Chapter 15 Poor General Zheng
[Doctor Zhen Jian]
I heard once from an old villager that "war never changes". But this saying still eludes me. Shouldn't it be war doesn't change anything; nothing much has changed in the village. We have fewer villagers, I have fewer patients, and more time to swing my sword or read books. But nothing else is much different.
The gang that attacked the merchant is still in the outskirts. Maybe they are keeping their promise. They might think I would protect them. Honestly if they remain and keep their part of the deal, I wouldn't mind lend them a hand. All I know is to swing my sword; I have never truly been in a fight, but I guess I can manage something if the time comes. Sigh, I'd rather not get involved with this mess.
That merchant family also decided to stay. That was truly strange; a merchant should definitely have contacts outside of the village. But he said, “No, I rather like the environment here. My son was born here, and it's quiet. If I leave, I have to start over, and it would be hard to find such a tranquil place.”
I agree with him for the most part; this place has its charm. I learned from the villagers that my family moved here in my father’s generation. He was married, and my mother was pregnant with me when they arrived at our farmstead. I wonder where they lived before and what they did before being farmers.
I once thought that my father was some battle veteran or war hero because of his large muscles and tall stature. But he would laugh and say, “No, I’m scared of fighting.” I thought that was such a silly answer, but I never remember him even having an argument with anyone. I just thought he was just too kind too. Well, that does not matter now.
Looking at the moon, it seems it's time to close up the clinic. I walk to the clinic to lock it. Every week, I go back to the farm, clean the house, visit my parents, and then sleep there in my room. That was the plan today too, but it seems sleep will be hard today.
I hear people rushing from the south. The village is quite spread out, but if someone was to enter the village from the south, they would need to pass my clinic first. I guess I was the watchdog and doctor, hahaha.
My laugh ends soon when I notice around 250 men in front of me. They were each holding torches that lit up their angry expressions. Why do they look like someone urinated on their ancestorial tombs? Looking closer their skin appears slightly more tanned than mine—mountain folk like us don’t get much sunlight. It was clear they weren’t locals.
“Sorry, sirs, the clinic is closed for the night. Please come again tomorrow morning,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
The one leading them was the tallest, with a large, imposing physique. I couldn’t help thinking, why is everyone I meet taller than me these days?
The man laughs and walks forward, his voice booming. “Little man, I am making this village my base of operations from now on. You can join me or die! Hahahaha!”
“You said so much but didn’t even introduce your own name,” I retort, feeling amused. “Are you scared of something, sir?”
The man stops laughing, his face contorting with rage. “Scared?” he repeats, like a broken record. “Scared? When has the great General Zheng ever been scared?”
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He looks truly upset, but for some reason, I find it really amusing. I think about what I could say to enrage him further, but not being used to such tasks, I give up.
I simply ask, “Who are you?”
“Ahhhhhhhhhh!” he loudly screams. I cover my ears; the scream is so annoyingly loud. I guess I managed to piss him off. Haha, yay me.
The man, however, does not stop with just a scream. He pulls out a spear from his back and leaps high into the air, aiming to strike me down. I watch as the moonlight glints off the spearhead, his attack a blur of movement.
Instinctively, I unsheathe my old, rustic sword. In the dark moonlit night, the only form of light I have is the bright white glow emanating from my sword. Unlike before where only the edge was white, now it’s hard to find my grandfather’s sword in my hand. Most of the blade is a bright white. Holding the handle makes me feel reassured, but never being in a fight makes the prospect unnerving, yet strangely exciting.
As General Zheng descends upon me, I take a deep breath, focusing on his movement. Time seems to slow. I sidestep his initial thrust, feeling the rush of air as the spear slices past me. The ground shakes greatly as he lands, his heavy boots creating a crater in the earth.
His eyes blaze with fury as he swings the spear again, this time in a wide arc meant to slice me in two. I duck low, my heart pounding in my chest, filled with excitement. I never thought I would enjoy being in a battle so much. I can smell the metallic scent of blood on him—a reminder of his violent life.
I swing my sword upward, the blade barely missing the shaft of his spear. It seems he is wary of the white light. Our weapons do not clash once. As we dodge each other’s blows, my excitement increases with every move. He sends a flurry of spear thrusts at me. I dodge everyone as if they have slowed down for me, which surprises even me. Dodging the last one, I slash my sword at him, making Zheng stumble slightly. But he recovers quickly, roaring with anger.
“You’ll pay for that, little man!” he snarls, thrusting his spear forward again.
This time, I parry with it; my sword cuts the metallic spear in half lengthwise and disarms him. He is now holding a part of his spear in either hand. The look of shock on his face is almost comical.
Seizing the moment, I step in close, my sword aimed at his throat. “Yield, General Zheng,” I commanded, my voice steadier than I feel.
For a moment, I dared to hope that General Zheng might heed my command. The tension hung thick in the air, palpable like the crackle of impending thunder. But then, with a guttural growl that seemed to reverberate through the very earth beneath us, he lunged at me, his fury unleashed in a barehanded assault.
There was no time to think, only to react. My sword, a trusty companion I affectionately called Grandpa for its relation to my grandfather I have never met, moved almost of its own accord. With a fluid motion, it sliced through the air, a shimmering arc of blazing white seeking its target.
General Zheng's roar turned to a guttural cry of pain as my blade found its mark, cutting deep into his side. He stumbled, falling to the ground with a heavy thud, his hands instinctively clutching the wound, disbelief etched across his features like cracks in weathered stone.
As he looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of agony and astonishment, I felt a surge of conflicting emotions. But there was no room for hesitation now.
“Tell your men to leave,” I commanded, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
With a nod that seemed almost feeble in its resignation, General Zheng managed to muster the strength to shout, “Retreat!”
The men, seeing their leader defeated, hesitated only for the briefest of moments before turning and fleeing into the cloak of the night, their forms melting into the darkness like shadows retreating from the dawn. The village was safe, for now.
With a sigh of relief, I sheathed Grandpa, the weight of the sword a comforting presence at my side. I watched the retreating figures until they disappeared from sight, the adrenaline of battle slowly receding, leaving behind a sense of weary accomplishment.
But as I took in the aftermath of our clash, I couldn't help but notice the destruction wrought upon the once-peaceful surroundings. The earth was torn and scarred, bearing witness to the violent dance of combat.
I glanced back at the clinic, its thankfully untouched by the chaos that had unfolded just moments before. It was a stroke of luck that I had stepped far enough away; otherwise, it might not have still been standing.
Reflecting on the fight, I couldn't shake the sensation that lingered in the air, the fragrance was much stronger back then than it normally is. Also it seemed that even General Zheng couldn't smell the fragrance. Am I the only one that can smell it? With a wry smile, I thought that the fragrance itself raveled in the chaos.
Haha, what a curious thought. But amidst the exhaustion that settled upon me like a heavy cloak, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The short-lived skirmish may have been draining, but it had been undeniably exhilarating, I also learned something new about myself. Battles are quite interesting.
As I turned to leave, my footsteps echoing in the silence that followed the departure of our would-be assailants, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. There were storm clouds gathering on the horizon, and I knew that the tranquility of the village hung precariously in the balance.
But for now, in this fleeting moment of peace, I allowed myself a small smile. The village was safe, and for that, I was grateful.