Protector of the Princess

Somewhere deep in the forest.

Ai finally woke up and as he opens his eyes, he's clearly looking up to the sky. He looked around as swiftly as possible and found the girl who knocked him out and being dragged with a rope tied to his legs together bound. Thinking, the girl looks familiar to him with that mid-length hair. Unfortunately, he couldn't really have the chance to catch a glance at her when she appeared in front of him and even now that she can only see the back of the girl. Somehow, she kinda reminds him of someone. Someone dear to him.

'I shouldn't do anything stupid or she'll notice that I'm awake now... My hands are securely tied and there's no way I could slip away with my feet tied up like that...' Thinking of a way to escape, of course, as a level 5 Master, she already knows that the idiot is already awake and now suppressing her laughter.

'Damn it... no way to escape. Wait, If I can also knock her down like the way she did to me, then there's a chance I could escape! You dare hurt the successor of the Black Petal Clan!' He looked around looking for something to throw at her head. A good hit could not only knock her out but could also lead to her death, that's what the young idiot was thinking not knowing what the girl is capable of.

'Lucky! The size of this thing could work!' He swiftly grabbed the stone as fast as he could but before he could even lift it up...

'Oh shit... I'm screwed!' The young lady stomped on the rock and let out a scary smile. He smiled bitterly and closed his eyes.

"Go back to sleep," she said.

*BAAAAM* Once again, he was knocked out with a punch to the face. And so, the dragging continues.

While still dragging the idiot, the girl felt few presences nearby.

'To be able to follow me here, they could be really good trackers. I need to be careful. I need to catch them off-guard.' And so, the girl disappeared once again leaving the idiot behind.

"Duno, what happened? Our target has disappeared." Whispering to his leader, they somehow feel worried. To be able to detect them from a safe distance, it really hurt their pride as the best patrols and trackers of the Black Fist Clan.

"She could have just went to piss or something. Be care-" Before Duno could finish what he was saying, a blade is now pointed to his neck.

'Shit... I didn't even detect her presence. She must have targeted me knowing I'm their leader but my team isn't as weak as you think-'

"Your friends are all knocked out. Better tell me the reason why you guys are following me or the idiot drooling right there. Your life depends on your answer." Duno didn't even realize that his team has been already wiped out. This girl is on a different level.

'How is this even possible. * Sighs* There's no point on lying. My whole team's life is at stake here...' As a leader, he needed to do the right thing to save his members as many as possible.

"We were ordered to escort that idiot back to the city. We didn't expect we could be meeting someone like you out here. As you can see, that idiot is weak and naive, we are here for good reason. Please let us live." The young girl didn't expect much from the idiot to have this patrols to even escort him back to the city. Based on his shabby clothes and crappy sword, he doesn't strike her as royalty so what's the point of them coming here, a dangerous place at that.

The girl pulled her knife back and let Duno turn around and talk to her face to face, even revealing her identity.

"Oh, if it isn't Teacher Duno. It's been a while. You've aged pretty bad."To her surprise, a familiar face appeared after 10 years. It seems they know each other after all.

"Wait... how did you..." Duno looked at her carefully and he couldn't suppress his emotion, it was someone he doesn't expect to see even for the rest of his life.

"You... you're alive..." Tears suddenly flowed to Duno's eye as if he was thankful for seeing the young girl.

-10 Years Ago, Black Petal City South Gate-

"Princess, you need to leave or they'll find you..." Whispering to the princess Nin, daughter of Bahura, the Head Leader of Black Petal Clan, Duno tried his best not to get any attention while holding the little girl's mouth from crying.

"Please... please stop crying... I'm afraid we don't have a choice. I can't find your brother... but this is the last thing I could do right now. Please... stay alive." Duno decided to tie the princess and covered her mouth with a cloth. A slight noise could alert the guards looking for the princess.

He sneaked out carrying the struggling young girl till he reached the south gate. There, he found his trusty horse and as a patrol, he got one of the fastest one.

