"Time is up." A voice filled with arrogance declared at the approaching figure. "Is Your Honor prepared to lose?"
Instead of acknowledging the man's provocations, Chu Nuan threw a stack of yellow talismans at him in lieu of speech. As the saying goes; actions speak louder than words.
Puzzled by her unexpected response, the man in a sapphire suit crouches down to pick up one of the charms. Immediately, his haughty behavior collapses the moment he realizes the uses for these talismans.
Sealing amulets, a total of three hundred and fifty litter the floor of this hotel room.
Unbelievable.
Compared to his minuscule amount of fifty ghosts. It's like comparing a large rock to a whole mountain. How laughable.
Letting out a depressed sigh, the man's shoulders sagged in defeat. "In the end, I wasn't able to win even with a draw."
Pausing for a moment, clever eyes roll around their sockets in contemplation. Wearing an extremely flattering smile, the man slid next to Chu Nuan with careful steps. "Your Honor, how about..another round?"
"....." Her eyes slanted at him in silence.
"I've never seen someone as shameless as you!" Lei Lin remarked. "How can you ask for another around when you have already lost?"
"That is different!"
"How is it?!"
Running his hand over his bangs, the man declared his thoughts out loud. "Her Honor received help from you guys. So this win doesn't truly count. I demand a rematch."
"You-"
Just as Lei Lin prepared to argue back, Chu Nuan lifted up her hand as a signal to stop. "It's okay."
Staring back at the man with a smile that doesn't reach her eyes, the name of the man finally came out of her mouth. "Nan Hai."
Her tone is as if a parent helpless to the antics of a mischievous child. Gentle and loving, but intentions appear unmasked within her pupils. Cold with annoyance. "My patience has its limits."
Scared stiff by her expression, the man named Nan Hai shivered as he straightened his back. Beads of sweat started to form on his forehead. What has he done? Just because Her Honor has been showing a mellow temper, he had temporarily forgotten her true appearance.
A devil infamous for her deeds throughout the three worlds. Anyone who has ever crossed her has not lived to see the day. Will he be one of those people tonight?
As Nan Hai continued to imagine even more terrible scenarios. Chu Nuan prepared to leave the hotel room. "Let's go to the roof."
—————
This Grand Hotel is a very historic building that was built many decades ago. Its prestigious name and appearance has been the favorite for those with money and time.
A gorgeous Victorian era building with vintage furnishings. One look if enough to send normal people to their knees. Two looks is enough to send your friends that are looking through your online postings to their knees. A third look- well there isn't a third look because all your friends are too busy trying to get back on their feet.
From underground parkways to helicopter landings. This hotel provides from flashy entrances to stealthy welcomings. All for the sake of their willing customers.
And today, unlike the usual bustling of this daily hotel. Every floor and rooms are empty with nary a person in sight. Tonight, a very important guest has rented out the whole hotel for his needs.
Who and where is that customer now? Other than knowing that he went to the roof, everything else is unknown.
—————
"Draw your weapons." Chu Nuan suggested in a careless voice. Autumn wind blew furiously over the helicopter landing, carrying away her words to a far off place. Lifting her hand in a grabbing motion, the constricting chain appeared without warning. Glowing a mystical indigo, it wound itself around her arm like a snake.
Taking a deep breath of air, Nan Hai shook his hands and an intricate fan immediately appeared between his fingers. Breathing out in a slow motion, Nan Hai covered part of his smile whilst taunting with arrogance. "Is Your Honor ready?"
"Heh." Instead of directly answering, Chu Nuan took off from the ground. Heading straight towards her opponent, she threw the chains forward with an arc. Sharp burst of wind followed by a flash of indigo, the chain logged itself firmly onto the spot Nan Hai was standing moments before. Shards of broken concrete flew into the air as a large crevice formed with a loud bang.
"He disappeared!" Lei Lin exclaimed in surprise.
"No, up there." Xie Luochen replied.
