Chapter 7

The rhino quivered and tightly griped the halt of his sword. He was frighten as cold sweat formed on his forehead and withered away due to the night's coldness. His heavy breaths and stomping footsteps mangled with the sound of the unyielding darkness.

He would have cursed if not afraid of giving his position away to the enemy who he was sure, had already noticed him. If not, than why did he feel two eyes staining behind his back following his movement?

Men and women would often stare at him in jealousy, envy, awe. He was strong. Very strong. His body was tall, fit, bold, cunning with well defined muscles. But this was different. Never had he ever felt.. Exposed. Vulnerable. Those eyes pierce through his flesh and were locked on his soul. Chills banged against his spine.

He felt the urge to shout, to show that he wasn't afraid and to fight. But he was not a fool. He lacked guts and bravery.

His older brother, Vachir had guts. More guts than anyone he had seen. Vachir was born weak. His strength was below average than other rhinos. But his guts were how he climbed, struggled and became the commander of Anvil of Heaven. With Vachir and his strong hands, they had protected, guarded the people and kept watch on the most feared criminals.

But who will guard the guards?

When Li saw the letter of help coming from the Grandmaster of the Jade palace, he had a bugling and nagging feeling in the bottom of his stomach. He'd conveyed his worries to Vachir only to get brushed off. Vachir was too excited.

For long, Their achievements were overshadowed by those resident in the palace. This was their chance to outshine them.

Seven days had passed since their arrival. The deaths had continued and now the villagers'd noticed it as well, their screams sticking in their throat.

With little or no luck The avail had circled the valley in day and at night accompanied with one of the masters.

Today was one of those nights.

It was the monkeys' turn to patrol with them. And somehow Li had gone astray from the group with only a sword in a forest with infinite darkness ahead of him. The sky was clouded hiding moonlight. It was as if the spirits wanted him dead.

The rhino heard a rustle behind him and he turned around, both hands grasping on the sword's halt." Wh-Who's there?!" He managed to gasp out. He felt a presence chillingly close behind him and jerked around, swinging the sword as he did.

He found nothing.

His heart raced. Feeling fear crawling its way through He knew that he was amusing the killer. Satisfying it's sadistic nature.

"Put your sword down. It's me"

Turning his eyes to the source though he would never say it, relief flew in his veins and He did as he was told to, placing his hand on top of his heart." Don't tell me you were scared" the feline sneered

"No I wasn't! I can't be scared of a kitten like you." He snapped.

Master Tigress giggled." Aww. you called me a kitten. Ah so romantic. Umm... whatda ya say It'll be a secret name between me and you. If you want?"

He looked at her eyes wide and mused over the fact that she was indeed flirting with him.

He shook his head then nodded." S-Sure ah...kitten?"

"Wow. Aren't you great?" She purred coming closer she kept a finger on his chest. Her voice was music like a mermaid singing. His heart raced, not with fear. She stepped back out of his range before he could wrap his arms around her waist. He frowned and she smirked.

Tigress was different out here, He thought,Her eyes were softer, her body glowed as if sending an aura to attract him. What's going on?

"Your friends are about fifty meters to your left. You should leave. It's dangerous out here!"

He shook his head. " And leave you? Come with me I'll protect you."

Tigress swallowed a chuckle and answered flat out " I don't need protection, Darling. you do."

"From the killer? No worries. He can't touch me." He reassured

And She rubbed her chin thoughtfully." Maybe" she said." If the killer was ( or were?) a he"

"Seriously!? Than A woman killed all those-" he paused as if concentrating." How do you know? I thought the identity was unclear." He looked at her in wonder and she smiled.

That smile was not meant to seduce him.

waited questions arose from his mind." Wait, what are you even doing here all alone? If you were impatient you should've come with us. Shifu set the rule himself, remember?" His voice shrink.

"No one was suppose to go out alone. So why did you.."

He trailed off, uncomfortable. The lines from the corners of her mouth seemed graven on her face. And suddenly, Her enlightening aura darkened beyond the usage of words. Her once soft eyes turned into a emotionless pit, their was no end to the black behind them and vise versa, his relief left in an instant.

"Now How do I know?" Tigress pondered taking one step at a time towards him. He walked back instinctually . Her voice wasnt just cold, it was ice till the core.

Starlight shone on her and the trees casted a shadow and he sworn that he felt the devil looming above her head.

He clenched his hand and His eyes widened. He had dropped his sword. She clucked still smiling " I told you to leave. I even told you where your friends were." She shook her head and clucked again." Now we have to do this the hard way."

He stumbled and fell on his back before he could get up she towered above him." I'm the one you all are looking for. I'm the one who killed all those people. You may call me Hǔnluàn or Hēi'àn but for now let's settle with death, shall we?."

"Ple-Please"

She tilted her head to the right. The smile left her face. Her eyes were duller. "Than amuse me a little more." He opened his mouth but his ability to talk had been taken for him." Your friends are about fifty five feet to the left from here." She continued. "Run" her eyes glittered, her lips curled to the right forming a smile that exposed her fangs." Run, Run as fast as you can!" She yelped with excitement." I'll catch you! And I'll kill you right in front of them. Make me enjoy chasing you! Come on Run!"

He ran obediently.

He huffed and puffed but didn't stop and rushed towards his left. His eyes spied a light ahead giving him hope that he could survive the night he quickened his pace.

Their lanterns illuminated their surroundings. The soldiers were standing in a circle with their spares and swords ready. Their eyes jerking at the slightest movement. Monkey gulped silently. He could hear the sound of someone running very fast and slowly got in his stance, hands forward and eyes sharp as blades. A sweat dropped from his face and he took a deep breath. Why did it had to be on my turn? , he thought.

"It's me! It's me!" Li cried and fell on the ground, hands first, exhausted. Feeling a hand on his shoulders he looked up to see his brother concerned." Bring some water!" He heard him order.

He made it, he thought smiling to himself and got up. A brown leather pouch with a hole on top filled with refreshing and surprisingly cold water was given to him. He made it and it was over. They will arrest Master Tigress or Hǔnluàn whatever she preferred And she will meet the same fate as Tai lung.

"I'll kill you right in front of them"

He grinned. No, she wasn't.

"I know who the killer is" he said after regaining his composure. gasps escaped from his fellow comrades." Hǔnluàn is what she wants us to call her."

"Wait!? Its a her? Man ,what is wrong with the woman of this era" The monkey master cried rubbing his cheek as if recalling certain types of memories.

"A fitting name for someone like her!" Someone exclaimed.

"How?"

"I meet her.. She was confident that she'd kill me before I get here but... I barely made it.."

"Who is she,Li?" His brother demanded.

He smirked." Her name is -" he couldn't speak feeling a string of pain which grow with every breath in his throat. his hand reached out for his neck.

It was an arrow.

He stumbled and fell on the ground. His vision blurred and his neck glimmered with a thick red sticky liquid." Hang on Li! Hang on!" He heard Vachir shout. They were doing something to save him, it didn't matter. It's Master Tigress. He tried to say.

"I'll kill you right in front of them."

He was going to die. Was this his end? With no last words to leave behind? No, it wasn't suppose to end like this, surly he had heights to reach, a destiny to fulfill and a family to have?

It's Master Tigress

His words went unspoken glittering in his lifeless eyes.

"You sure you want to do this bonehead?"

"Don't call me that, Vachiry" Li snapped." Whoa? Is this the way to speak to your older brother, Li?" He replied poshly

Li glared at him and continued his quest to climb the giant tree." What if you fall And get hurt?" Vachir shouted trying to discourage him.

"You'll catch me"

"What makes you so sure?"

Li sighed and turned his head puffing his chubby cheeks." Because you feel pain when I get hurt, don't you? So I don't have to worry! You'll always catch me, right?"

perhaps it was the way he said it or the fact that it was true,Vachir smiled genuinely at his six year old brother ." Yeah. I'll always protect you. That's what big brothers are suppose to do"

I'm sorry. I had some family problems and I had to wait until it got fixed.. I'm sorry but please understand. There wasn't much I could do except wait. I wasn't even able to review on stories and on those I did, they felt rushed and forced out.

I know that the chapter is short but I wrote it write now. Anyway hope you guys aren't that mad.. The story's going too slow, right? The next chapter is going to be a long one and finally the plot will make some advancement.

I'm kinda getting tired of Killer, killer again and again. Just like Light was called Kira in death note, the ruthless Tigress deserves an original touch too, don't you think? So I settled with Hǔnluàn (Chaos) or

Hēi'àn (Darkness). Either one of them though I think I prefer 'Hǔnluàn'. What do you say?