Princess Agents: 特工皇妃楚喬傳
Chapter 108: To See Yan Xun
(Translator's notes: Lots of blood and gore in this chapter; those who are averse just know that a lot of butt kicking was done here and move on. It reminds me a lot of the fight scenes from Blood The Last Vampire, or Blood+; a ninja/samurai girl in full Bankai mode ^_^;….)
The torrential rain came down in buckets, the gales screamed past, the space between heaven and earth unclear, and the wind chilled to the bone. The icy cold made them shiver. Heaven's silent chessboard was above, and the oppressed below it, submerged. The whistling rainfall seemed like demons shouting in a frenzy as they washed the world clean. The blade reflected an eerie red, donning bloodthirsty bleakness, coldly mirroring the faces of others.
Mo'er's voice was already mute, and the child had gone mad, desperately pounding his fist on Zhuge Yue's back. This orphaned and destitute child finally had his childhood innocence torn away. Like a cornered little animal, his eyes were red as he bawled in despair.
"Little Star! Little Star!!"
The child screamed loudly, tears flowing from his eyes, his voice like a little wolf pup crying for being forsaken by its mother. He reached out his hand towards the soft and limp form of the little girl lying on the floor. His chest heaved as he took one giant gasp after another, the pouring rain on his face, in his eyes, over his body. Everything was crimson, the snaking rivulets of blood on the ground converged into a red swirl within a puddle. The heavy rain continued to scour the ground, drawing forth the sanguine scent to permeate the air, overflowing in the unrestrained blasts of cold wind.
In that moment, Chu Qiao tightly grasped the knife in her hand as bursts of lightning flashed one after another, illuminating her bright white face. She took deep breaths but she couldn't suppress her body's trembling, her face had gone pale and the blood drained from her lips. Her eyes were dark and bright. Suddenly she recalled the little girl's lively appearance before they had parted. She had laughed at herself, carefully currying favor with them as she said, "Big Sister, I'm going now. I'll come back tomorrow morning."
I'll come back tomorrow…. I'll come back tomorrow…. I'll come back tomorrow….
A rush of grief and indignation charged up her throat. She slowly lifted her head and jumped off her horse, tossed her scabbard and raised her blade high above her head. Both her hands were clenched, her eyes ice cold, gazing at the large yellow tent with a frosty glare.
"Bad guy! Bad guy!" the boy was still crying.
Zhuge Yue also dismounted. His expression was calm as he pat the child on his back and said in a low voice, "Boy, save your energy. Don't cry before your enemy, for that is only for the weak."
OuYang Mo stretched out his little hand and wiped the tears off his face but in his expression there was no longer any trace of childlike purity or innocence.
Someone had thrown Little Star's body randomly into a ditch in front of the big tent that likely was used as a gutter. Her body was marked only with one fatal sword wound, already washed white by the rain. Her eyes were wide open, but without hatred, only surprise, fear, horror and incredible worry. Her body was so small, she hadn't had the time to put on any shoes and her pale little feet stuck out from under her skirt along with a thin little calf.
In her hand she was still holding a knife.
It was the knife Chu Qiao had given her when they last parted.
The two middle aged people lying beside her, one man and one woman, were likely her parents.
The cold wind blew onto Chu Qiao's fine green dress, the luxurious skirt was soaked through and clinging to her body. She looked upward and took a deep breath. Then she unexpectedly took a step forward, her eyes no longer holding any trace of hesitation or sadness, only indomitable spirit; enough to destroy it all, all of their evil!
In a split second, the shiny blade flashed with frightful killing intent, instantly reaching everywhere. With lightning speed Chu Qiao's entire body leaped upward, her blade of light penetrating the darkness, abruptly cleaving down and beheading all voices and looks of doubt with her warrior's blade. (TN: Holy….)
"Aaaah!"
The piercing screams shattered the rainy night's monotonous rhythm and the wounded soldiers howled wildly.
The young woman cast aside all feminine delicacy and in this moment she was but a soldier; a single, cold-blooded killing machine.
Her knife protruded from a guard's chest and with the force from under her feet she pushed forward, using her blade to prop up his body.
