Chapter 22: Unyielding resolve

She smiled back at me. As soon as we relaxed, we saw a small little child trying to sneak out of a wooden cage that some citizens were imprisoned in.

The child's eyes were filled with fear, looking around to ensure that no one spotted her, she slipped through the narrow wooden bars carefully, being swift and fast. It seemed as she was trying to find someone to help her and the others escape this place.

I gently tapped Xue's shoulder.

"If she gets caught she will be in a lot of trouble. We have to help her."

She nodded, her face determined. We carefully made our way towards her, trying to avoid any unwanted attention. She was trying to find a place to hide first, the kid noticed us making our way towards her, her eyes started brimming with fear, as she started tearing up, not knowing what to do now.

I quickly made a shushing gesture,

"Hey," I whispered softly, kneeling down to be at eye level. "You're safe with us, we came here to help."

"Rweally?" She asked while sobbing. "Can you save mommy and dwaddy too? And the uncles and the aunties there?" She clutched her small dress she was wearing, as she lowered her head.

Xue spoke up before I could.

"Of course we will, but we have to wait a bit more until more help arrives okay?" She latter the little girl's head while comforting her, we heard some footsteps coming our way, I quickly picked up the little girl, and started moving, Xue followed behind me as we swiftly went back to the place we were hiding at before.

"That was close... Phew..." I let a sigh of relief out.

"It really was, huh?" Xue smiled.

I turned to the child "what's your name?" I asked gently.

"H-hua Fang... Sir".. she responded timidly.

I smiled. "I'm Ace, you can call me big brother, okay?" I gently pat her head.

Hua seemed to have lightened up with us.

We spent over 40 minutes waiting for the imperial soldiers to arrive.

Suddenly out of no where one of the enemies who were guarding the city saw the little girl with us from the corner of his eye.

He started yelling notifying the others to come seize us.

"Uh oh. This isn't good! What do we do Xue?" I asked slowly backing up.

As I turned around Xue and Hua were gone,

"What the!?" As I looked up they were escaping. Leaving me alone. I couldn't follow them as I was already cornered by them, turning my back against them would be a bad idea.

"So... You guys want to fight?" I asked showing no fear against them, trying to intimidate them.

They were all at least at the 6th stage of core formation. Xue wouldn't have stood a chance against them.

"Yes we wanna fight, tell us who you are and what you're doing here and about that girl, and we'll give you a quick death" one them spoke arrogantly self confident.

"Haven't your master taught you not to underestimate anyone?" I smirked as I cracked my fists.

They started laughing, "that would be the case if we weren't up against a 6th stage of a foundation establishment brat!"

This is a good opportunity for me to become even stronger! Since Xue isn't here, I can go all out! I thought to myself, containing my excitement. As they charged at me, I grabbed one of their hands as he was about to strike me, I twisted his arm making him lose grip of his sword, before it fell to the ground I catched it with my right hand then swung it at the others.

They all backed off, I took a step back as well.

"How is a foundation establishment brat so strong?? Is he using some technique to hide his strength?!" One yelled surprised.

I thought to myself.

I can't kill them... They are human beings, but I can't absorb their cultivation if I don't... If I choose this path, I might as well as become a demon. What should I do, what should I do damnit! I'm stuck here, I need Xue's help. But she can't do anything against them... I groaned.

Damnit... I'm stuck.

I suddenly heard Xue. "Ace!!! Hang in there! I'm here to help!" My eyes suddenly turned towards her voice, she took Hua somewhere safe. I figured she wouldn't abandon me.

"You came back?" I asked with a shaky voice.

"Of course I did! Did you think I would really leave you behind like that?!" She said with a determined and a fiery voice.

"But! They are all above your realm of cultivation! Why would you come back! I'll hold them back! Get out of here fast as you ca-" she interrupted me before I could even finish talking.

"What the hell are you saying? And leave you here to die?! I would rather die with you! You've saved me before too! I'm returning the favour! You should be the one to get out of here!" She said angrily, she seemed mad at me for telling her to leave me alone.

"Fine! But don't do anything dangerous okay!?" Before she could even reply, one the followers of Yao Ming attacked me.

My instinct and quick reflexes saved me, blocking the blow with the sword I got from them.

I counterattacked trying to slice his arm off, I swung upwards with my sword.

*Cling*!!!

A vibration ran through my bones, his arms were like metal.

"What the..." I stood confused, as I saw his arm through the cut from his clothes, I saw scales.

I quickly looked at Xue, "aren't these guys from a sect called Dragon sect?! Is the reason that sect called Dragon sect because they have dragon properties??"

Xue looked just as surprised and confused as I was, "I don't know! This is my first time seeing this as well!"

Some of them started laughing at us.

"Why do you think a mass amount of people decided to follow the great lord Yao Ming out of no where!? He gave us these powers! Our skin are protected by dragon scales! Almost none of the metals in the world can even make a dent through us!"

This is really bad... I need to protect Xue and wait till the imperial soldiers arrive.. i thought to myself as I was checking out surrounding, there was no opening for us to run.

Is my only option killing? But they are hu- what am I saying! They are no humans! They are insane bastards who are killing people just because they think they are superior to others! I shouldn't show mercy to them!

Xue was getting closer and closer to me slowly without the Dragonkins noticing.

She whispered "what do we do now?"

She seemed fearless but I could sense her trembling. I reassured her.

"We'll get out of here somehow! We'll just have to fight and stall till the imperial soldiers arrive." I whispered back, she gave me a quick nod before we both rushed in to fight. They swung their sword without care leaving so many openings, but we couldn't do anything to them because of their tough skin. Suddenly my sword broke, it was just a cheap sword I stole from them after all.

"Shit..." My back was open and I didn't even realise, as soon as I turned I heard a quick yell.

"Watch out!!" I only saw Xue's face, she jumped in front of the attack that I was supposed to take, time seemed to slow down, I couldn't move, everything was frozen, I could see Xue's blood scattering through the air.

"X-xue?" I felt a ton of emotions running through my mind, but the greatest was anger I was feeling, for myself and others. I was powerless and couldn't protect Xue... Am I even worthy of her?