The cart jostled violently as Xing urged the horses to their limits, the wheels threatening to break free from their axles with each bump and turn.
Luan clung to the side, his knuckles turning white from the effort. But Xing paid him no mind. As his thoughts raced faster than the horses’ hooves against the muddy road.
“Damn it all,” Xing muttered under his breath, eyes fixed on the path ahead.
The moonlight barely penetrated the dense canopy, leaving shadows that could hide any manner of dangers. But it wasn’t unseen enemies that truly worried him - it was time.
Every second that passed could mean another life lost in the Iron Stone Village.
He navigated a treacherous bend and his thoughts turned to his daughter, Zhao Li. Her innocent face flashed in his mind.
He’d left her behind in the Purple Mist Village, believing it to be safe. Now, with the Stone Bear Band on the move, he wasn’t so sure.
What if they don’t stop at the Iron Stone Village? What if they push on to Purple Mist? The thought sent a chill down his spine that had nothing to do with the night air whipping past him.
“I should’ve brought her with me,” he growled, anger at himself rising like bile in his throat. “I should’ve never left her!”
But even as the words left his mouth, he knew it wasn’t true. Bringing Li’er into potential danger, such as this was far worse.
He’d experienced it months ago, dealing with the Red Tavern louses and because of it…he Core Dantian was cracked, forcing him to be more cautious in a fight…but possibly even more vicious as well.
As Xing shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He needed to focus. The people of Iron Stone Village needed him, and he couldn't help them if he was lost in his own fears and regrets.
Yet, as he pushed the horses harder, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being pulled in two directions. His word to Elder Jun, drew him forward to Iron Stone Village. But his heart, his very soul, yearned to turn back, to ensure Li’er's safety with his own eyes.
“Uncle!” Luan shouted, cutting Xing off from his internal struggle. “There’s smoke up ahead!”
Xing’s eyes snapped to the horizon. Sure enough, a dark plume rose against the night sky, barely visible through the trees but unmistakable.
His heart sank.
They were too late.
“Hold on, Lu’er,” Xing snapped back, tone grim. He snapped the reins once more, urging the horses to impossible speeds. As they raced towards the growing signs of destruction, Xing made a silent promise to Li’er, himself, and the people of Iron Stone Village.
I will end this quickly. I will keep you safe, Li’er. And then, I swear, I will never leave you unprotected again.
Xing steered the cart with renewed determination, feeling as the cartwheels headed towards the chaos ahead.
He was ready to face whatever awaited them in the Iron Stone Village. Weight of responsibility pressing down on him, but he bore it willingly. For Li’er, for the innocent villagers, for the peace of the valley - he would do what needed to be done.
They crested a small hill, the full extent of the devastation came into view. Smoke billowing into the night sky, thick and black, obscuring the stars.
The acrid scent of burning wood and thatch filled the air, making Xing's eyes water and his throat constrict.
Before them lay a short ledge and beyond that a stretched a patch of barren land. In the center of this desolate expanse sat the Stone Iron Village, or what remained of it.
Flames licking the edges of buildings, casting an eerie feel as light flickered across the landscape.
Xing clenched his jaw, his hands tightened around the reins. He then pulled the cart to a sudden stop at the edge of the ledge. “Lu’er!” Xing growled. “Take the cart down to the village. Help anyone you can, but stay out of danger. Understand?”
“Yes Master!” He nodded, face pale but determination flashed across it from the firelight.
Xing leapt off the cart and ledge, his body blurring in the night, as he engaged his qinggong.
He kicked off the ledge, then barely touched the ground, then sped across the barren land.
The wind whipped against his face, carrying the sounds of chaos in the forms of screams wood crackling from flames.
The closer he got, the more his heart thrummed from the clash of weapons and the roar of flames.
As Xing approached the outskirts of the village, he began swirling his Qi within his Soul Dantian, he then surged it to his legs, then stomped off the ground, which sent him souring through the sky in a powerful leap.
