The rising sun bathed the ruined village in a pale golden light, a stark contrast to the chaos of the night before. Tang Xiu stood at the edge of the debris, his gaze sweeping over the villagers as they gathered their belongings, preparing to leave.
Despite their fear, there was hope in their eyes. They had witnessed the impossible—a man standing against overwhelming odds to protect them.
Xu Liang approached Tang Xiu, his bow slung over his shoulder. "The villagers are ready to move. We've scouted a safe path through the forest."
Tang Xiu nodded. "Good. Once they're secure, we'll regroup and assess our next move."
Lei Xian joined them, his arms crossed. "We need to talk about last night. That man in black… he wasn't normal."
"No, he wasn't," Tang Xiu replied, his tone grim. "He was using a corrupted form of qi—something dark and twisted. It's not native to this world."
Xu Liang frowned. "Not native? What does that mean?"
Tang Xiu's eyes narrowed. "It means someone, or something, is meddling with forces beyond this realm. And if they've already sent scouts, worse is likely on the way."
The villagers, led by Old Hu, began their journey through the forest. Tang Xiu and his team flanked them, keeping watch for any signs of danger.
As they moved, Tang Xiu noticed a young boy struggling to keep up. His small frame was weighed down by a bag that seemed too heavy for him. Without a word, Tang Xiu knelt and took the bag, slinging it over his own shoulder.
The boy looked up at him, wide-eyed. "T-Thank you, sir."
Tang Xiu offered a rare smile. "Stay close to your family. We'll keep you safe."
The boy nodded and ran ahead to join his mother, who gave Tang Xiu a grateful bow.
Lei Xian smirked. "Who would've thought you had a soft side?"
Tang Xiu shot him a sharp glance. "Focus on the mission."
Lei Xian chuckled but said no more.
Hours later, they arrived at a small clearing by a river. The villagers began setting up a temporary camp, grateful for the water and open space.
Tang Xiu stood at the edge of the camp, scanning the horizon. Xu Liang approached, carrying a small pouch. "Here. It's not much, but the villagers wanted to thank you."
Tang Xiu opened the pouch to find a handful of dried herbs and a small jade pendant.
"It's unnecessary," Tang Xiu said, closing the pouch.
"They insist," Xu Liang replied. "To them, you're a hero."
Tang Xiu sighed but kept the pouch. "A hero… If only they knew the truth."
Xu Liang tilted his head. "What truth?"
Tang Xiu's expression darkened. "That this is just the beginning. That more battles, more sacrifices, lie ahead."
Xu Liang placed a hand on Tang Xiu's shoulder. "Then we'll face them together. You don't have to carry this alone."
Tang Xiu glanced at him, his gaze softening. "Thank you, Xu Liang."
As night fell, the camp grew quiet. Tang Xiu sat by the river, his reflection shimmering in the water.
His mind drifted to the man in black and the dark qi he wielded. It was a power he had encountered in his past life, a corruption that spread like a disease.
"If they've found a foothold here," Tang Xiu muttered, "then this world is in far more danger than I thought."
Lei Xian joined him, sitting on a nearby rock. "You're brooding again."
Tang Xiu didn't respond.
Lei Xian leaned back, looking up at the stars. "You know, for someone as powerful as you, you sure like to worry."
Tang Xiu finally spoke. "This isn't just about power, Lei Xian. It's about responsibility. If I don't act, who will?"
Lei Xian smirked. "Well, you've got me and Xu Liang. That's a start."
Tang Xiu allowed himself a small chuckle. "True. But we'll need more allies if we're going to face what's coming."
Lei Xian nodded. "Then we'd better start looking. The sooner we find them, the better."
The next morning, Tang Xiu addressed the villagers. "This place is safe for now, but you'll need to stay vigilant. The world is changing, and dangers like last night may come again."
Old Hu stepped forward, his expression resolute. "We'll stand strong, thanks to you. You've given us hope, and we won't waste it."
Tang Xiu nodded. "Good. Keep moving forward, no matter what."
With that, he turned to Xu Liang and Lei Xian. "It's time we moved on. There's more we need to uncover."
As they left the camp and ventured deeper into the unknown, Tang Xiu's resolve hardened. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he was determined to face it head-on.
The path to reclaiming his strength and protecting this world would be long and treacherous, but he was ready for whatever came next.