Chapter 73 - The Fight

"You can't be here," Yuan Bojing said as he faced Long Xia, who was in front of him now. 

She wore black fighting gear, a sword strapped to her back. Her face was flushed; her features were hard and determined. Yuan Bojing unconsciously smiled.

Instead of coming straight over, Long Xia had believed Yuan Bojing would still be standing, long enough for her to get ready look the part. This was the fighting ring, her fighting ring—and with the eighth member present, it was now officially the final battle. 

The Eight Organizations hadn't always followed the rules. It was in their nature to bend and twist them. Pushing it two days early didn't mean anything, and he knew his mother was present—the others were too. It was official. 

Still, he'd rather her not be here because there were no more rules on this ground. It was no longer fair. And they both could die. 

Long Xia's ice-blue eyes met his. She unsheathed her sword, pointing the tip at him and the other fighters. "Starting the fight without me?" she cooed. "That's not very nice." 

Two of the warriors took a step back. Yuan Bojing may have fought and trained to be the top of the class, but it does not erase the one detail that Long Xia was. She was his equal in strength, stealth, agility, education—she was his female counterpart, but what's more, is the fact that she's a Long. 

She pointedly held the sword at them, and it told them one thing. She came here because she wanted the role of the Empress and would do anything and everything to get it.

She was here to fulfill the promise of bringing the title back to the Long family as her predecessors failed to do so, what her older brothers did not want. She was here with anger and rage and determination in her eyes. 

While her deathly expression scared the other competitors, Yuan Bojing could not help but stare in awe. He smiled, and then Long Xia saw him and swept up to him. She punched him in the arm, and then she kissed him on the mouth. Hard. In front of everyone. 

Yuan Bojing gaped at her. But once he felt the softness of her mouth over his, her hands clutching at his hair, he closed his eyes, falling into it.

He heard audible gasps coming from the audience, and then he stuck his middle finger up in the air and flipped off those who watched them. 

It was insane how much he loved Long Xia and what he'd do for her, and he was able to show it in front of everyone. 

Finally. 

Long Xia parted from him, wearing a sad, tragic smile. Her expression was soft and warm, more vulnerable than she'd ever let him see. He could see it in her eyes, her face, what he'd long to witness. 

"If you fall," she began to say. "I will fall too." Translation: If you die, I die.

He let her words register. She'd rather die than wear the crown without him, and it told him everything he needed to know. She loved him, and it seeped so deep into her soul, he could feel it, see it. He never knew he could ever have this, and yet it was standing right before him. 

Yuan Bojing held out his pinkie and said, "I love you." 

He told her those words many times throughout his life, even when it seemed like he was teasing her. He meant it every time, even when she never believed him. He hoped she believed him now. 

Long Xia's gaze collided with his. "I love you, too," she responded with raw honesty and emotion. She locked his pinkie with hers to make a promise—that they'd do anything and everything to find their way back to each other. 

A strong and powerful voice then broke them apart. It was the Empress standing tall before them. She rarely spoke in public, but this was a momentous occasion. With all eight members present, they could officially begin, even when Yuan Bojing already felt battered. 

He glanced back at Long Xia once more. He gave her a look, and she gave him a nod. 

Once the Empress made the final call, they turned their backs against each other. 

…

Long Xia felt the adrenaline course through her body. 

She prepared for this. But so had the other seven. 

She had a slim chance of making out of this. And the chances of both her and Yuan Bojing getting out of this were even smaller. 

But she had to remind herself who they were. Long Xia came from a bloodline of warriors—Yuan Bojing's history remained a mystery to her, but she believed in his strength and skill, regardless of his name. 

She clutched the pommel of her sword, her breathing harsh and shallow. She glanced at the spectators that now filled the arena. It made her feel like a sheep. The eight of them were all sheep to them, fighting each other until the strongest one was left alive. They were entertainment. 

Long Xia gritted her teeth. 

She was facing three opponents, the way Yuan Bojing was facing the other three behind her. 

A man from the Tortoise organization looked at where her eyes had been towards the spectators. He smiled cruelly. "What a show you put on, Long. More will come to watch, ever since they heard that two lovers will be fighting." He paused, his eyes bulging. His voice then grew quiet, mocking as he continued, "And then they will watch you two die." He tipped his head back and laughed. 

The other two joined in his laughter. "What a tragedy--!" the Tortoise man had said and stopped on a choke. His eyes widened. 

Long Xia was holding her sword as it protruded through the man's neck. "I agree," she sneered. "It's a tragedy…but not for me." She then slid the long blade from his body as the Tortoise man slumped lifelessly to his knees, the ground.

She could tell that the spectators were not happy that she killed the Tortoise man so quickly. They wanted them to draw this out for as long as they could. Not to mention he was a trained warrior, and to die that fast would bring dishonour to the organization. But Long Xia wanted nothing more than to get this over with. 

Her gaze then levelled at the other two opponents. "Now, are you all talk like him, or will you actually fight?" she asked them. 

Her opponents smiled broadly and unkindly as they positioned themselves into a stance. Long Xia grinned as she squatted slightly, her sword covered in blood. "Good," she said. 

Though she wanted to finish the game, Long Xia thought she might as well have some fun.