Chapter 11: Han’s Comprehension
"Someone is feeling more confident and bold after killing a few monsters," Han said.
"You struggled with those monsters, Young Master Han," she jeered.
Han had to give her credit. She was a strong, tough woman. There was no doubt about it. He only had her submission because of his Mother, and his Father’s Dark Cauldron Art let him turn his Mother’s Present into a long-term advantage. That said, it didn’t mean he could allow Xena to look down on him.
He walked toward her and extended his hand, slipping through her bodice’s keyhole and cupping her large breast. He gave her breast a hard squeeze while looking straight into her eyes. Xena flinched, bit her lower lip, and held his gaze, her expression growing more feral by the second. Yet she couldn’t do anything about it.
For a few seconds, Han was lost in the softness in his palm. He squeezed her breast even more until Xena’s flesh spilled out between his fingers—she moaned.
He calmed himself but didn’t let go of her breast.
"Your spell links your enemies’ souls, making them share damage and emotions," Han said. "The needle marks them; the threads connect them. Since the soul is in the brain, your needle or thread forces the soul to spread from the brain through the body. That’s why a blow to one target propagates to all of them once they’re linked.
"Emotions also factor in. You make them share feelings: some become bolder, others more cowardly. Controlling those two creates confusion and leads them to their deaths."
Han didn’t know if he was right. Just like Hanna had told him before, they could only assume things about Xena’s spell, given how intricate it was. But she had challenged his authority and potential, so he went with his assumptions anyway. It was a bold move, but in reality, he didn’t have much to lose.
"Am I correct?" he asked.
Xena was compelled to reply. "Yes."
Inwardly, she was beyond shocked. No one had read her this easily before, especially from a single combat. She hadn’t even shown much and had fought weak monsters. Yet Han saw through her spells in those conditions. Cold sweat beaded on Xena, but Han’s warmth around her breast reminded her whose hands she was in.
Han smiled. "You understand I saw through you on my own?"
I fucking do! Xena inwardly shouted before nodding. "Yes."
"Whose hand is fondling your breast right now?" Han asked.
"Young Master Han’s hand," Xena replied, her face contorting.
Han smiled. "Good girl."
Releasing her breast, he pressed his warm hand to his face, inhaling Xena’s scent and feeling her warmth. Words to describe her fragrance, on top of their twisted relationship, didn’t exist in Han’s dictionary or the medical books he’d studied for years. All he knew was that he found taming this woman exciting and hot.
Seeing him like that, Xena simply gritted her teeth and stared down at him. A surge of confidence and relief had fooled her, making her defiant. It backfired, helping Han mature and grow more confident himself.
He no longer seemed as naive as before.
Xena couldn’t predict her future anymore.
—
"We may continue," Han said, turning to his maids now that Xena was put in her place. "I want to see you all in action."
"Of course, Young Master Han." All ten maids said in unison, bowing.
In less than two minutes, they found another group of monsters. This time, there was a clash between two types: two-legged and four-legged monsters. One looked rabbit-like, the other boar-like. The former was smaller but more agile; the latter taller and tougher.
They clashed in bloody combat over territory.
Hanna and the others didn’t wait for the monsters to finish. All of them raised their hands. A moment later, black bones extended from their palms, becoming swords, spears, and battle axes. Each maid tightly gripped her weapon before disappearing from Han’s sight.
So fast!
By the time he noticed them, his maids were already hacking through both groups of monsters. Despite their age, they moved swiftly and in sync, completely overwhelming their opponents. In a single, efficient rush, most monsters were beheaded, their heads rolling on the forest floor.
The rest? They were given a chance to flee and spread the word about the terrifying maids.
"They’re actually really strong. Amazing," Han mumbled.
"Amazing? Them? All they have is an enhanced physical spell permanently forged into them," Xena said, her expression flat and dismissive, clearly not finding Han’s maids anything special and even pitiful.
"What’s wrong with that? And why do you look like that?" Han asked.
Xena smirked. "They lost their dark mana in exchange for higher physical prowess. That’s what it means to be a maid of Tenaxis. All it takes is someone from the royal bloodline to brand them with the Obsidian Cauldron. In under thirty seconds, they perish and leave no trace because they have no mana."
Han swallowed.