ã€ŠReformation and Insurgenceã€‹


 Chapter 1: The End before the Beginning

    The moon shone brightly in the starless sky. Its radiance was not to the degree of the Sun, yet people, specifically the lower classes, still thanked its presence for providing guidance through the thick forests in the night. Despite the availability of a main dirt road that crosses through the aforementioned forests of the Yee Province, toll taxes were at an all-time high in the perspective of the average commoner that made pocket money out of the wood they sold or the leftover vegetables they had gathered after harvest. The merchants and nobles turned a blind eye to any increase in rates as it was all the same for every citizen of the kingdom. Despite that, the commoners did not mind the situation as they would be biting off more than they could chew with opposition to the toll increase. Besides, the moonlight gave a sense of tranquility as it settled over the rocks and bamboo shoots. Horse carriages travelled mostly in the mornings where highwaymen targeting the rich were rendered useless due to the obvious sunlight and the plethora of well-off travelers along the road. Therefore, the night was like any other, silent. Unlike currently¡­

    A barrage of arrows rain from above, each tied to several caskets filled with gunpowder. They were headed to a horse-drawn carriage that was already up in flames. The attack had occurred several hours back and out of the 4 horses assigned to pull the carriage, only one remained. This wave of arrows was the 8th barrage and it was homing in closer and closer. The driver ordered the horse to take a sharp left but the arrows covered a wide area and a second later, a series of explosions were heard. Bits of wood and dirt flung in all directions and smoke rapidly began to rise out of the crash site.

    The sound of the hooves of horses became more and more apparent as a squadron of horse-drawn carriages arrived at the scene. Compared to the carriage that was destroyed, these did not have a roof cover and were compact. These were war carriages. The crackling of thunder sounded and rain began to pour. The flames that were raging with chaos started to lessen its danger as it was doused by the increasingly heavy downpour. The soldiers upon the carriages heard the constant collisions of the water droplets with their armor as they waited for the commander to give a signal with attentive eyes.

    A foot step was heard. An intentionally loud one coming from the wrecks of the carriage. The commander raised his hand, seated upon his personal war horse. The soldiers brandished their fire sticks, a long pole that has a tube attached to the end with axe heads surrounding the surface of the length of the tube like a mace. A cartridge of gunpowder was inserted into the tube, along with a small ball projectile afterwards. A secondary soldier positioned a flaming torch above a flammable surface connected to the tube. Despite the rain, this torch was still going strong. These series of actions took place over several seconds after the raise signal and every war carriage had aimed their fire sticks at the wreck. One second¡­two seconds¡­three, several trees shuddered. 6 kunai made of ice pierced straight into the tough tree branches. Each kunai was attached to a continuous column of water, formed by intense adhesion, connected to a person¡¯s two hands. The column was a formerly impromptu object that behaved like a string but worked better than any string could. The person could even never run out of string as long as he had a water source.

    As he pulled on it, the person moved with great agility as he soared into the dense tree branches right before the fire sticks were fired. What remained was the burned-up body of the driver, several planks of wood and torn curtain fabric as well as a horse that was blown to pieces by several of the projectiles unintentionally.

    Disgusted by their reaction time, the commander immediately shouted out to the soldiers to chase in that general direction where the person had escaped. He devised a small squad to follow right behind while the others would speed up and reach the end of the forest, setting up a blockade.

    ----

    Sparks flew as the war carriages repeatedly shot long range explosive arrows at the upcoming trees that the escapee was supposedly headed to. The small squad of soldiers, jumping from tree to tree, momentarily stopped in their tracks, positioned their bows and fired their arrows at the escapee that was in sight from all of them. A pincer formation was formed. Yet, the escapee dodged the arrows with ease, readily landed on trees and rocks that were not hit by the explosions and avoided the spreading fires and rising smoke. Accompanied by the ongoing torrential downpour, the blend of smog, flame and water would hinder anyone¡¯s ability to continue what the escapee did. He continuously made kunai from the rainwater, attached them to tree branches and swung from tree to tree, away from his pursuers.

    As the ordeal continued, he sensed that the trees were more dispersed than before and a heavy gale struck his body. The escapee realized that he reached the end of the forest and what awaited him was a grand canyon that reached several hundred meters deep and wider than any large-scale paddy field that he knew of. Explosions were let off behind him and a barrage of arrows headed his way. The strong gale subsided and he realized his opportunity. As he strengthened his kick from the last tree he could land on, he jumped high into the sky. The blockage was seen further to his left as they blocked the entrance to the long bridge that leads the passage across the Grand Canyon of Lou. Understandably for the commander, that bridge was the only way for people to cross the canyon so his judgment to block the entrance was one of logic yet the escapee goes beyond the sense of logic. Leaping straight into the gap of the canyon, the escapee felt the gaze of the pursuers, guards and the commander as they questioned the thought process of this man, jumping into certain death. Yet, he was completely sane. On the other side of the canyon were another patch of thick forests and several tall mountains in the distance. The main trail was visible on the far left and tall cement structures could be observantly sighted when looked hard enough.

    The escapee¡¯s body was horizontal towards the ground. He did a twirl of his body, smoothly unsheathing his double-edged Jian. The Jian made a turn around his body and a clear white halo emerged in the wake of the blade¡¯s path. In the face of the dark blanket of the storm clouds and the backdrop of the void night sky, the halo shone brightly, reflections of the colors of the rainbow and translucent white dust surrounding him. Still airborne, he resembled one of the divine beings that came from the afterlife, the Heavenly Kingdom. The instant the escapee completed the halo arc, he was sent forward with incredible force. Flying straight to the other side of the canyon, he crashed landed with a somersault, promptly getting up with no wasted movement as the clouds of dust from the impact danced around him. As the dust settled, the escapee turned to the bridge as he saw the war carriages striding over to the side of the canyon he was in. The small squad on the other side were left speechless and confused. To make things worse, another war carriage battalion was arriving to the aid of the commander. The escapee sensed their presence yet made no haste, ensuring the bamboo bag he was carrying was secured firm to his back. Just as he did so, the soldiers had surrounded him.

    There were multiple columns of spearmen holding halberds. War carriages were stationed behind with the archers, aiming their respective weapons at the escapee. Most importantly were the 4 specialized Flying Guillotine wielders that took positions of the East, West, South and North of the escapee. The escapee recalled that he landed quite near the edge of the canyon, a few tens of meters away. The thick forests were another several tens of meters further back. He was trapped in an open area.

    On the commander¡¯s side, he was positioned near the opening to the rest of the main forest trail. Personally, he had never seen such a feat. Surely, based on his beliefs, the ¡®supernatural¡¯ the escapee displayed were that displayed in pottery and expressed in poems and songs but the man itself was nothing to write home about. The escapee was drenched from the rainwater, like the rest of the soldiers, but he seemed to be still standing strong and not succumbing to fever any moment. The commander felt a heat in his body, a defense mechanism. But he couldn¡¯t retreat any further.

    The man looked to be in his early 20s and had a slim but toned body, easily identified by the wet fabrics. He wore a shiny black sleeved Hanfu tunic, tightened by a black sash, and bagged black pants. This was accompanied by a black sleeveless robe, scaled leather shoulder guards, metal gauntlets, metal shin guards and leather boots. All under a black color scheme. He wore a black blindfold and his long silky black hair was tightened into a bun, fastened by a clip that can double as a throwing dart. His weapon seemed to only be his double-edged long Jian. It has a red guard, trimmed with gold patterns and a brown leather wrap on the handle.

    ¡®He is the true definition of an assassin. Supposedly, when one of his class gets surrounded, it''s game over. But¡­but how is he still standing so confidently? Is he going to use his supernatural powers to break out of this formation? Let¡¯s first start with negotiations. We can complete the objective without any bloodshed,¡¯ though the commander.

    As the escapee readied his sword, the commander shouted out his terms.

    ¡°Sir, we are part of the Emperor¡¯s Army. I am instructed to return that thing in the bamboo bag of yours. I recognise your abilities to be one blessed by the Heavens so I would be grateful if you so willingly surrender that thing to me on behalf of the Emperor. We don¡¯t have to end this with blood. I will provide you with a letter of recommendation to the Intelligence Director in exchange!¡±

    No reply came. His sword is still raised.

    The general grunted in frustration.

    ¡°Spider Pincer! Attack!¡±

    The Flying Guillotines were released. Flying towards the escapee at incredible speeds, the razor blades spin rapidly around the base of the compact disks as the chain attached to the center of the disk was let out by the wielders.

    These things were the Emperor¡¯s newest invention. With the width of 3 adult hands, these razor-blade disks came homing onto the victim¡¯s head by the skill of the user. Once on it, the disk expanded to form a basket covering the entire head. Spirals of protruding blades surrounded the length of the basket and the original razors with a much larger length were based around the neck. The wielder will then pull on the chain to retract the razor blades inwards to pierce the victim¡¯s face and chop their head off, detaching it from the neck. The basket will contain the head within. It¡¯s one deadly weapon.

    But these things are non-lethal to people like the escapee. Upon the commander¡¯s instructions, the escapee ran towards the soldiers nearest to the forests. He swatted the Flying Guillotine out of the way while the other three missed their mark. By then, he was closing into those soldiers and struck multiple of them. The archers on that side were soon struck by his blade while the others fired their bows. The escapee grabbed one of the soldiers as a meat shield and survived no arrow shots. A second larger, he went straight into the columns of soldiers, breaking formation. The other archers had no choice but to aim carefully to avoid hitting their fellow soldiers. The delay in their sporadic shots allowed the escapee to mow down lines of men more freely by slicing the metal parts of the halberds and having the next sword slice struck all their necks. Picking up a non-damaged halberd, he swung the weapon in huge but effective arcs, making space and cutting down men as he reached closer towards the forest.

    Unfortunately, the commander acted fast and moved his soldiers stationed at the road entrance to reinforce the side closest to the forests, while the other spearmen rushed to narrow the gap between them and the escapee so that he had no chance to dodge thrusts from all directions. The fire stick users remained on standby in case any halo emerged on the escapee. Their firepower would hopefully halt any abilities the escapee may wield.

    Rain continued to fall. Numerous bodies laid on the soft ground and the mud was a blend of dark red and brown. As the soldiers on the side near the forests were left to only 2 dying individuals, the reinforcements arrived in the nick of time to save their fellow comrades. Brandishing their halberds in a thrusting formation, the forces opposite them got to formation as well. Spiky halberds surrounded the escapee. There was no way to avoid all of them even if one had excellent swordsmanship. The soldiers charged forward. The circle of the trap grew smaller and smaller. But¡­

    Moments before the first few halberds were able to pierce the escapee, the escapee raised his sword along with his empty hand.

    ¡®The very persistent bunch, aren¡¯t they?¡¯ he thought.

    As he did so, streaks of translucent white light bend to form a double helix. Where they end, a halo, the same one from before, emerged above his head in the wake of the trail made by a quick swirl of his Jian. The white light shone brightly. Stunned by the phenomena, the charge slowed, causing some to instinctively fall back a few steps. The fire sticks were immediately ignited, sending a rush of ball projectiles at the escapee. The commander encouraged their soldiers to continue the attack nonetheless. But before anyone could take another step, the sound of cracking ice could be heard and right after that, the earth shook.

    ---

    What makes a rose the flower of love? Would it be the lovely red color or the smell that accompanies such flowers? Maybe even, the trend set by current famous novelists, poets and artists? No¡­that¡¯s not what the escapee thought. Or to be more precise, he knows no answer to that yet he craves for another question, how can a rose kill someone? Even if the stories told of the lead¡¯s romance starting out with the gift of a rose, some, in the end, died in their lover¡¯s arms. Intentionally be the lover themselves that did the dead or if they were also a victim, expressing their sorrow? How about breakups? One so serious that exaggeration is commonplace to say that people unalive themselves after such events for a multitude of reasons.

    ¡®How ridiculous!¡¯ the escapee thought.

    Despite this, it can be assumed that true romance sprouted from roses and anything beforehand was just a sense of longing or attraction. And if romance can lead to such death in reality, why not use roses to kill instead of steel. How about a steel rose with thorns that can bleed skin? How about adding a layer of coldness to such constructs to ensure the connotation of death and emotionlessness after a period of having all the warmth of love in the world? What great potency is this train of thought? And, if the escapee is bonded with the Sword of Nothing? A feeling that is colder than permafrost itself brought to life, materialized and expressed by others at the will of the owner of the Sword of Nothing. That¡¯s the reasoning and power behind one of the moves created and mastered by the escapee, a disciple of one of the most obscure but powerful clans of the Martial World. He calls it¡­

    ¡®The Rose given by The Frozen-Hearted¡¯

    With blood as his catalyst, the earthbound souls and roaming ghouls filled by such emotion gather near the halo like moth to the flame. Yet, only he can see the accumulation as the bond with the Sword grants an emotional connection to the spiritual realm of the Earth plane. Thousands upon thousands rush to the halo in milliseconds as the wish of that cold feeling soon became reality in exchange for the soul¡¯s essence, their redemption. Once filled, they may go to the Heavenly Kingdom. Otherwise, the souls and ghouls have to stay in the Earth plane for who knows how long to gather enough essence as punishment for their sins. The souls gathered in the halo are the type in abundance, the revengeful. They are attracted by blood, the purer the better like one of babies, the purest of the pure. Though a baby sacrifice itself is the taboo of the Heavens, for revengeful souls; it is the highest form of attraction. A delicacy. The core root of his Martial Principle is exchange, one¡¯s karma. Here, the escapee is using the blood of soldiers and some of the soldiers¡¯ souls. What irony to kill an enemy with the resource of an enemy.

    The coldness took the form of ice and the emotions brought were shown through aura. The ground erupted as a giant rose made of ice as hard as the toughest alloy of metal, reinforced by the aura of lost and hopelessness, began to form. Aura hits the spirit. Ice hits the physical. A deadly widespread move executed by the escapee. Tall structures of shiny white crystal grew at the center of the rose, piercing the dark clouds above and each formed a giant halo at the top with the brightness of a small star. The petals moved with efficiency, entrapping large groups of soldiers and slicing them up. The stems filled with thorns emerged right after which behave like whips and tentacles. They toss columns of men into the air; thorns extend like spikes to piece the tough armour of the soldiers. The ball projectiles left no mark and the stems tore through the war carriages with ease. It was like a monstrous entity making a slaughter.

    The commander was devastated. This monster had no weakness. There was nothing he could do but accept his death. Yet, it did not come. Once all the soldiers were killed, the rose disintegrated to white dust and in the centre, the escapee stood still in the direction of the commander. The rain was still unforgiving as ever, continuing to hit the both of them as thunder cracked in the background.

    ¡°D¡­¡­D¡­Devil! You¡¯re the Dev¡­!¡±

    The escapee blitzed the commander, beheading him as the commander screamed his fears, charging towards the escapee with his glaive in hand on his horse. The escapee landed softly on the wet ground. What remained was the commander¡¯s personal horse. He walked towards and forcibly got on it before heading onto the main trail to reach the next city nearby. There was little time to walk on foot, especially in this weather.

    ---

    The city was one of relative size, filled with many stores, street vendors and pubs. Many kinds of social classes live here, protected by six 40 meter walls built around the city. Such cities were called Castle Cities. Most nobles live in high-rise castles with jagged points on their roofs, decorated with dragon, phoenix or lion statues. The top merchants had large multi-story restaurants or pubs with hostels located at the top floors. Others that make enough for day-to-day expenses by selling goods or providing services like writing letters or healthcare lived right above their shop in two story houses, usually lined together in a row and extended for many rows throughout the city. The poor mostly lived right next to the walls or outside of it. The farmers were a varied bunch. Those that had a business selling a surplus could have lived in the city center but had fields outside the walls while others only lived out in the wild along with the hunters and herbalists, only sometimes coming to the city to sell leftovers.

    Despite the divide, all men in these classes could agree that the only place that had a commoner past by a noble so often was the red-light district. This zone was particularly neglected by the police guard so hidden deals and crimes grew rampant here. Despite this, people still flocked in every now and then and due to this, the escapist wouldn¡¯t be found by the police who should be informed by the Emperor¡¯s messenger group through a bird scroll. To blend more in the crowd, he planned to book a room in the most popular brothel of the zone. Numerous swordsmen came here so smelling like wrought iron was not uncommon here.

    ---

    The Yuan Brothel was the star attraction of the red-light district. While most of the profits came from its incredible hostess and entertainment services, there was a relatively large profit income coming from human trafficking and the drug trade. Crime syndicates would sell off daughters of families in debt to Yuan Brothel where they worked for no payment and the service fee went to the brothel and crime syndicates only. There are numerous nobles that are interested in various sizes and ages of women at the right price. On the other hand, boys were made as slaves in manual labor or human henchmen. Otherwise, they could be sold to nobles who are into those ¡®activities¡¯.

    Lian is one such victim to this business but fortunately, she was deemed not valuable to any customers so had very little worth as a hostess and worked as a cleaner and waiter most of the time. She looked at the main hall from the corner of a pillar, holding her broom. At the center were a large number of tables and chairs placed relatively close together. A lot of men and women intermingle with each other doing a variety of activities from chatting and drinking to acts of pleasure so openly. Outside were numerous buildings several stories tall that sandwiched the main courtyard with a center fountain that leads to the front entrance to the Yuan Brothel. The balconies of the 2nd to 5th floor were filled with groups of pleasure women raising their scented handkerchiefs out to the never-ending stream of customers entering the premises. They waved it as passionately as a soldier does their flag banner while voicing out numerous cries and words of seduction. Men drew close to all these taunts or praise and went upstairs. The main building was no different but had more luxurious rooms and stages for theater. But one thing was certain. They were all dirty in the young girl¡¯s eyes who just turned 15 a few days ago. They all were animals that acted out of carnal desires. They all were hopeless.

    Turning her eyes away from the view to continue sweeping, a tall lady approached her.

    ¡°Lian, come here,¡±

    She turned to face Madame Lee, one of the managers of the Brothel that had Lian under her supervision. Dressed in a red Hanfu dress with a light robe, a golden ornamental hair clip and a fur scarf that dropped down to her waist, she looked beautiful compared to your average pleasure woman.

    ¡°Yes Madame, what can I be of service for?¡±

    ¡°There is a new client that booked one of the luxury suites but remained silent for the entire time. He went into the suite and paid the money immediately apparently. Unfortunately, all the hostesses are busy and though we already sent several girls, all didn¡¯t come to get a reaction out of him. So, I offered to send you to be his companion for the night. They all seem to agree after I pointed out that he is new here and that he is obviously here for a one-night stand. Trust a hostess¡¯ instinct, you hear!¡±

    ¡°However, Madame, why me? I am sure that there are other girls my age that are prettier than I am. I am here just satisfied with doing the chores. I¡­

    ¡°Hold your tongue, young lady! If you think it was out of my goodwill to give you another chance at fastening the clearance of the debt your grandfather owed, don¡¯t be too na?ve! Especially since the interest rates are still active on the remaining debt, it¡¯s practically impossible to work hard enough to cancel out the debt by just doing housework. Just thank the God of Fortune that all the skilled hostesses are currently busy and the ones that are in reserve didn¡¯t appeal to the client. It¡¯s your turn now.¡±

    ¡°¡­Und¡­Understood Madame. Thank you for this opportunity.¡±

    As Lian finished her thanks, the Owner arrived.

    ¡°Oi! Rat girl! Wash that body of yours and get going! Time¡¯s money!

    ¡°Apologies, Owner¡± Lian said hastily as she headed to the outside well.

    The Madame just watched the young girl rush into the dark corridor.

    ---

    Several minutes later, Lian headed her way to the client¡¯s room. As she walked past the other rooms, she could see how different they were to the common rooms. The windows had more intricate patterns; the scent of flowers was always in the air; and food and wine were served to nearly every room, accompanied by a music ensemble. The gap in services was enormous. At the end of the corridor was a pair of doors, each having a golden-plated door handle. Lian gritted her teeth as she prepared herself. She was a virgin after all. The door opened inwards and what she saw was a young man in his early 20s, naked from the top to bottom, wearing only underwear. He appeared to be attending to his wounds and it seemed to be pretty minor cuts. What shocked her the most were the horrendous scars throughout his body. Despite that, she still blushed at the awkward timing of her entry.

    The man, the escapee, turned to face the young girl. After an intense glare standoff for a few seconds, he continued with attending to his wounds. On the other hand, Lian promptly closed the doors and quietly sighed as she headed to the main table he was using.

    ¡®Alright Lian, calm down. Remember how Madame taught you¡­But, looking at him now, the blindfold. Isn¡¯t he blind? This makes it even harder. No wonder the reserve wasn¡¯t successful.¡¯ Lian thought to herself.

    The main table screamed fancy for herself. Engraved with jade patterns and studded gems, the marble top was filled with things that didn¡¯t fit the theme. A simple jug of tea and a couple of teacups were placed at the side. What took up most of the place however, were the strips of damaged armor and laid out fabric of clothing. At the side was a bucket dyed a deep dark red and placed on two chairs were a bamboo bag and a large Jian respectively. He sat on another so only one chair remained. She ¡®gracefully¡¯ moved the chair next to him and sat down, holding the jug in the pose of a loyal servant.

    ¡°Want me to pour you a cup, Sir?¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    No response was given.

    ¡®Tolerate him, Lian. Tolerate him! Money doesn¡¯t grow on trees.¡¯

    ¡°Sir, it seems you¡¯re pretty new to these places, are you a traveler? Mind sharing your tales of greatness?¡±

    A silence emerged

    ¡®I will try again. Madame said that the hostesses left of their own accord and not out of the client¡¯s inconvenience. Let¡¯s press forward!¡¯

    ¡°I saw your sword on that chair over there. It looks so cool. Why don¡¯t you go and show this young girl the skills of a warrior!¡±

    She was left unanswered.

    ¡®Again¡­Again¡¯

    ---

    ¡°So that¡¯s what happened when I saw a fox in the outdoor kitchen. Quite the hair-raising tale, aren¡¯t it?¡±

    For the past ten minutes, Lian had been talking to herself, technically, non-stop. All for the escapee to leave her hanging. Lian¡¯s face was getting red and redder by the minute. Though she was taught to be patient, this was too much. She had morals and was a human herself. Lian let out her frustrations in an outburst.

    ¡°Hey! I am currently trying my best here to tolerate that ignorant behavior of yours. But¡­I apologize that I can take no more. I know that you paid for such prices for services that you are expected to get. Yet, you do not seem to accept my or even the previous girls¡¯ efforts. I do not know about the other girls but I have a dignity of my own and even if I was forced to take this job, it is something that defines who I am and does not give you the right to look done on me to the point I am treated like a ghost. At last a dog gets a pat on the head after barking and whimpering. Is my status as a prostitute so low that you see me lesser than a dog? Actually, you are not even looking in the first place and I am spouting out all this nonsense to no one but myself to comfort myself more.¡±

    Her voice began to muffle as tears ran down her face.

    ¡°Why¡­Why¡­Why did you even come here in the first place!?¡±

    Lian stood up and immediately headed for the entrance.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    She stood in her tracks as she reached out for the door handle. His first words to her.

    ¡®He actually did listen.¡¯

    The escapee stood up and started to wear his clothes and armor. He continued speaking whilst doing so.

    ¡°My name¡¯s Jia MianJu. I am an assassin employed by the Royal Family until a few hours back. I am sorry about my lack of good character before this. A series of past events clouded my judgment and buried me in a state of confusion. So, if you happen to meet those girls, could you tell them my apologies on my behalf?¡±

    ¡°Wait, hol¡­¡±

    ¡°If my presence offends you, I don¡¯t mind leaving the premises at this moment. Just give me a few minutes to pack my things.¡±

    ¡°SHUT IT!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Why does it have to end like this¡­I forgive you. But¡­As punishment, at least let me finish what I was paid for. You booked this place for the entire night so let me keep you company until morning.¡±

    ¡°¡­Al¡­Alright. As you wish, Young Lady.¡±

    ¡°Oi, don¡¯t be so respectful. You are the client after all.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Call me Lian instead, Elder brother MianJu.¡±

    ---

    As the clock struck midnight, the streets of the red-light district were still bustling as ever. Among the numerous gatherings, all led to a lustful session between one another. Yet, there was one such pairing that was forming a different kind of bond.

    ¡°Really? Is that how eunuchs lost their crown jewels? What a terrifying experience. Even a girl like myself could imagine the pain of my lower half yanked out by a bull.¡±

    ¡°Lian, despite your young age, you are really into this, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t say it as if I am some pervert? I¡¯m still a virgin.¡±

    ¡°Being a virgin doesn¡¯t justify you not¡­¡±

    ¡°Anyways! I am just interested in the life of the Royal Gardens as a whole. The transformation from man to eunuch is another curious palace lifestyle. Though, I am disgusted that the Emperor had over a hundred concubines and one main wife. And, each wife has a certain rank in the family. Being a wife is more like a job if I were to marry the Emperor.¡±

    ¡°Whatever your opinion is, they all get a monthly allowance by the Emperor and do not have to starve or work manual labor, unlike you.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°In my opinion, all they¡¯re married to is money. In exchange for their dignity as a lady, they live a physical life better than you would ever be.¡±

    As MianJu expressed his thoughts, his mind drifted off to an image of a woman, shrouded in darkness. A black figure that wore heavy garments and an intricate ornamental headpiece.

    ¡°Therefore, don¡¯t place conclusions from just your own base of reasoning.¡±

    Silence remained.

    ¡°Ha-ha, I am sorry. But Elder Brother MianJu, I still want to thank you for sharing your experience in the Royal Gardens. A commoner like me would never even have the chance of visiting that place in my lifetime or even my future generations if I had one. I am just a slave girl dependent on the brothel. I have an ever-increasing debt that will make sure I stay here forever. My family has only my 5 brothers and sisters and grandfather. Our small farm is spoiled rotten with lack of constant care and I am the eldest here. And, you, my first customer is only a visitor to this city. I will soon go back to household chores.¡±

    MianJu watched as the girl drank a cup of tea to clear her already sore throat.

    ¡°My life¡¯s just miserable, ain¡¯t it¡±

    He saw the face Lian made. One of melancholy and hopelessness. Dull eyes and a weakened breath. She tried her best to put up a smile but the situation still pulled her down. He can¡¯t blame her. She was only 15. Yet, he refused to sugar-coat any truth. One must face this horrid society even when they just started to walk. For her, this was her path to adulthood. One he wanted her to partake. Though this chat seemed insignificant, he hoped she could get something out of it. He himself could not find any worth his words carry, how about her, an entirely different person? He felt very pitiful at that moment.

    ¡°Anyways, I digress. The information you shared would only be a secret between you and me. A client and employee. I swear upon the Heavenly King.¡±

    ¡®She¡¯s still thinking about her responsibilities of her job. What a tough kid. Let¡¯s lighten up the mood¡¯

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you gonna ask about what¡¯s in that bag?¡±

    ¡°Ehh! No¡­no¡­I am not curious¡­It¡¯s just¡­¡±

    ¡°I saw your eyes drift regularly towards the box while I was talking about the Opera room of the Royal Gardens.¡±

    ¡°No, there is no need. It must be some classified object that could get me executed if I peek in right. At least, that¡¯s how the stories say.¡±

    ¡°I give you permission and it¡¯s not a big deal anyway.¡±

    ¡°¡­Alright.¡±

    As Lian started to open the latches on the bag, she could hear subtle breathing coming from the inside. Wondering if it¡¯s some ancient dragon, mystical Nue or golden dog, she excitedly opened the bag. It was a baby.

    ---

    Stunned by the fact that a baby was kept in this bag, she instantly lifted it out of the bag and hugged it tightly. After a few moments, she held it high in the air, admiring the cuteness of it. It had plump checks and large eyes, wrapped tightly in thick red cloth. Lian, who had not seen his little brothers and sisters after she was sold at age 12, found this sight to be the greatest moment of her life. It seemed her eyes sparkled with great radiance.

    Despite wearing the blindfold, MianJu felt the intense warmth of the atmosphere of the room.

    ¡®What if warmth is implemented in a Martial Art? Would a heart of determination emit flames that burn as hard as the wielder wants something achieved? If only Martial artists are that pure of heart in a dog eat dog world.¡¯

    ¡°¡ªJu, MianJu! Hello?¡±

    ¡°Yh, what¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Thanks again for this surprise!¡±

    A smile that was genuine. He felt that as well.

    ¡®It was my fault to think of happiness as a weapon to kill. Sorry, Lian. Please keep that smile forever.¡¯

    ¡°Lian!¡±

    She turned to face him.

    ¡°After morning comes, I will depart from this city. But I will come again one day. By that time, I expect you to be on the top of this Brothel. Provide me an experience better than this one. I promise to you and you promise to me.¡±

    Lian was bewildered by his statement. But after a pause, she laughed cheerfully while holding the baby in her arms, cradling it as she went. Standing right next to the window, the scene of her and the baby resembled that of a mother putting her child to bed.

    She spoke, ¡°What¡¯s the name of this child?¡±

    ¡°ReZhui,¡± he replied.

    ¡°ReZhui¡­What a unique name for a boy.¡±

    ¡°I know¡­The mother is a special individual after all.¡±

    ¡°What happened¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Understood. Everyone has their own secrets. I didn¡¯t share some of mine with you.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Elder Brother MianJu, if you happen to come across my grandfather, he really looks like me after all. Please spare some change for the old man. I haven¡¯t seen him in the past 3 years. No¡­I am not allowed to.¡±

    ¡°No problem¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Really¡­thank you. I hope¡­Ahhhhhhhhh!!!¡±

    An arrow suddenly pierced through the side of her head. Another hit her carotid artery. Blood splatter in large volumes. Painting the room red. Numerous ignitions were heard through the room¡¯s walls. The sound of Lian¡¯s wailing cries of pain paled in comparison as the baby woke up, startled and began to cry as well.

    Without hesitation, MianJu dashed towards the two of them as spear projectiles pierced through the walls like paper and into his body, covering both the already dead Lian and the frightened baby. The baby¡¯s eyes glared wide open as he saw the scene of MianJu spreading out his hands and widening his legs, stabbed with countless shrapnel bits, spearheads and arrows. Blood dripped from his wounds to the baby, who¡¯s cloth was soaked in Lian¡¯s blood. He had not known this feeling by words yet, but the instinct told him that he was not safe and was extremely scared. This trauma was one that will haunt him for the rest of his life that he shrieked in fear of the danger that is to come.

    Vomiting out more blood, MianJu could barely maintain consciousness. Yet, his guilt to protect them kept his brain going. He was drawn in too much into the moment to notice the movement of other assassins heading in to ambush the place.

    ¡®So that¡¯s what Master said when assassins are lone owls. Emotions like these dull our senses and events like this can occur once we¡¯re careless. I¡­was careless. I¡¯m sorry, the two of you.¡¯

    Using aura to augment his body, he ignored the strain on his bleeding muscles and scooped the baby out of Lian¡¯s hands and grabbed his Jian. Leading out of the room and dashing straight into the corridor, the rooms behind him exploded a second later. He guessed that they would bring in heavier anti-platoon firesticks to neutralize him. It was spot on.

    At the end of the corridor, he stopped at the opening leading to the main hall. It was chaos. Men and women, naked and clothed, scrambled out of their rooms and downstairs like a mischief of mice. As he turned a corner, a heavy mass collided with him. Looking down, he saw a short, ugly old lady with pimples as large as grapes and wore such sparkly jewelry that did not match her face. She was the Owner. One of the main culprits for the enslavement of Lian. A sudden rage gathered in MianJu¡¯s fist as he unsheathed his sword.

    ¡°You bastard! Do you know who you bumped into? Hey! Wait! Wait! Waaaiiit!¡±

    As she spouted such words, MianJu slashed his sword at the limbs of the Owner. She screamed in agony. A foul shriek that sent shudders to him for how disgusting her voice sounds. He proceeded with accurately placed cuts to more places like the liver, eyes and lungs. Just enough to keep her alive despite the grievous wounds.

    ¡°S¡­S¡­Pls¡­Stop!¡± begged the Owner before fainting. Although throbbing pain filled his muscles, it did not matter. At least, he can repay Lian a parting gift by making the Owner¡¯s life a place worse than hell.

    As he finished, the police guard and several assassins from the Royal Guard showed up and quickly surrounded MianJu.

    ¡®Luckily they arrived just after I finished dealing with the Owner. Lian, the Heavenly King must have given divine intervention to delay them. I pray you get to meet him.¡¯

    As he said his prayers, the men charged with their daggers and swords. With his bloodied right hand still holding his Jian securely, he formed a halo around his body through thought. The halo expanded as the blades came closer.

    Outside, a crowd formed around the largest of the brothels of the Zone. On one side of the main building, several large fires were rapidly spreading to the rest of the structure. All their faces were ones of shock and fear. But, no one would have expected a number of large crystalline structures of ice to erupt out of the building, turning bricks to dust and stone and wood into splinters. If that¡¯s not enough, a fierce gale of the cold tundra started to circulate the premises of Yuan Brothel. Time seemed to slow and everyone within the gale appeared to move at a slower pace, filled with eyes of hopelessness and narrowed pupils. No one knew what happened inside was an even greater phenomenon.

    ---

    After the release of the cold, mundane tundra, MianJu made quick haste with decapitating all the assassins and police guard. The tundra slowed the enemies to a large degree and his open wounds were covered by the formed ice on his skin. Yet, for this great power, he forced himself to forget his feelings for the mourning of Lian. Ice is the absence of heat so to bring out the form of ice, the wielder of the Sword of Nothing had to feel nothing, like water without heat. Ice. He regretted the choice but the baby had to survive. That was his final duty.

    The two of them escaped the brothel and headed through a route of alleyways. Water began to drip on his blood-soaked clothes.

    ¡®It¡¯s raining¡­Again¡¯

    Thunder clapped.

    As he reached the end of the final alleyway and into the open field, leading to the fort wall, an explosion erupted below where he stepped. MianJu was sent rolling to a pile of discarded boxes while the baby got caught in the arms of the Head of the Emperor¡¯s Messenger Group. Behind him were several skilled henchmen in close combat. They were all dressed in black padded armor and had metal armor placements similar to that of MianJu since he was part of the group at one time.

    ¡°What a frustrated face, MianJu,¡± commented the Head

    ¡°Chief Wang, don¡¯t tell me you also participated in the death of the Emperor,¡± snarled MianJu.

    ¡°Telling you won¡¯t do anything, won¡¯t it? Well, you¡¯re gonna die here anyways. Alright, let this be my parting gift for you. EVERYONE took part in the plan. Of course, except for your beloved¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk shit about her, you bastard!¡±

    MianJu interrupted his former chief. It was the greatest form of disrespect anyone could do to a senior but he didn¡¯t want to be reminded of what happened to her. He felt guilty even saying her name.

    ¡°She really did a number on you. It''s tough, I know. Dealing with her means selling your sanity away. So¡­This must be her child. What¡¯s its name? Boy or girl?¡±

    Slowly crawling up, MianJu replied curtly, ¡°Let the baby go. It did nothing wrong!¡±

    Acting as though he was reconsidering, Chief Wang apologized, ¡°Sorry boy, its orders from the top. You know what it means if we disobey. All their families will be executed as well as mine. But¡­I myself enjoy killing so I don¡¯t mind following their orders.¡±

    As the Chief brought out a knife and reached in to stab the baby, MianJu screeched at the top of his lungs, laying out a high pitch scream on all fours.

    ¡°Stop!!!¡±

    Time stopped.

    All that MianJu saw was void black with white outlines of the Chief, the henchmen and his surroundings. Soon, it started to glitch and in front of him, was a crack in space. Its outlines were continually glitching and within the crack, were rows of 1s and 0s that were constantly switching between either number.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°I just saved you and the baby. Mind bowing to show some gratitude.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Ahhh!¡±

    A chain came out of the ground and wrapped itself around MianJu¡¯s neck, pulling him into the ground. His head hit the black ¡®ground¡¯ with a loud thud.

    ¡°That¡¯s better. I will only say this once so listen carefully. USE MY POWER! Don¡¯t you see your predicament now? Just remove the seal and I will deal with them. I will also repair your exploded leg. TRUST. IN. ME.¡±

    ¡°You think I¡¯m dumb, if I remove it, who¡¯s gonna seal you back up?

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I promise on my pride that I will return your body to you after I annihilate all of them. In exchange¡­¡±

    Several chains were summoned in all directions, preventing MianJu from moving a single bit.

    ¡°I will depart a part of my consciousness in your soul via these chains. I hope you do know what I would say in response to another refusal. The situation is too severe for only you to do anything. GIVE IN!!!¡±

    A grunted approval sounded in the void.

    ¡°Just as I thought so. You disciples truly cherish your principle of exchange or¡­Karma? Alright then! Wait for my return, partner.¡±

    ---

    A hand stopped the knife several centimeters from the baby¡¯s heart.

    ¡°Damn, MianJu, you¡¯re so persistent, aren¡¯t yh?¡±

    The chief swatted his hand away from MianJu¡¯s grip but it was to no avail. His grip was locked on.

    ¡°What¡­What¡¯s with this strength?¡±

    ¡°Listen here monkeys! I feel disgusted for your presence to be this near to this enlightened one. Mind dying for me?!¡±

    Speechless, the Chief fell to his knees as MianJu removed the blindfold. The force. The aura of his body was of a different kind. One that made the Chief leaked his bladders and watered his mouth with uncontrollable saliva. What happened next was one of instant disintegration. They no longer exist. There were no traces, even within everyone¡¯s memories of them. They are truly dead. All they saw before their erasure was a void.

    ---

    MianJu woke up to see no sight of the Chief or the henchmen. The downpour rained heavily and there were faint screams of the public in the distance. Getting up, he saw that all his wounds were healed and the baby was on the cold ground, sleeping exhaustively.

    ¡®Sorry ReZhui, this will be our last length of the journey. Please bear with me alright?¡¯

    ---

    After the incident, MianJu stole a horse and a cloak to cover ReZhui. He rode to the mountains neighboring the town closest to the city where the Yuan Brothel was located. There, he headed to the village where the Bai River began its course and knocked on the door of the village head.

    ¡°Yes?¡± asked the husband who opened the door. His wife came a second later, looking worried.

    MianJu observed the couple. Both wore simple tunics and pants. They wore straw sandals and both were in their late 30s with the husband having a birthmark under his right eye. Their descriptions matched exactly what he was told.

    ¡°Who the hell are you, Sir?¡± asked the husband.

    ¡°Please raise the baby well. It¡¯s all written in this letter. Sorry it was bloodied up,¡± MianJu replied, placing the baby on the ground. He left the scene soon after.

    ¡°Wait...Damn it! Kids these days. Well, want to bring it in, Mei?¡±

    ¡°Certainly, look at its wrappings, the baby could get a fever any moment now in this cold rain!¡±

    After the wife¡¯s remark, the husband hurriedly closed the door and took in ReZhui. Further away in the trees, MianJu watched as they set up a fire. Their silhouettes¡¯ appearing in the windows like shadow theater. With a smile, he turned on his heel and left for the night.

    ¡®ReZhui, have a good night¡¯s rest. Your life may be rough in the future. I can guarantee that but I will be here keeping an eye on you as well. It¡¯s what she requested and what I wanted too. Be a good boy.¡¯

 Chapter 2 : The village he was raised in.

    A rooster crowed in the distance, signaling the start of a new day. Adults could be seen getting out of bed and fastening their work garments in place. Everyday was an early start to tend the rice fields and release the chickens from their pens. The sun was barely rising from the gaps between the nearest mountains and the tall waterfall east of the village still flowed an ultramarine water. Crickets chirped excessively as a rush of chickens ran to catch their first meal of the day and birds sang in the deep foliage surrounding the source of the Bai River uphill.

    Nearly everyone in the Bai village was a farmer or retired from one. There were several artisans specializing in pottery and carpentry, roles necessary for an independent village. However, the community collectively agreed that a farmer¡¯s duty was defined as the most important and the backbone for any settlement like theirs. As they seldom trade with the cities near the muddy plains, any mistake that resulted in delaying the harvest would be catastrophic for the livelihood of the villagers. Yet, the number of times that happened over a few generations could only be counted on one hand. That is mostly due to the efforts of all the village heads for the past centuries. They held significant contributions to effective crop placement, soil renourishment and constellation analysis. This was the secret for the successful lone survival of a relatively small village.

    That day, the village head, Hui CaoFan, celebrated reaching 40 years of age. Despite this, the only change in his farmer''s routine would be later in the evening. Opening the door which faced outwards towards his paddy field, he looked back inside to see Mei getting the kids ready for classes.

    MeiYue, who was 34 by then, had aged a lot over the past few years ever since ReZhui was welcomed into the household. In addition to ReZhui, they had another 3 more boys to look after. They were their biological children. Her skin looked more coarse and larger wrinkles were slowly forming day after day. She cut her hair short to make doing the chores easier and her previously attractive dimples had disappeared.

    CaoFan was on the same boat as well. His back had a more noticeable arc and his feet had become permanently black due to the countless hours in the paddy. His skin also roughened to the degree that it could be compared to buffalo hide. He also had an increasing number of white streaks of hair, further emphasizing his age. However, it was not only him that had this outcome. All farmers had the blackening of limbs and toughening of skin to a variety of severity but what CaoFan and the others had remained from their youth was their stamina. It was something they were proud of. Grabbing his straw hat and a large bundle of new, dry rice stalks, he started to head off to the fields, aiming to return before noon when the sun was at its highest.

    ¡°Hey Pa! Have a good day at work!¡±

    Looking back at the opening he left at the door, he saw ReZhui in his formal outfit along with his 2 twin brothers. ReZhui wore a bright blue tunic, tightened with a leather strap and did his long hair tied into a bun, covered with a light cloth. The brothers wore similar outfits and they all carried a cloth bag, barely filled with books. The youngest was still a baby at 3 years old and was fast asleep near the fireplace. While the twins were still half asleep, ReZhui had eyes that sparkled. There was so much joy that was emitted by just his voice. Smiling, CaoFan waved back with a grin.

    ¡°Look forward to tonight¡¯s feast. Dad¡¯s gonna catch a big one before heading home. Study well during that time!¡±

    ¡°See you, Pa!¡± replied ReZhui as he grabbed hold of the twins and dragged them down the pathway to the entrance of their house. They proceeded down a flight of stairs to reach a junction. Turning left and heading straight, the 3 of them arrived in front of the main village street. It was a large dirt road that had a width of 3 horse wagons, sandwiched between a long plot of rice fields on either side and stretched as far as the downhill slope leading to the flood plains of other villages and a Castle City. While the village was located at a higher elevation, most of it still rested on the banks of the expanding river, nested between the gap between two mountain ranges, one way shorter than the other. Therefore, there was flat land suitable for crops. If there were hills in that large valley or farms placed near the mountains, the farmers used terracing to make use of the sloped land to grow more crops. CaoFan happened to own one of these terraced rice fields.

    Houses were built with no coordinated arrangement and were sparsely scattered all over the valley. Occasionally, some younger kids could be seen playing at the corner and ReZhui would wave back at them. Other times, the farmers tending the fields would stop to say a warm greeting to the 3 boys. As they reached halfway through the main road, the boys would rendezvous with several of their classmates. Together, the merry group of sleepy and chatty children walked the rest of the dirt road, headed down a steeper flight of stairs, trekked across a short patch of forest and descended a third set of stairs before reaching a relatively large logged bungalow. Despite its worn down appearance, the place gave out a sense of home. One reason was the constant burning of relaxing scented wood sticks throughout the premise and the other was the sole teacher of this place. This bungalow was the teacher¡¯s home and schooling facility. Though only one grade was taught here which is comparable to today¡¯s world primary school, the teacher himself was wise beyond the average scholar and lived on this hill to retire from the neverending conflicts in the Royal Court and the Legislation center of the nearest Castle City, Luo ChengShi. He reached the ripe age of 67 years old and had two youthful apprentices to aid teaching the students in exchange for lectures of more in-depth study.

    As ReZhui and the others arrived at the front gate, another band of children assembled there as well. These children were from families of the other villages down the mountain and were the children of merchants and well-off farmers. Despite the excellent teaching services he provided, the school fees were relatively cheap for middle-class families. The children of Bai village were still accepted into the school as CaoFan and several farmers would regularly send food supplies to the old man¡¯s home as payment. This worked for the teacher as he was too weak to walk down to get weekly groceries and he specifically liked the quality of the rice the Bai village made.

    ---

    ¡°Hey! How¡¯s the homework assigned?¡±

    ¡°Really, there were extras?¡±

    ¡°I completed the additional vocabulary that Teacher gave. He would surely touch on those today.¡±

    ¡°We had to help Xuan¡¯s father clean up the store for the whole afternoon. There was no time!¡±

    ¡°Me too! Me too! My older brother was sick yesterday and I had to replace him to put the seeds into the rice bags!¡±

    ¡°We are getting the cane for sure!¡±

    ¡°Totally¡±

    ¡°Quiet, the Teacher may here us¡±

    ¡°It appears the White Rabbits and Uphill Goats are pretty lively in the morning. Did anything exciting happened recently?¡±

    The children turned their heads from their heated discussion to face one of the Teacher''s apprentices.

    ¡°Older brother Wei, don¡¯t call us White rabbits!¡±

    ¡°Just because we are from Bai Village doesn¡¯t give you the need to nickname us as such!¡±

    ¡°Oh come on, he is just telling us that we are as cute as rabbits¡±

    ¡°Easy for you to say, you are just in love with him!

    ¡°Shut it¡±

    ¡°I am jealous! We are called goats and ¡®uphill¡¯ because goats climb up the mountain for grass. Brother Wei, this is unfair!¡±

    ¡°YEAH!¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t we all supposed to tell him to not tell Teacher what we were discussing a few moments ago?¡±

    The apprentice and the group of children bickered on for a length of time until the other apprentice stepped in to drag all of them inside. While all of that was happening, ReZhui realized he had a short period of time left before classes began and ran to the back of the bungalow to feed the tortoises next to the pond. It was also to meet up with a close friend he had befriended that was from another village. His first friend from another village.

    ¡°Hey ShiYan!¡±

    He waved at the girl with flowy long black hair. She wore a knee-length Hanfu dress that was fastened with red cloth, tied with a cute bow at the back. ShiYan, who had been concentrating on the tortoises, looked to the direction of that voice.

    ¡°ReZhui, good morning to you!¡± she replied.

    ¡°How¡¯s Nan today? He looks tired on his side of the pond.¡±

    ¡°Yh¡­the poor tortoise is slowly coming to the end of his life. But, as long as I am here, he will get as many veggies as he can eat.¡±

    ¡°...Oh yes, speaking that, I secretly brought some of Ma¡¯s priced bok choy. Let¡¯s split the piece among Nan and his sons and daughters.¡±

    ¡°Perfect! Could you help me grab the sickle in the back shed?¡±

    ¡°Sure thing!¡±

    ReZhui did as he was told and handed her the bladed farm tool. She sliced the bok choy into sections, giving the leaves all to Nan. The stem was diced to be fed to his children. The whole procedure took 5 minutes in which the two of them chatted away about their daily activities while doing so.

    ¡°So your dad had a new medicine cabinet?¡±

    ¡°Yh, it really made getting the right herbs much faster.¡±

    ¡°Herbs surely are super powerful aren¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°That is an overstatement. Sure, they can heal headaches, fevers and burning internal blisters, but we still had a considerable amount of people that died at our store or even after my father prescribed them the herbs to consume.¡±

    ¡°I am sorry.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­it¡¯s fine really, ReZhui. I am actually starting to grow accustomed to this kind of situation. I¡­I plan to become an Imperial doctor!¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­Imperial? Doesn¡¯t that mean you will be going to the Royal Gardens? That¡¯s awesome!¡±

    ShiYan blushed at his enthusiasm.

    ¡°Well¡­well, even I know that is a dream too high to achieve! Realistically, it is already a dream come true that I will be inheriting my father¡¯s medicine shop. Since the beginning, when my father introduced me to this field, I have always had this desire to save lives. Nonetheless..it''s better to start small than expand too quickly is one that Uncle Sei always used to say.¡±

    ¡°You mean that rising merchant who was said to have vanished after he scammed a noble of a¡­that¡­¡±

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°You mean Castle City? Yes, that¡¯s right. It appears the news reached your village as well didn¡¯t it?¡±

    ReZhui nodded.

    ¡°But¡­ShiYan, no matter what you do, I can feel your sincerity to your wishes. As long as everyone is happy with what you are going to do, I will support you the entire way.¡±

    ShiYan felt a skip in her heartbeat.

    ¡°ReZhui¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡­I have nothing that I want to do right now. All I want now is to play with friends, study to make Pa and Ma happy and feed the tortoises with you everyday. So¡­until I find something, I will help those around me. You¡­are my first.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Startled by her silence, he quickly started to fumble his words.

    ¡°Ehhh¡­well¡­Wait, I¡­¡±

    ¡°ReZhui¡±

    ¡°Yes, ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    He saw a smile. A smile that was reminiscent of one made by Pa before heading to the fields or when he helped Ma cook dinner for the first time. A genuine smile. He loved it and desired it to be plastered on all the faces he came across. Yet¡­what could he do to make everyone smile? Nothing came to mind. All he concluded from his thoughts was that if he maintained the status quo, more people would begin to show the results he wanted. He wanted to live in the village. He wanted to help more in the village. He wanted more smiles in the village. So, he will remain in the village. That was his passion.

    ¡®Pa may have spent a large amount of effort to send me to school for a brighter future than a farmer, but now, all I want to be is a farmer. A farmer to assist Pa and all the other uncles and aunties. This is the selfish wish of your son that will keep it for himself until the time is right¡¯

    As he was deep in thought, ShiYan closed the back shed and locked the rusted iron handle. While doing so, she overheard the commotion between Brother Wei and the others. It started to die down as Sister Tian came into the scene.

    ¡°Wei! What¡¯s the meaning of this? The children are gonna be late for class!¡±

    ¡°Ah my dear Tian, please let me say my part¡­Ah,AH! It hurts!¡±

    ¡°Students, come into the classroom now otherwise the cane is released,¡± Tian warned as she pulled Wei¡¯s hair and entered the door to the classroom. The students followed behind her.

    Quickly rushing to ReZhui, ShiYan shook his shoulders, bringing back his attention.

    ¡°Hurry ReZhui, let¡¯s get going! We''re gonna be late for class!¡±

    He looked up at her, his reflection shown in her eyes. ReZhui spoke.

    ¡°ShiYan, I also want to thank you for¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on man! There is no time left!¡±

    ShiYan got him off the ground and pulled him to the backdoor for the classroom.

    Class was in session for the day.

    ---

    Entering the classroom, the two of them were halted in their tracks as the Teacher appeared in front of the backdoor. Behind him were the students, already in their seats, and the apprentices who sat next to the Teacher¡¯s desk, facing the students as well. In his hand, the Teacher held a thick bamboo cane. His old frame did not match the pressure he was exerting on the duo.

    ''I''ve got to do something,'' he screamed in his thoughts.

    ReZhui quickly went in between ShiYan and the Teacher, his back facing the cane.

    ¡°I dozed off in thought near the pond while we were feeding the tortoises, delaying ShiYan¡¯s arrival to the class. I will take the punishment in place for her and myself!¡±

    With his excuse, the Teacher reconsidered.

    ¡°Ms Shu, please take your seat.¡±

    ¡®It worked¡¯, thought ReZhui.

    ¡°No Teacher! It is unjust if he only received the punishment. I was the one who introduced him to feeding the tortoises and led the conversation to where he procrastinated.¡±

    ¡°ShiYan! ¡­Really?¡±

    ¡°I am not leaving you alone in this, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°ENOUGH!¡± screamed the Teacher

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Instead of 10 strikes, it will be 5 each. Stick out your behinds.¡±

    The sound of the cane moving through the air was loud and clear. Both of them didn''t scream. The two held hands as they groaned in pain. Shortly after, they were allowed to take their seats and that¡¯s when class truly began.

    ---

    School ended and the students made their way home. ReZhui and ShiYan were asked to stay back with the Teacher.

    ¡°Hey brother, we will be heading home first.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be late for dinner!¡±

    ReZhui sent off the twins first to inform Pa that he may return home late. They also wanted to go home as soon as possible.

    Arriving at the classroom, the Teacher and ShiYan looked at him. He gulped, and went closer to the Teacher. The apprentices sat at the back seats looking at this scene like a theater play. The time was 14:00 on the sundial and the room smelt of burned wood. The Teacher wasted no time and started talking.

    ¡°I¡­I would like to inform you that Nan died a few hours ago and that I thank you for being in his final moments," declared the Teacher.

    The children made no reply or any reaction. Seeing this, the Teacher continued, "My age has made me unable to move about much and taking care of the tortoises daily is a hard chore in this body of mine. But, I still do love that tortoise. It¡¯s as old as I am, even older maybe.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Teacher¡­¡±

    ¡°Regarding your punishment, I do not regret giving it to you. Being punctual is an important practice as you respect the person that you are about to meet and leave a good impression on said individual. Yet, the fact that the both of you stood up for one another and being selfless about it impressed me. You admitted your faults and settled for an agreement to share the pain. Don¡¯t compare it with children your age, that is something even adults I know had trouble doing, let alone accept any correct criticism. For that reason, I still want to apologize about your beatings.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your time. You two are dismissed.¡±

    As the two were about to leave, the Teacher called for ReZhui again.

    ¡°Oh yes, gracious me, I forgot. ReZhui, I saw leftovers of a good quality bok choy on the ground. It was similar to the ones your father gave me monthly as payment for your tuition. I recently received a delivery from the Castle City. It is a good several bottles of wine. Take one from the kitchen and give it to your father. It¡¯s my reward to him for raising such a gentleman child.¡±

    ReZhui¡¯s face lightened up as he saw a smile appear on Teacher¡¯s face. A sincere one.

    ¡°Yes Teacher, thank you very much!¡±

    ---

    Outside the school gates, two 9 year-old children could be seen holding a large bottle of wine, decorated with detailed floral patterns and dragon illustrations.

    ¡°It would be better if Elder brother Wei and Elder sister Tian could help us carry this,¡± complained ReZhui.

    ¡°They are now taking a mock practice of the Imperial exam,¡± ShiYan informed. She reasoned that it was an insanely hard exam so they must not be disturbed at all cost. Their bodies had to be in good shape.

    ¡°Oh¡­alright. Anyways, today is coincidently Pa¡¯s birthday! Want to attend the feast we are having?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­my father is quite used to my frequent disappearances. Then, I would usually come home the next day with my friend¡¯s parents to prove that I stayed at their house. Therefore, I decided that I want go! Plus, ugh¡­this thing is too heavy for just you to carry up to the village.¡±

    ¡°We can do this together, ShiYan! Move on count of 3. One, two, three!¡±

    The duo reached the village by evening. Despite their bodies being exhausted and covered in sweat, they were just in time for the feast to begin.

    ---

    Fire torches lit the house and the surroundings against the dark night in the absence of the setting sun. The main dirt road was unbelievably black with no sight of the end in the dark. The villagers gathered around the area of the luminated domain, dancing to the musical performances of the talented farmer musicians and drinking their worries away, welcoming the celebration that is their beloved Head¡¯s birthday. At the centre of the front yard, food was laid on a large round table, draped with a red table cloth. Several large steamed fish, numerous chicken thighs and a huge pot of pig stew were placed on the table which was now covered with spills, sauces and bones. Beer was located next to the door and they prepared 6 large barrels for the entire village.

    The Head, CaoFan, sat on a log in the middle of the crowd. The twins and children ran around the premises while the adults had their own fun with beer. He chatted with lifelong friends and took a lot of glances at his wife, Mei, imagining her in her youth. Despite his tolerance for beer, for Mei alone, whenever he drank, the image of the beautiful woman in her youth would replace her old appearance. He then watched his twin boys. Unlike their morning selfs, they were more active in the moonlight, awakened by the loud music and delicious food. They played with sticks, imagining themselves as ancient warriors of great skill. The baby was nestled right by his side in his cradle, staring at the stars with joy. His adopted son, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found.

    ¡®He couldn¡¯t have been lost in the forests, would he?¡¯ CaoFan questioned as he drank another cup of beer. Fortunately, just when he did so, a distinctive voice called his name. It belonged to his adopted but most beloved son, ReZhui. Turning his head, he noticed the boy carrying a large bottle, following behind him, was a beautiful and cute girl for his age.

    ¡®He got one at this age. Nice going, boy!¡¯

    ¡°Pa, Hey Pa! I brought a gift.¡±

    ¡°Good evening sir. I am Shu ShiYan, a close friend from the village down the hill. It is a pleasure to meet you and the family.¡±

    CaoFan stared at the two of them and then at ReZhui¡¯s present. It was a beautifully decorated ceramic wine bottle.

    ¡°Happy Birthday!¡± the both of them wished the man.

    Grabbing the vase gently, he opened the cap and sniffed it. It had a strong smell. So strong that all the adults and children around drew their attention to the Head, still holding his nose near the bottle.

    After smelling it, he asked ReZhui.

    ¡°Where did you get such high quality wine?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­I was a good boy at school so Teacher wanted to reward you with this bottle for bringing me up well-¡±

    ¡°How about your reward?¡±

    The crowd stiffened at CaoFan¡¯s question. ShiYan also realized that the gift was aimed not at ReZhui but his father.

    ¡®What will be his response?¡¯ thought all of them.

    Without a gap of hesitation, ReZhui confidently and happily answered back.

    ¡°His smile was genuine! That was my reward. When he told me about the bottle, he gave off a smile as bright as yours in the morning or when I helped Ma with the cooking for the first time.¡±

    The answer left everyone speechless and¡­

    CaoFan laughed instead. He let out a hearty laugh unlike any other when the feast began. Tears began to form in his eyes and his voice weakened.

    ¡°That old geezer sure has a way with things. Even playing with my emotions using my own child¡­Fuck man! I am not cut out for this!¡±

    Getting up, he embraced the two of them in a tight hug.

    ¡°I am glad that he chose my household¡­Thank you, ReZhui. The real present was not the wine bottle in my opinion. It was your response to my question that made my day and would have bested any material gift you could find in this world.¡±

    ¡°Pa¡­¡±

    Releasing the two of them, he continued speaking.

    ¡°Little ShiYan, I hope you will continue to be best friends with my son. Thank you.¡±

    Before she could reply, CaoFan spoke again.

    ¡°I love the village and I love you, ReZhui. Again, thank you.¡±

    In ReZhui¡¯s eyes, he saw his father barely smiling, with tears running uncontrollably down his face. His cheeks blushed and he was still sober. Yet, his watery eyes were something different. Most different to any smile he had ever seen. It showed all the emotion that CaoFan felt. Gratitude, happiness and pride swirled within those eyes of his, forming a unique blend of emotion ReZhui could never describe.

    ¡®Wow¡¯

    That was the only thought ReZhui could come up with. The sight of his father¡¯s face was that beautiful.

    ¡°Dear Pa, I too love you very much¡­from the bottom of my heart. And¡­I am sure that everyone in the village does as well. I LOVE THIS VILLAGE! EVERYONE! Very, very¡­much¡­¡±

    As ReZhui said those words, he fell into a deep sleep. A moment later, the same occurred for ShiYan.

    Yet, everyone didn¡¯t seem to panic.

    CaoFan slowly picked the two of them up and headed for ReZhui¡¯s bedroom.

    ¡®Get a good night¡¯s rest, the both of you. Carrying that large bottle up the mountain must have been exhausting for two youngsters like yourself.¡¯

 Chapter 3 : A New Perspective.

    A bird chirped on the window pane. A second one flew next to it, holding a length of worm in its mouth. It started to squeak with muffled breath, gaining the attention of the other bird. The two animals set their gazes on each other, wings flapping rapidly with excitement. They slowly began to take flight and the bird that held the worm moved closer to the other¡¯s beak. Receiving its kind gesture to share a meal together, they both pulled on either side of the worm, swallowing the part closest to them. As they made their way closer to the center of the bloodied worm, the birds touched beaks. It split the worm into two and each beak consumed one half of the whole. With their eyes still locked on each other, they both sang their emotions out. One had a raspy but non-aggressive tone while the other had the sweetest voice which was backed with lots of vigor. It continued on for some time before the two left the area, heading for a new tree to settle in.

    What remained on the windowpane was the groaning of a young boy. As he rubbed his eyes, he reluctantly raised his body out of the bed, moving the thick bed sheets out of the way resulting in their fall onto the warm wooden floor. Scratching the back of his head, the boy yawned as he scanned the area. Out of all of his ordinary surroundings, he saw one outlier.

    ¡°ReZhui¡­ReZhui¡­It¡¯s starting to feel airy here. Ahhhhehm¡­¡±

    He had a face full of shock. A close friend of his was sleeping alongside him on his very own bed. Her hair was messy and all over the place. It appeared glossy under the sunlight reaching in from the window and the scent of perfume was dispersed evenly throughout the entire room. He had no idea what he was feeling right now but his heart was pumping at an increasing rate. His cheeks gave off an intense redness and the thought of ShiYan spending the night with him terrified his perception of what she saw in him. He didn¡¯t even get a chance to serve some tea upon her entry into the household.

    ¡®Damn it! Where are my manners?¡¯ He scolded himself.

    ReZhui spent the next few minutes getting dressed and tidying his hair, performing a series of twirls and folds by his fingers as his hair got fastened with a simple yellow chord. Wearing a light brown sleeveless shirt, he left his room to see his mother in the kitchen, setting up the fire beneath the stove. Above her were already seasoned woks and metal ladles.

    ¡°Making fried rice,Ma?¡±

    With eyes still fixed on the fire, she nodded.

    ¡°Just wait for a while, dear Re. Why don¡¯t you wake up your friend? It¡¯s already noon. Father will be coming home soon as well as your brothers¡±

    ¡®So today, I was marked absent. ShiYan as well.¡¯

    ReZhui looked to a corner of the main living room. Right next to the family altar, the cradle of the youngest brother could be seen and an outline of the baby showed his calm face as he slept soundly near the scented wooden sticks of the altar.

    ¡°Understood Ma! Give me some time to wake her up.¡±

    As he headed back into his room, MeiYue sneered at the scenario his son was in.

    ¡®I wonder what development these two would have.¡¯

    Picking up the fallen blankets, he folded the fabrics and placed it squarely on the edge of his bed. Glancing at the sleeping ShiYan, ReZhui wondered how much she had exerted upon herself as she helped to carry the wine bottle. Constantly reminding himself that she is still a girl, one with a petite body like her would surely sleep the entire day to rest their body. However, that was enough with the self deprecating thoughts.

    Grabbing onto her shoulder blade, he gently rocked her body back and forth until she gave a response.

    ¡°Come ShiYan. It¡¯s nearly afternoon. You must be starving, aren¡¯t you? I just recalled that we skipped dinner yesterday and went straight to bed. Wake up now!¡±

    ¡°Eughh¡­Hold on, hold on¡­I will¡­¡±

    As she held her hand up, ReZhui instinctively grabbed it. A pause delayed a reaction from ReZhui as he pulled her out of bed. The lazy ShiYan lifted her bangs from her eyes and proceeded to rub themdining clean.

    ¡°Hey ShiYan, you should probably get cleaned up and dressed properly as soon as possible. I repeat, it¡¯s noon now!¡±

    ¡°Alriiiiight! ReZhui, you sound like my mother right now, don¡¯t you know?¡±

    ¡°Really, I mean I don¡¯t want to force you but the situati-Ah!¡±

    A hard pillow hit the side of ReZhui¡¯s head, making him take several steps back.

    ¡°Oi, what¡¯s the big idea here¡­ShiYan?¡±

    He paused his words at the sight he just witnessed. ShiYan was slouching, sitting cross-legged on his bed. Her clothes were loose and without her red sash, the dress draped freely over her shoulders, making quite a revealing scene. Her black hair was spread out in all directions with several strands sticking to her lower lips, dripped with saliva. ShiYan herself was blushing at the embarrassment that she was, acting this lethargic to ReZhui. This reached the point where she spontaneously threw a pillow at him for no reason other than for him to leave and wait for her outside.

    Surprisingly, ReZhui seemed to have understood what she was feeling based on her actions and left the room quietly.

    ---

    ¡°Lunch¡¯s ready!¡± exclaimed MeiYue as she plated the food and distributed the rice portions accordingly. The first to come to the table were ReZhui and ShiYan. The two sat by each other and ReZhui even offered to pour the tea for her.

    Halfway through their meal, both CaoFan and the twins arrived at the doorstep.

    ¡°We met up at the junction. I even brought a dead wild rabbit that got into one of our farm traps.¡± informed CaoFan.

    MeiYue got up from her seat and ordered the three of them to quickly wash their hands. On their way to the outside well, ReZhui received two glaring side glances from the twins and a proud smirk from his father. After all that chaos was managed, the family finally gotbicker together at the dining table, accompanied by a special guest in tow. That day, MeiYue cooked fried rice with pork belly. As the rest of the family began their lunch, ShiYan started to open with a question.

    ¡°Sir, I am sorry for interrupting your meal but I would like to know more in detail about what happened last night after the both of us fell down exhausted.¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s not a big deal, little Shi. After you fainted, I carried the both of you to bed, placed the covers on top and left to carry on with the feast.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­alright. Thank goodness.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with that attitude though, little Shi?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I am sor-¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be. This is all part of the process of growing up. Not that I can confirm what I said is true but I can tell the path you two are heading is the right path. I still and will love my wife and family after all.¡±

    ¡°Cao dear, that was pretty embarrassing to say. What a romantic person you still are.¡± retorted MeiYue as she covered her face with a tablecloth.

    ¡°Hah! Anyways, after that, the feast went on until the early morning. Most of the farmers, including me, were still pumped from the alcohol so we headed off to the fields right after. Some of the children returned home to sleep in for the morning while I still forced the twins to attend school. That¡¯s the reason they are so gloomy now.¡±

    ¡®Well, that¡¯s not the only reason.¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself as he sensed a comically large dark aura swarming the twins as they constantly glared at him.

    ¡°Later on, I will be sleeping in early for the night. And, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Yes Pa?¡±

    ¡°Immediately after you finish your meal, I want you to walk the young lady home. Her father must be worried sick right now.¡±

    ¡°Yes Pa! That¡¯s what I intend to do after this.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my son.¡±

    ¡°But¡­may I ask another question as well, Pa?¡±

    ¡°Fire away.¡±

    ¡°If it was only exhaustion and hunger, I think I should be strong enough to last until midnight. Yet, I still fainted. Why¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, a hard guess is that the thick alcohol content of the wine was too strong for children like the both of you. Especially when you both were right in front of it.¡±

    ¡°Where is that bottle anyway?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s in the altar cabinet. The farmers and I took several sips and decided it was too rich for us to drink with peace. Haha!¡±

    The family went onn with more useless bickering and discussion. When ReZhui was finished with lunch, the sundial read 14:00. It was time to send ShiYan back home.

    ---

    Armed with a bag of rice cakes, the young duo made their way through the passage route that led to the village ShiYan lived in. It was the same journey from Bai Village to school but after that was cleared, they had to take a right turn to a nearby water stream. Following the running flow of water, they carefully watched their steps on the slippery rocks and held hands to keep each other¡¯s balance since it rained heavily in the area on the night before. After that obstacle, they trekked several lengths of forests before seeing a clearing in the distance. They started sprinting forward towards the bright shining light, left by the large gap in the thick foliage.

    ReZhui saw a view that was different to anything that he had ever seen before. The boy rarely left the premises of the village and spent most of his days in the upper parts of the mountains. The only time that he went down beyond what he usually stayed in was when he attended school and accompanied his father sometimes to open a one-day street stall on the outskirts of a rural village further into the forests than ShiYan¡¯s village. There was not a lot of traffic flow in that village aside from the village square but that didn¡¯t even come close to the density of people on the walkway leading out of the village and into it as well.

    Apparently, what the both of them took as the travel route was a shortcut, explaining its deserted and unmaintained appearance. ShiYan told ReZhui that around the hours of 10:00 to 18:00, the main road that she would normally use to come to school would be crowded with merchants and travelers. However, in the early morning, the road would be empty for the group of students to head to the school. After dismissal, they would be picked up by a carriage hired by the Merchant Guild branch of that respective village. The same practice applies to the other children from other villages with their own Merchant Guilds down the mountain.

    ¡°As my father told me, these guild branches are associated with the Legislation Court in Luo ChengShi. The purpose of this Guild is to ensure that the skill of commerce is backed by Imperial law and they are headquarters to monitor all activities related to merchantry.¡±

    ¡°Wow ShiYan! You sure are knowledgeable about this!¡± complemented ReZhui with sparkling eyes.

    ¡°Well¡­of course I am. Medicine is a form of trade as well. We heal people by selling herbs and antitoxins after all,¡± she scoffed jokingly.

    ReZhui nodded blankly with approval.

    ¡°Anyways, I have learnt to understand this to achieve my dream of becoming an Imperial doctor. It is nothing for you to be in such awe towards. Also¡­I realized that you truly are a country bumpkin, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Well don¡¯t worry about it! Like you, I will learn as well. About the ins and outs of this busy village that is,¡± ReZhui declared with determination and a hint of nervousness.

    ---

    The sun started to descend from the peaks of its climb in the sky. The amount of people that walked across the main road started to dwindle and the fire watchers began their routine track around the village. Among the walking crowd that headed into the village gates, a boy and a girl could be seen rushing past the entry point. No guard bothered to stop them as all recognised the face of a young girl who was the daughter of the respected herbalist in the area.

    As the two of them ran street after street after street, ReZhui began feeling nauseous. In his eyes, ShiYan was dragging him to any random route after every junction. He had no map to refer to and most of the buildings that he came across were strikingly similar to the next one. Reaching his mental limit, all he thought was that they were running in circles, trapped in a maze that had cement blocks as wall dividers. Speaking of cement, the ones used here were totally different to the homes built in Bai village. ReZhui felt that they were at least twice as strong as the blocks used to make his house. There were barely any trees, yet there was an abundance of twisting vines that seep out of the clay roofs and cracked cement blocks. Moreover, the size of the houses were bigger than anything he had seen before. The double story and triple story homes created a wavy ragged outline on the tall shadows of the setting red sun. They had been running for nearly an hour after all. This created a dark overlay that meant the streets they were heading in had an eerie atmosphere around it. One that could never be compared to a night stroll in the mountainous forests. Was it because he was used to such walks at night? Would anyone that lived here for most of their life be afraid to explore the chilly forests at night? As he contemplated, a hand tugged him on the sleeve.

    ¡°ReZhui¡­ReZhui! Are you alright?¡±

    Bringing back his awareness to the outside world, he realized that he was on his knees. ShiYan was beside him, letting go of his sleeve. A worried expression was shown on her face.

    He took a quick look at his surroundings. He fell down right on the pavement and in front of him was a walkway. People walked past them, minding their own business. Children could be seen running back to their homes and the fire watchers went around, lighting up huge lanterns hung onto tall poles. These illuminated the path like fireflies in a garden. This felt different from the moonlight of the forests ReZhui walked. Yet, they both shared the same purpose, providing people the ability to see in the absence of the sun.

    ¡®What a wonderful device!¡¯ ReZhui rejoiced.

    Confirming his opinion, he recalled life in his village. Children were supposed to be home by 16:00, the start of the Sun¡¯s descent. They were not allowed to leave their home and explore beyond their families¡¯ respective courtyard. If however, the children headed home later than curfew, they were trained to memorize approximately the direction and length of their walk back to their house. Moonlight normally didn¡¯t reach the village and striked the forests instead. The use of candles and fire torches were used in special situations like night celebrations or when nearby foxes or wolves tried to attack the livestock that were reared on the rocky highlands, spotting thick patches of nutrient-rich bush leaves. Therefore, making lanterns like these would be redundant and a waste of manpower since rarely anyone goes out at night. Even if they did, they knew how to navigate the dark without fire.

    ¡®Perhaps, the village here didn¡¯t need the necessity to train their children like Pa with us. This village is also way bigger than ours. I also don¡¯t think that I could memorize the route we took to reach ShiYan¡¯s house, especially when my eyes would be blinded by the darkness. So¡­they need more men to make candles and lanterns. That may explain why there are so many people living here. Merchants buy and sell goods. This is what ShiYan told me. Therefore, that means they may also sell their candles and torches here as well. Since the candles are needed in large numbers, horse carriages are used to carry them here. The merchants would then sell them to¡­Rahhhh! It¡¯s tough to understand. Maybe I could ask Teacher tomorrow.¡¯

    As he concluded that thought, he received a headbutt. Not expecting such force, ReZhui fell backwards, quickly using his hands to support himself. That was not the end though. In front of him, a teary eyed ShiYan could be seen clenching her fist, crumpling the end of the front of her skirt. Her red cheeks pouted out as she hung her head low, giving an incredibly cute impression on the sight of her frustrated demeanour. ReZhui knew that he practically ignored her for several minutes and didn¡¯t bother answering her previous question. Letting out a quick sigh, ReZhui proceeded to apologize and comfort her until the tears stopped running.

    ---

    Shortly after ShiYan accepted ReZhui¡¯s apology, they continued their journey. Approaching what appears to be a market district, ReZhui thoroughly observed his surroundings.

    Lines of street vendors resided on the edges of the pavement. Lots and lots of residents could be seen buying numerous items and food from the large variety of street stalls set up. A long line of buyers could be seen extending out of a shop that sold winter clothes. Another line appeared near a pleasant smelling bakery.

    ReZhui continued to follow behind ShiYan, getting closer and closer to her household. Unlike before, he gathered up the courage to pass through the thick crowd of people. There were constant bumps and hits onto others unintentionally and both parties would either ignore those collisions or give a whisper of a short apology. They bought nothing out of that night market and turned right to face a relatively large cottage.

    It was surrounded by walls that were made out of the same cement that he saw earlier and had an opening at the center. It was the entrance to the central courtyard, and further behind it was the cottage. Scrolls of red paper hung vertically on either side of the entrance opening and had ink writings on them.

    The left wrote, ¡°May we wish prosperity for all¡±.

    The right said, ¡°A healthy body leads to a smarter mind¡±.

    A wooden signboard hung from under the support beams of the clay roof of the entrance and gold characters were engraved into it. In a majestic font and size, it said, ¡®The Shu Household¡¯.

    In the center of the courtyard, a man in his late 30s could be seen sitting on a makeshift bench, holding a porcelain cup of black tea. He wore a traditional brown qipao and red cloth shoes. Despite having a face with quite a few deep wrinkles, ReZhui could see his influence on ShiYan¡¯s looks. He had quite the chiseled jaw and kept his long hair slicked back. Sporting a pair of spectacles, he raised it upwards and secured it on his nose. No one else was around the courtyard. It was just father and daughter with her best friend¡­

    ---

    ¡°My dear daughter, where have you been all night this time? And who is this young boy that you brought home?¡±

    ShiYan paused for a moment. Not wanting to disappoint, ReZhui acted first. He strided across ShiYan to approach her father. Despite being seated on the bench, ReZhui still had to raise his neck high to make eye contact with the father. While he is confident that his father is taller, he would always crouch to meet ReZhui¡¯s height so ReZhui was not used to this much strain on his neck. Remembering what he practiced in his head, he made his first impression.

    ¡°Honourable Father, my name is Hui ReZhui, son of farmer Hui CaoFan, the village head of the Bai village up north in the mountains. I am a fellow classmate of your daughter at Teacher Woo¡¯s school. I come here on behalf of my father to send your daughter safely home. Here is a token of my appreciation for being this tolerant as I speak.¡±

    ReZhui bowed and handed the bag of rice cakes to ShiYan¡¯s father. Grabbing the bag with his left hand, the father replied crudely.

    ¡°I prepared dinner, please come and join us, Hui ReZhui. Dear daughter, it''s time for dinner! Now!¡±

    He raised his voice to let his instructions be heard by ShiYan who was slowly backing away near the entrance. ReZhui could see some sense in her actions. She was scared. Normally, her friend¡¯s parents would send her off. Otherwise, it would be the friends in this village whom the father would have recognised. Currently however, it was a boy that was from another village that was known for its independent nature. No sane parent would not be worried about potential problems. To that degree, ReZhui could comprehend the father¡¯s probable thoughts. Nonetheless, the both of them soon followed the father to the dining hall. It was much larger than the average Bai farmer¡¯s main living room. The shock was spread evenly on ReZhui¡¯s face as he tried his best to maintain his table manners, eating the food. Dinner consists of a variety of veggies, chicken broth and Char Siu.

    ¡®Damn these are good! But those eyes¡­It really makes me feel uncomfortable.¡¯

    ShiYan¡¯s father¡¯s eyes were the exact opposite of ReZhui¡¯s father. Both were stern fathers yet his eyes were ones that glared condescendingly like a King Cobra while CaoFan had the hungry concentration of a wolf. Both expressed a manner of discipline using different forms of scolding. Like the comparison of the two villages, in spite of their similar roles as a father, both CaoFan and ShiYan¡¯s father behave differently and express their love differently. Yet, despite that-

    ¡°Hui ReZhui?¡±

    The father interrupted his inner thoughts.

    ¡°Ye¡­Yes, Sir?¡± ReZhui replied hesitantly.

    ¡°I will accept your gift. Those rice cakes taste delicious as well.¡±

    ¡°T¡­Thank you, Sir! I will continue to be best friends with ShiYan. She will always be smiling when I am around.¡±

    ReZhui thanked and promised the father as he rubbed his neck. Currently, he saw the both of them happily munching on those rice cakes. ShiYan, of course, was much happier than her father. Although there were no changes in his facial expression, he eagerly ate the rice cakes like a child does with their candy.

    No one spoke after that small exchange¡­

    ---

    The dinner went very smoothly and quietly. As ShiYan¡¯s father put down his chopsticks, he said his final words to ReZhui.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome to come here anytime. I hope that your friendship with ShiYan will continue to grow even closer as time goes on. ShiYan, please escort our young guest out.

    ¡°Yes, Father and thank you,¡± ShiYan replied with a breath of relief.

    ¡°I also prepared a carriage for you to return to Bai village. Even if you don¡¯t want to, I still insist. You are still 9 years old, ReZhui. It¡¯s not safe out there and I am a herbalist. I know more of these mountains than a highland kid like you, especially at your age.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­Understood, Mr¡­?¡±

    ¡°Mr Shu, you may call me that from now on. Speaking of which, I would like to answer a doubt of yours. This house, and most houses in this village use a mixture called concrete. Lecturer Woo may have taught you cement is hard but concrete is even tougher and cracks less. That¡¯s why many houses are 2 to 3 floors high.¡±

    ¡°How did you-¡±

    ¡°Your eyes. They were especially concentrated on those structures among others in my household. Anyhow, I pray you have a safe journey back home and have a good night¡¯s rest. Contact me if you feel sick or in any pain.¡±

    After he said what he needed, Mr Shu returned to his study. Making sure he left, ShiYan soon made a small yelp of cheer. Jumping in the air, she congratulated ReZhui for defeating her father¡¯s ¡®impenetrable child protection firewall¡¯. He managed to cross the flames and touched Mr Shu¡¯s heart. The two walked out to the entrance. The night was as deep and dark as an underground cave. Near the entrance, a horse carriage waited.

    ¡°Well¡­I will see you at school then!¡±

    She pushed him forward with a wink before running back to her room.

    ¡°Ah sure¡­See you at school!¡±

    ReZhui made a delayed reply, waving his hand at the increasingly smaller size of ShiYan in the distance.

    ---

    The horse carriage rattled constantly as the wooden wheels rolled across the bumpy dirt road. The streets were now deserted and only ReZhui and the driver were the only ones on the pathway.

    Staring out at the window opening of the carriage, he rested his body on the comfy sofa within and drifted his mind away to concentrate on his reflection of his experience today.

    He felt different today. He seemed to have behaved differently compared to when he was in school and at Bai village. His usual happy demeanor was slowly diminishing as he and ShiYan reached further into ShiYan¡¯s village. He remembered his thoughts as he passed through the different streets. The unfamiliar environment, the immense contrast in size, numbers and routine practices between these two villages were like black and white. Yin and Yang as MianJu told him. It changed him. ReZhui became more observant and shyer under the fear of the new and the unknowing. Will this be the same for all the villages surrounding Bai village? How about Luo ChengShi? What worse things could even happen if he went there instead? ReZhui felt as though that even imagining the scale of such a settlement would have overwhelmed his mind at any moment. He sensed vulnerability and anxiety in his heart, his spirit and his passion. How could he help everyone if he is so weak like this? As he contemplated this, he recalled several scenes from last night. Ones where ShiYan did her best to not lag behind as ReZhui pushed forward to return home.

    ¡®She did better. I panicked and tried to escape reality by thinking back to my life in Bai village. I¡­I¡¯m a coward.¡¯

    How am I going to improve myself? Is this even a fair comparison in the first place? Such questions rapidly swarmed into his head, confusing the young boy even more. Besides his reflection, there was one other introspection he delved into.

    ¡®How does merchantry work?¡¯

    ¡®How large can a merchant business be?¡¯

    ¡®Can a role, a duty have only one method to reach its end?¡¯

    ¡®Why does a role have multiple solutions or outcomes?¡¯

    All of which he had no answer to.

    All he could conclude from his understanding was that the world was a larger place than he had previously imagined. ReZhui always thought that all villages were the same. That Luo ChengShi was only insignificantly larger. But now, he realized that he himself was just a small fish in a large ocean. ReZhui never learned about what the world truly looks like beyond this country nor did he ever try putting the effort in. What¡¯s beyond the Great Eastern Ocean? What is within the infamous Karagan desert? How about the Marshlands of Bharata? Teacher Woo had briefly talked about those names in class and ReZhui used to think that this was all useless. However, he was now more curious than ever.

    Just as he returned to the present, the carriage suddenly stopped. The unanticipated halt of the carriage caused ReZhui to fall off the sofa and onto the carpet floor below. He groaned in pain as he held the door handle to assist in getting up.

    ¡®What happened?¡¯ ReZhui questioned as he opened the door to look outside.

    Stepping down the short 3-step stairs, he observed the scene.

    ReZhui saw a boy that was around his age. Despite this, he was extremely malnourished and looked like a skeleton with his loose and ragged clothing. ReZhui easily saw the side of his protruding rib cage through the massive torn hole of the sleeve. It was a pitiful and uncomfortable sight. The boy seemed to have fallen onto the main road, unaware of the horse carriage as rarely anyone goes out at night. The driver hurriedly got off his seat and approached him but ReZhui reached the boy first.

    ¡°Hey! Hey! Are you alright?¡± ReZhui asked urgently, helping him get up.

    The kid looked slowly at ReZhui with a delayed reaction. His eyes were dead and dilated. His grip onto ReZhui¡¯s hand and shoulder was extremely feeble.

    ¡®What in the world did he go through to be like this?¡¯ ReZhui asked within himself. As ReZhui helped the boy to stabilize on his two feet, the driver said his apology. He offered to take the boy back to his place and pay for any injuries he may have. He is, after all, affiliated with Mr Shu.

    ¡°No¡­NO¡­Go¡­I go¡­NOW!¡±

    With these hardly spoken words, the boy pushed himself away from ReZhui before running away from the scene and was out of sight in the foggy, dark night.

    ¡°Damn it! What the hell was that all about?¡± questioned the driver. After a short ramble, the driver continued the ride back to Bai village. On the rest of the journey home, ReZhui continuously replayed the memory of when he looked into the boy¡¯s face.

    The boy was very different and unique in appearance to anyone else he had ever seen before. He had a messy clump of dirty brownish-yellow hair that partially covered a pair of dull blue eyes. In contrast to his rags that were his clothes, they do not match each other. ReZhui shook his head hard.

    ¡®It¡¯s so late at night¡­Perhaps I should be absent from school tomorrow as well. I am exhausted for today.¡¯

 Chapter 4 : A Secret Friend

    Two days had passed since ReZhui¡¯s encounter with the blond boy. His parents agreed to let him have one more day of rest after his late arrival back home and on the following day, ReZhui led his brothers down the hill like any other school day. Stepping onto the school grounds, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Several classmates were playing a game of tag, some girls gathered around Brother Wei and the rest gathered in a circle to draw or complete their homework, supervised by Sister Tian. Nothing has changed about them but the relationship between ShiYan and himself¡­

    Shaking his head, he encouraged himself. ReZhui left his twin brothers to play with the others and he walked to the back garden. The pond was as sparkling as ever and the turtles that resided upon the wet pond rocks, munched on lettuce. That was, however, only the children of Nan. Instead, he got a small grave right next to a tall tree, which had the most roots soaked within the pond. No one attended the burial. Only Teacher Woo was there, who set the grave up by himself.

    ShiYan was standing at the edge of the pond. She tucked the right side of her hair behind her ear and made eye contact with ReZhui, coming closer towards him. He tensed his lips.

    ¡®Should I¡­Is it alright to talk about yesterday? Nothing bad happened but¡­I wonder if she had anything that she didn¡¯t bring up but wanted to say? What about our friendship after I met her father for the first time? This doesn¡¯t seem like best friends at all. Are we starting a different kind of relationship anew due to Mr Xu¡¯s presence and wishes? What do I say-¡¯

    ¡°Good morning, ReZhui,¡± ShiYan greeted gently. Her voice sounded like the hum of a nightingale.

    ¡°Ah¡­Yes! Good morning to you too!¡± ReZhui replied formally.

    There was a pause.

    ¡°Seriously ReZhui, what¡¯s with that attitude? Looks cute though. I love it!¡±

    ¡°Well¡­your father. I made a promise, didn¡¯t I? And now¡­¡±

    ¡®Should I tell her? Should I tell her?! Should I?! Maybe, expressing my worries would trigger that awkwardness between us. I might have messed up-¡¯

    ¡°Hello to ReZhui?! Are you there?¡±

    Her hand was waving close to his face, bringing his attention back to her.

    ¡°Unbelievable, ReZhui. Ever since you visited my village, you suddenly underwent quite the character switch.¡±

    ¡°Really? Is that so¡­¡±

    ¡°True, true, my dear friend. Back then, you expressed your voice loud and clear. Now it feels like-¡±

    ¡°Your neck was shackled and you could hardly breathe, choked by fear.¡±

    Teacher Woo interrupted ShiYan¡¯s answer with one of his own. Both ReZhui and ShiYan turned to face Teacher Woo. He was in his usual garments. A white Hanfu robe with a leather belt, added with several pockets that held a small hand brush and his notebook. His eyes were covered by his relatively long eyelashes and he had a bald spot on his head. Surrounding it were combed strands of white hair that reached below his shoulders and a long white beard hung from his bony face which was an arm long. Teacher Woo also sported a long wooden curved stick that supported the old man¡¯s weak stability.

    ¡°Teacher¡­¡±

    ¡°Teacher Woo, what seems to be the problem? Is it time for class to start already?¡± ShiYan questioned first.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be alarmed, dear children. I just came here to inform ReZhui that there will be replacement classes for him as he missed two day¡¯s worth of lessons.¡±

    ¡°But Teacher, shouldn''t I also be receiving some as well? I was absent for the previous day¡¯s lesson as well?¡±

    ¡°Oh ShiYan, your passion to learn is very admirable. However, I am confident that you can understand that day¡¯s content through self-study. After all, ReZhui¡¯s grades are below average to say the least. He needs additional guidance if he hasn¡¯t mastered the basic foundations yet¡±

    ¡°But Teacher Woo, I think Brother Wei¡¯s help is more than enough. You got to get more rest. Also, that¡¯s what you did last time.¡± ReZhui intertwined.

    ¡°Yes¡­Usually, I would give the duty to HuaYan. But, he currently is busy doing revision for the Imperial examination in 2 months. As you have heard, it takes at least 3 months to reread all the topics that will be in that examination. Therefore, I do not want to pressure him with more work.¡±

    ¡°Understood Teacher!¡±

    ¡°Understood Teacher Woo.¡±

    ¡°So ReZhui, I will be meeting you tomorrow and next Monday after class finishes. Inform your parents about this. That¡¯s all I have to say. I think it¡¯s nearly time to start class.¡±

    As ShiYan rushed towards the backdoor, ReZhui followed the pace of Teacher Woo¡¯s footsteps.

    ¡°Yes, I overheard your conversation.¡± the teacher answered before ReZhui got to ask.

    ¡°Oh¡­so what do you think of it, Teacher Woo?¡±

    ¡°Well, all I can say from what I witnessed is that change is not necessary. Just act like how you usually do around ShiYan. It will turn out fine.¡±

    ¡°Thank you Teacher Woo.¡±

    ¡°I also believe that you can ease your feelings about YaoMing as well.¡±

    ¡°YaoMing?¡±

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s Mr Xu for kids like you. I forgot. YaoMing is actually his first name. Some small trivia right there. Anyways, he does not seem that cold-hearted as he appears to be. After all, getting a license in medicine is the toughest in these lands. Life is the most important possession anyone has. Playing with it requires extreme skill and theoretical analysis.¡±

    ¡°You know everything in this world, don¡¯t you, Teacher Woo?¡± ReZhui asked with admiration.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know everything, I just know what I know.¡± Teacher Woo humbly replied.

    After their small exchange, they reached the backdoor. ReZhui let the teacher enter first before closing it shut behind him.

    Class was in session for the day.

    ---

    Class began with a greeting to the teacher by the students. The assistants would go around the classroom to collect the homework journals from the students and place it on the teacher¡¯s desk for marking. Afterwards, students would pull out their notebooks and small handouts. Copies of these notes were made by a wooden printing press and brushes were supplied to the students, which were made of horse tail. It was quite the long lasting writing tool.

    Subjects, such as Maths, Literature, Basic Sciences, History and Geography, were taught with half hour breaks between each subject. All of these were mainly taught by Teacher Woo. In this normalcy of the class routine, where a teacher asks a student or student asks teacher, there would be students that would ask questions regularly such as ShiYan. One of the brightest in the class. But, for today, that was not the case. The one that asked the most questions was not ShiYan. It was ReZhui.

    ---

    In math class¡­

    ¡°Teacher, could you explain the working here? I do not understand.¡± ReZhui¡¯s hands were quickly moving the beads on the abacus, trying his best to understand what Teacher Woo showed on the blackboard.

    In literature class¡­

    ¡°I think that this showed that the youngest child wanted the eldest brother to succeed. She knew that the gourd given to him was rotten within, therefore gave him her fruit instead.

    In science class¡­

    ¡°Teacher, could you repeat the process again? I just finished copying down the first diagram.¡±

    Especially in history class¡­

    ¡°Therefore everyone, when the First Kingdom was in shambles and there was little time before the Northern barbarians would invade the newly established capital of ChunGong, the Emperor along with his two newest retainers set out to meet a rumored martial arts sect where they shaved off their hair and had bones that break steel. What happened there was not documented in the Royal Library but the aftermath was recorded by the Great Historian. His identity is a pretty hot debate among the scholars so I would not delve into that for your syllabus. Back to the Emperor.

    Upon his return to the Royal Gardens, he led a force of 20,000 martial artists donned in uniforms that were one of different vibrant colors of the rainbow. Each color group was led by a General who was called a Sect Head Representative by their men.

    With the help of the martial artists, the First Kingdom was able to push back the Northern forces to their starting positions high up in the Karagan desert and Lobun Plateau. It was a stalemate for the next 200 years and this gave the soldiers enough time to construct a long wall called the Great Wall. Despite the developments, no effort was made to quench the fire of the barbarians. As a result, there are now reports of small signs of activity near the Great Wall. But that is a talk for another time.

    After achieving the stalemate, the Emperor officially assigned the martial artists, who did the most in the counterattack, titles befitting of their abilities. They were called the Seven Swords of Light. A group that was used to inspire hope into the masses and unfortunately, that ¡®hope¡¯ was disbanded several years back after the 3rd generation Emperor died in a fire accident.¡±

    ¡°Teacher Woo?¡±

    ¡°Yes ReZhui, what¡¯s your question?¡±

    ¡°Did the Seven Swords die in battle or something else? Otherwise, what could have happened to separate all of them?¡±

    ¡°...I¡­Ahehm. Despite my vast knowledge in nearly any subject that you could think of, I must be frank that I have little knowledge about the martial world. Or¡­it¡¯s just that the information I can dig out was very minimal on that matter. So I cannot answer that. My apologies.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright Teacher. Thank you.¡±

    The lesson continued with the reciting of the Second Kingdom ruled by the only son of the First Emperor and the Third Kingdom with the cousin of the First Emperor before being replaced by the third son of the son of the First Emperor.

    As Teacher Woo explained the changing cultural and social practices between transitioning emperors, ReZhui listened attentively. Yet, the question he was left unanswered bothered him throughout.

    In geography class¡­

    ¡°Going back to the final years of the First Kingdom, the Great Wall was accomplished 2 years after. It took a total estimate of 10 million civilians and slaves to complete its construction. It spans throughout the border of the first Kingdom with the Karagan desert to the mountain ranges located near the Bharata Confederate. This was also where most of the fatal casualties were recorded. It was estimated to be in the 500,000s.

    A number of factors contributed to their demise. However, you will only need to learn 4 which are improper working tools, unpredictable weather, delayed supply chains and outsider invasions.¡±

    ¡°Teacher, why are we only meant to learn 4? And, what are the other reasons?¡±

    ¡°ReZhui¡­You are still young so the other reasons would not be suited to be taught until you are older. I apologize again.¡±

    The class went on until they reached 14:00. The students were dismissed like the usual and Elder brother Wei and sister Tian stayed behind for additional lectures.

    As ReZhui finished packing his bag, he told his twin brothers that they may go ahead first because he himself had to do something.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡®They sure are quite gullible, aren¡¯t they?¡¯ ReZhui sighed to himself.

    ---

    ShiYan was feeling rather down. Throughout the school day, ReZhui suddenly became more active. He stopped daydreaming and asked questions, albeit some were pretty basic for a smarter student like herself.

    She was currently waiting for the horse carriage to take her and the other students down the mountain and to the villages. After several exchanges with some of her friends, she spotted ReZhui at the corner of her eye. She turned to watch him.

    ReZhui said goodbye to his friends from Bai village and sent off his brothers by themselves with confidence. Soon after, he started to quicken his pace as he set off in another direction. ReZhui went in between the trees surrounding the school bungalow, disappearing from sight as he walked further in.

    Shocked at what just happened, ShiYan instinctively started to follow after him. Unfortunately, just as she took the first step, the sound of a horse neighing could be heard approaching closer.

    ¡®Why does it have to be now out of all times?¡¯ ShiYan grunted in frustration.

    After her incident with ReZhui 2 days ago, she promised her father to return home at the normal time he set for at least one week.

    ¡®Dad¡¯s face after I said that surely was quite the disappointment. He still looked at me with his usual sharp eyes but later in the night, I don¡¯t doubt myself that I saw flowers surrounding that gloomy old man. He really can¡¯t take any embarrassment.¡¯

    As such, she gave up on tailing ReZhui and boarded the carriage that arrived a few minutes later.

    ¡®ReZhui, I hope you are doing well,¡¯ she said her prayers.

    ---

    With sweat dripping off his face and neck, ReZhui breathed heavily. It had been an hour since he first started walking this trail across the highlands. The temperature was increasingly getting colder as he climbed higher in elevation.

