Chapter 36 Empress Strikes Back
As Li An and Misha walked side by side down the winding path away from the palace, Li An's face remained calm and contemplative, though Misha could tell something weighed on her young mind.
"That pill," Li An said quietly, glancing at the marble steps behind them, "it was only a temporary solution. A small piece in a much bigger puzzle."
Misha, who had followed her through thick and thin, looked concerned. "What do you mean, Your Highness? I thought you cured the Empress Dowager's illness."
Li An shook her head slowly, her expression reflecting the depth of her understanding that went far beyond her years. "The Empress Dowager suffers from a disease known as 'Type 2 diabetes.' It is a disease that causes our body to lose control of our blood sugar levels. Without 'insulin,' she will eventually succumb to the illness. Her condition is a bit strange so I need to give her insulin and see if we can control the disease."
"Insulin?" Misha echoed, her brows furrowing. The unfamiliar word hung heavily in the air, carrying both mystery and urgency. "Where will we find it?"
Li An took a deep breath. She did not want to tell Misha about Seedee, so she could only explain what it was according to what she had learned. "There is a creature called 'lano'—a pig-like animal. It holds the insulin we need. We'll need to extract it carefully to help her."
But as they continued their conversation, a shadowy figure crouched behind one of the palace pillars overheard every word. The spy's eyes glinted with malice. The Empress herself had assigned this person to watch Li An. Knowing her ambition and influence, the Empress could not afford to overlook any movements of this new chess piece of her rival Concubine Su, especially after learning of the girl's recent success with the Empress Dowager's illness.
Unaware of the spy's presence, Li An and Misha continued on to the Cold Palace. Li An was too focused on her conjecture to even notice the spy.
Once they arrived, Li An turned to Misha with an uncharacteristically solemn gaze.
"Misha," she said softly, "do not tell Concubine Su about our visit with the Empress Dowager or what we discussed. Let her rest without worry."
Misha gave a quick nod, understanding the need for discretion. She and Li An parted ways, each retreating to their quarters. The Cold Palace, though dimly lit and lacking the luxury of the main palace, held an aura of solace for Li An. It was where she felt free from the constraints of the world that tangled every inch of a person's life.
Once night fell and the Cold Palace drifted into a hush, Li An rose silently from her mat, taking her already prepared bag as her small yet formidable figure moved gracefully through the shadows. She slipped out of the Cold Palace, donning dark, lightweight robes that clung to her agile frame, designed for ease and movement. Outside, she felt the cool night air brushing against her face, invigorating her as she crept toward the outskirts of the capital.
Her task was clear: locate a lano farm, extract the insulin, and return without detection. Seedee had explained in careful detail the steps needed to perform the extraction, guiding her on a path that balanced both her ancient knowledge and the strange new skills brought by Seedee.
The quiet night was soon interrupted by a subtle shift in the air, a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. Instinctively, she halted, her eyes narrowing as she sensed a malicious presence. Moments later, six dark figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding her in a tight circle. Their cloaks fluttered, their expressions obscured by masks. But their weapons glinted in the moonlight, each one honed and deadly.
"You should have stayed in the Cold Palace, child," one of the assassins sneered. "It would have saved you a lot of trouble."
Li An's small hand went to the hilt of her small sword, her eyes like burning embers in the dim light. Despite her young age, she radiated a fierce aura, one that made even the seasoned assassins pause. She had faced danger before; this was nothing new. Her voice was calm and cold as she spoke.
"Six of you against me?" she replied, her tone mocking. "Such overconfidence for a cowardly ambush."
Without another word, she launched into action, her form flickering like a shadow as she engaged the closest assassin. Her first move was Celestial Descent, a technique that allowed her to harness and mimic the gravity of the heavens, channeling it into her blade. As she cannot inject the natural energy yet for this particular skill, she could only mimic its movement.
But such movements already produce a 1% of its true power.
She lunged forward, slicing downward, her sword glowing with a faint, moon light. The nearest assassin barely had time to react before her sword slashed through his defenses, cutting him down instantly.
