Autumn, Eighteenth Year of the Xin Zhuo Emperor

*Hide.*

Qing and Morha were traveling on the narrow trail along the Quian River when the long suddenly raised a forepaw, before immediately dashing to a nearby talus pile. After a second’s pause, the mušḫuššu followed. The two dragons quickly scrambled behind a pair of large boulders mostly hidden behind a grove of pine trees.

From behind the stones Qing and Morha could see their pursuers as they approached, clearly searching for them along the path: fifty household guards, a dozen archers, a half dozen horse tamers, a pair of guardian lions, a qilin, and a long of their own. The former captain of the guard frowned. This was a powerful force, far stronger than even two warrior dragons-which Morha was definitely not- could face. Lord Buzhong wanted them back.

The guardian lions were tracking, noses to the ground, following their scent; with their keen sense of smell, the two fugitives would be detected within a few minutes.

Qing also happened to know her opponents: Niutuo and Mamien were two of the best trackers among the household, while the commander Oliver Piero was a veteran human hunter with decades of experience and Jera was a serene but determined boon-giver. Finally, the dragon with them was Hong, the young and ambitious but otherwise capable warrior. That added additional ethical difficulties for the blue dragon: even with a successful fight, old comrades-perhaps she could even call them friends- would be hurt. It wouldn’t be very comforting to harm people that she had lived and worked with for so many years.

Fuck.

There would need to be a confrontation. That much was clear. Something to delay the pursuers. Morha was so close to safety.

Qing wouldn’t harm her enemies, but she wouldn’t let the mušḫuššu be captured again either. There was nearly no possibility of victory, so sacrifices would have to be made.

Sacrifices like Qing.

The eastern dragon gave a brief pause, but sighed deeply, before turning to her comrade, who was staring at the hunting party in front of them with fear.

*Listen, Morha. That group of hunters are pursuing us fast. They will catch up to us soon.*

*Why didn’t we go faster?* The purple dragon complained quietly.

*Because you have been captive for a while and are unfamiliar with the road. There was no choice. Now listen closely: when I give the signal, I want you to run up the talus pile here as fast as you can. At the top, fly over to the next canyon. It should be doable for a dragon like you. Descend into the water and wade through the river. That should throw your scent off these guardian lions. Follow the river to the second ford, then take the Road South. After ten days, you should reach Panyu. When you meet the Berang, tell them that Frahat sent us and that Qing wishes them good fortune on their venture. Good luck.*

The purple dragon stared blankly.

*Run, little one. I’ll do my best to hold them off.*

*Um, okay.*

*Go!*

***

The hunting party had just reached the bottom of the talus pile when Qing stepped out.

Immediately Piero's force tensed up and readied themselves for a fight, the guardian lions breaking apart to approach the blue dragon from opposing sides, the archers notching their bows and the horse tamers beginning to swing their lassos. Hong began to collect water overhead. Qing herself wasn't ready for that.

At least, just not yet.

"Oliver Piero, nice to see you so far from the capital." The blue dragon announced.

The commander of the enemy knelt.

"Forgive me, my lady, but you know why we're here. We want Zhihuan, not for ourselves, but for the Emperor, may he live forever. I don’t know what made you turn away and oppose the emperor’s will, but you must know that it is wrong. Come with us and beg forgiveness from the Emperor and Lord Buzhong, and I am sure that they would be merciful."

Qing sighed. "It is wrong to oppose the will of the Emperor, but it is also wrong for the Emperor to impose his will to harm others who do no harm to him, especially for people who were never a part of our world."

"The Emperor is the ruler of Heaven and Earth and does as he sees fit."

"Unless he is not the rightful emperor."

Piero shook his head. "You know better than to say such poison, Qing. Please surrender and make this easy for all of us."

The blue long raised her paws into the air. "Can I think over it a bit?"

"Please don't insult me. I know you're stalling, Qing. I know Zhihuan is fleeing somewhere as we speak. You surrender now, and then we talk."

The blue dragon shrugged. "I guess we will fight then."

"A pity." Piero lowered his head and nodded.

Niutuo and Mamien immediately charged at Qing, but she nimbly avoided the two attacks, twirling like a snake to strike back at the guardian lions with fists and tail before beginning to summon rain. Piero meanwhile had ordered the horse tamers to spread out and surround their opponent, the archers to initiate harassing fire and the long and qilin to prepare for engagement.

The human hunters fired their arrows, but Qing was ready for them, and hurled her collected water in a strongly flowing sheet of liquid that deflected the projectiles. A second storm of precipitation violently downed a dozen guards, and then the blue dragon charged, knocking over a dozen more and scattering the rest. She did not come out of the encounter unscathed, with a half dozen arrows and a spear embedded in her side, but that was to be expected. Niutuo and Mamien attacked her again, Qing diving to avoid the first, then immediately leaping into the air to avoid the second. Jera attacked next, the qilin’s hooves attempting to smash the dragon's face in, while her horns threatened to gore the long. Qing weaved in and out, clawing back and whipping her tail. The two danced in a surprisingly graceful duel, the qilin's fortune making sure that the equine was getting the better end of the fight. Still, bruised and bloody though she was, Qing was still larger, and finally as the qilin charged once more, the long grappled her opponent's horns and violent threw the equine upon the ground, stunning the qilin.

Then Qing was hit by a spray of water, highly pressured like they were icicles. The female dragon staggered back from the pain, crouching low, growling. The blue long knew the attack was purposefully weaker than possible, and in a way she appreciated that, though the former captain also knew that Hong was purposefully toying with her.

The renegade dragon responded with a torrent of water of her own, only to immediately be forced to evade another charge from Mamien, before being caught by lassos from the horse tamers and set upon by a contingent of regrouped spearmen. Piero himself attacked with his deadly guandao.

"Surrender Qing! You know better than this!"

Partially restrained by the ropes, the long had difficulty evading the blows, though the attacks from Piero and the tamers also prevented the archers, guardian lions, and Hong from continuing their participation.

Qing used that to her advantage, never quite losing her abilities to dodge but also slowing down to recover and hopefully give her pursuers the appearance of gradual submission.

Finally she fell to the ground, ropes pinning her down from all sides. Qing lowered her head. The hunting party gradually approached, the tamers throwing more ropes down and tying them off. Piero himself walked over, deadly polearm at the ready.

"Are you done with this foolishness, my lady? I can't believe you of all dragons would rebel against our master."

Qing looked up, and gave a crooked smile.

"Sometimes we need to rebel against great wrongs, Piero. You're a good man and brave, my friend, and thus I'll make sure you survive this."

With that, the long abruptly erupted from the ground with all her strength, twisting and throwing water over herself as she twisted free from her binds and sent a typhoon of water shooting in all directions. Piero and the spearmen and tamers attempted to respond but were sent hurtling back by the force of the sprays, and even the guardian lions were driven back by the force. Airborne, Qing sent two additional volleys of water straight at the heads of Niutuo and Mamien, pointedly knocking out the pair of guardian lions. Jera of course easily evaded the next attack in her direction. Just as the blue dragon turned her attacks on Hong however, a massive outburst of water knocked her from the sky.

Qing fell.

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悉尼琵琶教室 - 疾如猛火

From  TheRoguez!