po xiao 𑁍 wuliang (open post)

[wuliang]

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[jingyu]

Night hunts on one's own were rare but Jingyu simply wanted to have an evening on his own. Not that his father restricted him so much. But certainly, there were days when he simply wanted to wander out to see what sort of creatures were hiding out there and protect those who were on the roads that would lead in and out of Lotus Pier.

He's walking along a pathway when he spots a lone traveler who seems to be walking in a strange way, as if feeling his way rather than paying attention to the pathway. Slithering silently behind him is a Measuring Snake.

It's quick. Jingyu is out of the trees and onto the road, letting his sword fly through the air.

𑁍 i can hear the voices haunting; there is nothing left to fear and i am still calling to you

[wuliang]

[po xiao had known setting out from the city would mean stumbling into unexpected situations; there have already been three run-ins with well-meaning farmhands traveling alongside him on the road and only an hour ago, someone had helped guide him toward the nearby town named ‘zizhou.’ if he continues through the shudong area, he'll eventually reach kuizhou, then from there, he can head further inward toward denser, more populated areas where it should be easier to stow away somewhere.

something he hadn't anticipated whatsoever? being mistaken for a completely different person some bandits had targeted during their daily sleuthing for unfortunate individuals.

lucky for them, the person they actually attack is rather defenseless; two approach from the front, one at his back, all of which po xiao hears and registers but none of them are keen on small-talk.] I'm not who you're looking for, [he insists, over and over again, although to no avail. they continue mumbling amongst themselves about his lack of white robes then someone nearest his right side shuffles toward him, he turns their direction, lifts the bamboo rod in his left hand and cracks them right in their face. they stumble back with a pained cry, his makeshift weapon comes up again and even though he swings another person's direction, they're faster than he is, able to dodge, then before he's allowed another chance, the man behind him swoops in.

hands clamp tight around the boy's arms, forcing them against his sides initially, but when he proves too squirmy, they're pretzeled, yanked up so they can be pinned against his back instead. his turn to yelp and, despite already having his upper-half restrained, attempt kicking outward whenever the second assailant from earlier tries coming at him again. yet another feeble attempt as the captor simply cinches po xiao's ankle in a vice-like grip, jams his leg so his knee is bent against his chest, trapping him in an awkward, entirely vulnerable position.]

Help! [is what he shouts first.] Somebody, help m—mmph! [but that ends quickly when whichever attacker holding his arms resituates and frees one hand to clap it over his mouth.

as they come closer, out of sheer desperation, po xiao uses what little leverage he can get, lifts himself off the leg he's standing on and delivers a well-placed kick against the man's ribcage in front of him, knocking them all off-balance so they tumble to the ground. he's aware his right arm twisted an uncomfortable way, but all he can think is to desperately start crawling away while everyone else gathers their bearings.]