Severing Time & Space

Killing Intent, Part I

The man wielded a simple jian, which he swung at Wu Jian's head, but he lowered his body into a slide that took him underneath the man's legs. He swung both daggers as he passed. The weapons tore through the man's skin like it was made of rice paper. A scream tore from the man's lips as he crashed into the ground.

Wu Jian was attacked before he could get back to his feet. He rolled across the floor instead, allowing the weapon to strike the ground in a shower of sparks. Scrambling to his feet, he was just in time to block a swing from another sword, being held in the grip of a man who was probably ten years his senior. Despite being older, he was clearly not stronger, and Wu Jian was able to deflect the sword with a flick of his wrist. Then he proceeded to slice into the man's arm.

Blood spurted from the wound as the man staggered back. That was one down. This man would die from the poison soon.

He wasn't the only one fighting. Hou Jingshu skillfully wielded her daggers as she pressed the attack against another man, this one in the prime of his life. He used a metal staff to fend off her attacks. However, it was clear from the way he stumbled back that he was not only weaker than her, but he also didn't have as good a grasp on how to use his weapons. Hou Jingshu eventually managed to push his staff away. He leapt back but still received a cut to his torso.

Wu Jian was unable to watch out for Hou Jingshu and defend himself at the same time. Three people attacked him in a coordinated assault. He deflected a sword swing from one, a staff being wielded by another, and avoided a spear thrust from behind by twisting his body aside. He redirected the other two weapons at the same time. They clashed together and their wielders stumbled. He slashed out two times in quick succession, but only one of his enemies received a cut. The one wielding the sword was able to avoid it.

The two people he had already cut with his daggers were no longer moving. Their bodies twitched several times as urine dripped down their pants and foam frothed from their mouths. He had no idea the poison they had created was this toxic, but he guessed it made sense as the poison literally destroyed the ecosystem for an entire farm.

"You little shit! I'm gonna kill you!"

"You dare to kill our comrades! I won't allow this to stand! Hurry up and die!"

Wu Jian was only dealing with two more men while Hou Jingshu had managed to kill one and was now fending off two more. She ducked, wove, and dodged a hail of swinging weapons. Blood ran down her cheek where she had been struck. The cut was fairly deep and he hoped it wouldn't leave a scar, but she didn't even seem to notice as she continued defending herself.

I need to end this now. Who knows how much longer Meiying can keep those three occupied.

The next man came in, swinging his weapon. He used a dagger similar to the one in Wu Jian's hand, but he only had one, and his swing looked so slow. Wu Jian raised the dagger in his right hand to block, then flicked his wrist. A loud clang echoed out and sparks flew as he deflected the attack. With the man knocked off balance, Wu Jian was free to press his advantage.

Except he didn't.

Or rather, he couldn't.

Ducking underneath a sword that would have decapitated him, he dropped the dagger in his left hand, grabbed the offending limb, and pulled. The person squawked as they were forced forward. They stumbled right into Wu Jian's other dagger, which plunged into their gut. He yanked it back out quickly. Stepping aside, he didn't even watch as the person fell to the ground, spasming as the poison quickly traveled through his bloodstream.

Kneeling down, he grabbed the dagger he had dropped and flicked his wrist to toss it. The weapon flew forward. The man he had staggered previously was regaining his balance, but then the dagger pierced his throat just as he looked ready to renew his attack. He grabbed at the weapon as though to yank it out, but his hands stopped halfway, fell back to his sides, and he pitched backwards.