Naizan appeared first, his fist came flying through the air with such force that it whistled. The mysterious woman simply raised a hand and Naizen's attack stopped dead in her palm.
"Huh. Heavy. I like that."
Naizan said nothing, throwing another punch. The woman tilted her head to the side and the punch slid by her cheek.
He shouldered forward, following up with an elbow but she fell back, avoiding it. He brought a knee up and she twisted her hips, narrowly avoiding it as well.
Naizan didn't hold back. He was throwing punches one right after the other, never allowing a moment's rest. His whole body was fluid, his form flowing effortlessly. The woman only laughed, dancing between the punches, her feet barely touching the rooftop. She slipped between his arms, avoiding blows by the skin of her teeth, one nearly taking her shoulder, another her thigh.
"Oh?" She blinked, looking at the torn sleeve on her right arm. "... You touched me."
Naizan took advantage of her momentary surprise. He stamped down on a loose tile with his foot, sending it flying up. He caught the flying shard with one hand and brought it up to smash into her face, but the woman only smiled.
"Clever."
She shattered the tile with the back of her hand, taking care to clear her vision, then she was already right in front of Naizan, ramming into his chest with her shoulder. He was sent flying back across the rooftop. Naizan didn't allow himself to feel triumph, however, because he knew it was premature. The woman stood her ground as she landed, brushing off a speck of dust from her sleeve with a single finger.
"Wonderful." She said, clapping her hands together lightly. "You actually forced me to move."
Naizan stood his ground as well, steadying himself, though he was already panting lightly. His muscles ached.
'Not even a single bruise.'
The woman shook her shoulders, loosening her muscles.
"It's my turn now."
And with that she vanished.
Naizan crossed his forearms in a defensive stance just in time for her to appear in front of him. She threw a powerful kick at him but he managed to block it, his arms shaking in the process.
He pulled his arms back, only to realize with a start that she was no longer in front of him. In fact, she was behind him.
Naizan spun around but it was too late, his fist met hers and she pushed him back, her eyes lighting up with a real smile for the first time.
"You really are something else. Instead of using weapons like most of these people, you fight with nothing but your fists, like me. How... Refreshing."
Naizan crossed his arms once more, bunching his fists.
"I don't need anything else."
The woman laughed.
"Since we are going to be fighting for a while and one of us is definitely going to die at least, tell me your name, right?" The woman said with a smirk.
Naizan was reluctant to give his name but did so nevertheless.
"Naizan, that's my name."
"Naizen, Huh. Such a cute name, much like your cute face too. Oh, well, here's my name then. Wait, should I reveal what I am or just my name, I don't really know myself. Whatever, I'm the Archsinner of the Sect, representing Lust... My name is Mivi, but you can call me by my real name if you wish and that being Arana Deseo."
Naizan was taken aback at Mivi's introduction, mostly about what she meant by an Archsinner and Lust, what were those? And what did she mean by that? Her name, Arana Deseo? That name is not a normal name, it's quite weird, where did she get that name from?
"Okay, now that we know each other, not that it mattered anyway, since you're going to fall on my fists now."
Mivi was very excited about Naizen, with his heroic spirit and all that,
"Then let's see if those fists of yours can put me down."
Naizan and Mivi disappeared.
Naizan's fist flew towards Mivi's face like an arrow and she bent her head to the side. The punch barely missed her cheek as her own fist flew towards his ribs. Naizan caught her wrist and twisted it trying to throw her over his shoulder.
Mivi's feet left the ground.
Instead of struggling against the movement, she spun and landed lightly behind Naizan. She brought her palm up to strike the back of his neck.
Naizan ducked and Mivi's palm shot over his head as he spun with an elbow to her ribs. She stumbled back and Naizan followed right up with another barrage of attacks.
Mivi blocked them all with her bare hands.
"You almost got me," she giggled. "Try harder."
Naizan's face was completely serious as he continued to strike.
She wasn't trying to overpower him, but she was having a lot of fun.
"C'mon, aren't you supposed to be a hero? I thought that heroes shouted when they fought. Or is it that you're just scared?"
Naizan's fist shot towards her again and she blocked with both palms. He pushed forward and sent her sliding backwards several meters, but she stopped on her feet right away. Naizan was already lunging towards her with his knee to her abdomen.
She twisted her body out of the way.
His elbow came down towards her skull, but Mivi got under it and drove her palm into his shoulder.
Naizan stumbled back.
Then she brought her foot up and sent him flying over the roof, breaking a few tiles before landing on his backside.
Naizan pushed himself to his feet, his ribs heaving.
He looked at Mivi.
She hadn't even used her weapons, fighting against his bare hands.
"I guess... There's no choice."
He slowly brought both of his arms down and for a moment nothing happened.
Twin blades burst from his forearms, gleaming with steel under the morning sun. Naizan rolled his shoulders and widened his stance, preparing himself for the next move.
Mivi's eyes were dancing with delight as she looked upon the weapons on his arms.
"Wait, you're actually taking this seriously?"
She clapped her hands together in excitement.
"Yipee! I was getting worried you wouldn't stop fooling around!"
She brought both of her hands up in front of her.
"It's my turn!"
Her smile grew wider as she reached behind her back. With a smooth, practiced motion she drew a single katana, the blade slid free with a soft metallic whisper. She gave the weapon a slow, admiring glance, letting the edge catch the light, then turned back to Naizan.
"I've been waiting to use this."
Naizan said nothing as he brought up the weapons on his forearms. Sparks flew as steel met black claws and the roof trembled beneath the force of their impact.
...
A drop of blood fell onto one of the tiles and another drop fell right next to it. The drops of blood slowly stained the tile a deeper red as a pale hand ran through a head of dark hair.
"..."
Mivi smiled, her lips curved into a pleasant shape. Her eyes were almost gentle as she gently patted the severed head in her hands, running her fingers through the hair, careful not to pull any of it.
"That was fun. You were amazing."
She turned the head so she could get a better look at it, then gave a satisfied nod.
"What a wonderful addition to my collection. I will take you home with me."
Mivi gave a soft sigh as she held the head against her chest for a moment, then she slowly looked up at the great hall where the wedding reception was being held.
"But..." A smirk played across her lips as she glanced back at the head. "I have a task that must be completed. So you will have to wait a little bit longer."
Carefully tucking the head beneath one of her arms, she walked off the roof soundlessly, leaving behind bloodstained tiles and the bodies strewn around the battlefield.
...
The grand doors of the hall opened once more and the guests filed out into the courtyard, following the newlyweds as they stepped outside.
The courtyard had been transformed into a festive paradise.
Hundreds of lanterns had been fastened to the trees, their golden glow adding a magical touch to the stone path.
The courtyard was filled with flowers and long tables laden with food and beverages.
Musicians had taken their places under a pavilion decorated in colorful streamers, all of which were playing the wedding song in perfect harmony.
Guo Yuxuan walked beside Huo Zin, her laughter light and melodious. Every time she glanced at him, a bright smile curved on her lips. Once the couple reached the center of the courtyard, the guests broke into enthusiastic applause.
"Congratulations!"
"Long live the Guo and Huo families!"
What a beautiful couple!
Petals of fragrant flowers showered over Guo Yuxuan and Huo Zin, who only laughed.
Guo Yuxuan shook her head, the petals adorning her hair.
"You look happy," Huo Zin remarked, casting his eyes at the young bride.
She turned to look at him, her smiling lips brushing against his hand.
"I am," she admitted.
Guo Yuxuan turned her gaze on the guests.
"Everyone I care about is happy for me."
At her words, Huo Zin smiled. As if on cue, the song took a new turn and the tempo became much more relaxing. The guests at once understood that it was time to start the traditional first dance of the newlyweds.
"The newlyweds first dance"
Several guests broke into cheers.
Guo Yuxuan's cheeks lit with delight, her hands clasped in Huo Zin's. They led the newlyweds to the center of the courtyard where the dance had begun and joined the festive circle. With smiling faces, the couple twirled under the lantern light, their steps leisurely and precise. Around them, the guests watched the dance, all of them beaming broadly with joy.
For the first time that day, tension and worry seemed to drain from everyone's chest. All was peaceful and perfect and that the families of Guo and Huo had come to an understanding was only part of it. Yo Chomai stood among the crowd, watching the young bride dance at the center of the courtyard.
A smile, gentle and warm, hovered over his lips. He had known Guo Yuxuan since her early childhood. He had watched her grow up from a mischievous child, her untamed curls flowing wildly as she skipped merrily around the Guo courtyard.
Yo Chomai remembered chasing after the little girl, forcing her to slow down so that he could carry her on his shoulders. He watched as the child grew into a teenager, still energetic and full of life. The childish giggles, the silent tears, the angry pouts, and a thousand other things had contributed to shaping her into the woman standing before him. Yo Chomai chuckled to himself.
"Look at you, growing up so fast."
For someone like him, who had spent countless hours taking care of Guo Yuxuan and watching over her, seeing Guo Yuxuan walk beside the man of her choice was an experience of a lifetime. Yo Chomai crossed his arms over his chest, watching the young couple with a proud smile on his face.
"At least everything turned out for the best."
He looked around at the courtyard where the families were sitting together and everyone was celebrating along with the wedding dance.
Everything was perfect just as it should be. Yo Chomai sighed happily, immensely relieved that things had worked out.
"Yuxuan deserves this," he murmured.
Sun Yunso and Lokei raced through the corridors of the Guo mansion, their footsteps echoing loudly.
They had to get back to the wedding as soon as possible, but as they neared the grand hall, Sun Yunso halted abruptly. The sight that greeted his eyes made his heart stop beating.
The great hall was completely empty.
Lokei peered around the corner, his brows furrowing.
"They already left," he said simply.
Sun Yunso gave a short nod.
"The flower garden."
Lokei followed his glance.
"The wedding dance."
Without a word, the two men turned on their heels and ran back the way they came, Lokei slowing down just enough to allow Sun Yunso to catch up. As they raced through the hallway, Sun Yunso continued weighing the possibilities that led them to this point. The attack was real.
He knew it was real, and he knew the attackers' target was the Guo family. But as the realization dawned on him, one thought kept nagging at him. Why?
"Hey, Lokei," Sun Yunso said.
"What?" Lokei replied without looking at his companion.
"Why do you think there is a reason for killing Guo Yuxuan?"
Lokei cast a sidelong glance at Sun Yunso.
"I don't know.".
"You don't have any ideas?"
"I've got suspicions."
Lokei's expression darkened.
"It could be that it's a normal assassination."
"Normal?" Sun Yunso echoed.
"You know, something that has to do with the enmity between the Guo, Huo family, or another elite family. Perhaps another influential family wanted to weaken the Guo family," Lokei suggested.
Sun Yunso said nothing as they turned another corner, but something about Lokei's theory bothered him.
"That's one possibility," he finally said.
"I think there is another."
Lokei's gaze fell on the distance.
"What if it's not an assassination?"
Sun Yunso's eyes met his.
"What do you mean?"
"What if they intend to kidnap her?"
Sun Yunso stopped running for a moment, his brows knitting together.
"Do you think that's the case?"
"Think about it. If their goal is to take Guo Yuxuan away, then making the attack on her guards would be a brilliant move.
"It would distract everybody, making it easier for them to take her without anyone noticing." Sun Yunso answered back.
"Exactly," Lokei said, his expression grim. "An assassination attempt would cause everyone to raise their guard, focusing on protecting her. While they're doing that, someone could kidnap her."
Sun Yunso's eyes were fixed on Lokei's.
"If that's the case, then the people we encountered may not be working for the ones who hired them."
Lokei's expression hardened.
"Which means they're working for us."
The two men drew near the end of the hallway. Just beyond the large doors, Sun Yunso could hear the music from the wedding dance. Somewhere outside, people continued to celebrate. Lokei tightened his grip on his staff.
"We're runnin’ out of time," he said.
Sun Yunso quickened his steps.
"Then let's not waste any."
They burst out of the doors and raced toward the flower garden.
The music was playing in the flower garden as Guo Yuxuan and Huo Zin danced beautifully under the hanging lanterns. All the other guests smiled, watching the dancing couple.
As the music finished, all the guests gave a round of applause, and Guo Yuxuan gave a brilliant smile as she and Huo Zin took their bows. They returned to their places in front of the flower garden, sitting side by side under the decorated pavilions.
Guo Yuxuan exhaled.
"It was amazing."
Huo Zin smiled.
"Of course, it is."
As she was about to say something, the master of ceremonies announced.
"Now before we have more festivities, there is one more tradition."
Some of the guests became interested.
"The families of the bride and groom will have a chance to say a few words."
Guo Yuxuan paled.
"Oh no."
Huo Zin gave her a strange look.
"What?"
She shook her head.
"You don't understand."
The first one to speak was Aisoma. As soon as she saw her approaching, Guo Yuxuan quickly covered her face with her hands
"No."
Aisoma stopped in front of the guests, a cheeky smile plastered on her face
"Yes."
Guo Yuxuan peeped through her hands
"Aisoma..."
She ignored the girl
"Guo Yuxuan."
All the other guests fell silent as Aisoma crossed her arms over her chest
"I have known this girl for a very long time."
Guo Yuxuan's shoulders sank
"Please don't."
