When Silang and Xiaogua left Kun Shang walking around with three girls and a monkey, it was not the scene Kun Shang had in mind. Xiu'er was acquainted with Yu Yue and wanted nothing to do with Chun Yi, making her feel like a black sheep. Both girls were walking ahead of them.
Many passersby had already started to stare at her strange black outfit and her covered up face. She stood beside Kun Shang while Xiu'er and Yu Yue were distracted by a mask stall in front of them.
"Although you'd promised to help me find the Four Evil Gates Heroes, I have words to meet up with my fellow sisters in the next town," Chun Yi suddenly stated. "I'll finish the rest of it by myself. I do apologize for causing you any harm."
He took hold of her hand and pulled her to face him. "I've already regarded everything as a mistake. There's no reason for you to apologize." He looked her in the eye but didn't release her hand yet. "A promise is a promise, stay until I fulfil what I'd promised you."
Xiu'er chatted cheerfully with Yu Yue, but from the corner of her eyes she was fully in tune to what Kun Shang and Chun Yi were talking about. The busy market carried on behind her as she stood facing the mask booth, holding a mask to show Yu Yue.
She finally couldn't hold herself together when Kun Shang said something she couldn't hear, then reached his hand to the back of Chun Yi's face, about to loosen the veil. She doesn't know if it was jealousy, hatred, or Kun Shang being indifferent to the two of them that made her so furious.
"A'Li, go bite his leg--!"
Right at that moment before she could finish her sentence, a sword flew in between the couple that broke them up. Kun Shang instinctively retrieved his arm, and Chun Yi turned towards the street to see the Four Evil Gates Heroes with half a dozen men. Xiu'er and Yu Yue also turned around.
"We have never been so humiliated in our lives before!" The Elder Brother said, pointing his machete at Chun Yi. "Today, I'm going to settle this debt."
There were little words exchanged before he called the attack. This time, all four of the Brothers came at Chun Yi and Kun Shang while the henchmen were held off by Yu Yue. They didn't seem to notice Xiu'er. Occasionally, Xiu'er would pick up something hard from a stall and throw it at them. Finally, one recognize Xiu'er.
He advanced towards her but Yu Yue stepped in front. She thrust her arm out and a white muslin came out of her sleeve, hitting him in the chest. Xiu'er watched as Yu Yue fought with them. Her attacks may look harmless because she's using fabric, but were in fact very powerful. When she finally summoned air, it looked like she was dancing in the wind. Her wind was sharp, dangerous, and accurate as it hit them, who were well below her level.
Xiu'er shoved A'Li underneath the mask stand. He was far from capable of defending himself. Xiu'er stayed behind Yu Yue, trying to avoid the chaos of their fight while trying to help at the same time. Most of the market had cleared where they were fighting but some really went to observe from afar.
One of the henchmen jabbed their sword at Xiu'er, she twisted her shoulders and dodged the sword, then stomped her heel fiercely on their foot. The henchman grunted in pain. Another man came from behind her with his sword, piercing through the air.
Suddenly, in the corner of everyone's eyes, another group of people flew down from the balcony of a nearby store. Someone from the new group landed behind Xiu'er and striked the attacker's wrist with a closed fan, miss-angling the sword into a weaker attack. Then, the new person wrapped their arms around her waist and spun her away from the attacker.
Once they're stable, Xiu'er tried to look at the person's face, but they had their fan opened now and it blocked her view. She could see the folding fan was made from simple paper and wood with writings.
She watched as the person moved their fan away from their face and out towards the fighting scene, then powerfully fanned it down, blasting an incredibly large force that swept the Four Evil Gates Heroes and all their henchmen off their feet.
With the fan gone, she could see the person's face and realized it was a man. The fighting had ceased with a simple wave of this man's fan!?
He was tall with broad shoulders, wearing an expensive but plain grey robe with silver embroidery on the collar, almost like he liked to keep his outfit classy and simple. Some of his hair was pulled into a bun at the back of his head with a silver crest while the rest was flowing down like silk. He was extremely handsome, his eyes were soft and warm with long lashes. His nose bridge tall, his lips slightly smaller but full of grace.
It was his lips that curled slightly into a smile that strangely made her feel safe in his arms, as if she could trust him.
When the Four Evil Gate Heroes finished recollecting themselves and saw the man holding Xiu'er, their eyes grew large and they were suddenly stuttering. They immediately put their heads down in a low bow.
"M-M… no. Martial Arts Hero," one of the Four Evil Gate Heroes muttered under his breath. His eyes were nervous and he was starting to feel hot.
As soon as his henchmen heard this name, their knees were shivering in pure fright. They abruptly dropped their weapons and tried to run away but were stopped by some men dressed in black uniforms. Probably men from the guy with the fan.
"Stirring up trouble in my town, hoping that I won't catch you. Aren't you a little bold?" His voice was deep and rich. It could hypnotize any woman who was currently caught in his enlightening aura. As he spoke, he never left Xiu'er's eyes.
The Elder Brother stepped out and quickly apologized. He bowed his head low, afraid to meet eyes with the Martial Arts Hero. He turned around and waved a hand at his people, attempting to leave.
"Hold it."
Their entire crew froze in their steps, halfway turning. The Martial Arts Hero loosened the grip on Xiu'er's waist as he turned his entire body towards them. With his whole image shown, he was even more majestic than before. Kun Shang couldn't help but feel he finally met someone of his rival.
"Return the vial to Hidden Butterfly Valley, and apologize."
As if cats had gotten their tongue, the Four Evil Gates Heroes scattered to return the vial to Chun Yi.
"Ch--Chun. Oh no, Miss Chun. We're sorry for causing you trouble. Here's your item back."
Xiu'er watched as they frantically scurried out of here like rats.
When everything was settled, the Hero greeted Yu Yue, saying he was not expecting her here at all.
They knew each other? Xiu'er thought.
"Xiu'er. Kun Shang," Yu Yue introduced them. "This is Murong Yuqi, Successor Disciple of Northern Black Crescent Sect, son of their Sect Leader... and first place winner of the Pugilistic of Martial Arts Conference, also known as the Martial Arts Hero."
Xiu'er couldn't help but feel his eyes making their way back to her again, and didn't know why she was rendered speechless this whole time.
How could I have been so caught up with Kun Shang and Chun Yi that I failed to feel the presence of such a skilled martial artist?
The Martial Arts Hero hardly spoke and quickly made his departure. Before leaving, he took Xiu'er by the hand and dropped something in it.
"If you ever need help, present this at the entrance of the Northern Black Crescent Sect."
Xiu'er watched as she stood frozen, looking at his back while he walked away. She had no idea what just happened because no one had ever left her speechless before. He left her feeling angry that he snuck up to save her when she didn't need saving, that he could just look her in the eyes and understand everything she was feeling, and left her with the anticipation that they will meet again.
This was the first time Xiu'er felt she was not in control of the situation.
"Murong Yuqi?" she mouthed.