Chapter 1

The moon hung high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the village of Jiaxing. It was a quiet, peaceful place—ordinarily.

Tonight, though, the air was charged with an undercurrent of fear and anticipation. I, Min Xin, stood at the edge of the village square, heart pounding in my chest. Disguised as a boy, I wore loose, dark clothing that allowed me to move with ease. My long hair was tied up and hidden under a simple cap. In my hand, I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly.

The villagers had been tormented by a band of robbers for months. They struck without warning, leaving destruction and terror in their wake. Tonight, they had returned, and I was ready to face them.

"Xin, be careful," my friend and confidant, Chen, whispered as he adjusted his own weapon.

"Don't worry, Chen. We've got this," I replied, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions within me. I could see the flickering torches and hear the rough voices of the robbers approaching. I couldn't stand watching them smiling and laughing while hurting other people.

The villagers, armed with whatever they could find, gathered behind us, a look of grim determination on their faces.

The leader of the robbers, a towering brute named Rong, strode into the square with a swagger. His eyes scanned the assembled villagers, a sneer curling his lips. "Well, well, what do we have here? Looks like the sheep have decided to fight back," he mocked, his voice a low growl.

"You've tormented us long enough, Rong," I called out, stepping forward. "Tonight, it ends."

Rong's eyes narrowed as he took in my appearance. "And who might you be, little boy? The village hero?"

I smirked, adjusting my grip on my sword. "Something like that."

Without another word, Rong lunged at me, his massive sword swinging down in a deadly arc. I sidestepped quickly, feeling the rush of air as his blade missed me by mere inches. The villagers gasped, but I remained focused.

I retaliated with a swift slash of my own, aiming for Rong's exposed side. He blocked it with surprising speed for someone his size, our blades clashing with a loud, metallic ring. Sparks flew, illuminating our faces in the dim light. I could see the surprise in his eyes—he hadn't expected such skill from someone who looked like a mere boy.

Rong growled, pushing me back with brute force. "You're better than you look," he admitted grudgingly.

"And you're slower than you look," I retorted, darting forward with a flurry of quick strikes. My movements were precise and fluid, each strike aimed to keep him off balance. He struggled to keep up, his frustration growing with every missed blow.

The other robbers, seeing their leader engaged, began to move in on the villagers. "Chen, protect the others!" I shouted, trusting him to hold his ground. I couldn't afford to be distracted; Rong was a formidable opponent, and I needed to end this quickly.

As we fought, I could feel the weight of the villagers' hopes and fears on my shoulders. They had suffered so much, and I was determined to give them a chance to rebuild their lives. I danced around Rong, using my agility to my advantage. His strength was undeniable, but it made him predictable. He swung with brute force, but I could see the openings in his defense.

Seizing an opportunity, I ducked under one of his wild swings and drove my elbow into his ribs. He grunted in pain, staggering back. I followed up with a swift kick to his knee, causing him to buckle momentarily. It was all the opening I needed.

With a fierce shout, I lunged forward, my sword slicing through the air. Rong barely managed to bring his sword up in time to block, but the force of my strike sent him reeling. I pressed the advantage, raining down blows that he struggled to parry. Each clash of our blades reverberated through the square, a symphony of steel and determination.

"You're finished, Rong," I said through gritted teeth, pushing him back step by step.

"We'll see about that," he snarled, desperation flickering in his eyes. With a roar, he charged at me, swinging his sword with reckless abandon. I sidestepped and brought my sword down on his wrist, the sharp edge biting into flesh. His sword clattered to the ground as he cried out in pain.

I didn't hesitate. I kicked his weapon away and pointed my blade at his throat. "Yield," I commanded, my voice steady and unwavering.

Rong glared at me, his eyes filled with hatred. For a moment, I thought he might refuse, but then his shoulders sagged in defeat. "I yield," he spat, his voice laced with venom.

I nodded, stepping back but keeping my sword trained on him. "Tie him up," I instructed the villagers. "And the rest of his men."

As the villagers moved to secure the robbers, Chen approached me, a look of awe on his face. "Xin, that was incredible! You fought like a true warrior."

I smiled, feeling a sense of pride and relief wash over me. "We did it together, Chen. The village is safe because of all of us."

He nodded, looking around at the relieved faces of the people. "What's next?"

I sheathed my sword, feeling the weight of the night's events settle on me. "We rebuild. We take back our lives and make sure this never happens again."

The villagers gathered around, offering their thanks and praise. But it was the look in their eyes that meant the most to me—their faith had been restored, and they could see a future free from fear.

As the night gave way to dawn, I stood on the edge of the village square, looking out over the horizon.

The first rays of sunlight bathed the village in a warm, golden light. I felt a sense of hope and determination swell within me. From afar, a fast pace of horse is going to the palace. It was from the Xie Wie palace where the emperor lived. I could see the messenger and the palace guard going to the House palace. He doesn't usually come unless it is important. I immediately got up and headed back to the palace before they notice I am gone.