"I won't be able to go with you, princess but I swear to the Gods, I will look for your brother... Longface, don't you dare leave the princess behind. Go... Someone is waiting for you, he'll keep you safe." He put the princess on the back of the horse while tied up and made sure she'll not fall.

*Neigh!* He slapped the brave horse's rear and it ran as fast as it could directly to the way to the forest known as a monster den. It could be a dangerous place for a little girl like her but it's also a place no one will ever suspect.

"What are you doing here, Duno? I know that you love your students but don't forget that you're still part of Black Fist Clan." If anyone could find out that he's the one who let the little girl escape, it will cost his life and yet, he didn't regret anything.

-Monster Den, Forest-

Duno wanted to know more what happened but they have to move soon so Nin woke the others up with a slap.

"Can you really trust these people? I mean, they are all part of Black Fist, aren't they?" Nin, still worried that this might cause more problems.

"Don't worry, they are all loyal to me. I can see that years changed you so much as to become stronger than your teacher, I didn't really expect it. Unlike your brother here of course." Still couldn't believe that he would meet the princess he treated as his own daughter. His heart is filled with peace knowing that after 10 years, the children of the Black Petal Clan's Head Leader have finally met once again.

"What happened to my brother anyway, I was so sure he was a genius before... but now, he even planned to hit a young innocent girl with a rock just to get away." Everyone looked at each other with a displeased expression after saying "innocent girl".

'Ehh... I think everyone would do the same, my dear princess...'

"I can sense a difference in opinion, am I wrong?" Once again, they looked at each other and let out a forced bitter smile.

"Of course not, princess. Who would do that to you? Right? Right?" Everyone agreed as if their life was on the line... she could really do that if she wanted to after all.

"Here, take this pill. I can tell that you guys are getting weaker due to Qi poisoning. Staying here a little more would cause your body to break down." They took it and to their surprise, they feel better now more than ever.

"Thank you so much, princess." Duno gave each and everyone a pill to take for later.

After walking for a while, they found a simple house beside a lake. It's weird to find a peaceful looking place in the middle of the forest known as the monster den.

"This place sure is safer than I thought, did you kill all of the monsters?" Duno might be right considering how strong she is. Not to mention, she's also knowledgable enough to concoct a pill like this quality.

"Yes, I did but it's not that reason why monsters stopped from going to this place, it's because my current teacher is here." Princess Nin led them in front of the house while still dragging the sleeping idiot.

"Oh, who do we have here. It looks like my dear student brought visitors. Isn't this your first time bringing people here?" An old man brushing his long beard with his hand wearing a long white robe came out of the house. Though, the old man's voice alone sent chills to everyone.

Suddenly, Duno moved forward and kneeled to the ground lowing his head bowing to the mysterious old man and with his fists together.

"Thank you for all you've done for the princess! I, Duno, can't express how much grateful am I to you!" Duno gave every respect he could muster to the old man.

"Jeez, Teacher Duno, you're embarrassing me in front of the old man. Come on now..." Nin tried to help him up but-

"Wait, tell your friends to kneel as well." Without any doubts, the others followed their leader's action.

"Duno, as the leader and the protector of the princess, I gave you the Protector's Blessing. And for those who will follow you will receive the Protector's Followers' Blessing." Suddenly, they've felt different from their body and somehow...

"Wait... Energy is flowing through my body!"

"So do I! This is incredible!"

"Anyway, you guys can get up now. This blessing only works when you're trying to protect someone. It will disappear once malice and evil take over your body. Remember, I gave this blessing because of Nin. Now get up. Everyone should rest soon." The old man is really mysterious for having this kind of power. At least a King can give blessings like this.

Everyone is thankful for the gift from the young princess' master, a blessing like this could not only boost their physical abilities but it also speeds up their cultivating progress.

"Huh? Where the hell am I?" On the other hand, the clueless idiot finally awakes.