Chapter Thirteen: Death

“Mother!” Yue Qi’s anguished cry tore through the chaos, but how could the zombie possibly hear? It lunged forward, sinking its teeth into Mother Yue’s leg.

“No!” In a panic, Yue Qi’s movements faltered for a split second. A lightning charm shot from his hand, striking the zombie squarely in the head. But it was too late—his mother’s lower left leg was already a mangled mess of blood and flesh.

“Mother!” Everyone present saw what had happened. Yue Liu fainted on the spot, only held upright by Fourth Sister’s timely support.

With a wild, desperate yell, Yue Qi swung his sword and, without hesitation, severed his own mother’s left leg. The clash of blades and clatter of bayonets grated against the ear, each sound twisting in Yue Qi’s heart.

Life seemed to drain from Mother Yue’s face, her skin turning ghostly pale as if every drop of blood had been drawn from her in an instant. The gentle lines of her brow now furrowed in pain.

“Qi! What are you doing?” Their father shouted in shock from a distance. Already injured and too far from his wife, he was racked with guilt at not having protected her, but never had he imagined Yue Qi would cut off her leg. Not only he, but even Fourth Sister supporting Yue Liu stared, dumbfounded.

“Father! Fourth Sister! Please… believe me! I did it to save Mother’s life!” Yue Qi’s voice held firm, and his hands didn’t pause. He cast a water charm, sealing his mother’s wound in a thin layer of ice, staunching the bleeding at once.

But just then, something happened that Yue Qi hadn’t foreseen—the three men on the manor lord’s side had been breached as well. Perhaps it was the scent of fresh blood, but the zombies became more frenzied than ever.

“Don’t just stand there! Do you want to die? Get in there!” Yue Qi shouted, charging forward and directing his words at the cowardly Yue Lei, who had clung to the manor lord since the beginning under the guise of protection, but when danger struck, became the one needing protection. Since the zombies arrived, he’d been trembling behind the manor lord, utterly incapable of defending anyone, barely able to fend for himself.

Blood still dripped from Yue Qi’s sword. He could have used his spells, but after so many had already been cast, his spiritual energy was nearly depleted—at most, he could perform one or two more spells before he’d be utterly spent.

Just then, one of the manor lord’s loyal followers was bitten on the arm by a zombie. The other two rushed to help but threw themselves into disarray. Another zombie seized the moment, tackling one to the ground and biting into his throat. The situation was dire. Yue Qi hadn’t expected the zombies to attack with such animalistic cunning, going straight for the vital points.

Yet Yue Lei stood motionless, as if he hadn’t heard Yue Qi at all—eyes dull and vacant, like a lifeless corpse himself.

“Useless fool!” Yue Qi spat, stabbing his sword into the zombie gnawing a young man’s arm, then, without hesitation, severed the young man’s arm at the elbow.

A scream of pure agony tore from the youth, but Yue Qi didn’t hesitate, skewering another zombie with his blade, then plunging it into the skull of the one chewing on the man’s throat.

“You…” The only uninjured follower stared at Yue Qi, his gaze conflicted. He understood Yue Qi was acting for the good of the group, but Yue Qi killed without the slightest pause, as if those living men were no different from the zombies.

“If you want him to live, hurry up and bandage him!” Yue Qi barked, pointing at the man whose arm he’d just amputated.

Yue Qi finally understood what it meant to be pulled in all directions—no sooner had he resolved the crisis on the manor lord’s side than trouble erupted where Second Brother was.

Earlier, Yue Er and Yue San had struggled to fend off two zombies on their own. Fourth Sister, busy caring for Yue Liu, had no time to help; and, being a girl, any aid she could offer would only hinder.

With a startled cry, perhaps from exhaustion or a zombie’s blow, Yue San fell to the ground. The zombie saw its opportunity and lunged.

But Second Brother would not stand by. With a fierce kick, he sent the zombie flying several meters, then buried his hatchet into its gaping maw.

“Watch out, Second Brother!” Yue Qi called, but even as he did, a zombie previously beaten back now surged forward. Second Brother could smell the foul stench of its breath.

“No!” A sudden voice rang out, freezing everyone in shock. A dark figure hurled itself past Second Brother and tackled the zombie to the ground.

It was their father.

“Father! Be careful!” Second Brother cried out in panic. But the zombie was relentless, flipping their father over and biting deep into his chest.

A scream of agony escaped their father’s lips, and the scent of fresh blood only drove the zombie into a greater frenzy. It dove for his throat.

“No!” Second Brother wailed, but what could he do? With his father’s throat torn open, even Yue Qi’s mastery of the five elements would be powerless to save him now.

“Father!” Yue Qi’s mind was in turmoil. The elemental spells that had come so effortlessly now failed him. Acting on instinct, he flung his sword, sending it straight through the zombie’s skull, only stopping at the hilt—a testament to the force behind the throw.

“Father! Please don’t die! Why did you save me? It’s all my fault!” Yue Lei shoved the dead zombie off his father’s chest, heedless of the black blood, and cradled his father in his arms.

“Second… son…” Their father’s voice was choked, blood bubbling from the wound in his throat after only a few words.

“I’m here, Father, I’m here!” Second Brother grasped his father’s hand, tears streaming down his face.

“Stay with me, talk to me, don’t sleep! Qi can save you—he will save you!” Second Brother begged, though he could see his father’s breath weakening. The end was near.

“Second… son… I know my own body. I… won’t last long. With your eldest brother gone, you’re the eldest now. Take care… take care of your brothers and sisters…” His father’s voice broke off in a fit of coughing, blood pouring from his throat.

Yue San, Yue Qi, and Fourth Sister all rushed over, and even Yue Liu, who had fainted earlier, had regained consciousness.

“Qi… come here…” Their father beckoned.

“I’m here, Father, I’m here! Please, whatever you want, just say it!” Yue Qi’s tears finally fell as he gazed at his father’s face.

“Qi… I’m so proud… our family has produced a cultivator like you. It’s a great honor!” A faint smile curved their father’s lips.

“Don’t speak, Father! Please rest!” Yue Qi pleaded, but his father waved him off.

“Let me finish… Qi, now that you’re the strongest, look after your brothers and sisters well…”

“I will, Father! I promise, as long as I live, nothing will happen to any of them!” Yue Qi gripped his father’s hand.

“Good… good… And, Qi, if you ever find your Fifth Brother and Eldest Sister… if they’ve become zombies, give them peace. That way, I’ll have company beneath the earth…” His father’s coughs grew more violent, death close at hand.

“I won’t let anything happen to them! I’ll bring them back!” Yue Qi swore, tears shining in his eyes.

“And your mother… I know you did what you had to just now, but with one leg gone, she’ll have a hard time getting by…” A coughing fit seized his father, his words trailing off.

“Don’t talk anymore, Father! I’ll take care of Mother, I swear. Please, just rest!” Yue Qi cradled his father’s head, unwilling to let him speak another word.

“You all… you all must live… well…” His father’s voice faded, and in that moment, the last spark of life left his body.

“Father!” All five siblings cried out, their voices ringing with heartbreak. Yue Qi tried to gather the last shred of spiritual power within him, hoping to use the Rain Blessing to extend his father’s life, but a wave of dizziness nearly made him faint. He bit his tongue to stay conscious, but the spell failed.

“Go well, Father,” Yue Qi whispered, looking at his father one last time. Drawing his sword from his back, he gently pierced his father’s temple. The remaining siblings turned away, unwilling to witness this final mercy.

And as Yue Qi’s sword slid home, two silent tears traced paths down Mother Yue’s cheeks where she lay nearby.