CONTENT WARNING: MENTIONS OF BLOOD AND GORE (I'm not too great at this, but if it bothers you, please skip this chapter. I'll try not to be too descriptive, though.)

17.00 pm Sunday

Edgy, dark and disturbing.

Their attacks were brutal, with only annihilation on their minds. They were terrifying to behold: dark eyes magnetic with unspeakable rage, one objective to fulfil.

To defeat their enemies.

The surge was dominating, fast and mind-blowing in their efficiency as the vampires threw themselves into the fight. There was no time to prepare, not in their heads and certainly not physically.

The moves that usually came as naturally as breathing became stilted and heavy, the weight of their weapons posing different problems that the Network of Vampires had never even thought of before.

To have the gift of super strength, agility and quick thinking always at hand, and then to suddenly have it taken away? In the blink of an eye, they were reduced to ordinary people, weak and uncoordinated in their response.

The opposing vampires sensed an easy victory and shot forward, fangs dripping with venom and eager for the kill. Time pulsed in between, a staccato of death and destruction, as the formidable Sea of angry vampires tore into Baoshan Sanren's army with skill and precision.

Thirsty for blood.

This was not an equal fight.

And everyone knew it.

Wen Zhong in his insatiable need for victory had turned the tables and tossed out chivalry in battle, fairness in fighting, and swapped out all the good qualities for an unjust, biassed advantage in this final fight.

Like this, fighting with puny human strength and in spite of the sharpness of their weapons, Baoshan Sanren and her army of vampires were going to lose.

Unless Wei Ying did something.

All around them, the coppery stink of defeat rang out, hidden behind snarls of vicious biting, the clang of metal upon metal screeching in protest, and sparks flying all around him.

Wei Ying's fingers shook as he brought out Chenqing, the cool metal vibrating in his hands.

They were protecting him, he realised as his eyes took note of every single person here. All the people he knew, and sone that he did not, formed an impenetrable circle around him, so that the enemy couldn't reach him. It must have been discussed beforehand and no one had told him this. They kept it from him because his grandmother knew he would have objected.

Such a sacrifice could not be ignored.

This was their last chance to eradicate this threat, the Wen's tyranny over each and every vampire. To treat humans like a piece of steak by devaluation.

Two deep breaths and his mind became clear.

Mama, he said, closing his eyes and reaching out for her.

This is for you.

He gathered all of his energy, all of his focus and propelled it into this connection with the flute. Chenqing hummed with urgency as the first note rang out. In that one second of the silence it created, the vampires paused, confused at what was happening.

Wei Ying concentrated his mind to see their colours in his head, and once he singled out Lan Zhan, Baoshan Sanren and her team, he placed them in a bubble of protection. And then he played with a renewed frenzy.

This audible attack struck the savage vampires directly through their ears and straight to their brains. Immobile, aware but able to do nothing except watch with growing horror as they faced an enemy far more formidable than they ever had.

What defence could they use against something that had no shape? No form?

What could they possibly do?

This assault began in their own minds, a whispering voice with each growing note, to take their weapons and turn them onto themselves. In the most maddening, bizarre show of unrealistic horror, their eyes went crazy with rapid confusion, and then all of them at once, decapitated themselves.

Except one.

Wei Ying had singled him out on purpose.

There was no way he was going to allow Wen Zhong to go free, or to get off easily. There would be no simple death for him.

Wei Ying had discovered that Chenqing had a dark secret.

The flute was bloodthirsty in the same way that vampires were, but instead of needing blood, she fed on Resentment Energy.

This deep dark force was ever present, culling happy thoughts of the present and changing them into the heavy, oppressive thoughts of failure, hatred and anger. Every time that Wei Ying fitted his lips over the opening to blow air into this conduit of destruction, he fortified his own mind to raise his own awareness that these were NOT his own feelings. Strengthening this core knowledge, he could identify the Resentment as coming from those who opposed him.

In effect, he was able to take the emotions of the beings around him and turn them against their creator, because his grandfather was a genius.

To take the need for vampires to feed, that feral hunger which made them blind to their desires, and turn it around?

That was the best failsafe Wei Ying had ever found out.

In this world, who was powerful enough to overcome themselves? Who could open their own eyes and see the transitory nature of their own feelings and understand that they would pass, and to not act rashly with them?

Hardly anyone. And vampires were no exception.

Chenqing went in straight for the kill. She was like a red demoness, charging towards their deepest, darkest fears and amplifying them, making them seem significantly bigger and more powerful.

And then she fed.

