The Human, The Assassin and The Leopard Part 3

Leo and Zhi continued walking down the path to the middle part of the mountain. They arrived at the field. Kun and Biyu were playing tag with the others kids chasing Qiao around as Nala watched from the entrance of the cave. Leo thought it would be a good idea that Zhi stays out of sight so the other children wouldn't be afraid of her. That way Leo can talk to Nala about the situation.

"Zhi, you're going to have to stay out of sight for a few minutes." Leo said to her. "The kids may be afraid of you when they meet you."

"Sure." Zhi nodded her head and hides behind a big rock.

Leo walks out into the open and heads up to the cave. Nala looks up and smiled when she saw him. "You're back." Nala said. "What did you find?"

"I found a dead body of the bandit back at the bamboo forest." Leo replied. "The body was covered in marks and there was dried blood on the grass too. But then I heard a roar that was further up the mountain."

"Yeah." Nala nodded. "We all heard it too. I wonder what it was."

"About that Nala." Leo said. "You need to come with me."

Nala gave him a confused look and nodded her head. She followed him out of the cave and Leo led her to the big rock. When the two of them walk around the rock, Nala gasps in shock when she see Zhi. "Impossible." Nala whispered as she was shocked to see a real live Zheng Ning.

"I was surprised too." Leo said.

"Did you try to kill her?" Nala asks him.

"I didn't." Leo answered. "Nala, this is Zhi Weichi. Zhi, this is Nala."

"Were you the one who kidnapped these children?" Nala asks Zhi.

"No." Zhi answered. "I saved those children. And I was going to save those two kids you were carrying because I thought you were friends with that assassin."

"Give me a break." Nala snarls at her. "You were going to kidnap those kid and yes I'm friends with Qiao who is an assassin."

"She was talking about the assassin Hai Li, Nala." Leo said to Nala.

"Another assassin?" Nala looks at him confused.

"He's been kidnapping these children." Zhi said, making Nala to turn and look at her. "I have been saving these children and I want them to be back with their families."

"I see." Nala nodded her head. "I'm sorry I thought you were kidnapping the children."

"Don't worry about it." Zhi smiled.

Qiao lands right next to Leo. "Seems like the situation has changed." Qiao said.

"How much did you hear?" Nala asks her.

"Every word." the lynx said.

Leo jumps on top of the rock and looks down at them. "Then the situation has changed." Leo said. "We need to find and stop Hai from kidnapping anymore children."

"Hai is a powerful warrior for an assassin." Zhi said.

"Do you know where Hai is?" Nala asks her.

"His camp is not far from here." Zhi answered. "Hai's camp is located near the bamboo forest."

"Hm." Leo said. "We need a plan. And I think I know how."

It was the late afternoon. The mother goat was singing a lullaby to her baby. She walks over to the crib and puts her baby down gently before covering a blanket. Then she left the room. After she left, someone entered the room from the window.

It was Hai Li, the black wolf. He was wearing some dark clothing and his eyes are brown. Hai didn't make a sound. He walks towards the crib in silent and place his hands on the rail. "You'll have a new family soon, little one." Hai smiled evilly. He removes the blanket to see the child but instead, it was a action figure of Monkey.

Qiao lands on the floor from the ceiling behind him as Nala appeared from underneath the crib.

"Well now, I wasn't expecting to see you two in here." Hai said. "Especially another assassin."

"I don't think you're here to make friends." Nala snarls at him.

"Hmph." the wolf chuckled. "I'm here to help a child to grow up in a new family."

"Yeah right." Qiao snarls at him as she draws her dagger. "You're a damn bastard who's been kidnapping children."

"So what if I am?" Hai asks, looking over his shoulder. "These children needs a new family. Besides, they're young and naïve!" He grabs Qiao quickly and her across the room.

Nala didn't have a chance to dodge as the lynx slams into her against the wall. The black wolf turns around and jumps through the window he came in. Before Hai can run, Zhi quickly runs into Hai and used her horn to scratch him.

"Gr!" he grunted in pain.

Leo jumps off from the roof behind the black wolf and tackles him into the ground before landing in front of him.

Hai pushes himself off from the ground to stand up and looks at Leo. "So it's true." Hai grins evilly. "The human from the Valley Of Peace." Then he looks at Zhi. "And we meet again, Zheng Ning."

