A Spark

Immediately, people leapt into action. People who stayed here weren't your usual faint-hearted civilians. Most traders here had a strong gut and some fighting abilities. Due to the war going on next door, most carried weapons on them too. Some ran up to the roof of the bar I pointed at, others blocked me, while some others spied movement in the trees behind us. In the chaos, 4 bulky men rushed toward me, probably hoping to make off with me before more trouble came to them.

Angrily, I gave one of them a kick to the gut, but he was so large and heavy he barely moved. "Eden! Stay back, let me deal with them." Adrik proclaimed, facing up a menacing looking man nearest to me.

"You nasty man! How dare you attack Eden!" he cried heroically as he traded blows with him. Tolya was much more discreet as he silently fended off blows. Yun had reappeared and was flanking me to the right. However, as time passed, more and more men appeared, and each seemed to be bigger than the last.

Although they were wearing masks to hide their faces, it was clear they were the Rouran who had decided to attack the route today when everyone was distracted by the festivities. Considering I was probably half their body size – the Rouran were same size or bigger than the Norse, I was having a bit of difficulty taking the blows.

However, I knew help would come soon. The residents of the outpost were a rowdy and fearsome bunch. I knew some had went to alert Hua Yu Lan and the military camp were on their way to handle the infiltration. If they managed to come this far, they might be elsewhere in the route too or might have found a route through the rough terrain.

I had also realistically never come face to face with such vicious expressions and attire on men before and was mildly terrified to say the least. I glanced to see how Adrik and Tolya were doing, just in time to see a Rouran about to catch him unaware. Too far away to help, I channelled my strength and hurled my sword angrily, stabbing the Rouran in the back.

I had used so much strength it even went out on the other side. The Rouran stumbled, tripping onto a very disgusted Adrik, giving him the opportunity to take care of him. I stepped over the dead bodies and parts to retrieve my sword. "Eden, you're fierce." Adrik praised. I grinned. "When it comes to protecting my allies."

Having seen me skewer the Rouran angrily, the number of Rourans surrounding me increased rather than decreased. They seemed bent to capture me no matter what. I was getting exhausted. How long had this fight dragged on? Even Xin, Ou and Fei, seeing I wasn't looking too well, had come out of the shadows to assist me in the light.

At this point, I was back to stabbing eyeballs and swinging my sword at lower bodies. At this vicious and backhanded way of fighting (not very noble, but still, preserving my life was more important), the Rourans around me very quickly thinned. Feeling encouraged, I kept stabbing.

"Let go of Noble Concubine Ling, you scoundrels!" "No conscience!" "Dirty rats!" seeing me safe and very much kicking, the traders around us grew more and more rowdy and encouraged, beating, kicking and pounding the intruders. Suddenly, I heard a commotion behind me and the familiar kicking of hooves.

"Ling Yue!" someone grabbed me by the waist and put me behind him. I stared at the dark coloured robes and the broad back. "Lu Qing Yu, you're very late." I said. "We're going back to the camp now." he said, reprimanding. Looking behind, I saw the soldiers had arrived in a large group. The Rouran were clearly outnumbered now. "Thank you all for saving my wife and for your valiant efforts. I will give you compensation within the week. We must return to the camp now for her safety." Lu Qing Yu addressed the still fighting traders.

At the soldiers' arrival, they all cheered, even shooing us away so that I could "recuperate". Anyone who saw me unblinkingly stab eyeballs and private parts earlier in desperation and mightily skewer the Rouran probably wasn't too sympathetic.

Fortunately, everyone here had good spirit and all knew each other. After giving some brief goodbyes, and making sure Adrik and Tolya were ushered off to rest as well, we left just as the soldiers were subduing the Rouran. The bloodthirsty war-hardened Huaxia soldiers made quick work of the remaining Rourans. Presumably, some went around the border as well to subdue the start of the invasion.

The ride back to the camp was more heavily guarded than usual. Lu Qing Yu looked me over, then at my messy hair and half dirty Novgorod court dress, and scoffed. "I saw you stabbing eyeballs again just now. I thought you were trained by the 2 Mian Generals?" he asked.

