Chuang Xiulan’s Maiden Heart
Fangsu was laid on her rented room's bed by the female mercenary, "Thank you for taking me to my room," She appreciated the help but the dull pain suddenly returned in waves, pulsating throughout her entire body causing great pain to the weak Fangsu. The pain still remained which caused Fangsu to unravel another package of medicine, pouring the contents into her mouth which quickly settled the pain.
The mercenary was quite surprised to see the complexion of the youth that was once pale had suddenly had more colour return to their face after taking another satchel of medicine, "Is this a recurring condition that happens often?" She saw no reason for an ailing person to become a travelling merchant which could pose more of a threat in the case of an emergency, "I don't think you should be a merchant if you are being afflicted by an illness," Seating herself at a close-by chair to watch over the sickly person.
Fangsu had to agree with the mercenary's words as sickly people wouldn't normally become a merchant, "Being a merchant is only a temporary job since I'm actually a traveller who has too many horses," Quickly concluding for her being a merchant. Fangsu continued talking about her travels with the mercenary who shared some experiences of her own which awed Fangsu. However, Fangsu was quite convinced that the mercenary in front of her only had good intentions but the problem was that she still didn't know the female mercenary's name, "I still don't know your name," The mercenary chuckled as she had just realised that there was she had done no introduction.
The mercenary slightly bowed her head, "I am the first daughter of the Chuang Clan, Chiang Xiulan." As the mercenary finished introducing herself. Fangsu immediately stiffened once she had heard her name. Fangsu vaguely remembered that the person in front of her was one of the top 5 winners in the Winter Banquet. But Fangsu realised that the chance of her identity being revealed did not bother her all that much since she had no intention to truly hide her identity anymore.
However, the howling winds interrupted their conversation and her horses began snorting and neighbouring which caused a sense of foreboding churning at the bottom pits of her stomach. Fangsu quickly jumped out of her window, quickly followed by Xiulan and both of them landed on their feet. Fangsu attempted to calm her horses down before they would wreak havoc. She began scanning the area for the source of their restlessness to see a partially formed spirit feasting on a human. Quickly gesturing in the air with her finger, Fangsu went to summon Ming Yue and Dai-Tai however their location was in the Spiritual realm and wouldn't arrive till much later.
Taking out her dagger, Fangsu readied herself knowing that she would be the only person to be able to deal with the spirit. Xiulan unknowing of that fact also readied herself to fight off the strange creature only to find out that her weapon had harmlessly pierced through the body, "What's going on?" She began panicking as she had never encountered such an opponent like a spirit. The spirit sensed a strong soul residing in Xiulan's body and sprung at the panicking Xiulan who tried to keep the distance but she was within its range.
Fangsu, however, jumped at Xiulan before the spirit could as she wrapped her arms around Xiulan's body, "Are you okay?" The both of them harmlessly tumbled to the safety of the canopies of trees, "Get out of here! You can't fight against spirits! I will deal with it," Fangsu felt the bloodlust being emanated from the spirit pricked her skin. She had never directly fought a spirit since she always had Ming Yue or Dai-Tai deal with them.
Stunned with shock, Xiulan grabbed Fangsu's clothes, "I can't be leaving you! You are still recovering from your illness!" Pulling her into the direction of the inn, "You trying to be a hero is downright stupid!" They eventually reached the clearing of the forest where the inn was located. However, the same spirit had followed them to the inn also seeing that the inn was the banquet full of souls. Fangsu whipped out her sword whip, slicing straight through the body of the spirit but the spirit began hissing in pain.
The spirit sensed the sudden increase of spiritual energy flow nearby and began searching for the source. Landing its sight on the seemingly weak Fangsu, charging with an inhuman screech which deafens many who heard it. Swiftly swiping its hands to grab Fangsu who successfully dodged out of the range of the multiple strikes, safely keeping her distance away from the spirit. Xiulan was able to jump into the fight, "Don't!" Fangsu pushed Xiulan behind her, "The only way to fight against spirit is with spiritual energy and you have none," Infusing her sword whip with spiritual energy which caused the spirit in front of her to cautiously gauge out Fangsu.
The spirit found that Fangsu was quite weak and was infuriated by the fact they were injured by someone like that. The enraged spirit rushed towards Fangsu clawing at her but Fangsu whipped her sword which caused the entirety of the blade to soar through the air. With the momentum of the blade, Fangsu spun herself to create a barrier around herself whilst constantly being on the offensive. Buying time. The unfamiliarity with the attack pattern causes the spirit unable to fight back or defend against the unusual nature of the flexible blade. As more wounds appeared on the spirit's body, spiritual energy rushed to heal the spirit which eventually depleted the spiritual energy of the spirit.
Seeing that it was in danger of dissipating completely, the spirit began searching for a soul to consume to save itself. However before the spirit could act, Dai-Tai knocked out the spirit before it could cause carnage to the people in the inn, "Master, forgive us for leaving you in danger for so long." Plopping down the spirit down to a secluded area.
Fangsu nodded before turning to the unconscious spirit, "Wake him up," Slipping her blade around her waist she sat herself down on the ground, exhausted. Dai-Tai grabbed the unconscious spirit and began viciously slapping them across the face. Ming Yue flinched at the sounds of Dai-Tai's hand slapping the spirit's face as she gulped, seeing that Dai-Tai was quite bold in her actions, "I will need to get more spirits and if this one doesn't want to become a subordinate then you can eat him." Fangsu was quite nonchalant with her decision which shocked Ming Yue but the person who was the most shocked was the spirit who was now conscious.
