Author's Notes: Hey there people! Everyone good? I hope so, cuz I've got a cold... Wooooh! As for this chapter, well, we've got a bit more character stuff as well as another mystery to add to the list. Don't worry, I am keeping track. One thing I will have to say about the chapter though, it gets a bit suggestive, a bit saucy. Nothing too explicit mind you, but a bit blatant. Anyways, on with the show!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP (They would never allow a scene like this, I guarantee it)
Enjoy.
Curiosity
"What do you think they're doing over there?" A single yellow eye gazes towards a growing group of wolves huddled around a docking boat, with Gongjiang making his way into the huddled crowd. Her youngest sister's question burrows its way into Su Wu's mind, her right paw tapping on one of the cafeteria's wooden tables. Dinner had been served nearly half an hour ago yet the three snow leopards remain within the nearly barren mess hall, eating an assortment of fruits, tofu and other scraps that can be loosely considered food.
Unlike her scarred sister, Wing Wu's eyes take a quick uninterested glance at said commotion before simply shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know."
Wan Wu merely gives her a blank stare, "Well, yeah, neither do I. I want to know what you think is going on." She reiterates, her tail twitching with an insatiable curiosity.
A frustrated sigh is given in response, "Okay, I have no idea because white wolfie up there barely tells us anything."
"He told us about the rhino guys." Wan Wu counters, a noticeable pout clear on her lips.
With a miniscule growl escaping her throat, Wing once again retorts, "After we had to probe him for it."
Rolling her eyes at her sceptic sister, Wan notices the thoughtful expression branded onto her eldest sister's face. Her signature look. Always thinking, always plotting, always scheming; sometimes Wan wonders if she ever hurts her head from thinking too much. "What about you, sis?"
Su Wu narrows her working eye as she notices two wolves and two gorillas slumping their way off the boat, their bison leader's eyes widening as they speak to him. Now this could be interesting. "I believe something is happening with their weapons. Something unexpected." In her own bout of curiosity, the lead snow leopard had snuck a glance every now and then at what had been going on in the cavern's construction centre. To be perfectly honest, a chill had run up her spine the first time she laid eyes upon those metallic monstrosities. To think that fire power like that could be real. To think that the dragon warrior had defeated it.
A scornful scoff shoots out of Wing Wu's lips, "You mean Shen's weapons, right? Hmph, the way these chumps worship that lunatic is pathetic."
"Considering the fact that they hold him to such high praise, perhaps it's best to consider getting on their good side." Su's sharp tone contrasts her ruminating posture, still keeping her eyes squarely on the bison whose veins pulsate on his forehead. Whether it be from rage or stress is something that she has yet decipher.
Wing noticeably wilts at her sister's side comment only to give Wan a mocking smile, "What, you mean like Wan?" The youngest leopard merely rolls her eyes, "At this rate I wouldn't be surprised if she became the whole camp's plaything."
A fiery scowl crosses Wan's face, though she fails to hide the lascivious glint in her eyes. "Hey! I'm not that easy."
"But you are easy? Ah, okay." Wing resists the urge to laugh at her little sister's boiling features.
"Well…" Su glances over a for a brief second, partly intrigued as to just how she would try to defend herself. Granted, she isn't worthy for a brothel but saying that her sister is salacious would be putting it pretty lightly. "Can you blame me?" Having practically predicted that response, the eldest sister switches her sights back to her main focus. "We've been stuck down here for months surrounded by muscular guys whilst their pheromones stink up the place. It's driving me nuts."
Wing only furrows her brows in an incredulous fashion, "Sis, hate to break it to you, but we've been down here the same amount of time as you and we haven't been drooling over these mutts."
"I don't drool!" Wan slams her paws down on the table, getting up out of her chair to lean her head closer to her older sister's face.
This attempt at dominance only entertains the elder snow leopard further as she thinks of yet another witty, yet humiliating, comeback. "Well, I guess something else is dripping wet then." Shock paralyses Wan's face only for it to be immediately replaced by an embarrassed rage. Just as a ferocious growl rumbles out of her throat, Su Wu butts back in.
