Death Rattle

Suzhen caught her breath sharply in surprise, and felt the air come back into her lungs, reviving her. She staggered up as Gui Yuan lurched about with a roar, trying to shake Xuxian off.

"The fool," she muttered distractedly to herself, half in genuine fear for him, half in what under less urgent conditions could almost have been amusement, as she saw Xuxian stabbing Gui Yuan wildly, clueless that the terrapin spirit's back was the worst possible place to try and hurt him.

Gui Yuan was taken by surprise. The pain was maddening, even if the small blade did not do him much real damage. At last he remembered the rock in his hand and struck blindly at Xuxian with it. The terrapin spirit was so clumsy and dazed that he hit himself several times in the face without even seeming to realize it, but finally the rock struck Xuxian on the side of his head and the physician tumbled off his back, crumpling to the ground. The small knife fell uselessly to the ground, with hardly any blood on it; it had not managed to penetrate much through the dense muscles of Gui Yuan's back.

Gui Yuan shook him off disgustedly and raised one hand instinctively, the fingers curved like claws, as he saw the physician on the ground. But Suzhen was ready. Her two hands shot out with a blinding burst of light and Gui Yuan was flung backwards from the power of it. He crashed into a tree, unable to stop himself, and slumped heavily to the ground. Suzhen launched herself into the air as he clawed feebly at the ground.

"No one's eating my husband's heart," she hissed, and the wind whistled through her robes as she came down. Her feet struck viciously into his chest and there was the crack of breaking ribs as she landed.

Gui Yuan's body arched and a spurt of blood came out of his mouth. He could not sustain his internal injuries any longer. His head lolled sideways, the eyes wide and bulging, and he opened and closed his mouth a few times as if trying to speak. Suzhen watched him coldly. He glared back at her, hatred swimming in his eyes, even as the last few breaths rattled in his throat. The terrapin spirit's body lurched one more time, then was motionless.

There was a strange silence as Suzhen stood rigidly watching him, her hands still raised in battle. At last she let her hands drop to her sides as she saw his chest had stopped moving. Gui Yuan was dead at last. This time, there would be no mistake. She drew a deep breath and felt herself finally relax.

Raising her head, she saw Xuxian crawl up clumsily, and look around in a daze.

"Susu," he blurted anxiously. "Susu, are you all right?"

A smile suddenly broke through on her face, easing the hard lines, and she ran over to him.

"Xuxian! Are you hurt?"

Xuxian caught her arms as she bent over him. His head was bleeding from a cut near the hairline, and there was grass sticking into his disheveled hair from where Gui Yuan had tossed him to the ground.

"Are you all right? Is he dead?" he gasped.

"He's dead," she said gently, helping him to sit up.

He heaved a deep sigh of relief and put his arm around her. For a moment they sat there without saying anything.

"I was afraid," he admitted at last. "But you beat him easily. He was crafty though. So he was the one who killed all those people..."

Suzhen choked back a small laugh. "You were brave to come and help me, when you clearly weren't his match. I'm glad you're all right, my love."

"I couldn't stand there and do nothing," he said dryly. "Though I don't think I did much damage. His back was as hard as iron." He shook his tingling hand.

Suzhen looked at him from under her brows. "You're terrible at fighting," she said apologetically.

He smiled crookedly. "I know," he answered ruefully. "I think I'll leave the fighting to you in the future, my dear."

Xuxian reached up and caressed her cheek. "As for me, I'll stick to doctoring. Now let's take a look at that wound on your arm."

"You are the only physician I want," she said happily.

He got up slowly, wincing a little, and peered around worriedly. "Where did I toss that medicine kit of mine, now?"

Eventually Xuxian found his bundle and was rummaging busily in it. Pausing halfway, he reached up and gingerly felt his head, looking surprised when he saw blood come off from his fingers. "It seems I was the one who almost got my head smashed in," he remarked wryly.

Suzhen was not listening. She gazed up at the trees and drew in a deep breath. A great lightness filled her body. Now the villagers did not need to worry anymore. They could come to the mountains as they pleased. This time, she had managed to protect Xuxian and the villagers. Happiness made her feel like singing.

There was a dull thudding noise as Xuxian pounded some of the wild herbs he had found between two rocks, then carefully scooped the moist pulp onto some bandages. He sat down beside her and reached for her arm.

Suzhen let him bandage it, smiling to herself as she saw him frowning in concentration. When he had carefully tied the knot she said mischievously, "You know that I can use my spirit energy to heal a small wound like this, right?"

She laughed out loud at his expression. "Ah, don't look so shocked, of course I'd rather be nursed by you. I'm just teasing you, my dear."

Xuxian sighed. "Is there anything you can't do, O my wife?" He wiped his hands on his clothes and then glanced soberly at Gui Yuan's corpse.

"What should we do about that?" he asked lowly.

"He'll turn back into his animal form eventually as his spirit energy finishes dissipating." Suzhen said softly. "The body won't be lying there for long." She looked thoughtful. Perhaps one day Gui Yuan will be reborn into a more peaceful life, she thought to herself.

She squeezed his arm. "Shall we leave this place?"

He nodded. They stood up and took each other's hand.