Chapitre 7: Sudden Crisis
It was after the midnight that feast ended and everybody started making their way towards their homes. Zhen also pulled the barely conscious Bao towards their home. During the feast, Uncle Wei had offered Bao his beer and as it turned out, Bao had no alcohol tolerance at all. One sip and he was out of it.
Zhen's mother was on the other side, also supporting the giant Bao. It was a comical sight to see, she supporting Bao who was twice her size. But Zhen was used to such sites. People in the village were hardy, hardworking folks and almost everyone had strength that could be considered freakish by standards of his previous world.
"Xia, wait a minute.", the Village chief called Zhen's mother from behind, and Zhen turned to see him making his way towards them. He was followed by a man wearing the uniform of the Blue Wind Dynasty's army. Zhen sensed he was at the sixth realm of Qi Gathering.
"What is it chief? And it is good to see you again Shihong. How are you doing."
"I am well Auntie.", Shihong replied, but his voice sounded a little hollow.
"Xia, can you come with us for a second?", the chief said, his face looking a little worried, "We have something important to discuss."
She looked at Zhen and Bao, and Zhen mouthed, 'don't worry.'
Seeing this, she nodded, "Ok chief." and handed Bao to Zhen.
Despite Bao being three times his size, Zhen did not even stagger under the weight. Reassured, Xia went with the chief. Behind Zhen saw a few other adults gathering, wondering what this is all about.
Shaking his head, he just proceeded to drag Bao to their home and unceremoniously dumped him on the bedsheet on the floor before he too lay down on the sheet and closed his eyes.
Sleep followed soon after.
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It was not until morning that their mother came back, looking worried. Whatever they discussed must be not good but she did not tell them anything.
Bao was suffering too much from headaches to notice but Zhen immediately picked on it.
She went on to prepare a simple breakfast and absentmindedly served it to them.
After breakfast, she addressed the boys, "There will be a meeting this afternoon at Chief's courtyard and we are all invited. Be ready to go by the time."
She left after saying that. Bao looked at Zhen and questioned, "What was that all about?"
Zhen just shrugged, but he was becoming worried.
In the afternoon, Bao and Zhen left for Chief's house. By the time they reached his courtyard, many other families were gathered there. Zhen noticed every family that gathered had at least someone who was around Bao's age.
After few moments, Chief entered, followed by Shihong who was no longer wearing his army attire. Everyone was sitting in a circle, with Zhen and Bao sitting at the far side.
Chief coughed to get the attention of the gathering, and started, "Yesterday Shihong brought news back from the city that the city lord had passed a new decree. Blue Wind empire is preparing for war and it needs new soldiers. Every commoner above the age of nine had to enlist in the army..."
Shouts of discontent rang among the crowd,
"They again want to take our children away?!!"
"We are not in the walls of the kingdom, why should we?"
"This is unreasonable!!!"
Mothers were fiercely hugging their children, and most people looked discontent.
Old Chief tried to pacify everyone, "Please, let me speak first,", "Sit down", but no one paid him any attention.
Reaching the end of his patience, Cheif put the force of his cultivation behind his throat and yelled, "SILENCE!!"
Everyone immediately stopped and Zhen had to cover his ears with his hands to stop the ringing. His Body Forging Cultivation as well as the attributes he got from Gold Bear blood had also enhanced his senses beyond normal humans but his control over them was lacking.
Chief looked at the cowed people and spoke, "As I was saying, city lord will send soldiers here to find new recruits. They will be here any day. I gathered us all here to discuss what to do about it. Every one of you has someone in their family who will be taken away if we do not do something."
"Our village is just a single small one, and out of the walls at that. It could be that City Lord will ignore us.", someone in the crowd said.
Chief turned to him, "Do you think he will forget our village after the incident with Yue'er."
Silence reigned, and all fell into deep thought. No one forgot that incident, Zhen and Bao least of them.
Suddenly a voice spoke, "I will volunteer!", everyone turned to see Bao raising his hand, "I will volunteer for the army. If half of us enlist ourselves into the army, the rest can stay hidden. This way city lord will be satisfied and leave us alone."
Chief resolutely answered, "No, no one will lose their life under my watch! We can think of something else.", Zhen saw his mother nodding at chief's words, but her face was still pale after hearing Bao's declaration.
"No chief, Bao is right. This is the only way.", Feng, a burly boy just a year older than came forward, "We could probably survive the army and survive but many are too young, they will only die out there."
"Yes, let us. It is our job to protect the young."
"I will enlist too."
"Me too, I will not allow them to take away
More and more boys, no men started to come forward, standing along with Bao and Feng. Every one of them looked resolute and determined, ready to do their part to protect. Many of them had younger brothers who were not even in their teens. City lord may have said to enlist only those above age of nine but soldiers did not care. If you are able to hold a sword, you will be forcibly recruited.
To protect their siblings, neighbors, and most of all, their family, they will not hesitate to do anything even if it meant facing death.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone