The markets were bustling with trade as Heian arrived in Shanxi. Heian leapt from his horse; the moment his foot touched, he sensed something. Although it was subtle but that was a presence.
"There is someone here..."
Heian walked into the market, looking for the Xiongu district. The Xiongnu district was the place where the Xiongnu settlers sold their products. They migrated from Zhao several years back and settled here. The area gradually evolved into a market, which led to the development of its shopping district.
He had already walked past the primary shopping district and now had officially entered the Xiongnu district. He entered a tea shop where a grandma sat. He strolled inside the shop and enquired about her.
"Do you know a man called Qong?"
Heian asked the grandmother in a monotonous and vigilant tone.
"N.. No", she replied with a very cautious voice.
"He is here..."
Heian had already sensed his presence; now it was clear. The welling presence was heading towards him, and he could feel the shadow. It was not that of an ordinary man.
SFX: SHLING
The sound of a sword being unsheathed echoed in the room. From his back appeared a huge figure with a long sword. Heian disappeared from that chair, and the man who resembled a beast cut the chair in two.
"Qong! I said to stay inside!" the grandma shouted.
"So he is your son, eh?"
Wan Heian deduced that in an instant and observed the man. He acknowledged that the man was a true warrior. However, he was even beyond Heian's imagination. That was the moment Heian noticed that aura for the first time.
"What is that aura?!"
The man understood that Wan Heian didn't comprehend that strange aura.
"Seems like you are not a Ki user", he taunted Heian.
"Ki user?"
"Runaway while you can, kid, this is not a child's game," he warned Wan Heian, dominating the entire area with ki like a monster.
The pressure made Wan's feet shake, but he still stood there, only whispering a single word to himself.
"Thousand Victories..."
Wan drew out both his swords and faced off against Qong.
"Now that's a brave brat!"
SFX: PUNCH
Wan couldn't feel it or see it; he was moving in the air. He bled from his mouth and nose.
It was a punch, a punch that broke the laws of nature...
At that moment, he understood what Ki is. The nature whispered in his ears.
"This is Ki..."
SFX: THUD
Wan was on the ground, and blood from his mouth pooled on the ground. He lost all his senses, and like a corpse, he lay there on the cold ground.
"Die there, you brat..."
Qong ignored him and walked away. The immotile Wan lay there, and he felt the taste of defeat.
"This is not the place....!"
Wan's eyes widened, and his hands started to shake. His veins bulged and his muscles strained.
Qong turned back, and there stood Wan on his feet. He smirked at him...
"Now you will die..."
Ki evolved his body, and the strong wind from his side hit Wan Heian like a thousand arrows. The pressure forced Heian to be on his feet.
However...
Heian defied his domination; he was only looking at the front, to Qong's eyes. Heian's face reflected in Qong's eyes...
"What the hell are you, brat!!??"
Qong headed for Wan Heian, defying the laws of time, and he appeared right in front of Heian. His fists were only an inch away from breaking his skull. But Qong felt something...
"It's odd..."
"It's wrong..."
SFX: SHLK
"First Heaven...", Wan muttered.
The sword in his other hand headed for Qong's head, while his punch headed for Heian's face. Qong's fist was right before Heian's eyes, but his eyes were still. There was a tint of fear, but it was just clear.
"Ki!!?"
"Don't tell me this brat awakened ki..."
Wan twisted his neck, dodging Qong's fist. Qong ducked down to dodge Wan's sword. Wan's eyes moved and focused on Qong's movement. He raised his other hand, along with his sword. Qong got the gist of what he was going to do.
However, it was too late...
With the sword in his other hand, he hit the sword right above Qong, making the sword move downward. Like a thunderbolt, it struck Qong's neck. His head fell to the ground, and blood pooled around it.
The people who witnessed this ran away in terror. Wan Heian stood before Qong's corpse like a victorious lion.
*************
The news of Qong's death spread all over Zhao. It also reached the king of Zhao, who set the bounty.
SFX: THUD
A minister ran along the corridors of the Royal Palace of Zhao, with a piece of paper in his hand. He opened the door and rushed into the King's room.
"My lord... There is great news!!"
He informed the king with a joyful face. His eyes sparkled as he entered the room.
"My..my what can it be?"
The King slowly woke up from his bed. He had a long beard and a silky purple which moved in the air, and he revealed himself. Both his eyes closed, and he came walking.
"My lord, Qong was killed"
"Bounty hunter?"
"It was a child named Wan Heian"
"A child?"
"Yes, my lord...I didn't believe it, but the information is from our trusted spies"
"Wan Heian, eh?"
The King smiled and walked to the balcony. He stared over the vast land that stretched endlessly.
"An Shi, do you know what is beyond Huaxia?"
"I am clueless, my lord"
"Well, I also don't know", the king laughed while talking.
"My Lord, did you have a vision recently?"
"Hm...I guess I had"
"Is our state in danger, my lord?" the distraught minister asked the king.
"They will come for us...both the dragons"
*****************
Wan Heian was in the royal capital of Han. Finally, he was a bounty hunter and had the bounty money with him. He bought food from the shops, and he enjoyed the life of a commoner.
Slowly...it slipped...
His aim was slipping...
Days passed, and so did months and years. Two years went by, and Heian had become a full-fledged bounty hunter. Hunting people and getting money...
"Yes...it was a cycle, the cursed cycle which trapped me for an eternity..."
"Or so I thought"
"But eternity can also be shattered"
"Like a glass it shattered, she stood before me extending her hand, like a light from the heavens"
"The heavens are calling me..."