No Longer Spring - Writings of tomorrow

I

We knew that we had a long day ahead of us. Even though the sun might have been up and shining as it always was, it had an ominous aura ever since morning.
I knew that we had to fight. I knew that we had to do something and that we had to speak up for everyone, since the common folk would never really dare speak for themselves. What good was it if we only accepted the terms of the enemy just to cry and pity ourselves after?
Diplomacy was going to take us that far and that far alone. I knew it. I wasn't going to run.
I put on my robes and left for the town, ready to search for you, always acting calmly in front of everyone as if we weren't going to hold a silent war with the pretext of a treaty of peace.
It might have been me, perhaps, but even though the people were unaware of what was about to take place, they seemed to feel some sort of heaviness in the air just as I did, feeling the warmth of the sunrays being just a little bit more colder than usual.
You smiled when you turned around and saw that I approached and so, leaving with this image of you in my mind, we headed towards the meeting area with other twenty people of ours. We arrived at the entrance of a neutral town where we were supposed to discuss the terms and conditions. "An obvious trap," I thought, but the risk was worth it, knowing that their very leader was to show up. It was a chance to put an end to their clan without that much bloodshed and, having hidden support from other various clans around, we didn't worry as much as we should have. Our leader was sick hence he stayed at home, and knowing him safe, we were willing to dare more than we'd have usually done.

"You've come," said the general, looking us up and down.

Another couple of cultivators stood behind him, watching intently. You moved your body carelessly, Cheng Yi shifting as you got closer to them.

"It's good when both parties want the same thing, you see? We shall let bloodshed be a matter of the past so that the people under our protection can live unbothered," the man laughed loudly, his voice resounding around with an echo. Not even the birds dared to sing, nor did the people watching dared to talk.

It was obvious. If we wanted the common folk to be safe, we had to go somewhere better, more intimate.

"Shall we keep moving? Our people will take some time to arrive with the gift we have prepared for your leader and clan," you asked, feeling the weight of everyones stare upon your back. We were used to living in danger but, that one time, I couldn't really enjoy the plot as we usually liked to do. It was as if a sense of impending doom dried out my throat, making my lungs hurt.

"Let's go by the lake, it shall be best that way."

All people from both clans gathered orderly behind their leaders and started walking towards the big, green lake, picturing the best army in town gathered up, if not for the sidelines. I caught the glimpse of our allies currently dressed as commoners starting to leave themselves, not really wanting to risk anything in case the "treaty of peace" wasn't going two work out well in the end. It wouldn't have been fortunate for anyone to stand in between two powerful clans trying to dominate and assassinate each other, yet.

The tension was heavy in the air. I kept a hand on my sword as if it was going to do wonders, hoping that our plan was going to succeed. I hated seeing that look upon the generals face, looking through your soul as if he didn't even see the person in front of him. Lives meant nothing to someone such as that.

"I see that your leader hasn't come either" Jiang Ming, your sister, added, "Our sect had wanted to express gratitude for your understanding and desire for peace, hence prepared this gift, just as promised."

Apparently, neither leader showed up.

Two of our cultivators came up from behind with a chest, holding it up from its sides.
They played their part well, but to no availd. The general remained unphased and the cultivators from behind him shifted, taking out their swords.