"Aaaaah!"
"Surround them! Protect the Master!"
In the chaos some people loudly cried out, all of their eyes instantly in panic. Now that the two were trapped, they only had to forcefully cut them down and they would have accomplished a great feat.
But the guards' enthusiasm was only momentary, and in the next moment, they were alarmed to discover how utterly laughable their thoughts were. In their hastily assembled defense the enemy was already unleashing a maniacal slaughter!
From beginning to end, they had never thought to run away!
A resplendent blade's light streaked across the void, and the two guards charging her from the front gave a bloodcurdling cry at the same time in retreat. One of them even had his leg cut off as his blood sprayed out and he gave a horrible shriek. One soldier silently came up from behind in an attempt to stealth attack, but Chu Qiao didn't even bother to turn her head as she reversed her blade and vehemently stabbed the man in the heart.
The maiden bowed slightly as she stood in the downpour, her figure frozen in place, then presently and abruptly extracted her blade. Fresh blood sprayed outward, covering her body entirely.
She didn't even frown. Her eyes were that of a long ranged hawk, indifferently observing her surroundings, striking terror wherever she went. She slowly stood upright again, and then, she dragged the blade as she slowly pressed forward.
"Catch her!"
One of the soldiers cried out again and Zhuge Yue gave a cold cry, raised his arm and struck, leaving only the sound of empty space. The Moon Breaking sword's sheath whistled past, and then in a terrifying move, smashed into the guard's stomach.
"Uncle! Kill them all!"
The child no longer had any trace of fear, only red eyes as he shout out loud. After the cruelty of the slaughter, even a child of his age lost all child-like compassion and kindness. He waved his fist and shout out loud like a war hardened madman on a battlefield.
"By order of the young lord, anyone who is able to cut down these three heads will be awarded one thousand gold pieces!"
A member of the large tent's retinue had come out to announce it to the crowd, but even before he could finish talking, Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue charged him, jumping right into the crowd. Then the attacks came from all sides. Numurous hands and feet and blades came at them at once, followed by piercing screams hurtling towards the sky. In almost a matter of seconds, countless cries echoed between heaven and earth. Fresh blood from severed limbs sprayed everywhere. People were felled like wheat onto the ground, the vicious slaughter causing their hands and feet to tremble. No longer tempted by money, the crowd scattered in all directions. At that moment many people stumbled, and even crawled away in their escape, leaving only an empty camp ground. Only Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao remained, standing shoulder to shoulder, watching the dark crowd with contempt.
The man who was covered in blood asked her calmly, "Are you still alive?"
"Won't kill me."
Chu Qiao looked coldly at the group before them, and bit out each word as she said in a low voice, "You keep these people back, I will enter the main tent."
Zhuge Yue furrowed his brow and was about to retort, but then he saw Chu Qiao's figure was like a bowstring about to fire.
"Another round of violent, close-quartered combat," Zhuge Yue cursed under his breath, yet he still took a few steps forward to clear a path for her. (TN: You know it's love when a guy slaughters people just to give you some space….)
***
Inside the big tent, Yan Xun frowned as he leaned against the sedan, leaving only a trace of his original demeanor, with Ah Jing holding a knife solely beside him.
Listening to the commotion outside, he said quietly, "Master, let the Yan soldiers take care of it. These two have very tough kung fu."
Yun Xun gently rubbed his temples with his hands and coldly replied, "No need. It's fine if we let these Liu Xi underlings stay here."
"But," Ah Jing frowned, "We cannot go without a single familiar person from Liu Xi's house, that would make it difficult for us to accomplish anything in Bian Tang."
Yan Xun waved his hand and said lightly, "Just wait."
***
By this time Chu Qiao had already charged in front of the big tent. Before her, only five guards of the Liu family remained. But she merely glanced at them coldly, then slowly licked the blood that had splashed on her face. That careless demeanor and her arrogant disregard of them completely destroyed the confidence of these remaining guards. Then, once again, she lifted her blade and showed no mercy; the most perfect weapon of the Cold War era.
