Bab 43: 42. Cornered
The pavilion was serene and the atmosphere was idyllic. The colorful flowers swayed in place as the wind brushed onto the soft petals and sturdy stems of the plants. The trio had their time blissfully and even spending time eating whatever is on the table. Min Zhe often ate tasteless soup and buns since he didn't know how to cook and always a spendthrift person when managing his money. So, served with snacks and sweets like this felt like heaven. Since his brother was concerned about his weight, it would be a waste if these sweets wouldn't be eaten. Hence, he enjoyed eating the sweets and thought that this will only happen once. He must take his time devouring it all.
"Brother, are you a vacuum cleaner? Slow down or you'll choke to death!"
"Vacuum cleaner? What's that?" Just as Li Jie realized what he just said, his body felt like being poured by iced water. Min Zhe who was eating, and Li Wei who still stand sturdy by his side had question marks above their heads. Li Jie laughed dryly and said: "Oh, did I just said something? Cough... Nothing, nothing at all."
Min Zhe was getting suspicious towards his brother. Li Wei also thought that his master was spouting nonsense again. Both raised their brows and sighed.
Since the two didn't get what this little dwarf was saying, so they did what Li Jie told them to do.
However, the air was humid and the queasy feeling they had disturbed them to the core. Li Jie knew that the pendant he found that day was so important from those archenemies who plotted evil for who knows who. If not, then that man who spied Li Jie that day would be damned if he caught him. That man is skilled. Just observing that man's swift moves as he successfully escaped Li Jie knew, that man was a warrior.
He was thinking, just what is with that pendant? It seems the person who hid this thing as if it was his precious jewel that he hid it to the trickiest part of the room. If he wasn't unlucky enough, he couldn't find the pendant at all.
Speaking of unlucky, he really is. That thing could shaken the whole Qin Empire. Of course, that will happen later.
For now, the three halted their moods a bit and pretended that they didn't noticed. Min Zhe prepared to unsheathe his sword if any person will ambush him. Li Jie touched the hem of his robe, making sure that the dagger is readily prepared and patiently waiting for the attack. Li Wei did the same. He made sure that the dagger was there and he touched the hairpin equipped on his head. Inside that hairpin was a long poison needle and could kill a person within 30 seconds if it was pierced in the skin. Because Li Wei helped Li Jie with his new hobby, he was gifted by a precious tool. That is the poison needle that Li Jie made.
The three expanded their senses, and could noticed that almost 40-50 skilled hired martial artist surrounded them in the dark which makes Min Zhe scared. For him, this is nothing than a cockroach but his brother was with his side. This meek brother will be hurt if he stay here, but he couldn't let his guard down or he'll be hurt for real. Not knowing that this cunning artist is gruesome than him.
"I don't like the weather today." Li Jie pretending to to be an innocent sheep so that he'll never be caught in action. Li Wei, who already knew everything, kept silent and was prepared to protect his master.
"Is it? Well, indeed you're correct." Min Zhe said as if he didn't noticed the cockroaches hiding around the cupboard.
Li Jie counted inside his head.
"One, two, three... Bang!" The arrow rained like raindrops in the air poured in the pavilion and the three successfully avoided the attack.
"Dammit!" Countless assassins attacked the manor, but because some of the general's men were being sent in the border, only few remained into the place. Min Zhe's heart beats fast, unsheathed his sword and skillfully slashed the enemies down. The sound of the clang of swords echoed in the battleground, Min Zhe shifted his eyes on his back where his brother was and he was deeply shocked about what he just saw.
Li Jie didn't care anymore. There was too many of them, and acting stupid in front of his brother is nothing important than his brother and servant's life. Grabbing the dagger on his hem, he slashed the blade into the attacker's skin with a creepy smile on his face. If Li Jie is a doll then he reminded everyone about the Chucky doll seen in movies. Because, he himself was creepy while stabbing everyone with a dagger which is like Chucky's knife.
He was skilled in martial arts, thus fighting is way too easier than him. If not, then he couldn't manage to escape the bridal chamber if he was bad at it.
Li Wei did what he had learned, skillfully attacked the enemies with his dagger and pierced their skin with a poison needle. The enemies he had was confused why their system felt like being crushed with a boulder. Their senses slowly fading away, as if someone sealed them on purpose. Assassins who fought with him slowly dropped their bodies on the ground, paralyzed. They noticed that they couldn't breathe and after 30 seconds, they were lifeless.
He glanced all around him and realized that they were outnumbered. There were guards who fought along with them, but they were not enough. He clenched his fist and continued fighting. He kicked his enemies with great force and dodged their attacks. However, he couldn't managed to dodge them all.
Li Wei didn't noticed the man who attacked him since he was in Li Wei's blind spot so he didn't see the person clearly. That person stabbed him in his lower waist making Li Wei groaned in pain.
Li Jie managed to saw this and widened his eyes. This time, Li Jie was so angry that he could eat the person who stab him alive.
The one who fought with him was even more sympathetic. Li Jie held his neck, twisted it in force and break it.
The poor assassin died.
Li Jie rushed to Li Wei's side while killing assassins on his way. Li Jie was scared. He treated Li Wei as his brother and best friend. He couldn't afford to lose him in this lifetime.
