"HEY HEY! WAKE UP!"
As I slowly regained consciousness, the person in front of me was Wukong preparing to pour water on me.
"Oh, you're awake." Wukong throw away the water basin.
"MASTER!!!!" Bajie came running, hugging me so tightly that I could barely breathe.
"Let go, you're squeezing me to death!"
"I-I'm sorry!" Bajie recoiled from me.
I then checked my body and noticed that my abdomen was tightly bandaged.
"How many ribs did I break?" I looked at Wukong and asked.
"None are broken, but it's close," Wukong said, rubbing her temples.
I began to look around and saw many person gathered, staring at something.
"What's going on?"
"You snuck out at night and don't know?" Wukong raised an eyebrow at me.
"I was running away with Yu Long at that time, so I didn't know."
"Where's Yu Long?"
"...Fuck, she's probably been kidnapped."
Wukong sighed, taking my hand to approach where the person were gathered.
As we got closer, I smelled the strong scent of blood, making me feel nauseous.
There, blood stained the streets, bodies covered but upon closer inspection, they were dismembered.
"Is this because of yesterday..." I covered my nose, my face showing disgust and horror as I looked at the corpses.
"If that's the case, then tell me what happened yesterday," Wukong said.
I looked at both of them and recounted everything I knew.
"Why would they kidnap Yu Long?" Wukong raised her hand to her chin.
"Because she's a princess, perhaps?" Bajie suggested.
"If she's a princess, they shouldn't treat her like that. It's as if they don't care how much physical harm she suffers," Wukong disagreed.
"Or maybe she has something they need?" I proposed.
"Well, what could they possibly need? She's just got a big mouth and an endless appetite," Wukong scratched her head.
All three of us were stumped, truly clueless about the motive behind it.
"Well, instead of using words to find answers, actions speak louder," Wukong cracked her knuckles, looking at Bajie and me.
"Now let's ask the people here; maybe they know something," I suggested.
Both nodded, agreeing to split up. But as I took a few steps, I had to clutch my stomach—the wound was really throbbing.
"Okay, scratch the solo plan right now," Wukong decided, coming over to carry me. We decided to stick together.
Throughout the morning, we asked many people and gleaned some interesting information.
"They all came to this place through a gate promoted by a reputable person."
"How reputable?" I asked suspiciously.
"Who knows, but from their tone, they really trust that person."
"Sounds highly suspicious."
"And according to the earliest settlers here, they moved to this place exactly one month ago."
"And coincidentally, it was about a month ago when we saved Yu Long."
"Meaning, from the start, this place could be a trap waiting for Yu Long."
"Alright, how do you guess so many things?" I looked at Wukong.
"Who knows? Instincts of a king, perhaps? Haha."
"Wait... hah ha... thirsty!" Bajie followed, sweating profusely.
"This pig, not only slow but also weak?!" Wukong exclaimed angrily, trying to kick Bajie in the face, but I intervened to stop her.
"So, the one kidnapping Yu Long..." I looked up at the castle, pointing.
"Likely up there," I gestured.
"What's the plan, Master? Straightforward attack or sneak attack?" Wukong looked at me.
"Let's take a break for now and plan later."
"Alright."
So, we stopped at the park.
"Master, I'm hungry..." Bajie hesitantly said.
Wukong slapped Bajie straight in the face.
***
"Plan succeeded," Axin raised his drink.
"A bit unexpected but still successful," Bai Ling added, sprinkling pepper on his food before eating.
"Definitely," Axin laughed and continued drinking.
"Now FIX MY FACE!!!" Lin shouted, her face covered in bandages.
"Calm down, your face will heal in no time," Axin said.
"SHUT UP!" Lin threw a knife at Axin.
"Hmph, a dude acting like a woman," Axin grabbed the knife and left the table.
Yes, Lin was a man, but he wanted to resemble a seductive woman, so he used an artifact that could shape-shift at will.
Specifically, it was a artifact with the ability to transform his body into a woman.
"Do you know anything about the joy of becoming a woman?" Lin glared at Axin.
"I'd rather be a man than half man half woman like you."
However, that artifact couldn't change the important thing of a man into a woman.
"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" Lin pounded the table.
Then he looked at his glass of wine, filled with resentment.
"That human... he will pay!"
"Revenge or whatever, let's settle it later," a voice echoed from the throne.
It was Yu Shen.
All three looked at Yu Shen as he approached a sphere containing a bright blue liquid.
Inside, a naked girl was closing her eyes.
It was none other than Yu Long.
Yu Shen gazed at Yu Long with eyes filled with hatred and disgust, as if he wanted to tear her apart every second.
But he restrained himself, for she possessed something very valuable that he needed.
"Sister... you should feel lucky that I will use all the value of your bloodline right here," Yu Shen said, turning his head back to the three below.
"You, tonight it begins. Remember to protect this fortress as best as you can," he continued, his eyes glowing with malice as he looked at them.
"For your interests, as well as mine," his eyes lit up, full of menace as he looked at the three.
"Understood!" Axin and Lin both kneeled, while Bai Ling continued eating, seemingly unconcerned.
Tonight would be the night of a fierce battle.
*****
Kendrick and Drake beef is my favorite in this year