"You should always be on guard, General." Hei Long sneered as he charged towards Hua Ren.
Hua Ren quickly got to his feet, blocking Hei Long's attack with his swords but there was one thing about Hei Long that made him difficult to beat.
He used his weight, pressing against Hua Ren's slender form. "I will make you suffer before I kill you!" Hei Long spat, glaring at him. "I will first take the eye you took from me, dig out your heart then trample all over your corpse with my horse!"
Capitalizing on his nimble body and speed, Hua Ren maneuvered skillfully, evading Hei Long's attempts to press him with sheer weight.
He kicked Hei Long, making a high jump into the air then unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks with his swords, using one of his famed techniques, the Celestial Sword Storm.
It was a high class technique which released 50 slashes in seconds.
His movements, a dance of precision and speed. Each strike was calculated, aiming for Hei Long's vulnerabilities. His swords sliced through the air with a seamless fluidity, creating a whirlwind of steel that sought to dismantle Hei Long's defenses.
Hei Long tried as much as he could to block each attack but it was impossible. He still got cut and by the time Hua Ren was done, Hei Long was a bloody mess.
"Stand down, Hei Long." Hua Ren said. "And you may yet keep your life."
Hei Long began to panic. "What are you fuckers doing?!!" He bellowed at his soldiers. "Surround him! Kill him!"
As the soldiers did as he commanded, he retreated to side knowing he was no match for Hua Ren. He wouldn't have lost an eye to him long ago if he were and now, he was badly injured so he resorted to using numbers. Sticking his sword into the sand, he rested against it, breathing heavily for he was losing a lot of blood. He should have known going against Hua Ren was going to be a death match. He wasn't termed a Warlord for nothing. He wondered how such explosive strength could be in a petite body such as his.
The Gods truly blessed him.
At the same time, hidden within the tall trees surrounding the village, three masked people watched the battle below.
"Should we help him?" The one in blue, a male, asked, pointing at the Ivory Warlord who was surrounded by dozens of soldiers. He was lazily crouched on a sturdy tree branch.
"Are you crazy?" The one in green, a female, asked, smacking the one in blue on the head. "Don't you know who he is? Do you want to get us killed?"
He nearly fell but quickly steadied himself, glaring at his assailant. "Hey what was that for?!"
"Your stupid question." The female in green snarked.
"Be quiet you guys. Master said to save the villagers not get into a fight. Besides, he doesn't need our help." The last one in purple, a female said. "Look." She gestured at the battlefield.
Planting a foot firmly, Hua Ren executed a swift twirl, fatally incapacitating the soldiers encircling him. His white robes turned crimson, tainted by the blood of his fellow soldiers and his own. He had sustained a few injuries but none were fatal. He was reluctant to take the lives of his fellow soldiers but he found no choice as none yielded.
After subduing the attackers, he surveyed the village, relieved to find most villagers had fled, leaving fallen bodies mainly belonging to soldiers. Suddenly, his blood ran cold as his gaze locked onto Hei Long, whose sinister grin widened as he seized Captain Liara Fang, Hua Ren's childhood friend by the neck.
A surge of dread swept through him. Determined to act, Hua Ren moved to attack, but Hei Long held a sword to Liara's neck effectively halting any immediate retaliation. The tension in the air thickened as they stared at each other. The last three living people on the battlefield field that was once a home to others.
"Do not do this, Hei Long." Hua Ren warned, tightening his hold on his swords as be thought of a way to save his best friend.
"Then throw away your weapons!" Hei Long shouted. "If you care for her worthless life, throw them far away! Throw any other weapon you have on you as well and kneel!"
"D-Don't." Liara choked, her eyes brimming with tears as she stared determinedly at Hua Ren. "Don't."
But Hua Ren knew he had to or Hei Long would truly kill her. He was merciless and everyone knew it. He gritted his teeth. Having no other choice, Hua Ren threw his weapons a few feet away, along with a dagger and some darts. Then slowly, he went on his knees, glaring at Hei Long.
"You!" Hei Long called, pointing at a soldier with his sword. "Tie him up!"
The soldier did as he was told, tying Hua Ren's hands behind his back.
"I've done what you want. Now let her go." Hua Ren said, tugging on the ropes his hands were bound by but they were too tight.
Hei Long scoffed. "And lose my ticket to your demise? I think not." He tightened his hold her neck, thinning her passageway for air.
"Hei Long!" Hua Ren shouted, brimming with rage.
Hei Long burst out laughing. His loud maniacal laughter echoed throughout the village, sending chills down the spines of the people that were still alive. Most of them were villagers that had hidden themselves and a few soldiers that had survived.
The sky gradually darkened as rumbles of thunder were heard.
"I've yearned for this day. For this moment," Hei Long growled with satisfaction, relishing the sight of the Ivory Warlord on his knees. "I've despised you ever since that day you took my eye, Hua Ren."
Hua Ren, though seething with anger, maintained a stoic silence. His mind raced with worry for Liara, contemplating how to free himself and rescue her from Hei Long's clutches.
"Today," Hei Long continued. "Is the day you meet your end and I will make sure to stain your hard earned name before the Emperor and the entire Kingdom! You will no longer be known as the First General or the Ivory Warlord. You will be known as the fucking traitor whom I beheaded, saving the Celestial Kingdom from your wretched evil plans!"
Hearing this, Liara suddenly reared back and kicked Hei Long hard between the legs.
Hei Long howled from the pain and released her, making her fall to the ground. She held her neck, sucking air into her lungs.