In the next moment, a long spear fell from the skylight above!
“Young Master Jiang!” Luo Shiyi’s voice called down. “Your spear!”
Jiang Kui caught the spear, peering up to loudly respond, “Thanks a bunch!”
Poised beneath a beam of light holding her weapon, she shook off the ermine coat draping her figure.
Amidst the wavering candles, she loosened the collar of her white attire exposing delicate collarbones and ivory skin akin to fine bamboo. A red jade hairpin jutted out from the jet black tresses, striking beauty resembling blossoming camellias lit by lofty candles or famed blades mirrored amidst vibrant flora.
Zhu Zi’an stood alongside as the pair shielded Leng Baizhou between them. Taut bowstrings twanged from all directions accompanied by low breaths echoing between the silent stony walls.
Then arrows suddenly rained down in a torrent!
As rapid crossbow snaps resounded, Jiang Kui whirled her spear into a spinning shield. Sweeping flashes deflected the downpour with clangs.
Half a step behind, Zhu Zi’an shifted sideways wielding a folding fan. Clasping the spine, he used the folded ribs to flick aside arrow after arrow redirecting their paths to spear back at the opposite side instead.
Precise and forceful, the redirected projectiles felled several black-garbed killers among the enemy ranks with muted groans.
As a wave depleted, taut strings thrummed once more.
“Zhu Zi’an!” Jiang Kui said softly.
“Ready,” Zhu Zi’an nodded.
Replacing the fan at his waist, he turned and crouched before the wooden chair holding Leng Baizhou hostage, swiftly working on the bindings.
Another rain of arrows descended unfazed. His deft fingers raced undoing the elaborate knots, steadily loosening each tie as volleys whizzed past his ear.
“Done,” he said quietly.
Gently lifting, the ropes dropped free. Cradling the unconscious girl against himself with one arm, he stationed half a step behind Jiang Kui.
“Go!” Jiang Kui shouted, lunging forth!
Her spear summoned a raging tempest within the narrow stone room, seemingly a soaring dragon scattering the killers ahead in its wake as it carved a path right through their ranks and out of the chamber!
Beyond was a walkway forcing single-file attacks. Jiang Kui readily capitalized on the space to maneuver her spear sweeps into countless silver flashes, repeatedly battering back each hindrance barring their way.
Jiang Kui spear-wielding walked ahead while Zhu Zi’an stuck close behind sheltering the child. The two easily cut through towards the tunnels.
Outdoors, faint rain and light poured down. Guests socializing around the waterside pavilions collectively glanced back at the two individuals charging out from the narrow passage—one a white-clothed spear maiden, the other a black-clothed young master carrying a girl.
The rainfall and radiance bathed their forms, resembling an oddly picturesque ink painting.
Momentarily stunned, the onlookers were uncertain whether this was freshly staged entertainment from the brothel.
Then groups of black-garbed assassins swarmed forth, tightly encircling the pair. Unsheathing blades rang out instead of crossbows mingling with the babbling streams and bewildered exclaims.
“Aren’t you worried about drawing excessive attention?” Zhu Zi’an coolly surveyed the killers. “Daring to stir up trouble at Gazing Moon Tower within Pingkang Lane. Your backers must be Imperial Guards right?”
The leader wielded a spiked whip. Flanked by a hammer-wielding brawny fellow and a blade-toting hulk, they stepped forth. The whip bearer rasped a harsh chuckle, wintry eyes glinting from the masked hood.
“Mister Pu Liu, we finally meet your true face today.”
Zhu Zi’an chuckled, “So it’s ‘Iron Whip’ Ruan Wuji. Never knew the Gentlemen’s Sect Chief valued me so.”
One arm holding the child while the other casually motioned. “Those would be Second Chief Zhao Buqun and Third Chief Zhang Yunshan right? Rumors say you three sworn brothers share camaraderie despite lacking blood ties. Such deep affections, truly admirable.”
