Love Concurs Destiny

The Fight

Racing towards the inn, Xie Yun kept thinking please, let her be safe.
As soon as Li Sheng spotted the inn, he dragged Xie Yun behind a stall of food; not letting him move.
" What are you doing ?" Xie Yun whisper yelled. Li Sheng merely pointed towards the inn and then at him. At Xie Yun's raised eyebrow he said, " Do you think anyone will believe your act if you run in front of me like that ? Aren't we supposed to keep low ?"

Realising his mistake, Xie Yun sighed and they both entered the inn at a more sedate pace. But as soon as Li Sheng signalled for him to go, Xie Yun sped past the waiter and other customers, leaving people wondering if a gust of wind just went by.

Xie Liying was humming a tune while playing with a tassel Chuchu had given her when suddenly her brother barged inside. She startled, grabbing her blade on instinct before relaxing upon seeing who it was.
" Ge ? What happened ? "
Xie Yun ignored her question, simply grabbing and turning her this way and that, looking for any sign of hurt. Finding nothing out of place, he sagged in relief.
" You are safe." He mumbled. Belatedly, he looked around the room; eyes searching and alert. Finding Chuchu standing near the bed and Li Yan sleeping, Xie Yun focused on his sister again.

Liying was confused. She looked at her brother,then at Chuchu, who had been watching the whole thing with a concerned gaze.

" Ge ? Will you say something ?"

" Nothing A Ying. I just thought something happened."

" Oh. " Liying blinked, nodding. She would question her brother later. Maybe Li Sheng ? He was easier to wheedle answers from.

Dinner was a silent affair considering that much of the fanfare had happened in the afternoon when both Li Sheng and Xie Yun decided to go through everyone and everything they had. After the meal, everyone retired to their rooms, too tired to sit for wine or anything.

Liying was just going to bed when she heard a knock on her door. It was well past the sleep time and she was sure that her brother won't knock, at least not like this. Xie Yun would have called her first, knocking in succession afterwards, just to check if she was decent.

A visitor had come.

Getting up, she took her blade and as silently as she could, crept up to the door. There was a silhouette of man's robe and he was quiet, just standing. She waited, eyes set on the door incase the man tried to break it. The door was locked and made of sturdy wood but the thick paper screening could be cut through in a slice of a sharp blade.

For a moment, no one moved and Liying almost thought the man would go away but then a note slid below the door and she made the first mistake.

She peeked at the note, craning her neck just a bit— her breath landing on the paper. There was only one character on it Open.

And that was it.

The next instant, the screening was sliced through just like she had predicted and a lithe blade speared through it, aiming for her right shoulder. Liying dodged, her movements loud in the earlier silent room; marking her second mistake.

The blade went back and came again, this time with more force; breaking half of the door. A masked man, covering his whole face came into view and Xie Liying unsheathed her own blade to clash with him.

It soon turned put that the man was a skilled fighter and Liying had nothing against him. The man alternated between strong and quick attacks, sneaking up on her at dangerous moments.

In response to his expert moves, Liying was an infant.

A second's slip would cost her life.
She tried to parry his attacks and land her own but man pushed her into defensive, giving no opening or time for attack.