Inside the big tent was only silence, and they could only hear the sound of the massacre going on outside. Ah Jing's forehead was damp with sweat and he could not help but start again, "Master…."
Yan Xun frowned his brow tightly, and for some reason, the trace of an unhappy feeling rose from the bottom of his heart, seemingly as if he had forgotten about something. There seemed to be the sound of a voice from the bottom of his heart crying out but he could not hear what it was saying. Outside the screaming slaughter rose to a fevered pitch, it brought forth some memories that he was unwilling to recall. At last, he quietly lifted his hand and said, "Let's go."
Ah Jing let out a long sigh of relief just as he was about to say something.
But at that moment, a voice clear as ice and cold as snow rang out, instantaneously breaking the void like a long sword, shattering the deathly still, dark night, shooting a terrible sharpness between heaven and earth!
"LIU XI! GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE!!!"
On the day he fled the royal capital, standing under spacious canopy of the dark sky, Yan Xun said to himself he would never fear anyone or anything ever again. All forces that stood as an obstacle before him would be ruthlessly cut down. He would use his sword, his fist and his strength to declare to the world that the king of Yan Bei was back, and all sins and humiliations imposed on him would be paid back tenfold, a hundredfold.
But in this moment he was afraid. He didn't even put on his shoes as he abruptly jumped up from the warm sedan, and then staggered forward, like a madman wildly rushing to the tent opening.
"Young Master!"
The guards inside the large tent went pale with alarm and rushed forward as Ah Jing held Yan Xun at bay. He did not hear a single word, but simply thought his master was angry and wanted to rush out to fight with the enemy.
"Master! Don't be hasty! These types of lowlifes don't require you to personally raise your sword!"
Outside, the sound of weapons clashing and the sharp clang of iron colliding was followed by Chu Qiao's voice, again resounding in their ears, "LIU XI! COME OUT!!"
This time, even Ah Jing stood stupefied in place.
Strong wind stirred and a cacophony of voices burst apart. With a single stroke of a blade the curtain to the big tent was ripped asunder. Lightning exploded across the sky behind the woman's back. The world was filled with white light, and her blood soaked form stood tall and upright.
She stood in the doorway, her brow showing light disdain, and she held her sword proudly, pointing its tip directly at Yan Xun. She coldly uttered, "Liu Xi. You never thought it would be me, did you?"
Right. I never thought it would be you. How could I?
The candles inside the big tent were blown out by the wind and rain coming from outside, and her pale face reflected in the dimness. In that moment there were no words to express what Yan Xun felt. He stood like a piece of wood, wanting to open his mouth, but not knowing what to say. He only frowned as he stared at her intensely, not uttering a single word.
Chu Qiao looked at him cooly, without hesitation or any change in emotion. She only pointed her blade at him and said, "Betraying Yan Bei, betraying DaTong, slaughtering your own kinsman. Tell me, should you or should you not die?"
At this time the Yan Bei soldiers who were hidden in the outskirts were mobilizing. These soldiers were more experienced, having survived numerous battles, and obviously could not be compared to Liu Xi's guards. They were all dressed in black, their faces covered by head scarves and fully armed, charging out of the side tents. Momentarily Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue would be surrounded.
The bowmen were the best prepared. However in the moment when they clearly saw the woman on the field they were so shocked and stupefied that they had forgotten to shoot.
Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao obviously did not see any of this. All of Liu Xi's guards had retreated, and inside the tent was silent as the grave.
"Xing'er!" Zhuge Yue hastened forward, guarding her with his sword arm, and his other hand barring her, afraid that she would impulsively run out in a clash to the death. It was but a simple gesture, yet the significance of his protection did not need to be expressed with words.
Chu Qiao stared at Liu Xi in the darkness, and enunciated each word as she spoke, "Liu Xi, I am here on behalf of those of the DaTong Association, and will take your life."
She pointed coldly at him, her expression extremely calm, "Even if I cannot kill you today, one day Yan Xun will take revenge for me! You will have no escape, traitor!"
With a *bang* a flash of lightning crossed the sky, and in the large tent the man dressed in white smiled. He looked out into the pouring rain, the chaotic silhouettes against the dark sky. He smile was filled with mocking and bitterness.
