Chapter 2: The Breaking Point
The air was thick with tension as Yuan Xu was led away by the soldiers, his back straight and his expression unreadable. Xu Mingyan clung to his mother's side, his small hand tightly gripping her sleeve as they watched helplessly. The once-peaceful village, where the sounds of laughter and conversation had filled the air only hours ago, now stood in eerie silence.
Yuan Xu walked steadily, his every step carrying the weight of the village's fate. His face remained calm, but his eyes flickered with concern as he glanced at the soldiers surrounding him. The leader of the soldiers had instructed them to keep watch on his family, but they allowed Yuan Xu to walk with them, his destination unknown.
"Yuan Xu," the soldier leader said, his voice cold and commanding, "You are the village chief, yes?"
"Yes," Yuan Xu replied firmly, his voice low but clear. "I am the village chief. What is this about? Why are you forcing us to leave our homes?"
The soldier leader's eyes narrowed. "There is war on the horizon," he said, his tone filled with urgency. "The imperial forces need every able-bodied man to fight. Your village is no exception. You will provide soldiers for the country."
Yuan Xu's expression hardened, and he stopped walking. "This village has no ties to the empire," he said with conviction. "We have not asked for aid during times of drought or flood. We have taken care of ourselves for generations. And now, you demand that we fight in a war that does not concern us?"
The soldier leader's gaze darkened, his eyes cold as steel. "Your loyalty to the empire is not a matter for discussion. You are part of this kingdom, whether you acknowledge it or not. Every man capable of holding a weapon must fight."
Yuan Xu's hands balled into fists, his knuckles white as he struggled to contain his anger. "We have no connection to the imperial family," he said through gritted teeth. "We do not owe them anything."
The soldier's voice turned sharper. "That is not for you to decide. If you do not comply, we will have no choice but to take matters into our own hands. The lives of your people depend on your cooperation."
Yuan Xu's gaze locked with the soldier's, and for a moment, the two men stared each other down in a battle of wills. The tension in the air grew thick, suffocating, as the soldiers waited for Yuan Xu's response.
"I refuse," Yuan Xu said at last, his voice strong and unwavering. "We will not fight in your war."
The soldier's eyes flashed with fury, and without another word, he signaled to his men. The once peaceful atmosphere shifted instantly, like a storm cloud gathering on the horizon. The soldiers drew their swords, and the harsh clash of steel against steel rang out as they began to move toward the village.
"No! Stop!" Xu Mingyan's mother screamed, her voice breaking as she clutched her son tightly. "Yuan Xu, please—"
Before she could finish, the soldiers advanced, and chaos erupted. The villagers, unprepared for the sudden onslaught, scrambled to defend themselves. Yuan Xu rushed back toward the house, his feet pounding the earth as the sound of clashing weapons filled the air. The soldiers cut down any who resisted, their swords flashing like lightning as they slaughtered men, women, and children alike.
Xu Mingyan's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the devastation unfold. His father, the strong protector of their home, fought valiantly, his sword clashing with the soldiers, but it was clear that they were outnumbered and overpowered. His father's movements grew more frantic as he struggled to defend his family and their village, but the soldiers' onslaught was relentless.
Yuan Xu fought alongside the other men, his muscles straining as he held his ground. But the soldiers were like a tidal wave, unstoppable and merciless. They moved through the village with ease, slaughtering anyone who dared to stand in their way. Xu Mingyan saw the lifeless body of an older man fall to the ground with a sickening thud, his eyes wide open in shock.
His mother pulled him close, her arms wrapping tightly around him as she tried to shield him from the horrors unfolding outside. But the air was thick with the scent of blood, and the cries of the dying rang in Xu Mingyan's ears, drowning out everything else.
The soldiers broke into the house, and Xu Mingyan watched in horror as they struck down his father, who had been fighting to protect them. The blade pierced through his father's side, and he fell to the ground with a sickening cry.
"No!" Xu Mingyan screamed, his voice cracking as he tried to run toward his father. But his mother held him back, her face pale with fear. "Stay with me, Mingyan!" she cried, her voice trembling. "Stay with me!"
They tried to flee, but the soldiers were everywhere. Xu Mingyan's mother dragged him away, but they were stopped by a soldier who grabbed his arm and yanked him backward.
"You're coming with us," the soldier sneered, his grip tightening around Xu Mingyan's wrist. "The boy is valuable. He's coming with us."
Xu Mingyan fought against the soldier's grip, terror flooding his veins. "Let me go! Please, let me go!" he screamed, but the soldier only tightened his hold, dragging him away from his mother.
As Xu Mingyan was pulled away, his mother slipped something into his shoe, her hand trembling as she whispered urgently, "Keep this safe, Mingyan. Do not forget."
The soldiers dragged him through the village, his heart racing as he looked around. The once peaceful village was now a warzone. The homes had been burned to the ground, and the bodies of the fallen littered the streets. The cries of the wounded and dying filled the air, and the ground was stained red with blood.
Xu Mingyan's eyes darted around, searching for his mother, but she was nowhere to be seen. His heart sank as he realized that she had been left behind, abandoned in the chaos. The world around him seemed to spin as he was dragged further away, his mind a blur of fear and confusion.
Finally, they reached a wooden cage at the edge of the village, where other children were already locked inside, their faces pale with terror. The soldiers shoved Xu Mingyan into the cage, and the door slammed shut behind him with a loud, final sound. He stumbled back, falling to the ground as the other children huddled together, their wide, frightened eyes staring at him.
Xu Mingyan curled into a ball, his body trembling with fear as the reality of what had just happened sank in. The village was gone. His father was gone. His mother… he didn't know what had happened to her. He was alone.
The world outside the cage seemed distant, like a dream fading into the dark. The cries of the dying continued to echo in his ears, a haunting reminder of everything they had lost.
And all he could do was sit in the dirt, trapped and helpless, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a shadow over the ruins of his home.