Blades of Change

[Doctor Zhen]

The atmosphere crackled with tension as I recognized the boy as the village merchant's son. Swiftly, I retrieved my satchel filled with medical equipment and herbs. "Lead the way," I instructed, my voice aiming for a delicate balance between firmness and reassurance. Urgently, the boy dashed off, and I followed closely behind, my senses keenly attuned to the impending confrontation.

The village sprawled before us, a labyrinth of narrow paths and humble dwellings. It took us several minutes to navigate its twists and turns until we reached the storefront, where a grim tableau awaited us. Ten imposing figures stood before us, their faces contorted with malice, their very presence suffusing the air with menace.

At the heart of the turmoil, a middle-aged man sat on the ground, his features twisted in agony as he clutched his bleeding arm. Beside him, a woman offered silent support, her eyes reflecting the fear and despair that hung heavy in the air.

The leader of the gang, a behemoth of a man brandishing a menacing ax, bellowed his demands with a voice that reverberated like thunder. "We just need money to protect your store from damages. All the nearby villages pay for protection. Otherwise, who knows what might happen?"

The laughter that followed was a cruel symphony of mockery, each note a dagger to the heart of the beleaguered couple. Tears welled in their eyes, their hope dwindling with each passing moment.

Undeterred by the chaos, I pressed on through the crowd alongside the boy. "Father!" the boy cried out, his voice trembling with fear and desperation as he rushed to his parents' side.

The mother's reprimand was gentle yet tinged with worry, her words a whispered plea for safety amidst the chaos. "Why did you come back? I told you to go home, and you even brought Doctor Zhen with you."

"I had to find help," the boy replied, tears streaming down his face, his vulnerability a stark contrast to the brutality surrounding us.

With a comforting pat on the boy's head, I knelt beside the injured man, my hands steady as I retrieved the tools of my trade. "It's okay. It's my job to take care of things like this, right?" I said, my voice a steady anchor amidst the storm, my focus unwavering despite the chaos around us.

As I tended to the man's wounds, a sense of purpose filled me. "Thank you, Doctor Zhen. Now please leave; these people are dangerous," the man's gratitude was a balm to my soul, a reminder of why I had chosen this path.

But I was not yet done, for as a doctor, I knew that true healing required more than just treating the symptoms. I needed to address the root of the disease. With resolve in my heart, I turned to face the crowd, drawing my sword from its sheath. "Why don't you leave these poor folks alone? If you want, I can offer you some apples in exchange," I suggested, hoping to defuse the situation peacefully.

Their mocking laughter echoed through the air, but I stood my ground, my gaze unwavering as I met the eyes of the gang's leader. "Look at that piece of crap! It looks like it'll snap in half with just my hands!" one of them jeered.

But then, a shift occurred. I saw the leader's eyes narrow, his gaze fixing upon the strange white light dancing along the edge of my sword. His confidence wavered, sweat glistening on his brow. As a doctor, observation was a skill I had honed meticulously, and now it paid off.

"Hey Xin, break that crappy sword," he commanded, his voice laced with false bravado.

With resignation, I watched as Xin approached, his ax raised high in a mockery of violence. But when our blades clashed, there was no sound, only a heavy thud as Xin's hands and ax fell to the ground. The crowd fell silent, disbelief hanging thick in the air.

In that moment, as the dust settled and the chaos abated, I stood tall, my sword held aloft. The balance of power had shifted, and I knew that I had made a difference.

As I approached to offer assistance, Xin, visibly shaken, scrambled away in terror, his wide eyes reflecting the fear that gripped his soul. The gang leader, jolted out of his stupor by Xin's frantic screams, stared at me with eyes widened in apprehension.

The leader, a formidable figure, bowed deeply, his forehead nearly grazing the ground in a desperate plea for mercy. "Great Master, we did not know these people were under your protection. Please, have mercy on us. My people will never enter the village again. As a token of our gratitude and to ensure your mercy, we will prevent any hostile force from entering."

Before I could utter a response, the leader's commanding voice cut through the tense air, ordering his men to bow and forbidding them from turning their backs on the Great Master as they retreated. With backs bent at a perfect angle and eyes fixed on the ground, the gang members exited in a humbled procession, their departure a stark contrast to their earlier arrogance.

Observing the scene with a mixture of disbelief and relief, the couple and the boy stood rooted to the spot, their wide eyes betraying their astonishment at the sudden turn of events. The boy, overcome with excitement, leaped into the air, his voice ringing out with admiration. "Doctor Zhen, you are so strong!"

I let out a weary sigh, my gaze falling upon the bloody hands on the ground. In that moment of reflection, I couldn't help but draw a grim conclusion: just as bacteria must be controlled and even beneficial under certain circumstances, so too must bad people. If left unchecked, they would inevitably sow chaos and destruction.

The couple's voices broke through my thoughts, filled with gratitude as they extended an invitation. "Dr. Zhen, would you like to come and have a meal with us? It's the least we can do."

Turning my gaze skyward, I beheld the moon, its radiant glow casting a tranquil aura over the scene. The idea of a warm meal to soothe both body and mind was undeniably tempting. With a genuine smile, I turned to the couple. "I would love to. Do you happen to have any apples?"