His cornbread was always robbed, half of it, every time. He never said a word. Just held the half that was lef…
His cornbread was always robbed, half of it, every time. He never said a word. Just held the half that was left, ran to a distant corner, and stuffed it into his mouth. Eat faster, and there would be nothing left to steal.
He heard them laugh behind his back, saying he was useless, good at nothing except running away. He didn't dare talk back. After all, even half a cornbread could keep you alive. And if you could live, what was the point of fighting?
So they called him a coward. A soft-bellied coward.
Someone like that shouldn't have ended up in the army.
The first time his sword sank into a man's chest, he saw those eyes full of hatred. The tears came faster than the blood. His hands were shaking so badly as he sawed off the man's ear. The cut was jagged, uneven.
When he got back to camp,
"Hey, the one on that bed, is he dead or what? Hasn't moved in ages."
"First time seeing blood. Bet he's scared shitless. If I ever get a medal, I'm heading home. No way I'm staying here."
"Not everyone here's like us. That General Wang Qing's adopted son, that one's born lucky. Doesn't have to live on a knife's edge."
"Used to be a nobody too, I heard. Now he's all swagger and wine, causing trouble day in, day out. Nobody dares stop him."
"Hey! You dead or what? Holy shit! He just sat up without a sound. What's your name? Hey, You deaf? I said, what's your name? How old are you?"
"...Thirteen. He—He Ran."
"Tch. Such a fancy name. Your parents must be scholars or something!"
"I have no parents."
"Well damn. Someone still gave you a proper name? That's rare."
He didn't answer. Just licked his lips and muttered,
"Yeah... someone did. The General."
He heard them snort.
"The general? What, you dreaming now? Which muddy patch of dirt did you see that cricket of a general in—Hey?! You dare hit me?"
"...A general is a general."
The sneering soldier looked up and saw a pair of eyes, crazed and intent. For a moment, he flinched.
"...Psycho. I'm not messing with a lunatic."