Flower 1: Forest Path of Lovers and Cobras, Pt. 3

Fook Yu's wrath, upon realizing Su Wang's defilement at the hands of the cobra assailants, causes his strength to increase twofold!

He can even feel it as it is happening: the incredible upsurge of raw yang energy, rippling through his bones and sinews like an intense river current, as every part of his body it touched becomes strengthened to a durability like iron, as an uncalmable bestial ferocity takes over his senses.

Wielding such incredible power--

Surely no ordinary man could hold him!

Fook Yu, snarling with vicious wide eyes like a demon, leans his arm backward over his shoulder, to find the face of the man who has been attempting to strangle him--

Crushing the head in his firm grasp, like a mallet brought to a watermelon.

After which, he then coldly discards the lifeless husk at his feet, like one would a piece of trash, and slowly steps over it--to stand before the other cobra bandits that are surrounding him.

In the ensuing silence, the beast that has overtaken Fook Yu realizes--

Su Wang's anguished cries have faded.

More furious than ever, he screams at the cowering bandits--in a voice that is like Han Some's, but also underlined by another: 

One that is harsh, and possessed of spine-chillingly evil substance:

"Where is SU WANG?!"

A few cobras make frightened whimpers in non-response.

However, one brazenly stands forward.

"Cowards! Don't just gawk!"

He cries out, snatching a crossbow from the hands of his scared friend beside him.

"He's powerful, but we have weapons!" 

"If we all attack at once, we're guaranteed to overwhelm him!"

Fook Yu leaps into a nearby tree--

Then, from that tree to the next, and the next one, in swift succession...

"Quick! Use your bows!" The single fearless cobra commands, prompting a hail of crossbow bolts to be fired. "Get that foolish monkey out of the trees!"

However, THIS monkey is far too nimble--

He hangs down from branches, to grab an unsuspecting cobra--

Twist or smash his head--

Then, promptly disappear into the foliage of another tree, sooner than he can be shot!

He darts, fast as a blur, out of bushes--

Launching entire skulls off Cobra necks, with a single well-placed jump kick!

He finds the thief of his saber--

Hunkered in a ditch, pissing his pants with fright--

Breaks his arms, legs, and then his neck--

Takes back his saber then crushes the corpse into a ball and throws it!

All the while, as the Cobra numbers gradually thin to Fook Yu's relentless veteran ogre guerilla tactics, the morale among those remaining is lessened--with more and more simply dropping their weapons and fleeing outright!

This madness resumes until finally, it is just the sole brave Cobra that remains!

"I...don't understand" He cries out, standing alone with his back pressed to a tree as he clutched his crossbow tightly to his chest--thinking it would prevent him from being snuck up on.

"It's just ONE man! I don't care if he's a cultiva--"

SHIIIIIIIIIING.

A glimmer of light, forming a straight line, suddenly passes through his neck--

Then followed by a dull groaning, of strained wood--

The tree to his back is shown to have been carved in two, diagonally, simultaneous to his neck being cleaved cleanly from his neck, both within the same lightning fast strike of immense power.

As the decapitated tree and Cobra fall apart, Fook Yu is revealed on the other side, resheathing his saber.

'Su Wang!' Is all he can think of now.

'Since the damned Cobras have all been sent to Hell or run like cowards, I have to find her!' 

So, Fook Yu searches desperately for her through gaps in the cavernous thicket, jumping into trees and on top of high rocks to gain better vantage points; until, after nearly an hour of searching, he glimpsed--

"The spirit leopard!" He exclaimed.

For indeed, he'd found the honorable beast standing in a small glade, with the limp form of one of the cobras grasped between its fangs, by the neck, like a hunted hare.

Next to him, on top of a fallen log--

A fully naked Su Wang is laid! Crossing her legs and arms, in a bid to conceal her modesty, as she stares at the unmoving leopard in horror!

The vile look in Fook Yu's eyes fades--

Replaced, at once, by sheer joy--as he hurries toward Su Wang to comfort her, and to remedy her nakedness by wrapping her in his own robe from off his back, as there is a tearful, glazed look in her eyes.

