Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Epic Tale : Twin Sword ❯ Weakness ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter 9

Weakness

 

 

Act 1

 

A couple of weeks later at Kaifeng

 

Li Qiao was sitting inside the main courtyard at Wu Po Sin's residence to face her fortune stones, trying her best to read them. Her face showed her frustration. A couple of times, she shoved the sweat on her face as her rosy lips growled.

 

Right next to her, Shuhao sat with his black sword in his folded arms. The young man was, too, lost in his own thought.

 

“Aiyaa!!” gave in at last, she looked at Shuhao only to found him in distant. “Huh? Chen Shuhao!” she tried to distracted the young man. “…what are you thinking that you look so serious?”

 

Shuhao faced her. He let out a small sigh. “It's just… I was thinking… even though I mastered my uncle's sword art, I still no equal of White Devil,” he answered with low voice. “I wonder… how to stop him?”

 

Li Qiao smiled at his words. “What are you blabbering? You have me Li Qiao who possess Sying Quon at your side. No matter how strong our opponent, we can handle him,” she said in confidence but he chuckled at her words, “Sying Quon, you said? Serious, Li Qiao, the only thing you can do is jabbering.”

 

“What that means? Did you just doubt my ability?”

 

He didn't pay more to her as he said at himself. “…I have to find out White Devil's weak point.”

 

“…what do you mean?” Li Qiao's words were unfinished when she saw Yang Xiu Juan entered the courtyard. The princess walked fast toward her and Shuhao with a scroll in her hand.

 

“I have message from my men. Wu Shu… Li Cheung is hiding in Wu Shu.”

 

 

Act 2

 

At the same time inside She Stronghold

 

Fear started to occupy Ren Li Qin's mind when the sun already rose high but She Yu had not come out yet from his private chamber. Panic, she walked fast to reach the young man's room but only to found out that the room was empty.

 

Stood on the edge of the room hopelessly, she sighed in silence as her eyes stared at the empty room. She Yu was already gone for another of his hunt.

 

 

Act 3

 

Few days later in Wu Shu

 

Arrived at their destination right on the time, Shuhao and his comrades now were in a fight with White Devil in order to save Li Cheung. Together with the elder, they surrounded the assassin. Even though, won in numbers didn't mean they surpass White Devil. With his Yin Jing, the white haired young man could manage his opponent, though not easily.

 

Shuhao became aware that their position was not good enough. Worried for Li Cheung's safety, he ordered Yang Xiu Juan to take that swordsman go as he planned to hold White Devil as long as he and Li Qiao could.

 

“Trying to escape, eh?” She Yu tried to chase Xiu Juan and Li Cheung but Shuhao blocked his way.

 

“Your opponent is me,” Shuhao said while he launched a fast strike.

 

She Yu dodged Shuhao's strike. His lips smirked as he realized the young man's improvement. “I see… you quite improved from the last time we met.”

 

“This time, I will beat you for sure!”

 

Again, the White Devil smiled in mockery. He stroke Shuhao back with his silver sword and answered, “You improved indeed but this isn't enough to stop me.”

 

“Shuhao! Get away from there. I will use my Sying Quon!” Li Qiao yelled from a far as she started to use her skill. Shuhao backed away. His eyes widened as he saw Li Qiao's formation. He saw lights appeared fast to surrounded their opponent. The light swirled enclosing the formation and turned out to be a huge whirlwind, confined the White Devil inside it.

 

“You did it, Li Qiao!”

 

Li Qiao almost jumped for their victory but then she saw numerous of silver lights flashed out from inside the formation, slicing the whirlwind. The formation weakened slowly and when the situation calmed down, White Devil was already not there.

 

“….he… he broke my… Sying Quon,” Li Qiao said in thrilled. No one in this Zhou land could ever break Sying Quon before and that explained her clearly how good White Devil was.

 

 

Act 4

 

Running blind without direction, Xiu Juan took Li Cheung away as far as it possible from Wu Shu. Both of them did their best to escape but White Devil was no ordinary opponent as he managed to catch them easily and now stood not far on their front.

