"Twisted Humor of Fate
The hushed ambiance of the room enveloped the 40 victims, their collective breaths syncing with the tranquility of the night. Sleep had claimed them after being fed a potent sleeping herbal medicine, yet their distressed state showed no signs of improvement. Each figure lay motionless, caught in a mysterious affliction that resisted the soothing touch of slumber.
Meanwhile, down the dimly lit corridor, Xing Xing moved with measured steps. The soft glow of a lantern cradled in her delicate hand cast flickering shadows that appeared along the dim coloured walls. The hallway seemed to hold its breath in reverence as Xing Xing approached, the subtle rustle of her robe adding a delicate melody to the silent dead of night. Her eyes, pools of concern and determination, scanned the closed doors lining the corridor, verifying if someone was approaching.
Concealed behind the intricately carved pillar, Xing Xing's keen eyes surveyed the corridor, alert to every nuance. Before her, like silent sentinels in the moonlit night, stood two guards stationed on either side of a sturdy door. Their expressions bore the stoic weight of duty, eyes vigilant yet tinged with an air of monotony. With a sly smirk curling on her lips, Xing Xing gaze lingered on the lantern cradled in her hand.Seizing the moment, she tossed the lantern skillfully in the other direction grabbing the attention of the guards. The lantern sailed gracefully through the air. Its trajectory, a silent overture to distraction, carried it to a distant corner. As it landed with a muffled thud, a burst of illumination erupted, capturing the attention of the vigilant guards. Their eyes, momentarily drawn away from their solemn duty, fixated on the unexpected flare.
In the hushed aftermath of the diversion, Xing Xing, swift and silent as a shadow, navigated the dimly lit corridor with effortless grace. she materialized behind the unsuspecting guards. With a deft motion of her hand, she rendered them unconscious in a calculated hit to their necks. Emboldened by her success, Xing Xing approached the door. Her fingers grazed the door handle, ready to unveil the next chapter of her mission, an unforeseen interruption shattered the silence. A sudden grip on her hand arrested her movement preventing her from opening the door. The dim light barely revealed the silhouette of the mysterious figure, shrouded in a veil that concealed everything but a pair of penetrating eyes. Xing Xing's gaze met those elusive orbs, and a subtle unease tinged the air.
A sudden transformation enveloped her, her eyes aglow with an ominous crimson hue. Unveiling elongated, razor-sharp claws that glinted in the darkness, she approached the mysterious figure with an unsettling grace. Unexpectedly, she whispered, "What a fine young man," her voice resonating with an eerie undertone. In a daring move, her claws traced the contours of the veiled face, a silent attempt to unravel the concealed identity. However, her actions were met with unexpected resistance as her hand was violently yanked away, leaving the enigma of the veiled figure intact.
The voice echoed through the dimly lit corridor, revealing a familiar tone. "I knew that it was you!" the figure declared, breaking the suspense that hung in the air. A silent struggle unfolded in the darkness as Xing Xing's red eyes widened in shock. The man's grip tightened on her hand, but with a sudden impulse, she retaliated. Her other right hand swiftly gripped his neck, creating a tense standoff. The veil was yanked away, revealing the face of the mysterious figure. With a swift motion, Xing Xing unveiled the obscured features. A chilling revelation unfolded as she addressed the ominous figure, "Long time no seen, Harbinger of Doom."
The veil descended, exposing Xiao Yang's handsome face, but instead of the anticipated encounter with the Harbinger of Doom, it was the familiar visage of Xiao Yang that emerged. His face, usually calm and composed, was now contorted with anger. Xing Xing smirked, releasing her grip on his neck. "Why are you here?" Xiao Yang demanded, his fists clenched in frustration. "Ah, the great and mighty Harbinger of doom. Did you miss me?" she taunted, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Xing Xing chuckled, her red eyes gleaming with mischief. "Surprised, aren't you? Don't worry, I have my reasons," she replied cryptically, still savoring the unexpected encounter with Xiao Yang.
Xing Xing chuckled, "Well, well, well... What a coincidence to find you lurking in the shadows, just like me. Fate has a twisted sense of humor, doesn't it?"
"Regardless, I'm here to finish what you and black sorceress failed to accomplish since your arrival," she declared, her gaze piercing into his eyes with a touch of disdain.
"You sent the black sorceress?" Xiao Yang inquired.
"Yes, but you ruined my entire plan by killing her," she admitted.
"Drop the act and transform back," Xiao Yang ordered, his sudden firm grip on her neck conveying an unmistakable threat.
Choking under Xiao Yang's tight grip, Xing Xing managed a strained smile. "Oh, look what has happened, the feared and respected one is angry. How charming! But I'm not intimidated" She quipped, a sarcastic remark cutting through the tension. "Your mission here appears to have slipped your mind entirely," Xing Xing remarked, toying with her hair in a mischievous manner.
