Steel and wood met together in the center of the courtyard. The impact sent the leaves flying all over the place. Sun Yunso's blade ran along the length of the staff searching for Lokei's fingers.
One of his hands came away.
The staff rolled across Lokei's shoulder and behind his back. Sun Yunso's blade came down, slicing the empty air. Lokei spun on his heel and the staff came around the other side to drive into Sun Yunso's ribs, his elbow bent as he took the blow on his guard. He drove his blade in a straight line at Lokei's throat.
Lokei's body came out of the way.
The point of Sun Yunso's sword went past his ear sending a couple of blue strands of hair flying. Before Sun Yunso could pull his blade back up the staff came up under Lokei's armpit. Its center came up and struck Sun Yunso's wrist. He had only the barest moment to react before his fingers came away from his sword. Lokei came in close enough for Sun Yunso to grab him by the front of his shirt. He drove his shoulder into Sun Yunso's chest and sent him sliding back on his rump.
He came to a stop with one foot out in front of him. As soon as he stopped sliding, he came right back at Lokei. Three consecutive slashes came down from different angles. Lokei's staff blurred as it moved to meet each one. Each time, instead of parrying, he used his whole body to redirect the force. The last one went past his shoulder, but he used the momentum to pivot on his hip.
The staff came around and snapped up Sun Yunso's throat but he ducked under the spinning staff. It came around again and this time he used his leg to clear it away. Lokei's foot came down on the end of the staff as he was still in midair.
He used the momentum to spin around the staff.
His heel came down like a club and Sun Yunso had to cross his sword in front of his face to stop him. The impact sent his knee flying up and into the stone courtyard. Lokei kept his feet coming and he spun around again. The staff blurred once more as it came around in a wide arc. There was no pause between attacks.
Sun Yunso kept his eyes on the staff as it spun around and around. His own blade came up with tiny flicks and taps to meet each one.
All of a sudden the pattern changed.
Sun Yunso allowed one of Lokei's strikes to come past his guard. The staff rolled across his shoulder sending a jolt of pain down his arm. In return, his blade came in under Lokei's guard. It slashed across his throat. Lokei's eyes went wide and he stopped trying to attack. Instead of backing away, he came right at Sun Yunso. His forehead came into Sun Yunso's temple.
They both stumbled back, neither one having gained any ground over the other.
They stopped a couple of feet apart and both made small adjustments to their footing. Then without another word they were gone. Lokei slid his staff beneath Sun Yunso's blade and pushed it up from his side before he sent the opposite end of it towards Sun Yunso's temple.
Sun Yunso twisted his body and the attack passed him. His blade met with Lokei's in a thrust to his chest. Lokei took a step back as he swept his staff along the ground. Sun Yunso jumped over it and another strike was thrown at his neck. He ducked under it and the staff nearly took his head off. Their fight raged on, neither fighter finding an opening.
They both slid back and drew a few paces away from each other and several meters separated them but neither attacked.
"..."
Sun Yunso dropped his stance.
"Nothing seems to work."
Lokei took his staff from his shoulder and allowed it to hang at his side.
"So, we tested each other yet or are we still gonna play?"
Sun Yunso said nothing as he gripped his sword tighter.
"Moliu."
Lokei's face darkened as he slowly rotated the staff in his hands twice so that it was vertical. With a flick of his wrists, the spinning came to a halt and he dropped his center of gravity. One hand was on the middle of the staff while the other was on the end.
"... "
Both combatants were gone as a blur, disappearing from sight. Sun Yunso charged and his blade carved a black arc through the air as he brought it down. His eyes widened as he saw several figures running across the rooftops from behind Lokei. Their killer intent was overwhelming, so much so that Sun Yunso had no choice but to abandon his attack. He turned on his heels and was gone as a shadow, dodging the assassins' weapons.
"Dark flow."
Sun Yunso's body shot out like a blur.
The assassins were stunned at the sudden turn of events. Even more so as the black arc sliced through the air and sent some of them flying. One after another, the killers dropped to the roof, their throats and bodies slit by the Sun Yunso . Not a single one of them was fast enough to react to the sudden change of pace.
Lokei frowned at the sudden change in Sun Yunso's attack, his eyes narrowing. That is, when he noticed the killer intent behind him. He turned to see four masked figures advancing on him at the same time.
Lokei did not hesitate as he spun his staff and moved forward.
"End strike."
The spinning staff shot forward with incredible speed, stopping just inches away from the nearest assassin's chest. One by one, each of them froze as holes appeared in their torsos. Their lifeless bodies collapsed from the roof, lying motionless on the ground.
