CHAPTER 2 — The Two-Hour Window
Wei Wu's eyes snapped open, and the first thing he noticed was the warmth flowing through his veins. Qi—real, tangible Qi. The system had awakened after his third death, granting him Foundation Stage 1. He flexed his fingers and felt the energy pulsing beneath his skin. It was enough to fight… maybe enough to survive.
Two hours. That was all he had before the Ironblood Knights arrived. His chest tightened at the thought. Two hours to save Pine Brook, two hours to protect the villagers, two hours to prevent history from repeating itself.
Wei Wu ran into the village square, shouting for attention. "Everyone, listen! The knights are coming in less than two hours! If we don't act now, Pine Brook burns, and no one survives!"
The villagers froze, uncertainty written on every face. Old Ma stepped forward, squinting at him. "Boy… how do you know this?"
"I've… seen it," Wei Wu replied. He didn't explain. There was no time. "Prepare the children, barricade the paths, and arm yourselves. Listen carefully and follow my orders."
Hesitant, the villagers began moving. Wei Wu sprinted through the streets, visualizing the battlefield. The eastern hill path would be the choke point. Trenches and overturned carts could slow the knights. Archers could fire from rooftops and trees. Rear paths through the forest could carry the civilians to safety.
He drew crude lines in the dirt, gesturing at points, angles, and staggered rows. "Formations matter more than strength," he murmured. "If we act together, we can survive."
By mid-morning, the ground trembled. The distant hum of armored boots grew louder until the Ironblood Knights appeared, their black armor glinting in the sunlight, red cloaks flowing behind them like rivers of blood.
Wei Wu gritted his teeth. He could feel the power in his limbs, subtle yet sufficient. His speed, reflexes, and endurance had improved, but he was far from invincible. Every move had to be calculated, every step precise.
The first knight crashed into the barricade. Wei Wu dashed forward, intercepting the swing of a massive sword and using the enemy's momentum to shove him into a mud trench. Villagers struck with spears and arrows, hitting the knight in exposed joints.
Chaos spread through the knights' ranks. Wei Wu guided villagers with clear commands: "Hit the knees! Step back after every blow! Keep the line steady!" He moved like a shadow, reinforcing weak points and exploiting mistakes.
Time passed agonizingly slowly. Knights pressed forward relentlessly, but the combination of terrain, traps, and Wei Wu's strategy held them at bay. A cavalry knight tried to flank them, but Wei Wu anticipated it, dodging and pushing the man back into a fallen cart. Archers fired from above. The knight crashed to the ground, disoriented.
Hours dragged on, but by late morning the Ironblood Knights finally withdrew, frustrated and unable to break the village. Pine Brook was battered, scorched in places, but alive.
Wei Wu gathered the villagers. "We move to Redbranch. Follow me and stay close. We'll be safe there."
They obeyed, exhausted yet full of newfound hope. For the first time, they saw not a farmer, but a protector, a leader. Wei Wu walked behind them, shielding the slowest, keeping alert for ambushes, guiding them along hidden forest paths he remembered from past deaths.
As the first lights of Redbranch appeared, flickering in the dusk, Wei Wu allowed himself a brief, exhausted smile. Pine Brook had survived. The villagers had survived.
But deep inside, he knew this was only the beginning. The world was vast, and danger was everywhere. He would need disciples, he would need a sect, and somewhere in Redbranch, a child waited—one whose life would soon intertwine with his, and perhaps shape the future he was only beginning to glimpse.
Redbranch Town lay nestled between two gentle hills, its stone streets winding like veins through the bustling settlement. Smoke rose from chimneys, mingling with the aroma of bread, roasting meat, and the faint tang of iron from the smithies. For Wei Wu, who had just guided exhausted villagers through forest paths and narrow trails, the sight of a town alive with trade and life was almost surreal.
He walked at the rear of the group, the weight of his new responsibility pressing on him more than his exhaustion. His new found strength coursed faintly through him, keeping his movements sharp and his reflexes ready, yet he felt how fragile his advantage really was. He wasn't invincible—just slightly stronger, slightly faster. That alone had been enough to save Everyone.