Chapter 6

" That's a secret." She smiles then pokes hina on her forehead.

" We better head back, we've been gone for a month now." The women with the pony tail says.

" Why can't we just use my mount again." Hina asks.

" We could, if you want to attract the whole forest that badly. Then please be my guest?." The woman with the pony tail replies.

Hina sulks, mizuki softly patting her on the back saying dear dear.

" We better get out of here, that carcass is bound to draw unwanted guests." She continues.

A massive monkey like monster with four eyes huge fangs and brown fear leaps out of the trees charging towards them. The woman quickly reacts and pulls out her dadao casually slices the beast head off before anyone even realises without breaking a sweat.

" If we don't move it right now things are gonna get a whole lot messy." She announces now standing behind the headless beast carcass as it slowly falls to the ground.

Everyone immediately moves dashing foward, casually climbing the trees like they were walking on the ground, jumping from tree to tree.

More monkey beasts appear but she still makes easy work of them casually chopping off their heads with a casual swing of her blade, moving like a phantom leaving headless bodies in her wake. Her blade moving in a blur everytime she swings it baths in the moonlight shimmering with might, she immediately moves onto the next target with slowing down a moment neither taking pause between switches.

" Save your strength, we still have a long way to go." She announces.

Just wait for me a little longer i really hope it works this might be my only last chance, mizuki thinks to herself. she immediately zones out for a moment as she remembers

Her legs are neatly folded legs underneath her thighs with her back straigthened up and her feat neatly tucked in place underneath the body, she has her head bowed respectfully.

Seated on the head at highest point of the large room is large looking man with black eyes and long black flowing hair with a moustache connected to his beards he looks completely ordinary but is exhuding the aura of a god completely engulfing the whole room without even trying, he is comfortably seating on a chrysanthemum throne with his legs crossed.

Two guards are by his side both extremely muscular the first to his right has neck long slightly wavy golden brown hair with matching eyes and a circle beard, he is wearing a short golden golden brown kimono with matching hakama pants and a large cape with a silver crescent moon pin over his body, The second guy to his left has black disheveled wavy hair with stubble on his chin and upper lip, Also dressed in short gray kimono with matching hakama pants and a wine gourd tied to his waist.

While the elders are all seating cross legged on the floor but with special mats.

" How long would she hopelessly wait." An old man voices out his voice filled with irritation.

" We've waited long enough and i feel like it is time for her to select someone else." Another one supports.

" the boy is practically good as dead what difference does it make." He continues.

" He's not." She refutes.

Everyone immediately keeps quiet.

" What did you say?." The elders inquiries.

" I said he's not goiny die." She raises her head and lashes out her eyes filled with anger, but immediately composes herself.

" I apologize." she exhales, drops her bead then says.

" Frankly i think we should give her more." An old woman voice says.

Granny chiyo.

" Time!! time!! time!! that is what we've been saying for a long time now it's been 6 years already how much longer do we have to delay." A creaky sounding elder lashes out.

" I mean it's already a miracle that he isn't dead yet, so we might as well give him a little more time." Another elder adds trying to diffuse the situation.

They continue arguing the elders already divided one side saying her time was up, another saying she deserves more time and the last group being totally neutral just observing from the sidelines.

The on the throne rests his cheek on his knuckles.

" Silence." He softly says but his voice still reaches every corner of the room like thunder in everyone's ears.

" After listening to what the elders have to say i think it's only fair i hear what my daughter has to say before passing my judgement." He softly says his voice sounding mighty but his face calm and plain.

" Raise your head and speak, you've heard the elders now tell me why?." He adds.

She raises her head her face fighting complex emotions.

" Thank you father but-." She pauses squeezes her knuckles.

" I honestly don't know what to say except he's my friend." She adds as an afterthought.

" If anyone should understand how i feel right now it should be you." She says then stares straight at him, holding each others gaze.

" I don't only want a shield and a sword i wan a true friend besides me, surely you still remember how it feels." She says almost tearing up.

" I-I-I-." She tries to speak but her voice continues breaking off.

" Enough." He interrupt her, his expression still blank.

" After listening to all sides talk, I've come to a decision that should be of benefit to everyone. I've decided to give you two months." He says softly raising his hand and raising two fingers to signify the number two.

" After said two months i shall personally choose someone else for you." He says.

" If anyone is against it, speak now?." He inquires.

But no one interferes.

" Then so shall it be." He proclaims.

She burst into tears hurriedly cleaning her eyes with her palm, trying to compose herself but she just ends up crying even more.

"The sect leader is wise" All the elders hail in unison.

" Thank you, thank you father." She says between sobs a tinge of joy present in her voice.