Han Yu descended the slope at a steady pace, his eyes falling on the small wooden palisade that served as the village’s wall.
To call it a wall was generous. It was little more than sharpened logs tied together, barely reaching his shoulder in height. A beast with enough weight or determination could crash through it with one charge. And a more nimble beast would easily jump over it.
There were no glowing runes. No formation anchors. Not even the faint spiritual hum of a low level protective array.
This was the first truly undefended place he had seen.
In the three towns he passed earlier, the mont he approached the entrance he sensed the subtle presence of formation lines under the soil. Weaker than the defensive arrays used by sects or clans, but clearly there.
Likely Beast Repelling Arrays, which were common across most territories. Cheap to set up. Easy to maintain. Just strong enough to deter the common low level beasts.
This village, however, had nothing.
Nothing except a lone guard who stood rigid at the gate.
The man held a rusty spear. The tal head remained sharp but the shaft was weathered and dull, as though years of use and lack of oil had worn it dry. His clothing was stitched from several pieces of beast pelts, the colors mismatched and uneven. He had no armor at all, not even leather bracers.
His cultivation was barely at the early stage of the Qi Refining realm.
For a split second, he only stared at the approaching figure on the road. The sinking sun was directly behind Han Yu, outlining him in shadow. The lack of light obscured the young man’s face, but his stride and presence made the guard tense.
He straightened and held his spear more firmly, though his hands trembled slightly.
"Who... who goes there?" the guard called out. His voice shook despite his effort to stand tall.
Han Yu stepped out from the shadow, and the light fell across his face.
The guard flinched.
Ju Fan’s face was a terrifying thing in the eyes of ordinary people. Cold eyes, sharp cheekbones, expression stiff and rciless. He was almost handso, but in a way that made one think of a blade rather than a person. A blade stained and sharpened so many tis that it no longer reflected sunlight, only intent.
The guard stumbled back half a step.
Then his eyes dropped to Han Yu’s robes.
The color. The pattern. The insignia on the chest.
Recognition hit him like a thunderbolt.
His pupils shrank. His breath stopped. His knees gave way.
THUD
He collapsed instantly, falling to the dirt with a loud thud.
"S... Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect," he whispered, almost choking on the words. "Y-you... disciple... of the Divine Blood Sect..."
Before the guard could fully process it, Han Yu finally spoke.
"I am Ju Fan of the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect." His voice was steady and cold as required by his disguise. "I am passing through. I require rest for the night. Will your village allow it?"
The guard’s eyes flew wide open. He scrambled forward on his knees, bowing so low his forehead touched the dirt.
"Honored Disciple, you honor us. This lowly one would never dare refuse you. Please, please stay. Stay as long as you like."
His voice cracked from fear, devotion, and anxiety all at once.
The noise drew attention imdiately. Doors swung open. Curtains were pulled aside. Faces appeared at windows. Soon a trickle of villagers hurried to the gate, curious about the commotion.
Then they saw Han Yu’s robes.
Pale faces. Gasping breaths. Hands covering mouths. A few even dropped the baskets they were carrying.
One woman whispered, barely able to control her trembling, "A disciple from the Divine Blood Sect... here?"
Another older man grabbed his granddaughter and pulled her behind him. "Keep your head low. Do not look him in the eyes."
A few n knelt beside the guard, clearly unsure how to act.
A young boy, barely eight, stared at Han Yu with a mixture of awe and terror. His mother slapped his head down imdiately and forced him into a bow.
Han Yu let out a breath, trying not to appear displeased. He had expected so fear, but the reaction was far more intense than he anticipated.
"Stand," Han Yu ordered.
It ca out much colder than he intended. The guard squeaked in panic and stood up so fast he nearly stumbled backward.
"S-sir... of course, sir..."
Han Yu repeated calmly, "I repeat my earlier question. Can I stay in the village tonight? I have spirit stones. I can pay."
"No, no, no, we cannot take money from a disciple of the GREAT SLAUGHTERED MOON DIVINE BLOOD SECT!" the guard shouted, horrified at the idea. "It would be sinful! Absolutely sinful!"
The mont he finished speaking, he raised both hands to the sky, his voice rising in a chant that echoed through the village.
"All beings prostrate before the Slaughtered Moon, may its Divine Blood grant them eternal rcy!"
As if on cue, every villager joined in, their voices becoming one.
"All beings prostrate before the Slaughtered Moon, may its Divine Blood grant them eternal rcy!"
The chant rolled like thunder through the small houses. It was powerful, synchronized, and clearly sothing practiced many tis.
Han Yu stood there frozen.
He had never once heard this chant inside the sect.
Disciples did not pray. Elders did not chant. There were rituals, but none resembling worship.
To see villagers prostrating themselves like this left Han Yu montarily overwheld. He almost forgot to maintain his cold expression and had to force himself back into the persona.
He nodded with a slow, imposing calm.
"Enough."
The villagers stopped instantly, bowing their heads so low they trembled.
Han Yu felt awkward, but he could not show that. He maintained a composed front and continued speaking.
"I only need a place to sleep. Sowhere quiet. I will not disturb your activities."
User Comments
0 comments from readers