Out of all these pawns, the one that held the most Resentment energy was Wen Zhong.

There had been a millisecond of doubt, the dread of defeat, and in that split second, Wei Ying sensed the vampire's desire to flee, to escape certain death, and he could not afford Wen Zhong to leave.

The vampires that were opposing them had already made their choice and unfortunately for them, they picked the wrong side.

One clean sweep and they were destroyed.

All in one go, because Wei Ying needed to concentrate on Wen Zhong.

He sensed Chenqing's excitement, her recognition that she would be able to feed one more time, a dessert to end her feasting.

Dark whispers of power engulfed an unwilling Wen Zhong, and lifted him up like a puppet with strings.

Wei Ying brought him down from his throne, bringing him to stand in the centre of all that destruction, the carnage of dead bodies at his feet.

He was to blame for all their deaths, and yet, Wei Ying sensed no remorse coming from him.

Wen Zhong still arrogantly believed that he was right, and it was nothing to him, their sacrifices to meet his unquenchable desire.

Only his eyes were able to move, filled with rage and uncontrollable hunger. And then it stutters, because he sees the HeartStone around Wei Ying's neck. The Locket key glowing a bright, vivid red and pulsating with power.

He knows what it is.

And he is beginning to understand what this means, for him.

Wei Ying experimented, because he knew Baoshan Sanren would want this.

To avenge her beloved husband.

And Lan Zhan, the unwilling and averse victim of this menace.

So Wei Ying split his consciousness into two.

"What do you want me to do, Master?" Chenqing asked him, curiously.

Keep him contained and then I will give him to you, Wei Ying answered her through the notes. This shrill melody rang out, cutting through the air with rambunctious glee.

If Wen Zhong was insatiable, then so was Chenqing but, hers was a bolt of lightning compared to his spark.

Agreed.

Her answer became shackles of powerful darkness wrapping around Wen Zhong, becoming tighter and tighter the more he tried to break free.

It was a natural instinct, to fight against one's confines.

His body could not move, but his mind turned upon itself.

And while that happened, Wei Ying released Baoshan Sanren and Lan Zhan.

Both of them came close to him, but neither touched Wei Ying, too aware of his power and not wishing to disturb it.

"Grandmother. Your swords."

That's all Wei Ying had to say.

He returned to his consciousness and refocused on keeping Wen Zhong restrained.

Baoshan Sanren was already holding Heping and Zhengyi.

Peace and Justice.

How apt, not only their names, but that one belonged to her SoulMate, and the other was a gift from him to her.

Baoshan Sanren raised both swords up and in her signature move, brought them down in a scissor action, cleanly severing Wen Zhong's head.

Wei Ying let Chenqing feast upon what remained.

Once she was done, she staggered to bow in front of him.

"Master."

Wei Ying studied her.

Scarlet silk flowed around her shape like wine swirling in a glass, her deep red eyes only submissive to him. Her mouth still tainted with blood, she smiled with white fangs tinged with red.

"I have been fed well today," she says, in a tone full of grateful affection. "Thank you, Master."

Wei Ying bows back, fully aware that today, they needed her.

Wen Zhong would not have been defeated without her help, and worse, it would have been at the price of all their lives.

"Thank you, Chenqing. You have done us a great service, today." Wei Ying bows back. "I am not sure when and if, I might be able to feed you again. For sure, it will not be like this." He gestured towards all the mangled bodies on the ground.

"Do not worry, Master. I had been hungry for so long, and today after barren years of drought, I have eaten my fill. I will not be hungry for a long, long time. "But," she adds with a gleam in her crimson eyes, "I will always come, should you summon me."

And with that, she let her form dissipate into a fine red mist, returning to her home of Chenqing. The flute vibrates once, to let him know of her presence, and then it stills in his hands.

And as Wei Ying releases all of the vampires in the protective bubble, cheers ring out to deafen him.

**************

A/N

Dear Fabulous Readers,

So what do you think? Was it epic enough?

I struggle so badly to write battle scenes, and no amount of chocolate helps, trust me. I hope this one was good though, and I'm satisfied that I tried my best.

I wanted to finish this part because I'm going on holiday next week, and this week is going to be busy with preparations for it, although I'm delaying thinking about it because the right frame of mind is important to writing. (I was listening to Epic Battle Music for this chapter).

Updates will be sporadic, but you know that every spare moment will be dedicated to writing, and who knows? There might even be some writing done at the airport.

No cliffhangers here, but we both know me, I'm like a bee to a flower there, so no promises of no more, hehe.

At least they'll be happy ones.

Charlie