"Mas-Master Zhu Mei?"
The mysterious woman dropped herself into my room, walking around, her eyes and her long elegant fingers examining my furniture.
"Not 'Master' Zhu Mei, just Zhu Mei! Being called master makes me keep comparing myself to that old moldy tree branch. Pretty boy, do me a favor and let me keep my youth."
And then she turned to me. Something sparked in her pretty phoenix-like eyes.
"Ahhh? What do we have here?"
She walked close to my bed with a curious expression. I couldn't help but feel tensed when her direct glance poured on me. Her short violet Qipao hugged her curves at the right places, and some intricate earrings and necklaces glinted in the light. The moonlight covering her highlighted the curves and the muscles on her calves, making it her own beauty show.
She stood in front of me, and as I was about to get off the bed, she grabbed my face forcefully as if grabbing a little helpless mouse pushed my back on the wall. I panicked and tried to shake her hand off my soring cheeks, but the grab was surprisingly firm.
"Lady Zhu Mei...!"
She put her cherry lips close to mine. Her hot breaths caressed my cold skin, causing goosebumps to cover my whole body and my heart to stop from chaotic thoughts overflowing my cortex. The intense sweet scent of fruits and roses she gave off dwindled my mind, and brought my senses to numbness.
I can feel her lips coming closer and closer to mine. I couldn't take the pressure anymore, so I closed my eyes as tight as possible.
"Handsome boy, do you ever feel so alone? Being alone in this huge mansion must feel so lonely, knowing no one, having no soul to share the nights with..."
Her two hands touched my face lightly, caressed it a bit, then slowly found their way down my neck, then my chest. Her whole body had leaned on mine. I could feel her soft chest and firm muscles pressing on me.
My mind was blank at this point.
"Do you ever want someone to warm your sad heart on winter nights while snow is painting the streets white? Do you ever wish you had somebody to come back to? Want to satisfy the scorching heat in your chest and down there?"
As she was 1 millimeter away from my lips, she felt something cold and sharp pressing on her throat. Looking down at the annoying object blocking her from her prey, she realized her neck was against a small bronze dagger.
"Get off me or I won't hesitate to hurt you. Please." I asked nicely but firmly.
She pulled back slowly, acting cool, but somewhere deep in her crystal amber eyes hid fear.
"Okay, okay. Seems like Pretty Boy isn't a fan of touchy-touchy."
"What is your purpose for coming here, at this time?", I asked, holding the small dagger tight in my right hand.
Zhu Mei sighed and shook her head. Her silvered hime-styled hair moved in the light breeze, shining as if reflecting the color of the moon itself.
"I heard that you needed an instructor for your dagger practice, so I came here as quickly as possible. Knowing how handsome you looked, of course."
"Yang asked for your help?"
Zhu Mei looked at me, confused.
"The young master? No."
"Huh?"
She leaned on the wall and glanced at the window pane while messing with her hair.
"Is that cute little copper baby yours?", Zhu Mei shifted the attention towards my weapon. "Can I take a look at it?"
"S-sure, if you want to."
She came close, picked up my dagger, and examined it. Her long thin fingers fondled my knife back and forth with an exciting expression as if it was something made of precious gems. While watching the knife being flipped in different directions in her hands, I couldn't help but project my nervous look at her in secret.
"Don't worry Nervy. I ain't gonna eat you. You are handsome, but a bit too skinny."
Done with analyzing the dagger, she tossed it back to me.
"It's pure copper, pretty rare these days. A little bit heavy, but balanced and reliable. Try to keep the baby clean or it will grow oxidated."
Then she glanced at me intensely. I feel like a dagger in her eyes.
"You need some polish too Pretty Boy. That skinny figure of yours might get you through a quick fight, but you will get tired easily in a prolonged one. Also wielding daggers requires core, arm, wrist, and grip strength, so try to focus on improving those parts of yours."
"Oh, I got it. Thank you, lady Zhu Mei."
"I told you, just 'Zhu Mei'! Calling me the wrong name once again, and I'll turn you into a mute puppet."
Looking angelic and innocent while spitting out the most creepy threat must be her special talent.
When she was sitting on my window pane, about to leave, she suddenly fell silent. And then with her back facing me, she asked.
"Pretty Boy... Have you ever fallen in love with someone who makes you feel like you are ready to sacrifice the whole world for them?"
"Hmm... I don't think of sacrificing humanity or anything. But I think I like someone, and I am more than ready to protect her at all costs. What's the matter?"
Zhu Mei sat at the window for a long while. Not a single word or a motion got out of her.
"Nothing. Good luck, Pretty Boy."
She quickly vanished into the moonlight.