บท 16: The Man In White
Bubing was an average ranked member of the Immortal Body Sect. When he and several of his peers were assigned to assist Nuli Fanzi's business, little did they know they were about to embark on a harrowing journey.
A sense of unease lingered in the air, and whispers of a terrible incident circulated amongst them. Despite being just a regular warrior, Bubing was determined to carry out his mission to the best of his abilities, knowing that his squad leader held him accountable.
Upon reaching Nuli Fanzi's premises, the scene that unfolded before them was beyond horrifying. As a member of the Immortal Body Sect, Bubing was accustomed to encountering corpses, but this was a sight that surpassed all his previous experiences.
Thousands of innocent children and guards lay lifeless, their entrails and carcasses strewn across the compound. The stench of gore was overpowering, and the mere thought of it made him want to retch. Bubing, however, held his composure, not wanting to show any weakness.
He was, after all, a Practitioner under the banner of the Immortal Body Sect, and even though he held a common rank, he had a duty to fulfill.
As they traced the trail of the culprits, Bubing and his companions tracked them to a forest of dead trees. The hunt was on, and they were determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. After a few hours of pursuit, they stumbled upon the first corpses.
Children who had succumbed to the cold were buried under layers of snow, lifeless for days. The sight was haunting, and Bubing couldn't help but wonder how many more innocent lives would be lost if they didn't act quickly.
Their team, consisting of around fifty warriors, split into two groups, with forty of them in pursuit of the culprits while the remaining ten attended to the grim task of handling the corpses.
The Immortal Body Sect had a peculiar interest in corpses, especially those of pure children and virgins, as they believed that such bodies held the potential to create the ultimate body free from defects.
Bubing was aware of this gruesome reality, but he knew better than to question the ways of his Sect. He was grateful for his place in this ruthless world, even if it was a modest one.
Despite the harsh winter conditions, Bubing and his companions relentlessly chased the trail, wondering who could have withstood such brutal weather and traveled so far. They assumed it couldn't have been a child, but they were wrong.
As they approached, they found a young boy, barely five or six years old, standing amidst the snow-covered trees. The sight left them in shock.
Bubing couldn't help but marvel at the boy's resilience, having survived for days on foot in such inhospitable terrain. However, their squad leader had no time for such contemplation, eyeing the young boy with a greedy expression. He knew that such a fine specimen would be highly useful for their Sect.
"Take him. We're leaving!" he ordered.
But before they could even make a move, an intense surge of white light enveloped the area, coalescing into an entity standing before the boy.
Bubing and his companions were stunned, unsure of where this being had come from and how it had such incredible power.
How could a mere footsoldier comprehend the answers to such mind-boggling questions? Bubing pondered this as he followed his squad through the dense forest.
The trees grew taller and thicker, blocking out the sunlight and creating an eerie atmosphere. The clearing that they had reached was wider than the others they had passed, but Bubing's heart felt constricted, as though he had walked into a trap.
Then, he saw him. The person standing in front of the unmoving boy was divine. Their long white hair flowed like a river, their robe danced like an unbridled bird, and their gaze was settled, exuding an otherworldly calmness.
In their hand was a simple sword that glowed pure white, like freshly fallen snow. This person was the embodiment of everything Bubing had imagined a deity to be.
"This child is now under my custody," the ghost-like entity spoke.
"Leave."
Bubing felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that retreating was the most rational course of action, given the mysterious nature of this strange man. His squad leader, however, was not so wise.
"We are from the Immortal Body Sect. That boy is ours. Deny us our right, and you court war with our Sect."
Bubing swallowed his objections, knowing that even a powerful Practitioner would back down when they heard the name of their Sect. But the Practitioner in front of them did not seem to care. "You would do well to retreat. If you do so now, no harm shall come to you."
Unfortunately, their leader was not one to back down.
"Then… you will die for your impudence. All of you, attack at once!"
Bubing watched in horror as his comrades charged towards the divine figure, drawing closer and closer. His squad leader seemed oblivious to the danger they were facing, screaming with confidence despite not knowing their opponent's strength.
Bubing knew better. He valued his life, and he was not willing to die for the sake of his Sect's honor. As his comrades attacked, he took a step back, watching from a safe distance.
The divine figure merely smiled. "Very well…"
The footsoldiers of the Immortal Body Sect were no match for the mysterious white-haired man. As they closed in, their bodies honed to perfection, their confidence high, Bubing couldn't help but feel a gnawing sense of fear in his gut.
He couldn't shake off the memory of the strange burst of power that had radiated from the man earlier. And the glowing sword in his hand added to the aura of danger that surrounded him.
Despite the odds, the squad leader barked out orders to attack. But in one swift move, the man in white swung his blade and knocked them all out cold. Bubing fell into darkness, without any pain or fear, unable to comprehend the power that had rendered him unconscious.
When he came to, the white-haired man was still there, his attention fixed on the boy lying beside him. With a soft smile on his face, he picked up the unconscious child and spoke somberly to himself.
"So many children dead. It seems I was too late..."
Bubing watched in awe as the man carried the boy away, past the clearing and toward his goal. The man's ethereal voice echoed in the lonely vicinity, and Bubing couldn't help but wonder what sort of person this divine being was.
"You should wake up in a couple of hours. As Practitioners of the Immortal Body Sect, surely you should all survive winter's icy embrace during that time." This seemingly ethereal being spoke softly.
He unsheathed his blade and looked at the boy beneath him. The kid too was unconscious, and utterly oblivious to everything around him.
"I see now…" His voice echoed in the lonely vicinity.
"So many children dead. It seems I was too late…" The voice somberly stated.
With his gaze firmly fixed on the boy beneath him, the man in white smiled softly and focused on the rough face of the only survivor.
"You want to live, huh?"
He bent to pick Liu up, and then went his way—past the clearing and toward his goal.
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[A/N]
If you're all wondering why I chose the Bubing route, well… I thought it would be fun seeing everything through the lens of some average soldier.
And I enjoyed writing it.
If you have any problem with that, then… the comments are there.
Cheers!
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