They returned back to the inn, with Ken approaching Grandma Ba, who was sitting down and knitting something.
Ken placed down a silver coin. “We managed to earn a few coins today in order to pay. Thank you for your kindness last night. We will be staying for a few more nights and I’ll do my best to pay as much as I can.”
“The price is only five big copper coins for the two of you,” she replied, staring up at him with the look of a stern grandmother, but in the way that she was doing it for his benefit.
“Please accept the silver for tonight.” Ken bowed his head. She was a kind woman and he intended to repay her for her kindness. There were very few truly kind people out there, and so he should take good care of them when he met them.
Seeing his good intentions, she accepted the silver coin. Since he wasn’t going to let the matter drop, there was no need to embarrass him and refuse his decency.
Ken led Emerald up and helped her change into her clothe. The martial outfit hid most of Emerald’s body, but it wasn’t hiding any of her beauty.
“Do I look good, master?” She asked, tilting her head cutely, making her hair fall down in front of her face.
“You look amazing.” He smiled and pet her head, brushing her hair out of her face.
She smiled and then leaned in to hug him tight, her hands gently rubbing down his back. He hugged her back, smiling at her.
“Let’s go and explore the town properly,” he offered, holding her hand as the two of them made their way out.
He took her out to a nearby stall where they could buy food. He bought some meat for them, offering her some, but she shook her head.
“Master, could I have some fruit and vegetables, please?” She held onto his arm, frowning up at him, thinking she was causing him trouble.
“Sure,” he said, smiling down at her. He thought about the last time they ate and realised she didn’t eat meat. He should have paid more attention to her.
They held hand and ate together, though she would often times feed him too with her own food too.
“Is there anything you want?” Ken asked, thinking about how the guard and Miss Yin had told him to take good care of Emerald.
“Yes,” Emerald replied, smiling up at him. “I want master to be happy.”
“I didn’t mean that…” Ken was glad his hands were occupied, otherwise he would have slapped his face. “I mean, is there anything you want for yourself?”
“I want master to be happy.” She rested her head against his shoulder.
Emerald’s feelings were so heavy. He squeezed her hand gently and smiled down at her, walking through the town still, just taking in the sight. It wasn’t that different to his own town, but Emerald was excited to see everything since this was the first town she was in.
“Hey, you! Boy and beauty! This young master wishes to speak with you!”
Ken turned back to see a young man, dressed finely with a large smug on his face. He was thin and pretty, and waved a fan as though he was elegant. His voice was as grating as the stupid smug on his face.
“Oh my. The beauty is truly a beauty. Thin, small, a pretty little leaf.” He fanned himself and his smug smirk widened.
“How may I assist the young master?” Ken asked, trying to not frown. This didn’t seem like it would be a good meeting.
“Quiet! I am admiring her beauty,” he said, staring at Emerald with a perverted leer.
Emerald hid behind Ken, clutching at his shirt. She didn’t like the feeling of that man’s gaze on her, it was so disgusting.
“Precious beauty, there’s no need to hide.” The young master tossed a few silver coins on the ground, which jingled as they clattered. “Come with me for an hour, this young master will make you feel good.”
[[Hah! This mortal dares to covet your woman? This queen is amused!]]
“You seem to misunderstand, young master. My wife is not for sale or rent.” Ken held out an arm to cover Emerald protectively.
“Hmph. Everything has its price.” The young master grinned wide. “State yours. I only need her for an hour or two, and then I’ll return her to you mostly unharmed.”
“She’s not for sale.” Ken’s eyes narrowed slightly, glancing between the large man and the young master.
“This young master gave you your chance,” he said, annoyed. “Bodo, break his jaw and bring me the girl so I can break her jaw.” He licked his lips.
[Damn. His guard is no doubt stronger than me. I won’t be able to deal with them…]
“Emerald, you need to run.” Ken stepped back, trying to force her back. “I’ll buy you some time.” He couldn’t let anyone hurt Emerald, she was his.
“You want to hurt my master?” Emerald asked, her voice becoming a growl. “You want to break my master’s jaw?” Her eyes darkened and she raised her hands. They turned into branches, snaking out towards Bodo.
“What is that?” Bodo gasped as the twigs wrapped around him, pinning him.
Emerald lifted the large man up with ease, the branches squirming all around him as he tried to struggle. The branches then wrapped around his jaw and slipped into the man’s mouth.
“Young master! Help!” The man cried out in fright, the branches then starting to snake into his mouth.