    The thick trees gradually started to thin out as he trudged across several groups of chopped tree trunks on scattered patches of open land. Grass started to grow more abundantly; flowers and bushes lay randomly throughout the high plateau. Wind speeds began to speed up as he hiked the low gradient slope, stopping at a cliffside. The picturesque view of the landscape below gave ReZhui a very warm feeling. He could see long rectangles of black paddy of the Bai village in the distance, as well as the smoke rising from the chimney of the bungalow Teacher Woo lived in. Further downhill, he could roughly spot the cluster of brown spots that was ShiYan¡¯s village and at a greater distance, small lines of rising smoke could be seen from Luo ChengShi. The Bai river that played a part in developing the civilization known as the Middle Kingdom, flowed from the mountain higher up this slope at the snow-capped peaks where it touched the clouds and possibly the heavens. From there, water flowed down the mountain and slowly splitted up into several streams, some big and others small. Meanders bend increasingly in intensity and size as the current reaches lower and lower in elevation. When it flows across ShiYan¡¯s village and near Luo Chengshi, numerous tributaries have gathered to form a wider Bai river than up from where ReZhui is standing.

    Leaves twirled in the strong gale as he spread his arms wide, taking in the fresh, cold air.

    ¡®I want to treasure this. I want to protect this. I want to keep it like this, if I can¡­Forever¡¯ he calmly desired with a wide smile.

    As he did so, a figure came closer to ReZhui. It spoke.

    ¡°Enjoying the view again, ReZhui? No matter how much I look at this, I also cherish this scenery.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It truly is the greatest! Isn¡¯t that right, MianJu?¡± ReZhui turned to face him.

    ¡°I wholeheartedly agree, my young friend.¡± Jia MianJu replied happily.

    The two of them had a moment of silence before sharing a laugh between the two.

    ¡°Haaaah, anyways, what brings you here, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°I think it''s better to talk at your place.¡±

    ¡°Something important I see. Alright, let''s get going.¡±

    Following behind MianJu, ReZhui went down a flight of stairs at the end of the cliffside. What greeted them was a humble wooden cottage surrounded by forests and several large boulders. It was located on top of a small peak of a hill next to the cliffside.

    A separate wooden workshop was placed on the right side of the cottage which featured a smithy. ReZhui had been to this place numerous times ever since he was 6 years old.

    ---

    At that time, ReZhui was out in the woods with his father and his twin brothers for a walk but after a huge fog immediately settled in the area, ReZhui unfortunately got separated. Although he was able to get out of the fog soon after, a pack of wild wolves surrounded the child. Feeling cornered, ReZhui tried to hide under a tree root as told by his father in case a predator was spotted. Even so, the wolves moved faster and pounced on ReZhui¡­

    That was when the front wolf was cleaved in two in the split second before impact. ReZhui flinched back as he saw the blood splatter everywhere, intestines and stomach acid leaking out of the two body pieces.

    The remaining wolves instinctively moved back to the sudden danger that appeared right in front of them. Growling with caution, the wolves began encircling the two of them.

    ¡°Are you alright, child?¡± the man asked, brandishing his sword.

    ¡°Yes sir, I am. But¡­what do we do now?¡± ReZhui asked nervously.

    ¡°There is nothing to worry about. If you feel scared, close your eyes NOW!¡±

    As the man demanded ReZhui, wolves spread their claws out, jumping up high towards them. In spite of their coordinated attack, the wolves were powerless from the start.

    The man retaliated with a wide horizontal swing of his blade. The sword attack didn¡¯t reach the wolves but it didn¡¯t need to. It was a catalyst for a much more efficient killing strike. Numerous halos were immediately formed surrounding the center of the wolves¡¯ body. Each halo for every wolf. It appeared as though the wolves were in the midst of jumping through a translucent, shiny white hoop of light. The instantaneous formation of these mysterious halos triggered a prompt slice through all the wolves¡¯ bodies simultaneously.

    Blood exploded around the place due to the sheer intensity of the cutting force exerted. Body pieces flew everywhere before all of them rapidly started to disintegrate. ReZhui, who wanted to see the ¡®spectacle¡¯, watched as the body parts turned to dust. After a short blink of his eyes, the dust vanished to nowhere.

    ¡°Where¡­where did they go?¡± he asked hesitantly.

    ¡°They were removed from existence. The disintegration to dust was a result of my lack of skill.¡±

    ReZhui was puzzled at his reply. His six-year-old self was already both scared and excited at the overpowering ability of the man donned in black clothing in front of him but for the man to say that he could have done better, it was something that ReZhui only heard from his mother¡¯s bedtime stories.

    ¡°Sir, who are you?¡±

    The man turned to face the little boy. He remained silent before replying.

    ¡°My name is Jia MianJu. I am just your average blacksmith that lives in the mountains to find the best ore. This power you just saw was my sword¡¯s ability.¡±

    ¡°Wow! You are awesome, Sir! Could you make one for me?¡±

    ¡°Alright, listen child. The most important thing to do now is to find your parents. Also, isn¡¯t it impolite for you to not introduce yourself?¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah! I am so sorry, sir. My name is Zhang ReZhui, the son of the chief farmer Zhang GuoZhao of Bai village.

    ¡°Oh¡­Anyways, for now, follow behind me and scream if you cannot find me. The fog may come any moment now. We need to move now.¡±

    The duo left the battle site and walked uphill. Any advancing fog was dissipated by a single swipe of his blade, sending upcoming gales to disappear whenever they came close. After an hour of hiking, they reached the peak and what ReZhui saw was a wooden cottage. Further onwards was a steep cliffside that looks out to an impressive view of the entire river basin of the Bai river.

    ¡°Woah. It¡¯s beautiful!¡± 6-year-old ReZhui said in amazement.

    ¡°This is where I live. If you ever get lost in these woods, just climb uphill and I will be there. Do you understand me?¡±

    ¡°Of course Mr MianJu, this is amazing!¡±

    ¡°Just call me MianJu. The ¡®Mr¡¯, I am not used to.¡±

    ¡°Got it! Elder brother MianJu, it is.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­Haaa. Anyways, go down this hill and continue straight. Your father and brothers would be there. Also¡­let¡¯s keep our¡­friendship a secret.¡±

    ¡°Really? No problem at all. Bye, Brother MianJu, thank you for your help!¡±

    MianJu watched as the little boy ran off into the direction he pointed. That was when ReZhui turned around to ask a final question.

    ¡°Oh ya, Brother MianJu, what is with that blindfold? Can you not see?¡±

    MianJu slowly touched the blindfold, feeling the creases and folds of the cloth on his nose. He smiled gently.

    ¡°In exchange for my eyes, I got something greater so don¡¯t worry about it!¡±

    MianJu¡¯s reply puzzled the young ReZhui as he started to head down the slope. As Mianju watched, he whispered softly to himself.

    ¡°It was worth it. Her child is alive and well-fed. She really chose the best starting place for him, didn¡¯t she? Ha¡­I am impressed.¡±

    MianJu sighed; the sun started to set for night to come.

    ---

    ¡°So ReZhui, how¡¯s school these days?¡± MianJu asked as he gave a cup of black tea to ReZhui.

    ¡°Wonderful. Thank you very much. As I was saying, I went to ShiYan¡¯s house. Her dad is a herbalist and he lived in this large house with a very wide courtyard. Not only was his house huge, there were many tall houses and shops. Apparently, they were made out of concrete, a stronger material than cement that my father uses in the village.¡±

    ¡°Impressive but that is not why you came here, isn''t it?¡±

    ¡°I am sorry if I am taking your precious time, elder brother MianJu.¡±

    ¡°It is nothing, ReZhui. Most of my days were very mundane. I craft weapons and metal kitchen utensils, go to the woodlands to gather wood and once in a while, go out on long travels around the Middle Kingdom. I actually enjoy your company every time you come here on a regular basis. Even so, I am surprised that our friendship is still hidden from your father. You are a good hider.¡±

    ¡°By the way, why is it called the Middle Kingdom again?¡±

    ¡°Still not wanting to talk about that, huh?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­especially now after I saw ShiYan¡¯s village, I realized that the world is a huge and possibly scary place. I worry that my curiosity to learn more about the outside world would hesitate my very caring father. He already works so hard for me that I do not want to stress him out on this. I can do this myself for both our sakes.¡±

    ¡°So you came here to find some answers.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°...Alright, I will indulge in your quest for knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Thank you Brother MianJu¡±

    ¡°Anyways, for your first question, after the Third Emperor¡¯s passing, the Imperial Court was chaotic as a night market. New reforms were made with or without proper approval from the Ministers. The Supreme General was out on the battlefield so security was lacking coordination in the Royal Gardens and even more assassinations occurred with important scholars, advisors and eunuchs. It took them 2 years to reorganize themselves out of that bloodbath and assigned the late Emperor¡¯s son to the throne at 2 years of age. However, since the prince is too young to rule, the Prime Minister took charge of the kingdom along with the other advisors of the Imperial Court until the prince became of age at 22. This decision formed the Council of elders and it uses a majority voting system. Hence the name, ¡®Middle¡¯, since no one person is really in charge of the kingdom. That is¡­for now though.¡±

    ¡°Wow¡­I didn¡¯t know your travels gave you all this information.¡±

    ¡°I am not that bad of a recluse. Even though I live high up in this mountain, I got my way of getting insider details.¡±

    ¡°You sure are full of mystery, Brother MianJu.¡±

    ¡°Not that you have to worry about it, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I do not wish to offend you with all the help you gave me for the past three years.¡±

    ¡°...Gratitude accepted.¡±

    ¡°Anyhow, for today, Teacher Woo talked about the Seven Swords of Light. Why did they disband after so many years after it was formed? And, how are they so powerful? Teacher Woo didn¡¯t have the answer. It was very shocking but I hope you know something.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°MianJu¡­¡±

    ¡°The Seven Swords of Light¡­They were a military force that had multiple members over the generations. When one position is left empty, another member from only the same Martial Sect was assigned to fill the role. The seven seats are representatives from the seven Sects that were in the forefront of the battle against the North. These representatives were one of the most powerful in their respective Sects. That¡¯s all you have to know for now. Any other information could get you killed. I do not want to risk telling you for someday, you may accidentally say anything about them. Don¡¯t underestimate their senses.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­why did they separate? You didn¡¯t touch on that.¡±

    ¡°Simple, they thought the title was no longer worth holding after the chaos that happened in the Imperial Court. After all, they only care about their own martial families and other competitive sects. Honestly, if they were set to conquer the Royal Gardens, even a million foot soldiers wouldn¡¯t stop a single major Sect. That¡¯s how powerful they are. Understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry though, I can assure you that they will not be a danger to the villages or Luo ChengShi. These places matter little to ones that seek immortality.¡±

    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all you have to ask?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I have found the resolve I need.¡±

    ¡°MianJu, do you remember the time you saved me from that pack of wolves?¡±

    ¡°I do. What about it?¡±

    ¡°Teach me your martial arts.¡±

    A silence filled the room. The fire crackled and soot spilled out of the open flame. The sun began its descent as the sky turned a bloody orange. MianJu was looking down, not answering. As ReZhui decided to give up on his request and got up from his seat, MianJu replied curtly.

    ¡°This may¡­No, it will bring you onto a new and dangerous path. I do not know what happened on your first visit to ShiYan¡¯s village beyond this mountain but I can feel your desire will be your downfall one day.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I am committed.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, Saturday, same time. I will teach you the minimum for self-defense only.¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much, Elder brother MianJu!¡±

    After that intense exchange, ReZhui returned home before nightfall. As his father asked where he had been, ReZhui replied that he picked some wild fruit and flowers. Proof was he had a bag of these in hand given from MianJu. However, both GuoZhao and MeiYue did not know of this fact.

    ---

    On the next day, school began and ran like the usual. After dismissal, ReZhui walked to Teacher Woo¡¯s desk to begin the extra classes. He looked tense with determination.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Teacher Woo, this may not be part of the syllabus. But, could you teach me this as a separate class privately and not known by my father?¡±

    ¡°What is this request then? I am curious about your behavior and actions these days, ReZhui. I will see what I can do.¡±

    ¡°What is merchantry?¡±

 Chapter 5 : Learning from the Masters

    Teacher Woo widened his eyes in surprise. He never had expected for a child as carefree as ReZhui to ask him such a question. Taking a long glance at ReZhui, he saw ReZhui¡¯s clenched fist and slightly timid sitting posture. A more reserved expression that is holding on to eyes that blaze with determination. It was quite the unique combination. Stroking the fine combed hairs of his beard, Teacher Woo responded seriously, not wanting to tease the young kid for his goals that were somewhat predictable upon further assumption.

    ¡®He values those around him. He wants the power to protect them. To make them happy. I applaud the morals of this kid, thus you will receive my utmost assistance,¡¯ Teacher Woo thought to himself.

    ¡°Firstly, ReZhui. Let me ask you a question?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Teacher.¡±

    ¡°What are your overall thoughts on merchantry? Tell me in the finest detail about what you, a fledgling into the world of trade¡­Wait, no. An embryo that¡¯s yet to hatch, would know about that particular field?¡±

    ReZhui paused for several minutes before giving an answer.

    ¡°Well¡­all I know about merchantry is based on what I saw in my father¡¯s small food stall and ShiYan¡¯s village, as well as advice told by ShiYan herself.¡±

    ¡°Go on then. Tell me your thoughts and observations.¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­Let me give a specific scenario. Bai village is rarely active at night because it would be too dark to see anything and we only have a limited amount of torches and candles. We use them only on special occasions like on my father¡¯s feast celebration or when night attacks on the farm animals occur by wolves. So, we do not need extra candles and the limited supply is already more than enough. If we had to urinate or walk to other houses at night, the village is so small that I nearly memorized the entire map of Bai village by now. Therefore, we do not need candles as much. We are satisfied. But, in ShiYan¡¯s village, the scale of that village is at least 3 times as large as Bai village. I couldn¡¯t even memorize the route I took to her place. Moreover, the entire village. Moving at night without light would be extremely difficult. Due to this, ShiYan and the villagers would have no choice but to regularly hang large street candle lights on every street for convenience of travel. They would need a large amount of candles. They would need to pay more men and buy more materials to make those extra candles. Since merchants sell goods, they can come to the village and make money by selling the candles the village needs. To transport the large number of candles, large horse carts are needed, which is what I saw regularly on the main road to ShiYan¡¯s village. The more merchants stay there, the village would need more pubs for them to live in during their stay. This earns money for the pub owners and the restaurants that make their food because there would be more mouths to feed. The money from the village, given to the merchants is returned back to the village by buying food the villagers offered to them. And, that cycle repeats over and over when the candles bought run out of material to burn.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my amateur analysis of some of the businesses that occur in ShiYan¡¯s village. What do you think, Teacher Woo?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­Splendid work! It¡¯s especially noteworthy since you essentially described a scenario of a fundamental principle of trade. It¡¯s the reason people buy and sell goods.¡±

    ¡°Thank you Teacher, so what is the reason?¡±

    ¡°Scarcity.¡±

    ¡°Scarcity?¡±

    ¡°It is the state of being in short supply.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Earlier, you talked about the huge amount of candles used to light up the village streets. The need for such large quantities is called demand.¡±

    ¡°Demand¡­¡±

    ¡°After the village bought and used up all the candles, since these do not stay lit forever, they have to buy again from merchants. Their supply is low and they need to increase the quantity again. That¡¯s called resupplying. Hence the term, Supply and Demand¡±

    ¡°Supply and Demand¡­¡±

    ReZhui said those words repeatedly, digesting Teacher Woo¡¯s explanation. He was proud of himself that he got the gist of the idea but to put it into words, Teacher Woo was able to sum up all that thought ReZhui had at the carriage into less than 5 words.

    ¡®Supply and Demand. Scarcity¡¯

    ReZhui was amazed at the knowledge Teacher Woo had and gathered the eagerness to carry forward with his teachings. On the other hand, Teacher Woo waited patiently for the young boy to arrange his thoughts before continuing on. The two of them were in sync in thought as they carried on.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the idea of scarcity based on textbook definitions¡­Actually, that¡¯s not suitable for a person like you. I will try a different approach. Do you know what an auction is, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°It is a place where people that will pay the most will get the item that everyone wants. So, how does that have to do with-¡±

    ¡°Now imagine that but on a wider scale and involves a non-changing price at a lower value.¡±

    ¡°Teacher, I do not¡­¡±

    ¡°You mentioned the word ¡®wants¡¯, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes I did.¡±

    ¡°Are there unlimited goods in this world?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    ¡°Therefore, there are limited goods but a larger number of people who want them. Are you still following?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°That is the idea of scarcity.¡±

    ¡°So merchants will sell goods that people want. Merchants sell candles and torches to the village in exchange for money.¡±

    ¡°Let us use another example. After the merchants finish their business in the village, they will feel hungry.¡±

    ¡°That is a want. A demand.¡±

    ¡°Continue.¡±

    ¡°The restaurants and farmers will supply them with food and drink.¡±

    ¡°However, there are fancy restaurants and mediocre restaurants. Those that want to dine in at the fancy restaurants have to pay more because that food is much more uncommon. The value increases.¡±

    ¡°So that is where the auction idea comes in¡­¡±

    ¡°It is a principle of business. The more scarce the good is, the higher the value it is. The higher value means a higher price since it would be much harder for people to get that specific item. It has more worth basically. Example, shark fin.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    ¡°So in conclusion, a business, run by a merchant, is a practice that judges a good by its scarcity and sells it accordingly. The type and size of business also depends on what you are selling, what prices are you setting and the people who you are selling to. But, that is a different topic for another day. Take note though, the same type of goods like tables can be sold at different prices. However, I will explain the reasons later on. We will tackle this one by one.¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much, Teacher Woo.¡±

    ¡°So, you want to be a merchant, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°For now, all I want is security. By being a merchant, I may achieve this goal! That¡¯s why.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­Interesting. I fully understand and sympathize with your objectives, young ReZhui. For that reason, I will support your decision to learn this craft. I will talk to your father to have extra classes daily from Monday to Friday. My excuse¡­You will be my next apprentice. So work hard for your dream, ReZhui. Of course, since it is an apprenticeship, there will be no additional charges. My investment is in you.¡±

    ¡°Investment?¡±

    ¡°You will learn that later as well. For now, we can start with the regular syllabus that you missed. You are not tired yet, are you?¡±

    ¡°No Teacher!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my apprentice.¡±

    The session lasted for 3 hours, an hour longer than expected but it didn¡¯t matter to ReZhui. All he felt was gratitude for the extra effort spent on him. He felt more confident by the end of it.

    As ReZhui already packed his things and exited the classroom, Teacher Woo called for him one last time for today.

    ¡°Remember ReZhui, in the world you will enter into one day, only money is power.¡±

    ReZhui did not question his teacher¡¯s advice and kept it in his mind. The sun set a thick orange as ReZhui made his way back home.

    ---

    Saturday came. ReZhui woke up like usual and completed his homework after eating his mother¡¯s cooking for breakfast. It consisted of steamed rice, bok choy and red braised pork belly - one of her specialties. His twin brothers were out in the field, playing with the neighborhood kids. They were currently doing a game of tag and both brothers were the taggers. They caught several by now and only 5 remained. The youngest brother slept soundly near the fire in his cradle. ReZhui¡¯s mother was out by the stream, cleaning the clothes. On the other hand, his father was on the hillside, attending to his terraced paddy field.

    Wearing the toughest clothes he could find, ReZhui setted out to the top of the mountain where MianJu resided. It was a one hour journey to the very top where he was greeted again by the scenic view of the river basin over the cliffside. Further inland to the cliff was a large plateau of bushes, grass patches and random growth of flowers among chopped tree stumps. MianJu sat on the largest one at the center in a meditation posture. ReZhui observed him as he walked closer to MianJu. His legs were folded on top one over the other, letting the sole of the feet face towards the sky. His hands were placed at the center of the leg intersection, on top one another with their palms facing upwards as well. There was no wind unlike the previous times ReZhui came to this place. Despite this, he felt an indescribable feeling that was as if his heart was going to stop and his legs to give in. The sensation that a heavy weight was placed on top of his back was intensifying. Suddenly, a strong gale of freezing cold wind blasted out of the body of MianJu, sending ReZhui flying back for a couple of seconds before landing several meters away. The pressure ReZhui felt started to dissipate as he slowly got up.

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°You¡¯re here already? That was pretty early.¡± MianJu commented, still sitting in the meditation posture.

    ¡°Brother MianJu, what was that?¡± asked ReZhui as he massaged his back from the impact.

    ¡°It¡¯s called Cultivation. The practice of gathering Qi, maintaining it and training your control over Qi. It is the internal spiritual energy within your body and is a manifestation of a person¡¯s soul.¡±

    ¡°Is this what I will be learning-¡±

    ¡°No. No, you won¡¯t. Unless you are going to fight or join the Seven Swords of Light sects or any other major sect in general, you do not need to learn Cultivation. I am training you to be able to stand up against your regular bandit groups that may contain several individuals that have at least had 20 years of experience in their respective field of combat.¡±

    ¡°Where do I start then?¡±

    ¡°First, 3 sets of 20 pushups. Then, 3 sets of 40 sit ups. Finally, 3 sets of one minute planks. I expect you to ace this since you are a farmer¡¯s son and you regularly hike up and down mountains. Didn¡¯t you say a farmer¡¯s stamina is their strongest point? Well, put that to good use for your pride as a son of one.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Brother MianJu.¡±

    And as MianJu predicted, ReZhui succeeded in reaching the requirements. Unfortunately, the exercise caused him to be drained of at least half of his strength with some muscles slowly starting to sore.

    Laying on the ground exhausted, ReZhui was covered in large volumes of sweat. His clothes were removed due to the added weight they carried and all he had on now is a light tunic layer and pants. His cloth shoes and mountain gloves were removed to better grip the grass during the plank sessions and all of that were placed neatly on a nearby tree stump.

    As soon as he heard footsteps, ReZhui began to slowly stand up. He was handed water by MianJu who now wore a black tunic and single layer pants with no shoes on. On MianJu¡¯s back were two wooden swords that were slightly longer than the entire arm length of MianJu. After ReZhui quenched his thirst, he was handed the wooden sword and was told to put on a necklace that had a dull rock on the end of it. .

    ¡°We are first using swords. It is the jack-of-all-trades for all weapons. Are you ready?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The two of them moved several steps backwards, creating quite the distance between the two. MianJu brandished his sword forward, keeping the pommel aligned to his chest and holding the sword at a 30 degree angle from the horizontal in his right hand. The right leg was placed a step forward and the left leg was tucked back behind the front leg, nearly in line with each other. His left hand was placed behind his back, not used. Overall, ReZhui saw that that stance kept a narrow profile. He was certain there were no openings in MianJu¡¯s stance.

    ¡°Alright ReZhui! Before we start, I would like to clarify some things before we start the training. Firstly, if there is the opportunity, then the first priority is to run. Martial arts is always the last option you should take. Use it when you really need it.¡±

    ¡°Understand.¡±

    ¡°Secondly, if you feel a similar pressure that I exerted earlier in an opponent, run away and do not fight back no matter what. They most likely would be a Cultivator of a Sect. In that case, touch that rock. It will protect you.¡±

    ReZhui touched the rock on the necklace. It appeared to be just an ordinary rock but there was this tingling sensation whenever he touched it.

    ¡°Your parents may question where you got that. Just say that a friend gave it to you or something. It will work.¡±

    ¡°Understand.¡±

    ¡°Finally, I do not plan to teach you the skills I use in battle. It is too dangerous for a child like you and is not possible to learn either way unless you got the right environment like a cave full of Qi to start cultivating. The only thing you can pick up is called Aura.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Aura is similar to Qi but there is a key difference. Qi exists the same everywhere and in all living beings. On the contrary, aura is unique to one¡¯s self. Aura can only be developed by the heightened enlightenment of the understanding of one¡¯s emotions. This only forms after at least a decade of swordsmanship so don¡¯t stress about it.¡±

    ¡°What specifically are they used for?¡±

    ¡°Aura is used as an extension of one¡¯s attack like a sword. However, it can exist in a multitude of forms with the most common being waves, flames or streaks of lightning. Not only that, it could strengthen the muscles and coat the body in a physical layer that softens enemy blows. However, that upgrade isn¡¯t permanent and only lasts until the aura dissipates.

    Conversely, Qi is only used to permanently increase the performance of your body. You can only go so far with training the muscles by growing more muscle fibers. Qi enabled lean martial artists to go toe to toe in terms of pure strength with men that can lift entire horses and wagons but do not use Qi. However, the amount of Qi needed to advance to the next height of zenith performance exponentially increases each time and the probability of that change to be successful decreases as the stages increases. That is why expert control of Qi is important to greatly avoid a failed ¡®accession¡¯ as the Martial World calls it.¡±

    ¡°Understand. But Brother MianJu, what am I supposed to learn now since you won¡¯t teach me your skills?¡±

    ¡°You will simply make your own.¡±

    ¡°Ehh?¡±

    ¡°Your objective is to hit me in the heart or neck. I will only deflect for now.¡±

    ¡°Understand¡­¡±

    ¡°I recommend that in this scenario, you try to end the fight quickly. It is called blitzing. So, develop your style as you try to hit me. I will guide you along the way. Begin.¡±

    ReZhui raised his sword above his shoulder and started running straight towards MianJu. As he closed the distance, ReZhui made a downward strike, aiming for the chest. However, MianJu was faster and sidestepped to the left. His entire body weight was focused on his left foot as it hardened his contact with the ground, preparing a solid defense.

    ReZhui followed in the direction MianJu went and made an upward strike to his chest. But, despite putting his all into this swing, MianJu¡¯s sword block promptly halted the strike from reaching its target; MianJu had twisted his hand downwards with the point of the sword facing the ground to block it. Without delay, MianJu moved a step forward, forcing the two swords into a tight bind. He then twisted his hand upwards, making a constricted arc of his sword. ReZhui couldn¡¯t process what was happening and unintentionally let his sword follow along with the bind. That was his first major mistake. At the speed that MianJu twisted his sword in the bind, he made a sudden vertical strike. The tip of his blade hit the thumb of ReZhui, making him lose his grip on the sword, therefore, disarming him. ReZhui¡¯s blade fell to the ground with a loud thud.

    ReZhui fell onto his knees as the adrenaline started to disappear. His breath was sporadic and deep. His right thumb had a slight red bruise on its joint and the end of his palm felt a hot sensation. His eyes were in a blur. His mind was still in the moment, repeating the sequence of actions all over and over again. ReZhui remained motionless. MianJu, on the other hand, walked to the nearest tree stump and assumed the meditation posture; he waited while ReZhui calmed his mind. The silence lasted for 5 minutes before ReZhui began to stand up again, picking up his sword. MianJu watched as ReZhui made an ordinary stance. His legs were spread out, one more forward than the other. His sword was gripped on both hands and brandished outward, the blade almost parallel to the ground.

    ¡°Not bad, but this is more defense oriented. Assume a running stance with the same arm position instead. That is more suited for attacking first,¡± MianJu instructed.

    Without saying a word, ReZhui followed his advice. As he did so, ReZhui felt an intense heat in his calves and back muscles.

    ¡°What you are feeling is your muscles working at their maximum ability. They will store your ¡®energy¡¯ to charge forward faster and strike harder. Again!¡±

    ReZhui focused his eyes and sprang forward.

    ¡®It¡¯s like what he said,¡¯ ReZhui thought.

    Raising his sword high again, he unleashed a downward diagonal strike to MianJu¡¯s chest. Repeating the same steps, MianJu sidestepped to the right and assumed the same stance as before.

    ReZhui continued the momentum of his downward strike and changed directions to strike upwards at a rising gradient. MianJu made the same downward block and the swords got locked into a bind. However, before MianJu could twist his wrist to tighten the bind, ReZhui charged forward and retracted his blade backwards, away from the bind and prevented his sword from entrapment.

    ReZhui jumped on the spot and continued the momentum of the swings and forward charges into one assisted by gravity. He aimed to strike the pommel of his wooden sword at MianJu¡¯s head as he closed most of the distance and was within arm''s length of him. But¡­MianJu was aware of that.

    Already putting most of his weight onto his left leg, MianJu easily twisted his body to the left, moving his head out of the strike''s path. He had won.

    ReZhui barely made the landing and slipped onto the ground. His knees scraped the rough soil and had red patches of scratches on them. As he turned to face upward, he saw the pointed tip of MianJu¡¯s sword aimed at his forehead. ReZhui felt an urgency to run but remembered that this was part of the training and sunk it in. He stared into the black blindfold that MianJu wore. He wondered how a blind man could be more perceptive than one that still has his eyes. But¡­he recalled that MianJu was unique, an anomaly. Although he could not ask MianJu himself that, his presence and pressure already confirms it. Despite this¡­

    ¡®I am thankful to have him as my martial arts master.¡¯

    ReZhui saw no emotion on MianJu¡¯s face as he said a word.

    ¡°Again.¡±

    ---

    For the next 6 hours, ReZhui was beaten black and blue all around. Between 2 continuous hours of sparing, there was a 1 hour resting period. However, that resting period involves meditation and several minutes for lunch which was rice, herbal chicken and soup, and egg.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this cultivating, Brother MianJu?¡± ReZhui asked as he munched on a bite of chicken.

    ¡°Meditation doesn¡¯t always have to be about cultivating Qi. People use meditation to calm the mind and relax the muscles. It eases stress and is overall good for your well-being. You can even sleep in that position and feel more refreshed the next day compared to if you slept on a cotton bed.¡± replied MianJu as he drank his half-finished bowl of herbal soup.

    ¡°Oh ok.¡±

    The sparring sessions really showed ReZhui just how far he is from even being capable of protecting someone. MianJu hasn¡¯t changed from the same routine of moves and stances. Even so, ReZhui couldn¡¯t break his defense or find a way to redirect his blade to get an opening. If he found one, MianJu was already 3 steps ahead to block it. ReZhui tried the same move set again and considered the way MianJu blocked the attack but he failed again. MianJu was capable of finding alternative steps for the same attack pattern.

    ¡®Elder brother MianJu truly is a martial master¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself as his hands dropped the wooden sword. The point of MianJu¡¯s blade was pointed straight at ReZhui¡¯s throat. If it was a real fight, he would have been killed instantly over thousands of times. Each fight barely lasted for 2 minutes.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. You can return home after you swallow these.¡±

    MianJu sheathed his wooden sword and handed ReZhui two pills. On his palm was a dark red sphere pill that was emitting a purple aura and was the size of a clam pearl. The other was a sky blue cylindrical pill with white streaks similar to that of the clouds and was smaller than the red pill. Both looked mysterious but he trusted MianJu to take them. Swallowing the two pills with a cup of water, MianJu explained their functions.

    ¡°The red one contains stored qi to strengthen your body. It would be an insignificant amount to make the first accession but to a child like you, this added strength will help you greatly in the future. Fortunately, there is no need to meditate to control the Qi. The Qi in this will automatically do their own thing.

    To put it simply, the blue pill will fasten your healing process. Your muscle aches will hurt less since without it, this would most likely get the attention of your parents if you started feeling sore all over.

    Finally, remove your clothes so that I can apply this cream to hide your bruises.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for doing this much to keep my wishes, Brother MianJu.¡±

    ¡°I want to, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡°

    ¡°Ahhhh! Ouchh!¡±

    As the loud yells of pain sounded throughout the forests, the sun began its descent for the night, baked in a red dye.

    ---

    Monday came for the supposed final extra class with Teacher Woo. As the students were dismissed, ReZhui headed for his office. Upon his arrival, ReZhui said his greetings and sat down with his notebooks and brush.

    ¡°You sure look busy ReZhui. Did anything happen over the weekend?¡±

    ¡°I went to exercise in the mountains. It was tiring to say the least.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°Teacher?¡±

    ¡°Well, I already talked to your father about the apprenticeship. And, he instantly agreed. You should have seen the smile on his face. It sure was warm for my old heart.¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s amazing, Teacher Woo! No wonder the two of them looked so proud during dinner last night.¡±

    ¡°Therefore, I told him that you needed some training in the village down the mountain. I reasoned that it is for improving your skills and getting hands on work.¡±

    ¡°Wait so¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, I sent a bird to Mr Xu to mentor you on how he runs his medicine shop. You will live at his place for the duration of one week for the following week. As expected, he gladly cooperated. Consider it your good work to have already impressed him when you walked ShiYan back home a few days back.¡±

    ¡°Understood and thank you, Teacher Woo!¡±

 Chapter 6 : The Journey to DongBu village

    ReZhui stood next to the school gates as he tightened his grip on his cloth bag. Teacher Woo stood alongside him, supporting his weak legs with his wooden cane. The two of them had been waiting for quite some time. Class just ended on an early dismissal as this marked their final school day for the year. Winter was coming and Teacher Woo knew that climbing up these stairs and uphill trails was a tough endeavor for little kids in the cold winter mornings. Therefore, he implemented a holiday system several years back. The next period of school was planned to start when spring arrived. ReZhui did not realize that his temporary stay at the Xu residence coincided with the arrival of the winter holidays. However, after reevaluating the circumstance, it was the optimal schedule for his out-in-the-field training.

    ¡°Teacher Woo, how long are we gonna be waiting here for?¡± said ReZhui, holding his cloth bag that was filled with a handful of thick clothes, a small money pouch and a notebook with an ink brush. He started to sway on the spot and fiddle with belt sash on his tunic.

    ¡°Be patient, ReZhui. Just this morning, your father sent a letter that said he will be accompanying you to their house. I also agreed with his decision and went along. Now, let¡¯s give him some time to get the horse carriage down the mountain.¡±

    ¡°Understood Teacher Woo.¡±

    ¡°Oh, speaking of which, allow me to test you on what I taught you this past 2 weeks. It is not a test though. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­¡±

    ¡°Very well! Firstly, what are the major components that make up a new business?¡±

    ¡°There consists of location, the employed, capital and skill.

    ¡°Explain all four of them.¡±

    ¡°Location ties to all the natural resources obtained in nature and comes in a variety of materials from textiles to metals.

    Employed refers to the workers that are paid to do work in the business. This could also differ from business to business. A restaurant would have a lot more people working compared to a smithy or carpenter¡¯s cottage.

    Capital is the total value of all the money and equipment that belongs to the business. An anvil is a blacksmith¡¯s most important asset while a chef¡¯s stove is not. Although¡­the money the businessmen have may not be¡­physical?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that for now. YaoMing¡¯s pharmacy would have a good example on what that concept means. What¡¯s the final one?¡±

    ¡°Skill involves the recommended characteristics and abilities that a merchant should possess. As they are the owners¡­they would need to be hard workers, risk-takers, unique and independent. Moreover, they need the practice of effective communication to talk with¡­

    Ah, creditors, investors, customers and business rivals.¡±

    ¡°For now, do you have an idea what investors are?¡±

    ¡°While I was reading the books in your study, I learnt that they are very important. Without them, a merchant could not start trading.¡±

    ¡°That is very conditional though, ReZhui. The reason it was said like that is because to start trading, one has to buy resources and sell them at a profit. The investors lend money and get a portion of the final earnings after the merchant does his practice. However, there are some merchants that were rich to begin with so buying the materials with their own money is no major obstacle for them.¡±

    ¡°So when you said that your investment was in me, what you meant was my potential success will earn you money. But you didn¡¯t lend money to me. All you spent was your time therefore I do not see the exchange here¡­¡±

    ¡°You are taking the word ¡®investment¡¯ in the physical sense here. Similar to the capital money earlier, I am expecting a different form of return from you,¡± Teacher Woo explained as he looked into ReZhui¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°Where is the fun if I am just gonna tell you? Fufu.¡±

    The old man left out a light chuckle before returning to the conversation. ReZhui was still deep in thought, slightly frustrated. Teacher Woo cleared his throat before continuing.

    ¡°However, those were some very solid responses overall, just now. Although this is just barely scratching the surface of what a licensed merchant would have learnt before starting, it wouldn¡¯t really matter much until you apply your knowledge into real life. If that was not the case, farmers and former lower-class workers that turned over their lives to earn a solid living through the art of trade would be nonexistent. Those people didn¡¯t learn the academic syllabus like the higher classes. All they got was a hardworking spirit, faster learning capabilities or greater adaptability and superb street smarts. The only thing they learnt from people was selling higher makes money and money is used to make more money and have greater power. The rest of the recipe for their success is a mixture of luck and failure.¡±

    Seeing his mentor¡¯s sudden change in tone and topic, ReZhui made an appropriate response.

    ¡°Therefore, I am grateful to my family, your teachings and Mr Xu¡¯s cooperation. They are opportunities I will not take for granted. That¡¯s what you are trying to say right, Teacher?¡± ReZhui declared as he faced the old man.

    ¡°Yes. You really are an understanding child.¡±

    ¡°Still though, Teacher¡­Your talk about the commoners that rise from rags to riches. It wasn¡¯t in the books you lend me so how-¡±

    ¡°There were no written accounts of that. All their stories were shared and retold by word of mouth as they were illiterate¡­I was once like that many decades before. There were many that were like me, or more intelligent than I would ever be, but I was the luckiest one.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°The Heavens truly are unfair and ruthless, aren¡¯t they? Even so, I pray back to them for blessings in the New Year. Oh¡­I remember it¡¯s coming soon. How hypocritical and pathetic we humans are?¡±

    ReZhui had no clue on what his teacher just said but he had the feeling that it was one of longing and denial. His teacher¡¯s eyes closed as he sighed. A melancholy atmosphere surrounded them. There was no exchange as the two of them watched as the leaves started to slowly fall. The weather was a gray overcast that just rained overnight. Damp soil puddles and water-filled plot holes were scattered sporadically throughout the main road with dense water vapor surrounding the air near the ground. Clouds of fog with varying density diffused slowly across the thick forests, reducing their field of vision of the road as they waited.

    ---

    After the passing of an hour, ReZhui¡¯s father arrived, riding a horse carriage with a makeshift roof made of bamboo stalks and leather hide. The seats at the front had soft padding hammered into its wooden top frame which was partitioned to allow a maximum of 4 people to sit next to each other, side by side. ReZhui¡¯s father was seated at the center, holding onto the reins of the two horses. Located at the back were several barrels of food supplies that ReZhui was able to pinpoint. The majority being rice, potatoes and bok choy.

    His father was surprisingly well-dressed for the occasion. He tidied his long hair with a comb and tied it into a bun, covered with red cloth. His tunic was more formal with a shade of dark green and was obviously ironed by ReZhui¡¯s mother. He also wore a bright white inner layer and had a new set of pants on. The muddy farmer shoes were replaced with a clean pair of black cloth sandals. His face, that used to be caked in grime and sweat, appeared relatively smooth and clean. At his center, a blue sash tightened his tunic, giving him a more presentable physique. After ReZhui¡¯s father settled the reins and calmed the horses, he greeted ReZhui and Teacher Woo with loud enthusiasm.

    ¡°Good morning Elder Woo and ReZhui! Apologies for the wait, I had to get everything ready. Also, sorry for the sudden change again, Elder Woo. I want to see this through with my own eyes. I express hope that you don¡¯t mind. Again, thank you,¡± ReZhui¡¯s father said as he bowed his upper body in the teacher¡¯s direction, still seated.

    ¡°Oh no need for the formalities, Mr Zhang! I am now even closer to the young ReZhui and I can confidently see his greater potential. With the performance your child has shown for the last 2 weeks, I should also show my respects to you for being such a wise father,¡± Teacher Woo replied with vigor as he bowed in return.

    As ReZhui watched this unfold, he felt a warm sensation in his heart. It was a feeling of mutual respect for the other. It was different to friends greeting friends, sons and daughters greeting their parents or grandchildren to grandparents. It was reminiscent of pupil and master but with a more equal distribution of respect between both parties.

    ¡®I feel like it''s client to client. Both benefit and lose at the same time. That bond is me.¡¯ ReZhui felt delighted at this thought. He showed importance among the two of them. He mattered to them. And, he won¡¯t let them down.

    ReZhui got on the carriage and held onto the side handles for extra support. Looking down at Teacher Woo, ReZhui waved his hand wide in the air as the carriage began to move. The sound of the wipe cracked causing the horses to grunt into motion.

    ¡°Have a good time, ReZhui!¡± Teacher Woo shouted before his figure began to blur away into the morning fog. The sun was not as high in the sky as it was in the summer. It was the final week of autumn before winter setted in. Harvests had been completed and the farm animals were herded into their respective barns. It would have been a busy week for the village during the period ReZhui went for his training and he sank in some final imaginative thoughts about what the villagers will be doing soon. As he closed his eyes, he dreamt of his mother raking the hay into the sheds, the uncles sharpening their sickles and the children raising the flags as they assisted herding the sheep.

    Soon after, ReZhui dozed off into a short slumber. His father grabbed a blanket from one of the compartments under the wooden seat and placed it over him. The young boy responded subconsciously and snuggled it tightly as he laid on the seat.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ---

    The remaining part of the journey took quite a while. Nonetheless, ReZhui¡¯s father was able to skillfully avoid the larger size plot holes and any potential highwaymen. The last threat was aided by the fact that the surrounding forests were damp and sticky, making stationing posts on the borders of the road incredibly uncomfortable to those men.

    Unfortunately, even with all that expert steering, a foggy vapor managed to cover a significant part of the upcoming trail. Braving through it regardless, the father accidentally rode over a huge mound of dirt, sticking out of the ground. It shook the carriage and raised the left side by several centimeters. ReZhui¡¯s father skipped a heartbeat as it returned back to its normal position, balanced perfectly. No goods were toppled over as he inspected the back and the wheel had no cracks. He breathed a sigh of relief and carried onward.

    Even so, the sudden impact slowly awoke ReZhui from his nap and there was no going back. He felt wide awake.

    ¡®Kids really charge their batteries very fast these days,¡¯ the father gave in.

    ¡°Good afternoon Pa. Where are we now?¡± ReZhui inquired.

    ¡°See the light up ahead, it is where the circular junction that leads to the other villages including DongBu village, is located. After the end of this trail, we will take a left turn to the nearest road corner and head straight afterwards.¡±

    ¡°Oh is that so? A few weeks ago, ShiYan and I went through the forests and followed a downhill stream that leads to a clearing next to the main road. She told me that it was a deserted shortcut. But, even if that was the case, it wouldn¡¯t fit this large carriage, ain¡¯t that right Pa?¡±

    ¡°Did your extra lessons remove some of your common sense, boy? Haha, of course it is! However, it is good that the both of you went there. There is now something special in your friendship.¡±

    ¡°How so, Pa?¡±

    ¡°The deserted trail is a little secret that only ShiYan and you know. That is what makes your relationship worth more than it should be. Even the tiniest happiest memories can add to that bond. However¡­Remember that even a single drop of ink can ruin the pristine paper. The deep bond that you nurtured in your school life may come shattering after one incident, no matter small or large. There will always be tension afterwards despite greater effort to mend the relationship. Trust my word on that, ReZhui. I may not be the best in academics like Elder Woo or have a job that is as helpful as Mr Xu, but I also have my own fair share of life lessons to teach you as my duty as your father. So, behave well at their place. If there is anything, I am confident that you will make it back. I will do whatever I can for my family.¡±

    ¡°Pa¡­¡±

    ¡°You got me, boy?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­Father,¡± ReZhui¡¯s eyes were filled with determination and he deepened his brows as he made eye contact with his father. Never expecting that sort of reaction from the otherwise cheerful young boy, ReZhui¡¯s father reached out and ruffled his hair with joy.

    ¡°Excellent kid,¡± he complimented.

    There was a moment of silence before ReZhui asked a question.

    ¡°Pa?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you upset that I may not be likely to inherit your craft and the terraced paddy field?¡±

    ¡°Why would I be, ReZhui? The main reason I send you to study under Teacher Woo is to hope something like this would happen. Personally, I wish that I could go out into the world and establish former severed ties with the other villages in the area. However, my father, his father and my grandfather¡¯s father, along with my ancestors always followed the code to isolate ourselves high up in the mountains. As the current chief, I am also entrusted to maintain the status quo as well.¡±

    ¡°But, why were they that resentful to the other villages?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it is the appropriate time for me to tell you due to your age but I am now confident that you could understand. We may not have a chance to bring up this topic in the future for a long time. Haha!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°The reason I learnt of it was because your grandfather told me on his deathbed before he passed away. The routine occurred in a similar way for the previous generations as well. Telling you on my deathbed is pretty uncomfortable to be honest¡­

    Anyways, back to the reason. Firstly, we would need to talk about when the Bai village was first built. At that time, Bai Village and the other settlements were under one of the warring factions before the unification of all the states to form the Middle Kingdom of today. This land used to be one of the entry points to an important military outpost and invasions would happen nearly everyday. And, since the villages have a common enemy, they banded together and were successful in repelling outsiders from conquering this site as a resupply warehouse chain.

    After unification, the feeling of triumph of war was welcomely shared across all the villages. Unfortunately, that happy emotion didn¡¯t last for very long. Small but violent skirmishes occurred as often as eating but the cost of such bloodshed was not worth the farmland obtained. Bai Village, which had the largest occupied land in the area, was located right on the plains that neighboured the mountains we live in now. The other villages formed a small coalition to demolish the dominant power that Bai Village was. My ancestors retaliated without hesitation at first. However, as time went on for the next 5 years, he had enough. The farmland started to spoil and there were less men left than women in the village. He tried to make negotiations but the conditions were too cruel for his people. So instead, the villagers of Bai fled high into the mountains after they discovered fertile land uphill. Resulting in the current day¡­¡±

    ¡°So, why didn¡¯t the alliance push forward?¡±

    ¡°Ahh, that wasn¡¯t explained clearly by your grandfather but I can make speculations based on the facts stated. The alliance¡¯s goal was the plains only and not the villagers themselves so they had no motive to harm the Bai village any further. Moreover, like after the unification, the remaining villages fought hard over the land and this period was way crueler than before. The war eventually had its winners and losers, estimated to be after 40 years of dispute. Finally, as the generations passed, the knowledge of the disputes and grudges that were held began to fade into obscurity and now the village borders are fixed and agreed by all.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I never thought it would be that¡­scary.¡±

    ¡°True, even I was surprised at first. I even grew some hatred at them for a period of time. How could they abandon us when we used to fight like brothers on the battlefield? That is what I used to question my ancestors about but as you grow older, you come to accept that it is in human nature and every situation is in the gray. I contemplated that maybe some villages were forced into the alliance while others didn¡¯t have a choice and the rest are just plain greedy. Moreover, I have no reason to harbor hatred for the other village chiefs just because their ancestors did something bad in the past. It was all in the ancient past. All that matters now is who they are as a person now. You understand that, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Pa.¡±

    ¡°Haaah¡­So in conclusion, I was scared to get in contact with them for the longest time until now. Originally, I planned to pass on the chieftain title to you and the twins and leave a final message to establish connections on your own. I realized it was immature planning on my part and I apologize.

    Luckily though, your situation was what gave me the opportunity and confidence to turn over a new leaf. I will bring back my isolated village into the world. That is my goal now at this age.¡±

    ¡°And I will support you until the end, Pa!¡±

    ¡°You really are a thoughtful child from the beginning when you learnt to fluently talk and write. What did you do in your previous life to have such blessings?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­You¡¯re making me embarrassed, Pa.¡±

    ¡°Oi, what¡¯s the problem with being proud of my own child?! Look at how much he has grown in the past few weeks!¡±

    The exchange grew wilder until they reached the junction. Like water extinguishing a flame, their chatter stopped as soon as the father and son were out in the open. A large number of horse carriages and travelers were walking in all directions, to and from ShiYan¡¯s village. They were the only ones that exited from their side of the junction, attracting the gaze of the ongoing travelers who rarely saw a different carriage descend the mountain besides the one used to pick up the students from the well known school run by the famous Scholar Woo. ReZhui¡¯s father ignored the curious stares and made a quick turn to the right route and raced straight to ShiYan¡¯s village.

    ReZhui¡¯s father was able to pass through the gate guards with a letter, stamped by the Scholar himself. Apparently, Teacher Woo gave it to ReZhui¡¯s father after informing him about ReZhui¡¯s apprenticeship.

    ¡°Listen up ReZhui, with this stamp and letter, outsiders like us would have a much easier time gaining entry to all these places that would normally need an official permit or recognition badge that takes months to get.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t Teacher tell me this?¡± ReZhui puffed his cheeks wide in disappointment. His father ruffled his hair in return.

    ¡°The Elder just wanted to give me a chance, haha,¡± his father replied with a wholesome smile.

    ---

    As the horse carriage made its way through the crowded streets, ReZhui observed the shoppers that consisted of numerous age groups making their way to the long line of stalls that stretched to the end of the street, staying in parallel on either side of the dirt road. The road itself was split into a two-way road and the carriages were moving like ants to an anthill. Children ran on the sidewalks and one-man street vendors strolled through the gaps between the carriages that sold goods such as candy sticks and cakes on boxes attached to a carried long wooden pole or handheld bags. The atmosphere was as hectic as the last time he went here but unlike before, he felt truthfully excited and confident. Moreover, sitting on the carriage provided a higher elevation to give him a better view of the scene up front. The several story buildings and houses brought curiosity into his young mind.

    He wondered about the construction techniques needed, the system of transportation for heavy materials and the arrangement of labor duties and individual wages. Thinking like a merchant and to some extent, a scholar, gives a form of power that was different from the pressure of a master martial artist like Brother MianJu. Despite their differences, they all were founded based on extensive knowledge and experience. So, that was what he would be doing here.

    In the end, ReZhui¡¯s father was able to reach the Xu residence with the help from several passersby. He followed through a maze of houses, numerous bridges and interlinking streets to arrive at their destination. As he was quite familiar with the Xu residence, only ReZhui¡¯s father showed the most reaction at the size and design of the front gate. The top wooden banner hung high in its brilliance, displaying the shiny golden font of ¡®The Xu Household¡¯. His father took some time to stare in awe at the majestic beauty of the entrance and the courtyard within. As soon as he had his fill, ReZhui¡¯s father set aside the reins and voiced his complaints.

    ¡°It sure was troublesome to only use the wider, main roads of the village. I am sure that you and ShiYan used the alleyways as another shortcut. What a bumper it was for the Chief.¡± ReZhui¡¯s father sighed in mental exhaustion.

    ¡°It was as ShiYan said before, Pa. We truly are the bumpkins of country bumpkins.¡± ReZhui teased.

    ¡°Don¡¯t insult my self esteem even further, boy. ShiYan¡¯s village just so happened to be one of the larger villages in the area,¡± the father excused amusingly.

    ¡°Are you perhaps the father of Zhang ReZhui?¡±

    A new voice appeared onto the scene.

    ReZhui and his father turned to face the person who asked them the question. At the entrance, there was now a standing middle-aged man wearing a maroon-coloured qipao and white cotton pants, complemented with a pair of black cloth slippers. He had his hands crossed behind his back and hiding timidly next to the entrance door was ShiYan, sticking her head out.

    As ShiYan¡¯s father adjusted his glasses on his nose, ReZhui¡¯s father stepped out of the carriage with a rough landing onto the pavement. Making his way across the horses to face the father of his son¡¯s friend, he placed his hands together, one curved palm over a fist, and initiated a bow.

    ¡°My name is Zhang GuoZhao, the Chieftain of Bai village and the father of Zhang GuoZhao. Thank you for inviting us into your household and accepting my son as a temporary assistant of your pharmacy.

    After his respectful introduction, ShiYan¡¯s father did the same.

    ¡°Likewise, it is a pleasure to meet the Chieftain. My name is Xu YaoMing and I am the father of Xu ShiYan, a close friend of your son. I run the pharmacy of DongBu village with a position as one of the village¡¯s council members.¡±

    A silence emerged after YaoMing ended his introduction.

    ¡®Damn it! What is gonna happen now? That old geezer Woo!¡¯ ShiYan scowled as she hid nervously behind the door. Thunder cracked in the distance as the dark overcast became filled with large storm clouds.

 Chapter 7 : The Xu Pharmacy

    Thunder sounded across the cloud-filled sky. Raindrops began to fall one by one and a light drizzle emerged. Hurriedly panicking, GuoZhao expressed his urgency.

    ¡°Pardon me for just a moment but is there any shed and stable to keep the horse and carriage? I brought some supplies along as well.¡±

    ¡°There is no need to be alarmed. My assistants will handle that for you. On the other hand, I already prepared some tea at the store. Please follow me.¡±

    ¡°I will be honored. Let¡¯s go, ReZhui.¡±

    Nodding at his response, YaoMing gestured for two men to move the horses to the back of the residence. They both wore similar white tunics with the Xu surname written in a bold black font at the back. As they rushed to attend to the horses, YaoMing turned on his heel and walked back to the main building behind the front entrance gate with ShiYan following behind full of relief. GuoZhao and ReZhui dashed straight forward, beating the father and daughter to arrive at the main building. YaoMing soon fastened his pace afterwards.

    ---

    After they were given some towels to dry, YaoMing called out to ReZhui to introduce him to his new workplace.

    ¡°ReZhui, it is a pleasure to meet you again.¡±

    As he froze in surprise, his father gave him a light nudge.

    ¡°It is a good afternoon to you as well, sir.¡±

    Seemingly unfazed by ReZhui¡¯s anxious demeanor, YaoMing continued.

    ¡°I have heard about some good things about your studies into the art of trade from Elder Woo. I expect to see similar results during your stay here so pay close attention and don¡¯t hesitate to clear any doubts.¡±

    ¡°Understood Sir.¡±

    ¡°Alright, for now, ShiYan will give you a brief rundown about the store. This consists of an introduction to common routines and procedures that run about the store premises, the individual locations of important areas, such as storage for inventory, etc as well as the other employees that would be your fellow workers for the next week. If there are any questions that are left unanswered after your makeshift induction training, you are welcome to ask me after I entertain your father. Understand, the two of you?¡±

    ¡°Yes father!¡±

    ¡°Understood, Sir¡­¡±

    With no return of a reply, YaoMing turned to GuoZhao and gestured his hand for his office study.

    ¡°Mr Zhang, after you.¡±

    GuoZhao made a quick glance at ReZhui before turning his attention to ShiYan.

    ¡°Please go easy on ReZhui. I know that he may be over enthusiastic at times but I hope that makes the experience more enjoyable, little ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°O-of course, Mr Zhang.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±

    As he said his words, the two adults made their way into the office, followed by another servant holding a tray of cakes and biscuits. The door closed soon after, leaving the children with an awkward atmosphere around them.

    ¡°Wh-why don¡¯t we start, ReZhui?¡± ShiYan stuttered as she fumbled her words.

    ¡°Sure¡­I will do my best to keep up,¡± ReZhui replied eagerly.

    ---

    As ShiYan gave a tour around the apothecary, she gave instructions and details about what they are used for and the sequence order for running the shore at maximum efficiency.

    ¡°Overall, the store is built in a rectangular layout. As you can see on the left, two-thirds of the pharmacy is placed with chairs and tables, each laid with a jug of water and decorative plants. The assistants would escort patients to these seats and provide first-aid if they had wounds or ongoing illnesses. They would sort out the priority of patients through a number card system and rank their injuries on a scale of red to green with red being the most urgent for my father to diagnose.

    On the right is the counter and medicine cabinets. Here, assistants would take shifts into giving out the appropriate proportions of herbs and chemicals based on the symptoms told by the customers. These customers would normally be at the green level of importance since their injuries or illnesses might range from common colds to slight bruises or small cuts.¡±

    Stopping midway into her explanation, she reached out under the counter to bring out several card examples.

    ¡°Inspect them for yourself!¡± she said with pride.

    ReZhui picked them off the counter table, looking at the bright red, yellow and green faces. On the other side of the card were written numbers with the highest he currently held being 34. He nodded in approval and placed them back on the table top. ShiYan tucked away the brought out cards in numerical order on the tray and spread her arms wide in front of the tall cabinets, embracing the wide display of the numerous vases and wooden boxes that housed many different kinds of plants, animal parts and fluids. The height of the cabinets reached the ceiling and he saw a ladder attached to a railing at the far end. The shelves were partitioned with wooden planks to separate each group of classified ingredients to ease with identifying and resupplying, as explained by ShiYan. Moreover, under every compartment, a label was added for additional aid for the staff.

    ¡°My father is quite the organized individual, isn''t he?¡± ShiYan boasted with pride. However, before ReZhui could come up with a reply, she giddily went forward with the tour.

    ShiYan demonstrated the payment of cash and how to time it in correctly with the calculations done by the abacus. Her fingers ran rapidly across the wooden frame to and fro as she muttered the multiplication table under her breath.

    ¡°Six¡­Two¡­Twelve. Nine¡­Three¡­Twenty seven.¡±

    As she did so, ReZhui realized that the method she was using was taught to them by Teacher Woo back at school during math class. Recalling his former lackluster attitude towards such exercises, ReZhui felt embarrassed at his recent past. Fortunately, he tried his best to catch up in the last two weeks under quite the intense training during afterclasses.

    ¡®Therefore, I can do this. Although my speed might¡­No, it would not match the standard of Mr Xu yet, but I will use this opportunity as a big progression point.¡¯ ReZhui grinned to himself and readied his hands, stretching and clenching them as ShiYan was at the last line of numbers on one of the account books. His turn was up¡­

    ---

    ¡°Quite decent, ReZhui. Some careless mistakes here and there but overall, much better than the average street vendor.¡±

    ¡°ShiYan, you are taking this mentor role really seriously, aren¡¯t you?¡± He asked merrily.

    ¡°Why of course I am. I am enjoying it while the chance is there.¡±

    Afterwards, ShiYan placed back the account books on the drawer below and made her way to her father¡¯s operation room. ReZhui followed behind her, walking straight past a double door which led into a room filled with countless cabinets filled with special jugs and metal needles. Long scrolls hung from the walls, displaying diagrams of acupuncture points and body dissection illustrations. At the center was a long sofa, an adjustable stool and a portable table with stacked wooden trays. At the corner was a tall vase of boiling water and a ladle on its lid. Turning around, it faced the entire view of the main store and was aligned with the Xu residence¡¯s outdoor entrance.

    ShiYan proceeded to explain the ins and outs of the place and did some additional demonstrations for some tools that she felt confident of. She cleansed an assortment of small knives and pretended to slice a patient¡¯s skin based on what she observed from her father¡¯s past surgeries. Taking a forceps and tweezers, ShiYan imagined herself pushing aside veins and flaps of muscle tissue.

    ¡°ShiYan¡­¡± ReZhui looked at her in worry.

    Following that, she planned to make a herbal mixture that her father always made for himself. Normally, she would only do it under the supervision of her father but she pressed on with the concoction by herself.

    ¡°Are you sure about this, ShiYan? I don¡¯t think it''s necessary to do this since it doesn¡¯t really help with what I came here for. What if something wrong happens? I think Mr Xu just wanted you to inform me about the whereabouts of each specific item. Moreover-¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, I have been training under my father for 3 years now. This should be as easy as breathing for me currently,¡± ShiYan insisted.

    Firstly, she used the pester and mortar to crush a plethora of seeds in the proper proportions before dropping a spoon of honey and rosewater. Lighting a small fire, she poured the mixture into the heated bowl and added an equal volume of water. Thereupon, ShiYan brought out a specialized cleaver and started dicing a bundle of ginseng. As she slowly fastened her chopping pace, growing increasing surety of her precision, blood splattered.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    She accidentally cut the nail of her middle finger while chopping halfway through the hardened ginseng. An intense sensation of shock delayed her reaction to the rising pain as the blood started to drip off her finger at regular intervals.

    ¡°Ah¡­darn.¡± ShiYan grimaced at the sight; she cursed in pain as the wound revealed to be quite deep.

    ¡°What-what are we supposed to do, ShiYan?!¡±

    Despite the dripping blood, she tried her best to remain calm and instructed ReZhui on what to do as she applied pressure around the injury with her other hand.

    ¡°ReZhui¡­go¡­go get the cloth wraps on the railing and bring a bowl of water from the vase over there and drop some ice into it.¡± She gestured with her head.

    In less than a minute, ReZhui ran across the room to get the requested items and placed them on the portable table.

    ¡°Good¡­Now, urgh! Now, go get the bandages at the fourth shelf and a brown ointment inside the first cabinet.¡±

    ¡°Understood¡±

    As he rushed to inspect the long line of cabinets, ShiYan dipped a cloth wrap into the cooled distilled water. Then she squeezed it in her clenched fist and started to clean the wound. It took several wrappings to clean the wound and her hands before applying the ointment ReZhui brought moments before. The finishing touch was the bandage and all was well right after.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Ahh¡­¡± ReZhui wiped the sweat off his forehead.

    The two of them sighed in relief.

    ¡°ShiYan, I will clean this up before your father comes out. You can rest outside for now.¡±

    She gave him a quick frustrated look.

    ¡°Alright let''s get up now¡­¡± ReZhui approached the girl and supported her as he pulled her up. Suddenly, his hand was shoved away.

    ¡°GET OFF ME!!!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡®I¡­I messed up!¡¯ she scowled herself in frustration and embarrassment.

    ShiYan¡¯s face was hidden under her long black hair. The air around her started to change as she strided past him to the outside seats.

    ¡°ShiYan?¡± ReZhui questioned as he retained his outreached hand. She didn¡¯t answer back and the silence remained until the sound of the loud pulling of chairs could be heard outside.

    ¡®Alright, let¡¯s clean this up first.¡¯ ReZhui reconfirmed to himself.

    ---

    It had been several minutes since her sudden outburst. ShiYan settled down on one of the chairs of the store, staring at bandaged finger. A red glow was becoming more and more apparent on the bandage that she rushedly made, further increasing the creases on her brows. Still lowering her head, she reluctantly moved to relax the strain on her neck. Her heart raced with vigor and anger.

    ¡®Why? Why?¡¯

    She contemplated her reason for anger.

    ¡®Was it because of ReZhui?¡¯

    Yet, she still kept thinking.

    ¡®Even if so, what did he do to me? All he wanted was to work alongside my father. That¡¯s the reason why Teacher Woo sent us the letter. However¡­Surely that means he will be my rival to inherit my father¡¯s skills. My dream to become an Imperial doctor would be in shambles.¡¯

    Nonetheless, she questioned herself once more.

    ¡®But wait! Is that what he truly wanted? Have I ever walked up to ReZhui in the last two weeks to know more about his goals? Why didn¡¯t I do that in the first place? Everytime we arrived at school, he would be super busy with classes. That time spent must¡¯ve paid off at the calculations he had done earlier. There was no chance to¡­¡¯

    Despite that, she realized that she was making excuses.

    ¡®Yh, it¡¯s not because I didn¡¯t have the chance for a proper talk with him. All I did was make assumptions.¡¯

    She realized her ignorance and fear. She knew her fault.

    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m-¡±

    ¡°ShiYan!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    She turned to see him return out of the door and in his hands were two cups filled with normal black tea. He walked to where she was seated and placed the cups on the table. Pulling another chair beside him, he closened the distance between himself and her. Taking a long gaze at ShiYan, her head was still lowered and her long hair blocked her face from his view.

    ¡°Are you alright, ShiYan?¡±

    She remained silent.

    ¡°I¡­I do not know what is going on here but¡­if you want some private time for yourself, we can do the rest of the tour at a later date. Actually, I will go introduce myself to the assistants on my own for now. I am sure that the two who brought the horse carriage to the stables should be back here any moment. So, excuse me.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    ShiYan reached out for the sleeve on his tunic, grabbing it tight. In a soft and weak tone, she asked him.

    ¡°Do you still support my dream to become an Imperial doctor?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Are we still close friends?¡±

    ¡°...Yes, certainly so.¡±

    ¡°Therefore, if I told you that your actions will get in my way of achieving my dream, would you still move forward?¡±

    ¡°No¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°I made a promise to you on the day Nan died. You are the first person I said this to so I honor this promise the most.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so annoying.¡± she chuckled.

    A fist flew in the air, hitting ReZhui square in the face. He stumbled backwards and tripped onto the ground. Covering his red cheek, he questioned ShiYan in bewildernance.

    ¡°What was that for?!¡±

    ShiYan stood her ground and pointed her finger at him, eyes filled with bitterness.

    ¡°You never knew how I felt being left out on what¡¯s going on. After you did a 180 degree change in your carefree attitude for some reason, you now act more reserved at times, more considerate in others but I can still see that coming out of you¡­

    However, the next time I saw you, you paid more attention in class and improved your grades by a large margin. Soon after, you were announced to be Teacher Woo¡¯s new apprentice, a student of one of the three greats of the Imperial Court! I even saw you walking to nowhere the other day and sent your brothers back home first! At that time, I thought that was all of your weird shenanigans but truth to be told, you got other things in store! And now, you are here under the guidance of my father¡­¡±

    ¡°A-about that other time, I¡­I-¡± ReZhui frantically tried to clear up her suspicions.

    ¡°Regardless, I tried my best to catch up in your footsteps. I tried to accept your changes. Even when you went the other way, I prayed for your good will. But¡­I find it hard to digest it all. AND I HATE MYSELF FOR IT!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I was jealous that Teacher Woo acknowledged you instead of me. I was jealous that you were given guidance under my father like myself when I am his only daughter. I was jealous at your ceaseless well-intentioned attitude, especially after I showed my obvious resentment towards you back at the operating room. I¡­¡±

    She breathed in deep.

    ¡°I AM SORRY!¡±

    ReZhui watched as she bowed her head. Her long hair touched the shiny marble floors. Tears fell one by one; she started to sob quietly.

    The boy gave no response. He went up to her and embraced his close friend. The first friend he made outside his village. The door to his awakening. She helped open his view to the outside world. Without her, he would still be in the village. An immature brat and a naive, kind-hearted child.

    ¡°No¡­It¡¯s myself who should be thanking you instead.¡± ReZhui whispered softly in her ear as he patted her head, trying his best to calm her down.

    ¡°Dummy! You..dummy,¡± she retorted back, voice muffled with snort and tears.

    ---

    The moment lasted for quite an eternity between the two of them but that all ended as they realized the wound on ShiYan¡¯s finger started to worsen. ReZhui pulled off from the hug and brought an additional bandage. ShiYan, filled with clarity, applied the necessary treatment once again, securing the cut.

    ¡°ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°I know this won¡¯t be the right time for you to tell me everything and I am still recovering from that state of mind. It¡¯s really exhausting, finding our faults.¡±

    ¡°I can relate to that.¡±

    ¡°So, how about the following day? I will treat you to a tofu restaurant down the street.¡±

    ¡°Depends on my schedule later.¡±

    ¡°Anyways, how do you rate my general introduction?¡±

    ¡°A 10.¡± He spread all his fingers wide open.

    ¡°Ha! Don¡¯t patronize me. Don¡¯t sugarcoat it.¡±

    ¡°Is there any reason for me to lie?¡±

    ¡°True¡± ShiYan sighed heavily.

    Moments after they relaxed their tone, the sound of a rushing crowd grew loud in the distance. The noise became more and more apparent as they approached the Xu residence.  Heavy footsteps were relenting, even in the worsening rain. The duo soon noticed screams and wailing cries. Deep panting came afterwards with a large sea of black silhouettes burst through the entrance doors under the gray thunder clouds. The crowd swarmed into the courtyard, numbering 30 people strong. Among them were numerous women and children, and elderly. The only males in this crowd were teens that aged below 18 years of age. No males were in sight besides the 2 assistants that were sent out before. They carried a makeshift stretcher which had a young boy on it in a pool of his own blood.

    ¡°What¡­What¡¯s going on?¡± ReZhui said in utter disgust, his pupils constricted and his eyes widened at the horrid sight .

    ¡°How¡­how did he get such a grievous wound?¡± ShiYan questioned herself, holding her hand on her mouth to prevent herself from throwing up.

    Rain continued onwards with its unabated downpour. Thunder cracked loudly in defiance across the backdrop of black clouds. One of the assistants shouted his demands; his hands drenched with bodily fluids.

    ¡°BRING MASTER XU, IT¡¯S AN EMERGENCY!!!¡±

 Chapter 8 : New Variables

    Back to when YaoMing and GuoZhao left the kids and headed for the study¡­

    They headed along a corridor, decorated with an assortment of different display cases containing rare plants or bones. Additional scrolls of detailed illustrations of the human anatomy hung across the walls in an alternative sequence to the display cases. The rest of the space was painted in a deep red and black. Up front at the end of the hallway was a double door. It was engraved with floral patterns and phoenix insignias; the carved out trenches were filled with a metal that was as shiny as gold, bringing incredible value to it. GuoZhao expected this much from a successful pharmacist and was left unfazed. The servant behind him held a pearl-white porcelain kettle with matching teacups. A fragrant aroma rose out of the kettle that was different from the tea leaves he grew back in Bai village.

    Approaching closer, YaoMing pulled out a key and unlocked the room with several metal clicks. Spreading the doors out, the interior was something that GuoZhao did not expect from the theme of the door and hallway. The room was constructed like a large square with reinforcements at the corners. The walls were a dull brown and several large candles with scented filters were placed throughout the office, dimly illuminating the encompassing black. YaoMing picked up a candelabra on top of the cabinet in front of the door and raised it high. The emitted rays lightened several long and tall columns of bookshelves, housing hundreds of text and scrolls. In a blurry glance up front, an observable outline of long sofas and a desk stood at the center of the room at the end of the length of the bookshelves. More of them continued behind the desk and into the darkness.

    ¡®He is an intellectual through and through¡¯ GuoZhao acknowledged in surprise.

    Sitting on the opposite long sofas respectively, they maintained eye contact with each other. The servant gently placed the kettle and cups on the table and poured in the tea with professional grace. The sound of the liquid echoed throughout the office and promptly stopped. It was pindrop silence.

    The servant bowed deeply before making her way out of the study and towards the kitchen. The clacking of her shoes diminished as she walked off at an orderly pace.

    The first to move was YaoMing. He brought up the cup towards his mouth and blew a draught of air across the surface, ripples formed in its wake. Glancing at the steadily clear brown tea, he drank a sip.

    ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to speak your thoughts, Mr Zhang. This room was built in such a way that it is soundproof from the outside world. Anything important in this conversation will only be heard by the two of us. I can assure you.¡±

    ¡°Looks like another introduction is not in session¡­Then let me get straight to the point. I wish to reestablish ties with the villages residing near the Bai river basin which certainly includes DongBu. My village will accept trade from any of the villages in regards to rice, bamboo and mountain fox fur as that¡¯s what we only have in surplus. I will also initiate contact just like today¡¯s example and further discussion will start from there, starting first from Mr Xu.¡±

    A pause. YaoMing drank a mouthful. It tasted warmer.

    ¡°On the second week of January.¡±

    Realizing what he meant, YaoMing proceeded with caution.

    ¡°...How many will be there?¡±

    ¡°All the village leaders will be there for the grand celebration, hosting the merrymaking for the departure of Winter and the arrival of Spring. While this looks to be a joyous ceremony for all the Bai river villagers, in actual fact, this is just a chance for the leaders to discuss future prospects and objectives in secret.¡±

    ¡°Why take such lengths?¡±

    ¡°Only the meetings with the Luo ChengShi Mayor are legalized. Any other gatherings without him would be breaking the Code Under Heaven.¡±

    ¡°So you used the front of a prosperous festival to remove suspicion.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Please allow me a seat as the representative of the Bai village.¡±

    ¡°I apologize that we cannot do so. Instead, we could allow your attendance as an honored guest. The talks will judge your standing afterwards.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure they will agree to this?¡±

    ¡°No matter, Mr Zhang. I always play a major role in those meetings so all they can do is comply.¡±

    ¡°I thank you for this opportunity.¡±

    ¡°That comes from our side as well. We are always curious about the innovative farming methods that your village came up with which was improved to perfection from generation to generation. Even if those teachings would prove to be ineffective on lower, flatter land, it is still fortunate to have another reliable food source.¡±

    ¡°That is too much flattery on your end, Mr Xu.¡±

    ¡°No it¡¯s not.¡±

    The tea was lukewarm as YaoMing drank again. This time with more mouthfuls.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you drink your cup, Mr Zhang? Cold tea is not ideal for flavorful consumption, especially of this type.¡±

    He continued to gulp down the rest of the tea, leaving the leaf bits at the bottom.

    GuoZhao watched as YaoMing placed the empty cup back onto its plate. He then pulled a handkerchief out of his pockets and wiped his mouth dry.

    ¡°Pardon me for the delay. Back to the trading negotiations, you plan to give that cart of yours as a token of friendship, isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. It contains 6 barrels of rice, 10 bamboo stalks and 10 fur pelts. Consider it as proof of quality and good will from me on behalf of the village.¡±

    ¡°While sorting and distributing this gift is easy on my part, the true contract could only be forged with the approval of the other DongBu council members and let¡¯s say, they are extremely busy at the moment.¡±

    ¡°I can see where you are getting at,¡± GuoZhao sympathized, eyeing at the piles of books on the main desk.

    ¡°Therefore, they will most likely meet you in at least a week¡¯s time. It will take place at the Centre Hall. The name itself is self explanatory.¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu.¡±

    ¡°Yes, what other business do you seek me for?¡±

    ¡°None of that unfortunately, this was my only objective for today¡­But I would like to ask something?¡±

    ¡°Speak.¡±

    ¡°I have a gut feeling that this is too easy. Not only were you so helpful to meet my demands, you never spoke out against or even questioned the idea of rebuilding old relationships. And seeing how much of an academic you are, I would be honestly shocked if you didn¡¯t know the gist of the strife between our ancestors. For that reason, what are you playing here, Doc?¡±

    ¡°Doc? Ha! You¡¯re quite the thinker, aren¡¯t you, Farmer?¡±

    GuoZhao flinched at the sudden sense of insult.

    ¡°Must¡¯ve struck a nerve there for you to remove that stoic demeanor. What¡¯s going on in this village? No¡­this may affect the entire river basin. Has it got something to do with the Mayor? To such the extent where you readily accept help from a settlement of a long lost ¡®family¡¯ that essentially deserted your ancestors. Wait, ¡®betrayed¡¯ might be the better word for you.¡±

    ¡°That might work for the other council members but I was just surprised with the name-calling. However, I do see some sense in your assumption. You are not wrong.¡±

    ¡°Out with it then.¡±

    YaoMing raised the kettle and poured a refill of tea into his empty cup. Blowing the surface, he then drank the whole thing full. He sighed a breath of hot air.

    ¡°Taxes are increasing and a large wave of refugees are heading south from the Northern provinces.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s that so?¡±

    ¡°The Khitan Nomads are showing signs of conquest to the Middle Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°Khitan¡­Nomads?¡±

    ¡°They are the descendants of the Northern barbarians from the founding of the First Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°Recalling that now, I overheard ReZhui revising about the topic after dinner on several occasions. It was quite the captivating legend about the superhuman martial artists and the Heavenly Blessing.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s real though. The Seven Swords of Light.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°My heavens! So are they the reason?¡±

    ¡°We digress but the answer is no. Numerous rumors began spreading throughout the provinces that the Imperial Court is organizing a makeshift military force of 100,000 to reinforce the protection of the Great Wall. All men above the ages of 18 and under 30 were forced to be conscripted. Luckily, the Royal Guard hasn''t reached this province yet but it may come someday. With that, we will lose more than half our total workforce and necessary job replacements will remain vacant.¡±

    ¡°That would mean less food to harvest and it¡¯s not because of the crops themselves but the lack of people to reap the stalks. Horrible.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the whole picture yet, Mr Zhang. The establishing army needed funding and as the village leaders suspected, the Court officials were reluctant to reduce their salary from the Royal Treasury. So, they decided instead to increase the taxes on the citizens by 10% to satisfy the costs of maintaining an army.¡±

    ¡°DAMN IT!!!¡± GuoZhao exclaimed in disgust. His fist slammed the cold, hard ebony coffee table in front of him. The sound shuddered and echoed throughout the silent room. Yet, only the two of them can hear the pain in his curse.

    ¡°WHY DIDN¡¯T THE EMPEROR DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!!! IS HE THAT INCOMPETENT!!!¡±

    ¡°Enough GuoZhao! This anger won¡¯t change anything and may affect your health and mental judgment afterwards due to your age. Calm yourself.¡±

    Listening well to the doctor¡¯s words, he sat down with a loud thud and gave a long exhale.

    ¡°Even in this situation, you still care for a person''s well-being. What dedication is that!?¡± GuoZhao smirked amusingly in shame, hoping to lighten the mood.

    ¡°It''s been my dream job ever since I was a kid, you see. And now, it is my greatest achievement that my dear daughter strives to go higher in the same field even if she is a woman. She would most likely get ostracized by the Medicinal Guild just like any other women practitioner but the passion in her eyes¡­I will tell her sometime into the future.¡±

    ¡°To let her live her dream momentarily, even if it is for a decade, before informing her the cold hard truth of society. What a harsh but doting father.¡±

    ¡°She might get rejected into getting an official license but to halt the desire of practicing medicine is one that no person could stop.¡±

    ¡°But I am sure it wouldn¡¯t be easy to keep the fire going.¡±

    ¡°It will either break her completely or remake her resolve for change to sore into new heights. Despite that, I am willing to take the risk. I trust my daughter.¡±

    GuoZhao took a long gaze at the man and reached out for his cup of cold tea.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­Good,¡± GuoZhao complimented as he took a sip.

    He continued to swallow the rest in large gulps, finishing it in under a minute.

    ¡°...It¡¯s better when it¡¯s warmer though. Please pour another fill.¡± YaoMing extended his hand towards the kettle, his voice brightening up.

    ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure to give it a try.¡±

    As he did so, a wave of soothing bliss entered the old farmer¡¯s body.

    ¡°It works like a charm. Very relaxing indeed.¡±

    ¡°Very formal, aren¡¯t we?¡± YaoMing retorted.

    The two continued with the small idle chatter before GuoZhao reopened the conversation.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question before, Mr Xu. What¡¯s going on with the Emperor right now?¡±

    ¡°Do you remember the news of the crowning of the first prince 7 years ago?¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that he made an immature decision?¡±

    ¡°No, I would say so if the prince is currently a bright, young man but he is now nothing but a 9 year old puppet figure and a propaganda tool for the masses. He has no power in the matters regarding running the kingdom and is currently thrown around by his closest ministers.¡±

    ¡°Corrupt officials¡­What about the public? What do they have to say about this development?¡±

    ¡°Now, nothing. The upcoming war has diverted their attention away from the infighting and hypocrisy of our government. However, I do not blame them for such actions. But, considering we are located relatively farther away from the North than the Imperial Capital, I am now hoping to do something about this by bringing it up in the Winter and Spring Festival.¡±

    ¡°So is that why the other council members had such a busy schedule? To prepare for something you had planned.¡±

    ¡°Not in the slightest. It all has to do with the Luo ChengShi Mayor. He was the one who introduced the increased taxes into the Merchant Guild of the Bai river basin and is suspected to have ties to the Imperial Court.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°You should know that all the villages are monitored and under the control of the Castle Cities nearby. While that allows us the citizenship benefits such as much easier trading and traveling as well as guaranteed protection from the Royal Army, we were made to pay a yearly ¡®tribute¡¯ to the Castle City that is the extension of the Imperial Capital. Shortly after the unification of the First Kingdom, a small portion of the Royal Army came to the river basin and forced my ancestors to surrender under their flag. Their military might far surpassed the troops of farmers and craftsmen that made up the villages¡¯ army back in the day. Despite that, their interference sprouted out a unified agreement of ceasefire between the villagers, resulting in today. We were always successful in making the deadline and the benefits outweigh the bad so we were complacent towards the Castle Cities¡¯s rule. That is until now¡­¡±

    ¡°What did he do?¡±

    ¡°The Mayor was appointed just the year before, right after the former one was executed for unknown reasons and we had no say in this change. That was when things started to fall here and there.

    Firstly, the taxes were increased as I said earlier but the annual fee was switched to a different arrangement. A monthly tribute was put in place with half the annual value. Moreover, reports of mysterious vanishings started to surface which included potential victims ranging from as young as an infant to the ripe age of the elderly. At first, this was only within the lower social classes but ever since the disappearance of SeiWong, the Star Merchant, shopkeepers and larger families were reported with missing family members.

    Secondly, there happens to be more gang activities on the outskirts and out in the forests. In response, the council is hectic with paperwork regarding recruitment and organizing wide-scale operations to track down these debt collectors and human traffickers. Requesting aid from the Royal Army stationed at Luo ChengShi was denied unfortunately.¡±

    ¡°Again¡­Why¡¯s that?¡± GuoZhao was fuming with barely-kept rage.

    ¡°The current army reserves at these cities are to remain ready for immediate deployment to the battlefield in case the main force is annihilated. Apparently, they were too busy with the war that they would have to glance over promised duties offered by the kingdom in the first place.¡±

    YaoMing finished his explanation, a hint of disdain displayed in his ending tone.

    ¡°Before I continue, anything else to ask?¡±

    He raised his tea cup and drank several sips, waiting for GuoZhao¡¯s reply.

    ¡°Something doesn¡¯t add up here. When the Royal Army was dispatched to the river basin centuries ago, surely they would have some list of the people living there which includes the village leaders themselves.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t they go after the Bai villagers and subjugate them like the rest of you? It is a disbelief that they would gloss over the absence of the Bai village when it used to be the dominant village in the area.¡±

    ¡°The supreme commander of the villages¡¯ coalition, a former friend and rival of the Bai chieftain, declared their supposed victory over your village and explained the disappearance as an example of slaughter for a display of power. He even made fake graves as proof.¡±

    ¡°So¡­does that mean-¡±

    ¡°Yes, he lied to them. Fortunately, the general in charge didn¡¯t press further investigations and eliminated the Bai village off the official map. As an apology for wrongfully waging a pointless war which stretched for years, he fabricated a story to protect your peace and freedom throughout the generations. Just as what your ancestor¡¯s last wish was to him before they separated at their final battle. That¡¯s what we were told.¡±

    ¡°Wow¡­¡± GuoZhao didn¡¯t see that coming, ¡°Anyhow, this fact alone reinforces my goals to help you guys. For 40 years, I had always resented my ancestors¡¯ enemies for leaving us up there without any reconciliation. But, they actually did.¡±

    Although GuoZhao wanted to smile at this reveal, the overarching situation seemed too dire to relax his thoughts. His tense emotions remained hot. Despite his vengeance, there was a small part of him that said to run away¡­

    ¡®What the hell am I thinking here? Abandoning the people that were the children of the saviors who prevented human greed from stepping into my village. What a bad person I am to even think of such an approach.¡¯

    GuoZhao convinced himself that was the wrong way. He said to himself a couple of harsh words to express his disappointment at his stubborn subconscious. Obviously, the devil¡¯s side of him opposed such actions.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t hypocrisy within human nature? You have seen plenty of examples of this in the last hour from the Mayor to the Imperial Ministers. Wouldn¡¯t you think it is unfair that a morally just person like you cannot use such the opportunity. All you have to do is kill Mr Xu and the Elder right now. Remove any witnesses that you ever came to this town. The servants don¡¯t matter and the council members are too busy dealing with their own problems with the Mayor. Remain in the mountains forever. Why stress yourself out for such a noble cause? There is no need to support them when your village is completely out of the Emperor¡¯s radar. You¡¯re old, GuoZhao. Time to rest and go back to sleep.¡¯

    ¡®But¡­¡¯

    ¡®FAMILY¡¯

    ¡®Family?¡¯

    ¡®Yes, family. If you bite more than you can chew, it¡¯s your village that gets burned down along with the others. All those Bai villagers that you treat as close as family will die a most certain agonizing death for going against the Emperor¡¯s orders. That includes you as well. Your sons. Your wife¡­¡¯

    ¡®ENOUGH!!! STOP PLAYING WITH MY HEAD!¡¯

    ¡®Hurry then. Your chance to choose my choice is running out of time.¡¯

    ¡®OUT!!!¡¯

    ¡®Alright. Time¡¯s up. Good luck, Hero¡­¡¯

    A voice came into his head. A blurry call for his name started to become much clearer.

    ¡°-ao¡­¡±

    ¡°Wha¡±

    ¡°Zhang GuoZhao! Are you alright?!¡±

    He saw the doctor in quite the distress. Mr Xu reached out for his shoulders, trying to bring him back from his deep thoughts.

    ¡°Mr Zhang, are you alright?¡± he asked again.

    ¡°Sorry¡­ Just overwhelmed slightly. Please give me a moment.¡±

    GuoZhao rubbed his temple and winced his eyes.

    ¡°I should also apologize for the information overload. It is already impressive that you are still taking this far deep in,¡± YaoMing considered.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get on with it then. I¡¯m ready¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your dedication, Mr Zhang. First and foremost, starting with your vil-¡±

    Loud thunder cracked at a greater intensity, penetrating through the thick walls. The rain outside started to pick up and the rapid vibrations could be heard inside as well. The servant from earlier broke into the room and sprinted across the columns of books, screaming out an urgent message.

    ¡°MASTER XU, PLEASE COME OUTSIDE. MR SUN QUANYONG IS HERE!!!¡±

    ¡°What!¡± Mr Xu instinctively got out of his seat, making a face full of horror. He left GuoZhao on hold and hurriedly followed the servant outside.

    ¡°Wait, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Frustrated, GuoZhao ran after the two of them.

    ¡®ReZhui, I hope you are alright.¡¯

 Chapter 9 : Final Nail in the Coffin

    ReZhui froze in horror at this desperate sight. He felt numb in his hands and his knees gave in. Quickly, he grabbed hold onto a supporting pillar of the pharmacy hall. His heart palpitations rose the more he stared at the blood.

    ¡®This¡­This is-¡¯

    ¡°XinLi!!! Get my father now!¡± ShiYan screamed across the hall. The voice was heard back into the kitchen where the servant came rushing towards her.

    Realizing the situation outside, the servant frantically ran to get the Master of this household. However, it wasn¡¯t the patients outside that scared her. It was in fact a man that stood out among the crowd like a sore thumb. ShiYan noticed the servant¡¯s earlier gaze and went to see for herself.

    Grabbing an umbrella on the nearby rack, ShiYan exited the pharmacy and into the pouring rain. ReZhui watched from afar, barely digesting the tension of the scenario.

    ---

    Down the stairs and towards the stretcher, she inspected the kid upon it while in a dark corner of the courtyard, a woman sobbed deeply, held restrained by some of the villagers that came with her. They were all bruised and battered as well.

    Unfortunately, ShiYan couldn''t focus on them at the moment and focused her attention on the first priority casualty. Removing his torn clothes, she determined that his injuries were too severe for herself to administer first aid with. The unfortunate boy had a severe concussion to his head, inflammation all over his limbs and neck and numerous purple bruises in the shape of a horse shoe. Iron rust lay all around them. In the end, she just grimaced in her uselessness.

    ¡°My father will be here shortly, Assistant Mu. LinXi is getting him right now.¡± ShiYan reassured him as she held the umbrella over the boy. Her hands shook at his pitiful sight.

    ¡°Little ShiYan, it¡¯s been a while, isn¡¯t it? How have you been?¡±

    The voice echoed across the courtyard, filled with an underlayer of condescendence and naivety, causing the others to further back away from the man that just entered the scene. That was his question.

    ¡°Mr¡­Mr Sun? W-What are you doing here, Sir?¡± ShiYan replied with hesitation and caution. ReZhui closed the distance between ShiYan and himself. His clothes were drenched but that did not bother him. His gaze was instead distracted at the man named Mr Sun who approached close towards ShiYan with his entourage.

    ¡®A Noble¡­A true Nobleman.¡¯ His mind blanked. For some reason, his entire being exerted a pressure that makes ReZhui want to bow down towards. His flowy red robe with golden accents was draped over his massive, burly figure. His jade belt with wraps of tiger hide appeared as though it could break apart at any time with the width of his belly. A variety of pearl necklaces and precious metal rings adorned his neck and hands. A ruby encrusted hair pin secured his shiny long black hair into a bun tightened with an embroidered band of cloth. His face was ridden of any signs of dirt or sweat and instead shined with white light. His tone and wrinkles suggested him to be in his 50s but the obvious application of makeup gave the impression of being 10 years younger. Surrounding the nobleman were several body guards, cladded in metal armor, and 2 advisors who stood beside him on either side. They both held large umbrellas over their lord, preventing any rain from dropping onto him, while one of their sides were drenched heavily. Behind the group stationed several luxury horse carriages with the one at the center being the most glamorous in appearance. The gold fittings on the doors and windows shone brightly even under the dark overcast of storm clouds.

    ¡°Whoa.¡±

    ReZhui muttered his thoughts in amazement, not realizing that the nobleman picked up his compliment.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Mr Sun turned to ReZhui¡¯s direction in a childish manner, ¡°who is that kid upfront over there?¡±

    He returned to speak with the little girl.

    ¡°Just had a sleepover with your friends, little ShiYan? I hope I am not ruining your playtime for the day.¡±

    ShiYan raised her head high to maintain eye contact with the tall nobleman. Her neck ached at the angle her head was tilted, but that was not the source of her fears.

    ¡®What is this old fart doing here? It¡¯s not the end of the month yet. Nor does his group of men or himself feel ill. I am scared! Anything I might say will harden my father¡¯s job. Damn it!¡¯ she screamed internally.

    ¡°Hoh! Are you just that happy to see me, little ShiYan? Well, I happened to have some candy in my robe pockets. Want some?¡± the nobleman bent down and handed out a small orb of a brown solid. It was wrapped in clear wrapping with a slogan imprinted upon it. Not known to the average commoner, it was written in a different language, spelt ¡°The Jefferson¡¯s¡±.

    ¡°It¡¯s quite the rare treat I promise you. Bought it off an English merchant several weeks back at ShanWei port. If I remember correctly, it is called ¡®chocolate¡¯ in their country.¡±

    Several gasps could be heard throughout the miserable crowd of injured peasants as well as ReZhui. They just heard a man speak a word that was completely foreign to the vocabulary spoken among the common folk.

    ¡°So open wide. Don¡¯t shy back.¡±

    Mr Sun raised his hand which held the chocolate closer to ShiYan¡¯s lips. Without bothering about the still intact wrappings, he had the intention of making her eat it directly. ShiYan lost herself at that moment. She laid there motionless under the intense pressure of the nobleman. Any offense in her words or actions could cement her with a severe beating from one of his skilled guards, possibly death. Denial of his treat was one such potential trigger. No one went to oppose his actions, even ReZhui, for the same reasons. They were the prey. Despite this¡­

    ¡°S¡­¡±

    ¡°What? Is there anything you want to say, little boy?¡± Mr Sun interrogated with a hint of passive aggression.

    Subtly preparing to throw up an arm block in the next moment the nobleman would signal the guards, ReZhui tried to build up the resolve to voice his demand.

    ¡°stop¡­¡± was all he could muster from his throat. A soft mutter that was further muffled by the rain.

    ¡°KID! Speak up! Do you want another one as well?! You¡¯re JEALOUS, aren¡¯t you?!¡± Mr Sun scolded in irritation.

    ¡°s¡­S¡­p¡­,¡­,¡­¡± ReZhui felt speechless under the weight of his voice. His mouth moved but nothing other than his bated breath came out.

    ¡®This is bad! This is very, VERY BAD! Why couldn¡¯t I say anything? Why am I scared when I know some basis on martial arts? Why? WHY? This feels just like Brother MianJu¡¯s pressure, but there is something different about this as well. I sense no aura nor Qi. Is¡­Is he just building this intimidation through pure emotion and display of power? I AM SO WEAK!!!¡¯ ReZhui panicked within himself.

    ¡°Is the boy disabled or something? Mentally ill? Seriously, ShiYan, you gotta find some better friends otherwise you¡¯re out on the streets. Get him here.¡± Mr Sun ordered his guards. As they approached the boy, ShiYan helplessly remained on the spot.

    ¡®Father! Help me!¡¯

    As the guards closed the distance, ReZhui turned on his heel and started to run back into the pharmacy, tears in his eyes. With blurred vision, he raced into an adult that descended down the stairs. A hand gently rubbed his hair, calming the young boy down. Beside the adult, his father was visible, wearing a hidden rage of anger within his otherwise worried face. ReZhui ran towards GuoZhao and hugged him tightly. The father embraced him as well.

    ¡°You got this settled, don¡¯t you, Mr Xu¡± GuoZhao asked.

    ¡°Leave it to me, Mr Zhang. I am sorry that I got your son into this mess.¡±

    Gripping tightly onto his medical bag, YaoMing walked into the courtyard with several assistants and servants in tow.

    ¡°Gather all the injured inside and administer them with the necessary first-aid!¡±

    Upon his command, they scattered across the court, escorting the patients back to shelter. He went forward towards his daughter and ordered the assistants to lower the stretcher to the ground. Servant LinXi held a huge umbrella over the doctor and the bloodied boy as he started to painstakingly examine the body.

    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t my friend YaoMing! I was wondering what you were up to so-¡±

    ¡°XinLi.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my Lord,¡± she replied, trying her best to ignore the disrespect her Lord gave to Mr Sun by interrupting and ignoring him mid sentence.

    ¡°Listen carefully, this boy had lost a lot of blood on his journey here. Considering his head injury¡­¡± YaoMing slowly touched the side above the boy¡¯s ear and applied some pressure. A small grunt came out in response and a sticky fluid leaked out, covering the doctor¡¯s hand.

    ¡°There is a high chance that he has a cracked skull and his spinal cord is dislocated at the neck section. Apply some muscle relaxation ointment in the operating room around the entire neck and instruct Assistant Ming to realign the spine to prevent further damage. It must be in one precise jerk. Finally, apply anesthetic gas using the imported gas mask and pump. Spray the appropriate dose of at least 11 full pump compressions. Leave him in the recovery position until I come back after dealing with Mr Sun. Also, take ShiYan inside as well.¡±

    ¡°Father!¡±

    The little girl held onto her father¡¯s drenched clothes, never letting go. Tears ran down her cheeks as well. ReZhui¡¯s. And the other boy is in critical condition.

    ¡°XinLi, go with Ren and Jin for now. I will take care of ShiYan instead.¡±

    ¡°Understood, my Lord.¡±

    Bowing deeply, she guided the two men carrying the stretcher into the pharmacy. The mother of the injured boy, who broke free from the hands of the concerned villagers after they were guided back to the pharmacy hall, ran up towards the doctor, nearly slipping on the slippery pavement several times as she did.

    ¡°Mr Xu, my boy¡¯s alright isn¡¯t he? He''s gonna live, right?¡± the mother asked in a frail, dry voice. She looked extremely malnourished and wore gray rags covered in grime and the dried-up maroon blood of her dying son. No tears ran down and her eyes were bloodshot, as red as the boy¡¯s blood. She gripped both her hands into a prayer, waiting for YaoMing¡¯s answer. However, only a look of guilt was all she saw.

    ¡°We will do the best we can. It will be best to prepare for the worst.¡± YaoMing told her the hard cold truth in a soft and understanding voice.

    ¡°No¡­That can¡¯t be true!¡±

    Even in denial, Mr Xu gave no leeway for a word of hope.

    With the second confirmation, she broke.

    Her knees hit the cold floor and she began to wail loudly as she groveled on the ground, her nails bled as she continuously scrapped the coarse concrete pavement.

    ¡°AHHH!!! NO! WHY MY SON! WHY HIM¡­¡± she shrieked.

    In the wake of her cries, she blew her running nose and inhaled deeply, her lungs exhausted from her sobs. The sound of sniffles were muffled by the tapping of rainwater.

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The doctor, GuoZhao and their two children looked away from the mother¡¯s plight of despair. There was nothing they could do currently.

    ¡°WAHHHH!!!¡± she weeped again. Thunder cracked in response to such an outburst, the downpour still relentless. Cursing under her breath, she muttered an apology with quick breaths.

    ¡°Oh¡­dear husband, I failed you. I failed to protect our boy. I failed to raise him right¡­ Wherever you are, I will and do not know but I hope you will¡­sniff¡­forgive¡­snif¡­me¡­¡±

    She raised her head, facing the dark rain clouds above. As if glaring at the heavens for her misfortunes, her red-rimmed eyes could cry blood if she could. That was just how deep her sorrow was. But she knew this was all for naught. Her sobs wouldn¡¯t bring her son back. She had to do things herself, otherwise nothing will change.

