How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 98 - Dying (2)

Author's Notes:

And the battle and violence continues. Any thoughts on who the second woman is?

Based on the revelation in the previous chapter and the current battle, I feel like I need to warn you for possible major character death. Hang in there.

⊂ (▀▿▀) つ

"This feels familiar, what took you so long?"

"Ah-Xu, always surrounding yourself with suitors as soon as I turn my back."

They smile at each other and then turn their focus back on the ghosts in red. They fight like the power couple that they are. Like the two soulmates who has been training long hours for a week and know every twist and every turn of how the other works. Sometimes side by side and sometimes back to back. Sometimes holding on to each other for leverage and sometimes far apart to cover more ground. The two rulers of Ghost Valley are ruthless, cutting everything in their path, leaving not a single ghost alive. Around them, the black elites are in full formation, working their way through the flanks. The overwhelming number of assassins slowly but surely dwindling down.

The adrenaline of being in such an exhilarating life and death situation, is amplifying Zhou Zi Shu's strength by tenfold. His inside is almost vibrating from wanting to be used. Suddenly, his current and previous lives merge in his qi and it pulses through his core in a way he has never felt before. When the overwhelming force rolls through his mind it triggers the merging of his memories. Unable to focus fully on the fight, he shakes his head to try and suppress them and clear his mind. He does not succeed and one of the assassins catches him in this moment of weakness and cuts his arm.

From across the river, the two women are silently watching the battle, each from their own hiding place. Both their hearts lurch when they see Zhou Zi Shu stumble and clutch his arm, though only one stays within the shadows, a smug smile on her face. The second woman, sends her qi exploding through her core and pushes off, using her QingGong to sore through the air.

Hongtao Huanghou stiffens when she realize that she has been so focused on the task at hand, she has not been paying enough attention on her surroundings. Did she see me? She must have seen me. Did she identify me? Thoughts are spinning through her mind as the possibility of her identity being discovered, sends fear for the first time through her spine. With a snarl she continues to watch the fight, hoping for that woman to perish with all the others.

The world slows down around Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing as they study the newcomer from their current opposite places within the battle, both waiting to see if she is a friend or foe. She is dressed in dark grey luxurious robes with a thick black leather belt and a black scarf covering her face, starting under her almond shaped eyes. Her black hair is tied in a long thick braid that is secured at the top of her head, a black leather clasp at the base.

It isn't until she draws her sword and cuts down the closest ghost in red, that they suspect that she isn't Hongtao Huanghou but some form of ally. They watch as she skillfully moves through the assassins, ruthlessly cutting everyone in her path. The three continues to battle against the rapidly decreasing number of assassins as the sun reaches its celestial meridian. (3)

Zhou Zi Shu can't remember the last time he had felt this in tune with his body. His qi flows in both natural and trained patterns from his elixir fields and out through his meridians, limbs and bones. He almost dances through the assassins in intricate series of moves, using a combination of 'swift-moving-steps' and Bai Yi, leaving nothing but death in his wake. He looks at Wen Ke Xing and a silent and subtle nod is exchanged. It is almost time. Wen Ke Xing moves towards the flank, leaving Zhou Zi Shu in the middle and the woman closing in from behind.