"Damnit! I need to move faster…" The civil guard activated a special movement technique, pushing his body to its limits as he sped through the forest.
The information scroll delivered by his superior clearly stated that Village 321 had been attacked. If he delayed even a little, the situation could turn catastrophic. "Could it be a beast?" he wondered as he rushed toward the village.
Any disaster within a village under his jurisdiction would result in a deduction of merit. A blemish like that would leave a permanent red mark on his career as a civil guard.
As he drew closer, a strong sense of unease rose in his heart. Crossing several small mountain ridges in quick succession, he finally reached the outskirts of the village. A wave of scorching heat washed over him the instant he arrived. Flames danced wildly, devouring everything in sight.
Wei Bufan clenched his teeth and scanned the surroundings. Then, in a corner near the forest edge, he spotted a young boy leaning against a tree, motionless.
"This brat… he's alive!?" A trace of surprise flashed across his eyes.
At that moment, Qin Hao was engaged in a fierce argument with the second consciousness inside him, but the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted him. He turned his head and saw the civil guard, Wei Bufan, walking toward him.
"Are you the only survivor?" Wei Bufan asked.
Qin Hao nodded. In truth, Wei Bufan had already confirmed it himself. There was no sign of life anywhere in the burning village. The flames were so intense that even he found it difficult to approach for a thorough investigation.
"It must be devastating to see your home destroyed and losing your loved ones." Wei Bufan spoke in a consoling tone. "Do you know what is important?"
Their eyes met.
When Wei Bufan looked into Qin Hao's eyes, he felt something unusual.
"I like that look," he said slowly, the corners of his lips curled upward. "Those are the eyes of a warrior. The eyes of someone who wants to conquer." In all his years as a civil guard, he had encountered countless people, yet only a few possessed such eyes, eyes he deeply admired.
"Strength," Wei Bufan said solemnly, "is the key. The key to protecting those you hold dear."
From the memories left behind by the worm, Qin Hao already understood this truth. In this world, strength reigned above all else. He desired strength not only to avenge her departed soul, but also to find his mother. Wei Bufan's words resonated deeply within him.
Qin Hao had never seen his father. Whenever he asked, his mother would evade the question. She had raised him alone, working herself to the bone, always putting his needs before her own. To him, she was his entire world. Then there was the village chief's daughter. There was something inexplicable about her, something that constantly drew his gaze.
"Was it her smile? Her kindness? Her gentleness?" Qin Hao wondered.
The more he saw her, the deeper his feelings grew. Though he never confessed, she always knew. The ring he gave her that day was now in his palm once again but the person is gone to a place far away. Two people he cherished had been taken from him.
Clenching his fists, Qin Hao replied in a low voice, "I understand."
"Good," Wei Bufan nodded in satisfaction. "Come with me."
Following him, Qin Hao passed through many secluded routes, hidden underground tunnels, wide roads carved directly through mountains, and dense bamboo forests where the wind whispered endlessly.
"These paths are safe," Wei Bufan said. "Only civil guards know about them. I'm telling you because you'll be joining us soon."
Qin Hao nodded silently.
That night, they rested at a small guard camp. Though it was an underground cave, it had been carefully built to resemble a modest house. The entrance was concealed beneath layers of camouflage.
"Old Wei, who's this kid?" an elderly man in civil guard attire asked curiously. He was in charge of the camp.
"He's someone I plan to recommend," Wei Bufan replied.
The old man scrutinized Qin Hao from head to toe. "Isn't he too young?"
"Isn't that better?" Wei Bufan chuckled. "Young ones can work harder and climb faster unlike us old men still grinding away."
"Hmph." The old man returned to his desk. "Suit yourself."
"Old Gao, include this in the report as well…" Wei Bufan then briefly explained the situation at the village.
Old Gao frowned deeply. "Someone dared infiltrate our territory and burn down a village?"
"This is unacceptable. Old Wei, you know your merit will take a serious hit."
"I know," Wei Bufan laughed carefreely. "My luck hasn't been great lately. But it's just merit, no big deal."
As the duo chatted, Qin Hao layed down on the bed. His body felt extremely weak. The mental stress on him was overwhelming so he needed some rest. The moment he closed his eyes, he fell into deep sleep.
Along the journey, Wei Bufan had asked about Qin Hao's disappearance. Qin Hao claimed he had accidentally crossed the red line and found shelter in the forest. By morning, it took him time to find his way back.
"You didn't encounter any danger?" Wei Bufan asked.
"No," Qin Hao replied calmly.
For some reason the second consciousness told him to conceal the truth about witnessing the battle between Qi practitioners.
Wei Bufan attributed it all to luck and did not pursue the matter further.
Qin Hao also chose not to mention his mother's kidnapping. Too many questions would arise questions he couldn't answer without exposing secrets he absolutely had to protect.
The next morning, the two arrived at the main fort Massive stone walls encircled the fort, weathered and scarred. Moss and cracks filled the older sections, while repaired areas bore newer bricks of a different shade. On the watchtowers, guards scanned the surroundings with hawk-like vigilance.
A single red banner caught Qin Hao's attention. It had a two horned goat's face in the middle, looking extremely creepy.
"That's the banner of the Drazhul clan." Wei Bufan said.
As they approached the gate, two guards who stood rigidly on both side, spears upright, demanded verification. Wei Bufan waved his token, then the guards opened the door with a slight bow.
Upon entering Qin Hao's eyes darted around everywhere. This was his first time going outside the village and see something different other than forest. Stone barracks stood in row, long and rectangular, built from roughly cut gray blocks stacked with military precision. The soldiers were training in the open grounds, their weapons striking one another with dull thuds. Others sharpened blades on whetstones, the scraping sound sending a chill down his spine.
A different type of smell entered his nose, mixture of oil, rust and iron. The atmosphere was completely different, relax yet heavy.
Compared to his quiet village, the fort felt harsh, immense, and alive. A rush of excitement washed over him as he looked forward to the future. He realized he had truly stepped into another world, one where strength decided a person's worth.
"Get used to everything. You'll be experiencing hell lotta pain here." Wei Bufan chuckled as he led Qin Hao to the command hall.