256 BCE
Narrator POV
It was the celebration season in the capital of Zhao, Kantan. News had quickly spread throughout Zhao of the recent victory by Sei Chou against Qin. The royal court cheered, hearing the news, to not only put a stop to the Qin invasion but also make them retreat. Securing the region for Zhao, the achievement exceeded their expectations.
King Xiaocheng had proclaimed Sei Chou's win as a great victory. He has shown that Zhao can not be trifled with. That Zhao is still a strong Kingdom.' There was no ceremony or recalling of Sei Chou back to Kantan, as there was some worry that the Qin would send in another invasion force.
Sei Chou was once again rewarded generously, gold sent to Chuuzan and more lands came under his rule. There was talk of Sei Chou being rewarded with a place as one of Zhao's Great Heavens, since two spots were open, but King Xiaocheng did not mention any plans to do so.
Whilst Kantan was in high spirits, thinking their spirits could not be raised any further, news reached them of another victory, this one scored by their Great Heaven Ren Pa, who managed to defeat three of the Seven Wei Fire Dragons in battle. The Great Heaven and his Four Heavenly Kings faced off against Rei Ou, Gaimou and Shi Ei of the Wei Fire Dragons.
The entire war played out over months, but the climactic battle lasted 7 days. With Great Heaven Ren Pa duelling the spear of Wei, Shi Ei.
Narrator POV END
256 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: CHUUZAN
SEI CHOU POV
I took a quick leave from the front lines; my army had taken up residence in Hokudai city, but there was something that needed my attention back in Chuuzan. It took me just over two months to return, as I went around my city paying visits to the different shops and the market. I noticed my assassin was back again, not minding the attention and knowing the assassin was definitely following me. I decided to have a little fun, speaking with Fu Jin and a few of the guards. I decided to spring a trap, I already knew who the woman that had come to "Kill me." Or so she said, but I had yet to find out just who had sent her my way.
It could've been any of the major states, and it was slightly frustrating that I couldn't find out who it was through my own spy network. So, I waited for the sun to set and the stars to come out. I decided to take a walk all on my lonesome, but I had informed Fu Jin and two more of my personal soldiers to dress as city guards and follow after me.
As the four of us patrolled the city, the assassin jumped down, but she was accompanied by three others. Fu Jin and the other two successfully and quickly knocked out their opponents, whilst the only female in the group just stood and stared at me. The half mask she wore gave away her identity as one of the Chi You.
"I get it." I said with a smug smile, "I'm so beautiful you have been struck dumb." I said, the woman's eyes tightened in annoyance before she moved, rushing towards me. I sidestepped her before planting my foot and punching her directly in the chest. She yelped before falling onto the ground. I sensed she didn't want to truly kill me.
Because if my memory serves me correctly, all of the ShiYuu/ChiYou have a special dance they do. And the two times, yes, two times. I had met this woman face-to-face. She had never started her dance; instead, it was almost like she wanted to be beaten. I saw her acrobatically spring to her feet before jumping back and retaking her stance.
I was in the mood to have some fun after being at war for so long, instead of taking this moment entirely seriously. I did the squeezing motion with my right hand, before looking at my left sadly. "This one," I said, holding up my left hand. "Missed out, I can only give you 5/10, dear lady. Very nice breast though." I gave her my best smile and a great thumbs-up.
I don't know why she screamed and decided to charge at me once again. And again I sidestepped her, but this time I landed a meaty smack on her meaty rear. "The bounce, ripple and jiggle. This is a 10/10, would recommend again." My smack on her ass caused her to fall to the ground face-first. Fu Jin smacked his forehead, hearing my words.
While the other two guys were pinching the bridge of their noses, "My Lord, please. This woman is here to kill you. Can you take this a little more seriously?" Fu Jin coughed before speaking, but I didn't want to end my fun so quickly.
Putting on my best sad expression, I replied, "But… but she's so squishy and soft. I want to hold her." That seemed to be the very last straw for the woman, "Ton," she said, but before she could start her full chant, I decided to actually be serious. Quickly, I rushed to her and grabbed her at the waist. My hands tightened on the scarf there, and I pulled her down.
She was caught off guard, thinking I would be reactive again. I held a small throwing knife to her throat and smirked down into her eyes. There was a look of resignation and acceptance in her eyes before she closed them and awaited the inevitable. A slice across the throat that did not come, when she opened her eyes to see me patting her down for any poisons and other things that could kill me.
Before she was bound up and wrapped in rope, she then yelped as I threw her over my shoulder. She wriggled and struggled against the ropes, but it was all in vain. We took each assassin to different rooms and started to interrogate them.
