That Day
The morning mist had yet to dissipate as Li Yan, Chu Jingfei, A-Lian, and their companions Zhang Hu, Zhang Bao, the blacksmith, and Little Stone made their way along a winding official road. After traveling for over ten days, all of them were visibly fatigued.
Along the way, they often encountered villages ravaged by the fires of war. The scene before them was unsettling—a grim reminder of the chaos engulfing the land.
Just as they were proceeding with caution, they suddenly heard the sound of shouting and weapons clashing from ahead. Amid the dust, several cavalrymen were brandishing gleaming long knives, chasing down a carriage. The carriage jolted and creaked on the muddy road, and finally came to a halt.
A Qin army officer, flanked by a handful of soldiers, was desperately fending off the attackers surrounding the carriage. He wielded a spear, struggling to repel the assaults, as his soldiers fell one by one. The attackers were dressed in various ragged outfits, clearly rebels. Ferocious as wolves, they charged at the carriage, their weapons glinting coldly in the early morning light.
"Protect the madam! Now!" the officer shouted hoarsely, urgency clear in his voice.
A rebel soldier wielding a massive axe swung it down at the officer, who quickly dodged the blow and countered with a spear thrust to the soldier's chest, sending blood spurting. But more rebels surged forward, encircling him.
The scene was like a vision of hell. Hoofbeats, clanging weapons, screams, and roars mingled in a cacophony. The carriage seemed to be the center of the battlefield, the enemy's blades already slashing at its curtains and tearing through the roof. The horses neighed in panic, the carriage shook violently, and the cries of children and the shrieks of a woman could be heard from within.
"Rescue them!" Li Yan's eyes sharpened as he issued the command.
Chu Jingfei charged forward, brandishing his Fangtian Halberd. He was swift, almost flying across the ground, and in the blink of an eye had joined the fray. With a fierce thrust, he knocked a rebel officer from his horse.
Li Yan followed closely, his sword flashing like lightning. A rebel swung his blade at him; Li Yan dodged effortlessly and countered with a quick slash across the man's throat. Blood sprayed, staining the ground.
"Perfect timing!" The brothers Zhang Hu and Zhang Bao exchanged a glance, raised their weapons, and dove into the battle. Working in sync, they quickly pulled a few rebels away from the carriage.
Zhang Bao brought his large blade down on an enemy's leg, the sound of bones cracking echoing as the rebel fell with a scream. Zhang Hu then stepped forward and struck another enemy on the back of the head with a staff, felling him instantly.
The tide of battle swiftly turned. The rebel soldiers, caught off guard, were gradually driven back by Li Yan and his group. Yet, the enemy forces were still numerous and continued to resist fiercely.
One rebel lunged at A-Lian with a spear. She sidestepped nimbly and fired a crossbow bolt in return, the rebel collapsing instantly.
Just then, a burly rebel leader let out a thunderous roar, wielding a massive axe as he charged straight at Li Yan. The axe swung down with deadly intent, aiming to cleave Li Yan in two. Chu Jingfei, quick to react, intercepted the axe with his halberd, sparks flying as the weapons clashed. The axe was forced off course, embedding itself in the ground as dirt sprayed up around it. Chu Jingfei then spun and delivered a powerful kick to the rebel leader's chest, sending him sprawling and spitting blood.
The blacksmith and Little Stone guarded either side of the carriage, fending off any rebels trying to approach. Though they weren't as strong, the coordinated efforts of the group gradually gave them the upper hand. The rebels, now realizing they were outmatched, began to scatter in panic.
Moments later, the battle was over. The ground was strewn with the bodies of the rebel soldiers, and with the final one down, silence returned to the forested area.
The Qin officer, breathing heavily, managed to steady himself. After checking on the safety of those in the carriage, he turned to Li Yan and the others and said, "I am Chen Kun. Thank you, brave heroes, for coming to our aid."
Li Yan wiped the blood from his sword and replied calmly, "No need for thanks. Where are you headed?"
"We are soldiers from Chen County, ordered to escort the madam and young master north. We were ambushed by these rebels and wouldn't have made it without your intervention."
Li Yan frowned slightly. "The county governor's wife?"
Before Chen Kun could reply, the lady in the carriage stepped down, her voice choked with emotion. "I am the wife of the county governor of Chen. When the rebels attacked the city, the governor commanded us to flee so he could defend the city without worry. Without your help, my children and I would have surely perished."
At her words, everyone's hearts tightened. Li Yan asked with a steely tone, "The rebels are attacking the city? What's the current situation in Chen County?"
The lady wiped her tears and shook her head. "Both the prefect and the magistrate have fled, leaving only my husband and his remaining troops to resist. He arranged for our escape, choosing to stay behind…"
Chu Jingfei's face turned red with anger. "Those cowardly officials, fleeing like rats!"
The lady glanced at the group, noting their attire wasn't that of soldiers. "You are all skilled warriors. May I ask where you are bound?"
Li Yan briefly explained how their village had been massacred and how they were now refugees.
Hearing this, Chen Kun, impressed by their skills in the recent battle, spoke up, "The governor assigned fifty men to escort the madam and her family north, but now, only a few of us remain. Continuing north is too dangerous. Brave warriors, would you consider coming back to the city with us to make further plans?"
Everyone turned to Li Yan, awaiting his decision.
Should they go? Li Yan clenched his fists. His rational side, as someone from another era, reminded him that this was merely a fragment of history, and that no matter what he did, the end seemed inevitable. He was meant to be an observer, one who recorded history, not its protagonist.
But now, here he stood on this ancient land, having witnessed the rebels burning villages and slaughtering innocents. The cries of the villagers still echoed in his ears. He could no longer be a passive bystander.
"Defend the city? We're only ordinary people—how could we hope to withstand armed, merciless rebels?" Logic screamed in his mind, trying to hold him back. But could he truly remain uninvolved?
Li Yan looked down at his hands. These hands, once used to study ancient texts and draw maps in a modern world, were now holding an ancient bronze sword, marking his transformation from a passive observer to an active participant in this chaotic history.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Reality pressed upon him: if he did nothing, Chen County might fall. More innocent lives would be lost, and even his own vulnerable companions could face greater danger. Responsibility now weighed upon his shoulders.
"Let's go," he finally decided, his voice low but resolute.
Though unease lingered in his heart, he knew he could no longer escape this test of fate.
Under Chen Kun's guidance, they traveled for several hours before reaching Kaiyuan Gate on the southern side of Chen County. Even here, soldiers on the city wall had heightened their vigilance.
Seeing Chen Kun approaching with a group, a soldier on the wall called out, "Who goes there?"
"It's me, Chen Kun," he responded loudly.
The soldier examined them, recognizing Chen Kun after a moment.
"Commander Chen, you've returned! Open the gate quickly!"
The guards moved swiftly, allowing the gate to open.
As they entered the city, Li Yan walked beside Chen Kun and asked, "Have the rebels attacked the city yet?"
"They've already attempted an assault," Chen Kun replied with confidence. "But thinking they could take Chen County quickly is foolishness."
Li Yan noted the overconfidence in Chen Kun's words, knowing from history that Chen County would fall within days.