“You want to break my master’s jaw?” Emerald repeated angrily, the branches still wrapping around the guard’s mouth. She let out a primal growl as the branches slowly shifted, causing the man’s jaw to dislocate.
The man screamed as the bones broke, the flesh tore, and Emerald tore off his bottom jaw. The flesh from his neck also tore apart, and hung loosely as the man’s jaw dropped onto the floor.
Ken reached up to his mouth, trying to keep from vomiting. “Emerald!” He reached out and grabbed her shoulder. “Stop!”
“You threatened my master! You need to die!” She roared with anger as she tossed the guard aside and then walked to the whimpering young master menacingly.
“Emerald!” He grabbed onto her by wrapping his arms around her into a tight hug. “Stop! Enough!”
“Master! They threatened you!” She shook within his arms and he could feel the rage emanating from her.
“I know, I know, but if you kill a young master, we’ll be in big trouble!” He turned to the young master. “You need to run!” Even though he didn’t like the guy and he deserved whatever Emerald did to him, but if she attacked a young master, they would be in grave danger.
The young master almost wet himself, smart enough to realise that he couldn’t do anything in this situation. He turned and ran away, leaving the guard behind, who was bleeding profusely before finally passing out.
“We need to run,” Ken said, grabbing Emerald’s hand, which turned back into flesh, and then ran towards the inn. When they were some ways away from the scene, he stopped and panted.
“Master…”
“Emerald, what was that?” He turned to look at her face, which was filled with guilt.
“He…” She frowned. “I’m sorry master. I was just so angry…” She closed her eyes and pouted, her lower lip quivering.
“You…” He sighed. “You can’t do that again. You’re very strong, so use that strength to restrain them. No more… whatever that was.”
“Yes, master…”
He leaned in to nuzzle her nose. “I was angry at them too. I’m glad you can protect yourself, though.” He kissed her lips sweetly.
“Is master disappointed in me?”
“No, no. I’m reassured. You’re…” He hugged her tight. “You’re amazing. Compared to you, I’m trash.”
“Master is not trash! Master is amazing!” She rubbed his chest with her small hands and then tip toed to kiss his lips.
“Let’s head back to the inn…” He squeezed her hand and then led her back to the inn properly. All he could think about was how terrifying she could be.
They returned back to the inn, with Ken approaching Grandma Ba, who was sitting down and knitting something.
Ken placed down a silver coin. “We managed to earn a few coins today in order to pay. Thank you for your kindness last night. We will be staying for a few more nights and I’ll do my best to pay as much as I can.”
“The price is only five big copper coins for the two of you,” she replied, staring up at him with the look of a stern grandmother, but in the way that she was doing it for his benefit.
“Please accept the silver for tonight.” Ken bowed his head. She was a kind woman and he intended to repay her for her kindness. There were very few truly kind people out there, and so he should take good care of them when he met them.
Seeing his good intentions, she accepted the silver coin. Since he wasn’t going to let the matter drop, there was no need to embarrass him and refuse his decency.
Ken led Emerald up and helped her change into her clothe. The martial outfit hid most of Emerald’s body, but it wasn’t hiding any of her beauty.
“Do I look good, master?” She asked, tilting her head cutely, making her hair fall down in front of her face.
“You look amazing.” He smiled and pet her head, brushing her hair out of her face.
She smiled and then leaned in to hug him tight, her hands gently rubbing down his back. He hugged her back, smiling at her.
“Let’s go and explore the town properly,” he offered, holding her hand as the two of them made their way out.
He took her out to a nearby stall where they could buy food. He bought some meat for them, offering her some, but she shook her head.
“Master, could I have some fruit and vegetables, please?” She held onto his arm, frowning up at him, thinking she was causing him trouble.
“Sure,” he said, smiling down at her. He thought about the last time they ate and realised she didn’t eat meat. He should have paid more attention to her.
They held hand and ate together, though she would often times feed him too with her own food too.
“Is there anything you want?” Ken asked, thinking about how the guard and Miss Yin had told him to take good care of Emerald.
“Yes,” Emerald replied, smiling up at him. “I want master to be happy.”
“I didn’t mean that…” Ken was glad his hands were occupied, otherwise he would have slapped his face. “I mean, is there anything you want for yourself?”
“I want master to be happy.” She rested her head against his shoulder.
Emerald’s feelings were so heavy. He squeezed her hand gently and smiled down at her, walking through the town still, just taking in the sight. It wasn’t that different to his own town, but Emerald was excited to see everything since this was the first town she was in.
