Chapter 62

Imperial Concubine Wei
Wei Li Lian

Li Lian kept looking backwards, moving forward, looking back again. The reassuring warmth that was eminent from the stranger offered her the courage to keep moving.

“Why are you coming back alone?” The two men who just disposed of the concubine glared at her, wiping the blood off their trousers. Behind them, nearer to the edge of the cliff was still Concubine Pi.

Li Lian’s hand was sweaty against the sword she hesitatingly clutched. "He said I should come back while he relieved himself."

"You are really a wanton, aren't you? You chose to come back when you could have run away."

They both laughed while Li Lian fisted her hand.

"Wait." The other narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. "What is his sword doing with you?"

Preferring to drop the act, Li Lian stepped back, steadying her weight on her left foot, and flipped over with a curved punch onto the temple of the man who just called her a wanton, a knee blow between the legs to the idiot next to him.

They crumbled to the floor, and that had the men under the tree standing because of the disturbance.

Turning ninety degrees to the side, she saw her opponents get on their feet, not willing to lose to a woman. So arrogant.

The two men swerved their swords in her direction and she brought hers up to counter the blow, forming a punch with her foot that kicked back one of them, backing him to the end of the cliff.

To save his friend by distracting her, the other opponent got ferocious and quick on his feet with different kinds of sparing techniques that their swords clanked, swooshing the air.

Li Lian relied on her feet and hands for the fight, flexibility being her biggest advantage. As she kicked one man with her feet, her hands were also committing to sword-fight with the second man.

The rest of the kidnappers started yelling commentaries, interested in the fight and wishing she would also take them on afterwards. They found it amusing because to them she was no threat.

Li Lian felt so lacking, but she wouldn't show it. She was going to shine in pretence until she made it.

With time, they were turning the tables and gaining ground, guessing her upcoming advance and blocking her attacks. They took advantage of the tides and dominated, taking offence, and leaving her on defence.

“Kill her! Kill her!” The men under the tree chanted, laughing and deriding her.

She wiped her brows of all sweat with the one-second break she stole when one man lost balance, before they were back at it again. Sooner than later someone was going to lose, and with her life on the wager it couldn't be her.

“Don’t exert too much strength on your strikes.” Li Lian heard an unfamiliar voice instruct her from behind.

It was the Furian man.

She loosened a little, realising that fighting with a less rigid body saved her stamina.

“You are thinking too much. Don’t be led by thought, fight by instinct.” His calm voice went on to guide her.

She could hear the men under the tree questioning among themselves who the mysterious man was. Some went on to say they were not afraid, they still outnumbered them from their position, it was just a Furian, after all.

“Well done for that wild offence.” The mysterious man praised her. She liked the raise in his voice and his approval of her move.

Her heart soared. Mistress Ki was never pleased with her.

Li Lian was quick to utilize their mistake of attacking her at the same time by falling to the ground, making them hit each other. She skidded on the ground, swiftly rolled over and hurriedly sliced their legs causing them to hit the ground in pain―giving her victory.

“Hao! Well done!” The man came to her side and absentmindedly slashed their throats for her, ending them.

Li Lian gasped. “Why did you do that? That was unnecessary.” Was death always the answer?

Having watched their partners get killed, the men under the tree took their swords and made their way to them. They made a neat circle around them.

Li Lian was now back to back with the mysterious man.

“I should have known it was you, Oren.” The tattooed man said in disgust.

Wait, Oren?

Oren was the emperor's swordmaster, the same person Yuwen Hong had been looking for. And he was right in front of her.

“You are in my territory. Where else would I be?” Oren retorted.

“This is Nevoria’s land.”

“So?”

Tattooed man laughed. "You die today.”

Oren didn't reply. He was nonchalant and seemingly bored. He toyed with his sword by writing some characters on the dust.

'My land. No trespassing.'

The tallest man that was next to the tattooed man grew curious and took a few steps to read the words.

But it was his biggest and most fatal mistake. Oren simultaneously cut off his head, blood splattering around with some particles landing on Li Lian's face.

Her face scowled in disgust, and for a few minutes, she didn't breathe. It was so disgusting and horrific. The events of the day were enough to stain her lifetime dreams.

No wonder he was the master of Yuwen Hong. Definitely, the ruthlessness of Yu'er had to be learnt from someone.

The men started backing away slowly, but Oren held his sword up to halt them.

"Choose." He polished his blade with the back of his sleeve. "Jumping off the cliff or having your heads cut?"

They chose the cliff.

The men turned for the cliff but were too slow as Oren chased after them. He was as the wind, fast on his feet and untraceable.

More bloody gore, more slashed heads, more grunting of pain.

Blood, blood, blood everywhere.

After Oren was done killing, the place was a flooded river of scarlet.

"I changed my mind. There is no choosing." He said.

Li Lian huddled, wrapping her hands around herself. For the first time, she missed Yuwen Hong and wished he was there. He would carry her away like he always did and whisper to her that it was all just a dream, that she could forget about everything that had happened and be at peace.

Oren looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. He didn't smile or dare make things comfortable for her. His eyes resembled winter and under his stare, she felt the cold. His warmth when he was on the tree was probably the last she would ever get.

"How is your mother?" he started.

She did not know where her mother was or who it was.

"I… I don't know who my mother is."

He used the clothes of the lying body next to him to wipe his sword. Just like the first time she met Yuwen Hong.

Another look at her. "Do you know who I am?"

She nodded.

When addressed by him she felt way younger. That immature woman. No, that girl younger than one who just became of age.

"Yuwen… uh… the emperor speaks of you quite a lot."

There was a swishing sound, metal against metal as he put his sword back in its case. "Hong'er, yes, still my best student to date."

She smiled ruefully. "He boasts about that too."

Oren didn't falter his visage in return. He probably didn't like… or better yet, didn't know how to react to things, thus just lazy to entertain the social aspect of life.

Cracking silence and awkwardness zoomed in on them. She kept checking on Concubine Pi from the corner of her eye, concerned by the passing time.

Silently, she hoped he would leave. With him around, unfortunately she couldn't do much for Concubine Pi. Thus, she was anxious to see him not attempting to depart, as if he stalled because she was an intriguing play thing he recently attained.

"Elora abandoned you too, didn't she?"

"Who?"

"Your mother."

She frowned. "My name is Elora, not my mother."

One eyebrow of his jumped, making Li Lian feel stupid, but for what reason, she didn't know.

When Concubine Pi coughed, Li Lian couldn't stand back anymore. She ran over to the deserted body lying near the edge of the cliff.

Oren casually followed, not hurried. He probably went after her to satisfy his curiosity.

Concubine Pi’s eyes were squinted and blood was sipping out of her mouth. Tears leaked from her eyes as she harshly breathed, trying to hang on.

“Please help…” She muttered helplessly. “Please help my baby.”

“Don’t worry, I will do the best I can. Hang on, please.” Li Lian searched her body for the spot she was willing to cut.

Oren warily watched the situation, which had her hesitant to cut herself. His eyes were void of emotion and empathy. “She won’t live even if you were to kill ten princesses of Furia.”

“I can save her.” Li Lian argued.

Oren didn't reply, his rime attitude ridiculing her.

Since he knew her blood could save, there was no use in waiting. She sliced her wrist using her sword and a gush of red blood began to ooze. “Drink this, Concubine. Drink.”

She forced her hand on the lips of the concubine.

This had Oren annoyed, who kicked Li Lian off and just like that, he twisted Concubine Pi's head and broke her neck.

~Author's note~

All credits to lucialeerespasion for editing this chapter. Thank you for helping with the editing when I couldn't.

S.V