A black shadow covered a part of the glowing moon as Nan Hai who dodged the attack lifted his fan over his face. Sweeping lightly at the air before him, shining beams of light flew out from his weapon. Looking closely at the gleaming light, you will find that they are actually thin needles.
Reflecting off the glowing moonlight, six inch needles sparkled with a deadly aura as they shot towards Chu Nuan on the ground.
With no intentions of evading, Chu Nuan ran forward while yanking the chains with a start. Treating them as steps to ascend, her foot softly taps on each needle as they aid her movements upward. In a blink of an eye, she appeared face to face with Nan Hai. Tilting her head in a playful manner, she decided to make pleasant conversation. "How did you get here?"
"Why would I-" Even before his sentence finished, Chu Nuan used his head as a stepping stone. Contrary to the falling body, the playful envoy did a full twirl in the sky before gliding down with light steps.
Descending like a meteor, Nan Hai managed to roll on the ground with minimal injuries. Other than aching shoulders and soiled clothes, he can still continue. Jumping up to brush the soil away from his expensive suit, he stared at the landing Chu Nuan calmly, "...after running away, I was fortunate enough to possess the body of this dying man."
Raising his fan up once again, he lowered his body in preparation to burst forward. "This man is the owner of a few fairly large corporations and casinos. He was killed by a few enemies made due to his unscrupulous actions in the business world. After I took over and helped him take care of a few problems, I came here to wait for you." Darting onward with great speed, a swipe of his hand dispatched another round of needles followed by an attack from his steel fan. "But who knew that you would take so long before coming here!" He shouted in an aggrieved voice.
But as if catching himself, he reverted back to a conceited manner. "What do you think of this look? I searched for days before finding this body, I don't look childish anymore, right?"
After landing on the ground with a casual tap, Chu Nuan allowed her chain to lie on the ground forming a semi-circle around her. Seeing the impending strike her hand twitched for a second in reaction, causing the chains to swirl around her like an awakened dragon. Clink and clanks of chain links move as if alive while they flick off each needle heading her direction and in a last minute, form a shield to block the fan.
Unable to move forward with his attack, Nan Hai and Chu Nuan reached a temporary deadlock.
"It wasn't until I arrived did I discover those suspicious gates opening around the city."
Instead of replying to him, Chu Nuan stared at him in silence, obsidian pupils seeming to pierce through his soul. Feeling a little uncertain with such a meaningful gaze, his grip loosened for a fraction of a second. Allowing her to exploit the opportunity. In one quick motion, she wrapped the chain around his wrist and pulled with energy. Surprised by this movement, Nan Hai lost the grip on his fan, but because of his fast judgment, he first kicked the falling fan upwards then sent a kick towards Chu Nuan's stomach.
Flipping backwards without trouble, Chu Nuan watched as Nan Hai once again made contact with his weapon before dashing at her again. "Your Honor!" Steel clashed against steel before separating then clashing again. As he tried to release another level of hidden weapons, Chu Nuan's hand deftly reached forward to close the fan while twisting his wrist in one smooth motion. Before he noticed what had happened, his gear settled in his opponent's hand.
Opening it with a flick of her hand, the fan opened beautifully with an arc. Fanning herself a few times, Chu Nuan smirked, "not bad," while waiting for his reaction.
Blankly staring at his empty hands, Nan Hai lost his pretentious bearing along with his armament. Understanding that he had truly lost this round, his body started to shake while trembling lips opened to speak with difficulty.
"I'm rich, handsome, powerful, and I found suspicious activity that could help you. That's why…." Chewing on his lips with a hesitating expression, Nan Hai finally looked up with a desperate face. "That's why! Please notice me more!"
Xie Luochen at this moment twitched his eyebrows. Although he could not hear their conversation because of the distance, his eyes can still see. Teary eyes with a pleading appearance entered fully into his view.
"....." Chu Nuan raised her eyebrows at the kid throwing a tantrum right in front of her. Readers, don't misunderstand, this isn't another rival. This is just another kid lacking attention so they decided to rebel.
Taking a deep breath, she smiled with a beautiful curve as her lips moved to answer, "no."
Then she punched him in the face.