Chapter 130 - Underworld M

Rated: M

...

Long Jie and Song Luli both rose abruptly and ran back towards the fight.

They saw Lan Shufen cradling an injured鈥攂ut very much alive鈥擲ong Zhen in her arms. They saw Zhang Enyu and Song Meiling fighting side by side, trying to protect each other. Their parents were fighting, too, pulling out guns to threaten anyone that went near their family.

Song Luli and Long Jie fought to get to them while Xun Zichen was still fighting the Cloak.

Han Ru caught up to them and suddenly attacked the Cloak from behind.

Despite being family, they were never close, to begin with. The Wang's were cruel, and it was because of the Wang's that Han Ru lived a horrid, miserable life.

But when Han Ru brought his sword down, the Cloak stabbed him in the chest. Han Ru fell, as the Cloak drew out his sword.

Song Luli ran towards him, startled. She took his head in her arms, placing pressure on his wound.

In the Cloak's momentary distraction, Xun Zichen ran his blade through his neck, killing him on the spot. The Cloak's body dropped, blood oozing and pooling around Xun Zichen's feet. He then dropped his sword in utter disbelief.

Su Xiang, in her weary-state, had come from hiding, leaping into his arms. Both of them exhaled deep breaths, taking in each other's battered appearances before leaning in to take a plundering kiss.

When they broke apart, they both chuckled breathlessly, not believing that they'd won.

Holding each other, they glanced over at Song Luli, who was trying to keep Han Ru alive.

Her aunt stepped to her side, taking over as Song Luli comforted Han Ru, who rasped between breaths.

Han Ru locked his honey-brown eyes with Song Luli; blood seeped through his teeth.

"Stay alive," She whispered to him. "And when you get better, you can start over. You don't have to be angry with anyone anymore. You can move on."

Han Ru tried to speak, but it hurt.

"Don't speak," she told him. "Focus on getting better."

"We need to carefully put him in a car and take him to the hospital. Su Feng and I will take care of him, and anyone else injured without raising too many questions," Song Ren said.

Xun Zichen and Long Jie hauled Han Ru up carefully and placed him in the back of a van.

Song Luli heard Lan Shufen give out a sob over Song Zhen.

"I'm sorry..." Lan Shufen cried out.

"It's a small wound. I'm not going to die," Song Zhen tried to reassure her.

"But, still, you got stabbed, and it's my fault," she whimpered.

"I wanted to protect you," he said to her.

Lan Shufen sniffed as Song Zhen brushed her tears with his thumb.

"I know you're a girl鈥攁 woman," he told her.

Lan Shufen froze. She looked at him. "How did you know?" she asked him.

"I've known since the beginning. I'm pretty observant," he said with a cocky tone.

Lan Shufen gasped. "Are you angry that I didn't tell you?"

Song Zhen shook his head, smiling. "Not at all."

Song Luli glanced away before they had an intimate moment. She then stalked towards Long Jie, grasping his hand, entwining them. He gave her a stunning smile.

鈥?/p>

Afterwards, the rest of the Phoenix's that survived had to submit to Xun Zichen as their master. He then ordered them to help carry the bodies of the injured and dead into vans, heading to the hospital that his adoptive mother owned.

They obliged quickly, cleaning up the mess they made, trying not to leave anything behind.

A mysterious man stepped towards them. He had a large tiger tattoo in mid-gallop on his neck.

Long Jie recalled that the Dragons and Tortoises had shown up, but he wondered about the White Tiger organization. Why did they come?

"Hello," the tiger-tattooed man.

"Are you the leader of the White Tigers?" Xun Zichen questioned.

"God, no," replied the man. "I am here on behalf of the Queen of the Underworld. The Empress of the Black Society."

Both Long Jie and Xun Zichen widened their eyes in astonishment. The Queen of the Underworld was believed to be a myth. No one knew what she looked like; there wasn't a name behind her title. For all they knew, she may have been a story.

"She's real?" Xun Zichen asked in amazement.

The man nodded. "Our Queen has heard of your distress, and she sent us to help you."

"Why?" Long Jie questioned.

"She hopes that if there's ever a time, that you would come to her aid if she needs it."

"I heard the Queen is invincible. Why would she need our help?" asked Xun Zichen.

"Troubling times are happening. She doesn't have many allies and supporters as she used to. She's trying to collect as many forces as possible."

Long Jie and Xun Zichen exchanged glances. "We want no part in the Underworld anymore," said Long Jie. "We want to live the rest of our lives normally."

The tattooed man didn't pull a long face as they expected him to. "To get out of the Underworld, you must pay a handsome compensation. That price could be equivalent to punishment. Or come to her aid when she needs it, and she will take care of your people. She can take care of the Flock and the Dragon Society, while it's still under your command."

Xun Zichen stepped forward. "Is your Queen a compassionate person?"

"I can't tell you that," replied the man. "I can't say anything that would compromise her identity."

Xun Zichen nodded, understanding. "Well, tell your Queen, the Empress, that when the time comes, we can help her to a certain extent that doesn't involve killing on our part. We have retired."

The man bowed. "I will inform her," he said. The tiger-tattooed man then聽left, taking the remainder of the Flock and the Dragons with him.

It was best for them.

Xun Zichen and Long Jie wouldn't know how to run organizations of the Underworld. The Societies were too harsh, too cruel. And the syndicates needed a true leader; they only hoped that this Queen鈥攚hoever she was鈥攚ould look after them and not abuse her power.

Long Jie looked down at his wife, wearing a smile, "Let's go home," he said.

"You're injured," she told him.

"Then you must take care of me," he responded.

Song Luli smirked.

They walked towards the van, and behind them, Su Xiang asked Xun Zichen. "Did you propose to me in the middle of battle?"

"I would say it was more towards the beginning," Xun Zichen replied.

Song Luli, Long Jie, and the remainder of their band laughed.