Awakening.
"Bandits?!!! It's been years since they've come to our village!" The Old Woman exclaimed, her face etched with worry as she turned to Lianhua Qingyu. "Stay here and don't come to the house." But to her astonishment, Lianhua Qingyu darted into the house faster than the eye could follow.
"FATHER!!!" She wore an expression of profound concern as she scanned the house.
"We need to escape, little girl," the Old Man declared as he retrieved his ancient sword from the wall, heading toward the garden.
"I see, Father," she replied, watching closely.
BANG!!!
"KEKEKEKEKEKE!!! GIVE US EVERYTHING YOU HAVE, OLD MAN!!!" A skinny, leering man burst in, his grin repulsive.
"Leave this place," the Old Man ordered Lianhua Qingyu, approaching the skinny man.
"Will you spare us if we give you everything we have?" the Old Man inquired.
"KEKEKEKEKE, OF CO—" The skinny man spotted Lianhua Qingyu about to exit the door; he couldn't take his eyes off her exquisite beauty. With a sinister grin, he exclaimed, "HEY, BEAUTIFUL, TURN AROUND! OLD MAN, INCLUDE HER IN THE LOOT, AND YOU'LL BE SPARED!!!" He tried to approach her, but "AGHGHGHGH!!!" he was cleaved in two by the Old Man.
"Never," the Old Man declared coldly, moving toward Lianhua Qingyu.
"Father, where should we flee?" Her fear had intensified for some unknown reason.
"Calm down, little girl. Father will protect you both." The Old Man reassured her, brandishing his sword, and turned to the Old Woman. "Open the well, be here. I'll return shortly." He cast a vigilant eye toward the entrance.
"Be cautious, Old Man. If you fall, I'll descend to deal with you myself," the Old Woman joked, kissing his forehead.
"You needn't worry," the Old Man replied with a smile.
Both of them descended into the well as the Old Man ventured outside.
Lianhua Qingyu could peer outside through a crack in the well.
It was a scene of chaos, with the village nearly razed to the ground, and corpses strewn about.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
From the heavens, a massive man wielding a club descended upon the Old Man.
A colossal, muscular man with a spiked club approached the Old Man, grinning. Behind him were numerous armed men with swords, spears, and sabers. He grinned at the Old Man and declared in a coarse voice, "I am honored to meet the infamous Foot Blood King."
"Someone remembers me, it seems," the Old Man responded, glancing around.
"I am here to bring this village under my protection, Foot Blood King," the big man proclaimed.
"By destroying it?" the Old Man inquired, surveying the wreckage.
"Well... it was more of a... strategic entrance if you catch my drift," the big man explained, glancing at his men.
"I understand. Please, take whatever you wish from here, and let us rebuild our village," the Old Man offered, opening his door.
"You're astute, Foot Blood King. But I came for you," the big man stated.
"For me? What can an old man like me do for you?" the Old Man replied, his face devoid of fear, as if he were accustomed to such situations.
"I want you to join my gang. With your help, we can cooperate. I'll ensure no other bandits invade this place, and you'll assist me in building my empire. It's a win-win, don't you think, Foot Blood King?" The big man's grin was malevolent.
"I must disappoint you. I retired from fighting long ago. I'm nothing more than a farmer now. Please, either do your job or leave," the Old Man responded.
"KEKEKEKEKE, think again, Foot Blood King," the big man threatened.
"I've said what I had to say," the Old Man replied, stepping back inside.
"Foot Blood King, I challenge you to a duel," the big man declared, tossing his headband to the ground.
He hurled it down.
"Are you sure?" the Old Man asked, looking at him.
"Yes," the big man replied, cracking his neck and retrieving his club from the ground.
"I see," the Old Man said, drawing his sword.
"Nobody interferes in this battle, do you understand?!" the big man bellowed, and his lackeys nodded in agreement.
"Are you prepared, Foot Blood King?" the big man inquired.
The Old Man nodded.
They faced each other, and...
BANG!!!
SLASH!!!
In mere moments, they closed the gap between them.
BANG!!! BANG!!! BANG!!!
The big club swung at the Old Man, but he was too quick, effortlessly evading the blows.
SLASH!!!
The club was deflected, and the Old Man moved in for the kill.
"DAMN IT!!!" The big man signaled to one of his lackeys.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
One of them crept up behind the Old Man, intending to strike him, but...
"FAAATHEEER!!!" Lianhua Qingyu charged out of the well.
"Wait!!!" The Old Woman tried to stop her, but her efforts were in vain. Lianhua Qingyu ran toward the man attacking the Old Man.
The Old Man's eyes widened as he swiftly deflected the club, dispatching the attacker, then turned to Lianhua Qingyu. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!!! I TOLD YOU TO HIDE THERE!" He yelled.
The big man grinned and declared, "I see why you retired now, let's FINISH OUR DUEL, FOOT BLOOD KING!" He signaled to one of his henchmen.
The Old Man understood the impending danger and unleashed his full strength.
BANG!!! BANG!!! BANG!!!
SLASH!!! SLASH!!! SLASH!!!
SLASH!!! SLASH!!! SLASH!!!
He slashed down nearly thirty opponents within seconds.
"DAMN YOU!!!" The big man lunged at the Old Man with his club.
But the Old Man evaded, his sword aimed at the big man's throat.
"STOP THIS, OLD MAN, OR SHE'LL DIE!!!" One of the lackeys shouted.
The Old Man halted immediately, glancing back to see Lianhua Qingyu, her sword at her throat, and a portly man quaking behind her, utterly bewildered by the sight of such a formidable opponent.
The Old Man lowered his sword and said, "Get out of my village." He pointed to the big man.
The big man rose and smiled menacingly. "Foot Blood King, you've nearly annihilated my entire gang... DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO NEGOTIATE HERE?!" He glanced at the sword, which had come perilously close to grazing him.
"What do you want, you bastard?" the Old Man inquired of the big man.
"I want you to join my gang and pledge your allegiance to me," the big man insisted.
"If I do that, will you release my family?" the Old Man asked.
"Yes," the big man replied.
"Very well. Now get the hell out!!!" the Old Man shouted, moving toward Lianhua Qingyu.
But the portly man blocked his path. no, he let him pass.
"Are you all right, sweetheart?" the Old Man inquired.
"Yes..." Lianhua Qingyu trembled in her clothes.
"Let's go, Foot Blood King. I'll introduce you to our headquarters," the big man suggested.
"I understand," the Old Man sighed, addressing Lianhua Qingyu. "Be good now, my girl. I'll come back to see you both very soon." With that, he decided to accompany the big man to the hideout and join their gang was in the mountains he assumed.
"FATHER!!!" Lianhua Qingyu rushed toward him, but something unexpected occurred to place this.
"DIE!!!" A scrawny man resembling the one the Old Man had killed darted toward Lianhua Qingyu, intent on stabbing her fast.
"NO!!!" She closed her eyes for a moment. When she reopened them, she saw something...
The Old Man before her, his sword piercing the old heart of his. He turned to look at her, and she saw a light fading from his eyes, he smiled...
"Are you all right, my sweet girl?" the Old Man smiled once again.
"Father?"
End Of Chapter.