Ling stood up immediately, grabbing her sword from her spatial pouch, and Fusu slammed the front door shut so hard the house shook.

  — Get back inside the house! — he shouted, but he didn't have enough time for any further action.

  Something bright appeared, flying towards Ting, and was deflected by Ling. The blade spun back towards the collapsing illusion barrier, vanishing as it crossed through.

  Two more leaped in, one from each side, and Fusu jumped off the porch, leaving a hole behind.

  Her hand still trembled from the previous impact, and Ling had no confidence she would be able to handle the other two who were approaching fiercely. She grabbed Ting by the arm and threw her in Fusu's direction.

  — Aunt Ling, no!

  The invaders' eyes followed their target, and in one of the corners, the grass changed color as red liquid flowed over it.

  — Get inside the house, Ting'er! — Ling shouted, turning already with the enemy's blade shining ahead.

  Her heart pounded fiercely, and then stopped.

  If I use too much Qi now... She hesitated.

  Argh!

  The blade ahead was blocked, but not the one from the side, slashing into her stomach.

  — Ling!

  Fusu pulled her back and caught the flying blade with his other hand. He thought it was enough, but the cut in his palm proved him wrong. He threw her away.

  — Are you okay?

  Ling nodded, forcing herself to stay on her feet, even as blood kept pouring and the Qi in her body went haywire.

  So I didn't even need to use anything; just considering it was enough for this to happen... She wiped the corner of her mouth after spitting blood on the ground. Her shaky laugh and the pain numbed her from the deep cut on her stomach. My Golden Core is imploding.

  Her hands trembled, so she had to use both to try to remain at least a little steady. Her legs wobbled, but could not give way.

  "Go back to the house...", she said via sound transmission "Take care of Ting while I handle him."

  "In that state? What do you think you can do, trembling like that? Let's just finish this quickly—"

  "No! There's no way to know if there are others besides these two, so the house isn't safe for her either right now. Go back in before something happens."

  Fusu looked back. His chest tightened and his heart leapt with fervor and anguish. He clenched his teeth hard.

  "Then you go back," he ordered. "I can handle him alone, but you can't even stand properly. Go and stay with her, if anything happens, fight for some time until I arrive."

  "No, that's—"

  "That's an order, Ling, not a request. Go, now!"

  He jumped, surprising the man ahead and leaving Ling behind.

  The sword fell, reflecting the light. The air was cut at an exact angle, but nothing was hit. If not, the left side of his stomach, creating clicks that echoed like gears turning. Blood spurted from the man's mouth.

  Fusu looked toward the house as the man's head fell to the ground together with his hand.

  Crack!

  Blood spurted, and brains splattered across the grass.

  That damn altered Qi...! He jumped but didn't get far. The sword passed close the instant he leapt to dodge.

  If it weren't for this, we could at least locate them without relying only on our eyes.

  The blade returned and was kicked, getting stuck in the ground and trampled to sink deeper.

  Fusu scanned the surroundings.

  Is it an assassin this time? But from which organization? One that uses flying blades over distance... He looked to the house, approaching it with another leap that, again, was interrupted mid-move. Damn it!

  He looked at the cut palm. His veins bulged a greenish color, stretching up his neck.

  — You noticed, huh? — the voice echoed from all sides, distorted. — For the former commander of the so-called great Huo Empire, I see you're slower than expected.

  The Black Rose?!

  Fusu turned toward the house; in his mind, only Ling's image hovered. Yet, the blades wouldn't let up.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  — You don't have to worry about her. That woman already—

  — Aunt Ling! — Ting's voice cut through the air, trembling and covered in fear. — D-Don't sleep, Aunt, please! Stay with me, please... Please, not you too...

  — Well, I suppose you understand now.

  His mental clarity was slipping away, but his concern for Ling kept him focused on something. Darkness flickered and the light seemed dimmer than usual. Was he still dodging swords? Was Ting's voice still coming from the house? Ling— His knee hit the ground.

  — Wait just a bit longer, Lord Huo Fusu, soon we will take you home.

  We...?

  Had he heard wrong? Was his mind so muddled that it tricked him this way?

  Is there someone else here with him?

  He had to get up, do something, but he couldn't. His body didn't even tremble. His eyes couldn't see the light anymore. And, at some point, he began to wonder if his ears were tricking him or if it was just the delusions of his own mind. Was he really hearing anything? Was that crying really Ting's? Was Ling really calling him for help?

  He had to get up.

  Ting...

  He had to try harder. He couldn't let her get hurt after finally telling her she was safe now. It was his responsibility. He had promised. He had to do something. But...

  Sorry...

  He couldn't.

  — So weak, — everything stopped, not even the wind blew, — and yet, still so stupid.

  In the city, everyone wanted to run, to run off and hide somewhere that presence couldn't reach them. But how, if their bodies couldn't even tremble? Their eyes didn't move. Only their minds, all plunged in a dark, bottomless well of fear.

