The Attack of the Nian Beast (VI)

It's that fight,

Where all of us are in flight,

When the moonlight had been a strike,

That's where I knew I had to dike.

***

THE YEAR 1904, a century away from the present time.

Qing Long and Nina turned into humans once again and continue the fight. Nina's skin was glowing so much that Qing Long didn't know how he could not shield his eyes with his hands. Qing Long picked up the Jian sword and swiped it, but it had no effect.

"Open your eyes, Althea! I need you!" Qing Long bellowed that made Althea opened up her eyes and a sapphire flame burst out from her pupils. Althea stopped it in an instant and she huffed some air as the lawn froze in place. The Nian Beast growled and a blazing fire burst out from its mouth, but Qing Long couldn't do it without help.

Althea once again opened her eyes and a sapphire flame came out, straight to the heart of the Nian beast who turned into a woman. Althea stopped midway as it felt like it was the option that made her body weak after a second. She fell down as she felt her knees went jelly and delicate after a second of using the flame in her eyes. She huffed some air as Qing Long rotated his Jian sword, executing a large blue flame from the sword itself, and through Nina's arms.

Nina's hair cascaded over her shoulders as it lit up and her pupils shone like the brightest sun. The blue flame stumbled on the lawn and it made the air chilly.

A blinding and dandelion light came from her eyes as it struck Althea's forearm but it just tumbled to the lawn. Nina was surprised to see it as she circled on the air and turned into a Nian beast. Qing Long didn't even bother to transform into a dragon again as Althea looked up at her and a sapphire flame made the beast frozen in midair.

The whole empire was alarmed by the silhouette of the so-called Nian Beast, the one who attacked the village every single year, and they all panicked. They lit up another set of torches all around the area and made a noise.

Qing Long sighed as he stared at the beast, whose furs had been icy cold, with the picks protruding from its skin, while Althea slumped on the ground immediately. Althea didn't know what she did as she looked at the lawn, and felt that it was wintry cold. The grasses had formed into icy drops, freezing everything, and she closed her eyes as she fell down on the ground.

Qing Long shouted, "Althea!"

He slapped her face lightly, trying to wake her up, but he immediately removed it from her skin as it was so bitingly cold. Qing Long placed her head on the soft mud on the side while he put the tip of the sword on the Nian beast again, closer to its frigid furs. He sighed as he swallowed and the rain came again as the Nian beast cope up with the glacial covers of its body and jumped quickly back onto the waters.

The waters were interrupted immediately as a loud grunt of the Nian beast could be heard all over the Kingdom, signaling that the noise and fire from the center of the square made the beast go back to the river, from where it belonged. Qing Long fell down on the lawn, kneeling with two legs, and he unclasped the Jian sword from his hand.

Althea was still unconscious at his side. The blue flame from Qing Long's sword disappeared as he breathed and closed his eyes after a second. The noise from the center was evident as he could hear it with both of his ears. He swallowed and opened up his eyes, only to find out the rain had resumed once again.

Althea grunted in her consciousness as Qing Long looked at him. There were drips of blood coming out from her satin robes on her left forearm. Qing Long immediately went beside her and hoisted her head. Qing Long whispered, "Althea..."

Lei Jie saw and witnessed the two silhouettes in the air. He thought that it must be the Cursed Dragon and the Nian beast. He turned his head to one side as he ran the steps while feeling the drops of rain on his head. He sprinted up the steps, disappearing from sight with no notice, as he swallowed and immediately took a shortcut.

At the same time, Qing Long put the Jian sword back on its sheath as he placed it around his waist. He secured the knot once again as he grunted and endured the pain on his leg. He checked Althea's breathing and it was slower than usual. He hoisted Althea's body on his arms even though he was so exhausted and felt like he would die at any second.

He turned and was so happy to finally find his Last Healer until... someone was standing farther feet away from them. Qing Long froze in his place as the rain dripped through them while Althea was in his arms.

Li Lei Jie, the Crown Prince, was holding a sword in his right hand, pointing it at him.

Wang Qing Long swallowed and felt a lump on his throat as he revealed himself. He was not wearing any cloth or barricades to hide and he was now being scrutinized by Lei Jie.

Lei Jie looked at Althea, and he parted his lips slightly out of surprise.

He was still holding the sword straight in his hands as he asked, "Why is my destined Queen in your arms? She is unconscious, isn't she?"

Wang Qing Long heard the torrent of the Yangtze River, followed by the silence after Lei Jie said the words, and he didn't know what to answer. Wang Qing Long stood there, stunned, raising his left hand to cover Althea's head.

"I remember what I wanted to say to you earlier... you looked like someone I've read from the books...," Lei Jie tilted his head to one side and smirked.