CHAPTER 5

   Few days later...

The royal family of Duhei state, Duhei people,the king and queen of Fangyi State and Fangyi people had gathered around Xin Shaolin battlefield, amidst prince Xei who was dressed in sea green sitao and then Sisou who was dressed elegantly in a Shaolin kimono outfit, making her look like an Amazon.

 The people of Fangyi State had been cheering over Sisou, but they really wanted her to get married to prince Xei, while the people of Duhei state were all hailing their prince;they also wanted her to get married to Xei.

 Most of the Fangyi girls whispered at theirselves," The prince is really handsome... if she doesn't wants to get married him, then she should execute a beauty or dancing contest so prince Xei can get a wife without battling with a strong princess like her!"

     "I wish I was princess Sisou... I would just accept prince Xei without hesitating!" Another Fangyi girl said.

 And most of the Duhei people whispered at their selves,"What a beautiful lady with an Amazonian look... I wish I can have her for myself alone freely!"

   "She's so beautiful!"...

…“But too wild,” another Duhei boy muttered. “She looks like she could snap a man’s neck and not blink.”

The battlefield was alive with energy. Flags flapped in the breeze, warriors from both states stood in disciplined rows, and the elders and noblemen watched from the higher balconies of the arena, sipping fermented pear wine and whispering predictions.

At the center, Prince Xei stood calm and unreadable, hands behind his back, his long black hair tied up with a silver clip, the sea-green sitao fluttering slightly. Despite his regal composure, his eyes were fixed on Sisou with quiet amusement.

Sisou cracked her knuckles, glaring at him. *This cocky freak. Prince or not, I’ll make him eat dirt before he even thinks of being my husband.*

“Princess Sisou,” the announcer called, voice echoing through the grounds, “this duel is ceremonial. A display of strength, discipline, and unity between Fangyi and Duhei.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.

“Prince Xei,” the announcer continued, “you are free to engage.”

Xei finally stepped forward. “Shall we?” he asked Sisou smoothly, with a playful smirk. “Or will you keep glaring at me until I propose again?”

The crowd laughed lightly. Sisou growled. “You're already three seconds from a slap.”

She took her stance, firm and graceful, like a tiger ready to pounce.

Xei simply lifted one hand in defense, posture lazy. “Show me what the ‘Strongest of Fangyi’ really means.”

The drumbeat thundered.

And then—she charged.

The crowd roared.

 "I'll marry you, princess Sisou...so just let me defeat you!" Prince Xei whispered at her.

  Sisou glared at him furiously and looked away. Before she stared back at him, he threw an effective punch on her cheek. The people of Duhei state screamed in delight.

King Teh glanced at the queen,"Our son never told us he's this good in Shaolin... Haha haha, at least he needs to defeat her! He must marry her!"

 Sisou slowly looked up at him and snapped,"Hey, don't think the battle for your stupidity is over... Always remember that I'm a Shaolin warrior!"

Then she distinctly gave him a monkey stance and then one of the most dangerous Shaolin punch on his face...

 She looked fiercely at him, as he slowly fell unconsciously on the battlefield. Commotion grew within the gathered horde; everyone stood in dismay like,"What the hell happened?"

...Did she just knock out the Prince of Duhei?!"

Gasps echoed from every corner of Xin Shaolin battlefield. The Duhei people stood frozen, mouths agape. Even the announcer was stunned silent for a few seconds before shakily saying, “P-Prince Xei... has fallen!”

Queen Teh jumped to her feet. “My son!” she shrieked.

King Teh could barely process what had just happened. “He… he lost?”

Meanwhile, the Fangyi crowd erupted with joy. “Princess Sisou! Our warrior queen!” they cheered, waving banners and throwing flower petals into the air. Some villagers dropped to their knees in worshipful pride.

Sisou didn’t celebrate. She stood over Xei’s unconscious body, panting. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her cheek slightly swollen where his punch had landed. But her glare remained as sharp as a blade.

