Yinuo's gaze held Su Ning's intently, a soft smile playing on her lips. With a slight bow of her head, she uttered, "Alright." Her words carried an ambiguous undertone, leaving it uncertain whether her intentions were genuine or insidious.
Suddenly, a servant's voice pierced the air, "General Su Ning, Master Xiao Li and Shen Dao have arrived!"
"Let them in," Su Ning commanded, before turning to Yinuo and saying, "You may leave."
Yinuo nodded obediently and exited the tent. Once outside, she paused and gazed back at the slightly open entrance. She met Su Ning's eyes, hers filled with a cold stare. He merely smiled in response. As the curtains fell shut, Yinuo flicked her wrist, sending a tiny device soaring into the tent, its purpose to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Inside the tent, Yinuo eavesdropped on the conversation between Shen Dao, the Azure Sect's Leader, and Xiao Li, the elder disciple of the Dao of Shadow Sect. She had a faint recollection of seeing Xiao Li at the Jade Dragon Sect, where he had discussed his arranged marriage to Yu Zhao with Zhang Li.
Their voices filled the air, revealing that Zhang Li was conspiring with their nemesis and planning to collaborate with the Xin Kingdom, a kingdom inhabited by human-spirits. They discussed their intention to dissuade King Xin from allying with Zhang Li, fearing the consequences of his increased power.
Yinuo's mind raced as she pieced together the information she had gathered. She realized that Xiao Li and Shen Dao were allies of Donying Country, the men from her own homeland.
That evening, Xiao Li approached Su Ning after a small dinner and requested a private audience with her. Su Ning obliged, and Xiao Li spoke to Yinuo about Zhang Li's treacherous actions and offered her a choice: to either join their alliance or not.
The imperial edict arrived at their camp, a parchment bearing the Emperor's seal. It was a response to Su Ning's letter, a testament to the urgency of their situation. That night, under the flickering light of campfires, Su Ning addressed his men.
"Half of you will accompany me to Xin Kingdom," he declared, his voice firm. "I will represent the Emperor in this matter." His gaze swept over his soldiers, meeting each of their eyes. "The other half will remain with Yinuo, along with Xiao Li and Shen Dao. You will pursue Zhang Li and apprehend him in the village where he has taken refuge. Be wary, though. Despite his seeming isolation, he has many hidden allies."
The dawn broke, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. Yinuo awoke to an empty tent. Stepping out, she saw Su Ning already on his journey, a cloud of dust swirling behind him. With a sigh, she turned to her own mission. They rode through the night, the moon casting long shadows as they approached the village. Surrounding the mountain, they set up a perimeter, their presence a silent threat.
Hours bled into the night. Just as a weary exhaustion began to settle over them, a signal flared in the distance - a desperate plea for backup. Master Shen Dao, ever the strategist, quickly assembled a team and rode towards the signal. Master Xiao Li, a stoic figure, remained behind, guarding around the village.
Meanwhile, Su Ning found himself surrounded by men in white, their faces masked, their movements swift and deadly. It was an ambush. He fought back, his sword a blur, but the assailants were skilled, relentless. One of his lieutenants, fighting bravely, triggered a signal flare, calling for reinforcements.
Minutes later, Shen Dao arrived, leading his men into the fray. Together, they fought back, their swords clashing against the attackers, pushing them back. They used the mountain terrain to their advantage, maneuvering through the darkness. But the man in black, the leader of the assassins, was relentless. He cornered them, and once again, they were surrounded.
Just as hope seemed to dwindle, a new force appeared. Yinuo, her face smeared with blood, wiped it away with her slender fingers, a chilling smile playing on her lips. Her sword, a gleaming blade, was held in two hands, her posture radiating a fierce grace. Resting her chin at the handle of her sword and kneeling before Su Ning, who was wounded and recuperating, she mocked, "You have great luck,". Rising, she stood before him, her robes billowing in the moonlight as she joined the fight. She became a whirlwind of fury, a storm unleashed, defending Su Ning from the assailants.
"Li Jian! They're quite skilled," Yinuo chuckled despite of uncertainties, "How many minutes will I have to hold this for you?" she followed, her sword clashing with others.
"Shut up," he announced indifferent to the situation. A faint gush of flesh from a stab nearby he had heard, just then his face was spattered with blood.
It's metallic scent stinging his nose.
What a noob! he thought. It was Yinuo, who just got stabbed.
"Hold them for 10 minutes." he added to his previous remark.
"Alright," barely a whisper. Her sword whooshed in the air.
In a swift motion Yang Su Ning leaped in the air, "Back off Zhang Yinuo," he demanded, his sword aiming front as he bulged towards the enemy ahead.
The people they were facing wasn't just normal assailants, they were exceptional. They can't fight them off themselves; they either fight with unlikely winning chance or die here today.
Damn it.
Xiao Li was caught along with several men. Upon seeing his companion in such situation, Su Ning strategically made a plan with Shen Dao.
Yinuo took advantage of the commotion and fled away in the darkness. Her gold jewelry shining and sleeves dancing as she dissipated.
Yinuo stumbled through the darkness, the pain a searing fire in her wounded body.
Reaching the rocky overhang of the mountain, she collapsed against the cold stone. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she fumbled for the cloth she had torn from her sleeve, pressing it against the gash in her side. Her hands trembled, the raw pain a constant tremor.
Just as she was about to pass put a hand, strong and familiar, caught her head, gently easing it against the rough bark of a tree. "Brother is here, I'm taking you back." The voice, a gentle balm on her fractured spirit, was choked with emotion.
Yinuo's eyes fluttered open, meeting Zhang Li's gaze. His smile was bittersweet, tinged with the sorrow of a man who had witnessed too much pain.
At that moment al she wanted to know was why? In her rage she spared hand on hand with him. "It's me, "he said, his voice a comforting tremor. "I know!" she screamed.
She pushed herself up, her arms weak and trembling, and her voice came out a ragged whisper. "You...you did this for me? All this..." Her gaze swept over his face, searching for answers. "Why do you have to do all this?"
"When you love something, you'll do anything to protect it," Zhang Li's voice was firm, but his eyes held a heartbreaking vulnerability. "You're the only family I have left. I can't lose you."
"You'll eventually met heaven's wrath! Don't you know that!" she said, her voice choked with tears. "I should have been dead two thousand years ago!"
"You remember," he said, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Your old life?"
"Yes," she whispered, a wave of despair washing over her. "Just recently.
I'm a demon, I died and is now trapped in an immortal's body. It's devouring me, that's why you're trying to open that immortal craft, to cleanse my past life's energy, right?" She looked at him, her eyes pleading, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Enough. Let's stop this bloodshed here, alright brother?"
Zhang Li's face hardened, the love in his eyes replaced by a chilling intensity. "No," he said, his voice a growl, a dark force now claiming him. "I will get it."
He pressed something into her back, a cold object that seemed to hum with a sinister power. "What is this?" she gasped, her voice weak, her senses fading. Three seconds later, her eyes rolled back, and she lost consciousness.
Zhang Li, his face marred with a strange, twisted grin as he wiped away the memory of their encounter and watched her fall into unconsciousness. He looked out over the moonlit mountains, his voice a chilling whisper. "Sorry, little sis, I need to protect you." He used witchcraft to take a hold of Yinuo.
He fled, his figure disappearing into the shadows, leaving Yinuo behind, a mere puppet in his ruthless game of love and obsession.