Chương 15: The Ghost

Legends would be told for generations about the fateful night that befell the house of Nuli Fanzi. Hushed voices would whisper about the shocking insurrection that was sparked by a group of enslaved children - a rebellion that unleashed a wave of bloodshed and destruction on both sides.

In the years that followed, the tale of that harrowing night would be etched into the memories of all who heard it.

A tale of tragic violence.

Nothing more… nothing less.

The main gates were far too conspicuous, so Liu had already made up his mind to take the back exit. It led to the woods, where they could flee with a lesser chance of being caught. It would also buy them more time to escape before any reinforcements arrived.

"The sects all around this region are allies of this establishment. We'd be dead meat if we go through the main route. In the end, this is the only way," Liu had explained to the surviving children who belonged to his dome. They had gathered the other kids, and they were now marching towards Liu's location, their innocent eyes filled with hope and trust.

It didn't take long for them to be reunited, and Liu counted only a little over an hour since the plan began. "Well done. I have the keys to secure our escape. We're going to the woods, and then we'll cut across to the mountains!" Liu declared with confidence.

The children were mere innocents, lacking any knowledge of the arts of escape or battle. The oldest among them was only ten, hardly old enough for proper education. They were all commoners, raised in some remote village, and had never seen the world beyond their tiny corner of it.

But Liu had a plan, and they trusted him implicitly. Even though he was just a six-year-old boy, his bravery and resourcefulness had earned their respect. Standing atop the corpse of their oppressor, he was their only hope for freedom.

"Beyond the mountains, we should be able to find rural settlements that would accommodate us," Liu explained. He had listened to conversations and knew that small settlements were not a rarity in this world. "If I can find a place like Weiji, I'm sure we'd be able to find refuge there - at least temporarily."

But for now, they had to escape. Liu led them to Nuli Fanzi's office and easily navigated his way to the lock which the key in his grasp fit perfectly. The small gate opened, and freedom beckoned beyond the imposing compound walls of their captivity.

The children - only about a few hundred - marveled at the sight of the forest of dead trees before them. It was a vast spread of dry, twisted trees, but they formed the perfect canopy to mask their escape. They followed Liu into the woods, their hearts pounding with excitement and fear, but with Liu at their helm, they knew they could face whatever lay ahead.

Even if they had pursuers, the grown men would have a harder time passing through such a tight knit of trees.

"Let's go," Liu told them, his breath leaking mist with every syllable.

The kids nodded and followed his lead. Their little legs trampled the cold, hard ground, and their racing hearts caused them to ignore the destruction left in their wake.

They forgot about the thousands of children who died so they could escape. They forgot about the despair they were leaving, and the uncertainty that awaited them.

They only looked to the one who led them—Liu!

[A Few Days Later]

Liu staggered through the snow-covered forest, each step heavy and labored. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his eyes were barely focused on the path ahead of him. Regret swirled within his heart with every breath of icy air.

"I...I made a mistake," he muttered, the words barely audible.

As he trudged through the thick snow, Liu reminded himself that it wasn't entirely his fault. How could he have known that winter would come so harshly, with snow falling from the heavens like heavy rain?

He looked back and saw that he was alone. All the children who had accompanied him on this journey had perished, one after the other, succumbing to hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and, most likely, the brutal cold. They were just kids, after all. What did he expect?

Some had tried to hang on, pleading with Liu to help them, to save them. But what could he do? He was barely surviving himself. The only difference was that he had the will to endure, to push forward through the snow, while the children didn't.

"In the end, I couldn't help them," he murmured, his voice heavy with regret.

He knew that he had been ready to sacrifice their lives for his own survival. But now, he was dying too. Liu collapsed on the snowy ground, his body barely able to move. Frostbite covered most of him, and it was a miracle he was still alive.

"I've reached my limits," he whispered, his breath barely a whisper.

Liu looked up at the barren, dead trees surrounding him. He could see a clearing ahead, a little further, and he would be in the clear. But what then? More endless snow, more treacherous terrain?

He knew that he might die in this lonely forest, with nothing but snow and dead trees for company.

