Ashes Of The War God

Chapter 4: The South Gate

Chen Feng moved through the dark streets. His body felt strange. Sometimes strong, sometimes weak. The power that helped him escape was fading fast.

The South Gate was a mile away. He had to reach it before the City Guard closed all exits.

His legs began to shake again. The weakness was returning. Whatever had awakened inside him was going back to sleep.

"Stop right there!"

Two City Guards stepped out from a side street. They wore leather armor and carried spears. Their torches lit up the narrow road.

"The Liu family reported an attack," one guard said. "All travelers must be questioned. State your name."

Chen Feng's mind raced. If they knew his name, they would arrest him immediately. "I am just a merchant heading home. I heard bells and got scared."

The second guard moved closer, holding his torch up to Chen Feng's face. "You look familiar. Have we seen you before?"

"I have a common face."

"And that sword?" The guard pointed. "That is a Liu family sword. I recognize the mark on the handle."

Chen Feng looked down. He had not noticed before. The stolen sword had the Liu family crest carved into it.

Stupid. So stupid.

"I can explain..."

"Save it for the magistrate." The first guard lowered his spear. "You are coming with us."

Chen Feng's hand tightened on the sword. He did not want to hurt these men. They were just doing their job. But he could not let them take him back to the Liu family.

Before he could decide what to do, a scream cut through the night.

All three of them turned. The scream came from deeper in the city, near the merchant district.

"Help! Someone help! Thieves!"

More screams followed. The sound of breaking glass. Fighting.

The two guards looked at each other.

"We should check that out," the second guard said.

"But we have a suspect..."

"That sounds like the Zhou Trading House. If bandits are robbing it, the captain will have our heads if we do nothing." The second guard turned to Chen Feng. "Stay right here. Do not move. We will be back in five minutes."

Both guards ran toward the screams.

Chen Feng did not waste time. He turned and ran the opposite direction, toward the South Gate.

His lungs burned. His legs felt like stone. The sudden strength from earlier was completely gone now. He was back to being the weak, pathetic body he had known for three years.

But he kept running.

The South Gate appeared ahead. The massive wooden doors were still open. Two guards stood watch, but they looked bored and tired.

Chen Feng slowed to a walk. Running would draw attention. He tried to steady his breathing and look calm.

Just a normal traveler. Nothing suspicious.

He was twenty feet from the gate when someone shouted behind him.

"There! That is him! The one who attacked the Liu family!"

Chen Feng turned. Liu Han stood in the street with a dozen guards. He must have been searching the southern district.

The gate guards immediately lowered their spears, blocking the exit.

"Nobody leaves!" one shouted.

Chen Feng was trapped. Guards behind him. Guards in front. Walls on both sides.

Liu Han walked forward with a cruel smile. "Did you really think you could escape? This is our city. My father controls everything here."

"I only defended myself."

"Tell that to the magistrate. Oh wait, the magistrate is my uncle." Liu Han laughed. "You should have died quietly in your room. Now you will die in a prison cell instead."

The Liu guards moved closer, weapons drawn.

Chen Feng gripped his sword. Even if he wanted to fight, his body would not cooperate. He could barely stand.

This was the end. Three years of suffering, and it would end here.

Then the jade pendant around his neck burned.

Not warm. Not hot. Burning like fire pressed against his skin.

Chen Feng gasped. Pain shot through his chest. The pendant glowed bright green, so bright everyone had to look away.

Images flooded Chen Feng's mind. Not dreams this time. Memories.

He saw himself standing on a mountain peak. Lightning filled the sky. A massive army knelt before him. Thousands of warriors in silver armor, all bowing.

"God of War," they chanted. "God of War. God of War."

He saw himself holding a sword the size of a building. One swing split a mountain in half.

He saw demons fleeing in terror. Dragons bowing their heads. Emperors begging for mercy.

And he saw betrayal.

Faces he once trusted, driving blades into his back. A woman he loved, putting poison in his cup. His own brother, sealing his power with ancient chains.

"You are too dangerous," his brother said in the memory. "Even we cannot control you anymore. So we will make you forget. We will make you weak. We will throw you into the mortal world and let you suffer."

The memory ended.

Chen Feng opened his eyes. The pendant's glow faded.

But something had changed. He felt it in his bones. A door in his mind had cracked open. Just a tiny crack, but it was enough.

Power flooded into his body. Not all his power. Maybe not even one percent. But enough.

His weakness vanished. His trembling stopped. Strength filled his muscles.

Liu Han took a step back. "What... what is happening to your eyes?"

Chen Feng did not answer. He raised his sword.

The blade began to glow with golden light.

"Impossible," one guard whispered. "That is sword energy. Only masters can create sword energy."

Chen Feng looked at Liu Han. When he spoke, his voice was different. Deeper. Colder. Ancient.

"You wanted to kill me. You called me trash. You called me weak." He took a step forward. "Let me show you what this trash can do."

The sword moved.

One slash. A wave of golden energy flew from the blade and cut through the air.

It struck the ground between Chen Feng and the Liu guards. The stone street exploded. A crack ten feet long split the road.

Everyone froze in shock.

Chen Feng did not remember how to do that. His body just knew. Muscle memory from a life he could not fully recall yet.

"Next time," Chen Feng said quietly, "I will not miss."

He turned and walked toward the South Gate. The gate guards scrambled out of his way.

Nobody tried to stop him.

Chen Feng walked through the gate and into the night beyond the city.

Behind him, Liu Han stood frozen, staring at the destroyed street.

"What have we done?" he whispered.