"You will not escape easily, assassin." Zhi snarls at him

Nala and Qiao joins them as they surrounded Hai.

"Give up." Leo said as he got into his tiger stance.

"I don't think so." Hai said, placing his hand on his dagger behind him. He grips the red hilt tightly and draws his dagger.

Leo quickly jumps over as he draws his diamond sword and try to slash the black wolf. Hai smirks as he blocks it and delivered a punch across Leo's face and kicking him in the stomach.

Nala came in with a flying side kick but Hai caught it. Before he can attack, Zhi quickly charges him with her horn and manage to stab his arm.

"Gr!" Hai grunted as he cuts Zhi's arm. Zhi grunted a bit, feeling the cut.

Qiao went for his legs and kicks the back of his knee, forcing him to kneel. Hai delivered a back kick to her stomach and punches her in the chest to send her flying into Leo. Zhi landed in front of Hai and was delivering quick punches. The assassin easily block her punches. Hai broke through her punches and attempts to stab her with his dagger, but Zhi used her horn to block it.

"Hmph!" Hai grunted as the dagger and horn locked each other.

"Ha!" Qiao shouted, drawing her dagger and attempted to stab him from behind.

"Whoa!" Hai yelled, grabbing her wrist his free hand. He was able to stun Zhi with a headbutt before he did side kick to her stomach. Hai turns his attention to Qiao. "You got to do better then that." he smirked.

"Then don't look now." she smiled.

"Hm?" Hai looked confused.

She quickly rolls backward as Leo land in front of the assassin. Leo quickly slashes him across the chest quickly three times, not giving Hai a chance to strike.

"Ngh!" he yelled in pain.

Nala jumps next to Qiao and the two girls ran passed Leo and Zhi towards Hai. He grabs them by the throats, slams them into each other before he threw them at the side of the house.

"Nala! Qiao!" Leo shouted, running towards the girls. He knelt down to see if they're alright. He could hear there was light breathing from them. Leo looks at Hai with an angry look on his face.

"So long!" Hai called out to them as he turns around and runs away quickly.

"We can't let him escape." Zhi told Leo.

Leo nodded his head and the two of them chased after the assassin. They kept chasing him through the bamboo forest and headed up the mountain before stopping in the middle of the field.

"Hmph!" Hai snickered as he turns around to face them. "You're good, I'll give you that, human." Hai said.

"Then you should know I'm a good damn warrior, you fucking bastard." Leo growled, pointing his sword at the assassin. "Or did you forget those three cuts on your chest?"

"I won't let you stop me." Hai said. "The two of you will die here on this mountain."

"As if!" Zhi yells at him.

Leo and Zhi both ran towards the assassin. He quickly try to slash Hai, but the assassin was dodging the sword and the horned leopard's paws. Hai caught her paw and turns her around to put her arm behind her back before slashing her across the back.

"Gragh!" she screams in pain.

Hai kicks her across the grass.

"Rargh!" Leo growled as he threw in some punches. He saw an opening and cuts Hai below the ribcage. But he wasn't fast enough to dodge Hai's headbutt.

Hai did two powerful knee strikes to him in the stomach before throwing him in the air above him. He jumps in the air, did a powerful stab to the chest with two kicks. Leo was sent flying he hits the ground rolling and coming to a stop on his stomach.

"Gragh!" Leo yelled in pain.

Zhi used the opportunity to do a flying sidekick to Hai's chest.

"Gah!" Zhi shouted in pain.

"And take this!" Zhi yelled, running her horn through his chest.

"RRAGH!" Hai screams in pain. He quickly punch her in the face and pushes her away, his blood dripping from her horn. Hai grabs her by the throat and slams her extremely hard into the ground before throwing her up in the air, appearing above her and delivered a powerful axe kick to the back on the neck.

"Argh!" Zhi grunted as she hits the ground and was knocked out.

Leo got on all fours and looks over at the unconscious horned leopard.

"Heh." Hai smirks, walking slowly towards her. "Now you die."

Leo couldn't let her die. He won't let Hai get away with this. He won't stand for these kids taken away from their real families. But something inside Leo began wake and it was familiar. Leo slowly got up, staring at the assassin with hate and fury. "Roar!" Leo roars in fury.

