The Darkness
Chapter 1: Into the Heart
It hit him like a cannonball. Stepping back, he held his chest in pain. The winds blew like a storm was brewing. He looked up, breathing as if it was his last breaths. The arrow plunged deeply in his chest but he refused to collapse in pain. Instead, he picked his sword up from the ground, charging at the enemy. However, he caught sight of something that made him hesitate to attack. In the corner of his eye, a young female child, crying for her father. Zhao Kui halted, then faced the child. The soldier mimiced him and came to a halt.
A wave of men came for Zhao Kui, waving their pitchforks and spears in the air. "Attack!" the calvary bellowed. "Kill him and quarter him!" Zhao Kui shivered as he drew nearer to her. She looked at him. Zhao Kui, after glancing again at the girl, realised she was not a little girl but a fully grown woman. She was wearing a dress that looked antique. Additionally, her tears were but sparkles in her eyes.
"What makes you stop so quickly?" the calvary shouted, whipping his spear beside his armored horse.
"This man," a soldier replied, pointing a gloved finger over at Zhao Kui, who was now limping in extreme pain up to the girl. "I see a glint of potential in him."
"We was ordered to not leave one man standing," the calvary growled. "Kill him!"
"No... he'll die alone," a soldier laughed, walking away.
"Who might you be?" she asked, her eyes staring like an eagle.
"Ugh... Zh... Zhao K-Kui..." he stammered, standing up far from rigid. "And... wh-what... ab-about... a fine... w-w-woman... like your-yours-self?"
"The name's Mi Zhi Nei," she replied. "Now this isn't the time to chat - come inside before matters get worse.
Mi Zhi Nei escorted him inside. "Sit down. Over here."
"Whew... nice... place..."
"My father Cheng Yun gave it to me when he passed away."
"Cheng Yun?"
Zhi Nei looked at him confused. "You know him?"
"Of... course..." Zhao Kui coughed. "The... village... elder...?"
Zhi Nei nodded. She sat down beside him and picked up a bandage from the oak table. Wrapping it around his leg, she began to speak about her father, the village elder and masterful strategist Cheng Yun. "Would you like to know a story about my father?"
"O...K..."