Chương 40: A Place to Hide
The tunnels carved into the rock were ancient and dark, matching the feeling of the family that walked in silence, somberly. With a small torch in hand Wei Fang guided the path by heart, in fact, that was not the first time he was doing it. He had inspected this route a few days earlier preparing for a plan B.
The path was not easy to traverse, the narrow tunnel intertwined with others from time to time. Sometimes they had to bend down or crawl to avoid the rocks in the way. It didn't take long before Wei Tian found the last person of the group, but even with his enhanced senses, he had to keep a closer look to not get lost.
In those tunnels, dimly lit by the torches ahead, Wei Tian soon found himself lost in his own thoughts. [How could the government react so fast? Have they been watching us? Can my uncle survive that?] The questions were disturbing, yet they mirrored the concerns shared by every member of the Wei family. During one of many underground turns, even in this dire situation, Wei Tian tried to grasp a glimmer of hope. [At least this place could help throw off our pursuers.]
Time was an elusive concept within those endless corridors, for a moment, it felt like it flew fast, with its passage marked only by the shadows cast by the flickering torchlight. On the other hand, every step seemed like an eternity, just like the boundless amount of rocks around him. A sentiment Wei Tian knew was even worse for the children who navigated the dim tunnels in front of him.
After an unknown amount of time, finally, a glimmer of light pierced through the oppressive darkness.
"Finally!" Wei Tian murmured to himself, sick of that dark place.
Moments later, the young man emerged from the dark tunnels and found himself in a small clearing surrounded by the forest, near the rock structure that marked their exit.The rest of the family had gathered in different smaller groups, their conversations filled with uncertainty.
"Should we stay here now?" questioned a concerned woman in one group.
"W-what should I do, my husband is dead!" cried another, in grief.
Wei Tian navigated through the groups but paid no heed to the distraught discussions around him. He knew the family would need him even more now, he was determined to help them. Because of that, he made his way towards the small group where his grandfather, Wei Fang, was located.
"Oh, you are finally here!" Wei Fang spotted his grandson and nodded. "Let's not waste time, or else our people will have died in vain."
"We should move between the woods; it will be easier to hide," suggested one of the men.
"Let me go ahead; my senses are better," stated Wei Tian matter-of-factly. Despite not being the most experienced warrior in the family, his cultivation base was the highest and so were his enhanced senses, making him the most adept at detecting potential threats.
"Where should we go?" Wei Tian asked quietly to his grandfather, he had no idea about the man's plans, but he was sure he had one.
Wei Tian furrowed his brows in concern. "Not sure, the family records mentioned a small hiding spot nestled between those mountains, a fortress thousands of years old, only known by our family. Unfortunately, I'm not entirely sure of its exact location…" Wei Fang's voice dropped to a murmur, ensuring the family remained oblivious to the fact that they were currently lost. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on the old man's shoulders.
"We should stay near the foot of the nearby mountains in that case…" said Wei Tian.
"Hm," Wei Fang nodded, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges that lay ahead. "Let's move, everyone. Time is not on our side." His words carried a sense of urgency as he led the family deeper into the forest.
The dense foliage created a natural canopy above them, filtering the fading sunlight. Shadows danced on the forest floor, and the air became cooler as they ventured further into the heart of the wilderness. The family followed Wei Fang in a determined procession, each step echoing the gravity of their situation.
Wei Tian was the one in the forefront, kept a vigilant watch on their surroundings, his senses attuned to the slightest rustle or movement. The terrain grew rougher, and the distant peaks of the mountains remained elusive. The hidden spot in the mountains, a potential sanctuary, continued to be an enigma.
Suddenly, Wei Tian stopped. He heard a faint rustling sound emanating from the nearby trees. Out of the corner of his eye, Wei Tian saw shadows moving towards them.
"Earth Wall, now!" he shouted for his family.
Acting swiftly, Wei Tian stomped his right foot heavily on the ground. The ground trembled as Qi surged through it, and following the ancient technique he had practiced, an Earth Wall emerged rapidly in front of him, providing a sturdy barrier for the approaching threat.
As the Earth Wall settled into place, the sounds of footsteps became more distinct. Emerging from the shadows of the trees, a figure clad in military attire revealed itself. It wasn't a mythical creature but a soldier, camouflaged to blend with the surrounding foliage.
Unfortunately, some family members were not so fast to activate their Earth Walls.
*TAP* *TAP* *TAP*
The forest echoed with sudden gunfire as the soldiers, without warning, unleashed a barrage of shots towards the Wei family. The crackling sound of bullets tearing through the air intensified the chaos, and the Earth Wall, though formidable, would not last forever.
Shots echoed throughout the forest. Wei Tian, protected by a thick earth wall, felt rage took over his heart as he witnessed the ruthless assault on his family. The bullets did not distinguish between man and woman, adult or children.
"Maintain this wall, I'm going to kill them!" The words that escaped his lips looked more like a growl as he warned his grandfather next to him.
Without waiting for an answer, Wei Tian used every single Qi in his body to hit the ground, catapulting him forward like an arrow released from its bow. Instead of charging directly at the nearest enemy, he strategically employed the trees as cover, melding with the shadows like a hunter stalking their prey.
*Hustle!*
A few small leaves rose from the ground as he ran forward at full speed. Behind a tree trunker, Wei Tian envisioned his enemy: a soldier in camouflage attire and a machine gun in hand.
