The afternoon sun bathed Jade Creek in its golden light, the usual hum of peaceful life carrying on. Tianyu had been helping his father repair the old barn, a simple task that allowed him to appreciate the mundane joys of his new life. His father, Wen Qiang, hummed an off-key tune as he hammered nails his mother, Wen Mei, stood nearby, sorting harvested herbs with a smile that always made their modest home feel warm.
But that peace was shattered by the urgent toll of the village bell. The sound cut through the air like a blade, sending shivers down Tianyu's spine. His father immediately dropped his tools, his expression turning grim.
"Stay here, Yu'er," Wen Qiang commanded, reaching for his old spear that leaned against the barn wall. "Protect your mother."
Tianyu felt a lump form in his throat. "Father, I—"
"Do as I say," Qiang said firmly, his eyes filled with both fear and resolve. He squeezed Tianyu's shoulder briefly before running toward the village square.
Tianyu turned to his mother, who clutched his arm. "What's happening, Yu'er?"
"Stay inside, Mother," he said, helping her into the house. "Lock the doors and don't come out until I return."
Tianyu climbed onto the roof for a better view. From there, he saw them—seven men, rough and brutal, armed with crude swords and axes. They were led by a towering figure whose presence alone seemed to darken the skies. The bandit leader wore a tattered black cloak, and a vicious scar ran across his face, a testament to countless battles. His booming voice carried through the village.
"Listen up, you filthy farmers! We are the **Black Viper Gang**, and your lives belong to us now! Hand over every ounce of grain, every coin, every piece of jewelry. Resist, and we'll reduce your precious village to ashes!"
The villagers gathered hesitantly, their faces pale with fear. Wen Qiang stepped forward, his spear trembling in his hands but his voice firm. "We are poor folk with little to offer. Please, leave us be."
The bandit leader sneered. "Leave you be? Oh, we'll leave you, alright—once we've taken everything!"
The men behind him erupted in laughter, their voices filled with cruelty.
Tianyu clenched his fists as he watched his father standing in defiance. His mind raced with conflicting emotions. If he revealed his true strength, the bandits would only return with greater forces. He had to think of another way.
Tianyu's eyes fell on the wooden pendant hanging around his neck. His father had carved it for him, a simple token of love. To most, it would appear worthless, but perhaps… just perhaps, he could use it to deceive the bandits.
He climbed down and made his way stealthily toward the square, his small frame blending with the shadows. As he approached the scene, he stepped into the open, drawing the attention of the bandits.
"Wait!" he shouted, his voice carrying a confidence he didn't entirely feel. "If it's treasure you're after, I have something valuable."
The bandit leader turned to him, his scarred face twisting into a cruel grin. "And who's this little hero?"
Tianyu held up the pendant. "This is no ordinary trinket," he said, his tone steady. "It's a priceless artifact passed down through generations. Take it, and leave the village."
The leader narrowed his eyes, studying the pendant. "It doesn't look like much."
Tianyu smirked. "Of course not. True treasure is never flashy. But if you don't believe me…" He began to turn, as if ready to leave.
"Stop!" the leader barked. "Give it here!"
Tianyu hesitated, then threw the pendant into the woods. "If you want it, come and get it!"
The leader's expression darkened. "You think you can play games with me? After him!" he roared, and his men charged into the forest, the leader following close behind.
Deep in the woods, Tianyu stopped in a small clearing surrounded by dense trees. He turned to face the bandits, his heart pounding but his resolve unshaken. He clutched a sturdy branch he had picked up along the way, his only weapon.
The first bandit reached him, his sword raised. Tianyu ducked under the swing and struck the man's wrist with the branch, the force causing the sword to clatter to the ground. Without hesitation, Tianyu delivered a sharp kick to the man's chest, sending him sprawling.
Two more came at him simultaneously. Tianyu stepped back, narrowly avoiding their blades. He spun the branch in his hands, catching one bandit on the side of the head and jabbing the other in the ribs. Both fell to the ground, groaning.
The remaining men hesitated, clearly unnerved. "He's just a kid!" one of them muttered, but his voice betrayed his fear.
"Shut up and kill him!" the leader growled, stepping forward.
The leader's strikes were ferocious, each swing of his blade aiming to cleave Tianyu in two. Tianyu dodged and parried with the branch, his movements swift and calculated. But he was tiring. The ember of Qi within him burned faintly, his mortal body unable to sustain the prolonged fight.
The leader finally managed to land a glancing blow, the blade slicing across Tianyu's arm. Blood seeped through his torn sleeve, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on. He lunged forward, aiming a strike at the leader's knee. The blow connected, and the leader staggered, roaring in pain.
Tianyu turned to face the remaining bandits. Despite his wounds, he stood tall, his eyes blazing with determination. "Who's next?"
The men exchanged uneasy glances but charged him together. Tianyu fought with everything he had, his strikes precise and unrelenting. One by one, the bandits fell, their weapons clattering to the forest floor.
As the last man dropped, Tianyu turned to face the leader, who was now on his knees, clutching his injured leg. The leader looked up at him, his face a mask of fury and disbelief. "You… you're no ordinary boy…"
Tianyu didn't respond. His vision blurred, his strength fading. He took a step forward, then collapsed to the ground, his body finally succumbing to its injuries.
The leader tried to rise but fell back, his wounds too severe. The clearing fell silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.
Tianyu's last thought before losing consciousness was of his family, their faces flashing in his mind like a beacon of light. "I did it… Father… Mother… I kept you safe…"
And then, darkness claimed him.