 

Stopped, Xiu Juan stood on the front of Li Cheung. Her twin blades were already drawn out. Both her eyes stared White Devil's red cold eyes.

 

“Don't act stupid, Princess. You know precisely that you are no equal of me,” he warned her.

 

“Equal or not, you have to pass me first,” she answered.

 

He laughed, mocking the old man stood behind her as he gazed him coldly, “My… my… the famous swordsman Li Cheung stood behind a woman. What a credit you have, old man.”

 

“Don't provoke by his bait, Master Li. You better run while I…” Xiu Juan's words stopped suddenly when she felt Li Cheung's strong arms grasped her body roughly, as he crossed his sword next to her throat. “..?! What are you doing?!”

 

Li Cheung laughed at her. He sneered, “Run you said? Are you kidding, princess? At this moment, I have the silver sword right on my nose. Even though I have to sacrifice your life, I should have the sword!”

 

“You…” felt betrayed, Xiu Juan stared Li Cheung with anger.

 

She Yu's lips smiled wide at the scenery in front of him. “What is this, Li Cheung, having this girl as your shield? Are you seriously think, that I will not kill her?”

 

Li Cheung replied him, “I know you will not kill beside the twelve of us.”

 

Xiu Juan looked at the assassin. Deep in her heart, she hoped that Li Cheung's word is true but White Devil, again, laughed. “What is this nonsense?” His laugh slowly disappeared as his red eyes stared sharp at his opponent.

 

“I am White Devil, after all.” As soon as he finished his words, he moved forward with his sword drawn.

 

Xiu Juan didn't know what exactly happened. Everything took place so fast. When she realized, Li Cheung was already dead with silver sword pierce his chest, while his opponent was injured on his shoulder.

 

She fell to the ground. Her eyes stared widely to She Yu's white figure covered with blood, Li Cheung's and his own. The assassin drew out his silver sword from Li Cheung's body. His lips still occupied a cold smile. He said in low voice, “You underestimate me.”

 

“…why… you save me?”

 

“Ah… you prefer to die, then?” He sheathed his sword back.

 

“…but… you could just let me die, back then.”

 

She Yu smirked. “…so it seems that you own me a life now, princess.” He walked away, leaving her in the woods.

 

 

Act 5

 

The same day at She Stronghold

 

These past few days, Yu Jie was busy to help Ren Li Qin making several medicines and in the same those days, she saw the wariness occupied the woman. Her warm smiles and laughs were disappeared. Her face, now, always looked serious and troubled. Not only Ren Li Qin, Su Hua and Su Wang were showing the same behavior.

 

“Why we prepare so much medicine?” Yu Jie asked Li Qin at last, could not able to bear her curiosity anymore. “Why are everybody look worried?”

 

Li Qin simply answer, “She Yu went a few days a go. He will need all these medicine when he returns.”

 

Yu Jie understood precisely what she means. She Yu was leaving the stronghold to kill another of his hunts. She replied Li Qin with cynic tone in her voice, “With the skill he mastered, I think he will not get injured, why care?”

 

Li Qin was about to answer the girl when a ring of bell came from outside the stronghold. “She Yu is back,” she said in panic as she handed out a bowl of medicine from her hand to Su Hua. “Aunt Su, quick! Prepare the medicines! Yu Jie, would you come with me, please? I need your help.”

 

Confused, Yu Jie followed Li Qin. The woman walked in hurry to the main foyer. When they arrived at the room, the stronghold's main metal door was already open and She Yu was standing right in the front of it. The young man was trying to walk into the foyer when he suddenly fell.

 

Ren Li Qin moved forward to catch his body before he touched the ground. She Yu was now rest weakly on her shoulder. She whispered slowly on his ear, “Don't worry… I have you…”

 

 

Act 6

 

The next day at She Stronghold

 

Yu Jie walked out her private chamber. Her eyelids still heavy from the last night happenings. She hardly slept in order to help Li Qin mending She Yu in his chamber.

 

Recalling last night's events, she lost in her own thought. She still remembered She Yu's weak condition. The young man was already unconscious when they arrived at his sleeping chamber. With quite an effort, she helped Li Qin to put him on his bed and then Li Qin started to mend She Yu.

