Chapter 60: Once Again
"…"
After all the words were wasted, only silence was left for the glorious leader of the First Joined Flying Battalion. The borders were broken, and nothing at all was achieved. Pathetic.
His fear was left along the path he made into the white tent, the path of struggle for generally the entrance was strictly forbidden. It was forbidden still, probably, but the strange short human was allowed in, under the order of the Great Emperor himself. And he was also allowed, probably, for his order was to deliver that human back.
And the human's mindset was that of an extremely annoying being.
Right now it was sitting on the white table of the Majesty, (how it dares!) and right now the white-red pelican was the one staring at it, also having to stand on the white table of the Majesty!
"The Great Emperor ordered me to take you back."
He repeated once again.
"I am staying here."
Said the human, and her eyes burrowing in his.
The mutual stare was intense until the human closed her eyes.
"…"
The white-red pelican continued his intensive gaze, and he would have continued it for long more when suddenly, - Bah! – an explosion sounded and he, feeling shocked, jumped from the table and hid under it.
Maha looked somewhere outside the white walls of the tent, then sighed and lowered her eyes. They shined with a bright yellow.
"It was a failure."
She thought, and at the exact same moment, Xin shivered, his gaze full of bright radiance.
"Something happened, Young Master?"
The boy ignored Dong Jin and made several steps away from him into the bushes, on the instinct, as if he could hear their talk.
"What?"
He asked, mindlessly, afraid of speculating.
"The Emperor of beasts has failed, that being is alive, gaining power."
Answered Maha.
Xin trembled and stepped away, either from shock or from seeing a large snake in his legs.
"It will try to kill you now, right?"
He asked immediately.
"Yes."
"Can you get here?"
"Yes."
Maha glanced at the bird who still was lying on the floor, holding its head.
"However, I will not. Currently, his power is in the Third Rank. He is able to find me in a hundred kilometers radios. Running is meaningless."
She was calm, Xin was sure of it even without seeing her face of perceiving her tone. He knew her character, and, while it was shameful, he was the one with his heart striving to get out of the chest.
"We can run more than a hundred, I, I know a way."
Suddenly, like a light ignited in his brain. Yes, there actually was a way, if he asks that old person, who presumably is very strong, he probably can get Maha out of there.
"Does not matter. It felt my light so he will be able to find me by searching the area shortly. You should run away, it can detect any being with light. Would be better not to attract its attention. You should go around and return to the human's lands."
"…Live a good life."
"But, what, I mean there should be some other way."
He thought, however that thought only hovered between chaotic currents of his mind. Maha has cut the connection.
"Young Master, are you alright? Were you talking with the Miss?"
Xin turned his head, his eyes on Dong Jin.
The servant froze, shock in his eyes seeing a pair of shiny big black eyes, moist and clear.
"Wait, Young Master!"
He shouted as the boy ran somewhere into the trees, jumping over a large stone.
…
Xin felt unprecedented panic, but also nostalgia. As he was running many pictures were flashing in his mind. It wasn't his first time dashing through a forest, trees and grace, panicking, but with a resolve.
He clenched his teeth and wiped tears. It wasn't lost still. Once he managed to save a person, he will do the same again.
Still, he wasn't sure he would be able to find the old man now.
Only way if he himself wish to see him.
Xin was very worried and relieved only when he finally saw Yifei.
Wait, no, it wasn't Yifei. His mind getting confused or something? Xin shook his head, staring at the old man in a shiny blue gown.
"You are early, brat."
Without saying a word, Xin lowered his head.
"Please help me."
He said, as steady as he could.
"Help?"
Surprise sounded in the old man's voice, and then he said.
"Stand straight, brat, a good sabre won't bend."
Xin followed his words, feeling a bit ashamed of his actions.
"Say, what help do you need?"
Xin deeply breathed in and then started narrating the same thing he told Dong Jin, only more hurriedly, with many details cut. He told about demons, about Maha, about that being and the plans of the wolf, and how they failed, and then, clenching his fists, he told his shameful request.
"So that how it is."
The old man looked thoughtful, scratching his white and shiny beard. Actually, Xin didn't notice how clean it was before. Probably because they were meeting at nights, thought the boy.
"You wish me to fight a strong, very strong being, of Earth Synchronization power to save that friend of yours? I have to say, boy, you have some guts to request such a thing."
The old man mockingly smiled at him.
Xin, without feeling discouraged, said:
"Are you afraid?"
"Ha-ha, you should keep your guts in your pants, brat. No, I'm not afraid, quite the opposite, I may have helped you just because I do like a good fight from time to time. But not now, because the things this Demon of yours is doing is helpful for me."
"What do you mean?"
Xin had no time to play the guessing game, asking directly.
"Destroying the human's army brat, I was here for that reason in the first place."
"But you said you aren't sure anymore."
"It was yesterday, brat, stop thinking about past. Animals or whatever that thing is, destroying Han's army is beneficial to my cause. I am not going to break my own legs or be thankless and kill him after he destroys the army. Now, go."
"…"
Xin fell silent, however, not even for a bit the hope disappeared from his mind. He started thinking: what the old man told him, how can he change his opinion. There should be a way, right?
Everything can be solved; he managed to help Dong Jin, after all. He should be able to find a way there too.
"I said go, I don't have time to listen to…"
"Wait."
Xin looked directly at him.
"What is it now?"
"You said you hate Han, right?"
"Hum, yes, what of it?"
His old wrinkled face became slightly confused.
"Han, not people, right? Then you should save that army."
"What?"
"I mean…" Xin stumbled to find good words.
"Han is the Empire and the Emperor, not the people. If you want do destroy Han, you shouldn't kill them, you should help them and show that you are better than Han, than Tian Long."
"You… you might be right." Suddenly, the old man's face froze. His eyes became unfocused, as if he was thinking about something, or imagining something.
"You brat… you might be just right."
Destroying, what the point? How will it help Him? But if this army hears who are their savior, if they felt glad and not to the emperor, then…
Then…
"You are a sharp boy. I wish your sabre was as sharp."
Suddenly, the old man unleashed his weapon. A long and thick black sabre, surrounded by a thick layer of darkness.
"So be it, come, I will show you a true sabre-play."
Before Xin could say anything, he felt his legs leaving the ground.
The next second both he and the old man vanished in the vast golden sky.