Ashes Of The War God

Chapter 5: The Bandit Ambush

Chen Feng walked along the southern road for two hours. The city lights disappeared behind him. Only moonlight showed the way now.

His body felt different. Stronger than before, but not like in those brief moments of power. This was steadier. More controlled. Like a door had opened just enough to let a small stream of energy through.

The jade pendant hung cold against his chest again. Whatever it did, it was sleeping now.

Chen Feng touched it gently. "What are you? A key? A seal?"

No answer came. Just cold jade.

The road ahead split into two paths. One continued south toward Mountain Vale Village. The other went east into the Dark Pine Forest.

Uncle Bo had told him to go south. Stay on the main road. Avoid the forest.

But voices came from the southern path. Torches moved in the distance. The Liu family must have sent people after him.

Chen Feng cursed under his breath. He had no choice. He turned east into the forest.

The trees closed around him like dark walls. Moonlight barely reached the ground here. Strange sounds echoed between the trunks. Animals, probably. Maybe worse.

The Dark Pine Forest had a bad reputation. Bandits hid here. Wild beasts hunted here. Smart people avoided it, even during the day.

But Chen Feng was not smart people anymore. He was someone being hunted.

He walked deeper into the forest, using the sword as a walking stick. His new strength was already fading. Not completely gone, but weaker. Like a fire burning down to embers.

How long would it last? How much of his old power had actually returned?

A branch snapped behind him.

Chen Feng spun around, raising his sword. Nothing but darkness and trees.

Another snap. This time to his left.

"I know you are there," Chen Feng called out. "Show yourselves."

Laughter came from the shadows. Men stepped out from behind trees. Five of them. All dressed in dirty leather armor. All holding weapons.

Bandits.

The largest one stepped forward. He had a scar across his face and carried a huge axe. "Well, well. A traveler. Alone. At night. In our forest."

"I am just passing through."

"Nothing is free in this world, friend." The scarred man grinned. "You want to pass? Pay the toll."

"I have nothing worth taking."

"That sword looks nice. And those clothes, while worn, are still better than ours." The bandit leader pointed his axe at Chen Feng. "Strip. Leave everything. Walk away in your underclothes. We will let you live."

The other bandits spread out, surrounding Chen Feng.

"I cannot do that," Chen Feng said. "I need these things."

"Then you choose death. Your funeral." The leader raised his axe. "Boys, kill him. Take everything."

Three bandits rushed forward.

Chen Feng's body remembered what to do. The sword moved in his hands. One bandit fell with a cut across his chest. Another screamed as the blade slashed his arm.

But Chen Feng was slower than before. Weaker. The third bandit's knife got through his defense and cut his shoulder.

Pain shot down Chen Feng's arm. Blood soaked his shirt.

The two remaining bandits circled him carefully now. They had seen him fight. They knew he was dangerous.

"You have some skill," the leader said. "But you are wounded and tired. We are fresh. How long can you last?"

Not long. Chen Feng knew it. His strength was fading fast. The small amount of power that had returned was almost gone.

The jade pendant grew warm again. Just slightly. Like it was trying to help but could not give more.

"Last chance," the leader said. "Surrender or die."

Chen Feng's grip tightened on his sword. If he was going to die, he would die fighting.

Then an arrow whistled through the air.

It struck the bandit leader in the shoulder. The big man roared in pain and stumbled backward.

"What the..."

More arrows flew from the darkness. One bandit fell with an arrow in his leg. Another took one in the chest.

The remaining bandits ran, crashing through the forest in panic.

Chen Feng stood ready, searching the shadows. Friend or enemy? He could not tell yet.

A figure emerged from behind a tree. A woman, maybe twenty years old. She wore simple traveling clothes and carried a bow. Her hair was tied back in a practical braid.

"You are lucky I was hunting nearby," she said, lowering her bow. "Those bandits have killed three travelers this month."

"Thank you." Chen Feng kept his sword raised. "Who are you?"

"My name is Lin Yue. I live in Mountain Vale Village." She looked at his wounded shoulder. "That cut is deep. You need medicine or it will get infected."

"Mountain Vale Village? That is where I am going."

"Then you are very lost. This path leads nowhere good." Lin Yue walked closer, studying his face. "Wait. I recognize you. You are Chen Feng. The Liu family's... what did they call you? The useless son-in-law?"

Chen Feng's jaw tightened. Even out here, his reputation followed him.

"I heard you could barely walk," Lin Yue continued. "But you just fought off three bandits. Either the rumors were wrong, or something has changed."

"Things have changed."

"I can see that." She pointed at the Liu family crest on his sword. "That sword. Did you steal it?"

"It is complicated."

"It usually is." Lin Yue sighed. "The Liu family probably has people searching for you. If they find you wounded and lost in this forest, you are dead."

"I know."

"So here is my offer. My village is three hours west. I have medicine there. You can rest and recover. In the morning, you decide where to go next." She started walking. "Or you can stay here and bleed to death. Your choice."

Chen Feng looked at his shoulder. Blood was still flowing. He felt dizzy. Weak. The small amount of power was completely gone now.

He had no other options.

"Lead the way," he said.

Lin Yue nodded and began walking through the forest. Chen Feng followed, his sword ready. He did not fully trust this woman. She could be leading him into a trap.

But dying slowly from blood loss was not better.

They walked for twenty minutes in silence. Then Lin Yue spoke without turning around.

"That pendant around your neck. It was glowing earlier. Just for a second."

Chen Feng's hand went to the jade. "You saw that?"

"I see many things." She glanced back at him. "That is no ordinary jade. That is a Spirit Seal. Very rare. Very powerful." Her eyes narrowed. "Who are you really, Chen Feng? Because useless son-in-laws do not carry Spirit Seals."

Chen Feng did not answer.

Because he did not know the answer himself.

Not yet.