Junxia continued to follow Yijin as he strolled down the street. Her eyes adoringly cast over his figure as she began to reminisce about the ancient times when their past vessels were the closest of lovers. A beautiful memory came into play. One that may or may not take up a majority of the following chapter in the everlasting legend of the Unknown Swordsman and his beloved seductress.
Over a thousand years and a few more decades ago, Huanzhi had first met Meiying in the small town of Tangzhou in the Eastern part of the Dark Faction lands. His mind was just barely reaching the first stage of corruption to Xiangliu. By now, Suntao had followed him from Guanzi Sect and begun to promote Huanzhi as the Unknown Swordsman.
Since Huanzhi's defeat of Guang-di Fei, his name had become well known amongst the Dark Faction leaders. They had sent a few offers, claiming they would provide payments for Huanzhi's exclusive services. Huanzhi had declined, proving to be a true freelancer. One that was allowed to come and go as he plaesed and not tied down by any laws.
During a certain second week of April those many ages ago, Huanzhi arrived in Tangzhou. His dashing mount, called "Shizuka" who was stolen from a Japanese merchant, trotted beneath him as he sat upright. A black face covering shielded his face and a black dyed straw hat rested atop his head. He looked as though he had arrived for or just left from a funeral.
Huanzhi reined his horse to the hitches outside of a small pavilion. Inside was heard one of the most beautiful voices Huanzhi had ever heard in his life. A soft, feminine voice sang in a wonderful traditional tone as her voice seemed to beckon all travelers. It was a skill that Huanzhi would come to know and love well. He quickly began to step, at a brisk walking pace, towards the entrance where he was greeted by two guards and allowed entry.
He looked rather rich based on his dashing attire, but in fact he had only just stolen these items from a contract's target that he had murdered. There was still a blood stain, but the attire itself was too dark to give the stain any sort of noticeability. He searched as the voice became louder and louder and eventually he found a lavish amphitheater that was decorated with snake carvings in red wooden pillars.
The doors were closed but due to the candlelight, Huanzhi could make out a feminine figure performing a rather... how shall I put it... "enticing?" dance. His eyes dashed to the door as he quietly pulled it open and stepped inside. A pleasing aroma of jasmine assaulted his smell receptors as he inhaled deeply. He took in the atmosphere and saw only seven other people in the amphitheater. It was large enough to seat thirty.
It was then that he saw her. Meiying, the Beauty of Tangzhou. Her eyes met his and she gave a smile from behind her transparent face covering. The body of a Goddess, a beautiful shining sort of some kind of yellow eyes. Her face sublime, her voice capable of transporting any true man into a trancelike state.
He sat down at a table and took a bottle of rice wine in his hand from the center. The entire room had only the most expensive items. Huanzhi poured himself a cup and brought it to his lips, savoring the alcohol and placing it down lightly. He simpered as he allowed the music and voice to take him back to a time of old.
"♪ Please take me back, my love! Take me back to my childhood home! ♪" Meiying sang with soul, continuing the song. "♪ Let me savor the memories that covered each and every hall! Let me feel the joy that comes with our love! And let us romance the night away! ♪" She smiled as she completed the aria of the popular opera of the town written by an anonymous lyricist called only "Bei."
Huanzhi stood and applauded loudly, ignoring all opera etiquette. Usually, the ovations were held until the end of the opera. Huanzhi happily was oblivious to that. Others hissed at him, but Meiying only beamed at him and closed her eyes for a moment in recognition of his applause. He had only been doing that to show his appreciation.
Thus, he continued to sit and remember the past as Meiying sang the true colors of her soul through the opera. Once it was finished, he noticed Meiying had gone to change. She returned wearing an evening robe and left her hair loose. He gave a flashy smile as she approached him.
"Oh! It's you! I was meaning to find you!" She said in an excited tone of voice. "Thank you for showing your appreciation for my music. But do you know that it is appropriate to wait until the end of the opera before applauding? Wait don't tell me... is this your first opera?"
Huanzhi looked at her and replied that it was his first opera. She internally shouted anxiously, but externally beamed. She spoke softly. "I am honored that you chose to listen to my opera as your first time. I always felt that this opera was one of the best personifications of my emotions. Did I manage to convey that to you?"
Huanzhi was too embarrassed to respond. He knew that he would get tongue tied and as such nodded his head.
"Aw, are you not much of a talker? I was hoping I could speak to someone that shared my interests. Especially someone, in my opinion, slightly dashing."
Huanzhi spoke clearly now. "I do speak often, but I chose to listen. You seem to need a bit of an outlet for some of your anxiety. Let us converse in better terms then. May I ask you what is your name, my lady?"
"My name, sir, is Meiying."
"A beautiful name, one worthy of someone as stunningly perfect as yourself. Please allow me one question. I would love to purchase something as a gift to you for that wonderful performance. Would you accept a present?"
"That depends, sir. What is your name?"
"Huanzhi Ren."
Her face suddenly changed expressions. She now could no longer hold back her surprise and childish, hyper emotions now, "H-Huanzhi Ren?"
"Yes."
"The one who killed Guang-di Fei and Jiang Qinshi?"
"The very same. You seem to have heard of me."
"Who hasn't? Word of you has spread all across the Dark Faction's lands. The Unknown Swordsman of Guanzi. It is an honor to have met you and to accept a token of your appreciation, Master Ren."
"Please do not refer to me like that. I am not anyone's master, nor do I deserve to be called by my familial name. Just call me Huanzhi. Or better yet Zhi or Zhi-zhi."
"Zhi-zhi?..." A thought of 'who the hell would want to be called Zhi-zhi.' went through Meiying's mind. "Alright then, Zhi."
