Chapter 13 Unexpected meeting
The old room was dimly lit, shadows clawing at the walls. Concubine Su and Alu, cowered in one corner, trembling as they stared at the two assassins who had slipped in silently like phantoms. The assassins, clothed in black with only their eyes visible, exuded a deadly aura. One had a raspy, grating voice, and the other spoke in a deep, almost haunting tone.
Li An, a strong-willed five-year-old with an unusual gift for combat, stood hidden in the shadows, her small form perfectly still, her wide eyes assessing the scene.
She watched as Misha was grabbed by the raspy-voiced assassin as he stepped forward, a glinting dagger in hand.
"Please don't!" Misha pleaded, her voice trembling. But the assassin ignored her, raising his blade.
Without a second thought, Li An sprang into action.
Her bare feet were silent on the cold, creaky floor as she launched herself at the raspy-voiced assassin, catching him off guard. Before he could react, she swept a low kick to his legs, knocking him off balance. The dagger slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground, and he stumbled backward. His eyes widened beneath his mask as he looked down to see the small figure of Li An, staring back at him with fierce determination.
"You dare interfere, little girl?" he sneered, voice rasping with malice. He lunged at her, reaching out to grab her, but Li An was faster.
With a quick side step, she evaded his grasp, and using her momentum, she leaped up and drove her tiny fist into his throat. He choked, gagging, as he stumbled back, gasping for air. Li An spun around to face the deep-voiced assassin, who had already unsheathed his sword and was advancing toward her.
His movements were slow and methodical, as though he were sizing her up, but Li An did not hesitate. She darted toward him, weaving and dodging as he swung his sword in swift arcs, each one narrowly missing her by a fraction of an inch. She was agile, moving like a shadow, and her small size made it easy for her to slip under his guard.
Seizing her chance, Li An grabbed a broken piece of wood from the floor and swung it with all her might at the assassin's wrist. The sharp crack of impact echoed in the room as his grip loosened, and the sword clattered to the ground. The deep-voiced assassin let out a snarl, clutching his injured wrist, but before he could recover, Li An was already in motion.
She launched herself at him, her fists and feet a blur of motion as she struck him with a series of quick, precise blows. He stumbled back, dazed, and she seized his fallen sword, gripping it with both hands as she held it before her. Despite her small frame, she held the weapon steady, her gaze unwavering.
The raspy-voiced assassin recovered, eyes blazing with rage. He lunged at her from behind, but Li An was ready. In one swift motion, she twisted around, raising the sword to block his attack. The force of the impact sent a shiver through her arms, but she held her ground, glaring at him fiercely.
With a fierce cry, Li An drove the sword forward, plunging it into the assassin's side. He let out a strangled gasp, staggering backward before collapsing onto the floor, lifeless.
The deep-voiced assassin's expression shifted from rage to fear as he realized the strength of the child before him. He backed away, stumbling as he reached the wall, but Li An advanced, her steps steady and her gaze cold. With one final strike, she brought the sword down, ending him swiftly.
Silence filled the room as the two assassins lay still, and Li An lowered the sword, her breathing steady. She turned to Misha, Concubine Su, and Alu, who stared at her in stunned disbelief.
"It's safe now," Li An said softly, her voice steady despite her age. The three women nodded, awe and gratitude in their eyes as they took in the sight of their young savior, the warrior child who had defeated their would-be killers.
Li An, however, suddenly felt a sudden bout of sleepiness. She found her vision slowly fading as her small figure suddenly fell to the ground.
The three women noticed that the child seemed to have blood all over her body.
Her blood-covered body seemed to have induced some fear in the three women, as they watched in vigilance.
Concubine Su was the first one to react as she suddenly stood up.
"Quickly help the child!" she said in a voice hinted with panic.
Alu, who is supporting Misha, quickly lets go and walks towards Li An's small figure.
"Mistress… The… The child seems to be… sleeping." Alu said in astonishment after checking Li An's condition.