I removed the half mask from her face and was mildly surprised to see that she didn't have any markings down her mouth and neck. She was strikingly beautiful, a serious head turner. Slimmer than Chun Li, but not by much. There was a delicate, deadliness to her beauty.
I crouched down to look her dead in the eye, as she was tied to a metal beam, she moved her head so as not to look into my eyes. "So, last time you saw me. You just stared at me. I was wondering if you have any information for me." I said softly. Since this was not my first time seeing her, it was the first time I captured her.
She refused to speak, so I continued to prod. "Why are the Shiyuu/Chiyou clan taking up requests for my head?" I smirked mischievously, "Well, if you don't want to speak, it is fine. You are a very beautiful lady, we can just continue what we were previously doing." I once again did the squeezing motion, which finally seemed to get a rise out of her.
"You lecher bastard! Get away from me, hmph! I thought you were a kind and righteous man, more fool me for showing you a bit of grace and only trying to kill you as quickly and painlessly as possible." She yelled in my face.
I recoiled my face showing surprise, "Hoh, you think I'm kind and righteous, is it? How did you come to such a conclusion?" I asked.
She replied without thinking, "I've been watching you come and go for a long time. I saw you playing with the young children, I saw you talking with the elderly, I didn't want to kill you immediately, which is a big mistake on my part, now that I've met you!"
"Eww, and you call me the lecher. You pervert, you were watching me like a creepy person. Why'd you have to be so perverted and beautiful?" I replied, faking my disgust.
Her face flushed, and she became flustered, "How can you call me the creep? You're the one who grabbed my breast and smacked my behind. I dare you to come closer, and I'll bite that hand off."
I floated my face just out of reach from her, "But I thought we were fated for each other, star-crossed lovers. Did you not love me? I thought you loved me since you were watching me all this time. Maybe you are just too shy to speak your true feelings."
Her anger exploded, and she lost it. She started cursing me, cursing her luck, cursing her choices and basically everything. I laughed heartily before patting her on the head. Her flush reddened even more, before she slumped, all the energy she had being released from her. "What's going to happen to me now? Despite your lechrous nature, I don't believe you're truly a bad person and that you would do something untoward to me. Though I tried to kill you, and you will not forgive me for attempting that." She raised her head, showing her neck off.
"If it is your wish, kill me now. I will not protest it." She finally said.
I gave her a tired sigh, "Truth be told, I can see that you are talented. By your clothes alone, and the clan you hail from is enough of an indicator. And I am a person who puts talent to use, no matter the cost." I said, there was no amusement in my eyes when I saw them on her own.
"I do not question the employed nor do I employ the questionable." I said full belief in the sentence, "So, at this moment, I need someone to grow my spy network and become my own personal bodyguard. What do you say?" I asked, but before she could answer, the seriousness bled out of me.
"I'll also allow you to watch me sleep, but you have to promise you will not have your wicked way with my body." I covered up my body with a scandalised expression.
She was surprised at the first half of my words before scoffing and sighing at the second half. I was sure she would be pinching the bridge of her nose if she could. "What makes you think I won't just kill you in your sleep and take off?"
I chuckled, "Weren't you the one who was acting like a love-struck maiden as you stared at me whilst I was sleeping. If I remember correctly, you stayed there for the whole night in the same spot."
Her blush was atomic, "You were awake! You bastard! I knew I should've killed you then!"
I shrugged once more, "I need an assassin of my own. There is no doubt I'm stepping on a few toes, and I will continuously be doing so. I know your clan's reputation; again, you must be talented to have been sent to claim my head. And since I touched you in quite a provocative way, it is only right that I take you as mine and marry you in accordance with tradition." I said, finishing with a wink, as she gave a deadpan stare.
We just kept staring at each other in silence for a few moments before she sighed. "Fine, I will accept. But I must tell you something." She then went into detail about her past and her upbringing.
I sat down next to her and just listened to it all, the whole emotion dump. It was quite sad to think about all of the things she had gone through, and the trail sounded absolutely brutal.
After some silence and a few more words, I decided to break the melancholic air that hung over the two of us. With a wink, I said, "Well then, perverted lady who loves to watch me sleep, she moved forward with this new life of yours?"
She still blushed, "I only watched you once, now untie me. My arms are starting to hurt." "Oh, by the way, what is your name?" I asked while I cut the ropes. She just stood facing me; she was a fair bit smaller than me. We just looked at each other before she said something under her breath.
"Huh, what was that?" I replied genuinely.
She gave me a stunning smile, "My name is Yuu Sui/You Cui. And you better keep to your word about taking me as yours. There are no take-backs on that." She said with full confidence.
CHAPTER DONE