s.h.i.+hong is a woman...?Xing"s eyes widened with surprise and she wanted to shout out loud when her kick made her realise the truth but before she could react, s.h.i.+hong pushed her to the ground with her still on the chair, grabbing her neck and Xing fell down and the back of her head suffered a heavy blow by the sudden hit, making her vision go dark for some time.
"Yes, I was a woman and you won"t be for long because...", Xing could only hear half of what s.h.i.+hong said and her ears were ringing and before she could compose herself, she felt s.h.i.+hong"s lips on hers and he slipped some fluid inside her mouth. Xing tried to resist swallowing but s.h.i.+hong"s suffocating grip made her swallow that unknown fluid.
Xing had never come across this poison and right now she could only feel the hammering pain in her head and by her side she could feel the fire getting closer and the roof looked like it would collapse any moment.
"Burn her... Destroy her blood...", the G.o.d in the halberd was still chanting.
Xing squinted her eyes to see s.h.i.+hong on top of her and he was holding a small dagger and inched it closer to her cheek, "A mark here would do good on that pretty face. A slit like you deserves this", he laughed hysterically.
"No... Burn her... Don"t touch her blood...", the G.o.d shouted making Xing wonder if her blood is some sort of Poison.
Oddly, s.h.i.+hong listened to the G.o.d and threw the dagger and that"s when the G.o.d became hysterical, "Fool... You wasted time.. Let"s go... Pick me up... He"s here... Now! But... Burn her... First! Burn!"
Xing saw s.h.i.+hong panicking too and she saw him wave his hand and and the fire spread faster towards her and her sleeve caught fire. It looked like s.h.i.+hong could borrow the power of the G.o.d in the halberd or more like the G.o.d can use his power through s.h.i.+hong.
Xing could not move and lying on her back with her entire body hurting, she lost all hope. She saw s.h.i.+hong standing up and giving a satisfied smile looking down on her and she saw him picking up the halberd and walk through the fire and disappear.
I lost! And I"m dying!
In the building that would collapse any moment that was engulfed in flames, Xing turned to the side to see her long silk sleeve that was sprawled on the wooden floor slowly burning and she didn"t even have the energy to put out the fire.
Xing expected that person who saved her previously in the Heavenly Flowers Palace save her now too but only her last ounce of hope was extinguished when the roof started to crumble above her.
"How long are you going to lie there? Is it so comfortable there? ", a supercilious voice was heard from her side and she could feel someone stomping sedately on her sleeve that caught fire.
Why is this voice so familiar?
"Get up!", his voice was so domineering and Xing sat up instantly. Even she was surprised how suddenly she got that energy.
Xing looked at the guy in his crimson robes and face covered in a mask and there was an aura of familiarity.
Now where have I met him before..?
"Still not standing?", he extended his hands and only then Xing remembered the countless times this man had said this phrase before after making her train to the extent she hated her life all the while locking her up in that cave. The one who taught her the double sword technique.
"Master Yuan!", she called. She didn"t know why she forgot his voice, name and most things about him till now but only remembered the training. He had treated me like a slave in the past and me in the urge to learn sword techniques didn"t even mind!
She still does not remember his face... Did he ever show it? And how is he here, helping me?
"You are starting to remember...", he gripped her hand and pulled her up to stand.
Xing felt a rush of blood to her head and tried to look at the man"s face but she could not as it was all covered and she heard him speak in an accusing tone,
"You defiant Child! You disobeyed every teaching of mine. You killed, you made a deal with a G.o.d and are you going to start a war next?"
Xing just stood with her chin touching her chest. She had never talked back to this Master. Even her other Master He and that Tiger G.o.d will get her satirical remarks but she never talked back to this master of hers.
" How can you be blamed when it is the fault of the blood in you", he sighed and Xing could feel the deep sorrow embedded in his voice.
Xing looked at her Master, What"s with everyone mentioning my blood like it is something weird? And are Master"s eyes amber coloured or is it the fire reflecting in his eyes? Aww... he used to be sooo big. Now he"s the same height as me! Wonder if I could beat him now...
Xing felt her knees go weak again and she swayed. Her Master held her by the shoulders, "Look, kiddo! Long story short, your blood can break almost any spell. Right now your precious one is under a spell thinking that his brother is responsible for your death and about to do the thing you despise. Now go and save both of them. You are poisoned but you won"t be allowed to die. I have other things to take care of ", he said and picked her up and let her outside her burning courtyard and ran away. Xing noticed an owl flying beside him and wondered who this Master Yuan is.