Chapter 106 - The Hunt (5)

Without so much as a single warning, death was knocking at our door in the guise of a beautiful maiden that their master so beholden. Tartarus' smile was bitter. He has not questioned the power that love has over the personality and intellectual capacity of a person. He knew that a person in love could sometimes lose a part of their logical reasoning and sanity. That was why these people were blind to their own folly. And the very reason why love is said to be blind.

Tartarus has proven this the moment he fell in love with his wife. He loved every part of even the very rotten aspect of her personality. Tartarus would flip out the moment anything bad is said about her. He would support her in every action that she would want to take. Thus, he could very much understand the gloating smirk that his master he had on his face. Tartarus also knew that they were on their own with the look that he had conveyed. He figured as much. Tartarus has been Zi Jue's assistant for years on end. This was an easy thing for him to interpret. Their master will not interfere with this nor will he tolerate a lousy performance. This was him testing them through allowing her desires. Two birds shot with one stone.

A large gust of air suddenly approached Tartarus' face. He leaped back as far as he could to avoid it. Yan Qing Shan was out to kill. Though it was hard to trace, that attack of hers with the dagger, there was a sudden yet perceptible killing intent which only appeared the moment it was near them. Such precisness was beyond him.

They need to take this seriously and fight her with as much as seriousness that Yan Qing Shan was giving them.

"Oi. Oi, lady. Watch it! What the hell are you doing? That was dangerous. One of us could have been killed." Thanatos complained in a loud voice.

"Master, your date is trying to kill us. Why won't you stop her? Mast---" The oblivious man continued on. However, before he could even his line Yan Qing Shan pounced on him speedily. A straight punch to his gut. Tartarus felt a fraction of the pain the moment the fist connected with Thanatos' guts. Ahh. They were done for. Why is it that Thanatos kept running his mouth. If he didn't, he could have avoided that hit. The pain he felt was due to his pride taking another blow along with the epiphany that at this situation his fellow generals were quite the pig teammates. Tartarus couldn't help but sigh and lament his life. He shook his head at the man in question. Why hasn't Thanatos realized it before he got sucker punched? Aiyah. The pride of the generals, he's all gone and lost it. Does Tartarus really need to spell it out for them to know?

"Thanatos. It's futile. Master... he is outside this. He will not interfere with whatever Miss Yan will do from now on. So, you better take this seriously or you'll face Master's punishment along with hers." Tartarus stated coldly as he avoided the barrage of punches as best he could while explaining to the other three who looked as if the heavens had forsaken them.

After he said his piece, Tartarus paid his full concentration on Yan Qing Shan's every move that he didn't hear Thanatos' reply anymore. She was fast. If he let his guard down even for a moment, he would end up inconscious. The power in her attacks were no joke just as much as it's speed were absurd.

'It's as if I was fighting Master himself.' He thought with a surprise that he suddenly flashed a glance to his master leaning on a tree while observing their fight. Zi Jue had a smirk to himself, as if he had read Tartarus' mind.

Except, this momentary oversight was an opportunity an expert like Yan Qing Shan wouldn't miss. Her knuckles hit his shoulder blade, first the right side and then the left. Tartarus leaped back hastily before his solar plexus was hit.

Tartarus' shoulders hurt like hell. He felt them going limp. It was difficult to lift them up and once again assume battle stance. But he was Tartarus, Zi Jue's right hand man. Such pain was something he could still tolerate.

Yan Qing Shan eyed him with an amused expression. "Ohhh. Housekeeper Liu is amazing. He could keep up with me for quite a bit. But I won't go easy anymore, this time. You might want to ask for help."

Tartarus didn't feel undermined with her words. Yan Qing Shan was someone as competent as their master. She was right to suggest asking for help. This wasn't a fight he could win alone.

"Amongst the four of you, it was Housekeeper Liu who had the sharpest instincts. The problem is you didn't heed that instinct immediately. You see, a moment's hesitation could land you in a deep, deep quagmire. In a hunt, one's senses is their first line of defense. If you can't even detect your enemies, you won't even know how you died." Tartarus eye twitched violently in annoyance and helplessness. Yan Qing Shan was lecturing him while attacking, this time seemingly to emphasized her point she attacked with two small daggers in hand. Nicks and cuts started appearing in Tartarus' body.

"Hey! You three better fucking snap out of this now. What the hell are you all spacing out fo---!" Before he could finish shouting at his comrades, Yan Qing Shan landed a finishing blow. Tartarus didn't know when but she threw a dagger in Cerberus side, the blade giving him an instant wound on the cheek. While the other dagger was headed to for Asphodel who promptly evaded with nimble moves.

Tartarus sucked in a painful breath the moment he felt the powerful punch in his guts. Air felt razor sharp as it entered his lungs. Then his vision darkened. Yan Qing Shan gave him a graceful chop rendering him unconscious. The woman then eyes Zi Jue giving him some sort of signal. Not paying heed to the mystified eyes of the generals, Zi Jue retrieved the body of Tartarus and laid him under the tree he was leaning at a while ago. Tartarus was out cold.

Yan Qing Shan turned her eyes to the other three. These people were the ones who had the most unsatisfactory performance. Yan Qing Shan gave a roundhouse kick to Cerberus the moment she was up close.

"Slow. Your senses are too slow." Yan Qing Shan kindly pointed out to him. This was the last thing the man in question heard before following in Tartarus' footsteps. Zi Jue then promptly retrieved the second one's body so it won't get in the way of Yan Qing Shan.

"Cerberus!" Thanatos shouted in alarm when he saw Cerberus fall. The woman was quick. Her speed was no joke. And even if Thanatos was aiding Cerberus in attacking, they couldn't even land a blow on her. It was as if she could predict their next actions.

"Thanatos, watch out!" Thanatos was roused from his thoughts the moment Asphodel shouted his warning. But he was a step too late.

"Aish, didn't you know to never let your guard down? This isn't a play you know?" Yan Qing Shan's words echoed in Thanatos' ears. Then, the last thing he saw was a delicate fist nearing his face.

Yan Qing Shan eyed Asphodel with interest. The boy looked like a middle schooler. But his nimble and agile evasions were far from his supposed age. Yan Qing Shan couldn't help but commend him. Except, he still needed experience. If Yan Qing Shan wanted to catch him, she could have done so immediately. Yet she retrieved her dagger, pursued him with it, retrieved the daggers and then pursued him with it again.

'She's toying with me.' Asphodel fumed internally. The woman was as good as his master. That much he could admit. But her repeated actions irritated him. He felt taunted.

"Nope. That's no good. Even if you have this sharp battle sense if you can't keep your cool then it's all useless, you know?" Yan Qing Shan lectured which fumed Asphodel's irritation eve more that he stopped evading altogether and faced the woman head on... But he had overestimated himself. In the same fashion, he was beat up just like the other three.

"See, I told you to keep your calm." Yan Qing Shan murmured. She then turned to the man who rounded up the four.

"Zi Jue." Zi Jue stiffened when Yan Qing Shan called his name. He felt an impending sense of danger. Zi Jue slowly turned his head to face her and was met with Yan Qing Shan's face contorted into rage. He felt shivers ran down his spine.

"Uh... wife. L- let me explain. Please." He stuttered. Yan Qing Shan eyed him sharply and gestured for him to speak.

"Let's hear your excuse. You better make sure it's a good one. If I'm not satisfied, you're out of the bedroom." Zi Jue could practically hear his death bell. He groaned in pain at her declaration.

"Wife..." He started an attempt to negotiate but was met with a mere cold glare.

"Speak. Why are they down like this so easily?"