Aisoma's smile grew wider
"And I have seen some truly amazing feats."
Some of the guests chuckled as Guo Yuxuan slowly lowered herself on the floor
"But I have also seen... the most embarrassing things in my life."
The guests burst into laughter as Guo Yuxuan covered her face
"Do you all know what this woman was like when she was little?"
Guo Yuxuan quickly shook her head from side to side
"No! Don't tell them!"
Aisoma pointed at her
"See? Just like I said. When she was little, she thought that she was the best swordswoman in the entire Guo family"
Guo Yuxuan slowly uncovered her face
"I was!"
Aisoma raised an eyebrow
"You couldn't even hold a proper sword."
"I was six!"
"She challenged one of the estate guards to a duel."
Once more, everybody started laughing as Guo Yuxuan's cheeks turned red
"He was bullying me!"
"He was doing his job and you challenged him anyway."
Guo Yuxuan crossed her arms over her chest
"And I would have won."
"You tripped before the duel even started."
Again, everybody was laughing so hard that Huo Zin had to cover his mouth
Guo Yuxuan glared at him
"You're supposed to be on my side."
Huo Zin finally gave a chuckle
"I'm sorry."
Aisoma shook her head fondly
"But despite all of that I have seen this little girl grow up."
The laughter slowly died as Aisoma looked at Guo Yuxuan straight in the eyes
"And today I saw her become somebody's wife."
Huo Yuxuan's face softened, and Aisoma smiled as she raised her cup. She looked at Huo Zin
"You have really come a long way. So Congratulations Yuxuan."
Guo Yuxuan bowed her head slightly, smiling
"Thank you."
Aisoma raised her cup in front of Huo Zin
"And congratulations to you too."
He did the same as he raised his drink
"It's a pleasure."
All the guests gave a round of applause as Aisoma stepped back. Guo Yuxuan sighed in relief
"Thank goodness."
But then, all of a sudden, Aisoma turned around.
"Oh, but before that... there is something more."
Guo Yuxuan's eyes widened in horror
"There is one more story."
"NO!"
Aisoma took a step back from the courtyard, leaving the red-faced Guo Yuxuan in her seat The woman slowly lowered her hands
"Finally..."
She sighed in relief
The master of ceremonies turned his attention to the groom's family
"Now let us hear the words of the groom's family."
Huo Zin instantly straightened in his chair as his younger brother stood up
"You know what this means don't you?"
The young man casually strolled to the center of the courtyard. The guests chuckled at his words as the young man turned around to face the crowd
"My brother has always been quite a serious fellow."
Huo Zin gave a small smile
"Thank you."
"But he wasn't always like that."
The guests perked with interest as the young man gave a thoughtful look
"When we were little, he was really scared of bugs."
A few people started chuckling while Huo Zin glared daggers at his brother
"I was not."
"You were."
"I was not!"
"You screamed when a beetle crawled on your shoulder."
Again, the guests burst into laughter as Huo Zin covered his face
"It was one time!"
"One time?"
His younger brother gave a thoughtful look at the guests
"He climbed on the roof and refused to get off for an hour."
The courtyard erupted in laughter, much to the dismay of Guo Yuxuan who turned to Huo Zin
"You were scared of beetles?"
Huo Zin looked at her deadpan
"I was a child."
Guo Yuxuan smiled
"Of course."
His younger brother turned around to face the crowd
"But despite being scared of little insects, my brother never failed to put himself in harm's way when it came to protecting those he loved."
The laughter slowly died as his brother gave a small smile
"That is the brother I admire. So seeing him with someone he loves makes me happy for you both."
Huo Zin gave a small smile
"Thank you."
His younger brother then bowed before returning to his seat. Guo Yuxuan turned to look at Huo Zin
"I still can't believe you were scared of a beetle."
Huo Zin sighed.
"Please, forget that."
"I absolutely will not." The guests laughed before the next member of the Huo family stood up
Huo Zin's mother and as soon as she stood, a certain look appeared on her son's face
"Oh?"
Huo Zin looked at his mother
"Don't."
Guo Yuxuan smiled wider
"Are you also afraid of your mother?"
"That's different."
Huo Zin's mother then strode to the center of the courtyard with a fond smile. She looked at her son for a few long seconds before chuckling
"My son has always been a handful."
Huo Zin let out a sigh.
"Mother..."
"He was quite stubborn when he was little."
The woman then turned around to look at Guo Yuxuan
"If he wanted something, nothing could convince him otherwise."
Guo Yuxuan nodded
"I believe that."
