Chapter 2: CHAPTER 1: Part Two
A loud neigh pierced through the atmosphere. It was followed by soft thuds of boots crunching against the ground. A black horse with a well-groomed coat trotted inside. The man holding its reins bore a sinister expression. He was Yuan Liu, the Royal officer in charge of the village.
He was extremely corrupt and enjoyed tormenting people. No one dared to speak against him but Wei Lian King was different. He never hesitated to speak against injustice. So, Officer Yuan Li had a special grudge against him. He always found ways to torment Xiao Wei. If it wasn't for his brother Wei Huan, he would have already killed the boy.
The officer's lips curved in a smirk as he called out, "Wei Huan!"
Wei Huan who was hidden behind the box shuddered and he drew closer to his brother. He tried hard to keep his breathing even; afraid that his hammering heart would give him away.
A deep frown settled on Yuan Li's forehead when he got no reply. His eyes swept around the courtyard. There was barely anything except for a few baskets and some junk. His face lit up with a meaningful smile as his gaze landed on the half-burnt bonfire. Wisps of smoke were still rising from the blackened woods.
He snorted and shook his head, "You Little Punks! You think you can fool me? Just wait and watch. You will soon be crawling on the ground with tails between your legs!"
Xiao Wei's face flushed with anger and the veins on his forehead popped. If his brother wasn't holding him down he would have attacked the officer that very moment!
The officer rode around the courtyard in a circle crushing all the baskets under the hooves. He rode over them again and again until the baskets had been turned into a battered mess.
Wei Lian Jing struggled against his brother's grip. He managed to uncover his mouth and whispered, "Please let me go, brother. We can't let him get away with this."
"Xiao Wei! If you consider me your brother, you will stay right here," Wei Huan's voice was firm and decisive.
Tears of anger brimmed in Xiao Wei's eyes. He gulped the lump that had formed in his throat. He had worked so hard to make those baskets and that bastard, he had ruined everything in the blink of an eye.
Wei Lin Jian couldn't stop himself from talking again, "I had made those baskets for tomorrow's fair. If we can't sell them to Li Dafu, he will never trade with us again."
Wei Huan's lips lifted in a consoling smile, "Don't worry. I will help you make more baskets once Officer Yuan Li has left."
"Wei Huan! Was that the sound of the wind or swishing wind? If you are here and don't come out, I will make you regret it!"
Both the brothers held their breath as the horse came to a halt in front of the boxes. Officer Li pulled the reins of the horse. With a soft neigh, it lifted its leg and placed it right over the box.
"Wei Huan, we will get killed if we stay here. Please let me go. I swear I will kill him before he can hurt me," Wei Lian Jing spoke into his brother's ears in an urgent whisper.
"Are you crazy? You think you can match Yuan Li's sword?"
"I can at least try. It is better than hiding like this," there was a tinge of disdain in his voice yet his brother didn't let him go. Wei Huan held his breath as the wooden box creaked under the hooves of the horse. If the box was crushed, they would be exposed. He pulled his brother as close to the wall as possible.
Wei Huan knew that they couldn't remain hidden in the shadows for long but he had to try. The creaking grew in intensity and the wooden box trembled. Just when Wei Huan thought the box would be crushed, the horse was pulled away by Officer Yuan Li.
"I think you are really not here," Officer Yuan Li's voice sounded again; his voice was low and cryptic. Wei Lin Jiang peeked through the small space between the boxes. He had taken out a flame stick and was now busy fanning the splinters that had formed on its tip.
He held the stick in the air as he spoke again, "Wei Huan! since you are not here, I will use this opportunity to burn down your house."
For the first time, concern flashed through Wei Huan's features. He crawled and peeked out from behind the box. The cinders on the flame stick had caught a steady flame by now. It cast an eerie blue glow on Li Yuan's face making him appear even more daunting.
"Xiao Wei, he won't really set fire to our house, will he?" His soft whisper carried the dread that had formed in his heart. The small shabby hut was the only thing left by their parents. It was a symbol of their existence If it was burned down, he would lose the last link he had with his parents.
His eyes lit up with grim determination as he saw Yuan Li brandishing the flame stick in the air. He was just taunting them so that Wei Huan would reveal himself.
"Xiao Wei, Listen to me carefully," he said as he cupped his brother's face. "We can't risk him setting out house on fire." His voice shook slightly as he continued, "I have to go and meet Officer Yuan Li but you must stay here."
Wei Lin Jiang's face turned pallid. He shook his head like a rattle, "Let me go instead. I swear I will teach him a good lesson."
"That is exactly why YOU shouldn't go. Why don't you understand, Wei Lin Jiang? You can't fight him."
"But, Wei Ge, you…."
"Enough, if you come out, you will see my dead face," his voice held an equal amount of urgency and desperation.
Wei Lin Jiang's expression deflated; he gulped the lump that had formed in his throat and he finally nodded. He could never disobey his brother after hearing such a statement.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone