The eunuch met khane

As they rode near the woods, fast and determined, the pounding of hooves echoing through the air, their pursuers drawing ever closer, a horse suddenly leapt sideways. Its powerful body arched through the air, landing squarely in their path with a loud neigh, its hooves striking the ground like thunder.

Arnin and Prince Khane yanked on the reins, their horses rearing up in response. The night wrapped around them like a shroud, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. The area near the woods was eerily quiet, devoid of any other souls.

"You are blocking our path," Prince Khane said, his voice steady but laced with underlying tension.

The men behind them closed in, their shadows merging with the darkness, creating a tense and foreboding atmosphere.

"Greetings, your highness," the old man in front of them said, chuckling softly. It was the eunuch, Paozi, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and malice.

"Who is this person? Does he know who you are?" Arnin asked, his gaze shifting warily between Paozi and Prince Khane.

The eunuch sighed theatrically, adopting a mockingly apologetic expression as he looked at Prince Khane. "Your highness, you have suffered without proper care all these years.

I heard you rose in the martial arts world but lost everything in the end. It seems the heavens are not on your side. How sad."

"Shut up, you dog! I can see clearly that you are mocking him! You mean harm," Arnin snapped, his eyes blazing with anger.

Prince Khane remained calm and composed, his eyes locking onto Paozi's. "Who are you, and what do you want?" he asked, his voice measured and unwavering, a hint of steel beneath the calm facade.

"Me? I watched you grow. I watched the former king grow, and I watched your grandfather, the old king, grow," the eunuch said, a smug sense of accomplishment evident in his voice.

"It seems like he's from the palace, and he's working for the new king. A traitor," Prince Khane remarked, his tone icy.

"But you know what, your highness? I watched them all grow and die, except you. So, your highness, allow me to escort you to reunite with your ancestors," the eunuch continued, unsheathing his sword with a menacing smile.

Both Prince Khane and Arnin swiftly unsheathed their swords, their eyes locked on the eunuch.

"Khailian, if the fight is too difficult to handle, I want you to run into the woods and head south until you see a manor with many steps before it. Wait for me there. I can sense this guy's power; he's not ordinary. He's in sovereign," Arnin said, gripping his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"And leave you? I know I'm weak now, but I'm not one to abandon," Prince Khane retorted, determination etched on his face.

Prince Khane glanced at Arnin, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. "What do you think about demons?" he asked, turning to Arnin.

"A demon is a demon. What is there to think about?" Arnin replied, his expression fierce.

"I'll take the prince myself. Take care of the other one," the eunuch commanded, his voice dripping with malice. The men behind him yelled in unison, "Yes!"

"There was a demon I met. She said she would be there when I'm in trouble. I do hope she will come," Prince Khane murmured, a glimmer of hope in his eyes as he prepared for the imminent battle.

The other men rode their horses toward Arnin. The eunuch remained motionless, sitting on his horse, a sadistic grin on his face. He knew he could kill Prince Khane immediately, but he didn't. He wanted to savor the suffering of the prince and his companion before delivering the final blow.

"They are truly many. I wonder if using my best strike will work, but after using it, I'll be low on energy. It's usually best when the battle is almost over," Arnin said, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the approaching enemies.

"Be careful. I attack, you protect," Arnin instructed as he spurred his horse forward. With a powerful leap, he jumped from his horse, gripping his sword with both hands, ready to strike.

"You have so many enemies," a lady's voice echoed with a chuckle. As Arnin was still in mid-air, a long, wide fabric with a short length suddenly curled around his waist, pulling him back onto his horse with an unexpected force.

As he settled back on his horse, the fabric uncurled from around him. It then lashed out, whipping some of the men's faces and causing them to bleed from deep cuts. The remaining men, who had not yet been struck, tried to fend off the fabric with their swords, but it was futile. They too ended up getting whipped, the fabric moving with supernatural precision.

The men cried out in agony as they began to bleed from their eyes, unable to see and rendered helpless. The night air was filled with their anguished cries.

Before them, a lady materialized between the eunuch and Prince Khane and Arnin. She stood tall and imposing, her presence commanding attention. The fabric that had saved Arnin now coiled around her waist like a belt, giving her an ethereal and formidable appearance.

"Demon," the eunuch muttered, his frown deepening as he recognized the true nature of the new arrival.

"Is that the demon you were waiting for?" Arnin asked, his eyes widening as he saw Tidalia.

Prince Khane nodded, his expression resolute.

"An aquatic demon," the eunuch said, laughing as he realized. "I heard about the circumstances of Palov's death, and I heard Prince Khane had a demon with him. I have confirmed it," he said, pointing at Tidalia.

"You dried-up mortal. I'm not just an aquatic demon. But as a mortal, I don't expect you to understand ranks," Tidalia said, her eyes beginning to change to an oceanic color, swirling like water.

The eunuch's eyes turned white, and it seemed as if he couldn't speak.

"Run to where you need to go," Tidalia commanded, without looking at Prince Khane and Arnin.

"Be careful," Prince Khane said, concern in his voice.

"This mortal..." Tidalia chuckled softly.

They rode away quickly, speeding into the night.

When they were already far into the woods, the eunuch yelled, "Break!" and a burst of energy erupted from his body, sending a shockwave through the air.