Chapter 70: Night of Fire I

    ~~~

    It has been one week since Xiao Fang left, and the city has seamlessly settled into a new routine.

    Night has fallen, and most have already gone to sleep.

    Over at the Xiao Sect, Su An is about to retire to her chambers. Her body is sore from the days training, but she walks with a satisfied smile on her face. Further up north, Xiao Zheng looks at a map of the Empire in his office, his mind busy at work. South of the main gates, Xiao Nan is sneaking back into the Xiao Sects compound, carrying a large bag full of all types of sweets.

    In the Yun Sects compound, Yun Peng is wide awake, brooding and plotting, his mighty temper kept in check only by sheer will. His son, Yun Han, is locked in a cell beneath the main house and has been there for months, a punishment for his failure.

    Further away, in the outer districts, Liu Jin and his father are engaged in a spirited discussion over the uses of Lonefire Blossoms and their unusual reaction when powdered and mixed with Thundering Leaf extract. Had anyone else been in the room listening, they would have surely been bored to sleep, but the two have long since lost track of time in their excitement.

    There are, of course, many other people in the city. There is Hou Tao, who is doing closed-doors training over at Xiao Sect. He envies people like Su An and Big Nose Li and does not wish to be left behind. There is Wan Rong, who is pretending to be asleep while actually doing his best to hear the elders of his clan talk. It seems the Wan Clan is reconsidering its relationship with the Yun Sect. Then there is Gao Si, who has been home all day, preparing his house for the arrival of his children. That day is still far away, yet he and his wife cannot contain their joy.

    Eastern Port City is made of people like them and many others. Once the sun rises, the city will be bustling with activity as usual. The merchants will sell their wares. The Sects will compete and scheme. The children will play.

    That is what should happen.

    It takes a single attack to put an end to that future.

    That night, the skies of Eastern Port City are set ablaze.

    ~~~

    The tea in Liu Jins cup suddenly spills over. That is the first sign something is wrong.

    The second is nowhere near as subtle.

    An earthquake. At least, that is what Liu Jin thinks at first. The table starts trembling. The tea kettle falls to the floor, its contents spilling all over. The entire house shakes and creaks and vibrates, the wood groaning in protest, almost as if threatening to surrender. Dust is knocked from the ceiling. Even though the medicine cabinet is tightly secured, it cannot stop shaking. Glass breaks, and as it does, Liu Jin suddenly rises to his feet.

    If asked why he is moving, Liu Jin would not be able to answer. All he knows is that fear like none he has ever felt before suddenly seizes his heart. It takes less than a hundredth of a second for him to reach his fathers side. Perhaps not even a thousandth of a second. His Qi rises around him as Liu Jin pushes his father to the floor, covering his body with his.

    The explosion comes next.

    A fireball falls from the sky and crashes into their house. It breaks through the ceiling, turning everything it touches to ashes. Had it not fallen so close to the side and struck the center of the clinic instead, Liu Jin and his father may very well have died.

    Instead, Liu Jin hauls his father to his feet and rushes for the door, tearing it of its hinges on their way out.

    What awaits them outside is chaos and carnage.

    The sky is alight with flames as dozens and dozens of fireballs rain down on the city as if the stars were falling from heavens. The outer districts, the inner districts, the commercial area, the docks, and even the area outside the walls. None are spared. The lucky ones turn to ashes. The unlucky ones burn and burn, spreading the fire to the surrounding areas. The night, which mere seconds ago was full of peace and quiet, is now full of cries and screams of fear and agony.

    What is this?

    Is this really the street in which he has lived for most of his life? Is this the house in which he has grown up? Liu Jin looks at his neighbors fleeing their homes and staring at the sky in terror. He looks at the raging fire, at the ash and the smokea burning house near the end of the street crumbles.

    Xiao Zhengs Qi rises in the distance, forcing all in the city to look towards the Xiao Sect. It surges with so much rage, even the fire suddenly doesnt seem all that scary, and that force is soon unleashed on the skies of Easter Port City.

    The clouds part. The fire is blown away as if snuffed out by a massive wind. It suffocates and sputters out, dying without even a whimper. It is as if the fire which raged in the skies barely a second ago was nothing but a bad dream.

    Alas, it was no dream. The city still burns.

    Son! His father shouts, grabbing him by the shoulder, looking more serious than Liu Jin has ever seen him before. Focus! We need to act!

    Liu Jin can only stare at his father, not comprehending what he is saying.

    Act?