Two more assassins charged, but Li An was ready. She called upon Void Strike, channeling her inner strength to move at impossible speeds. With graceful precision, she struck, her movements like a whisper in the night, too quick for human eyes to follow. The assassins crumbled to the ground, their faces frozen in expressions of shock and disbelief.
Just like Celestial Descent, she can only use Void Strike's movement to produce a 1% copy of its true power.
But the remaining three assassins regrouped, their tactics shifting as they realized this young girl was far from an easy target.
At first they did not believe the rumors, but upon seeing the real deal they now felt that the stories in their circle did not justify the truth. It was more horrifying than what they imagined it to be.
They attacked in coordinated strikes, their blades coming at her from all directions. Li An's body twisted and turned, her movements fluid as water. Her instincts guided her, and with each motion, she dodged and countered, her sword finding its mark with deadly precision.
Finally, only one assassin remained, his hand shaking as he tightened his grip on his weapon. He locked eyes with Li An, seeing the glint of battle fury in her gaze. His courage faltered, and he stumbled backward.
"I… I was just following orders…" he stammered, his voice breaking.
Li An took a measured step forward, her voice as cold as ice. "Then let your last thoughts be of the one who destroyed you."
With a final strike, she ended his life swiftly. As the silence settled over the scene, she took a few steady breaths, surveying the fallen assassins around her. Though they had been sent to kill her, she felt no sense of triumph, only a quiet resolve.
Methodically, she searched their bodies, finding a few silvers, sealed letters bearing unknown symbols, and a vial of poison. These items could provide clues about who had sent them, though she already had her suspicions. She tucked them away, storing them as future tools in her arsenal against the political webs closing in around her.
Once she had collected what she needed, she continued her journey through the outskirts of the city. Hours passed as she flashed and wandered along winding roads and hidden trails until, at last, she spotted the farm she had been searching for. Beneath the shadow of a large willow tree, the humble structure of the lano farm lay silent, surrounded by pens where the animals rested, unaware of the night visitor approaching them.
Li An slipped through the wooden gate and moved silently among the pens, her eyes scanning for a suitable animal. The lano, large pig-like creatures with short legs and thick hides, dozed peacefully in their enclosures. She carefully selected a few and led them to a secluded area behind the barn, where she could perform the extraction without disturbance.
With Seedee's voice echoing softly in her mind, guiding her every step, she readied her tools. She took a steadying breath, following each step Seedee had meticulously instructed, and began the delicate procedure. Her small hands moved with skill, steady and precise, as she carefully extracted the pancreas from each lano.
"Now," Seedee murmured within her, "begin the extraction of the insulin."
Li An followed Seedee's instructions, isolating the insulin with precision, each movement efficient and exacting. Despite the strange, intricate process, she felt a deep calm; it was as if the knowledge flowed naturally within her, as clear as the techniques she had learned in martial arts or music.
After what felt like an eternity, she held several vials of the precious insulin. They glowed faintly in the moonlight, a treasure that held the potential to save lives. She carefully wrapped them in soft cloth, ensuring they were secure.
With the vials hidden safely in her pouch, Li An slipped out of the farm, leaving no trace of her presence. She made her way back to the Cold Palace under the cover of darkness, her mind racing with both satisfaction and caution. Tonight had proven one thing: her enemies were growing bolder, and the threats around her were closing in. But she was undeterred.
By the time she returned to her quarters, dawn was just beginning to break. The first light of morning crept over the horizon, casting a warm glow through the small, barred window in her room. She hid the vials beneath the floorboards, in a secret compartment she had fashioned herself.
Exhausted but resolute, she lay back on her mat, staring up at the ceiling. The events of the night lingered in her mind—the fierce battle, the journey through the outskirts, and the delicate extraction of the life-saving substance. She had managed to overcome every obstacle, her strength and wisdom proving once again to be her greatest allies.
As she closed her eyes to steal a brief rest before the day began, a faint smile crossed her face. In this ruthless world, she had found a way to survive—and not just survive, but to emerge stronger.
That morning, at the outskirts of the city, the sound of wailing came from a man as he found several of his lifeless lanos lying inside his toolshed. Though their stomach has been sewed close, they are already dead as a rock.