    ¡°Ehhh¡­ha,ha, hAAAA!!!¡±

    Pulling herself off the ground, she dashed forward at the Nobleman. Her feeble frame of woman was for all to see, not aided by her clothes filled with holes of various sizes. She had no fat in her breast. Her pelvis and lower rib cage jutted out, outlining their defining shape under her pale skin. Her arms were the width of twigs, capable of breaking apart with a good punch at it. And, this was what happened.

    As she closed the distance to choke Mr Sun, a guard moved in to defend and placed a powerful front kick at her stomach. The mother groaned in pain as she vomited gastric juices and the small bits of bread she had from her son¡¯s stealing operations.

    ¡®Damn! Damn it!¡¯

    Her eyes slowly closed under the extreme agony and she laid cold on the floor, her eyes out of focus. Clicking his teeth, YaoMing called for the servant.

    ¡°...XinLi! Return her as well!¡±

    ---

    ReZhui, still nuzzled in his father¡¯s arms, stiffened in fear at the state of her body. Moreover, the merciless response from the guard. It was totally despicable.

    The servant from before ran back to retrieve the mother on her back and made her way back to the pharmacy. Still feeling the situation was unresolved for the pitiful mother, he felt an emotion like no other. It was greater than anger. Greater than wrath. Greater than outright rejection. He felt a killing intent.

    ¡®For messing a mother¡¯s life in such a way. How could such a monster exist when kind people like my father and mother, ShiYan, Teacher Woo, Brother MianJu and Mr Xu surround my life with endless happiness? How could he be so heartless? What made him to be as such? I HATE IT!!!¡¯ ReZhui contemplated his thoughts.

    ---

    After the dismissal of the crying mother, all that was in the courtyard were the two heads of their respective villages and their children, and Mr Sun with his entourage of advisors and bodyguards.

    The rain fell regardless with the wind picking up speed. Mr Sun¡¯s robes flew carelessly in the air as he extended his hand out.

    ¡°What¡¯s the father and son doing behind you? What do they have to do with this?¡± Mr Sun asked in an exaggerated sheepish expression.

    ¡°You threatened his son. What else is there to consider?¡± YaoMing retorted.

    ¡°Whoaaa¡­¡¯Threaten¡¯ is too large of an accusation here, my friend. I would recount that act as lecturing the young for the future. Such as that other child thief who-¡± Mr Sun smirked in delight.

    ¡°What brings you here?¡± YaoMing interrupted for the second time.

    ¡°...For the position as village doctor, you sure are quite rude today? Did anything bad happen recently?¡± Mr Sun inquired with curiosity as he played with his long beard.

    ¡°The duration till the payment is in a week and our track record with the deadlines is desirable so I see no reason for you to come here yourself, Mayor QuanYong. Therefore, answer me. What is your objective for coming to DongBu?¡± Mr Xu¡¯s voice significantly deepened at the end.

    ¡°Now, now, don¡¯t raise the tension!¡± Mr Sun surrendered reluctantly, raising his palms up, ¡°I just came here for some sightseeing, nothing much.¡±

    ¡°Then, why the boy?¡± Mr Xu questioned curtly

    ¡°Hmmmmm¡­why so? Oh yeah! I just felt like doing so.¡±

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL!¡±

    YaoMing and Mr Sun turned their direction to that scream of denial. ReZhui panted under his breath. He broke free of his father¡¯s embrace and faced the nobleman head on. Giving ReZhui an annoyed expression, Mr Sun raised his hand onto his forehead and rubbed his temples, incredibly confused.

    ¡°Listen boy, you don¡¯t even know what I did. Please don¡¯t make assumptions. It¡¯s rude, you know.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­Then WHAT DID YOU DO? THE MOTHER TRIED TO ATTACKED YOU, DIDN¡¯T SHE!¡±

    ¡°Boy, I tried offering you a treat and you left me on hold. Now, you dare ask me to retell my actions like you¡¯re some court judge. Ridiculous! However, I don¡¯t mind sharing. To sum it all up, I saw the boy stealing food from a street vendor and I chased after him. He was quite the fast runner, I gave him that. So I picked up the pace with my wonderful horse. What a ride it was! We crashed through other stalls and ran over many passersby. Eventually, I got him cornered like a rabbit in a shallow burrow. Trampling over the boy and his subsequent pleas for forgiveness and mercy made my blood boil. I was so riled up! After I had my fill for enjoyment, a crowd appeared who started blaming me for the mess. Annoyed by their peasant voices, I ordered the guards to beat them down, leading to everyone coming here. Stage closed!¡±

    Mr Sun clapped his hands with a child¡¯s joy as the rest tried to hide their disgust, except for ReZhui¡­

    ¡°THAT¡¯S WRONG! Your actions are wrong! Y¡­you¡­you desire to go to HE-¡±

    ¡°QUIET, REZHUI!!!¡±

    Silence remained after the over-exclamation of YaoMing. Mr Sun gave a light chuckle at the theatrics at play. ReZhui stuttered in shock at the raised voice of ShiYan¡¯s father who always kept his calm and watched his tone.

    ¡®Why, Mr Xu?! Why? Why are you not punishing this evil man?!¡¯

    ¡°But Mr Xu! He-¡±

    ¡°SHUT IT!!!¡±

    Again.

    ¡°But¡­But¡­Why?¡± ReZhui was left as his breaking point. He clinged onto hope that Mr Xu was on the good side. Yet, that was all for naught¡­

    ¡°Boy, you questioned why I did so. I admit it is a large crime to bring one close to their graves. Despite that, what are you gonna do about it?¡± Mr Sun asked with naive vigor.

    ¡°What¡­¡±

    ¡°I did it, yes. SO WHAT?! I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want! The world¡¯s mine, I tell you and Mr Xu is my lapdog, so is everyone you know off,¡± Mr Sun celebrated, spreading his arms wide like a priest praising the Heavens.

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui was left speechless. His justice was left in vain and there was no way for him to enforce it. He felt powerless again.

    ¡°Ohh¡­¡± ReZhui muttered.

    Stroking his beard once more, Mr Sun gave his verdict.

    ¡°Boy, for offending me, you will need to face punishment. Severe punishment, you hear! However, since you are little ShiYan¡¯s friend, I will make a reduction.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Kneel.¡±

    ¡°Mayor, please, he is just a kid.¡±

    ¡°KNEEL!!!¡±

    Mr Xu didn¡¯t fight back the second time. Instead, he¡­

    ¡°ReZhui, do as he says. For¡­For everyone¡¯s sake.¡±

    Nearly on the brink of giving up, ReZhui made eye contact with his father. His last salvation.

    ---

    Under the ever-pouring rain, GuoZhao returned his gaze towards his beloved son. ReZhui¡¯s face was washed with tears and rainwater, many drops trickled down his red cheeks and watery eyes. He sniffled and coughed at a sporadic pace. His hair was a drenched mess with multiple strands sticking under his ear and neck. His hair bun was loosened and so was his clothes. He was a complete mess.

    A sour look grew upon GuoZhao¡¯s face and his eyebrows furrowed. At his fist, he clenched them hard until a trail of blood started to drip as he bled his nails deep into his palms in helplessness.

    ¡®How did things turn out to be this way?

    I came here with good intentions and dreams but¡­

    It is never easy to mend broken relationships. It was just as I said back to ReZhui on the journey here. The full unification with the other villages isn¡¯t a smooth ride. How long were we separated? Decades, centuries? Several generations? What a steep ride it is¡­

    I have to play the role of an adult. A father. A chieftain. I have to do the best for the sake of my own people. I have to safeguard them from harm¡¯s way. I have to lead them to a brighter future. Improve the status quo. That¡¯s my life¡¯s duty. I was trusted for this. Despite that¡­

    I made a member of my village, whom I swore to my ancestors to protect, miserable. It is even my GODDAMN son no less!!!

    HOW PATHETIC!!!

    I¡­I have to make things right.

    Why the hell am I standing at the sidelines this whole time? Is it because I am scared that I will catch the attention of the rotten bastard? Yes. Is it because I used to think that there was a way out of this by letting the other villages be the scapegoat? Regrettably so. And, am I even the one to blame? An outsider threat, that is beyond me for heaven¡¯s height, is wreaking havoc and suffering. The fires they set are coming near. Mr Xu has been dealing with them for all his life. With all his wits and skills, he still submits under them like an ox at harvest season.

    I want to share that burden. No¡­I want to remove that burden. Yes, no matter what it takes!¡¯

    ---

    A splash of water and a loud thud onto the floor was heard promptly after. Everyone stood in shock at what just happened. YaoMing stared with wide, open eyes and ShiYan covered her mouth in embarrassment. Mr Sun started to chuckle with increasing volume. Louder and louder, It soon became full blown laughter. He could hardly contain the pleasure as he watched the father and son.

    ¡°PA! PA! GET UP! GET UP NOW! PLEASE! IT¡¯S¡­It¡¯s embarrassing¡­¡±

    ReZhui pulled hard onto his father¡¯s drenched clothes. The green became a much darker shade with the falling rainwater and heavy gray skies. Although ReZhui felt the loosening of the folds on his father¡¯s tunic, GuoZhao still maintained the pose. He did a sincere kowtow with his forehead touching the cold floor.

    ¡°As the parent of this ill mannered child, I will take the responsibility in his place. I deeply apologize to the Mayor. I beg that you will pardon him for the last time.¡±

    No response came from Mr Sun for 5 minutes straight. With no command and the fear that any change of posture would mean potential danger for his son, the father remained still. His back ached in pain and his joints reddened by the minute until Mr Sun spoke up.

    ¡°Kiss my feet.¡±

    Without hesitation, the father crawled closer towards the Mayor. ReZhui made no defiant comment. He just willingly watched in horror and shame as his father reached out for the Mayor''s shoes. Unfortunately, Mr Sun kicked him right on the chin before his lips touched the sole tip of the right foot. The hard impact sent the farmer tumbling weakly to the side, groaning in pain. Mr Sun sneered in delight.

    ¡°Alright, alright, splendid work everyone! I felt extremely entertained by all of your performances. Here¡¯s some bills as thanks.¡±

    Unfolding several sheets of paper cheques, each valuing 10,000 gold ingots , he gently unfolded Mr Xu¡¯s chest pockets and inserted them right in, patting it with care afterwards. Mr Xu didn¡¯t dare to object. He wanted him gone as soon as possible.

    ¡°See you soon!¡±

    Mr Sun waved childishly in the air as he and his entourage headed back out of the entrance and towards the carriages.

    ---

    The sound of galloping could be heard diminishing in the distance. The rain clouds thinned out, separating apart as the downpour became a light drizzle. The courtyard was silent once again but this time with peace in mind.

    ReZhui remained standing still, barely accepting what he saw as reality. ShiYan ran towards him, hugging him tight to keep the poor boy company. Mr Xu took one last look at the Xu residence¡¯s entrance before bringing out the cheques out of his pockets.

    He grimaced intensely.

    ¡°Darn¡­it.¡±

    As he was about to tear the cheques into shreds, his hands were stopped. Compared to the slender fingers of Mr Xu who handled paper, ink and plants all day, Mr Zhang¡¯s were riddled with coarse bumps and calluses from hard wooden tools and metal edges. Mr Xu felt the warmth of the Chieftains hand, knowing what he meant.

    ¡°I deeply apologize for putting your pride on the line.¡±

    Mr Zhang smirked shamefully.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do so. You had your fair share, am I right?¡±

    ¡°It is not something I totally disagree with.¡±

    ¡°Ha¡­¡± Mr Zhang sighed.

    ¡°But I want to inquire about something¡­¡±

    ¡°Speak out.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do now? You currently have the chance to retreat back to your village and never go down again. You must¡¯ve thought about that strategy right?¡±

    ¡°Yes I did but I hate it. I will be nothing more than a pile of shit like the other guy.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°We drank tea together, didn¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°...Right.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I will be in your care, YaoMing.¡±

    GuoZhao patted the doctor on the shoulder as he went to retrieve the kids and headed back into the pharmacy hall with an awkward gait.

    ¡°Pa¡­I am¡­I am sorry¡­¡±

    But GuoZhao quickly dismissed his son¡¯s apology.

    ¡°Let''s get ourselves warm first, shall we?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­Pa.¡±

    Watching that short interaction, YaoMing smirked in defeat.

    ¡°You sure are full of surprises¡­GuoZhao.¡±

    He then turned on his heel and hurriedly followed behind the Chieftain of Bai village back to the shop. They were going to be very busy after all of that had happened.

 Chapter 10 : His Confliction

    Several days had passed since the incident with Mr Sun, the Luo ChengShi mayor.

    Apart from the numerous light stab wounds, bruising and cuts on their limbs and torso, the large horde of villagers were, in the most part, relatively safe and were able to quickly recover back to full health, monitored by the skilled staff and preparations ordered by YaoMing; and today was the end of their stay.

    On that bright sunny morning, the crowd gathered in the courtyard. While the children ran about with glee, the mothers tried their best to make them behave and the elderly lazed about on the extra makeshift benches lining throughout the court. The assistants were going around, checking their registry for the villagers¡¯ names. It was quite the bustling site regardless of the unfortunate passing of the injured boy and his mother.

    ¡®Is this how people grieve the dead? Or are they just ignorant about past events when the sun rises on the next day? To never look back, isn¡¯t it?¡¯

    ReZhui had some lingering regret for their deaths but even he could tell that was uncalled for, Moreso, it''s just useless emotional baggage for the 9-year-old boy to carry in which he had no participation within the incident whatsoever. He wasn¡¯t the culprit nor the victim. All he was, was a bystander. Despite this reasoning, he just could not shake it off and move on. He felt unsatisfied. Leaning upon the inner wall of the Xu residence, he continued to watch from afar. That was when a voice called out to him.

    ¡°ReZhui.¡±

    His father approached the young boy, waving his hand to signal his presence. ReZhui turned around to face his old man who just exited the pharmacy hall and down the stairs. Upon reaching talking distance, his father consoled the bewildered boy, carrying a large rucksack.

    ¡°Pa.¡±

    ¡°Just came back from YaoMing¡¯s study to finalize some details. I will be leaving soon. So I would like to have a small talk before I go.¡±

    ¡°Sure¡­¡±

    ¡°Boy, tell me straight to the truth. What¡¯s going on between you and Mr Xu?¡±

    ¡°W-What about him?¡±

    ReZhui averted his eyes away from his father. He could tell his father was serious about this.

    ¡°Listen ReZhui, I am upset with you. I regularly saw you ignoring him whenever he asked for your help in the medical bays. Although you did help around, it was only when ShiYan or the other assistants requested the favor. Certainly, you are giving quite the cold shoulder to your current mentor, wouldn¡¯t that disappoint Teacher Woo who did his best to give you this opportunity?¡±

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui fell silent at his father¡¯s scolding. It never crossed his mind about Teacher Woo¡¯s feelings if he did what he decided to do after what happened in that incident. His mind was clouded with the repeating scenes of the mother¡¯s farewell and the son¡¯s death. It was extremely haunting for him. His stomach swelled at its thought, making him want to puke. But, ReZhui couldn¡¯t deny that he overlooked the effect of his decision on his long term goals to be a merchant and the apprentice relationship he painstakingly built over the weeks with Teacher Woo.

    ¡®I gotta do better! I do not want to be like Mr Xu!¡¯ ReZhui cheered himself on.

    ¡°I apologize, Pa. I¡­wait-ha-stop, stop that!¡±

    A burly hand, nearly the size of ReZhui¡¯s head, pressed down on the young boy, ruffling his hair into a slight mess. His father smiled gently as he said his parting words.

    ¡°Remember your original objective, ReZhui. You came here to learn more about being a businessman and Mr Xu is a superb one in that regard. And, I trust him. Shortly after this, I am returning back to Bai village. I can no longer delay my schedule for harvest since winter¡¯s around the corner. Moreover, Ma couldn¡¯t handle all that rice by herself. Heh.

    Therefore, I expect you to behave until I return to pick you up and amend your relationship with Mr Xu. I couldn¡¯t pinpoint the exact reason why you are mad with him but I can get the gist of it. Either way, don''t worry. I don¡¯t plan on intervening. You are my son so I am confident that you will succeed in what you can achieve here. This applies to your current internal struggle as well.¡±

    ¡°But, how did y-¡±

    ¡°Call it a father¡¯s instinct. My advice here is to talk things out with him. He¡¯s quite the nice fellow once you get to know him better.¡±

    ¡°But¡­But he let her die! He¡¯s nothing better than that Mayor!¡±

    This time, the father remained silent. Barely understanding how ReZhui came to that conclusion in a logical sense, his father corrected him.

    ¡°That is quite the statement, little man. If that¡¯s your answer, I ask you to retrace your steps on how you came to that conclusion. Let me give you a headstart.¡±

    With that, his father inquired a question.

    ¡°If Mr Xu was as what you said him to be, why did he look after the other injured villagers?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because he received the money from that mayor. He paid him to do so.¡±

    ¡°Why did the Mayor give the money to him?¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu worked under him so this was his salary.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s incorrect. He gave that 50,000 gold like donation for charity. Mr Xu even tried to tear it up because it was ¡®dirty¡¯. I was the one who suggested keeping it. Using the money to cover the medical supplies the villagers used is to protect the funds needed for- Wait¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Pa?¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, forget the last part I said.¡±

    ¡°The funds¡­What are funds?¡±

    ¡°Listen,¡± the father said exasperatedly.

    ¡°ReZhui, you are still a 9-year old. What I was about to disclose to you is something that should be left handled by the adults. Rather, everyone has their own reasons for doing things. Mr Xu has his reasons for following the mayor like a donkey. I have my own for not telling you even if you are my son. Would you believe that someone as smart as Mr Xu would be fooled by that childish mayor?¡±

    ¡°N¡­No.¡± ReZhui nervously replied.

    ¡°If you are afraid that the mayor will come and harm the villagers again, I promise that that will never happen ever again. I swear to my ancestors that I will take care of this.¡±

    ¡°Pa¡­¡±

    As they made one last look at each other, the crowd at the center began to disperse, making their way out of the Xu residence in numerous small groups. Among the noise of their departure, the assistants scurried around the courtyard. They stored the makeshift benches and broomed the white pavement with incredible haste.

    ¡°Well, looks like it¡¯s time to go. Gotta arrive before sundown.¡±

    GuoZhao lifted his cloth rucksack while adjusting its contents. Securing his tightened boots, he made his way to the entrance gate. Yet, as soon as he took a single step outside, ReZhui screamed out for his father.

    ¡°Father, I am sorry!¡±

    Taking one last look at the pharmacy, GuoZhao found his son bowing deeply in front of him. Taking a closer observation, he identified ReZhui¡¯s hot red ears and his tugging of the folds on his pants.

    ¡®Oh¡­He must be referring to this.¡¯

    GuoZhao softly touched his left cheek which was heavily bruised and covered with a bandage. Though the pain has been reduced over the days of recovery, a touch could send a sharp tingle down his jaw.

    He cleared his throat loudly.

    ¡°Apology accepted¡­ A-Anyways, remember what I told you alright. There is nothing wrong with asking him about it! You are still a kid after all; adults forgive more easily at this stage of your life so make as many mistakes as you can and learn from them. See you.¡±

    GuoZhao made it back home later that evening. When asked about the injury on his cheek, he simply replied that he got into a small crash incident on the way there.

    ---

    Sitting at the corner bench of the courtyard, ReZhui drank some water from the nearby well. He still felt extremely ashamed at what he did back then at the impromptu session between Mr Xu and Mr Sun. Not only did he provoke the mayor into targeting him, his father instead sacrificed his pride for his son¡¯s own sake. And, when his father accepted the apology, it felt like a massive boulder was lifted from his shoulders. Even so, the persistent memories of that humiliation would go away that easily. He actually wished for them to remain within his mind, serving as a base for his future payback against the mayor.

    ¡®I¡­I am such a bad son.¡¯

    ReZhui was not sure if his father would either support or condemn this form of action but he did not want to stress his father any longer.

    ¡®Besides, I am currently too weak to do anything. We can have this conversation another time, right dad?¡¯

    ReZhui sighed deeply as he rested his head on the top rail of the bench, looking high into the cloudy sky. His eyes slowly began to close shut as his breath pattern decreased in pace. Moments later, there he laid in the sunny afternoon, taking a nap on the deserted bench. However, a short distance away stood a black shadow of a figure, eyes set on him.

    ---

    ¡°Hurry! How long till it boils?!¡±

    ¡°Master, give me a few minutes!¡±

    ¡°Yan, keep the torch near here! I will start removing the fourth layer of muscle.¡±

    ReZhui dreamt of the night when the mother and her son died. He recalled watching Mr Xu through a gap in the wall with ShiYan. Within the operating room, there laid both of them in their respective beds. It has been hours since Mr Xu first started his treatment and very little was achieved that suggested potential recovery.

    Despite their best efforts into trying to save the young boy¡¯s life, it was all for naught. His brain was damaged beyond recuperation. The frontal lobe was squashed to the point where his injured brain took up half the space originally. Moreover, Assistant Ming unfortunately reported that the boy¡¯s spinal nerves were severed right after the ¡®emergency¡¯ chiropractic procedure instructed by Mr Xu. There was nothing else that they could do despite the help of the talented practitioner. Even so, Mr Xu decided to risk it by giving experimental methods based on his theoretical analysis.

    ¡°Here is the broth!¡±

    ¡°Give it.¡±

    They tried supplying the boy with a bowl of water, filled with a high concentration of nutrients.

    Afterwards, reattaching the spinal nerves with thin metal strips.

    When both failed, they resorted to using various imported chemicals.

    That didn¡¯t succeed as well.

    Finally, his heart started to weaken. The interval between each felt heartbeat was not uniform and that¡¯s when Mr Xu had it. He slammed his hands onto the work table. As he took deep breaths, he managed to subside his frustrations. Wiping his sweaty forehead with his sleeve, he sat down for a minute to reassess the boy¡¯s condition. That¡¯s when the mother spoke out again.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°doc¡­please tell your assistants to stop giving me treatment¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it this time?!¡± Mr Xu lashed out instinctively.

    Too exhausted to show any shock, the woman continued.

    ¡°I give in, Doctor.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    His eyes widened in bewilderment.

    ¡°But¡­why?¡± He asked weakly.

    ¡°It¡¯s the perfect time to go. My husband might be dead already. My son is leaving soon. I..I want to accompany them. I do not think I can continue living with them. Please, I beg you¡­¡±

    She tried putting up a soft smile as she spoke.

    With her frail body, that kick apparently caused some severe internal bleeding in the abdomen. Although there was a chance for her to live another day, her body would never be the same again. It wouldn¡¯t be a lie to say that it would be a fate worse than hell for her moving forward, unless she met her end here, that is. Thus, due to those reasons, Mr Xu made his decision.

    ¡°Alright¡­do as you wish. I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    ¡°Master¡­¡±

    His assistants quickly halted their work and tidily cleaned the room of any blood and moved the used utensils toward the washing bay. Mr Xu thoroughly washed his hands and face and removed his surgical gown; later, he made his way to the study.

    ¡°Tell the rest the operation is over.¡±

    Those were his final words for the night¡­

    As his chest made their last rise and fall, the boy stared blankly at the ceiling. He had no thought and couldn¡¯t even do so whatsoever, remaining paralyzed with his lifeless hand gripped on tightly with his mother currently at his side. Having rejected any continuation of treatment, her condition started to worsen by the second. But, she held no qualms.

    After the message was passed along to the villagers, they promptly made haste into the operating room to watch the mother and child in their final moments.

    While Mr Xu was nowhere to be seen among the crowd, Mr Zhang stayed put to supervise the kids. ShiYan and ReZhui never told their parents about what they did earlier. Nonetheless, they quickly insisted that they wanted to continue seeing this through even if they had no relations with the dying boy. Everyone remained silent and observant throughout. ShiYan started to sob heavily at their agonizing passing. ReZhui himself was deep in thought about Mr Xu¡¯s actions and he was stressed out from the mental pressure from Mr Sun earlier this evening. He remained concentrated, watching their pain to try and understand their suffering. The mother¡¯s small irritated movements. Her random violent twitch of a limb. The vomiting of dried clots of blood from her dehydrated mouth. His complexion paled, starting from the ends of his fingers to now his cheeks. Failed struggles to lift his limbs and random movements of his eyes. Abrupt jerks and indescribable dialogue like a baby saying their first words. The mother laughed softly at this childish action, reminiscent of the days when her child was just a newborn. Her complexion turns paler by the second.

    ¡°how beautiful¡­our child¡­is, right¡­hus¡­band¡­¡±

    ¡®Pitiful. It¡¯s unfair. So tragic.¡¯

    He clenched his first in anger, not at Mr Sun but at himself. He blamed the mess due to his own lacking power. If he was stronger, the boy could have survived. Yet, even with those thoughts that continuously clouded his mind, only one question appeared at the most forefront.

    ¡°How is death something that makes you smile that sincerely? Why did the mother give up living? Death is not a good thing at all!¡¯

    As she drew her last breath, she lifted her right hand, shaking constantly as she moved along and brushed her bony fingers across her son¡¯s bloodied cheek. He felt cold to the touch and so was herself.

    ¡°ha¡­ha¡­ha¡­¡±

    Her final breath.

    In the end, they left this world in their slumber. Not by swords nor illnesses. A peaceful death that will be recorded in the death handbooks. The villagers, who had just witnessed their passing, clapped their hands in unison for a silent prayer. A small blessing to guide them up towards Heaven¡¯s Gate.

    ReZhui blindly followed their actions but wished their farewell with good faith.

    Nearby the operating room, at a window close to a long bookshelf of books, the smell of heavy alcohol filled the air, mixed in with the whiff of burning candle incense.

    ---

    He woke up shortly after. His slumber lasted uninterrupted until ReZhui felt a change in his position. As he opened his eyes, ReZhui realized that he was laying on a girl¡¯s lap. And that person was none other than ShiYan. She gazed down upon his yawning face, smiling from end to end.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in one of the wards?¡± He asked moodily. His voice was dry and coarse.

    ¡°Apparently the assistants were able to finish the clean-up earlier. My duty is done for the day.¡±

    ¡°Is¡­is that so?¡±

    ¡°Enjoy my lap pillow?¡±

    ¡°Better than the ceramic ones your father uses.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for sure.¡±

    They fell silent. There were no trails left to continue the conversation. ShiYan averted her gaze away. Feeling suspicious, ReZhui went straight in for it. He was fed up with all the arguments and drama that had happened for the past few days. Thus, he wanted to resolve this as soon as possible, if he could.

    ¡°ShiYan, what¡¯s the matter with you? Speak up already.¡±

    He said it with slight frustration.

    ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t mean to disrupt your nap but my father wants to see you.¡±

    ¡°What does your old man want from me?¡±

    ¡°ReZhui¡­¡±

    Filled with shock at the way he addressed her father, ShiYan never thought the kind and thoughtful boy that she befriended with could act in such a way.

    ¡®But honestly, wasn¡¯t I the same back then?¡¯

    She recalled her tantrum against him. It was a faulty side of her that she now accepted and lived by to improve herself even further. She wanted to convey this to ReZhui after his introductory training. Unfortunately, they both were now swept by the waves that was the mess in which Mr Sun had orchestrated. Even if they were not affected directly like their fathers, there was the influence nonetheless. By then, ShiYan had some idea of what was going on between her father and Mr Sun. However, in ReZhui¡¯s perspective, this situation was forcibly shoved into him and all at once. There were no breaks for rest.

    Fear, humiliation and death.

    All over the span of a week.

    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t be upset with his change. I should support him if this is what he chose to do moving forward.¡±

    She leaned in close as she spoke softly.

    ¡°ReZhui, I am sorry but I hope you will forgive my father if he insulted you in some way.¡±

    Surprised at the sudden change in tone, he paused for several moments before replying.

    ¡°ShiYan, what do you think of your father?¡±

    ¡°He is the best,¡± ShiYan said without any hesitation.

    ¡°But¡­he killed the mother when she could have been saved. How is he a good person?¡±

    ¡°Many people died under his care. I admit that¡¯s true and I saw it with my own eyes. However, many more lived because of him,¡± she immediately countered.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°My father did his best and respects his patients wishes. He shrunk his pride for the sake of the village. He always stays up late at night doing paperwork whenever I pass by his room as I go take a potty. There are a lot of good sides to him. Therefore, I personally think your grudges are weakly justified.¡±

    ¡°N-¡±

    ¡°So please ReZhui¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui grimaced silently and got up from his position. Making his way to a nearby well, he washed his face and quenched his thirst before clearing his throat.

    ShiYan remained at the bench, wondering what he was going to do after she said that. This might be the first time they had such a disagreement between one another. She was worried that this might ruin their relationship but she will continue to persist.

    ¡°My father is now at his study,¡± she told the boy.

    ¡°Thank you, ShiYan. I will be going now.¡±

    ¡°I, I hope it goes well!¡±

    ---

    The walk to the study was mundane. The sun was nearing its descent and the long shadows of the furniture entered the corridor along with the boy. Muffled chatter of voices could be heard coming from the kitchen and in the garden beside it.

    ReZhui soon arrived at a door that was highly decorated with gold-filled patterns and engravings. He opened the unlocked doors and proceeded inward. What captured his amazement was the vast columns of bookshelves that seemed to stretch on indefinitely and the incredible lack of lighting in the room. The study had a heavy smell of incense and could be seen visually near the hung candles.

    Stiffening his uneasiness, ReZhui proceeded forward. The dim light allowed him to make out a silhouette of a desk and a set of chair furniture, and it was an unexpected mess. Books lay all over, scattered with open pages, and stacks of scrolls were gathered at the side, each one rolled out irregularly. At the center lived a middle-aged doctor. He had more noticeable eyebags and his hands were covered in blotches of black ink. His hair was unkempt and his attire was a simple black robe.

    As his nearing footsteps echoed more readily across the silent room, the doctor halted his writing and looked up to make eye contact with the approaching individual. ReZhui stopped right in front of the sofa.

    ¡°Take a seat, ReZhui.¡±

    Mr Xu adjusted his glasses and gestured with his right hand.

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    ReZhui did as he was told albeit reluctantly.

    This was picked up by Mr Xu who then started the conversation.

    ¡°Do you know why I call you here, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s all about my bad behavior towards you during my stay at the Xu residence.¡±

    ¡°No. That is incorrect.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°My actual intention is to inform you that you will be staying here for the next week as well since this week was not the perfect scenario for your training and I was extremely busy that I didn¡¯t focus on you at all. All you did here was simple chores and basic help. Nothing about entrepreneurship. Thus, I plan to start my initial training schedule with you next week when all matters have been settled down. Do you understand me?¡±

    ¡°But Sir, why was that the priority? And, why are you still determined to aid me when it is obvious that I disrespected you throughout the entire recovery period of the villagers?

    ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered my question.¡±

    ¡°Wh-...Yes Sir. I understand.¡±

    ¡°Good. Now, since you brought up that issue, my answer is that I can see where you are coming from. Your reasons for disliking me. No, hating me. This reaction is very common among some of the relatives of my dead patients. But, it''s only relatives in my experience. For you, to have that same level of attachment when you do not even know the mother and child¡¯s names is testament to your innocent nature. It¡¯s naive in a way, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°My problem with you is that the mother could have lived on. Dying is unnecessary for her.¡±

    ¡°Listen, I know you were there with ShiYan at the corner of that hole in the wall. I am sure you heard the mother¡¯s wish. So, what¡¯s the point of going against another person¡¯s desire for death? You are just stubborn and selfish. You just impose your ideas onto people to follow your ¡®right¡¯ way of thinking.¡±

    ¡°It is the right way, isn¡¯t it? Everyone wants to live and that¡¯s why prey run away or fight back to survive. Living is the most important thing in this world. Thus, I-¡±

    ¡°Enough with this nonsense.¡±

    Mr Xu¡¯s tone was much more deeper and angrier, similar to back then when he scolded ReZhui for lashing out. It was like rage that was seeping out of a sealed container that¡¯s about to burst. ReZhui instinctively kept his silence.

    ¡°Not everyone has a good life, ReZhui. You were blessed with a good childhood, having caring parents and a good education. Her husband is missing and her only child is dead. No one would want to live a life of guilt and sorrow, knowing that they were the only ones left. To add more oil to the flame, she will certainly have a permanent injury that will make her disabled for the rest of her life, restricting her options to earn money. No one wants to hire a cripple. In the end, she will have to beg on the streets. Is that the life you want to give her?¡±

    ¡°W¡­wait a sec-¡±

    ¡°Have you ever taken into consideration their current position in life and numerous other factors?¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°She is better off dead than live through that hell. And yes, I, a doctor, approve of such words.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    It was the exact same feeling when Mr Sun cornered him into submission. He had no comeback to Mr Xu¡¯s harsh truths. And, while ReZhui was able to make sense of his reasoning, he still thinks that there could have been a better way to save the mother and let her live in happiness at the same time. ReZhui quickly turned his anger towards that instead.

    ¡°Sir, if that¡¯s the case, then shouldn¡¯t you-¡±

    ¡°You still have the guts to talk back when you already know that you are in the wrong?!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s pathetic, ReZhui! I expected some better level-headed observation from you!¡±

    Silence.

    He laid his head low, embarrassed to look at Mr Xu any longer. ReZhui shut his mouth in frustration. Frustration pointed towards himself. In that pause, Mr Xu cleared his throat before continuing.

    ¡°ReZhui, now that I think about it, you can sometimes be too influenced by your emotions. This has led to events with Mr Sun and against myself. It clouds your logical judgement to look at the bigger picture. What you feel is right, you will do it regardless of the opposition and that¡¯s a wrong way to survive, even as a merchant and as a good person.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Anyhow, I recommend that you take 3 days off from your duties to refresh your mind and contemplate what I just said. I will arrange a letter for myself for official approval. Now, you may leave. Have a good night.¡±

    Immediately right after, Mr Xu took out some paper and stamps from under his desks and prepared the documents.

    ReZhui turned on his heel and headed towards the exit of the study.

    But as he was about to make his way out, Mr Xu called out for him.

    ¡°Sorry ReZhui, one more thing. In three days, I will be out of town to do my monthly check ups on the slum neighborhoods, east of here. I want you to follow me as my main assistant and there is no room for rejection. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Sighing deeply, ReZhui slowly made his way through the doors and the corridor to his lodging room. At the end of the hallway however, ShiYan nervously waited for his return. As she approached the conflicted boy, she asked him.

    ¡°ReZhui! So, how did it go with Father?¡±

    Still mad about what had occurred there, he replied coldly, ¡°Move aside.¡±

    He moved past her and towards his room.

    ReZhui never looked back to see what expression she made with that response. Despite this, it doesn¡¯t matter to him for now. He has got to sort out his thoughts first.

 Chapter 11 : His Discovery

    ¡°HURRY! HURRY!¡±

    ¡°Lord Xu is here!¡±

    ¡°Kids, gather up here. DON¡¯T WANDER AROUND!¡±

    ¡°Yes, I can now get my sprain checked.¡±

    ¡°Father! Be careful, easy now¡­HEY, MOVE ASIDE!¡±

    ¡°I was here first!¡±

    ¡°Ma! They¡¯re fighting again!¡±

    ¡°Fuck OFF!¡±

    ¡°My condition is worsening! Get me the spot!¡±

    ¡°Bastard¡­OLD HAG, you¡¯re blocking the way!¡±

    ¡°SHUT UP ALREADY!¡±

    ¡°Yh, there are babies here!¡±

    ¡°I give NO TWO SHITS ABOUT IT! You¡¯re a slut in the first place!¡±

    ¡°Vulgar youth! Come here, SECURITY!!!¡±

    ¡°SILENCE!!!¡±

    ¡°EVERYONE, MR XU NEEDS TO CONCENTRATE!¡±

    ¡°LINE UP IN 10 COLUMNS! ALL OF YOU WILL GET A CHANCE! THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME FOR EVERYONE¡±S TURN SO FUCKING BEHAVE ALREADY!¡±

    The main district hall was a sea of filth and odor. The entire circular stadium was a formerly worn-down temple until the peasant population came and settled, establishing this as their common meeting area. The large pillars of limestone, decayed over centuries, had major inadequate repairs from the labor of the unskilled paupers that riddled the major streets of this district, located east of the DongBu village center. The roof held no proper structure and the walls were riddled in cracks, made by plant stems and tree roots. Despite that, this served as the main headquarters for Mr Xu and his band of physicians to conduct monthly healthcare examinations en masse.

    Beyond the main hall was a flight of stairs that led into the second floor which housed a large double door at the front, opening into another spacious hall which served as the operating room. The knobs and wood were replaced and the walls surrounding the hall were reinforced with a new patch of concrete, ensuring the safety of the doctors and their staff.

    The first column was called upon by the hired guards to continue the queue from the previous batch who most of them had just received their own inspections. Each patient waited as they slowly got closer to the operating hall. The left door was the entry point while the right labeled the exit.

    Within the hall, several stations were put in place, partitioned by curtain folds. Each station was run by a different physician and all of them had connections to supplies for medicine and sterile tools. At the very end, a larger partition was arranged which belonged to Mr Xu. Being the most skilled in the practice, he took the most severe cases and it required more space to perform his treatments.

    Returning back to the entrance, his assistants were in charge of identifying the priority patients and determining the complexity of their injuries. Using a variety of color coded cards, they were distributed to each individual patient to organize them into the categories mentioned above and additionally to which station to go to with some physicians specializing in one field better than the rest.

    ¡°Therefore, it truly is quite the systematic and efficient set up, isn¡¯t that right ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°I guess so¡­¡±

    Currently, ReZhui was given a detailed tour of the place. Beside him was the servant XinLi who was instructed to show him around the place. As they walked past the final post, the duo arrived back at Mr Xu¡¯s station. ReZhui observed Mr Xu as he consulted a family of ten, comprising both parents and eight children ranging from early teens to infant stages. The doctor maintained a calm and wise demeanor, carefully examining what appears to be a dislocated shoulder from the 2nd eldest son. Blue-black bruises covered the entire injury, scattered with large purple pimples. Behind him, the 5th daughter was being attended to by another assistant of Mr Xu. The assistant applied a mixture of oils and watery paste onto her back which was infected with severe rashes. The mother was cuddled tightly in her husband¡¯s arms, filled with anxiety. Making out a serious expression on the father¡¯s face, ReZhui could tell the couple had seen worse days.

    Both wore ragged tunics and the children¡¯s outfits were loosely sewn together by random cuts of discarded fabric. Their children had very bony figures and roughly cut hair. However, compared to the rest of the pauper crowd, they were surprisingly relatively clean. ReZhui frowned at this sight.

    Fortunately, this was picked up by XinLi who felt some hostility from him towards her lord. Not that she was part of the dispute between the kid and her lord, nonetheless, XinLi heard detailed rumors about what happened between the two from her colleagues and decided to act up for her lord. She could not leave any bad opinion of her lord unattended for.

    ¡°ReZhui, the patients my Lord is servicing over there is the Lee family. They have been regulars ever since Lord Xu implemented this monthly program, backed by the village council several months back.¡±

    ¡°So the reason for their cleanliness was because¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. It was a recommendation from my Lord. It is the truth that he is very benevolent.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Just asking, why was the entire temple not rebuilt entirely? Why is it that only this room gets the upgrades?¡±

    A slight frustration appeared on her face as she replied back.

    ¡°You do not seem to understand that the only reason this part of the temple was refurbished is due Mr Xu¡¯s own spending for regular maintenance. Unfortunately, the village funds were bled dry from the taxations and charges imposed by Mr Sun. Moreover, even if that wasn¡¯t the reason, there would still not be enough money to repair the temple as this program is quite recent.¡±

    ¡°Again, again, it all has to do with that-!¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, I may speak out of duty right now but I think it is necessary for you to understand my Lord¡¯s situation,¡± XinLi interrupted.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant! I took three days off to contemplate my thoughts and I already made an apology to him. I can finally conclude that I am not angry at him any longer. It¡¯s just that¡­¡±

    ReZhui did not want to continue that sentence. He knew that his attitude towards her throughout the tour was extremely brash and defiant but not for the reasons she inaccurately deduced from. It all has to do with the time when he took the carriage here with only Mr Xu in tow.

    ---

    As they rode their way through the dark and narrow alleyways of the compact district that is the slums, ReZhui watched closely at his surroundings.

    He saw the dilapidated concrete housing or makeshift tents made out of ground clay and animal hide. Aimless children who wandered around, neglected and carefree. Elderly peasants slept on the pavements and under the shade of second-used parasols. They had no way of getting up for treatment and just laid there lifelessly. Some had crows pecking on their dried up skin and making their way into open wounds and exposed bones.

    It was a heart-wrenching sight for him.

    Men gathered in small groups, covered in grime and shared a large pipe, exhaling coloured smoke as they moaned in pleasure. Some were more well-fed than the rest but they all were collectively under the influence. Others held weapons, such as spears with lackluster rusted metal tips and wooden clubs dried with their victims'' blood. ReZhui trembled at their sight, reminiscent of those men under Mr Sun. However, as he shuddered in fear, Mr Xu held an arm on his shoulder.

    ¡°Enough, calm yourself.¡±

    As he instructed ReZhui to take in deep breaths, Mr Xu began to explain what was happening there.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about those vagabonds. They are just criminals. The lowest of the low. All that they are capable of is intimidation and petty infighting amongst other gangs of their kind. They will also do anything for money, even for the smallest penny. Pathetic individuals overall, all bark and no bite.¡±

    As ReZhui nodded at the assurance of Mr Xu¡¯s explanation, he continued to look out the window.

    Women could be seen in torn clothing and smoking a similar thing. They lay wasted over their window panes or wandered around, seducing other men into their schemes. Their hair was bushy and flies could be seen nesting within the gaps. They appeared to have not slept for days on end and their hip bones jutted out of their skin with many having saggy breasts. Again, he remembered the memories of the dying mother, the root cause of his frustrations. He grimaced deeply which was noticed by Mr Xu, who sat beside him on the carriage.

    ¡°ReZhui¡±

    ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°This is what that mother would be like if I continued to save her. Is this what you truly wanted her life to be like?¡±

    ¡°Is¡­is there no other way?¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°If that were the case, most of these women would not be in such a state.¡±

    ¡°Most?¡±

    ¡°Not all people are as hardworking and kind-hearted as you think they are. Some of them among the population are here due to their own wrongdoings. While others like that mother do not have a choice. But we digress¡­¡±

    ¡°Right, but why is that? Why is there no other way?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s how the real world works, ReZhui. The one that you were comfortable with is a fabricated dream that resides in your village only since it is a tight-knit community, away from inhumane influences.¡±

    ¡°...I¡­I do not know what to say.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s natural, child. But, the more you live in this type of society, you grow immune to the horrors.¡±

    ¡°Is that the reason why you brought me here and not ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°Someone has to keep watch of the pharmacy shop and she already has her fair share of experience coming here with me. On the other hand, you don¡¯t and this reality proves my point that evening, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°...Yes, and I hate it. I hate this cruel world is the truth.¡±

    Sighing heavily, Mr Xu directed the boy¡¯s attention to a new subject, one to enrich himself.

    ¡°Looking back on your goal to do entrepreneurship, these are some things that may be played in their hands.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    ¡°Merchants move money, don¡¯t they? Eventually, there will be risk involved that will sacrifice people to become like this in exchange for your success and larger profits. However, don¡¯t let that discourage you. It can also bring back fortune to the people. It all depends on your skill as a businessman, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your point, Mr Xu?¡±

    ¡°Study hard on merchantry. Use your hatred for this harsh reality as your fuel for improvement. Be the guiding light to lead them into a better future.¡±

    Taking a moment to digest what the doctor just told him, ReZhui reaffirmed one final doubt he had. One that he overlooked back in that evening.

    ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ReZhui¡±

    ¡°Is this the best you can do¡­by helping them with their health?¡±

    Surprised at his question, Mr Xu answered honestly.

    ¡°Unfortunately that is a yes¡­But, I will definitely do something about this in the future. I will make sure that the Mayor would never touch DongBu and the other villages ever again after what he did to ShiYan. Just leave that to the adults, ReZhui. The only duty you have now is to learn. That¡¯s the reason why you came here, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡®Wow¡­they¡¯re truly the same.¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself, ¡®In the end, my suspicions about him working under that bastard mayor were false. He did all that for the sake of not angering the mayor into harming the people he dearly loved. Unlike myself when I¡­Father¡­¡¯

    ¡°Mr Xu!¡±

    ¡°What, ReZhui? We are arriving soon.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I want to apologize for my behavior back then. I wrongly accuse you personally within my heart to be following under the evil Mayor. For that, I am very sorry!¡±

    He lowered his head till his eyes made contact with the floor of the carriage.

    A silence remained in the air around them.

    ReZhui continued to remain in that posture until Mr Xu hurriedly brought him up.

    ¡°Alright, alright, I forgive your actions. You are just 9 years old, ReZhui. If you keep up the good work at this rate, you will certainly grow up to be a fine adult. So, study hard, understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr Xu.¡±

    ReZhui gave one last look at the streets of the slums. The temple could be seen towering above the low shacks and huts, and crowding in between them were innocent folk who made haste towards it. They all were busy gathering into the main district hall for the free examinations. But, the sight of their impoverished appearances were the same as the other hooligans and strays. It was the plight of the hopeless poor.

    ¡®Is this something Mr Xu had to deal with on a regular basis?¡¯

    ReZhui held his hand close to his chest. He still felt the raging emotions within his heart. And it ached badly, very badly.

    ---

    XinLi stopped talking at this revelation. She blushed in embarrassment, averting her eyes away from his sight.

    Seeing her immediate silence, ReZhui rubbed his head in irritation and proceeded to explain his reasoning to calm her down on the misunderstanding.

    ¡°Listen, I understood why I was at fault for what happened three days ago. I was clouded with shock at my first witness of death in front of me. I have seen murder of animals on a regular basis but that was due to the need to survive. We need to eat so I can see the logic behind that. But at that time, it was a living human being and one that had the chance to live. Despite that, in the end, she gave up on all that. Swelled with anger, I instinctively thought that I didn¡¯t want her to die. Thus, I lashed out and labeled Mr Xu as a bad person.

    As expected, that was a narrow-minded reason to make one as an enemy. He is, as what you think of your Lord to be, and I get that now. Naturally, that leaves the mayor as the true culprit.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Throughout the past three days, I went around asking about Mr Sun, observed the effect he caused onto the village and¡­Although, I can barely understand the politics behind it, I felt that the results were miserable for everyone. Yet..even when I wanted to punch him very badly and make him amend his ways,¡± ReZhui clenched his fist together tightly, ¡°He is too powerful for myself to even touch him and I was told that he could kill all of us if he wanted to with the Emperor¡¯s army. Believe it or not, I experienced his threats firsthand after you headed back towards the pharmacy building.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I apologize for what happened to you, ReZhui¡­¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want your pity. In fact, I was the one who triggered his wrath in the first place. Regrettably, my father had to kowtow in exchange for my kept dignity. I am also mad at myself that I had the guts to carelessly insult a higher official when it meant disaster to everyone that I know and care for. Nonetheless, I still side with my way of justice. All I did wrong back there was not finding the right time nor the method to express myself properly.¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, I am glad that you think that way.¡±

    She held a hand close to her heart, sensing a feeling of accomplishment.

    ¡°Surprisingly, there is a part of me that still stubbornly thinks otherwise but overall, I am on his side now. All I have to do now is to make up for that by following his wishes.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s splendid, ReZhui! ¡­Just so you know, I am sure everyone in the Xu residence will also support your actions. I can promise you that.¡±

    XinLi grabbed his hand as she brought him close.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get you something to do then. Mr Xu instructed me yesterday.¡±

    He was tugged forward vigorously by her petite frame as she headed straight for the back of the station, away from the eyes of the crowds of patients.

    ---

    Hours had passed since then. The continuous waves of patients never dwindled in size and the doctors paced themselves properly, seeing that this was a regular occurrence every month. The assistants ran about the entire length of the operating room, distributing messages on the behalf of their respective physicians to another, resupplying hot water from the nearby well and bandages among other herbs and medicines.

    Within Mr Xu¡¯s station, a paper partition separates the temporary storage area from the main operating section. And, that was where ReZhui was placed on duty. Apart from lunch break, he walked about the place, inspecting packages containing a multitude of herbs and oils or new sets of bandages and cloth. After confirming the labels, ReZhui would register the number along with several other details onto a record book, similar to the ones ShiYan used for keeping track of cash flow. As he moved a brush with his right dominant hand onto the hard fiber paper, ReZhui finished his next row of data about a 100g bag of dried ginseng from a particular merchant.

    Looking up to scan his surroundings, ReZhui noticed the same group of assistants who just returned with extra boxes of other ingredients. Apparently, Mr Xu had a case of a family-wide diagnosis of severe migraine and the packet of ginseng he just recorded was already taken back to the front for treatment.

    ¡°Next!¡± one of them shouted. The others headed back to the other stations and that person followed right after. ReZhui approached the boxes; he then ran his fingers across the labels and wrote the corresponding information.

    ¡®Haah, this is way more exhausting than I had anticipated it to be. The ¡®main¡¯ assistant title is just a ruse. I didn¡¯t even get the chance to help out at the main operating section...¡¯

    ¡°ReZhui!¡±

    Right after, someone called out for him.

    Turning towards the direction of that voice, he recognised the girl. It was XinLi again.

    ¡°What do you want, Assistant XInLi? Can you see I am busy now?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s rather boastful of you, ReZhui but I can understand that. My Lord surely knows how to create job satisfaction for his employees.¡±

    ¡°No¡­it¡¯s rather the opposite.¡±

    ¡°Well, my Lord had predicted you would react like this. Thus, I was told to give you the message he wanted to convey,¡± XinLi expressed proudly.

    ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself.

    ¡°Ahm, according to Lord Xu, the reason he assigned you this role is due to its basis in foundation regarding management. When you open your own business, you wouldn¡¯t start with a set group of workers on the get go. Therefore, most of the work needed to organize goods for trade is done through your own hard work. This is practice for that upcoming future. End of message.¡±

    ¡°I will take note of that, Assistant XinLi. Thank you for delivering that message.¡±

    ¡°No problem! Just thought you wanted the much needed explanation.¡±

    Giving her a light nod, ReZhui returned to his packages, remaining three left that were unaccounted for. However, as XinLi said her last words of encouragement before leaving the storage area, a loud crash reverberated heavily throughout the large operating hall. The sound of metal on metal sounded right after.

    Following the sound of that unknown incident, ReZhui heard the rising commotion surrounding the station on the opposite side of the hall from here. XinLi, who originally was headed for the right, turned her tracks to the left.

    ¡°ReZhui, let¡¯s see what¡¯s going on,¡± she insisted with glee.

    ¡°But¡­I,¡± however, as ReZhui reconsidered the situation outside, he sighed in defeat, ¡°Alright, I am right behind you.¡±

    The two of them made haste as they shoved through the gathering crowd towards the scene. Unidentifiable screams slowly became more profound the more he reached closer to the center. He got so far ahead due to his smaller size, XinLi was lagging behind him.

    ¡°Monster! How dare you?!¡±

    ¡°Bro, let¡¯s teach it a lesson!¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡±

    ¡°Do it! Do it!¡±

    The crowd began to erupt in support for their actions. Children grinned and laughed along while the adults stood there, some feeling satisfied at the attacker¡¯s behavior while others wore disgusted expressions at the ¡®thing¡¯ the offenders were assaulting.

    ¡®No, this can¡¯t be¡­How is this right?¡¯

    Pressing through the first row of people, ReZhui managed to squeeze through the gaps and make his way at the center. What he saw was a young boy, near his age but extremely malnourished and donned in tattered clothes. He groaned in excruciating pain as he was tossed to a corner of the partition pole hard on impact. ReZhui took a hard look at the scene and successfully identified his assailants, who were a group of boys of varying ages from 12 to 7. While they were dressed like any other child who was raised in a poor family, the condition of their bodies compared to the other boy was like night and day. The eldest of the group was especially muscular in his build and could probably land quite the hard punch onto an ordinary adult.

    ¡°Arrrh! This is no fun at all, you know that? Boys, get him here!¡± the eldest boy demanded.

    Agreeing in unison, the rest of the group charged straight forward. Fortunately, the cornered boy was fast enough to make a swift escape. Nonetheless, due to his lack of physicality, the boy easily exhausted himself and subsequently tripped on the uneven floor of the room. Falling face first onto the ground, the boy landed close to the surrounding crowd. Taking the opportunity, ReZhui rushed immediately towards the injured boy¡¯s aid and checked up on his condition. But as he did so¡­

    ¡°Hey! Are you al¡­righ¡­t¡­,¡± ReZhui went speechless.

    Helping the boy to lift his injured head, they both made eye contact with each other and all ReZhui saw was...

    ¡°Blue¡­¡±

 Chapter 12 : His Choices

    ReZhui froze in place as he met his gaze.

    The injured boy¡¯s disheveled hair covered the upper part of his bony face when the bullies tossed him around like a ragdoll, cornering him right after. Now that ReZhui had taken a closer look at him, he recalled such a familiar and distinctive feature. The boy¡¯s icy blue eyes held the same dull shade from before and his pupils were dilated, unfocused from the circumstances he was currently facing.

    He detested the boy¡¯s state of mind, moreso the actions of the assailants, and held him tighter in his arms as he checked for any other injuries. Luckily, all he could find were some bruises and a bloodied nose. However, just as he was finishing with his temporary examination, the eldest of the attacking group called out to him.

    ¡°Hey you! What the hell are you doing to our little monster? Push him right back here, you bastard!¡± the eldest demanded rudely.

    ¡°DAM-¡±

    ReZhui stopped himself from releasing an outburst.

    He slowly took a deep breath in, calming himself down.

    ¡®I cannot make the situation worse. Screaming would just escalate it even further. I gotta stall for time now¡­¡¯

    Remembering back to Mr Sun, ReZhui held it in and tried to start a conversation with the group.

    ¡°Why are you doing this to him? Did he do anything wrong towards you and your group?¡± ReZhui questioned with seeping impatience.

    ¡°No reason whatsoever, I tell you. It¡¯s just convenient.¡±

    ¡°For who, exactly?¡± ReZhui subtlety growled.

    ¡°Who, you ask? Well, it¡¯s obviously us! Hahahahahaha!¡±

    The merry band of boys followed up with their own hearty laughter, sneaking in additional snarky comments in the midst of their humorous craze.

    ¡°That¡¯s our leader, alright!¡±

    ¡°I also think we are doing quite the favor for our victim.¡±

    ¡°Yh, you should¡¯ve seen how the adults dealt with him!¡±

    ¡°He has such a very punchable face, yep yep!¡±

    ¡°Hey! Why don¡¯t you join us? It¡¯s fun!¡±

    ¡°I ¡®gree.¡±

    ¡°We can enjoy beating the shit out of him together!¡±

    ReZhui watched them bicker about with insurmountable rage. This was also directed towards the passersby who just stood around, spectating the entire thing like it¡¯s a theater play.

    ¡®Disgusting¡­¡¯

    The boy who always sympathized with the plight of the poor started to get swarmed up with an increasing number of doubts within his mind. His anger clearly made getting rid of these thoughts even harder. But¡­ReZhui was able to temporarily break free of this notion when XinLi finally made it cross the crowd and into the center of the scene. Her eyes suddenly turned towards ReZhui¡¯s location and she dashed straight forward.

    ¡°ReZhui, ReZhui! What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    ¡°Assistant XinLi¡­¡±

    XinLi appeared right in front of him as she took a glance at what ReZhui was embracing. She widened her eyes in shock at this outcome, an understandable reaction to this unfortunate sight. Regardless, since ReZhui and herself had seen much worse, it didn¡¯t faze the duo and they immediately got into action.

    ¡°Assistant XinLi, his injuries are not critical. I checked and only identified some severe bruising and a running nosebleed but in this position, it appears to have stopped.¡±

    ¡°hey¡­¡±

    ¡°Normally, my Lord will recommend placing cold water over the nose and letting the leftover blood flow out in small batches. But, this works as well. Here, hand him over.¡±

    ¡°hey! listen here!¡±

    ReZhui, realizing that XinLi was more knowledgeable with this treatment than he was, carefully handed the boy over to her.

    ¡°oi! don¡¯t ignore¡­!¡±

    ¡°So, when is Mr Xu coming here? It will be hard to make way through this crowd.¡±

    ¡°Oh, about that, he is-¡±

    ¡°BASTARD! YOU ASKED FOR THIS!!!¡±

    Interrupting XinLi, was a cry of frustration. She saw an overshadowing figure behind ReZhui, readying a full-on punch towards his head. His eyes were glaring like a tiger set on chasing his prey.

    Her hand instinctively reached out for ReZhui, trying to shove him out of the way but it was all for naught. She could not reach him. Even so, her terrified expression hinted ReZhui of a potential threat behind him and he retaliated back in defense.

    Folding his arms at the back of his head, ReZhui tanked the blow and slid to the side a short distance away, caught within XinLi¡¯s arms.

    ¡®Damn, he¡¯s strong!¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself, ¡®But¡­it¡¯s not enough to hurt me.¡¯

    ¡°YOU¡¯RE LUCKY THAT WOMAN OF YOURS ALERTED YOU ON THAT ATTACK! If not, you would have been knocked out COLD!!!¡±

    However, minding his unfinished matters first, ReZhui questioned XinLi on his previous enquiry, ignoring the assailant.

    ¡°I apologize that I didn¡¯t hear your answer correctly just now, Assistant XinLi. What were you saying earlier?¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu is finishing up with the family patients and will be here in a few minutes to sort out this conflict. Another assistant told me that when we were separated.¡±

    ¡°Then, that boy¡¯s assault on me. If I strike back, would I be worsening the situation for Mr Xu?¡±

    ¡°This is child¡¯s play, ReZhui. Mr Sun is one thing, but don¡¯t underestimate my Lord that much,¡± XinLi smirked in agreement.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take note of that, Assistant XinLi. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m rooting for you!¡± XinLi shouted in encouragement, giving a huge thumbs up.

    ---

    The eldest boy took several steps back and his group stood beside him in a dominating formation.

    On the other hand, ReZhui steadily walked forward, closing the distance between them. As he made his footsteps more and more apparent, ReZhui continued their conversation from before.

    ¡°Why should I listen to jerks that hurt others for no clear reason other than for the fun of it? You¡¯re mental!¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it disrespectful to ignore another? Wasn¡¯t that taught to you by your parents? Actually, you are supposed to know more of such manners than we do, rich kid! Such a disgrace, aren''t you?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just pretending to play as the victim. It¡¯s hypocritical to hear that you are preaching about good human values when you and your gang are ruining that boy''s life.¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous, he fucking deserves it. Didn¡¯t you see his hair? It¡¯s yellow. Now it may look like it¡¯s black but the truth is, he smears wet soot on it daily. Get me a bucket of sewage water and I¡¯ll prove my right!!¡±

    ¡°Disgusting really. So, what of his yellow hair?¡±

    ¡°IT¡¯S UNNATURAL, ISN¡¯T IT? Makes him look like a fool. He is the weird one, meant no place here, that¡¯s how we see it at least, and everyone agrees with us as well!¡±

    The crowd didn¡¯t flinch at that statement.

    ReZhui¡¯s face darkened.

    ¡°What¡¯s great with glorifying such actions?¡±

    ¡°ENOUGH WITH THESE QUESTIONS! Making an enemy out of us will antagonist the entire community towards you, I warn you!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite the overstatement.¡±

    ReZhui stopped in his tracks, at an arm¡¯s length from the eldest boy.

    ¡°Again? What¡¯s there to gain from another person¡¯s suffering? I am just standing up for the right thing here.¡±

    The eldest frowned in annoyance.

    ReZhui responded by pulling up a fighting stance.

    ¡°Come.¡±

    ---

    ¡®I never thought I would have to use my martial arts training this early on in my life but I guess I could make use of this situation to gain some quality experience; especially since they look like they have been involved in a couple of fights before.¡¯

    As ReZhui lowered his stance, feet widened with one in front of the other, he clenched his fist tightly. Starting with curling the little finger and repeating the same action up towards the index, he secured the fingers with folded thumbs and raised both fists close to his chest, blocking the lower half of his face.

    ¡°Juniors, deal with that wannabe hero.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, big bro.¡±

    ¡°Finally.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I will do my best!¡±

    ¡®They outnumbered me by quite the large margin, but that¡¯s the best part for my training!¡¯

    ReZhui observed their group.

    ¡®There are 7 of them. That 12-year old is obviously the strongest and the leader of the bunch. The one with the scar over his mouth and the other with a burn mark on his left cheek seemed to have their fair share of brutal brawls. They are the second strongest. The remaining four that the eldest boy sent out must just be the ¡®supporting minions¡¯, as Brother MianJu likes to call them.

    Therefore, they are the weakest! And as a conclusion, the first one to go is¡­¡¯

    ReZhui strided forward and attacked the 7-year old at the rightmost part of the formation in his point of view.

    ¡®...the hesitant one!¡¯

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    A hard punch landed on the boy¡¯s face, sending him tumbling over to the side. Blood splattered from his injured nose.

    ¡°XiaoYi!¡±

    The three other boys watched in shock at the speed of his attack. Not only that, the fact that the 7-year old flew quite the distance just showed what they were dealing with. In the end, that boy was left unconscious after that knockout blow.

    ¡°Damn you!¡±

    Another boy that was closest in reach to ReZhui came charging in, both arms spread out to try and grapple him to the ground¡­

    However, ReZhui was prepared for that. Using the momentum from the previous attack, ReZhui twisted his body to the left, facing the other boy head on. His left arm retracted back behind him as he prepared the next blow for the upcoming target.

    Before that boy could reach ReZhui, a downward blow struck him squarely on his forehead, sending his unbalanced body falling hard onto the ground. He landed with a loud thud.

    ¡®Shit¡­it hurts!¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself as he recoiled back with his right arm.

    Despite the success of taking down two kids in a continuous motion, both his fists were burning with pain from the impact. His index and middle finger knuckles were especially throbbing in red soreness.

    ¡®Brother MianJu said that the correct way is to hit with these parts of the fist but it really hurts more when it¡¯s concentrated in those areas. Anyhow, I am confident that I will get used to this soon enough.¡¯

    ¡°Take this!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll pay!¡±

    The last two began their assault on the unfocused ReZhui but luckily, he was able to put up a guard in a nick of time before their punches landed. Even with that advantage, ReZhui wasn¡¯t being pushed back, holding his ground steadily.

    As they slowly exhausted their energy, the punches slowed to a halt; breathing deep pants while they stopped.

    ¡®Well that was easy.¡¯

    ReZhui retaliated with two clean punches aimed at their lower jaws, right and left respectively, and knocked out both of them. Without sustaining any serious injuries, ReZhui promptly relaxed his arm joints and opened his clenched fist again and again to ease the muscle tension.

    ¡°Next.¡±

    ¡°Hah¡±

    ¡°Hm¡±

    The eldest nodded at the scarred one and burnt-marked boy, signaling the both of them to walk forward in regularly timed steps.

    The scarred boy dashed ahead, closing in on the readied ReZhui, while the other followed behind and kept a safe distance away by encircling the duo. Not wanting to fall into their attack patterns and any potential traps, ReZhui turned on his heel and sprinted in the direction of the burnt-marked boy.

    That was when the burnt-marked boy readied a temporary stance, balanced his weight on his left foot and went in for a high side kick. Failing to break his movement, ReZhui kept going in a straight line and struggled to change directions before the kick reached his chin. The hard smash of the sole sent ReZhui flying backwards towards the scarred boy who was coming into position. He then landed head first onto the ground, groaning in pain.

    Still feeling the dizziness from that hit, ReZhui staggered around as he quickly got up, feeling large volumes of blood rushing into his head and back. As he held his head steadily, his guard was lowered which the scarred boy was aiming for.

    A low roundhouse kick striked ReZhui¡¯s side, below the ribcage, sending him tumbling down across to the same partition pole the blonde boy was cornered at; his back finally knocking down the metal frame of the pole. A loud clang of metal sounded right after.

    ¡®Damn it! They were expecting me to do that and in the end, I got surrounded.¡¯

    But this was no time to contemplate¡­

    ¡°Yahhh!¡±

    Another low kick was coming in towards his lowered head which ReZhui was able to quickly raise his arms to guard it.

    ¡®WHAT FORCE!¡¯

    Yet, one more came and another. A series of low sweeping kicks laid waste onto the struggling ReZhui.

    ¡°Is that all you are?!¡±

    ¡°Fuckin hell, I can¡¯t believe he fell for it.¡±

    All ReZhui did was defend and block while he waited¡­

    ¡®A chance!¡¯

    ¡°Huh-¡±

    The scarred boy¡¯s left leg was held tightly in between ReZhui¡¯s right arm and his body, underneath the shoulder joint. Locked in, ReZhui tugged on it with all his strength, making the boy slip backwards. He fell down, buttocks first.

    With that accomplished, ReZhui swiftly pounced upon the scarred boy and delivered an elbow onto his chest, hitting straight down his sternum.

    ¡°Auckkk!¡±

    The scarred boy jerked his head up in response to that blow, spitting out saliva all over before blacking out due to sheer agony.

    ¡®However, that was only one of - Eughh!¡¯

    ReZhui was sent back to the side again as another low sweeping kick was aimed at his head, but he blocked it again as he had predicted.

    He did a tight somersault and rose up, reading another stance for the next attack in one smooth motion.

    The burnt-marked boy wasted no time and did a twist of his body before jumping high in the air for a downward chop using his left leg. It was closing onto ReZhui, who hastily rolled under the attack and appeared right behind him.

    Using the delay that the burnt-marked boy had taken to balance himself after that attack, ReZhui sprinted towards the boy and landed a hard punch to his face once the boy turned around. His bloodied nose was for all to see but that was all it resulted in.

    Steadying himself from that attack, the boy started to leap several steps back, hoping to increase the distance needed to coordinate another strike.

    Nevertheless, ReZhui would never allow that to happen.

    Before the boy could even reach outside an arm¡¯s length from ReZhui, ReZhui managed to grab hold of his sash, preventing any chance of escape. In the end, the burnt-marked boy was pulled close towards ReZhui, allowing for a flurry of punches to be unleashed upon him. The burnt-marked boy was knocked out shortly after, falling lifelessly onto his knees. His face was a bloody mess.

    ¡®Now¡­all that¡¯s left¡­is¡­him¡­¡¯ ReZhui thought in between panted breath.

    The leader of the group looked at the aftermath of the previous fights in considerable shock. All of his guys were beaten and despite ReZhui getting considerably injured and lacking in stamina after his latest fight, no major injuries were inflicted. Even so, the eldest of the group was confident in his strength and skill. Most of his life was a battle ridden journey in a place of mostly outlaws and criminals who went rampant throughout the district.

    ¡®I am not gonna lose to some kid pampered by the rich. Yh, there is no fucking way! I am gonna break him physically and mentally, just like all that opposed me.¡¯

    He cracked his knuckles and pumped his fist with some shadowboxing. Next, the leader breathed in deeply, exposing more of his muscular chest before relaxing his muscles as his diaphragm rose back in place.

    ¡®I am ready.¡¯

    ¡°Oi, kid, prepare yourself.¡±

    ¡°Our ages are not that far apart. It¡¯s useless with that condescending act.¡±

    ¡°You will eat your words once I deal with you first.¡±

    ¡®Hmm, let¡¯s see if I can provoke him further¡­¡¯ ReZhui chuckled.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you know some idioms, boy.¡±

    ¡°FUNNY BRAT! YAHHH!¡±

    The hulking figure of this 12-year old started to charge at ReZhui, like a tiger set targeted on its prey.

    ¡®Danger¡¯ was all ReZhui felt as he ran straight towards him. Sidestepping to the right, ReZhui dodged it. However, that was the beginning.

    Halting robustly, the leader followed up with a wide sweeping motion of his burly arms, aimed for the neck of ReZhui. Ducking down, ReZhui rolled out of the leader¡¯s attack zone and prepared his guard stance.

    ¡®Careful!¡¯

    Responding with a continuous stream of light and heavy jabs, ReZhui tried to dodge most of them and closely blocked the rest with the blunt point of his elbows, as taught by Brother MianJu.

    ¡°That¡¯s not all!¡±

    The leader boasted as he promptly switched routines with a clean uppercut to ReZhui¡¯s solar plexus. Not expecting such a drastic change, ReZhui failed to block that attack, resulting in his legs nearly giving out and he reeled back with caution. But, the leader was not gonna let him catch a break.

    ¡°AGAIN!¡±

    He unleashed a fast overhand punch.

    ¡°Urghhh!¡±

    Using his overwhelming weight to his advantage, the leader¡¯s strike struck hard onto ReZhui¡¯s hastily raised arm guard; it shoved back the younger 9-year old with great intensity. Fortunately, his horse stance prevented ReZhui from losing his balance and he was able to recover just in time for another barrage of punches and sporadic calf kicks.

    ¡®He¡¯s tough! Gotta hold on! Gotta hold on!¡¯

    Another overhand came homing in, hitting ReZhui squarely on his chin; before another follow up punch came shortly afterwards, landed hard on his obliques.

    ¡®Even his form¡­it¡¯s wild and unpredictable!¡¯

    Another wide sweep of his left forearm.

    A downward chop.

    Palm strikes.

    The pain is slowly building up; his elbows were sore and ReZhui saw several bruises throughout his limbs and chest.

    ¡®This instinctual way of fighting. He must have developed his own style after many years of street fighting. It¡¯s efficient and deadly. But this...I got one card up my sleeve.¡¯

    As the onslaught of attacks slowly began to dwindle in number, ReZhui proceeded with a strong front kick to the leader¡¯s right leg, aiming for the quadriceps using the forefoot of his sole. And, it worked.

    ¡®DAMN IT! How is my leg actually receiving this degree of pain from that - AAAUGHH!¡¯

    As his leg twitched in soreness, distracted by ReZhui¡¯s unexpected burst of strength, the leader did not react fast enough and ReZhui managed to pull out a spinning back kick onto the upper right quadrant of the abdomen.

    The impact sent the leader staggering backwards for a few steps but he quickly recovered.

    ¡®...¡¯

    The leader was surprised.

    On the other hand, ReZhui retreated back, skipping out of reach and maintained his guarding stance.

    ¡°W-WHAT A SURPRISE YOU SURE ARE! But that¡¯s not enough to stop me!¡±

    The leader readied himself before he launched forward for another pounce on ReZhui. Sidestepping further this time, ReZhui dodged another flurry of punches and tanked another hit to his left humerus from a roundhouse kick.

    ¡®That¡¯s new.¡¯

    The force of that nearly shook ReZhui off balance but he kept his perseverance and readied another guard stance.

    ¡®What?¡¯ the leader thought to himself, ¡®I was expecting another comeback but why is he still on defense? Is it because he saw the great strength of mine? Well, I am one of the strongest for my age. Now, I will continue to pressure him until he wil - Ugh.¡¯

    Suddenly, a sharp, agonizing pain was felt in his abdominal area and it coursed rapidly throughout his body.

    ¡°ARGH! Damn it, what¡¯s happening?¡±

    The ache continued to persist and the confident, sturdy martial body of the boy, who was his pride and joy, started to break down. The leader screamed in agony as the relentless throbbing of his muscle increased with intensity. Slowly, he gave in and forcibly curled up into a ball. The leader hoped for the pain to simply vanish but it never came and he was scared.

    ¡°Ma¡­Ma¡­¡± he whispered and wailed.

    He was very frightened.

    Remaining in that pathetic position, ReZhui walked up towards him and knelt close.

    ¡°Does it hurt?¡± he asked curtly.

    ¡°You¡­sniff¡­What did you do?!...sniff¡­¡± the boy¡¯s eyes were dyed deep red, filled with watery tears. Even so, ReZhui paid no attention to his torment.

    ¡°Why should I tell you? You will use it for harm anyways,¡± ReZhui sneered.

    ¡®Wow, I never thought the liver strike would be that devastating. He is even balling his eyes out! Brother MianJu, I thank you for your wonderful guidance.¡¯

    ReZhui silently prayed his thanks.

    ¡°So, do I take this win as a promise to not go after the yellow haired kid? I can make the injury even more painful.¡±

    ¡°Sniff¡­ok, ok, OK! Do as you please¡­sniff¡­¡±

    ¡®Hah, even with this wonder of a body, within it is still a feeble 12-year-old child. Not that I can¡¯t say that for myself but, at least I am getting stronger.¡¯

    ReZhui soon got up from his position and headed in the direction of XInLi who had an awestruck expression spread all over her face.

    ¡°wait¡­Wait!¡±

    The leader weakly called back to him.

    ¡°What is it this time?¡±

    ¡°Are you only putting up a front here? Is this just to make fun of us who had no actual training in martial arts? Who the hell are you? It¡¯s not fair!¡±

    ReZhui remained flabbergasted at his conclusion.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t born on a silver platter, understand? Well, it doesn¡¯t matter anyway since you better not show yourself in front of me ever again. But, as a fellow martial artist, I acknowledge your strength. That move I did should have incapacitated you in a matter of seconds but your tenacity carried you forward. My applause to you.¡±

    The leader pressed his fingers deep into his abdomen, applying pressure to soothe the injury while he silently stared back at ReZhui.

    ReZhui didn''t continued to respond to his begrudges and ignored him entirely.

    ---

    A group of assistants arrived shortly after the fight had ended, each assigned to provide first aid to the 7 injured boys. Meanwhile, ReZhui saw XInLi with her lord beside her. She blushed with glee at the close proximity between the both of them. With her feelings going unnoticed, Mr Xu was currently running a quick check up on the blonde boy before carrying him off to the operation station.

    Knowing that Mr Xu will be concentrating on the blonde boy as the main priority before settling the aftermath of this fight, ReZhui hesitantly began to wonder what was going to happen to him afterwards.

 Chapter 13 : His Answer

    The boy dreamt of red.

    A fiery hellscape was all his eyes could see.

    He laid there helplessly, spreading his stubby arms out frantically amongst the rising smog and collapsing wooden structures. Wailing loudly, the boy tried his best to make out what had happened. The salty air made him sniff and sneeze. The aforementioned smoke choked his airways. The heat is concentrating within. It was a boiling furnace.

    Suddenly, a series of explosions erupted in the background. He heard the screams of men and the room shook violently. The ongoing horrors caused the boy to cry even louder. His voice coarsened by the minute and soon dwindled in strength as he grew lethargic on his calls for help. Unbeknownst to the boy, the roof¡¯s support beams finally gave in to the continuous impacts from the outside, cracking the planks into splinters as they descended upon him.

    Unfortunately, regarding what had happened afterwards, the boy was only able to recall the presence of an incoming whiff of distinguishable perfume and a deep man¡¯s voice calling out to him.

    ---

    ¡°Wahh!¡±

    The boy jerked his torso forward and opened his eyes wide in fright.

    ¡°Hah, hah¡­hah¡­Another¡­hah, nightmare, huh¡­¡±

    He took deep, rapid breaths as he tried his best to calm down. Large amounts of sweat dripped heavily off his newly worn robe.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    Shoving his blanket aside, the boy took a detailed look at his body. Besides the mysterious robe coloured blue and white, his limbs were covered in thick wraps of rubber cloth. Throughout his chest and lower abdomen, square shaped bandages were plastered over a coating of some concoction applied to his bruised skin. He even felt one long bandage behind him, running down his spine as he touched it.

    ¡®What¡¯s¡­going on?¡¯

    Shaking off the fear he had after witnessing what he had just dreamt off, the boy started to set his mind up to speed and took close alert as he scanned his surroundings.

    The boy was sitting on a makeshift bed in an empty room that was just as wide and long as the main operating hall. His bed was placed at the far corner of the vast space and behind him; the boy felt the vibrations and muffled noises of the patients and the respective doctors.

    Near to his left faced a wide overarching window that took up most of the outer wall of the room which looked out into the main slum districts below.

    ¡®I-I¡¯m still in the temple, aren¡¯t I?¡±

    Within this dark chamber, only the natural light, from the arched window, illuminated the long expanse, partitioned by the dark shadows of the deteriorating metal window frames and the reflections from shattered glass. The light rays reached the other far end, just plentiful for the boy to realize that the door was left open.

    ¡®Sun¡¯s settin¡¯...How long have I been out for? I gotta go bac--Ackk!¡¯

    A sharp, stinging pain jolted up behind him along his vertebrae as soon as he tried to get up from bed. He scrunched his face tight in discomfort as he endured the agony, causing the boy to promptly lose strength in his back muscles and ended in him, quickly lying down upon the rough bed sheets to recover. Kicking his legs with frustration, the boy once again took several deep breaths as he gazed up slowly at the ceiling. All that he saw was black, layered with shadows and swarmed with many scattered clumps of bright small dust and shiny, interweaving cobble webs, both being reflected off from the natural lighting of this room.

    He grabbed the blanket that he pushed aside earlier and used it as additional cushioning for his backside.

    ¡®Well, at least this is better than the ones at home--¡¯

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake already?¡±

    The boy skipped a beat in shock and jerked his head around to the direction of the voice, which originated from across the room, over at the door. It came from a young boy, covered in numerous bandages like himself and was around his age, while holding a small tray consisting of a cup of medicinal broth and a bowl of rice and meat. And behind him, was a middle-aged man wearing a pair of spectacles. The two of them looked exhausted but determined nonetheless. The boy strided towards him, carefully trying not to spill the broth. The middle-aged man followed steadily behind.

    ¡°Wait¡­who are y-¡± the boy muttered.

    That was when he made the connection.

    ¡°HOLD, hold on a minute! Are you the one who stopped ¡®Master¡¯ Tai-¡±

    Realizing what he was saying, the boy clapped his mouth shut in silence, feeling a wave of embarrassment; and this was not because he spoke out of hand nor due to how he addressed the assailants that bullied him relentlessly. It was another problem¡­and the other boy and the man took notice of that as well.

    ¡®Bollocks, I was careless¡­¡¯

    ¡°Whoa¡­Mr Xu, what is this language? I think I''ve heard of it before but I can¡¯t seem to pinpoint when,¡± the boy asked in curiosity and awe.

    ¡°It¡¯s as what I had expected but¡­how¡­how did a foreigner¡¯s kid like you get so far inland from ShanWei?¡±

    Sensing the hesitation in Mr Xu¡¯s voice, ReZhui questioned how this revelation could be such a huge deal for his mentor but by itself, he could guess why that is so. He thought back to those bastards'' answers. They all expressed that the boy in front of him right now is a strange one. And, even ReZhui cannot deny it, he is the odd one out. In all his life, ReZhui has never seen anyone with such colorful hair and eyes. Currently, after XinLi was instructed to scrub down the excess soot on the boy¡¯s hair since Mr Xu deemed it harmful to the hair; while most of the black sludge has been washed off, there are some gray areas throughout. Even so, the other blond areas shone brilliantly in the setting sunlight, bringing out some incredible beauty from within the boy. With that said, ReZhui¡¯s curiosity had grown much larger about the world beyond this city, especially that port city, ShanWei, who both Mr Sun and Mr Xu referred to, with such importance.

    ¡®I wonder if there will be more of his ¡®people¡¯ if I go to do business there someday.¡¯

    ¡°ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr Xu?¡±

    ¡°The medicine.¡±

    ReZhui looked down on the tray and realized his mistake.

    ¡°Oh, sorry for the delay.¡±

    Carefully placing the tray onto the lap of the boy, ReZhui handed out a spoon to him.

    ¡°Here.¡±

    The other kid slowly picked himself up from his pillow and reached out his hand for it.

    ¡°thank you,¡± the boy muttered as he excitedly dug the spoon into the bowl and started to gobble it up quickly, taking large gulps of the broth as he continued.

    ReZhui watched as he sat on a wooden chair which was pulled up in front of the bed with the backrest facing forwards. Placing his arms on the top rail, ReZhui slouched tiredly on it while he watched Mr Xu do some minor checkups on his condition. However, that did not stop the boy from eating since he switched to his left hand to hold the spoon, with the right being held within Mr Xu¡¯s hands to check the blood pressure.

    Dissatisfied with the silence of this room, besides the loud munching of food from the boy in the background, ReZhui decided to start a conversation with the boy but before he could utter a single word, he halted himself. A worried thought came into his mind that said he would be interrupting the boy¡¯s cherished meal, considering his malnourished body. Thus, ReZhui switched to Mr Xu instead.

    ¡°Mr Xu, what was the language he spoke to us just now?¡±

    Still doing his checkups, Mr Xu replied naturally with no pauses in the moving of his hands.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t answer you back then, didn¡¯t I? To put it simply, it¡¯s called English.¡±

    ¡°English¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is very different to our Mandarin in terms of writing and speaking, and it is spoken mainly by people who do services to the foreigners and the foreigners themselves. Famous merchants and travelers would even dare say English is the language for international business and trade.¡±

    ¡°I-International?¡±

    ¡°Everywhere, in every country that resides in this world. However, within the Middle Kingdom, the main communication we use is Mandarin. It¡¯s called the local language, belonging to only our country.¡±

    ¡°Whoa, in that case, does this mean foreigners are in DongBu village as well?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the problem, I am not sure about that and this is why I came here as well.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Knowing Mr Xu¡¯s intentions, ReZhui kept his silence and turned his attention to the boy with blonde hair, who just so happened to have finished his meal on time as well.

    ¡°Boy, do you understand me?¡± Mr Xu asked gently, meeting his eyes with the boy.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied hesitantly.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°...¡± the boy averted his gaze.

    ¡°Listen, I am the doctor who runs this place. My name is Xu YaoMing, one of the council members of the village. I hope that this assures you. We can help take you back to your family shortly after today¡¯s session is over. But to do so, I need to know your name.¡±

    With some contemplation on his end, the boy finally gave in.

    ¡°Eddison¡­Eddison He is my name.¡±

    ReZhui remained flabbergasted at the oddity of his name.

    ¡®Ei, de, shun¡¯

    He tried reciting the name by himself but was left bewildered at its pronunciation. Moreover, ReZhui found his surname to certainly be Mandarin.

    ¡®What¡¯s the deal with having your first name in English when your surname is not? Ah! This is confusing as well!¡¯ he thought to himself.

    On the other hand, Mr Xu was left unfazed by this. He, however, had several doubts regarding Eddison¡¯s background.

    ¡°Well, Eddison, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°...Good¡­night¡­¡± Eddison replied shyly.

    A sudden pause.

    ReZhui watched as Mr Xu didn¡¯t respond back and kept silent for several moments.

    After a deep sigh, he continued the conversation, but this time, there was observable dread within his eyes.

    ¡°Eddison, are you lost here?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    ¡°Eddison, were you kidnapped for ransom?¡±

    ¡°...No.¡±

    ¡°Are you still hungry?¡±

    ¡°...Yes¡­small, correct.¡±

    Another pause for Mr Xu before he resumed.

    ¡°Tell me then, why is your surname very different?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Mr Xu pushed onward, ¡°I myself am pretty well-informed with the official names of the foreign merchant families and none of them were the ¡®He¡¯ surname. Moreover, I know that the workers and sailors these families employ from those lands do not have surnames as well. So that means, you might be biracial since ¡®He¡¯ is a Mandarin surname. No, you must be if you are telling the truth that that¡¯s your true name. No lies between us, correct?¡±

    ¡°I¡­I, Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then, what are you doing out here living in the slums?¡±

    ¡°I¡­I, Mom. Dad, no¡­sniff¡­go¡­sniff¡­¡±

    Eddison¡¯s voice began to soften as he quietly sobbed at the recollection. He tried to run away from it but this situation forced his thoughts towards the unfortunate past. In the end, Eddison remained unresponsive.

    ¡°...¡±

    Mr Xu realized that this was the boy¡¯s limit and concluded his session right here. Getting up from the stool at the bedside, the doctor took a glance back at the boy, who was frantically wiping his tears away, before turning back to ReZhui¡¯s direction. ReZhui had already straightened his back and was seated firmly on the chair, showing no signs of getting up.

    ¡°Not coming with me, ReZhui? You still have your duty left unfinished and there are still a lot of unresolved patients.¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu, could you temporarily assign that job to someone else for now? I want to stay back and keep him company.¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, I think it¡¯s better if you le-¡±

    ¡°Please, Mr Xu. I want to help E-Eddi-sonn, Eddison.¡±

    Seeing the determination in the boy¡¯s eyes, Mr Xu gave in to his student¡¯s demands.

    ¡°Alright, ReZhui. Let me know immediately if anything wrong happens to him, understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr Xu.¡±

    ¡°Also remember this, ReZhui. Eddison is currently having receptive multilingualism.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°He can understand Mandarin which certainly includes listening. But, for his case, I am not sure if he can read or write. However, he can only speak very basic vocabulary as you had seen earlier with my questions. So, prepare yourself for the language barrier.¡±

    ¡°I will. But just to make sure, he will understand everything I will say right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Ok, that¡¯s good.¡±

    ¡°One more thing, ReZhui and this applies to you.¡±

    ¡°Is it regarding the bullies?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I had already healed their injuries and planned out the settlement with their guardians so there are no problems regarding that. However, I am more curious with what you did to them, especially the eldest kid.¡±

    ¡®Oh no,¡¯ ReZhui panicked internally.

    ¡°That attack to the liver. It is a fatal attack since it is a vital organ in the body. How did you come to know of that? I reckon you wouldn¡¯t even be able to pinpoint that exact spot unless you attended a martial arts school.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I read it in one of your books on anatomy at your study. I just happened to get a lucky shot, hahah¡­¡± ReZhui childishly excused.

    ¡°...Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, it is.¡±

    ¡°Well, at least you didn¡¯t get seriously injured. Don¡¯t get into fights like that ever again, especially under my watch. I am still a doctor after all, so naturally, I disapprove the use of violence.¡±

    ¡°I got it, Mr Xu.¡±

    ¡°Good, I will be leaving now.¡±

    ReZhui watched as Mr Xu exited the room, carrying the empty tray along. His walking steps echoed throughout with slight reverb when he made his way out through the door, leaving out a small opening.

    ---

    Again another silence.

    Eddison was tucked between his legs, sulking about as his eyes wandered aimlessly.

    Facing back towards the sobbing boy, ReZhui put up a bright smile and waved his hand up in polite gesture.

    ¡°I guess I haven¡¯t introduced myself, have I? The name¡¯s Zhang ReZhui. But, you could just call me ReZhui. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    No response but Eddison did make a short glance at him.

    ¡®I¡­I can do this.¡¯

    ReZhui cheered himself on as he tried to open up to Eddison.

    ¡°H-how was that meal you just had? It was Assistant''s XinLi who cooked that dish. If you are not familiar with her, she¡¯s the lady who treated you back then before you passed out. But personally, I think her-¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Eddison interrupted.

    ¡®Did¡­did I upset him?¡¯

    Feeling mixed thoughts about that, ReZhui tried to inquire more.

    ¡°Wait¡­could you try detailing more on what you-¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Eddison was insistent and ReZhui¡¯s first attempt failed.

    ¡®NO! I got to think this through.¡¯

    However, ReZhui persisted.

    ---

    For a short while, ReZhui kept his quietude while Eddison remained in his slump against his legs.

    He sighed, thin vapor could be seen exiting his mouth.

    Eddison slowly drifted his dilated pupils towards the window with melancholy.

    ¡®In the end, I failed to get the aid Mom needs. I got distracted from those memories that doctor brought up. No¡­it¡¯s better to say I was traumatized by it. And as a result, I didn¡¯t get the chance to tell that gentleman that Mom is in serious danger. Actually, should I even care at this point? It¡¯s obvious she is hopeless already. And¡­what¡¯s the point?

    Argh¡­I am such a scrote. Maybe those boys were right after all. If only I¡­ ¡®

    A slight whimper before a hesitant confirmation.

    ¡®Yes, that may make everyone happy in the end.¡¯

    The boy continued to shift his body towards the edge of the window, looking out to the dark streets and forestry below. But as he did so¡­

    ¡°Be careful.¡±

    A sudden hand grabbed onto Eddison¡¯s shoulder, preventing any further advancement en route to the window edge. Eddison looked back to see ReZhui with one knee forward on the bed sheets. His eyes were dead serious unlike before and it scared Eddison at first sight.

    ¡®Is¡­is what the boy looked like within ¡®Master¡¯ Tai¡¯s eyes?¡¯

    Filling up a hint of frustration, Eddison tried to shrug it off but the resistance caused ReZhui¡¯s grip to tighten instead. The frustration started rising to the point where Eddison lashed out in anger, attempting to shove ReZhui aside.

    ¡°Hands off me, moron!¡±

    Unfortunately, his feeble figure made no budge in ReZhui¡¯s overwhelming strength and ReZhui moved him further away from the edge; pulling him over to the other side of the bed, closest to the wooden chair.

    Further resistance was futile as Eddison laid exhausted on the mattress, having exerted all his strength earlier.

    Moving the chair closer to the edge of the bedside, ReZhui sat down and extended his palm outward.

    ¡°...¡±

    Eddison looked back in confusion while he weakly got up.

    ¡°I want the both of us to fully understand what the other person is saying,¡± he explained, ¡°Therefore, if you wish to say anything, you can just write the Mandarin characters on my palm for myself to fully know what you¡¯re talking about. I hope that you can write other than just listening, can¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Eddison considered his proposal for quite some time; until finally, he reached out his frail, bony index finger and began to write out the strokes.

    ¡®It¡¯s cold to the touch. Very cold,¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself, ¡®But, seeing Eddison currently in the middle of writing, it looks so much better when he¡¯s concentrating.¡¯

    After Eddison completed what he wanted to say, ReZhui read it out to the best of his memory.

    ¡°Why are you doing so much just for someone like me?¡±

    ¡°...What do you mean by that, Eddison?¡± ReZhui asked curtly.

    In response, Eddison proceeded to write on his palm.

    ¡°From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for standing up for me against those bullies but I do not want to be in your debt any longer. It¡¯s better for you to spend your time and effort on something more productive elsewhere, compared to a worthless child like me.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui began to notice his slowly shaking fingers as Eddison continued to write on his palm.

    ¡°If you think that I could potentially be a useful tool to garner favor with the rich foreign merchant families, you are mistaken. I am just the bastard son of an unemployed former prostitute and a passing merchant who was disowned by his family outside the Middle Kingdom. There is no hope for me. Everyone that my mom and I encountered and knew rejected us and labeled us as outcasts, even in her hometown, we are still judged unforgivingly over here. You saw it firsthand, didn¡¯t you? I am of no value¡­¡±

    Eddison stopped.

    Flashes of his horrid experiences flooded his mind on repeat. His hand started to shake violently in fear and in between his deep pants, groans of pain and denial were heard as he held tight onto his severe and patched up bruises, digging into them until they bled again.

    ¡°no, no, no, NO! STOP IT-aurgh!!!¡±

    A hard punch landed squarely on the side of his cheek.

    ReZhui sent Eddison rolling off to the opposite side where Eddison hit the window frame hard on impact. The creaking of the metal structure croaked loudly as shattered glass bits fell near him, barely missing his unstable body.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Eddison. Snap out of this deprecating state! It¡¯s not healthy for you.¡±

    Having heard ReZhui¡¯s words, Eddison grunted back in annoyance.

    Digging his fingers deeper into the blood and skin, Eddison began to write out his words in red upon the roughed up bed covers. ReZhui could only watch in shock as he did so.

    It wrote:

    I deserve it.

    I am the cause of my parents'' tragedy.

    I am hated by Mother!

    I am hated by everyone!

    My father is nowhere to be found!

    My mother is near her end!

    I HAVE NOTHING!

    LET ME DIE HERE FOR THEIR SAKE AT LEAST!

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui was at a loss for words.

    ¡°Re-Zhui, I, monster¡­Go, Yes¡±

    Eddison pointed at himself as he said those words.

    ¡®No, this wasn¡¯t supposed to reach this end. I-I need to be more forefront!,¡¯

    ReZhui was not giving up yet.

    ¡°LISTEN UP, EDDISON! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!¡±

    And, Eddison stopped in his tracks at his outburst. He looked up at ReZhui, widened eyed and filled with an indescribable emotion.

    ¡°I once crossed paths with a mother and son. They were both so dearly in love as a family. But one day, someone decided to ruin their lives for fun¡¯s sake! In the end, the son didn¡¯t survive but the mother could have¡­

    However¡­Unfortunately, she rejected Mr Xu¡¯s treatment.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°The misery of living alone and poor was something she couldn¡¯t bear to hold and ultimately, she passed away along with her dead son.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Eddison muttered in condolences.

    ¡°Eddison, my point here is that I despise that kind of ending. I learnt that the hard way when I once went against her wishes for death but in reality, her case left no leeway for my naive ideals to make sense. But, I still am quite stubborn with rejecting that notion aside, in place for my mentor¡¯s, Mr Xu¡¯s, mentality. And that starts with you.¡±

    ReZhui gave out a hand to Eddison who was still partially laid on the bed, compared to ReZhui who leaned over him, sitting on his knees.

    ¡°I wish to save you from your past. I wish to change your outlook on life. And I wish, no¡­I want to be your friend.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I hope we can have a fruitful relationship.¡±

    Speechless as he was, Eddison felt a resonance within his heart.

    ¡°A¡­A longing for understanding¡­and acceptance, isn¡¯t it?¡± he questioned quietly to himself.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    A heavy tug was soon felt on ReZhui¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    Eddison held on and brought himself up to ReZhui¡¯s level.

    ¡°Yes, ReZhui, yes and thank you, very much,¡± Eddison smiled softly.

    ¡°Likewise¡­I¡¯m glad to hear that.¡±

    ReZhui continued to tighten his grasp with Eddison¡¯s bloodied hand, affirming their wholehearted handshake while he smiled radiantly back at his new companion.

    ---

    The setting sun was dyed a deep crimson red as it shone brightly upon the two young boys; their long dark silhouettes grandly emerged upon the dusty, tiled floor of the naturally-lit hall room.

 Chapter 14 : An Impromptu Homecoming

    Underneath the faint moonlight that shone far within the long columnar hall room, two boys laid down on their respective bed sheets as they dozed off quietly, unfocused eyes gazing up at the black darkness of the roof above.

    ReZhui¡¯s makeshift bed was positioned on the side of Eddison¡¯s; both were parallel to the cracked window frame. Further beyond their rested feet was the backwards-facing chair that ReZhui sat on earlier in the evening. A small vase filled with dirt and ash was placed upon it, stuck in deep with several incense sticks meant to ward off surrounding insects. Surprisingly, it was working relatively well as Mr Xu had described it to be.

    However, despite their severe exhaustion from their eventful day, both the boys¡¯ minds were busy and awake, deep in thought. ReZhui tossed and turned, restless in finding the right sleeping position. But that was to no avail. The heat of the night got to him and his mattress felt uncomfortable.

    Sweating profusely onto his white tunic, ReZhui sighed in defeat as he fling his limbs out along with his blanket. Opening his eyes, they made their way slowly to the left, facing towards Eddison.

    ¡®Unbelievable¡­Eddison, what were the chances of that happening?¡¯ ReZhui questioned himself.

    At first glance, Eddison could be seen sleeping soundly into the night, but upon closer inspection, he was fiddling anxiously with his fingers and his feet swayed hypnotically, from side to side under the covers.