Liu's lips quivered as he struggled to form coherent words, his eyes widening with shock as he spotted a figure gliding through the snowy clearing. The person was both close and far away, their flowing white hair and pristine garment lending them an otherworldly air. Were they a ghost or a real person? Liu couldn't quite tell. Was this a trick of his mind, or was it real? He felt a shiver run down his spine as the figure drew closer.

"H-help...me," Liu whispered, his voice barely audible. What if this stranger was an enemy? What if they belonged to one of the sects he had been avoiding for so long? But then again, what did any of that matter if he was dead? Survival was all that mattered in the end.

As if in response to his plea, the person in white paused and turned around, their gaze locking onto Liu's. Even from a distance, Liu could feel their eyes piercing into his soul, their intentions inscrutable.

"Y-yes. Please..." Liu began, but before he could finish, the sound of multiple footsteps shattered the silence, and a group of men descended upon him.

"Over here!"

"I found one. It seems he's still alive!"

"A kid? He's one of the runaway slaves?"

"How did he make it this far? Talk about tough!"

"We'll use the corpses of the other kids for the ritual, but this one... he'll definitely be useful to the Sect."

As the Practitioners closed in around him, Liu's heart raced with fear. He had spent so long evading the Sects, only to be caught now. He couldn't bear the thought of being taken away, of being trapped in a world of darkness and despair.

"N-no...I don't want that...please..." he whispered, his gaze flickering towards the ghostly figure that stood nearby.

The figure seemed to draw closer with each passing moment, their flowing white hair and elegant white robe billowing in the wind. Liu was captivated by their grace and beauty, even as his life hung in the balance.

"You can...see me?" a voice echoed in his mind, as if reading his thoughts.

Liu was dumbfounded. Was he imagining things? But then again, with everything that had happened to him lately, anything was possible.

"Y-yes. Please...save me," Liu managed to choke out, his strength waning with each passing moment.

"You...want me to save you? Is that correct?" the voice asked, its tone both gentle and mysterious.

Liu struggled to find the words to respond. He couldn't deny the truth of his situation. He had fled from the Sects, leaving behind countless children to suffer in his place. Did he deserve to be saved?

Was it even possible?

"Why?" the voice pressed, its insistence driving Liu to the brink of desperation.

Hearing the question in his mind, Liu could not think of any proper response to give.

Did he even deserve to live? Hadn't he just sacrificed the lives of thousands of kids just so he could selfishly escape? Sure, they were most likely going to die in whatever Sect they were sent to, but that didn't change what he did.

Liu knew the repercussions of his actions quite well. insistence driving Liu to the brink of desperation.

Even then, when all seemed lost, he refused to give up. With a fierce determination burning within, he clenched his fists and let out a resolute cry.

"I...I must survive!"

Those words echoed in his mind, as if a divine force had answered his call. Suddenly, a warm energy enveloped him, lifting his spirits and granting him clarity.

Though his body was still paralyzed, he lifted his gaze towards the apparition before him. What he saw was a beauty beyond his wildest dreams - a vision of perfection that took his breath away.

In that moment, he knew that he was not alone. With a gentle smile and a tender voice, the apparition spoke to him, promising to save him from his plight.

"Very well," the voice said, echoing through his being. "I will save you."

As the apparition's clear, azure eyes bore into him, Liu felt a strange calm wash over him. It didn't matter that he was surrounded by dangerous men, who were eager to harvest him for their own purposes. It didn't matter that he was a broken and worthless person, responsible for the deaths of so many. The mere presence of this otherworldly being gave him a sense of peace he had never felt before.

As the ghost unsheathed their blade, Liu heard a haunting melody that seemed at once familiar and utterly foreign to his ears. The sound of metal against leather rang out in the eerie silence, sending shivers down his spine.

And then, as the apparition raised their sword, a voice as soft as a whisper filled Liu's mind.

"Swordcraft..."

[A/N]

You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment.

No spoilers, but we're finally making some good progress with the story. I really want to speed up, but I can't help my need for writing the way I do.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please remember to support this book.

Cheers.

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