Chapter 12 Blood
The moon hung high, casting a silvery glow over the dense bamboo forest. The evening air was thick with tension, only broken by the whispering leaves swaying in the gentle breeze. After surviving the initial onslaught of five assassins, Li An stood ready, her resolve hardened like steel. The fight had tested her tenacity, but it seemed the night was far from over.
The bruised assassins, regrouping and visibly frustrated, exchanged glances under the moonlight. Their pride wounded and their patience waning, they drew swords, steel glinting ominously. The leader, still seething from his defeat, pointed his blade toward Li An. "This little girl's luck ends now!" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Li An's heart raced. She had fought hard, but now the stakes were lifelike. As the assassins advanced, their blades hungry for retribution, she felt the weight of her situation. There was no room for fear; she had to act.
With a deep breath, she braced herself. The first assassin lunged, the sword slicing through the air. Li An dodged just in time, the blade whistling past her ear. She twisted and struck out with a powerful kick that connected with his wrist. The sword fell. She followed up with a quick punch, sending him sprawling into the bamboo.
With a swift, determined focus, she turned to the next assailant. He charged with ferocity, his sword aimed directly at her heart. Li An ducked low, narrowly avoiding his thrust, and in one fluid motion, she sprang up, catching him off guard. Her elbow struck his solar plexus, and as he gasped for breath, she seized the opportunity, delivering a sharp knee to his head. He crashed to the ground, sword clattering beside him.
But there was no time to celebrate; the others closed in like shadows. The leader roared in fury, spurring his comrades on. Li An could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins. A third assassin came at her, sword raised high. With a tactical roll, she evaded his strike, then darted behind him, her small frame a blur in the night.
She managed to yank the sword from his grasp, the weapon feeling heavy and foreign in her tiny hands. The blade glinted ominously, but Li An's resolve was greater. Just as the fourth assassin turned, she swung the sword with all her might, the blade connecting with a devastating force that sent him sprawling into the bushes, a pained cry escaping his lips.
The leader and the last assassin remained. They approached her slowly, sizing her up, their swords now aimed at her with deadly precision. Li An grasped the stolen sword firmly, her heart pounding, her fateful decision clear in her mind. She could no longer hold back.
With a fierce battle cry, she charged. The clash of metal against metal filled the air as she struck first, her agility allowing her to weave in and out of their defenses. The leader swung his sword, but she was quicker, ducking low and slicing beneath his guard. The blade met flesh, and he staggered back in shock.
The remaining assassin hesitated, fear creeping into his eyes as Li An faced them. With all the strength she could muster, she lunged, channeling her focus into a blinding fury. The clash continued, each strike she delivered stronger than the last, until finally, she found an opening, and with a decisive thrust, the swords met with a final, deadly purpose.
Under the watchful gaze of the moon, Li An stood amidst the fallen. Breathing heavily, her heart raced not just from exertion but the weight of what she had done. In the stillness of the bamboo forest, she had transformed from a girl into a warrior, her small form silhouetted against the night. The danger had passed, but the memory of the battle would linger, a testament to her newly forged strength.
…
While Li An fought against the 5 assassins, unbeknownst to her, 2 assassins had snuck into the cold palace on another path.
Actually, the 5 people she has just killed were just backups just in case anything would happen. The real assassins would be the two who are currently checking the buildings in the cold palace.
Alu, who is standing outside the main room, heard something from outside. She feels a bit scared as a dangerous premonition enters her mind. She quickly but silently grabs Misha who is sleeping in the corner and silently enters the main room.
Misha who was still groggy felt a bit confused.
"Bar the door quickly!" Alu said with a hint of panic but in a low tone.
Misha seemed to have sensed that something was wrong, so she did not ask and just quickly followed Alu's command.
After the two barred the door, they quickly ran towards Concubine Su's bed and woke her.
Concubine Su was awoken and confusion was written all over her face.
"Mistress, there are people outside…" Alu said as she gestured for her mistress to be silent.
As the silence covered the room, they soon heard faint sounds coming from the other buildings in the cold palace.
Soon, footsteps could be heard entering the main building of the cold palace.
From the looks of it, the people coming their way did not even bother to hide their presence.
"Little kitties! Come out! Come out!" a deep but taunting voice echoed outside the room.
"Hey… look at those glowing balls… they look… expensive." a raspy voice from another person said which sent chills on the heart of the women inside the main room.
"We can do that later… We need to do what we came here first…" the deep-toned person said.
Suddenly, the door began moving and it made the three women inside the room huddled tightly. They did not know what would happen next. But one thing is for sure, these people are not here for a good reason.
They knew that they were here to hurt them.
Suddenly, the door began to rumble as the assassins outside began to bang it.
"Hehe… come out! Come out!" the raspy-voiced assassin teased.
Suddenly, the door burst open as one of the assassins rammed it to the ground.
The wooden door could not hold back the strength of the strong assassin as it crumbled to the ground.
"Oh, there they are…" the raspy-voiced assassin said as he moved quickly and grabbed Misha.
Misha wanted to struggle but it was futile. Her strength could not fight against her strong assailant.
"What a pity…" the raspy-voiced man said with a frown.
His lust-filled eyes looked at Misha's delicate face and then it traveled all over her petite body.
Misha could feel disgusted with the way the man in black looked at her. She has not felt more humiliated in her entire life.
Misha is an attractive girl, she has grown up in a simple home and was chosen to work in the palace because of her delicate appearance.
Even when Concubine Su was imprisoned, the guards would look at her but with restraint. Of course, this is because the palace guards are not some lowly servants who would lust after every woman they see.
Misha knew of her beauty and attractiveness but had not experienced someone throwing glances at her with such lewdness and lust.
Misha wanted to struggle and free herself, but the grip of the man tightened, making her moan in pain.
"No, please!" Alu said while she looked at the man in fear and at Misha in worry.
The man just sneered and then looked at his companion with an evil grin on his face.
"Can we play for a while… I have not tasted such fresh meat in a while…" the raspy-voiced man said while he licked his lips.
His companion, on the other hand, frowned at his companion's actions. He knew that the guy was a lustful person and has raped countless women in their assignments before. He would not mind it if it's another assignment but this one is a bit tricky.
The reason that it is tricky is because they are now inside the imperial palace. Though this place is called the cold palace, it is still under the influence of the palace.
Once some traces of them could be found in this place, then it would not end well for their group. They are assassins for hire and live under the shadows. How could they expose themselves just because of a lustful companion?
With a deep frown, the man shook his head.
"Our assignment is to kill… We are in a dangerous place, we could not complicate things…" he said while glaring at his companion.
The raspy-voiced man frowned in annoyance and wanted to rebut but he did not say anything after seeing the expression of his leader.
He just looks at the three women with a hint of reluctance. It was as if he was a creature who wanted to eat its meal but stopped making it annoyed and wanted to fight back.
However, the one that stopped it was stronger and more powerful and it could only whine and glare at it and the prey in front of it.
"What a pity…" the raspy-voiced man said as he suddenly let go of Misha's arm.
However, before Misha could react, she suddenly felt a tight grip grabbing her throat.
Ack!
She suddenly felt fear in her heart. She knew that it was the end for her. She knew that the man would now kill her.
But in Misha's heart, this end would still be fine. She would rather die like this than be humiliated by the bastard before her.
Misha slowly closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable to come.
She could hear the pleading cries of Concubine Su and Alu on the side which made her feel a bit calm. At least in her last moments someone still showed concern for her well-being.