SpaceMage
Chapter 3 3 - Fear

As the first rays of the sun peeked over the horizon, the gloomy clouds from the previous daFy dispersed, allowing the warm light to wash over the land. The clear blue sky stretched out above, dotted with fluffy white clouds that seemed to dance and play in the gentle breeze. The air was filled with the cheerful songs of birds, their trills and chirps adding to the sense of joy and renewal that came with the new day. The roosters crowed loudly, announcing the start of a new day to all who would listen.

Throughout the village, the people rose from their beds and set to work, tending to their farms and fields with renewed energy and determination. Ximen Wei, too, emerged from his home, the morning sun casting a golden glow on his face as he made his way towards the farm. The fields stretched out before him, the rich soil dark and fertile beneath his feet. He could see the other villagers hard at work, their hoes moving steadily as they prepared the land for the coming harvest.

Ximen Wei sighed, knowing that the task ahead of him would be tedious and laborious. But he also knew that it was necessary.

As Ximen Wei arrived at the farm, he was greeted by the sight of his father, a short man dressed in dirty peasant clothing and a straw hat. This was Ximen Fei, the man who had given him life and raised him with love and care. "Good morning, Little Wei," Ximen Fei called out, a warm smile on his face. "Start plucking the scallions from over there. Your mother will join you in a bit." "Okay, Dad," Ximen Wei replied, his own smile mirroring his father's. He made his way over to the designated area and began to carefully pull the scallions from the soil, his fingers nimble as he worked. Despite the tedious nature of the task, he was grateful to be able to help his parents and contribute to their farm.

'Pffft, well, the good thing is, I only have to keep up with this shit for a ye-'

Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to shake violently, the sound of horse footsteps growing louder and louder. Ximen Wei and his father stopped their work, both of them frowning at the disturbance. "What's that?" Ximen Fei muttered, his brow furrowed in concern. "Hmm, maybe patrols?" Ximen Wei suggested, his own unease growing by the moment. "Looks like people are heading towards the village's centre," Ximen Fei observed, squinting in the direction of the commotion. "Let's go and have a look."

As Ximen Wei and his father made their way to the centre of the village, they could hear the sound of the approaching horses growing louder and louder. Ximen Wei's unease deepened, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong. "Patrols usually come in pairs," he thought to himself. "Judging from the sound of the horse's footsteps, there must be more than 50 of them. Is it an army squadron passing by?" He couldn't understand why an army would be heading towards their village, rather than towards the fort to the west. It seemed like a strange and unnecessary detour.

By the time they arrived at the village centre, almost all of the village's residents had gathered there, their faces worried and concerned. Ximen Wei noticed the old village head, his face slick with sweat as he looked on at the approaching soldiers. The unease in Ximen Wei's heart intensified, a bad premonition settling in his chest. "This may be my gut feelings," he thought to himself, "but I feel like something bad is going to happen."

Ximen Fei walked up to the old village head and exchanged a few quiet words with him before returning with a grim expression on his face. Ximen Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as he looked on at his father's grim face, wondering what could possibly be happening.

"Honey, what is it?" Ximen Wei's mother, Qin Liqiu, asked, her voice filled with concern. "Apparently Western Wen's troops are heading towards this direction," Ximen Fei replied, his voice heavy with worry. "They are slowly encircling us..." "Western Wen? Isn't that the neighboring empire next to us?" Qin Liqiu asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What are they doing trespassing on our borders? Do they want to start a war or something?"

Ximen Wei knew that Western Wen and the Su Dynasty were two powerful empires that shared a border, and that his village was located very close to that border. He had always known that conflict between the two empires was inevitable, given that they constantly coveted each other's territories. But he had never expected that this conflict would come to his doorstep, threatening the safety and security of his own village. As he looked on at the approaching soldiers, he couldn't help but feel a sense of fear and uncertainty about what the future might hold.

If a war were to break out, Ximen Wei knew that his village would be one of the first places to face the resulting calamity. His heart raced with fear and anxiety as he listened to his father's instructions. "Dear, take little Wei and hide in the closet," Ximen Fei said, his voice urgent and serious. "When the time comes, make a run for it." "Honey…" Qin Liqiu began to protest, her eyes filled with fear and concern.

But before she could finish her sentence, the sound of horse hooves filled the air, signaling the arrival of over 50 armored soldiers wielding spears and swords. They surrounded the village, their auras suffocating and filled with bloodlust and killing intent. The ground shook as they approached, their presence ominous and foreboding. Ximen Wei could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

A group of warhorses and elite soldiers entered the village, their leader a tall, muscular man dressed in black knight armor and a helmet. He dismounted from his horse and surveyed the scene before him, his eyes narrowed as he focused his gaze on the crowd that had gathered around the village center.

An old man with white hair and a crooked back stepped forward from the crowd and approached the leader, bowing deeply as he spoke in a quivering voice. "Humble lord, I wonder what brings you to our humble village?"

But before he could even finish his words, the leader unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards the sky, his voice booming with command. "Leave the women and children behind. Kill everyone else!"

The old man's heart sank at these words, and cold sweat ran down his face. But he maintained his calm, clapping his hands as he begged for mercy. "Humble lord, please show mercy on us. We are but simple peasants, with no desire for conflict or violence."

But his pleas fell on deaf ears, and with a sickening thud, the old man's head was violently separated from his body, blood spurting forth as it rolled down to the ground. The air was filled with screams of terror and despair as the soldiers began their brutal rampage, leaving death and destruction in their wake. Ximen Wei could feel his heart racing with fear, knowing that he was in danger.

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