19: Blood and Vengeance.

As dawn broke, Ye Yun and his four underlings moved swiftly and silently through the waking streets of the city. Their steps were purposeful, each one inching closer to their target.

Inside the inn, Rai Kan sat in deep meditation, his senses stretched to the limit. As he felt the presence of the intruders, he spoke loudly enough to alert Hi Ho in the next room.

**Rai Kan**: "Hi Ho, they're here."

Hi Ho, instantly awake, quickly grasped the situation. He swiftly packed their belongings, including Rai Kan's box, and headed to the carriage.

**Hi Ho**: "I need to get everything ready. Rai Kan will handle things here."

Rai Kan remained seated, his breathing steady and controlled. Moments later, the door opened, and Ye Yun stepped in alone, his presence calm yet menacing.

**Ye Yun**: "I see you're still here, Rai Kan. I'm Ye Yun, your grim reaper."

Rai Kan's eyes opened, a calm and calculating look on his face.

**Rai Kan**: "Are you confident in that title, Ye Yun?"

Ye Yun's lips curled into a confident smirk.

**Ye Yun**: "You'll find out soon enough."

Rai Kan stood up slowly, his posture relaxed but ready.

**Rai Kan**: "Let's see if you can back up your words."

Outside, Hi Ho had the carriage ready, with Bi Ji looking alert.

**Hi Ho's Thoughts**: "I need to be quick. Rai Kan can handle himself, but we need to be ready to move."

Back in the room, the tension between Rai Kan and Ye Yun was palpable.

**Ye Yun**: "I've heard about your strength, but I'm not easily impressed."

**Rai Kan**: "Then come and see for yourself."

The room seemed to shrink as the two warriors prepared for their clash, each one sizing up the other, their breaths the only sound in the stillness before the storm.

The dawn sky began to brighten, casting a dim light over the chaotic scene outside the inn. Hi Ho stood firm beside Bi Ji, his eyes narrowed as he faced Ye Yun's four underlings. The clash of steel and the sounds of combat filled the air. Bi Ji, with her powerful stature, charged at the mercenaries, her sheer strength a formidable force.

**Hi Ho**: "Stay close, Bi Ji! We can't let them through."

The underlings attacked in unison, their coordinated strikes aimed to overwhelm Hi Ho. But Hi Ho was prepared. He moved with agility and precision, his martial arts skills allowing him to deflect their blows and counterattack effectively. Each punch and kick he delivered was calculated to incapacitate his opponents quickly.

**Underling 1**: "He's too fast! Surround him!"

**Hi Ho**: "You won't get past me!"

As Hi Ho glanced towards Rai Kan's room for a moment, a thunderous crash erupted from above. The top half of the inn exploded into debris, wooden beams and tiles flying everywhere. Rai Kan and Ye Yun came crashing down, landing on the ground in a whirlwind of dust and splintered wood.

**Hi Ho**: "Rai Kan!"

**Rai Kan**: * "Hi Ho! Meet at the agreed place!"

Hi Ho nodded, understanding the urgency in Rai Kan's voice. He quickly finished off the last of the underlings, his movements swift and deadly. Bi Ji, sensing the tension, stood ready to protect her companions.

**Hi Ho**: "Let's go, Bi Ji. We have to move fast."

As Hi Ho and Bi Ji made their way towards the designated meeting spot, Rai Kan and Ye Yun faced each other amidst the wreckage. Their eyes locked in a deadly stare, both warriors breathing heavily from their intense battle.

Ye Yun wiping blood from his lip, smirks "You're not bad, Rai Kan. But this isn't over."

Rai Kan,stepped forward, his aura menacing."I never thought it was."

The battle between Rai Kan and Ye Yun raged on, their clashing powers shaking the city to its core. Debris and chunks of earth floated around them, caught in the violent energy of their confrontation. Swords met claws in a deadly dance, each strike echoing with a force that sent tremors through the ground.

As the hours passed, their fight carried them into the upper-class area of the city. Mansions and opulent shops lined the streets, now emptied as people fled in terror. The air was thick with dust and the acrid scent of destruction.

*With a growl,Rai Kan, parried Ye Yun's blade with his claws.* "This ends now, Ye Yun."

**Ye Yun,Panted, a wild look in his eyes.* "Not before I take you down, beast!"

For six hours, the ferocious combat continued. Each warrior pushed to their limits, blood and sweat mingling as they exchanged blows. Finally, as the sun began to set, the dust started to settle. In the quiet aftermath, the upper-class district lay in ruins, the ground scarred from their epic struggle.

Han Sho arrived on the scene, his face pale with anticipation and dread. His attendants and guards followed closely, their expressions tense. As they neared the site of the battle, their eyes widened in horror.

Han Sho desperately, asked his attendants."Where is Ye Yun? He must have won!"

But the sight that greeted them was far from the victory Han Sho had hoped for. Ye Yun's disemboweled body lay crumpled on the ground, a testament to the brutality of the fight. Standing amidst the wreckage was Rai Kan, his form imposing and almost unscathed, save for minor injuries.

With Voice shaking with fear and dread Han Sho spoke. "No... this can't be."

Rai Kan's eyes locked onto Han Sho. With deliberate steps, he approached the terrified man. In a swift and merciless display, Rai Kan broke all of Han Sho's limbs, the sickening crunch of bones echoing in the silent aftermath. Han Sho screamed in agony, left a crippled shadow of his former self.

Rai Kanturned away coldly, as he said ,"This is the price of your arrogance."

Leaving Han Sho writhing in pain, Rai Kan walked away from the devastated area, his steps steady despite the chaos around him. He moved with purpose, heading towards the rendezvous point where he would meet Hi Ho.

As he left the upper-class district behind, the city guards cautiously approached the scene, their faces filled with disbelief at the destruction. The legend of Rai Kan and his indomitable will was solidified in that moment, a tale that would spread far and wide.

Reaching the designated spot, Rai Kan found Hi Ho and Bi Ji waiting for him, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.

Hi Ho spoke with worry etched on his face,"Rai Kan, are you alright?"

Rai Kan,nodded replying "Just a few scratches. Let's get out of here."

Together, they set off once more, leaving the city of the Claw of Crow behind, their journey far from over. The bond between Rai Kan and Hi Ho had been forged in the fires of battle, and their path ahead, though uncertain, was one they would face together.

In the grand mansion, the air was thick with tension and the scent of medicinal herbs. Han Sho lay writhing in pain on a large bed, surrounded by several physicians who worked frantically to tend to his shattered limbs. His screams occasionally pierced the otherwise hushed atmosphere, a stark reminder of the brutal punishment he had endured.

Standing near the doorway, his father, Gu Sho, watched with a storm of emotions roiling within him. His normally composed face was contorted with barely contained fury as he listened to the report from his attendant.

**Gu sho's attendant, spoke softly and clearly.* "Master Gu Sho, the mercenaries failed. Rai Kan defeated Ye Yun and crippled Young Master Han Sho. The witnesses confirmed the brutality of the battle... and that Rai Kan left your son in this state."

Gu Sho's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles whitening. His eyes, dark with rage, never left the sight of his son's broken body.

Gu Sho's voice was low and filled with menace,as he spoke."So, this is what happens when a beast is provoked. They have gone too far."

The attendant bowed his head, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

**Attendant**: "Indeed, Master. Your orders?"

Gu Sho turned to face the attendant fully, his decision made with a cold, calculated fury.

**Gu Sho**: *Firmly.* "I want them found. Rai Kan, Hi Ho, and that cursed bull. They have made a grave mistake in crossing me and harming my son."

**Attendant**: "Understood, Master. What should we do when we find them?"

Gu Sho's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

**Gu Sho**: "Bring them to me, alive if possible. They will pay for what they've done, and I will make sure their suffering is a lesson to anyone who dares defy the sho family."

As the attendant nodded and hurried away to set the plans in motion, Gu Sho turned his attention back to Han Sho. His son's cries had quieted, reduced to weak moans as the physicians continued their work.

**Han Sho,weakly, looked at his father with tear-filled eyes.* "Father... avenge me."

Gu Sho placed a hand on his son's shoulder, a rare show of tenderness amid his burning rage.

**Gu Sho,spoke softly, but with steely resolve.* "Rest, my son. I swear by the ancestors, those who did this to you will suffer a fate worse than death."

As the vow hung in the air, the mansion seemed to grow colder, the promise of vengeance casting a long, dark shadow over the household. Gu Sho's mind was set, and he would stop at nothing to see his enemies brought to their knees.