Later if anybody asked Xiao Hui how they had managed to escape from a near death incident, she would be unable to recount the tale simply because of the sheer terror she felt during that time.
When the beast prowled towards them ominously, the maid was willing to bet that all three of them were praying to all the gods up above. Or at least, she definitely was.
"You both stand back! Let me handle it," yelled Han Bingwen, his voice cracking a little bit as the beast steadily advanced towards them.
The words of a King, no matter the fact that he was a former one, was final. That was why Xiao Hui, out of reflex, stepped back and made as if to run away. She stopped, however, when Shi Ming spoke.
"Does Bingwen think this one is a coward? Does he think she will flee from the battlefield and leave her lover to fend for himself? Then he should not refer himself as hers!"
Han Bingwen looked stunned, his eyes widened into saucers. Then his whole body sagged and he sent such a soft look at his baobei that it made Xiao Hui feel uncomfortable to even look at them. His gaze hardened, however, when he looked back at the raging beast.
At her lonesome, the maid watched as the previous King and his lover brought out their intricately carved knives and got into a fighting stance.
The beast halted for a few seconds before it snorted, allowing a huge wind to blow from its nostrils, making both of them flinch. It pushed its feet across the ground and then, without any warning, charged at them.
Raising his hand, Han Bingwen stabbed it on its shoulder causing the beast to yowl in pain. However, this action also resulted in it thrashing wildly.
Shi Ming dodged just in time for if she were just a little late, her face would have been swiped right off. The previous King obviously realized this if his wide eyes were to say anything.
While all of this was going on, Xiao Hui watched and pondered upon all the things that led them to here.
A part of her knew for certain that they would not be here had she not 'offed' Li Xinyi. By that logic, this entire situation was her fault. But another part, a darker one, insisted that had the Han fu ren not force the maid to 'off' her, they would not have been staring at their death right now. By that logic, Li Xinyi was the one at fault.
Aghast by the direction they were going to, she shook her head to get rid of those horrible thoughts and tried to pay attention to the fight.
She was just in time to see Shi Ming being tossed aside as if she were a ragdoll. Light as a feather, she flew until her back hit a nearby tree and she slid down unconscious. Han Bingwen screamed in alarm, "Baobei!" and Xiao Hui could only stare with horror. Yes, she disliked the courtesan but she did not wish for the other to get hurt.
Unfortunately for him, the beast heard the cry of the previous King and started advancing towards him, losing interest on its other plaything. Briefly the maid wondered if that was the intention of his all along.
However now was no time to be lost in thoughts. Shi Ming was down and Han Bingwen was in huge danger with no space to escape to. The only one who could do anything right now was her.
Shang shibo had said to her once, many years ago, that the person who chooses to do nothing in the face of moral danger deserves to end up in the same depths of hell as the perpetrator.
Xiao Hui knew one thing for certain as she swiftly took out her knife; she did not want be in the same place as a raging beast after her death.
Clasping the curved blade tightly in her hand, she charged towards the beast in a similar manner to how it had towards them and how they had towards it.
As a maid, she was not trained to be a fighter. That was, after all, not a requirement for somebody who had to clean and tidy the palace. Even when she got promoted to be Li Xinyi's personal maid, she was never taught how to attack and defend.
She did, however, now know the basics.
Before they set out for the search, Han Bingwen had decided to do a training session where he taught them the basics of fighting. Although it was out of their comfort zone, neither of them complained and they diligently learned how to fight with swords and knives.
"We have to learn how to use knives," the previous King had explained, "for it is much easier to carry and hide one than a sword. Otherwise, I would always recommend using a sword as it is much longer. With a knife one must come close to the opponent unless they can throw and aim accurately."
Using an agility move that was basically muscle memory at this point, Xiao Hui stealthily positioned herself behind the broad back of the beast. Because of its massive size, her figure was hidden from sight.
Han Bingwen, stuck between a rock and a hard place, desperately swiped at the beast. Unlucky for him, his blinded attempt missed and he succeeded in making it even more enraged.
It was at that moment, Xiao Hui struck. She stabbed the beast between its shoulder blades, causing it to howl in agony.
Shaken out of his stupor, the previous King also attacked and soon the demon was being hounded on both sides, and finally it fell down on the ground, exhausted.
They stood in shocked silence for a moment. Then, "Is it dead?" Xiao Hui asked slightly fearfully.
Han Bingwen kneeled down and pressed his hand to the pulse point of the demon. It was not beating. The beast had taken its last breath on earth.
Now knowing that they were out of danger, the previous King rushed to where his unconscious lover lay, screaming "A-Ming, A-Ming" the entire time. Had it been anyone else, Xiao Hui would have been annoyed but since this was someone above her, she relented.
Some water and many tears later, Shi Ming woke up groggy and disoriented. Not one to be out of the drama, she croaked out, "What just happened? Where is the beast?"
Han Bingwen gave a laugh that was half chocked. "We killed it, baobei. We killed it."
"We?" She murmured, yawing as she asked. "Does Bingwen mean him and the maid?"
"We dealt the final blow, yes, but it was baobei who enabled us to do so."
***
It took them two whole days to recuperate before they continued their long, endless journey.
Xiao Hui expected to hear complaints from Shi Ming, especially since she was still reeling from the attack, but to her surprise, the courtesan remained silent in the entire way.
Furtive glances was sent on Han Bingwen's end but it was not reciprocated even once. Shi Ming simply climbed up the mountain, her gaze staring steadily straight in front of her.
"Let us rest here," declared the previous King and he dumped his load on a patch of grass. It was no area of importance so Xiao Hui wondered about why he so suddenly wished to take a break.
When he glanced at his baobei, it was clear for whom he did that.
Shi Ming and the maid followed suit and they sat as far from each other. As the courtesan sat down, Xiao Hui noticed the wince she hid before she ducked her face down.
She was clearly in pain, that much was obvious, so why was she not saying anything?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a twig snapping. Immediately all three of them were on alert. How was it possible that they had run into another beast just few days after their first encounter? Surely the Guanyin would not be so cruel.
"This demon must be way smaller than the last one, " Han Bingwen whispered. "The footsteps hardly make much noise. Still, we must be careful."
The footsteps were getting closer and closer. Xiao Hui grasped her knife so hard, it made red marks on her hand. Beside her, Han Bingwen had already taken his weapon out.
They all braced for an attack, but to their immense relief, none came.
Instead from behind the trees a woman with heavy makeup and a hanfu showing nobility, came out.