Chapter 9: The Blades of Retribution
The morning sun cast a warm glow over the village, but the air was thick with unease. Jax leaned against a wooden post near the communal fire pit, cleaning Whisper with methodical precision. He hadn't slept much after the events of the previous night, his mind occupied with thoughts of the beast, his burgeoning Qi abilities, and what they meant for his survival in this strange new world.
Kyra sat nearby, sharpening the edge of her spear. Her movements were deliberate, but her expression was distant, her gaze flicking occasionally toward Jax. The tension between them, lingering from the previous night's encounter, was palpable but unspoken.
The sound of hurried footsteps broke the quiet. A villager rushed into the clearing, his face pale and drawn. "Elder Yun," he gasped, "there are men at the edge of the forest. They're armed—Thousand Blades Sect!"
The words sent a ripple of fear through the villagers gathered nearby. Mothers clutched their children, and men reached for tools that would barely pass as weapons. Jax slid Whisper into its holster and stood, his smirk faint but confident.
"Guess breakfast will have to wait," he muttered.
Kyra was already on her feet, her spear at the ready. Elder Yun appeared moments later, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the rising panic around him. "Stay calm," he said firmly. "We'll handle this."
The clearing near the edge of the village was deathly silent as the villagers gathered, staying behind a makeshift barricade of overturned carts and stacked barrels. Jax and Kyra stood at the forefront, with Elder Yun slightly behind them. The tension was suffocating as figures began to emerge from the shadows of the forest.
They came in rows, clad in dark robes embroidered with the signature crossed blades of the Thousand Blades Sect. Their swords gleamed faintly with Qi energy, their presence oppressive. At their head was a tall figure with cold, calculating eyes and an aura that seemed to darken the air around him.
The leader stepped forward, his movements fluid yet deliberate, exuding an aura of command that silenced even the faintest whispers among the villagers. His voice, sharp and cutting, carried easily across the clearing.
"I am Shen Wu, Inner Disciple of the Thousand Blades Sect," he declared, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Jax. "You killed my brother, Gong. For that, you will pay dearly."
Jax tilted his head, his smirk unfazed. "If Gong was the guy with the bad haircut and the worse attitude, yeah, I sent him packing. You gonna do something about it?"
Shen Wu's jaw tightened, his cold fury evident in the way his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. "You don't understand what you've done. Killing a disciple is one thing, but killing family—you've just marked yourself and this village for death."
A few days ago…
The grand halls of the Thousand Blades Sect were a stark contrast to the humble village where Jax stood his ground. Towering pillars of black stone lined the central chamber, their surfaces etched with the sect's emblem of crossed blades. The air crackled faintly with Qi energy, a testament to the power that resided here.
At the center of the chamber, the sect's elder council convened. Seated at the head of the table was Sect Master Xian Lei, a man whose presence alone could silence even the boldest of warriors. His eyes were closed as he listened to Shen Wu's recounting of the events in the village.
"Gong is dead," Shen Wu said, his voice steady but laced with barely suppressed grief. "Killed by an outsider—someone not of this world. He wielded strange weapons, unlike anything I've seen before. Fast. Precise. And dangerous."
The council members murmured among themselves, their expressions a mix of curiosity and disdain. One of them, a wiry man with a hawk-like nose, leaned forward. "This outsider killed Gong? And you allowed him to live?"
Shen Wu's eyes flashed with anger. "I did not allow it. He and the villagers were better prepared than expected. Their defenses were… unorthodox."
Xian Lei opened his eyes, the weight of his gaze silencing the murmurs instantly. "Tell me more about this outsider," he said, his voice low and measured.
Shen Wu hesitated for a moment, then continued. "He moves like a warrior, but his techniques are foreign. He used weapons that emit explosive force—Qi does not touch them, yet they cut through defenses like paper. And…" He paused, as if reluctant to admit the next part. "During the fight, I sensed Qi within him. Faint, untrained, but present."
Another elder, a stern-faced woman with streaks of silver in her hair, frowned. "An outsider with Qi? Impossible."
"Not impossible," Xian Lei corrected, his tone thoughtful. "Rare. Dangerous. If this man is not from our world, then his presence here disrupts the balance. He must be eliminated before he grows stronger."
Shen Wu inclined his head. "I will handle it, Sect Master. I swear Gong will be avenged."
The hawk-nosed elder scoffed. "You already failed once. Sending you again would be a waste of resources."
Xian Lei raised a hand, silencing the brewing argument. "Enough. Shen Wu will go, but not alone. Take a team of Inner Disciples and finish this quickly. Show the villagers what it means to defy the Thousand Blades Sect."
A cruel smile spread across the hawk-nosed elder's face. "Make an example of them. Burn the village if you must. Let the world see that no one crosses the Thousand Blades Sect and lives."
