The morning unfolded gray and somber over what was once the home of Xu Anping and his sister, Xu Sanhua. The atmosphere was heavy with the nauseating smell of death and destruction. The buildings, which had once been symbols of life and effort, were now charred ruins. The bodies of the villagers lay scattered, reduced to bones and ashes, a cruel reminder of the barbarism that had ravaged their village.
Xu Anping and Xu Sanhua emerged from the cellar where they had spent an endless night of terror and despair. The sunlight seemed almost cruel in contrast to the devastation around them. Xu Anping held his sister's hand firmly as they walked over the crumbling ground beneath their feet. Sanhua, trembling from cold and fear, clung to him, seeking comfort in his presence.
"We can't stay here," Xu Anping said in a deep and determined voice. "We have to go, seek help elsewhere."
Sanhua nodded slowly, her eyes full of tears as she looked at what was left of their home. The lament and mourning were behind them; now, survival was all that mattered. Xu Anping knew they had to move quickly, before the barbarians returned or other dangers arose. They carried what little they could: a tattered blanket, meager provisions, and the hope of finding a better future.
As they left the village, they walked in silence. Every step they took was a struggle against despair. The fields and paths, once familiar, had turned into desolate landscapes, mostly burned or looted. After two days of walking with no clear direction, fatigue and hunger began to overwhelm them.
On the third day, as they rested in a small clearing, they spotted movement in the distance. At first, Xu Anping was suspicious. They could be either friends or enemies. He cautiously approached the group of people, hoping to join them.
The group consisted of three people: a hunched old man, a thin woman carrying a small child, and a tall young man with a determined look. Their clothes were dirty and torn, and although fatigue was visible on their faces, there was a spark of defiance in them.
"Where are you coming from?" the old man asked in a rough voice.
"From a nearby village. The barbarians destroyed it," Xu Anping replied sadly. "We're looking for refuge. Maybe a city, a place where we can find help."
The old man nodded, squinting against the sunlight.
"We come from different villages. All destroyed. There's nothing back there," the old man said, pointing north. "But I've heard rumors... rumors of a rebellion growing in the nearby city. Some say they're fighting the barbarians and the corrupt government. Although... I'm not sure that's any better."
The old man's words resonated with Xu Anping. Rebellion. Fighting against those who had taken everything from them. The idea made sense, but he also knew that joining such a cause could be dangerous. Xu Anping looked at his sister, who watched him silently, her dark eyes filled with uncertainty.
"We can't risk dying in a war that's not ours," Xu Anping said. "But we also can't keep wandering. We need to find a safe place."
The young man accompanying the old man, who had remained silent until then, frowned and took a step forward.
"It's not just about safety. I want to join that rebellion," he said with fierce determination. "I want revenge. My family was massacred by the soldiers and the barbarians. I won't stand idly by."
Xu Anping looked at him with a mix of understanding and caution.
"We just want to survive," he replied, glancing away towards his sister. "I can't put her in danger."
The old man, who introduced himself as Li Yuan, a former teacher, observed the interaction calmly before speaking.
"We're not suggesting joining the rebellion right away," he said in a measured voice. "But the nearest city is our best option. Whatever's happening there, at least we might find food and shelter. That's the first thing we need."
The thin woman, who had been silent until then, stroking her child, raised her gaze.
"Fight or not... we'll decide that later," she said in a trembling voice. "What matters now is that we survive."
The decision was made. Despite the rumors and the danger that might come from approaching a city engulfed in unrest, it was the most sensible option. They had no other choice.
The group set off, heading towards the nearest city. The road was treacherous and exhausting, their bodies worn down by hunger and fatigue. Xu Anping remained alert, always keeping his sister close, watching for any suspicious movement around them.
As they advanced, tensions in the group began to rise. The young man, whose name was Liang, grew increasingly impatient to reach the city and join the rebels. Every time the old man spoke of the challenges they would face or mentioned the uncertainty of the rumors, Liang looked at him with disdain.
"I don't care what happens," he said as they rested in the shade of some trees. "The only thing I know is that I won't sit back while they keep destroying everything."
Xu Anping, for his part, remained firm in his purpose of protecting his sister, avoiding any involvement in conflicts that could put them in danger. He couldn't afford to dream of uprisings or revenge. His only goal was to keep Sanhua safe.
However, danger soon found them.
One afternoon, as they approached the outskirts of the city, the sound of rustling bushes alerted them. Xu Anping instinctively grabbed his sister's arm and raised a rusty sickle he had found days earlier. Liang also grabbed a branch as an improvised weapon. In front of them, three figures emerged from the trees: bandits.
"Looks like we found some fun," said one of the bandits, a burly man with a rusty sword. "Quick, hand over everything you've got."
Xu Anping felt fear course through his body, but he had no choice. There was nowhere to run.
"Leave us alone!" Xu Anping shouted, his voice steadier than he felt inside.
The bandits laughed, slowly advancing toward them. Liang was the first to move, charging at one of the bandits with the stick he had. But the man was more agile than he seemed, easily dodging the attack and countering with a blow that left Liang staggering.
Panic gripped the group, but Xu Anping reacted quickly. Seeing one of the bandits lunging at him, he raised the sickle and swung it with all his strength. The rusty blade struck the man's arm, causing him to cry out in pain and retreat.
Sanhua, terrified, watched the scene, unsure of what to do. However, seeing another bandit charging at Xu Anping, she picked up a rock from the ground and, with all her might, threw it at the man. The rock struck his head with a dull thud, making him stagger.
"Anping!" she shouted, warning her brother.
Xu Anping seized the moment of distraction and plunged his sickle into the bandit's chest. The man fell to the ground, groaning in agony before dying.
Liang, injured but still standing, tried to face the third bandit, but the man was stronger and faster. In the blink of an eye, the bandit disarmed Liang and knocked him to the ground.
Time seemed to stop for Xu Anping. Despite the adrenaline, a sense of unease came over him as he looked at the bandit he had just killed. But he quickly shook it off. He knew this battle was about survival. There was no room for remorse in a world where life and death were decided in seconds. As he breathed heavily, he watched the other two bandits warily, ready for any move.
The old man, though weak, stood up to help, but the third bandit, seeing his companions dead or injured, backed away with fear in his eyes.
"Damn it!" he shouted before fleeing, disappearing into the trees.
Liang got up from the ground, staggering, but with a look of satisfaction on his face. He approached Xu Anping and looked at him with a mix of respect and awe.
"I didn't know you fought so well," he said, breathing heavily.
Xu Anping, still holding the bloodied sickle, looked at the dead bandits at his feet. Though he had won, he felt no pride.
Li Yuan, calmer now, approached and looked at the bandits' bodies with a sad expression.
"They weren't so different from us," he said quietly. "Peasants, like us, pushed to the edge by hunger. Doing terrible things to survive."
The old man's words hung in the air. Xu Anping, though he understood the truth behind them, couldn't afford to doubt. Survival was the only thing that mattered now.
With the path cleared, the group continued their march toward the city, knowing the danger was far from over.