Chapter 51: First Kiss

The Marked saw no response from the icy dome behind them. The lack of reassurance allowed fear to swell in their minds. Inevitably one cried out.

"Fuck it we just need to run!"

Chen Lan could hear the commotion outside but frankly didn't care. Everyone outside came from low-class backgrounds. None of them were near her in power.

That meant they had nothing to offer. Inevitably some of them would even end up competing with her. Rather than directly killing them she had taken a chance to softly reduce their numbers while dodging the accusation she had murdered them.

Another reason was the Black Oni. Chen Lan was immensely wary of it, and the possibility of other threats along with it. Feng Biao reported one but what if there were 4? If that was the case and a tough battle broke out Chen Lan needed to conserve her strength for it.

Therefore having those outside to whittle down the Black Oni's Impure Divinity reserves served to weaken it. It was truly killing two birds with one stone.

"Chen Lan please you need to use your special technique already, we're leaving!"

'Special technique?'

'I guess I implied I had something like that.'

Chen Lan thought it would be rude and chose to stifle back laughter.

'How moronic.'

Placing their lives in her hands. Expecting her not to look out for her best interests. How couldn't she find them laughable?

Listening not too intently Chen Lan heard the death throes of those outside. Their plan to escape had failed.

"Let's see what the situation is."

Canceling her Divine Active the ice wall fell down and Chen Lan was greeted with the sight of a creature much taller than any human she had ever encountered. Its skin was a sickly yellow but one could still tell the original color was black.

Beyond that it lacked an entire arm.

"Did they manage to actually do some damage?"

Since the Black Oni seemed to be in terrible shape Chen Lan judged her use of the Marked as the right one. This would be an easier fight, better to get it started as soon as possible then.

"[Jötunn Frenzy] (Grade C)"

Feng Biao could only stare at the ongoing events. Moving was still beyond him. And would be until his wounds were actually healed.

He was surprised to see Chen Lan show the confidence to deal with the Black Oni. Judging by its state Feng Biao guessed the effects of the negative effects of the sake were permanent and its lack of an arm was a result of "entertaining" Shuten-Douji.

The change in Chen Lan upon her prayer was apparent. She hadn't bulked up an inch but she seemed a lot stronger. In an instant she was out of his sight, crashing into the Black Oni with a loud kick.

Feng Biao would have loved to have continued watching the battle, but saw a Blue Oni picking its ear walking his way. Forcing him to try and act as dead as possible. The Blue Oni sat on what it assumed to be a corpse and watched a mighty battle unfold.

Chen Lan did not find battling the Black Oni to be much trouble. She really could have ended it with one move, but chose not to leave such an opening.

It disconcerted her. She was certain now, what had started as a hunch was a fact. Something dangerous was lurking nearby.

She could barely even focus on the battle she was currently engaging in. For a Black Oni it seemed to be exceptionally weak. And with a missing arm fighting it was something she was sure Feng Biao could manage, assuming he had both his arms intact.

Why then had a creature whose greatest strength came from its Monstrous Ability chosen to abandon that method of killing. What had forced it to choose to engage in direct combat?

'I'm ending this now.'

Swinging her first with the intention of caving in the Black Oni's skull Chen Lan was surprised to see the creature survive. It wasn't unharmed, now sprawled on the floor. Yet it was alive, which demanded she go for the finishing blow.

"STOP, you win this round my turn next."

"Wow you're pretty capable aren't you? Course I could tell you were a cut above the rest from the moment I got here. It's why I told my friend over there to fight you fair and square."

Chen Lan grit her teeth. The worst case scenario had occurred. The Fragment had made its way up the mountain.

'Looks like I'm going to need to go all out.'

Before she could make a new Prayer Shuten-Douji spoke.

"Anyways, let's play a new game. Wanna drink with me pretty miss? Or we could roll rocks down the mountainside! I mean really whatever you think is cool."

It took a moment for Chen Lan's mind to process what she had just heard.

"A-a-are you serious?"

"Of course I'm serious you're a beautiful girl and I'm a handsome bachelor why shouldn't we spend time together?"

"Umm well I uhh actually have-"

"A boyfriend? Don't tell me it's that loser over there!" Shuten-Douji said as he pointed at Feng Biao.

"Come on what's he got that I don't? I'm single, I own a mountain, and I would be 100% faithful to you."

The Blue Oni could not understand most of what its Lord had said. But it understood that being pointed at spoke of in that tone was not a good thing, so it groveled continuously. Smashing its forehead against Feng Biao's own making it a particularly violent form of kissing.

Chen Lan decided to try and deescalate the situation. Since Shuten-Douji seemed to be in a talking mood, it was best to make use of that.

"No, my father has forbade me to be courted by any man without his consent."

"Well it's a good thing I'm no man," Shuten-Douji said as he began to close the distance between them.

"I've got a boyfriend!"

"Too bad for him I'd like to be your husband."

"I can't stand men who drink!"

"I'll quit if it's for you!"

"I took a vow of chastity!"

"A relationship is about more than just the intertwining of bodies."

By now Shuten-Douji had already advanced to put his arms around Chen Lan. She could see that he was now also puckering up preparing to deliver a kiss. Forcing her to rack her brain for a way out without just starting a fight she might lose.

Chen Lan groaned internally and decided it best to just play along if she wanted to dodge his advances.

"Wait, sir," Chen Lan said raising a hand and speaking in a distinctly insincere coquettish voice "for my first kiss...."

Twiddling her thumbs and shyly turning away she delivered what she hoped would finally stall him.

"I'd like it to be during something special."