KOF: Rise of the King of Fighters

Mai Zhuo crossed her arms, her eyes filled with disdain and provocation, and looked at Xiao Long, saying, "Little sister, this doesn't seem to be your home, does it?"

Xiaolong, equally on high alert, stepped forward, gripping his cuffs tightly, ready to draw his hidden weapon at any moment. He said coldly, "Sister, this doesn't seem to be your home, does it?"

There seemed to be an invisible current flowing between the two, and the atmosphere was so tense it felt like it was about to freeze.

Hey! Don't fight! Xiaolong's injuries have only just begun to heal, and he's no match for Mai Zhuo!

Yan Yue panicked and rushed forward to stop them. He stood between the two, raising his hands high and shouting repeatedly:

"Wait a minute, don't be impulsive, this is all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding..."

At this moment, Mai Zhuo turned her gaze to Yan Yue, her originally cold eyes softening instantly, though a hint of provocation still lingered within them, as she said coquettishly:

"Little Yan Yue~ You tell her, what exactly am I to you?"

"Little Yanyue?!..."

Upon hearing this, Xiaolong trembled, his eyes widened, and a series of strange images flashed through his mind.

"They're calling each other so intimately..."

It was like a bolt from the blue for Xiaolong; her beautiful eyes were filled with grievance.

You know, Xiaolong is usually so gentle, charming, calm and collected, this is the first time he's ever been angry like this.

"Oh my god! Xiaolong is angry!"

This was the first time Yan Yue had ever seen Xiao Long angry. He stared blankly at Xiao Long's pitiful expression, the resentful look in his eyes leaving Yan Yue's mind blank for a moment.

"what's the situation?!"

Then, Yan Yue looked at Mai Zhuo again, who was still looking at Xiao Long with a contemptuous and provocative smile, showing no intention of backing down.

Just as Yan Yue was still pondering how to handle the situation, Xiao Long, mimicking Mai Zhuo's tone, said shyly to Yan Yue:

"Brother Yan Yue~ Please tell her, what am I to you?"

"Brother Yan Yue?" Yan Yue was momentarily flustered, trembling at Xiao Long's sweet and coquettish address.

Mai Zhuo gave a soft snort and spoke first: "Little girl, there's no use in you mimicking me. You should focus on developing properly first..."

Xiao Long looked at his own figure; it was actually quite shapely, but compared to Mai Zhuo, it was slightly flat. However, Xiao Long still retorted defiantly:

"This lady, judging solely by appearance is far too superficial."

"Yeah?……"

Mai Zhuo didn't answer Xiao Long. Instead, she instantly teleported to Yan Yue's side and wrapped her arms around Yan Yue's neck.

Before Yan Yue could stop her, Mai Zhuo kissed her on the cheek. She then said, "Yan Yue and I have slept together before..."

Upon seeing this, Xiaolong's face turned pale instantly, and his eyes filled with tears.

"Hey! Aren't you trying to stir up trouble?"

Yan Yue hurriedly pushed Mai Zhuo away and looked anxiously at Xiao Long. "Xiao Long, it's not what you think, she just likes to tease people!" Yan Yue explained in a panic.

Mai Zhuo covered her mouth and giggled, saying somewhat dejectedly, "Little Yan Yue, your haste to deny it is really hurtful."

Yan Yue glanced at Mai Zhuo and quickly walked up to Xiao Long.

"I'm so sorry, Maggie isn't an enemy. She must have encountered something very important, which is why she came here in such a hurry..."

Xiaolong bit his lip, took a deep breath, and calmed down. "I believe in Brother Yanyue..." After saying that, Xiaolong wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

"Xiaolong, you should get some rest..." Yan Yue explained anxiously, while looking at Xiaolong with apologetic eyes.

Xiaolong lowered his head slightly, quickly calmed himself down, and softly replied, "Mmm... I'll listen to Brother Yanyue..."

Huh? Why did you suddenly change your mind?

Xiaolong felt a little uncomfortable referring to himself as Yanyue.

But Yan Yue didn't have time to think too much. Seeing Xiao Long like this, she felt sorry for him and reached out to gently stroke the top of his head.

"Don't worry, Xiaolong, I won't make things difficult for you."

At this moment, Mai Zhuo, standing not far away, was observing the scene from a distance. She curled her lip and muttered to herself:

"Oh dear, you won this little fight so easily, it's really not interesting at all."

Upon hearing Mai Zhuo's words, Yan Yue's face immediately showed a helpless expression.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something to Mai Zhuo, but in the end he held back.

Yan Yue wasn't stupid; she naturally understood Mai Zhuo's feelings. However, Yan Yue didn't have time to think about what to do right away, so she could only try to appease Xiao Long's emotions first.

After all, how could a well-behaved and innocent girl like Xiaolong possibly compete with a cold and alluring veteran like Maizhuo?

However, at that moment, Mai Zhuo suddenly appeared in front of Xiao Long in an instant.

She leaned down slightly, bringing her face close to Xiaolong's, her beautiful eyes fixed on the cuffs of his sleeves.

There were several hidden weapons that were faintly visible, and looking further up, you could see Xiaolong's green hair swaying gently in the wind.

