Ambushed

Chen Qingshan's P.O.V

I had left before someone could wake up. Just thinking about the thing that I almost did made my face heat up. Apparently, the talisman that Shen gave, find my embarrassment an interesting thing. If I had known that the talisman was already awake, I wouldn't have done that.

"You are not to tell your master, understood?" as if the thing really did understand me, it nodded with a grin.

It was a really adorable thing. It had no teeth and it looked like Shen, a bit. I could possibly not take my embarrassment out on her, that would be too cruel.

This morning, when I had waken up, I saw Shen sitting by the tent entrance. She was even sleeping. How come she did not take advan- goodness. Why am I thinking such things? We are both girls. I grabbed my sword and positioned it at my side, tugging it to make sure it will not come off during battle. I turn to look at Shen and she was still sleeping peacefully.

I could still not feel her power even if we are so close. Just how powerful is she if she's more powerful than Master Zhao? I had yet to test her out myself. Her her was cut short like a boy. She said it was to prevent her hair from distracting her in battle.

Without even noticing, I had leaned over to where her lips were. Her lips looked subtly apart and just the right amount of thinness to them.

Suddenly, something jumped up and down from the side, making me regain consciousness and looked away hastily. I look to where the motion came from and thankfully, it was from the talisman. I could not imagine the humiliation if it was really a person.

The adorable thing had been smiling since we set foot out the tent. It was quite energetic, like its master.

The talisman can't talk but it can understand everything that I am saying. The methods of the hero had made Shen this powerful. Even if Shen made the talisman half-heartedly, I doubt it will turn out bad.

"Your master worries too much, cutie."

"Zzz zzz," its lightning hair sizzled at the mention of Shen.

"Girls are all over her. If I even turn away for a second, a girl suddenly shows up."

It sizzles again. I'm starting to think that it can fry food, or at least the sound sounds like it's frying something.

"I-I-I don't like your master like that, yet."

It backflipped out of nowhere, making me smile.

"Zzz zzz!" it's thunder hair increasing in size.

"Your master is really great at handling my mood. I have not met someone as understanding as your master."

If I were to admit, Shen understands me most.

"E-enough about, Shen. Let's scout further."

I hide my embarrassment. The poor thing must think that I am crazy. I'm the one talking about Shen and I'm the only one who can talk between us but I made it sound like she's the one initiating the talk about Shen. The great gods must be laughing at me and my ancestors shaking their heads in humiliation.

It was almost midday and I had not gone far. This is making my search drag more. I summoned my sword and used my powers to make it float. I sit on it sideways and I start flying.

"Gold, silver, gold, gold, platinum. Uh? People?"

I hid my aura and my power, wanting to get a close in. But I could not go closer as there is a heavenly bird captured, under some spell as its eyes were not of a normal one. It is my first time seeing a heavenly bird and I must say, it is a size a hundred times bigger than me. Its prowess had reached me, overflowing even. Its aura was so adamant, powerful and strong that if I had to fight such a bird, I could not survive.

30 armored men has guarded the heavenly bird. Cruelly chaining the heavenly bird. If those men were at Diamond Tier or Grand Diamond, and if all 30 of them had participated in capturing the heavenly bird, then the bird is sure to be defeated. The men did not lack in power nor in number. Cruel scoundrels.

I decided to retreat and to report this to Shen but as I near the camp site, black smoke was the thing that greeted me.

My heart suddenly tightened.

If they can capture a heavenly bird, then they can surely restrain Shen along with everyone. Worry had washed over my body as I fastened my flight. I bit my lip, anxious as to what I will see.

"Hurry, hurry!"

Blood was spilt.

*TUG DUG*

Many men were down.

*TUG DUG*

And everyone panicked.

*TUG DUG*

"Martial Sister Shen needs somebody!"

I could not wait any longer and jumped from up high. I search for my dear Shen. I had expected her to only be wounded just a little, but what I had seen was far from my expectation. Blood gushed out everywhere from her unconscious body.

"Martian Sister Chen!"

I grab Shen's arm and draped it over my shoulder.

*HOOONKKK*

A sound coming from a horn suddenly was heard. Everyone panicked. That must mean that the ambushers had requested back up. Sounds of feet marching towards us had rose panic again, more intensely.

"Junior Sister! Quick, grab the seal on my thigh! It's a teleportation array!"

I could not grab the seal for Shen needs my support and she is quite heavy due to her musles.

"I-I can't, Martial Sister Chen."

"We have no such time to be cowardly!"

The steps were louder and clearer, signifying that the ambushers were close.

"Just hurry up!"

"Do you want us to die!"

"Hurry the fuck up!"

Junior Sister grabs the seal from my thigh and placed it on the ground.

"There they are!"

HEAVENS!

My heart pounded on my chest.

"I-I do not know how to-"

"STEP ASIDE, USELESS BITCH."