"That...disgusting Cobra bastard…"

"He was...on top of me...trying to have his way…"

"Until--"she points steadily to the leopard.

"That sagely beast showed up!"

Fook Yu embraces her tight. 

"Thank the Gods!"

"Su Wang--this is the same leopard I mentioned I'd met earlier!"

"But...Su Wang…"

Before Fook Yu realizes it, he is crying.

"I'm...so sorry to have failed so terribly, as your bodyguard!"

"Even with my powers as a cultivator--"

"You nearly could have died!"

Seeing Fook Yu in such a lowered state, Su Wang's attempt at calm is broken, too--with her holding him and joining in crying as well: in great, heaving sobs.

Then, as Fook Yu regathers himself…

He looks up, smiling with relief that Su Wang was alive, as his gaze fell upon the clouded spirit leopard--the beast's head and neck looming over them like a statue, with his jaws that contain Su Wang's assailant proudly pointed at the moon.

"Wise spirit leopard...I thank you!"

"Now, let me hear your noble voice again, friend--so that I can know you properly heard me!"

However...he is met with only silence.

As, despite Fook Yu's earnest and polite insistence…

The leopard remains totally still, and silent.

"Friend," Fook Yu presses--

As he reaches a hand toward him slowly--

Only to realize, upon taking a closer examination, that--

A knife is lodged into the leopard's throat!

That: the proud, virtuous, spirit clouded leopard…

Had actually been DEAD the entire time!

Fook Yu, with a surprised gasp, retreats slowly; his face frozen in disbelief, as Su Wang is there to console him with a gentle stroking of the back of his head.

She tenderly explains:

"After catching the cobra in his jaws…"

"With his final breath, the cobra stabbed the sagely leopard in his neck."

"Fook Yu, he...gave his life to save me."

At this explanation, Fook Yu nods; although, secretly, he thinks he could make one small addendum to Su Wang's words--specifically with regards to the motivation of the leopard's sacrifice, whether or not it was intentional:

That being...he is certain the leopard had sacrificed his life, not only to save her--

But also to spare Fook Yu's soul.

…

…

I carry Su Wang the rest of the way, until we make it out of the forest.

Bah! How annoying…

The damn brat fell asleep in my arms!

Fortunately, I won't be in need of her directions: as from here, I can already see the outer walls of the town--at the end of a long stretch of dirt road before me.

As the early dawn is rising...it's a bittersweet moment.

On the one hand, we made it: I've brought Su Wang to where she wanted to be; hopefully, where she'll lead a long, happy life, without ever having to touch a plow or a sickle again.

Though, on the other hand…

I know I can't stay, and be a part of that life...even if part of me wants to. Not if I want to become stronger, which I'll need to be--if I want to stand any chance against that high spirit rank little bitch, Meirei Mei!

It goes beyond mere revenge, though…

I'll only be able to make the most of this new life, I've been granted, by reaching my fullest potential as a cultivator.

And really, if immortality is in my grasp…

Wouldn't it be foolish for me to not reach out and take it?

Huh...as I'm thinking more about it, now...

What if I focus first on becoming immortal, THEN worry about finding a sweet little wife to settle down with! Most likely, a fellow immortal cultivator--that way, we can fuck like damned squirrels for the rest of eternity, and I'll never have to break anymore hearts again!

I have my own goals; she has hers…

So, of course we have to part ways, right?

I look at her again: cradled in my arms, dressed in my robes; so young and beautiful, fully entrusting me with her wellbeing…

And, I think to myself--

How the hell am I supposed to do this?

How do I break the heart of someone so precious, who's only been good to me? 

Bah! She's really good in bed, too…

She's fiery hot, but tender and sweet like a dream wife, if the situation calls…

Any man would be lucky to have her.

…

I'll give it one more day.

Even if it's just pretend...I want her to be happy, for just a little bit longer.

Before I have to rip that happiness away.