"If you idiots are finished." She motions her head towards Gongjiang moving towards the army's barracks area, "Our point of interest is on the move."
Wing Wu's sceptical stare immediately latches onto the bison, noticing his hurried pace and his jaw clenched so tightly that it could shatter stone. "He's headed to Zhongcheng."
"Precisely." Su Wu's calculated timbre freezes the air in its coldness, "Could be the perfect chance to get some information."
"I'll go." Before either sister can object to Wan's voluntary service, she follows Gongjiang stealthily, her lustful twinkle still present in her yellow irises.
Tutting at her overly eager sister, Wing Wu shakes her head as she starts to get out of her chair, "She really is shameless, isn't she?" Before she can stand up however, she feels Su Wu's paw on her shoulder, guiding her back down to her seat. The lead sister sits with arms and legs crossed, wearing a smirk so light that it could be confused for lazy. A look that Wing knows all too well. She narrows her eyes before inquiring, "Alright… What's the play here?"
Su Wu's smirk only widens at her sister's question, "Let's put it like this: What's the quickest way to a man's heart?" After a few moments of contemplation, Wing Wu's eyes widen as she smirks along with her older sister.
"Oh, you are devious, sister. You really are."
Whilst they watch their lust-crazed sister follow the bison into the barracks, Zhongcheng pounds away at a wooden training dummy in the centre of the room. Splinters shower the air as his wrapped fists and feet make contact with his wooden enemy with beads of sweat pouring down his shirtless chest, raining down onto the floor in tiny specks. He enters his fighting stance once more before his paws glow a dark blue. Clenching them into fists again, he delivers devastating punch to the dummy, exploding it in a flash of blue. Wooden debris litters the floor, finally reunited with their splinter brothers, as Zhongcheng lets out a few laboured breaths.
Knock, knock, knock!
Figuring that is enough training for the day, the white wolf opens his door to find Gongjiang, a serious yet anxious twitch in his eye. "Our scouts have returned from our abandoned outpost." His attempts to maintain his composure are betrayed by the frustration layered in his gravelly voice.
"Do go on." Zhongcheng motions him to come in, an eyebrow raising in concern as he moves to the front of his desk. With arms held behind his back, he keeps keen ears on his lieutenant's words as his eyes remain focused on the maps still littered around his desk.
"They found nothing. The entire place was ransacked."
Dark blue eyes widen in shock. Now those are certainly not words he needed to hear. Then again, "You mean to say that everything left there was…"
"Taken." Gongjiang finishes, not even believing his own words himself. "Blueprints, unfinished cannons, spare parts, halfway smelted metal; Anything you could think of. The only thing that's still there is the building." Before his commander can ask, the bison quickly adds on, "And no, we don't know who could've done it. Our best guess is possibly a bunch of bandits." Expecting a horrid outburst from the wolf, Gongjiang braces himself. To his surprise however, Zhongcheng only lets out a thoughtful hum.
"I see." There is no way a random group of bandits could be responsible for something this big or this organised for that matter. No, someone with manpower did this. Someone who desperately needs those weapons… Though he does have his suspicions… "Keep working on any remaining units and keep tabs on which ones require your special component."
Still in shock of the commander's laxed reaction, the bison takes a moment before saluting, "Yes, sir."
As the bison exits the room, Zhongcheng continues swimming in his thoughts, almost certain of who is responsible for this slight in his plans. However, too many things don't add up. Or at least, not yet. With more plans popping up within his mind, the wolf commander begins noting it down on his maps, his concentration almost completely distracting him from another presence entering the room. "Qipian. I do hope that you have something good to tell me."