 

It was the first time she saw him in very condition. He looked so weak. The burn of his skin covered with cold sweat and his unstable breath remained in her memory. What made him into that state of condition, she wonder. Indeed, he had injury on his shoulder but it was only a mere wound. Clearly, the wound was not the cause of his bad condition.

 

“Good morning, Yu Jie,” Li Qin's voice called her suddenly. Yu Jie gave her attention to where the voice came. Ren Li Qin was walking toward her with smile on her beautiful face. “How's your sleep last night?”

 

“Well…”

 

Li Qin nodded understandingly. “I apologize I had involve you last night.”

 

Yu Jie smiled. “It's ok.” She followed the woman to medication chamber next to them. “Umm… H… how is his condition now?”

 

“He's much better, now. He is still asleep but he will recover in few days.” Li Qin walked into the chamber. She took a few of herb powder bottles from a closet and started to make a medicine for She Yu.

 

Yu Jie stood next to her. “…She Yu's condition last night… was it always…”

 

“She Yu was injured,” Li Qin cut her words. “A swordsman gave him that wound right after he was born.”

 

“I… Injured?”

 

Li Qin continued, “Until this moment, his wound has not recovered yet. Perhaps, it never recovered in any means. If not because of his Yin Jing, he couldn't live this long.” She paused as she sighed sadly. “…then again, a weak body is always what it means. His Yin Jing is too a boomerang for him.” Gave Yu Jie a stare, her lips grace a bitter smile. “You have to keep this secret carefully. If his enemies know his weakness, She Yu's life will be in danger.”

 

Yu Jie nodded slowly. She felt a pang of hurt inside her chest. What the feeling came for, she did not know.

 

“Ah, Yu Jie, can I ask you one more favor?” Li Qin changed their subject suddenly.

 

 

Act 7

 

She Yu awoke from his unconscious state by a voice of footsteps, which is not too loud. Both of his eyelids opened slowly and saw Yu Jie's small frame inside his chamber. The girl was placing a set of medicine onto a table in the middle of the room.

 

“…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you,” she said when she realized his awake.

 

The young man replied with weak voice, “…what… are you doing in my room? Where is Lady Ren?”

 

“I… I just want to deliver your tea and medicine. Lady Ren is busy in the kitchen with Aunt Su. Don't worry, I'm done so I will leave you alone, now,” She was about to leave when She Yu's weak voice called her back.

 

“You have to lend me a hand.”

 

“I'm sorry?”

 

“I'm still too weak to have the medicine by myself,” he explained her. The girl stand in front of him looked hesitant with his request therefore he smirked at her. “Forget it. Just call Lady Ren to assist me.”

 

“I… I don't say `no', do I?” she answered him suddenly. Ignoring his confused gaze, she took the medicine with her and reached his bed. As she sat on the edge of his bed, she helped She Yu to seat up and gave him his medicine.

 

The situation between them turned quite. Being so close with the handsome young man made Yu Jie uneasy. Her heart was beating fast and she could feel her face burning red. Afraid She Yu will find out her nerves; she tried to always avoiding eyes contact with him.

 

“You must feel disappoint…” he broke the silence. Yu Jie stared She Yu with confuse look for she could not get what his mean.

 

“…that I didn't die last night,” he explained.

 

Her heart hurt by his words but she managed to cover it, “Yes, too bad you still alive.”

 

“You don't want to kill me, now?” he asked her. This time, his words made her eyes stared wide. “This is the best chance to kill me. I have no strength to fight back.” He looked into her eyes as he smiled mockingly when she kept silence. “What? Too shame to let me die?”

 

Tensed by his words, Yu Jie stood up abruptly. “…I… It's not like you thought!” she said nervously. “It is a dishonor to kill the one who saved my life.”

 

His smiled widened. “I thought I was the White Devil, not to mention that I saved you or not,” and her face flushed red by the comment. “I… I have to help Lady Ren at the kitchen. Excuse me,” the girl said as she walked out the sleeping chamber, leaving She Yu alone with amusement