    A moment later, Eddison felt ReZhui¡¯s steadily profound look upon him which Eddison would not want to ignore. Normally, in an opportunity such as this, where he had the chance to sleep over a soft and clean surface; Eddison would immediately fall into deep slumber but this was not that perfect time. Although he knew that he had to make use of the situation to be as beneficial as possible, the thoughts bugging his mind filled him with a sense of exciting hope and yet, foreboding hesitation. There was no way he could rest in this state of mind. Moreover, Eddison was confident that whatever ReZhui was contemplating right now, he had the same ideas too.

    ¡®It appears that Re-Zhui is feeling the same way. But, I can¡¯t allow that. It¡¯s my problem, not his anymore.¡¯

    Building up the courage, Eddison reached out his hand towards ReZhui, extending out his index. His bloodshot blue eyes met ReZhui¡¯s very own. A jet black color. They had come to the consensus that until the both of them were fluent in the other¡¯s respective mother tongue, Eddison had to perform this gesture to notify ReZhui that he wanted to convey something which was through writing across ReZhui¡¯s palm.

    Surprised at Eddison¡¯s actions, ReZhui returned the indication.

    Having washed their bodies lightly with well water before bedtime, traces of the smell of dried blood remained on their hands, but it did not matter to them as the situation at hand was way more dire.

    ¡°ReZhui, tomorrow, you do not have to go. It¡¯s my family¡¯s problem and I will resolve it myself. Additionally, it¡¯s dangerous near the outskirts. I don¡¯t want you to get hurt any longer,¡± Eddison wrote, glancing at the wrappings and bandages all over ReZhui¡¯s body.

    Realizing this, ReZhui reassured him.

    ¡°That¡¯s not the point, Eddison. This is your mother we¡¯re dealing with. The more manpower, the better. I proved that I am quite the capable fighter already, aren¡¯t I? And Mr Xu didn¡¯t object to my request so I am still going, no matter how much you plead.¡±

    Whimpering in fear, Eddison wrote back.

    ¡°Ok.¡±

    ¡°Besides, I want to know what¡¯s going on between your mother and Mr Xu. He looked very startled when you mentioned her name.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡®Everything will go as planned as what you strive towards, isn¡¯t that right, Re-Zhui? Well, I¡­No, I do not regret coming this far. I will certainly see to the end of it.¡¯

    Eddison did not add on anything from that statement and shifted his body back; he quietly returned to bed, turning over to face the opposite end as he tried to sleep his fears away.

    Left hanging, ReZhui did the same.

    ---

    It was shortly after ReZhui¡¯s declaration of friendship that the both of them went out to the operating hall to meet up with Mr Xu, who was finished for the day. The remaining crowd was escorted in order out of the wide double doors that led out into the main alleyway.

    Making their way past the cloth paper draped over a structural pole, they entered Mr Xu¡¯s main operating section which was efficiently converted into a small bedroom for the middle-aged practitioner.

    Seeing as he was still busy with some filing of records, ReZhui called out for him.

    ¡°Mr Xu, Eddison wanted to meet with you for something!¡±

    Unfazed with ReZhui¡¯s shining delight, the doctor placed his brush down onto the stand and approached the two young boys.

    Glazing past at ReZhui, Mr Xu made direct contact with Eddison. And immediately after, he furrowed his brows in frustration.

    Pierced skin.

    Bloodied fingers.

    Peeling of bandages from wounds.

    The doctor scanned Eddison¡¯s body from top to bottom with such an expression.

    ¡°On the table, now,¡± Mr Xu demanded curtly.

    Shuddering in sudden fear, Eddison quickly proceeded with his instructions.

    On the other hand¡­

    ¡°ReZhui, water from the well.¡±

    Knowing that Mr Xu would be furious at the worsened condition of Eddison, he tried his best to lighten the mood but it was all for nought under the stern him. Although it was already night, ReZhui regrettably headed out into the cold for a bucket of water.

    Returning from that uncomfortable task, Mr Xu continued with cleaning the injuries and sewing the cuts, alongside tightening the individual bandages. In the end, an hour had passed since the boy duo entered the scene.

    ¡°So, what could I help you with, Eddison? I see to it that you are revitalized and mentally stable. Truly a commendable effort on ReZhui¡¯s part. You did well,¡± the doctor acknowledged as he took a sip on a newly brewed cup of black honey tea.

    The two boys, who sat on the other side of the coffee table, looked onwards with a freshly found sensation of warmth. A slight blush of red emerged on ReZhui¡¯s cheek while Eddison clenched his fist in determination. He puffed his cheeks wide and gestured his hand forward.

    Taking a moment to make sense of Eddison¡¯s actions, Mr Xu immediately stuck his palm forward soon after.

    ¡®Wow, he caught that message so quickly,¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself.

    ¡°So you can read as well. That¡¯s quite the effort on your parents¡¯ part, Eddison. Normally, the heirs I met can barely talk the language, moreso write the characters. You, on the other hand, can write like it¡¯s your mother tongue¡­¡±

    He paused as Eddison just finished writing out what he wanted to say.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr Xu?¡± ReZhui asked as he moved closer to the two of them.

    ¡°Is¡­Is that so? Is this the reason you came here in the first place?¡±

    Eddison softly nodded.

    ¡°So you wanted to gather medicine for your sick mother who, in your opinion, is severely ill? How worse are we talking about?¡±

    A sharp shiver ran down his spine as Eddison vividly recalled his mother¡¯s horrid appearance. His finger shook rapidly across Mr Xu¡¯s palm, making his writing barely understandable.

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui watched with a troubled look.

    ¡®DAMN! Damn it, I was prepared for this but¡­It¡¯s so nightmarish! Shit!¡¯

    Suddenly, a rough hand grabbed him on the shoulder.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Eddison turned his head to see ReZhui with a light smile on his face.

    ¡°I hate those distressed eyes, Eddison. Mr Xu and I are here so don¡¯t worry about it. Understand me?¡±

    Widening his eyes wide, Eddison blinked several times before he slowly raised his other hand onto ReZhui¡¯s, affirming their grip.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Eddison whispered.

    Steadying his writing hand, his right index finger started to write out his reply.

    ¡°My mother is bedridden and extremely malnourished, one could even mistaken her for a skeleton. Open blood wounds were riddled throughout her entire body, accompanied by bubbly, crimson rashes. Some were as large as a dung beetle¡¯s poop ball and others were spitting out slimy, yellow pus. I have no idea what is going on with her but she can hardly utter a single word since we arrived here in the slums so please, treat her as soon as possible. Even tonight is the best I would hope for.¡±

    ¡°How¡­how terrible,¡± ReZhui softly muttered, even with what he saw with the dead boy, imagining what Eddison described was very sickening as well.

    ¡®But,¡¯ ReZhui turned to look at Mr Xu, ¡®What would you do, Mr Xu?¡¯

    The doctor kept his silence for a short while before drinking a mouthful of the now lukewarm tea. As he confirmed his thoughts, Mr Xu continued with the conversation, giving his educated guess.

    ¡°Eddison¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°What you are describing may come under the symptoms of a large variety of illnesses, so the only way I could give you the proper answer is by examining her up close.¡±

    Gritting his teeth, Eddison frantically wrote back.

    ¡°So Sir, when could we depart? If it¡¯s possible, right now would be greatly appreciated!¡±

    ¡°I heard you the first time, Eddison.¡±

    In response, Eddison stopped himself and slowly retracted his hands back.

    ¡°Sorry¡­¡± He muttered.

    ¡°...Anyhow, the answer to that¡¯s a no. I¡¯m sure you know your fair share of the potential dangers of wandering out at night in the slums.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Thus, the next best solution would be tomorrow, unfortunately.¡±

    ¡°Oh..Yes, tha-¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu?¡± ReZhui intertwined, interrupting Eddison¡¯s formal gratitude; somehow, after getting to fully understand the doctor for quite some time now, ReZhui felt as if there was something off with his answer, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®unfortunately¡¯ ?¡±

    Finishing the cold cup of black tea, Mr Xu let out a slight chuckle.

    ¡°I¡¯m amazed that you can piece together my full message, ReZhui. And yes, that would mean I could not visit your mother tomorrow either.¡±

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡®what¡­¡¯

    Feeling as though a heavy slab of iron was placed over him, Eddison was pressured with a sudden spike in bewilderment, followed by a raging fire of anger inside his chest.

    ¡®Why is it always like this?

    Why is it only on us that we were left out?

    Can¡¯t you tell Mom¡¯s in critical condition?

    Are you just making up excuses, old bastard!?¡¯

    The voices of ReZhui and Mr Xu started to muffle as Eddison¡¯s mind was left clouded with such questions. However¡­

    ¡°Why¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu¡±

    ¡°other patients¡±

    ¡°time¡±

    Those keywords easily passed through Eddison¡¯s accumulated rage and suddenly fueled his fury even further; till the point where he could not seal it any longer.

    ¡°FUCK OFF, ASSHOLE! I DON¡±T CARE ABOUT YOUR OTHER ¡®BELOVED¡¯ PATIENTS! WHY WOULD I WHEN THOSE CROOKS OSTRACIZED ME?! ARE YOU DOING THE SAME AS THEM TO ME, DOC? THIS IS FUCKIN¡¯ UNFAIR!¡±

    ¡°Eddison! Calm down this very instant!¡± Mr Xu demanded, slamming the table hard.

    Retaliating back at the doctor, Eddison rudely pointed back at him with his index.

    ¡°YOU FOOL-URGH!¡±

    A hard punch landed straight onto his cheek, knocking him down towards the armrest of the sofa Eddison sat on.

    As he grunted in pain, Eddison stared upwards back at ReZhui, whom the fist belonged to.

    ¡°Listen Eddison! I have no clue what you were saying just now but what I do know is that your mother really matters to you the most and I am glad that your desire is back. However, even with your burst of emotions, we got to hear Mr Xu out here! Even if what you said may be right, in the end, the only one who could rescue your mother is Mr Xu. You are dependent on him so don¡¯t argue with your savior.¡±

    With a bloodied lip, Eddison groaned back in frustration at ReZhui¡¯s advice.

    He knew ReZhui was correct and sensible. But¡­

    ¡®It¡¯s unfair. It¡¯s unfair. Very¡­not¡­fair¡­¡¯

    Tears fell at the misery of the situation.

    His helplessness.

    His urgentness.

    His sadness.

    Eddison sobbed heavily in between barely put together words.

    ¡°Sorry¡­sorry¡­mom¡­she needs help!¡±

    Although Eddison had been neglected by her for years on end, he could see the reason behind it. Her illness got the better of her with her once cheerful personality turning for a drastic change for the worse.

    ¡®I came here wanting to seek aid for Mom. I want to change her back. I want to go back to the old times. I once was nearly robbed of that goal and decided otherwise. Thus, I forcibly convinced myself that Mom¡¯s change was perhaps permanent and began to resent her for it whilst blaming the rest all upon me. In the end, it was just an excuse to end it all. All my struggles. All my attachments. All will be gotten rid of if I end myself back then. But¡­ReZhui saved me. He was the first to open up. He roughly tugged me away from my breaking point. He wanted me to love myself. To let my desires run wild¡­

    And, what is my wish now?

    Yes, it¡¯s to save Mom. Even with the odds stacked against me, I will strive onwards. Anger was not the way to go, considering that my mind¡¯s cleared up. I am the son of a merchant and the best Go player in the province. I know better than this. I AM better than this!¡¯

    Getting up from his position, Eddison strided over to Mr Xu¡¯s desk and grabbed the laid down brush and a torn piece of paper; he started to write soon after.

    ¡°Sir Xu, I sincerely apologize for my rude conduct earlier and I will improve to ensure this would never happen again. In regards to the case involving my mother, what are the conditions that would satisfy you to spend some time tomorrow doing her personal examination?¡±

    Handing it over to Mr Xu, ReZhui looked over the doctor¡¯s shoulder with interest while Eddison immediately went into a kowtow position.

    ¡°Mr Xu, I think we should hear him out. His mother already seems to be in a pretty dire condition. Please give him a chance,¡± ReZhui considered, trying his best to convince Mr Xu onto Eddison¡¯s side.

    A short moment passed as Mr Xu pondered on in silence but in Eddison¡¯s mind, it felt like an eternity. His heart kept beating at an increasing rate, further raising his anxiety.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    A deep breath.

    Eddison jerked his head upwards in anticipation, maintaining eye contact with Mr Xu whose eyes were covered by the torn parchment of paper from his downward position.

    Finally, the verdict was made.

    ¡°Alright, Eddison. I will see to your mother tomorrow morning. We will set out at dawn.¡±

    With that, Eddison felt as if his worries were washed away like a rapid flash flood. He was filled with stellar delight and gratitude towards the both of them.

    Lowering his head down deep again onto the floor, he gave his dearest thanks, ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you very, very much.¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu, could I come along as well?¡± ReZhui interjected.

    ¡°...I see no issue with that. Do as you please, that applies to you as well, Eddison. Get up from that shameful position. I accept your apology.¡±

    ¡°...Yes, very, very, thank you.¡±

    ¡°One more thing, Eddison,¡± Mr Xu interrupted as Eddison continually repeated his sayings of appreciation.

    ¡°What¡¯s the name of your mother? I want to check for a possible record in the files.¡± Mr Xu chipped in; a slight fume could be seen over his head at Eddison¡¯s repeated speech.

    ¡°Oh¡­yes, her name, TianXing He.¡±

    Bang!

    The table suddenly jerked forward, spilling the remaining cups of tea all over the table and the floor beneath.

    ReZhui immediately stepped out of the way, only to slowly realize that it was Mr Xu who kicked it further out.

    ¡®What¡¯s¡­going with Mr¡­¡¯ ReZhui questioned in bewilderment. This was a demeanor that was very jarring to the calm and collected individual that Mr Xu was.

    That was when ReZhui saw the overwhelming shock that spreaded across the doctor¡¯s entire being. Mr Xu¡¯s eyes and mouth were wide open, and his body was frozen in place; it was the first ReZhui had ever seen him this flustered and Eddison witnessed it in denial as well. He wondered how his mother¡¯s name brought out such a reaction from the professional, that Eddison knew he had to ask. However, that chance was not gonna be tonight.

    ¡°Go,¡± Mr Xu abruptly demanded the both of them.

    ¡°But¡­Mr Xu, what¡¯s going o-¡± ReZhui tried to pursue onwards.

    ¡°GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM NOW!¡± he screamed back in vexation.

    Hurriedly, ReZhui grabbed Eddison, who was left lifeless with this unexpected turn of events, on the shoulder and they headed out back to their room, leaving a distressed Mr Xu kneeling down on the cold floor.

    ¡®What the hell is going on?¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself. Eddison was the same.

    ---

    After quite the restless night had passed, the two boys hastily got dressed in their work tunics and had a quick breakfast of several meat buns, handed to them by XinLi.

    ¡°Meet us at the double doors when you¡¯re done. Remember, Mr Xu is in quite the foul mood currently so try and make it on time,¡± XinLi warned. She herself was all set in her servant dress and an outer coat to handle the morning cold.

    Munching away aggressively on their food, ReZhui asked her back with curiosity, ¡°Besides you, who else is coming along?¡±

    ¡°Seven out of the ten hired guards, 2 other assistants and myself,¡± she replied simply, ¡°But why are you asking this now? Eat first and see for yourself later on.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± ReZhui meekly answered.

    Shortly after, XinLi diligently left the room to continue her duties. Without her continuous banter, the sounds of Eddison¡¯s chewing became much louder and it had a surprisingly relaxing feel to the pattern. As ReZhui slowly turned his eyes to closely observe him, ReZhui felt like Eddison had a paler complexion than the night before and his dark eyebags were more defined across his doll-like face.

    ¡®How pitiful¡­¡¯ ReZhui silently remarked as he angrily tore out another bite of the meat bun.

    ---

    Outside the temple, ReZhui and Eddison saw a single carriage, escorted by several guards on horseback. They were armed with spears and swords, donned thick cloth armor and draped long green cloaks over their shoulders.

    As instructed, the duo made their way into the carriage compartment where they found Mr Xu resting lethargically near the windowpane. It appeared as though he hadn''t slept the entire night, which ReZhui suspected was the case.

    Shuffling over to the seats across the doctor¡¯s, the two boys quietly greeted the gloomy man before minding their own business; even ReZhui did not feel the guts to lighten up the mood nor question Mr Xu¡¯s abnormal behavior. The two of them obviously had such a rough time last night and he was, essentially, an outsider to all of this.

    ¡®There¡¯s a limit to what I can do before it blatantly comes across as nosy. I got to hold myself in.¡¯

    And, this uneasy and gloomy atmosphere remained for the entire length of the journey. However on several occasions, Eddison would be called out front by the driver to help with navigating the street and alley routes to the outskirts where his mother resided. But as soon as he got back, Eddison tucked back into the corner of the seat without saying a single word.

    Bored at the tranquility of the scene, ReZhui shifted his gaze out of the window. This was the second time he had ridden this carriage around the slum district and compared to the plight of the poor back then, today¡¯s observations were the same, if not worse. Nothing changed except for himself.

    Within his heart, ReZhui did not feel the rage nor the passion he had back when he first entered this place.

    Seeing the cramped gatherings of the homelessness who were mostly still in deep slumber, they shoved and begged. All for the space near the cracking bonfires like moths to a flame, where the heat of its uncontrollable flames scorched those that came too near. And the weak remained stranded, out in the open cold mist of dawn and were left to freeze in suffering. Both orphans and children with unclothed mothers. The elderly paupers gave up on any form of comfort and laid down lifelessly by the corners between poorly made abandoned dwellings where the gangsters and beggar cliques stayed in to do their shady practices out in the open with no one to stop them or object.

    As they reached farther and further away from the center of the slum district, the presence of these gangs and dangerous men with a variety of weapons were more and more frequent with every turn of the road. Wild animals roamed without any restriction in the world and some fed upon the dead corpses of killed armed men or skeletal remains of the helpless poor. Moreover, the road smelled of piles of dried up feces and deep potholes could be seen all over the place. Inevitably, the carriage shocked roughly as they rode past a few of them, accompanied by cautious glares of the gangmen who never expected a convoy this far away deep into the outskirts.

    ¡®I hate this place.¡¯ ReZhui remarked.

    Looking back at Eddison, ReZhui sighed deeply as he later laid his head up, facing the ceiling.

    ¡®There are some like Eddison who were the reason I want to do something about this. I want to change this place like what Mr Xu did. I can strive for their happiness. But, there were bastards that deserve their place here. No¡­that¡¯s not true. The city center does not have all the good at all. Hell, the mayor of the largest city in the province is the lowest of the low.¡¯

    Grimacing at that fact, ReZhui felt the frustration getting to him, ¡®What the hell am I supposed to do? It¡¯s extremely draining¡­¡¯

    Unfortunately, that thought was going to come short to an end, as suddenly, a sharp halt to the carriage was made, sending the three of them off balance for a moment.

    ¡°WE HAVE ARRIVED!¡± the driver screamed.

    Getting out of the compartment, Mr Xu ordered the guards into a tight formation with the 3 assistants, the two boys and himself at the center of it.

    What they arrived at was a large and empty clearing near the end of the thick forests which led deep into the steep mountains where Bai village is located. Within this plot of barren land, in deep contrast to the lushful green of the forests it neighboured, there sat a packed settlement of low shacks and mud huts with roofs made of dried leaves. Others made camp in makeshift tents from torn cloth, riddled with holes. Any strong gale would certainly blow away all of these fragile infrastructure in a matter of seconds.

    Under the dull gray blue sky before sunrise, the mist laid low on the ground and the grumbling of people could easily be heard beyond their weak walls of mud or cloth as they walked the dim streets of this place.

    Uneasiness set into the hearts of the group, moreso, ReZhui. On the other hand, Eddison kept a steady pace as this was his usual routine back home.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your house?¡± Mr Xu asked curtly.

    ¡°...¡±

    Without saying a word, Eddison strided onwards to a small wooden hut that was placed a distance away from the rest of the homes, making it the only one in that lone area.

    Like the rest of them, it was super small relative to ReZhui¡¯s common room back at Bai village, approximately half the height and third the width and length.

    Stopping a foot away from the cloth that makes up the door, Mr Xu proceeded to exit the street they were on and walked over to where Eddison was standing. That was when he heard a coarse and raspy voice from behind him. It came from a man in his late 50s, who wore a ragged brown robe and red scarf. Both were grimy and damp. His long beard was unkempt and had visible flies surrounding the edges of it. Holding onto a tree branch as a cane, the old man started to scream out loud.

    ¡°Hey, rich guy! If you¡¯re thin¡¯ing of getting that rumored ¡®flower prostitute¡¯ as they said she wa¡¯, your luck¡¯s out. That whore¡¯s a dick¡¯s letdown, you get me! Her pussy¡¯s super loose and that ass¡¯s deflated. Go and get someone else better, Sir. Jin¡¯s daughter here is a good-¡±

    ¡°Not interested,¡± Mr Xu bluntly rejected.

    ¡°...Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu, what¡¯s a¡­¡®pussy¡¯?¡± ReZhui interrupted curiously.

    Silence.

    Looking back at ReZhui with such disdain in his eyes, Mr Xu turned to face the old man with even more disgust.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing for you to worry about ReZhui. Old man, I do not want anything from you so please leave us now!¡±

    Furious at this response, the old man sneered back, ¡°Oh, going against us in our own habitat? Aren¡¯t you a cocky one, rich fellow?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    With a whack of cane, a group of twenty burly men, all armed with wooden bats and metal daggers, started to surround Mr Xu and the group.

    ¡®Gangsters! What the hell? They came out of the tents and huts,¡¯ ReZhui thought in precaution.

    As the guards readied their positions for the overwhelming force of the approaching gangsters, Mr Xu unexpectedly walked out into the open. ReZhui tried to step out to stop him but was immediately grabbed hard on the shoulder by XinLi.

    ¡°My lord knows what he is doing,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°Assistant XinLi¡­¡±

    Sensing how serious she was, ReZhui decided to trust her and Mr Xu on this as he watched on.

    Still keeping eye contact with the old man, Mr Xu raised his money pouch high into the air for all to see. Surprised at this reveal, all of the gangsters continually stared at the red bag of money. Their eyes followed the movement of the pouch as it slowly swayed in the air before Mr Xu threw it far across to the other side of the street. Like a dog to a thrown stick, the twenty men dashed straight after it, abandoning their instructions. However, it was not only them that fell for this as the old man started to chase after the men, trying his best to issue out instructions on retrieving the pouch for himself.

    The red pouch was left hidden under a large pile of fighting bodies as the coins were slowly scattered all over the damp ground.

    ¡®Whoa¡­It¡¯s like what Mr Xu said. They¡­truly are pathetic.¡¯

    ReZhui awed in amazement.

    But returning to the task at hand, ReZhui followed behind as Mr Xu and Eddison made their way under the cloth door. XinLi and the others remained outside to keep watch and be prepared if Mr Xu needed any immediate help.

    Taking a deep breath, the boy finally managed to call for her.

    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m home!¡±

    It was the first time he had ever done so in a while.

 Chapter 15 : A Young Maidenéˆ¥æªš Gratitude

    Making his way into the small, cramped spaces of the wooden hut, ReZhui ducked his head as he entered under the leather cloth curtain which served as a substitute for a main door. And it stank, riddled with holes of various sizes and infested with larvae. However, that was the first of the many horrible living conditions this woman stayed in. With the ceiling being barely higher than Mr Xu¡¯s own height, ReZhui continued to lower his head down in precaution and steadily held a squatting position. The curtain led him into the main living space at the center of the hut and this was the only room within it. Looking to the sides, he saw that the walls were no better than that filthy rag curtain. The wood used, which was obtained from waste fills and thrown away by the local lumberjacks, were moist and unevenly chopped, leaving decaying holes and protruding splinters. Smeared with ground dirt clay, they feebly sheltered the ill mother from the elements albeit to little effect. Beneath ReZhui¡¯s feet, there was no floor and his cloth sandals easily sank deep into the soft mud below. Luckily, there was no low-lying mist within the dwelling. Tit would have otherwise been proven to be more uncomfortable for the current resident of this neglected place, who laid lifelessly at the far end on the opposite side of the poorly constructed, worn down hut upon her flattened, torn mattress. Other than that mattress, her filthy and crumpled blanket and several sets of terribly sewn clothes, ReZhui observed that this was all the He family owned.

    ¡®Were the rest stolen from them? Or was this all they had from the start? Either way, it¡¯s extremely hard to watch,¡¯ he scowled deeply. Shuffling closer towards them, ReZhui stopped behind Eddison.

    He sat close to her left hand and held it tight in both of his own while Mr Xu kneeled down at her side, still fallen in silence.

    ¡°...¡±

    Trying his best to put up a wide smile, Eddison began to speak to her.

    ¡°Mother, I brought help. Just hang in there and Mr Xu will be able to save you,¡± he informed her soft-spokenly.

    Tucked deep under her covers, not that it would help much to give her any warmth in this cold time of dawn, the pale and scrawny face of the mother slowly turned away from Eddison¡¯s gaze. Her dark eyes remained closed shut.

    ¡°brat, that¡¯s¡­enough¡­¡± she muttered exasperatedly.

    His expression suddenly sorrowed.

    ¡°leave me¡­be¡­please. at least¡­that¡¯s the best¡­cough!...you coul-¡±

    ¡°But Mom, this is no fake this time. Mr Xu¡¯s the real deal!¡± Eddison interrupted, desperate in fright.

    ¡°...boy¡­let me be¡­in¡­cough!...peace¡­¡±

    ¡°Xiao Tian.¡±

    A sudden shudder.

    It was a name she was very familiar with.

    One that she has not heard in a very long time.

    That was when it clicked for her.

    ¡®NO!¡¯

    She panicked.

    ---

    In ReZhui¡¯s eyes, the weakly mother, who he figured held some degree of importance for his mentor, seemed to have reacted greatly to Mr Xu¡¯s calling which shocked himself as well as Eddison. Moreover, based on what Mr Xu called her, ReZhui could tell that this was a nickname of sorts for those close to him. The ¡®Xiao¡¯ was the key hint.

    Ultimately, the woman began to shiver and pant heavily under the thin blanket which was starting to gain speed as she tried to hide her entire body within the covers.

    ¡°Mom, wait!-¡±

    But before Eddison could stop her, Mr Xu quickly acted first. He grabbed hold onto the roughed up cloth that was her blanket and tugged it off the anxious woman, away onto the muddy ground beneath, which did not matter anyways since the blanket was already dyed dirt brown to begin with.

    Following the flow of the unwrapping blanket, the mother unwillingly rolled closer towards Mr Xu, stopping several spaces away from him.

    ¡®Damn it!¡¯ the mother cursed internally.

    Struggling to bring herself up to escape Mr Xu¡¯s gaze and out of this hut, the mother¡¯s emaciated feet quickly gave out on her already unhealthily light and famished body. She slumped lethargically on the edge of her flattened mattress. All her limbs spread out in excruciating cramps and numbness after being bedridden for who knows how long. That was rightfully given so since she has not kept track of the days ever since she came here to her hometown which was the DongBu village. Not that she didn¡¯t want to, she simply thought it was not worth the effort with this body of hers and the complications that got her in this den of crime and poverty. And now, this worry at the back of her mind was appearing right in front of her at this stage of her life. It was sickening. So much so that she wanted to run away. But she cannot do so. And it is all because of¡­

    ¡°eddison¡­why¡­are you¡­cough!¡­always¡­cough!...¡±

    She regretted having him¡­

    ¡°Xiao Tian, do you recognise me?¡± Mr Xu asked curtly.

    Wheezing painfully as she struggled to make another response, Mr Xu placed down his cloth bag and handed her a water gourd.

    ¡°Drink,¡± he demanded sternly.

    It was a dark-yellowish color.

    Hesitating at first, the woman slowly grabbed the gourd from him, and once she was in full control of the water, the mother immediately began chugging the entire vessel full. Her pale-red, dried lips grew a darker shade of red after every mouthful as overflowing drips of water went down her chin and onto her tattered white-turned gray loose robe. ReZhui could easily see her satisfying expression of relief at this quench of her thirst.

    Once she was finished, the mother embarrassedly gave back the gourd to Mr Xu and she cleared her airway to properly give her answer, remaining seated on the mattress.

    ¡°Elder Brother? It¡¯s truly you..isn¡¯t it? Cough!¡±

    It was a weak and mellow voice. A drastic change to the brutish manner she spoke towards Eddison. Even so, Mr Xu kept his tone.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you reply to my letters? It¡¯s been 6 years since you last wrote back to me, Xiao Tian. Do you know how worried I was?¡± Mr Xu sternly scolded her.

    ¡°I¡­I apologize¡­¡±

    The mother averted her gaze.

    ¡°This is the reason why I never wanted to contact you when I returned. We are, Cough!, playing out what I had imagined it, Cough!, to, Cough! Cough!, be¡­¡± she continued.

    ¡°Nonetheless, this doesn¡¯t concern me when your life¡¯s in danger. Do you know what you have contracted here?¡±

    His face was a disappointed mess, looking at the sight of her.

    When referred with Eddison¡¯s description, it was exactly the same as what Mr Xu was seeing up close. And way worse, the descriptions were much more tolerable compared with the actual symptoms. The rashes were a hot sun red and it encompassed her entire body. With the intense malnutrition and starvation, she was simply a living skeleton. Fortunately, all that remained from Mr Xu¡¯s past image of her was her grimy and messy but lustrous long black hair. But, that was nothing that he should be proud of. For now, he needs to carry out his duty as a medical practitioner and any family drama will be postponed until things are stable.

    ¡°It''s HIV, isn''t it? Cough! At least¡­that¡¯s what the foreigners call it.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no doubt about that, Xiao Tian. Therefore, we must better get you treated as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Listen, Brother¡­I think it¡¯s, Cough!, to late for me-¡±

    ¡°NO IT¡¯S NOT. IT¡¯S NOT HAPPENING, IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!¡±

    ¡°B-brother¡­¡±

    ¡®Mr Xu snapped¡­This was the fastest he has ever done so.¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself in shock. That was when Mr Xu ordered him to do something as he readily put on his gloves.

    ¡°ReZhui, Eddison, go inform XinLi and the rest that we are heading back to the Xu residence so ready the carriage. Instruct two of the guards to separately send a message to the Temple organizers that I will be unavailable until further notice. They will manage the rest accordingly.¡±

    Nodding their heads in unison, the two boys carefully made their way out of the small hut. ReZhui, giving a worried quick glance back before exiting behind Eddison. XinLi¡¯s excited high pitched cheers could be easily heard through the thin walls of wood as soon as they got out, and the vigor of the guards sounded in the air, leaving the two adults alone within the dwelling,

    Reattaching the cloth bag firmly onto his waist, Mr Xu gently swiped his hands under the mother, bringing about his strength as he precautiously lifted her up into his arms.

    ¡°Brother, brother! Why are you doing this? I-I do not have the money to repay yo-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±

    Silence.

    Moments later, Mr Xu proceeded to slowly make his way out of the hut at a steady pace.

    ¡®So you still retain that tough persona of yours, don¡¯t you, Xiao Tian? Even if you were to end up crawling on mud, you would never seek aid from someone else. And, even if you did so, you would do your best to pay them back in equal amounts.¡¯

    He sighed.

    ¡°Listen, Xiao Tian.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°For you, this may be shamefully stepping on your pride, considering what we had been through together. But¡­for myself currently, I am just happy that you¡¯re back.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    As they exited the curtain, never to see that site of living ever again, Mr Xu continued his way through the streets before arriving back at the carriage they arrived with. In the background, the morning sun is starting to rise, partially blocked by the mountains beyond. But before Mr Xu could take another step, the mother questioned him about something.

    ¡°Elder Brother, do you mind, Cough!, do you mind listening to a request of mine?¡±

    He stopped in his tracks, feeling hesitation in his breathing.

    ¡°Yes, speak up.¡±

    ¡°If I die now, could I trust that you will take Eddison under your care? It¡¯s a selfish request, I know but¡­Cough! I got no other choice left. So please, Cough!, will you-¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get going. We don¡¯t want to delay your treatment.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Staring deeply into his sorrowful eyes, the mother decided to hold herself back.

    ¡°Alright. This must be for the best. Thank you, Brother.¡±

    ¡°Got it-¡±

    ¡°One more thing.¡±

    ¡°...What?¡±

    ¡°When you said my pride¡¯s, Cough!, being trampled upon, while that¡¯s partially right, Cough! I also never wanted to burden you with my troubles for the longest time possible. So¡­¡±

    Silence.

    She did not know how to finish her words given this situation.

    As for Mr Xu¡­

    ¡°Anyhow, let¡¯s get going.¡±

    ¡°...Yeah.¡±

    He shoved the problem under the rug for the time being.

    As they made their way towards the carriage, a final thought came into her mind. A nostalgic one.

    ¡®This is so much like you, Brother. You really haven''t changed since I last left this place twenty years ago.¡¯

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ---

    In the end, after the departure of the two messengers, the carriage finally set off towards the Xu residence. Mr Xu decided to take another alternate route which led the convoy onto a unpaved road that borders the edge of the central portion of DongBu village, sandwiched between the outskirts of the slums and the fresh greenery beyond.

    The dimly lit, overshadowing forests started to slowly scatter out of view the more they went forward, growing lesser in number and more sporadically throughout. In place of that were fields of meadow and wet paddy. With the harvest season marking its end in a few short days, the morning light of the sun shone without obstruction, blanketing the empty, used soil in a yellowish brown hue.

    While more expansive than the fields grown in Bai village, they were also less compact with their housing as they were sprouted out in random locations with no worry for inconvenience. Unfortunately for ReZhui and mostly Eddison, there was a severe scarcity of any sights for herds of cattle, goats or pigs. With his experience in watching the harvesting process, ReZhui understandably made a suitable reasoning for this issue while Eddison was left to be disappointed at the mundane view.

    ¡®Farm animals could not roam out in the cold and there is no use for them either way since the grazing fields would be buried deep under thick snow. Keeping them locked up in large sheds while feeding them collected straw is the best solution.¡®

    But, that was the least of their problems currently. Ignoring the lackluster scenery of the farmlands, ReZhui turned his attention to Mr Xu, who he sat next to and ReZhui was effortlessly able to identify that his mentor felt very infuriated. With his poker face and glaring snake-like eyes, Mr Xu continually proceeded to look down upon the woman who called him a brother. Beside her was Eddison who held her close to him, ensuring that she remained sitting upright amidst the relentless rocking of the carriage across the wild pavement. The mother and son sat across from them on the opposite bench.

    With her lowered head, the mother¡¯s long bangs covered most of her frustrated face and her dark eyes looked away. She gripped both her hands tightly in fear, knowing where this conversation would be heading towards. Despite this, she has just decided to accept the doctor¡¯s offer. She made a weak defiance against getting on this carriage. No sudden attempts to fatally kill herself given her tight scenario. And no reclaims to prove her right in abandoning herself and her child. Amongst all of that, the mother still somehow felt a light warmth in her heart, even if this was not what she decided her fate was gonna be like. Maybe she forced herself to accept that end. Either way, she could not undo what she did. Eventually, she would have to¡­

    ¡°I didn¡¯t explain fully about my situation to you. Isn¡¯t that right, Elder Brother?¡±

    A hoarse, but mature voice sounded.

    ¡°Wha¡­¡±

    Filled with astonishment, her eyes widened. She was able to speak very similarly to her normal and healthy self again. This reaction didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Mr Xu, who picked up the conversation from there.

    ¡°Honey water with onion paste. It is one of my most effective concoctions that I made in the 30 years of being a medical practitioner, and is the first ever medicine that you gave me as a present upon my inheritance of the Xu pharmacy.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°You made this after finding wild bear honey when you got lost during our weekly trip to the medicinal garden up north. When you initially gave it to me, I criticized your ingredient makeup and their individual ratios.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And thus, you got mad. Childishly mad. Truthfully, I find it humorous but¡­I never once thought of your skills being mediocre. Furthermore, I thought your idea had potential.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The woman¡¯s eyes darted back and forth as Mr Xu began to open up the past. His eyes, while filled with the same seeping rage, held a sense of reminiscing. And as ReZhui would describe it, ¡®It is a long awaited reunion¡¯; one that was so sudden, so random, if they were all to retell this tale, many would say it was a ridiculous coincidence.

    Albeit, a cherished one.

    ¡°With this in mind, I secretly improved upon your formula and I was hoping that I would surprise you with this development when you reached your coming of age at 22 years old. But that was when you left for the big city of ShanWei¡­and till this day, I still remember the pain that I felt when you left several months earlier¡­after-¡±

    ¡°That breakup wasn¡¯t your fault, Elder Brother. It was just me being naive and hot-headed.¡±

    Silence.

    And another horrid pause enveloped the entire scene.

    Mr Xu apparently lost the pace of the conversation while the mother is still as reserved as before.

    ReZhui, as much as he would like to intertwine and help, was very well aware of his boundaries, and thus, forcibly kept his silence.

    Luckily, Eddison was finally the first to break the quiet.

    ¡°So Mother, was your relationship with Mr Xu one of siblings or teacher and pupil?¡±

    Although she still didn¡¯t raise her head, Eddison¡¯s mother replied regardless.

    ¡°One part of both options, child. I was adopted into the Xu family after my own blood family died in a robbery raid, becoming his step-sister. I was also taken in as a second apprentice to Elder Brother¡¯s dad, the former owner of the Xu pharmacy. In the end, we both were also senior and junior students, and I was the latter.¡±

    ¡°I wish to hold you up right there, Xiao Tian. Why didn¡¯t you inform Eddison of this way earlier? He¡¯s your son.¡±

    ¡°At that time, I didn¡¯t feel like it. It was a low point in life for me back then and even now.¡±

    ¡°Then, what happened to the trading company you were working for?¡±

    ¡°Trading company?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The mother hesitated.

    ¡°Xiao Tian.¡±

    ¡°What now?¡± she annoyingly asked.

    ¡°Eddison has the right to know everything. And to some degree, I myself am entitled to question you as well since I am, by law, your family. You understand me, do you?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Hesitation.

    Intimidation.

    And emotion.

    The mother failed to keep it in any longer.

    ¡°...Fine!¡±

    She clicked her tongue.

    ¡°I will tell you¡­all about it. And Eddison, make sure to listen well to the whole story. This will be the first and last time I will ever tell my story.¡±

    Her past.

    Her suffering.

    And her lover.

    There was no way she could have forgotten all of those events and so there she went, recounting her tale like a talented performing poet in a somber tavern.

    ---

    Fire blazed wildly into the night as screams and smoke filled the air with gathering numbers. A line of houses and workshops were quickly beginning to collapse, surrounded by the dead bodies of abled men. Some wore distinguishable green cloaks and leather armor while the others had a variety of miscellaneous armor and gear strapped onto them; one would immediately confirm that they were a bandit. And, that was rightfully so.

    When the final supporting beam of one of the houses gave in to the raging flames, it fell straight down, pushing off a heavy gush of hot wind onto the nearby individuals. Panicking passersby and cautious soldiers managed to escape out of the wall of heat. Well, not all of them.

    ¡°Lord!¡±

    The second-in-command, who took upon the role of the Commander after he was killed in the sudden skirmish against the bandits, immediately got up and started to enter into the clouds of ground dust, uplifted from the crash. As the smoke began to fade away, his eyes darted across in rapid motion until he was successful in finding his employer, where he was seen sitting down on the ground in a cuddling position.

    Confused, the second-in-command spoke to him.

    ¡°Lord YaoXi, why didn¡¯t you evade? It¡¯s very dangerous and someday, you may not be so lucky, unlike today.¡±

    ¡°But I am fine, Commander.¡±

    The employer wore a similar garment of green leather and metal paddings, but as the owner of this force, he also wore a dark green cloak with a fastening, etched with golden leaf imprints. The symbol of the Xu family.

    As the lord got up from his position, within his arms revealed a small girl in a nightdress. Her eyes, widened open at the fiery bloodshed that was left after; and in the frail state she was in, her skin was sweating profusely with her cheeks blushing bright red like the flames that destroyed her home.

    ¡°This kid¡­Is she the only one saved?¡±

    ¡°No, all of them were meant to be killed by the arrival of dusk. But she escaped.¡±

    ¡°If only the reinforcements arrived here a little earlier¡­What of her parents?¡±

    ¡°Dead. My men searched all over and there were no survivors.¡±

    ¡°How about the ringleader?¡±

    ¡°Suicide, along with his lieutenants.¡±

    ¡°Farmland lost?¡±

    ¡°Several acres.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    Patting the second-in-command on the shoulder, the Lord turned towards the small girl as he unclipped his chains. In a short, swift motion, he gently placed the cloak over the traumatized girl before carrying her up onto his side.

    ¡°Is that your final decision, Lord?¡±

    ¡°Ha, my son needs some company anyways. He¡¯s one of the quiet types.¡±

    ¡°... I won¡¯t stop you, my Lord.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think of me like that. Besides¡­,¡± Lord YaoXi steadied his gaze into the frozen girl¡¯s eyes, ¡°She has potential. Not everyone could do what she did and I think she deserves it.¡±

    The soldier remained silent.

    ¡°If there are no more qualms, then I will get the papers done as soon as we get back.¡±

    Within the warmth of the wrapped cloak, it did not compare to the hotness of the burning flames, which immediately soothed her to slumber. All she last saw as her little dark eyes closed shut was the gallant smile of the bearded old man in front of her.

    ---

    Several years have passed since then and TianXing was readily accepted into the Xu family, living as their daughter ever since.

    As the sun setted in the distance, YaoMing, who was aged 18 years old at the time, finally managed to find a break from his exhaustive tasks, slumping down lethargically onto the soft sofa in the pavilion, situated at the center of a small lake within the Xu residence¡¯s back garden and surrounded by a wide plethora of flora and fauna. Raising his hand to a nearby branch of herbal leaves, he slowly traced his hands across the veins of the leaf surface. Watery mist covered the underside of his fingertips.

    With a pensive gaze, he sighed heavily.

    ¡°What¡¯s with all these noblemen, Father?¡± he asked openly, ¡°And why now? At least give me some more time to prepare beforehand.¡±

    Unfortunately, no one answered. There was nobody present after all.

    YaoMing was currently alone to himself, and besides his study, there was no other place that gave him better peace of mind than out here in the family pavilion.

    He breathed in deep.

    As he grimaced in annoyance at the sporadic occurrences of the cheers and laughter from the joyous crowd that could be heard over until this end of the estate, the sounds of approaching footsteps became more and more apparent for the young adult. Lazily turning his laying head over, he could make out a petite silhouette among the plantation and immediately after, YaoMing was certain it was her.

    It was his adopted younger sister and also his junior.

    Making her way across the rock pavement and into the pavilion, she was promptly greeted with an unresponsive brother. His eyes stared blankly at the overgrown stems that curl tightly around the pavilion pillars, making their way up to the roof.

    She pouted in retaliation.

    ¡°Bro-ther! What¡¯s with the unwelcoming attitude of yours? Rejoice, that it¡¯s your beloved sister who will be spending her own free time for the sake of yourself! Thank me and my undying benevolence,¡± she boasted proudly, giving a little ¡®hmph!¡¯ at the end there.

    Siding his eyes to the right,  YaoMing quickly retracted them back.

    ¡°Xiao Tian, that dress is very daring.¡±

    ¡°Just because I am showing my bare shoulders doesn¡¯t make your statement valid. You¡¯re too sensitive, dear Brother.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright¡­Go back to the party and gobble down all that food. You have to gain more shape if you are gonna bear healthy children.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s delusional, dear Brother. I¡¯m still in the early stages of puberty, 12 years, 3 months to be exact. So patience! I will let you do me in for the near future. Heehee!¡±

    It was the giggle of a youthful teen.

    ¡°...Ha¡­Enough with those jokes, Xiao Tian.¡±

    He placed his fingers between his temples, massaging them in a swirl motion.

    ¡°...¡±

    TianXing came closer to him, grabbed a nearby chair and sat upon it.

    ¡°Dear Brother, what¡¯s going on with you today?¡±

    ¡°Sorry¡­It¡¯s just that, Father will be handing down the pharmacy and Council head position to me. You¡¯re aware of that right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not that dense, dear Brother.¡±

    ¡°Anyhow, hosting this party to commemorate this ¡®passing down of the torch¡¯ occasion is really not up there in my forte. It was really hard dealing with all those uncles and aunties, both nobles and family. It¡¯s tiring.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not all right?¡±

    ¡°Huh?...¡±

    YaoMing got up from his resting position, surprised at his sister¡¯s tone. She no longer held the distinctive smile of hers and YaoMing suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. It was very out of place for her to be like this. She was serious and she had a moody frown all over her. A disappointing one.

    Slowly, it crawled back up to YaoMing about what she truly meant.

    With that in mind, he began to reassure her.

    ¡°Sorry¡­While I am confident with my abilities to handle everything, there is still a side of me that is worried that I would fail juggling all these responsibilities and one day, I might potentially cause harm to our entire family.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°As such, I thank you for your understanding, Xiao Tian. That surely helped, expressing all of it. Sharing it-¡±

    ¡°Do you love me, dear Brother?¡±

    ¡°...Of course I do. Why ask?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡±

    TianXing quickly got up from her seat and ran off to the rock pavement. YaoMing instinctively followed behind. His silky yellow and red robes fluttered heavily in the wind.

    Stopping suddenly in her steps, TianXing turned on her heel and let out a bright smirk on her face, making direct eye contact with YaoMing who also slowed down, panting slightly.

    ¡°Dear Brother, I am truly grateful for the happiness you, Father and Mother have given me ever since that day. It truly feels like I was reborn anew.¡±

    He remained silent. Speechless.

    ¡°Therefore! I declare by my name, that I will do my fullest to prove my worth and that Father¡¯s decision was not for nought. Listen up, dear Brother! I will be aiming to go to the big city but no, not just any castle city. The thriving city of commerce, ShanWei. That¡¯s where I will be going one day. And by that time, I assure you that you would never have to worry about money ever again. ¡±

    ¡°Xiao Tian¡­¡±

    ¡°Congratulations on your position, dear Brother!¡±

    As she said those final words, the youthful girl, who was as red as roses, embarrassedly fled the scene and into the partying crowd farther off within the main hallroom, giving YaoMing no opportunity to say his piece.

    Recollecting his thoughts together, the now-head of the Xu residence raised his head high up into the sky. And in the corner of his eye, YaoMing shortly glanced back to his treasured pavilion. Recalling back to when he first met her here, it was the autumn fall and he was 5 books deep into herbal alchemy. That was when his Father called out for him. And the rest was history. A happy one without a doubt.

    ¡°What a girl¡­¡± YaoMing sighed in pride.

    On the table, at the center of the pavilion, there placed a sparkly glass jar of honey water concoction, tied with a red ribbon at the lid, and a ring of flowers with enticing aromas.

    ¡®She still puts those flowers out, despite knowing that I¡¯m not into her like that. Well, she¡¯ll grow out of it eventually.¡¯

    ---

    ¡°And so therefrom after, I continually attended classes and numerous other circles. While that may seem overwhelming for the average person, I sincerely enjoyed my lessons and my wish was slowly coming into fruition.¡±

    ¡°So Mother, were you aiming to be a trader?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Yes I was, child.¡±

    ¡°Then, your conflict with Mr Xu was¡­¡±

    ¡°...Elder brother, do I really have to share this part?¡±

    ¡°Although it pains me to recall that story, I insist that you see this through till the end.¡±

    Readily as the mother opened her mouth to speak out, she immediately backed down from objecting, knowing that it was wrong otherwise.

    She sighed in discontent.

    In the end, she had no way of running from the truth. On the contrary however, it will always come back to haunt her.

    And, in one form or another.

 Chapter 16 : Brother and Sister

    Beneath the heavy overcast skies, a lone rocky trail makes its way up the hilly landscape, twisting with bends and turns along the narrow route. At its end, there built a solitary temple of prayer, which overlooked rows of tombstones and small gravel dwellings, decorated with lion and dragon motifs, reminiscent of the temple¡¯s very own designs.

    Suddenly, a large, golden bell rang loudly in the distance. It soon began to play at a regular pace, relaying its mighty clang for all to hear in the encompassing area. One such group was a long line of people, dressed in tunics and robes of gray white, maroon or black. A myriad of stringed and percussion instruments sounded back amidst the ringing. A high pitched tune, accompanied by low claps and bellows.

    In the center of the line was a long wooden box carried by several strong laborers, lined with a variety of flowers and engraved with silver. A wide blanket of cloth was draped evenly over it. It glowed a vibrant red, marked with special black writing wishing for an auspicious journey. Surrounding them, lines of weeping men and women followed alongside it, carrying wrapped gifts and food. And at the front of the crowd, a young man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, was leading all of them towards the temple above. Dressed in a white robe, he held a spirit tablet within his shaking arms. It had a vertical line of characters written upon it, traced with shiny gold. All it read was:

    ¡°Xu YaoXi¡±

    The former lord of the Xu pharmacy had passed away. He died of natural causes.

    ---

    Finally reaching the summit of the hill where the temple resided, the young man halted his steps in front of the tall front doors of the temple. Shortly soon after, a loud clang of metal could be heard and the double doors shook as they opened inward, bringing the view of the spacious interior within. The following crowd, who also arrived in pace with the young man, solemnly made their gazes to the front. Their eyes were greeted by a massive hallroom, housing a large altar at the end of the expanse, upon which several huge and shiny golden-coloured statues of the Buddha and its numerous other identifications and variations. Surrounding the central figures were the smaller models of the Deities that represent parts of human society and the world they live in. Off to the sides, the four Heavenly Kings were evenly placed with the South and West to the left, and the North and East to the right. With the sizes of these beings of worship, hundreds of candles and large lanterns readily illuminated the space in a gleaming spectacle.

    And at the opened entrance, a youthful woman in her late teens stood steadily beyond the young man, addressing his welcome. She wore a similar white robe, fastened with a black sash. Her face was devoid of any make-up but her marble, doll-like face was still as stunning as it was natural. And yet, this beauty had a lifeless aura emerging from her. The young man, however, could relate to her despair. Perhaps, his own feelings were even greater than those she could ever have felt.

    Looking across the woman, he observed the nuns and monks as they settled their final preparations for the funeral ceremony. Their main robes and fabrics were the usual creamy yellow, covered with several folds of dark red outer layers.

    Facing the woman once again, the man waited.

    A nod.

    With her approval, the man raised his hand, signaling for the laborers to proceed with resting the coffin in front of the altar of the deities, which upon its laying, a flower bed and a raised platform encircled the coffin.

    With the corpse in place, the young man called out for everyone to gather about it in a uniform manner. Organized into rows, at the very last were acquaintances and relatives of close friends. Closer were his father¡¯s confidants, which included business partners, fellow scholars of medicine and army heads under his orders. One such comrade was the former second-in-command, who was currently as feeble of a elderly man as the next person. He also wore a white robe with dark blue outlines as he knelt down on his knees with the rest. Near the front were the relatives of the Xu family and the one leading the large, mourning crowd was the lord¡¯s son, Xu YaoMing.

    ¡°Elder brother, it¡¯s time.¡±

    The black hair beauty promptly came to her place beside him after she finished making the confirmations with the head monk.

    She was the adopted daughter of former Lord Xu, Xu TianXing.

    With everyone settled on their respective prayer seating cushions, the young man gave a firm nod to the head monk who was standing at the side of the coffin with a bell in hand. It was time for the true funeral ceremony to begin.

    ---

    The side rows of monks sang deeply in unison. Their soothing chants and hypnotizing hymns echoed grandly throughout the spacious hallroom. The melody of the small handheld bell and the background support of the Zen round drums further enhanced the ceremonial performance. Respectively, its highly tuned tings and low rhythmic claps synergised greatly with their slightly dreary voices.

    With the lead voice of the head monk finishing his first book of religious scripture, he smoothly transitioned to the second volume without any reference point. After all, that elderly man has memorized all of the ¡®teachings¡¯ by heart, spending decades within this lone temple with the other acolytes. In the midst of this calming sea of sounds and voices, the crowd kept silent for it was the utmost decorum for the dead.

    Meanwhile, despite feeling numb in both legs and not having stood up for the past hour, the young man and woman continued to remain still in the kneeling position, just like the others. It was an irritable pain upon their stiff knees and their body itched in its supposed serenity, not that the young man could have easily adjusted, had he regularly attended such prayer sessions.

    And as the head monk finally finished the fourth volume of the scripture, the laborers got ready into action. As per tradition, they lit torches and steadily walked towards the air-tight coffin. Tossing their respective flames evenly throughout the perimeter of the frame, the flames started to grow larger and hotter, becoming a bright reddish orange and flickering with sporadic rises and slumps. Above it, rising black smoke quickly made its way up and out of the ceiling, where specialized wooden and clay hatches were retracted open to increase air ventilation.

    The wood crackled, bursting large planks into smaller bits and scattering splinters. The coffin, along with its host, was visibly seen being burned into the black, blanketed by the raging blaze. Bare ribs could be seen jutting out and a loose hand gently slid off the raised platform and into the burning flower bed beneath. It was a devastating, yet majestic sight.

    But that was not all of it. Shortly after, the cold, humid wind suddenly blew in through the opened windows, tending to the more potent flames. With each gust of wind, the head monk raised his voice, gradually in loud, long bellows. The scripture fastened in pace and the fifth volume was promptly finished, bringing in the sixth verses next; while the instruments switched to heavy leather drums, banging the similar melody and at a faster, sharper frequency.

    Accompanying all of this was grief. The cries and the wails. The shrieks and the sniffling. The kneeling crowd, who was obediently waiting and keeping their feelings in check, could now finally let their hearts out. They flooded the chaotic atmosphere with a sorrowful display of tragedy. An incredibly immense one at that, and filled to the brim of powerful emotion.

    The beautiful woman was the same as the rest¡­

    She growled heavily and screeched her throat out. Her bloodshot eyes were running with tears, screaming out painful calls for her dear father.

    ¡°PA!!! PA!!!...PAAWAAAH!!!¡±

    Ultimately, she failed to look ahead at his burning corpse and instead, she groveled deeply at the edge of the flower bed, just enough to prevent herself from touching the ongoing blaze. Her back arched forward and head hitting the cold, porcelain tiled temple floor.

    ¡°DON¡¯T LEAVE ME!!!¡±

    Her shrieks continued to resonate throughout the temple amongst the numerous other sounds.

    ---

    On the other hand, there was her stepbrother. Unlike the others, the young man didn¡¯t shed any tears nor show any signs of unwavering misery. He just sat perfectly still as before, without moving a muscle. His eyes were dilated, its void black circles reflecting the fiery display that his adored father was given a send off by. Behind the burning, he could still smell the familiar scent of thick incense, the burned money paper and the odor of freshly hunted pig, duck and cow. His glasses loosened from its place on his nose, but it did not bother him. All his focus was set upon his father¡¯s grandiose departure to the Heavenly Kingdom. But at the back of his mind, something was slowly crawling its way into his conscience. It was his father¡¯s final parting words.

    In the end, he continued to watch the flames burn on; the surrounding crowd raged on with its anguish of loss. As the head monk finished his performance with the seventh volume¡¯s final verse, he swiftly placed aside the bell and metal stick on a neighboring table and gathered the bowl of flower water with a lotus flower submerged inside it. The flames haven¡¯t died down yet but its ferocity was more tamed than earlier, several minutes before. With several swipes of his hand holding on the cut stem of the lotus, the head monk sprayed the droplets of water across the burnt corpse which was now a mixture of black charcoal, ashen gray bone pieces and glittering thin gold bits.

    And with a few more swipes, the head monk also placed aside that bowl and lotus flower.

    A deep breath.

    Gently removing his black beaded necklace from his neck, he rolled a couple of them before intertwining the necklace between his clapped hand and fingers. This was the sign of the end of the ceremony.

    ¡°Namo Amituofo¡±, the head monk muttered in condolences.

    And following right after his chant, the other acolytes and monks repeated the phrase in unison.

    ¡°NAMO AMITUOFO¡±

    .

    .

    .

    With the funeral session finished, the crowd began to make their way out of the temple to clear their minds or gather close around the burning fire to watch their Lord for one last time.

    The two children, the young man and woman, were the last to leave their seats. She slumped heavily onto the side in exhaustion and distress. Her face was an obvious mess. Reluctant to say a few words to her brother, she eventually got up from her place and exited the temple through the backdoor while he remained on his spot. His legs, lifeless from the lack of fresh blood flow.

    A normal expression was all he could muster.

    Taking a final look at the burnt corpse, the young man removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes tightly, elevating his head up high.

    It appeared that he hadn¡¯t blinked for a single time throughout the whole 2 hour ceremony. In recollection, he sighed deeply.

    And as he gazed at the sight of the residing smog, a dry, monotone voice sounded and parting lips shifted into a light smile.

    ¡°Till we meet again, Father.¡±

    ---

    ¡°Blechhh¡­¡±

    A dark-brown and yellow, thick and viscous fluid plopped onto the soil beneath. A distance away from a pair of black cotton scandals.

    The youthful woman slowly stood upright and approached close for the nearby flower fountain. It was a large, shiny black marble bowl with wooden reinforcements and on top of that, a miniature statue of a snow lion was placed.

    She carefully picked up a bamboo ladle and scooped up a bucketful of rich flower water. With a few large gulps, the woman gurgled a mouthful and rinsed the stench away. Next, she washed her dried up face, along with the ends of her silky black hair and high neck. This was a customary practice to cleanse away the unfortunate that would be brought along with the invited on their way back from a trip to the graveyards.

    Finally, she took out a towel from under her inner robes and proceeded to wipe herself dry. However, with her vision blocked, the woman failed to notice a person walking towards her. The crackling sound of his footsteps across fallen leaves went unnoticed. Pausing for a moment, he hesitated.

    ¡®Was it the proper time to talk?¡¯ he questioned, watching her subtly tranquil gaze into the forest beyond. Her mind, deep in remembrance, and he did not want to ruin it. However, as bad as he was at having the confidence in his ability to resolve issues through communication, the man understood that if there was a better time to address her despair, it was now. With that in mind, he gathered up the courage to confront the woman who he loved dearly.

    ¡°Xiao Tian¡±

    Unaware of his presence, she turned back in shock.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    It was her step brother.

    ¡°Ah-ah...say¡­I never would have thought that there was such a secret spot within the area. It surely is a good view here.¡±

    YaoMing decided to go by the book. Slow and steady.

    He proceeded forward towards the small garden where the fountain was built upon, and in his arms, he held a small towel.

    ¡°...¡±

    Without saying a word, XiaoTian readily made way for her brother to clean himself as she perched a seat on the side of a pile of boulders.

    Picking up her train of thought, YaoMing followed up with her gesture and as he washed his face, the two of them did not say a word. Realizing this, YaoMing quickly came up with a dialogue to continue the conversation but unexpectedly, his sister responded first.

    XiaoTian gave in, which YaoMing was proud of. He was progressing well.

    ¡°This particular fountain is one of the farthest away from the temple, making it quite deserted most of the time so I chose this ideal spot.  No one knows of this place, aside from some monks who come here on random occasions.¡±

    ¡°...Quite the exaggeration, XIao Tian,¡± YaoMing replied before continuing to wipe down his face dry.

    ¡°So, when are we going home, Elder Brother?¡±

    ¡°After the guests leave, the workers will clean up the remains while the monks will collect some large parts of Father¡¯s bones and ashes into a sealed jar. And they will give us the choice to keep it or bury it here. After that¡¯s all settled, I will return home. In regards to you¡­you can head home earlier, Xiao Tian. I will manage the rest.¡±

    YaoMing took another gulp of flower water, watchful eyes anticipating his sister¡¯s response.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the decision then?¡±

    ¡°...Both. Some parts will be kept by us and the rest will be buried. Reason being, I wanted a keepsake. I hope it doesn¡¯t bother you.¡±

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    ¡°Whatever you say, Elder Brother. I am done for today. For the whole month actually, if I¡¯m being true to myself.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Recalling the weeks into the preparation for the ceremony, YaoMing knew this was not a false claim. It was dreadful observing her as today crawled near.

    ¡°Anyhow, your earlier greeting act was very embarrassing, Elder Brother. It doesn¡¯t suit you. The appearance of a man who uses those types of words, I mean.¡±

    ¡°I-I was just trying my best.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, I got what you meant. Do not stress yourself out about me. I¡¯m old enough already. I¡¯m turning 18 this year so rejoice!¡±

    She joyfully flung her arms in the air.

    ¡°...Well, that¡¯s wonderful.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    A pause.

    ¡°Hey Elder Brother¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­?¡± YaoMing replied, putting his glasses on. He felt a sudden change in her mood.

    XiaoTian averted her face away from his gaze.

    ¡°Could Father have lived longer if he just raised you only?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    This was very sudden.

    ¡°Would he be proud of the woman I have become?¡±

    ¡°Xiao Tian¡­¡±

    He felt heavy in his chest.

    ¡°Did he waste his efforts upon me? I¡­I barely got the chance to prove it to him.¡±

    ¡°e¡­enough¡±

    This was what he was worried about and¡­

    ¡°I am!-It¡¯s all my f-!¡±

    ¡°Xiao Tian, that¡¯s enough!¡±

    ¡­ he would not tolerate such behavior any longer, especially when it was progressing into something even darker and deeper.

    ¡°Br-Brother¡­¡±

    Walking up close to her, YaoMing softly embraced her into a hug.

    Her petite figure gently nestled in between his arms; her voice, meek and broken.

    It felt warm.

    Holding her tighter, YaoMing said his piece.

    ¡°Do not blame yourself¡­Xiao Tian.¡±

    ¡°brother, don¡¯t-¡±

    ¡°This is just all your own mindless and wasteful thinking. First of all, they¡¯re not.

    ¡°but¡­¡±

    ¡°So what if they were all true? The present won''t change either way. Regardless if there was truth to your claims.¡±

    ¡°...Brother¡±

    Pushing her apart, YaoMing made direct eye contact with her. His eyes lively with fury.

    ¡°What I¡¯m saying is love yourself! Even if Father¡¯s not here with us, he will surely be watching over us from above. I swear that with my life, Xiao Tian¡­So please, I beg you. Enough with your self-loathing. Don¡¯t let him down and strive for what you want to achieve.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Xiao Tian, I rightfully believe that Father would be better off happier seeing you smile than being all miserable like this. All that sadness is dandelion seeds in the wind, swayed away with the funeral mourning. Therefore, we have to keep moving forward with life. And with much more pride than ever. Do you understand me?!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    She was speechless.

    Overwhelmed with emotions. Hurt, yet hopeful from her brother¡¯s words, XiaoTian remained silent for a short moment.

    Carefully choosing her words, XiaoTian decided to follow her brother¡¯s advice, knowing he just wishes the best for her.

    ¡°You are right, Elder Brother.¡±

    ¡°Xiao Tian¡­¡±

    Getting up slowly, she hastily added, ¡°I deeply apologize for such a pathetic display!¡±, before running off into the temple within and out of the main gates to return back home, waving quick goodbyes to some familiar faces along the way.

    ¡°...¡±

    Slowly getting up from his position, YaoMing breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡®Yes¡­this is much better. Both for myself and XIao Tian.¡¯

    He washed his hands for a final time with the flower water.

    ¡®Alright, let¡¯s wrap things up here as soon as possible and make it home in time for dinner!¡¯ YaoMing pleasantly thought to himself, making his way towards the temple¡¯s backdoors.

    ---

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Mother¡­I want to express my condolences for Grandfather¡¯s loss.¡±

    Eddison gripped his hands tightly onto his mother¡¯s, imagining the pain she felt at the time. But, even he knew that that was just the beginning, and this did not go unnoticed by his mother.

    ¡°Eddison, do you need some time to take it all in?¡±

    ¡°...No, please, continue with your story.¡±

    TianXing¡¯s eyes widened at his confident answer. It was a sense of maturity that she failed to realize since the beginning and his growth¡­

    She felt a warming sensation in her heart. It surely was a nostalgic feeling.

    ¡®How long has it been since?¡¯ she reminisced in silence.

    ¡°Mother? Mother?¡±

    ¡°Oh yes¡­sorry about that.¡±

    She cleared her throat and readied her mind.

    .

    .

    On the opposite side of the carriage, Mr Xu seemed more tense than usual, as carefully observed by ReZhui, who at this point, he can confidently say that he knows plenty much about his mentor, including his mannerisms.

    ¡°Yes, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing, Mr Xu,¡±

    ¡°...Don¡¯t hesitate to say something. Even if this is a problem involving our family, you have the freedom to voice your concerns. After all, you are under my tutelage.¡±

    ¡°...Got it, Mr Xu. But really, it¡¯s nothing major.¡±

    And with that stated, Mr Xu brought his full attention to XiaoTian.

    ¡°Right after Fath-Grandfather¡¯s passing, the pharmaceutical business ran as usual. Your uncle was focused on treating patients and selling all kinds of concoctions and herbs while I continued on with my studies at Luo ChengShi, making a deadline for departure to the merchant city of ShanWei some time later. I greatly insisted on this and it took a couple of tries before your uncle was successfully convinced. Everything was going very well until three years ago, before my planned trip.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Mr Xu¡¯s face darkened.

    ---

    A hard slam onto the wooden main desk could be heard from outside the study room. Piles of messenger scrolls and letters laid unorganized across the dimly lit floors. Tea cups and plates were tossed aside, leaving dried mold and rancid stenches throughout its porcelain bodies.

    And at the center of the sofa, a lone man lethargically dozed off into an ineffective, distressing and paranoid slumber. He had the eyes of a dead fish. Dark eyebags reached low into the upper cheek. Long unkempt hair draped over the edge and loosened clothing went unbothered. Additionally, the man was beaten all over with a noticeable red hand mark on his left cheek.

    ¡°How¡­how did it come to this?¡± he sighed in frustration.

    But, just as he was about to take another second of unfulfilling sleep, the man heard his door burst open. This was soon followed by fast-paced footsteps which echoed deep into the study room and it annoyingly woke him up.

    ¡°Elder Brother!¡±

    A worried voice called.

    ¡®Damnation! Why did word spread so fast?!¡¯ YaoMing cursed internally.

    His deepest fears were currently coming into truth.

    Despite having full attention on the matter, he had no other course of action than to ride it out as safely as possible.

    ¡°Ha¡­¡±

    With that in mind, he lifted himself out of the sofa; presenting himself properly in time to meet his sister, who arrived shortly after, across the vast maze of bookshelves.

    ¡°ELDER BROTHER, WHAT IN TARNATION DID YOU DO?!¡±

    ¡°Please calm yourself, XiaoTian. I can explain all of this.¡±

    ¡°Well, you better be, otherwise I would be very pissed.¡±

    ¡°...Then, you¡¯re welcome to take a seat.¡±

    With that wild curiosity thawed, YaoMing hastily prepared some tea for the both of them while XiaoTian angrily stomped towards the sofa opposite to where YaoMing laid earlier.

    ¡®A woolen tunic¡­and hair tied into a bun. She must have immediately halted her work to come visit me.¡¯ YaoMing thought as he placed aside a half-filled kettle, ¡®I cannot let her get involved in this mess!¡¯

    He was determined.

    A minute later, YaoMing placed randomly chosen used cups, filled to the brim with coloured light brown, upon the wooden coffee table sandwiched between them.

    He carefully took his seat, watched intently by his sister.

    Gulping saliva, YaoMing gestured his hand forward.

    ¡°Please.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Her face was unchanged.

    Taking a sip of the tea prepared, TianXing sighed and started the conversation.

    ¡°The tea¡¯s cold. Very bland too. I suppose it¡¯s true that you really are in deep trouble, seeing the state of you and your study,¡± she commented, scanning the entire room with YaoMing into the mix.

    ¡°Listen, XiaoTian, it wasn¡¯t me who killed them. This¡­This is all a HOAX!¡±

    He wanted to make that clear first.

    ¡°...haaa¡­Elder brother, I trust you. Not because you are the son of my savior but due to the fact that you yourself are a kind person. No bias whatsoever!¡±

    ¡°XiaoTian¡­¡±

    She slammed her cup.

    It was so sudden and out-of-ordinary for her to do so, sending YaoMing back in surprise.

    ¡°Anyhow, with that out of the way, I hope you will truthfully explain to me all the events that have occurred for you to be in such dire conflict since I just got back from Luo ChengShi. All I have heard about you were bad rumors so I will provide my final judgment after hearing your side of the story.¡±

    ¡°...Alright, Xiao Tian.¡±

    ¡°Say your piece then.¡±

    Gripping his hands together tightly, YaoMing bent forward. He was ready.

    ¡°It was like every other day in the Xu pharmacy. I do my consultations and have a couple of light and severe examinations. But one day, if I recall correctly, it was 2 months back, the Liang family came running frantically into the courtyard, little Chen in hand. Behind them were six DongBu police officers.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s that merchant family, isn¡¯t it? The one who sells high quality paint.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Xiao Tian. Their child was diagnosed with a severe headache and muscle cramps on his arms and legs. Naturally, I prescribed several medications for him to take along with a massage and to my memory, there were no inaccuracies with my treatment. Actually¡­correction, there shouldn''t be any. Otherwise, Father wouldn¡¯t have entrusted me with running this place very early on.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ After all, these kinds of symptoms are commonplace throughout the MIddle Kingdom and you, especially, are spotlessly skilled in even the most complicated of procedures.¡±

    ¡°And despite my continuous display of trusted medical guidance, the child passed away shortly after his second consultation with me.¡±

    ¡°So the Chen family that rushed to the pharmacy-¡±

    ¡°Yes, they carried the now deceased little Chen into the estate and made a loud public outrage for all patients and passersby to see. It was a mess to try and settle the problem.¡±

    ¡°What did they want?¡±

    ¡°They accused me of toxifying little Chen with wrongly used drugs and filed a crime investigation on me for improper use and negligence. Even though I clearly had numerous other cases where patients died but at least they know it was hopeless despite my help. Ultimately, they are quite the powerful family within this village so the accusations soon spread like wildfire and the police were easily summoned to my doorstep.¡±

    ¡°Then, you''re arrested?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Days later, I went to the judiciary and fought my case of innocence but¡­¡±

    ¡°It didn¡¯t work in your favor.¡±

    ¡°Correct. In the end, I was placed on house arrest until further notice. Luckily, there was not enough evidence that the Chens could bring up against me. Moreover, I once treated the magistrate in session that day so my claims had more credibility. And of course, I complied, with the additional permission to continue my medical practises after I retake the Medicinal Guild¡¯s examination to reinforce my medical license.¡±

    ¡°It didn¡¯t stagnate from there, did it?¡±

    ¡°As you can see, for the months that passed, more and more ¡®faulty¡¯ examinations were reported and rumored throughout DongBu village. However, these cases were pretty minor compared to the first so the majority of villagers still trusted my skills, especially my regulars. That is, until a second was dead under my name as its assailant.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the background of this accusation this time?¡±

    ¡°Medical malpractice. A foreign metal scalpel and needles were found in the feces of Mr Low after a surgical removal of his appendicitis and as a result, he had internal bleeding and died a day after.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°True, he was the only son of one of the Village council members, Low QingHua, and it angered him severely. This case was made public two weeks back and I guess word of the death of an important noble has reached as far as Luo ChengShi. For what happened next, the response was similar to the first death but a lot more worse.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°So, what will you do, Xiao Tian?¡±

    ¡°I-¡±

    She had no clue. The situation seemed too dire for her to cleanse the situation properly.

    YaoMing, who watched her panicking unfold, sorrowed back in contemplation. At least he must tell her first.

    ¡°Actually Xiao Tian, I would like you to stop right there.¡±

    ¡°Wha-what do you mean?¡±

    Her expression was vague, knocked out of her own procrastination.

    YaoMing shoved forward in his seat and held out his hand with her own, tightly clasping them together.

    ¡°Listen, this is my problem. It¡¯s my fault things are this way and I do not want you to be affected by it. As I see it, you are doing superbly as a merchant trainee. If you appear here more often, who knows what image of you could spread about. But one thing¡¯s for sure, it will affect your businesses so please-¡±

    A hard knock on the wall, followed by helpless screams and aggressive grunts.

    It was trouble.

    ¡°Sir, please stop, my Lord is having over a gue-¡±

    ¡°Sir, Lord Xu is currently bus-¡±

    ¡°ENOUGH, THE TWO OF YOU! MAKE WAY FOR MASTER LOW.¡±

    ¡°SCATTER!¡±

    In the midst of the entering crowd, unrelenting by the pleas of the pharmacy¡¯s servants, the siblings turned their bodies towards the approaching commotion. Hearts racing heavily.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± she muttered.

    XiaoTian quickly got up to confront them but she was quickly stopped by YaoMing.

    Facing back to him in shock, she tried to shove his hand off her, albeit to no avail. She knew what was gonna happen if that noble reached into this place and it might be the end of her beloved elder brother. She did not want that to happen.

    Trying to shake off her hand for a second time, YaoMing looked forward at her with disappointment.

    ¡°brother¡­¡±

    Unfortunately, YaoMing has also made up his mind.

    ¡°Brother, let g-AHH!¡±

    A high-pitched shriek.

    The sudden jerk of furniture and a loud thud to the ground.

    XiaoTian fell hard onto the ground. However, that crash was just soft enough for the approaching mob to not notice another person¡¯s presence. One in which YaoMing felt lucky it worked well to what he wanted. It must have been due to his currently frail state, even though he had shoved her aside with the greatest force he could muster up. Nonetheless, all that will just bother him to improve his diet for the days to come, if he could even make it back home in the first place.

    Hence, without any second glances back at her, YaoMing approached the mob of the Head Low, his personal guards and police officers, giving them a ¡®warm¡¯ welcome; while XiaoTian was hidden within lines of bookshelves and the sofa.

    ¡°Lord Low, I greet you with a pleasant afternoon.¡±

    Silence.

    ¡°Xi, Yang, return to your duties at once,¡± YaoMing urgently demanded, hoping that will reduce the tension.

    The servants, who were considerably injured with their continued resistance, slowly backed away from the crowd and bowed deeply towards their lord before quietly leaving the scene.

    In actual fact, he was grateful for their loyalty to him but this is not the time for such sentiments to take charge. They could get in trouble for supporting him, which was what he least desired the most to happen.

    With the servants gone, the Head Low started to speak.

    ¡°Quite the dysfunctional household you are having, YaoMing. I expected better of you from your father but I guess sometimes reality says otherwise. It¡¯s truly disappointing!¡±

    He slammed his cane forward, hard onto the ground.

    ¡°I deeply apologize for your loss, Sir.¡±

    But YaoMing was left unfazed by this. He was determined to see this through, maintaining strict eye contact with the old man as he bowed.

    ¡°Hah! Empty words such as that would not sugar up your punishment, YaoMing boy.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Remaining silent now, huh? Snarky kid. Enforcers, do your job!¡±

    And with that, the accused doctor was roughly escorted out of his pharmacy, leaving behind his treasured sister with a bloodied elbow and deep in tears.

 Chapter 17 : The Court Session

    It has been two days since then.

    The news of the first official judiciary session, involving the young heir to the Xu pharmaceutical residence and one of the major noble families of DongBu village, was unsurprisingly making massive waves of public responses within that short aforementioned time frame, upon which the event was suddenly made late. However, that vigorous anticipation was to be let loose quickly soon after.

    A large crowd was rapidly growing. Under the hot, summer sky, people of all ages frantically shoved through the wooden double doors that served as the entrance to the main concourse, leading up towards the main court hall. And far from the viscous fluidity of the moving mob, a lone woman stood near a primary junction, situated perpendicular to the street where the municipal building resided. She wore a plain Hanfu robe, consisting of light blues and varying shades of black. In her hand, a special piece of parchment and a meticulously decorated cloth purse pouch.

    She sighed deeply as her eyes scanned vertically across the page hung upon the huge wooden notice board. It listed the details about the upcoming session and upon finishing the last line of characters, the woman annoyingly stared at her brother¡¯s face illustration beside the read text. Normally, writing as executive as this is not necessary for the mostly illiterate folk that walk these streets daily, such is the waste of valuable ink with some weather-resistant properties. Nonetheless, for professional appearances, the magistrate still went about the practice with showcasing an authoritative and trusted image of the council in mind. But to the simple-minded populace, the true main attraction was the occasional illustrations of trialed individuals. And on that particular day, the main focus, plastered at the center space, was her dearest brother in all of his undermining charm. There was no expression, not that the woman had expected there to be but it was still undeserving of her brother to receive this degree of public shame. It has unfortunately become a routine for the town to randomly take a visit to the court hall and witness the drama and action unfold as long as they do not intertwine. And as she knew it, this was a form of free entertainment for them and since it involved some of the most important figures in this relatively small community, the current scenario was well within her expectations.

    ¡®Truly fascinating for how the righteous of intentions can have the worst of executions.¡¯

    The woman grumbled to herself.

    Even so, for her personal sense of judgment, she strongly believed he was falsely accused of. The normal town folk who had attended this event would have a limited case of analysis and not knowing the full picture of what was going on behind the scenes. Their opinions do not matter. For the potential leads she could look into, both the brother and her could collectively agree that it was another power play running at hand. However, whether they were the targeted or just caught in collateral, the woman was not confident in her answer. And with confidence, she assumed her brother would be struggling with that question as well.

    Another deep breath.

    With all these problems happening one after the other, the woman felt frightened for what was possibly next to come; and regarding the current status of the upcoming trial, taking another read of the notice confirmed something for her.

    As she turned on her heel, making her way towards the court hall, the woman could not help but curse out in rage¡­

    ¡°Fuck it, Elder brother. There is no other way, from meeting this damn, wrenched fate!¡± albeit in a super hushed voice.

    ---

    Arriving at the main double door gates, the woman realized that the crowd was already finished, packed tightly and deep into the municipal establishment.  Around her, the ¡®unfortunate¡¯ townsfolk who lost their chance to get a place inside were scurrying about, scaling up walls and trees to pay witness to this trial that was starting soon with some success in their endeavor. Luckily for the woman, she had no reason, nor the necessity or urgency to do such tricks. She was, after all, quite the successful individual within and outside this town. While it was true that the common populace were the regular visitors for these types of events, this was no ordinary trial and with that declared, the higher classes and nobility would surely be curious of the display and outcome to this spectacle. As such, the inner hall had placed special seats if there ever were cases like her dearest brother; and the woman booked an indirect front seat to this mess.

    With that in mind, she walked to her right where she spotted two guards who stood obediently under a small archway, shooing off every individual who did not have a seal of approval for entry and subsequently, a seat in the courtroom. This was the entrance.

    Restricting herself to not take glances at the previously attacked, the woman made eye contact with the left guard. Taking a quick look at him, the guard was dressed in an all black attire with a bright red sash tightening the tunic. He held a black rod spear with a red cloth wrapped at the edges. It truly was quite the terrifying sight for a maiden as young as she was.

    Promptly showing him the parchment of approval, the guard said a compulsory greeting before making way for the woman.

    ¡°Please walk straight ahead, Madam.¡±

    Siding a glance at the other guard, she coldly gave them her thanks before she strided forward with haste, across the corridor, leading towards another and finally into the designated seats.

    ¡®The other man was wearing the same, but with an additional sword in hand. Scary¡­¡¯

    The woman whined in silence.

    But, as great as her fear was for the situation she was facing, her love for her brother was far from that amount. With that in mind, she steadied herself as she quietly walked over and took her seat. The woman tried her hardest to not make anyone notice her nor accidentally disturb others which she succeeded.

    Wiping her sweat with her right sleeve, the woman meekly reminisced about the undesirable experience for the past two days as she tried her damn hardest to book this second row seat from the judges¡¯ stand. Shivers went down her spine as she recalled the cost it took to get this spot and the accompanying risks she took along by giving out a false identity registration to fulfill her brother¡¯s previous wishes, which she could not deny was the best option for her to take for her sake. In the end, she had to ask her close friend and business partner for her signature to authenticate the parchment. However, there was no time to take a breather. Shortly after settling down in her red cushioned seat, the crowd, overlooked from this position, started to boom loudly and rise up in chaos, filling the concourse with all sorts of shouts, screams and curses. The audio, indistinguishable from one person to the next. The wave of noises quickly made its way into the inner hall where it was greeted back by the entrance of the stand-in replacement judge for this court session along with his entourage of secondary counselors and the scribe. The judge, who was aged in his late 50s, wore a long black HanFu robe, held together with gold trimmed buttons and, according to Xiao Tian, held an aura of stubborn dominance around himself. With his arrival, some of the spectators across her seat also rose up to catch a closer glimpse of the atmosphere below.

    ¡®whaa¡­it¡¯s. This is overwhelming!¡¯

    Without having the chance to take in the short lived tranquility of the hall, the woman angrily readied herself for what was to unfold within this very assembly.

    Unfortunately, that firm determination promptly sank as her face instinctively squirmed in reaction, being turned horrified at the sight of her brother as he entered the hall doors.

    ---

    A cacophony of disorderly and wild voices greatly penetrated his eardrums ever since he first arrived at the gates, seemingly never ending with its adrenaline-enhanced vigor of the audience here. To the best of his ability, YaoMing tried his best to maintain a collected mind, having had sleepless nights inside the terrible conditions of the temporary jail cells; all just to wait for the end of a delay. And within that period, numerous outside interferences prepared their ¡®attacks¡¯. On the night before, he was severely waterboarded to the point he was hyperventilating to potential death; considering his currently weakened physique. Others include expertly placed hidden bruises and whip strikes. Each stride of his barefooted feet ached in the sole and his ankles were blistering in the heated iron shackles upon which he was forced to wear. However, with sincere appreciation to the restricted hostile crowd, the hurling insults narrowly kept his consciousness awakened and most importantly, his ego intact.

    YaoMing knew he was not guilty and so would strive to never falter. This was a promise he secretly made for himself and Xiao Tian. Lifting his grim-filled head, YaoMing made a short glance at the appointed judge, only to realize that a new one was assigned to this case. To some degree, he felt disheartened, albeit not enough to devastate his spirit. He has got a potential trump card to turn this scenario in and out of itself.

    As he forcibly hastened his pace, YaoMing¡¯s loosely tied braid finally let go of its lock and his long, dried hair draped messily over his face, making his already disheveled appearance even worse. Finishing the end of the central hallway, partitioning the guest stands into two on both sides, YaoMing knelt low into a kowtow before the desk of the judge. His raspy voice barely muttered any audible sounds for a formal, respectable greeting, amongst the chaos that was the civilian crowd behind him. Yet, YaoMing paid little mind to them or his performance.

    ¡°...¡±

    Seeing the state the defendant was in, the judge signaled a guard to gather a bucket from the nearby vase and swiped his hand, instructing another pair to shift YaoMing to the right station of the defendant. All that there was prepared for him was a cold, empty stone space to kneel on as a customary obligation. Behind him, two short columns of 5 guard men each, donned in the same garments of that gate guard Xiao Tian met up with, mechanically went to their respective positions on the opposing ends of the semi rectangular court session.

    The only difference Xiao Tian observed was their change in weaponry, with the assembly guards wielding long gray, bamboo canes, painted with a bright red section at the top end.

    Following several Chi behind them, the old Head nobleman of the Low family finally made his grand entrance through the tall iron gates as it swung open with a sudden, vibrating clang of metal and in that moment, immediate silence was brought upon to the commoner crowd.

    Taking several pauses to observe the overall scene of the municipal hall, he grunted deeply in frustration, stomping his cane as he went onwards.

    Also donned in a black robe and inner layers of white, the Low Head walked the central hallway with his line of guards and subordinates in tow.

    Arriving at the center of the court hall, the nobleman readily greeted the judge with a bow with a clasped palm and hand; before heading off towards the left station, taking a rest on the cushioned seat prepared for him. Beside the chair, on either side, his old, trusted advisor and the Low family¡¯s personal military commander stood firmly on their ground, clearly declaring their support for their Lord, as well as showing off his presence of dominance, knowing there are other families witnessing this trial. But that was just a byproduct. It was truly just a psychological front, mostly aimed at the lone, isolated shell of a doctor kneeling on the other side of the hall. And this was what all the spectators could easily pick up on with Xiao Tian having insurmountable rage slowly seeping out of her fuming head.

    ¡®Hang¡­Hang in there, Brother!¡¯

    Xiao Tian quietly cheered on while YaoMing was not aware of her presence, which she hoped would be maintained throughout.

    ---

    With everyone in session, a secondary counselor rose up in his seat to give the opening speech. His voice reverberated across the expansive court hall, preventing any howling hooligans and the uncivilized from interfering with this sacred tradition.

    ¡°START SPEECH

    OH BENEVOLENT AND WISE MAGISTRATE OF LAW, OFFICER ZHI GUANGYAN, MAY I BEHOLD AND PRESENT TO YOU, THE DIRE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE XU AND LOW NOBLE FAMILIES WITH EACH REPRESENTING THE DEFENDANT AND VICTIM RESPECTIVELY. I BLESS YOUR ACUTE JUDGMENT WILL BRING FORWARD THE JUSTICE THE MIDDLE KINGDOM DESIRES TO KEEP FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

    END SPEECH¡±

    With the usual ritual chant of Sincerity and Decorum finished, the judge raised his hand high, signaling his pledge and the start of the first run of this case.

    ¡°Lord Low, may you first state your imputations?¡±

    Without replying a single word back towards the judge, Lord Low made eye contact with a subordinate of his at the corner of his station. With that, a slim man appeared out of the shadows, dressed in a bleach coloured robe and a fashionable fan in his right.

    ¡®A personal counselor?! Damn it¡­¡¯

    Xiao Tian and YaoMing were despised. Considering YaoMing was low on funds to hire one after the decline in treatments to perform, even if he were at his peak in his family¡¯s standing currently, the man there was a rank lower than a ChengShi magistrate. YaoMing would never be able to pay for one that was two ranks lower than that and right there, things were starting to fall apart. The both of them felt it, crawling slowly up their panicking hearts.

    ¡°Two months back, Young Master Low QingHua tragically passed after an abundance of blood loss. The reported cause was examined to be internal from punctured holes through the use of a foreign scalpel and numerous needles, counted ten, according to the Medicinal Guild experts, Mr Tsu and Lord Jun.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The counselor resumed the explanation.

    ¡°As such the circumstances of his death, Judge Zhi, both Lord Low and I had deduced that the only way for those objects to enter into the Young Master¡¯s body was through external assistance, leading into focusing upon the previously recent surgery the Young Master took in regards to the removal of an appendicitis¡­and this procedure was performed by the defendant, Mr Xu.

    So for certain, Judge Zhi, my investigators and I have also looked into other areas of the Young Master¡¯s lifestyle several days before his passing. Not only into Mr Xu¡¯s side of the case. Therefore, these are our conclusions¡­

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Firstly, all meals that were taken in, were tracked back to having been eaten within the Lord¡¯s estate where double security and servant tasting is practiced to ensure safe consumption.

    Secondly, any activities of unmonitored ingestion were confirmed to be null. The personal butler of the Young Master is here behind me and the Lord had paired the two ever since early childbirth so the chances of betrayal and lies from Mr Lou are incredibly slim. Additionally, I think it is undeserving of him to be interrogated further, who has lost someone as close as a blood brother of his.¡±

    Within that last section of the counselor¡¯s speech, the Butler Lou appeared right next to him and gave the Judge a sorrowful bow to show his honesty, shortly before the counselor promptly signaled for the butler to retreat back as he continued his other statements.

    ¡°Third and finally, Judge Zhi, the Young Master was a person of joy and laughter with a great future ahead of him. According to his friends, his butler and the Lord and Madam, the Young Master had no previous signs of self-harming. In fact, upon hearing the unfortunate news that he had appendicitis, which was known to have a high chance of death, he greatly panicked with urgency to set an appointment to get it treated. But¡­as the aftermath speaks for itself, due to Mr Xu¡¯s slip up, intentional or not, the Young Master¡¯s death cannot be undone!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    His grandiose finale echoed thunderously across the hall, reaching the outer walls of the building as the counselor brandished his arms up high, like a high-end performer.

    And once the echoes subsided, the counselor slowly turned and made eye contact with YaoMing. Eyes glaring.

    ¡°What do you have to say for yourself, Mr Xu?¡±

    ¡®This¡­this is the skill that¡¯s worth that enormous sum of money¡­ Without question, what I am seeing here is the skill of a professional, and¡­¡±

    Ultimately, there was no replying response.

    ---

    As Xiao Tian hesitantly watched from across the raised seat platforms, she had always held her hands tightly together, praying faithfully for her brother to find a way to fight back against those allegations. But for now, that light at the end of the tunnel was glowing dimmer by the minute. All she saw now was a bony figure in a change of torn, wrinkled and filthy white clothes. Her brother¡¯s face was out of view, blocked by his untidy, loosened hair; and at his side, a small bucket previously filled to the brim with water was emptied, licked clean of any remaining droplets.

    ¡®Brother¡­what are you gonna do now?¡±

    Her fingers turned bright red.

    ---

    Several moments have passed since that counselor ended his opening piece and with his closing, there came no answer.

    With a minute passed, the judge finally intertwined. Normally, he was the one doing the earlier work but with the expertise of that counselor, the coordination of the conversation was going so smoothly that his direct control is partially irrelevant. However, inside this court hall, he has the greater power over the counselor so his much appreciated help would be very limiting, especially for a problem like this.

    ¡°Mr Xu, is there anything you would like to say in your defense?¡±

    ¡®He doesn¡¯t need me to spell it out for him to hurry the hell up, right?!¡¯

    And that thought may come into fruition.

    For a straight five minutes, YaoMing knelt there. Deep in silence, with the quiet anticipation of the audience and Lord Low with his faction.

    ¡®DAMN IT!¡¯

    The judge was running out of patience.

    ¡°Mr Xu, would you hurry your-¡±

    ¡°I beg your pardon, Judge Zhi. I have my statements ready,¡± YaoMing abruptly interrupted, showing a serious look on his face. His draping hair moved to the sides in a swift swipe of his hand.

    ¡®YES! Brother, I¡¯ll cheer you on!¡¯

    ---

    Shuffling over to face the counselor, Yaoming began his counter assault.

    ¡°Counselor, how should I address you?¡±

    ¡°Mr Xian will suffice, Mr Xu.¡±

    ¡°...Pleasantly, Mr Xian,¡± YaoMing acknowledged before addressing the judge. In a stern and steady voice, he requested, ¡±Judge Zhi, I would foremostly want you to reconsider Mr Xian¡¯s accusations.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    A mumbling crowd slowly awakened with that bold pronouncement and the judge swiftly replied back, managing to immediately hush down the audience quiet.

    ¡°Ohhh, and what¡¯s your reason behind that?¡±

    A subtle sneer appeared on his wrinkly lips.

    Clearing his throat, YaoMing said his part.

    ¡°His flawed argument is fully built upon a large pile of speculation and hypothetical conclusions. There is no firm evidence that I messed up on the surgery. No one witnessed me making any errors. And I am, after all, a certified medical practitioner. For your reminder, I have already taken the Medicinal Guild¡¯s certification examination course twice, Judge Zhi. You could even ask my assistants who aided me in that operation-¡±

    ¡°So, are you switching blame to the medicinal guild for their negligence in assessing your skills properly?¡±

    ¡°huh¡­¡±

    It was a cold-hearted interruption, sending a ripple of hesitation across his mind and goosebumps raised off his skin.

    ¡°What¡­No, Judge Zhi. I greatly respect their skill and passion for medicine. There is no way I would do such a thing. Anywa-sorry, anyhow, Mr Xi-¡±

    There was a tinge of falter.

    ¡°Then¡­¡±

    The counselor interrupted

    ¡°Was the reason for your faulty operation intentional, Mr Xu? There are, after all, numerous records of intense dispute between your father and Lord Low,¡± the counselor brought out a bundle of scroll accounts, strengthening his claim, ¡°Are you now trying to ruin the next generation of the Low family in response to your father¡¯s death? Are you too scared that fighting by yourself will engulf you like a landslide?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s false. It¡¯s FALSE!¡±

    The counselor relaxes his fist.

    ¡°Please be realistic here, Mr Xu. Here, I have authentic files documen-¡±

    ¡°IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME!¡±

    The frustrated voice echoed throughout, followed by a slight twitch of a fast grin.

    ¡°...Mr Xu¡­¡±

    That was unexpected, the crowd collectively thought. Never would they see the normally level-headed doctor explode out in anger and that¡¯s where he fell into the snare.

    Pressing forward, the counselor gradually raised his voice.

    ¡°How heartless are you, Mr Xu? This isn¡¯t what I expected of you to defend against my statements.¡±

    A loud whispering crowd shortly emerged. Their inaudible gossip securely encompassed YaoMing in an inescapable barrier where everywhere he saw and heard, the people would mostly likely be bad mouthing and doubting him.

    His breath got heavier.

    ¡°No¡­I-I¡¯m not. I¡¯m not. I did not kill QingHua! He¡¯s¡­He¡¯s a valuable patient¡­Yes, just like the rest of the people that visited my pharmacy! You could even conclude that he came to my pharmacy for a treatment, just shortly before his death, as a complete, tall tale coincidence.¡±

    ¡°I disagree, the tools discovered inside his body were of the same ones used at your clinic and if you object by mentioning that the other places may have gotten to him first, why was it only after you that he visited, the Young Master had internal bleeding? Purely coincidental, isn¡¯t that right, Mr Xu?¡±

    ¡°What¡­what are you trying to say here?¡±

    His hands started to shiver.

    YaoMing was¡­

    ¡°Ha¡­With your already provened bad track record of more than a hundred reported minor cases of inflicting injury and the major account of false prescription of drugs for a sickly kid, leading to his unfortunate early demise, who is going to believe your words now?¡±

    ¡°No¡­those were also false cl-¡±

    ¡°The white paper that you have thus far has been stained to the point it will tear like tofu with minimal force. There is no more turning back, and to be frank with you, Mr Xu, you are now just delusional about your confidence in your skills as a medical practitioner. I suggest that you-¡±

    ¡°JUST FUCKING SHUT UP ALREADY! I SWEAR TO GOD I FUCKIN NEVER INTEND TO KILL ANYONE! YOU HEAR ME!?¡¯

    ¡°¡®never intend to¡¯...Does that mean you already knew of your mistake but it was shoved under the rug?¡±

    ¡°That-That was just a mishap. A wrong description of my feelings. To clarify again, I . never . killed. anyone!¡±

    YaoMing held his hands close to his heart, trying his best to show his honesty. But now, this gesture proved negligible in persuasion.

    ¡°In that case, what other possible reasons could you find besides that, Mr Xu?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°What other methods of getting those instruments within the abdomen could you show as evidence that proves it¡¯s not your own harmful actions?¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­¡±

    Urgency

    ¡°Please don¡¯t be any more crazened with naivety.¡±

    Rejection

    ¡°Hol-¡±

    Ignorance

    ¡°Admit that it¡¯s you-¡±

    YaoMing was at his wits end.

    The last straw was the intervention of the judge.

    ¡°Mr Xu, we are not going anywhere with this conversation. Could you please wr-¡±

    ¡°STAY OUT OF THIS, OLD MAN! FUCKIN SHUT THAT HOLE OF YOURS YOU CALL A FUCKIN MOUTH!!!¡±

    And that¡¯s the killing blow. The key to prison and the lock of any future chance of redemption.

    ---

    Orchestrating this outcome came the set up from a few months back, planned by Lord Low and Counselor Xian. With the two day delay of the initial court schedule being purposefully done in secret to allow for the previously long period of continuous torture and harsh teatment to be executed, which was intentionally made to bring the mental fortitude of the young and wise YaoMing into a lowly feeble, distressing state of mind.

