Chapter 12: The fallen enemy
The monster escaped their safety net much sooner than Xiao Lan would have liked it too. Byakko was too powerful for these ordinary tricks to contain it for long and none of the guards looked trained enough to get it under control.
"Has anyone here learned beast taming in the academy?" since the traditional techniques weren't cutting it then they would have to get innovative.
But it was evident from those blank faces that none of these guards were any more skilled at this art than Xiao Lan himself. Fu Hua would have been a better choice than Xiao Lan since he knew the art but the restraint put on Fu Hua's power was a glaring concern.
"Noble Lee said that he will take some experts with him and try to resolve the array. We just need to hold on for a little longer" Xiao Lan turned toward the guard with a look of disbelief.
Did the other really believe Noble Lee knew anyone good enough to resolve this array when he did not even know that it was not a fully demonic array? What's more, it puts Fu Hua at unnecessary risk.
"Someone stop that fool before he makes this situation worse. Everyone else, try to keep the beast busy" the guard looked confused at Xiao Lan's words but he complied with them and left. Now there was hope that they would be able to stop Noble Lee's 'help' in time.
They tried to bind the beast once again but he was not having it at all. Byakko let out a loud road that came off as equally irritated and fearful. There was something the beast did not like at all.
Xiao Lan took a quick look at the array below but there was a light covering it. Fu Hua had likely started to resolve it or at least suppress it for now. How the other was managing to pull that deed off was a mystery to Xiao Lan.
Not that the prince was complaining. The other owned it to the people to save them by whatever means possible. Even if something in Xiao Lan was protesting and begging him to stop the other, he had to suppress it.
He should not forget that the other was a traitor and what he had put Xiao Lan through. Xiao Lan should not care about anything happening to the other at all.
"W-What is it doing?" the guard questioned and Xiao Lan braced himself for an inevitable assault with the corrupted divine beast. The beast had to be panicking now because the raised fur of the other made him look like a pissed-off cat.
"Brace yourself and engage the beast" Xiao Lan gave the other, expecting the attack to come any second but the beast faced away from them.
Instead of chasing them, it chose to head downwards where the array was being dealt with. His target was Fu Hua and none of the warriors was fast enough to stop the beast.
Xiao Lan felt his heart stop as his powers burst through. The guards around him were pushed off and looked on in awe as the holy light burst through the young prince.
The royal family line boasts of having mysterious power, not only from the father's side but also from their mysterious mother's side. The rumours had said that the current imperial mother, the birth mother to the second prince, had immortal blood inside of her as well.
Of course, this rumour could not be satisfied since the other seldomly showed herself and her origins were unknown to most people.
But seeing this distant relative of hers explode with strong spiritual powers like the royal line just served to prove those rumours.
Xiao Lan, who was unaware of those assumptions being made, just hurried off after the monster. His speed matched the Byakko but he still fell a few seconds short of catching the beast.
The monster touched Fu Hua but then a burst of light clashed with the beast and he disappeared.
Xiao Lan felt his energy drain once the danger was gone. He was still a few meters away from the other but his position gave a clear image of what was going in front of him. The mist was also disappearing now since the array was almost sealed.
Fu Hua had his hands extended, his body shaking lightly and Xiao Lan knew that he had expended a lot of effort right now.
The feelings brewing inside of Xiao Lan were conflicting. The other had dragged himself to such a condition even when he did not have to. Fu Hua had betrayed him and this nation already so it was clear to interpret that he held no interest in its welfare.
Once Xiao Lan had left him and the other had no supervision, he could have easily left this place and started a new life. While the seals on him would remain forever, the handcuffs could be removed if the other tried hard enough.
But the other had stayed and protected everyone and even now was trying to reach the array to seal it. The danger had yet to pass and Xiao Lan should really ensure everyone's safety first.
The drained body of the other dropped down like a puppet with his strings cut. It brought a pang in Xiao Lan's heart but he resolved to keep on looking. He needed to take everything in because it was Fu Hua's retribution.
"Please, let me touch the seal" the rough and tired voice reached Xiao Lan's ears and he wanted to help the other.
'It's not for his sake but for the people. The array needs to be closed' of course that was the reason for those urges. Fu Hua no longer held any place in Xiao Lan's life after all, not after the last betrayal.
"You dog. I knew I should not have trusted you at all" Xiao Lan moved fast but someone moved even faster. In the blink of an eye, Noble Lee had Fu Hua's wrist in his grip and he squeezed in a painful manner.
The other did not even have enough energy to protest as his body was dragged. There was a small and content smile on that unconscious face as Fu Hua's hand met the seal and it snapped into place.
The array had been effectively sealed and the danger had passed.
As soon as it had happened, Noble Lee let Fu Hua drop with a disgusted look and wiped his hand off with a handkerchief which he dropped soon after.
"Someone make sure this dog gets back to his cell soon. I'll go and report this to the emperor and tell him that everything has been dealt with" no one moved to pick Fu Hua up, their eyes looking at Noble Lee in unhidden fear.
It was not unlikely that the Noble would punish the person who picked the slave up first. After all, every one of these guards knew how much Noble Lee hated this slave.
The rest of the guards came down as well and this time, some of the royal guards were mixed in as well. The noise of the fight had brought these people here.
Xiao Lan could recognise a familiar face in the crows. The captain commander had arrived as well but he had not yet made his presence known. Xiao Lan tried to catch the other's eyes and succeeded.
The black eyes of the captain commander widened when he looked at him and then at Fu Hua just a tiny fraction before they went to normal. After all, the captain commander was one of the handfuls of people who knew about his current situation.
Xiao Lan gestured to the fallen Fu Hua who still laid flat on the ground. The captain commander gave him a concerned look of understanding before he stepped forward and picked up the light body.
"Who dared to pick this dog up directly? Drop this filth right now and I'll be lenient with your punishment" Nobel Lee did not seem happy at the development. He had given the order himself but he had not actually wanted to actually have someone pick Fu Hua.
The rest of the guards watched with nervous faces as the newcomer picked up the disgraced slave. Most of them marvelled at his courage but some who had recognised him cheered mentally.
Finally, Noble Lee was going to meet his match.
"Have you gone deaf? Who are you and who is your master?" Noble Lee came close, his anger through the roof now. How dare a low life like this guard goes against someone of Noble Lee's social position.
Did they not value their life and position. Noble Lee had good connections with the emperor after all and he was not above using them to gain anything.
"He's my guard and I would appreciate it if you would stop barking orders at him. After all, he's many times better than you in every way" Xiao Lan came forward, his voice authoritative and his face calm.
But his eyes held fire and danger which made Noble Lee gulp his saliva in fear.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone