Iron Empress - Chapter 1 Blood Sweat And Tears

Mei was playing with the kids at a hill behind their small village when she heard a loud horn in the distance. She looked over to the source of the sound only to see countless iron clad warriors equipped with swords and heavy looking shields surrounding her village.

She immediately ran towards her home to her parents with heavy breathing and fast beating heart, only to see bloodshed on the streets. Mei rushed to their abode to witness four soldiers around her pregnant mother whom had no clothes on top of their dining table. With fear on her eyes, she looked into the eyes of her father laying on the ground lifeless with his hands gripping on a kitchen knife.

“AAAAAAAAHHHHH” she screamed, alarming the soldiers of her presence, her legs fell hard on the ground as her mind felt intense fear.

“Kekekeke looks like someone was being a bad kid interrupting us” laughed a rugged looking man with a wide grin on his face.

“Run Mei, don’t let them touch you” shouted her mother while tears ran on her porcelain face.

Mei gathered her courage and stood up planning to run when another soldier blocked her way out the door. Mei took a step back while the man in front came running at her, she grabbed the sword on the man’s side and stabbed it on his guts while closing her eyes. The soldier did not expect her to retaliate which made him lose his life.

Taking the opportunity, Mei ran as fast as she could and used a secret route to get outside the village which she found while trying to find a quicker route outside the village while playing with the other children. Her breathing was uneven, feeling the pain on the side of her stomach but she still kept running while tears ran past her cheeks to the ground.

*Thud*

Upon reaching the forest, Mei felt a hand knocking her neck. All she saw was a faint silhouette of a man before darkness consumed her vision.

–3 days later–

“Huh, where am I?” Mei thought as she felt a stinging pain throughout her body. Examining her surrounding, she noticed that she was in a humble bedroom with simple decoration. Before she could try to stand up and move she heard a voice

“Trying to move will only cause your wounds to open” a deep voice could be heard from the door. Turning her head, she saw a man in his 40’s with long black hair draping over his tones muscles adorned with a simple white clothing.

Mei attempted to stand while gritting her teeth, she stood before the man before bowing to her knees saying

“I thank benefactor, would I have the pleasure to knowing your name?”

The man responded with a monotonous voice “Hua Long” he stared right into Mei and said “I found you in the forest near the burning village, if you would like to stay then you can stay here as long as you want.” before turning around and walking away.

Mei immediately raised her chin up to say “I can see that you are strong, I wish to also be strong”

Hua Long stopped in his track and turned around responding “Why?” Mei clutched her hands before saying “To avenge my family, my friends, and my village”.

Hua Long merely stared into Mei’s eyes before shaking his head saying “Revenge is nothing but a foolish path, It does nothing but create a cycle of hatred.”

Mei wanted to refute but before she could open her mouth, she fell to the ground unconsciously.