The assassin stops in his tracks, looking at Leo in shocked. "What the hell?" he gasps.

Leo takes a step forward. The assassin quickly lit several torches of small bombs he was carrying and threw the small bombs at Leo. The bombs exploded on impact. He chuckled as the human was killed.

"Groar!" Leo roared, diving forward from the smoke into a roll and stands up, shocking the assassin. His arms and legs were on fire. Leo quickly ran towards the assassin in a powerful body slam tackle.

"Gah!" Hai grunted, hitting the ground several feet away. "Son of a bitch!" Hai growled, standing up. "How the hell is he still alive?!"

Leo ran at him and started to throw in some punches, palm strikes and kicks to the assassin all around him. With each attack, Hai was forced to raise his arms to defend himself before he started backing away and he couldn't even strike back.

"I've never fought someone like this before!" Hai thought.

Leo continued pressing his attack. He slices Hai's back, making him scream in pain and spreading his arms. He jumps over him before cutting the assassin's arm off and stabs him through the chest with his sword. With his left hand free, Leo grabs him by the throat and lifts him in the air.

"GARG... Ngh!" Hai wheezed, struggling for air. He wanted to scream.

Zhi regain conscious. She pushes herself from the ground to sit. "Gr." Zhi groans. As she looks up, Nala and Qiao caught up to them.

"Are okay?" Nala asks her, kneeling down next to her.

"I am okay, but look!" Zhi yelled.

Nala and Qiao looks at Leo and gasps.

Leo withdrew his weapon, threw Hai high into the air above him and throws his sword back in the assassin's chest.

"ARGH!" he screams in pain, coughing up blood.

Leo quickly jumps toward the assassin and grabs his weapon. His jump sent them a little higher. He quickly pulls his weapon away as he turn the assassin around to look at him. As the two began to fall down, Leo stabs Hai through the heart and grabs him by the throat. The two warriors fell through the air and crashes into the ground, causing the ground to explode as smoke covered the two warriors.

The smoke began to disappear, causing all three of them to gasp in shock. Leo stood above the dead assassin with anger and hate. His sword was removed from the chest as blood was dripping on the ground from the sword. Leo continues to stare at him, not taking his eyes off of the assassin. He was also covered in blood.

"Groar." Leo panted.

"He defeated Hai." Nala said.

"I'm glad it's over." Qiao nodded.

"Wait." Zhi said as Nala helps her up to her feet. "There's something wrong with Leo." She was right.

Leo began to bare his teeth at the dead body. He snarls and growled softly before he plunge at Hai's body and began tearing the flesh in the hole he made with his sword.

"Leo!" Nala shouted in horror.

All three of them rushes to Leo. Before Leo was about to something even more terrifying, he looks up and sees them running towards him. They stop in front of him. "GRR!" he growled at them.

"Leo, it's alright." Nala said with a worried look. "Hai is already dead. You have to calm down."

"Grr..." Leo growled softly. "Calm... down?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes." Nala answered.

"The fight is over." Qiao said.

Leo looks down at his reflection on the sword. He was covered in blood and his chest was bleeding. Leo could also notice the fire on his arms. His hate and fury began to disappear as he remembered what happened on that night. Leo slowed his breathing as he was shocked of what he done.

Before Leo could say something, he felt something wet and cool splash him. He turns around and sees Dr. Fai Bo standing behind him with a empty bucket that was wet. Leo looks at his body and saw his arms and legs were not burning anymore. He wanted to speak, but his energy was leaving him. Leo took knelt down before he fell sideways and the last thing he saw was Nala kneeling down next to him.

The next morning, Nala, Zhi and Qiao was sitting outside of Leo's room in the hall. Dr. Fai was fixing Leo throughout the night. He didn't want anyone to disturb him. All three of them were fine, but couldn't forget what they saw last night. Nala can hear someone snoring from Leo's room.

Curious, she opens the door and sees the doctor sleeping on the floor snoring. Leo was sleeping peacefully. His arms were covered in a couple bandages. He wasn't wearing his shirt when Nala opens the door. Stepping in quietly, Nala walks to his bed.

She notice Leo's chest was back to normal. Nala removes the blanket completely. His legs were also covered in bandages as well. "Mmhm..." She can hear Leo groaning softly. "Nala?"

Nala smiled as Leo opens his eyes. She helps him to sit up.