She turned to the royal thrones and said with a calm edge, “Let this be a reminder. I’m not an ornament to be won—I’m a warrior of Fangyi. My heart isn’t a prize in a battlefield game.”

Then, in a shocking moment of softness, she looked down at Xei again and whispered, “But... you fought well. You just made a mistake thinking I’d be easy.”

She walked off the battlefield.

The crowd parted for her in silence, their cheers slowly fading into awe.

The match was over—but the story had just begun..

 "I don't think I can marry an Amazon, even in my second life!" A boy from Duhei yelled.

The words rang out like a slap across the battlefield.

For a moment, silence.

Then—Sisou stopped walking.

She turned slowly toward the boy from Duhei, her gaze as sharp as a blade. The crowd shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what would follow.

She stepped forward, voice cool and cutting.

“Good,” she said. “Because in every life, I’d still be too much for you.”

The Fangyi crowd exploded with shouts and applause. Even some from Duhei couldn't hold back murmurs of approval.

The boy’s smirk vanished. He tried to look unfazed, but his trembling hands betrayed him.

Sisou looked across the crowd. “If my strength offends you, it’s because you’ve been raised to fear women who don’t bow.”

Then, with the grace of a queen and the presence of a warrior, she turned and walked off the battlefield—her victory not just over a prince, but over every small mind that doubted her worth.

Even the prince, still nursing his jaw, looked after her in silence… and awe.

****************

Some days later...

 Another royal family visited; That of Yamen state.

Sisou gave the same condition, that the prince must defeat her in Shaolin and his family all agreed.

  D-Day came and Sisou won the battle in a second.

Everyone was surprised as she knocked down a well-built prince in an instant...

Gasps filled the royal square.

The prince of Yamen lay flat on the ground, eyes wide in disbelief. He hadn’t even seen the strike coming.

Sisou stood tall, barely out of breath, her kimono fluttering lightly in the breeze. The Fangyi crowd erupted in cheers—roars of pride and admiration echoing through the palace grounds.

King Chen leaned toward Queen Momo and muttered with a glare, “At this rate, we’ll run out of princes in all the seven states.”

Queen Momo whispered in anger. “Or perhaps the right one won’t come seeking to conquer her—but to stand beside her.”

The king of Yamen rose awkwardly, clearing his throat. “Your Highness, we meant no offense. My son is skilled, but… clearly not her match.”

Sisou bowed slightly, not out of pride, but to uphold the tradition. “Shaolin is not about brute strength,” she said calmly. “It is about soul, discipline… and intent.”

She glanced at the prince. “He had the strength, but not the heart.”

And with that, she walked off the arena once again—unmatched, undefeated, and still unclaimed.

  "I wish I can have a strong aura like her!" A teen girl whispered amidst the crowd.

 "Shut it...do you know what it costs?" An old woman glanced at her.

The teen girl blinked, startled. “W-what do you mean?”

The old woman didn’t smile. Her eyes stayed fixed on Sisou’s retreating figure as she spoke slowly. “Strength like that… comes with pain. With loss. With sacrifice.”

She leaned closer, her voice now a low whisper. “That girl has bled more times than she’s laughed. Her fists have known more war than rest. You admire her power—but do you envy her loneliness?”

The girl fell silent.

Sisou, far ahead, climbed the palace steps alone—crowds behind her, but no one by her side.

The old woman added quietly, “Be careful what you wish for, child. Power is heavy… and not every heart can carry it.”

*****************

 Two days later...

King Chen summoned Sisou to the palace. Dressed up in a silky hanfu, Sisou stood before her father.

 "Father, you called me." Sisou whispered.

  King Chen cleared his throat and glanced at her petite looking daughter.

 "Why are so obdurate? Why is the princess of Fangyi State only different from others? Are you cursed?"

"Cursed?" That one word reverberated in her brain." Why has father suddenly brought up this annoying words? But I don't seem to be cursed !" She wondered.

  "You don't wanna get married?"

