Chapter 121 - Blood L.u.s.t

The whole cavern looked like a cathedral. But in across where they stood were the three giant statues. They analyzed the statues and seemed normal on the outside.

These were as tall as Nianshi if he transformed into a dragon. They had weapons in their hands. The horned one has with long hair had a broadsword. The fanged one had  and the three-eyed had a sledgehammer. However, the most peculiar thing about these three was the huge amount of blood l.u.s.t they released.

"What are those things?" Balin asked. His companions looked at him with an odd look on their faces. Balin's shoulders slumped, feeling silly for asking that stupid question. "I know what they are but I don't like what I feel now."

"The only thing I can say is to be careful," Nianshi replied to console the horrified Balin who dared not move an inch. He didn't know what these things were but had learned his lesson from the time they entered the cave, that nothing was normal inside, mostly, in this room. 

"What should we do?" Xinyi sighed as she thought they were finally able to rest. She looked over to her comrades who were tired and out of breath. She thought long and hard about what to do. She commanded the Hutyuns to inspect the statues but the wee beings for the first time told her what was in their minds. "I don't like the power from it, my Queen." 

This warned Xinyi because her attention was more on the inviting power she had been feeling which was greater than what the statues projected. 

----- o -----

From the moment they entered, the three statues stared daggers at them. What they saw were two red human projections. Then a yellow being, which looked like a girl, with thousands of tiny black creatures floating around her. The last one was also in yellow human form but had a black lion-dragon silhouette around him. 

They understood, the silhouette was Nianshi's true body. However, this made them excited. It had been centuries before they got visitors coveting the rock they guarded. They loved to have a good a killing today. Fighting those two humans would not satisfy their thirst for blood.

Their bodies heat up because of elation boiling inside them. The three rock statues got ready to kill them any minute.

----- o -----

"Look guys!" They all looked where Ming pointed. It was a simple door, emitting a bright light inside. It was between two of those statues' feet, as though they were guarding the door. 

Somehow, Nianshi thought the two rock statues seemed to be smiling at them while the blood l.u.s.t it gave out increased. Balin's hair stood on end, but Ming and Nianshi remained calm to create a plan. 

The white light from the door was a distraction to Xinyi. She was certain, the object with that power inviting her was in there. 

Nianshi bravely stealthily walked forward toward the door. When he began moving, "Nianshi! Be careful!" Because Xinyi saw the horned statue moved its head, following Nianshi as if it was prying on him. Watching that moving giant statue's head gave Ming and Balin creeps.

Nianshi heard her and saw the head's actions but didn't reply. He concentrated on reaching that door. As Nianshi walked nearer to his target, the next move the statue made scared the onlookers because it stepped forward and aimed its long blade at Nianshi's head. 

Luckily Nianshi ducked in time, dodging the sword which was only made of rock at first but became a true one in an instant. The swift slash cut a few of Nianshi's long hair. The other two statues moved as well and attacked Nianshi in unison. Nianshi jumped and somersaulted, dodging each attack. Balin saw Nianshi's difficulty and about to throw fireballs when Ming stopped him.

"Don't. He is risking his life for us so we could go inside that door. We shouldn't waste it." At first Balin thought it was stupid but knew Ming knew the blond-haired man and his abilities to withstand the statues attack more than him. Hence, he shrugged and nodded. 

Xinyi wanted to speak up but was cut off by Nianshi. "Please, my lady! We have little time. Run!" Nianshi tried his best to get away from each attack, but one of the statues finally managed to capture him with its spear when his attention was on Xinyi. The tip of the spear hit his shoulder. 

Watching that big spearhead made a wide wound on Nianshi's flesh as blood flowed down endlessly, made Balin pale but also amazed to realize that Nianshi wasn't an ordinary Chiangda. For any human, Chiangda or not, would die instantly being pierced with that gigantic weapon but this man was still standing.

"What is he?" Balin muttered to himself, bewildered.

The statue pushed the spear further, wanting to end the life of this great dragon. These were the times that Nianshi wished Balin was not around. He wanted to disobey Xinyi from turning into a dragon so badly. Yet, he didn't. 

"Run!" He screamed in pain. That shout pushed Ming and Balin to run. But Xinyi didn't move. Rather, could not make a step.

Ming had to pull her, knowing she was in shock. She had never seen Nianshi hurt this bad before. It was painful for her to run away when Nianshi needed her help. Most of all, she knew she could do something about it. 

The horned one turned its head to the first person running toward the door. A sinister smile broke from its face and disappeared, only to appear in front of Balin. He smoothly waved his sword to slash the man's body in half but Ming forcefully sent a strong wind to knock the statue a few inches away. The sword missed from cutting Balin's head. 

Xinyi focused on the people in front of her. She knew if she wanted to save Nianshi, had to get Balin away so he can transform into his true form.