Zen woke up to embark on a new day and to go on a new journey. But before he could embark on his journey, his foster father's condition took a turn for the worse. That night, Zen found out about his father's ill health. "I need medicine from the Central Plains to treat my lung disease," his father said, his voice strained with chronic illness. "Can you get it for me, Zen?" Zen nodded, determined to help. "Of course, Father. I'll leave as soon as possible." His father, a local businessman, smiled weakly. "Thank you, Zen. Be careful out there. The world beyond the mountains is dangerous." "I will," Zen promised. "I won't let anything stop me."
Before setting out, the next day, Zen met his childhood friend Yawen, the most beautiful girl in town. She was tending to her garden when Zen approached. "What are you up to now, Zen?" she asked with a smile, wiping her hands on her apron. "My father's sick," Zen replied. "I need to get medicine from the Central Plains." Yawen's smile faded, replaced by concern. "I see. I hope he gets better soon. Do you need any help?" "Just your good wishes," Zen said, trying to stay optimistic. "I'll be back before you know it." Yawen placed a hand on his arm. "Good luck, Zen. Please be safe."
Zen nodded and made his way to a nearby inn for brunch, run by his friend Yun and his family. The inn was bustling with activity, with the scent of fresh food wafting through the air. Yun, a stocky boy with a perpetual grin, waved him over. "Zen! Over here!" Yun called, wiping his hands on his apron. "What brings you in today?" "I need to fetch medicine for my father from the Central Plains, so I wanted to taste the delicious food here," Zen replied, his voice tinged with worry. "His condition is getting worse, and I need to hurry."
Yun's smile faded, replaced by concern. "I'm sorry to hear that. You know, I've been planning a trip to the Central Plains myself. There's a rare herb I need for a new recipe." A spark of hope lit Zen's eyes. "Why don't we travel together, then? Two are better than one." Yun nodded, his grin returning. "Sounds like a plan. We'll leave at noon." Born and bred in the mountains, Zen and Yun had a tough life, skilled enough to be second-class elementary fighters thanks to their local sect's martial arts training.
As evening fell, they came across a small village under attack by bandits. The men were being killed, and the women and children were being kidnapped. Without hesitation, Zen and Yun intervened. Zen's sword flashed as he charged, and he killed two bandits, while Yun's arrows found their marks, wounding three bandits fatally. The bandits were taken by surprise.
Despite being outnumbered tenfold, they fought with fierce determination. "Leave now, or face the consequences," Zen warned, his voice steady and commanding. The bandits only laughed, confident in their numbers. "You think two boys can stop us?" one of them jeered. Zen gripped his sword tightly. "They are relentless," he said to Yun, who was nocking another arrow. Together, they fought, their movements swift and lethal. Zen sidestepped a charging bandit, thrusting his sword into his chest, while Yun's arrows took down others trying to flank them. The bandit leader, seeing his men fall, stepped forward.
"I'll handle this," he snarled, motivating his remaining men to join him. Zen and Yun fought bravely. "Watch your back!" Yun shouted, firing an arrow that narrowly missed Zen but struck a bandit creeping up behind him. "Thanks!" Zen called out, slashing through another attacker. Yun swiftly killed five more bandits with his poison needles. Zen, attacked from behind, was saved by a brave villager who tackled the assailant. The remaining bandits tried to flee but were captured by the villagers. Zen and Yun finally faced the bandit leader together.
"You won't leave here alive," the leader sneered, charging at them with his massive axe. "We'll see about that," Zen replied, dodging a heavy swing and countering with a precise strike. Yun's arrow found its mark in the leader's shoulder, slowing him down enough for Zen to deliver the final blow. One bandit managed to escape, but Yun's arrow found its mark in his back. The village was saved. Injured, Zen decided to rest in the village. The villagers treated Zen and Yun with respect and gratitude for saving them from the Night Raider bandits.
Despite the victory, the village had lost 30 men during the raid. The village chief, an old man, greeted them. "Thank you for your help," he said, his voice weary but grateful. "Bandits have been rising in the area. We ask for your help to take care of them." "Why don't you ask the authorities?" Zen asked, puzzled. The chief sighed. "The bandits and the authorities are in this together.
They don't care about us as they are corrupt and greedy." Zen and Yun hesitated. They needed to reach the Central Plains for their goals. Zen finally agreed, but insisted their names be kept secret and they be compensated fairly. The village chief agreed. After he left, a girl named Zong Ya approached them. "Thank you for saving our village," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. Yun was immediately taken by her beauty. "How's your family?" he asked gently.
"They were killed by the bandits," Zong Ya said sadly. "And my sister was kidnapped." Yun vowed to take revenge for her, bringing a light of hope to Zong Ya's face. "We'll find her and bring her back," he promised. Meanwhile, the bandit who had escaped returned to his big boss. "What happened?" the boss demanded. "Where are the rest?" "They're all dead," the bandit replied fearfully. "There were only two of them."
