Chapter 127 - Kings Rising (7) M

M: Violence, Murder, Blood, Graphic details, etc.

...

"Give me Song Luli in exchange for this girl," Xun Yaozu said coldly.

Su Xiang spat at his feet, and Xun Yaozu slapped her across the face, and she whimpered by the pain.

Xun Zichen flinched while gritting his teeth.

"I have a better idea," Xun Zichen said. "How about we duel? If you win, well, I will die, and you will get what you want. But if I win, I get the Flock, and I will take back my future wife."

Su Xiang widened her eyes, not believing the words he just said.

Xun Yaozu lips curved upwards wickedly, almost as if he was going to laugh.聽He then handed the chains over to one of the other members of the Flock, who pulled Su Xiang back.

"Very well then," Xun Yaozu said, accepting the challenge. He then turned around to take a sword from a man that held it out from him. In the crowd, Xun Zichen caught a glance at Han Ru. He grounded his teeth.

"No!" Su Xiang suddenly cried out, trying to crawl.

Xun Zichen ignored her pleas, though it hurt him. He knew that she was going to try to stop him, but nothing could stop it.

He unsheathed his sword, the brass-steel hissed. Xun Yaozu did the same, throwing his scabbard aside. They both started to walk towards each other, meeting half-way with provoking eyes.

Xun Zichen then positioned himself, breathing hard, trying to keep his heart steady. His friends were behind him, Su Xiang's screams were muffled by someone trying to hold her back.聽Everyone was watching, nearly creating a circle around them, but the two sides never connected.

Xun Yaozu smiled at him savagely; blood lust glinted in his green eyes. He then charged forward, swinging his sword as he held the Pheonix-engraved hilt. Xun Zichen took one step back, lifting his sword to meet Xun Yaozu's powerful, brutal strike. Xun Zichen's sword clashed with his, they both looked at each other directly, challenging each other's strength before spreading apart.

Xun Yaozu swang again,聽and with grace, Xun Zichen deflected it with the move of his wrist.

It was almost as if they were fencing; Xun Yaozu lunged where Xun Zichen swerved to his left, dodging the blade.

Xun Yaozu was growing impatient and embarrassed.

Xun Zichen then stepped forward, swinging, and Xun Yaozu was staggering back, struggling to deflect any of Xun Zichen's swift moves.

Xun Yaozu then found an opening, kicking Xun Zichen, swinging his sword and slicing his arm deeply.

Pain shot up Xun Zichen's left arm. It stung, and was no doubt, bleeding. But, he had to ignore the pumping beneath his skin. Xun Zichen whirled, wielding his sword with one hand, trying to fight without the support of his left. Steel met steel, followed by harsh grunts and breaths.

Xun Zichen looked for an opening; the blood seeped from his arm through his sleeve. He could feel it run beneath the fabric, and it was irritating him.

He was growing tired; his head began to spin.

Xun Yaozu sprinted towards him with full force, and Xun Zichen dipped his back, leaning as the sword flew slightly above his chest. He then swerved to the right, as Xun Yaozu moved down again, the blade hitting the ground where Xun Zichen was seconds earlier.

Xun Zichen elbowed his estranged uncle's face, twisting his sword, and running it through Xun Yaozu's shoulder.

Xun Yaozu's widened his eyes.

Xun Zichen gritted his teeth, plunging the sword deeper, twisting it and pulling it out.

Xun Yaozu staggered back; the blood rained down his chest, stunned. He fell to his knees, and Xun Zichen stood in front of him menacingly. He lifted the sword, ready to commit the final blow when someone ran towards them, decapitating Xun Yaozu.

Xun Yaozu's body plopped on the ground, and Xun Zichen widened his eyes in horror. The person in front of him then scooped up some of Xun Yaozu's blood inside a chalice.

He then removed his hood, and there he was the Cloak, smiling cruelly. He glanced at the crowd behind him.聽"In here, I have the blood of Xun Yaozu. I killed your leader so that I will shower in his blood, and you, the Flock, shall make me your leader," he said with a booming voice.

The Cloak then poured it over his head, spilling over his face in thin streaks, staining his skin red. The Flock chanted, roaring his name, like a stadium of people cheering for their Emporer.

Xun Zichen was trying to make it seem as if he wasn't holding his breath. The Cloak stepped forward; the blood had gone to his teeth. He looked at Xun Zichen maliciously.

"If you wanted to be the leader of the Flock, all you had to do was tell me," Xun Zichen said. "I would have been more than happy to give it to you, so long as Xun Yaozu was dead."

"Mhmm," the Cloak said. "But I had to kill him, and now it's your turn," he said, and Yu Haoran had slipped from the crowd, unbound, and ready to do some damage. And next to her, was Han Ru.

Xun Zichen clenched his jaw. How did she escape from the house? Didn't his adoptive parents stay behind? His head was all over the place.

Xun Zichen took several steps back, thinking of what to do next. Think, think, think, he told himself.

Xun Zichen then shouted, "Long Jie!"

Long Jie, in his formidable-like manner, stepped forward, and Xun Zichen pulled his other sword, tossing it to him. Long Jie caught the hilt without looking, and both of them, at the same time, stepped forward, twirling it with their wrists. They both stood with one foot ahead, the other back, their hands wrapped around the hilt, and their swords pointed upward towards the purple sky.

Song Luli watched them from behind, in awe鈥攁nd to her, it looked like two kings rising.

"You all are no match against the Flock," The Cloak taunted.