The imposter Xing Xing closed her eyes, undergoing a stunning transformation. As the illusion lifted, a beautiful young girl emerged with fair skin, striking red eyes, and long, curly white hair adorned with subtle red highlights. Her menacing claws retracted, returning to a more conventional appearance. She now donned a vibrant red attire, accompanied by jingling jewelry that complemented her ethereal aura. "Where is the real Xing Xing?" Xiao Yang asked his eyes evident with concern.She responded with a sinister tone, "Uhhh, what do you think I do to my victims? Obviously, I eat them." Her playfully mimicked tongue movement conveyed a sense of relish and delight as she laughed wickedly. "Oh, but don't worry about her. I've merely borrowed her appearance for a little while," the imposter Xing Xing replied with a mischievous glint in her red eyes. "This one is unique; I haven't ended her life just yet," the imposter Xing Xing declared with a sinister smile.
Xiao Yang's eyes narrowed as he processed her words. "What do you mean, 'not yet'?" he questioned, a mix of suspicion and urgency in his tone.
She chuckled malevolently, "I plan to end her life soon. Even if I refrain from doing so, the absence of her spirit essence guarantees her demise within the next twenty-four hours."
But, however, as usual, I collected her spirit essence," she declared, revealing a potion bottle in her hand and displaying it to Xiao Yang. In the tiny vial, the spirit essence danced, resembling a glimmering mist swirling gracefully within the confines of its glass prison.
"How can you kill an innocent person?"His grip on her neck loosened.
She rolled her eyes, "She's not dead yet."
"Since when do you concern yourself with these pathetic humans?" she retorted, her narrowed eyes expressing skepticism. "Uhhh but, what am I hearing... How can you talk as if you hadn't done this before? Do you know how many lives you took, how many people you betrayed?" she retorted angrily, infusing her words with a biting and sarcastic tone.
"Well, I hope you didn't forget your real name while playing pretend as Xiao Yang or whatever," she retorted, the sarcasm laced in her words. "Regardless, what are your thoughts on my little performance? Quite splendid, I presume. Despite my attempts to command these eyeball spiders, it's nothing compared to HIS mastery over them," she remarked. "Cut the crap...I don't have time for your nonsense!" Xiao Yang snapped. Xiao Yang's command echoed through the room, demanding the healing of the afflicted victims. In response, the imposter Xing Xing merely scoffed, a disdainful expression on her face. "As if I will do so," she retorted, dismissing any notion of cooperation . "You better heal them if you don't want me to eradicate the remaining Fox Clan," he warned.
"Alright, I will heal them, but it's not because you threatened me. It's mainly because I was just testing this forbidden spell," she explained, her tone nonchalant. "I have a long way to go to master it really well, like HIM," she added, a hint of admiration in her voice. Closing her eyes, she summoned her nine tails, each adorned with a crimson essence. Her nine tails materialized with an otherworldly elegance, each emanating a vibrant crimson essence that danced in the air. As she extended her arms, the magical qi surged forth, intertwining with the essence of her tails. In the palm of her hand, a luminous blue sphere materialized, pulsating with the essence of her formidable magical abilities. With a practiced motion, she directed the ball of magical energy toward the room housing the afflicted individuals. It entered the room, the magical energies within began their work. The substantial qi ball gracefully fragmented into 40 smaller spheres, each imbued with the essence of rejuvenating magic. With precision, they entered the bodies of the afflicted individuals, dispersing healing energies tailored to each unique condition. The room, once steeped in an eerie stillness, now resonated with the subtle hum of revitalizing enchantments. "They will be fine come morning," she remarked with an air of confidence, her eyes reflecting the assurance of her magical prowess. However, a shadow of determination crossed her features as she continued, "But my task for this night is far from over. You can't stop me; it's what you've always desired." A wicked smile played on her lips as she addressed the lingering concern about the human girl, "Don't fret about that human girl; I'll send her back later. I'm not entirely heartless, after all." Her words carried a cryptic undertone. With a wicked laugh, she vanished into thin air, transforming into a red mist. Xiao Yang sighed as he observed her disappearance. However, upon turning around, he was met with the startled gazes of two maids. They trembled visibly, seemingly having overheard the entire conversation. Swift as lightning, Xiao Yang dashed towards them, employing his powers to grab both by the back of their necks before they could utter a sound. "Shhh," he whispered, placing his finger in front of his mouth, signaling the maids to stay quiet. The two maids trembled, tears streaming down slowly. Xiao Yang closed his eyes momentarily, then opened them, revealing a shift in eye color to brown. "Look into my eyes," he commanded. "Good! Now, forget everything you saw and heard today."
Their eyes remained blank, devoid of any expression, as if under some form of control. Without blinking, they obediently acknowledged, "Yes, sir," and With that, he released his grip on the back of their necks and they began walking away from Xiao Yang, moving with an eerie precision. However they both slumped unconscious to the ground with a thud after a short distance.