    But surprisingly, YaoMing held on better than expected.

    This, however, did not matter since the overall mental strain for the, by now, still introverted youthful adult, pummeled down with a large flow of public shame and outlash; accompanied by the crawling feeling of loneliness that comes along; and unknowingly for the Low, the indirect abandonment of his beloved sister; and the emotions drawn out by the manipulation of the facts and pushing the young Yaoming into a corner, overwhelmed any resistance he could muster up at this stage of his life. Ultimately, he finally snapped and what worse way to reinforce your chances of losing the case than to curse a mindless jumble of curse words at someone like the judge who did his trial that day.

    ---

    ¡®It¡¯s locked in.¡¯

    The counselor and Low Head joyfully cheered.

    ¡®There''s no other way out, Mr Xu. You were marked for medical malpractice, among other minor accusations, and now, including the worst of them all, the insulting of the judge¡­ The m-¡¯

    ¡®-match is over for you, YaoMing boy. I won.¡¯

    Ultimately, Yaoming was currently in a state of desperate rage to think straight and with that, came a more impulsive behavior that he had never experienced before.

    Suddenly, a hard slam onto the judges desk captured the attention of everyone. YaoMing looked up in disgust back at him.

    ¡°FIRST-FIRST DEGREE CAPITAL CRIME, INSULTING THE JUDGE. HOW..HOW DARE YOU, YOU LOWLY MANCHILD?! GUARDS, GUARDS, GET THE PLANK AND RODS AT THIS INSTANCE!¡±

    With that raging order, the men, donned in black, immediately got into action.

    ¡°Wha, HEY, HEY YOU, urgh¡­LET, LET GO!!!¡±

    They forcibly grabbed YaoMing, dragging him upwards before harshly pressing him down, face first onto the splintered plank bench stool. Sharp bits and splinters bit irritably deep into his dried skin as he grunted loudly in pain. Meanwhile, his arms and legs were tied up to individual poles a distance away.

    That¡¯s when a guard abruptly grabbed his hair and pulled on it tight, forcing his head up to face the judge who was presentably livid, turning bright red like a burning flame.

    ¡°YAOMING, AGAINST A BRAZEN AND SELFISH ATTITUDE OF A YOUNG BRAT SUCH AS YOURSELF, I HEREBY DEMAND THAT YOU WILL BE GIVEN WHAT YOU RIGHTFULLY DESERVE! NORMALLY, I WOULD DECLARE THE WORST DEGREE OF BEATINGS UNDER THE ZHANG CATEGORY. BUT, SINCE THIS IS STILL YOUR SECOND MAJOR OFFENSE, I WILL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO LIGHTEN YOUR PUNISHMENT IF YOU PLEAD GUILTY TO KILLING LOW QINGHUA.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Silence, as the crowd behind him and spectators above awaited his response while XiaoTian¡­

    But, with his rage still set ablazed, YaoMing spoke out back in a raspy scream, ¡°NEVER!  IT''S-IT¡¯S NEVER¡­MEE! I-¡±

    ¡°TEN! TEN LASHES NOW!¡±

    The judge could take his behavior no more.

    And following that directive, a continuous series of high-pitched shrieks filled the otherwise dead silent court hall.

    ---

    ¡°HOW ABOUT NOW? DO YOU ADMIT GUILTY-¡±

    ¡°NEVER! Haaa¡­¡±

    Heavily drenched in his own sweat and a pool of overflowing saliva, the darkened face of YaoMing persisted on to voice his innocence and behind him, a sharp, searing pain emerged on his behind, rapidly gaining more and more agony.

    ¡°Still that stubborn, aren''t you? AGAIN, THIS TIME, THIRTY!¡±

    Every time, YaoMing continued to deny the judge.

    ¡°AHHH!¡±

    And with that came another barrage of lashes onto his body.

    ¡°URGH!¡±

    Increasing in quantity with every consecutive denial.

    ¡°Ple-PLEASE¡­NAHH!¡±

    Soon enough, YaoMing¡¯s spirit started to dwindle.

    Painful, heart-wrenching screams filled the hall again as some watched on in terror, while others stood amazed, deep in awe at the severe beating that Yaoming took.

    Meanwhile, Xiao Tian just remained frozen, plastered stuck onto her seat. She never bothered to move. Consumed in so much pain, the anguish and guilt started to grow but it soon felt numb to her in the end of the fourth defiance cry. This was the worst outcome that could happen to them. Tears never ran but her eyes constricted tight as she started to intuitively shiver in fright. Unfortunately, the torture was as tenacious as YaoMing¡¯s final burst of rage as he screeched out one last time in a final attempt of persuasion. Ultimately, after a total of a hundred beatings, YaoMing finally gave in. His clothes were ripped and torn apart with his buttocks and back bloodied a number of deep dark purple splotches across a bright red and maroon splatter backdrop. It was a hellish sight for anyone to witness as the hall continued its silence except for the wheezing pants of the nearly passed out Yaoming.

    ¡°Brother¡­¡±

    Those were the only words she could mutter out. Xiao Tian knew that remaining silent was the best choice for her but it was personally tormenting internally. All she wanted now was to dash straight forward onto the platform and take the beatings for him. Even if YaoMing would certainly deny such help, she would have maintained her position nonetheless. Albeit the passion, she knew such an action was foolish and she bit her tongue in heartbreak. As this cluster of emotions were twisting and swirling inside her, the sound of several layers of parchment could be heard.

    ¡°Do you plead guilty, YaoMing?¡±

    The judge asked for the final time while a guard grabbed hold of YaoMing¡¯s released right thumb, proceeding to dip it in a red ink and slamming it onto the bottom left of the front page. It was a document that states he pleaded guilty.

    ¡°Yaa¡­ysss,esss¡­peeeesss, n-morrrr¡±

    And with that, the crowd erupted into cheers for the exciting conclusion this trial ended upon. Never had a trial been this thrilling in a long time for the commoners and the spectator nobles above. Finishing off this entertaining watch was the Low Head with his other subordinates celebrated along with the crowd, being treated as winners in a match.

    Shortly after the paper was collected back by the judge, he signaled for YaoMing¡¯s frail body was roughly carried out of the court and into a dark corridor, never to be seen beyond that.

    ¡°Darn, that was fun,¡± complimented one of the spectators who sat beside her. Turning her head, ¡°What do you think of it, young lady?¡± she asked.

    But¡­

    ¡°...huh, I reckon there was someone here. Hmph,¡± she shrugged, ¡±anyhow¡­¡±

    She could not care less and went about conversing with the rest of the spectators.

    .

    .

    But, the woman in the black dress was no longer there, had she left a short time earlier, and trailing behind her were droplets of tears. Some were redder than the others.

 Chapter 18 : A Heartfelt Understanding

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui was not having it.

    He strongly felt everything had reverted back to when they first started this journey.

    .

    .

    .

    It was a long 2 hours before they finally reached the end of the farmlands, arriving straight at the main road that led into the inner regions of DongBu village. Dark yellow strips of wide, harvested crop fields were flowing towards a fading gradient, transitioning into a more familiar reddish green backdrop, followed by regular arrangements of rows of wooden or concrete housing. Between several of these dwellings, shops were established in an alternating pattern. Their long, slim shadows fell on the road in front of them as the sun continued to make its progressing climb up into the slight overcast sky. Overall, It was another mundane morning weather for the populace, which ReZhui felt surprisingly comfortable with now, considering the jarring differences of the inner circles with the outlier slums or the farmlands.

    ¡®Is this how ShiYan identifies this village to be?¡¯

    He recollected.

    A short few weeks back, ReZhui discerned this place to be one of high alert and precaution. Something that was extremely out of the norm. An unchartered territory like no other. No forests nor mountains could have shook him that way, unlike that alleyway from before. He truly felt terrified at the sight of, what he observed now as, such humbling structures of comfort and security that normal people live their entire livelihoods under. It was¡­

    A short chuckle.

    ¡®Well, I could get used to this.¡¯

    He kept that thought for the final time.

    Because unfortunately, contrary to the refreshing scenery that gave him a warm welcome back home, a grim and moody atmosphere laid reign over the inside of the carriage, accompanied by the dreadful tranquility of permanent silence. It was unsettling.

    Playing it safe and respectful, ReZhui remained in his neutral seating position while recalling several minutes beforehand about Mr Xu and his sister as they retold their unfortunate court trial in his younger days to them. Immediately after the mother finished her side of the story to Eddison, ReZhui could easily sense a sudden shift in the tone of Mr Xu¡¯s expression, breathing deeply under his breath, and that was what brought the silence until the present moment.

    Like a vase that was filled to the brim with water, ReZhui could sort of guess that if he did not ease tension right there at once, an uncontrollable flood would possibly later ensue which was not beneficial for all of them, including himself. But, it seemed as though Mr Xu had no intentions of calming down his sealed frustration.

    Thus, taking action upon himself, ReZhui knew he had to step in. Firstly, he hesitantly made quick glances at Eddison¡¯s mother, seated opposite him, and it left him troubled inside. Her eyes were unnaturally bleak as she hung her poker face to the side, avoiding contact with Mr Xu. Beside her sat Eddison who helped support his frail mother upwards on the sofa bench they shared. This time with more boldness, ReZhui met his gaze, giving him an anticipated look which Eddison did not overlook so easily. Slowly, Eddison started to feel weak. He unconsciously started to tap his foot and made slight shudders, indirectly cowering in fear of what was to happen next in which Eddison had a blurred insight into what could happen soon.

    Of course, this change in his newly revealed nephew did not go unnoticed by Mr Xu who was seated a distance away from the back rest, leaning forwards onto the edge of the sofa. His arms remained stationary on his thighs. Slim hands dangled inward, above his lowered head with his face, unseen and darkened by the shadows.

    Cautiously as ReZhui turned around to face him, Mr Xu subtly gritted his teeth, realizing the child¡¯s purpose. He should have spared no more delays or further misunderstandings.

    As much as Mr Xu disliked a conversation about the time in which the both of them were at their lowest or any form of useless conversation in general, he also wanted to settle this. Fast and proper.

    With that, Mr Xu said his piece, reassuring him.

    ¡°I no longer need your consolation, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°But I thank you, for your help.¡±

    The words spoken felt like a pat on the head.

    ¡°Mr¡­¡±

    ¡®No! This is what I wanted in the first place.¡¯

    With that, ReZhui halted his main course of action. Seeing Mr Xu¡¯s determined eyes, ReZhui retracted back into his side of the seat, claiming a sense of accomplishment within himself and setting up trust that Mr Xu would do well to resolve.

    ¡®Now¡­we are now back on track!¡¯

    He cheered.

    ---

    ¡°Xiao Tian, are you paying attention to me?¡± he inquired gently.

    Mr Xu steadied his posture, making direct eye contact with her.

    ¡°...¡±

    What came next was silence, but that did not last long. Finally, she spoke.

    ¡°Dear Brother, are you mad at me¡­for going against your instructions?¡±

    She faced close to him.

    ¡°...¡±

    ---

    ¡®What a complicated situation.¡¯ ReZhui thought to himself. For a trip back home, he was pleasantly amazed at how much out of Mr Xu he was learning about. Being someone that ReZhui admired greatly, this other side of him, a weak individuality, was starting to show itself to be more and more apparent as the deeper their story continues. Despite those flaws, ReZhui sincerely respected him.

    ¡®Personally, this makes you seem¡­more friendlier, Mr Xu. So therefore, I will be cheering you on from the sidelines!¡¯

    ReZhui raised an imaginary fist into the air.

    ---

    ¡°Xiao Tian¡­¡±

    It was an unexpected, feeble voice, soft spoken without a hint of arrogance of an educated scholar that even ReZhui pulled back further in shock. Eddison, on the other hand, clinged tighter to his mother.

    ¡°I¡­I deeply apologize.¡± Mr Xu.

    In a manner that used the professionality of a service worker and feelings of a caring older brother, Mr Xu lowered his head.

    However, promptly before his head was bent at a ninety degree angle, the mother jerked forward using all her strength which equated to not much, and brought herself closer towards her brother, stopping him in quick alert.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    As she frantically brandished her panicked hands near his face at first, the mother stuttered a flabbergasted response,

    ¡°W-why¡­?¡± Her voice sounded with a degree of exasperation.

    Her hands shook in panic and fright.

    ¡°I-I should be the one. I shouldn¡¯t have gone out to attend that court session. If¡­They wouldn¡¯t have gotten that far if I were to-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, Xiao Tian!¡±

    ¡°...what, what are you saying, Dear Brother? Isn¡¯t that all false to make me feel better?¡±

    A deep breath in, as he stopped her continuing.

    And a low exhale came afterwards.

    ¡°Do you still remember the case of little Chen of the Liang family, Xiao Tian? The first murder case of which I was accused of.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Recollecting her thoughts, the mother calmed down and carefully picked herself up onto the sofa bench where she gave her level headed reply, messaging her dizzy forehead.

    ¡°Why would I ever forget your first ever unjustified accusation, Dear Brother? So yes. Yes I do remember. What of it now?¡±

    ¡°...Well, while I understand it is too late to inform you this late, but after you¡­I eventually managed to pick myself up again and with the help from some of Father¡¯s remaining loyal friends, which I went to the extreme with precaution to message them, in the end, I successfully proved my innocence. With the help of retired Commander Yu, we were able to forcibly investigate the house of the Liang¡¯s and found a large supply of paint which had large traces of lead contained within them. And with that used as evidence, I was able to reason that little Chen died of lead poisoning and this was further backed by customers of the Liang family, who fall victim to a usage of a new formula of paint that the Liang¡¯s sold, days before my appointment with them. Similar to little Chen, many customers who had registered patients into the other pharmacies, were seen diagnosed with severe cognitive disorders and paralyzed in parts of their limbs. Most commonly, ones with large families of children.

    And by the time I was done digging for evidence, their reputation had already fallen apart in some neighborhoods while in others, bad rumors were only circulated. Ultimately, I concluded that my drugs were never the issue and brought up this analysis to the judiciary. This time, I used the proper connections and planned ahead to get a proper judgment which surely worked well in my favor, resulting in my criminal record being burned and the Liang family business was shut down.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...I know it¡¯s hard to digest this so suddenly but I hope this will remove your ¡®guilt¡¯, Xiao Tian. Even if there were to be some lingering emotions, at least, I hope the burden is partially relieved.¡±

    And in response, the mother gave him a sharp glare.

    ¡°What¡¯s with this empathetic and sullen attitude of yours, Dear Brother? I¡¯d much rather prefer that tone when I talked about that bastard judge,¡± she replied coldly.

    ¡°Is this another one of your self-deprecating phases again?...Listen XiaoTian, I would be lying if I did say I wasn¡¯t mad. This includes even now.¡±

    ¡°So-¡±

    ¡°But, if I were to place myself in your shoes, I could confidently say that whatever you have been through for the past two decades or so, it surely was a tough life out there, wasn¡¯t it? Much harder than my life post-court, I concur..¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    ¡°And so, I trust that my little sister has already learned from her past mistakes and has grown up to become a wise lady worthy of the Xu surname. In the end, there is no use in myself being mad at someone¡¯s once ¡®self¡¯, that no longer exists.¡±

    ¡°Letting bygones be bygones¡­Is that what you¡¯re suggesting, Dear brother?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and so regarding my immature emotional display earlier, I want to apologize. For all those times that I could have sent out a search party to find you and bring you back home, I instead thought you were better off gone without me and nearly forgot about you; and for that I apologize. Finally, for all the traumatizing experiences that I naively showcased to you back at that court session, I am sure it would¡¯ve wound you greatly, watching a close family member being beaten to submission like that. Ha¡­thinking back to it now, I feel¡­I feel idiotic. Very much so.¡±

    ¡°Dear Brother¡­I-I,¡±

    Her eyes started to water.

    ¡°Huh,¡± TianXing questioned as she felt tears running down her cheeks, droplets falling onto her bony hands.

    ¡°sorry¡­It¡¯s¡­sniff¡­It¡¯s just¡­sniff¡­I-I was scared. Back then before I left the household and now, where I lack a single penny to my name, it¡­sniff¡­it was frightening. Moreover, now¡­where I had no choice but to show this pitiful version of me in front of my beloved brother. It hurts to see you get disheartened on my behalf. As much of a failure as I am now, I do not deserve your compassion.¡±

    ¡°NO! No¡­that¡¯s no what I meant-¡±

    ¡°Despite this, I still remembered the effort you put in to love me. And for all the times I delve back into my self-hatred, you were the one to bring me back into the light of life. You were there for me in the darkest of times; and the fact that you continuously expressed that I am deserving of such affection while I still remained persistent on the thought of otherwise. It makes your efforts wasted, first and foremost. I do not want that to happen. Secondly, I once had the love of my life. While it may seem like a fleeting memory within the back of my head,¡±

    She took out a small silver locket out of her robe.

    While dented and covered in grime, it had quite the appealing simplistic design to it, being shaped like an oval and having a small amethyst gem at the bottom end. Small engravings of moons and roses covered the border and the handle that attaches it to the chain is a hook, molded into a curling serpent. Close to that was a lock to open the cover and as she clicked it open, the inside within showed a photograph of miniature size.

    Revealing it sparked the attention of everyone in the room. All widened eyes were locked in onto the accessory she held in her hand.

    And as they all examined the piece, there displayed a standing young gentleman, with his left arm resting softly on the edge of the grand chair rest; upon which his equally youthful wife graciously sat on; and atop her lap, their 4 year-old child sat obediently still, facing the camera.

    For ReZhui, this was the first time he had ever seen such a different style of clothing worn before and in such a medium of camera film as well. He felt exhilarated at these new sights of fashion and technology. The family were all donned heavily grayscale formal suits and gowns, with the husband spotting a bowtie and the wife, a complexly woven frilled collar. Their sleeves were tight and compact while her gown and shoulders were voluptuous and puffy.

    He stared at it in deep awe and as expected, he was the only one most amazed by this. Eddison was very clearly the child in the photo and Mr Xu was familiar with this drastic change of culture with his experience of foreign affairs.

    But as much as ReZhui wanted to vomit out a bunch of questions to the mother about what he is witnessing here, he knew this was not the right time and so held himself back,  remaining silent.

    Seated next to him, Mr Xu also felt a sudden influx of questions into his mind, but not for the thoughts ReZhui was curious about. He gripped his fingers tightly in patience.

    ¡®

    ¡®

    Witnessing their reactions, TianXing proceeded to lightly brush her fingers across the man¡¯s face in the photo. Her eyes sparkled glistening black marble.

    ¡°He also saw me for who I am and I do not want to waste this as well.¡±

    Shifting her gaze to the toddler, she frowned in a contemplative gaze, before turning to face her son.

    ¡°And finally you, Eddison, with your grandfather coming close second. It gladdens me to know that you still acknowledge me as your mother¡­seriously, you¡¯re just like your father. Even with all the sorrow and suffering I shoved upon you¡­¡±

    ¡°Mother¡­¡±

    But before Eddison could continue, she gently patted his head aside, coming towards his eye-level.

    ¡°And for that, I apologize, Eddison. I know that you will continue to forgive your sorry excuse of a mother, but I need to take some responsibility for what I have done so I will atone for my sins. I do not know how but that¡¯s a certainty and my promise.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Eddison could say no word. It felt too overwhelming for the young boy who has not seen his mother act that way in a very long time. It was unsettling and very foreign, but also comforting in a way at the same time. Either way, his mind unfortunately blanked out at that very moment.

    ¡°And as for Dear Brother, I want to give you all my thanks again. If you can find the joy within me, then maybe I could too. Yes¡­I will love myself to the best that I can, Brother, even if it¡¯s possibly too late to change anew.¡±

    She smiled meekly with lethargic glee.

    ¡°...¡±

    Mr Xu, while proud with her declaration, gave her a troubled and worried look back, addressing it as soon as she realized this.

    ¡°I am glad to hear that, Xiao Tian. But, if you do not mind answering this question, could you tell me if it¡¯s possible to arrange a meeting with your ¡®husband¡¯?¡±

    Despite being ready to be faced with such a question, TianXing was still taken aback slightly with that upfront manner of speech and as she was prepared with an answer, the words would not come out, spokened out in minced pieces from the start.

    ¡°sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°...No, don¡¯t be. Let¡¯s try another approach, shall we? Why don¡¯t we start from the beginning, after you depart from here?¡±

    That was when ReZhui intertwined.

    ¡°Mr Xu, do you mind sharing why Eddison¡¯s mother left? I-I can see Eddison being curious of the reason as well. Right Eddison?¡±

    A quick and bold nod was what he gave.

    ¡°...¡±

    Giving ReZhui quite the furious glare, Mr Xu complied and began his explanation.

 Chapter 19 : Their Desperate Situation

    The rusted metal door clanged loudly. Its crackling resonance echoed grandly throughout the damp and filthy corridor, upon which a guard grunted aside. Dressed in matt black garments and gray leather paddings, the middle aged custodian extended his hand forward, signaling for the lady to enter in towards his lifelong workplace, one of which he was indifferent of the condition it was in.

    ¡°...¡±

    But the lady did not move a muscle and instead turned a glaring side glance towards him, lightening those dead eyes, derived from sunlight for most of his life.

    ¡°You know the toll, don¡¯t you, Young Lady?¡±

    ¡°_¡±

    Giving a light nod, she carefully reached out for her pouch within her draping garment. Carefully avoiding any made sounds, the lady gently handed him several silver taels which were considered way much more than what he himself could have earned in half a year. While one cope to continue this miserable work was his lack of antipathy for general hygiene, underhanded bribes such as these were what made this job such an incentive for the man, but as risky as the crimes were recorded, even he could gain much more from this favor especially from what he saw, was an immature and well kept maiden like herself.

    And so as she took a forward step through the metal door frame, the guard halted the lady in her tracks, making another greedious threat.

    ¡°I can only hold their attention for a meager 15 intervals of the upper burning candle, my dear young Ma¡¯am. I pray to you my-AH!¡±

    A pair of gold taels was what was felt within the grasp of his blocking palm as she continued to stare down at him.

    With a tinge of joy, the guard made one last look at the lady, bowing deeply for her decisiveness.

    ¡°Thank you for your cooperative patronage, my fair Lady,¡± he sneered with slit eyes. However, the more he continued to glimpse at her stoic impression, suddenly a part of his hair readily stood on edge.

    ¡®Damn these women are the most troublesome.¡¯

    Though those were his honest thoughts, his business facade remains strong willed.

    ¡°Take as much time as you need, and let me know if you need anything extra¡­¡± were the final words spoken by the guard before he made his retreat back up the underground dungeon. The clacking of his hard-soled sandals quickly dwindled, leaving the only sounds of muffled flowing water and the sporadic slithering of heavy chains across the coarse rocky floors from the other side of the narrow corridor.

    Tightening her grip against the handles of her medicinal bag, the young lady exhaled a heavy breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

    ¡°Elder Brother¡­¡±

    ---

    The more the lady approached closer to the jail cell at the end, she felt her heart beating the heaviest ever since the day the ¡®false¡¯ charge was given to her beloved brother. And¡­this was the jail cell he was temporarily placed into.

    Luckily, all the other barred cells on either side of the hallway were deserted, not that it was a coincidence since it was most obvious this was another one of those psychological tricks at play with the feeling of isolation upon her poor brother. With short glances at each individual cell she passes, the lady accounted for the common conditions of those claustrophobic pig pens.

    Damp unevenly tiled floors and dripping ceiling, the stench of decomposing rats and fecal matter, and a bundle of unkempt straw nestled deep within the pitch black interior. It was a nightmare branded all over and her brother¡¯s cell was no better. Besides the small barred window at the very top of the 2 story height ceiling, there was no other opening of sunlight nor ventilation.

    ¡°Achoo!...Smmnh!¡±

    Rubbing herself warm from the cold draft of air that breezed in from above, the lady slid aside the unlocked handle and roughly shoved it open; the door¡¯s joints screeched in high-pitched shrieks. Steadying herself afterwards, she quickly scanned across the dimly lit room for her brother with the only light coming from that tiny opening, illuminating the center of the jail cell. After a few moments, she manages to find him, placed disheartenedly at the deepest and darkest edge of the caged pen.

    Overall, he was in no way better compared to that day at the trial. All his four limbs were locked up to long chains and his skin turned a dark blue hue around the place the chains were clamped in place. Apart from a light sandy robe that only sheltered his bony upper and lower torso, his extremities were shivering like infected with an uncontrollable disease.

    ¡°...¡±

    The sister covered her mouth in absolute fear and disgust.

    Roughly laid upon a hard splintered wooden table, there the brother laid, down flat on his stomach, in silence, half dead and deep in sorrow. His arms and legs were left dangling over the narrow plank that was his bed. And with that life threatening injury of a 100 beatings, the brother could barely feel anything below his upper torso, leaving himself hopelessly motionless in this horrid and uncomfortable position. Such agony, that his once sharp, snake-like pupils devolved into a duo of dilated and beady drops of glossy black ink, failing to be aware of the presence of his sister.

    A gulp.

    A crease of her eyebrows.

    And a clenched fist, the lady steadily addressed him.

    ¡°Elder Brother, Elder Brother!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    There was no response, aside from a ruffling of chains and cloth. However, this was enough to know she caught his attention.

    Placing down the medicinal bag beside one of the legs, she folded her sleeves and carefully untied the light robe over his body. She then took a quick examination of his condition which made her blood boil.

    ¡°Elder Brother, who was the apothecary that was assigned to you?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    He gave her back a dull side glance.

    ¡°YiuSun,¡± he muttered softly. His cold breath formed mist as he spoke.

    ¡°Idiot!...You do know that he was always in your opposition. Why still let¡­Oh¡­¡±

    A hard realization hit the enraged Xiao Tian.

    ¡°Was it-¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡± Mr Xu weakly affirmed, ¡°I had no say in who to treat me.¡±

    ¡°Regardless of that, Dear Brother, at this rate, you will be on a chair till death. Hold still, I¡¯m sure I got something¡­here.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Crouching under and fastening her hair into a bun, Xiao Tian began to prepare her ingredients and utensils.

    As she did, Mr Xu listened closely to the sounds of wrapping leather parchments, the opening of wooden cabinets and the ting of high-pitched metal tunes. He groaned in response.

    ¡°...Xiao Tian, how are things going for the past two months in my absence, especially yourself?¡±

    The table shook back a moment after, startling him.

    ¡°Worry about yourself first, Dear Brother,¡± she replied coldly, getting up with an ointment he surely recognised.

    ¡°....¡±

    ¡°Tell me, where do you still feel the pain?¡±

    ¡°...well, ain¡¯t that hypocritical¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it''s nothing, Xiao Tian¡­Preferably, you should oversaturate everything to provide a response. Do you get me?¡±

    She smirked, ¡°You still haven¡¯t lost your touch, Elder Brother,¡± before proceeding with his instructions.

    Aside from minor twitches from some parts of the back torso, the application was running smoothly, too smoothly that the both of them started to worry.

    ¡°It¡¯s really worse, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Now, as long as I can still sense all the lower meridians, it¡¯s not irreversible. We can only hope for the best.¡±

    ¡°...You can still say that?¡±

    ¡°Xiao Tian, I see to it that there is a lack of much cinnamomum cassia. What¡¯s going on up-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t keep changing conversations, dear brother!¡±

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    ¡°THEN WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?¡±

    ¡°JUST SHUT UP!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Just¡­shut up already, please.¡±

    ¡°I¡­Alright.¡±

    .

    .

    .

    .

    The whole cell soon fell into silence with the occasional sounds of scraping metal on a roller over coarse dead skin being the routined beat of rhythm.

    Soon after, the guard broke the tranquil nature, carrying in a bucket of hot water in hand.

    ¡°Please let me know if you need anything extra,¡± he gleefully informed, before scurrying his way back up the stairway.

    .

    .

    With his front positioned feebly in front of the rundown tiled wall, Xiao Tian readied a soaked cloth towel, slowly rubbing the grim out around the lotioned area. And as she soon found her way reaching his arms, they both made eye contact to which they frozed in fright. None of them budge a move.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡±

    Handing out his other arm, he gave Xiao Tian a relaxed smile.

    ¡°...¡±

    Frowning deeply, she gave in to his request.

    Reaching forward to his forearm, she decided to answer his earlier question.

    ¡°How did you know I was lacking ingredients?¡±

    ¡°The color of the ointment. It had more of a clearer hue to it than it¡¯s brown.¡±

    ¡°As expected of my talented Elder Brother¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s happening currently at the Xu residence?¡±

    ¡°Aside from the most important assets, artifacts and documents that I was able to rapidly smuggle out of the village, the place is vandalized way beyond your disappointment.¡±

    ¡°How unfortunate, aren¡¯t I?¡± I even wonder if Father will descend down to kill me or drag me out to see the Black and White Impermanence.¡±

    ¡°What a silly exaggeration, Elder Brother. Our Father is a wise individual. He would never break to see the end of a burning candle that reaches the stars.¡±

    ¡°Hah! That¡¯s certainly something he could do¡­So, these ingredients¡­Are they from your trading company?¡±

    ¡°No, shortly after your imprisonment, I was hastily fired from their branch and rejected from employment elsewhere. To put it simply, I was living off my previous efforts.¡±

    ¡°Then the sparganium stoloniferum and the three Radix variants, the bribed guard, did you?¡±

    ¡°...Yes, I¡¯m on a restricted diet now.¡±

    ¡°W-what of Father¡¯s fortune?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Xiao Tian?¡±

    ¡°The Bank Guild halted any further transactions.¡±

    ¡°Damn it all!¡±

    His face swelled in an obvious red frustration.

    ¡®It was all due to my inability to defend ourselves. Fuck it! Where did I go wrong¡­¡¯

    ¡­

    Seeing his distressful bloodshot eyes, Xiao Tian grimaced at what she really intended to do. Treating and seeing him for the first time in 2 months was not the primary objective of this visit though it was equally important for Xiao Tian personally. Even if she wanted to postpone this news for another day¡­

    ¡®There would never be another day. If that was all it took to silence that awfully suspicious guard, I can¡¯t imagine doing that for the second time since even my emergency funds are running dry and I have to keep a sufficient amount for ¡®that¡¯.

    Yh, there¡¯s no turning back now. We are far too deep within to settle this alone.¡±

    ¡°Dear Brother?!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter now, Xiao Tian?¡±

    ¡°Once we are done here, I would like you to be prepared for what I¡¯m about to say before I leave.¡±

    ¡°O-ok?¡±

    ¡°Just promise me that you will be the level headed individual that you always were.¡±

    ¡°...I-I¡¯ll try. It just depends on what you¡¯re gonna say, Xiao Tian. But, I trust that you will make the right choices. You are not the little, naughty TianXing that you once were any longer.¡±

    She blushed.

    She looked away.

    And she gritted her teeth.

    ¡®Damn it, Brother. Why did you have to add that last part?¡¯

    ---

    The light that shone straight through the tiny barred window dimmed into a redder hue from a dominant yellow. It was already sunset.

    The last drawer was closed shut, empty of its contents. This was the same for the rest of the now hollow bag. Resting rather comfortably on some dried straw on the wooden table, Mr Xu watched on as Xiao Tian finished packing her stuff before turning on her heel towards him.

    ¡°So what was it you were gonna tell me?¡±

    She slowly tucked her hair behind her ear and loosened the bun fastening.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already decided on this, Dear Brother¡­I-I¡¯m going to ShanWei.¡±

    .

    ¡°What?...¡±

    He was speechless.

    ¡°Hold on for a moment there!¡±

    Mr Xu knew that it was his sister¡¯s dream to one day travel to that bustling city of urban life.

    ¡°Why!¡±

    And he also knew that this day was one to nearly come soon.

    But..

    ¡°WHY NOW!¡±

    But he did not want to send her off, especially at a time like this.

    ¡°Brot-¡±

    ¡°XiaoTian, if this case were to have never happened, I would have first gone there myself, gathered information on the local life there and decided on whether it was deemed worthy and safe for you to travel alone as you wished. But now, I can never accomplish that. At least at this very moment.¡±

    ¡°BROTHER, do you hear yourself? This isn¡¯t for that selfish desire of mine to strike wealth there to prove myself. I¡¯m doing this now for you!¡±

    ¡°Me¡­I do not see any connection--wait, no, NO!¡±

    ¡°Listen, Elder Brother. With my skills, I will work my way up the societal ladder of ShanWei, all the while, gathering influence and funds for your cause of innocence. Now that all our assets are placed against us, we will be doomed if I do not do something about this. Barely anyone else is in your support and you yourself are locked up in here, in this shitty pig pen. Even half-paralyzed to fuel the flames.¡±

    ¡°Despite this, Xiao Tian, you and I have never been anywhere as far East as ShanWei. Without anyone to back you up, even myself, you are all alone! And I¡­I¡­I can¡¯t bear watching you leave, not knowing that you would be safe from harm!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Her face started to darken once more.

    ¡°So please, Xiao Tian. You might die out there! Who¡¯s gonna look out for you and save you?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°You are the only one I have left that I loved dearly for¡­When everyone¡¯s cast me aside in this rotting cell, you are the only one who visits. ¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°DON¡¯T LEAVE ME LIKE FATHER AND MOTHER DID!!!¡±

    ¡°IT¡¯S THE ONLY WAY!¡±

    ¡°Xiao Tian?¡±

    ¡°This is¡­the only way.¡±

    She hung her head low. A shimmering stream could be seen running down her cheeks.

    ¡°No, no please.¡±

    ¡°Goodbye.¡±

    And with that she handed him a letter before shoving his grip off her.

    ¡°XIAO TIAN!¡±

    She dashed her way across the corridor, past the incoming moonlight and pitched black, deserted jail cells. Carrying her heavy feet and agonizing heart onto the staircase and out of the dungeon, never to be seen again by the brother she treasured the most in her life for the next several decades of their lives.

    ¡°don¡¯t. leave me. alone.¡±

    A loud clang of a rusted metal door was all that came for his reply.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Back inside the cell, under the now bright and chilly moonlight, dust particles could be seen floating, random and quick in sporadic fashion. Some eventually landed on the fallen tears of the man above. Stuck, immobilized in this disgrace of a makeshift bed counterpart, Mr Xu laid down in sobbing silence. And in his bony hand was the letter.

    ¡°...¡±

    Although fed up with everything up until this point, he remembered to feel the creases and surface of the paper in question. To which he knew that this was weak to digestive properties, suggesting its importance of secrecy. On it was a hastily written note that said:

    ¡°I will be back soon, beloved Brother. If you were wondering where I hid all our solid assets, it¡¯s in the hands of the former Commander Yu. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s on our side.

    Yours dearly,

    TianXing¡±

    In his eyes, they returned, a bleak beady mirror of pupils, as he crushed the paper into a crumpled mess before forcibly ingesting the tasteless piece of edible parchment.

    After a slight gag reflex, Mr Xu managed to get rid of any form of communication.

    Just in time for a set of footsteps to be heard across the corridor, clacking down the stairs. It was the middle-aged guard, up in his highest spirits, alongside three enforcers to keep the daily observation records. In his near comatose state, a single thought came to his mind as they unlocked the door to the corridor.

    ¡®I pray nothing worse happens to either of us. Have a safe trip, Xiao Tian.¡¯

    .

    .

    .

    ¡­

    Deep within a bustling harbor south of DongBu village, several piers of various lengths sprouted out against the currents of the main Bai River that all the villages resided along. Some were docked with cargo ships and lugsails; their red folding sails shone brightly in the backdrop of numerous large fire torches placed throughout the piers. One particular ship was currently docked at the pier second to last from the main warehouse. It was a dedicated passenger vessel.

    Along its pier, there were carts loaded with wooden chests and rolls of cloth. Using a light crane, workers were in the midst of finishing to load all the planned goods. However, at the entrance before the pier, there housed a medium-sized cement cottage. Within it, rows of passengers were preparing for their journey, checking their luggage and having final goodbyes with fellow family members. After all, for most of these passengers, this will be their last chance to see their families forever to find better work in the rumored big cities. One such city which was infamous for these attractive offers was ShanWei and this passenger vessel would take them there.

    Most of these passengers were young men, donned in their finest civilian clothing, which consisted of a newly sown tunic and pants of a bright, light color and cleaned of any farm work they had done for most of their livelihoods. Amongst the male dominant group, a lone woman was in their ranks. With only a single medicinal wooden bag and a western style wooden suitcase once belonging to her father which attracted quite a few stares early on within her arrival here, she fastened her Hanfu tightly against the chilly night wind.

    In her hand, a small red pouch was opened.

    ¡®Thirty silver taels left. I wonder if this could be enough until I find employment there.¡¯

    She breathed deeply. Mist forming in front of her still reddish eyes.

    ¡®Well, this is all I have left.¡¯

    That was when a bell rang loudly, bringing the attention of all the people in the cottage. Silence enveloped all of them.

    ¡°WE¡¯RE READY FOR BOARDING!¡± screamed the captain.

    And in that instance, a rapid torrent of people began sprinting towards the ship like dogs to a bone. Such a myriad of screams and shrieks that it could wake an entire herd of cows. It was chaos. Luckily, TianXing was able to keep up, given that she had quite the lighter luggage compared to the others.

    ¡®Well, this is off to a rocky start, Dear Brother.¡¯

 Chapter 20 : Welcome to the City of International Commerce!

    Located at the far east, to the Land of the Middle Kingdom, the Bai River reaches its end. Along the entire trip, originating from the mountains that surround the Bai village, cutting through insurmountable dense forests and patches of desert plateaus, meandering mountain ranges and meeting with smaller, yet significant bodies of water, the Great river that brought with it a rich civilisation, spreads out its mouth into divisions upon divisions of streams that cut through relatively smaller islands of deposited soil and stone. And this spectacular marvel of nature¡¯s craft dominated a large portion of the Kingdom¡¯s coastline to the Grand Mazu Entry, an ocean that spans beyond the horizons and the line to where seafaring foreigners of different colors originated from. This dominion is called ShanWei.

    ¡­

    And several of tens of kilometers back inland, a certain passenger vessel was making its final stretch of a 10 day voyage.

    .

    .

    .

    On a medium-sized pier gutted out into a small tributary off the main Bai river, a large workforce of employed laborers were waiting on standby. Some checked the cargo cranes, others the transport horse and wagon, while most of them laid back on empty cargo crates under the hot sunny heat where a heavy gust of ocean wind blew past them; shaking the sails of several other lugsails parked along the stream.

    The supervisor of these bunch of workers, stood firmly at the edge of the raised look out post, smoking a pipe that had traces of green smoke. Squinting his eyes under the intense heat, his wrinkles creased deeper as he observed for the next uncountable time to check if a new freshwater boat was in sight.

    Fortunately, there was a sighting. Waiting for another several short moments, his eyes were met with a column of distinctive red sails atop a black shape of the expected ship. He was confident in his talents of identification, considering his time in this wrenched job. Smoking a final puff of his pipe, the middle aged supervisor rolled out his sleeves and shouted out to the others about the updates.

    ¡°RED¡¯S IN SIGHT!¡±

    Followed by rhythmic ringing of a loud bell.

    ¡°RED¡¯S IN SIGHT, BOYS! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!.¡±

    And with that second calling, the rush of both veteran and ammatur haulers quickly got into positions. Because a few moments later, they could even see the passenger vessel inching closer and closer towards them.

    A bell was soon rung by their counterpart, affirming their status.

    ¡°THROW AND HOLD!¡±

    Upon the supervisor¡¯s instructions, several workers at the front, accompanied by columns of other men behind, tossed their firm ropes simultaneously, expertly entering the pins on the side of the vessel¡¯s hull.

    ¡°PULL!¡±

    ¡°HO! HO! AHHH!¡±

    As all of that was occurring, several ramps, staircases, ladders and raised platforms were shifted to the edge to be fastened to the port side of the passenger vessel.

    ¡°FINAL!¡±

    ¡°OH!¡±

    ¡°BRACE YOURSELVES!¡±

    With that came the violent shaking of the pier and the clicks of the attaching superstructure soon sounded. Now that mostly everyone was under battered breath, the supervisor walked up towards the vessel and started examining the gap of water beneath him. After a moment of judgment, he raised his fist, signifying a well executed and safe docking. A round of cheers erupted amongst the laborers, prepared for the next phase of their work.

    ¡­

    Meanwhile, onboard the passenger vessel, hundreds of the lively, youthful adults ran up towards the edge, looking out into the setting of numerous warehouses and high rise pagodas, emphasizing their gratitude to be back on land again. Some could be seen on their knees in prayer to the Land God, but many cried bitter tears for the end of their motion sickness and old way of life. What this new generation of urban migration awaits themselves was a growing embryo of an ¡®industrialized¡¯ capital.

    ¡­

    Situated on the starboard side of the vessel, facing an endless patch of dense forests and valleys, the only woman of the group, TianXing, was giving her final farewells to the captain of this vessel along with the upper echelon of the staff in charge.

    ¡°My dear TianTian! Please reconsider your decision. I¡¯m sure that with our support, you would surely get a managerial position in the Wen Shipping Company,¡± pleaded the mentor of the captain as he held her hand tightly with his wrinkled ones.

    ¡°Same here. I vouched for Ms Xu¡¯s hire. Without her, dealing with the paperwork and cash flow reports would take so much longer,¡± voiced the second mate.

    That was when the first mate appeared behind them, dragging the second mate to the side and making way for the captain to intertwine with his mentor¡¯s stubborn pleas. Placing his hand between the both of them, the captain forcibly separated the mentor¡¯s grasp on her, to which the old man readily whined back at his student, singing her praises.

    ¡°Uhmm¡­Grandpa Wen, please stop. What I¡¯m doing is a skill that¡¯s a silver tael a dozen. You could easily find another-¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s all those thick-headed, chin-risen, backwater scholars, TianTian!. I¡¯ve never seen a girl as cute as you that¡¯s just as intelligent. I¡¯ve got a fourth son turning sixteen this year. Why don¡¯t I arrange a meal with him?¡±

    ¡°Alright, Teach, that¡¯s enough of your advances. Ms Xu will be unnecessarily limiting her potential if she¡¯s stuck with us. Either way, all your three eldest sons are doing pretty well and the firstborn¡¯s son is at the top of his group. Give it a rest already,¡± the burly captain rebutted.

    The old man became silent before he slowly reached in for his sleeve pocket, bringing out an iron medallion with an imprint at the center. It was the logo of the Wen Shipping Company consisting of three lugsails with the next running a step behind the one below it. Tying it all together was the waves surrounding the first and last.

    ¡°...¡±

    Making eye contact with her, the founder of the Wen Shipping Company, Wen TaiXian, gave it to her in his deepest earnest.

    ¡°...TianTian, for all my life, I¡¯ve shipped countless individuals of all ages across the kingdom. But, the majority of those that I was hired by were dear children such as yourselves. I have no problem with the boys looking out for themselves but it¡¯s my female customers that got the short end of the stick. Rich runaway maidens, desperate famished farm girls. Although I could never truly blame them for taking this course of action like yourself, they all still went for bodily entertainment. Mostly due to their lack of the proper skills needed to survive here. It¡¯s a whole new world from the hometown you came from.

    But¡­

    You, on the other hand, are a special kind of girl. I can see the flame of a man within you and the expertise to adapt to anything that comes right at you.¡±

    Folding her fingers onto the medallion, he spoke softly.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be a waste if I were to one day see that you gave up and become a hoe. Take a visit to our branch headquarters nearby if you are in trouble.¡±

    ¡°W-what do you mean by that?¡± TianXing asked restrictively.

    ¡°You have my fullest support. It¡¯s an investment,¡± the old man whispered as he tapped her shoulder, walking steadily past her, ¡°and a huge one at that.¡±

    With that, the old man returned back into the lower decks of the vessel for unfinished business.

    ¡°...¡±

    Continuing to stare down at the medallion, she was soon alerted back to reality by the captain, who gestured his hand to a ladder filled with the remaining descending passengers.

    ¡°AH!...¡±

    ¡°The docking crew will be here any minute. Follow that last line and the rest will be history.¡±

    ¡°Thanks¡­It¡¯s glad knowing you, Captain Liu.¡±

    ¡°Likewise, Ms Xu. Goodbye.¡±

    Finishing it off with a quick farewell, TianXing did as she was told, boarded off the vessel and followed the rest of the passengers to a nearby warehouse which housed all their luggage. Pleasantly, since all the cargo she had was two easily portable luggages, TianXing skipped that section of the warehouse and out of another double door, leading into a concentrated stable.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Checking again her money pouch, she had the same amount from before the voyage.

    ¡°It¡¯s not worth it.¡±

    Despite that, she decided to travel to the outer entry point on foot. Considering she and the others only had a limited space on the deck to travel about, this stretch of the journey would not be such a hassle for her as well as for the many others leading behind her.

    ¡­

    ¡°Huge¡­¡±

    Was all she could mutter at the spectacle that was the expansion and height of the ShanWei city walls. It stretched far beyond the line between the land and sky. Her neck ached as she bent it beyond her ordinary range but yet failed to see the end, covering the sky with a dull and somewhat mystical gray. Draping red banners fell from a line of outposts halfway the height from below. It was decorated with the flag that represents the city of ShanWei. A special pattern approved by the Royal Court.

    ¡°Wow..¡±

    It looked out to a wide hilly landscape, and passed over several river bodies, where special forts were built. And located several kilometers from one another were protruding towers with a widened superstructure at the top.

    However, for this specific tower that TianXing was right in front of, there was a two story double arch gate, accompanied by a significant number of guards. Several times larger than the numbers on entry duty in Luo ChengShi.

    Swallowing her built up saliva, she joined the line of migrants into the city gates. In all directions she could see merchants, farmers, scholars, and armed personnel, accompanied by their wagons, chariots and horses to a varying degree.

    Depending on the weight of the load and a person¡¯s profession, there were different lanes to wait for inspection by the stationed guards. Obviously, TianXing joined the regular, lightweight travelers¡¯ lane, which was incredibly quicker compared to the longer check ups for cargo or validation of authentic military reports and permits.

    Soon enough, it was her turn and TianXing was immediately greeted by a curt, well built soldier who was donned in brown leather armor with minor silver metal plating at the vitals and held a long halberd. And at the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a very lean, youthful man with long flowy black hair, dressed in a light blue and white loose Hanfu, sipping on an expensive jar of wine on a raised platform, several meters away from where she was.

    ¡®Is that man-Never mind¡¯

    ¡°Identification,¡± the guard demanded.

    Since she was still new here, TianXing promptly took out a folded parchment that detailed her travel here by the Wen Shipping Company, handing it over to the guard. Given how well-known and trusted the brand Wen was, TianXing was sure that this would smooth the admission process hence why she chose this specific passenger vessel instead, and it was true.

    ¡°Approved,¡± affirmed the guard, handing the papers back to her while taking a glance at her luggage to which he raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the toll payment,¡± TianXing replied with a prepared handful of three taels.

    But, after a short count of her money, the guard shockingly glared back at her.

    ¡°It¡¯s seven taels for entry, Lady. The conversion rates here have risen due to a major retained venture for the external exportation of silver by the Grand Lokherats Trading company.¡±

    ¡°W-wha¡­¡±

    ¡°PAY UP QUICKLY OR DITCH IT! WE AIN¡¯T GOT ALL DAY OUT HERE WITH ALL THE OTHER MIGRANTS BEHIND US.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°HURRY UP, LADY!¡±

    ¡®Oh¡­how foolish is he?¡¯

    ¡°Shut it, will you?! I¡¯m not paying anything extra, especially since I got these toll rates from an accredited source back at Luo ChengShi. Here are the reports to prove it.¡±

    With that outburst, TianXing shoved him the aforementioned recorded and approved papers.

    ¡°Wai-Wha-¡±

    ¡°Additionally¡±

    The guard¡¯s intimidating front was slowly starting to fall.

    ¡°What the fuck is retained venture? You¡¯re just saying complex words that completely juxtapose each other. And while the exportation of silver as a product could affect currency rates, we use silver directly as the uniform method of payment. Finally, conversion rates never apply cross-country, at least to what I know. I can even credit the sources I used if you give me a trip to the nearest library which I¡¯m sure you are not willing to vouch for.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡®Damn it.¡¯

    He has been outsmarted.

    ¡°Oh, is this what you always do to the uneducated country folk?¡± she asked sarcastically, ¡°Spouting out long worded bullshit that completely meant nothing to overwhelm people with similar backgrounds to mine, that are new to the world of money. Pressuring them. Threatening them. Well, sorry to disappoint, but that won¡¯t work on me.¡±

    She scowled back with the meanest look of disgust before she threw her three taels into the toll bag beside him. However, before she leaves, TianXing gave the guard some insightful advice, not for her sake but for her future fellow folks that might come here one day.

    ¡°Just because I may look like a naive, rich maiden or carry a foreigner¡¯s suitcase, don¡¯t you think you can rip me off for a quick tael. Even if I were a vulnerable villager¡¯s girl, we are now quite wild with our intellect in the Middle Kingdom''s west. And I assume you mainly do this with the women since this will never fool an abled man. That¡¯s quite low for a respectable man of your position, mister.¡±

    ¡°damn it¡­¡± the guard muttered silently.

    ¡°I pray you a good day,¡° was her last words before she continued walking off under the gate, leaving a distressed guard and a bewildered line who only heard unrecognizable screams from the front. But, the guard was not gonna let his pride be diminished by such a brash village girl.

    ¡°fuck-FUCK IT!!!¡±

    In an act of impulse, the raging guard immediately raised his halberd, sending it straight down in a diagonal strike towards her back. In response to his scream, TianXing turned her head around, just to see the wide, sharp blade closing in on her as the crowd watched in unexpected shock.

    The numerous other guards stationed nearby were unfortunately too slow to react and all TianXing could do was hurryingly use her luggage as makeshift shields.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    That¡¯s when she felt the smell of fermented grapes.

    Like a chilly gust of the autumn wind, the halberd was suddenly thrown off course, striking the cemented road below.

    ¡®Damn it¡¯ she cursed to herself as she opened her eyes to see that previously lean man to come to her rescue, right behind her.

    ¡°Guard, what did you drink last night to lash out on such a feeble young maiden like her?¡±

    Coming to his senses, the guard immediately dropped his weapon and got into a deep kowtow.

    ¡°I was careless, Young Master. Please excuse this lowly guard at the highest of your merciful judgment.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­alright I¡¯ll let you live.¡±

    ¡°T-thank you very-¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯ll be sent to the North.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Young Master-ergh!¡±

    The guard felt a sudden kick to his abdomen, sending him falling several strides back and landing on his back.

    ¡°That¡¯s for using up my precious time on such foolish matters.¡± the man blurted out.

    The guards that gathered became frozen in their positions, fearing that anyone would be next. Though they know he is a wise man, it was better to be precautious nonetheless.

    ¡°Well, what are the rest of you waiting for? Send that trash to MingYu for arranged deportation.¡±

    What followed was the guards ganging up on their former comrade, restricting him as they shoved him back into a nearby outpost. Screams of his pleas and mercy for his wife and child were ever present till the end when he was never seen again.

    Looking at that agonizing and pitiful sight, the lean man smiled before turning back to the ever fear stricken TianXing. While she was pretty much grown used to watching this sort of event from occurring, it was still painful to watch regardless. Not only that but she had also caught the attention of this man who she correctfully felt was all trouble. While this was circulating within her consciousness, the man interrupted her thoughts with an opening conversation.

    ¡°Sorry for that awful display of cruelty, Young Ms. I gotta keep the discipline in the air when I still can. Not that that will ever happen unfortunately. We don¡¯t want a potential slip up in security now, do we?¡±

    She looked on, flabbergasted.

    ¡°Yes, of course¡­Young Master. Anyhow, I bid you farewell.¡±

    But TianXing failed to get him off her tail.

    ¡°Now, now, Young Ms, don¡¯t be such a cold ice queen. At this rate, you might as well change my taste in women.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Despite that provocation, she ignored him and scurried on forwards, towards the ending gates of the wall gate¡¯s inner enclosure.

    The man was not liking this.

    ¡°I. Said. Wait for a moment!¡±

    And in that instance, another gust of wind could be felt behind her. However, unlike earlier, this felt akin to a warm winter breeze. Within a blink of her eyes, the man appeared right in front of her. Hands tucked alternatingly inside his long sleeves.

    ¡°When-when did you get in front of me?¡±

    ¡°Glad you asked! I-¡±

    ¡°I see, it looks like the rumors were true, or legends to be precise. That there are superhumans with abilities beyond normal man. You¡¯re¡­you¡¯re a martial practitioner.¡±

    She looked onward with some hint of wariness.

    ¡°Well, well, you do kill the fun of the revelation, my young lady. Are you perhaps as educated on history as much as your economics and entrepreneurship professions?¡±

    ¡°...Why would I answer-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s more than enough of a response.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The man could see the blatant annoyance, displayed all across her face. His mouth creeped out into a sneer.

    ¡°The name¡¯s Bai LuJi. What about yours?¡±

    The man, named Bai LuJi, persisted.

    ¡°If I do, will you leave me be?¡± TianXing curtly replied.

    ¡°Hmm, tough call¡­Actually, wait! Don¡¯t do it. Your face is already so special compared to all the others I slept with. This man hunt will be greatly entertaining.¡±

    He boasted with a wide grin.

    However, unfazed by his antics, TianXing swiftly walked past him without a second glance back and hurriedly left the compound, joining up on the main road towards the inner city capital. Luggage in tow.

    Back at the gates, the man looked out towards the leaving trails of people from this part of the wall. Her distinctive industrial gray dress and western made suitcase stood just enough for him to catch a final glimpse of her as the groups continued on with their journey under the overhead midday sun.

    ¡°Surely we¡¯ll meet again, right? Just wait for it, dear¡±

    .

    .

    .

    ¡­

    It has been several minutes since that exasperating encounter with that martial practitioner. Amongst the steadily growing crowd of the other migrants that gathered there on the main road, there were a lot of those that were the same age or even younger than herself. Not that it surprised TianXing but it still stood out to her on how much work these cities could provide for all of them to come here.

    Within another short 5 minutes of walking, she reached a small settlement of street vendors selling a wide range of products and services. From what she saw around the area, there was a small courtroom allocated at the center of this arrangement and beside that, a suspicious looking tent with a comically large white cross with golden accents on a main circular beam. But while many of the crowd was quick to spread out to these vendors, this was of no attraction to her and she knew that the prices here were surely marked up for the amateur newcomers.

    ¡®Because if I were a stall owner, and there were lax regulations on pricing, I would have done the exact same thing.¡®

    While the big cross was giving her a sense of intrigue, she decided otherwise since she could see no benefit visiting that place. With that covered, TianXing steeled her resolve and proceeded with walking the final length of road on her own, loosely accompanied by several merchants riding horses and light carriages.

    ¡­

    Reaching past a small hill looking over the low plains of ShanWei, TianXing¡¯s eyes sparkled at this picturesque sight. It was a myriad mosaic of bright red and dull gray shades, covering tiled roofs and raised banners while splotched in a regular formation for an ever expanding spread, across the endless sea of green around her. The Bai river cuts through plenty of the major sections of the city, gleaming brightly under the midday sun, leading towards the mouth and out onto open waters. Countless piers could be seen jutting out into the shimmering blue water and littering across this huge body were fleets of lugsails of various sizes with their bright red sails, groups of huge bulky galleons with very imposing mastheads and lone sailless steamships with their striking black chimneys, spewing out tall streaks of black smog up into the sky.

    ¡°The trip here may be worth the view alone.¡±

    She admittingly acknowledged.

    Upon her descent, TianXing felt the warm sea breeze for the first time in her life, raising goosebumps all over her face and its presence grew stronger the closer she got. The road also started to smooth out its coarse bumps and the noise of the bustling city and the bellows of foreign vessels grew louder and chaotic.

    ¡­

    It was nothing like what TianXing had ever seen before.

    Her jaw dropped as she headed under the tall overhead gates that had a red and black signboard with the golden words, ¡®Welcome to ShanWei City¡¯.

    From where she stood, it was the starting point of an extremely wide street. The pavements were packed with pedestrians, racing from one place to another. The road had 8 lanes of horses and wagons being driven across all directions. Between the gaps, passing citizens cautiously squeezed their way through the perpendicular traffic, making their way to the other side of the street in a risky fashion. Street vendors could still be seen at the sides of the sidewalk or within the alleys betwixt adjacent shops and offices. Their stalls could range from products carried over a bamboo pole on their shoulder to a well constructed parked horse-drawn carriage. Beyond that, the street ends several kilometers away to one of the central districts, identified by a raised 10 story pagoda with a wide square fort at the bottom floor to the third. This landmark was connected to other wide main streets forming an interconnected web of transport.

    Compared to the medicinal and daily necessities shops, forges, factories, and restaurants of DongBu village, almost all of them here at ShanWei were at least two or three stories tall, with the maximum height she observed from far was a five story merchant guild office.

    Finally, unlike the more hand intensive work done to make products in a craftsman¡¯s private home, amidst all the high rise sign boards and buildings, TianXing could easily see a block of towering factories with chimneys as tall as the tallest trees of the Bai River highlands.

    Overall, it was a much hectic underground ant hill. Easily seen with a growing degree of foreign influences.

    Eventually, TianXing was soon able to calm herself down before she decided to take a stroll around the nearby area. For another hour, she went about in circles, shoving through thick crowds of workers, passing by a couple of foreigners who stood out with their different skin tones and general style of clothing. She examined the local shops of their clothing products and raw ingredient options. Additionally, the young maiden excitedly came across several stores that sold a different kind of medicine. And as she inquired about the glass encased concoctions to a hired Chinese cashier, they were said to be made from chemicals of imported origin and that the nature of how they worked was completely different to what she and her brother learnt for all their lives.

    Though eager to buy some to test them out, TianXing knew that she did not have such luxury at that moment.

    ¡®If I am true to my comparisons, the price for 2 Jin of cow meat here is 4 times greater than what I had in Luo ChengShi. This could¡­No, it will surely be applied with a similar multiplier regarding living and registration costs.

    With the amount I have now, I need to find some good deals.¡¯

    Following her plan, TianXing headed north of the city, sprinting across a bridge that overlooked one of the secondary rivers towards the sea. Passing several streets, nearly knocking into several horses and carriages along the way, the young lady managed to successfully arrive at a temple in the middle of the city, situated on the edge of a park and surrounded by a border of small gardens.

    Similar in size and grandeur to the place near her father¡¯s cremation site, TianXing made a bronze tael contribution into the donation box next to the entrance. Entering the main hall, she got into a kneeling position and did three kowtows before muttering a silent prayer of fortune for herself and her dear brother.

    After those quick actions were accomplished, TianXing took the opportunity to rest her exhausted feet on one of the marble benches laid throughout the temple while getting given a relaxing cup of hot tea from the caretakers in charge.

    ¡°Say dear grandma, do you happen to know any affordable eateries nearby? If possible, they provide quality taste and large portions as well, ¡± TianXing inquired one of the caretakers who just finished refilling her tea.

    Giving back the young lady a warm-hearted smile, the old lady expressed that there was such a place.

    ¡°Certainly, young Ms. It¡¯s a place I once used to go to. However, it¡¯s soon lunch time, so you better hurry. Just head for the third park exit and down the left street. You will be met with a large building that is an astonishing six floors tall with a giant vertical sign that says, ¡®The Heavens¡¯ Steam¡®, in dark, black brush strokes.¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s very helpful, grandma.¡±

    ¡°Argh, you can thank me later, otherwise there will be no more seats left. Now go, go!¡±

    She frailly shoved her off her seat.

    ¡°Let¡¯s meet again, Grandma. Thanks again!¡±

    And in a nick of time, TianXing with her new found vigor, dashed past the directions given to her, leading the youthful lady into a street that was dominated by a singular institution. The building was what the grandma described. It was six stories tall, built as a hexagonal layout , and had a large crowd swarming around it.

    Amongst the endless banter of its customers, several home owned street vendors held shop along its walls, shouting their offers out in a rhythmic melody; hoping to scavenge consumers for some extra taels.

    Meanwhile, jostling her way through, TianXing managed to secure a seat in time and a good one at that right next to a large window opening looking out to the city below the sea. Laying her luggage beside a table leg, she came to truly admire the scenery from where she sat, raised on the fourth floor of this artistic structure.

    Beneath her, TianXing could see all kinds of people. The desperate hawker store owners, the lax beggars hidden near every crook and cranny of shade and alleyway, the systematic nature of those working on the go, the randomness of unsupervised children playing about on the roads, sun tanned rickshaw pullers of both young and old surrounded by sloth and stern armed policing horsemen of emotionless gazes, and the outlanders with their alienating practices, tools and attires. In the end, all TianXing saw was DongBu society as a whole, but on a much wider and brutal scale. She could speak from experience when managing a small number of individuals for a business will always reign as the easier option than vice versa. However, this was somewhat of a first impression of hers that was never a confident statement. The reasons for why people spend their life savings to come live an unknown life out if their local waters were gleaming from the doors of every shop.

    The sight of experiencing something new.

    The chance for a rebellious adventure into the unknown.

    Or simply to make a quick spike in income for an equally talented job back in the countryside.

    The possibilities are endless, for the sake of a better life than they ever dreamt off.

    .

    .

    .

    That¡¯s when she heard a noise calling out to her.

    ¡°-Ms, Young Ms! Hello? What would you like to order? I don¡¯t have all day here,¡± demanded a skinny, long-faced middle-aged waiter, donned in a white cotton tunic and brown pants; covered by a long apron that reached his feet.

    ¡°huh¡­Oh, right, my apologies!¡± TianXing stuttered in shock, ¡°Ehmm, is there a menu?¡±

    In response, the waiter raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Oh, so another country bumpkin enters town, are you not?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with that comment?¡±

    ¡°Nothing much.¡±

    ¡°...Then, hurry up with the menu already; if you were so persistent about making deadlines.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, aren''t you a joy killer? Listen lady, with this attitude, no man¡¯s gonna last with you for under a week tops, haha!¡±

    ¡°Well that fell on deaf ears,¡± she exasperated, ¡°Just give me the customer¡¯s recommendation instead. I¡¯m starving.¡±

    ¡°...Alright! Don¡¯t complain though if you dislike it. That¡¯ll be all on you because everyone here loves it!¡± boasted the waiter as he wrote down the order on a small sheet of parchment, before dashing downstairs towards the kitchen.

    ¡°...Are all waiters like this or am I just unlucky today?¡±

    ¡®Dealing with two troublemakers on a traveler¡¯s schedule sure is exhausting,¡¯ she cursed to herself.

    Taking a closer look into the restaurant, TianXing could see why this place was quite the popular gathering spot. Visually speaking, it felt like a minor landlord¡¯s manor. Its walls were nailed with lavish maroon wooden panels. Gold plated stone lions, colorful rainbow glass phoenixes and glossy white marble dragons were placed all over the walls, roofs and on independent stands. A wide central spiral staircase ran from the top floor to the bottom, creating a grandeur eatery experience for those that enter. Finishing off the set was a large branched candle display which she heard from many was called a chandelier and it was inspired by a design within the office of a foreign representative.

    ¡®The experience contradicts the prices given. What a peculiar business practice.¡¯

    In the end, she took a mental note on this analysis.

    But, shortly after she was done with her observations, TianXing heard the energetic tap of footsteps amidst the ever clamorous tables of customers approaching closer and closer towards her.

    ¡®He¡¯s back¡¯ she groaned silently.

    ¡°I¡¯ve returned, dear customer!¡±

    The waiter sang.

    ¡°Today¡¯s speciality! Red braised pork belly with rice, chopped stir fried veggies and tofu soup. Thank you for your order!¡± the waiter continued in a practiced manner as he laid down the plates close to her. The waiter then began pulling out several cups from the cutlery tray and poured her some ordinary tea into each one from the vase he carried at the side.

    And as he did so with effortless grace, the young lady observed his skillful hand. Her mind, full of hunger and thought.

    ¡°The service interval was very fast, Mr Waiter. I expected the opposite for such a large establishment. Nonetheless, I commend you and your staff.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    She then grabbed a cup and gulped the whole thing down in a few mouthfuls. Moments after, she proceeded with grabbing a pair of ivory chopsticks before beginning her devouring feast. The waiter watched on, unamused, while giving her a comeback to her previous complement.

    ¡°...Well, our restaurant has a great pride, young Ms. Being efficient with our orders is one of the reasons people flock to us like doves. But, don¡¯t you think that you can trick me into telling you our secret routines. It¡¯s a thing that I and the others will take to the grave.¡±

    But as expectedly, there came no reply besides the heavy munching of teeth on crunchy meat.

    ¡°Tastee-munch, i¡¯s vary tastetee, Waiter,¡± finally replied the satisfied maiden.

    ¡°...¡±

    .

    .

    The waiter looked down at her plate as he passed by her table. It was very near its finishing like she was a gluttonous beast, and for some weird reason, it tugged some of his heartstrings. The sight of her eating was very passionate, in the way he could illogically sense it.

    And so there he decided to stay, watching her finish the last of the pieces of pork belly and tofu bits in an empty bowl while vegetable water remained at her side. Placing down her chopsticks, a loud sound emerged from deep within her.

    BURP!

    It came out so suddenly, TianXing felt embarrassed at how loud it was and promptly covered her face with her sleeves, hiding the red face.

    ¡°Here¡±

    ¡°huh?¡±

    Seemingly enjoying the finale of that scene, the waiter handed her a warm damp napkin from the tray he carried which was usually reserved for services to the upper classes of society.

    Fortunately for him, she accepted it.

    ¡°Thanks but this won¡¯t cost me extra right?¡±

    A slight hesitation was found in her voice.

    ¡°Listen clearly, young Ms, I could have given you a specialty dish for the wealthy with pink river dolphin meat but that¡¯ll just be torture in the end, no?¡±

    ¡°So¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it¡¯ll just go unrecorded.¡±

    Settling for his word, TainXing folded the towel to wipe her sweaty, grime-filled face and it felt fresher since she didn¡¯t apply any makeup. Not that she was ever sensitive about it.

    ¡°So, young Ms, what are you gonna do next after you leave our shop?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business, Mr Waiter.¡±

    ¡°I have a hunch, and it''s a good one.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    She remained silent and vigilant.

    ¡°As a welcome gift to a new fellow metropolitan like yours truly, I will answer all your questions and any of your doubts about this place. Those books you carried along with you would be insignificant to my experience here for a lifetime.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t trick me into giving you a hefty tip, Waiter!¡±

    With that, she slammed the payment hard onto the table. It cost her a whole three silver taels less than most places who charged five. Gathering her two boxes of luggage, TianXing made her escape. Unfortunately, that was when the waiter made his move. He whispered something close in her ear as she passed by him.

    ¡°One does not race a horse on all fours.¡±

    ¡°Hold it! How did you-¡±

    ¡°You must keep your calm, young Ms. I know that for whatever reasons you came here, it was not a soaring and immature ideal. So lower your tone. We are still in a civil establishment.¡±

    ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± she asked dumbfounded.

    ¡°It¡¯s for these interactions that I stagnated my job as a head waiter. Especially with a rapidly changing economy such is the influence of foreign interference.¡±

    He casually took a seat for a job he was meant to be serving for and gestured his palm forward, to another chair beside him.

    ¡°Your story is my payment. Fair enough?¡±

    Scrunching up her soured face, she reluctantly took the seat.

    ¡°Are you sure I can trust you?¡±

    She asked a second time.

    ¡°...Welcome to the City of International Commerce!¡± was all he gleefully replied.

 Chapter 21 : The Holy Church of Corpus Sanctus

    ¡°Where¡¯s the Merchant guild office?¡± TianXing asked bluntly.

    ¡°Further west at 10th street. Right next to the Notatum Trade Federation headquarters, which in case you do not know what it looks like. The building is very distinct from regular construction,¡± the middle-aged waiter replied.

    TianXing took another sip of tea.

    ¡°How long does it take to get there on foot?¡±

    ¡°...Hmm, if I remember correctly, a friend told me it will take more than 2 burning candle clocks to reach the end of the city from here. But I recommend hiring a rickshaw puller or hitching a ride on another person¡¯s wagon. That would be much faster.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible, Waiter. I am now low on mon-No¡­I am saving money for the long run so services like these are a waste of money until I earn a lot back.¡±

    TianXing hurriedly corrected herself.

    ¡°...If you¡¯re worried about high loan rates, that¡¯s a false statement. The creditors are not as greedy as the rumors would say they are, especially for larger sums for growing businesses.¡±

    ¡°Is that how you were able to get these luxurious decorations?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a company secret, girl.¡±

    The waiter diminished her immediately, and under his tone, TianXing was certain she felt a thread of hostility towards her which was of a greater intensity.

    ¡°...Alright, I won¡¯t pry further¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else you wish to know?¡±

    He chugged down another full cup. Racing her mind across all the information she had gathered for this journey, TianXing scrambled for the missing bits in the whole puzzle. Given that this unexpected source of help was very sudden, it took several moments before she could continue the conversation.

    ¡°Public records. They state that the first ever official occurrence of foreign trade was twenty years back with silk and porcelain as the main export. Have there been any changes within that time frame? Any new trends recently?¡±

    ¡®So she¡¯s going for that route, huh.¡¯ the Waiter said to himself.

    Scratching the back of his head, he began thinking carefully for a proper response.

    ¡°Argh well, this is very broad,¡± he commented.

    ¡°...¡±

    Her eyes focused in anticipation for his answer.

    ¡°Where to start¡­Oh right, this will do!¡±

    He cleared his throat and clapped his hands together.

    ¡°While the status quo hasn¡¯t changed much in my years of service as head waiter, there are drastic additions to the Kingdom¡¯s imports, partly influenced by those outsiders for, what I heard, their own convenience.¡±

    ¡°...Tell me more.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    He promptly shuffled his chair closer towards her until she could hear his breath.

    ¡°Besides food and cloth, the Mayor, backed by the Emperor, has hired a group of foreign engineers to assemble something to be imported here, called a train, which will most likely replace the river routes connecting here to the Royal Capital.¡±

    ¡°Train? Also, why carry out such an endeavor when going by boat is still viable and how is it superior?¡±

    Memories of her days with the mentor, captain and the crew suddenly came into mind, catching on her heartstrings for a short moment.

    ¡°A train is an iron horse that eats coal. From reports, it''s stronger than the strongest buffalo and faster than the fastest horse. If it¡¯s successful in its construction, that horseless wagon could change the way we transport and travel as we see it. The project, fortunately, is barely in its waking stages but that''s one thing to look out for in the future. Now, they have even started a foundry a few streets away.

    Aside from that, we saw an increasing amount of the army equipping themselves with guns and installing new cannon placements at the sea forts. And all were bought from the Manustrion Principality-¡±

    ¡±I do not care about weapons, Waiter!¡± she silently hissed. Steadying herself, TianXing continued, ¡°What are some other goods that have the most monetary gain?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t expect much, young Ms. Only those that garnered the largest profits were exotic goods from organized auctions, mainly held by the Notatum Trade Federation, and, obtained by my secret sources, the aristocracy supposedly had sleepless nights, entertained by such items.¡±

    ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± was all TianXing could say in awe for the curiosity of those items and disheartened break that was a lack of opportunities to start a potentially thriving business.

    ¡°One was called ¡®Scales of the Devon Thunder Dragon¡¯,¡± the Waiter continued, ¡°and the young lord of the Second House wore this material as his main battle armor. He was absolutely dumbfounded at how tough it was¡­It was way harder than his Aura-infused metal.

    Another case was Lady Amethyst Iris of the Mount Hua Sect. She bought a set of claws, described to be filled with mystical properties and sliced from a ¡®High-Archetypal Demonic Succubus¡¯. What a nameful that was. It was soon carved out to serve as her latest nail guards.¡±

    TianXing looked blankly back at him.

    ¡°What were all those otherworldly monsters and strange terminology?¡± she asked, bewildered.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking the wrong man. I just read it as it says when I first saw the message. As long as they never come storming down the restaurant, I¡¯ll never give a damn. It may be a different case for you though. Your options are limited.¡±

    ¡°I understand¡­¡±

    She sharply replied, before sulking in her silence.

    Giving a side glance at her, the Waiter observed her silence while pouring another cup for himself. Placing the vase aside, he spoke again.

    ¡°Whoever is it, that you want to safe back at home, their assaulters would never wait for your return, young Ms. They may be dead at this very moment. Let¡¯s say you made it big in the next few years. With all the work you put in for that next several years, you will never have the time to know of their safety. Competition here is brutal and many lost their lives pursuing those goals. I can tell you are talented but it takes more than that to survive in this hot pot of boiling labor. And, I cannot say whether you¡¯ll be lucky enough to see this through.¡±

    Silence¡­

    That¡¯s when her face darkened.

    ¡°What¡¯s with that discouraging speech?¡± TianXing finally answered.

    She wiped her sweat off her forehead.

    ¡°Waiter, where¡¯s the cheapest inn near the Merchant guild office?

    ¡°...¡±

    The waiter told her the locations.

    ¡°What about the recommended day markets for shopping daily necessities?¡±

    The waiter told her the street numbers.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all I need to know.¡±

    She then placed a silver tael on the table, leaving her with a balance of a measly 24 silver left.

    ¡°My previous payment wasn¡¯t satisfactory so let me replace it with a tael. We¡¯re even now. I will be coming back for the food so I¡¯ll see you later.¡±

    ¡°Young Ms.¡±

    His voice deepened.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Be careful on your way to the pier. The closer you get there, the more chances you will encounter pickpockets and backstabbing robbers, especially with the numerous mouse alleys between the docks, offices and warehouses. Don¡¯t be so reckless with your one life.¡±

    ¡°...I will be aware of that.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good-¡±

    ¡°One more thing,¡± TianXing interrupted, ¡°that ¡®helpless¡¯ person whom you spoke off. He¡¯s one of the most determined people I''ve ever known.

    Heaven falls when he dies the way you said.¡±

    ¡°...W-¡±

    ¡°Goodbye¡±

    In the next few strides, the young lady made her way across the maze of dining tables and headed downstairs to the entrance. As the waiter saw the outline of her clothes, slowly becoming smaller and smaller the farther she went, he raised a cup for her out of the window.

    ¡°What a girl,¡± he acknowledged.

    .

    .

    .

    Evening soon came. And within a room of moderate size, housing a rectangular writing table, a twin wardrobe and a single person bed, TianXing carefully placed her two boxy luggage in the corner, locked the door behind her and closed the windows shut, followed by the covering of thick blue curtains.

    Preparing her bed, she did not bother washing herself nor changing out her travel outfit and immediately laid on the bed in relief. Having been on the move since morning, she felt her sore back and blistering feet. Never had she traveled so far without taking her shoes off but now she was here. In a compact bedroom, located right above the chaotic pub below; beneath and beside her, swarming from all directions, were a cacophony of never-ending screams, shouts, grunts and moans.

    She tucked in her blanket tighter.

    Suddenly the right wall shook, and shortly after, a supporting beam wobbled, making the entire upper floor erupt in violent tremble. Normally, this events would leave TianXing sleepless for the whole night, but with all the fatigue of the journey here and the built up exhaustion from a lack of a proper bed back at her 10-day river voyage, she wasted no time falling into an immediate deep slumber, undeterred by the mayhem that persisted through the night.

    ¡®This Is what happens when you stay in such a budget inn, huh?¡¯ was her final thought.

    ¡­

    Morning came and unlike her routine back at home, TianXing woke up to the sounds of the bustling morning market. Feeling refreshed, she exited her room and headed downstairs to the back alleyway. This narrow gap was gated and served as a small washing station for its occupants. Luckily for her, apart from some fainted drunkards on the washing benches, the central water taps were functioning correctly. After a quick urinary break, she headed to the nearby shed.

    Filing her water bucket, she folded several pieces of cloth and dipped it in. And, to the best of her ability with what was available, TianXing washed her face, arms and legs, and wiped her hair.

    Back at her room, she applied some basic whitening powder and bit on a red powdered card. That was her makeup for what was about to come. Unpacking another set of new gray ShenYi, she dressed herself anew. Checking herself on her handheld mirror, she made a firm nod.

    Heading downstairs for the second time, she ordered a light breakfast of rice porridge and 3 sticks of YouTiao. As she gobbled her way through, TianXing noticed the nearly unsettling tranquility of the entire pub. Just last night, this place was crowded to the farthest edge. This was quite the stark contrast she had observed. However, TianXing took no further thought to this and proceeded onwards.

    She then headed for the counter, paying for the food as well as for a week¡¯s stay. After her registration, TianXing began her walk towards the Merchant Guild office. As she passed the entrance to the inn, the young lady hastily checked the amount of money she had left.

    ¡®17 silver¡­¡¯

    Like a time ticking bomb, she clenched her fist in resolve. Her heart¡¯s racing, knowing that she will only have a limited amount of time before she goes destitute, and after that¡­She does not want to imagine what happens after that.

    A light shudder.

    .

    .

    .

    Several minutes had passed since she started her journey. As the lady scurried her way through the winding alleyways and wide streets full of horses and carts, she always kept herself light on her feet. Remembering the warning given by the Waiter, her eyes raced across everywhere she went. Shadows, corners and hidden crates. Anywhere that seemed potentially dangerous she stirred her way out of there, remaining close to the main street which was wide and crowded for the most part. She felt safer, plowing through the sea of pedestrians.

    That¡¯s when she was suddenly hit by a child who knocked her off balance. The child, instead of apologizing, hastily retreated, blending himself in with the masses behind her. Quickly supporting herself with the unintended help from the person beside her, TianXing instinctively checked her pockets for the money pouch and unfortunately, she cursed. It was stolen.

    ¡°WAIT! THIEF!¡±

    She screamed. TianXing was sure that she had hidden her valuables tightly, nestling deep within the inside of her clothes. But, that boy managed to slip his hands expertly past her.

    ¡°Tch!¡±

    With no moments to waste, she rushed after him, screaming out loud for help as she did so.

    ¡®This is very catastrophic.¡¯

    Her thoughts ran wild. Her anxious predictions made her panicked. Her eyes, flushed with urgency, dashed all over the place. But all she saw were men and women. Pushing further, she went headstrong. The crowd, indifferent to her troubles, only made some leeway for her to pass smoother. It was not until two minutes into the blind chase that she finally caught a glimpse of the boy, somewhat pushed back by a clash with an angry commuter, before disappearing again into the gaps of adults, towards an alleyway in sight. He wore dark monotone fabrics, but his smaller size stands out amongst the adults from that sequence of events, even if that gave him an advantage in escaping the scene. Shoving her way in pursuit, inching closer and closer towards the burglar; crying out and pleading for him to stop, her heart raced faster than ever.

    As predicted, the boy took a sharp turn to the left and into that narrow alleyway. Not far behind, TianXing followed after.

    The cat and mouse chase continued on for several turns until she met the boy at a dead end. Plastering himself to the ends of the wall, he had his back faced to her, cowering deep in fear and cuddling tight on that pouch.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Panting with battered breaths with her face and hair, a disheveled mess, she stopped a few strides behind the boy, looking at him with seeping angry intent. Calming herself, she did a quick scan throughout the alley before settling her eyes focused on the perpetrator. With a closer look, he wore a heavily patched tunic with ripped pants. On his sash, a chipped knife was loosely attached with a medium-sized sack beside it. TianXing now knew what was going on.

    ¡°Oh no¡­Shit!¡±

    She had fallen into a larger trap.

    Turning quickly on her heel, she was met face to face with a group of paupers and youthful robbers.

    ¡®When¡­When did they get behind me?¡¯

    TianXing was so fixated on catching the boy that she failed to notice that this was no ordinary pickpocket attempt. The isolated alleyways were already such an obvious giveaway for potential danger.

    ¡°BACK AWAY!¡±

    And now she might die.

    Giggling lustfully as they slowly approached her, TianXing grabbed a dilapidated plank from the ground before brandishing it weakly in front of them. Swaying petitely while they increased their pace. However, they were not the first to attack.

    The boy stood.

    Behind her, he quietly turned to face her back and took out his knife. Grabbing it in both hands, he tensed his body and charged forward, catching TianXing off by surprise. He stabbed deep into her right calf.

    ¡°ARGHHAAAAA!¡±

    Screeching out in agonizing pain, she felt her heart stop for a moment before suddenly collapsing hard onto the grim hard floor. Her leg twitched disturbingly and gave out.

    The boy, lifeless in his eyes, grunted and pulled the knife out. Blood spluttered as he did before he raised it up again. He then came in for another hard strike to her right thigh. But in the rush of adrenaline, TianXing managed to narrowly dodged the second blow. Ultimately, his blade scratched her upper leg by a significant degree. In desperation, she clumsily landed a quick kick to the boy, sending his feeble figure a distance away in the heat of the moment. Disregarding the boy, the group of burglars continued their approach, raising their blunt bats and metal pipes in the air.

    Dragging her body to the farthest corner, TianXing¡¯s violently shaking arms eventually gave in. Still screaming and crying out for anybody to come and help at the top of her lungs, the burglars watched on in horrid pleasure for her pathetic display.

    Tears flowed down her bloodshot eyes while foam appeared around her mouth. Her eyes constricted.

    ¡®Am I gonna die of shock trauma?¡¯ flashed one of her thoughts.

    ¡®What are they gonna do with this body?¡¯

    ¡®Will I ever be found?¡¯

    Looking at her injuries, there was a wide trail of deep scarlet blood.

    ¡®It¡­It hurts!¡¯

    Gritting her teeth as one of the paupers was preparing for a hard swing of his bat at her head, she momentarily decided to accept her fate and braced for impact.

    But, unbeknownst to her, it truly was never death. Not now at the very least.

    ¡°LEAH TCETORP!¡±

    An echoing voice sounded as the bat closed in for the injury. Instantly, its swing was abruptly halted a small distance away from TianXing¡¯s face. Her entire being was suddenly wrapped in a strange, yet familiar luminous, silver light. It was brighter than any fire she had ever seen, reminiscent of moonlight, and it gave such a sensation of warmth and security. Her panicked heart felt like it was at peace and her burning surge of pain on her leg was quickly fading to nonexistence.

    That light deflected the strike from the bat and started to spread out in all directions, engulfing the other burglars and they stood there, stunned in amazement. Before they knew it, the light launched them off to the walls and several loud thuds and bone cracking could be heard as they fell to the ground with such force.

    ¡°Huhh¡­¡±

    TianXing slowly gazed past those burglars. Now, standing still at the entrance of the alley, was a tall and slender figure, donned in flowy white robes decorated with golden crosses and light gray accents. The figure held, as what she saw as, a long pole of unknown material similar to wood and it emitted the same bright light as herself was surrounded by. Moments later, the figure lowered her staff and its light faded away, at the same time as her¡¯s did. Still frightened with some fear after that faded light, TianXing remained still on the ground and that¡¯s when she saw two more individuals running towards the white figure. Those two also wore outfits of a similar color scheme with cross motifs. Unlike the figure who wore a white hood, she can identify the two as a manly warrior and an old man.

    The warrior was clad in full shining glassy, white armor with a texture closer to ceramic and on his upper chest plate, a red cross served as the main structure for his bevor. Underneath that layer, he wore a mixture of chainmail and a black long-sleeved gambeson at the gaps. Finally, he donned a pale yellow cloak, draped over his entire body and reached his armored boots while carrying a glimmering longsword on his hip. The golden plated, ruby encrusted pommel, dark maple leather grip and glossy silver hilt further complemented the overall light theme. He looked to TianXing¡¯s way. His helmet clanged loudly as the long red tail feather at the top fluttered grandly in the air.

    On the other hand, the old man wore a majority of black with a black cassock, white inner layer and black leather boots. In his hands, a blocky book was carefully tucked under his shoulders. Around his neck, he wore a shiny silver necklace with another white cross at the end. His beard was cut short, covering his entire chin, cheeks and around the lips.

    Together, the three of them would certainly stand out amidst the crowd of bleak and matt monotones of the Hanfu clothing of the worker class on the streets.

    As TianXing observed the group from her stationary place, the warrior brought up the attention of her to the rest and they casually made their approach. While the warrior began carrying the injured burglars to a central location and the hooded figure aided the recovery of the impulsive boy, the old man carefully knelt down beside her. Making eye contact, he smiled widely. His wrinkles accentuated a darker shadow, showing his age. Speechless on what to say, the man started first.

    ¡°Are you hurt anywhere else, Miss?¡±

    Upon hearing his words, TianXing felt surprised at how heavy his accent was and now that she had a closer look at him, she realized he was a full-fledged foreigner, characterized with his flat hawk nose and green eyes. Same went for the warrior with having a more defined jawline and shaper upturned nose.

    ¡°Ah n-no Sir. I feel much better now. I¡­I thank you for your companion¡¯s aid. The one in the hood. I¡¯ve been left for death if not for you all.¡±

    ¡°The pleasure¡¯s all ours, I can assure that.¡±

    Looking over his shoulder, the old man called for the warrior, ¡°Nephew Dominic, how are the thieves acting up?¡±

    ¡°I have secured them, Father,¡± answered the warrior as he tightened the knot, ¡°We now just have to transport them to the police post and they¡¯ll repent.¡±

    Even he had a heavy weird accent.

    ¡°Splendid work! Niece Marialye, what of the child?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s still breathing. Just malnourished,¡± the woman flatly replied as she finished the last processes of healing up the poor child. But for the hooded woman, while her accent was heavy, the natural flow of her tone was far too pleasant.

    ¡®What a¡­what an otherworldly voice!¡¯ TianXing exclaimed internally. Never had she heard a voice so mature and grand yet fresh. She felt it was akin to heavily marinated pickled plum. But luckily, the trance the woman¡¯s voice gave her was soon interrupted by the old man, addressed to as Father, bringing her back to her senses.

    ¡°Do you need help standing, Miss?¡±

    ¡°No, no. There¡¯s no problem.¡±

    With haste, she grabbed the edge of the wall beside her and pulled herself up. Meeting at eye level with the three foreigners who were now gathered around her.

    Immediately, TianXing lowered her head down, surprising all of them.

    She screamed her thanks for a second time.

    ¡°Miss, please¡­do not grovel before us. It is of our good hearts to come for anyone¡¯s aid, as the Lord preaches for all.¡±

    The old man slowly raised his hands up in true spectacle.

    ¡°Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

    when it is in your power to act.

    Do not say to your neighbor,

    ¡°Come back tomorrow and I¡¯ll give it to you¡±-

    when you already have it with you.

    Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. For we are God¡¯s handiwork, created in the name of Nazarenus Maxiltaleih to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

    And to never forget to love one¡¯s self and to share love with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

    Let us not become weary for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Nazarenus, so that every one of us may receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body and spirit, whether for the good or the bad.

    As for what God always intended for.¡±

    The warrior sang in rhythmic fashion. His eyes, marked by the pleasure of thought.

    An awkward silence shortly followed until the old man changed paces.

    ¡°Anyhow, how is Miss''s leg doing?¡±

    Looking down and moving her supposedly injured leg, she was flabbergasted to find it clean of blood and pus. There was no scar and the leg was akin to having never been stabbed in the first place. Aside from that, the several bruises she had on her arms, elbow and buttocks were no longer visible and aching. Moreover, the weight of fatigue that accumulated in her body had simply vanished.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­I feel greater than ever.¡±

    She rushed forward. Closing in towards the hooded woman and rub her hands tightly in an embrace, TianXing awkwardly gave her heartfelt attitude.

    ¡°I¡¯ve no clue about what Madam just did, but due to your light, I wouldn¡¯t need to spend more money on clean clothes and medical treatment since I am currently low on money. Again, thank you very, very much!!!¡±

    As much as she was wary of all the people that approached her on her arrival, she was still a youthful 22 year old at heart. Watching a talented woman like the hooded individual save her life and somehow mystically healed her wounds in seconds after saying some strange words was something natural for her to admire like a role model. Taken aback by this approach, the woman was about to make a swift sidestep out of the maiden¡¯s way but she unfortunately slipped on a puddle.

    Together, the both of them fell with TianXing on top.

    .

    .

    Grimacing in slight discomfort, TianXing realized what she had just done. Feeling the woman¡¯s grunts below her, she panicky got off her and desperately asked for a pardon.

    For a moment, there came no response and TianXing hesitatingly looked up, only to be met by the woman¡¯s sparkling eyes. The fall took her hood off, revealing a face that was as picturesque and grand as her voice. The woman had fair pale skin, ridden of any blemishes or birthmarks. Her face was distinctively characterized by a stronger jawline, close-set thin eyebrows, longer eyelashes, well defined high contrast cheekbones, a button nose, fuller and more succulent cherry lips, and monolid bright olive green eyes. Long, wavy blond hair, comparable to being dyed with pure gold, further awed TianXing in gasp.

    However, nothing astounded her more than one particular feature on the mature woman¡¯s face. It was a pair of petite elongated ears that extended longer at the helix which ended at pointed edges.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    TianXing was speechless, stunned at the sight of her beauty.

    That was when the old man snapped her out of it by covering back the woman with the hood. In the back, the warrior tried his best to hold his laughter at the ridiculousness of this scene and the maiden¡¯s reaction to his long acquainted companion. TianXing, back to her senses, looked away in embarrassment.

    ¡°Sister, nearly everyone here and back had similar expressions¡­and¡­and, that never gets old! Hahahaha!¡±

    His laughter soon turned hysterical, to which the old man stepped in.

    ¡°Now, now, Nephew Dominic, you are being too excessive. You might end up scaring the young Ms.¡±

    ¡°Haaa¡­True¡­My sincerest apologies, Father.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Turning to the old man, TianXing questioned him with curiosity.

    ¡°Sir, about Madam Ma-Ri-..What happened to her ears?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    He raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m not hurling insults. Her ears truly looked so beautiful, even if they were deformed.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not an irregularity, Miss. She¡¯s just an elf.¡±

    ¡°Elf¡­?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s half-elf, Father.¡± the woman corrected him, ¡°And when you mentioned it was not an abnormality, well, it surely is one!¡±

    After that small sudden outburst, the woman glanced back at TianXing, glaring at her before facing back the old man.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting outside, Father,¡± she finally concluded before she tapped her wooden staff hard on the ground. Mist soon formed around her and as it dissipated from where she last stood, the elf was nowhere to be found in TianXing¡¯s line of sight.

    Massaging his forehead, the old man addressed Marialye¡¯s actions, ¡°Please excuse Niece Marialye, Miss. Being the rare offspring of a human noble and his elf slave, she was always disregarded from either community as ¡®incomplete¡¯ for most of her life so she despises her appearance. Especially whenever someone fawns all over her, her usual calm demeanor reverts back to the brash persona she wore in her younger years. Although objectively, she truly is one of the prettiest I have ever laid my eyes on, granted that I have never met the residents of the World Tree.¡±

    ¡°I-I have never heard of such stories from where I came from but I can tell it infuriates her very badly. Should I-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Sister now has a place to call home, ¡° the warrior interrupted, ¡°We, the Corpus Sanctus Church Society, are her beloved sanctuary.¡±

    ¡°Brilliantly said, Nephew Dominic. I now recall back to my prime years when I first came across her living as a 11 year old vagabond. Now, she is a respected member of divine virtue and an intellectual of Magecraft and Magick. Oh how times have passed¡­¡±

    ¡°Wow¡­that¡¯s so benevolent of you, Sir.¡±

    TianXing was starting to feel overwhelmed.

    ¡°Just as what you said, Miss!¡± the warrior interjected again. He then approached her closely. Their faces nearly touching

    ¡°Sister, you should also have a desire you want to accomplish. A purpose in this turbulent, cruel and unrelenting world. There must be a reason you came to ShanWei.¡±

    ¡°W-wait, Mr D-. This is¡­¡±

    TianXing also began to grow cautious.

    ¡°Is it for a loved one? Was it out of your selfish desires? Did someone force you? Or you went about it on your own accord? These are questions I have seen many people like you have and now you are struggling to find a true, ¡®correct¡¯ path. Is that right?¡±

    ¡°N-Wa-What are you sayi-¡±

    ¡°Nephew¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, that is why, messengers of our Lord, the missionary Father Paulin, the defender of the righteous Holi Knight order, myself Nephew Dominic, and the prophetic mage, Niece Marialye, alongside countless other fellowships of intertwined faith, have sailed across vast oceans of leviathan-infested waters, spanning far past the four cardinals of the Amplus Ocean to settle in this uncleansed land of false impersonators that mimicked God¡¯s binding.

    It is HERESY!

    Miss, why don¡¯t you spread a hand to our Church of Sanctity? I am more than delighted to escort your lost soul to a place of resolution and repentment. Let¡¯s work together for a brighter future as we wait for the Second Descend of Maxiltaleih, FOR GOD¡¯S GIFT OF ETERNAL JOY!!!¡±

    His passionate voice resonated grandly, reverberating across the narrow alley where they all stood.

    Creeped out by the warrior¡¯s manner of speech, sensing he might have a few screws loose, TianXing planned to make the run for it but currently, the location was not in her favor. The warrior was blocking her at the front and the old man stood center at the entrance. Clearly, she also doesn''t have the speed or the stamina to outrun them. So regrettably, she gambled to talk her way out.

    ¡°I-I love your passion, honorable warrior!¡±

    ¡°So!? Is that-¡±

    His delighted voice sounded.

    ¡°But I¡¯m sorry! I would like to pass this righteous invitation. Honestly, I feel like I need time to make a choice and currently, there is no time for dilly dally. I am running late for an appointment. So please, could I go do my own errands?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­so¡­you are one of those temple FANATICS, aren¡¯t you?

    His eyes were bursting with rage.

    In the corner of her eye, TianXing could also see the warrior slowly reaching out for his sword. It was a threat.

    Suddenly, she felt the chills down her spine.

    ¡°I¡­I¡­¡±

    This feeling was way worse than when she was confronted by the burglars. The warrior gave off such pressure upon her, it was unyielding, tightening her heart and blanking out her mind. TianXing knew she could easily faint any moment now. Fortunately¡­

    ¡°ENOUGH, DOMINIC!¡±

    ¡°Hurrgghh¡­hurrgh¡­ack, ack, ackak!¡±

    Thankfully, the old man stopped him and TianXing was able to catch her much needed breath. Grabbing her chest, she coughed heavily while the warrior was being reprimanded.

    ¡°Nephew Dominic, I am endlessly touched by your devotion to the Lord, but you must remember, these Gods of mockery are also experts in their craft and we cannot run away from that truth. This is the reason why we must take one small step at a time, from one soul to another, then tens of them, before settling with hundreds, eventually thousands, millions, to as many people out there, who eat and sleep in these eastern lands. Let¡¯s spread the glory of God to them!¡± declared the old man, gripping the warrior¡¯s shoulders firmly.

    ¡°I-I get it now, Father!¡±

    He smiled.

    ¡°Good child,¡± the old man patted his shoulders.

    Facing back to the recovering maiden, he promptly got her up carefully and tidied her clothes, before activating a charm on her. After a bath of pale yellow light, she reappeared, washed off all sweat and grime.

    ¡°There you go, Miss. You are now prepared for whoever you are gonna have a session with. First impressions are key. Do you get me?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± was all she could simply reply.

    ¡®As long as I can get out of here soon.¡¯

    ¡°Finally, please take this.¡±

    The old man mystically summoned a small flexible hardcover booklet, emerging out of a ring on his index finger, and handed it to her. The book was bound by horse leather and at the center front, the words ¡®Holy Scripture¡¯ was imprinted on it in bright gold cursive letters, to which TianXing was illiterate of such writing.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°It is a token of our acquaintanceship. Further down the road, I hope you will reconsider our invitation.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Our doors are always open for new family members, Miss. Just keep a lookout for that recognizable white cross on a roof and you will surely find us.¡±

    Raising his hand, the old man gave his parting words, ¡°Again, it is a pleasure meeting you, Miss. Nephew Dominic, we are leaving.¡±

    The warrior nodded, casually carrying the thieves and child in tow.