"Alright. I shall return tomorrow with the gift that I am planning to give you. I hope you'll accept my praise. I have never met anyone with such delightful musical ability and with such commendable wit."
"I thank you, Zhi. Yes, let us talk tomorrow. I will be happy to meet you whenever I am available to speak."
"Thank you so much, my dear."
"Please, Zhi. Call me... Meiying."
Zhi beamed. "I'll see you tomorrow, Meiying."
He rose from his chair and exited the room. Meiying walked off as well and returned to her room. "Gods! He's so good-looking! That dark attire fits him so well! And those eyes... They stare into my soul with a warmth I've never felt before. Wait, what's this?" She whispered to herself. She walked over to the window and saw Huanzhi speaking with a young lady at a clothing shop. He was smiling in a very attractive manner and the other lady was clearly blushing.
Needless to say, Meiying was furious. She thought that Huanzhi had eyes for her from the way he had spoken to her a few moments ago. A little obsessive to say the least, considering that they had just met. Huanzhi walked off and gave a wave to the shopkeeper. "Damn bitch." Muttered Meiying. "She must have seduced him faster than I could. I need to get rid of her."
Meiying eventually collected a silver ring and two small cups of tea. She walked outside of the pavilion at the end of the day and went straight to the shopkeeper. The youthful, female shopkeeper quickly placed a newly stitched dress on a pile of attires. She then turned and was slightly startled by Meiying.
"Gods above! You scared me. Are you alright ma'am? How can I help you?" Asked the young lady.
"Oh. I just came by to see how you are doing. I've been watching you for a few weeks and how diligently you work. I was wondering if you'd like a cup of tea?"
Meiying placed a cup on the wooden counter of the stall. The young lady beamed. "Oh really?! Thank you so much. No one has ever done this for me before!"
Such an innocent and naïve lady. One that did nothing wrong to incur the wrath of Meiying other than speaking with Huanzhi. Meiying's ring silently opened and a drop of acidic poison fell in and mixed with the shopkeeper's tea. The young lady bowed in respect to Meiying and drank. The two smiled at one another and Meiying quickly took leave of the shopkeeper.
"Idiotic, little bitch." She mumbled. Meiying, having not noticed where she was going, bumped into someone. She almost fell, but was caught by two powerful arms that clasped her forearm and shoulder tightly. The man who had been able to save her from ruining her dress lifted her upwards from his grasp lightly. He spoke.
"Who's the so-called, 'idiotic, little bitch' that you were talking about?" Huanzhi said. He had returned from a daily stroll to retrieve the dress that he had ordered for Meiying.
"Oh no one, Master-... I mean Zhi." Meiying said as she went completely crimson. She had been caught red-handed.
"I think I know who you're talking about. The lady who is now choking on her own saliva from the acid that you dropped into her Oolong tea? You do realize that she was the one making your present right?" Huanzhi looked into Meiying's eyes deeply. She was deeply embarrassed and all the more surprised to find out that Huanzhi had purchased a dress from this shopkeeper.
Huanzhi put his curled index finger on her chin and lifted it slowly so as their eyes could meet once more. He gave a warm beam and spoke in a soft voice.
"Oh please, I don't mean for you to be embarrassed, my dear Meiying. Believe me, I have seen and done far worse to people. I just wanted to say what I think you've been searching for within me. I have been waiting for you. I do have eyes for you. If you would allow me, let me begin calling upon you for us to become closer. I want to be an acquaintance and perhaps a suitor to you. I know this is sudden and early. You captivated me since I first heard you."
Yandere-chan meets Yandere-san...
Meiying's eyes slightly welled with tears and Huanzhi wiped them with his thumb. His hands were rough and overworked. His face, now that she looked about it, was restless and so exhausted. He had needed a break. Perhaps a break from everything. One that, maybe, she could provide.
"Then let us meet daily for the next month. I will await you each day at this same hour. Let us enjoy ourselves!" Meiying's tears had turned into an expression of pure happiness as she held his hands and spoke these words. Huanzhi beamed as well.
Returning to the present. Junxia watched as Yijin approached an alley. Concealed in that alley were hidden assassins of the Kanling Gang. Junxia knew that she needed to save him. He hadn't noticed them, and Yijin probably wouldn't notice them until it was too late. He would owe her for this. Then again, Huanzhi had saved Meiying more times than Meiying could count on both hands and feet.
Junxia leapt from the rooftops and arrived before Yijin in the alleyway. Yijin had not noticed her presence at all. Junxia quickly incapacitated every assassin before they knew what had hit them. Her eyes were fiery as she slammed palm after palm and fist after fist into each of the assassins. They were taken by surprise and even more so when they realized just who was attacking them. After defeating them, she quickly ended the light that was each of their lives by breaking their windpipes.
She finally leapt back onto the roof and continued her vigilant admiration of Yijin, the one that she so adored in her past life. The one that she longed to be with for so many decades had finally returned to her. She wasn't about to let this second opportunity at happiness slip away after being so fortunate.
His voice slowly came into her mind as she fell into reminiscence again. The scene came back to her as she slowly looked into Huanzhi's eyes.
The setting was rather somber behind them as the shopkeeper fell to the ground dead, but Huanzhi only smiled as the sunset came directly over the two. The corpse's hand cast a shadow over the counter.
His exhausted eyes conveyed genuine reverance and his soft expressions conveyed something that Meiying could fully trust. A feeling that Meiying had never been able to feel before. Huanzhi lightly kissed her hand and spoke gently. The words he spoke were ones that he would abide by for the rest of his life.
"Yes, Meiying. Let us meet here daily. I shall revere you as the only Goddess I worship. This is a solemn vow, and one that I will never dare to break. With you, Goddess, as my witness."