Sisou inhaled sharply, steadying her voice.

"I never said I don't want to get married, Father. I just don't want to be *forced* into it."

King Chen rose from his seat, his expression unreadable.

"And you think fighting off every prince who comes to this palace proves a point?"

"It does," Sisou replied calmly. "It proves that I will not be taken as a trophy. That if someone wants me, he must be *worthy*."

"Of your strength?" he asked, arms crossed.

"Of my mind, my heart, and my name," she said. "I am not just your daughter—I am the protector of Fangyi."

There was a moment of silence.

Queen Momo, seated nearby, finally spoke gently, “But my child… when will you let someone stand beside you, not behind you?”

Sisou lowered her gaze.

“When someone dares to stand beside *me*, not to tame me—then I will know.”

 "Do you know you are bringing shame to this State?"He pointed at her.

 Sisou kept staring at her father like a puppy.

"The next royal suitor to come won't miss it, to make it clear!"He said.

  "But father..."

"Get married!"

Sisou looked away,"Damn, this's crazy."Sisou whispered.

Sisou’s heart clenched as her father’s harsh words echoed in the grand hall. The weight of the kingdom’s expectations pressed down on her like a heavy cloak. Yet, beneath her quiet gaze, a fierce fire burned—she refused to be just another pawn in the royal game.

“Damn, this’s crazy,” she whispered, storming away, her mind swirling with rebellion and resolve.

The path ahead was uncertain, but Sisou knew one thing: she would fight for her freedom, even if it meant defying her own blood.

 She stood stranded for a while and walked away in ire.

****************

     Two weeks later...

 The royal family of Fangyi State were all sitted in the palace,when a cheif leader of an unknown state walked in confidently.

     He bowed politely before the royal family of Fangyi and stood erect, just like a soldier.

  "To the great, royal family of Fangyi State...on behalf of prince Basuki of Zhou State,l ,the chief leader of Zhou state has come to seek the hand of the beautiful hibiscus of Fangyi State on behalf of Prince Basuki of Zhou state..." Cheif Rhochen continued, bowing deeply again,"To the noble royal family of Fangyi... I come bearing a message from His Royal Highness, Prince Basuki of Zhou State—he seeks the hand of your daughter, Princess Sisou, the beloved hibiscus of Fangyi."

There was a pause.

Queen Momo turned to her daughter with twinkling eyes.

"Shouldn't you be smiling, my daughter?" she whispers with hope.

Sisou’s face dropped

"Smiling?" she echoes, her brows furrowing in disbelief.

Meanwhile, King Chen chuckled diplomatically.

"That is... good news, Chief Rhochen. But may I ask—why does the prince not come himself?"

Rhochen straightened.

"Prince Basuki is currently defending Zhou’s borderlands. He apologizes for his absence but promises a visit soon. However—he insists the engagement process should begin."

Sisou shot to her feet as soon as possible.

"Let him visit with his fists first! No one marries me without proving himself in Shaolin combat!"

The hall gasped. In dismay.

No-

Maybe, in surprise.

Rhochen stood tall and stared firmly at princess Sisou,"Your Highness... I must admit, Prince Basuki is a warrior of unmatched strength. But perhaps it would be better if you duel his sister, Princess Huo of Zhou. Should she lose to you... the proposal is off."

Sisou smirks."Good. I’ll fight her, defeat her, and put an end to this nonsense."

Queen Momo tugged her back to her seat.

"Sisou, behave!"

King Chen sighed, tired. Maybe, of her stubborn daughter

"My apologies, Chief. She tends to speak foolishly when she’s... hungry."

Rhochen laughed nervously. "Worry not, King Chen. At Zhou, she'll never go hungry again. She will dine like a queen."

Sisou glared at cheif Rhochen "Then send your Princess Huo. I’ll be waiting. And if she falls—I expect Prince Basuki to stop hiding behind his state borders and face me himself. I'll definitely win him and there will be no marriage!"

Cheif Rhochen shrugged, " Till that day!"

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