Said Komodo dragon slinks into the room, slightly unnerved by the wolf's caustic tone. As he stands in the centre of the room, he kicks away some of the stray splinters littering the floor. "Everything is proceeding just as you have expected, commander." Only an acknowledging hum is given in response, the wolf too preoccupied with his maps to give the reptile a proper answer. Taking this as invitation to continue, Qipian reports back, "The emperor has visited the hospital and has seen your handiwork with his own eyes. He has already tasked me with sending more guards out onto the streets."
To this, a whisper of a smirk crawls onto Zhongcheng's face. "I presume he is not at all convinced it's some kind of disease then."
"Not at all, sir. In fact, he is so certain of this, that he has sent a message to the masters of the Jade Palace." This immediately forces the wolf commander's eyes to lock onto the reptile's white irises, his smirk growing into a wicked grin.
"Well, that's sooner than expected. It seems he's far more perceptive than his father." He mutters to himself, before focusing back on his deceptive colleague, "This is excellent news, Qipian. Thank you."
Just as the white wolf goes back to scanning through his maps, Qipian steps forward, "That is not all, Zhongcheng." Noticing his serpentine voice practically hiss at him, Zhongcheng stares right into the Komodo dragon's eyes, "He told us about just how horrible the patients' conditions are. That they can't eat, drink or sleep." A scowl begins to form on Qipian's face as he continues, "Aren't we supposed to be protecting these people? Aren't we meant to be offering them something far stronger than what our current mandate is giving them? I understood that spreading fear would make things far easier, but I never thought you'd take it this far."
Zhongcheng slowly stands to his full height, towering over the hunched frame of the council's traitor, "Surely you understand that sacrifices need to be made to assure our power?" In spite of his deep, chilling voice, Qipian stands his ground.
"I was under the impression that the only sacrifice that would need to be made is the emperor's court, not innocent people. Our people." The wolf commander takes several measured steps around his desk until he stands directly in front of the protesting reptile, hoping that this enough will make him stand down. "Who exactly are we going to rule if everyone is dead?" Evidently not.
An incredulous expression crosses Zhongcheng's face, "Now, now, Qipian. What makes you think that this will be done to the whole populace? No, my friend, this is not a culling." A dark expression shapes his countenance as he makes his stance clear, "This is a warning. A display of our power. Yes, a few innocent people will be lost."
"Over a hundred is not 'a few', that could be an entire village's worth of people."
"And look what it has accomplished." Zhongcheng immediately argues back, his wicked grin returning. "They have called forth the furious five and dragon warrior… Do you not understand just how desperate the emperor is? Do you not understand how crippling this is for him?" At seeing Qipian's grimace remain on his face, the wolf opts for a different strategy. "Let's say we do things your way, that we take down the emperor's forces from the inside… No-one will be on our side. In fact, people will be outraged." White irises shift down to the floor, trying to think of a suitable counter only to be as blank as the very wood beneath his feet. "But with the way I've done things, not only have we expanded our forces, but when the time for conquest arises. When the dragon warrior has been reduced to nothing… The citizens of China will be too horrified to protest. Now that they know of what we're capable of, they will learn to respect our power."
As much as Qipian hates to admit, the commander does have a point. What would guarantee them the throne after casting out the emperor? What would make them earn the respect of the people after they've defeated their noble protectors? Nothing. So why bother gaining their respect? "Fear is the ultimate weapon, Qipian. And though it will result in unwanted casualties, in the end, it will provide us our victory."
Though part of him truly feels awful for those poor souls petrified within the forbidden city's hospital, Qipian ultimately bows towards the wolf, "You're right, commander. I'm sorry for doubting you." Dark blue eyes glare at the deceptive council member, searing through his scales and making his bones quake.
"Apologies are meaningless. Just ensure that you will think more carefully before doing so again, for I will be far less accommodating." Taking this as his que to leave, Qipian nods his head and bows once more before swiftly exiting the wolf's office.