"Nala?" Leo groans. "Where am I?"

"You're in a room at the doctor's office." Nala answered. "Dr. Fai worked all night to fix you up."

The doctor opens his eyes and stands up, letting out a yawn. "Oh." Dr. Fai said, smiling as he saw Leo up. "It's nice to see you awake. How are you feeling?"

"Feeling better, thanks to you." Leo said. "Wait, what happened to Zhi? Is she alright?"

"I'm here." Zhi answered, entering the room with Qiao. "I was knocked out for a couple minutes."

"I thought you two were dead when you ran after that assassin." Qiao replied. "But when we caught up, we couldn't believe what we saw."

"You killed Hai and your arms and legs were on fire." Nala said. "Then you began tearing his flesh before we told you to calm down."

"And when those three calms you down, I threw the water on you." Dr. Fai added. "I've never seen something like this before."

Leo looks at his arms and legs. There were several burned marks that he notices with some blood stains. "Hm." Leo sighs, clenching the sheets. "So it happened again. It's been several years since..."

"But I'm more surprised that you murdered Hai like that." Nala said.

"I didn't want Hai to kill Zhi and take the chidren away." Leo replied.

"All four of you saved this village, the children and defeated that black wolf." Dr. Fai said. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Leo said.

"I'm going to get some herbs and tea for you to drink in case something is wrong." Dr. Fai said, leaving the room.

Leo rested for half of the day as he was standing outside of the village with Nala, Zhi and Qiao as Dr. Fai stood with Kun, Biyu, Liu and Ju.

"We want to thank you for saving this village." Liu said to the four of them.

"Don't worry about it." Leo said.

Leo travels back to the capital for two days. He stood before Han and explains of his mission in the village. Thirty minutes has passed as the Emperor listened. But he noticed that Leo's breathing was slowing and his body shook a little after Leo mention what the three girls saw what he did to Hai's body after he killed him. After Leo finished his report, Han stands up and walks over to him.

"That's an interesting report there, Leo." Han said as he stops in front of him. "I never thought a Zheng Ning helped you."

"I know." Leo said.

"But there's one thing I want to know." Han said. "Has this happened before? You were breathing a little slow and your body shook a little."

Leo looks at both of his arms. "I'm sorry, your majesty." Leo apologizes as he looks back up. "It just brought back a memory. A memory I remember and a memory I truly wish to forget."

"If it bothers you that much, then I won't say anything." Han smiled. "The important matter is that you saved the village and the children. Excellent work."

"Thank you, your majesty." Leo said.

"And don't worry, I didn't forget about our deal." Han said. "You are welcomed to stay in China."

"Thank you, your majesty." Leo thanks him.

They heard the doors open and something crashed. Leo turns around and notices a water buffalo laying beneath a pile of armor and weapons.

"Hey, are you the human named Leo?" he asks him.

"I am." Leo answered.

"Sweet!" he shouted with excitement as he jumps out of the pile with a couple pieces of armor on with a weapon. He was wearing brown pants and a green sash. He ran over but trip and slides toward Leo.

Leo and Han got out of the way as the water buffalo crashes into the steps.

"Your majesty?" Leo asks him confused.

"Don't worry." Han said to him. "That is Lu Kang. Lu come over here."

Lu pushes himself up and walks over to them.

"Leo, this is my grandson, Lu." Han introduces his grandson to Leo. "He's a klutz."

"I see." Leo said.

"Lu, I must speak with Leo alone." Han said to him.

Lu nodded and left.

"Sorry about that." Han said.

Leo left the palace and was walking alone in a grassy field. He roll up his sleeves and stops walking to look at his arms. It happened again for the third time. It was a terrible and horrifying time that night for the first time. He drew his diamond sword to look at his reflection.

Leo can still hear the sirens and the screams after it happened a second time. "Hm." Leo sighed. "I don't want to lose myself like that again. If I do..." He sheaths his weapon and continues to walk back home to the Valley Of Peace.

This chapter is all set. I bet you weren't expecting to see Lu at the end of this chapter. Now for Leo, his action has a connection for the story, including Nala, Qiao and Zhi. I'm not going to spoil anything so you have to wait and see. But don't worry, those three girls will come in other chapters of the story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to leave a review because the next chapter is going get very interesting!