Xing soared over the first row of houses, his silhouette filling seething through the smoke-filled sky.
He landed with a soft thud in the village center. He scanned the surrounding area and pain shot right through his heart.
The few bodies that lied on the ground, were stabbed multiple times with others being maimed.
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It was the exact scene of the Stone Hollow Village and the Purple Mist Village. Villagers ran in panic trying to escape the Stone Bear Band, whilst some were carrying buckets of water in futile attempts to douse the flames.
The Stone Bear Band’s weapons glinted in the firelight, their faces twisted with cruel satisfaction.
Xing’s eyes narrowed, his Qi surging through his body as he prepared for battle. He had arrived in the heart of the conflict, and now it was time to end it.
“Kai Chen!” Xing’s voice boomed across the village square, cutting through the cacophony of destruction. “COME OUT YOU COWARD…WHY HURT THESE PEOPLE?!”
The sixteen men that were there, all turned to Xing…malice painted across their face. Xing settled into a fighting stance. Then surged his Qi within his Soul Dantian and prepared himself mentally. “KAI CHEN…!”
Silence fell over the village square, broken only by crackling flames and distant screams.
The sixteen men began to form a loose semicircle, trying to encircle Xing as their weapons continually gleamed in the firelight.
A deep, rumbling laugh echoed throughout the shadows from a nearby burning building. A young man, no more than twenty years old, wearing black and white fatigues with a green sword sitting across his lap, glinting against the firelight sat up.
He looked at Xing intensely, then licked his lips. “Well, well. If it isn’t Purple Mist Valley’s newest new comer!”
The young man stood up, which made him seem shorter than what Xing had preserved as he was sitting. His shoulders were broad, with hair waving all the way down from his shoulders. “You’re shorter than I assumed you would be.”
Assumed I would be? Xing mused, narrowing his eyes. Why would he know me…
“You have me at a disadvantage!” Xing growled, watching the men circle him. “It appears you know me and I don’t know you.”
Kai Chen sprung up from his seat, twirling his green sword in his right hand. A wick smile flash across his face, then he licked his lips.
“As it should be, after all this is MY valley!”
A knowing smile a flashed across Xing lips, as he knew what type of man this Kai Chen was. A familiarity in arrogance, Xing thought.
He was young and by’s Xing’s estimation, he was also of the Mind Awakening Realm. Displaying arrogance such as this was easy, especially when you were strong. But it also bore consequences when you didn’t put in the work.
Hence why Xing’s Core Dantian was now cracked.
I’ve been a fool, He mused, was I this arrogant when I was young?…it maybe best to cut his life short.
“If this is your, Why attack these innocent people? What’s to gain from such cowardice?”
A thunderous laughed boomed as Kai Chen stared at Xing venomous. “Gain? This isn’t about gain. This is about Power. Fear. Showing everyone that we can take what we want WHEN WE WANT!”
“Then I guess me taking your life, would be as easy plucking flowers in the wild.”
Kai Chen began walking towards Xing, his men smiling and laughing as though, they knew something he didn’t.
As he approached, three men drifted back, allowing Kai Chen to enter the circle. He slid his emerald sword across his back then twisted his head. “Brave words Outsider, Let’s see if you can back them up!”
Kai Chen lunged forward, his blade whistling through the air. Xing twisted, avoiding the lunge feeling the wind as the sword passed mere inches from his face.
Xing turned in with a palm strike, but pivoted to his left, anticipating the blow. Then ducked under flowing roundhouse kick from Xing.
He spun, retaliating with a vicious kick hitting Xing in the midsection. The impact sent Xing skidding backwards, his feet leaving furrows in the dirt.
Pain blossomed in his abdomen, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the threat before him. “Is that all you’ve got, old man?” Kai Chen taunted, twirling his sword with a flourish.
“Hardly,” Xing wisped, “We haven’t even started!”