…
The next day…
Li An slowly opened her eyes and found herself looking at an old ceiling. She slowly turned her head to the side and saw three people.
They were familiar people to her as she had seen them since they entered the cold palace. She looks at the ever-beautiful woman they called Concubine Su and then at the two maidservants, Alu and Misha.
Seeing that they are fine, made Li An's heart calm a bit.
She wanted to get off the bed and hide once again but her movement seemed to have awoken Concubine Su who is sitting at the bedside.
"Umm… You… Little girl, you've woken up!" she said in a calm and composed tone.
Li An could not help but admire the voice of the woman before her. She could also see the composure the woman had as she talked.
Li An did not say anything and just nodded her head. She did not want to talk to these people yet. Actually, she did not know how to communicate with them.
These people are the first people she has ever encountered and she felt a bit shy and reluctant to say anything. In fact, she did not know what to say.
Concubine Su extended her hand which made Li An subconsciously react by backing away.
Concubine Su stopped and showed a faint smile on her beautiful face.
"It's okay… I will not hurt you…" she said trying to appease the seemingly afraid child.
However, contrary to her thoughts, Li An is actually not afraid. She just is not used to someone touching her. It was a foreign feeling for her, so she did not know how to react.
The two maidservants also woke up and looked at their mistress and the child in the bed.
"Is she feeling fine, mistress?" asked Alu who walked to the side of Concubine Su.
"I think she is fine… She seemed to be… curious about us." Concubine Su realized that the child before her is actually not afraid of them.
Li An's small bright eyes are filled with curiosity while looking at them.
"What is your… name?" Concubine Su asked with a smile.
"I am Li An… Gu Li An…" Li An answered while also showing a smile as if trying to copy the woman before her.
The three women looked at each other after hearing her sweet child voice. They seem to be pondering the name she has given them.
"Do… Do you have someone living with you in this place?" Concubine Su curiously asked.
Li An pouted a bit and shook her head. Her cute reaction garnered cuteness points for the three women before her.
They wanted to hug her and pamper the beautiful and cute little girl before them.
Suddenly, Li An's eyes looked around and in confusion, she asked.
"What happened to those people?" she asked while looking at Concubine Su.
"We… We took them out of this place. We will bury them later." Alu said as if trying to pacify the little girl.
Li An did not say anything and just nodded her head.
The three then realized that this little girl was their savior last night. She was the one who fought against those strong assassins and had actually killed them.
Though she looks cute and small, they know that she is not that simple.
Seedee suddenly floated on Li An's side and began to swirl around the three women.
"Little girl… These people are not that bad. I think they can help you live a normal life in this place…"
Li An nodded her head.
"I know…" she said with a smile.
The three women look confused as they look at the little girl before them looking in the air. It was as if she was looking at something that they could not see.
A chill suddenly ran down their spine as if they realized something.
"Umm… Who… Who are you talking to?" asked Alu on the side as she watched the little girl.
Seedee suddenly said, "They cannot see me… You have to be careful when talking with me while others are around."
Li An quickly understood the situation and just nodded her head. She turned to the three women and showed a faint smile on her cute little face.
"Nothing! I'm just talking to myself…" she said.
The three looked at each other and did not say a word.
Li An discovered that she was actually wearing a new set of clothes. Her hunting clothes are gone and she seems to be wearing clothes made of thin and light fabric.
Seeing the looks in the little girl's eyes while looking at her clothes, Concubine Su smiled.
"We have thrown your tattered clothes because it is filled with blood…" she explained.
Li An already understood this so she did not say anything.
Suddenly, she heard a rumbling sound coming from the stomach of Misha.
Misha on the side showed embarrassment as she lowered her head.
"Are you all hungry? I will get you some food…" Li An said as she suddenly jumped down agilely from bed.
The three women were stunned as they watched the small figure of Li An dashed out like the wind.
They just looked at each other in disbelief as to what they were seeing.