Chapter 72 : A Disciple (2)

Chapter 72

P.O.V Changed

That night, I lost everything.

It was supposed to be just a usual night where we will happily talk with each other after having dinner but, screams across the village change it.

That night, screams of people who are eaten alive and some who lost their body parts fill the surrounding. Without hesitating, my parents immediately pull our hands to run away from the house.

I know that there are demons in this world and that we will never get out alive when groups of demons raid a village. My parents themselves told me that, but, even so, they still tried to escape while dragging us.

We did not take everything from our house. We even neglected the villagers, the same villagers we see every day, crying for help. With tears in our eyes, we continue to run and run till we reach the forest.

I was praying for demon hunters to come. No, I was sure that, they will come and help us. Save us from this nightmare. But, no one came, and instead, I lost both my parents who stopped the demons, just for us siblings to escape. I grit my teeth not to think anything else but escaping and run while holding my brother's hand. Before we go out of the village, we met Aunt Chen who was staying in our house for more than a week.

Normally, she was a kind and gentle person but, the aunty I saw that night is messy with blood and she... she no longer looks like a human. So, I run away with my younger brother while assuring him that, we will be fine and that the demon hunters are going to come soon.

However, my naivety has cost me my brother's life who push me aside when Aunt Chen attacked. My brother screams at me to escape. And I escaped leaving my brother. I cried. My heart hurt. I feel tormented and anguished. But, I could not stops my legs that are running. I am the worst sister and daughter ever. And, after running to who knows where, finally, I tripped my foot and falls down.

Aunt Chen caught up with me and even at these moments, I tried to ask her to spare me. But, Aunt Chen only sees me as food and a delicacy at that. I finally make up my mind and resolves to die. I no longer have anything to lose. I have already lost my family, my friends, and even the place I can return to. So, I close my eyes and resigned to death but, the pain I expected did not come.

Instead, I saw Aunt Chen's head suddenly looped off. I puked on the spot seeing that but, before I can see any further, a person wearing black clothing stood in front of me to block my vision, and with a sweet scent coming from a white cloth that fell on my face, I begin to lost my conscious. Ah. finally, someone came to save. I thanked him before I completely fall asleep.

The surrounding is already bright enough for me to see around when I woke up. But, seeing that, the sun has yet to come up, I begin to look around to find the savior I saw last night. While I was quietly listening to the surrounding sound, my sharp ear picked up a sound coming from somewhere. Trusting my instinct, I run towards that direction to see the black clothing man from last night. I did not see his face last night but, I know instinctively that it was my savior.

Since I knew my surrounding, my ears have never failed me and this time too, I know for sure that the man in clothing standing in front of the grotesque thing is my savior because I clearly remembered the sound coming from him. That gentle and smoothing sound coming from him before I fell asleep. I will not mistake that sound. So, I hid behind a tree not to disturb him and it seems my decision was spot on.

The grotesque thing in front of my savior turned more ugly and tried to kill my savior but, my savior was strong. He is fast, his movement looks like he is dancing around the battlefield and his sword is beautiful. And, timing with the sunlight, he cut down both the grotesque thing and some trees behind it to burn the ugly demon. He gracefully sheath his sword before calling out to me.

He knew I am here. What a strong person. So, demon-hunters are all strong people like him?

I- I want to become stronger. Now, that, I have no one I can rely on and no place to return, I decided that I will try to become strong like my savior too. And, by becoming strong and killing these demons, I will be able to save more people like me. People who are weak and always fall prey to demons. If I become strong, I can save them.

So, without hesitation, I knelt down in front of my savior and begged him to take me in as a discipline. I was prepared to do anything he asked for even if it is something humiliating. As long as I can become stronger under him, I was resolved to do any harsh training and all but, he did not immediately take me as his discipline. Instead, he asked me to give my family a proper burial.

I am grateful to him for giving me the chance to perform a proper burial for my family. I obeyed my master-to-be and quickly returned to the village. I steel my heart not to cry anymore but, I could not control my tears seeing my mother's body that is almost unrecognizable. I know I should not be crying but, I could not control my tears.

