Going out with a Bang

Ten years ago in the Southern Continent, Weixen, a state with five major tribes at its helm of affairs broke out into a massive war—or should I put it right—a one-sided massacre after Bai Fu Zi, leader of the Bai tribe which is among the five major tribes, said that Ah Ping, leader of the Ming tribe, colluded with devils and joined forces with the remaining three major tribes to almost wipe Ming Tribe out, with the only exception of a few that escaped to the barren lands. Fast forwarding to the present day, the Ming tribe has started life anew in the barren land, has already learned how to survive with the rough weather and poor food crops yielding soil. They have learned to protect themselves from the barren lands beast and hunt down beasts for feeding. They have built up what they can call a wall with woods and have done enough to make life in the barren lands that not too unbearable for them.

"Lan Ling! Lan Ling!" A woman with slant eyelashes, a very well-proportioned nose, succulent lips, and long black hair draping down her shoulders called. "He is probably playing with other kids, besides Er Xi should be following him," a man who seems to be the woman's husband said. He got a scar running through the left side of his face and well-trimmed hair and beard. His appearance totally shows he commands respect even in the barren land.

"I am just worried about him going outside the wall," the woman said.

"He won't. Both of us know Er Xi protects him better," the man said, laughing.

Lan Ling was their son, and Er Xi was one of their servants. They have fled from Weixen, carrying Ling as a baby.

"Mummy," Lan Ling, who was all laugh ran towards the mother as Er Xi chased after him.

"What did you do this time that made Aunty Er Xi to be chasing you?" Lan Ling's mother asked as she bends down to his height after separating from his hugs.

"He said I am imposing and scary like Kaijus," Er Xi answered.

"Why did you say that?" Lan Ling's mother asked.

"Aunty Er Xi is scary, she is beautiful like mother but then she is scary, always finding me and knowing where I am," Ling said.

"She only finds you because she knows you better. You know that means she deeply cares for you, and like you, you should be appreciative of that," Lan Ling's mom said to her 10-year-old son.

"I know, I like Aunty Er Xi too," Ling said smiling.

"Ling'er, you didn't see your father here," Lan Ling's father said, forming an expression to show he is hurt.

Boom! Just as Lan Ling's father finished talking, there was a loud bang and red smoke in the sky. Lan Ling's father immediately got a real gloomy expression on seeing it. Even Lan Ling's mother's expression turned gloomy too.

"Er Xi, take your young master and head back. Once you are back, open the underground store and stay there with the other servants. Me and your madam will go check something. Remember not to ever open there until we are back." Lan Muyu, who was Lan Ling's father, said. He has been the chief of Ming tribe since they moved to the desert.

"I want to go too," Lan Ling said.

"No, son, don't worry. Go with Er Xi. Me and your father will be back quick," Lan Ling's mother said.

"Promise?" Lan Ling asked.

"Of course, promise. Have we ever lied to you?" Lan Ling's mother replied.

"Okay, I will go with Aunty Er Xi," Ling said with smiles.

"Er Xi," Lan Muyu called.

"Yes, master," Er Xi answered. She was only fifteen but she understands the situation more than Ling.

"Come closer before you go," Lan Muyu said, causing Er Xi to come closer. Bending down, Lan Muyu whispered something to Er Xi before looking up to smile at his son.

"Let's go, darling," Lan Muyu said to his wife after looking at his son.

"Remember to listen to Aunty Er Xi. Mummy loves you," Ling's mother said as she kissed him on the forehead before turning to follow her husband while Ling and Er Xi turned to return home.

Going a bit far, Ling's father said to his mother, "You know it would have been great if you stayed with them."

"I thought we had already talked this over in case a day like this comes. Let's go put up a fight and buy a little time for some people, number one genius of Ming tribe," Lan Ling's mother said.

"Okay, let's go put up a fight, direct competition of the number one genius of Ming tribe," "Lan Ling's father said as he smiled to his wife, twelve years ago he was undoubtedly a genius known throughout Weixen. Now look at him. The smile was partially because of how he is blessed with such a beautiful love and partially because of how tragic his life turned.

"Tribe chief, tribe chief," just as Lan Ling's father walked in, he was greeted by a lot of the adults who had already gathered before the wooden gate with their ploughs, spears, knives, and any weapon they could come up with.

"Since you all are already gathered here, I guess you guessed the same thing. The allied force of the other tribe must already be nearby. Good thing we never relaxed after this year but left our watchers. At least the signal gave us all a little chance to prepare for a honorable death," Lan Muyu said as he burst out laughing sarcastically.

"We are not going down without a fight," a man quipped in with seriousness.

"Right, we are not," a lot of other voices said as they raised their weapons up high to show their determination.

"Good, I just hope you all did enough to keep the future generation safe. Since they want to take us out, let's go out with a bang. If you want to die, die in style," Lan Muyu said as his eyes turned bloodshot.

"Hia!!!" Every member of the Ming on the scene erupted with a battle cry as they lifted their spirits full of morale.

Gallop! Gallop! Gallop! The sounds of horses' feet sounded as Lan Muyu saw what should be up to two thousand soldiers rushing down. Looking behind him, he didn't even know whether to laugh. The total number of Ming that is out here to fight shouldn't even be up to four hundred.

"Seems they know the Ming is already remaining a few and came with a few numbers," Lan Ling's mum said with a smile.

"Lan Muyu!" a voice sounded as the person seemingly leading the two thousand fighters came to a halt.

"Bai Dudu!" Lan Muyu called out.

"I seriously can't believe you will die at foundation establishment as someone who once shared top talented genius of Weixen with me," Bai Dudu said.

"You didn't believe? I didn't believe either," Lan Muyu said laughing.

"You really did have a pitiful fate. Since it has come to this, I will make it quick and save you the face, sorry," Bai Dudu said before unsheathing his sword.

"Let me die honorably then. Attack!" Lan Muyu said, causing all the gathered Ming to immediately charge forth.

Clang! Clang! Sounds of weapon colliding against each other filled the air, but then there was no way three hundred is winning two thousand. It would have been possible if all three hundred were high-stage cultivators, but they are not.

Bang! Bang! The Ming continued falling in numbers until it was only Lan Ling's mum and dad remaining, while the allied force still had slightly above one thousand. It should be applauded for the Ming that the only slightly above three hundred managed to take up to around nine hundred with them.

"You two really deserve being called genius," Bai Dudu said as he dismounted his horse. Lan Muyu was already in bad shape and his wife wasn't better either.

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Lan Muyu laughed before saying "end this."

"Okay, I will," Bai Dudu said before taking a bow and arrow from a fighter beside him, stretching the bow taut and pouring his cultivation in it. Lan Muyu was called a genius with him, but he is now late-stage foundation establishment while Lan Muyu is early-stage. If all this hadn't happened, maybe Muyu would be above him in cultivation or the same with him. After pouring in his cultivation, Bai Dudu released the arrow.

"Darling, this should be it. At least I died from Weixen genius," Muyu said with a smile before screaming to Bai Dudu, "I will be watchin g your achievement from the other side."

"You are the best thing that happened to me," Lan Ling's mum, Lan Han Yu, said as she hugged Lan Ling's dad from the back just as the arrow was about to hit them, making it pierce through both of them. After the arrow pierced through both of them, Lan Muyu stabbed his sword into the ground, using it to support himself to stand while his wife's weight rested on his slightly bent back. He really decided to go out with a bang and die in style. "Seeing both couple die while standing, a drop of tear slid down Bai Dudu's eyes. 'You will always remain the best of my generation,' Bai Dudu said before turning to the allied force. 'Let's go, the Ming Tribe is no more.'"