I puffed up my cheeks. "Hey! I fought very honourably just now. Ask Adrik! Ask Tolya! Ask any of the traders. It was just that... toward the end, I got very tired... I had to preserve my life, alright?" I said. He laughed. "Alright, as long as you're alright. But no more going back to the trading post." he said sternly.

"But... they look forward to seeing me everyday! And I can inspect the spices, I have a nice office, and..." I trailed. He stared. "So is your life more important or is managing trade more important? Ling Yue, why don't you have a sense of mortality?" he asked. Well, I couldn't tell him I already died once. "When I let you come here you promised you would be safe with me and not do anything rash." He reminded. Fine.

After we got back to the camp, I was subjected to a medical check-up (nothing serious, just scrapes here and there) and then joined the meeting. Since the Norse were also attacked they were naturally angry and might be willing to work together and that was where I came in. The Rourans had made their move. This was war!

Unfortunately, as the camp bustled and readied for war, I was confined to my err … tent. According to Lu Qing Yu, letters from the trading post would be personally delivered to me on a daily basis. There was a nice desk set up in the tent and that would be my workplace. Day in, day out for a month all I did was sit there, take my meals in the tent and occasionally wander around the camp. Did I come here just to be stuck in a tent in the middle of hundreds of thousands of smelly men?

Out of boredom, I started to play with the weapons I had. I had cheap (but sturdy) hairpins made for stabbing purposes and a bunch of daggers and sharp things. Rub rub rub rub. Rub rub rub ru- a spark flew out. My hand winced back automatically.

Why? It felt very familiar. More rubbing needed. Rub rub rub ru- this time, I felt it even clearer. I sat on the bed as I thought to myself. What on earth was this? This was a reaction from my previous world. But I had been here so long I had long forgotten many things.

Gu Yin popped in to let me know Lu Qing Yu wouldn't be eating with me today since he had work to do. Okay fine. Food was brought in. I ate my food ravenously. Food was the only thing I looked forward to in this tent everyday. The military cooks were crazy good. And what was this gravy? How did they make this? Oh my goodness.

I popped my head out of the tent flap, startling the row of guards standing outside. "Tell the kitchen I want a bowl of gravy and more rice and mushrooms." I said, then went back in. In a couple minutes, more food was brought in. I ate happily. Without electricity, it was hard for people to cook in this era.

Wait... electricity! That was the spark I felt! An electric shock! I went back and examined my weapons again. Excited, I brought out my thin idea notebook and scribbled down a table. This plus this weapon gives this reaction... what is it made of? Copper. Zinc. Alloy. Steel. What did I need? Aluminum. Where could I get some? Maybe one of the bowls in the kitchen. Wait. I could use my silver bowl. Rub rub rub. I wrote this down.

For the first time, I laughed crazily to myself in the tent. Electricity! I could create electricity! Well, not electricity, but at least I could create a battery. I had this idea for a greenhouse or lighted up showrooms for a long time but the dim lamplights here were too weak. Now I had light... Oh yes, I need to get an artisan to make me lightbulbs... what about a lamp, or a torchlight, or a table lamp? Or a ceiling light? Selling batteries would make me rich, rich, rich! I could see it now.

Lu Qing Yu came back to the tent after a long day of meetings, surprised to see Ling Yue still diligently sitting at the table, looking very pleased with herself. In a circle around her were here weapons, hairpins, and she had apparently taken apart the lamp and bowl. "No looking!" she proclaimed happily as she hugged her notebook to her chest. He snorted. "Not looking." he said. It was probably one of her women's ideas for her business.

"Lu Qing Yu, if I had a brilliant idea for my business, so brilliant it would change this whole country, would you allow Luna Marche to sell it privately?" she asked. He snorted again. "Like what? Chocolate? Or menstrual pads?" he asked. She tilted her head, pondering her answer. "Can it be used for military purposes?" he asked. "Well... not really."

"You have my approval then." "Good, sign this statement saying so." she handed him a very well-crafted contract, and handed him his dragon seal she dug out from a secret compartment. "Fine." he scoffed, signing it and stamping it.

Little did he know...