.
”Ah…my apologies.” The girl lowered her head, her silver hair spilling over her shoulders and running toward her back. I noticed a few tears on her formerly pristine white dress, and a few scrapes and bruises. Evidently she didn't get out of the chase unscathed.
”Inside,” I repeated, jerking my thumb inside. ”We'll get your wounds treated, then you can talk. Maybe tell me why those men were chasing you.”
”Yes.” The girl followed me inside the house. After taking a seat on the couch, I brought a first aid kit to tend to her injuries. As I placed plasters on her scrapes, she didn't even wince. Clearly she had a formidable mental fortitude.
Taking a deep breath, she bowed her head.
”Thank you very much for taking care of me.” She was about to ask for my name again, but she hesitate, remembering my rebuke from earlier. ”I am Kureha Franklin.”
”Richard Huang,” I responded. ”Nice to meet you, Ms. Kureha.”
Inside, something trembled. Did she say Franklin? Her family name was Franklin? A faint memory of one of my most formidable opponents drifted to the surface of my mind. Shawn Franklin, who had bravely faced down Yuan Dao Yue Guang's wrath before he was mercilessly killed.
”Are you…perhaps from the Franklin family?”
”That's right.” Kureha nodded, her face tinged with sorrow. ”One of the ten great families, and the bloodline famous for producing the most skilled swordsmen and swordswomen in the Global Federation.” She placed a hand on her well-endowed chest. ”I am the eighty-ninth inheritress of the venerable title 'Sword Saint'.”