To Return To Where You Belong To

Roughly two months later, a war broke out.

Of course, MiZi Village being in the border would be involved in it. The village seated at the northern area of the border, thus by all means the villagers there sided with the Northerners.

That time, the trio was out playing. They chased dragonflies and butterflies, running along the river bank.

When they returned, the two teenagers were drenched in sweat and water from the river. Their bare feet were mudded to their calves. Some grasses stuck at their hair. Of course, Yuan Ji didn't join them. Saying that they need an adult to watch over them.

The first thing to welcome them home was a sight of armor and weapons. Followed with tens of bulky men in warring clothes. After that, a row of men—the farmers and villagers—as well as teens.

They lacked a great number of soldiers, in a dire need of help and assistance. The villagers of MiZi half volunteered, half forced to aid them as an ally.

If the Northerners actually took all the men of MiZi to cover the missing soldiers, it still wouldn't be enough. However, if they took all of them, MiZi Village would be left without any male.

Fortunately, they weren't as heartless as YueChen imagined. The Northerners only took half of the male population, leaving the sick, old, and young behind.

Unfortunately, half of them meaning there were only fifty or so. Still an insignificant number they expected. Sixty men at least.

The leader of the men choose a few more teens to cover the number. Fifty nine. One more.

Just when said man considered to pick the oldest teen left—twelve of age—did YueChen opened his mouth, in a hurried manner.

"I volunteer."

Yuan Ji, hearing those words, nearly out of reflex raised his hand and slapped him.

Joining the army in the middle of the war, there's almost no chance for training. It only meant diving head-first into a chasm full of venomous snakes and spikes. There's no guarantee of returning without a single wound. Heck, even staying alive for a mere second for YueChen was already a great burden difficult to do.

Now he's being kind-hearted to save a boy's life? He should worry about himself first!

The man glanced over him in a ridiculing manner, before nodding at him.

Other than the lady seer, A-Die, and YueChen, no one could see Yuan Ji. However it'd be for the best if they weren't born with that ability. Otherwise they would have to witness a dreadful sight of Yuan Ji lifting a boulder with aura of murderous intent behind the reckless teen. The deity gave off such an enormous evil aura that even a bulky man thrice YueChen's size shuddered involuntarily.

A-Die and the seer couldn't ignore the deity. The mute little girl backed away few steps, watching the deity in horror, while the lady seer quickly fished out a stack of amulets and spell-caster papers from her sleeves and held it to Yuan Ji's direction.

YueChen, on the other side, was only three feet from the deity. His senses tickled as his betrothed glared him to death. He kept a calm face, but in reality his back broke into cold sweat.

The soldiers let them pack their belongings and bid farewell for their families. YueChen, having no belongings only did the latter.

He bowed to kiss A-Die's forehead, patting her head. He thanked the lady seer for taking care of him, bowing over and over again.

The lady patted his shoulder, gave him a bunch of spirit repellant and good-luck spell-papers. She also gave him one last divination before his departure.

"I know. You don't have to worry about me." He smiled as he held a wooden stick, stuffing it into his robes, near the heart along with other things the lady gave him.

"You took so long. What are you doing? Bathing?" Yuan Ji said, crossed his arms and leaned on the wall of the hut.

"Nah.... Just a few things..."

"If there's nothing else, let's go then."

At those words, YueChen blanked.

"What?"

"Wait, you're going with me?"

Yuan Ji rolled his eyes, knocked at his forehead once. "Of course, dimwit. The war located near the cave they found you. That'd be convenient if I came along."

That was just an excuse. In truth, Yuan Ji never intended to reclaim the sword, nor he wanted to be apart from YueChen even for a mere metre.

They left the village on horse carts, huddled together in the back. The trip was rough, as their path was mostly of rocks and peebles. The five carts arrived at their destination two or three hours later.

The fortress had a lot of weapons and armor inside, however, this war ceased the number into only a percent remaining.

The men led them into the weaponry, most of them were filled with dread. Except for one boy who couldn't read the atmosphere.

Yang YueChen cackled, admiring the weapons with gleaming eyes. If it wasn't for the fact that he wasn't alone, YueChen would most likely rushed out to check all the swords and sorts.

.....How could Yuan Ji forget?

YueChen was a homicidal maniac!

Nothing fascinated him more than this!

On top of that, he was that kind of person who have no care for his own life. He enjoyed fights and battles, but disliked how wars killed the innocents.

His heart beat faster, perhaps from anxiety or glee. Whatever it was, Yuan Ji could only hope that this kid wouldn't think slaughtering in the battlefield as fun.