Chapter 12: The First Strike

The forest was unnaturally still that morning, as though the trees themselves held their breath. Xiaojun stood on the watchtower at the village's edge, scanning the horizon. The makeshift defenses were ready—barricades reinforced with spikes, concealed pits hidden beneath branches, and paths carefully narrowed to funnel attackers into kill zones.

The villagers were scattered among their assigned posts, their faces tense but resolute. Lin Mei and her scouts moved like shadows at the forest's edge, their eyes scanning for the faintest hint of movement. Liu Yan stood with the archers on a raised platform, overseeing the high ground, while Duan Xi paced the village square, double-checking the readiness of the defenders.

Xiaojun's gaze hardened. The system's interface hovered faintly in his vision, displaying various notifications from earlier preparations. One caught his eye: [Mission Update: Protect the Village—Hostile Forces Detected. Prepare for Engagement.]

He closed the notification with a grim nod, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. The Jade Serpent Sect was coming.

It wasn't long before Lin Mei's voice called out from the treetops. "Movement! To the south!"

Xiaojun descended from the watchtower and strode toward the southern perimeter, where Wei Lin and a group of defenders had gathered. The younger man looked tense but determined, his spear planted firmly in the ground.

"How many?" Xiaojun asked Lin Mei as she leapt down from a nearby tree, her movements fluid and precise.

"Three dozen, maybe more. They're moving carefully, likely scouting before committing fully. They're trying to test our defenses."

Xiaojun nodded, his mind racing. The Jade Serpent Sect wouldn't send their full force on a scouting mission, but even their vanguard would be dangerous. He turned to the defenders.

"Hold the line. Let them come close, but don't engage until I give the signal. Archers will cover you from above."

Wei Lin gave a sharp nod. "We're ready."

The enemy emerged from the trees moments later, a disciplined line of warriors clad in dark green robes. Their weapons glinted in the morning light, and their faces were twisted with smug confidence, as though they expected little resistance from a backwater village.

One of them, a tall man with a jagged scar across his face, stepped forward, his voice carrying over the clearing. "Surrender now, and the Jade Serpent Sect might spare your pathetic lives!"

Xiaojun stepped forward, his sword resting on his shoulder. He didn't need to glance at the villagers behind him to feel their fear. It hung in the air, thick and oppressive. But he also felt their resolve.

He smirked. "If you're looking for an easy fight, you came to the wrong village."

The scarred man sneered. "Bold words from a dead man."

Without another word, he raised his hand, and the vanguard charged.

Xiaojun raised his hand, signaling the defenders to hold. The Jade Serpent warriors rushed forward, their weapons gleaming, only to stumble as the first of the hidden pits claimed its victims. Two men disappeared into the traps, their screams cutting through the air as sharpened stakes ended their charge.

"Archers!" Xiaojun called, his voice ringing out.

Liu Yan and her group let loose a volley of arrows, the projectiles whistling through the air and striking down several attackers. The vanguard hesitated, confusion rippling through their ranks.

"That's it," Xiaojun muttered. "Keep them guessing."

The defenders held their ground as the enemy regrouped, their leader barking orders to spread out and find a way through the traps. Xiaojun took the opportunity to step forward, his system interface glowing faintly as he activated a skill.

[Skill Activated: Intimidating Aura—Hostiles suffer a temporary reduction in morale.]

A ripple of unease passed through the Jade Serpent warriors as Xiaojun's presence seemed to grow. He strode toward them, his sword glinting in the sunlight, and for a moment, the vanguard faltered.

"Your choice," he said, his voice low but carrying. "Leave now, or face the consequences."

The scarred leader snarled and motioned for his men to advance. "Kill him!"

Xiaojun's smirk widened. "Wrong choice."

With a swift motion, he swung his sword, the blade humming with a faint glow as it cut through the air. The first attacker lunged at him, but Xiaojun sidestepped effortlessly, driving the hilt of his weapon into the man's chest. The attacker crumpled, gasping for air.

The next came at him with a spear, but Xiaojun parried, twisting his sword to disarm the man before delivering a precise strike to his shoulder. As the enemy fell back, Xiaojun turned to the defenders.

"Now!" he shouted.

The villagers surged forward, their spears and swords clashing against the Jade Serpent warriors. Though untrained, they fought with ferocity, using the terrain and their numbers to overwhelm the attackers. Xiaojun moved among them, cutting down enemies with precision, his movements fluid and controlled.

The battle raged on, but it quickly became clear that the Jade Serpent vanguard hadn't expected such resistance. Their numbers thinned as the villagers pressed their advantage, and the scarred leader began to shout for a retreat.

"Fall back!" he yelled, his voice tinged with panic.

Xiaojun stepped forward, his sword pointed at the retreating warriors. "Tell your masters," he called after them, "this village won't fall so easily."

The remaining Jade Serpent warriors disappeared into the forest, leaving behind their wounded and their dead. The villagers cheered, their voices ringing out across the battlefield.

As the adrenaline began to fade, Xiaojun turned his attention to the injured. Several villagers had taken wounds during the fight, and he moved quickly to assist Liu Yan and Lin Mei in tending to them.

"We did it," Wei Lin said, his voice breathless but triumphant. "We drove them off."

Xiaojun nodded, but his expression remained serious. "This was just the beginning. They'll be back, and next time, they won't underestimate us."

He glanced at the system interface, where a new notification had appeared.

[Mission Update: First Wave Repelled—Reinforcements Expected.]

His jaw tightened. The Jade Serpent Sect would return, and when they did, they would bring their full force. But for now, Xiaojun allowed himself a small moment of pride. They had stood their ground, and they had won.

As night fell over the village, the fires burned brightly, casting a warm glow over the tired but determined faces of the villagers. They were no longer just survivors. They were fighters. And Xiaojun would make sure they were ready for whatever came next.