Shen Wu bowed deeply. "It will be done."
As the council dismissed, Xian Lei remained seated, his gaze fixed on the black stone floor. The mention of an outsider with Qi lingered in his mind, a thread of unease pulling at his thoughts.
"An outsider," he murmured to himself. "This could change everything."
Back to present…
Elder Yun stepped forward, his tone calm but firm. "This village meant no offense to your sect. The actions of those disciples were unjust—they extorted and threatened my people."
Shen Wu's lips curled into a faint smile. "And yet, they were members of the Thousand Blades Sect. Their deaths demand justice."
Jax scoffed, stepping forward until he was level with Kyra. "Justice? Your guys were shaking this place down like common thugs. Sounds like they got what was coming to them."
Shen Wu's eyes narrowed, his gaze settling on Jax. "And you must be the outsider. Bold words for someone so ignorant of their place."
Jax tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Why don't you come over here and teach me, then?"
Without another word, Shen Wu raised his hand, and his fellow disciples surged forward, their blades flashing in the sunlight. The villagers scattered, retreating behind the barricades as Jax and Kyra braced for the onslaught.
Kyra was the first to move, her spear glowing faintly as she charged into the fray. Her strikes were precise, each movement guided by the Qi she had cultivated through years of practice. She fought like a whirlwind, holding back the advancing disciples with a ferocity that surprised even herself.
Jax, meanwhile, moved like a predator. Whisper and Bang were in his hands in an instant, each shot ringing out with deadly accuracy. His Qi-enhanced reflexes allowed him to dodge incoming strikes with ease, his movements fluid and unpredictable.
One disciple lunged at him, sword glowing with a faint blue aura. Jax sidestepped, firing a single shot that struck the man's blade, shattering the Qi-infused metal. The disciple fell back, clutching his wrist in pain as Jax turned to the next opponent.
"Too slow," Jax muttered, his smirk never wavering.
The tide began to shift as Shen Wu entered the fight. His movements were swift and deliberate, his blade leaving trails of silver light as it sliced through the air. He struck at Kyra first, forcing her to retreat under the weight of his attacks. Each blow was precise, aimed to break her defenses.
Jax intercepted, firing a shot aimed at Shen Wu's chest. The Inner Disciple deflected it with a flick of his blade, the bullet ricocheting harmlessly into the dirt. Shen Wu's gaze locked onto Jax, a glimmer of interest in his cold eyes.
"You're skilled," Shen Wu admitted, his tone calm. "But raw. Let me show you the difference between us."
The battle that followed was unlike anything Jax had experienced. Shen Wu's blade was a blur, each strike carrying the weight of his Qi. Jax's instincts and reflexes kept him alive, but he was forced to rely on Whisper and Bang sparingly, knowing he couldn't afford to waste ammunition.
Kyra rejoined the fight, her spear clashing against Shen Wu's sword. Together, she and Jax managed to hold their ground, their movements complementing each other in a way that felt almost instinctive.
But Shen Wu was relentless. With a surge of Qi, he sent a shockwave that knocked Kyra off her feet, her spear flying from her grasp. She landed hard, gasping as she struggled to rise.
Shen Wu turned his attention to her, his blade raised for the killing blow. "You've fought well," he said, his tone almost mocking. "But this is where it ends."
Jax didn't think—he moved. The hum in his chest flared, his Qi surging as he dashed forward, faster than he'd ever moved before. Whisper was in his hand, the energy coursing through him as he aimed at Shen Wu's exposed side.
The shot rang out, a burst of Qi-infused energy that struck true. Shen Wu staggered, his blade faltering as the impact knocked him off balance. He turned to face Jax, his expression a mix of shock and fury.
"How—" Shen Wu began, but Jax didn't let him finish. With a fluid motion, he fired again, forcing the Inner Disciple to retreat.
The remaining disciples, seeing their leader faltering, hesitated. Elder Yun stepped forward, his presence commanding as he raised his hand. "Leave now," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You've lost this fight."
Shen Wu glared at Jax, his hand clutching his side where the Qi-infused shot had struck. "This isn't over," he spat. "The Thousand Blades Sect will hear of this."
With that, he turned, his disciples retreating into the forest. The village was left in tense silence, the aftermath of the battle settling over them like a heavy fog.
As the villagers began to regroup, tending to the wounded and repairing the damage, Jax leaned against a tree, catching his breath. Kyra approached, her expression a mix of concern and exhaustion.
"You could've run," she said softly. "You didn't have to fight for us."
Jax glanced at her, his smirk faint but genuine. "What can I say? I'm starting to like this place."
Kyra shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're impossible."
Elder Yun joined them, his expression grave. "The sect won't forget this. We need to prepare for what's coming."
Jax straightened, his smirk fading as determination settled in his gaze.
End of Chapter 9.