Journey to the Past
At different period of time and space.
In the spring of 201 AD, during the reign of Eastern Han Dynasty, in Houguan city, Kuaiji Commandery area in Yang province.
The new day had arrived, bringing forth to new hopes and dreams. The light of dawn seemed to rise in the distance like pearls on the horizon. The rising sun slowly began to emanate a red hue and golden rays of light shining on the surrounding. The dawn chorus of the melodious chirping of birds began to reverberate.
In the midst of a gust of sea breeze and the roar of waves which were quite tempestuous that morning, there was a young man wearing all-white clothes fluttered by the wind.
He had a captivating presence, his tall hair bun adorned with a jade hair ornament. A black mask concealed his sharp, eagle-like eyes, leaving only his red lips visible.
He stood there, quietly observing the surroundings.
He was Zhu Longwei.
A well-built and mighty man, also wearing a black mask, stood behind him, gripping the sword at his waist.
He was Meng Jie, the loyal guardian.
They were on a reconnaissance mission for numerous covert activities in the area.
They stood on the side of a high, steep cliff, tucked away in a hidden alcove with a narrow flat surface.
Below, fierce waves of the high sea roared like the gaping mouths of giant monsters, hungry to swallow anything that fell into their depths.
Only those who had mastered a high level of Kung Fu could step on top of such a steep cliff.
"Young Master, maybe it's time we head back. He hasn't shown up after waiting for so long. It seems he won't be coming today."
"Wait a minute!" Zhu Longwei raised his hand, signaling for silence. He continued to observe the surrounding area.
Just as he finished speaking, there was a commotion in the distance. From their vantage point, the two of them could watch the fierce battle below. A young girl dressed in emerald green was fighting against a group of men.
"Who's that girl? The odds are stacked against her in this fight. Sooner or later, she'll be outnumbered and in danger of getting seriously hurt or worse," Meng Jie exclaimed in concern.
Zhu Longwei's eyes narrowed as he observed the young girl's skilled moves. "I'm not sure who she is, but she seems to be holding her own quite well. However, you're right. She might be overwhelmed if more enemies join the fray."
He furrowed his brows, but he chose not to take action. He simply observed them from where he stood.
The boisterous roar of shouts, the clanging of clashing swords, and the dense cloud of dust drew closer and closer, creating an atmosphere of intense anticipation.
As expected, the unfair fight pushed the young girl closer to the edge of the cliff. With no escape route, her attacks became erratic as she struggled to balance avoiding enemy strikes and the perilous drop behind her. The thought of slipping off the cliff into the stormy sea below, with its sharp rocks like a deadly trap ready to rip her body apart, added to her desperation.
"Young Master…" Meng Jie looked at him with a frown on his face, sharing the same concern for the girl caught in the unfair fight.
Zhu Longwei paid no attention to his guardian's concerns. He found the fight intriguing, but he had no interest in interfering in other people's affairs. He admired the girl's impressive Kung Fu skills. If she hadn't been pushed to the edge of the cliff, she could have held her ground against her opponents.
He said to himself, 'Alright, girl! Let's see how you handle your opponents in a pinch.'
A sly smile appeared on his face as he watched the girl skillfully dodge her opponent's attacks, countering them with deadly moves of her own. His sharp eyes closely followed her every move and impressive jumps in the air, clearly impressed by her Kung Fu skills.
"Wind Breaking Power swordsmanship. One of the mainstays of the Tan Noble Family."
Meng Jie recognized the sword technique the girl was using.
The brave young girl battling those men was from the Tan Noble Family. More specifically, she was Tan Xiuying, one of the daughters of the Tan Noble Family. Her determination and fighting prowess were admirable, even though she was outnumbered and facing a challenging situation.
"Yes, that's correct! You're smart! She's skilled at picking that move when things get tough, using the strength of the sea breeze to her advantage."
Zhu Longwei continued to watch Tan Xiuying with admiration as she executed the famous Wind Breaking Power swordsmanship. He was impressed by her tactical approach and her ability to handle difficult situations. According to legend, the Wind Breaking Power swordsmanship at its final stage could knock down multiple enemies with just one powerful move.
"Although this fight seems unfair, I pity the girl. Should we step in and help?" Meng Jie asked, concerned for her safety.
Zhu Longwei pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "No need to intervene for now. Let's observe a little longer. If things get too dangerous, then we'll step in. But I have faith in her skills; she might surprise us."
Once more, they watched the intense battle with excitement, carefully observing the girl's every move, step, jump, and sword swing. However, despite her impressive swordsmanship and martial arts skills, it seemed impossible for anyone to handle so many opponents at once.
After a few moments, the situation took a turn as a woman in red appeared from a distance, riding a horse. She held her sword high with a fierce gaze, and behind her, a troop of soldiers followed, wielding various weapons.
"Stop it!" the woman in red exclaimed.
Upon hearing her command, the fierce battle came to an immediate halt. Many people turned their attention to the woman in red, recognizing her as someone honorable and extremely powerful.
"Listen, young lady! Surrender now, and your punishment might be less severe. Don't even think about running! If you take any more actions, you better be prepared to face the consequences!" The woman in red shouted with fury.
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. I fail to figure out what you mean," Tan Xiuying calmly replied, displaying no fear or nervousness. She maintained a composed posture, gazing at the woman in red with an emotionless expression.
"Are you still going to ignore it?"
"I truly don't understand your words, Your Majesty."
"Let me clarify once more. You're definitely a homewrecker. Your cunning schemes have ruined my family and led to the theft of precious possessions that rightfully belong to us. Your deeds might be seen as treasonous against the Emperor. What have I done to warrant such actions from you?"
"Your Majesty, I didn't do what you're accusing me of."
This was the first time she had faced a battle with so many people surrounding her, all while having to endure the woman's harsh accusations.
"I have all the evidence in my hands. Do you still want to ignore the truth? Or would you rather have me report this to the Emperor?"
Tan Xiuying was stunned for a moment. "Your Majesty, please do whatever you think is right."
The woman in red's anger intensified, and she raised her sword with a fierce look. "Guards, capture her! I want her alive!" she commanded.
In a matter of seconds, dozens of soldiers charged forward, surrounding Tan Xiuying from all directions.
Stunned, Tan Xiuying took a step back, only to realize her feet were just an inch from the edge of the cliff. The people in front of her kept moving forward step by step, closing in on her.
With the sea raging beneath her, Tan Xiuying found herself pushed even closer to the edge of the cliff. There seemed to be no safe option left for her.
With her last remaining hope, Tan Xiuying made a quick decision and without a second thought, she leaped into the water. With her excellent swimming ability, she was confident she could survive and come ashore once the situation became safer later.
However, little did Tan Xiuying know that she would unexpectedly encounter another danger that she could never have anticipated.
As soon as she plunged into the deep water, she felt her body sinking, engulfed by a vortex of empty space pulling her in from all directions.
Although Zhu Longwei hadn't planned on getting involved at first, he watched the entire fight closely until the very last moment. His concern grew when he saw the sea water suddenly becoming more turbulent, transforming into a massive vortex.
Everyone watched in horror as Tan Xiuying was sucked into the vortex. The crowd waited for a while, but eventually, they left the place, convinced that she must have died after being swallowed up by the sea water.
When everything fell silent, Zhu Longwei sprang into action. Using his exceptional Qing Gong skill, he glided down into the water, deftly maneuvering through the vortex in an attempt to reach Tan Xiuying.
"Young Master!" Meng Jie exclaimed helplessly as he watched Zhu Longwei plunge into the water without a second thought and in an instant his body was swallowed up in the vortex.