Just as Xiao Wen was about to throw himself in a desperate attempt to dodge the incoming charge from the demon, a loud clamor resounded and everything around him shook. The demon flew backward and landed on its back, whimpering from pain.

“What’s this?” Xiao Wen gasped from the sight in front of him. All around him, a red faint barrier could be seen. It was square – 2x2 meters and gave the impression of death and destruction. A thick smell of blood started to penetrate the surroundings.

The demon’s eyes were wide open and completely bloodshot. It didn’t understand what the square barrier was, but it felt the intense killing intent radiating from it. The demon’s fur was standing straight up, and it was even slowly beginning to regret attacking the young boy.

“ehh?”

Suddenly, the barrier started to shimmer, distort, transforming into a drop of blood. The drop of blood hovered in the air before emitting a shrilling sound, flying straight into Xiao Wen’s chest, causing him to fly backward as a result. Xiao Wen felt a stabbing pain in his heart as he fell down on the ground.

As the demon saw this, madness filled its eyes. It roared in anger, rising up to attack the boy again.

…

A large, grand company of men and women, dressed in plain purple robes. Even though they seemed plain, one had to know that not even one of the villagers could afford to buy one. They were made out of silken. All of the disciples rode big, brown horses and their eyes gleamed with a proud and aloof shine. This was the outer sect disciples of the Purple Cloud Sect, the sect that was in control of the village.

This no-name village was positioned in the 3rd country of the world. There were 10 countries in the world, and they were ranked after overall strenght. The 3rd country was ruled by the Jiang family; therefore called Jiang country. All sects of the country obeyed the rules set up by the Jiang family, and had to pay revenues or taxes to them. The different sects controlled villages which they gathered taxes from, and then transported it to the Jiang family’s government who then used it to finance military and other important matters.

“What a drag… to come here all the way form the sect only to protect a village without a name?” One of the disciples in the front said to another. His black hair was tied in ponytail, and a sneer was plastered.

“That’s right. We are disciples of a great sect… but we have to come here and save some commoners? ” Another disciple curled his lips in disgust as he looked at the villagers bowing with their heads to the ground in submission.

This disciple clearly spoke very loudly, clear enough for some of the village’s men to hear it. Their faces instantly became red with anger after being provoked. Just as they were about to open their mouths and refute to what the disciples were saying, an older man’s forehead bulged with veins as he removed his one sandal and gave them a good beating.

“Aah, old man Wang?!

“pa pa pa!”

“Sorry, sorry, we weren’t going to do anything, I swear!”.

“You idiots! Don’t lie to me! If you talked back, they would kill you!” old man Wang shouted in a low voice, and once again got into the position of bowing. “Now be quiet and bow down if you don’t want to kill us all!

The men calmed down and nodded, one of them saying, “As long as that beggar boy doesn’t come up and asks them for money we should be safe.”

This earned the laugh of some of the men, but also a few more hits from by the sandal.

Before anyone else could say anything, the horses stopped and all of the disciples hopped off. An older man, this one with a purple robe different from what the others wore; embroidered with a golden dragon, walked forward to the center of the village where everyone could see and hear him as he spoke.

“Ahem.” The older man cleared his throat. He was very old, and wrinkles covered his entire face. His hair was long gone together with his youth, but a thin, knotted beard hung down from his chin making him seem very scholarly.

He spoke briskly. “The horde should arrive some hours from now. You know the routines. If you kill a demon and give us its demonic embryo, you can enter the Purple Cloud Sect as an outer disciple. Everyone else should stay inside their house during the monster horde’s invasion, if you don’t want to die of course.

The old man chuckled lightly, turning around and saying to the other disciples. “When night comes, when the sun dies in the sky, we shall prepare the Lesser Demon Killing Formation. In the meantime, you can all do as you please.

“Yes, fourth elder!

All of the disciples bowed in unison as a response. It was clear that the fourth elder held quite the respect from all of the disciples since they were very courteous toward him, and didn’t dare to question his orders in the slightest. Their proud and aloof demeanor was completely gone in front of this mighty fourth elder.

...

Xiao Wen’s clothes were completely soaked from sweat. A chill went through his spine as the dog demon leapt in the air toward him. This time he could move his legs.

If he died, Auntie in the village would be all alone. How could he accept that? She had been there for him every time he needed it, and she hadn’t complained the slightest as villagers started to act maliciously to her too just because she helped him. That's why he had to live, to return what he owed.

“Dammit!”

He realized that his dodge wasn’t enough, and that the demon would definitely tear him apart. In the split second he had to think, he made a choice that no one else would have made. Xiao Wen’s eyes flashed for a second, determination surging within them as he stretched forward his arm and used it as a shield to block the demon.

A “Slash”, followed by, “Aaaaargh!” could be heard throughout the forest.

Xiao Wen’s left arm was cut of like cotton by the demon's claws. He screamed in pain as he saw his left arm being torn of from his body. Blood and gore splattered on the ground, and Xiao Wen's face twisted in excruciable pain as he fell to the ground, rolling some meters holding what was left of his left arm with his right hand. Everything from below his shoulder had been taken by the demon’s swift leap.

Rolling around the ground, even with the pain, Xiao Wen quickly understood that this was a chance. Without looking at the demon, he crawled to his feet, almost stumbling. With all his force, he propelled himself forward and dove into the lake.