The spirit began trying to squirm out of Dai-Tai's grip, fearful for its own life that was deemed insignificant. But, Dai-Tai had a tight grip on the spirit, "So, I can eat this spirit if they aren't willing to be a contracted spirit?" Fangsu nodded as she stared at the petrified spirit that was under Dai-Tai, "You better choose quickly otherwise I will eat you," Licking her lips with delight hoping for the additional sustenance to maintain her spirit body.
The spirit was obviously frightened by the powerful spirit, "I want to make a contract with you," Immediately signing a contract with Fangsu hoping for a chance to live.
Fangsu smiled having another spirit under her even if was by force she had no choice, "You will continue to strengthen yourself with Dai-Tai and Ming Yue," Dusting off the dirt from her clothes as she stabilised herself from the rocky terrain, "Eventually, we will need to go to the spiritual realm to retrieve the Life Within Death Fruit," Walking off the direction back to the inn. Fangsu was exhausted at this point.
Feverishly shaking his head, "The Life Within Death Fruit!" The spirit was stunned by his new contractor's words, "That's basically asking for death in the spirit realm," The Life Within Death Fruit was guarded by extremely powerful sentient beings who would kill any threat at sight. Protecting the only plant that would bear fruit which could produce an enormous quantity of spiritual energy as a byproduct. Many spirits would surround the area where the plant grows to absorb high-quality spiritual energy with a mutual stance against each other. Only lasting for a mere three days the fruit ripen quickly followed by the plant returning to a dormant state until the next year.
Fangsu stopped in her tracks as she sighed at the spirit, "I'm only getting the fruit and nothing else," She understood the dangers of trying to come near the plant, "Also, I can't easily go into the spiritual realm so you three will cooperate with each other to retrieve it," Walking off to the direction of the inn whilst stretching out her muscles. Only to find that the loudness of the fight between the spirit and her had attracted many beast and spirits alike to the inn that became a frenzy filled with humans, beast and spirit alike. Fangsu, Dai-Tai, Ming Yue and the dejected spirit joined the fray to strengthen themselves with the bountiful spiritual energy from the spirits.
Fangsu summons the Beast Warding Bells that was gifted to her from Wu Song. Shaking the instrument, the beast that once ravaged the inn whimpered as they ran away with their tails in between their legs. All the mercenaries that were fighting finally have a chance to rest from the wave of beasts that just terrorised them. Xiulan rush to Fangsu grabbing the hand that was holding the Beast Warding Bells, "This is Wu Song's," Xiulan glared at Fangsu before pointing her sword at Fangsu who immediately sighed tiredly, "How did you come in possession of Wu Song's Beast Warding Bells Thief!" Spitting an accusation pointed at Fangsu which caused the residents of the inn to turn their attention towards the commotion.
Fangsu hated attention as the people began labelling her as a thief, "Lady Chuang before you begin to accuse people you better have evidence that I stole these Beast Warding Bells," Her spirits remained invisible to the masses as she ordered them to remain motionless, "Since I did not because they were given to me," Fangsu seated herself on a nearby chair.
Xiulan furrowed her eyebrows before continuing to glare at Fangsu, "Beast Warding Bells are an essential instrument for any beast tamer," Her sword was still pointed at Fangsu who just sighed as she desperately wanted to sleep, "People don't just gift Beast Warding Bells like it's nothing," Tears began welling up in her eyes which shocked Fangsu, however, she was the only person who could see the tears.
Fangsu was also shocked, "Ah ya! Why you cry?" Whispering silently as she approached the girl and grabbing her hands. Dragging Xiulan to her room to seat her down before taking a handkerchief to wipe her tear, "There is no need to cry," But the young girl began bawling her eyes on Fangsu who comforted the girl by rubbing her back.
Xiulan began hiccuping as her tears poured from her eyes, "Wu Song hasn't given any gifts to me yet he gave you one," Xiulan began pouring out her anxieties to Fangsu who pitied the poor Xiulan, "Yet, he is to be my intended." This news shocked Fangsu who had only recently become friends with Wu Song who was quite the scaredy-cat when confronted with a situation that had to deal with brute force or political strife.
Fangsu was quite disappointed in Wu Song who was neglecting his future wife, "That boy hasn't gifted you anything?" Grabbing her hands with her own tiny hands, "I need to have a word with that boy when I see him," Fangsu was about to storm out of her room when Sun Chong came opening the door. Then Sun Chong and Fangsu began talking about Wu Song's behaviour toward the poor sweet Xiulan and both of them decided to punish Wu Song.
Xiulan laughed and at the both of them, "You really talk like a grandma," Laughter erupted from all of them relaxing and uplifting the tension surrounding them.
Fangsu exaggeratedly gasped out in shock, "How dare you to mock me just because of my grey hair like a grandma!" Falling to the ground like a damsel in distress, "Sadly, I have such supple skin that I have no wrinkles," Her eccentric antics had begun coming out ever since she left the Capital.
"But, I have to ask, are you really the Chen granddaughter?" Sun Chong was also intrigued but he had never seen the famous Chen granddaughter that was rumoured to be quite the beauty, owner of the Famous Blossoming Fragrance, the benefactor of the Empress's Black Mirage leopard and ruthlessly cutting relations with the Tang family.
Fangsu smiled as she pushed herself off the ground, "Who else am I supposed to be?" Seating herself back on the comfortable bed, "Your grandma?" A yawn escaped her mouth as she decided that it was time for bed. She escorted the two out of her room so that she could rest for the night.