CHAPTER 191: PUTTING THE SCENT IN THE WIND

Zen was being pulled by Xue Shaonu but with each step, he grew more resistant. “Xue Shaonu, we can’t leave my cousin behind!”

“We’re not!” she said. “At least not for long.” She produced her white scroll from the holder on her leg. “I’m going to summon Silicy to take you and Shibi away. Put your scent in the wind.”

“You want me to leave you?”

“Yes, you and Shibi will be in the wind, hopefully she won’t be able to track you.” Shaonue said as she unfurled the scroll, revealing its gold trim sides and golden coloured words. “I’ll go back and help Fuu hold the Assassin off until we can escape.”

Zen was unsure what to do. He wanted to get to his father’s funeral. He did not want to fight The Assassin. Xue Shaonu’s plan would let him do that but why did he not want to.

The Grey Stalker leapt at them from behind. They dodged but the hound bit into the scroll and tore a part of it off.

Shaonu held her two pieces of her scroll in her hand, her face an expression of shock while the Grey Stalker ate the piece that it had torn off. Zen felt anger and his killing intent well up from deep within.

“I’ll kill it!” he shouted before taking off.

Shaonu was frozen in shock at the intensity of his killing intent. Had the potency grown since last she was at its vicinity? As soon as Zen and the Grey Stalker were far away enough, she knealt on the ground and laid the two pieces of her scroll on the grass, focusing she held both palms out an the scroll began to glow as the paper began reparing itself!

Zen chased after the Grey Stalker. He touched his storage stone and a short sword appeared in his hand.

“Come back here!”

They chased the hound into an open clearing. The Stalker leapt on the boulder and pushed off the boulder, leaping at Zen with long ki claws growing from its paw. Zen met the claws with the blade of his sword and pushed the canine away. He chased after it with a swipe, the Grey Stalker used a ki technique to slide onto the side, almost as if it was following the circumference of a circle.

The Grey Stalker stopped behnd Zen and its jaws shone with ki as it pounced for Zen but Shibi met it head on, with its fist wreathed in fire. Sibi found his mark on the Stalker’s snout, fire exploding out of the point of contact and sending the yelping dog falling back.

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Zen turned around and headed for the downed dog while Shibi headed in the opposite direction for the sword. The hound recovered and tried to dodge again, using the technique but Zen caught him with his Blitz Fist. Then he delivered a viscous kick into its side, pushing the dog off the ground before it landed painfully.

Shibi heaved and threw the blade at Zen who caught it as he went to finish off the downed beast. There was a flash of white from the corner of his eye and then he was kicked. He was sent hurtling into the boulder, where he hit his head and he passed out.

“Is that it?” The Masked Woman said. “I’m almost disappointed.”

The Grey Stalker began stirring, getting back on its feet.

Xue Shaonu ran into the scee and looked around. “Shibi!” she looked at the ape. “Where is Zen?”

Shibi looked back at Zen’s limp body. She rushed to his side and Shibi joined her, watching The Masked Woman as she gathered needles above her hand. She felt his steady breath on her hand and she sighed in relief. “Good, he’s still alive.”

She unfruled her scroll and placed on the ground. There was a circle made of gold light and a beam shot upwards, the light compressed, twisted and formed Silicy, The Snow Dove.

“Silicy, take Zen with you, fly high and fast and get as far away from here as possible.”

Silicy fixed her solid silevr eyes at the Masked Woman. “Who is she, Mistress?”

“She’s an assassin trying to kill Wang Zen.”

“Then I should take my Lady away and let the boy Zen fend for himself.”

“No! I will protect him.”

“Why?” Silicy said.

“Because he has been a faithful friend and he would be no doubt do the same for me, I fact, he has.”

“But this woman…” Silicy narrowed her eyes on the Masked Woman. “she’s dangerous.”

“I know,” Shaonu said, walking forward, past Silicy. “She’s like the assassins back home, Geyi Kun’s people. But if I can’t hold my own against someone like her, then I’ll never get my birthright back.”

“But Mistress…”

“Leave Silicy!” She said, waving the Snow Dove’s protest away. “That’s an order.”

Silicy turned around and put the unconscious Zen o her back while Shibi cimbed to be with his companion.nThe bird took off, leaving a cold breeze behind.

“Oh no you don’t!” The Masked Woman ran forward.

Shaonu flipped back behind the boulder and hit it with her palm. “Pulsing Palm!”

The first pulse did nothing to the boulder. The second shook it. The third lifted It off the ground. The fourth even higher. Shaonu stepped under the boulder and focused his ki.

“Heavenly Leap!” she shouted before jumping up, helping the boulder up into the air.

The Masked Woman sent a stream of needles shooting out for Silicy and her cargo but the bouder obstructed the path of the shooting needles that bore holes into the boulder. Zen landed on the ground and dodged the falling boulder.

She rose up and stared at the Masked Woman.

“Why would you protect that brat?” she asked, walking closer to her. “He’s not even pretty, have you seen his nose?”

“I think one who wears a mask has no place in commenting about another’s looks.” Shaonu said. “Tell me, where’s our companion, Jao Fuu.”

“Was that her name?” The Masked Woman said. “Well, I am here and she is not, that should tell you all you need to know.”

“In that case,” Xue Shaonu adopted a fighting stance, “I shall avenge her.”

They sprinted towards each other prepared to fight each other.