Li Wei gasped air as the blood seeped out from his wound. It was as if it's burned, the tingling and aching feeling crawled into the bones to his stomach. He held his dripping wound with his left hand, while holding a dagger on his right hand. His body weakened and his senses blurred. There were too many enemies in the battleground and there was only a few of them, he thought. Would it be impossible to escape?
Min Zhe saw his brother running towards his servant and his eyes shrank. He immediately followed his brother to protect him. Not for long and he managed to catch-up with his brother.
"Li Jie, stay near from me and don't act recklessly!" Min Zhe scolded his brother and continued to run. Honestly, he didn't who this Li Jie in front of him. How could his brother acted like this? His body was petite and didn't get that much exercise everyday. How could he become this skilled in martial arts in just few days? He doesn't get it at all. However, he didn't ask him yet because of the situation and carefully guard him.
Li Jie rushed towards Li Wei and saw that his servant was already kneeling on the ground, weak. Li Jie held his shoulder, lips pursed. His eyes darkened as he saw the blood dripped from his waist. His heart skipped a beat and just held him carefully.
Min Zhe kept fighting however, his stamina won't last too long. He didn't knew that it was this many. It seems, he couldn't keep any longer. Li Jie saw his exhausted brother and his eyes trembled. He never encountered such phenomenon before, but he felt afraid right now.
He never encountered when he was cornered. Now, this was how it felt like. It was terrifying. One mistake, one move and this will be over.
He tried his best to protect Li Wei who was unconscious and also his brother, who was exhausted in fighting.
Delun, where are you?
Li Jie felt like crying as he slashed the enemies coming towards his way. Li Wei was wounded badly and he was the only one capable fighting from them. He crouched on the ground and protected Li Wei. One assassin found them and dashed from their blind spot, causing Li Jie to widened his eyes. He hugged Li Wei's body to protect him as he closed his eyes. He was prepared for the attack, but why didn't it arrive on him?
He slowly opened his eyes and shocked.
The man before him had dangerous gaze on the enemy, one slice of his sword and the enemy's head flew away. Blood spurted and few sprays of blood landed on Li Jie's face.
As a previous criminal, Li Jie didn't care about this. All he cared right now is...
The man he waited came. Delun loosened his sword, crouched down and took out a handkerchief from his pocket. He wiped the blood on Li Jie's face and threw it on the enemy's face. Li Jie was teary after he saw him. He was grateful that his wish came true. Delun hugged Li Jie's body, patted his back, reassuring that it was fine.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here now." Delun heard his wife sobbed and darkened his eyes. Well, someone have to pay today.
"Hello, we still need to fight you know?" Lim Hao, who just came back from vacation, looked at Delun blankly.
He just got escaped from his parents' dungeon lately and this general just abandoned him just like that, he wanted to kill a general today.
"Bring them to the infirmary. Protect them with all of your might. Or else, you know what I'll do." Delun said to Lim Hao. Lim Hao sighed and bent down to carry Li Wei.
"Young Madame, follow me. We still need to treat your servant." Lim Hao said to Li Jie. This was the first time Li Jie saw Lim Hao. He looked at Delun's silhouette at said with concern: "But Delun, he..."
"You don't need to worry about him. He brought royal guards from the palace. And that man, no one could bring him down even if a storm hit him. He's strong." Lim Hao reassured Li Jie and smiled at him.
"Okay."
The two ran to the infirmary as Lim Hao carried Li Wei on his back. Li Jie looked back with a concerned look flashed his eyes.
"Please be okay," he murmured. He followed Lim Hao's back, and glanced back to the battleground again. He hoped that Delun will be okay.
.
.
.
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When the mighty general arrived in the manor, he brought royal guards with him that was assigned by the Emperor. The Emperor had a hunch that something was wrong in the manor, thus he tasked the assigned royal guards to accompany the general. The general didn't complain since he needed them. He rushed out to the palace quickly.
Just as he was traveling with galloping horses, Lim Hao just appeared in front of him and joined him on the way home. Delun really wanted to kill this assistant of his for not returning for a long time. Lim Hao told h that his parents didn't want to continue his job as the general's right-hand man and just continue to help his family. That's why, he was forced to stay in his house for a long time and managed to escape when no one paid attention to him.
As he rushed into the manor, he never dillydallied and directly went to the battle. He saw his wife clutching his servant's body as an assassin went to ambush him. Delun's eyes bloodshot, rushed forward, and sliced the assassin's head. This is the first time he was scared when entering a battlefield. His world stopped when he imagined he was a bit step late and could never save Li Jie that time.
He was angry. Right now, the enemy faced the boss. The cold-hearted man that the Empire had described, unsheathed his sword.
The assassins were afraid. They had always believed in one rumor, "Once the general unsheathed his sword, all his enemies are beheaded."
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Author has something to say:
Do you believe that I managed to finish 27 modules in a day? Dang, I thought I died when I head the deadline and poof! My hands were faster than the speed of light!
Like bruh! How did I do that?
Also, after this chapter, I'm going to lock it now. I hope you support this story.
Hadiah
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