    .

    .

    .

    TianXing then waited, until their footsteps were no longer heard again, before letting out a deep sigh. Feeling her skin, she had goosebumps all over and the ends of her fingers still shook wildly. Grabbing her purse and securing it within her undergarment this time, the young maiden finally started the last leg of her journey to the Merchant Guild office, arriving smoothly after a hasty 10 minutes later.

 Chapter 22 : Employment

    TianXing was greeted by a stunningly large four story concrete building, approximately three times as large and grand as the Merchant Guild office back at Luo ChengShi.

    It had dull gray outer walls with red pillars, inscribed and carved with jade dragons, supporting the extended second floor. Long red rectangular curtains of cloth hung high from the third story, reaching down to the first. On it was an imprint of their emblem and the city¡¯s seal. At the center front, a tall gold statue of the tael was positioned.

    She stood at the front of a leading staircase that faced a wide main street which in turn looked out to the harbor, where the salty sea air was ever present, causing her nostrils to be a little runny. Approaching the entrance gate, lined with waving lion statues of limestone, dozens of individuals walked by while others were entering just like her, ranging from aristocrats and well off entrepreneurs to ragged vendor stall owners.

    Passing through one of the arched double doors, TianXing promptly moved to the side as she scanned the area. The concourse took up the open space of two floors, and the roof held a spectacular painting of glamorous deities amongst flora and fauna. Large lanterns hung in a 8 pointed star formation and from where she stood, the interior walls were a bricked pattern of cemented stone stacked alternatingly. At the center, a massive round table was placed, filled with buckets of water and vases of tea. Surrounding that were wooden long benches, chairs and tables. At the sides, numerous service counters of varying specialization were at their busiest. Lines of people, apart from the upper classes of the populace. were waiting for their turn to go about their business.

    On the other hand, several well-dressed robed servants could be seen scattered across the lobby, addressing those noblemen and escorting them to designated corridors to isolated luxury meeting rooms.

    ¡®What convenience¡­I truly missed having this back home.¡¯

    Back before the family¡¯s whole scandal occurred.

    Sighing, TianXing took a small cup of tea before heading towards the shortest line available for a registration counter. Unfortunately, with the continuous influx of new migrants into the city, compared to the other types of services, these counters always had the most queues. This ¡®shortest¡¯ line already had more than 40 people at the front and ten more were already waiting behind her. Additionally, depending on the person, the listing process may take several seconds to half an hour but luckily, there was no such person before her.

    .

    .

    .

    Soon, it was her turn. The booth was separated by an upper glass panel and outlined with smooth wooden planks.

    Inside, a middle aged man was the main operator, wearing a gray QiPao and a red cone shaped hat. His hair was tied in a long Queue rope, fastened with a white feather. He routinely took out another parchment form and wrote down several details with an ink brush. To his side, there were several with varying thickness and length.

    He then took a quick glance at TianXing before writing some more.

    She waited, until he placed the brush down.

    ¡°Could you write?¡± came a husky voice.

    Countless times, the man had asked this question to everyone who came. But TianXing was not going to make herself a new license from scratch, she was just here to reaffirm the acceptance of her current license in a new province where ShanDong resides.

    ¡°I have an existing permit.¡±

    The man paused and stared blankly at her.

    ¡°Which province?¡±

    ¡°The Yee.¡±

    He pulled out another form and wrote down another set of information.

    ¡°Name?¡±

    ¡°Xu TianXing.¡±

    ¡°Specificity?¡±

    ¡°Current or Previously?¡±

    ¡°Previously.¡±

    ¡°Pharmaceutical Shipment and Development.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The worker stopped his brush.

    ¡°Sorry, just shocked. I would have never guessed such a profession is for a woman.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s understandable.¡±

    She shrugged the topic aside.

    ¡°Next, do you have any letter of recognition or stamp of approval from your respective branch Head?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do. Give me a moment.¡±

    With that, she slipped out a folded piece of paper from her inner pockets, crumpled beyond the standard thanks to earlier. She bluntly handed it back to the worker, with extreme embarrassment seeping from within.

    ¡°I had some trouble on the way here.¡±

    Giving a slight annoyance, the man inspected the letter and the branch¡¯s red imprint. Deciphering the words from it, as a way to prove authenticity, the worker nodded. Finishing off more writing before looking back up to her who waited with hesitant anticipation.

    ¡°Finally, Ms, what business activity are you planning to do here?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    She fell silent at first, before giving a decided response.

    ¡°For now, I will be looking for employment.¡±

    ¡°Hah!¡± The man slowly chuckled.

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡±

    ¡°No, no, don¡¯t worry, Ms.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Gathering up the documents and handing it to a nearby official, the man turned back to TianXing.

    ¡°Upstairs, second floor. Your new license will be given there.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Sir,¡± she replied curtly.

    ¡°Next!¡±

    And TianXing hastily made her way to the nearest stairway.

    ---

    Following behind a group of people, TianXing exited the Merchant Guild building and out through the gates. In her undergarments, she hid a clean pouch that housed her new permit documents, tucked deep within. With this, she would no longer be doing illegal trade here and so, will never be apprehended by the Police Guard to do business. Furthermore, this would surely give her some edge over others in getting employed. As she predicted, competition here was super tough and this would be a trump card. TianXing giggled quietly to herself.

    ¡®For the short term, let¡¯s start with a regular job to cover daily funds. Once I find the opportunity to start a potentially successful venture, then I would focus full time on that.¡¯

    ¡°Now then, let¡¯s get a quick lunch before I set off job hunting.¡±

    Later that afternoon, TianXing went to a crowded street hawker and fortunately got a wooden stool. She ordered a meal of rice and roasted chicken, followed by another vase of normal tea.

    ¡®14 silver taels left¡­¡¯

    The worries started to appear more definite.

    ¡®Maybe I should take residence near the Heavens¡¯ Steam. They provide more food with a similar price range.¡¯

    But, that was not important now. If she can find work here, she can readily afford food near the coast and never meet that eccentric waiter ever again.

    TianXing clenched her hand into a fist. Her eyes were burning with determination.

    ---

    Heading her way towards a nearby pharmacy of decent size, she approached the front door. At the top, a signboard spelt out the words, ¡°Medicine And Ni¡± in lavish black wide brush strokes. To the side, a poster was hung up, advertising a job for hire as a cashier.

    Reading the job requirements and specifications, TianXing could confidently say that she fit in all those conditions. Moreover, this job pays weekly at a minimum of 20 silver plus numerous other benefits.

    ¡®What more could I need!¡¯

    Proceeding into the store past two standing guards, she was met with a crowded atmosphere. Ten aisles of lots of packaged medicine could be seen being emptied out by the tens of customers in here. To the side, the doctors on duty, actively gathering the herbs and concoctions was very much the same to what her brother used to do for most of his customers with the same cabinets and equipment besides being much more massive in comparison. There were two currently and it was easily seen that they were out of breath in this hectic work environment.

    ¡®I see the need for new recruits.¡¯ she thought to herself.

    Amidst the loud chatter of the crowd, TianXing approached a sorting employee and was able to inform him of her possible employment here.

    ¡°Where could I meet with the person in charge?!!¡± exclaimed TianXing.

    Not bothering to raise his voice out loud, he gestured for her to come follow him to the back of the store.

    Passing by a straight corridor to a staircase up to the second floor, the man brought her to a large waiting room, filled with decorative flowers at the corners and chairs with respective tables to the left and right. More artistic vases, cups and plates further gave off the impression that the owner was prosperous. The walls were pristine white while the roof and floor were tiled with wood.

    ¡°Please take a seat, Madam.¡±

    TianXing obediently accepted.

    The man then knocked gently on the door and waited.

    ¡°Come in!¡± screamed a man¡¯s voice.

    Carefully, the man closed the door behind him and only muffled voices could be heard outside.

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    A short while later, the man opened the door and addressed TianXing.

    ¡°You may come in,¡± he said robotically.

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    Tidying herself up for the last time, she took a deep breath and entered the boss¡¯s room. The man gave way for her and left the room, heading downstairs to continue his duty.

    Inside, the room was cramped. Off to the sides were cabinets stacked with papers, books and documents. At the very end from where she stood, a plump 60 year old man with a short mustache, wearing a dark purple and black tattered QiPao, sat across a large office table, facing out to a large window, overlooking the bustling streets below. It was luxurious in design with golden accents and carved lion motifs. In his hand, the old man held several bamboo scrolls and folded parchments. Four chairs were situated between them. Currently, two of them are occupied.

    A man in his late 20s sat in the third seat, back straight and in respectable posture. He had his hair tied in a bun and wore a forest green Hanfu with an inner white black tunic.

    On the first seat, a youthful teen was sitting cross legged with a bright smile across his face. He appeared to be 16, sporting long flowy black hair and gray outlines over a white tunic.

    TianXing felt her stomach churning but still remembered what she learned back home. This was no longer something new for her. Folding her hand together, sleeves touching, she greeted them formally.

    ¡°Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to meet you all.¡±

    Obligately, the old man relaxed his eyebrows, ¡°The pleasure¡¯s all mine, dear. It is truly fate that the two of you came within an hour of each other. I was about to get started with today¡¯s batch of potential new recruits.¡±

    He turned gazes both at her and the man in the green clothing.

    ¡®As I thought so¡­¡¯ TianXing grimaced internally, ¡®It¡¯s rigged from the start.¡¯

    ¡°Young lady, why don¡¯t you take a seat? You look exhausted already¡­¡±

    ¡°Certainly not, Manager. Thank you for your concern.¡±

    She took the second seat, between the youthful teen and the man.

    After that, she handed him the documents onto the table. She had already taken them out prematurely.

    When he fully finished reading all of her information, the old man scanned through the other two¡¯s profiles before setting them aside. Getting his hands together, the old man spoke steadily, ¡°Listen everyone, as you can see the situation beneath us, I do not have time to go over the lengthy process of elimination rounds and finalized shortlisting. I mentioned out there that only those with certified licenses from the Medicinal Guild could participate because I have the urgency of making either one of you work full shifts on the next day. Our doctors here cannot hold on for very long, as you can see¡±

    He lit a cigar.

    ¡°Thus, like all the others that I had met on the day before and the day before that and so on, you will propose to me why you should be chosen and if it is enticing enough, I will decide on whether to give you a trial run for a week. This means that¡­if you do not impress me in any way the slightest, I will push your case aside. Just like all the recruits before you, as you can see.¡±

    He took another puff.

    ¡°Do you get me?¡±

    TIanXing gave a firm nod, while the man looked on unfazed. The teen smirked cheekily.

    ¡°Lady Xu, why don¡¯t you start first? It is a man¡¯s courtesy.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Manager. Firstly, I grew up in a medical household. All my ancestors are skilled doctors in their own right. My father was one of the best in our castle city and I am the daughter of two. He taught me all there is to pharmacy, having assisted his shop ever since I was a small child, while I also pursued commerce in my free time. If you accept me into the business, not only while you obtain an experienced apothecary, I can lay assistance for checking account booklets and sorting inventory efficiently. Because as I see it, you have quite the fast paced operation. Overall, it¡¯s a two in one deal. Two birds with one stone.  All for the price of one.¡±

    ¡®Rather than two different people for two different professions, if there is one multitasking tool, no one¡¯s dumb enough to reject them, especially at such a price.¡¯

    That was one hook she reeled out to the pond and the worm on it was large.

    ¡®Surely, I will win, right?¡¯

    But, never did she know, the fish she wanted didn¡¯t even eat worms.

    ¡°Hmm, quite the attractive skillset, Lady. But, It¡¯s now your turn to prove yourself, Mr Wan. The floor¡¯s all yours.¡±

    He gestured towards the man in the green tunic.

    ¡°Sir, I do not wish to waste any more time with useless repetition. For simplicity¡¯s sake, I will state this. I am all that Ms Xu is with much more experience under his belt, besides the additional technicalities that is entrepreneurship. But, Sir, that was never a part of your specifications when you advertised the vacancy. Surely, for how much the business has grown in your lifetime, you already have a dedicated, trustworthy team for managing finances and the inner workings of the system. I consider, Sir, that the addition of an allrounder meant that her commercial skills are useless if they need time to synergise well with the existing group which is not a priority for the long term since there is no demand for new business advisors. You are hiring medical professionals here.

    Not to downplay Lay Xu¡¯s abilities as apothecary alone over here, but we have to be realistic, Sir. A woman¡¯s not fit for the workforce,¡±

    Her neck tensed.

    TianXing felt a sudden surge of frustration, knowing that they might use this pathetic excuse.

    ¡°Especially for a fast paced service such as Medicine and Ni, a woman ripened in her early twenties, if I presume, would be hot for love. There is no time for dedication to the business if she is out looking for a man. Once she¡¯s tied down to him, all the loyalty is to the spouse.

    Let us say this logic is too far-fetched to be realistic. The Lady will certainly have her end of the month duties. Such conditions could lead to other forms of illnesses and drastic mood swings. Not suited for attending to patients at that time of the month, don¡¯t you think?

    What about maternity leaves, if we are considering long term employment?

    If that¡¯s not a sign of inefficiency, then I do not know what is. All I care for is the best of the business looking into the future. Bashing on women''s disadvantages is just a natural reason for potential mishaps. Sir, I hope you consider this wisely.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The room went silent for a good short while until the old man began talking again.

    ¡°Lady Xu, why aren¡¯t you defending back? Mr Wan indirectly insulted you from a certain perspective.¡±

    ¡°As he said, Manager. A woman¡¯s needs can be tricky and an inconvenience. I truly agree with that, but, I assure you, Manager, that that has never affected my father¡¯s business ever. And as you can clearly see, Manager, do my clothes look like I am in the mating season? Even my makeup is applied to the minimum since that is never my real goal. I love my job as an apothecary and I will continue to dedicate my life to it.¡±

    ¡°Then why leave for the big city?¡± the old man interrupted.

    ¡°...Pardon, Manager?¡±

    ¡°You could still do what you love best back at your father¡¯s pharmacy. Why bother coming here then?¡±

    ¡°...I am greedy, Manager. I dream big. I wish for money. I love it and I need it. Just like every man out there that sails across provinces, I want money and this is a good starting point for me.¡±

    ¡°I understand. Now, the three of you will be dismissed for the time being. Please wait outside until I say so to return.¡±

    Nodding their heads, the trio got off their seats.

    On her way out, the youthful teen immediately made his way towards her in a jolly gait.

    ¡°What a ¡®manly¡¯ speech you gave back there, Older Sis. I would love to see you stay. You¡¯re fun!¡±

    ¡®I was wondering when he would show up.¡¯

    She turned back to him, slanted eyed.

    ¡°...Thank you for your compliment, young Master.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡± came his surprised look.

    But, before their conversation could continue more, TianXing strided far from the both of them, tending quietly to herself, nervously anticipating the results. It was a heated 30 minutes of silent waiting.

    .

    .

    .

    ---

    ¡°You may come now!¡± the old man instructed.

    Taking the same seats they previously sat on, the old man puffed another sack. His room filled with fading smoke.

    ¡°Very anxious, aren¡¯t we?¡± teased the old man.

    And as expected, none of them replied, besides the teen with a smirk.

    Picking up a piece of parchment, the old man grunted.

    ¡°Mr Wan?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir?¡±

    ¡°You are already at the age to be betrothed to another? Why are you still unemployed?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s nothing grand, Sir but¡­my prior employer¡¯s shop got bought off by the Shang Brothers¡¯s Trading corporation, and it¡¯s not only me¡­¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°Lady Xu?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Manager.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that any longer.¡±

    ¡°...Sorry?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, I had already made my decision. You lost, Lady Xu. Please leave my store.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Sir! Sorry, but¡­may I ask the reason for your choice?¡± Her voice was shaky.

    ¡°...Nothing against you, Lady Xu but I think it is logical. The young man you see here is the son of a fellow associate of mine so the first spot is rightfully reserved for him. The only spot left is between you and Mr Wan. The question I finally ask is¡­¡±

    The old man shifted his chair closer.

    ¡°How many boxes can you lift?¡±

    That¡¯s when TianXing realized there is no point arguing back. The man¡¯s strength is much more useful than her managerial talents and she could not think of a striking counter.

    ¡°Thank you¡­for having me.¡± TianXing bowed deeply.

    Puffing another breath, ¡°Likewise, Lady Xu. I hope there¡¯s no bad blood between us.¡±

    With that, the distraught maiden hurriedly left the room and downstairs.

    ¡°Goodbye, Older Sis!¡± was all she heard left.

    She clenched her fist tightly.

    ---

    Following that disheartening reveal, TianXing arrived at a small street stall where she ordered a bowl of stir fry noodles for 2 silver taels but was given back 5 bronze coins.

    ¡®13 silver¡¯

    Afterwards, she headed back to the inn and made bed for the night. As she was sorting out her things however, TianXing accidentally stumbled across an iron medallion. Picking it close to her, TianXing finally realized her connection with the Wen Shipping company. She recalled that they could offer her a job.

    ¡®I completely overlooked that! But¡­¡¯

    Even so, she deeply sighed, keeping back the medallion deep within her pouch.

    ¡®There is no doubt that with Grandpa¡¯s help, there will be an open seat for me. Then again, for a man that had built up such a large corporate empire in the region, there should be some agenda behind it. I feel that if I am indebted to them, there will be some consequence to that. The best route to use this is if I can offer up a joint venture project, but there is none in sight. Argh, why do I have to make this harder for myself? WHY!!!!¡¯

    TianXing continued to sulk for quite some time throughout the chaotic night.

    ---

    The next day came and TianXing started the day just the same, washing in the back and ordering porridge with YouTiao.

    .

    .

    .

    That day, TianXing spent the morning strolling around the area for jobs. She had several conditions before proceeding with registration.

    ¡®Firstly, it must pay decently well. I may need to collect personal capital for whatever start-up I will see to soon.

    Secondly, there must be some potential to rise up the organization chart. The work must have promotions.

    Lastly, it is something that I specialize in.¡¯

    With these set in place, TianXing finally decided on another pharmacy to sign up.

    After lunch, TianXing made her way to a place called ¡®Tuo¡¯s Stomach¡¯.

    Inside, she saw a familiar sight. It was a hectic store like the previous. Again, she inquired with a storekeeper about the vacancy who gladly brought her up to the owner¡¯s office.

    Knocking on the door, the male storekeeper informed the owner, who was a middle-aged slim man, sporting a thick brown beard.

    ¡°Sir, a new recruit is here to see you.¡±

    Placing his brush down, the man answered, ¡°Bring him in.¡±

    ¡°...Sir, it¡¯s a woman, named Ms Xu.¡±

    Suddenly the owner let out a loud gasp.

    ¡°Did I hear you correctly, QiPi? A lady, as an apothecary?¡±

    ¡°...Yes, I saw her letter. It¡¯s certified.¡±

    ¡°Interesting¡­Send her out, QiPi. It must be a false copy.¡±

    ¡°Understa-¡±

    ¡°WAIT ON, MANAGER!¡±

    TianXing burst through the door.

    ¡°I would never lie about my skills. Do I have no pride?!¡±

    ¡°OUT GIRL! BEFORE I CALL THE POLICE GUARD!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Lady Xu, please,¡± the storekeeper gestured out of the room.

    ¡°Fuck it, old twig!¡± TianXing screamed as she stormed her way out.

    It was another failure.

    Grabbing her purse and counting the last of her money, her face darkened.

    ¡°12 silver¡±

    ---

    For the next several days, TianXing went about the streets, looking for more adverts and applying for them. Unfortunately, her chances were not so bright.

    For numerous other pharmacies, she lost the battle to others who are more experienced and skilled or for similar prejudices.

    And when she went for business and advisory firms, the rejections were much more brutal, as well as hopeless.

    By the time a week passed, TianXing woke up to a shamefully meager amount of 2 silver taels left.

    ¡®This will be barely enough to pay for today¡¯s breakfast and lunch¡­AND RENT PAY¡¯S ALMOST UP!!!¡¯

    She was sweating frantically all over.

    If she cannot find a job fast, TianXing would also be homeless starting tomorrow. Otherwise, she had no choice but to either get a quick loan from the Bank Guild or pawn off her possessions.

    The situation was dire.

 Chapter 23 : A Potential Path

    TianXing halted in her tracks and placed her suitcase and medicinal bag onto the stone pavement. Looking over her shoulder, facing outward to a large concourse of greenery and gazebos, a central three-story building stood bold in the open. It had a very similar appearance and layout to the Merchant Guild office with the only distinguishing feature being the main statue was a block of rectangular marble, carved into the shape of a sheet of paper.

    ¡°The Relay Guild¡­¡±

    After having been sternly rejected with the plea for letting her stay another day at the pub without an additional upfront payment, TianXing gave in and promptly made her leave. Currently, it was nearly lunchtime, and she made quite the long journey here on foot to save costs.

    In battered breath, TianXing could hear her stomach grumble. After a breakfast of rice porridge, she was down to a single silver tael.

    Wiping her sweat with a handkerchief, she tensed her hands before lifting her luggage, making her way up the stairs. Although the Relay Guild was mostly meant for the middle class and higher, especially merchants, they still represented the mouth of ShanWei, meaning there was an alternative cheaper route for sending letters; as such, one sent would only charge several bronze coins despite their questionably longer travel time and non-guaranteed arrival upon their destination, especially when there were as many countryside villages as there are fish in the sea with a weak address documentation in some parts. Fortunately, the Bai River¡¯s collection of villages have firm established routes to and from here.

    ¡®I wonder how much longer it would take?¡¯

    Opening the second of four tall wooden double doors, she felt a similar sensation to when she visited the Merchant Guild office. Everything here was larger in scale and more bustling than ever.

    Walking up to a line of tables, bundles of brushes, and of inks and paper lay about freely in a mess. Since higher classes and merchants usually have their own writing equipment, the guild did not see the need to add costs to accommodate quality for those that lift cargo or wield brooms for the entire day.

    ¡®And those unrefined bastards had to make it worse¡­¡¯ she grumbled.

    But understandably so, TianXing knew this was all free material regardless and stopped fuming.

    After painstakingly rummaging around for a clean sheet and a brush that did not have most of its hair pulled out or permanently bent out of proper, she then poured some water from her container into a dried up ink bottle before smudging it down with her thumb for a darker shade of black. Being the only one there, no one interrupted the awkward process and in an hour, TianXing held a folded up letter in hand.

    ---

    As she headed straight to a counter, a youthful officer working behind the desk looked up to see a woman with disheveled hair, wrinkled clothes and a dried up black inked left hand. It was not the worst he had seen of the thousands of commoners that came for his services but for a woman to be this rugged and messy, it was surely unique. Additionally, he cannot help but realize that, even with all that, he was still locked in by her natural beauty.

    ¡°I have come to make a submission,¡± TianXing bluntly informed, placing the letter on the counter.

    ¡°A-ah, yes, yes, Lady¡­¡±

    The officer broke out of his trance.

    Clearing his throat, he further questioned, ¡°May I know the recipient¡¯s address?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s on there.¡±

    And on the top right-hand corner, in brilliant writing, it detailed the province, village and house. Keeping the surprise within, the officer asked for the payment.

    ¡°The fee¡¯s 17 coins.¡±

    Obligingly, TianXing gave him the last silver tael.

    And with a swift count of bronze coins in a drawer, he gave back 33 as change.

    Afterwards, he left his seat to proceed with the transfer, to which TianXing laid her elbow on the ledge, recounting the coins as she made thoughts of how to efficiently use them; and in minutes, the youthful officer returned to his counter.

    Signing her with an approval, he spoke, ¡°It¡¯s all done, Lad-¡±

    WHAM!

    A sudden crash onto a wooden desk sounded, several counters away from where they stood.

    It was soon followed by a loud exclamation.

    ¡°WHAT Y¡¯D MEAN YOU CAN¡¯T ACCEPT THIS LETTER?!¡± screamed a middle-aged man in a brown tattered tunic and baggy pants.

    Behind that counter, another officer was at his wit¡¯s end.

    ¡°Listen old man, such incomprehensible text will just be a waste in transport, and the rules of the Relay Guild enforce this heavily. There is no leeway no matter how many times you visit me. This must be the last!¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you do it for me?! Such a lazy, disrespectful brat!¡±

    ¡°Haaaah¡­Again, that is not my problem and this is not my job!¡±

    ¡°EXCUSES! EXCUSES! EXCUSES!¡±

    The argument began to grow louder and louder, gathering excited observations, amused gazes and pitied glances from the main hall.

    One such spectator of the latter was TianXing.

    ¡°What is the dispute between those two?¡± she questioned the man beside her.

    Peeking out of the counter with relaxed eyes, he gladly answered.

    ¡°That old man Ah Zhu, he received a letter stating that his father unfortunately passed away and miraculously, a letter from there could reach here into his arms. It is such a rarity since mail travels mostly in a unidirectional lane. Folks on the other side don¡¯t know such concepts we are frequent with.

    Anyhow, he was devastated upon hearing the news and immediately decided to head back to his home village, but to his dismay, like many others before him, the costs were ridiculously expensive.¡±

    ¡®Expensive?¡¯

    ¡°Do you know why it is that costly, Sir?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, no clue.¡±

    ¡°What of tax?¡±

    ¡°Well, there was an increase for merchants several weeks back, if I recall properly.¡±

    ¡®Could the government have increased return route tickets to an astronomical degree to discourage travel back to the countryside? So is this all an elaborate boar trap with spiked doors?¡¯

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    But she kept that thought aside for later.

    ¡°So the old man became desperate to find a way to contact his previously ailing mother, leading him back to us a week ago.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°...Old man Ah Zhu has only known ropes for as long as we know of him. Illiterate, poor and miserable. You really cannot place all the fault on him, can you?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t he beg for someone to write for him?¡±

    ¡°...You might see me reading your letter, Lady but that is all I can do¡­honestly. That goes the same for all the other officers on the lower floor. And, no one who serves the higher classes would ever give their services to a laborer like him. They have an image and pride to keep after all.¡±

    ¡°Even other factors besides money huh¡­? That is saddening.¡±

    Her face darkened¡­

    ¡°Knowing this, Lady, I advise that you please keep your attention away from their plight. The Heavens will never fault you for your ignorance.¡±

    Before a sudden smirk emerged on her face.

    And she took a step forward.

    The youthful officer looked on with bewilderment for what her further actions would be of.

    .

    .

    .

    Their brutish quarrel did not see any sign of stopping.

    Currently, they hurled insults, poorly timed phrases of common wisdom and the struggles of dealing with the other¡¯s respective age groups.

    At this point, the scene became humorous yet annoying.

    ¡°...¡±

    Bracing herself, TianXing called out to the old man, bringing out a vanilla, high-pitched voice, expected of a daughter to their father.

    ¡°Uncle! Uncle Ah Zhu! What¡¯s the matter here? Are you alright?¡± she frantically inquired with worried eyes.

    In response to her interruption, the opposing duo turned their sights towards her.

    ¡°W-what?! I don¡¯t know who you are but shoo off! Can¡¯t you see I am preoccupied with this immature brat?!¡±

    ¡°Shut it, geezer! Lady, if you are acquainted with this bastard over here, please make sure he never comes back uncivilized. I beg of you! Please have mercy!¡±

    The unfortunate officer held his palms together, on the verge of tears.

    ¡®What a change in tone¡¯ TianXing thought to herself.

    Grasping the old laborer¡¯s coarse hands together, she continued her act.

    ¡°How could you forget me so easily, Uncle Ah Zhu? You¡¯re so cruel¡­¡±

    Tears started to run down her cute face.

    ¡°E-Ehhh¡­?¡±

    Stunned by this outlandish claim that such a fine young woman knew of him, Ah Zhu fell into silence. Even more so as she clung close to snuggling in his left arm. Looking up at him, TianXing suggested, ¡°Uncle, why don¡¯t we talk outside? You can come back once you cool yourself.¡±

    Her expression was one of a warm bouquet of flowers.

    ¡°...,¡± the old man looked back at the exhausted officer before sighing heavily, ¡°...alright.¡±

    With his approval, TianXing lightened up, and patiently escorted him out of the building to a nearby gazebo in the main concourse. The officer was left lying on his chair in relief.

    .

    .

    .

    TianXing started the conversation.

    ¡°Uncle, how many times do I have to tell you? Please contact me if you have any problems.¡±

    She puffed her cheeks in a frown.

    ¡°S-sorry, Lady. It may have been long but¡­how did we meet exactly?¡±

    ¡°We crossed paths at several pubs. We¡¯re drinking buddies.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­a wild story. Did that really happen?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± she said sternly, before placing a hand on his shoulder, ¡°Coming out empty handed for days must have been hard, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    And, even without the influence of alcohol, the grump brute broke down in a watery mess.

    ¡®All that grief fueled his anger. And he took it all on that poor officer who was at the mercy of his employers¡­I can do this!¡¯

    ¡°Uncle Ah Zhu, do you know how to write to her?¡±

    ¡°No, never touched a brush in my life.¡±

    ¡°And this letter¡­will you get it across no matter what?¡±

    ¡°YES! Yes¡­if I had the money to even hire someone¡­Then-¡±

    ¡°What about me?¡±

    The old man looked up to the young maiden.

    She smiled and placed a hand on her raised chest.

    ¡°LET ME DO IT FOR YOU!!!¡±

    ¡°Wha¡­¡± Ah Zhu was at a loss for words. He felt a spark of hope. ¡°B-but the price-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Uncle! How much did they ask you for?¡±

    ¡°...They ignored me as soon as I was in their sights. But, I heard it was 40 silver per page.¡±

    ¡°How outrageous?!¡±

    ¡®Well, this would be miniscule in the past. Elder brother earned silvers like bronze.¡¯

    TianXing extended her hand towards Ah Zhu; her index finger was only shown.

    ¡°What does this mean?¡±

    ¡°1 silver tael.¡±

    ¡°W-really?!¡±

    She smirked proudly.

    ¡°1 silver, ¡° she repeated, ¡°That¡¯s my price.¡±

    ¡°Ahh¡­¡± The man felt ecstatic.

    ¡°There is no further bargain, Uncle. Are you up with this?¡±

    The old man eagerly nodded his hand, immediately pulling out a tael and placing it firmly on the center table.

    ---

    After the upfront payment, TianXing quickly sprung into action. Rushing back to the Relay Guild office, they reached the desk of free ink, brushes and paper. And as the old man narrated what he wanted to say in his piece, TianXing followed with elegant handwriting, consisting of concise twirls and broad strokes. Her vertical columns were pristine straight as she maintained a steady hand, to which this demonstration was all for the public to see. Finishing with the last word, Ah Zhu¡¯s name, TianXing folded the letter and handed it to the officer that served Ah Zhu for the past several days.

    The officer looked questionably beyond her to see an obedient Ah Zhu. His eyes fixated on this savior of his. An admiration.

    Facing back to TianXing, she asked him, ¡°Would this suffice?¡±.

    Checking the contents, his eyes were greeted with such eye candy.

    ¡°Mr Ah Zhu, what about the fee for this letter?¡±

    It was a success.

    .

    .

    .

    With her first customer satisfied and the preparation process went about smoothly, apart from some glances at TianXing, she exited the building, accompanied by Ah Zhu with no new issues ensuing.

    ¡®Will that attract more customers to me? The more publicity, the better. If I keep the price at 1 silver, given the population of the working class that probably has similar struggles with Uncle Ah Zhu and that I am the only one who provides these services, it truly is a great potential market to reap the benefits from. Furthermore, with the extra money I ask from the Commander by that letter, in a few weeks, I would have enough starting capital to set up a cart with inks, brushes and paper of various sizes. Through word of mouth, I would get¡­¡¯

    And as she thought through the rest of her plan, the old man called out to her.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°...Uncle?¡±

    ¡°I thank you very much for your help, Lady. If you would allow me, may I ask for your name? We didn¡¯t have a proper introduction, did we?¡±

    ¡°My name is Xu TianXing, Uncle. Again, I hope to make good business with you in the future. Feel free to let me know when you need another letter written. I will be waiting in that same gazebo right there.¡±

    ¡°Oh, surely, Lady. I-I will take my leave now. Thank you again so much-¡±

    ¡°One more thing, Uncle.¡±

    ¡°...Yes?¡±

    ¡°I am sure that there are many others that have similar problems like you, correct?¡±

    ¡°Certainly!¡±

    ¡°If they want to, I am happy to be of service to them as well. 1 silver is all I need per person. Let them know for me, Uncle.¡±

    ¡°Surely, Lady. Certainly!¡±

    ¡°Then that¡¯s settled!¡¯

    She clapped her hands together.

    They then exchange final goodbyes before separating.

    ¡®This may be my ticket to prosperity.¡¯

    .

 Chapter 24 : Harvested Gains and Bloomed Encounters

    A decade later¡­

    The commercial city of ShanWei was as bustling as ever. More multi-story buildings had sprung up from the past several years and the ports reached further out to sea. Urban development continued its course.

    One such newly constructed office building was now organizing its grand opening. Vertical banners of red, imprinted with characters of cherished fortunes draped up from the third story of stone tiled roof supports. Bouquets of rings of flowers covered the main double door entrance of dark hardwood under a concrete archway. The bricked walls were painted with a deep coat of dark brown, making it stand out amidst blocks of gray and beige.

    Numerous people were flocking in with their best of dresses. A myriad of red, cream, lavender, green and blue were sighted from up above where a bright lean man rested on an open windowsill. He wore a tightened robe of turquoise blue with black patterned lines and red and white accents, while a rosy red hairpin fastened a tight bun for his upper hair. Inclining over his shoulder, a Jian, crusted with jade, was snuggled in his arm. Chewing on a wild grass stem, he soon heard the sounds of a rattling horse carriage coming out of the shed near the main building. A man screamed at the top of his lungs as he brought the steeds to speed.

    ¡°She¡¯s not here yet, huh?¡±

    The man sneered at the thought.

    .

    .

    .

    The carriage intersected onto a main street, riding across several turns before passing through a flourishing park of flora. Lines of gazebos were packed with people and a central tiled path led into the Relay Guild office¡¯s front entrance, where the man halted his carriage. Alerting the passenger inside, a middle-aged man with a twig-like figure emerged, donning a clerical beige HanFu robe. He rubbed his long beard as he readjusted his working cap.

    ¡°Just how long would that young Ms take?¡± the man grumbled.

    He then took long strides, storming into the building with frustrated eyes.

    .

    .

    .

    Meanwhile, at the third floor of the Relay Guild office, a lady was walking towards the main counter with a wrapped box and letter in hand. Approaching the front desk, engraved with familial golden dragon and lion patterns, she handed them the permission documents before her desired goods. After the officer certified the transaction to be authentic, he left with the goods to prepare for transport.

    Seconds later, he returned with a parchment of approval, stamped in red.

    She smiled from ear to ear at her accomplishment.

    Inserting the document into her sleeve pockets, the lady passed an entourage of high-class merchants before making her way downstairs, passing decorative water paintings and pottery. Finally, she reached the lowest floor where the lady made contact with the clerical man at last, who seemed furious, according to her.

    Putting her hands up in humoural guilt, she hurried out of the building with him and later got into the luxurious carriage before Mr Tai signaled for the driver to start his course. Immediately, sounds of a whip can be heard from within as the carriage rocked into gaining speed. They were on their way back.

    Within the compartment, nestled straight in the middle of the sofa seat, looking at his long face, she eventually addressed him, ¡°Mr Tai-¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you doing there at this time of day, young Ms!¡± he quickly interrupted, ¡°You should know how important today is, don''t you?¡±

    She lowered her head.

    ¡°...About that, Mr Tai, I seemed to have trouble wondering how to write back to my family. This is the day after all, the one where ¡®White Ink¡¯ will be in the ranks with those shipping and trading corporations.¡¯

    The middle-aged man sighed.

    ¡°Young Ms, you do know that out of the 48 local conglomerates throughout the Middle Kingdom, we already are ahead of 29 in nearly all categories, and to add more to their injury, we are the youngest of them all.¡±

    She exhaled deeply.

    ¡°That¡¯s common knowledge, Mr Tai, but what matters now is ¡®presentation¡¯! We finally got ourselves a grand headquarters now and this will be the start of our international translator service segment. Today surely is a great day, an important day to send back home my very first letter in a decade. I hope you do understand that.¡±

    ¡°...So they never sent a letter back this whole time?¡±

    ¡°They did, only¡­after I gave them such heartbreak after I left so abruptly, it-it just doesn¡¯t feel right with me to open up like nothing had ever happened. And¡­I am still scared of their response. Isn¡¯t it quite laughable that I am just gathering the courage to write now? And it is all under the pretense of money to start the conversation. Arghhh¡­I am such a coward.¡±

    Mr Tai wanted to insert a joyful remark but decided otherwise.

    ¡°How much did you send them?¡±

    ¡°...90 Gold tags.¡±

    Stunned for a second, Mr Tai reached in closer to her.

    ¡°See, young Ms? Do you think just anyone could have raised that much money in less than a decade? With all I¡¯ve met, no one has ever reached that far. You have exceeded my expectations ever since I first served you that red braised pork belly and rice¡­So cheer up, will you? We are nearly arriving.¡±

    Looking out her window, she saw lines of parked carriages of luxurious variety. It truly was a celebration that her company was arranging. They truly had come a long way.

    ¡°Mr Tai?¡±

    ¡°Yes, young Ms?¡±

    ¡°How do you still remember what I first paid for?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s easy, young Ms. It¡¯s still today¡¯s speciality ¡®till this day.¡±

    ¡°Would my brother be elated that I finally replied? Or will he be enraged instead?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a question only you can answer. Who knows him best? You do.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°But if it were me¡­it would be a mix of both.¡±

    She frowned upon his answer but¡­

    ¡°Thank you, Mr Tai.¡±

    She was satisfied nonetheless.

    It was about that time when the carriage halted, and Mr Tai helped escort the lady out to her room to make herself more presentable for the opening in less than an hour¡¯s time.

    ---

    The lean man lazily came down from his resting spot, having had the returning sounds of the rushing carriage ringing in his ears for a while.

    Landing two stories down, onto the ground in a graceful glide of a dandelion, his long sleeves and lower robe fluttered grandly, making ongoing guests move out of his way. Locking the sword onto his belt, he tightened his fittings before entering the inner door to the grand hall. For this to later be a specialized zone for serving the extra wealthy, it gave off the necessary welcome one would expect for such a class and now, it was packed with important officials and large red cloth tables full of white earthenware and food.

    He wandered about, picking out plates of dishes and cups of varieties of tea but in the end, subconsciously remained at the wine section, pacing himself well with controlled sips of it. Given his well known popularity, one might find it weird that no one bothered to start up a long conversation with the man, knowing that all their livelihoods were built on connections and proposals. All he gave were smiles and one liners before feigning distraction. To the contrary, he was ranked high above most of them, in terms of power and influence, and the ability to come out on top in a fight. As he let out a consecutive streak of loud burps, no one reprimanded him, even the hosts of White Ink. Shamelessness was written all over and the man continued his indulgence, until a certain clerical man entered the hall.

    Red curtains made way for Mr Tai as he cleared his throat before addressing the huge crowd. The lean man shifted forward in his seat, looking on with anticipation.

    ¡°Attention, everyone! Attention!¡± Mr Tai raised his hands in the air.

    And as the crowds¡¯ gaze fell upon him, he continued, ¡°the co-founder of the prosperous White Ink and Department Head of Letter-Writing and Translation respectively, Xu TianXing, will be making her entrance shortly. Please give her a warm welcome!¡±

    Immediately, the crowd emerged in wondrous applause while the lean man gulped on another cup of wine, finishing the last of the bottles on his table. He was still sober.

    The sounds died right after, and a gorgeous, refined woman walked to the front of the hall. All eyes on her. Normally, the context for a lady¡¯s center stage would be of engagement and ceremony. Yet right here, years above the accepted matchmaking range, TianXing stood as one of the richest of her generation that earned all her money and power solely due to her own efforts. Her dress robe was wine purple and glossy black, decorated with floral patterned accents dyed in shining violet and tied at the waist with wide lavender ribbons. An inner layer of maroon red clothing with white lapels shyly wrapped tight around her long neck. Overall, the long fabrics enveloped nicely around her well-defined outline of a torso and raised, large chest, accompanied along with a doll-like face of porcelain skin, rosy lips, clear jawline and long jet black hair, comparable to the finest of silk. For her more pronounced baggy eyes and larger wrinkles, non-existent from other women of her age, it truly was a unique sight to witness and a proof of her immense endeavors. The lean man¡¯s eyes stared wide open.

    ¡°Welcome¡­Welcome everyone and thank you for coming to this very eventful period for White Ink. All this would have been impossible, if not for the help of my treasured subordinates, cooperative partners of all sorts and most importantly, the honorable elder of Wen Shipping Company, Mr Wen TaiXian.¡±

    All gazes turned to a corner in the back where a seated Mr Wen raised his glass with a smile.

    ¡°I am at a loss for words to describe my emotions currently, looking at what we all built, an extensive system of communication, aiding the ever relevant Relay Guild, initiated by The Emperor himself, to greater heights! For the betterment of the people!¡±

    The man sneered as he gladly raised his secondary glass of tea.

    ¡°Cheers everyone! For an auspicious future together!¡±

    TianXing held high a plate of wine before the mass all drank in unison.

    ¡°Please enjoy the party for the grand opening!¡± was her parting words as they all went into rabid applause one more time.

    ---

    Roughly getting up from his seat, he shoved past several clumps of guests to be in the view of the lady in the purple dress.

    Currently, she was swallowed by another crowd of merchants and the clerical man could be seen struggling to catch up with her, panting as he goes, like a royal attendant to a rebellious young princess. It was cute, he thought to himself.

    The chatter became louder and louder and the cluster grew the closer he went. Soon enough, calling at a distance would not bring her attention, nor would the sight of him be obvious from her spot. His face darkened and a smirk grew.

    Suddenly, a wave of intense pressure washed over the crowds undeterred. The ground felt heavier and everyone instinctively turned to him in fear. They knew who could only do this sort of ¡®stunt¡¯. To his presence, anyone near him willingly backed off and he steadily made his approach more apparent. The route to TianXing was opened, served to him on a red carpet.

    However, while everyone, even Mr Tai, stood frightened, some were near hyperventilating, TianXing gave him creased eyebrows. Now, he was in front of her, staring down with his tall stature. It was a silent hall but TianXing spoke first.

    ¡°What does the Third Young Master of the White Clan need of this humble citizen?¡± She bowed, knees bent with her fabulous dress.

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    ¡°Give it up, old hag. Wait a little longer and you¡¯re infertile.¡±

    Certainly this matter of attitude was ridiculous, especially for higher society standards but again, no one dared object.

    ¡°Young Ms, if you must, please-¡±

    ¡°Enough, you former waiter!¡±

    A sheer force of anger pushed back Mr Tai to the ground in shock and out of breath.

    ¡°That is a very childish claim, Mr Bai. And are you confident with expressing this out to all my respected guests?¡±

    ¡°That does not concern me, Sweetheart. And if you forget, call me by my first name, LuJi.¡±

    ¡°Mr Bai, today is not the place for this nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Then, gladly accept my offer so the celebration may continue as planned.¡±

    TianXing felt her fist clenching. Having experienced his advance for the last seven years, this was his boldest attempt. While she found some joy in this cat and mouse chase of affection, now was definitely not the time. She took a step forward.

    But, as she was about to retort back, a loud haughty laugh came from the back.

    It was Mr Wen.

    Like LuJi, everybody else easily made way for the Wen Elder. Now, he walked a wobbly gait; loud thuds came for every step of his gold-handled cane. He wore a textured black tunic with gold yellow cuffs. Behind him were his lifelong assistant and his trusted retinue. For an outsider, their presence felt like a seasoned gang mob. For LuJi, he was not someone to be taken lightly like the rest. The lean man steadied himself calm.

    ¡°Stay out of this, Gramps. It¡¯s between the Lady and I.¡±

    Rising his crooked back, the Wen Elder responded, ¡°We have developed closely, a bond of father and daughter. I feel like I am suited to truly support the Lady¡¯s wishes.¡±

    ¡°Felt,¡± snorted LuJi, ¡°Don¡¯t think that it will be risky for me to threaten you. It¡¯s just a slight pothole on the road, you hear?¡±

    He rested his palm on the pommel¡­

    A mass of guards swiftly responded, readying to shield the Wen Elder, but he raised his hand against further provocation from his subordinates.

    ¡°Thus, would you mind taking a step back, Gramps?¡±

    LuJi reached out for TianXing¡¯s arm, pulling her close.

    ¡°A barking 5-legged dog, wild and rushing with fiery blood, on a young summer¡¯s day,¡± squinted the Wen Elder¡¯s eyes, ¡°That¡¯s who you are now.¡±

    ¡°Having 4 sons and 11 daughters ain¡¯t gonna validate that compliment, Elder Wen.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get going, darling.¡±

    Still doing her best to let loose his grip, TianXing tried persuading him again.

    ¡°Mr Bai, no matter how much you pressure me, I would never give my answer. This relationship needs to be settled in a time for the future!¡±

    Her feet slid across the glassy floor, resisting his pull towards the doorway.

    ¡°Enough, Mr Bai! I said to stop this. Hands off me!¡±

    ¡°No.¡± assured his dominating voice.

    ¡®Damn these bastard martial clans!¡¯

    ¡°I-I also have some long awaited guests arriving very soon, to which we arranged for them to appear later on in the feast. I cannot let them be greeted by such comedy!¡±

    ¡°Whoever they are, it does not matter to the Great White Clan. So remain silent.¡±

    She clicked her tongue in disgust.

    LuJi was approaching closer towards the entrance.

    However, unbeknownst to all of them, those guests were already standing on the other side, and were about to enter the hall room with the slightly troubled guidance of the waiters.

    The double doors then swung open in grand spectacle, and waves of distinctly scented perfumes poured their way in.

    Apart from a select few that knew of their invitation, including Mr Tai and the Wen Elder, the whole crowd gasped in shock. Not by who they were or what they were but the fact that the young Lady already had established her connections so early in her company¡¯s growth and she made the decision to reveal this at the premiere.

    LuJi, who was unyielding with his abuse of status over others below or equal to his class, never expected this outcome from the Lady he forcibly held in hand. Despite his bursting ego, even he was wise to know when to restrict his behavior. And now was potentially the best time; so much so that he released his grip on TianXing in a reflex. And after a subtle massage of her arm, she ran up to the entering company in all her hospitality.

    It was a group of 11 gentlemen, composed of individuals of diverse professions and positions, all under a single coat of arms.

    ¡°Hamilton! Ferase!¡± the Lady addressed, her fist and palm joined into a greeting salute, ¡°It truly is a pleasure to meet all of you in person. I reckon this is our first interaction where we see one another face to face, rather than through heaps of paper and ink?¡±

    Hearing her well articulated words, the gentlemen were surprised, and one of the men whom she addressed to, a wrinkly round-faced man whose gray hair remained only at the lower edges and had a bushy beard that parted into two ends, exchanged his words.

    ¡°Lady Xu, firstly, may I wholeheartedly say that you look fascinatingly stunning in this ceremonial womenswear of yours? I am so glad to finally make witness of the lady with such artistically impressive handwriting. Secondly, I apologize if we intrude on any pressing matters you had at hand earlier. I was, and so were Master Hamilton, thrilled for this gathering.¡± came the deep voice of 58 year old Ferase Edelane. Standing at the front of his entourage, dressed smartly with bleach breeches, a short-skirted brown waistcoat, layers of sharp protruding neck collars touching his coarse jaw and a heavily starched multi knotted cascading cravat, and a red-brown leather tailcoat, he extended his bony gloved hand out for a polite gesture of appreciation. ¡°Aren¡¯t my words of any falsehood?¡± he idly inquired as his hazel eyes met with the man behind him, standing at the center of the group. To which, he sneered.

    The man was of a well-toned, tall stature, easily towering over his chief attendant Ferase, and sported a more modern fashion of menswear, including: high waist ash gray loose trousers, a deep front-opened dark navy blue cut-away coat which exposed his copper coloured waistcoat, an inner layer frilled white shirt with a white bow tie stock and folded down collars, and a light cream unbuttoned cape-sleeved ulster longcoat. Removing his black top hat, revealing flowy shoulder-length curly blonde hair, he greeted the Lady with a flowery bow. He displayed a face of benevolent playfulness. It was a long oval, ending below at a squared chiseled jawline. His lips were pale red; his nose had a low upturn and the eyebrows were low and thicker.

    His icy-blue piercing eyes soon locked with hers as he introduced himself, being the other to whom she called out for.

    ¡°Dear Ferase has already taken the words right out of my mouth¡­Lady Xu, I pray for a fruitful relationship going forward.¡± The Hamilton Claure von Kiefrurpez smiled.

    ¡°Likewise, Hamilton, Ferase.¡±

    ¡°Anyhow, my Lady, apart from our introductory, and as the representative of my House, let me take you through all our subordinates.¡±

    ¡°Such inconvenience, Master Hamilton, I will do the favours.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no reason not to, Ferase. Especially with our first foreign Xie partner, Grandmother would be proud if I was more at the forefront. And since we are on topic, let it be known that I will be doing the dealings with the Lady, do you understand me? After all, Grandmother did grant me this position in hopes to prepare me for the role of Patriarch. I respect her choices.¡±

    ¡°...You have grown wiser, Master Hamilton.¡±

    ¡°Haha, surely you jest, Ferase!¡± Hamilton then faced TianXing. ¡°After you, Lady Xu.¡±

    ¡°I gladly accept.¡±

    ---

    For the next several minutes, the onlooking crowd, who were stunned at first, began to lax off their alert, spreading about into their different groups with their own agendas to accomplish for this higher class assembly. Others took the chance to feast upon the food and drink available, enjoying the free service they were invited for. The sight of men from a foreign land conversing naturally with a multilingual local only attracted short glances of the crowd at random intervals. Many did not understand what they said, as they themselves hired translators for communication, while a knowledgeable few could make out key phrases of dialogue, coming to a conclusion that it was only salutations and friendly chatter; since revealing too much about actual business activity publicly will not be as beneficial to White Ink. However, amidst this scene, there remained some foreboding pressure emitting from LuJi a short distance away at a table. His expression was ever dark, gripping tightly to the body of his scabbard.

    Fortunately for him, a while later, he saw TianXing part ways with the foreigners as they made way for the food stands; the others kept to themselves from afar, wherever the men went.

    Using this opportunity, LuJi sped his way towards TianXing before anybody else could, which took her and Mr Tai by shock but not surprise. Ultimately, Mr Tai promptly left the duo to deal with themselves without any command. Even a former head waiter has limits to how much he can talk his way through young masters of powerful clans.

    For the Wen Elder, who seemingly laid low of his presence, continued to observe the Lady at her work.

    ¡°Things will get heated very soon.¡± The Wen Elder informed his attendant, ¡°Remain on standby to assist if necessary.¡±

    Giving him a questionable look, the Elder replied, ¡°It''s just an old man¡¯s instinct.¡±

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°What is it now, Mr Bai?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard your English was superb from multiple sources but I never thought it would¡¯ve been this seamless. And the accent was cute, to say the least.¡±

    ¡°I am not of the age to be called that. Well, Fei and HaMi have also commented on similar things moments before¡­Is this natural to all males¡¯ subconscious?¡±

    ¡®Are those her Mandarin labels for those people?¡¯ LuJi fumed internally.

    ¡°It¡¯s like how women of all ages swam to me whenever I took a stroll to the markets and brothels. Although, truthfully, all of them are fleeting pebbles by the riverside. You, on the other hand, are a gemstone swept away by the raging current. But because you shine so bright, locating it is just as easy. But getting you out of it¡­¡± He looked onwards to the jolly men of foreign origin, munching away on flavored cakes and varied meat by hand. ¡°...and keeping it for myself is the struggle of my life so far.¡±

    ¡°Even greater than your martial mastery?-¡±

    ¡°Even greater than my martial mastery. So, would you accept? As a side condition, I will ensure monthly funds to White Ink and get rid off-¡±

    ¡°My ears burn from hearing your daily offers, Mr Bai. But, I do tolerate this more than what you did earlier today.¡±

    ¡°And I nearly got away with it, if not for these¡­lowly barbarians interrupting my plan.¡±

    He then got up close to her ear, whispering, ¡°I have my sights on you for 10 years. 10 years, TianXing. Why won¡¯t you already recognise my efforts?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll say this again. Now¡¯s not the time, Mr Bai.¡±

    She backed away a little.

    ¡°...Well, that¡¯s just unfair. Playing the long march with me.¡± His eyes were like that of a red crowned crane targeting its prey.

    ¡°I-¡±

    ¡°Excuse me!¡± a reprimanding voice sounded from the side. At the corner of her eyes, she saw Hamiton running up towards them. Brows frowned. ¡°Just what are you doing to Lady Xu? Aren¡¯t you blind of your sight to see her evident hesitation?¡±

    Behind him, Ferase and the others followed suit. Meanwhile, the Wen Elder¡¯s men resided close to LuJi, situated on the opposing side of the hall.

    ¡®I knew it. Poor girl is now in the middle of all this¡­rising hostility.¡¯ came his thoughts amongst the gazing onlookers.

    And at that moment, LuJi had it.

    A surging release of pressuring faint blue aura fell onto the entire celebration hall like a broken dam. Those defenseless guests felt as though the ground was trembling; all of them immediately rushed to the other end of the room, away from the entrance. However, no furniture was overturned. With that initial wave, LuJi swiftly grabbed TianXing by the chest and into his left arm, brandishing his pristine, shimmering blade straight into the line of sight of Hamilton¡¯s neck with his dominant hand.

    But, he was unfazed by this provocation, and impulsively brought out a pistol of a relatively large caliber for a handgun from a hidden holster the second Hamilton saw the sword drawn, aimed dead center for LuJi¡¯s forehead.

    Their eyes met and glared.

    On both sides, the Elder¡¯s guards flourished their Jian swords without a delay and a mixture of guns, staves and canes were called upon by the gentlemen. Ferase summoned a cane from his glove and stamped it onto the hard floor. It was polished Hazel with a sapphire gemstone encrusted at the gold top.

    Overall, the explosion of raging aura never shook the combatants¡¯ stances. With hairs on edge, they readied themselves for the outcome.

    Turning her head from side to side, panic quickly swallowed the Lady whole, who never expected such a dramatic steep in chaos.

    ¡°Barbarian! You have no right to interrupt our conversation. Leave this premise immediately!¡± LuJi ordered. His voice reverberated throughout with fury, augmented by aura.

    ¡°Lady Xu, demand this man to lower his sword! This squabble will not be worth all our lives!¡±

    Hamilton¡¯s face darkened, building up with sweat on his wrist.

    ¡®How¡­!¡±

    And with all these strained tensions, TianXing rushed herself in between LuJi¡¯s and Hamilton¡¯s line of fire. Arms spread out for the both of them to be seen. Her back faced the confused Hamilton.

    ¡°Mr Bai, any more and this could mean the spark of war! So please, I beg of you¡­Put away your damn sword!¡±

    ¡°Dear, are you favoring them more than me?¡±

    ¡°This is outrageous¡­¡±

    She breathed heavily, her voice was exasperated.

    The hall fell silent and everyone was still frozen in their positions. If there was a person to stop this escalation, it should certainly be her.

    ¡°Mr Bai, please leave.¡±

    ¡°What¡­Wait, TianXing-¡±

    ¡°PLEASE LEAVE, MR BAI! LEAVE THIS VERY INSTANT! I PLEAD TO YOU! AGAIN!¡±

    She screamed her lungs out for his large ego to hear.

    The call for a loss for another day.

    ¡°I-I will address your proposal at a later time, Mr Bai. I¡­still need¡­more strength so please, don¡¯t make my efforts go to waste. Can you not be this heartless?!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Silence.

    All she needed now was a response and after several moments of hair-raising anticipation, LuJi finally lowered his blade of white. And as soon as his deed was done, Hamilton and the rest dearmed themselves as well, bringing a close to today¡¯s advances by Bai LuJi.

    The blade swinged in quick, circular motions before returning smoothly into the scabbard.

    Suddenly, a torrential current of summer gales blew through the pushed windows of the hall and out of the double doored entrance. Table cloths flew and clothes fluttered high above. Hamilton stood strong against it with the ends of his coats rising grandly above his hips. As for TianXing, she helplessly took the blunt against such gales with her wide, long sleeves.

    ¡°I will not give in.¡± was his last whispers to their episodic drama, before he vanished from sight.

    In the next second, he was nowhere to be found near the scene.

    ¡°He must have made his exit. How are you feeling, Lady Xu?¡± Hamilton reassured her.

    ¡°Is-ehrm-Is our partnership still strong, Hamilton?¡± she replied while tidying her messed up hair.

    Her voice felt lethargic.

    In response, Hamilton smirked before he reached out for a handshake with a bright smile.

    ¡°It still is.¡±

    To which she grabbed a firm hold of it in relief.

    There were a lot of things she planned to do with their help.

 Chapter 25 : Confessions of a Gentleman

    One year after¡­

    A maroon grand stagecoach, decked in golden rimmed tires and fabulous green tiles, made its way across the ever bustling streets of ShanWei. The four pulling horses galloped with speed, faster than passersby rickshaws and domestically-made red horse carriages. Turning tight around a junction, scratching past the edges of cramped vendor stalls and hawkers, the driver entered an alleyway; crossing over minor drain bridges and making a final route to a large stone pavement, several stagecoaches wide.

    This street was parted into two by a line of trees, with bricked shops filling every spot upon the edge. From where the stagecoach was, it was just a third up from the total length of this lane. Looking far into the distance, two large pagodas and fortifications could be seen, serving as entrances to this segregated part of the city, encapsulating the entire specialized region into a irregularly shaped 13 sided polygon, walled off to a nearby tributary waterway that was just several kilometers away from the mouth of the sea.

    And at one of the main centers of this zone, an enormously sized 6 story venue was built. It was shaped like a bird¡¯s nest, with spiraling wooden beams and metal frames, winding and overlaying one another in fabulous chaos.

    The magnificent feat of engineering overlooked the street upon which the stagecoach was present at; and as the sun finally set for the day to come, a blonde gentleman drew apart the red window curtains, to witness the descending sun over the blackened walls of the walled segregation zone.

    And without a moment¡¯s breather after dusk, the crowded streets were lit up in starry fashion. Victorian lamp posts with striking crosses were burning with flame, illuminating the hung signboards of every store which were of a multitude of different writing systems and languages. However, while people were still going about shopping and exploring, at this time of night, the majority of the influx of the masses were being drawn relentlessly into the main center, which was dazzling with the contrasting rosy lights of huge red paper lanterns and the ambient orange core, snuggling deep within the building, outlined by the numerous twigs, dirt and stone. Its beams shone brightly into the black night sky.

    The stagecoach carefully made its way among the swarms of customers, tagging behind a line of like minded vehicles. Shortly after an intense wait, it was finally time for the gentleman¡¯s turn to disembark his vessel. Readjusting his olive green long coat and his holster, the man was escorted to an upper class shortcut towards the top floor of the facility. The corridor upon which he walked through was just as jungle-like as ever, featuring a variety of gaps and holes between the nest frames and branches, to which the gentleman took his time to view the wide backdrop beyond. His hard-soled boots creaked upon wooden tiles, adding to the high paced rhythmic Sino Opera instrumental being played on the large stage at the ground floor that was opened from within up towards the top . This was followed by regular applause and cheer from the crowds, spectating across the multiple protruding balconies and theater seats from all floors. In a way, one may recognise the spacious interior, familiar to the coiling of an aggressive snake strangling the central open air, shaped like a bird¡¯s egg.

    Meanwhile, darkness around all corners was played with the skillful lighting from the staff. Moving inward, red tablecloth tables were scattered like stones on soil. Hundreds were occupied, consisting of only those that indulge in all forms of entertainment and hunger.

    Despite this, the gentleman was not here for the desires of common man and higher class individuals. As a member of the dominant generation of the top echelon of all the foreigners that immigrated to the Middle Kingdom, he was invited for a special reunion celebration and welcoming party, hosted by a familiar acquaintance back home upon the top floor.

    This ring of grandiose diner halls and rooftop lounges are reserved for those of such positions. And as the potential patriarch for the Kiefrurpez family, the eldest son, it came to no question on whether he could and should attend. It was certain that he would do so for the sake of the family, and of his close friend.

    Dismissing the servants with a gentle gesture of appreciation, Hamilton sighed and pushed the jade engraved bronze double doors open. In response to that sound, everyone turned their heads to the entrance. Thus, Hamilton was greeted with their dumbfounded, yet joyful gazes.

    He was in a lounge that had a structure of a hollowed out gourd seed. Its walls were patterned and lit artistically with atmospheric candles. A watercolor scroll painting was hung over a length of cabinets and plant vases, and a western style chandelier hung from its wooden ceiling. Outside, a pair of glass doors would lead out to a terrace platform, not obstructed by the framework of the exterior nest¡¯s design. In the center, there was a round black marble table, with 4 participants seated evenly from each other, while only another chair was left empty.

    Grinning back, Hamilton approached all of them. The 4 gentlemen did the same and they all did their respective salutations to him. With a final slap on the back by one, Hamilton assured them to take their seats.

    ¡°Dreis, I¡¯m shocked to hear that you didn¡¯t go for the SwallowView Opera spectator hall downstairs. What¡¯s with this sudden change to routine?¡± Hamilton commented to the man. He had his cravat left to the side and was only in his purple waistcoat and lavender shirt. His brown hair was tied into two bushy braids, tied by an ocean blue ribbon.

    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t allow Terredylid to be overwhelmed with all these stimuli. At some point, you have to admit their high pitched voices can get pretty irritating, the more you hear them. Apart from that, Terredylid had a blast out on the balcony when you were on your way here. He very much loves the top view.¡± Dreis stroked his short beard.

    ¡°Goodness, Dreis, you can never know when to keep things classified, do you?¡± came an embarrassed voice from Hamilton¡¯s left. Terredylid, with his white hair forming three rows of fluffy curls at the ends, wore a blue tie and yellowish-cream shirt with noticeable gigot sleeves. His short sandy tailcoat was hung behind his wooden chair.

    The remaining two sneered at the reply.

    ¡°Tell, Hamilton, for what must one be so late to such a long awaited gathering?¡± teased a man, dressed in a gray fur-collared short coat and sported springy nape-long dark auburn hair that parted at the right, as he swiftly took a bottle of wine from the center and rolled it over to Hamilton with a spin. And he successfully caught it and poured himself a glass.

    ¡°Jar-Qienre¡¯s right, Hamilton. Don¡¯t go off beyond sober first!¡± The last of the group to speak added. The man had his shiny black hair slicked back into a ponytail, donning a large-lapel pink long coat and frilly chalk white shirt sleeve endings.

    ¡°Corrections, Mav, I do NOT have a weak alcohol tolerance. I¡¯ve trained since our last meeting 5 months back.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Hamil, stay on topic.¡± Dreis whined.

    ¡°I had to inspect last minute inventory. Our goods are currently selling faster than how much we can resupply. After all, we only have 2 steamships and to establish our local factory, the Mayor dismissed us. It was godsent that this shipment arrived on time.¡±

    Jar-Qienre added, ¡°You are not alone on that matter. A similar thing happened that was reported to me by my accountant. Our subsidiary had a previously signed contract revoked by those bastards.¡±

    ¡°Listen, the two of you, I think it¡¯s a matter of how much you are willing to go and the speed at which one proceeds. Just point out some firearms and there¡¯s your clearance.¡± Mav spinned his pistol around his index finger.

    But as he playfully aimed it up towards the chandelier, Dreis blocked the barrel with his stretched out palm. ¡°Not everyone here is a warmongering fanatic, Mav. Otherwise, the status quo we have maintained for decades would crumble.¡±

    ¡°Still a docile dog to the Forefathers?¡± He replied, retracting his pistol, revealing blank cartridges.

    ¡°Ahem...Anyhow, let us head back to the main agenda,¡± Dreis raised his glass, ¡°For Terredylid¡¯s first day in Sinae, and for all our prosperous ventures to come into fruition, cheers!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s!¡±

    The gentleman clicked their glasses in unison.

    Their night was just starting.

    ---

    ¡°Terredylid, my lad, here¡¯s a gift of welcome! It¡¯s splendid to hear they sent you as a representative.¡±

    As a result of being late, Hamilton was the last to present. In a small box, it was a dried block of black ink. ¡°It¡¯s the latest of the Sinae-Kiefrurpez fusion. A trailblazer, if you will!¡±

    ¡°You are too kind, Hamilton.¡±

    As they returned to their seats, Dreis smelt his wine sample, before taking a large mouthful. ¡°So, what does the Duke¡¯s Mind Child need for his next mission?¡±

    Giving a considerate gaze, Terredylid answered bluntly, ¡°It¡¯s a long term precaution¡­And a possible route of ease for the international market. I am here to oversee the negotiations and installation for a new railway spider network throughout the entire city of ShanWei. If the Sinae government approves the construction of the infrastructure, Father¡¯s company will start immediately.¡±

    ¡°Negotiations? Terredylid, for the past several years, they built this fort. Besides Mav, they would turn a blind eye to your family¡¯s position in Erebu. Are you alright with our people planning on doing that disgusting head slam whenever a Royal Court official is on the table? This is outrageous!¡± Jar-Qienre retorted.

    ¡°I sympathize as well. How long did we take before we started calling them trains from iron horses? And they are just as stubborn?!¡± Dreis injected.

    To their opposition, Terredylid raised 4 fingers.

    ¡°We have several offers. Firstly, there will be the donation of outdated armaments such as firearms and cannons. For all that I was informed, they are very much just a more civilized Green Jurks, back in the Meso Unity. Second, an extra amount of silver will be paid back to their Treasury for the next 6 consecutive months. Father has already convinced Her Majesty for a loan. An extremely long-term generational loan, I divulged. Third, an increase in the maximum number of Sinae exchange students to Erebu and our universities. Lastly, and this is if we have permission to expand that rail route to the other port hubs and finally to their Northern Capital, the lease of the nearby Rochosa island to their national sovereignty.¡±

    There was a sudden slam on the table.

    ¡°Hold your horses, Ter! What in God¡¯s Grace made the Duke give off land? OUR land that we put up a relatively large army to colonize,¡± Mav growled.

    ¡°Brawny doofus, he said he would lease it to them. Either way, nothing of importance would be wasted. Your battalion of 900 riflemen alone annexed most of the major communities with little back up from the mages and little casualties.

    Terredylid, if I can see your plan, the bet you¡¯re placing on is-¡±

    ¡°Yes, even if the Sinae would go against the return of ownership or they forgot the deal entirely, the Notatum Trade Federation would just steamroll their stationed forces with little resistance,¡± Terredylid interrupted Dreis.

    ¡°The predicted stagnation of their military¡­It¡¯s truly non-existent, their modernisation that is,¡± Dreis concluded.

    ¡°Thus, when would the meeting go forth?¡± Jar-Qienre questioned, opening another bottle of brandy. Terredylid swirled his glass.

    ¡°A month from now. I got to inspect the land first with the upcoming engineers and draw the logistics. We are gonna do most of the groundwork with the Capital sending all the labor force needed.¡±

    ¡°Are we seeing another Wild West saga?¡± Mav suggested.

    ¡°Well dear friend, it¡¯s not gonna be as blistering as that event, and that saga is still ongoing. How is your gold gain?¡± Jar-Qienre sneered.

    ¡°Hmph¡­Satisfactory.¡± Mav replied.

    ¡°I have more than enough gold.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite the struggle. Cash crops are a more profitable export,¡± Dreis scratched his opened neck.

    ¡°I am pretty occupied at the moment with the rail system so I am not updated. Though, I did leave it to my brother and a talented Hsirl immigrant as a proxy.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s going very well with our contracted gold extractor firms.¡± Hamilton answered, ¡°But, you may best not underestimate their potency, Terredylid. I had numerous encounters with a highly claimed and respected Sinae martial artist and if they do not falter under a threat of being shot, they may as well have people with some magical powers or supernatural abilities like we do.¡±

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    ¡°Hamilton, although I truly appreciate the observation and precaution, basing off on what our Magick users would do, such elementary spells such as a simple fireball would still burn a person¡¯s hand,¡± He replied with confidence, ¡°However, if we were to hypothesize a greater nature of power from the named ¡®Martial Artists¡¯, we got plenty in numbers, the contract of proof for violation of the code and trust between the Sinae and Erebu, and the Mages Association. There is no need to worry.¡±

    ¡°...Fine, just be careful. I do not want unnecessary conflict, Terredylid. Even to you.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Oh so somber in tone, I have such distaste for that mentality.¡± Mav interjected.

    ¡°...¡±

    With that, a small silence filled the air.

    Dreis called for a servant to bring in snacks and cakes, to which plates of a large variety came in rapid succession. He then signaled to take some by eating a handful of peanuts for himself.

    Hamilton took out his glove and grabbed a boiled rice cake.

    ¡°What would happen if the negotiations went distant from your terms? Or they ignored any foreign presence?¡± He contemplated.

    ¡°Then, we will show aggression by parking our trading fleet right on their doorstep, aimed at their coastal forts.¡±

    ¡°Is there no other way around this?¡±

    ¡°Hamilton, our families are, by choice, businessmen. Our strong influences are built on money, compared to those blessed warrior clans who fight off magical beasts and gain status. I will never back down until we get a deal that works for our country¡¯s favor. We need a train¡¯s productivity and efficiency. The¡­Xie dynasty¡­has a large population to make use of and profit from. Certainly, you benefited from this.¡±

    ¡°I play to all the clean rules by the book and so no bloodshed was made.¡±

    ¡°Therefore, if the Sinae disregard our most generous offer ever since the overturning of the Bharata Empire, it would be their fault to instigate a dispute and you should blame them instead. The modernisation of the Sinae¡¯s kingdom would not only benefit us but themselves in the long run.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Well well well, you speak as though you are one of them sandy squinted eyes. I have never cared for the outcome of like minded circumstances, Terrredylid.¡± Mav side eyed Hamilton, ¡°Just say the word and the Jurpakurts will draw their swords.¡±

    Hamilton, still unsatisfied by Terredylid¡¯s stance and logic, said his last regarding this, ¡°Send me a pigeon if things are going for the worst.¡±

    And as Hamilton poured himself another glass of wine, Dreis clapped his hands for attention. ¡°Now now, gentlemen, we are here to celebrate a wonderful night. There¡¯s no purpose when we are all down like this. Shall we change course?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    They all looked at each other with questionable looks before Mav turned to Jar-Qienre.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be the devil¡¯s advocate then.¡± He raised his hand, ¡°Hamilton, considering that some of us were here way before you spread your wings over ShanWei, how is it that the Kiefrurpez are gaining more and more in about a year than what we had for three. It¡¯s frustrating me and the Head back home. Tell us of your secrets?¡±

    And in that moment, Dreis and Mav¡¯s attention was grabbed tight, in anticipation for Hamilton¡¯s response. Rightfully so, since the three of them all lost to the amount he was pumping out of this city. Combined, he made half of all of theirs.

    Hamilton knew this question was inevitably coming and despite him telling them the reason, it would ultimately never be of help to progress their growth. Even still, he spoke the truth.

    ¡°I could never have done all I did in the past year without the fantastic aid by our local venture partner. They are the reason our sales are huge.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s organization do you refer to? And¡­joint venture partner? Since when do we collaborate with those foreigners on equal footing?¡± Dreis prived.

    ¡°Have you ever heard of the White Ink?¡±

    ¡°...Sounds familiar, and very oxymoronic.¡±

    ¡°Wait a second, is that that one new rookie on the block? The one whom the Wen Shipping Company is a major shareholder of and the other co-founder out of two.¡± Jar-Qienre elaborated.

    ¡°Yes, Jar-Quienre! And the actual founder who initialized this trade, a wonderfully splendid lady by the name of Xu TianXing, proposed a contract with me. To which after I read its details, it was thoughtless to dismiss it.¡± Hamilton expressed with shining eyes.

    ¡°But Hamilton, to my knowledge, they are primarily a poor man¡¯s letter writer, so how-¡± Jar-Qienre doubted.

    ¡°Jar-Qienre, you may be a close friend of mine, but I must forbid you from downplaying Lady Xu¡¯s brilliance and the institution she built from scratch to such lengths.¡±

    ¡°Calm, Hamilton. Calm yourself. But it is the truth that her company serves mostly commoners.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s where you¡¯re foolish, Jar-Qienre. It¡¯s because she provided most of the marketing and promotion via a close connection to the public,¡± Hamilton held three fingers out, ¡° Through the word of mouth, well placed posters all over their service centers and deals in correlation to the number of letters made, our expenses reduced. Moreover, it was due to her contribution to market research that we were able to launch the right products at the right prices for the mass market segment in assessment of cotton tunics and pants and desired iron panels. Months later, her group pinpointed specific age groups with niche needs such as medicine and translated picture books. Finally, for the average woman, her knowledge of botany and natural remedies is vastly superior.¡±

    ¡°What a leap of logic, Hamilton. We tried such products, especially cotton, but we only managed with meager results. Tobacco, however, is a rising commodity but the difference of scale doesn¡¯t make up for yours.¡± Dreis objected.

    ¡°Your analysis is never wrong, Dreis. Among the Sinae populace, Lady Xu also commented on how they ignore the minor quality differences between our cotton products and their inland farmers. But, because we generally cost more, even more so with the foreigner¡¯s import tax, there was no chance to pierce through their market without a massive reduction of prices per individual product sold.¡±

    ¡°So what you are saying is¡­No way!¡±

    ¡°We did just that.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ in exchange for per product losses, Kiefrurpez makes up for it by performing drastically steeper economies of scale, and due to the sheer number of customers in ShanWei, the overall revenue makes up for it¡­and this is all because that Lady has a greater vantage point to view the calculated risks. Impressive.¡±

    ¡°Well, shoot my ear, that¡¯s a gambler right there!¡± Mav complimented.

    Terrendylid watched on, soon catching up with the context of their conversation.

    ¡°And she is your primary Mandarin translator, isn''t she?¡± Jar-Qienre confirmed.

    ¡°Yes, and a cherished one at that!¡±

    ¡°You sure are one lucky bastard, Hamiton! I would employ her services in a heartbeat. Is she open for further collaboration?¡± Mav teased.

    ¡°Nope. Not to my knowledge. Try to find other unpolished gems throughout ShanWei instead.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s no fun. I accept¡­¡± he whined in the end.

    ¡°Jar-Qienre, didn¡¯t you mentioned that a majority of White Ink¡¯s clients are peasants?¡± Dreis held his wine glass close.

    Checking his golden pocket watch, he replied, ¡°Yes, generally all those who are illiterate.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, how about we install a delegate to oversee a similar undergoing back home?¡± Dreis recommended.

    ¡°...It will be pretty risky.¡±

    ¡°I can see that, and if the people may see through the covers, our image as nobles may get tarnished.¡±

    ¡°Well, that makes me more interested in the White Ink now.¡± Jar-Qienre concluded, to which this alerted Hamilton.

    ¡°I would rather advise not too, Jar-Qienre. We are business rivals, after all, and as payment for my answer, I want all of you to leave Lady Xu alone.¡±

    ¡°...¡± Dreis and Jar-Qienre looked back at him, giving the gentleman suspicious gazes.

    Bewildered, Hamilton¡¯s eyes exchanged glances with the duo multiple times. His shiny icy blue eyes darkened as he felt the awkwardness between the three of them grew, and finally, Hamilton queried them at last.

    ¡°Fellas, is this your jealousy-¡±

    ¡°Hamilton, my dear friend, do you perhaps fancy Lady Xu?¡± Jar-Qienre said monotonously.

    ¡°W-what¡­¡± Suddenly, the four of them could slowly easily see his hesitant, embarrassed face, ¡°Was¡­Were my feelings very profound?¡±

    Dreis facepalmed himself in deep exasperation and disbelief.

    ¡°Hot! This is hot news, everyone! The gentleman, known for his impenetrable chastity and austerity, has finally gotten the libido of a raging bull! And towards an outsider chick no less. This is the turn of the century!¡± Mav teased with grandeur.

    ¡°Mav! Do not lump me in with lustful playboys such as yourself. My affections are of the genuine kind, and I will respect the Lady¡¯s boundaries. Currently, my feelings are unbeknownst to her and I am conflicted on whether to pursue the relationship further, but for now, the fleeting moments of intense heartbeats shall suffice whenever I meet her up close.¡±

    Side eyeing Hamilton, Dreis scowled at him, ¡°Hamilton Claure von Kiefrurpez, do you know what this bold claim entails, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°...well¡­¡±

    ¡°It truly is a mess,¡± added Terredylid.

    ¡°Oh for Maxiltaleih¡¯s sake, Hamilton, you are already a married man! With already three, THREE sons and daughters. What would Grandma think of this news?! For a man of your respect, this is truly immoral! It¡¯s adultery!¡± Dreis raged in flames. His hands pressed hard on the table beneath. Fortunately, Jar-Qienre reached out for his shoulders, loosening the tensing of Dreis muscles.

    ¡°Now, now, Dreis. You have already heard from Hamilton that this is just unreciprocated love and Lady Xu has not consented to his advances¡­If any from what we normally expect of him. Calling it unfaithful adultery is a leap too far.¡±

    But Dreis was no longer having it and shrugged off his grip.

    ¡°So, what now, Hamilton?¡± Dreis chugged full mouthfuls of wine.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say, we just see how this develops. If there¡¯s anything, we can judge from there. That way, it¡¯ll be more fun that way!¡± Mav proposed.

    But everyone ignored his choice.

    ¡°Seriously Hamilton, what would happen if Clementine hears about this? I can imagine her running this very hallway with a kitchen knife in hand, ¡± said Jar-Qienre.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter to the selfish me anyway. It was an arranged engagement by our parents and I had no say in it at that time. I just accepted it.¡± He nonchalantly answered.

    ¡°What about the twins and the youngest?¡±

    ¡°Both Lakcron and Maacron are already seven, they should understand. While Judeline is still a newborn.¡± Hamilton drank another glass.

    ¡°Although you don¡¯t matter, it¡¯s clear as day that Clementine loves you back.¡± Dries objected.

    ¡°Honestly, Clementine herself has quite the hot figure amongst her group. What¡¯s better about that Lady compared to her?¡± Mav was dumbfounded.

    ¡°Lady Xu is an equally refined and intelligent woman. I love her sleek black hair that fell to her waist and unlike Clementine, she doesn¡¯t apply such excessive makeup and whitener, till the degree one might compare her to a primordial vampire. Surely, Lady Xu¡¯s true beauty lies in her natural facial talents.

    Moreover, far from the poetic scholarship of Clementine, Lady Xu, as proven earlier, is a pragmatic realist with such ambition in her fiery, yet sometimes childish, eyes. She has the medicinal knowledge that rivals a city specialist clerk and the managerial smarts to build up this highly-functional company that benefits the masses with its conveniency.

    Finally, Clementine¡¯s devotion causes her to be extra clingy whenever I¡¯m around. Having a woman who doesn¡¯t fall over you upon first contact would certainly make me fawn all over them. It¡¯s a matter of saturation.¡±

    Hamilton spoke out his praises with pride, with a face full of flush tomato red.

    ¡°...¡±

    Right afterwards, a short silence filled the room. No one could believe the wholehearted sincerity in Hamilton¡¯s words. Never have they heard such admiration, ever since the time when he was made to speak during his mother¡¯s mourning day. And not long later, his father insisted on using the opportunity to establish another outer familial bond. One between the previously turned 16-year old, Clementine Le Arsenault, and the eldest son of the household, Hamilton Claure Von Kiefrurpez.

    That was until Mav tried to brighten up the mood.

    ¡°A busy man-woman was your type all this time? Not so far off when I was starting to believe you were initially gay.¡±

    ¡°Thus, Hamil, would Lady Xu return your feelings eventually?¡±

    ¡®Please, I beg Nazarenus Maxiltaleih, please say no.¡¯ Dreis thought to himself. He gripped his empty glass tighter.

    ¡°Well, about that¡­during our routined walks through the temple parks, we always had a good chatter about all topics; will it be societal, economic or political. But, I guarantee you, that in every chance of the occasion, the Lady would always try her best to include her beloved stepbrother into the conversation.

    Even now I know what her brother¡¯s opinions are and what type of person he is. His skills, favorite past times, daily schedule and the type of spectacles he prefers and their individual eye power. I have never met him but I feel like I already know him.¡±

    Dreis buried his head between his palms while Mav felt his stomach crashing from within. Terridylid remained neutral throughout.

    ¡°Aaaand that woman who captured this guy¡¯s heart seemingly also has a deep brother complex. Seriously, how could this night get any worse?¡± Jar-Qienre sighed.

    ¡°I apparently have a rivaling Sinae noble who has been on hot pursuit for her for the past decade with little success in gaining her consent.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Jar-Qienre was speechless.

    .

    .

    ¡°Amilton¡¯d¡­?¡± Dreis shouted out for him.

    His voice was droopy and partially incomprehensible.

    The alcohol was starting to get to him.

    Looking to Dreis¡¯ side, Hamilton saw 7 finished bottles.

    Facing back, he asked, ¡°Yes, Dreis?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ¡®ray for¡­succeed! Gathered ¡®ll! Drink! Drink n¡¯ eat!¡±

    His hearty voice rang.

    Mav was, at a corner, vomiting out the expensive fluids from his system and Jar-Qienre had ordered for another 3 vases of whiskey.

    Hamilton then turned to Terredylid.

    His cheeks were bright red and he held out his glass.

    ¡°Cheers, Ham¡¯ton?¡±

    Smiling, he gladly accepted his glass.

    The high click of glasses commenced the final hours of the late night where the five gentlemen got themselves wasted on the top floor of the Phoenix''s Fiery Cradle.

 Chapter 26 : The Joy of the Fruitful Everyday Life [Part 1]

    The sun made its ascend from the horizon, spraying beams of the morning light onto the landscape below. The sea was turning to a gradient of shades of ever shimmering blue while the dark outlines of fleets of trading ships and green water militia vessels casted lines of sliding parallel bars of inky shadow into the pier beyond and the water beneath. Amongst those shining rays that penetrated, their end was met at the sight of piles of cargo, including: rolls of silks, cotton or nets; carts that carried a wide variety of fresh acidic fruit, neatly packed in dry, compact spaces; barrels of countless brands of beverage; boxes and large sacks of salted and marinated beef and pork, sealed air tight using salt water brine; and most importantly, a merchant¡¯s precious stock of monetary earning exports, such as the aforementioned rolls of cloth, cushioned porcelain flatware and decorative vases and lavishly artistic furniture woodwork.

    The laborers carried on with their duties, seeing that more than half of their work was completed before dawn as some continued to load the fabrics and hardware, while the others unloaded the remaining imports of silver, cotton or tobacco. The silver crates were currently on track to be the fastest category to finish their discharge.

    Back at the warehouses, supervisors paced themselves as they inspected the cargo and coordinated the workflow. One such individual was flipping through the catalog with frustration. Leaning on a crate, he signaled for the nearby workers to support the frontline lifters. He screamed that they were behind schedule and that more manpower must make up for the unfortunate malfunction of one of the port''s primary cranes. If the delay was inevitable, he could receive a dangerous punishment. Next, the man instructed a feeble laborer to quickly inform the main office about the inoperable crane. And after a loud yelp, the feeble worker proceeded, passing drydocks full of wooden hulls and empty cuboidal holes with tall metal beams striking upwards. The headquarters was located on the opposite side of this particular section of the harbor so there were even more piers that he ran past. Nearing the red brick dwelling, the man accidentally slipped on wet ground, knocking over a middle-aged fisherman and his bucket of bait worms for the morning. Although the fisherman didn¡¯t fall off the edge of his platform, all the worms were plunged deep into the dark waters below. A few bubbles later, and the fisherman¡¯s wooden bucket was seen floating amidst the crashing waves.

    Obviously, the middle-aged man was in extreme fury and he began to lash out at the laborer. The feeble man recalled his supervisor¡¯s words and immediately surrendered to him. Reaching out for his pocket, he handed the fisherman the little bronze coins that he had left from yesterday. This was meant to be for his lunch before his next wage earnings for the day. Sadly, he had no time to deal with a grumpy old man with his job at risk.

    He knew that fishermen, especially old men like him, would normally go fishing near dawn and come back to the docks before midday and its burning heat waves got to them. They would then sell their catch in the street markets to earn the day¡¯s money before returning to their shelters, just for the next day to repeat the cycle all over again. This was a scenario the feeble man could say the same for himself, albeit a different job. Thus, he would not judge the middle-age man¡¯s anger and he continued the last length to the destination. A while later, the man walked out of the door with successful results. On the way back, the feeble laborer sighed at the realization that today¡¯s work would be even more torturous, given his gurgling, empty stomach.

    Moving closer to the main office building, the staff member who wrote the report about the primary crane, moved on to his next pile of documents. It was to be given to a postal messenger and he had to approve the transaction, to which he did just that. Aside from one particular bundle of papers.

    At the front, it read in English, ¡°To the eldest Hamilton Claure von Kiefrurpez¡±

    Recognising the further details below, the officer made his way up to the second floor where flocks of carrier pigeons lie in fresh cages. He then went to the appropriate pigeon and attached the papers to a fastened enclosed leather bag on the bird¡¯s back. Handling it gently on both his palms, he launched the trained pigeon out of the window and in turn, it flew through with grace. Afterwards, the man headed back to his station.

    .

    .

    .

    The pigeon soared high over the streets and warming alleys, making sharp turns from the other carriers¡¯ flight path.

    The streets were starting to rumble into its daily chaos. Street vendors could be seen pulling out their carts to their licensed places. They unlocked cover hatches and installed their signboards. Pulling out freshly bought stock or refilling the shelves with the old and unsold, their hands worked at a steady and efficient pace.

    In the company of another specialized trader, hawker store owners lay scattered across all corners. A lot of similar setups were indistinguishable from trader good merchants but for most culinary owners, there would always be noticeable aromatic smoke rising from a myriad of large pots and woks. Soups and sauces that were made fresh for the day would certainly alleviate their dishes to a higher quality and overall, their pride as a chief was expressed. If the novelty of the foods removed a competitive variable, the taste of the meal and subsequently, the skills of the chef, would prove a more significant reason for their number of regular customers, juxtaposed with their neighbors.

    Carriages and stagecoaches were like ants from the bird¡¯s eyes. Like an army of these emerging out of their hill mounds after detecting nearby food, more and more of the horse-driven vehicles rode across the damp stone roads. Light reflected off their shiny paint job.

    The pigeon then passed a group of pagodas. The lights within were just lightened up and their windows opened wide for the pleasant morning wind. The Middle Kingdom¡¯s flags, placed upon tall spikes, fluttered grandly in the wind. Steering to the side, the bird nearly crashed into one and after a short sight of golden yellow cloth, the pigeon saw his destination.

    Descending over the walls of the enclosed segregation zone, where the tall walls cast a blanket of darkness over the local stores and the dimming lamp posts, a glimpse of the gentleman¡¯s dwelling was spotted by its right eye.

    It was of foreign architecture, resting upon a small hill and surrounded by an all-encompassing patch of lush overgrown bushes that intertwined deeply within the cracks of its stone wall. A polished iron gate leads into the front yard and the bleak double doors. Ultimately, the 3-story manor took the shape of the letter L with the perpendicular hallway ending off with a columnar pillar that houses the lord¡¯s primary bedroom that consists of two consecutive circular floors, connected by a spiral staircase.

    The pigeon braced for impact and safely landed on the extended window frame. Scratching its feet, the pigeon knocked on the solid glass before releasing a loud call for double measure.

    And after a minute of waiting, the curtains were drawn and the windowpane opened. Hamilton appeared in front of it with a bright smile. Petting the bird, he took the paper documents and sent it flying off back to the office. Both of them were readily greeted by a very picturesque view of the bustling seaport of ShanWei, bathed in the warm yellow of sunlight.

    Having lived on a high vantage point, this was his everyday pleasure to witness.

    ¡®Maybe one day, I will have Lady Xu by my side to complete this already perfect landscape. Hmm¡­Should I hire a talented painter before that?¡¯

    His thoughts raced as scanned through the papers. All of them were apparently letters sent from his family and close associates.

    Still in his cyan nightshirt, Hamilton grabbed his newly brewed cup of black Sinae tea and lethargically sat on his red velvet armchair. His bare legs snuggled comfortably within the white fur rug. His room was mostly in the dark with only natural lighting making most places visible. With a snap of fingers, his reading lamp lights up with a flame.

    Most of them had a red wax seal so Hamilton deemed those not the priority for the moment and tossed them upon his work desk amidst other tall piles of parchment and books. This is because there was a separate part of the bundle that he received with a stamped pink seal. Checking once again if the color was indeed pink, only one word crosses his already reluctant mind.

    ¡®Clementine¡­¡¯

    Breaking the seal with his thumb, Hamilton unfolded the letter, allowing a thick puff of a flowery tang to overwhelm his nostrils. Grunting in irritation, he swatted the paper in the air for a while before reading it properly.

    ¡®Has she begun using a new perfume from the Meso Unity?!¡¯

    The letter read:

    Greetings my dear Hamilton,

    May God bless me with another day in your presence. It has been 3 years since your last homecoming and I am feeling the depriving illness once again. Hamilton, if you are reading this, here is my kiss for the day.

    Life in the Kiefrurpez household is constant and smooth. The twins are now lasting longer under combat with Sir Serisan by a minute and according to the swordmaster himself, if their progress continues at this pace, in less than five years, both of them would have already gained their ¡®Ego¡¯.

    Well, isn¡¯t that fascinating news, dear?

    Our eldest children are destined for greatness.

    In regards to the youngest Judeline, she has just completed her first walk across the nursing hall without falling once. It is truly miserable that circumstances dictate that she could not call out to you as ¡®Papa¡¯. Poor Judeline has only known your majestic appearance through the portrait paintings you have taken. I am now in tears as I write this, dear Hamilton. I want you to come home as soon as possible.

    I would love to have another child before my womanhood is nearly up. As you are informed, I am turning 33 this upcoming month. So why don¡¯t you grant me a little birthday present? A present in which¡­It¡¯s a secret. Hamilton, I am confident you are smart enough to figure out where I am coming from.

    Life is a blessing when I got you for a spouse. Everyone admits that. Before Mother revealed it was you who will be my partner, I had a deep, bleeding grudge for this heartless tradition. And it¡¯s all because I desire you the most. But now, I think this is not so bad as I got you in the end. That¡¯s all that matters.

    I thank the Gods once again.

    My prayers had been answered!

    Anyhow, did you hear about what happened during Karienie¡¯s tea party? She came out with her messed up hair, screaming all about¡­

    There continued five full pages of detailed recitings of gossip and rumors amongst her faction and the opposing ladies of Houses. Just to ensure he would not regret missing a single detail that could prove useful in the future, Hamilton decided to read every page with the fullest attention. In conclusion, he gathered nothing of importance.

    Checking the clock, he realized he had just wasted 15 minutes to entertain her banter. But, the gentleman made no effort to show frustration about this and finished the last of his tea. He then rang a nearby lever that connects to a bell further away. Less than a minute later, Ferase and two other servants dressed in black waistcoats and white shirts made their entrance.

    ¡°Master Hamilton, what a pleasant morning it is. Did you sleep well? Huh¡­¡±

    And as Ferase looked at his bed, the old man was shocked to see the bed had already been made. The grand red blankets were smoothened and tucked under the tall mattress. White pillows were neatly arranged while golden rope held the curtains. Facing back to his lord, Ferase reprimanded him.

    ¡°Master Hamilton, again you go about with these tangents. Let the servants do what they are paid to do. We cannot let you be exhausted before the day even starts.¡±

    However, rather than obliging, Hamilton countered.

    ¡°Ferase, that fact, you have repeated it over and over again like a malfunctioning record player. And I will say once again, today, they are free until the afternoon for their previous hard work for the wonderful, comfy nights I slept in.¡±

    ¡°...Master Hamilton, you are too kind!¡± The two servants lowered their heads in unison before joyfully making their way out gracefully.

    ¡°Master Hamilton, this is why people gladly serve you.¡± Ferase sang his praises.

    ¡°Ferase, you flatter me.¡±

    Hamilton took out his sandals.

    ¡°Shall we head for the dressing room?¡± Ferase gestured to the door.

    ¡°Prepare me the usual, Ferase. This time, my green Noin long coat.¡±

    Hamilton instructed as he made his way out of the room.

    ¡°As you wish, Master Hamilton.¡±

    The door to the following long corridor was gently closed by Ferase.

    ---

    And as Ferase assisted his lord to finish dressing up, he made some inquiry.

    ¡°Master Hamilton, what is the agenda for this wonderful day?¡±

    ¡°Last night, I read reports and checked for any inspections or meetings. Unfortunately, there is none to address.¡±

    ¡°...Master Hamilton, wouldn¡¯t you say it is fortunate that today may be a free day for you?¡±

    ¡°One of the only ways I could get in touch with Lady Xu is through our joint venture. With this and that and how hectic her work ethic is, I feel rude to intrude on her progress.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± Ferase finished the last button and handed Hamilton the green coat, ¡°Which restaurant for breakfast?¡±

    ¡°Haha, Ferase, you got me. Hmm¡­I think I crave for star dumplings today.¡± Hamilton adjusted the lapels.

    ¡°Then I shall arrange for a stagecoach.¡±

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Ferase walked to the exit.

    ¡°I dismissed myself first, Master hamilton. We will be waiting in the courtyard.¡±

    Hamilton nodded as he headed for his personal armory.

    ---

    The journey downhill was quick and fresh as they passed misty forests. A couple of turns and roundabouts lead them to a large three story teahouse several blocks outside the walled segregation zone. While foreigners were free to roam within the outer walls of ShanWei, only a selected few were given permissioned to set up residence outside the segregation zone. Sadly, Hamilton and his companions were not the exception. They instead follow a curfew to which all should retreat behind the walls by midnight but that was pretty lax in security enforcement.

    Hamilton went down onto the tiled pavement first, followed by the elderly Ferase. The driver closed the door before heading away to a nearby stable. He would be back in several hours.

    ¡°After you, Master Hamilton.¡±

    And he stepped into the raised platform, bending under draping red cloth.

    Upon entry, the two gentlemen were greeted by the immediate gazes of every Sinae man in the area. They were the only white men there.

    However, that didn¡¯t bother the duo, and one of the waiters awkwardly signaled them to a table by the windowside.

    Pouring them ordinary tea from the vase on the wooden table, he asked regardless, ¡°He-Hello, dear patrons¡­What could I get for you today?¡±

    ¡°Ferase, isn¡¯t this a new place?¡±

    ¡°A new day, for a new chef, Master.¡±

    ¡°If you told me earlier, this would have been an opportunity to invite Lady Xu as a guise to translate.¡± Hamilton whined.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you feel embarrassed, Master Hamilton?¡± The old man smiled.

    ¡°...¡±

    In a sigh, Hamilton turned to the anxious, dumbfounded waiter.

    ¡°Saven flease,¡± Hamilton spoke in a dry and flat Mandarin tone while he pointed to a drawing of star dumplings on a wooden board hung on the wall. His face was running with blood.

    ¡°...¡±

    Everyone fell silent, denying what they just heard. An outsider just spoke their mother tongue, albeit horribly and they could not make anything up about that.

