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In the doorway stood a middle-aged woman, staring into the empty room. The village was so silent now, their once lively days reduced to stillness. Her heart ached in the quiet.
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The carts creaked and groaned as it rolled along the winding forest path, the wheels crunching softly over pine-needled ground. The group had been on the road for nearly a week, moving from inn to inn when they could find one, or setting up tents at night under the shadowed canopy of the ancient forest. Though they had been free once when climbing the mountain, the presence of the adults, Wang Shuren and Wang Lihua made them think otherwise. When the group slept in their tents, usually one or two always stayed alert to watch for animals or humans that might stumble upon the camp.
On the eighth day, as the cart wound through a grove of towering pine trees, a lone figure emerged by the roadside. A teenager, no older than fifteen, stood there with a golden spear slung across his back. He wore a simple black hanfu, bound with a red belt, and his dark eyes towards the forest road with hope. His stance was straight and alert, though the dirt on his boots suggested he had traveled some distance on foot.
The cart slowed. Wang Shuren and Wang Lihua exchanged a glance before Wang Shuren leaned over slightly. "Why are you alone, boy?" he asked.
The teenager hesitated, then took a small step forward. "Senior… my name is Jin Lian. I left my village a few days ago… my horse ran off while I—well, it doesn't matter. I was hoping to get a lift, but no one seems willing to take me along. Are you heading to Moondragon City?''
''How do you know we're going there?'' Wang Shuren asked, suspicious.
''Well... this the main road leading there,'' Jin Lian smiled ''I guess I'm right''
''Do.. you have space for one more?" His voice was steady, though a faint quiver betrayed his nerves.
For a moment, Wang Shuren was silent, weighing the risks. Letting an unknown boy join them could be troublesome. Yet before he could answer, Xiao Chi, who had been sitting quietly in the cart, spoke up. "I don't see why not," he said, grinning. "With a spear like that, I'll vouch for him."
The others looked at Xiao Chi with mild skepticism. "You trust him just because of a spear?" Wang Mei asked. Xiao Chi shrugged. "Sometimes you just know."
This simpleton... The rest of the group thought, rolling their eyes. But they allowed Jin Lian to join them.
Jin Lian's face broke into a relieved smile. "Thank you, senior, fellow brothers and sisters" he said, climbing up onto the cart, sitting next to Xiao Chi.
As the carts resumed their journey, Jin Lian began to talk. "I'm from Chisong Village," he said.
''Ahh, west from here, right?'' Wang Lihua asked.
''That is correct, Senior!'' Jin Lian said with a smile.
"It's a large town, surrounded by tall redpine trees. I swear, some of them are so wide that eight grown men could barely wrap their arms around one. They rise higher than the clouds sometimes, and when the wind blows through them, it sounds like a river rushing through the mountains."
The group stared in awe. Long Tianyu tilted his head, clearly fascinated. "Trees that big… really?"
"Yes," Jin Lian said with a faint chuckle, "I've climbed a few. You feel so small, like you could vanish if the forest wanted you to."
The group introduced themselves to Jin Lian, it was one of the rare times they met someone from outside the village.
"So… where are you traveling from? Did something happen to your village?" Jin Lian asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes. There was no way all of them could try to join the sects... Jin Lian thought.
Long Tianyu smirked ''We are from Xincheng Village, it is next to the Shadowjade mountain. Do you know of it?''
''Aha! Yes I have. You should visit Chisong one day, to see the redpine trees!'' Jin Lian replied.
''I hope so,'' Long Tianyu smiled ''maybe we could have seen it from the top of Shadowjade Mountain when we climbed it''
''Y...you.. climbed it? '' Jin Lian asked, shocked.
''Haha, yes, all of us did!'' Nong Xuanfeng joined in and laughed.
Jin Lian looked completely shocked.
''Also, we are going to Moondragon City to join the sects'' Long Tianyu said, his voice turning more serious.
Jin Lian looked stunned. ''A.. all of you?'' he stammered.
The group just smiled.
Eventually Jin Lian didn't ask more, but he kept talking himself, words tumbling out without pause. "Back in Chisong, I lived with my father, mother, and my little sister, she's only five. I left a couple of weeks ago hoping to make it to Moondragon City. I have completely let my family down... losing my horse and most of the things I own..."
Xiao Chi leaned closer to him, interest sparking in his eyes. "You're brave to leave home alone. Why go to Moondragon City? Do you also want to join a sect?"
Jin Lian's expression grew serious. "No, I'm not interested in the sects, but I'm joining the Scarlet Battlefield," he said. "I want to become a general someday."
The words made the group pause. The Wang adults eyes widened slightly, but they said nothing.
''What is the Scarlet Battlefield?'' Long Tianyu asked
"The Scarlet Battlefield…" Jin Lian continued, "it's not just any battlefield. It's… a brutal battle. Endless drills from dawn to dusk, combat exercises, strategy lessons, physical endurance. Only the strongest, the cleverest, and the most determined survive long. My father… he was a soldier for many years, fighting against the other nation. I grew up hearing stories of marches across the scarlet lands, skirmishes along the border.'' Jin Lian's eyes grew sharp ''I want to surpass him."
Xiao Chi's grin widened. "Sounds like we might get along. Maybe we can spar together on the road."
Jin Lian laughed "I'd like that. I'm not used to traveling with a group, but… it might be nice to a have friend who understand the way of the spear."
The cart rumbled on through the dense forest, the sunlight filtering in patches through the high branches. Birds called from above. Jin Lian's presence seemed to lighten the mood; his natural confidence and gentle humor made him quickly fit in with the group.
As they traveled, the conversation turned toward cultivation and combat. Xiao Chi was eager to hear about Scarlet Battlefield's rigorous training, while Jin Lian asked about the basic techniques the others had learned. The group explained that they had no martial arts techniques and had only practiced by themselves, recently they had been trying different ways to use qi when punching and kicking, though they had much to learn, they were happy with the results.
By nightfall, they set up camp once more because there was no inn nearby. Tents were pitched, and a small fire crackled in the center. Jin Lian took a moment to clean his spear, carefully inspecting the tip and polishing the shaft. Xiao Chi watched him work, intrigued. "You handle that weapon like it's an extension of your arm," he said.
"It has to be," Jin Lian replied simply. "A spear is nothing without the skill behind it. If I am to survive the Scarlet Battlefield… if I am to lead men in the future… it must be perfect."
Long Tianyu and the other's listened in the background, taking mental notes of what Jin Lian said.
The firelight danced across his sharp features, high cheekbones, eyes dark and penetrating, a calm yet focused expression that made him seem older than his years. Even Long Tianyu, who usually didn't care about anyone older or stronger, felt a sense of respect for the teenager.
Night deepened, and the group decided to go to sleep. Outside the tents, the forest was alive with sounds, owls, wolves howling towards the moon and leaves rustling from the wind. Xiao Chi and Jin Lian volunteered for the first watch.
They sat next to fire and Xiao Chi said "You really are serious about becoming a general, huh?"
"Yes," Jin Lian replied, his gaze fixed on the dark forest ahead. "it has been my dream since I was little."
''Do you have any dreams, brother Chi?'' Jin Lian asked curiously.
Xiao Chi's eyes suddenly widened ''Watch out!''
Wooosh!
An arrow sliced through the air like a viper towards Jin Lian's back.
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End of chapter 5 - Jin Lian