Lokei and Sun Yunso faced each other again, their weapons still in their hands, this time neither one of them raised it, already knowing that their fight was over.
Neither Sun Yunso nor Lokei lowered their guard immediately. Instead, they looked at each other, making sure of what they both already knew.
Sun Yunso was the first to speak.
"So, Yo Chomai was right on the money. The assassination attempt is real, after all?"
Lokei lowered the butt of his staff to the ground, giving a single nod to Yunso's question.
"Seems so."
After a moment of silence, Lokei turned his gaze to the main hall.
"When you left your post, had the wedding ceremony already started?"
Sun Yunso shook his head.
"Not yet. They were still announcing it."
Lokei frowned.
"Then, that means..."
The music began to play. The notes of the song drifted through the air, filling the yard and the courtyard. This was a tune that all nobles knew. The sound of the wedding procession was approaching. Sun Yunso and Lokei moved towards the hall as the music swelled.
The guests' applause mixed with the sound of the procession and the wedding ceremony had begun. Without another word, both of them ran towards the main hall. The ceremonial music resounded in the vast hall. The wedding was finally underway and music played on, their performance full of dignity and notes that would match the prestige of the Four Great Families.
In the center of the hall stood Huo Zin, his radiant face calm as he wore the splendid red wedding robe decorated with dancing flames of gold thread that glittered under the lantern light. Next to him stood the ceremonial elder, dressed in neatly pressed white robes with delicate silver thread patterns.
Her aged eyes surveyed the hall in silence as she waited for the bride to arrive. The guests grew quiet as the great doors opened, revealing a figure that stepped into the hall one long stride after another.
Sunlight streamed in from behind, casting a warm glow over the tiled floor as it bathed Guo Yuxuan. She was dressed in a beautiful wedding gown made of fine white and red silk, with phoenix patterns of golden threads that danced up and down the dress like real flames.
Jade ornaments decorated her bun and with every step she took, the whole world seemed to gaze at her and the whole hall went silent. Even the noblewomen, the young masters, and even the elders all gave respectful nods. She truly looked like a princess of the Guo Family.
Guo Yuxuan took slow and steady strides along the aisle, her expression calm but with a faint hint of nervousness in her pretty eyes. As she neared the platform, her gaze fell on Huo Zin, the latter gave her a gentle smile, and the bride could not help but smile back. The music slowly diminished, leaving behind only the soft sound of a single flute, the elder straightened her sleeves, her white robes flowing as she approached the couple. Despite her wrinkled face, her voice rang out clearly in the great hall:
"Today, with heaven as our witness and with the esteemed guests here present, the Guo family and Huo family have joined together not only as one connected bloodline... but as two families who have stood strong and unbowed through the storms of Meizou. Today marks the start of a new chapter for both clans, witnessed by all who are here!"
She gave an elderly bow toward Huo Zin.
"Huo Zin, before heaven, the ancestors, the god that we all worship, as well as the esteemed guests here present, do you swear to stand by Guo Yuxuan's side through good times and bad, to regard her family as your own, to fight for her honor as you would your own, to walk alongside her through peace as well as bloodshed, and never forsake the vow you have sworn this day?"
Huo Zin took a step forward and placed his left hand in his right palm before bowing respectfully.
"I do."
The elder gave a satisfied nod before turning her gaze toward Guo Yuxuan.
"Guo Yuxuan, before heaven, your ancestors, as well as the esteemed guests here present, do you accept Huo Zin's proposal? Do you swear to stand by his side through good times and bad, to uphold the honor of both our families, and to walk through this life together with him?"
The bride cast a glance at her parents. The Guo Family Head gave a proud smile while his wife simply gave a subtle nod. Taking a deep breath, Guo Yuxuan then gave a respectful bow.
"I do."
A wave of murmurs of approbation swept through the crowd as many nobles gave warm smiles, and several elders nodded their approval and the elder lifted both hands, saying, "Now, with heaven as our witness, let the Guo family and Huo family be bound together by this vow."
With that said, she stepped back, giving the newlywed couple enough space to face each other.
"Huo Zin, Guo Yuxuan. Exchange your vows."
Huo Zin gazed into Yuxuan's eyes.
"I cannot promise you a life of ease. But I promise you that you will never walk this path alone."
Guo Yuxuan gave a soft smile.
"I cannot promise you that I will always be strong. But I promise that no matter where this road leads us, I will always walk this path with you."
The elder smiled, satisfied with what the couple had to say.
"The vows have been heard.You may now exchange your union tokens."
Huo Zin took a step closer, and the two newlyweds shared a tender kiss under the watchful eyes of hundreds of guests and for a moment, there was complete silence in the great hall then the whole hall burst into thunderous applause as the musicians resumed playing.
Petals of golden flowers showered from the top of the hall. The servants all gave warm smiles as the elders raised their glasses in celebration. Huo Zin and Guo Yuxuan slowly parted, before bowing their heads to the hundreds of honored guests present before them. They brought a fist into the palm of the other hand, bowing deeply.
"Thank you all for being part of our wedding."
Another round of applause burst into the hall.
As Guo Yuxuan straightened her back, her eyes swept across the crowd, finding her parents among the sea of familiar faces, the Head of the Guo family smiled proudly, while his wife gave a gentle wave in her daughter's direction.
Guo Yuxuan's eyes softened, as she smiled brightly back at them. She did not have to say anything, for that smile spoke volumes.
'Thank you... for raising me.'
Her parents clearly understood, for they smiled even more heartily at her. Huo Zin offered his arm to his new bride, who readily accepted his offer. The newlywed couple slowly descended from the dais.
Petals showered down from the ceiling as attendants tossed them left and right. The guests politely made way as the couple walked down the aisle, giving a round of applause. Soon, the noble guests were trailing after them, heading off to the banquet grounds for the feast.
...
Standing at the main hall's entrance, Chu Runar gave a round of enthusiastic applause.
"I must say, that was quite a beautiful wedding."
Sa Wayong smiled faintly.
"It was."
Chu Runar sighed dramatically.
"Now I'm feeling jealous."
Sa Wayong blinked at him.
"...Jealous?"
"I'm still young, and childless."
Sa Wayong stifled a giggle behind her hand.
"There's nothing wrong with waiting. It is not a sin."
"I know, but... it would've been nice if my type of woman had attended today's wedding." Chu Runar scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "That way, perhaps, I would've mustered up the courage to at least ask her out."
Sa Wayong tilted her head.
"You... actually have a type?"
Chu Runar stared at her in surprise.
"You... actually want to know?"
Sa Wayong gave a small, polite nod.
"If you don't mind."
Chu Runar paused, thinking about it for a moment.
"Hmm... Let's see. I'd be looking for someone shorter than me, probably. Someone that isn't too loud and boastful..." He grinned sheepishly. "...Someone that's kind, loyal. And..."
He smiled more.
"...someone cute."
Sa Wayong gave a polite smile.
"W-well, I think that's a wonderful type. I hope you find someone like that someday!"
She hesitated, a sudden thought occurring to her.
Her eyes widened in horror as she slowly looked at herself in the mirror. Short, cute, and not too loud and boastful. Before she could stop herself, she looked back in Chu Runar's direction.
"Were you talking ab..."
A blade pierced straight through Chu Runar's chest, splattering blood all over Sa Wayong's face. His eyes widened in surprise as he stared at the weapon planted in his chest. His lips parted in silent shock as a mouthful of blood poured down his throat.
His hands trembled, as a masked figure nonchalantly withdrew the dagger from his back, silently disappearing from sight.
Warm blood trickled down from the corner of the blade. Sa Wayong's pupils twitched while her breathing ceased. Everything around her was plunged into a deafening silence, her eyes were fixed on the blade piercing through Chu Runar's chest.
".R-Runar. Chu Ru—”
"Shhh."
Sa Wayong's lips were lightly traced by a pale finger as a man whispered something incomprehensible near her ear while the steel in Chu Runar's chest twisted.
"If you scream... he'll die."
Sa Wayong stiffened, cold sweat trickled down her cheek as her body betrayed her.
"Good girl. Now just stand there and watch."
Blood trickled down Chu Runar's lips as he bent down, taking a heavy breath. The assassin narrowed her eyes.
"...?"
"You... picked the wrong man to play with today." Chu Runar chuckled, spitting some blood on the tiled floor.
At that moment, invisible threads of some kind of filament twisted under their feet. Like the weft of some giant spider's web, hundreds of threads twisted on the floor, binding their legs.
"What?"
The assassin tried to move but her feet stayed put. The strange threads held firm, creeping up her legs, binding them. Sa Wayong struggled in vain, trying to get free but to no avail. Chu Runar let out a weary chuckle, raising his head.
"Got you."
The assassin's eyes widened in disbelief.
"A Seijinist?"
Chu Runar gave a wry smile before looking at Sa Wayong.
"Sa Wayong, do something."
