Li Yuan stared at Sarah Miller, who was kneeling near the bonfire, the middle-aged woman's eyes filled with deep terror. Colonel Blackthorne's sword gleamed in the firelight, just inches from Sarah's neck.
I will not use my Daojing Understanding, Li Yuan solidified his resolve. But I also will not let them harm my family.
"Time is almost up," the Colonel said in a cold tone. "Show me your abilities, or this woman will become an example."
Li Yuan stepped forward slowly, his hand raised in a calm yet confident gesture. "Release her."
"Oh?" The Colonel sneered. "And what will you do if I refuse? You have no weapon, no armor, not even an army."
"I don't need any of that," Li Yuan replied in a voice that was calm but contained something different. Something that made some of the soldiers around them instinctively step back.
In his Zhenjing, the Understanding of Emotion vibrated with increasing intensity. Li Yuan could feel Sarah's fear, the villagers' anger, the Colonel's arrogance, and... something else. A small doubt from some of the soldiers who were beginning to sense a different aura from him.
Martial arts, Li Yuan thought. In this world, true martial arts masters are already a folktale. They only know the basic techniques. But I have studied the essence of movement for thousands of years.
"Alright," the Colonel said mockingly. "Let's see what a 'village guardian' like—"
The Colonel didn't get to finish his sentence.
Li Yuan moved.
Not with a supernatural speed that would reveal his cultivation abilities, but with something more fundamental—perfect movement. Every step, every turn of his body, every swing of his arm was executed with a precision born from a deep understanding of human body mechanics.
In the blink of an eye, Li Yuan was beside the Colonel. His hand moved in a pattern that seemed simple but was perfect—touching the Colonel's wrist precisely at a pressure point, causing the sword to fall from his grasp.
"What—" The Colonel was shocked, trying to grab the fallen sword, but Li Yuan had already moved again.
Li Yuan's left elbow touched the Colonel's chest with controlled force—strong enough to push him back a few steps, but not enough to cause a serious injury. The movement was executed with perfect calculation, demonstrating complete mastery over force and momentum.
The soldiers around them were silent, their eyes wide with shock. They had just witnessed their commander—a seasoned warrior who had won many battles—defeated in a matter of seconds by an "ordinary village guardian."
"No way," one of the soldiers whispered. "Movements like that... they're like something out of old folktales."
Li Yuan stood calmly in front of Sarah, one hand helping the woman to her feet, his gray eyes staring at the still-stunned Colonel.
"My ability," Li Yuan said in a calm voice, "is martial arts. Not magic, not supernatural power. Just an understanding of how the body moves, how power flows, and how balance works."
This is mostly true, Li Yuan thought. I am indeed using an understanding of movement that I have learned for thousands of years. It's just that... that understanding is deeper than they can imagine.
The Colonel got up slowly, his eyes alight with a mix of anger and... something else. A dangerous fascination.
"High-level martial arts," the Colonel muttered. "Like in the ancient stories. Masters who could break stones with their bare hands, who could move like a shadow."
"Those stories are based on reality," Li Yuan replied. "It's just that the knowledge has been lost to this world. Only imperfect, basic techniques remain."
In the crowd of villagers, Li Yuan heard whispers of admiration.
"Yuan can really do that?"
"Like the master in my grandmother's folktales..."
"No wonder he could handle the bandits so easily..."
Margaret Aldrich, Thomas's wife, whispered to her husband: "Just like my grandmother told me—a master who could split a stone with his bare hand."
Li Yuan felt a wave of emotions change from the entire crowd. Fear began to mix with admiration, despair began to turn into hope. And most importantly—they still saw him as Yuan, their village guardian, not as something supernatural.
The Understanding of Emotion is catching this change, Li Yuan realized. The way they see me is changing, but not into fear. They see me as... a living legend.
"Impressive," the Colonel said, his voice filled with a cold appreciation. "Very impressive. With abilities like that, you would be a very valuable asset to the Drakemoor Kingdom."
"I told you—I will not leave this village," Li Yuan replied firmly.
"Oh, but now I'm even more convinced that you will join us," the Colonel said with a cold smile. "Because now I know exactly how dangerous you would be if left free."
The Colonel raised his hand, and dozens of archers around the square immediately raised their bows, arrows already nocked and ready to be released—not aimed at Li Yuan, but at the gathered villagers.
"Your martial arts abilities may be extraordinary," the Colonel said, "but can you move fast enough to save all of these people at once?"
Li Yuan felt a new wave of fear sweep through the village. Sarah Miller, who was standing beside him, held his arm tightly.
"Yuan," she whispered, "don't sacrifice the others for me."
She's right, Li Yuan realized with bitterness. Martial arts alone are not enough to handle this situation without using supernatural speed or reflexes. If I save everyone with a movement too fast for human eyes, I will reveal that I am not just an ordinary martial arts master.
But in his Zhenjing, the Understanding of Emotion and the Understanding of Rage vibrated with increasing intensity. The village's collective anger, the deep fear, and the love to protect each other—all those emotions merged into a powerful resonance.
Almost there, Li Yuan felt. These two Understandings are on the verge of touching their true meaning. If I can hold on a little longer...
"So," the Colonel said, "what's your decision, 'Master' Yuan? Join us voluntarily, or watch this village burn along with all the people you love?"
Li Yuan looked at the faces around him—Anna peeking from her window with tearful eyes, Thomas Aldrich standing tall even though his body was trembling, David Miller clenching his fists with helpless anger.
They all depend on me, Li Yuan realized. And for the first time in thousands of years, I truly feel... helpless as an ordinary human.
But in that helplessness, there was something beautiful. Something human. He was not alone in this struggle—he had a family, a community that was willing to stand with him even in the face of death.
And in his Zhenjing, the two new Understandings vibrated even closer to the moment of their transformation.
A little more, Li Yuan thought. A little more before they enter the Ganjing realm.
"I need time to think," Li Yuan finally said.
The Colonel laughed. "You have until dawn tomorrow. After that, we will start the burning."
As the soldiers began to drag the villagers back to their homes under tight guard, Li Yuan felt something change in the night's atmosphere. The tumultuous emotions were reaching a critical point.
And in his Zhenjing, the Understanding of Emotion and the Understanding of Rage began to enter their final phase before transformation—the moment when they would touch their true meaning and enter the Ganjing realm.
This will be a long night, Li Yuan thought, feeling the approaching emotional storm. And tomorrow... tomorrow everything will change.