Someone had brutally shoved junior sister and had the array activated. The people had rushed and pushed everyone to the array. I look back and saw the enemy start shooting fire. Goodness! I jump to the array and closed it in time before the fire could enter.

"We're saved!"

"We're alive!"

"I did not know that Martial Aunt Shen is so powerful."

"I want three junior brothers to take her to the medics. The rest, I want you to tell me the story."

Three who were also slightly injured volunteered as they said that they need treatment too. I had everyone settled inside Yingxiong Hall before asking what had happened.

"What had happened earlier this morning."

Everyone took notice of the bitterness in my voice. They flinched as my voice echoed inside the four corners of the hall. They all had remained quiet, much to my dislike. I try to calm myself down. I do not need to punish people who are not accountable. I just need to blame someone for my dear Shen's situation. I am on the verge of crying and breaking down.

"Zzz zzz,"

I look to my shoulder, almost forgetting that cutie was with me. It tugged my hair and smiled a little, as if reassuring me that everything will be okay. I heaved a sigh, really calming myself this time.

Perhaps I do harbor romantic feelings towards Shen. I did not just realize it.

"Uhm, Martial Aunt Chen?"

A junior sister stands up, looking at everyone and then at me. She was also a little bloodied but from the looks of her body, the blood was not hers.

"Yes?"

"I-it was, uhm, early this morning. We were about to e-eat breakfast but M-Martial Aunt Shen suddenly runs from her tent towards us. S-she was so fast that we did not see that she p-put up a barrier to protect us. W-we only watch as she tells us to brace for impact."

My dear Shen is so brave.

"T-then, out of nowhere, a black fire had downed on us."

Black fire?

"Men wearing black masks suddenly show up. They attacked the barrier relentlessly. We w-were so scared but Martial Aunt Shen told us to relax. While protecting us, she showed us how to form a barrier just like that one told us to keep strengthening the barrier."

"We-we-we were so shocked that Martial Aunt Shen knows such a complicated barrier."

"Yeah. Martial Aunt Shen looked so cool."

"Martial Aunt Shen was so calm."

They all agree to what the girl said. Some even teared up but I could not get myself swayed. I need the story.

"Do continue."

"When we had mastered the barrier; it was quite, uhm, easy, she had told us a shortcut, Martial Sister Lee Yi was sent to gather herbs before the ambush and had arrived. A-an ambusher saw her and directed an attack at her b-but Martial Sister Shen had came in time for her rescue."

"Martial Sister Shen had fought about 51 men of Platinum II Tier, all by herself."

"Martial Sister Shen looked magnificent."

"She was so powerful."

"We owe her our lives."

"Th-then, when Martial Sister Shen was attacked by 10 men at once, that same black fire burned her."

"We-we-we couldn't get out of the barrier because Martial Aunt Shen must've done something to the barrier, it could not open. We tried breaking the barrier but it was so strong."

"That fire had weakened Martial Sister Shen. Her moves slowed down and electric current appeared on her body."

Black fire but electric current?

"Th-the men attacked all at once. Martial Sister Shen did her best to fend herself off but was still wounded severely. By the-the time all the men were down, Martial Sister Shen had collapsed. The barrier was no longer active and we made a run for it. As we were running to Martial Sister Shen's aid, the black fire had downed on her again. A-and Martial Sister Chen appeared."

"You are dismissed. Report to your masters and be sure to show gratitude once Shen wakes up."

"Yes, General Chen."

I have so many unanswered questions. Shen knows, probably, but she is still unconscious. The Island of Grounds has only one more person left for me to ask. I quickly run my way to the manor, expecting Master Zhao to be there.

It was a good thing that Shen got care before it was too late. A world without Shen is so unrealistic that if ever there was no Shen in this world, I could not bring myself to feel happy if I am not by her side.

"Ah, how-"

"I humbly ask for forgiveness for my rudeness, but Master Zhao must tell me what a black fire with electric current entails."

"Is Master Shen in care?"

"You knew, Master Zhao?"

"I did not. Your mere worry did tell me otherwise."

"I-it just, I can't,"

"You harbor romantic feelings towards Master Shen?"

"That's not the issue right now, Master Zhao. I need the information."

"My dear child, you can not fend that beast with your current power."

"I know that, Master Zhao. I have acknowledged that I am not that powerful, yet I can not idly sit back and watch as how Shen is being brutally wounded."

"My child, you can not fight that beast unless you want to ascend to heaven and leave Shen here all alone."

"I want to help, Master Zhao."

"We do not have time, you do not have time-"

*BOOM*

The ground shook as an explosion was heard. Master Zhao quickly runs to the door and scouted the area. I followed suit.

The people were running around, panicking and asking for help.

*NHAAAAAAA*

A deafening growl had invaded my ears. Emerging from the roofs, the heavenly bird that I had seen before, came. It had attacked before I could even report to Master Zhao.

"Goodness! What is that doing in here?"

"What are we to do, Master Zhao?"

"There is no time to spare! Evacuate everyone. Help me after!"

"Understood."