Zhongcheng's eyes remain latched onto him as he heads out the door, his venomous countenance shifting to one of satisfaction. He turns to his desk and approaches it until he realises that he didn't hear his door shut. Curious, he looks back only to see the door held open by a petite foot. Of course. This irritated thought pulses in Zhongcheng's mind as the owner of said foot, Wan Wu, enters. To his surprise, however, none of her sisters follow her in. Perhaps this isn't another interrogation of sorts.
"Evening, commander." Her seductive voice kisses his ears as the snow leopard pulls down her face mask, locking the door behind her. She saunters forward, her half-lidded eyes delivering a tempting invitation.
Oh, I see. A newfound eagerness coats the wolf's grin as he makes it back to his desk, "What brings you here, my dear?"
His smooth voice brings an undeniable shiver to Wan's body. A shiver that yearns to be more. As Zhongcheng scribbles down something on one of the many maps strewn along his table, the awaiting snow leopard wraps her arms around his chest from behind. "Call it curiosity." Her whisper makes his ears twitch as she lightly kneads through his chest fur with her paws.
Restraining himself from reacting to her pleasing touch, Zhongcheng's smile grows wider as he continues writing, "Curious as to what, I wonder?" Right as he answers, he feels her warm breath tingling his bare back. Oh, dear Gods. To be honest, it really has been too long. No, he has to see what she's up to. No doubt that any of those three sisters are too dangerous to underestimate.
"Curious as to how men that are so sure of themselves cower in your presence." She rubs her cheek onto his back as she massages his abdominal muscles, her imagination running wild with thoughts of his body pressed against hers. "That you can be so dominant. So commanding." A primal urge deep within her begins to bubble up to the surface as she takes in the commander's musky scent, "What kind of power does it take to bring a servant of the emperor to his knees?" Though part of that question is genuine, Wan's mind barely pays attention to it as she gives his back a slow, tentative lick.
Zhongcheng bits his bottom lip at her intimate gesture, forcing him to drop his pen and turn to face her once more. "The kind that very few can possess. The kind that can be very dangerous when toyed with." He holds her close as his timbre quiets to a deep, husky whisper. "The kind that often eats up those who are curious."
This threat doesn't faze Wan in the slightest, her primitive side only heating up as his whisper reaches her ears. "Oh, you can eat me up all you like, big boy." She purrs out, drawing herself even closer to him as she places her right paw on his chest.
Dark blue eyes are infected by the snow leopard's salacious twinkle, her constant purring sending pleasurable vibrations through both of their bodies. He unconsciously presses their bodies closer together, only making her purr louder. How can he possibly resist? "Perhaps, I can spare a few minutes." This is barely even a question, for his lecherous expression clearly betrays his need for this.
A lascivious smile coating her face, Wan wraps her arms around his torso again as she wraps her right leg around his waist. She lets her body move on its own, grinding her clothed crotch against his as her eyes invite him to explore her. Hoping that she'll finally get his primal passion clawing to the surface, ready to ravage her. "How about a few hours, my lord?"
That'll about do it.
Within mere seconds, Zhongcheng gives a ferocious kiss to her lips as he picks her up by the legs. She reciprocates his amorous actions and wraps her legs around his waist, mewling into his mouth as she feels his paws groping at her body. He turns around and haphazardly clears his plans off the table before throwing her down onto it, ravenously making out with her as the two begin to tear at the other's clothes.
It doesn't take long for pleasured moans and lust-crazed growls to fill the room, but it will certainly be a while until they stop.
Yeah... As I've said, a bit suggestive. Funnily enough, the suggestive scene in fragile hearts was also on chapter 9. Go figure. I do wonder if I have to change the rating to M for it, but I don't think its too bad. Aside from that, yet another mystery with their abandoned outpost. Now who on earth would take their cannons? Hm... All will be revealed... I dunno, sometime soon maybe? This chapter for some reason has been the easiest to write for me so far, no idea why, it just kind of blasted through me. Maybe cuz I'm in a very good mood, who knows. Hope you've enjoyed the chapter (but don't enjoy it too much *Waggles eyebrows*) and until next time :)