บท 85: Fire Monkey

The leading fanboy was the son of Liangzu Kingdom's first rank official. He lived in Jing An city where no one dared to offend him. He was spoiled and arrogant because of this.

Many curried favors with him and often praised his looks and talent not caring if it was true or not. It was also not surprising that the young man had become a pompous and self-centered rich guy.

"You must have done despicable things to her! The Emperor will never let this go!" The young man knew he couldn't win on his own so he shamelessly borrowed the Emperor's name to threaten them.

He thought they were scared when Zhao Li Xin's group remained silent. He wished to see them yield to them and beg for mercy.

"Oh my! This master isn't interested in little kids and she's not my type," Bei Li Yan chuckled and covered his mocking smile with his fist. They're were many women in his palace and he didn't need to reduce himself to roughening up a stranger. Then again, they're was no woman who held his interest.

"My body is my temple, so…" Jin Hao shrugged with an uninterested expression.

Zhao Li Xin didn't comment but his face blatantly said 'REALLY?'

"Young Master, the princess wore a ball gown to the forest and has been running for her dear life inside the forest. It is not surprising her dress is ruined. Such talk from you will just ruin her Highness's reputation," Lory rubbed her forehead as she was tired of the young man's nonsense. Her straight words shut the young man up. He only wanted to show his concern to the princess but ended up looking like a fool.

"And what more… My man and his friends look like 'this'. Do you think they would take advantage of a little girl in the middle of nowhere," Lory emphasized the word 'this' so that everyone could understand what she meant. The five men in her group looked powerful, handsome, and wealthy.

Three of them looked exquisite and noble. Their appearance and temperament didn't lose out to any prince from a big kingdom. Such noblemen won't harass women in the forest like hooligans. Any sane woman would instead run towards them at the snap of their fingers.

Fu Xiao Jin glared at the stupid young master. He was unhappy that he spoke without thinking. He also didn't understand why the fanboys brought the princess with them to the forest. Based on they're characters, they weren't people who would trouble themselves for the royal family.

Ming Ru Yi was also embarrassed by her fanboy's words which could ruin her. Men would not marry her if they were to hear such a scandal. Her father, the emperor would also disregard it as she would be considered useless to him. She knew her father's character well enough to know what she could lose if she was surrounded by any hint of scandal. The Emperor never kept useless things beside him, not even his own child. He was a cruel vicious father, a heartless husband, and a cold-blooded ruler.

"We have returned your precious princess so we don't need to interact," Jin Hao cut to the chase. "We are leaving!"

The General wanted to say something in apology but swallowed his words when Lory suddenly stopped.

"What is that sound?" Lory asked as she heard the sound of rustling leaves. She could see a dark shadow jump through the trees and loud screeches could also be heard above them. Everyone became tense and quickly took out their weapons. They watched their surroundings with wary.

Zhao Li Xin pulled Lory close to him and murmured, "Fire Monkey."

"What kind of beast is that?" Lory drew out her arrow as she asked. Her eyes were vigilant.

"Fast, relentless, and vicious. They move in large groups," Zhao Li Xin said calmly.

"I think they came because they smelled blood," Jin Hao threw a glance at the corpse of the earth bear.

"Are they carnivorous?" Lory asked again. She was more curious than worried.

"Hmm… They eat everything and anything including their own kin," Jin Hao was amused by her calm behavior.

"Fascinating…" Lory was amazed. She never heard of a cannibal monkey.

The noise got closer and they were soon surrounded by the beasts in the trees. The beasts stopped as they waited for their prey to run in panic. It was the instincts of a hunter.

The princess and the young master were protected by the soldiers and General. The faces of the young master and princess were white as their hands gripped their swords.

Their bodies trembled with fear. They had high cultivation but had never encountered such a situation. They were like the people who knew how to handle a gun but had never seen war.

"You must pro…protect us!" The young master's words stumbled when he noticed Zhao Li Xin's relaxed group. He forgot his rude behavior and shamelessly commanded.

Bei Li Yan looked at the young man's conceit behavior with a condescending smile while Jin Hao raised his eyebrows in mockery.

The young master realized he had been rude nevertheless he felt entitled cause she is from a noble family. The Hei Shen Sect group ignored him and he turned desperate.

"My...my father will reward you!" He used his father's wealth to plead.

"My father too!" Another fanboy chimed in, He was scared to death. The forest was scarier than he initially thought. He would have avoided it had he known earlier but it's too late!

"Mine too!" Everything resonates because no one wants to be left behind. They came here only to curry favor with the princess, but not to the point of sacrificing their own lives, not in the least! They were too young and handsome to die in this dam* forest.

The general and the soldiers were ashamed of the cowardice and incompetence of the noble children who were supposed to be the future of their kingdom. They were afraid that the Kingdom would be destroyed if the young nobles became officials.

Their yammering made Lory dizzy yet she needed to concentrate since she hadn't recovered her power, so she could only rely on her five senses now more than ever. Soon Lory lost her temper, she screamed exasperatedly.

"AH… SHUT UP!"

