The Untamed 2: The Unlikely Hero -Book 1-3

27. Pieces

PIECES

It took until past nightfall the next day to clean up the docks and bury the bodies of the victims of the night's attack. Only a handful of villagers had fought off the attackers enough to survive. Most suffered from severe scratches to the hands, face and neck, there were others who had also suffered from permanent blindness from the onslaught of powerful beaks pecking at their eyes. All in all over 20 villagers had lost their life that night.

It had been a devastating attack on Baofeng and one that Liu Yang would never forgive. After she had taken the morning to recover, she had quickly changed into tight fitting robes and began the recovery and burying process.

All of the cultivators had helped clean up and perform the proper burial rituals for the dead. Save for the Jin Clan and Yunmeng clan. Jiang Cheng had left with his nephew in tow, all of the disciples just hanging their heads as they followed their leaders. They said little on their departure save for the polite bows and condolences. Jiang Cheng promised Liu Yang that he would take revenge for those that she had lost and apologized for bringing them trouble. He quickly hopped onto his sword with only a single glance towards the main house where Huang Jin was still tended to, before turning and leaving.

Wei Wuxian had tried his best to convince him to stay but it had gone on deaf ears. Jiang Cheng looked haunted. The whole ordeal had shaken him to his core and his only concern was for his family and his people. He needed to return as soon as possible. He wouldn't let this happen to his clan.

Just past midday they had found a torn scroll that had been put in the pocket of the oldest matron of Baofeng who had lost her life that night. The same one Nie Huaisang had tripped over. The scroll was bloodstained and the parchment was torn and frayed. However, the writing was in stark contrast to the paper it inked. It was a beautiful script written in a black tar looking ink.

It read: "Chaos shall rain upon this world. No human will intervene. Do not try to stop what has been pre-ordained. You have all been warned."

This was what Liu Yang had worried about from the start. She had felt the demons pass her town before and now that she had gotten the larger clans involved, she had risked the lives of her own to put a stop to the carnage she knew would continue.

"Are you ok?" Nie Huaisang asked, worry written across his face.

Liu Yang smiled softly at him as she nodded, finally paying attention to the conversation in the room.

They had all been sitting down quietly in the main hall. Chang Su had cooked up a soup for everyone using some fish he had caught from the river and various herbs in the garden behind the main house. No one touched it. They all sat quietly, some stirring their soup with spoons, some sipping tea and zoning out.

Chang Su was the first to break the silence. He couldn't stand the silence and heavy feeling in the air any longer. "We must all decide whether to continue or to regroup at a later date with a stronger force. These demons are far stronger than any of us could have anticipated."

Wei Wuxian, who had uncharacteristically said very little over the day. He chimed in. "You are right. We were outmatched and overpowered." His face was not the usual cherry demeanor it always was and a large bruise colored one eye.

Lan Wangji nodded in agreement. His own demeanor had been much like a mother hen, hovering close to Wei Wuxian the entire day. Everyone could tell that he felt terrible for injuring his friend.

"We must regroup." Lan Xichen said, staring at the tea cup in his hands, a morose look on his face. "Too many have already suffered and we can not be taken by surprise like this again."