    The waiter stood responseless for several moments. Hand rubbed on his round chin, and after he successfully deciphered what Hamilton¡¯s words meant, the waiter shouted to the back with a jolly voice, ¡°Roger, kind Sir! Chef, upcoming seven bowls of red-braised pork belly star dumplings for two!¡±

    He wrote down on his notepad and left the two gentlemen with relief.

    Exchanging glances with each other, Hamilton scrowled, ¡°I will never let this slide, Ferase. So never tell a soul about this, especially the Lady.¡±

    Smiling gleefully, Ferase replied, ¡°At least you applied it here, Master Hamilton, although her English is leagues ahead than your Mandarin.¡±

    ¡°Was that last part necessary?¡±

    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t.¡±

    Disheartened, Hamilton averted Ferase¡¯s faze. THe gentleman glanced lazily at the streets beside him. Surprisingly, he spotted several passersby wearing his company¡¯s cotton tunics and pants. There were a couple of already ripped in busy spots and others made into miniature children rags. A band of rickshaws suddenly zoomed past his view in great urgency and a cat nearly got run over by a carriage. Its leg was mangled.

    Grimacing away from the scene, the waiter from earlier came to deliver their order at the right time.

    He opened the lids to reveal the steamy interior. A dark sauce was soon poured into individual bowls.

    ¡°Enjoy your meals, white-skinned Sires!¡± rang the waiter.

    ¡°Thank you for the meal.¡±

    Ferase handed him the payment in utter shock. He had one doubt.

    ¡°Master Hamilton, what did you actually say to the waiter?¡±

    ¡°Seven of these, please.¡± Hamilton¡¯s face had a hint of regret.

    ¡°He must have thought the order was per person. Oh well, there is no use crying over spilt milk. Eat as much as you can, Master.¡± Ferase took a blowing bite. ¡°It¡¯s just as delicious.¡±

    ¡°I agree. Did they catch the pig this morning?! The meat¡¯s very succulent and sweet.¡±

    Opening the next tray of star dumplings, they nibbed the center before dipping the rest in the sauce using chopsticks.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°The only complaint I find is about the tea. There¡¯s none of that deep bitterness.¡±

    ¡°Master Hamilton, I could order their specialized menu if you so desire.¡±

    The gentlemen were on their last pieces.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind my banter. Apologies, Ferase.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    And Hamilton finally swallowed the remaining chunks.

    ¡°Here, Master.¡± Ferase handed him a large white napkin.

    The restaurant was still packed with people and for those that exited, there were still new customers to take their seats and the waiter from earlier was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°Did they change shifts, Ferase?¡±

    ¡°I assume so.¡±

    As Hamilton stretched his body upwards, his idle eyes slowly shifted to face out the window and towards the nearby junction. The roads were now jam packed with vehicles of all sizes and without a police conductor, Hamilton admired the unbelievable synchronization of the organized chaos.

    Taking another cup of ordinary tea, his eyes instinctively saw something very peculiar. On the pavement beside, amidst the horde of yellow skinned Sinae, a trail of them were being shoved to the side with force.

    ¡®A child?¡¯ He guessed, and it was true.

    As the child approached the front of the crowd near the edge of the road, Hamilton could hear the screams and wails. The child cried out in a deep accent, ¡°Mommy! Pappy! Mommy! Where are you?!¡± And to his horrid surprise, the boy never accounted for the ongoing traffic. He made his way directly in front of a charging herd of horses pulling a cart of long wooden beams. It was inching closer every second and its hooves cracked louder and louder. The boy cries helplessly.

    ¡°Shit!¡±

    Hamilton would never allow this to happen, and he sprung into action. Diving through the open window, he dashed straight forward with incredible acceleration. Fortunately, the time was just right where there was a clear route to ensure reaching him the quickest. Zigzagging past pedestrians and carriages, Hamilton blitzed past the boy, snuggling him deep into his arms right before the hooves came crashing down upon where he just stood. Bracing for impact, Hamilton¡¯s back slid across the stone pavement, halted short before the leg of a street stall.

    Luckily, Hamilton was wearing very durable clothes so all he had was a slight ache on his side. On the opposite end of the road, Ferase could be heard calling out loud for Hamilton as he followed behind.

    Paying close attention to the boy he just rescued, Hamilton was yet again startled by the boy¡¯s appearance. Close to the age of seven, he wore a frilly shirt with a waistcoat, short trousers, long white socks, a cap and blocky black leather shoes. And his skin was comparable to the darkness of those shoes he wore.

    ¡®How did a boy of his status get lost this long within these streets?¡¯

    ¡°Child, child! Are you alright?¡±

    Hamilton slowly sat him down, checking for any injuries. Gladly for him, the kid appeared to be fine.

    ¡°Hamilton! Excuse me, sorry. Master Hamilton!¡± The old man shoved through the crowd with his cane in hand.

    ¡°Are you alright, Master Hamilton?¡± Ferase stopped beside them. His face had gotten paler.

    ¡°Ferase, don¡¯t worry about me. Please make him stop crying!¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    With that, Ferase took two minutes with the boy as Hamilton watched on. Watching the way the old man comforted the boy and dried his tears made him reminisce about the past when Ferase was assigned to be his attendant at a young age.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Master, the boy is currently in a daze. What shall we do?¡±

    But this was no time for such thoughts.

    ¡°Ehrmm¡­The boy must belong to a Black noble family. Given he is lost, we should send the embassy a letter of notice as soon as possible.¡±

    Standing up, Ferase nodded. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking, Master Hamilton, so here is my plan for now. I will address the messenger back at the manor and you will stay here with the child, in case the boy¡¯s parents are out looking for him at this very moment. I will hear to your objections.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s the Ferase I know and love! We would be just fine here. Now hurry!¡±

    With one last glance, Ferase took off to where the driver was parked, disappearing into the crowd. Looking closely at the sleeping child on his lap, Hamilton recalled back to the twins and Judeline.

    ¡°Whooohh,¡± He breathed, ¡°Listen up kid, I too have children that I love dearly. So I can tell how desperate your parents are. Therefore, I will find your parents at all costs.¡±

    Of course, his words fell on sleeping ears and the nearby onlookers slowly stayed away. The boy¡¯s body was lifted off the pavement and onto a nearby porch. Using his bare thumb, he swiped off leaked saliva. However, he never expected this next encounter.

    ¡°Kid! Hey, kid, wait up for a second! Don¡¯t be afraid!¡±

    A feminine voice frantically screamed.

    ¡°What¡­¡± And Hamilton recognised who it was.

    Facing where the voice came from, he made eye contact with Lady Xu. The icy blue eyes sparkled in her black irises.

    ¡°Hah-Hamilton¡­What are you doing here?¡± Her breath felt unsteady.

    ¡°I could ask you the same¡­¡±

    ¡®Whoa!¡¯

    In a long gray dress that reached her ankles and wearing a dark navy blue tunic over a wide-sleeved white Hanfu, this was an outfit Hamilton barely saw her in. Moreso, when her long raven hair was braided into two, fastened at the end with red ribbons.

    Surprised by his flushed cheeks, he averted her gaze.

    ¡°Ar-are you after this boy as well, Lady?¡± He could have sworn he bit his tongue somewhere in between that.

    Bending close to the child, she told him, ¡°I was on my early morning walk when I came across this child. Running children is commonplace in this city and you could never know whether they belonged to street kids, lost kids or playful kids at a glance and at such numbers.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°So the only reason I approached him was because he was shouting out in English.¡±

    ¡°...You¡¯re not alone on that, Lady Xu.¡±

    ¡°As I probed more about his name and address, he got frightened and sprinted off towards here. But fiddlesticks, children sure are fast or is this the reality of aging!?¡±

    Looking at her side profile, Hamilton smiled.

    ¡°Either way, he¡¯s safe now. If I wasn¡¯t at the teahouse across the street, the boy might¡¯ve gotten run over.¡±

    ¡°Am I truly bad with children?¡± TianXing whined.

    ¡°Speaking of which, Ferase is on his way to alert the embassy.¡±

    ¡°I think we should inform the nearby police officers, Hamilton. They could also help with the search.¡±

    ¡®We?¡¯

    ¡°...But Lady Xu, what about your appointment today?¡±

    ¡°Mr Tai can handle the administration in my place for the day. As well as that¡­¡± TianXing got up, stretching her back, ¡°I could use a change of pace for only today. All that changes would be a deep frown on that geezer¡¯s wrinkled face. Hehe.¡±

    ¡°Haah, alright madam, lead the way.¡±

    But before that, the duo needed to wake the child up.

    .

    .

    .

    Finally, after an endearing five minutes of amateurish callings from both adults, the black-skinned boy woke up to a shock. He saw two towering adults, where he could feel their warm breaths.

    ¡°Kidnappers! STAY AWAY!¡± The boy flailed his arms aimlessly.

    TianXing pressed her nose bridge in frustration.

    Yet again, it took an extra five minutes to clear the misunderstandings.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°So¡­Auntie and Uncle will help me find my parents.¡±

    The both of them nodded confidently.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, young man! You can call me Hamilton. The wonderful woman beside me goes by the name of TianXing.¡±

    Her eyes widened at his calling, realizing how little Hamilton had said her first name.

    ¡°...¡± Her heart felt heavy.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Kolu¡­Kolu.Jr Cahee Maj.¡±

    ¡°Splendid, could you stand, Kolu?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    With Kolu on his feet, TianXing immediately began her lead since at the next avenue, she already spotted an active officer. On the way there, Kolu curiously asked, ¡°Auntie, why do you know our mother tongue and the others don¡¯t?¡±

    Besides a slight twitch of irritation at the word ¡®Auntie¡¯, she gladly informed him.

    ¡°Well, Kolu, I work as a translator so I must learn your language to do my job.¡±

    ¡°Then Uncle is?¡±

    ¡°Surely like your father, I am a merchant who employs her services.¡±

    ¡°But, Uncle, she does not look like one. All of Pappy¡¯s workers are bearded men.¡±

    To which TianXing held her nose high.

    ¡°Finders keepers, losers weepers. Lady Xu is my one and only.¡±

    ¡°No! Pappy is the best in the whole world!¡±

    And a haughty laughter came out of Hamilton.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, gentlemen. Now leave the talking to me.¡±

    They promptly silenced themselves.

    ---

    The police officer wore a scaled gambeson and leather armor on the vitals and joints. His eyes were slothful, monitoring the uneventful traffic junction as his fingers fiddled his brown quarterstaff.

    That¡¯s when he saw a beautiful woman approach him in deep distress at the corner of his eye. Never seeing the two foreigners behind her for the moment.

    ¡°G-good morning to you, Madam, what seems do be the trouble?¡± His voice stuttered and flubbed his lines.

    ¡°Oh reliable officer, it appears that I have encountered a lost child and it is very dire.¡± TianXing grabbed Kolu closer to her, showing him to the guard. ¡°Could you please help us find his parents with a search party? He will surely tell you of their appearances.¡±

    ¡°...¡± The officer slowly examined the child.

    He wasn¡¯t anticipating this scenario and specifically for a boy with skin as dark as charcoal. His face soon showed a face of slight disgust.

    Now noticing the other blonde foreigner associated with the woman who is a head taller than himself, the officer felt creeped out.

    What he saw was a weird mixture of a group, consisting of a Sinae jade beauty, a towering white barbarian and a little black creature that¡¯s extremely human-like.

    With his mind made up, the man addressed TianXing for the final time.

    ¡°Kind madam, please find someone else to help your¡­acquaintances. I pray for your blissful day.¡±

    ¡°Hey officer, wait¡­¡± When she stretched out her hand, the officer had already left the three of them. She sighed disheartenedly.

    At the tug of her dress, Kolu asked worriedly, ¡°Will they help find mommy and pappy?¡± Even he can feel her disappointment.

    ¡°Shall we look for another one, Kolu? There are more to come from, right Lady Xu?¡±

    Hamilton tried to brighten him up, eyeing the both of them.

    ¡°No falsehoods there. Let us continue!¡±

    ¡°Alright!¡± Kolu cheered.

    After asking another 10 police officers, none of them offered their aid.

 Chapter 26 : The Joy of the Fruitful Everyday Life [Part 2]

    In the end, they stopped by the same teahouse to rest Kolu¡¯s feet and by then, it was near lunchtime so they ordered star dumplings, roasted chicken and rice. While Kolu was happily gobbling down these foods he had never tasted, Hamilton and TianXing looked dully at each other on opposite sides of the square table. Their bowls were only half empty and everyone¡¯s stares at Kolu was nigh disturbing.

    ¡°Do you blame my people¡¯s attitude, Hamilton? They think Kolu¡¯s a filthy kid.¡±

    ¡°I have traveled the world, Lady Xu and I dislike disparity and conflict.¡±

    ¡°Then do you hate me, Hamilton? If I also acknowledge that that was also my first thought when I saw Justin.¡±

    ¡°My accountant would understand since you are both good friends; and I have no reason to because you change your perspective. But, I now just realized that if I wasn¡¯t there, no one else would have come to stop it. Even if they knew that would happen.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say xenophobia is not only common here, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°...I am just a translator and a major cog in communications for this city, Hamilton. I haven¡¯t reached the northern capital yet or stepped on the grounds of the Royalties. Frankly speaking, if you want to change society, I will support you. But¡­my ambitions lie near its end.¡±

    ¡°...Meaning?¡± His brows furrowed.

    ¡°Thanks to our partnership, Hamilton, White Ink has profited in several major industries in such a large city like ShanWei. I have gathered wealth that felt like a pipedream a decade before¡­And I was thinking of slowly exiting it, leaving it to Grandpa Wen and Mr Tai. Maybe a potential heir once I settled down in my hometown.¡±

    The drop of chopsticks sounded. Hamilton felt his heart stopping and pounding. An irregular beat.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± The news was too much for him to digest. He felt the strong desire in her voice but his instincts felt an underlayer of doubt and fear. Ultimately, he answered softly, ¡°Don¡¯t think of me that highly. That of a man to change the world. Being the patriarch of one of the most influential families in Erebu can only reach so much. No matter what, my priority is my happiness and one of them currently is working together with you to nurture the company to greater heights.¡±

    He was relieved that his lines were delivered properly.

    On the opposing end, TianXing felt a sting in her heart. Her ears were subtly red at the ends. Never had she experienced this feeling. It was different from when Lord Xu safed her from the burning village. It was different from the times she shared her wishes during her brother¡¯s ceremony. A much different sadness to when Lord Xu passed. Despite all her smarts and creative schemes, this was one she could not crack.

    ¡°...¡±

    Suddenly, Hamilton petted her shoulder.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough emotional talk, Lady Xu. Let us enjoy the star dumplings?¡±

    ¡°O-of course! Of course I will. Cheers.¡±

    ---

    After an hour of eating, the group continued to wait at the windowside for Ferase to return. They all agreed that moving around would just complicate the entire process, and they were right.

    A half an hour passed with boredom. No one bothered to disturb that group of people, not even the waiter who conversed with Hamilton this morning. They gazed idly at the streets, momentarily making short insignificant small talk. But another hour soon passed and then another. It was surprising that Kolu never slept once. He was just that anticipated, and finally, his efforts paid off.

    The sounds of a fast stagecoach were heard louder and louder. The striking red paint job of the Kiefrurpez carriage made its appearance in front of the teahouse and its doors were slammed open with huge force. A couple could be seen entering the premises, barely fitting through the door. Slowly following behind them was Ferase.

    ¡°Pappy! Mother!¡± Kolu sang.

    ¡°SON!¡± A deep, low voice rumbled through the walls, overwhelming a sweet rosy voice.

    The father shoved through people¡¯s tables and Kolu and his mother dived straight into his huge, burly arms.

    ¡°SON!¡±

    ¡°Pappy! Mother! I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry for running off!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright son. You are safe in our hands now. No one will harm you with us here.¡± ¡°There there¡­¡±

    A heartfelt reunion ensued.

    Towards the side, Ferase cautiously passed by the frightened customers and staff who had never seen a man covered in black at a size that is the tales of myths. They did nothing but watch on, dumbfounded and frightened.

    ¡°The embassy did its job superbly well, Master Hamilton. Two letters of notice came in at nearly the same hour regarding Young Kolu.¡±

    ¡°So all that¡¯s well ends well, Ferase?¡± Hamilton smiled at the sight.

    ¡°Yes, yes it is. Also, I never expected to meet you here, Lady Xu. Forgive my late salutations.¡± He bowed.

    ¡°Likewise, Uncle Ferase. Hamilton has told me of your stunning plan. Congratulations.¡±

    As they exchanged their gestures, the couple walked up to them, getting their attention.

    TianXing didn¡¯t see them properly earlier but now that she examined them up close, the scale was jarring.

    ¡°Never would I have expected to meet you first in a scenario like this, Lord Kiefrurpez. You have my gratitude for saving my son.¡± The man and his wife bowed deeply. Mr Maj, aged in his early fifties, was head and shoulders taller than Hamilton who was already taller than the average man. His broad frame made TianXing look like she was reverted back to a child. Despite that, Kolu¡¯s father still wore a gentleman¡¯s suit, with his hazel-nut coat spanning the size of her bed sheets.

    For the woman beside him, Mrs Maj was slightly shorter than Hamilton with a slim, hourglass frame; even with her actual age being nearly 60. Her hair is a mixture of short braids of white and brown, and her skin shined with gloss. She donned a lavender flowery, voluminous skirt, tightened at the waist with a corset. TianXing was fascinated with the type of dress upon first sight. Overall, she could see that they were a happy family and her heart tensed slightly.

    ¡°The gratitude¡¯s all ours, Mr Maj. Your reuniting eases my heart so consider this an obligation to my morals as a¡­Yes, your thanks is all I needed.¡± He tried to end it smoothly.

    ¡°We know your practices, Lord. Feel free to seek our aid anytime.¡±

    ¡°I accept. But, I must highlight that if not for the initial approach by Lady Xu, Kolu would have never come to my awareness. Please consider her worthy of your debt.¡±

    Shifting glances to her, the couple¡¯s sharp eyes pierced her spirit.

    ¡°P-please to meet your acquaintance, Mr and Mrs Maj. I am the co-owner of White Ink, a company that provides translation services for the Kiefrurpez Company.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the Lord¡¯s account, then I shall accept.¡±

    Mr Maj grabbed TianXing¡¯s petite hands and lower arms into his coarse meaty palms. She can feel the calluses rubbing hard at her fragile skin. A vigorous handshake ensued, nearly making her off-balanced.

    ¡°Thank you for your help, Lady Xu.¡±

    ¡°No, no worries there, Mr Maj.¡±

    ¡®What strength!¡¯

    With the introductory finished, all of them shared a good long laugh.

    There were some minor talks on future projects and exchange of addresses before the Maj¡¯s personal carriage arrived and it was significantly larger, equipping 8 wheels.

    Mr Maj granted the waiters a damage token of 20 silver taels, carrying his sleeping boy to the vehicle. On the other hand, Mrs Maj was giving some final words to Hamilton.

    ¡°Speaking of children, Lord Hamilton, how is Clementine¡¯s pregnancy?¡±

    ¡°Ahh¡­,¡± And that¡¯s when his worst fears came to be, ¡°We got a lovely girl named Judeline.¡± He had never wanted to bring up this topic¡­

    ¡°Oh Nazarenus¡¯ name, what a change of pace, my Lord! A little more variety to the main family.¡±

    ¡®Why did she have to say that?!¡¯ Visible sweat ran down his neck and his eyes slowly turned to TianXing¡¯s face, who was now in complete disbelief.

    ¡°Mrs Maj, what do you mean by children? Is Hamilton really a married man?¡±

    ¡­especially in front of TianXing. As far as he could remember, he would always avoid the topic and all his subordinates supported his efforts. This day of consecutive coincidences truly was a blessing and a curse.

    ¡°Color myself shocked! Lovely Xu, Lord Hamilton and Lady Clementine were engaged two decades ago. They now have three lovely children, two of them are twins.¡±

    ¡°t-twins¡­¡± TianXing¡¯s mind went blank.

    ¡°...¡±

    Eyeing Hamilton, Mrs Maj expressed her disappointment. ¡°I thought you already told her, my Lord! This is outrageous behavior, even coming from a wise man like you. Childish!¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°I-¡±

    Fortunately for Hamilton, Mr Maj called out for his wife to hurry up.

    Clicking her tongue, Mrs Maj ended her intervention. ¡°Listen, Lord. For whatever reasons you take to keep it hidden, you have now failed to maintain that status quo. Keeping up the facade will ruin the deep trust of your partnership with lovely Xu and I know you too wouldn¡¯t want that.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I apologize¡­¡± Everyone saw them like a mother scolding their child. Grabbing him strongly by the shoulders, she then instructed him, ¡°Go to the park and explain to her clearly. This is farewell, Lord Hamilton.¡±

    Passing past a silent TianXing, Mrs Maj got onto the carriage. A whip cracked and they were off for the road.

    Back at the teahouse, a tense gentleman stood still. His fist clenched tight.

    ¡°Ferase.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Hamilton¡­?¡± Feeling partially guilty with going about improperly with Hamilton¡¯s plan, Ferase decided to follow Mrs Maj¡¯s idea. He had no confidence of his own. ¡°Shall I prepare the stagecoach?¡±

    Slowly escorting TianXing towards it, Hamilton nodded.

    Thus, they set off, arriving at the lush greenery minutes later.

    .

    .

    .

    By then, TianXing was largely back to her senses. She released her tight braids, letting her long, silky hair flow gracefully in the late afternoon gale and doing a light twirl, before carefully seating upon a wooden bench. Hamilton¡¯s long green coat fluttered lightly, given its heavier material but it still made a majestic movement as he sat next to her.

    Trees swayed and leaves flew. No one was there on the stone trail in front of them. Even Ferase stayed behind at the stagecoach.

    The world they now knew only concerned them and no one else.

    ¡°Whooo¡­¡± Hamilton breathed loudly and deeply. He was a man of talented speech. Flowery chatter is natural to him. No matter the waves of women, he sailed through the storm. But this was the first of his hesitations. He had a lot to fear going into this conversation as any errors would lose whatever he desired for. In this moment, Hamilton was at his most vigilant.

    However, it was TianXing who broke the ice first.

    ¡°We could have taken Kolu somewhere fascinating within those hours of waiting.¡±

    Hamilton was startled that she began with a statement.

    ¡°We could have gone to the opening night market downtown. Let him try Sinae¡¯s most famous candied hawthorn sticks. Take him to a puppet show or opera. Experience martial art demonstrations. And instead, we stayed still in an ordinary teahouse.¡±

    Her voice was full of weakness.

    ¡°Hamilton, do you think I can be a good mother?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Am I destined to always feel conflicted about my true feelings?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Do I die a lone life with a pen and paper, surrounded by materialistic gold?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Is this money even warranted? The only reason I was this successful and why I can meet you is because I was the pioneer of this form of trade and all those inspired by me never reached the heights I did. This is a monopoly I have created.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°What is this pain in my heart, Hamilton? I¡­I do not know.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Say something, godammit! Silence isn¡¯t golden at this moment!?¡±

    ¡°Your stepbrother.¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±

    ¡°I once had a talk with Mr Tai. And he expressed how you were a tough girl.¡±

    ¡°Wh-¡±

    ¡°Based on his words, ¡®The joy of material wealth would never get a person this far in society¡¯ and you did just that, Lady Xu. As you have said, you have created a monopoly and are willing to cooperate more openly with foreigners than the everyday businessman at your level of class, a founder. So, according to him, there was much more to your motivation for money.¡±

    ¡°...¡± She felt like her memories were being pried on.

    ¡°He shared how you sent back money to your hometown, almost monthly. Each comprising an average of 30 Gold tags. After our businesses formed a partnership, that increased proportionally. An average of 50 Gold.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°It-It would take no genius to know 50 Gold is already more than enough for the entire village! For years on end!¡±

    ¡°...Then, what are you getting at?¡±

    ¡°Please tell me then, what happened with Xu YaoMing?!¡±

    ¡°B-beloved elder brother?¡±

    Her eyes were at their largest with this question.

    ¡°I-I want to know more¡­about you. Please, Lady Xu?¡±

    It was a humility that has haunted her ever since. The fight between them, the desperate wails in the courtyard, and the last of his pleading cries in jail. She was afraid of recollecting them. Currently, she has the power to employ an army that¡¯s the size of her county and give the nobles who wronged her brother a life worse than death. But with all her heart, she knew this was not what his brother would recommend. As a doctor, the worst thing would be his closest relative committing acts that he swore to cure of all. She can never permit that. What about returning to check up with her brother? Despite her bold claims to Hamilton earlier, the fear of rejection after abandoning him for so long was too much for TianXing to bear. She has regretted every time she has read her brother¡¯s letters, finding out that he was progressively doing better in life and even finding a wife, to ultimately storing it safely and never to be seen again. The last letter came weeks before and their marriage must have been two days before. This was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. Her long life obsession to marry him was unfulfilled, and most likely, would have never become serious talk. And since he was already doing well, the motivation to continue White Ink under her leadership was waning. All these factors accumulated to her departing words to Hamilton. She has been on this goal for a decade of her life that she felt the immense burnout. Moreover, in order to hide her embarrassment, she lied to him. There was no way a coward like herself would return to the Xu residence in over a decade to live smoothly with her sister-in-law. The obvious path for her is to wander to a secluded village in the mountains and maybe start a family with a new clean slate. A new, but very weak goal. Perhaps, this was what she always was. TianXing never remembered her real parents. She forcibly adopted a new surname, Xu, which she didn¡¯t think she rightfully deserved; failed to please her only relative known to her; and is scared to face those consequences. All she remembered of her former parents was that their surname was He.

    In the end, she shared everything with Hamilton. Her childhood. Her familial issues. Her helplessness in the political playground. The choice to come here and lastly, the conclusion of her relationship with her beloved stepbrother.

    Hamilton never interrupted her as she continuously spewed out her words of sorrow. Everytime they previously conversed, she shared the happier times of YaoMing. Today, it was different.

    In the end, the story lasted until dusk, where the red son is nearing its descend.

    Deep in tears, TianXing tried to rub her bloodshot eyes with her already damp sleeves.

    ¡°Here.¡±

    Hamilton gave her his unused handkerchief. The napkin from this morning came in handy. She thanked him in between runny noses and fragmented breaths.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°Have you calmed yourself, Lady Xu? Do you need water?¡±

    ¡°No¡­No, Hamilton. I am fine.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s better. Releasing all that pain and suffering helps with the heart, am I right?¡±

    He smiled.

    ¡°Yes, it truly does. Hamilton, I thank you very much for your patient listening.¡±

    She bowed her head to the bench top.

    Immediately after, he gently pulled her up, dismissing his kindness. ¡°Please! Raise your head, Lady Xu. I shall repeat that I am not the man you think I am.¡±

    ¡°...But that¡¯s who you truly are, Hamilton. And that¡¯s why everyone calls you a wise, kind man.¡± She looked down to her fingers. ¡°Clementine, was it?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes¡­¡±

    ¡°Clementine, she truly did good to marry a man of your ideals. I may say I even envy her¡­Yeah, maybe this truly is what I felt back then. Wait-¡±

    Her face puffed a deep blush of red. Steam may even appear above her as she hid her flabbergasted expression. All of a sudden, she felt her heart race rapidly. Greater than when she thought of her brother.

    ¡®Does this betray his feelings? Am I allowed too¡­¡¯

    ¡°RAAHHH! I CAN¡¯T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!¡±

    ¡°Huh-Mhhphh¡­¡±

    The scream of Hamilton tore through the tranquil sunset as the birds flew off in fright, and as they soar high above the park, their eyes witnessed a scene of intimacy. A sign of universal affection. A heartfelt kiss.

    Hamilton¡¯s shaking arms held TianXing close, even as she tried her best to shove away from his body. Both of their lips continued to stay embraced for a while. Her fading red lipstick sticking tightly onto his light pink highlights. Their eyes remained closed shut. Even still, they all knew what the other was conveying.

    A minute lasted and her feeble shoving pursued.

    Another minute passed by and TianXing finally gave in to her selfish feelings, returning the kiss to Hamilton. But, it grew deeper as he attacked further and before long, the inexperienced TianXing who had her first kiss stolen and unprepared, had a full 3 minute long dance of slithery tongues and lubricating saliva.

    Their faces were as red as the comparable setting sun which made its fall momentarily before their kiss ended. When they opened their eyes, it was each other¡¯s faces that they first saw, amidst a backdrop of a starry night sky.

    Their lips soon parted. Thin saliva strings tried their best to stay on but they tore separate in futility.

    Gasping huge breaths, the duo averted the other¡¯s gazes; before Hamilton spoke instead.

    ¡°I-I apologize.¡± However, his hand was grabbed by TianXing. She looked him close in the eye.

    ¡°Hamilton, I don¡¯t mind it. Giving my first kiss to you. But, I am afraid this is as far as I can go with our relationship. Otherwise, I would be hurting Mrs Clementine¡¯s heart.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother, Lady Xu.¡±

    ¡°Wha¡­¡±

    His voice was stern and confident.

    ¡°Listen, this marriage between the Arsenaults and the Kiefrurpez is one that¡¯s organized by Father. Personally, I have no affection for Clementine. The children we made¡­Even though I love each of them dearly with all my heart, it¡¯s my feelings for a woman that you stole! So, myself being in a relationship with her does not count.¡±

    ¡°Do-d-do you understand what you are saying, Hamilton! This is a crime we are committing.¡±

    With that piece of warning, his face darkened.

    ¡°I knew that. I knew that ever since I fell for you. I have shared my feelings with all my closest subordinates and they all said the same thing. This is immoral adultery.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I was forced into this scenario that¡¯s beyond my control. I had to sleep with a woman that I grew to dislike by the day and this is all Father¡¯s fault! I admired him as a great man and Grandma who always wanted the best for me but even controlling my love life¡­After all those restrictions and trials to be fit for the next patriarch, this is something I could now never accept!¡±

    ¡°Ham-¡±

    ¡°Originally, I thought true love existed in children''s books, but now, after writing to you, working with you and now prying deeper about you, I believe such things truly exist.¡±

    ¡°Hamilton¡­¡±

    Standing up from the bench, he turned around and bent on one knee. TianXing watched him at a loss for words with a fast pacing heart.

    ¡°I promise you by the name of my house that I will officially divorce Clementine le Arsenault at all costs. That you are to be my one and only. That you are the independent woman who will become the true wife of Hamilton Claure von Kiefrurpez! TianXing¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡± Her face was beginning to tear up once more. Her heart felt overwhelmed with warmth and desire. A different desire. One she was confident it was her own choice to make. One she was never going to regret ever. One she would see the end of her actions head on!

    ¡°Will you marry me?¡±

    There came the magic words.

    There was no elaborate dinner or setting. No ring nor even a simple single flower. What Hamilton gave her was his ungloved hand and the sincerest of smiles.

    And surely enough, the answer was just as clear as day.

    TianXing accepted his hand in marriage; gripping it tightly, interlocking their fingers to never let each other go.

    ¡°Yes, my dearest Hamilton. I would love to spend the rest of my life with you. No longer as Xu TianXing, but as He TianXing. A new and yet, the oldest me there is.¡±

    Slowly, her face grew to her brightest face yet.

    Standing up simultaneously, their hands continued to be firmly connected as they glanced up high towards the starry night sky. His icy blue eyes reflected off from her glossy onyx irises as they made eye contact. For the last time, the duo shared the final kiss for the day.

 Chapter 27 : The Third Young Master

    Several days ago¡­

    Night fell upon a region of inner ShanWei. It was filled with magnificent villas and walled-off residences that could house hundreds within them. Only street lamps and individual armored militia guards illuminated the winding narrow streets and alleys, with sewer drainage separating the tall black stone walls from them.

    This grandeur section of the city was home to several of the most influential figures, representing clans and families that play a major role in running the Middle Kingdom. While ordinary folk would never dream of ever stepping into these massive mansions with multiple generations worth of salary, let alone own a small plot of land, the clans considered these sort of dwellings a minor asset. Aside from those who owned merchants groups that originate from ShanWei, no one saw these as a primary base of operations.

    One such family that fell under this umbrella was the White Crane Clan of the Righteous Iron Martial Sect. A prominent member of this huge sect that made up a part of the Central Conformist Alliance, which was the highest authority of the Martial and Mystical World.

    However the specialization of the clan, martial clans also take part in governance and economics. One does not sustain a legacy of future disciples without the necessity of material wealth and managed cash flow. As a result of this, the White Crane Clan opted for a significant task passed down from the officials of the Royal Court. It was the maintenance of security beyond the borders of the castle city of ShanWei, amongst other trading firms and smitheries. Both inland, and towards nearby open waters. It would be an enormous undertaking for the person in charge of the operation, but compared to similar activities in other ports and especially the Northern Capital, sons of the founding family were expected to never defy the Leader¡¯s orders. With the Leader¡¯s eldest assisting his father within the main headquarters and the second eldest stationed in a port city up North, the Leader¡¯s decision to send the next sibling in line to ShanWei was obvious and logical. Additionally, his father¡¯s orders coincided with the age where he celebrated his coming-of-age. Never was the time to kickstart his rise to prominence ever so earlier.

    He swiftly prided himself with the position of Intermediary head and executed his plans for the castle city for the decades to come, upon this very mansion. Like his admirable brothers, the Third displayed great judgment and efficient management, besides his widely known feats for being a rising swordmaster. Everyone never doubted his words and for those nobles who underestimated him just because he came out from the belly last, he made good use of their resentment and outsmarted everyone. Upon reaching the age of 36, the status quo improved and remained stable ever since. He has got the wealth, prestige and the martial skill to contend for the Leader¡¯s throne in the next few decades.

    Unfortunately, that dream of his would be an idealistic and fantastical assumption. Whatever he had, the brothers would always be several steps ahead of them. To gain influence amongst the elders for his side, occasionally he only has made trips back home, overwhelmingly overshadowed by the eldest. Despite one might say that the Third would win in a duel against either brother in regards to martial skills, self-cultivation or personalized aura, the gap advantage he held against them was meager at most. The only hope he would have to realize his childhood dream was to pray that both the brothers get killed in any accident or incident that was never made with his intent but that would never happen since like himself, their bodies¡¯ self-preservation were better than the greater. Qi poisoning or a broken meridian core was a rare occurrence in the White Crane Clan and finally, the conclusion for both of them to step down from that position of power by themselves is an unattainable outcome.

    Having contemplated his choices over and over again for decades of reaching mindful enlightenment, the Third has finally decided to let down his ego and accepted the already wondrous life that he had, alongside the subordinates entrusted to him, with the wines he drank, the food he indulged and the women he slept unrestrained.

    Evenso, there came an encounter on that fateful day where he decided to inspect the operation of a random outpost on the outer walls of ShanWei for no ulterior motive nor goal, without his escorts, and lazed around on a platform, drinking gourds of fermented grape wine that were filled to the brim.

    She first got his attention when he felt her suspicious intent towards him. They were never in the line of sight but he had ways to realize.

    Using his heightened senses to pry deeper into her interaction with that guard, he found her weird at first. It was obvious that she traveled far from her hometown and that she came from a relatively well-off family.

    ¡®An amateurish sunflower maiden, unripened by her sheltered upbringing.¡¯ He giggled to himself. Despite his quick summary, the Third could not help but notice several anomalies about her. If it were a man, he would never question it and yet, she was a fragile woman, all on her own. Even the toughest country bumpkins travel to ShanWei in groups of no less than four. Moreover, he could hear her mannerisms in speech and a variety of intellect as she handled this mischievous officer. The Third knew that he was breaking tax laws and utilizing misinformation but he did not mind. Several factors played into this, reasoned by the Young Master as soon as he arrived at the scene hours before. The officer was quite a talented warrior for his division and knew when to not bite off more than he could chew. Only unfortunate victims from similar backgrounds were affected which never affected the scale of monetary circulation. It was a maliceful favor to the man who exploited the system safely.

    Despite the high opinion of the guard, what he did next was going far beyond what was acceptable. The Third saw as the man quickly raised his halberd. Given his superior martial abilities, the young master saw this occurring in slow motion. His conscience was faster than average.

    ¡®Should I use Qi?¡¯ He observed as the young maiden¡¯s face squirmed, knowing that blocking the blow was her least worst option yet.

    ¡®Hah¡­What has gotten into me?¡¯ His situational awareness does not need him to look all over to know what was happening. Through sheer skill alone, he could stop that halberd precisely with a blindfold. Nonetheless, out of all the places and beautiful people he could see, his eyes ended up looking at her.

    As he blitzed towards them, fingers stretched out, one thought filled his sudden mind.

    ¡®I want her.¡¯

    Alas, his thoughts slowed into real time and a loud sound could be heard from where she stood, emerging from a chilly gust of the autumn wind. He did the minimum to make his entrance heroic but just enough that he confidently assumed that this damsel in distress would fall for him immediately.

    ¡®Just like any other common woman.¡¯ He sneered.

    And, the Third was, in fact, utterly wrong.

    He then sorted the incident with ruthless efficiency so that he could continue his unfinished business with her. The young master did his best to woo her over but her steadfast determination to reach the city remained her top priority. In the end, all he got was her name. While the Third barely kept his carefree facade up until the end, the inner him got more and more flabbergasted and furious.

    His usual pursuits of any woman he fancied on the street or brothel ended up successful in a matter of minutes. No one was more experienced than he was within the playing of a lady¡¯s heart. In the face of his accomplishments, the reality that his advances were actually rejected for the first time slowly grew from a feeling of inconvenience to an undertaking of a challenge for a lifetime.

    Once he tracked down TianXing¡¯s whereabouts weeks after their first meet, the Third forcibly got himself involved with her life while making regular moves onto her. As much as he knew that his presence was unwarranted, the Third ensured to never cause any hindrance to her unknown goals, supporting them along the way.

    Unfortunately for him, as the lady grew to become more and more of his ideal woman, her insistence to not accept his proposal still carried on. Thus, their unique relationship, that grew to become closer than friends but farther from marriage, remained stagnant for the next decade, where for a significant part of the later five years, contact from the Third to the Lady slowed to a trickle. While the Young Master was hectically busy coordinating and supervising the construction and relocation of all foreigners into the Walled Segregation Zone, issued by the absolute Royal Court, the eventual back and forth of sending letters to the Kiefrurpez for business talks went unbeknownst by the Third until the very end, leading into his prompt urgency to ensure their engagement was officialised during the opening day.

    The Third knew it was a senseless move but he hated losing. He had already lost to his brothers for a position long gone and now his informant told him that those foreigners could be a potential adversary. He already lost his face by his continual rejections from TianXing. Something he received from only her. A woman who would serve under him in the future.

    If it would be his lost one more against a man of a different race across the world to charm that unique woman into marriage, the young master could never live with that!

    .

    .

    .

    His mansion in particular has a central rectangular pagoda and currently, LuJi was resting in one of the top floors that served as a main living room.

    Sitting on a gorgeous wooden long sofa and dressed in a muted red Sinae nightgown, his body slanted with the side of his chin placed firmly on his arm on the hand rest, he idly gave a disappointed look to the woman in front of him. With a flicker of his finger, the attendant on the right promptly instructed the woman to dismiss herself, much to her sadness.

    The attendant on the left sent out the next woman in line through a concealed wall of patterned curtains. As his eyes made hers, she wasted no time to undress herself from a covered blanket, revealing her bare white skin while wearing only underwear.

    For a typical man, even a minor flash of clothes would disorient them or make a reaction out of surprise.

    For LuJi, this point of view of a woman is no longer stimulating. Like the number of times a man drinks his tea, the amount of times he has slept with different women, he has lost count. An oversaturation of carnal experiences.

    The woman in front of him was certainly well-proportioned with the proper striking facial features. Overall, anyone would call her beautiful, but this was never LuJI¡¯s objective; to find another good entertainer for the night. During the last several months until recent, his criteria for his sex partner became more restrictive. In other words, the black haired woman here is too general for the times¡¯ beauty standards.

    Sighing, LuJi swayed his finger once more.

    Like a conveyor belt, the next candidate did a similar routine with a cute twirl at the end.

    This time, his eyes paid closer attention. He saw that she had a great hourglass figure and a mole on her right thigh. The breasts were teardrop shaped and unfortunately, on the smaller side to his liking. But the one feature that sealed the deal was her large eyes, giving her looks like a cute girl.

    Sighing once again, LuJi swiped his hand.

    The next girl came and did the same as before.

    For the record, this was a body that had no dislikes yet no highlights either.

    To confirm his choice, LuJi ordered her, ¡°Smile.¡±

    In a panic, she composed herself before showing off her bright teeth.

    Immediately, the young master gestured her to the right.

    Apparently, she had a rabbit¡¯s bucked tooth.

    ¡°Next!¡± screamed the left attendant across the wall of cloth.

    For the next several acceptable women, deserving to be in the line to his quarters, none of them made the cut and his reasons were majorly nitpicks or downright critically shameful. However, no one could ever voice out his behavior because it really was the truth that he said such words. One had a hideous birthmark on her back, despite her wondrous flowy black hair.

    The left attendant watched on with sweat on his neck. He was in charge of getting women for the night and was given a long list of very specific qualities for the finalizers tonight. Currently, his master had gone through nearly half of the gathered women waiting downstairs and since there were 74 left, his position as Head Left attendant might be on the line if his master did not get what he wanted until the final 10 or none at all. His reputation in the eyes of the Young Master may decline and he can be resolute at times.

    ¡°Next!¡± shouted his voice, hoping his master would never suspect his hesitation.

    With that call, the next woman entered the hall and removed her clothes. Albeit her short stature, her body was plump in the right regions especially the butt. Her chest was relatively huge and her lips were glossy and succulent. LuJi saw a change in posture, bending forwards to her. Elbows on his knees and fingers interlocked.

    He recognised this woman and she realized he did so too.

    ¡°How do you do, YeeLin?¡±

    Steadying herself, she replied respectfully, ¡°I am flattered that Master LuJi recognised this lowly citizen.¡±

    ¡°Leave the flattery aside, YeeLin. I enjoyed our last session so you deserve this much.¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much for your immense benevolence. Grandfather also wanted to express his wholehearted gratitude.¡±

    ¡°So¡­you do want to earn tonight¡¯s wage, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Shocked by his straightforward inquiry, she lowered her head, ¡°Isn¡¯t this everyone¡¯s objective for serving you in bed?¡±

    ¡°Raise it for your beautiful face. I told you already, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    And so she did.

    ¡°I listen to your orders, Master LuJi.¡±

    Rather than a flick of his finger, he said it out loud.

    ¡°Not today, YeeLin. Maybe next time, I am craving a taller woman tonight.¡±

    Normally, one would feel offended by this but the woman laughed it off with sincerity.

    ¡°I thought I was never gonna hear your honest remarks once again, Master. Once again, I shall one day pay back the allowance you gave for our family¡¯s plight. Let myself be dismissed.¡±

    Picking up her clothes, she headed for the gold patterned doors.

    ¡°Hold it, YeeLin!¡± sounded his sudden voice.

    ¡°Yes¡­Master?¡± Her mind raced, expecting the worse.

    ¡°How¡¯s the youngest?¡± smiled the Third.

    ¡°Little Piao is now recovering so he may survive this year too¡­¡±

    ¡°Remember Lady, what I gave you then wasn¡¯t debt. So don¡¯t stress yourself out.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you once again, Master.¡±

    It was another deep bow. Her upper torso perpendicular to her legs.

    With a smile, LuJi signaled her to carry on.

    ¡°Next!¡¯ The left attendant rang.

    Apart from some minor close considerations, the same rejections repeated for the next 30 women. The closer he got towards the end, the servants and attendants knew his mood may blow any moment.

    ¡°Next!¡± rang the attendant once again, biting the gum of his mouth.

    ¡®Oh!¡¯ LuJi inspected the next candidate.

    Surprisingly, the most unique feature of this woman compared to the others was the mature feeling surrounding her. There were wrinkles in certain places and significantly larger eye bags. He could tell she was older than the rest, accompanied by a huge bust and wider meaty hips. But because of her height, the size of those assets felt just right in LuJi¡¯s eyes. Additionally, the raven hair was similarly the same length without reference.

    ¡®This might be it.¡¯ He thought to himself.

    But he was no fool. For a lady to achieve this figure, most of them got them naturally and it was something he could not stand for. Shifting further off his sofa, he asked her.

    ¡°How old are you, Madam?¡±

    Bowing, she answered bluntly, ¡°39 years old, Lord Bai.¡±

    Frowning his eyebrows, he asked her seriously.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°Do you mind stretching out your vagina for myself to see?¡± There was no awkwardness in his speech.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I will not force you, Madam. But if you imply otherwise, I will see you out the door.¡± His breath was steady.

    ¡°...I shall do what I must, my Lord.¡±

    Once the servants prepared her a chair, she removed her underwear and laid down, back first on the seat. Her legs held on the armrest while her fingers opened the inner lips and widened the hole.

    Still on the sofa, his eyes managed to close in the gaze despite the distance. Her embarrassing blush disturbed him slightly at the corner of his peripheral vision.

    ¡°You are a mother, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Turning away, she shyly muttered, ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°Single mother or a divorcee?¡±

    ¡°...N-neither, neither of them, Lord Bai.¡±

    ¡°Impressive, Madam. That is quite brave of you.¡±

    ¡°I-I apologize, Lord Bai.¡±

    ¡°Wear your underwear, you may take a seat now.¡±

    ¡°...¡± She quietly did as she was told.

    Whilst that happened, the Third called for the Head Left attendant, whose face was as white as snow. Kowtowing without instructions, hitting hard onto the marble floor with a bang, he apologized.

    ¡°I am incompetent, Master Bai! Please forgive this attendant with your great wisdom.¡±

    The Head Right attendant looked on, secretly smirking.

    Sighing, the Third reached out for his rice wine.

    ¡°Head Left, you are aware that this is your second offense, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°And that I told you I pardon first-timers?¡±

    ¡°Without a doubt!¡±

    ¡°You ruined my night.¡±

    ¡°Please, great Master Bai! Have mercy!¡±

    ¡°Do you think that you can deceive me if the woman in question has no noticeable stretch marks?¡±

    ¡°Never, Master!¡±

    ¡°And what are your morals to encourage adultery?¡±

    ¡°Send him away, I will deal with him tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°No! Master! Master Bai!¡±

    Servants dragged the helpless attendant over the curtains, never to be seen. The screeches of bloody nails trailed off the cold shiny floor.

    Amidst the fading screams of desperation, LuJi called for the Right attendant.

    ¡°I have found my partner for the night. Send the others home with a token for their time.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Bai.¡± Grabbing the empty wine glass for him.

    ¡°Pleasant.¡±

    Next, approaching close to the married woman as she grasped tightly on her blanket, he knelt down to her eye level.

    ¡°Do you feel cold, Madam?¡±

    ¡°...No, Lord.¡±

    ¡°Do you have a name?¡±

    ¡°WenXi, Lord.¡±

    ¡°Is it an alias?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡­I trust you to keep this a secret from my husband. Please, Lord.¡±

    ¡°Haha! How long has it been since I¡¯ve experienced such a degree of plea?¡±

    ¡°Please¡­¡±

    Placing his hand on her shoulder, he whispered in her ear.

    ¡°Follow me, WenXi.¡±

    ¡°Where?¡± Her mind was fearful.

    ¡°Where?! My bedroom, that¡¯s for certain.¡±

    Getting up herself, she willingly trailed behind, passing several large heavy doors of gold and corridors lined with pillars of jade. Upon her arrival, the Third opened up to a huge room of fine wood and blue cloth accents.

    The layout was a central square that was the size of her living room back home, attached to three more identical sections partitioned by light blue clear curtains. The fourth side was where the entrance and themselves stood. Overall, the Third¡¯s bedroom alone could house four commoner families of 4 just fine. Alast, she stared in awe.

    At the end, she saw a humongous 4-person bed, weaved from the finest of silks and cotton. To the left, there was a workplace with strangely, only scrolls of identical woman paintings and discarded letters. Barely any documents.

    ¡®Lord must have gotten a separate room for those important stuff,¡¯ she thought.

    To her right, she saw another much larger sofa, framed within smooth wood and embroidered with numerous artistic patterns over a maroon backdrop. Just in front of them, a large fancy round table was placed with six seats. The sharp tang of different wines seeped through the vase covers upon the said furniture, tensing her nostrils.

    LuJi showed ignorance to her exposure and took a seat. He then poured himself a large bowl before chugging it down within one attempt. WenXi stood there, awaiting his instructions.

    Realizing her timid behavior, LuJi gestured to drink a bowl that he just poured for her. There were no signs of reluctance and she muttered her thanks. Never has she tasted of a beverage this heavy. Keeping it hidden, WenXi tried to bear her burning throat but not before long, she coughed harshly.

    ¡°Oh, I guess you never consume alcohol, huh?¡±

    ¡°My lord¡­cough¡­my apologies.¡±

    Giving her a plain expression, he handed her water.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Once she cleared her throat, seeing the poker expression on LuJi¡¯s face as he finished his first vase for the night and it was a huge vessel.

    ¡°A-are you an avid drinker, my Lord?¡±

    Knowing that she would be paid for the night and this was her first time doing so, the first thing that came to mind was small talk, before the true activities.

    Gladly, LuJi went with it.

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°The Lord drinks daily.¡±

    ¡°True! Full stars, WenXi. It is a luxury that never lets me down. By the way, since we are what we are now, call me LuJi instead.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that disres¡­I understand, LuJi.¡±

    ¡°Much better. Continue please.¡± Another mouthful came from his bowl.

    ¡°Why is it me?¡±

    ¡°...Well, I never expected that question. But it¡¯s a good one, I admit.¡±

    He made eye contact, eyeing her nearly identical naked body.

    ¡°I thought that I would never find another woman that is just as desirable as yours for tonight¡¯s tasting. Even if you are married, WenXi is still very beautiful and sexy. I slightly envy the man you married.¡±

    ¡°...You-you don¡¯t have to mind him any longer, LuJi. My body¡¯s now your possession to toy with to your heart¡¯s content.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡®How bad is her acting?¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s not only a physical preference, WenXi. I am sure he enjoys your company and vice versa. Oh, how I wish that were myself¡­¡±

    ¡°M-my apologies.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough apologies for my ears tonight! WenXi, I can¡¯t believe you are acting up like this at the age of 39.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Haaah, never mind, let us begin the true agenda, shall we.¡± He swiftly got up and headed towards his bed.

    ¡°Wha-¡±

    ¡°You promised me earlier, didn¡¯t you? Or was that a lie against your Master?!¡±

    ¡°I-I understand.¡±

    For a while now, her mature appeal was hanging on by the thread due to her older looks. But he could see some resemblance for further immersion.

    ¡®A little bit of amateurity is part of her charm after all.¡¯ He thought as he loosened his sash. With a swing of his hand, his nightgown flung fast onto a cornering paper wall divider and his bare lean body, riddled with battle scars, was exposed for all of WenXi to see. Her face blushed deep red, never aware that she was naked herself.

    Sitting lazily at an angle straight at her from the edge of the mattress, he flashed his penis out to WenXi. Bushy long pubic hair surrounded the quickly erecting phallus that throbbed sporadically. She saw as blood filled and widened the head as it grew to a lighter gray with lines of parallel dark violet.

    Instinctively, she began comparing his to her husband¡¯s. From a distance, WenXi can confidently say it was thicker and longer, and much darker than her husband.

    ¡®How many insertions has this guy had to achieve that darker shade¡­¡¯

    ¡°Oi, WenXi, what are you doing just staring there?!¡±

    ¡°Ah-ohh, right.¡±

    Walking steadily, she slowly removed her black underwear. Perhaps this was the longest she had gone wearing only them.

    Cautiously, WenXi got on the bed in front of him and feebly grabbed hold of his penis.

    ¡®It¡¯s hot!¡¯ Precum could be seen shimmering under the candle light.

    Under her erotic stomach fat, she managed to sit astride his hips. Still holding onto the head, it was now time to properly insert it into her pussy.

    ¡®I am sorry, my dear! This-this is for the better¡­¡¯

    That¡¯s when she was promptly shoved aside, landing back first into the soft mattress. Keeping her admiration of the product itself aside, WenXi looked upwards to the Third in distress. His face was a disappointed gaze.

    ¡°What the hell were you thinking, WenXi?¡±

    ¡°Where, where did I do wrong, Lor-LuJi?¡± She hastily got up in servitude.

    ¡°I was positioning for a blowjob. Can¡¯t you recognise it?¡±

    ¡°No, we only went the normal routine, my Lord.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean you have no knowledge on what a blowjob, boobjob or cunnilingus is?¡±

    Lowering her head, she gave a shy affirmation.

    ¡°...You are not suited for this sort of work, WenXi.¡± He said exasperatedly.

    ¡°LuJi, would you mind teaching me?¡±

    ¡°Certainly, I must! Since those will be the only ones we will be doing tonight.¡±

    Too afraid to frustrate him further, she didn¡¯t bother asking more.

    For the next several hours, they did multiple sessions and WenXi successfully satisfied the Third with her newfound techniques from his detailed guidance. He ejaculated for a total of 6 loads and WenXi shamelessly orgasmed 12 times. Each time louder than the next.

    .

    .

    .

    In bed, a nude WenXi laid alone at the edge. Her hair became a raunchy mess and her legs spreaded wide like an upturned frog. Her face was red from exhaustion and extremely ecstatic with a wide content smile. On her sweaty skin, huge amounts of numerous sexual fluids covered her entire body, originating from LuJi and herself, while the bed sheets smelt of her squirting urine. That was an experience that she would never forget and unfit for a lowly housewife.

    Then, her hips jerked.

    Across the room, LuJi was continuing to pour his drinks. For the record tonight, he was on his seventh vase. He never bothered with his dangling wiener and did a random somersault in a jit of energy. Despite his apparent drunkenness, because of his addiction, the man still remained unbelievably sober.

    Slowly, her arousal began to fade away and WenXi reluctantly sat up straight with a grunt. She remained unwashed and observed her lord in his most vulnerable moments. Realizing her stare, LuJi side eyed her, to which she quickly turned away. Accidentally, WenXi saw through a gap in the pillars towards the study area out of curiosity.

    Remembering those piles of illustrations from earlier, she got up, walked herself closer and unrolled a nearby painting scroll.

    On it, she saw a black and white portrait of an alluring woman who appeared to be several years her junior. Her experienced fierce eyes was, in her opinion, the subject¡¯s most defining attribute. WenXi also saw plenty of resemblance of her own reflection with the figure in question. She could assume that the Third did this portrait and for a laywoman like herself, this is a superior art piece.

    Without considering the drinking LuJi behind her, WenXi began to look into other scrolls and paper. Shockingly, all he painted only featured that lady at center focus. Some showed her in fantastical gardens, spanning flower fields, tall waterfalls and small to large buildings with the label belonging to the Relay Guild.

    Hung on the right wall, there was a full length illustration of her, donned in shades of purple. The blend of thick black brush strokes and slime faint outlines; her aura that was captured by this last piece felt life-like, as if she was standing right in front of her.

    ¡°Oh my Heavens¡­¡± WenXi gasped in awe.

    To her side, LuJi proudly watched as she was bathed in TianXing¡¯s beauty.

    ¡°...¡± Piecing his previous actions together, she finally reached a revelation and it was quite the shameful objective.

    Slowly facing the lord, she simply asked him, ¡°Is she an unacquainted love, LuJi?¡±

    Suddenly, the Third stopped his bowl.

    It was still empty.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you consider she was a dead loved one?¡± He blurted.

    ¡°You never cried. You only screamed out her name in pleasure.¡±

    ¡°I have never cried in my life. Tears and desire never worked out for me, WenXi. Why should I when I can get everything I want?¡±

    ¡°I know that this is speaking out of my boundaries, LuJi. But you haven¡¯t answered me?¡±

    He clicked his tongue.

    ¡°...If you are aware of that, then shut it, whore!¡±

    She glanced below onto the shimmering liquids in her deep cleavage, before clenching her fist.

    ¡°You are scared, LuJi. That¡¯s not the way-¡±

    ¡°SAYS YOU!¡±

    The Third swiped his arm in anger as an accidental surge of raging shockwaves dashed straight towards her. Unavoidably, WenXi was shoved back, crashing hard into a drawer. Once WenXi sat up, LuJi was kneeling beside her with a plate in hand. Despite this frightening display, his condescending gaze didn''t stunned her one bit. She glared back in disappointment. Now, she saw him as nothing but a pathetic man-child.

    ¡°Fine LuJi, you may call me a hypocrite from my decisions, but let me be clear, I still love my husband. I came here for the slim chance that I may earn some funds for our dying shop! He is now doing the best he could to survive while we have 3 children to feed. I will do anything if it means we can put food on the table for the kids tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I guarantee you. If this news reaches him, he will understand.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And finally, you still have my respect as our Lord.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°LuJi never used my pussy. That¡¯s how I know you are still the lord with benevolence.¡±

    ¡°Hmph!¡±

    Standing up to get another vase, he corrected her, ¡°Not at all as how you see it, commoner! I just felt disgusted putting my dick into something loose and used¡­¡±

    ¡°...Is that so?¡± She never heard his voice with such fragility.

    Leaning back on the desk, he sighed loudly. A wave of calmness soon swarmed his conflicted mind.

    ¡°Yes¡­It is an unanswered relationship, WenXi.¡± Her lord finally opened up.

    Seated crossed-leg, there was a relieved smile on her.

    ¡°How long is this-¡±

    ¡°Ten years! TEN DAMN FUCKING YEARS! You would have never heard such a story from the farthest lands of the Middle Kingdom, and yet, here I am!¡±

    His body growled in exaggeration.

    Even WenXi could not believe these facts. Never could she imagine herself delaying a confession that lasted nearly half of her marriage life. However, for a woman as special as the subject of the painting, an uneducated housewife would never understand that woman¡¯s school of thought, despite their gender were both women. Furthermore, the thought that the ideal Lord, who got everything, was still missing true love, on no account that would have crossed her mind.

    ¡°She must be that great of a woman if a man of your status is still after her.¡±

    LuJi laughed at that statement.

    ¡°I¡¯m no fool, WenXi. I would never spend a decade to waste if she was that ordinary. This woman, named Xu TianXing, founded White Ink.¡±

    ¡°What! That White Ink?¡±

    ¡°I¡®m not kidding and if you assume that she is a golden spoon, I dug her records deep into her hometown. She was just the adopted daughter of a minor noble in a small village.¡±

    ¡°Wow¡­¡±

    ¡°Moreover, in these ten years, my dear is now fluent in Mandarin and those barbaric mother tongues.¡±

    ¡°Those foreigners?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the problem, WenXi. For the past year, a white barbarian is supposedly getting closer to her than I could ever be. This does not sit well with me and I crave her more!¡±

    ¡°Leading to tonight¡¯s criteria.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my dear has always displayed a mature and wise look, even if she remains a virgin for the 33 years of her life as I steered away every potential countryman from her vicinity. Such is my reason for choosing you, WenXi.¡±

    ¡°I¡­understand.¡±

    ¡°But I now frequently wonder, why is she always rejecting me¡­A part of me hopes I can find an answer from a married woman like you, WenXi.¡±

    ¡°Me?!¡±

    ¡°Do tell, what might end this cat and mouse chase once and for all?¡±

    There was genuine desperation in his voice, and she was sympathetic for his cause.

    ¡°...Hmmm¡±

    This development was not what she hoped for. The scenario was too extreme.

    Several minutes passed as he waited in pitiful anticipation, before at last, WenXi answered.

    ¡°I can never word this properly, LuJi so I apologize.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°But personally, I believe that you only understand her for what she is publicly known for and she does not want that.¡±

    ¡°What¡­!¡±

    ¡°Ahh-Ehrm¡­What I meant was you do not stand out from the others who also saw her as what she wants you all to see her.¡±

    ¡°B-but, I showed her my commitment. I shouted her praises the loudest. Even in times of need, I am the only one who gave her my aid with all my heart. All I need her to do now is to accept me as her man! Explain further! What else is there to show I am not different when I already proclaimed my love.¡±

    ¡°I-I am sorry, my lord! This is as much as I, a peasant mother of 3, can reason with¡­I deeply apologize. Please¡­¡±

    She quickly kowtowed near his feet.

    ¡°...¡±

    Fortunately, LuJi¡¯s frustrations ended there. It was well past midnight.

    ¡°Again, WenXi. Call me LuJi.¡±

    Poking her head up, she questioned him. ¡°L-LuJi¡­?¡±

    Walking to the front doors, he called for an attendant. When a man dressed in dark blue arrived, she saw as the Third whispered orders to him.

    Afterwards, he headed to his wall divider and handed WenXi his nightgown.

    ¡°What for, my Lord?¡±

    ¡°LuJi!¡±

    ¡°LuJi, yes¡­¡±

    Sighing at this clumsy woman, he replied, ¡°Wear this for the time being. That man over there will take you to the guest room downstairs so make yourself at home for the night. Tomorrow, I gave permission for you to use the bathtub. I may not see you leave next morning but rest assured that you will get the money.¡±

    ¡°Lord¡­¡± she muttered under a soft breath.

    ¡°I enjoyed our night, WenXi. Thank you.¡± His voice was steady and respectful.

    ¡®So this is the Lord people admired.¡¯

    ¡°Thank you very much, LuJi!¡± She bowed deeply three more times before she left the room.

    ¡°One more thing, WenXi!¡±

    ¡°Yes, LuJi?¡± She was at the door.

    ¡°How old is your third child?¡±

    ¡°Two, LuJi. Had him after six years from the second. Why?¡±

    He smirked.

    ¡°I pray that his life is just as successful as his elder brothers.¡±

    ¡°Thank you LuJi, but rest assured, our family will always give each child equal chances. I think it¡¯s common practice.¡±

    ¡°...how great would that be¡­¡± He muttered.

    ¡°Pardon, LuJi?¡±

    ¡°Oh, never mind! Erhm, anyhow, just for those three, add an additional 15 silvers per child, Attendant!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±

    ¡°One final thing, WenXi. If I come to find out that your story was a lie all along, you do know the consequences.¡± He warned sternly.

    But with a laugh, she smiled with a bow.

    ¡°Do as much as you want, LuJi. But I am truly grateful for this donation so please have a good night.¡±

    With those parting words, the sound of the large doors closed shut sounded loudly throughout the now empty bedroom.

    His bare footsteps made their way to the desk where all the vases were conveniently emptied out.

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Checking once more, LuJi realized maybe now was the time to stop.

    .

    .

    .

    Laying wide on the damp sheets with her smell, he slowly dozed off to slumber.

    ¡®How shall I greet my dear this time?¡¯ came his last thoughts for the night.

 Chapter 28 : News of Heartbreak

    Under the bright morning sky, two long shadows passed the Formation barrier and into the tall walls of the Bai Mansion.

    The rushing sounds of footsteps came closer and closer as two cloaked individuals dashed straight through the long outdoor corridors and pillared hallways towards the main pagoda. They shoved past busy servants and leaped over numerous gardens. The message they carried was far more important.

    Climbing to the second floor and next, the third, they finally burst through the doors of the Head Left¡¯s office, a decently sized hexagonal room that was longer than its width and filled with shelves of books on either side.

    The shockwave of their entrance startled the writing attendant but their outfits quickly filled him in on his assumptions. It was a full black attire like any other secrecy soldier, but with an additional cyan sash to prove their allegiance to the White Crane Clan.

    ¡°Crows, what matters does my Master need to be informed off?¡± He blurted.

    Giving their auspicious fist covering greetings, the former removed his mask.

    ¡°We are under orders to follow the Lady Xu of White Ink. This is urgent and Master Bai would certainly find this hard to swallow. It is best if we tell him directly.¡±

    ¡°Do you dare say such immature remarks about our Master?! It is imprudent.¡±

    ¡°We plead to the Head Left attendant. Only we can convey the situation clearly.¡±

    ¡°...You witnessed that happen?¡±

    ¡°We vouched.¡±

    The duo saluted.

    ¡°I understand. Follow me.¡± The attendant got out of his seat.

    ¡°Please.¡±

    ---

    They went several floors down to a different corridor, which led into a deeper part of the mansion. It was a beautiful flower garden with crystal clear ponds and ambient glowing cave rocks. The large encompassing trees casted a huge umbrella of shade and light barely crept its way through.

    Watery mist laid low while the grass swayed in uniform motion, forming continuous ripples. In its wake, floating above a swirl of overgrown tree roots and the swarming currents of blue light, there was LuJi, positioned crossed-legged in his formal White Crane Clan attire. His hands were overlapped one over the other at the height of his pelvis and then, in the amazement of his entering subordinates, an eye-draining cycle of concentrated Qi coalesced tighter over space above his motionless palms. Waves of bright energy flowed through his abdominal meridians like a river, before it rose upwards towards the heart. Like blood, the newly gathered Qi was being circulated to all 12 major meridian points, never wasting a single drop.

    His face was calm and the body firm as a statue. The blue hue that was emitting from his slim outline presented itself as truly deserving of being called ¡®Under the Heavens¡¯. After all, LuJi¡¯s meditation practice was one to always be idealized by the Elders, considering how many realms he has broken through at his age.

    The attendant had second thoughts on whether to disrupt their Master in the middle of a cultivation session, fiddling with the bronze door knob that led into this isolated sanctuary of natural energy.

    For the robed men, they gladly left the decision for the attendant, to which he found it very annoyinging and injustful. Despite their little dispute, they were all unaware that LuJi had already detected them from upstairs. The only change was that he trained his mind to ignore all surroundings. Smirking with close eyes, he asked.

    ¡°Head Left, for what reasons must one intrude upon my meditation chamber with such urgency?¡±

    His voice felt more reverb than normal.

    Insisting the attendant to respond, he glared back to the Crows before his salute.

    ¡°Better mornings, Master Bai, the intelligence network for Lady Xu of the White Ink has pressing news.¡±

    ¡°Say¡±

    ¡°Master, the Crows would rather inform you mouth to mouth.¡±

    ¡°Let them.¡± Still maintaining the meditation position.

    Saluting, the former began his piece.

    ¡°Master Bai, yesterday morning, Lady Xu didn¡¯t return to her office after her morning walk.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°She accidentally ran into that white man and decided to spend the day helping a lost child with black skin alongside him.¡±

    ¡°Next?¡±

    ¡°In the evening, she had a somber talk with that foreigner¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s after? Speak up.¡±

    Given that the informant was also a martial practitioner, he could also sense the more varied fluctuations of his master¡¯s Qi waves and the ripples started to become rampant and irregular.

    ¡°I-in the end, they kissed.¡±

    Boom!

    As soon as he ended his words, the informant was immediately attacked by an omnidirectional surge of explosive energy. The trees and ground shocked, while birds flew high in fright and leaves fell in chunks. The attendant shoved backwards and the other Crow narrowly braced for impact with overwhelming opposing resistance. All in all, everyone was nearly out. Managing to get up, the three of them were met with LuJi appearing in front of them. The blue hue dissipated into the gardens as he gripped firmly onto his scabbard.

    ¡°What time is it?¡± asked LuJi.

    ¡°Eleven, Master.¡±

    ¡°...Ready an entourage for a visit to the White Ink¡¯s main headquarters. We will depart sharply at twelve.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Bai.¡±

    The attendant tripped as he hastily left the compound.

    Turning back to the two Crows he nearly blacked out, LuJi scanned over them. The Crows awaited hesitantly for orders as his eyes darted across their torso like he was inspecting cattle. Once he was finished, LuJi asked them.

    ¡°How is the leather padded armor and its interior?¡±

    ¡°P-pardon?¡± They never expected that.

    ¡°I am well-aware of this outfit¡¯s incredible stealth and camouflage capabilities but they never tested how this thing holds up once those that hide themselves were finally found.¡±

    ¡°We can assure you, Leader, that we are silent as owls¡±

    ¡°My Qi blast, did it stand up well against it?¡±

    Feeling the sewn plates and folds, they confidently concluded.

    ¡°It is the best we could ever hope for.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s money well spent. Next time, I expect all of you to withstand my hits with greater resilience. Now go, there are no changes to routine.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±

    In a flash of black, the Crows crawled back into the darkness towards her residence.

    Sighing heavily, LuJi headed upstairs.

    ¡®It¡¯s good that I meditated beforehand¡­¡¯ came his relief.

    ---

    Back at the main headquarters of White Ink, the influx and exit of numerous classes of people and clients always remained as congested as ever. Lines of rickshaws and carriages were parked along the edges and in specialized fields. One of them was the now very recognisable red canopy of the Kiefrurpez stagecoach. In a reserved space, its doors were opened by Ferase in his professional attire.

    Behind him, Hamilton readjusted his coat and curly hair before he took a step out. He still wore the typical outfit of a gentleman. This time, he sported a frilly long coat of silver with white wolf fur highlights at the lapels, cuffs and pockets. The big, bold buttons were made of shiny wood, outlined with gold. This was truly a flamboyant outfit, accompanied with a magenta waistcoat and yellow rose cravat that he personally starched and tied. In his coat pockets, there was a fancy beige envelope, glued by violet wax with the Kiefrurpez Coat of Arms imprinted on it. A folded letter, made of thick parchment, was kept inside and was written by Hamilton himself.

    ¡°Shall we proceed, Master Hamilton?¡±

    ¡°With the joyous of pleasantries, dear Ferase! Let us!¡±

    His flashy appearance as he walked up the steps to White Ink, drew lots of attention from both the locals and even his fellow countrymen and foreigners. While making exaggerated movements, plastered upon his shining face was a smile of the century.

    Ferase, throughout his life as the right-hand man, has never seen Hamilton in this light before. Every woman Hamilton knew would only dream of making him this merry. Though much of his conscience was conflicted with how future developments would settle out between the planned divorce, settlement and approval, as long as the decision will continue to make his master as cheerful as this, Ferase was determined to see this through.

    They both made it to the top and opened up the large wooden double doors.

    On the third floor that looked over to the ground concourse, a certain lovestruck lady was peering out into the open. As soon as those romantics saw contact with each other simultaneously, similar to like-minded folk, they ran through the flight of staircases with the both of them arriving at the second floor.

    Despite the presence of an ongoing crowd of onlookers, those two were already in their own little world and they wasted no time to embrace each other tightly. Hamilton, with the added height, lifted TianXing up in surprise before giving her a light spin of the carnival.

    She screamed loud with a high pitch while his hearty laugh felt more boyish than usual.

    The crowd ultimately left them be, knowing it was just a sweet and lovely scene.

    As the spinning came to a halt, Hamilton gently placed her down like one does a baby. His black gloved hands pushed firmly on her petite shoulders in delight. The gentleman did a quick scan of her present attire.

    Her HanFu robes were a mixture of ocean blues, shades of gray and vermillion accents, that were layered nicely which bordered the outfits suited for the formal workplace and a casual walk to a flower garden. Compared to his specially eccentric colors, he felt like a happy jester at a ball. Hamilton blushed in realization.

    ¡°Hamilton, how do you do in this fine noon?!¡±

    ¡°Never better, my Lady. Oh lord! I called you that once again. How careless¡­¡±

    ¡°Time is a patient battle, dearest.¡± And she then reacted to his suits. ¡°But what¡­ ¡®peculiar¡¯ colors you brought today. I have never seen this before.¡±

    Rubbing his hair, he tried saving himself. ¡°Ah well, sometimes one¡¯s imagination can never be underestimated¡­especially after the sleepless night he had from what had happened that evening.¡±

    This time, it was her turn to be embarrassed. It was a vulnerable side she rarely showed but if it''s only Hamilton, TianXing may allow that. After all, she did allow that.

    Meanwhile, their respective attendants, Mr Tai and Ferase, just arrived at the ends of the second floor and were out of breath. Compared to who they served under, their ages were nearly twice of theirs. However, they were both wordless on either side. Mr Tai, especially, was comparatively more flabbergasted at the scenario. He never knew of this budding romance and TianXing never told him yet. Moreover, on the day before, she skipped work, leaving him unprepared to continue her duties as the intermediary. Despite the inconvenience, TianXing was right in placing her trust in him as Mr Tai smoothly settled the operations in her stead.

    Grunting, he grumpily approached her with an exasperated look.

    ¡°Missus Young Maiden!¡±

    Like a daughter caught red handed by her uncle, she slowly met his frustrated gaze.

    ¡°How may I be of assistance, Mr Tai?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t play coy with me! Your closest secretary only knew of this now and you dare show me this in front of my very eyes without telling me first?! Then what is my position for?¡± He flailed his arms down distressfully.

    ¡°Yesterday¡¯s substitute, and frankly speaking, Mr Tai, you still are the first of White Ink to know of this relationship. Other than Hamilton and Ferase, who are not part of the institute, only you now know it''s official.¡±

    ¡°Ahh¡­ehrm¡­¡±

    There was no counter to her truthful claim. The former Head waiter joined his HanFu sleeves in avoidance of her eyes. The gentlemen duo watched on, clueless in translation.

    Once she proudly silenced her rambling subordinate, TianXing turned back to Hamilton.

    ¡°So, dearest, what brings you here today? I don¡¯t recall any meetups.¡±

    ¡°None at all! None at all.¡±

    Hamilton took out the lavish letter from his coat pocket, feeling its coarse surface. He then held it up for her to see.

    ¡°Presenting this magnificent piece of literature!¡±

    ¡°Whoa!¡±

    TianXing inspected the materials used as he handed it to her; and finally stopping at the Kiefrurpez Coat of Arms. Unfortunately, the stamp was too blurry to observe the finer details.

    ¡°Fascinating letter, Hamilton. But, if you are requesting our messaging services, even if we are a couple, it''s still necessary to pay the fee.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a given, haha! What about a discount?¡±

    ¡°With your status, Hamilton?¡± She teased.

    ¡°Just being playful, TianXing.¡±

    ¡°Thus, who shall we send to this time?¡±

    ¡°A safe shipment to the Manustrion Principality, the home of the Kiefrurpez. I specifically wrote this for my grandmother so this must make the trip in one piece.¡±

    Contemplating his words with a nod, she interjected.

    ¡°It¡¯s weird hearing you say that when it¡¯s your steamships that would be carrying the mail.¡±

    ¡°I got to say it once, shouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°Rightfully so, I suppose. Do you mind sharing the contents?¡±

    ¡°It majorly matters about the two of us, TianXing. I gave her this yearly quarter¡¯s progress and explained the situation regarding our marriage and how it all came to be. Finally, I ended off with a firm request to propose a divorce with Clementine. Don¡¯t worry, I shall not accept you as a mere mistress.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you.¡± She never expected him to proceed with the introductions at breakneck speeds.

    ¡° You know, love, perhaps we do not need to force a divorce. We can just switch up the hierarchy slightly. Clementine would instead be the mistress, though I doubt she would without a good fight. Shall we proceed with that option if my grandma won¡¯t budge?¡±

    Grabbing his hand, TianXing tried to calm him down.

    ¡°Now, now, let¡¯s not burden ourselves until a reply letter is received. If your family dares me to prove my worth to them, I will pack up this very instant.¡±

    ¡°...Hehehahahaha!¡± Hamilton suddenly broke into hysterical laughter.

    ¡°Wah-what¡¯s the matter? Did I say something out of turn?¡± Mr Tai watched their conversation with the same cluelessness.

    Wiping his tears, Hamilton assured her, ¡°It¡¯s just-It¡¯s just¡­Your face looked adorable just now. Totally juxtaposed to when you insisted that you would storm the warehouse, swords slashing, several months back.¡±

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s unwarranted for Hamilton. Stop it this very instant.¡± She pouted.

    ¡°My apologies¡­¡±

    ¡°Nicely done then! Mr Tai!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Young Maiden.¡±

    She gave him the letter.

    ¡°Youngster, this is¡­¡±

    ¡°A client¡¯s letter. Send it along the Kiefrurpez route with the other ocean faring documents and cargo. Remember to add on another cross-continental transaction bill towards their total fee for this month.

    The recipient is Hamilton¡¯s grandma so warn them to make sure it is extra secure.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, Madam.¡±

    Mr Tai saluted before he made his way upstairs to the VIP floor.

    As they watched him go, Ferase enquired her.

    ¡°Lady Xu, mind me but I can see that your eyes are unpleasantly darker today. How was your sleep last night?¡±

    ¡°Gosh, are my makeup skills that inadequate?!¡±

    ¡°No matter, TianXing, true beauty comes from the body!¡± came a one-liner from Hamilton.

    ¡°...Anyhow, it¡¯s not as good as you hope for. Helping a black kid before getting confessed to while rediscovering one¡¯s purpose in life truly makes you think a lot of stuff at night, even with how much it takes a toll on your body.¡±

    ¡°I can sympathize, TianXing.¡±

    ¡°What a mindhive, the both of you!¡± complemented the old man.

    In response, they laughed it off in jolly.

    Mr Tai at work grimaced hard in the background.

    However, unbeknownst to them, a large high-end carriage and its accompanying horse riders had illegally stopped outside the front of the entrance. Emerging out of the engraved door was an infamous man, donned in cyan blue and black robes.

    Their smooth afternoon was nearing its end.

    .

    .

    .

    Suddenly, they heard a loud commotion coming from downstairs.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± TianXing hesitated. She was not going to let a robbery assault ruin her business.

    As Hamilton began to follow behind, TianXing hurriedly rushed forward to the detailed wooden railing of the second floor. The sounds of the crowd beneath grew louder in volume but not in their sense of anxiety, and this puzzled her.

    Pushing her upper body out the edge, she looked out to the concourse. The entire scene was a sea of people, cautiously shuffling closer to either side of the building with every individual questioning for what reasons that the visitor decided to arrive here personally. They gossiped with muttered voices, yet the collective banters grew louder as the Young Master parted the gap wider and wider. Although they knew he must mean no harm in such a public hotspot, it was better to increase their distance. Six disciples of his martial sect served as the support escort.

    ¡°Master Bai¡­?¡±

    TianXing softly said his name. Like Hamilton, she was shocked to see this man as well so early into the aftermath. The both of them really liked to take immediate action but this gave her no time to prepare fully. Both physically and mentally.

    ¡®...¡¯ But maybe, she should have expected the worst because thinking it back now, this sort of behavior was something the Young Master would certainly do.

    Once she mentioned his name, LuJi was able to pinpoint her position amidst the cacophony of all.

    Before she could realize, the martial master leaped high into the air and onto the second floor. His flowy sleeves spread wide with grace as he took a gentle landing on the railing like a feather of a bird. His legs balanced well as he held his hands behind his back. While, the long Jian jutted out of his robes like he was intending for a fight.

    TianXing stepped away in shock, nearly missing her step. Soon enough, they both made eye contact. A glare that was as sharp as his blade met her constricting glossy onyx eyes. Still stunned, she barely noticed as Hamilton finally reached her, getting himself in between the both of them. His body was in a position to draw his gun from the hidden holster any moment now.

    It was the same practice that¡¯s not unique only for humans.

    This was a potential standoff. A display of the victorious male defending his rights to breed from a known rival. In this case, it was their unfiltered love.

    Eyeing down the white foreigner that he knowingly tried to ignore, LuJi returned the man¡¯s focused spotting eye with his own. A reliable and natural substitute for any sharpshooter scope or rifle target sight. In the face of a martial master¡¯s aura-concentrated seeping glower, Hamilton showed no signs of weakness.

    Ferase stayed back a few steps with his cane out, aware that if he intertwined, those guards who were on standby would overwhelm the two of them. In such a predicament, all he could do was watch this through as a bystander. His brows furrowed.

    TianXing felt the shakiness in her legs from the overall tension but stood her ground. This time, unlike the year before, although she knew this would be a winding path to reach the unprepared conclusion, she felt that she now has the answer LuJi desired for, for the past decade.

    Alerting Hamilton with a pat on his fur coat, she sternly looked at him.

    Then, facing up to LuJi, she went in between the two and ordered the both of them, ¡°Gentlemen! Lords! Enough of this useless hostility.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    By a stroke of luck, the both of them listened and slowly loosened their positions. LuJi got off the railing too. Surprisingly, LuJi spoke first.

    ¡°Is it true, dear? That you chose to be with this white barbarian?¡± His voice was blunt with a tinge of disappointment.

    ¡°Yes, Master Bai.¡±

    ¡°Over me, a respected member of your very own race?¡± He scowled with a grim expression.

    ¡°I will say this clearly for the last time, Master Bai. I am in love with Hamilton and only him.¡± Her face was filled with confidence.

    At any moment, she could assume that he would attack them out of anger but that does not seem to be the case here.

    ¡°May I know why? What leaps of logic made you consider as such?¡±

    Instead, there was now a genuine desire to find out why.

    ¡®Since when did Master Bai become so passive?¡¯ Her thoughts raced.

    ¡°Hamilton is a pleasant and thoughtful guy who knows his limits but has his own lofty aspirations. He stays away from danger and loves to advocate for peace for all humans. A wonderful gentleman with a good moral compass and tries his best to understand and protect those he treasures the most. Lastly and most importantly, he is kind.¡±

    ¡°You really see that through those barbarians?¡±

    ¡°Master Bai, the fact that you still insist on calling them white men speaks my point, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°But this is the fact.¡±

    ¡°Yet another unideal quality, my Lord. Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror before?¡±

    ¡°Otherwise, how did I reach this far into enlightenment? Perhaps, it is true that another one has fallen far too deep into foreign influence. I am glad it wasn¡¯t those White Crosses who got you.¡±

    Facepalming herself, TianXing could no longer tolerate the words coming out of his mouth.

    ¡°Master Bai, if you are going to try and convince me to change my mind, it is pointless.¡±

    ¡°How-¡±

    ¡°But I still actually respect you, Master Bai. If it weren¡¯t for you, my life would have ended on that very wall. You kept the city safe from bandits and the like. You managed the people of ShanWei well and are known for your generosity. You are a better overlord than we, the residents, could ever ask for.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, be-¡±

    ¡°But that is all I see you as. Master Bai, no, I apologize¡­LuJi,¡± She clenched her fist in determination, ¡°I only ever saw you as an elder. But throughout the decade, I grew to love your antics of bold proposals. So, as we stand now, I see you, LuJi, as a close friend of mine, who helped make the city a better place for better lives in more ways than one.¡±

    She sincerely smiled back at him.

    ¡°Thanks to you, I was able to live longer to meet Hamilton and find another meaningful relationship with you, therefore¡­,¡± She bowed her head at a perpendicular. Her silky black hair fell graciously onto the marble floors.

    ¡°After keeping you waiting for over a decade, I must rightfully apologize for all your efforts. LuJi, my closest friend, I cannot accept your hand in marriage. I am very sorry, but thank you for falling deeply in love with someone as broken as myself. Again, I am very, very sorry.¡±

    She lowered her head another two more times.

    ¡°...¡±

    Keeping an expressionless face, the Young Master remained at a loss for words. Hearing those words of rejection upfront gave him this sharp sting in his irregularly beating heart. It felt as if his heart dropped off a very steep cliff with no end in sight beneath him. The unknown, pitched-black abyss weakened his inner spirit. A painful reaction, no doubt, but it was a unique one. All this time, he was the one rejecting women and now he was at the receiving end.

    ¡®Is this how all those women felt?¡¯

    He always thought of these emotions as fleeting and alien to him but the more LuJi swallowed the misery, the sin of ignorance grew his grief to newer heights.

    Out of all he lost, a position of power, distant parents and now, a future wife, this probably hit him the hardest.

    ¡®No, it-it really hits the hardest. This is so agonizing that my heart is aching.¡¯

    Subconsciously, he grasped tightly of his cold chest. Like how his mentality was breaking down, the Third¡¯s internal Qi circulation was undergoing instinctual metamorphosis, shifting wildly into an unsynchronised pattern and furthering the suffering.

    This was the one thing he was the closest to having, but in spite of all that, his fortune was relentlessly ceased. A true experience of¡­

    ¡°Lost. Regrets.¡±

    ¡®Was it all her fault?

    No, it must have been myself.

    I was wrong.

    What I did and how I did it were wrong.

    Perhaps, I never tried to ¡®care¡¯.

    Perhaps, this infatuation was never meant to be true love.

    How would I, an infamous philanderer, be aware of such concepts?

    Do I deserve this?

    Or¡­maybe-¡¯

    His thoughts accelerated.

    LuJi ran through questions that he never imagined asking himself before. The man he was now was truly different to the man before.

    The ¡®face¡¯ of his noble outlook no longer held him strong and the glaciers cracked, sending a large avalanche downhill.

    It was a self-deprecating self-reflection.

    In the chaos that was his mind and spirit, LuJi did the only thing he was proud of. The one thing that separated his recognition from his dear brothers, his marital skill.

    Right as the meridian cores unleashed waves of uncontrolled energy, LuJi¡¯s soul managed to restrict his circulatory routes in the nick of time. Minimizing the next sequence of outburst and inching closer to his heart, the mind retreated back to forced meditation as he stood. Calming the tides, LuJi used the idea that Qi would naturally smooth its flow if his heart became steady. He ignored the thoughts of rejection until the status quo eventually returned. Now, he has successfully revitalized his spirit. Even his breath was routined.

    ¡°This torment of the heart was more potent than any other punch, kick, thrust or slash that I had ever lived through.¡±

    As he slowly whispered his thoughts, LuJi suddenly discerned a shining light at the end of the tunnel. It was an intangible sense of coldness and a new breakthrough for the mind. The waning sensation of struggle and the establishment of his salvation for a new ideal, a different kind of Dao, overwhelmed the now-confident Third Young Master. In the end, this process lasted seconds but cognitively, he knew that this went on for minutes.

    Finally, he smirked across his sweating face, gaining puzzled expressions from the both of them as he suddenly reached out for his blade.

    A spark of light later, a flash blitz-

    ¡°TIANXING, LOOK OUT!¡±

    The distressed Hamilton reacted in time and swiftly shoved her out of the line of attack as he drew his gun to LuJi¡¯s speeding sword.

    A blur of white homed in with an upcoming upward slash.

    ¡°Hamil-¡±

    BAM!

    Without hesitation, the gentleman fired¡­

    There came a fierce blast. The sounds of his high caliber pistol round sounded loudly within the tranquil air. Vibrations echoed wildly across the large walls and with it, came everyone¡¯s immediate silence.

    It was a uniform feeling that everyone experienced; a mixture of shock and fear in regards to that unknown weapon of death, and pure unadulterated excitement of experiencing this encounter.

    For Ferase and the Martial guards, there was no time to react to that clash. The latter had never seen their leader reach these speeds before while Ferase went pale white in his expression. What a miracle his master managed to fire a shot, but the same thought ran through all their minds.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...Wha¡­?¡±

    ¡°...He, I got it¡­dear.¡±

    ¡®Who won?¡¯

    .

    .

    .

    As TianXing turned over her head from the fall towards them, she could feel a cold shiver that ran down her spine. Covering the two men was a burst of thick snowy fog, akin to a blizzard near the mountain peaks. Fortunately for them, the cold air slowly began to spread and dissipate, like reeling the red curtains off the opera stage.

    Ferase, the guards and newly arrived Mr Tai looked onward in anticipation, prepared to act at the cost of their lives.

    On the other hand, TianXing, still weak from the loud boom of gunpowder, watched on with near watery eyes as the outcome was naturally unveiled.

    The next second may determine the start of war¡­

    And what they all saw next shocked them.

    Both Hamilton and LuJi had their weapons stretched out in a domineering stance as their loose clothes fluttered high momentarily, as the force from the blast subsided. A pistol and Jian sword were used, respectively. Hamilton¡¯s right arm held the pistol without the other¡¯s support, never shaking despite its immense recoil on a single arm; while his non-dominant hand was previously preoccupied with pushing aside his beloved out of harm¡¯s way. Fortunately, his firm stance solidified extra support for the accurate shot, aimed straight for LuJi¡¯s heart.

    The Third had changed his attack from a sufficient upward slash after cutting the unexpected bullet and into a premature thrust, with his right arm barely extending out from the elbow. Both the gun¡¯s barrel and the sword¡¯s pristine tip were aligned straight at each other with the smooth edge nearly slicing the beginning top half of the black metal barrel. Seeps of black smoke could still be seen escaping the tube.

    Surrounding LuJi, a grandiose wall of horizontal spiked ice flared outwards like a lizard¡¯s frill, with the Third at its center and ¡®head¡¯.  At the very end, in one of the main icicle tips on both sides, everyone saw the half of an individual armor piercing bullet that was encased with clear ice. The manner of which the bullet was sliced superbly clean with precision greater than metal work factories.

    However, what mattered most to the crowd on the second floor was that the two aristocrats were not injured. TianXing pressed her heart in relief once more. As Ferase and the guards began to approach to assist, the two combatants still eyed each other with predatory glares. Compared to LuJi¡¯s presentable sneer, Hamilton glowered.

    Before they could reach closer, LuJi voluntarily retracted his blade first but the ice remained. Bending over some spikes, he approached Hamilton, who glanced at his pistol before spinning it back into his holster. At the same time, TianXing readily met up with the duo who turned towards her simultaneously.

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem, the two of you?¡± She said it in frustration in both languages.

    LuJi spoke first.

    ¡°Please translate this for the white man to comprehend easily.

    You are not as weak as I thought you would be¡­foreigner. But, take this as a gift, I shall spare you an early death if it means at the expense of the happiness of my dear friend, who¡¯s closer than blood. Be thankful that I don¡¯t plan on banning your company and its many puppet traders.

    That¡¯s all, darling.¡±

    Afterwards, Hamilton instructed her to do the same for him. His tone was solemn and demanding.

    ¡°I have no interest in your childish skirmishes, Lord Bai. It''s your own choice to self-indulge in your pride as a warrior against a merchant like myself, and I pay no heed. Regardless of the argument, I still got the woman of my life. if you are interested to know my unbiased answer as to why you lost this war for love¡­The reasons are pretty simple. You only focus on surface-level understanding.¡± He pointed his index finger near his chest. ¡°As a man who used to look over material and man from a high horse, this is something I want you to change.

    In your eyes, TianXing is just a talented and quirky woman of mysterious origins. Whilst material affection does play a major part in a relationship, Lord Bai, unless you are not facing against someone like me, who has gone through an unjust relationship for decades, who knows? Maybe you could snatch her away like you always do. Lord Bai, I will say this, you have no chance against me.

    I bid you a good day ahead.¡±

    Once TianXing conveyed his message as per word, her worries of another quarrel luckily fell short in hindsight. Ultimately, LuJi quietly listened as he admired her professional beauty. Never did he raise another insult.

    ¡°Now then, TianXing, let us inspect Grandma¡¯s letter process, shall we?¡± Hamilton promptly attempted to move themselves away from the Young Master, grabbing her firm by the hand. Letting him drag herself towards the fatigued Mr Tai, TianXing looked back at LuJi.

    She waved him a happy goodbye.

    That was when he gave TianXing his parting words.

    ¡°TianXing!¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­LuJi?¡±

    She forcibly halted Hamilton¡¯s progress.

    With a calm expression, LuJi swayed his head back and forth as he strolled around the couple, like an old teacher reciting poems in the classroom.

    ¡°A wise disciple of the Great Sage under Heaven once watched the annual seasons at the top of Hua Mountain. It was a fickle matter that always kept a constant, like the flock of birds that migrated east to west, and unlike the fish who swam up north and died making it, the student cultivated day and night amidst the adapting changes. He became resilient and knowledgeable. Thus, he began his Dao.

    Spring is the joy of awakening. Like blooming plum petals, the practitioner shall continue to claim upon the infinite ladder of ascending realms. Heavenly thunder shall strike his vulnerable body and awaken himself with newfound vigor.

    Summer is the swirl of complexities. One hand holds the worn-out blade in the blistering heat while the other flows along the cool river current as the fresh rejuvenation of reminiscing youth rewards his studious training.

    Autumn is the unification of all that exists. Belonged and lost like the fallen leaves that are the mosaic of colors, none shall reside within these trees any more and seek their end onto the soil. Color shall never identify themselves again once they all return to brown. All that matters to him is the continual cycle of meditation to become one for all and all for one.

    Winter is¡­the longing for desire, resisting against his natural earthly boundaries and the Realm above him. The snow will never rise and the glaciers at the utmost peaks will one day be doomed to fall, ending anything in its path. Thus, the student holds on strong and climbs upwards from his errors¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    TianXing remained attentive. This was something very new to her, a different school of thought from the standard practices.

    ¡°That is the ultimate path, the student thought. But, once winter arrives, there are no avalanches nor blizzards. No, his path up the mountain was already laid out for him. Was it Fate that craved him this path? The student will never know and so he never experienced the true Winter, until the present day.

    Thanks to you, this disciple has gained the realization of his ideal Dao to its fullest, and a new destiny shall await him next spring, narrowing ever closer to Heaven and the Infinity.

    I, LuJi, pray that you live a long, happy life.¡±

    He, a martial master, saluted respectfully towards her. A solid smack was heard once his fist striked the open palm. His face was hidden from the light.

    ¡°ah¡­¡±

    Normally, this was the time to respond back, but weirdly, nothing came to her mind. In the end, she smiled with a bow.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Acknowledging her gesture, LuJi made one last glance at Hamilton before he fell off the railing. A strong warm gale picked up fast past the double doors, carrying LuJi and his guards airborne towards the entrance.

    ¡°Sorry, Hamilton. I was caught up with some loose strings.¡±

    His face was bothered, clueless on what that long song-like speech meant.

    ¡°What did he say in the end?¡± Hamilton decided to be precautious.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­Wait¡­True, what LuJi said would take a while to decipher but in short, he just said he owed me his gratitude. Hehe!¡±

    Trusting his beloved¡¯s words as they were, Hamilton finally rested this case as he breathed a huge sigh.

    ¡°Ferase?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Hamilton?¡±

    ¡°Change of plan, please? I¡¯m now starving. Go prepare the carriage for departure.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±

    ¡°TianXing? Mr Tai? Would you like to join us?¡±

    ¡°Young Miss, what did he say?¡± His eyes were full of caution.

    ¡°Surely, we would love to! Mr Tai, led us to The Heavens¡¯ Steam. It¡¯s time for lunch. ¡±

    ¡°Wha-But work-¡±

    ¡°Former Head Waiter¡­!¡± TianXing stomped her foot. But the attendant didn¡¯t budge. Scratching her chin, an idea popped up. ¡°Mr Tai, the more the merrier, don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    ¡°...Arghh¡­I understand.¡± The middle-aged man rubbed his neck.

    ¡°Right then, Gentlemen! To the red braised pork belly, here we come!¡±

    She marched on with enthusiasm as the three catch up.

 Chapter 29 : His Dowager Matriarch, the Senior Kiefrurpez

    Several weeks later¡­

    In the backdrop of a grand manor that resided high on the top of a hillside, a familiar pigeon zoomed its way through the tall pagodas and braced for landing atop the extended window frame of Hamilton¡¯s bedroom.

    The pigeon promptly tapped its beak on the misty glass, followed by the sounds of approaching footsteps. Hamilton, in the middle of assembling his cravat, opened the window. To his absolute delight, the sight of a turquoise seal on smooth, thick parchment made his attention to his attire waned. Untying the bundle, he then sent the messenger bird flying back to base.

    His room was still lacking in lamp fire, only illuminated softly by the natural light. On his large armchair, he examined the stack. Hamilton¡¯s heart raced for the first time today. Not only does he worry about his grandmother¡¯s response, he may never know what form of communication she would express it as. Hamilton ran his thumb over the opening and cracked the stamped clay. There were no automatic actions taken.

    ¡®Thus, Grandmother opted for the ordinary.¡¯

    Hamilton unfolded the three sectioned paper, and there he saw her answer. Perhaps in this case, her demand.