“Hey, you! Boy and beauty! This young master wishes to speak with you!”
Ken turned back to see a young man, dressed finely with a large smug on his face. He was thin and pretty, and waved a fan as though he was elegant. His voice was as grating as the stupid smug on his face.
“Oh my. The beauty is truly a beauty. Thin, small, a pretty little leaf.” He fanned himself and his smug smirk widened.
“How may I assist the young master?” Ken asked, trying to not frown. This didn’t seem like it would be a good meeting.
“Quiet! I am admiring her beauty,” he said, staring at Emerald with a perverted leer.
Emerald hid behind Ken, clutching at his shirt. She didn’t like the feeling of that man’s gaze on her, it was so disgusting.
“Precious beauty, there’s no need to hide.” The young master tossed a few silver coins on the ground, which jingled as they clattered. “Come with me for an hour, this young master will make you feel good.”
[[Hah! This mortal dares to covet your woman? This queen is amused!]]
“You seem to misunderstand, young master. My wife is not for sale or rent.” Ken held out an arm to cover Emerald protectively.
“Hmph. Everything has its price.” The young master grinned wide. “State yours. I only need her for an hour or two, and then I’ll return her to you mostly unharmed.”
“She’s not for sale.” Ken’s eyes narrowed slightly, glancing between the large man and the young master.
“This young master gave you your chance,” he said, annoyed. “Bodo, break his jaw and bring me the girl so I can break her jaw.” He licked his lips.
[Damn. His guard is no doubt stronger than me. I won’t be able to deal with them…]
“Emerald, you need to run.” Ken stepped back, trying to force her back. “I’ll buy you some time.” He couldn’t let anyone hurt Emerald, she was his.
“You want to hurt my master?” Emerald asked, her voice becoming a growl. “You want to break my master’s jaw?” Her eyes darkened and she raised her hands. They turned into branches, snaking out towards Bodo.
“What is that?” Bodo gasped as the twigs wrapped around him, pinning him.
Emerald lifted the large man up with ease, the branches squirming all around him as he tried to struggle. The branches then wrapped around his jaw and slipped into the man’s mouth.
“Young master! Help!” The man cried out in fright, the branches then starting to snake into his mouth.
“You want to break my master’s jaw?” Emerald repeated angrily, the branches still wrapping around the guard’s mouth. She let out a primal growl as the branches slowly shifted, causing the man’s jaw to dislocate.
The man screamed as the bones broke, the flesh tore, and Emerald tore off his bottom jaw. The flesh from his neck also tore apart, and hung loosely as the man’s jaw dropped onto the floor.
Ken reached up to his mouth, trying to keep from vomiting. “Emerald!” He reached out and grabbed her shoulder. “Stop!”
“You threatened my master! You need to die!” She roared with anger as she tossed the guard aside and then walked to the whimpering young master menacingly.
“Emerald!” He grabbed onto her by wrapping his arms around her into a tight hug. “Stop! Enough!”
“Master! They threatened you!” She shook within his arms and he could feel the rage emanating from her.
“I know, I know, but if you kill a young master, we’ll be in big trouble!” He turned to the young master. “You need to run!” Even though he didn’t like the guy and he deserved whatever Emerald did to him, but if she attacked a young master, they would be in grave danger.
The young master almost wet himself, smart enough to realise that he couldn’t do anything in this situation. He turned and ran away, leaving the guard behind, who was bleeding profusely before finally passing out.
“We need to run,” Ken said, grabbing Emerald’s hand, which turned back into flesh, and then ran towards the inn. When they were some ways away from the scene, he stopped and panted.
“Master…”
“Emerald, what was that?” He turned to look at her face, which was filled with guilt.
“He…” She frowned. “I’m sorry master. I was just so angry…” She closed her eyes and pouted, her lower lip quivering.
“You…” He sighed. “You can’t do that again. You’re very strong, so use that strength to restrain them. No more… whatever that was.”
“Yes, master…”
He leaned in to nuzzle her nose. “I was angry at them too. I’m glad you can protect yourself, though.” He kissed her lips sweetly.
“Is master disappointed in me?”
“No, no. I’m reassured. You’re…” He hugged her tight. “You’re amazing. Compared to you, I’m trash.”
“Master is not trash! Master is amazing!” She rubbed his chest with her small hands and then tip toed to kiss his lips.
“Let’s head back to the inn…” He squeezed her hand and then led her back to the inn properly. All he could think about was how terrifying she could be.