Huo Zin looked at her
"You're supposed to defend me."
"I'm learning."
"But there was one thing he was never stubborn about. His family."
Huo Zin's expression softened
"He always took care of his little brother. He was always worried about his father. And he was always there by my side when I was sick."
Huo Zin's eyes lowered as his mother gave a gentle smile
"That is the son I know." She then turned around to look at Guo Yuxuan
"And today, I am giving my son to you."
Guo Yuxuan's face softened as the woman came to her and placed a hand on hers
"Please take care of each other."
"I will." Yuxuan replied
Huo Zin's mother smiled
"Then welcome to the family."
"Thank you." Yuxuan said before the Huo family gave a round of applause
Everything was calm and peaceful for a moment before the master of ceremonies turned to the Guo family
"And now, the words of the bride's family."
Guo Yuxuan suddenly stiffened
"Oh no."
Aisoma laughed from her seat
"Your misery is not over yet."
One member of the Guo family stepped forward, followed by another and another. Each one had something embarrassing to say. First one recalled how she tried to sneak into the kitchen at midnight but accidentally woke half the house. Another person mentioned how she always hid behind servants whenever she was reprimanded. One relative even remembered how she once said she would never get married because "men are too much trouble"
Guo Yuxuan covered her face once more
"Why does everyone remember everything?!"
Huo Zin turned to her with a smile
"Seems like your family has a good memory."
"Don't encourage them."
The guests continued to laugh heartily
However, the embarrassing stories slowly turned into praises of Guo Yuxuan. The members spoke of how she had grown more responsible. They mentioned how she started to take care of the younger ones and how she began to shoulder more responsibilities. Eventually, they were all giving speeches about how she had become a pillar of the Guo family, someone they all looked up to
Finally, the Guo Clan Head, Guo Gahaong stood and silence fell over the courtyard. He made his way to the center, not smiling. Unlike the other members, he did not start by praising or complimenting the bride. Instead, he looked at his daughter with a thoughtful expression Guo Yuxuan perked her attention as she sat straight. The clan head studied her for a moment
"I remember the day you were born. You were so little. And you cried so hard that everyone in the house could hear you."
The guests chuckled
"Even then, you were a handful."
Guo Yuxuan laughed softly
"But seeing you grow up has been one of the happiest experiences of my life. You were this little girl running all over these courtyards.And now you're sitting right here as a wife."
Guo Yuxuan's eyes started to glitter
The clan head smiled gently
"I won't embarrass you with more stories from your childhood."
"Hey!" Aisoma immediately exclaimed from her seat
The clan head's gaze turned serious for a moment
"Yuxuan."
The girl looked at him
"Your life no longer belongs to you. And neither does he. You two will face many hardships." His voice grew softer. "There will be disagreements, there will be times one of you will feel weak, and the other will have to strengthen them."
The man raised his cup
"But that is what family is. Family is not perfection or an easy path. It is about having someone by your side despite the troubles in life. So today, I'm not going to give you words of wisdom as the head of the Guo family. I want to speak to you as your father."
Guo Yuxuan's eyes were glowing with emotions
"Be happy."
A single tear trailed down her cheek
"Yuxuan, that has always been my wish for you." He raised his cup
"To my daughter."
Everyone turned their attention to Huo Zin
"To the man who will take care of her."
He raised his cup, making the guests cheer
"To the Guo family."
Guo Yuxuan quickly wiped her tears and raised her cup as well
"To the Huo family."
The two families clinked their glasses
"To the newlyweds!" The entire courtyard erupted in cheers
The music was about to begin again as the musicians tuned their instruments, preparing to play another lively tune. Guo Yuxuan was still holding Huo Zin's hand as the two families continued to smile at each other, while the guests raised their cups in congratulations and for one brief moment, everything was peaceful until a man's voice echoed throughout the courtyard
"Those were some beautiful memories."
The musicians froze and the guests slowly stopped talking. Guo Yuxuan's smile faded as Huo Zin's eyes narrowed.
"Especially the ones about my dear brother over there."
Every head in the courtyard turned. Huo Zin slowly stood from his seat. The atmosphere in the courtyard changed completely as the Guo Clan Head's expression darkened
Yo Chomai's smile disappeared and even the guards stationed around the courtyard tightened their grips on their weapons because a figure stepped out from the shadows beyond the lanterns. His face was hidden for the moment as he casually walked forward, completely unfazed by the hundreds of people staring at him
He stopped.
"Sorry to say but I'm crashing this shitty event.