War Maiden vs Imperial Prince
Chapter 5: The Gentlemen
Mei Lin found herself at a crossroad. The road she’d been following split into two different directions, but she could not discern which one led to the mountain village, as it was too dark.
As she contemplated the situation, her well trained ears picked up a pattern of sound.
Breathing? Laborious breathing? There was an injured person in these wounds. Swiveling around she attempted to pinpoint the exact origin of the sounds. The noise was more pronounced on the upper right of her current position.
Despite the risks that might entail going after this person, her training got the best of her. In the battlefield she’d helped countless soldiers, regardless of what side they were on. This was a risk she’d taken often and would continue to do.
It was a matter of morals. How could she knowingly leave someone to die?
Pushing past the thick shrubbery lining the side of the path, she eventually reached a small clearing. Infront of her was a wounded gentleman, lying down against one of the forest trees.
Taking care, the woman crept a bit closer until she was right by the seemingly unconscious man's side. Had he passed out, in the time it took her to get here?
His breathing earlier had been stronger as though he was awake. As the thought crossed her mind the man reached out and yanked her inwards, his elbow choking her. In his other hand was a small dagger that he held to her neck.
“Don’t move. Who are you?” he asked seriously.
Mei Lin remained stiff, who was this man he was so swift she hadn’t had time to react to his movements. What kind of man was that fast despite the serious wounds on his body?
“Good sir, you’re wounded. Such movements will only make it worse.” she responded.
“I asked who you are.” the man’s voice was cold as he repeated the question.
Before she could make her response the bushes rattled, and a man emerged from them cloaked in all black. His killing intent was strong, and Mei Lin immediately pinched one of the veins on the gentleman’s hand causing him to let her go and drop the dagger.
“Damn you!” he cursed holding his arm.
“Shut up!” Mei Lin snapped before leaping towards the assailant.
She could smell the poison on the assassin's blade and swiftly avoided all strikes from it. Leaping onto the man back she took the dagger from the prince and drove it into the base of his skull.
The assailant fell to the ground, twitched and then moved no more.
Jin Feng stared at the girl in front of him watching as she searched the body, her clothes were stained with blood both fresh and old, and her face was covered with dirt. Despite this she was prettier than any of the consorts in the Imperial Palace. Who was this mountain girl? And how had she dispatched a man twice her size?
He winced, holding a hand over the open wound in his side, the blood stickying his fingers.
“Don’t touch it, you’ll infect it.” Mei Lin warned.
Reaching into her bag she pulled out some portable water and used it to wash and sanitize her hands. Her grey eyes met the man’s endlessly dark ones.
She’d never seen a man like him before, his face looked at though it was the god’s greatest creation. As though it were a fresh breeze on a hot summer day. A drink of water in a desert.
What a dangerous man, she thought. His clothes were of good quality, he must be a young noble. How had he gotten hurt out here? It must be the work of assassins considering the one that she just killed.
“Do you trust me?” she asked softly.
Jin Feng knew the mant wounds he received contained a lethal poison. The woman in front of him left him with nothing but questions, but she seemed to know what she was doing. There was no way his aides would arrive in enough time to help him.
“No, but do what you must. I will reward you greatly.” he answered.
Mei Lin nodded and undid the sash holding his robes in place, color bloomed in the man's cheeks, but she had no interest in his body. Taking out some antiseptic, she cleaned his wounds gently first. Then she dipped a needle into the blackened blood.
Aconite was the poisonous herb most commonly used in ancient china. However, the notorious herb had several antidotes and her mentor had several of them already prepared in his lab. Mei Lin discretely pulled one of those said antidotes out of the space in her birthmark.
“I’m going to inject you with this. You may feel a pince.” she informed him.
Jin Feng only nodded. This woman was indeed of interest, she had many strange items in her possession. He was as she slid a pointed needle that seemed hollow into his arm, what kind of tool was this? Jin Feng had never seen something like this before….
Who was this woman? Where did she learn her trade? How did she acquire these tools?
The fluid pooled in the needle before settling down and flowing into his arm. When the needle was empty she pulled it out and cleaned the area before bandaging it once more. After a few moments he felt better, but sleep overtook him.
Mei Lin stared at the unconscious and large man...rain trickled down from the sky muddying the group and in the distance she saw torches and her the cries of people. Fuck.
How was she going to get out of this one?