Was this fortunate? She finally stood before him, safe and sound, and moreover, she remained fully trusting in her own convictions, as always.
But how could he reveal himself in this chaos?
It seemed the gods would never favor him!
Chu Qiao suddenly felt a slight surprise; that expression, that demeanor, it was all so familiar. But coming through this deadly rampage like this, her mind was still a bit rigid, and there were some things she would not think about, would not dare suspect.
She just frowned at the man standing before her in the darkness, and then with blade in hand, she slowly approached, one slow step forward.
With a *paa* Yan Bei's soldiers steadily stepped forward.
In that moment, the man reached out his hand and waived them aside.
Everyone went pale with shock as they realized he intended to let them go!
"Young Master!"
Liu's head of household, Mr. Lin, came forward a step in panic and said slowly, "How can…"
The man's expression suddenly turned sharp and icy as his eyes coldly stared down the servant. They carried anger, disgust and even raging slaughter.
Mr. Lin shivered in a cold sweat, and quickly turned his head in obeisance to the instructions. He said to the intruders, "The Young Master has agreed to let you go."
Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue were shocked, though they did not show it, and looked at the man as if he had suddenly transformed into a strange monster.
Mr. Lin shouted impatiently, "Get out of here! Do you need an escort?!"
"Xing'er, let's go."
Chu Qiao frowned, still puzzled as she stared into the darkness of the tent. Zhuge Yue pulled at her arm and said in a low voice, "Come with me!"
Before, attacking the main tent in the center of the camp was a tactical decision, but since they were currently given leave to depart, regardless of the reason, there was no more reason to hesitate.
Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao rode atop now ownerless horses. When Zhuge Yue turned his head back to look at the large, pitch dark tent, he said quietly, "Liu Xi, if you one day fall into my hands, I will also give you an opportunity to live."
There were no sounds in the darkness, but just as Chu Qiao was about to spur her mount forward, she heard the sudden sound of a soft sigh, so exhausted, so helpless, as if all the strength in his body had suddenly left him.
The man said softly, "Be careful."
The voice was small and light, but Chu Qiao heard it. Her entire body jolted, and then fiercely turned her head around.
The black clad soldiers stretched out in the center, blocking their view of the man's form. All they could hear was the sound of the pouring rain, the sound of the rolling thunder echoing across the great expanse.
A cold wind blew her frigid soaked hair and the scent of blood on her was still pungent and unpleasant.
"Ya!"
Zhuge Yue coldly called out to spur his horse forward.
Chu Qiao still frowned, then finally, with her head still turned, followed behind Zhuge Yue, trampling the mud that was everywhere, towards the outskirts of the encampment.
The storm was getting even stronger, the sound of varied breaths everywhere, and the soldiers stared at one another as their enemy left the field before their eyes. In that time, everyone was momentarily shocked.
"Young Master!"
Ah Jing turned his head, anxiously saying, "That was the Young Miss! How can we let the Young Miss go with Zhuge Yue?"
"What else could I do?" Yan Xun turned his head, smiling bitterly. "Should I have taken off my mask and tell Ah Chu that everything was done by my own hand?"
The darkened clouds and heavy rain showed no signs of abating, but on the horizon the light of the sun declared that this full long, cold and desolate night was finally over.
Translator's notes: So many thoughts at the end of this chapter. First, Zhuge Yue is turning out to be kind of a stand up sort of guy that Chu Qiao can rely on. Second, how is Chu Qiao still standing, I thought she was poisoned?? ^_^;;
Chu Qiao is a bit other worldly, not entirely human in her ability and ruthlessness, but the author also makes her out to be sort of a naive girl, which is painful to read. One part of her is saavy and yet another part of her is very innocent and a bit gullible. She has conflicting traits that make me wonder if she really isn't just two people sharing the same body?
Regardless, Yan Xun is turning out to be quite the coward. Where Zhuge Yue hides nothing of what he has done or who he is to her, Yan Xun doesn't want her to see it, afraid of what she might think.
This chapter was rather exciting, though, wasn't it?
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