Trouble

Qin Qirui spent the next few days trying to learn the way of the sword. Since he accepted "The Sword Of Promise", he had also accepted the responsibilities that came along with it.

Ever since Qirui had wielded the sword; he felt a righteous aura around him. This feeling only made him want to master the way of the sword.

And due to his solid motivation, Qirui, who was now 9-years-old, had set his first step into the sword-path.

Qirui didn't practice alone. Like always, his little brother Qin Jian, who accompanied him almost everywhere; trained along with him.

Days went by in a flash, the two brothers were often seen training on the top of a small hill which was near the village and was covered in beautiful Sakura trees.

6 Months later.

On top of a small-hill which was covered in Sakura trees,

"Lil Jian, it has already been months since I started my sword training, I think we should have a duel to test my skills out? What do you say?"

"Brother Qirui... It isn't that I want to decline, but it hasn't been long since you had begun your sword-training, you are only proficient in a few basic moves and skills. Whereas I have been training since I was a 5-year-old, why don't we duel after a few months?", asked Qin Jian.

"Lil Jian, although what you've said is correct, I'm tired of rigorously swinging and practising my sword skills on a dummy! Shouldn't I try my skills on an opponent that can move and strike back? Only then would I improve greatly!" Qin Qirui said enthusiastically.

Qin Jian was stumped," But brother Qirui, Father has said-", Before Qin Jian could continue he was interrupted by Qirui, " QIN JIAN, I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!"

Qirui knew that if he only spoke through words, this brother of his would inevitably twist it in some way or the other and prevent him from doing anything else other than the strict regiment their father had set for them.

But Qirui wasn't going to go down so easily, he knew Qin Jian was a person who would not back down if people challenged him. Using this as an opportunity, Qirui was indeed able to satisfy his wishes as he did get to duel Qin Jian, but the former lost only in a couple of moves.

It was then that Qirui realized that his skills and moves still required intensive practice! And through the duel, Qirui honed himself and improved a lot.

Ever since that day, Qirui regularly challenged Qin Jian to duels and lost regularly, but nevertheless, he was improving at high speed! Perhaps in another few months, he would be able to catch up with his little brother and defeat him.

Looking at his brother grinning everytime when he won was a very frustrating experience for Qirui. So the latter began training way harder than usual so as to one day wipe the grin off his brother's face!

2 months later.

"Lil Jian, I think you will be a better swordsman than I am." Qirui said ruefully.

He had been improving after every duel, but he never realized the fact that his opponent was continuously improving too! Just after 2 months, the gap between the two had increased so much that Qirui no longer wanted to duel Qin Jian anymore as he would be defeated in an instant.

"Forget it, I trained with the sword ever since I was a 5-year-old and you just started training recently. Hence it is completely reasonable to lose to me; but your improvement is really fast. I'm sure you'll reach up to my level soon." Qin Jian encouraged.

"I hope so, it's just that... I'm frustrated that I keep losing every day", Qirui knew that his brother was encouraging him but he felt that perhaps if 4 years ago he had listened to his father and began his sword training, then maybe the duel wouldn't have been so one-sided now.

"Since you feel frustration due to your continuous record...of defeats, then why not use that frustration to try to keep training harder and harder? Perhaps one day when your training and strength grows to a point which completely leaves me behind; then no matter how much talented or gifted I might be, I would still have to kneel down to you. Brother Qirui, we have got a long time ahead of us to improve and become stronger." Qin Jian heartfully advised.

"Hehe, Lil Jian you worry too much! But know this, before I'm dead, I would surely defeat you! I promise you that!" Qirui felt his mood lifted up. So what if he lost a hundred or a thousand battles? The real victory would be established only in the end, when he won the war!

Seeing the suddenly cheered up Qirui, Qin Jian felt pleased too, "Hehe, then let's return to the Village, brother Qirui!"

Soon the two brothers walked back to the Village as usual. On the way, they have joke with each other, they have fight with each other, they have discuss the villagers and their everyday life, for them talking like this is normal for they have used to do this everytime they go home after practice.

As the two brothers walked towards the Village; they casually discussed about various things of the past or just joked about. After a hard day of training; walking back to the Village was always a pleasant experience for them, especially the view of blossoming flowers and chirping birds on their way, it made them feel as if they were one with nature.

As the two came near the Village, they heard painful screams and shouts coming from the Village's direction. The brothers exchanged glances with each other, they both knew that something wasn't right. Immediately, both of them sprinted towards the Village. They ran without stopping and upon reaching the Village; what they saw there was just the beginning of a very...terrible living nightmare.