Xing narrowed his eyes as the boy began attack wildly, using his sword. He’s strong boy was strong, far stronger than I anticipated, Xing mused, dodging another wayward slash.
The way he moves is unnatural, it makes him seem slow, but he speeds up at critical moments…he’s a genius.
Two of Kai Chen’s men attacked from the sides forcing to Xing to duck under a sword slash. He swept the legs out from under one of the attackers. He surged the Qi within his Core Dantian and Qi began to flow through the cracks of his Dantian.
Damn it, I forgot that I use Qi from my Core Dantian whenever I look to counter attack.
Gritting his teeth, Xing reached deep within himself, tapping into the Qi within his Soul Dantian.
Kai Chen’s eyes widened slightly, as if he were impressed. “Divination Realm? How exciting!” He rasped.
Kai Chen grinned, his eyes glowing with an eerie light. Then charged in, his speed increasing with each attack.
Xing wasn’t hard pressed, but made it seem so. He couldn’t easily stopped Kai Chen’s attacks, but with his cracked Core Dantian he had to efficient, callous and not as boisterous as he usually was.
Kai Chen’s laughter echoed across the burning village as he charged towards Xing again. The green sword in his hand pulsed with an otherworldly light. His devastating forced Xing threw up his arms in defense, channeling every ounce of Qi he could muster from his Soul Dantian and into his Dantians.
In truth, this battle would’ve been over within a few strokes, but Xing knew that would’ve exposed him.
If he hadn’t cracked his Core Dantian, he would’ve been able to unleash his fury unto Kai Chen, but with his Core Dantian forcing him to be more cautious in battle, it truly annoyed.
It was as if, Xing was fighting with two hands behind his back and using his feet to defend and attack.
An upward slash forced Xing back, making him shuffle, as he still dodged wayward attacks from Kai Chen’s men.
Kai Chen finally stopped and raised his green sword across his shoulder. “I thought you were warrior, Xing…but you’re nothing but a feather. Fine. I’ll motivate you accordingly.
“Song and Gu Bei, kill the rest of villagers the rest of you help me end this charade so that I can kill this fool alongst with his Axsumite daughter.”
What…what did he just say? Axsumite daughter?
Xing’s mind reeled over, in just one second. How could Kai Chen know about Li’er? He’d only been in the valley for a few hours. The implications sent a chill down his spine, colder than any blade.
As he deflected another of Kai Chen’s attacks, his mind raced with uncertainty. Who could’ve betrayed him? No…who betrayed Li’er! Was it the Jiang Patriarch? No, that doesn’t make sense. The old man had been nothing but welcoming.
Old Man Jun? The thought twisted in Xing’s gut. Had the kindly elder’s offer of help been a ruse? But why go through such elaborate deception? No…that doesn’t make sense either.
Then a more sinister possibility arose. The chief from Stone Hollow Village. That bastard had seemed all too eager to see Xing leave. Could he have sent word to Kai Chen?…or was he working with him!
Each possibility only further pushed Xing into frustration. He'd come to this valley seeking peace, a safe haven for Li’er. Instead, he found himself embroiled in a web of deceit and violence.
As his anger rose with each passing second, he could feel the Qi within his Core Dantian swirl hot and fierce. It coursed through his meridians, seeping through the cracks of his Core Dantian.
Xing’s movements became sharper, more aggressive, fueled by his growing rage.
Kai Chen seemed to sense the change, his mocking grin faltering for a moment. But it wasn’t enough.
Xing needed answers.
Deflecting another slash from the green sword, Xing finally gave voice to the question burning inside him.
Xing caught Kai Chen’s sword between his fingertips, then pulsed his Qi violently throughout the burning village, enshrouding it with his killing aura.
He looked at Kai Chen, indifferently and felt the heat of breath pass his lips before he even spoke. “Who told you about my daughter?” Xing growled, eyes turning red with wrath.