The whole village was filled with desperate screams as their bodies were being slashed, their necks slit before they could even escape. A blazing fire appeared, making everything turn to dust. Thick smoke entered their lungs, making it harder to breathe. Their eyes turned misty, making their sight blur.
The lifeless bodies of the villagers formed pools of blood. The iron-like smell was like an intoxicating scent for the red-armed men, their bloodlust reaching new heights.
The villagers who ran earlier didn't make it as the armored men caught up with them.
No one made it.
The once peaceful village turned into a hellish place, the smell of blood, burning flesh, and desperate screams.
Back in the forest, Fei Wanrou felt a strong gush of wind hitting her face, and her silky hair swayed wildly. Little droplets of sweat appeared on her forehead. They are still in the middle of the forest, which is next to the outskirts, the other exit in the whole village.
As they ran away from the village, she heard a scream, making them look at their back to see the man that she had seen in the forest earlier. Her body began to tremble, her face ashen with fright.
Her father screamed, "Rou'er, don't look back, just keep running." Knocked back to reality, she began running faster beside her father. She steadied her breathing just a little bit more; they could finally reach the outskirts of the forest then—
*WOOSH! *
The crazy man threw a pickaxe in their direction! It nearly hit her with just a few inches from her face...
Her steadied state quickly broke, and she was back to being horrified. Not being able to notice an elevated rock, she stumbled hard on the forest floor, her body hitting the cold hard ground.
"ROU'ER!" Fei Wanrou felt her head spinning, her chest stinging in pain as she moaned. Slowly, she rests her pained body on a tree, supporting her.
The crazy man who was getting nearer didn't escape from Fei Zhen's eyes. Gritting his teeth, he grabs the hilt of his sword tightly, removing it from its scabbard.
"Zhou'er, help your sister get away from this forest as fast as you can. I will catch up to you as soon as possible." Father Fei then let go of his son, dishevelling his son's hair, then muttered, his heart aching; he had already made up his mind. He knew standing against such an enemy. His end was already clear as the day.
Gently gazing at his son as he says his last words, "Tell your sister to be strong. As a man, you should take care of your sister and remember that I and your mother will always be with you..."
Fei Zhuo, who was still young, was confused, feeling his heart wrenching in pain; as a child, he didn't know what was happening, but the pain made him unable to properly breathe. His eyes turned red as he cried, and snot was forming in his nose. His father shouted.
"Now, Go! Escape! run as fast as you can, and don't look back." With that, his little legs ran toward his sister
Fei Wanrou, who was recovering from her dizziness, heard her father's words and understood. "There's no time for me to waste; once we get out of here, we will wait for him," she thought, believing blindly that her father could successfully escape.
She pulled herself up, gazing up at her brother, who was running towards her, grabbing his hands tightly. She looked at her father one last time and felt his warm smile. With that, she left with her brother immediately.
Fei Zhen, watching his children leave, turned and fixed his gaze on the armored man who was holding a sword. Following his footsteps as he picked the pickaxe up, making both the weapons his.. the man's lips moved.
"Ah, people like you really make my heart tingle," the armored man's raspy voice echoed as the wind gushed even stronger. "Don't worry, you will see them later! Now here I come!" the man rages in, dashing towards him with great force. Two loud metals hit each other as the swords made a clanging noise. Fei Zhen was pushed slightly as the man struck again using his pickaxe, making the sword he was holding lower.
"Now get this! " the armored man puts his sword up, putting his strength in his hand as he swings his sword in Fei Zhen's direction. Fei Zhen readied his sword, and his weapon met his. Gritting his teeth, he pushed him back but dulled as the man prepared his pickaxe. They both went through this again and again and again, making both exhausted.
Fei Zhen then felt the man staring at him in a joyful state. "This is really fun! But it's sad because I have to end you now. My boss said that there should be no one spared alive, and those kids of yours are no exception, so it's time to say goodbye now!" the man grinned widely, his white teeth barred, his eyes crazily staring at him.
Dashing quickly, the man attacks faster than before, surprising Fei Zhen and opening a chance for the man to stab him. Fei Zhen spewed out blood, his face grazing the surface, and his sword flew in great force.
"Do you have any last words before I kill you?" the man clicked his tongue as he stared at the kneeling man in front of him. Hearing no response, the man shrugs, pointing his sword at his head.
"My children, don't let anyone control your fate. Don't forget my last words and live! If you both accomplish all of that, I can finally be relieved with your mother." he muttered as he spewed more blood. His eyesight gradually disappeared with a droplet of tears falling from his cheeks, then finally—
The man stabbed the man's chest, and his body oozed with blood; the man stared for it quite a bit, then gazed at his head in the direction of the outskirts.
Fei Wanrou felt cold all of a sudden, her back shivering. Looking in where her father's direction.
"Father is okay. I know it." With that, she clenches her brother's hand as they continue to run away.