The trio recoiled, astonished that he could nonchalantly name and identify them all before easily divulging their hidden secret bloodline to the crowds.
“Mister Pu Liu,” Ruan Wuji snarled. “You shall perish here today.”
“Care to try?” Zhu Zi’an taunted with an easy smile.
The black horde surged forth! Brandishing his whip while Zhao Buqun hefted his hammer and Zhang Yunshan gripped twin sabers. The trio pounced rending only air and mist in their weapons’ wake.
Zhu Zi’an neither evaded nor retreated but stepped forth cradling the child. Jiang Kui intercepted the encroaching blows from every angle with but a single lance!
Gradually ceding ground towards the bank, frightened guests finally noticed the genuine danger and scattered shrieking.
With depthless waters, the pair soon found themselves completely surrounded. Their hems grew increasingly sodden by the kicked up spray. Ruan Wuji lashed out dispersing Jiang Kui’s latest stab before icily sneering at Zhu Zi’an, “There’s no escape left Mister Pu Liu.”
Zhu Zi’an mildly laughed and called over one shoulder, “Thanks for the troubles, Master Bai!”
Before his voice faded, a tiny boat suddenly shot forth from the rippling surface!
Poled by a petite maiden effortlessly harnessing the flowing currents, it streamed forth from the looming waterside pavilions. She swept aside obstructing assassins with a swing, merrily yelling for all to “Scram!”
A timely flourish of Jiang Kui’s spear while fending off a hammer strike permitted herself and Zhu Zi’an to jointly flip over and land inside the craft. Shaking water droplets off her sleeves she laughed, “Excellent timing Xiaobai!”
Using the bamboo rod for balance within, Bai Xia turned beaming with curiosity. “Rather you arrived late, young miss!”
Scrutinizing Zhu Zi’an, she stuck out her tongue. “Mister Zhu, so you’re actually Mister Pu Liu! Duping me for years, how cruel!”
Zhu Zi’an chuckled softly, “My apologies, I’ll treat you to a meal later in recompense ‘kay?”
Bai Xia inspected him seriously before commenting, “No wonder young miss kept asking about…”
A palm abruptly shoving her head aside cut short that line as Jiang Kui forcibly spun her around. “Concentrate! Enemies inbound!”
The Gazing Moon Tower housed small boats for couples drifting through picturesque scenery. Black masses already flooded such vessels rolling forth like tidal waves with taut strings thrumming once more.
“A-Rong!” Zhu Zi’an cheerily shouted amidst gentle ripples. “Careful catch!”
He lightly tossed the fainted Leng Baizhou through the misted skies above!
A swordswoman leapt up from the pavilions, meeting the falling child halfway to sweep both into her arm while lashing out, effortlessly arresting momentum upon landing before sprinting forth hair streaming behind like spilled ink.
“Chase them!” someone yelled among the horde. They split into two forces. One continuously sailed in pursuit of Zhu Zi’an’s party while the other peeled off after A-Rong struggling under the little girl’s burden, blades and shields gradually wearing her speed down.
“Mister Tie!” Zhu Zi’an delightedly hailed within his boat. “How fare you on this fine day?”
Trapped amidst the shrinking perimeter, A-Rong repeatedly brandished her sword before springing lightly upwards once more with the child cradled in both hands, flinging her high into the distance again!
The mentioned Mister Tie coldly snorted, metal fan spread in one hand while the other thrusted aloft, inner force concentrated within his palm for a gentle cradle of the launched girl!
Fresh assassins converged from all sides drowning that figure in a sea of flickering steel yet only calm rippled across his bearded visage. The iron fan swept open and closed, razor edges drawing past attackers to spill forth chaotic bloody sprays in their wake.
Spying this, Zhu Zi’an shouted again upon the waters, “Chief Yuan! Mind your precious granddaughter now! No repeat losses!”
At his reminder, Mister Tie spun round in situ repelling the endless tides before fiercely kicking off for a great bound. Tossing the child in hand skywards, he deeply roared, “Deepest gratitude friends! This old man remains infinitely indebted, staking my life as recompense!”