As the sun rose, Zen and Yun worked tirelessly to rebuild the village. Zen, skilled in both swordsmanship and herbalism, tended to the wounded. "Apply this poultice twice a day. It will reduce swelling and prevent infection," Zen instructed, his hands steady and sure. "Healing takes time, so be patient." Zen taught the men about swordsmanship, including how to hold the sword, basic stances, and basic swings.
Meanwhile, Yun assisted the women with cooking and imparted lessons on poisons and archery. "Hold your bow like this," Yun demonstrated, showing the proper stance. "Pull back smoothly, eyes fixed on the target." He taught them new recipes and devoted extra time to teaching Zong Ya self-defense and the use of hidden weapons. "Here, hold the knife like this," Yun instructed, guiding her hand. "If someone grabs you, strike at vulnerable spots without hesitation." Yun complimented Zong Ya on her fast learning, and she blushed, thanking him gratefully.
As night fell, Zen and Yun reflected on their journey and the village's plight. "We need to finish this quickly," Zen said, gazing at the stars. "My father is counting on me to return with that medicine, and if I don't return on time, things will take a turn for the worst."
"Agreed," Yun replied solemnly. "But our priority now is ensuring these people are safe."
The next day, during training, Zen noticed a child named Li Wu displaying exceptional swordsmanship talent. Yun also recognized the boy's potential and praised him. "You're a natural, Li Wu," Yun encouraged, tousling the boy's hair gently. Li Wu, only ten years old and having lost his mother in the raid, burned with determination to end the bandits' tyranny.
At noon, Zen called for a meeting, and the villagers gathered in the chief's house. "The bandits will likely attack full-scale," Zen began. "We've sent messengers for reinforcements from nearby villages, but we must prepare as if we're on our own." Zong Ya suggested hiring mercenaries too, and the village chief agreed with the proposal.
Yun requested a large number of arrows to be made and infused with poison for the attack. Lei, a traveling merchant among the villagers, estimated the bandits numbered around 200 based on what he had heard. The village chief grimly acknowledged the loss of 30 men in the previous raid and decided to enlist the women in the upcoming fight. He spoke of the bandit leader, Taotie, an elementary-level five fighter, whose reputation for brutality sent a chill through Zen and Yun. Taotie's primary weapon was the Qiang.
As evening approached, Zong Ya approached Yun with gratitude. "Thank you for everything," she said earnestly. "You're giving us hope."
Yun smiled warmly. "We're all in this together, Zong Ya. We'll find your sister and bring her home safely."
Meanwhile, Zen spoke with Kushan, a promising villager, in their training sessions. "You're doing well, Kushan. Keep refining your strikes, and remember, precision over power."
"Thank you, Zen. We'll defend our home with all we've got," Kushan vowed, his resolve shining through. Zen noticed Zong Ya's fondness for Yun and teasingly brought it up. Yun, slightly embarrassed, mentioned Yawen, and they both laughed about it, easing the tension before heading to rest and wishing each other sweet dreams.
The next day, under Zen's guidance, the villagers constructed booby traps as defenses against the bandits. They dug pits and concealed them, rigged nets to ensnare intruders, and devised alarm systems with bells and ropes. Each action was executed with the precision of seasoned warriors rather than simple villagers.
Zen instructed basic self-defense techniques, demonstrating how to wield sticks and farming tools as weapons. "Use your opponent's force against them," he coached, showing disarmament maneuvers.
Yun continued his archery lessons, emphasizing accuracy over speed, and shared insights on using poisons judiciously. "These are tools of last resort," Yun cautioned. "Incapacitate rather than kill, if possible." The village chief mustered around 40 mercenaries from a nearby company, though their arrival would be delayed.
That same evening, Hua, a determined woman from the village, sought advice from Yun. "Is there more we can do to prepare?"
Yun nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, Hua. Continue honing your archery skills. Stay focused during the attack. Panic is our greatest enemy."
Later that evening, Yun scouted the village surroundings and detected a trail left by a surviving bandit. His arrows were scented uniquely, detectable only by him. Cautiously, Yun tracked the scent and stumbled upon the bandits' hidden camp. He hurried back to the village to inform Zen of his discovery. "Zen, the bandits are more prepared than we thought. There are around 300 of them in their camp, not 200 as we estimated."
Zen and Yun strategized quickly. They had 40 skilled fighters and 35 villagers. They decided Yun would flank the bandits during the raid with 20 mercenaries, while Zen would confront them head-on with the remaining 20 mercenaries and 35 villagers. On the fourth day, three messengers returned with 25 reinforcements. The fifth messenger had yet to return. The additional reinforcements were instructed to attack the bandits' hideout alongside Yun. As Zen was injured during his confrontation with the bandit leader, he delegated command to the mercenary leader, Qin Shi. Together, they bolstered the village's defenses and prepared for the impending bandit attack.
The bandit leader, Taotei, with his 320 troops, instructed 20 soldiers to remain in the hideout and attack the village from within. He planned a coordinated assault from all sides, deploying 40 horsemen, 200 infantry, 40 archers, and 20 axemen.
As night descended, the bandits prepared themselves for battle. Fully armed and equipped, they were prepared to overwhelm the mostly untrained villagers. Yet, these villagers stood resolute, determined to defend their homes and loved ones from the looming threat.