Realizing that the man hadn't noticed him, Wei Tian advanced fast.
"Die!" he shouted, delivering a powerful punch with every ounce of strength he could muster.
*CRACK!*
The force of Wei Tian's punch connected with the man's head, shattering the helmet on impact. His fists continued forward, breaking the soldier's skull and resulting in instant death.
"That's for my uncle!" Wei Tian spat on the ground. This soldier probably had nothing to do with his uncle's death, but he didn't care.
In a flash, Wei Tian moved on, beginning a ruthless killing spree. His movements were a blur as he weaved through the chaotic scene, sparing no soldier on his path. The battle had started all of a sudden and ended just as quickly.
The battlefield fell silent as the last adversary crumpled to the ground. Wei Tian stood amidst fallen soldiers, his chest heaving with exertion. The harsh reality of the situation settled upon him as he surveyed the aftermath, a mixture of relief and sorrow etched across his face. Some members of his family had died once again.
**********
Inside a dense forest of the province of Hennan, China. A group of around twenty people were hiding. The group was composed not just of battle-hardened men, but also non combatant women and children. Once adorned in vibrant red robes, their clothing now lay in tatters, and several bore the weight of severe injuries.
Under the cover of night, a small fire flickered, providing little to no warmth to the huddled group. It was a delicate balance—sufficient to stave off the biting cold, yet discreet enough to avoid drawing unwanted attention. The feeble flames, however, did little to deter the persistent mosquitoes..
"Shit, I never thought they would be so prepared!" Wei Fang grumbled. He was close to the fire, warming his old bones that ached from the cold and dampness of the place.Concurrently, he tended to his left arm, recently wounded by a gunshot. "We lost almost half of our family…" The old man couldn't help but to blame himself for his ineptitude.
Before, the family's mood was somber, but now it had descended into desperation. Continuous ambushes plagued them from the moment they set foot in the forest. With every step, they lost family members, and there was no time to offer proper burials.
"Did they know about our plans beforehand?" questioned a man, his disbelief hanging heavily in the air. No one answered.
Desperation clouded the minds of many, and hope seemed like a distant memory. Fortunately, heavy artillery had not yet been unleashed by the government. It seemed that the government opted for the old-fashioned approach—pretend nothing happened and use minimal force to avoid drawing excessive attention
"It appears the government never truly forgot about our family; they were merely pretending," Wei Fang mused aloud. "I wonder how they manage to locate us every single time..."
Suddenly, just as he said that, an idea popped into his head.
"Wait, does anyone here have an electronic device!?" He asked.
"I - I do!" stammered Wei Xuafeng, showing a phone in his hand.
The old man quickly walked over and snatched the cell phone out of his hand. Without saying a thing, Wei Fang used all his strength and threw the phone far away.
The people around soon understood Wei Fang's actions; the realization spread through their minds like wildfire. The phone, likely a tracking device, had potentially led the government forces straight to them. Though unspoken, accusing glances were cast in Wei Xuafeng's direction. The air grew thick with tension, but no one dared to voice their suspicions. The blame hung in the air, unspoken yet palpable. Wei Xuafeng, feeling the weight of their collective gaze, avoided eye contact with his family members, haunted by the unspoken accusation.
"Perhaps we could seek refuge in that mysterious forest on the African Continent. I heard it has become an international sanctuary. Once there, we might find a way to conceal ourselves," suggested one of the women.
"That's too far, and there's no way we could get inside a plane," Wei Fang denied the suggestion.
At that moment where they were all dispirited, a young man arrived.
"Grandfather! I found a place to hide!" It was Wei Tian,his eyes reflecting a spark of optimism in the midst of their dire circumstances. The weary faces of the family members turned towards him, eager to grasp onto any hope.
*********
The family found themselves inside a vast cave moments later. Beautiful stalactites gleamed blue, hanging from the roof, appearing to reflect the moon and stars' light from a place that in truth, had no openings for that. What caught their attention the most was a stunning blue lake, right in the middle of that big cave.
The lake's crystalline water sparkled with an ethereal glow, as if holding the essence of the night sky within its depths. Each gentle ripple on the water's surface seemed to carry a shimmering reflection of the celestial bodies above, creating a mesmerizing scene that captivated the weary hearts of the Wei family.
"... and that's how I found this place, all because of that lake!" Wei Tian explained enthusiastically, looking deeply to his sister next to him, fortunate enough for her to be alive until now.
The cave was well-hidden near the foot of a mountain. To enter, some stones had to be moved, and it was Wei Tian's strength that made it possible for them to reach this concealed sanctuary.
The family stood with their mouths hanging open, mesmerized by that lake, not only by its stunning appearance but also by the fact that it emitted a powerful Qi. It was this unique energy signature that had led Wei Tian to discover the hidden cave; he keenly sensed the variance in Qi density and followed it to this extraordinary sanctuary.
"AAAAH!" The sudden scream of a small girl jolted everyone's attention, and all eyes turned towards a massive spider lying on its back beside a small girl. The atmosphere grew even more tense as everyone prepared for a potential attack.
However, to their surprise, the creature remained motionless.
Wei Tian nonchalantly scratched his head and broke the suspense, "Oh, my bad. I forgot to tell you guys about it... I've already killed that thing."
A collective sigh of relief swept through the group, followed by admiration for Wei Tian's strength.
"Oh, big brother is really strong!" exclaimed the small girl, her fear turning into awe.
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