At this moment, Mai Zhuo had a faint, wicked smile on her lips. She deliberately lowered her voice and said softly, "Little sister~ So you are the legendary Heavenly Demoness who is said to be covered in deadly poison."

Let me tell you, your brother Yan Yue will be in my care for the next few days~

Before Xiaolong could respond, Yan Yue quickly interrupted, "Stop! Don't make things worse!"

After saying that, Yan Yue quickly turned her head and looked at Xiao Long with a gentle expression, softly comforting her, "Little sister Xiao Long, please don't take her words to heart, go and get some rest first..."

At this moment, Xiaolong still had tears in the corners of her eyes, but even so, she still behaved very well and sensible, nodding gently.

Xiaolong, not to be outdone, raised her head and glared fiercely at Maizhuo, then said coquettishly, "Hmph! Who's afraid of who!"

After saying that, Xiaolong turned and walked towards the third floor.

Seeing Xiaolong return to his room, Yan Yue, who had been on edge the whole time, finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

Immediately afterwards, Yan Yue glanced at Mai Zhuo beside her with a hint of resentment.

……

Soon after, in a newly opened coffee shop in Nanzhen.

This coffee shop, named "Bubble Coffee Shop," is just as famous in Nanzhen as "Dragon Tiger Hungry Wolf Barbecue Restaurant" and "Phantom Bar."

At this moment, Yan Yue and Mai Zhuo were sitting at a table.

Mai Zhuo seemed to sense Yan Yue's dissatisfaction, and a slightly apologetic smile appeared on her face as she playfully stuck out her tongue at Yan Yue.

"Little Flame Moon~ I was just teasing her~"

Yan Yue slapped her forehead, sat down to the side, never expecting that such a chaotic situation would befall her. Feeling utterly hopeless, she muttered to herself:

"I hope so... Come to think of it, it's still my fault for not handling it well..."

Mai Zhuo immediately noticed Yan Yue's self-blame, so she stepped forward, hugged Yan Yue's neck, and gently comforted her, "It's alright~ Who told our little Yan Yue to be so good? I don't mind having one more..."

After all... Little Flame Moon, you are an emperor...

Yan Yue was somewhat surprised to hear this.

Then, Mai Zhuo looked up slightly at Yan Yue's handsome face, gently touched Yan Yue's cheek, and said with some admiration, "Oh my... little Yan Yue, you've grown quite a bit taller in just a few months..."

Yan Yue had already gotten used to Mai Zhuo's actions and replied, "After all, she's an adult now."

“Now that we’re adults, we can get even closer, right?” With that, Mai Zhuo stretched out her slender fingers, ready to tease Yan Yue without restraint.

Seeing that Mai Zhuo was about to start her game again, Yan Yue quickly changed the subject and asked, "Sister Mai Zhuo, why did you come here? Did something happen?"

Upon hearing this, Mai Zhuo abruptly stopped what she was doing. A hint of sadness flickered across her beautiful face, and a barely perceptible worry flashed in her eyes.

After a moment of silence, she nodded quietly.

Yan Yue sensed Mai Zhuo's change and immediately became serious.

Mai Zhuo slowly leaned into Yan Yue's arms. Her voice was soft, yet carried a heavy weight: "Goenitz has his eye on you."

Upon hearing this, Yan Yue's heart tightened, and she asked, "Why are you targeting me? Sister Mai Zhuo, do you know something about me?"

“I’m not entirely sure about Goenitz’s purpose either,” Mature shook her head, adding, “Besides, your power doesn’t seem to be repelled by the Orochi clan… Goenitz seems to have some other motive towards you…”

Upon hearing this, Yan Yue pondered the words Kusanagi Shizuru had spoken earlier:

"The power of antiquity, the rise and fall of the human race."

Mai Zhuo slowly raised her head, her beautiful and deep eyes meeting Yan Yue's directly. Their gazes locked.

After a while, Mai Zhuo slowly opened her lips and spoke in a soft tone:

"I've only heard bits and pieces about you... especially about your very special bloodline..."

Upon hearing Mai Zhuo mention her bloodline, Yan Yue eagerly asked, "What's wrong with my bloodline?"

Mai Zhuo's gaze never left Yan Yue's golden pupils. She examined him carefully and slowly explained:

"Little Yan Yue, you should know that your eyes originated from a mysterious race in ancient times, and are definitely not those of an ordinary human."

Yan Yue nodded slightly at this statement: "Yes, I already knew that..."

However, Mai Zhuo did not stop there, but continued: "According to Goenitz, in the distant ancient times of China, there existed such a powerful emperor."

He was born with great strength, which not only allows him to withstand extremely cold and hot environments, but also makes him fearless in the face of ferocious beasts and various deadly poisonous insects.

Furthermore, it can coexist harmoniously with all things in the world, establishing a wonderful connection with each other.

Unfortunately, this miraculous power could not last long and soon disappeared completely into the annals of history… Now, thinking about it carefully, Little Flame Moon, your own situation actually has quite a few similarities with that legendary emperor…”

Yan Yue listened carefully to Mai Zhuo's words, pondered, and said, "I am indeed not afraid of poison, can sense all things, and survived seven days of hunger. My vitality is indeed quite strong, but from whom does this come?"

Mai Zhuo looked at Yan Yue with concern and replied, "I don't know much about the rest... but little Yan Yue, you'll be in some danger next..."

As she spoke, Mai Zhuo moved her face even closer, saying with a hint of disappointment, "Little Yan Yue's strength has increased a lot too. I might not be able to protect you anymore..."

Yan Yue looked at Mai Zhuo and could sense the worry in Mai Zhuo's heart.

Over the course of two years, Yan Yue and Mai Zhuo's feelings for each other have deepened. Mai Zhuo's care for Yan Yue when she was injured, and her occasional seductive interruptions during her solitary cultivation, have added much color to their lives.

Yan Yue vaguely remembered what Mature and Vice had encountered in the King of Fighters tournament afterward...

It's unclear when it started, but Yan Yue gradually began to take Mai Zhuo's matter to heart and started to worry about Mai Zhuo as well.

Soon, Yan Yue took a deep breath and took the initiative to hug Mai Zhuo.

Mai Zhuo glanced at Yan Yue in surprise: "!"

Although Yan Yue was a little shy, she still looked at Mai Zhuo firmly and said, "Sister Mai Zhuo, don't worry, now it's my turn to protect you!"

When Mai Zhuo heard Yan Yue's sudden words, she couldn't help but giggle. She thought Yan Yue looked absolutely adorable at that moment.

"Oh my, I never expected that you would actually comfort me, Little Yan Yue~ Do I need your protection?" Mai Zhuo teased Yan Yue with a smile.

However, Yan Yue's serious expression did not change because of Mai Zhuo's joke. Yan Yue still remembered what Mai Zhuoweis had gone through afterward, and said in a serious tone:

“Sister Mai Zhuo, actually, all along, even though you like to make fun of me, I can truly feel your care for me, and the sadness hidden deep in your heart.”

Upon hearing this, Mai Zhuo's smile instantly froze.

"Huh?" It took Mai Zhuo a while to recover from her shock, but she still couldn't come up with the right words.

En Yue continued, talking to herself, "As a member of the Eight Heroes, Mature Sister, you have always been filled with disgust for humans."

Although I don't know why the Eight Heroes are burdened with the destiny of the Great Serpent for thousands of years.

But to me, you not only didn't dislike me at all, but also helped me on many occasions.

Whether on the Black Noah or later on the Steel Noah, without your help, sister, I probably would have met with certain death long ago.

Sister Mai Zhuo, I will always remember your kindness to me. It's not as simple as it seems on the surface; more importantly, I can feel it with my heart.

So now it's time for me to repay your kindness, isn't that right?"

At this moment, Mai Zhuo gazed quietly at Yan Yue's sincere face, deeply moved, and murmured softly:

"Really, why did you suddenly become so serious..."

For some reason, looking at the gradually growing stronger Yan Yue in front of her, Mai Zhuo suddenly truly understood the real meaning behind the choice that Jia Di Lu made back then.

"Maybe I can understand Gadilu now..."

At this moment, Mai Zhuo herself was unaware that the way she looked at Yan Yue had changed.

Mai Zhuo's face flushed slightly, adding even more allure to her captivating features. She said earnestly and gently, "Little Yan Yue~ you're right, then I won't leave you from now on."

Then, Mai Zhuo gently kissed Yan Yue on the cheek and leaned into Yan Yue's arms.

Recalling all the moments she shared with Mai Zhuo, Yan Yue said with equal determination, "Sister Mai Zhuo, I will never leave you."

Yan Yue and Mai Zhuo leaned against each other quietly, savoring a moment of tranquility.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something important, Mai Zhuo immediately sat back down.

"Oh right, Little Yan Yue~ Here, this is for you."

As Mai Zhuo spoke softly, she slowly unbuttoned her long robe. As the robe gradually opened, her slender, white fingers slipped inside her white cleavage, carefully exploring.

A moment later, Mai Zhuo took out a scroll from it.

Yan Yue looked at the scroll in Mai Zhuo's hand with a puzzled expression and asked curiously, "What is this?"

Mai Zhuo smiled slightly, deliberately shaking the scroll in her hand gently, and replied with a touch of playfulness:

"Little Yan Yue~ Do you know about the 'Secret Book of Qin' that has recently become famous in Nan Town?"

Damn it! ?

Upon hearing this, Yan Yue raised an eyebrow, genuinely shocked this time.

Mai Zhuo quickly stopped Yan Yue's lips with her finger, signaling her to be quiet.

Yan Yue hurriedly asked in a low voice, "Why is there one of these books with you?"

A mischievous smile reappeared on Mai Zhuo's face as she said coquettishly, "If you want me to tell you the answer, then give me a kiss first~"

After saying that, Mai Zhuo deliberately brought her face closer, striking a charming and seductive pose, and started acting indecently again.

Upon hearing this, Yan Yue no longer hesitated and, following Mai Zhuo's instructions, embraced her and gave her a gentle kiss.