With a heavy heart, I started to build a coffin for my family. My family is a carpenter family and do a few wood arts. So, I learned a bit about carpentry from my father. And, using the skills I learned from my father, I built three coffins.

I carry the bodies of my family and lay them down in the coffin. Officials came from the city tried to help me but, I denied them all because my master, no, that person especially instructed to do this alone. So, I denied their kind offer and carry on with the burial.

Right now, I am kneeling down in front of three fire that is burning the bodies of my family. My tears that are coming out since I entered the village are no longer coming out and I can clearly feel the paths on my face that my tears came down. Yes, I decided to stops crying.

Crying won't help me in any way. And, even if I continue to cry, my family won't come back. But, I will never stop mourning for my family. I will mourn for them in my heart as long as I am alive.

So, carrying this sadness, I will strive to become stronger. I will become strong enough like that person so that I can save weak people like me. I will become a strong demon-hunter and save as many people as possible. And, by doing so, I pray that there will be fewer people who lost their family members...

"..-rl. Young girl!!" (A man)

Hm? I woke up in a daze to see a man wearing black clothing waking me up by shaking my shoulder. I immediately come to my sense and looks at him closely to realize that it is not that person.

"Are you alright, young girl? Come and sit here. You were sleeping while sitting in front of these three graves. Are they your family members?" (The man)

The man helps me get up and sit on the bench in front of my house. I see other men dressed in the same black clothing as the man beside me, entering my house but, I paid it no mind. The man who looks at the same age as my father speaks to me gently while guiding me to the bench. And, he asks some questions while handing me a bowl of warm soup.

Maybe it is because my hunger got the best of me because I gulp down the soup immediately as he hands me that. But, I can't hear any ominous sound coming from him. So, I think I can trust him. While I am telling the man how I escaped to the forest, two sisters come in front of me and the younger-looking sister sits beside me.

"Excuse us for entering your house. We were checking for more bodies but, seems like you have already done a burial for your family members. What a strong heart you have sister." (The younger woman)

The sister with short black eyes and a round face comforts me. She looks like a cheerful girl and listening to her words comfort me. I have a strong heart? No. The strong one here is you who is comforting me even though you look younger than me. Walking through this village full of corpses...

"... What do you plan to do from now on?" (The older woman)

The older sister with black hair, tied in a ponytail and a strict face asks me gently. The sound coming from both of the sisters sound gentle and tranquil like soothing someone. But, it cannot still be compared to the gentle sound I heard from that person.

But, I know that I can trust them to tell about my resolve because I see a sword with a jade plate on both of their hips. They are demon hunters. Last night and this morning, I did not see a jade plate on that person but, I am sure, he is also a demon hunter. A strong one at that. So, I happily tell the two sisters of my encounter with that person and tells that he is going to take me as his discipline.

"... That is what that person said. So, please take me to him." (Mingzhu)

After I finished telling the two sisters of that person, they look at each other in confusion. Hm? Why are they being confused?

"Um... Sister Mingzhu, right? Sister, can you tell me how that person looks?" (Alen)

Alen, the young sister asks me while her older sister, Anxi is also listening to me attentively. I have a feeling that they do not know that person but, I describe his appearance for them, nonetheless.

"Oh, His looks? Um, He looks young, probably about 17 or so. He is younger than me but, he is almost at the same height as me. He has brown eyes and black straight hair that looks so good. His hair is done in a loose ponytail and he let it out at his front. He does not look feminine but, he looks handsome and elegant at the same time.

I did not see a Jade plate on him but, his sword is also beautiful with gold here and there. Hm? Do you not recognize him? " (Mingzhu)

The sisters look at each other again and I see that none of them recognize that person. Can it be that that person is not a demon-hunter? hm. But, his sword skill and his movement, I can't even follow them with my eyes. Only a strong demon-hunter can move that fast right? What is happening?