Chapter 29: Shadows in the Trees
Zhen Xu sat cross-legged on a bamboo mat, dressed in washed clothes, inside the house of a local widow. After greeting the villagers in an ancient dialect — one he had learned from three-hundred-year-old tablets left by Elder Ge — and gesturing that he was hungry while offering silver from his belt pouch, the locals understood him well enough. And so, for the past week, he had been living in a Do Li Si village.
Thanks to the Jing nourishing his brain, Zhen had quickly picked up the modern dialect within days, pointing at objects and asking Widow Shu to name them. Soon he was speaking with the locals and learning about the world around him.
In three hundred years, little had changed. The Do Li Si were still part of the Do tribal alliance, which had gradually transformed into an almost centralized state ruled by an elected prince who now resided far to the south. This village lay on the very northern edge of the alliance's lands. Beyond stretched an impenetrable forest — the same forest Zhen had emerged from, to the villagers' surprise and initial fear. Reptiles roamed those woods, along with a few savage tribes who lived unclothed, adorning their bodies with patterned scars.
As Zhen grew more familiar with the situation, he even helped the villagers cure several ailments, quickly earning their respect. Widow Shu, a pleasant woman of about thirty, offered to have him stay and marry her — or at least, according to ancient custom, father her a child. Flustered, Zhen politely declined, explaining that in his homeland, one does not father children casually, and that he would soon continue his travels.
A trader named Hu Er, who occasionally visited the village to buy rare reptile eggs, quickly caught wind of the foreign healer with money to spare. Sensing an opportunity, he invited Zhen to travel with him to the capital. Zhen agreed, and two days later, they were rattling along a bumpy road in Hu's creaky covered cart, discussing local customs and politics.
"I'm telling you, young man, this new Prince of Do is something else," Hu said with infectious enthusiasm. "Mark my words, soon our alliance will rival the Hou Kingdom. In just a few years he's changed so much that people can hardly believe it. Not without some bloodshed, of course…"
"Bloodshed? What do you mean?"
"Well, some of the old stubborn elders weren't too thrilled about a young, ambitious prince. A few had to be... relieved of their duties."
"What exactly has he changed?"
"Oh, plenty! He studied in Hou as a young man, you see. Brought back experts — lawyers, doctors, builders. Set up a unified tax system, banned tribal tolls on merchants, appointed judges… By the way, you wouldn't happen to be from Hou yourself, would you?" Hu suddenly switched to the northern Hou dialect.
Zhen, sensing nothing dangerous from the man's Qi or his words, answered in the same dialect:
"Yes, I am — from one of Hou's minor tribes."
"Ha! I thought so! But what brings you here? Quite a ways from home. Unless you came with the prince himself?"
"I didn't. I'm just a traveler, studying medicinal plants."
"Interesting... not from the Academy, by any chance—"
"Stop!" shouted the driver, yanking hard on the reins. The horses neighed and stamped, coming to a halt in the muddy road.
"What is it?" Hu called out, leaning out from under the cart's canopy.
"Tree fallen up ahead," answered one of the four armed escorts riding alongside.
"There wasn't any wind, though…"
"It's an ambush," Zhen interjected calmly. He had sensed men lurking in the woods long before they reached this spot.
Hu turned pale, staring at him.
"Shit," he muttered, quickly opening a small oil-scented barrel and pulling out a chainmail shirt. "Here, Mister Zhen, take this — it might save your life."
Zhen was touched by the gesture. He smiled and said:
"You're very kind, Mister Hu, but don't worry. I'm trained in martial arts. I fear neither arrows nor spears."
Hu had lost track of how many surprises this young man had given him already. A healer, a traveler, a master of martial arts — who was he really?
"As you wish, Mister Zhen." Hu put the chainmail back into the oil, strapped on his own helmet, and stepped out of the cart. He wore a similar chainmail shirt under his robe at all times while traveling these routes, and a saber hung from his belt.
Taking position behind the horses, shielded by the riders, Hu called out to the woods:
"Gentlemen of the road! We are willing to pay for safe passage! Please, let's not resort to bloodshed — we can work something out!"
The bushes rustled, and three men emerged from the trees. They wore makeshift camouflage of leaves and branches, their faces smeared with mud, bows drawn.
"What are you carrying?" one of them rasped.
"Lizard eggs. Name your price."
"One pound of silver."
"Very well, we'll pay." Hu winced but turned back to the cart. He grabbed a sack filled with ordinary stones and whispered to Zhen:
"We'll fight, Mister Zhen. I still suggest you put the chainmail on."
"I don't mind stretching my muscles a little. There aren't that many of them."
"How do you know?"
"I told you — I practice martial arts. My instincts never fail me. There are ten of them in total, five on each side of the road. I'll handle the five on my side. You needn't worry — they're already as good as dead."
"Hm... My thanks in advance." Hu handed the sack to one of the mounted guards and whispered brief instructions to each of them. Two riders galloped toward the bandits. The ambushers drew their bows as the first rider tossed the sack at their feet and wheeled his horse around. The second, following close behind, drew a throwing spear and hurled it mid-gallop. It struck one of the bowmen square in the chest, skewering him. The three fired simultaneously; one arrow struck the horse's flank, the other glanced off the rider's shield. But the wounded steed surged forward, driven by training and adrenaline. The rider drew his sword in a flash of steel, cleaving downward. The blade split a second bandit's skull with brutal finality. The remaining one stumbled back, only to be cut down as the second rider wheeled his horse and charged straight into him, sword swinging wide. Meanwhile, on the opposite flank, two more guards urged their mounts into the dense forest. The moment the battle broke out, arrows came hissing from the undergrowth, feathered shafts slicing through the heavy, damp air like angry wasps.
In one smooth motion, Zhen vaulted from the cart and drew his sword, its blade flashing like liquid silver under the dappled sunlight. But instead of seeking cover, he sprinted directly toward the trees, an easy target for any bowman watching — exactly as he intended.
Arrows screamed toward him. With precise, almost playful flicks of his wrist, Zhen deflected them. The blades of his sword hummed softly as they intercepted the shafts, sending them spinning harmlessly into the ferns — though, truthfully, they posed no real threat to him. He did it more for sport than out of necessity.
A sling stone came whistling from the trees, striking his shoulder with the force of a bullet — but it only tore his robe before bouncing harmlessly away.
He could feel them — five distinct pulses of life radiating from the trees. From his dantian, invisible tendrils of Qi spread out, sensing every breath, every heartbeat. The world around him seemed to slow as he slipped into full combat focus. In a few swift leaps, Zhen closed the distance, striking down the hidden assailants one by one, slicing through tendons with surgical precision. Within seconds, all five ambushers on his side lay disabled.
On the opposite flank, the mercenaries killed three attackers while two managed to flee. They didn't give chase into the deep woods. One horse was mortally wounded and had to be put down. The driver, who had hidden beneath the cart alongside Hu when the fighting broke out, finally crawled back out.
When the dust settled, Hu emerged and bowed deeply to Zhen.
"Master Zhen, we are truly blessed you chose to travel with us! You must be Heaven's own envoy! Please, take this silver as a token of our gratitude!" he said, offering a hefty pouch.
"Thank you, Mister Hu, but I have no need for it. Helping defend against bandits — is that not simply following Heaven's Way, as every decent man should?"
"Oh, Master Zhen, you are so noble — and so wise for one so young! It's hard to believe people like you exist!"
"Haha, think nothing of it. As payment, all I ask is that you take me to the capital and introduce me to your patrons. Deal?"
"Of course, Master Zhen! I would be honored to introduce you to my associates!"
"Now then, let's clear this tree and bury the dead. Bind the survivors. Once we reach the next town, we'll hand them over to the authorities."
Hu let out a low sigh, glancing at him."Oh, Master Zhen... you have far too kind a heart. But as you wish."