Sa Wayong's mind went blank
"..."
She wanted to move, she wanted to do something but her legs refused to obey her. Sa Wayong looked around the grand hall, her heart pounding in her chest, praying that someone would see what was happening, that the guards, the family head, or maybe any of the guests would come to their aid! But the wedding procession was too busy with the exchange of vows to notice the assassin's silent pleas for help. Chu Runar saw the look of desperation on Sa Wayong's face and let out a bloodied chuckle.
"Guess I'm on my own then, huh?"
His whole body trembled.
The sword piercing his heart made even the simplest of movements a challenge but Chu Runar forced himself to lift his left hand. Raising it up, he looked at the assassin's eyes, narrowing them.
"Still want to fight, huh?"
Chu Runar gave no answer but he continued to raise his hand until it was pointing in the assassin's direction. Slowly, his index and middle finger crossed each other, mimicking a pair of swords.
"Ant."
Suddenly, two massive black mandibles appeared around the assassin and snapped shut.
"No..."
The assassin's body was sliced into two halves, the lower half of the body sprayed out blood and covered the floor with the crimson red liquid, because of the blood it made some sort of fountain. The upper half fell on the floor lifeless.
Chu Runar smiled after seeing his own victory.
"Heh, I actually did it..."
Sa Wayong was relieved to see Chu Runar's body slump on the floor. Chu Runar seemed to be losing strength; the pain finally caught up to him. His knees buckled beneath him, and he collapsed, but before his body could hit the floor, two wobbly hands caught his shoulders.
"R-Runar!"
Sa Wayong was quick to steady Chu Runar, despite the amount of blood that soaked her sleeves.
"No, no, no...Please stay with me..."
Chu Runar gave Sa Wayong a small smile.
"Looks like... you finally moved."
Sa Wayong's eyes widened in relief.
"Y-You're alive."
Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks as she held onto Chu Runar's shoulders, her fingers unconsciously tightening around his collar.
Chu Runar gave a small smile.
"I've still got some fight left in me."
Gritting his teeth, Chu Runar raised his hand and pressed it against his wound.
"Silkworm."
Fine strands of Seidan thread shot out from his fingertips, weaving delicate patterns like silk before binding his wound. Innumerable strings of the liquid metal snaked around his torso, layer upon layer, until his wound was sealed. Chu Runar let out a sigh of relief.
"That should keep me alive for a while..."
Chu Runar's strength was quickly ebbing away.
"Sa Wayong."
Sa Wayong perked up at the mention of her name.
"Y-Yes? Help me sit up."
Without another word, she carefully placed her hands under Chu Runar's arms, helping him to his feet as he leaned against a pillar.
Chu Runar winced as he was placed in a sitting position but said nothing, his fingers digging into the pillar as he tried to suppress the dull, throbbing pain in his chest. He closed his eyes briefly before opening them, his golden eyes locked on Sa Wayong's. It was the first time Sa Wayong saw something different in Chu Runar's gaze; something else other than the mischievous and childish glint she was used to seeing. This time, it was something serious, something that sent shivers down her spine.
"Sa Wayong, you froze."
Sa Wayong looked down shamefully.
"I-I know, I'm sorry, I was... I was scared that my body wouldn't move!"
Tears of shame rolled down her cheeks.
"I couldn't even protect the first friend that I made..."
Chu Runar said nothing as he listened to her apologize before shaking his head.
"Nah, you don't owe me an apology."
Sa Wayong was surprised to hear that.
"You were scared. Anyone would be."
Chu Runar gave a small smile.
"Courage isn't not being scared. It's fighting even when every part of yourself wants to run."
He slowly raised his hand, placing it on top of Sa Wayong's. His hand was stained with blood, but his grip was firm.
"You have already taken the first step in protecting me by catching me and staying by my side. So don't convince yourself that you are weak."
He looked straight at Sa Wayong's eyes.
"Don't convince yourself that you are weak. Listen to me-someday I will not be there to protect you; someday, no one will tell you what to do. And when that day arrives, I want you to trust yourself, not because someone else believes in you, but because you finally believe in yourself."
Sa Wayong's lips trembled before she bit her lower lip, suppressing the emotions that were threatening to spill out of her. Chu Runar gave a small smile, his expression soft.
"And until that day arrives, you don't have to carry the weight of the world by yourself. You can lean on me, and I will keep getting back up, so you can learn how to stand."
Sa Wayong looked at Chu Runar for a long moment, a light dusting of redness visible on her cheeks.
"O-Okay."
She gave a small squeeze of Chu Runar's hand, seemingly unaware that she did so.
"I promise."
....
The rooftop was silent.
Except for the light wind that breezed through the bloodstained rooftop, announcing the calm before the storm.
Naizan's knuckles were white as he stared at the woman several feet away from him. Of course, he was tense.
The woman, however, seemed unfazed, humming a cheerful tune to herself while absently brushing the loose strands of hair away from the man's face, whose head was currently attached to her shoulders.
"My, my.. such a pretty face, it seems you were always meant to be one of us." she said happily, giving the head a squeeze, a real smile plastered on her face, "I will make sure the rest get to meet you when I return."
Naizan's stomach turned at the sight of the woman playing with the man's head as if it were a doll
"..."
He shuddered as his eyes trailed down to the other four corpses scattered on the roof, their faces frozen in expressions of surprise. Each of them had failed to put up even a decent fight before the woman effortlessly decapitated them with a single move.
It took a moment for it all to sink in.
'She's fast.. really fast, she was already across the rooftops and back before we even knew what happened..'
He replayed the event in his mind, analyzing every detail.
Each time, the outcome was the same; he could not find a single weakness in her techniques, and he had no idea how she was able to kill four men so easily before coming to him.
A cold sweat trickled down his back as he silently questioned his abilities.
'Can I really fight her..?'
The woman tilted her head to the side as if reading his thoughts, her smile widening as she took a step closer.
"Oh? Did you finally start thinking?" she teased, her voice as beautiful as music to his ears,
She lovingly kissed the corpse's forehead before placing it back down on the rooftop, straightening up as she took another step closer, her mismatched eyes boring into his.
"But now, let's see whether your skull is as pretty as the rest." She said mockingly, her hands folding behind her back as she tilted her head to the side in mock curiosity.
She paused for a moment, giving him time to process what she said before taking another step closer... and closer... until she stopped a few inches in front of him. Her mismatched eyes pierced through his very soul, analyzing him. Naizan exhaled shakily before raising both hands, turning his palms upwards as he brought them in front of him. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, shifting his weight to his left foot as he shifted his body.
A simple stance, one he had practiced thousands of times before, and yet he felt like he had no mastery over it at all. The woman raised a single eyebrow in disinterest, tilting her head to the side as she looked at him.
"Mmm? A fist fighter?" she said, her tone implying that she was disappointed.
Naizan, however, ignored her comment, his heterochromatic eyes locked on something behind the woman.
"I can't win." He muttered, his expression one of resignation as he stared at the horizon.
If he charged at her, he would become the fifth decapitated corpse on the rooftop. Doubt clawed at his insides, threatening to consume him entirely, but he quickly shook it off, burying the feeling deep inside.
'But they were right.. weren't they?. Heroes don't exist..'
His fingers twitched as he recalled the events that had transpired just a few days ago. A young child standing hopelessly in front of the market, watching the wandering monks perform their daily act, narrating tales of legendary warriors who roamed the land, smiling as they crushed every opponent who stood in their way.. warriors who had defended the weak and protected the innocent without expecting anything in return.. warriors who had smiled even when their bodies were broken and their hearts shattered.
Naizan had envied them at that time, wishing that he could grow up to be one of them. Of course, he never voiced his thoughts out loud, nor did he ever expect anyone to understand.. After all, that was the kind of naive child he had been back then.
"Maybe they're right.." he whispered.
'This is probably the end of the line for me..'
But still, even as he resigned himself to his fate, even as he silently admitted that there was no possible way for him to win, those words rang hollow in his ears. Perhaps, perhaps it was true that heroes and miracles really did not exist, but someone had to be willing to put an end to the misery of these innocent people, even if they were alone.
Naizan rolled his shoulders, his fingers tightening around his fists as he prepared himself, his doubts did not disappear, his fears did not fade, and the tremors running down his spine did not cease, but none of it really mattered anymore. It was not because he suddenly gained feelings of confidence and courage, but rather because he realized that even if he died, there would still be hundreds of people behind him, willing to follow in his footsteps.
'I can't protect everyone, but at least I can try to save some.'
He was not doing this because he thought he had a chance to win. He was doing this because he was determined to make a difference, even if it was just for one person.
"I don't need to win.. I only need to stop you.. for as long as I can.." He muttered almost silently as the woman gave an approving nod, a predatory smile adorning her lips.
"Now now, that's the spirit I want to hear!" she said cheerfully, her voice as beautiful as music as she pushed against her knees, getting into a fighting stance.
"Come on then, hero~”