Ch 14: Invasive Attack, Near Death

When everything seemed quiet and everyone seems to have fallen asleep, I sought to finally join too.

After some time, I hear ruffles and the shuffling sound of bushes. My eyes immediately open and the sound of swords clashing surprise me, causing me to stand up.

"Miss, do you hear that?" I nod, telling Xiu Ying to grab a weapon of some sort. I feel my heart pounding as I lift up a big stick I grabbed earlier.

"Miss Yuan!" It was Li Shi Zhen's voice. "Exit out of the tent!"

Xiu Ying and I quickly exit the exit, seeing that the other tents are burned and there were more than twenty masked invaders surrounding us.

Li Shi Zhen, Xu Kai, and the other embroidered uniform guard was surrounding the tent, ensuring our safety.

Xu Kai commands, "Stay close to me."

I nod and run behind him. All the invaders begin to attack one by one, sometimes three on one. Xiu Ying and I are in the outlook for potential holes in which we can be attacked.

I watch as Co-Commander Xu Kai defeat four invaders at the same time. "Indeed!" I feel like a weakling, of course, but I've never encounter such attack so I'll just stay out.

"Ah!" Someone grabs Xiu Ying by her hair, as I see from my right. I quickly grab my stick and hit him in the head from behind. He faints and lets Xiu Ying go.

"Are you alright, Xiu Ying?" I ask her as I bring her closer to where Co-Commander Xu told us to stay put.

By the time there was only ten invaders left, I pat myself on the chest for relief. Surprisingly, Li Shi Zhen is actually contributing. I didn't know he had that in him.

My gaze is on Co-Commander Xu again. Someone grabs him on the sleeves and something flew out from his pocket— the peach flower hairpin! It's covered by a black cloth to preserve its features. It is on the ground, several feet away from me. No one notices it.. perhaps I can go and retrieve it?

It is invaluable to Sir Xu.. I-

Attempting to snatch it first, I race out of the sheltered area. Another invader some distance away sees the item, thinking it holds significant value. He races to obtain it too.

Are you kidding me?!

"Elder Miss!" I could hear Xiu Ying yell.

"I got it!" I smile in relief, as I rest the hairpin in my pocket. But by the time I try to get up, I could see the invaders raise and slash his sword at me. Feeling my legs are wobbly, I cannot move. I am done for; I cannot possibly run away in time.

I could only face my fate.

Will this end my path back home?

PING!

I open my eyes. Sir Xu is in front of me, blocking the sword with his left arm while his right arm targeted another masked invader.

He quickly slashes both of them and glance over to his arm, which is bleeding. He bites his bottom lip and ties a piece of cloth to hold the blood.

"Are you alright, Elder Miss?" Xiu Ying quickly picks me up, patting my clothings and checking if I am hurt anywhere.

"Miss Yuan, why did you run out of the circle?" He grunts, glaring at me.

I open my hands up, which possess the black cloth. I open it up, revealing the peach flower hairpin. I express a wide and relieved smile across my face, "I retrieved it." I notice my hands are shaking and my teeth is chattering.

Darn my instincts to help others! I was almost killed. That was a near death experience.

"Sir Xu, are you alright? Your arm is bleeding." Blood is soaking the cloth. I question his lie.

His eyes soften. "It's a small cut. I can deal with it."

"Sir," the embroidered uniform guard approaches the Co-Commander. "Two of the left masked invaders have escaped."

Sir Xu raises his unarmed hand to signal and shakes his head, "Let them be. There's no use in chasing."

Li Shi Zhen runs back to us with a sword on his side, huffing. "Is everyone alright?"

Everyone nods.

Xu Kai stares at me with a confused expression, "You.. risked your life for this?"

I nod, letting out a nervous laughter. "Isn't it important to you?"