The Beggar Chief Yuan Erye arced through the air in a flawless catch of his descending granddaughter before rapidly propelling off, bounding between eaves and rafters away into the far distance.
“Chief! Shall we still give chase?” a kneeling killer inquired aboard his skiff.
Ruan Wuji venomously glared after that distant mark. Fingers clenched white around the iron handle as he seethed through gnashed teeth, “Forget it! The brat Leng Baizhou matters not, slaying Pu Liu takes absolute priority!”
“Indeed indeed,” Zhu Zi’an chuckled mockingly up ahead. “The girl served as mere bait while I was the true fish. Prey’s taken; why care for leftover lure?”
Ruan Wuji bellowed furiously, “Pu Liu, your demise today is undoubtedly sealed!”
“Every last man listen!” He commanded. “No costs spared, end his life!”
Snatching a boatman’s pole beside him, Ruan Wuji personally stood balancing atop a boat with massive inner force focused through his hands. The waters rumbled as his vessel rapidly shortened distance between them.
The small crafts nearly overlapped before crashing intensely, mouth and rear splashing violently amidst the waters. Zhao Buqun with his hammer and Zhang Yunshan twin blades pounced onto either of Ruan Wuji’s flanking sides. Gusting air heralded the falling sledgehammer and swinging swords hacking down onto Zhu Zi’an!
“Xiaobai, much obliged!” Jiang Kui yelled.
“As if you don’t already know, you owe me a grand feast later!” Bai Xia laughed loudly.
Shoving her pole into Jiang Kui’s hands, the girl lightly snatched a boulder-sized hammer off the boards below and hefted it overhead with both palms. The weapon spun furiously clearing an immense path as she charged forth against the other two giants.
Regularly utilized for sword forging, the dense stone mallet seemed ever tinier within her slender digits yet erupted with astonishing dormant might from that dainty frame.
Blows hammering aside the joint Zhao Buqun and Zhang Yunshan offense easily toppled both into the pools. One foot then vaulted off a random boat’s rim. hollering “Young miss!” while giving it a mighty kick.
“And off we go!” Capitalizing on the generated momentum, Jiang Kui mobilized the pole and seamlessly steered Zhu Zi’an towards the central gazebo.
“Young Master Jiang!” Atop its railings already stood a black-clothed boy who upon sighting their approach, instantly hurled a mooring line pulled taut to gradually reel the boat against platform pillars.
Before fully docking, Jiang Kui had already somersaulted ashore spear-first. There Luo Shiyi awaited, supporting off Zhu Zi’an with a concerned frown. “…Sir.”
“I’m fine,” Zhu Zi’an squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, shaking his head with a wan smile.
Luo Shiyi nodded and calmly unsheathed his saber atop the kiosk facing the incoming enemies.
Bai Xia, A-Rong and Mister Tie had also retreated onto the open octagonal gazebo, enemies sealed on all fronts by closely encircling crafts.
After climbing the short stairwell Jiang Kui accompanied Zhu Zi’an into the sole vacant chamber up top. The abducted singing girl was already rescued, hence emptiness filled the interior apart from a lone potted orchid still clinging onto dewdrops that threatened to spill over any instant…
Abruptly Zhu Zi’an turned causing Jiang Kui to nearly crash into his chest.
She tilted up her face and glared. Bending down he studied her intently for a spell before reaching out retightening her loose collar. Even bending over helping adjust her disheveled garments back into place.
“What’re you doing?” she snapped irritably. “We’re about to fight, I detest heat.”
Zhu Zi’an snorted loudly. “As I’ve said countless times before, others can tell you’re female.”
Just as Jiang Kui opened her mouth for a scathing retort, his fingers accidentally grazed her earlobe in the process. Both shuddered as if scalded, frozen for an instant.
Simultaneous stillness descended.
Author’s Note:
My fantasy fight scenes completely defy science or logic, purely imagined so please don’t imitate! >_<
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