Deep within the Cave of Dead Children, in a cavern that opened like a crude hall, Zhang San and Li Si stood holding their torches. The firelight carved harsh shadows across their sharp, grim faces. The meager coins they had found had done little to improve their mood.
In the cavern, a cluster of children huddled together in a dark corner.
The smallest one began to cry.
From the shadows came the faint rustle of cloth. Someone slowly stepped forward.
In the torchlight appeared a boy with delicate features and a narrow face. The fire illuminated skin pale as lime dust, yet his eyes were clear and gentle. There was warmth in them—something strangely out of place in the cold gloom of the cave.
His movements were slow, a little stiff, but there was a quiet dignity about him that made people hold their breath without knowing why.
He seemed, almost unconsciously, to shield the children behind him, though he was barely older than they were.
The boy's name was Minnow. His voice trembled slightly.
"There's… nothing here that you want."
Li Si sneered."You little brats are still alive?"
These were hostages they had seized during recent raids on nearby villages—bargaining chips for ransom. If no money came, the children would be gone without a trace, or eventually be absorbed into the bandit life.
Li Si swaggered forward, tongue thick with mockery.
"Teaching them, are you? Looks like a pretty relaxed life."
He thrust the torch closer. The flame licked forward.
The children shrank back. Minnow retreated half a step—but refused to move further.
Wei noticed his hand trembling faintly inside his sleeve, the cuff swaying just a little.
"They're only children."
The handsome boy slowed his voice, as if afraid the trembling in his throat would betray him.
"The stronghold is empty now. Whatever you're looking for… your surviving brothers already carried it away."
Zhang San stepped forward."Lucky bastards, those ones. How many survived?"
He narrowed his eyes, gaze sliding past Minnow's shoulder as he slowly scanned the children behind him.
They were a ragged group. Their clothes were patched and worn, cuffs frayed pale with use. Some pants were too short, exposing thin calves. Yet strangely, every face had been washed clean, as if they had carefully rinsed themselves with cold water before stepping out. A few of the younger ones clutched each other's hands, knuckles white, too frightened to cry aloud.
Zhang San's gaze stopped.
Among them was a girl no more than seven or eight. Her features were delicate, her black eyes still bright, not yet dulled by hardship. Her hair was tied into a crooked braid, fastened with a strip torn from an old garment.
The corner of Zhang San's mouth lifted.
His expression turned playful.
He stepped closer and raised his hand, slowly extending his fingers as if to touch the girl's cheek. The motion was unhurried, casual—yet chilling.
The girl saw the greedy gleam in his eyes and shrank instantly, like a startled animal. She darted behind Minnow and pressed herself deeper into the corner. Her lip trembled, tears glistening in her eyes, but she forced herself not to cry.
Minnow swallowed hard.
Almost instinctively, he stepped forward again, placing himself between Zhang San and the children.
"Move aside!" Zhang San's triangular eyes flared.
Minnow's shoulders were rigid, as though his body itself were trying to hold up a fragile wall. Zhang San's shout made him flinch—but he did not move.
"Please… don't… don't trouble them."
His voice was low, carefully restrained, though the trembling could not be hidden.
"They've suffered enough. Their parents are dead."
When he said that, something seemed to catch in his throat. His voice faltered.
The cavern fell silent.
Only the children's suppressed breathing and quiet sniffles remained.
Minnow knew perfectly well he couldn't stop Zhang San. Yet he still stood at the front.
A small hand clutched the hem of his clothing. When Minnow felt the child's hand trembling, something changed inside him.
His own legs stopped shaking.
"Unless you kill me," he said quietly,"I won't let you touch them."
The silence in the cave deepened.
Zhang San suddenly laughed.
It wasn't the laugh of anger. It was the laugh of a man watching a fish about to be slaughtered.
"You? You think you can stop me? Killing you would be no different from gutting a fish!"
Minnow nodded, his throat bobbing.
"If you let them go… I can work for you. I can cook for you."
He looked straight at Zhang San, forcing himself not to avert his eyes.
Wei noticed Minnow's sleeve trembling again.
Zhang San sneered.
"I've been in a foul mood these past few days. Right now I feel like having some fun with that little girl. Anyone who stops me dies."
The cold gleam of the knife reflected across Minnow's face.
The children screamed.
Minnow stiffened violently, raising both arms to block Zhang San's path.
Zhang San's blade slowly stopped just before Minnow's throat.
Then it drew back slightly.
In the next moment, blood would spray.
Minnow's face had gone completely pale. His eyes shut involuntarily, lashes trembling—but he did not step back.
Wei stared at the sabre in Zhang San's hand.
He could tell.
This was not a blade meant for bluffing.
If things dragged on even one more breath, the boy would die.
For the first time, Wei truly saw something.
A person who was terrified—and yet did not retreat from the blade.
This was courage.
But courage like this could also destroy him.
It could bring down an innocent boy… and drag other innocents with him.
Until now, Wei had always been pushed along by fate, drifting wherever the current carried him.
He hated that feeling.
He wanted to choose his own path.
He wanted companions.
More than anything, he needed this small spark of hope.
Because life had already been far too dark.
Suddenly, Wei moved.
He rushed forward and grabbed Zhang San's arm, gesturing urgently.
Zhang San shoved him away.
Wei immediately dropped to the ground and began writing frantically in the dirt.
His finger cut through the soil.
A few crooked characters quickly appeared.
—"The villagers will be back soon!"
Zhang San and Li Si both froze.
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"The survivors won't be many… but they won't be none either! The villagers will come looking!"
Li Si's eyes lit up.
"Boss! We need to hurry! If we keep wasting time, someone really might show up! We still haven't found the treasure!"
At the word treasure, Zhang San's impulse cooled. He snorted and slowly lowered the knife.
Minnow glanced at Wei with quiet gratitude, saying nothing.
Zhang San gave a cold snort.
"Fine. You—and you—come help me search."
His gaze swept across the children.
"After that, all of you are coming with me. We're going to find a new hideout."
His grin widened.
"I'm going to be the king there."
Minnow leaned close to the children and whispered, "Don't be scared. I'm right here." They pressed in behind him, silent, not crying, not making a sound.
Suddenly, either Zhang San or Li Si barked, "Stop. Everyone quiet!"
A soft rustling of footsteps came from deep inside the cave.