  — A human, truly, representing your pathetic and useless species. For entering this place, lose your legs. — The man fell, his lower limbs shattered, unable even to scream in response. The pain was his and no one else's. Only he could feel it and hear its consequences in his body and mind. — For looking at me with such disgusting eyes, lose them. And for using such pathetic methods, taste this poisoned thread yourself.

  The swords moved with cold precision, striking non-vital spots so death would be slow. It wouldn't come from the attack, rather from the poison laced in the swords.

  The red-eyed creature turned to stare at the window. In the forest, someone else was watching them, hidden, and it knew. However, its sight wasn't limited to something so close. To the northwest/west, in the center of the empire, a man shivered in distress.

  — Sir, what's wrong? Please, calm down and tell us what's happening over there.

  Dragging himself across the checkered stone floor, the old man refused to be captured by those who tried to help him. The red eyes, he could see them. They were getting closer, staring at him. His time was running out.

  — A-A monster! It's a demon! A demon! There's a demon there!

  — Why are you trembling so much, even from so far away? — the voice reached him.

  — N-No, I— Please, I didn't know! I won't ever do it again, so, please...

  What would be the worst death? A painful one, or the kind you don't even notice your time running out? Dying begging as your body is consumed by dark flames that don't even seem to cause pain, would that be the better option?

  The helpers stepped away from the flame, terror in their eyes. They already felt consumed just standing before it, as if direct contact was unnecessary for it to have any effect.

  Thud!

  One of the four dropped dead.

  The others looked at each other, trembling and weak. They knew they should move, but still were unable to do anything. Then another, and the next. The last one standing found himself paralyzed, trembling was no use. He bit his lips in a moment of terror, and to his surprise, the pain set him free.

  Without looking back, he ran and ran. He climbed the spiral stairs and darted down the sunlit corridor like a shadow. His heart thumped, his blood thrummed, and he could hear all this and more. The sweat streaming down his hair and dripping from his chin. His bones creaking like rotating axles. His muscles contracting, moving. And also that thing in his body shining like the moon in darkness—

  Wait, but what's—!?

  — My lord—!

  As the door opened, revealing a faint golden glow in the dark room where she kept it, his body gave out.

  Without screams or a chance to call for help, he was swallowed by the dark energy.

  — Yes, now they're how they should be: silent.

  Being the one different from the rest, Ting could move, but she didn't dare look back. She felt the weight fall on her back and realized she was being watched. Should she run? Hide with Ling, who was barely breathing? Her mind wouldn’t tell her. From the assassin's body, the spatial pouch revealed itself and stopped by her side.

  — Stop wasting time with something that's already dead, and go help him. Otherwise, that man outside will follow the same path.

  — N-No..., she's still breathing, I can feel it..! She still...— She swallowed hard, forcing herself to move. She could feel the contempt even before acting, but she had to try. She had to beg, even if she didn’t know why she was saved in the first place. — C-Can you... help her...? — The words came out as nearly voiceless whispers.

  A brief laugh echoed.

  — How greedy you are for someone so small, and you dare command me-! — her body halted in motion, and her hand couldn't be lifted. Her mouth couldn’t say anything to hurt her. — Tsk! ...This will be the first and last time, remember that. Enjoy your last moments with her.

  Noah's body slumped toward the bed, slowly. Space freed, and time began to flow. Movement with the wind and terror lingering everywhere as one.

  Ling spat dark-colored blood, almost black, onto the floorboards.

  — A-Aunt! — With trembling hands, Ting grabbed the assassin's spatial pouch and frantically searched for the antidote. Her mind wandering, fear clouded her like a curtain of smoke. She found what she was looking for, but—

  Only... one...?

  Her chest squeezed and her heart twisted. Blinded by rage, she bit her own lips.

  — Ting'er..., what's wrong...? Are you hurt? That bastard, he— blood gushed from her lips — It's okay, I'm fine...

  — N-No, Aunt, I... There's only one pill, I don't know what to do. I... I don't want to lose you.

  —...And you won't...— With trembling, weak fingers, Ling wiped the blood from Ting’s lips as she smiled gently. — I'll always be by your side. — She took the spatial pouch from her waist and put it in Ting's hands. — I just... need... to rest...

  Like a broken drum, the beats finally ceased.

  — Aunt Ling... Why...?

  Pulling her close, Ting hugged her with all her strength. She could no longer feel the heartbeat; the blood kept slowing, and soon the chill would creep in.

  Rest... mama...

  With the utmost care and gentleness, she laid her on the floor, grieving. — Dreams...? I don't think I have any more now—No..., my greatest dream is to see you happy, Ting'er. Do you think you could show me that? — She didn't want to leave her, preferring to hug her forever, but she couldn't. After kissing her forehead and feeling the change in skin's temperature, the bitter taste of tears, Ting hurried down the stairs with the antidote in hand to find Fusu.