"As before going out, Wei Xiaotian looked at me while holding my hand. 'I will protect you. This is just a mere attack. Stay here, and nothing will happen.' Before I could say anything, he left."
The urgency in the air grew thicker as Wei Xiaotian left, his words lingering in the space between you two, but you couldn't speak them—he was already gone. The silence was cut sharply as Xianlian's voice rang out, sharp and protective, as he turned to face Yanyue.
Xianlian (frustrated, yet with concern):Yanyue! You won't go! You have to stay back here, lead the defense!"His voice cracked with worry, but Yanyue's calm demeanor barely faltered. With a gentle yet firm hand, Yanyue cupped Xianlian's face, a soft, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips.
Yanyue (softly, with resolve):"Xianlian, I will be fine. You stay here. Don't leave this post. You know there is no Yanyue without Xianlian, and no Xianlian without Yanyue. Remember that."
Before Xianlian could protest further, Yanyue turned, his cloak flowing behind him as he strode towards the door, ready to fight, to protect.
Xianlian stood frozen for a moment, fists clenched in helpless frustration, and then suddenly, he jumped up and down in annoyance, muttering under his breath. He looked over to you, his face still filled with worry.
Xianlian (fuming, but trying to mask it):Damn it, Yanyue... What do you think you're doing? I can't just stand here while you're out there risking yourself!"
Xianlian approached you once more, his face serious but still holding that protective edge.
Xianlian (firmly):
"Yu, listen to me. Lin Yuhai doesn't know sword fighting, but I do. I know the shore technique. And you—remember, you know the Blossom Technique. If they attack here, we can take them. We just need to be ready. We need you back in action, Yu You're Yu Hengtian. You've forgotten who you are, but the bandits are coming. This isn't just a random raid. You have to remember... you have to fight with us."
Xianlian shook you gently by the shoulders, his eyes fierce but filled with a deep sense of urgency. The weight of your own memories—the warrior you once were—began to stir. You had trained for this. you had fought alongside these men, protected your people. You could still do it.
Yu Hengtian (hesitant, but growing resolve):"But I… I don't remember the techniques, Xianlian. I can't fight like I used to."
As Shun Yi arrived, his face grim and urgent, i reached out, gripping his hand with a quiet sense of desperation.
Yu Hengtian (voice steady but urgent):"Shun Yi, how is it outside?"
Shun Yi's gaze dropped, his expression somber, the weight of his words heavy on his shoulders.
Shun Yi (with concern):They're barely holding on. The defense isn't enough. You need to help them. This won't die down easily."
With that, Shun Yi gave a quick nod, turning to move to a safer place, but i couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of helplessness that lingered within me. i looked down at my own hands—hands that felt foreign, frail, useless.
Why am I so worthless? i thought to myself, Just like I was in the mortal world...
But then a voice inside me cut through the doubts. It wasn't the old Zhen Wu anymore. This wasn't the same person who had been broken by life's circumstances. This was Yu Hengtian, a leader, a warrior.
Yu Hengtian (whispering to himself):"This is not you, Zhen Wu... This is Yu. You have to do this."
You could feel the power surge through you, the movements, the techniques, the skills that had once been so familiar. They were still there. Your hands, your body—it all remembered. Summoning the Wind Sword, the weapon of your power, you could feel its energy flow through you, a conduit to your true self.
You turned to Xianlian, determination in your eyes.
Yu Hengtian (commanding, but with deep trust):
"Xianlian, take Lin Yuhai and the others to a safe place. I will meet you there after."
Xianlian's gaze faltered, conflicted, his loyalty to you clear in his eyes. He opened his mouth to protest, but i silenced him with a firm look, a resolve that even he couldn't argue with.
Yu Hengtian (firmly):No, Xianlian. Go. I will handle this."
Xianlian hesitated, then nodded reluctantly, understanding the weight of the responsibility i was shouldering. He gave me one last, lingering look before turning to gather the others, leaving me to face the battle alone.
Xianlian (softly, as he turned to leave):Be safe, Yu.
As they disappeared into the distance, you stood alone at the center, the sounds of the approaching battle growing louder.
As I stepped outside, the scent of smoke and chaos filled the air. The distant sounds of battle echoed through the courtyard, sharp and desperate. For a moment, it felt like the world had fallen into a state of disarray. I looked around, but only saw a single figure amidst the chaos: Wei Xiaotian. He was fighting fiercely, his movements swift and precise as he dispatched bandits left and right, his sword cutting through the night air with deadly grace.
The Wind Sword in my hand pulsed with energy, eager for action. But it wasn't the chaos or the frenzy that drew my attention—it was the sight of Wei Xiaotian, surrounded by enemies, his back facing me as he continued to hold his ground.
Before I could move, the sudden flash of a sword gleamed in the darkness, aimed straight at Wei Xiaotian. One of the bandits, a towering figure clad in black, raised his blade, charging at Wei with a murderous intent. Wei, focused entirely on the battle before him, didn't see the attack coming. The sword was raised high, ready to strike him down in one fatal blow.
Without thinking, I rushed forward, my steps sure and determined, moving faster than the eye could follow. I leaped into the fray, my Wind Sword flashing in the moonlight. The clash of swords rang through the air as I intercepted the bandit's blade, deflecting it with a precise strike, my sword moving like a breeze. The bandit staggered back, eyes wide with shock at the sudden interruption.
Yu Hengtian (coldly, voice low):"Stay away from him."
The bandit snarled, raising his sword again, but I moved faster, cutting through the air like a force of nature. The sword met with mine, clashing with a deafening crack. The bandit's sword slid off my blade, but he refused to relent, charging again with a growl of fury.
Wei Xiaotian, hearing the clash and sensing the change, spun around just in time to see me standing between him and his attacker. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Wei Xiaotian (shocked, voice rising in surprise):"Yu... Hengtian?"
Yu Hengtian (with a steady voice):"Stay back. I'll handle this."
For a split second, everything seemed to freeze. The wind whistled around us both, the sounds of battle fading into the background. Wei Xiaotian's gaze held mine, his expression caught between confusion and awe, his breath quickening from the adrenaline. It was a look I didn't fully understand, but one that seemed to convey more than words could express.
Wei Xiaotian (eyes widening, voice breathless):You... saved me?"
Before I could respond, the sounds of battle erupted once more, drawing both of our attentions.
As the last of the bandits fell, the battlefield was still, but there was an unsettling feeling in the air. The clashing of swords and cries of battle faded, but a heavy silence remained. I stood amidst the fallen enemies, my sword still in hand, but the victory felt hollow.
I stood there, breath heavy, eyes unfocused, staring at the blood staining my hands. The weight of it pressed on my chest, suffocating me. I had fought, I had protected, but now… now I couldn't tell what I had become. The blood that clung to my fingers felt foreign, and yet, it was mine. The realization hit like a hammer to the chest. This wasn't just a battle for survival. This wasn't me.
"What have I become?"
My voice barely whispered the words, lost in the haze of confusion and guilt. The sword, the Wind Sword, which had been an extension of me in battle, slipped from my grasp, falling to the ground with a dull thud. I couldn't hold it anymore. My hands trembled violently, shaking as if they had a mind of their own. The sensation of power that had once surged through me now felt like a curse.
I could feel the presence of someone behind me—Wei Xiaotian. His footsteps were light, but there was no mistaking his approach. He was there, as he always had been.
"Don't come near me!" I repeated, my voice barely more than a whisper, as the trembling in my hands spread up my arms, my whole body shuddering. I didn't want him to see me
But before I could stop it, before I could stop myself, everything went black.