Suddenly dozen black shadows took advantage of the bickering and jumped from the tree in loud shrieks. Lory released her arrow and pierced the head of one of the black figures. It was a black monkey with a red face, The creature had sharp long fangs that protruded from its mouth, there were big claws growing on its ten fingers, and a long tail that helped the creature hang on the branch, just to add the problem, the Monkey moved very fast.

Some Monkeys managed to sneak behind them and scratch some men's legs causing them stunned and panic. The creature then climbed up their victims and bit their necks or faces and blood splattered everywhere like fireworks, It was a brutal scene.

"Stand back to back, watch your back, these creatures aim our blind spots!" Lory warned.

The soldiers obeyed Lory's command without thinking like it was natural. Lory then released two arrows simultaneously and instantly killed two more monkeys.

Meanwhile, Zhao Li Xin easily killed the beasts with a simple wave of his hand. He barely touched the monkeys as they burst into tiny pieces. Bei Li Yan and the others also did their part but the monkeys were too many and were annoying like mosquitoes.

The scene reminded Lory of her past war when the soldiers overlapped with King's Men to fight. It feels like she was transferred to the past once more as Princess Lorient who led the soldiers in a fierce battle.

[Girsha, how many more?] Lory asks in urgency.

Girsha flew above the trees. The forest might be dense but it didn't hinder the 'Lord of the sky' sight even from afar Girsha could still see animals smaller than the monkeys. Girsha notices the black dots swarming towards Lory, Immediately Girsha warns Lory [More are coming, Lory...So many more!] There's an alarm in his voice.

'Oh, Hell!' Lory left Zhao Li Xin's side and released more arrows to the front and a few to her left without looking. She did it by instinct.

It was a skill Lory honed painstakingly under the strenuous training from Fargo. The princess and her fanboys carelessly swung their swords in panic which made them exhausted yet missed their target.

Lory sighed at the princess and fanboys' useless effort. As much as they were annoying, they were only teenagers in Lory's eyes so Lory didn't want to see them being eaten by the monkeys.

"Everyone, make a circle around the princess!" Lory commanded them once again. "General, more beasts are coming, Everyone on your guard!"

General Fu Xiao Jin nodded. He knew how to fight humans but beasts are different matters, especially a horde of packs like this. He didn't care if Lory was a passerby, enemy, or whatever, he decided to listen to her since she was more helpful than his own princess.

"Everyone… Make a barricade! Protect the princess and the young master!"

"Ri Yi, careful!" A big monkey slipped behind her. Mong Yi was quick to protect her with his body and Zhao Li Xin used his fire to burn the monkey, and it exploded.

Luckily, Mong Yi shielded Lory from the splutter. Lory anxiously looked at him, "Brother Mong, are you okay?"

Mong Yi was touched by her concern, "I'm fine, how are you?"

"I've been better!" Lory grinned as she drew out her bow once more. Mong Yi also lifted his sword and together they killed the crazy monkeys jumping towards them. Zhao Li Xin jumped into the foray and punched a dozen monkeys smashing them into the tree.

Lory turned to Zhao Li Xin, "How the hell did the monkey explode?"

"Fire monkeys will explode if they're blood mixes with fire," Zhao Li Xin responded.

"Oh, okay…" An idea came to Lory.

[Lory, they are coming!] Girsha shouted.

"They are coming! AIM HIGH!" Lory immediately informed them. "No one shoots before my MARK!"

The soldiers glanced at General Fu for assurance and followed Lory's order when the General nodded.

[Girsha!]

[100 meters... 50 meters... 20 meters... 10 meters… 5 meters... NOW!]

Lory screamed at the top of her lungs [SHOOT!]

The sound of buzzing arrows pierced through the forest. The monkeys shrieked in agony as the metal pierced their flesh.

[PREPARE!] Lory commanded.

[Prepare the Arrow!] The General repeated her command to his soldiers who quickly drew they're arrows once more and aimed.

"On my mark!" Lory gives the order.

[NOW, LORY!] Girsha shouted.

"SHOOT!" Lory screamed.

The same buzzing sound filled the forest. The anguish roars were followed by dropping corpses. The forest quietened after a few minutes. There was no sound but adrenaline still rushed in their veins. They stayed vigilant with their arrows drawn.

[Girsha, how is it…?]

[It's done…at least for now. However, you must leave quickly. I can see something big moving towards you] Lory could hear Girsha's worry.

[Okay!]

"There are no more monkeys, but we need to get out of here. Something is coming! Something BIG!" Lory told the General.

The General didn't ask how she knew this as he considered her a comrade and he also trusted her for some reason. He nodded and commanded his soldiers, "Everyone, secure the princess. We need to leave immediately!"

"Brother Mong, can you help me carry a few of the monkey corpses?"

"Sure!" Mong Ki nodded without hesitation.

"We need to leave before it comes!" Lory turned to Zhao Li Xin then grabbed his hand hastily and dragged him away. Something big to Girsha meant whatever was coming was humongous.

"What thing?" Zhao Li Xin lifted Lory like a princess for easy movement.

"I don't know but I also don't want to be here to find out."

With their powerful light weight Gin Qong, Zhao Li Xin, and his subordinates quickly disappeared. They could also sense a high-level beast heading their way and whatever it was wasn't an ordinary beast.