    Go into the house. There is a red wooden box inside the medicine cabinet. The supplies inside are unlikely to be broken. Hurry! These people need help!

    Help?

    His fathers words snap Liu Jin out of his shock, his eyes regaining their clarity. Of course! What had he been thinking? At a time like this, how could he stand by and do nothing?

    Liu Jins body vanishes, accelerated by Ground Contraction. In a single step, Liu Jin is in front of the medicine cabinet. He breaks it open and takes out the red box his father asked for.

    Where should we start, Father? Liu Jin asks as he reappears at his fathers side. His eyes are already going over those who have made it to the streets and cataloging their visible injuries.

    Youll go to the Xiao Sect right now.

    It is as if cold water has suddenly been poured down on Liu Jin.

    What? Liu Jin cries out as his father takes the red box out of his hands. Father, I can help here!

    Think, my son. Where can you help the most? If you stay here, you will be able to help the people around us. If you go to the Xiao Sect, youll be able to help the entire city. Go! Do not waste time!

    Go?

    Just what is going on?

    Should he still go to the Xiao Sect? Should he go back to his father? What happened to Patriarch Xiao Zhengs Qi? Why is it that Liu Jin can no longer feel it? Has Patriarch Xiao Zheng been defeated already? No, surely not. That is impossible.

    Everything that is happening is impossible!

    The screams begin anew.

    This time it is not the fire that causes them. A section of the walls has been torn down, and from that gap, a new threat pours into the city. Hundreds of riders gallop in, their bodies covered in armor, spears and blades raised high.

    Liu Jin knows that armor.

    He knows that armor!

    He can only watch in stunned shock as the riders keep pouring into the city like an endless wave because nothing about this makes any sense! He needs to move! He needs to do something! Already the riders are rapidly approaching his position, their horses moving with incredible speed, destroying everything in their wake. The people run in fear, tripping over themselves and shoving each other out of the way in a mad dash for safety.

    He needs to move.

    Liu Jin knows, yet somehow, his body seems unwilling to cooperate.

    Move!

    A rider sees him. He does not stop or slow down.

    Move!

    The spear is raised. Moonlight makes the blade gleam as the rider swings at Liu Jins neck.

    Move!

    The rider drops dead.

    Liu Jin looks on in shock. It was not him who killed the rider.

    Elder Brother?

    It is Xiao Nan yet not. That is the only way Liu Jin can describe the person who suddenly surged from his shadow.

    I said it at least once, didnt I? The wispy, translucent form of Xiao Nan asks him, as he looks back at Liu Jin with a grin. Youre much better protected than you think you are, Little Brother.

    Five more soldiers drop dead. Killed before Liu Jin can blink.

    Do you remember when we were walking to New Moon Town? I showed it to you, right? How to split a piece of your soul?

    Yes, Liu Jin remembers that. Xiao Nan had shown the technique to him and used it to scout ahead.

    Then you are?

    The translucent Xiao Nan moves his hand in a so-so gesture.

    Six more soldiers fall.

    The full explanation would take too long. Let us just say I am an imprint left behind by Xiao Nan in your shadow to protect you. I also left one in Xiao Fangs shadow. Uncle agreed it was for the best.

    So all this time?

    Since a year or so before the tournament at least. Of course, I had to get permission from your Master for it, andOh, dear, thats no good.

    Liu Jin blinks. Xiao Nan, who was translucent to begin with, grows fainter.

    Elder Brother, whats wrong?

    The original is calling me back. Xiao Nan frowns before looking at Liu Jin. Little Brother, I need you to listen to me very carefully. This is a message from the original. Take your father and leave.

    What?

    Take. Your. Father. And. Leave.

    You cannot expect me to

    I expect you to do exactly that! Xiao Nan roars, much to Liu Jins surprise. Do you not understand, Little Brother? If I am telling you this, it is because I cannot guarantee your safety if you stay here! Take your father and leave! Xiao Fang is already far away! Xiao Shuang cannot be harmed where she is! As long as you survive as well, the Xiao Sect will recover!

    Xiao Nan puts a hand on his forehead and smiles, but there is nothing happy about it.

    Please, Little Brother. For your own good, that of your family, and that of the Xiao Sect. Leave Eastern Port City. We both knew you would outgrow this place eventually.

    No, Liu Jin has never once known that. That is what he wants to say to Xiao Nan. Before he can, Xiao Nan fades away, leaving Liu Jin alone in the middle of a street, multiple corpses all around him.

    ~~~