    A large magick code, dyed in the reddest of reds, was written with extreme precision on the center of the page. It was a dual layered circle. The inner smaller circle was much thicker than the outer one, and located only on the northwest and east of the relatively small gap, a bunch of text, foreign to any language spoken by the common populace worldwide, was inscribed in a fanciful, cursive hand. Their parts had a single line, compared to three, respectively. A hypotenuse of a right angled triangle connected the central two sections and the point opposite to it, touching the inner circumference, had a straight line drawn, aligning the point to the center and the hypotenuse.

    Its distinctive smell alerted Hamilton that his grandmother used a combination of her blood, fresh of her bone marrow, with a foal of a unicorn. Considering this realization, Hamilton easily deduced that this introductory session was something his grandmother held of utmost importance, hence using this magical concoction with guaranteed properties of fueling and conducting immense volumes of mana for a prolonged period of time.

    It was a summoning circle, and Hamilton knew that this was his only chance to appease her to accept the Lady that he fell for.

    ¡°I will see to it.¡±

    He stood up. Disregarding the unfinished neckwear, he turned to see the old man Ferase, who emerged out of the opened door at just the right time. They made eye contact and Ferase scanned him from head to toe.

    ¡°Good morning, Master Hamilton, shall I escort you to the dressing room? And how did that outfit get into your sleeping quarters?¡±

    Today, Hamilton saw no servants that were present as routined.

    ¡°Ferase, what happened to the duo under you?¡±

    ¡°You mean, Fiur and Ginerev, Master? To great misfortune, Sir, this morning they were both reported ill for the day. Shall I gather a swift replacement?¡±

    ¡°No need for that, Ferase. It is much better, truthfully, that you are the only one present.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Master Hamilton?¡±

    ¡°Grandmother has sent her orders.¡±

    For that reveal, Ferase was shocked.

    ¡°So¡­did she disapprove of your relationship to the Lady?¡±

    ¡°...Not¡­yet. All she sent was this summoning circle.¡±

    He held it out for him.

    Picking up the same stench, Ferase furrowed his brows.

    ¡°I must get the guest room ready, but before that, we really need to dress you up to the most formal attire.¡±

    ¡°As always, Ferase, you¡¯re not self-aware that your outfit must need a change too.¡±

    ¡°Never bother with the butler, Master, you always come first. Come, let us make haste!¡±

    Grabbing his arm, Ferase led him out towards the hall like a father to a son.

    As Hamilton looked over his balding head and longer gray, white hair, he gave in to any resistance and let his closest attendant pull him across with a light smile. The morning white sunlight casted long black shadows over the sparkly, spotless walls.

    .

    .

    .

    Within the dressing room, Hamilton had his arms spread out in a T pose as Ferase did his work with the clothes. As he went about to get Hamilton an ironed dark cyan coat with bright golden accents and silver floral patterns, Hamilton remembered another important detail.

    ¡°Ferase, I think we overlooked something.¡±

    Frozen in his spot, the attendant asked.

    ¡°What is?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s certain that I am going to don the Kugiran clothing customs, but¡­wouldn¡¯t it be better and more successful if TianXing does so as well, rather than infuriating Grandmother with her foreign ensemble?¡±

    ¡°...That is a question that requires careful thought, Master. But I do agree with your reasoning.¡±

    ¡°Nicely said, Ferase. However, in this household, do we even keep any high-end feminine make-up coffer sets, or bespoke gowns that¡¯s fit to be proudly presentable to a rank that Grandmother resides upon?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Ferase stopped in his tracks as he continued to recall his memories.

    In Hamilton¡¯s case, all he could do was to quickly buy all those items and they both knew that keeping the matriarch waiting was never the best action. For the days that he and the Lady spent brainstorming and rehearsing their lines of introductory and conversation, they missed aesthetic presentation. Hamilton breathed a sigh of exasperation. Was he starting to feel the effects of getting older as well? He was edging near his forties, after all.

    As his thoughts wander off to his future retired life with TianXing, the now jolly Ferase grabbed his lord by the shoulders, bringing him back to the present.

    ¡°Excellent news, Master! I think we have just the right one for Lady Xu!¡±

    ¡°R-really?¡±

    ¡°In regards to the cosmetics, I can just personally visit the Merisal¡¯s downtown and purchase their most premium product in the afternoon with the help of Gauin.¡±

    ¡°Does that flower gardener really know her stuff? I always saw her in the compost and dirt.¡±

    ¡°She still has her youth, Master. I assure you that.¡±

    ¡°Then that¡¯s better! Do as you wish, Ferase, while I must message TianXing in haste time.¡±

    ¡°Safe travels then, Master. I trust you know the carriage by now.¡± Ferase cautioned as he finally tied Hamilton his salt white frilly cravat.

    ¡°Haha, I am no longer a child, dear Ferase.¡±

    ¡°Surely.¡± Ferase scurried towards the door.

    ¡°One more thing, Ferase.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°I remember never keeping any of Clementine¡¯s gowns, nor do the female servants have their own proper ball garbs, so what is this dress you speak of?¡±

    Eyeing him mischievously, Ferase remained silent.

    ¡°You will be surprised tonight, Master Hamilton.¡±

    The gentleman looked on with a little gripe.

    .

    .

    .

    That night, within the primary guest room, Hamilton watched on as his servants reordered all the furniture. The fluffy grand sofas were shoved to the edges, and one remained centered, now polished back to its birth. In front of it, there was a table with a special artifact. The piece was made of numerous shimmering bronze helixes that converged in unison to hold up a large marquise crystalline lattice.

    The stone shone ambient rays of blue-green light, refracted off its countless faces of varying areas. It was a pleasant sight to just gaze blindly at, but for this occasion, it serves immense purpose. Taking the role of final conduit and converter, Hamilton spent a fortune to buy this one of a kind relic. It has helped him with countless emergency engagements with friends and foes alike. Yet now, it served as the bridge between his grandmother and himself. This was never routine practice. She constantly preached about face to face communication in reality, especially those deemed worthy of her respect. More than anything, she loved the Kiefrurpez by heart and soul¡­

    ¡®This is nerve-wrecking!¡¯

    Ran his internal thoughts. Leaning on a pillar, he glanced at the sight of the servants leaving their finished duties, before turning over to his pocket where the inscription circle kept his fears aflame. Just as he sighed, the door had a knock.

    ¡°Master, your lady is waiting!¡± He heard the butler¡¯s muttered voice.

    ¡°Hmph!¡±

    Toughening up his inner man, Hamilton swiftly opened the double doors at such gallant grace and made good on his photographic memory to remember her appearance of tonight.

    He zoned out.

    ¡°...¡±

    His eyes widened and a low breath emerged from the gaping mouth.

    ¡°TianXing¡­¡±

    She wore a deep blue gown and white accents and gold patterns. Red ribbons and a black corset perfectly fitted her slender torso. Her silky, glistening black hair was tied into something familiar for Anglo women her age with minimal makeup that showed her natural facial beauty. An alluring sight to witness. For Hamilton personally, he felt a sense of nostalgia upon closer observation, to which he shrugged it off.

    Feeling her future husband¡¯s expression, she bashfully asked, ¡°How¡­how do I look, Hamilton?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯sss¡­It¡¯s something special, my dear! Truly, I-I have never recalled witnessing you wearing Anglo attire.¡±

    ¡°So¡­¡± She waited for the true answer.

    ¡°Ehrmmphopho, this presentation of beauty and fashion is certainly up my alley. It¡¯s surely my background that makes myself favor gowns over robes. And I love both¡­It fits you.¡±

    ¡°...Ha, hahahahaha!¡±

    ¡°W-what¡¯s the matter, TianXing?¡±

    In the middle of her deep laughter, she hastily wiped tears of joy.

    ¡°I would say the same, Hamilton. Your response is just as rare.¡±

    Taken aback, Hamilton held his ego.

    ¡°Your confidence strikes me that you are a veteran of multiple partners, when the only one I see is only, only me!¡± He grinned.

    ¡°I called that hypocrisy served on a golden platter. Mine¡¯s speculation, meanwhile, your¡¯s truly already has 2 ripe children.¡± Her face showed a similar grin as well. So ensued their half-hour long banter, full of insults and loving affection.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Hamilton continued along, deciding this was perfect to ignore what is to come for them next.

    They finally stopped once Ferase stepped in to separate their like minded hivemind. Luckily, the planned meeting was just minutes away and the couple took their respective seats on the red fur sofa. Hamilton was on the right, with foreseeable sweat and TianXing, on the left, stared with child-like joy at the demonstration of the illogical, the display of mysticism and the drama of clashing principles. Opposite to them, Ferase began the ritual of Magick.

    His feeble, mellow voice became a low bellow as he sang an unintelligible language. One that TianXing decided was the most alien. With the Magick circle handed to him, Ferase gently caressed the surface of the paper before placing its center of mass at the tip of the glowing crystalline lattice. The paper remained stable. Not long after, as if some otherworldly force played with its creases, the paper folds in on itself, covering the surface tip of the gem and the foal¡¯s dried blood, gaining a rise of volume, flowed large amounts down and into the crystal, dying the glowing center a light scarlet.

    White dust-like particles orbited haphazardly around the reddening lattice. They slowly grew in speed and number as the chant reached the highest tone. What followed afterwards was a massive blast of wind from the center.

    While TianXing covered her face in fright, Hamilton watched on. Consecutive blasts came next and a beam of hair-thin ¡®black¡¯ light shot vertically, high up into the black sky, phasing past the multiple floors and roof whilst doing so.

    Hundreds of new beams of light emerged from its reflective faces. They bent in awkward ways and without any surface to incident from. Some strayed away and others joined. This is part of the process. Within milliseconds, the end product was formed.

    Appearing before the tensed couple, was a three dimensional projection consisting of different layers of yellow, cyan and magenta rays. The space of the guest room was covered in an illusion, giving off the sight of shiny, tiled floors and a gold-encrusted cabinet which stood beside an occupied lavish velvet armchair.

    In their eyes, it was as if the ghost of the Matriarch appeared in front of them but that was far from the truth. The beige gown, those puffy upper sleeves as wide as her deflated body and that maroon corset she still wears despite her age; the white of accumulated lead in her now-coarse skin, split by deep wrinkles; the turns and folds of her tied thread-like gray white hair; and the sparkling shine of her faded ocean blue irises, were all just as detailed as the real person and Hamilton knew this. In particular, TianXing was stunned.

    Realizing this would have happened, Hamilton grasped her hand tightly, which thankfully worked. After all, first impressions are vital for getting her blessing.

    Ferase swiftly shuffled off to the side and Hamilton made eye contact with the Matriarch, his beloved grandmother. Gulping a mouthful, he began.

    ¡°Matriarch¡­Your grandson greets you for your acknowledgement.¡±

    He placed his hand out.

    Gracefully, the old lady raised her palm.

    ¡°So, this is the girl whom you spoke of so dearly?¡±

    A coarse, clear voice sounded.

    ¡°...Yes, Matriarch.¡±

    ¡°Hamilton, the manner in which you continually address me from my family calling, I truly dislike it. Nonetheless, I applaud your deduction. The fact that you go about your way to have an affair with some stranger across the ocean is the taboo of the finest etiquette. Considering you are watching this from the artifact, I am now much more furious in person.¡±

    She then paused and scanned around her room.

    ¡°Now that you are aware of your crimes, yet still have the guts to ask me for my blessing. It¡¯s natural that you no longer have the right to address me as your grandmother! As such, this is the way we will be talking right now.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Yes, even Cherillys and Evin refused to stand by on duty. Something that they persisted even in my most troublesome days¡­You played them very well, child.¡±

    ¡°...How¡­H-How much has this news spread amongst the nobility?¡±

    ¡°I am the only one here, in this very room. Aside from your close friends, a handful others and myself, there is very little currently. Though, that may be otherwise tomorrow. Overall, you did a disservice to my name when that time comes, Hamilton. I am disappointed.¡±

    Her face continued with that monotonous expression, staring blades into his heart.

    ¡°Again, Matriarch, my statement remains unchanged. My love for this woman rivals yours for family, and I want all the pleasantries that I can offer in the world to her, starting firstly on the name as my wife.¡±

    His face was unwavering with resolve.

    ¡°I repeat my offer, Hamilton. You can keep her as your second partner, and continue to keep good relations with the Arsenaults. Or, leave her and the Sinae Dynasty. Perhaps, too much work away from home has ruled you rebellious, stubborn and short-sighted. I will hasten your position as head and send in a delegate as a proxy for your ongoing venture.¡±

    ¡°I-I can¡¯-¡±

    ¡°Hamilton! Choose wisely and all ends well.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    There was silence before his reply came.

    ¡°Are you that cruel, Matriarch?¡±

    With this, as if a meteor came falling in, Ferase felt his heart collapsing. Even TianXing knew doing this much, sacrificing as much for her, was heading too far. In her experience with such people, she instinctively knew that the Matriarch, called his grandmother, was a dangerous woman. More so than she could ever grow to become.

    Yet, there came no response from the Matriarch.

    In haste, TianXing tried to diffuse the hostility.

    ¡°Hamilton, I get it that you are steadfast for this proposal, but¡­maybe this is for the better!¡±

    ¡°No! No, it is not.¡± Hamilton turned to her. ¡°You deserve this title, TianXing.¡±

    ¡°I could not care less.¡±

    Interrupting the couple, the Matriarch told them curtly.

    ¡°...W-¡±

    ¡°Hamilton, the way you are acting up reminds me of a man in his teens. A bachelor deep in first love. What did this witch do to make you like this?¡±

    ¡°I-it¡¯s simple, Matriarch. I find life fulfilling in her presence.¡±

    ¡°You are no ordinary man, Hamilton. You are to be the future Head of the Kiefrurpez, so gather your senses.¡±

    ¡°The only reason Father needs the Arsenaults is for their power as a military family. Aren¡¯t we too deep into the practice for us to still be reliant on them? Besides, I think that having TianXing into the family would help us by a large margin in regards to commerce and politics. She¡¯s a talented woman and I¡¯m no dog, hot under the sun.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Hamilton¡­¡±

    Ferase could only watch on as his Master did his act.

    However, once Hamilton spoke his piece, the Matriarch was silent. He felt a change in her atmosphere.

    ¡°Matri¡­grandmother¡­¡±

    ¡°Hamilton, I read your letters.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Would you mind introducing the girl? It is courtesy for the basis of acquaintanceship.¡±

    The Matriarch looked away for a miniscule second, hiding her intentions.

    With her words, Hamilton brightened up like the rising sun.

    ¡°Surely!¡±

    Grabbing her hand, he gestured to the image of the Matriarch.

    ¡°TianXing, please meet my grandmother. The Kiefrurpez Matriarch, the Dowager of the Ocean Blue, her greatness, Raines Norman von Kiefrurpez.¡±

    Steading herself, TianXing bowed respectfully.

    ¡°It is my dearest honor to be recognized by your grandson, Madam Matriarch. My family name is He, first name, TianXing, and, I pray for your prosperous wellbeing and happiness.¡±

    There it was. Her first steps of her own volition.

    ¡°...Young lady.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Madam Matriarch.¡±

    ¡°Due to our circumstances, I will state it clearly that I have ill will towards you and your relationship. But, that does not deny the fact that you are what he described you to be. Especially as a foreigner who has never stepped into our sphere. Your English is as refined as a native.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you, Madam Matriarch.¡±

    Facing back at Hamilton, she said her parting words for the night.

    ¡°Grandmother.¡±

    ¡°Your actions moved a part of me, grandson. It¡¯s also refreshing to see that side of you, albeit its misfortunes.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°But, while I am against this, I am not the only factor. Your father will see to it¡­The final verdict, and this news has not reached him yet.¡±

    The hope he had quickly fell as it rose earlier.

    ¡°...I-¡±

    ¡°Since you are my beloved grandson, I will give you one piece of advice. Your father is still my son.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Lady He, I apologize for our short, genuine introduction, but I must depart from this meeting very soon. Hamilton, take that as you will. I now bid you three farewells and a good night.¡±

    The next instant, the light beams that made her diminished into nothingness. What was left was the empty space of the guest room. It was the end of Ferase¡¯s use of the supernatural.

    He then approached the artifact and inspected it for any damages.

    ¡°How¡¯s it, Ferase?¡±

    Hamilton asked, getting from the sofa. Continuing to fiddle with the device, he asked.

    ¡°...Master, to which do you want my opinion?¡±

    ¡°On Father.¡± He blurted with his voice full of worry.

    With a slight contemplation, there came his answer.

    ¡°All we can do is wait and prepare for the worst. Provoking him throughout will only detriment our current chances.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else you need, Master Hamilton?¡±

    ¡°Ferase, thank you.¡±

    Placing the device to the side, he got up and adjusted his proud white gloves.

    ¡°It¡¯s near bedtime, Hamilton. Lady Xu. Shall I prepare a late night snack for the occasion?¡±

    ¡°Hamilton, that face does not suit you. Just¡­trust in your grandmother that she is on your side now.¡±

    TianXing leaned close to his side.

    ¡°Alright¡­Dear Ferase, I leave the food to your choosing. Entertain us with your finest!¡±

    Once he left, the both of them stayed behind.

    Eventually, they will leave for their bedrooms but for now, this place was a good resting spot. No servants will come until dawn so it was a time for themselves.

    Slouched across the sofa, TianXing looked over her lover¡¯s icy blue eyes. His arms spread wide on the head, giving her a lax smile.

    ¡°I love your dress. It fits you.¡±

    Blushing meekly, she thanked him.

    ¡°Ferase came running across the hallway to my dressing room, covered in cobwebs and dust, and I had quite the good laugh out of it. Apparently, he told that he got this in the attic, reasoning his dirty state.¡±

    ¡°No wonder it felt antique. I am having deja vu.¡±

    ¡°You''re wrong, Hamilton. You surely saw this piece before, at the youngest of ages in estimation.¡±

    Getting closer to his face and towards an ear, she whispered.

    ¡°It¡¯s your late mother¡¯s possession.¡±

    With that revelation, he springed up like a tensed spring. His ears glowed a bright tomato red.

    ¡°What do you think now, dear?¡± She teased.

    ¡°That saying¡­the one that said sons have wives that take after their own mothers. I cannot deny that no longer.¡±

    Looking back at her, he blankly said, ¡°What about tonight?¡±

    ¡°W-what¡­¡±

    ¡°This is the longest time that I have gone without a lady of similar age begging me to sleep with them.¡±

    ¡°Ahhhh¡­¡± A soft high-pitched shriek sounded.

    ¡®Adorable!!!¡¯ raced his thoughts.

    ¡°So, do you want to stop the record?¡±

    ¡°H-hamilton, how do you say such stuff with that degree of impassiveness?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the girl who''s been obsessed about her brother for twenty-no, thirty years, so I¡¯m not sure whether you have the right to accuse me?¡±

    ¡°A dog in the heat.¡± she muttered.

    ¡°Pardon, lady? Did I hear that right?¡±

    ¡°Nope, it''s just your delusion.¡±

    Tonight was another unsuccessful attempt.

    ---

    ¡°But those days are no longer what they used to be¡­¡±

    Once the frail, bony TianXing took that honey water, the coarse voice she had smoothed out and the frequency of her coughs decreased significantly.

    As the carriage continued to rattled up and down the now busy streets of DongBu, her narration resumed and ReZhui, who¡¯s eyes stared out blankly into the bustling streets beyond, felt a sickening sensation in his gut, reminiscent of that encounter with Mr Sun, the Mayor of Luo ChengShi. He knew that this was the calm before the storm, or even, the storm was already approaching ever so slowly. In regards to Mr Xu, ReZhui dared not to look his way. Just the atmosphere alone suggested that his snake-like eyes might have gone feral for prey.

    ¡°That was the first and last time that Hamilton and I communicated with his grandmother. We assumed that the Kiefrurpez back at their homeland had already decided to cut ties with us and deemed Hamilton an exiled bastard son of his father. But that never came immediately. There were signs that less and less letters were sent back and from the main headquarters.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°This building tension soon met its breaking point 2 years after we met with his grandmother. In that time, we slowly set up a secret, relatively successful private business, unaffiliated with the Kiefrurpez and White Ink¡¯s branding in the Meso Unity through the use of trusted proxies. The idea was that if this conflict soon lead to the danger of our newly formed family, we would flee there under new identities and start anew.¡±

    ¡°...Family?¡±

    YaoMing finally spoke.

    ¡°Just one month after that meeting, I found out I was pregnant with new life and several months later, out came you, Eddisson. Our only gem and the fourth of Hamilton¡¯s children.¡±

    Her skeletal fingers amateurly rubbed his dirtied, unkempt hair. The boy in referenced, never made a sound, returning silence as he soaked the story kept away from him for so long. All of those struggles that muddled his sense of identity. All of those experiences that tore their mother-child relationship apart. All of those thoughts of pessimism, guilt and hopelessness. This was how it all began and Eddisson did not know what to feel about this but listen through it.

    ¡°We choose your surname to be He, in hopes that you will never feel under the pressures of the Kiefrurpez and their way of kinship. But I digress.¡±

    ¡°Mother¡­¡±

    Pausing in shock, she hastily attended to him. His eyes had a small spark in them.

    ¡°I-if¡­if I were to be accepted into the main family, I am certain that¡­my father must have¡­thought up a name of a similar nature.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°If so, what was it?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    After a long pause, she finally answered.

    ¡°We¡­we have thought of and agreed on one. If that¡¯s the ideal case, then your name would have been-¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°XueSen Eddi von Kiefrurpez.¡±

 Chapter 30 : Closing Action

    There was a loud explosion, followed by a rising mushroom cloud. It was 5 stories tall and everyone in the block witnessed the tragedy that happened. Rumble of concrete rain mercilessly onto the passersby pavement, as the innocent tried their best to find cover. Nearby buildings had their windows shattered and stalls split into bits, beams and torn cloth.

    Overall, it was a sudden blood bath and there were visible victims in dire condition as marron blood stained the gray, hoove-marked streets of the people. Whilst that degree of injury was considering only the passive victims, the results of those within that bombed building remained constant.

    It was impossible that none of them died from that blast alone and more lives would be taken from the entrapment of the ensuing fire, that¡¯s steadily making its way to full consumption. One ran to alert more of the police guard. Some attended to the wounded. The others quickly formed lines to carry water buckets in hopes of lessening the raging flames. For one particular laborer, his eyes stared straight at the sign above the main entrance, continuously billowing clouds of thick, poisonous smoke.

    In the midst of the blanket of gray and orange-red, the sight of an illustration of a brush, blackened beyond recognition, soon reached its boiling point and melted into molten liquid.

    The beloved primary communication pub, White Ink Headquarters, ceased to exist that day, falling to ruin.

    .

    .

    .

    Minutes after that explosion occurred, where the police guard and firemen surrounded the diminishing premise, and beyond, a growing crowd of onlookers, there came an eye-catching stagecoach that promptly screeched to a halt in front of the masses gathered. Slamming the doors open, the He couple stepped out of the carriage, only to be greeted by a cacophony of noises and shortly after, they halted in their tracks.

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    An instantaneous mutter crawled out of the devastated lady.

    Surprisingly, there was no scream.

    Crackle¡­

    She saw another structural beam fall, nearly killing some of the firemen below.

    ¡°...¡±

    Even if she did so, no one would hear her. She could not hear herself as well. It was worthless effort. The crackling and crashing of further framework, the screams of firemen and the howls and chatter of the crowd. She was just one woman amongst them all and the one with the most attachment to what was destroyed.

    Being the co-founder of this establishment, who had spent over a decade to achieve such success, all of it was engulfed in flames in front of her very eyes. Her shiny onyx irises reflected back this unforgetful sight. In response, her fist clenched tighter in frustration, digging deep into her palm.

    She dared say it was incomparable to the time she was stabbed in the thigh. This felt worse, like the edge of said blade scraping her heart, slowly but coldly; peeling out muscle per muscle before chopping the insides with haphazardous delight.

    In the end, TianXing fell to her knees, failing her hardest to imagine that this was another nightmare of hers, and that she was still in the warm snuggle of Hamilton¡¯s arms; awakened to the sounds of not people¡¯s, but Eddisson¡¯s wails instead. As foolish as it was, at that moment, she sincerely wanted that to be true. However, that was all for naught and the tears never came out.

    ¡°ARGGGHHHHHH!!¡±

    She shrieked horribly¡­

    ¡°TianXing¡­¡±

    Fortunately for her, there was someone she could hold her head to, and Hamilton, who grieved the fact that he saw her in such a state, readily embraced her as tightly as he humanely could, slowly moving her eyes away from the sight to behold.

    ¡­until her throat soared and scarred, and the wails died down.

    .

    .

    .

    After making sure that his wife was steady in her mental wellbeing, he handed her a small canteen of water as they finally entered the actual site of the incident.

    The day was nearing its end and all the roaring crowds had already split off to tend to their own businesses.

    Passing the wooden barricades placed, they were approached by an official in no time.

    Dressed in blackened red leather armor with a dao at his hip, the middle-aged man held a booklet in his left hand, prepared to write more details and discussions. Ignoring Hamilton, he asked TianXing.

    ¡°Lady Xu, this is your property, isn''t it? The wondrous letter center.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am now present.¡±

    ¡°...Confirmed.¡± His brush hand began to move.

    Whilst that happened, taking a closer look around the ruins, she sighed heavily.

    ¡°What happened here, officer? I hope there is some closure in finding out who is the perpetrator.¡±

    Stopping, he answered, ¡°Be pleased to hear this, Lady. There were multiple-¡±

    ¡°I¡¯M SORRY!!!¡±

    Silence came.

    Stunned, the officer twitched, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Lady Xu?¡± He was clearly angered at her interruption to an otherwise already much busier day for him.

    Lowering her head down, she answered.

    ¡°I was selfish. I have forgotten the most important thing. How are all my employees?! What did the casualty report say?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­in regards to that,¡± He flipped several pages, ¡°Out of the 847 people within and around the building at recorded time, 261 people were killed and none came out unscathed. 485 of them were dealt severe injuries and the rest only had minor bruising and burns.¡±

    Averting her gaze in the face of this news, she asked again.

    ¡°Did Mr Tai survive?¡±

    ¡°Mr Tai¡­He came out unharmed, besides a scorched part of his forehead.¡±

    ¡°T-thank goodness¡­¡±

    She felt her heart was relieved.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s what you get for having martial artists as your personal guard, Lady.¡±

    But as he looked at her, the guard could tell she was distraught.

    ¡°Erhmm, Lady, don¡¯t be so down. This attack is unavoidable no matter the amount of security you implement to this place. I suggest you arrange fast evacuative measures in the other branches.¡±

    ¡°...¡± She raised her head up.

    ¡°After all, I don¡¯t want the only way of communicating with my daughter now destroyed, do we? She just delivered a grandson last month so I regularly sent that damn son-in-law proper parenting tips. Hahaha!¡±

    ¡°...wonderful¡­So officer, where¡¯s Mr Tai as we speak?¡±

    ¡°I told him to say but he insisted that there are other matters to attend to, so I let him go.¡±

    ¡°...I see.¡±

    ¡°Anyhow, back to your previous question, that is where the more ¡®exciting¡¯ news comes up.¡±

    ¡°...Say the facts, Sir. I will take it.¡±

    ¡°There was no bomb. Nor was it an aura-initiated attack. Based on eye witnesses and the analysts, it was a large ball of fire that collided with the building, creating the huge explosion.¡±

    ¡°Ball of fire?¡±

    ¡°And this ball of fire wasn¡¯t made of aura. Hence, we can confidently say that¡­¡± He sideyed the blond gentleman accompanying her, ¡°It was a barbarian¡¯s technique that caused this tragedy.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°End of the first-minute report, Lady. The rest, we must discuss back at the headquarters. Understood?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m all ears, officer. Thank you for your services.¡±

    She tipped him several bronze.

    ¡°Just a sign of appreciation for your overtime work.¡±

    Bowing deeply, the officer proceeded back to his other duties, leaving the couple to their own.

    Dumbfounded from the lack of foreign language comprehension, Hamilton walked up beside her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± His voice was void of joy.

    Meeting his gaze at the corner of her eye, she smiled exasperatedly. The first time this evening.

    ¡°Mr Tai has already begun the operation, Hamilton. The deaths of 261 innocent bystanders were caused by the very people you call family. I am sure of it.¡±

    He grimaced.

    ¡°...I can¡¯t defend against the truth. At the end of that pile of rubble, there is a dump of concentrated mana that has yet to subside, and where else do people use this form of energy other than our kind.¡±

    ¡°I suppose they really want you to realize that it''s them that¡¯s after you and me. How bold of the Kiefrurpez to orchestrate this in broad daylight, especially on foreign land.¡±

    ¡°Well, this is not the first time that has happened in our house¡¯s lifetime. Rather, it¡¯s the beginning of upcoming and unannounced routine attacks on your nation¡¯s hard-earned soil.¡±

    ¡°Kingdom, Hamilton. We still have the Emperor.¡±

    ¡°A synonym of minor inaccuracy.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, this calls for the start of our part of the operation, doesn''t it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get Eddisson back at the mansion. TianXing, I trust you will get to the basement safely.¡±

    ¡°Silly, no foreigner knows these streets better than me!¡± She puffed her chest high.

    Giggling, the gentleman embraced her once more.

    ¡°Wait for me there.¡±

    ¡°Be careful.¡±

    Signaling for a different carriage, his personal stagecoach set off in another direction as planned. Once Hamilton was on his way, TianXing took one last look at the headquarters of White Ink. The main sign was lost to the flames of conflict.

    ¡®If I had my camera now, I would love to take one last picture of this place,¡¯ she looked with a somber expression. ¡°Oh well¡­¡±

    Now was no longer the time for weeping.

    Time was racing fast.

    It¡¯s now or never. It¡¯s time to make their escape.

    ---

    Three days later.

    The clock struck midnight within a pocket watch, grasp tightly by the black gloved hand of Hamilton. Beside him was his wife, and they were currently riding on a hired rickshaw. The lean man sprinted his way across alleyways and all-night busy streets. After attending to some finalizing business with a particular informant, in the few hours to come, the steamship upon which they will depart for the Meso Unity will be released from the docks and set course.

    ¡°Foo¡­Chilly night, tonight Hamilton! Reminds me of the trip from my hometown to ShanWei, and in both of them, I escape on a boat when the moon shines bright! What a coincidence, ain¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°What a pleasant mood you have, dear.¡±

    ¡°Wait, does that mean¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh no, I too am excited! But¡­for the last few days, when Ferase, Eddisson and I met up with you and Mr Tai, until all our luggage was secretly loaded up on the steamship a day before departure, I¡­My family. Besides attacks on our other branches and my very own mansion the day after the headquarters was destroyed, there hadn¡¯t been any more attacks on locations where you and I may be hiding and we have already moved to five different places during that time. It¡¯s just so tense¡­and I myself know how good the Kiefrurpez are at intelligence gathering and tracking.¡±

    He clenched his fist close to his chest.

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°...Hamilton,¡± TianXing breathed and laid her hand on his, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the reason why we spent years setting up for the perfect escape plan? You know how good they are, thus you spent sleepless nights doing maps and connections while aiding me in raising our baby. Believe in yourself that your efforts will pay off.¡±

    As she laid her head on her broad shoulders, he sheepishly blushed around his ears.

    ¡°Right now, Eddisson must be sleeping in the ¡®deluxe¡¯ suite. Once he wakes up, the boy will be greeted by the sight of the open blue ocean.¡±

    ¡°Hamilton, did you acquire a dreadnought for the journey or the typical liner?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s a mix. Hehe.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, his room, technically our room, is the most heavily armored section of the ship, if you do not count the bridge and gun ports.¡±

    Just as Hamilton tried to lighten the mood by bragging about his priced ship, the sound of the crashing tides grew louder by the second. Misty air entered both their nostrils, indicating one thing. They arrived at the docks. More specifically, they were at the central district of the harbor where the moonlight shone upon rows of other foreign steamships similarly built to theirs.

    Having given the supervisor counterfeit identity files and a permit, the couple made their way past crowds of laborers, inspectors and merchants. From one port to the next, they counted until they reached the 26th. The cold sea wind blew against her thick robe and his all-weather trench coat.

    In the darkness, the outline of numerous piles of cargo could still be seen on the branching pier, waiting for the next one to be loaded onto the steamship. Under a lamppost flickering ambient orange light, familiar faces could be seen amidst a group of sailors.

    ¡°Ferase!¡±

    Hamilton impatiently screamed out for the old man.

    The butler, whose beard became a dusty white color, turned to the call of his name in an instant. As they made eye contact, the both of them smiled.

    ¡°Master Hamilton, you¡¯re just in time! Captain, please excuse me for a moment.¡±

    With that, the crew splitted, returning to their stations.

    Leaning on the railing of the stairway towards the boarding ramp, Ferase welcomed the both of them for a successful return.

    ¡°How are the migration documents?¡±

    Holding up the briefcase for it to be basked in glory, Hamilton smirked.

    ¡°All set for the Meso Unity.¡±

    ¡°How splendid, Master! Speaking of which, Lady Xu, Eddisson is now fast asleep and surprise, surprise¡­he did his potty all by himself tonight. What a fast learner he truly is!¡±

    ¡°Come on, dear Ferase, my proud boy said his first words 6 months after he was born. Half the average baby! So of course, this news is commonplace in my ears. Haha.¡±

    That¡¯s when he received a hard elbow from his wife.

    ¡°Alright Hamilton, it¡¯s fine to praise the boy, but remember to not spoil him once we settle in.¡± She said it in a tone, reminiscent of a doting matured mother.

    ¡°TianXing, TianXing, if anyone knows when to stop, it¡¯s myself. Instead, darling, you should start thinking of having an official wedding ceremony for the both of us. Having only a single family photo would be the most foolish of me as an accomplished father of four.¡±

    ¡°Hehe, I suppose so¡­¡±

    She instinctively pulled out the necklace given to her on their 2nd anniversary. Flipping open the lid for the next countless time, there was their family¡¯s portrait. A crisp, water-proofed film of monotonous shades and color brightened up her expression, feeling a warm sensation in her heart whenever she saw it.

    ¡°Gentlemen, I think I should be going to Eddisson¡¯s room and set up the room for the journey. Hence, I will leave you two for now. But, remember to not loiter around the docks for too long. It¡¯s a cold night tonight.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my line, Lady.¡±

    She nodded in surrender and made her way up the boarding ramp, passing a thick metal door that was rusted at the hinges and into the hull of the metal beast. The butler and master watched on with vigilant eyes.

    That¡¯s when the duo heard some chatter up on the entrance, springing Hamilton¡¯s attention. Moments later, a recognisable clerkman exited the vessel and joined up with the other two men. No longer donned in his flowy work robes, he wore an industrial tunic with hard pants and a fastened sash. It was TianXing¡¯s advisor, Mr Tai.

    His wild, long goatee fluttered in the tidal winds as another set of waves crashed roughly on the stands that held the port above sea level. In return, the ship could be seen rocking to a side, followed by a low groan. Though horrifying, everyone immediately returned to their duties including the three associates. There was something that had kept their worries on high alert and if assumptions are true, it will spoil trouble.

    ¡°Mr Tai, what brings you down here?¡±

    ¡°Same reason you are, Butler Ferase.¡± Through the last few years working under TianXing and White Ink, the former head waiter of a popular eatery was finally fluent in speaking and understanding English.

    ¡°Mr Hamilton, have you done what I assigned you to do while on the way here?¡±

    Although, he carried quite the thick Mandarin accent no matter how much he interacted with the native speakers. Due to this realization, Mr Tai readily accepted that TianXing was a naturally borned proficient linguist.

    ¡°I did and I finally understood your point.¡±

    ¡°Master, does it have to do with the police hunt for the assailant?¡±

    ¡°No Ferase, rather, Mr Tai suggested the police are just putting up an act.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Just as Mr Hamilton pointed out, all our preparations may be in vain against an overarching trap.¡±

    ¡°How so, Mr Tai?¡±

    ¡°Remember the Third Young Master?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but we rarely meet him these past few years. I even heard they called him back to your capital.¡±

    ¡°Even so, it is mandatory for the Clan of the White Crane to send out martial warriors to aid in the hunt, especially when these attacks have already killed at least more than a thousand people. One of their primary roles in ShanWei is security after all and no other clan has overtaken their position as guard dog.¡±

    ¡°In that case¡­¡±

    ¡°As Mr Hamilton confirmed, they reported no activity. So¡­can you connect the dots, Butler Ferase?¡±

    ¡°...Master, do you really believe that the ShanWei city council is in cahoots with the Kiefrurpez Intelligence Bureau? You know how reluctant those bastards are these days.¡±

    ¡°Might as well take precautions, Ferase, since they did cooperate with Terredylid on building that railway and our plan is nearly reaching completion without any hiccups.¡±

    Turning to the ship, he asked Mr Tai.

    ¡°When do we leave the harbor?¡±

    ¡°In about an hour, Mr Hamilton.¡±

    ¡°There will be no delays, Master. I previously talked to the captain.¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s good news.¡±

    Adjusting his clothes and straightening the lapels, Hamilton let out a deep sigh. He was visibly exhausted and so, he closed his eyes whilst standing.

    His hearing heightened and the beats of the waves, the cranking of cranes and the shouts of men; he heard them all. Later, a similar scene will come once they arrive at Laurelton city on the West Coast. His nostrils were filled with the scent of mold and salty sea air. He would have to endure that for the several day trip. He stocked up on powdered milk and beef jerky. It¡¯s finally coming true.

    ¡°hah¡­¡±

    He muttered.

    .

    .

    .

    And that¡¯s when it happened.

    BOOM!!!

    The steamship rose above the waters as the explosion tore apart the mid-section of the armored metal vessel. The shockwave caused large ripples under the docks, displacing huge amounts of black seawater. The ¡®flimsy¡¯ platform upon which they stood, wobbled like a thin metal sheet whacked by a drumstick, causing workers and cargo to fall into the cramped depths of the water beneath. Scorching plates and melted nails of metal flung carelessly towards the neighboring ships and the surrounding moorage. Tall cranes that stood tall, were pulled by gravity and crashed onto the remaining platforms, destroying escape routes for those unfortunate.  The masts that supported the steamship¡¯s framework snapped and a multitude of them fell onto other ships¡¯ masts, creating a domino effect as their superstructure was also knocked down along with it. If the falling debris and the rushing currents haven¡¯t killed you already, then the immense heat and blaze rising from the boiler rooms and ammunition rack would. In its aftermath, flames the size of buildings engulfed the vessel like a cooking stove of death. They soar high into the bleak darkness we call the night sky and the clouds near them turned into a lighter gray. Due to the sheer volume of the inferno emerging from the cracks of the steamship, they coalesced with great vigor into a miniature firestorm of bright orange-red, fueled by the abundant gunpowder and fanned by the warmed sea gales. The smog that followed, blended in with the night, overshadowed by their furious progenitor.

    In other words, it was a horrifying catastrophe.

    For Hamilton, who dodged all of those in the nick of time and came out with a bruised, burnt left shoulder, despite the brutality and chaos that was ongoing around him, filled with devastation and screams, the only thing that was racing endlessly in his mind was his family. His wife and 3-year old son were still within that smelting cesspool of a battered warship and it was gonna be a matter of time until they will be cooked alive in there.

    Time was of essence.

    Spontaneously, without hesitation and deaf to the cries of his beloved Ferase in the background, the blonde gentleman unbuttoned his trenchcoat, rushed into the pulsing heat waves and dived deep into the waters below. Once he figured he was fully drenched, with his firearm equipped with a grappling hook attachment from a dimensional ring, Hamilton shot it up to the surface and using his superior marksmanship, the hook successfully locked onto an intact rigid metal pillar that served as part of the crane onboard which revolved out towards the docks as a part of the separated ship that was listing to port.

    Ensuring the grip, Hamilton ran the motors and his heavy body flew out of the currents, making a rough roll onto the burning deck. Quickly covering his lower half of his face with a handkerchief, he kicked open a door at the corner that led into a room housing a flight of spiraling stairs. Immediately, a body of smoke rushed out like a stampede herd. He flinched, but Hamilton knew that he would never let this obstruction stop his advance and so, he forced himself through, coughing heavily as he did in gritted teeth, reaching inside the depths within.

    .

    .

    .

    Outside, crowds of people were closing in onto the shore and onto safe land. They jumped over gates and shoved through one another. You might see a rich merchant intermingling amongst scruffy laborers, fighting shoulder to shoulder for their own survival.

    In regards to the appointed supervisor, his face was visibly pale from the sight of ruin, shouting out orders like a mad man as his job was on the line.

    He screamed for the man to evacuate all the priceless cargo that was present and sent messengers to relay news to the firemen despite knowing by the time they arrived, the damage caused would be beyond repairable.

    .

    .

    .

    Watching his master as he selflessly, or selfishly one might say, ran into the inferno, Ferase was clearly stunned at what he witnessed.

    Overwhelmed with the over stimulation of the severity of this explosion, he soon began to doubt himself. Although he knew this was totally unnecessary in a place where quick thinking determines whether you live or die, he could not help but contemplate his actions.

    ¡®Was I wrong in letting my Master court Lady Xu?¡¯

    ¡®Should I have instead encouraged Hamilton to confront his father, knowing this possibly might happen?¡¯

    ¡®I have known his father for years and the Matriarch, even more so? How has my judgment led to this¡­?¡¯

    ¡®Was there anything I could have done better?!¡±

    Distraught and disappointment swirled uncontrollably in his heart, and having made out of the ordeal unharmed, Ferase suddenly felt a stinging ache below his neck. Moaning in agony, he was suddenly approached by Mr Tai who smacked him out of his ¡®daze¡¯.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing!?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you see we are in danger right now!?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Our masters are still in there! Keep your cool, Ferase!¡±

    ¡°I....I¡¯m sorry¡­I-I just¡­¡±

    ¡°D-damn that good-for-nothing!¡±

    As Ferase was recollecting his thoughts, Mr Tai looked out at the burning vessel. That ship was burning its fuel like there was no tomorrow. Most of his clothes were burned and his bun was loosened. His black and gray hair fluttered messily in the heat wave, while a significant portion of his goatee was singed black, crawling up onto his left cheek.

    ¡®What a s-¡¯

    Amidst the waves of retreating masses, Mr Tai unfortunately made out a group of robed figures shoving against the onslaught in the opposing direction. To make things worse, it appeared to be that they are approaching close to their section of the docks. It didn¡¯t take long for him to figure out that they are most likely the culprits who caused the ship to blow up. With how much work his master¡¯s husband has put into concealing this ship by submitting false documents of operations that were disclosed for the public, finding a spot where other similar steamships were parked to blend into the crowd and doing it in a time where other Anglosphere merchants were also present¡­

    ¡°The Kiefrurpez are quite the bold bunch.¡±

    Mr Tai grinned in misery.

    Taken aback by his statement, Ferase looked at Mr Tai¡¯s general direction. And at the sight of the black robes, his face darkened. Instantly, he summoned out his cane from his dimensional ring. This time, Mr Tai looked back at the butler in hidden fright.

    ¡°What now¡­¡±

    ¡°Mr Tai, this is a Kiefrurpez affair.¡±

    ¡°W-what are you sayin-¡±

    ¡°Get out of here¡­if you stay here any longer, you might die. No, you will die.¡±

    ¡°I-I can¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°More importantly, you will just get in the way.¡± Ferase looked back at him with stone-cold eyes. Never has he seen Ferase with such hostility since that conflict at the opening party. ¡°Another liability.¡±

    ¡°...¡± At a loss for words, Mr Tai knew what he said was true.

    ¡°Hurry, scram!¡±

    ¡°...I will get help somehow!¡± Slowly he backed away, before sprinting off in the opposite direction to take a detour. ¡°Stay alive until then, Ferase, and save our masters!¡±

    As the last traces of his white hair disappeared into the smoke and rubble, Ferase smirked with melancholy.

    ¡°I will do my best, Mr Tai. For you, myself, Lady Xu, Young Master Eddisson¡­and the master I pledge to serve, Hamilton Claure von Kiefrurpez!¡±

    With this surge of encouragement, the old butler exercised his towering pressure, blowing out dust and flames, clearing the path as five hooded figures of varying heights approached past the smog.

    Meters apart, they stopped in unison. Hard leather boots, lined with metal plates clacked in rhythm.

    There was silence as the fire around them continued to burn. The fiery storm above mattered less to them than the opposition''s exerted pressures. Confidently, that one old man¡¯s aura matched nicely against these five.

    Ferase examined them closely. Black hoods, black masks and black robes. The latter draped down to the ankles, charmed with all sorts of environmental immunities. Visible outlines of daggers, shortswords and wands with none of them specializing in only one. Three males and two females, the typical line up for an ambush squad. He gathered that in seconds.

    Seeing how they are still silent, Ferase decided to spark up a conversation.

    ¡°What incredible timing, assassins. If not for you all, I would have gathered all my mana to extinguish these flames and my Master would no longer have to suffer on his own right now.¡±

    Silence.

    ¡°That¡¯s what we intend to do, Sir Edelane. But, I am sure there is no need for violence. Our leader has an offer for you,¡± explained the one in the middle, ¡°He knows how much you lived your life serving the Kiefrurpez so they are willing to give you a pardon. All you have to do is surrender your support for the eldest son.¡±

    But, pretending to consider the offer, Ferase sneered.

    ¡°Why isn¡¯t my Master pardoned? Isn¡¯t he that rascal¡¯s son?¡±

    Shocked at the language used to address their overlord, the five assassins promptly drew out their weapons.

    In an instant, where the ship¡¯s interior caved in significantly out of the limelight, the assassin in the middle felt his view change as one would when they do a backflip. But he didn¡¯t. It was only too late for him to realize that he was beheaded as he drew his blade.

    The site of the exposed neck spewed blood high into the air like a water pump before the wound cauterized unnaturally quickly. His body then limped to the side, stunning those beside him.

    Looking back to the old man Ferase, the remaining four readied their weapons, holding varied stances in a well-trained reorganized spearhead formation as trained from young. Their eyes were no longer those held by a top predator.

    ¡°Darn myself, I intend to kill three at once. I guess this is what they meant by waning with age.¡±

    He, on the other hand, held no stance and was instead planting his cane hard onto the steaming hot wooden platform below. They could not figure out what attack he did to incapacitate the captain of their team but it was obviously clear that that attack was lethal!

    Snickering from ear to ear, Ferase growled back.

    ¡°I will grant all of you a swift death! Ultimately, my priorities lie with my Master¡¯s and his newfound families¡¯ safety! Hence¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°All of you, COME AT ME!!!¡±

 Chapter 31 : An Old Manéˆ¥æªš Worth

    The assassins began their assault.

    Tightly packed within their spearhead formation, the second foremost member, positioned at the front, switched his stance to a downward sword guard and initiated a fast sprint to close in the distance. He dashed forward like a smear of black paint, prominent winds forming behind him.

    Moments later, Ferase saw the assassin¡¯s body reappear in front of him, crouched down in a low leg lunge and close enough to where his blade would most certainly hit.

    ¡°HARGH!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    As he twisted his entire torso, bringing all the momentum onto an upward diagonal slash, Ferase instinctively skipped a flight of steps back, leaving the perfect shiny arch to slice apart where the old man previously stood. A visible afterimage was seen if you look hard enough.

    But, that assassin was not done with one attack. Kicking forwards, the gap shortened yet again. With both hands gripping the sword above his hood, Ferase knew he was coming in for a finishing move. The downward vertical strike.

    Taking precaution, Ferase swiftly summoned a wall of solid air, blocking that speeding sword and cutting the blade into two as the assassin helplessly drove it deep into that thin layer of a protective wall. There was no way the assassin could have halted its descent mid-swing and he never considered that the butler¡¯s barrier would have such potency against the attacking party. It¡¯s a dual purpose mechanism.

    Taken aback from the sight of flying shards of metal, the assassin retreated with steady footwork, deciding it was better to resume the defensive.

    ¡°I¡¯m not letting you off that easily.¡±

    As Ferase said his piece, he swung his cane with a broad stroke, sending the wall of air zooming faster and faster towards the backed assassin. Unfortunately for him, the wall soon caught up.

    That¡¯s when the assassin, located at the very back of the formation, unleashed her stock of homing incendiary needles towards the charging block of air, having prepared to use these sparingly at the right time as this takes quite the time to chant. Emerging out of a floating ball of lava above her raised wand, they gleamed in the dark as the molten needles accelerated past the armed assassin and into the moving barrier, igniting hard on impact. In an explosive blend of transparent white and glowing scarlet, clouds of smoke surrounded the site of collision, blocking sight of either side of the docks and engulfed the armed assassin, faster than he could escape.

    ¡°...¡±

    In anticipation, the other three got into supporting stances, but the vanguard never appeared out of the smoke. Their worries grew into fear and soon truth. Once the smoke dissipated, the trio were greeted by the limping body of the swordsman with his dominant arm and head sliced and separated.

    Like the leader before, bleed spewed every way before the blood vessels cauterized rapidly. Just like that, another body was down and the tem dynamic was severely weakened. While all Kiefrurpez assassins are meant to be trained in all forms of combat, they still have specializations that they would regularly retain as a fighting unit. But, against this long serving member of the Kiefrurpez, even with the skills of being the jack-of-all-trades, it was a huge risk to continue fighting and they have to proceed regardless.

    Gulping, the witch signaled for the one of two to replace the vanguard.

    Retracting dual knives, that assassin made a similar sprint across the docks and towards Ferase, who held quite the distance between the both of them.

    Supporting him, the witch unleashed another round of molten needles, hoping to distract the old butler. For that last member, she casted another enhancement spell on the charging knife wielder, fastening his approach.

    Silently, she grimaced to the fact that she had to execute the buff five times consecutively. Once for each of the two beheaded swordsmen and thrice for the knife wielder for good measure.

    ¡°...¡±

    Ferase blankly blinked in the face of the swarm of speeding projectiles. With another unnecessary swing of his cane in style, the pulsing heat waves changed its course, bombarding the projectiles with numerous layers of resistance. After the 11th pulse, the needles imploded prematurely. For the knife wielder, the robe ensured zero hindrance and he raced past new clouds of gray smoke before he finally entered his range of lethality.

    His body then emitted a yellow hue and he surged forward with even greater speed. He was so fast that Ferase failed to react in time as he darted past him, and like a coiling snake entrapping its prey, the assassin reached for the neck, planning to slice his head clean with his reverse grip daggers. He grinned vengefully as his face was sliced in half instead. A sharp blade of wind slided across the meat and bone, leaving the upper part of his face airborne while the rest of his body slumped towards the side, incapacitated with chopped arms and legs.

    Ferase sidestepped at the right time and released his retaliation.

    After all, despite that assassin never feeling the blaze of the heat wave, that still slowed him down by microseconds. That was a plentiful time for a veteran with slowed senses to act accordingly, resulting in his downfall.

    ¡°Hmmm.¡±

    Now that all the attackers were down, there remained only the two predominant witches. Hence, he confidently took a step forward, walking steadily towards them.

    ¡°Does the Bureau underestimate me?¡± he muttered to himself in a low grumble.

    ¡°S-shit¡± came the voice of a desperate woman, ¡°Just die already!¡±

    The assassin, who was visibly drained from providing enhancement spells, immediately pressed her palm onto the chest of the witch.

    ¡°Oh mercy befell on her, drain me in spite of denial. I plead to you all!!!¡±

    Once she said that, her body began to drain and crumple. Shortly after, she knelt down beneath the witch¡¯s feet in extreme fatigue.

    ¡°go¡­for it¡­¡± She said as blood slowly returned to her brain.

    Gritting teeth and sweaty arms. The witch screamed in anger as she prepared her final attack. She was granted fifteen stacks of enhancements, which was the maximum the fallen assassin could muster up.

    Ferase continued his walk unfazed.

    The orb of lava shone brighter, as bright as the fiery furnace that seeped through the cracks of the engulfed steamship beside them. Needles the size of hairs continue to sprout out of the orb, which began to condense and shrink. They revolve the lava like electrons around a nucleus. Streams of light appeared in their orbit.

    ¡°Sir Edelane¡­I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Her hooded face was full of grievance for her comrades.

    And so, she stroked her wand down, unleashing the storm of accelerated needles. Following behind them was the core, shaped into an arrow that would penetrate the impregnable. This was the greatest the witch has ever done of that magnitude and scale of firepower so she hoped it would stand up against the old butler¡­

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡±

    But it never came close and she would never come to know of it.

    With a stomp of his cane on the wooden platform below, the volatile projectiles, not once, reached a step of its target.

    ¡°w-what¡­¡±

    In fascination and horror, the witch realized what they were up against.

    The needles and dart of compressed lava appeared to have been halted in time, remaining stationary in everyone¡¯s eyes. Observing closely, that was not the case. They had been frozen, more specially, encased within a block of solid air, comparable in size to a shipping container. Surrounding each attacking reed was a small vacuum and the witch also realized that they were all still in motion, possibly retaining all the energy when they were first trapped. The only reasoning she could come up with within that split second was the vacuum possessing a particular artificial dimensional property, to which she could never fathom of executing in all her lifetime.

    Turning her attention to the old man, he now raised his finger with that dimensional ring and pulsed. That block of solid air was soon taken away by the space built into the ring.

    In other words, she had just given him additional firepower to be summoned at any time without the expense of chant delays and his own mana store. Not that the former mattered to him as she witnessed him pulling out that complex spell with a tap of his cane.

    Instinctively, she dropped her wand in surrender and accepted her quick death. Her eyes met the butler¡¯s, dull and exhausted. She then felt high wind currents sawing through her neck as tears fell from her chin, and a burning sensation later, her blood eventually propelled forward with sheer force, launching her head high into the sky, just like those before her.

    ¡°...¡±

    Paying attention to the final unit member, crawling down in awaited misery, Ferase deemed it proper to proceed the same way.

    Ferase turned on his heel and walked to the front of the wrecked site. In the background, another flying head was seen airborne. There was no other information he lacked so he needed no prisoners. The butler now knew that the only way out of this was to fight and protect his family until the very end.

    ¡°Master Hamilton, I think this is another good way to end the tale.¡±

    He sarcastically mocked himself.

    The steamship was still going strong. The fire continued to ravage the splitting ship whole and not a single fire brigade was in sight to quench the flames. Fortunately, he was a wizard with general qualities.

    ¡°Hrmph!¡±

    Tensing his concentration, Ferase raised his arms with force, metaphorically carrying along volumes of seawater beneath. The water rose in grandeur and it formed an enclosure around the sinking wreckage. The ship¡¯s bow and waterline were visible and severely cracked and dented.

    Now, with careful precision, he began to swirl the tip of his cane, forming long tendrils of water as they entered the aforementioned cracks in the hull plating. As he held on to the routine, vast amounts of steam bursted out of the superstructure. In other areas, the metal collapsed inwards in the face of the atmosphere, crippling sections of the already damaged vessels. Once all the flames were forcibly died down, the old man fell back on his side, drenched in sweat.

    Loosening a part of his smoked cravat, Ferase got back up, reminded that the night was not over yet. His master and his wife and son were still stuck inside the ship.

    Making himself a frozen ice bridge, he got on the blackened deck and balanced his body with caution. Rather than entering that stair room Hamilton took, Ferase walked further into the mid-section, where the path increased in elevation. With much effort, Ferase chanted light onto the nearby premises. His eyes met a random mess of flowing embers on metal slopes, leading down onto a submerged notch.

    It looked eerily familiar to an earthen landslide.

    ¡°...¡±

    Steeling himself, Ferase slowly descended down to the lower levels via air manipulation. Blowing past hindering debris, the old man began his search. With his cane extended forward and an illuminated crystal, Ferase stepped into the darkness with faint prayers.

    ---

    Just moments after Hamilton broke his way into the stairway¡­

    With his drenched coat and skin, the gentleman felt the need to be more reckless in his search. The flames barely burnt his outfit and only his eyes and hair were vulnerable as they lay bare.

    Despite the added weight, Hamilton smoothly jumped over fallen debris, swung across large gaping holes in the floors and sprinted through walls of fire. He lost count over how many times he had passed by dead workers and sailors. Most of them were scattered randomly in a charcoal mess, unrecognizable once the flames burnt away the features that make them human. For the few that miraculously lived, they all met the same fate, holding onto their final breaths as the smog intoxicated their respiration. Asphyxiation was inevitable. With this large concentration of souls, Hamilton swore he could sense the rise of the paranormal, not that it was the first he witnessed such stuff here.

    In the end, those bodies never mattered. Hamilton didn¡¯t bother to stop and check for survivors. Although morally questionable, the only reason he got into the makeshift furnace was because his family¡¯s stuck in there. Even so, he wasn¡¯t sure if they made it out alive.

    ¡®Please!¡¯

    Nonetheless, his legs kept moving.

    He parkoured over piles of dead bodies.

    ¡®Please, TianXing¡­Eddisson!¡¯

    The man busted open the rusted hatch, entering the third floor. The sound of running water roared louder and louder beneath him.

    ¡®Don¡¯t give up on Dad!¡¯

    Hamilton pushed through. Concentrated volumes of smog-filled corridors made his path into the abyss.

    .

    .

    .

    After what it felt like an eternity rushing towards the armored room, he stumbled upon a signboard, hung loosely from the ceiling. Removing the soot with his smoked gloves, he made out the words written in neon green.

    ¡®They¡¯re nearby!¡¯

    Dropping it aside, he followed a linear path of black, occasionally coming across patches of flames. That was when the wind began to pick up.

    A howling gale and a dead end. He was confident it was here.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Feeling across the wall of the circular hall, pipe after pipe after flame, Hamilton finally made out a discerning bump. It was a door handle.

    ¡®YES!¡¯

    Worried at the realization that no sound came from the other side, never considering that the armor muffled any sound, Hamilton began frantically knocking, slamming and pulling the door handle. In between, he screamed out for TianXing and even called for Eddisson several times.

    ¡°OPEN THE DAMN DOOR! TIANXING! ANYONE!¡±

    ¡®Is this even the right one?! Am I mistaken?!¡¯

    Moments later, his throat gave out and his gut wrenched in reflex.

    His mind began to muddle and his vision blurred.

    He surely thought he would succumb to suffocation¡­before the door finally cranked open. Blinded by light, a hand reached out for his collar, shoving his heavy body in at the nick of time and landing flat on the floor with a loud thud. Unable to understand what the person was asking him, all he heard was the sure slam of the watertight hatch. It did not take long for the surplus oxygen to relieve his bewilderment, and for another splash of water to return him back to working condition.

    ¡°HAMILTON!!!¡± rang a familiar female voice in his ears. There were also the ear-piercing wails of a child in the background. Subconsciously, the gentleman blindly gave his wife an unknowing smile of rejoice. His derpy grin, on a flushed face drenched in grime and soot, stunned TianXing in front of him. Slowly and surely, she couldn''t help but break down into laughter.

    With the clear view of his beloved, Hamilton immediately reached out for her cheeks. Despite the worse condition of his gloved hands, TianXing surrendered to his grip. Her face quickly turned as black as his.

    ¡°It feels nice¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank you for coming back.¡±

    ¡°H-how did you¡­?¡±

    Looking at the bloodied bodies she had moved to a corner, TianXing reassured him.

    ¡°All that matters is Eddisson¡¯s safe and sound. We must hurry back up to the surface.¡±

    ¡°....Ergh¡­¡± Hamilton groaned as got up.

    Scanning the area, he could deduce what actually happened here.

    Only glowing stones illuminated the room to save up on oxygen. The fires outside never came in due to the watertight properties of this room. In regards to the earlier explosion, the thick reinforced armor, that he paid a fortune for, did its job excellently. Besides the mess caused by the initial shockwave, everything was intact.

    In TianXing¡¯s hands, she held a dagger and an early prototype of a concealed gun.

    ¡°How much¡¯s left in the cartridge?¡±

    ¡°None.¡±

    Her voice was unbelievably weak. This was the night whereupon the lady split blood for the first time and it was something never to be cherished about. She wanted to weep in grief, however the situation would not allow her too. Thanks to her efforts, these three were probably  the only ones alive here.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, TianXing.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    ¡°...Yes.¡± Her brows furrowed.

    She sccurried to the cradle with Hamilton.

    ¡°Eddisson!¡±

    ¡°Son!¡±

    The boy continued to cry, even if his throat soared as he did so.

    Lifting him into the arms of his mother, TianXing ensured he was secured to her chest using several fabrics. On the other hand, Hamilton unbuttoned the trenchcoat. Although the coat was no longer drenched, this was still meant to serve as a detergent to such situations without the need for added water. That¡¯s when disaster struck.

    ¡°Alr-...¡±

    The ship jerked.

    ¡°...W-¡±

    BOOM!

    It jerked yet again. And once more.

    Multiple vibrations continued to stagger the both of them, who nearly lost balance, and each one grew more relentless and violent. TianXing grabbed hold of the door handle while Hamilton held dearly to the cradle for added weight.

    The ship rocked to and fro, making the couple plant their feet for impact.

    Though that would be the least of their worries¡­

    The floors below the armored room soon collapsed, and the ¡®box¡¯, still holding strong to its armor, crashed from one floor to the next as it made its rough descent several floors deeper. The heat grew hotter and the impacts striked harder. Eventually, the flames would have melted the first layer of plating before proceeding with the second. The closer it fell towards the engine room, its integrity fell, and the room finally gave in to the pressure.

    In the space furthest away from the door and the closest to the heat sources, the walls came pummeling down. The room unwillingly caved in upon itself.

    As for Hamilton, who slid away from the door within that chaos in due course¡­

    TianXing shrieked in agony.

    ¡°NOOOO!!!¡±

    Her black onyx eyes widened in disbelief at what befell upon him.

    The ceiling and structural beams, as thick and heavy as multiple bodies, rained down relentlessly on the doomed gentleman. In spite of his best efforts to dodge all the debris, he could not outrun all of them¡­And so, just as he sprinted upwards, edging closer to her hand, one metal beam successfully plunged down on him, hitting Hamilton squarely in the back. Helplessly sluggish from all that¡¯s happened, he fell to the ground. Moments later, more debris caught up, pinning Hamilton under their immense weight and scorched surface.

    ¡°ARGHHHH!!!¡±

    He was powerless.

    He was relieved.

    He was conflicted.

    ¡°ARRRRGRRRRHHAAAAA!!!¡±

    His harrowing screams ran unheard for all, aside for one, in this fiery night.

    .

    .

    .

    The fallen ash and soot cleared away from the site of tragedy. Grasping dearly onto Eddisson, TianXing felt breathless. She gagged and threw up, spilling fluids over her son¡¯s back. From the endless cries of her son, the sound of her irregular heart beat still rang clearly in her mind and she knelt down.

    ¡°H-Hamilton¡­HAMILTON!¡±

    She slowly crawled towards him. Her legs should have given out a long time ago.

    ¡°Hamilton¡­¡±

    Tonight, a lot had happened, and another platform came crashing down beside her.

    Blazes covered her eyes and nostrils, and her throat soared and coughed.

    ¡°ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!¡±

    Her bloodshot eyes were full of tears. They ran continuously until she swore they had a tint of scarlet within.

    With the sensitivity of the heat, her fear of losing him, and the sadness of that realization, it had taken a toll on her mentally. TianXing felt weak. Extremely weak, like before. Recalling back a decade to that very same courtroom, where her beloved brother was pinned to the ground, harassed by large canes that could potentially render him disabled. She prayed this was minor. She wished for Hamilton, the great man that he was, to the point where he stood his ground against a martial genius like LuJi, to quickly get back up and escort her out of the hellish furnace.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    But fate said otherwise.

    ¡°what¡­¡±

    His face brightened in exasperation and mockery.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, TianXing. They finally got me.¡±

    ¡°no¡­No, no, no! NO, HAMILTON! THIS CAN¡¯T END HERE!¡±

    ¡°Please go, while there¡¯s still a chance.¡±

    ¡°THIS IS PATHETIC!!!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Hamilton continued to smile gently.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t get it.¡±

    ¡°You¡­You idiot, a man of your stature? Dying in a place like this! All alone!?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous!¡±

    ¡°...I guess you could say¡­I deserved this.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your decision to make!¡±

    She cried out to him.

    This time, Hamilton¡¯s face darkened.

    ¡°Face the fact, my love. I can no longer feel my legs¡­and now my, argghh¡­lower torso¡­¡±

    His voice ached.

    At this sight, TianXing mindlessly declared.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get help.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll get help!¡±

    Her expression was possessed. Desperate.

    ¡°ENOUGH!¡±

    And as a result, Hamilton had a fit of rage.

    ¡°...w¡­¡±

    She was stunned, in the wake of his sudden outburst. Weak and fragile, the lady sank further.

    ¡°...¡±

    TianXing fell silent beside his laying half-corpse. She was sure it was the last time she would see him. Even his body may never be recovered and it pained her. Eddisson¡¯s wails soon waned and the baby fell into deep slumber.

    Around the corner, more framework collapsed and the embers spread. Flames tore away at the worn-down trench coat, searing his clothes and skin. But Hamilton hid the torment, braving a calm front for his downcasted wife. Her robes were ripped in several places. Beaten blue and black in an unknown struggle, dried and fresh blood dripped in numerous areas. Overall, this truly embarrassed him as a gentleman. At a time where he would no longer be around, Hamilton only hoped for the Kiefrurpez to cease their advances onto his ¡®illegitimate¡¯ wife.

    He giggled.

    ¡°Why are you so cheerful?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just¡­trying to make the best of it.¡±

    With his unsteady left hand, he reached out for the slumbering Eddisson. Except, his hands never meet, admittingly hesitant that Eddisson may catch an infection from contact with his blackened, wrenched gloves.

    ¡°Haa¡­This is the end.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°TianXing, listen to me.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I know.¡±

    ¡°I have never regretted my decision to marry you and it¡¯s not your fault that all of this has happened.¡±

    His icy blue eyes shone brightly.

    ¡°Throughout my life, the greatest joy is a day with you and Eddisson. I thought I would live to see our grandchildren but perhaps, God had other plans for me.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    TianXing bent lower for her last heartfelt kiss.

    In an expression of surprise, Hamilton closely saw her blushing face.

    Once their lips parted, she carefully scooped up Eddisson and began to back away. Tears still ran down her cheeks.

    ¡°Go back to your hometown, TianXing. Apologize to your brother no matter the costs! Without me or White Ink, ShanWei is no longer safe to raise our child.¡±

    ¡°Hamilton¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I had to put you up with this¡­But, I beg of you-¡±

    ¡°I will always remember you, Hamilton! And, as for Eddisson¡­fret not, Hamilton.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°H-he will live to be a fine man. I promise you that¡­¡±

    Her onyx irises shimmered amongst the embers. An empty smile plastered on her somber face.

    Helplessly, all Hamilton could do was return with his very own.

    ¡°...Great.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°TianXing, I too-¡±

    CRASH!

    Instantly, the roof above her cracked and crumbled, falling closely in front of her.

    TianXing then ran for the door with haste and turned the handle. More debris fell behind her as she passed, and the platform shook violently. For one last glance as she looked back across the open hatch, Hamilton was finally nowhere to be seen. Crushed mercilessly by the final bits of ceiling that held, TianXing could not even make out the splashes of blood that seeped from his deceased corpse. What came to her was indistinguishable hills of splitting rock and metal.

    She gritted her teeth, but soon gave up the effort as she turned around.

    ¡°goodbye¡­¡± muttered her ailing voice.

    It was from then on she never looked back.

    And as the ways of life would lead her astray, Hamilton¡¯s last wishes would only be granted another decade later.

    .

    .

    .

    TianXing cautiously navigated her way through the blocked corridors and narrow slits, always ensuring Eddisson¡¯s safety as her top priority. Her feet blistered and bled. Her vision blurred yet again. She tripped several times, shouldering most of the fall on her side while Eddisson remained in deep slumber.

    Despite the struggle, TianXing remained steadfast, telling herself to strive on for their son, who she always and should feel responsible for. Eventually, her bare feet detected the low vibrations of something unknown. She immediately braced for impact, only for a water current to pass at relative pressure.

    Black seawater towered over curtains of smoke and bubbles, surging through ferociously at ground level.

    ¡®Help! Someone¡­!¡¯ Her thoughts exclaimed as she grudgingly continued her journey upwards. Her legs barely gained any traction.

    .

    .

    .

    It only took several minutes later when Ferase heard a loud clang behind him. Luckily for the butler, that was the place TianXing had fallen for the seventh time.

    With tenacity, she rose with fragile feet.

    ¡°Lady Xu!¡±

    The elderly voice screamed for her.

    ¡°ferase¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Never had she been so relieved to see him again. Turning around, she saw his outline flying towards her at very high speeds before he braked at an arm¡¯s length away from her. His face brightened at the sight of her and Eddisson.

    ¡°How d-...!¡±

    ¡°I...¡±

    Her first impressions were of thankfulness. The butler appeared alive and well. Certainly, he was in a much better physical condition than her.

    On the other hand, Ferase¡¯s joy grew smaller. A rush of guilt consumed his heart as he examined her condition. Tattered clothes and blackened ash-gray spots and blotches. The butler wondered how a girl of very weak stature survived this ordeal, that even the toughest of sailors succumbed too. More importantly¡­

    ¡°Lady Xu, have you come across Master Hamilton? He came earlier to rescue you.¡±

    There was the absence of his master. Surely, with his trained body and excellent marksmanship, Hamilton¡¯s survival was certain.

    ¡®Yes, he must be somewhere¡­¡¯

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°W-what¡­¡±

    But, all the wife could do was look away.

    ¡°n-no¡­¡±

    His body slumped and his knees dropped.

    ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­M-master¡­¡±

    The corridor fell into silence.

    When they want to hug, console and cry, the both of them couldn¡¯t bring themselves to. Ferase made an expression of self-doubt in response to that. He wondered if this was just a major misunderstanding that his Lady was just misinterpreting. However, upon seeing TianXing¡¯s mood and despairing aura, all he saw was affirmative and tragic confirmation. He would be immature if he took it in denial.

    Hence, none of them spoke nor acted. They just averted their gazes, numbed at the circumstances that brought them here.

    ---

    In due course, Ferase would ready themselves a small boat, crafted by the manipulation of wood and metal. They also got down from the wreckage using his air manipulation, to which TianXing gave no reaction despite her habit to overreact in sight of the supernatural. Planting his cane at the end of the six-men rowing boat, water currents pulsed from the tip of the stick, propelling the boat to a place farther along the shore, picking up speed in the darkness.

    On their rocking dinghy boat, TianXing sat upon the center plank, nestling Eddison close to her. Draped over her shoulders, shielding the duo from the salty tidal wind, was Ferase¡¯s coat and a spare black blanket. It was a chilly night tonight and a drastic contrast to the burning hellscape they were stuck in moments before.

    ¡®How cruel.¡¯ She cursed, blankly staring into the nothingness.

    ¡°...¡±

    That¡¯s when Ferase began to speak. Though, there was none of his usual enthusiasm¡­

    ¡°My condolences for your loss, Lady Xu.¡±

    But she didn¡¯t bother to look at him as she replied slowly.

    ¡°...Hamilton doesn¡¯t regret how things turned out. He told me he was satisfied.¡±

    She recited what was etched deep into her memory.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad¡­¡±

    And the butler could only faintly smile back.

    ¡°What about you, Ferase?¡±

    Watching the back of her dry and singed black hair fluttering in the wind, he simply answered.

    ¡°No. No, I don¡¯t¡±

    He had already made his mind up once he rejected that assassin¡¯s offer. His loyalty solely lies with Hamilton Claure von Kiefrurpez, and by extension, Lady Xu and her son. Not the head nor the matriarch. Thus, his job was not over.

    ¡°...How envious.¡±

    She replied monotonously as she glanced at the face of the sleeping baby.

    ¡°Lady, once we make land, let us follow the protocol as discussed before.¡±

    ¡°...¡± She closed her eyes, trying her best to make peace of what was to ensue.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will ensure you and your son will get to safety as per my Master¡¯s best wishes. No matter the cost.¡±

    ¡­His determination never dwindled.

 Chapter 32: Sorcerer, Knight and Cultivator [Part 1]

    As soon as the weary duo of servant and Master reached the small dock from previously planned, Ferase swiftly tied the ropes and helped TianXing disembark the wooden vessel. There was barely anyone around in the middle of this cold night and the stationary dilapidated junks continued to sway and rock in rhythm with the waves and wind. Pulling back his dishevelled Gray-white hair, Ferase held steady the wife¡¯s hand, ensuring the drenched wood would not cause her any more harm.

    Holding tight onto the fluttering long coat, TianXing was brought past a small outpost that housed a single ill-equipped guard. Fortunately, the man did not proceed with his duty and ignored their questionable actions upon realizing this situation was not worth his interference. Ferase, perhaps, never even turned to make contact with that guard and shoved the metal fence open. Descending upon a nearby embankment, the view opens to a narrow, misty street, hazily illuminated by dim street lanterns. They hung low on three story cement houses, joined together in compact rows that stretched several alleyways deep. It was eerily quiet.

    Still in low spirits, TianXing found a soft patch of even grass and sat down with Eddisson cradled in her arms.

    Ferase positioned himself boldly at the center of the single lane road and crossed his arms in impatience.

    A few minutes had already passed and there was still no one. While TianXing was on the verge of instantaneous slumber.

    However, just moments later, the sound of galloping hooves rang in Ferase¡¯s ears as his face brightened. Immediately, he alerted TianXing with a shout and the two stood cautiously while the carriage pulled closer to the side.

    The driver of the sheltered black carriage signalled a confirmation for the both of them and they immediately made haste. The given hand sign indicated that he was the appointed transport and the driver himself, a man of short stature and barely in his early twenties, was proven to be a serviceman associated with the now-collapsed White Ink business. A person who was plentifully reasonable to trust their final journey with.

    The horses raced across the darkness.

    He controlled the reins with precision and the carriage sped past hidden ¡®mouse¡¯ routes and winding back alleys. All intentions were to further delay the inevitable. that the Kiefrurpez would track them down in a city on the other side of the world.

    With another whack of his whip, the horses took the shape turn, approaching an opening. The carriage dashed over the arched stone bridge over a water stream, with its shadows growing deeper and longer in the moonlight.

    ¡°They¡¯re here¡­¡±

    Ferase cursed a low growl.

    ¡°Who¡­Are they the¡­assailants from before?¡±

    TianXing¡¯s eyes remained bleak.

    His brows frowned.

    ¡°Driver! How much longer!?¡±

    ¡°Soon, Sir!¡±

    Sounded his accented voice of a foreign language.

    The horses yelped in fright and accelerated once more.

    It was the final stretch of alleyway.

    ¡°...¡±

    Ferase could sense the ongoing pursuers.

    But, he never planned on taking them on.

    The two hostile parties are in a civilian district with a spared innocence to this in-house conflict. Surely, even with their freedom to operate on foreign land, there must be only so much that the Mayor would let them do. That was why he could only grip his cane in worry.

    ¡°Nearing close!¡±

    The driver alerted.

    Conveyed with the message, Ferase scurried to the back of the carriage and brandished his cane to the black shadows.

    With a glow of the sapphire gemstone, the presence of the shadows ceased to exist.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    With their elimination, there was a sliver of hope that the next several minutes would go ahead uninformed for the overseer.

    ---

    Back several seconds ago, there was one among many that slipped into the black and ran as fast as racing horses. The assassin, like his other subordinates, donned a dark gray scaled leather and tough black cloth. On his side, a belt of daggers served the figure¡¯s main weapon.

    Jerking sideways from crates of vegetables, they resumed pace, unknowing of their demise.

    At a certain distance away, an intangible vertical layer of air stood tall, reaching past the tips of the rooftops of the parallel cement dwellings. Unaware of objects with the extremist properties, the assassins eventually reached the ¡®zone¡¯ of Ferase¡¯s trap. The wall of air solidified in an instant and folded into every assassin like a blanket. Wrapping the flexible wall of air around the assassins, in much help to their superior speed, it was now their downfall. The assassins soon found themselves entrapped in a semi-solid air mould and they froze in pose. The mould began to shrink, compacting the tight bodies of the assassins even further as they felt their insides crushed from the supposed ¡®atmosphere¡¯.

    From the outside, the mould was transparent.

    As such, a passing dog nearby just saw people emerging from darkness and were hastily crushed and mushed into a viscous paste of fluids and biomass. All occurred within a blink of the eye.

    That ¡®floating¡¯ bubble of maroon then felt the hand of gravity and their splattered remains dyed the alley a putrid rust iron red.

    The dog, whimpering, ran in the opposite direction and remembered to never come to this place ever again.

    .

    .

    .

    The carriage and its occupants. Only one knew of the murders that happened back there, but this would never faze the old wizard. His sense spread far and wide and to his relief, no one else was within his vicinity. Unless, that individual was much more skilled in reducing his presence.

    Finally, the carriage rocked to a halt.

    ¡°We¡¯re here!¡±

    The driver informed the passengers.

    TianXing was the first to step down the carriage, along with Eddisson in hand. Raising her neck, she was soon greeted to a plain sight of a small pub and hostel. Dimly lit and waning wooden structures, this was the perfect place to remain hidden.

    The double doors swung open and appearing through the curtains was a familiar sight.

    ¡°Mr Waiter!¡±

    TianXing never thought she would see him again and she fell into Mr Tai¡¯s hands.

    Apparently, she thought Mr Tai would not make it.

    The former head waiter had a change of clothes, sporting a dull colour palette of a double layer tunic and pants. Several bandages and spots of ointment were visible on his distraught face.

    Hesitant at first by her actions, the middle-aged man gave in to the woman¡¯s demands and patted her on the back like one does for a child. He was not the person to tear up if possible. Nonetheless, he could not deny his fragile emotional state, even if this was something that constantly rang in the back of his mind ever since the beginning when he became associated with this abnormal woman. Only that, his fears were originally targeted towards the White Crane Martial Clan. Who would have thought that she would cause a scandal that rang ears in a foreign state?

    He wearily smirked at that humorous thought.

    ¡°Young Maiden, you have come a long way¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m back¡­But¡­¡±

    Her face grew red once more.

    ¡°...You¡¯ve¡­You¡¯ve done your best. No one would have survived that long against the enemy¡­unless that someone is you.¡±

    Mr Tai tried to calm her down.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°So please, rest yourself inside for now.¡±

    Even without a response, she shuffled herself into the building with the assistance of several waiters on standby where her safety was guaranteed. The driver, who already got off his spot, closed the doors behind him.

    Now, only the two of them remained outside. The Head secretary of White Ink and the Personal butler of Hamilton Claure von Kiefrurpez. Their old selves felt the gale passing through their still bodies as they maintained their gaze.

    ¡°...¡±

    Mr Tai was the first to break contact, pulling out wrapped cloth from his chest pocket.

    ¡°You will be needing this right?¡± He held it out for him.

    Slowly, Ferase grabbed hold of the package.

    Loosening the ropes, it revealed a dull, matt black robe. Feeling the manufacturing and sowing, Ferase realized this was also an imported good. Possibly, a robe with magical properties.

    ¡°I thank you, Mr Tai. I¡¯m sure it was not an easy task to obtain this.¡±

    ¡°I promised you earlier, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°...I apologize for those harsh words back at the docks. It never crossed my mind that we already had a contingency plan until after I dealt with those murderers.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself, Ferase. It¡¯s already split milk.¡±

    ¡°...¡± The old butler began to wear it.

    ¡°Also, I give my condolences for Master Hamilton¡¯s passing.¡±

    This froze Ferase for a moment before he could continue to reply. It was obvious Ferase has not recovered from that realization.

    ¡°Did you recover his body?¡±

    ¡°No¡­the Lady has not told me anything. But, I can only assume that Hamilton sacrificed himself for her escape. An honourable way to Heaven, I¡¯d say.¡±

    The butler approached the carriage.

    ¡°And you are doing the same?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Looking back at Mr Tai for the last time before climbing up the driver¡¯s seat, Ferase smiled.

    ¡°The Kiefrurpez are hot on our tails. I will serve as a distraction while you escape this wretched city.¡±

    ¡°I pity the Lady. Two losses in one night, both possibly to never be found. How does one live with that?¡±

    ¡°...Tell her my goodbyes when she¡¯s in good health. And to you too, Mr Tai.¡±

    Ferase held out his right hand. His gloves were nowhere to be seen.

    Immediately, Mr Tai returned the gesture, gripping his firmly.

    ¡°I will, Ferase Edelane.¡±

    ¡°Gladly.¡±

    What came next was the sound of whips and the cries of horses as the carriage picked up speed into the darkness. The back of his fluttering robe was the last Mr Tai saw of the butler. Soon, only he remained, silent in the center of that desolated, muddy road.

 Chapter 32: Sorcerer, Knight and Cultivator [Part 2]

    The carriage rattled past more alleys and cut past courts and home gardens. Sounds of the wide-open streets could now be heard in the bustling nightlife. Another jerk of a turn, and the horses entered a multi-lane route.

    Expanding his senses, Ferase finally felt the shadows creeping close. They were not only behind him in pursuit; numerous targets were also rushing in from the other directions and all Ferase could do was to race past them. As he did, the carriage¡¯s roof splintered into bits. A large portion of the support beam fell onto the side pavement and a wheel was sliced in half. Fortunately, with the robe worn alongside his preventive magick, not a blade managed to scratch him. Despite his safety, a horse was beheaded while another burned alive.

    The last two ran uncontrollably wild. Helpless, Ferase watched on.

    Together, the battered carriage charged straight ahead, crashing over a rickshaw and a passing food cart, before sliding to a halt at a city junction. Otherwise considered a town square.

    The remains of a carriage toppled over to a corner and caught ablaze. The clean walk routes were covered with blood and ash, amidst the rush of evacuating alarmed residents. The four horses lay dead in pieces, scattered about the flat circular concourse.

    As for Ferase, he found himself lying upon the base of the sole structure of this particular town square. It was a central fountain, whose porcelain statue was reduced to rubble in that chaos, and water leaked out from underneath.

    ¡°wuuuooo¡­¡±

    He exhaled a deep breath.

    Ferase looked up high in the sky as he rose from his crash.

    The night was just as black and empty. Starless and cloudless.

    Surrounding him was a clear landscape, tiled in wondrous shapes and patterns, that stretched far from the nearest stores and intersection entries for every major street. Now, it appeared as a dark shade to him.

    ¡®Perhaps it was a good thing I ended up here.¡¯

    Like this, he could give his all to anyone that comes.

    And he was right.

    The shadows emerged out of the circle of lamp posts at the very edge of the concourse. They donned similar outfits to those that he killed back at the docks and alleyways. Associates of the Kiefrurpez.

    ¡°heh¡­¡± He was exasperated.

    Knowing that the 8 groups of paired assassins encircled this old man, Ferase appeared lax and summoned an item he had never planned on using ever.

    The shadows remained still as they saw a small glass vile of bright scarlet appeared on his palm.

    Breaking the top, the butler drank it full, tasting a deep sense of sweet iron.

    At first, he felt no change until moments later, Ferase felt his hairs on the edge. Blood circulated faster than ever and his eyes strained from the surge of energy building up within him. Veins popped from his wrinkly, freckled skin and his neck flushed red.

    It was rejuvenating.

    Never had he felt so young at this age. It was the first he used this and probably his last.

    Another sigh came out of his heated breath.

    However, there was something that bothered him.

    Strangely, this was the best time when he was the most vulnerable to attacks but these assassins never proceeded with the killing.

    ¡®What were they thinking?¡¯

    As he turned around to examine the others, Ferase then realized their actions.

    Their bodies suddenly inflated like a forced balloon. Their bodies and limbs tore open with sheer force and were deceased from there. Their airborne fluids quickly twirled into the other, producing eight total makeshift, naturally occurring magick circles.

    Ferase tried to cancel them out as soon as possible but these ones resisted. Resulting from his failures was a spread of black smog that engulfed the area around him as he stood guard.

    The smog blocked his senses but he could make out faint sounds of rhythmic clanking of metal and the motion of a large crowd.

    The tips of halberds jutted out of the retreating smoke and they eventually sank to the ground. What was once devoid of life was now filled with men of war.

    Overall, he counted eight platoons of fifteen with a side of four for each. They were displaced across space and time from one of the numerous fortresses of the Kiefrurpez into this very town square. With him at the eye of the storm, the platoons were landed onto an octagonal encirclement formation. From all sides, Ferase saw knights, decked in full suits of armour and chainmail. They left no gaping holes nor blind spots. A special few wore full cloaks of dark purple and blue, positioning themselves as those of command.

    Behind every group, four sorcerers were lined in a row. Unlike the knights, armour was limited to their most vital points with padded robes making the rest of their uniform.

    ¡°...¡±

    Ferase took a step forward.

    Immediately, the knights brandished their halberds in unison and the sorcerers raised their staves. Pulses of energy surrounded the ends.

    In retaliation, Ferase unleashed a surge of intimidating pressure. All one hundred and fifty-two assailants felt as if a tonne slab of rock was to befall upon them. Some resisted more so than others. One commander, unidentified by his sleek helmet and mask, unsheathed his pristine sword of glimmering gray and approached with the man that served the Kiefrurpez¡¯s eldest.

    ¡®What a man.¡¯

    The commander thought. He has heard of who Ferase was for all his life. To now witness and battle him at last¡­

    How has he fallen from grace? The prestige that everyone yearns for in their entire livelihoods. Why has he discarded it with such passion in his eyes?¡¯

    In his eyes, this old burnt man in a battered robe and sooted white formal attire, with hair unkempt like a mad man; what a juxtaposition to his venerable fighting spirit. The commander said his words.

    ¡°Sir Edelane, the Kiefrurpez Head orders you to reconsider his offer for the second time. Forgone your departed master and serve the right. It would be a waste to eliminate talent such as yours truly. Especially by the very men of your Master.¡±

    ¡°My stance still remains, Sir Knight.¡±

    Ferase informed.

    He then summoned his wooden cane and implanted it to the ground in a display of defiance.

    Shocked by this unreasonable decision, the commander added a few words of his own.

    ¡°Perhaps, Sir Edelane requires some conditions for his own benefit. Why not revise your earlier statement? The Head might be more lenient to a retired sorcerer who served the house for all his life.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°I¡¯m immovable, Sir Knight. Rather than pointless bloodshed, what about leaving me and the Lady alone? What has she done to deserve this trouble?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m uninformed of all the details. Nor do I have a say in this dispute regardless.¡±

    ¡®At the very least, the Lady would no longer be of their attention.¡¯

    Ferase cheered.

    ¡°A Knight¡¯s Code, huh¡­¡±

    ¡°So, I follow His Head. Hence!¡±

    The commander raised his blade to eye level. His dark purple cloak flew amidst the winds.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do what I must!¡±

    ¡°CHARGE!¡±

    ¡°ATTACK!¡±

    ¡°SORCERERS! TAKE AIM!¡±

    In unison, the platoons shouted their cries of battle.

    Walls of chalk white armor rushed towards the center.

    Most of them had already received temporary increments to their strength and speed from some of the specialized sorcerers. In spite of the tremendous weight of Ferase¡¯s pressure, they pushed through with grit. But¡­

    ¡°Listen¡­¡±

    Ferase¡¯s veins grew definitive and his eyes had a tinge of red.

    ¡°It would take more than this to stop a wizard like myself!¡±

    He held his palm out towards the sky with vigour and his ring practically shone with brilliance.

    ¡°RELEASE!¡±

    As they closed in, several blocks of solid air appeared in the blank of night, right above him. For a second as the knights and sorcerers glimpse overhead, the sight of blurring projectiles of lava, waves of pulsing arrows in a coat of blue aura and multiple flying swords on the brink of exploding, all apparently ¡®frozen¡¯ in time, brought along an overcast of dread across the platoons in its path.

    In that moment, the sorcerers moved to unleash their attacks, hoping to counter the onslaught, while the knights helplessly braced for impact.

    With a firm grip of his cane, the air casings dissipated, returning to the atmosphere where it was once taken. The projectiles held on to their original momentum and instantly accelerated to immeasurable speeds as Ferase descended ¡®hellfire¡¯ upon his adversaries. The sorcerers¡¯ meagre spells of ice lances and spreads of concentrated lightning fell short of stopping any one of those attacks and was overridden indifferently.

    There were no screams.

    Either they died faster than their tongues moved or the resulting explosions and chaos deafened everyone within the premise of the town square alongside the outlier buildings. Tremors and aftershocks soon followed as those that were unharmed now stood frozen in fear. They all had heard about the old man¡¯s power, but never how he got it. Yet now, they had no clue.

    As the smoke sets aside, the commander, who miraculously survived, scanned the entire battlefield. And his wishes were crushed mercilessly.

    More than half of the forces that were here minutes before were now all unrecognizable corpses. Many armour pieces were cracked to pieces, limbs scattered everywhere and for the others, the metal melted into the crisped flesh of his victims.

    ¡°s¡­slaughter¡­a massacre-¡±

    At that moment he fazed, the commander let his guard down.

    Inside his bevor, the air that wrapped around his neck sped up in circles, growing hotter and sharper until it sliced his defenceless neck from the body.

    In his final moments, the commander felt he was airborne as his eyes settled to a wooden cane-oriented upside down.

    A thump and blood spout later, his neck wound was cauterized and his well-toned body slump lifelessly to the ground.

    ¡°...¡±

    But, Ferase was not done yet.

    His attention soon laid at the scattered positions of the other sorcerers, to which he easily relocated. Only 10 remained.

    ¡°Dammit!¡±

    Feeling his murderous intent, one pair readied their defences, a wall of flames and interlocking shells of pure ¡®energy¡¯ respectively. Normally one must pierce these shields before reaching them but it was the atmosphere that Ferase controls.

    Unbeknownst to them, it was a wasteful endeavour and their heads were sent flying.

    Some knights continued their sole attacks, while others teamed up with the others and operated in teams as trained from birth. More coloured projectiles rained down upon the old sorcerer, while blades of sharpened iron aimed for his vitals. Halberds thrusted in his way and hooks swung to pin and entrap.

    With a mixture of solid walls of air, temporary air lifts and combat experience, Ferase weaved past all harm like he used to in his prime. In his wake, multiple more heads went airborne. Some had their blades sliced into two while others had entire limbs disarmed. It does not matter if they had reinforced spiritual energy throughout their body. Ferase¡¯s sorcery would only be delayed by a mere few seconds.

    Once he landed on the ground, a group of three wizards were preparing a huge bolt of lightning behind him.

    ¡°Take this, you bastard!¡±

    The arrow blitzed towards his head but two layers of solid air destroyed its foundation.

    Simultaneously, their heads paid the ultimate price.

    Death.

    .

    .

    .

    Rows of halberds attempted a pincer attack but thickened slabs of air crushed their tips and several human blood fountains emerged. Taking the opportunity, a rageful knight closed the distance to close quarters combat. Coated with spiritual energy, his heavy axe carried its momentum and broke past several air shields and deflected a powered blade of air.

    Surprised, Ferase slid under his forward horizontal swing and pointed his cane to the back of his cape. Two more cloaked knights also entered the fray, hoping to overwhelm the old wizard in his blind spots. The axe broke its intended course as his arms tensed, jerking to an upward diagonal slash.

    Three fatal attacks¡­and three hardened air slashes met close to his skin. Just barely grazing the wizard as the blows were deflected off course.

    Ferase then tried to aim for their heads, successfully only removing the latter two.

    The knight with the axe had reinforced spiritual energy at this obvious killing zone.

    ¡°Yaahh!¡±

    The knight returned with another onslaught of twirling slashes. His form was a wild whirlwind and Ferase nearly got trapped in a leg lock from the knight¡¯s aggressive stances. Another white streak, and the wizard sidestepped to the side. Normally, his wilting body would crumple under such manoeuvres, but the vial removed those limiters for the time being.

    He deflected another swing of the knight¡¯s axe and it struck the ground in a huge crater. With haste, Ferase retreated to increase his distance. To the side, a nearby witch prepared another tunnel of slashing winds once Ferase landed. Still recovering his fatigue, he failed to react in time. Ferase could only soften the blow with a preliminary air shield as he endured the sharp gales head on. Numerous cuts formed all over his body and his wrinkles were outlined with fresh red. It was a thousand shearing stings all at once.

    Even so, they left him no rest. The knight took his chance and launched forward, unleashing another charged strike in retaliation. The growing hurricane rushed relentlessly towards the old sorcerer. But it was because he was tenacious, he had survived this long.

    Ferase strained his body further; he felt his veins bursting.

    Spreading out his arms towards the two combatants, Ferase unleashed his spells.

    The bulking mass of a knight was quickly encased within a block of solid air, breaking his advance, while the witch¡¯s head finally went airborne.

    ¡®now!¡¯

    Ferase struck the sapphire gemstone onto the block, emitting microscopic vibrations. Seconds later, the block cracked and all that remained of that skilled knight was a powdered mess of elements.

    Now, only a third of the total force remained alive, and Ferase was not going to leave any cup unturned. Now that the adrenaline was still surging in his bloodstream¡­

    ¡®All risks must be suppressed!¡¯

    As such, Ferase quickly sprung up back onto his feet and brandished his cane onto the next wave of assailants. His mind cleared, and the call for Magick, he heard it well once more.

    Ferase felt the air around their necks and did the usual routine for the night.

    Five more were sent flying.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Deflected.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    Decapitated.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Ferase felt another one.

    ¡®He survived?¡¯

    A chilling sensation.

    A warrior¡¯s instinct.

    A death waiver.

    His senses ran wild and the ranger met its mark. A purple flash blurred his vision as Ferase twisted his body fast to deflect a powerful strike of a blade with another reinforced air slash.

    Unfortunately, it broke through, shattering like glass and it tore deep into his left shoulder blade. A deep gush appeared in bloody scarlet as Ferase retreated to increase their distance. His breath grew exasperated and dried; gasping desperately for air. His heartbeat surged in fright.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe my eyes, Sir Edelane.¡±

    A man of tall stature appeared before him.

    ¡°wha¡­¡±

    And Ferase¡¯s eyes glared back.

    ¡°That attack was clearly a finishing move, a sure-fire way for a permanent stay to Heaven.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Or in your case, HELL!¡±

    The swordsman stuck his sword to the ground. His face darkened.

    ¡°But both of those no longer matter, yet.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°You survived!¡±

    He smirked.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°But not for the second time.¡±

    A murderous aura filled his venerable voice.

 Chapter 32: Sorcerer, Knight and Cultivator [Part 3]

    Currently, the plaza was a mess. Numerous craters and cracks riddled the once fabulously decorated tiled floors. A piece of land was vaporized and the fountain was reduced to minor debris. Piles of human remains littered the place at various heights, with individual heads being a commonplace occurrence. Only fourteen of the original one hundred and fifty-two remained and those that survived unscathed with minor injuries could only be counted on one finger.

    The man in front of him was not of those fourteen.

    It appeared that he just entered the battle space because¡­

    ¡®If a man of his power were to have been here from the very beginning, I would have reacted accordingly.¡¯

    Ferase never sensed this man¡¯s presence until now, and he could not help but be slightly disappointed at this failure. Yet, he was surprised. He recognised this swordsman.

    A mesomorph body, donned in an olive green gambeson that reached his ankles like a trench coat and parted at the centre, with his glossy light Gray Armor consisting of an angular breastplate and gorget, wide lion-moulded pauldrons inscripted with golden outlines, layered metal plates across his entire upper arm and ending with winged vambraces of a griffin and clawed gauntlets. A skirt of chainmail draped underneath his belt fastenings and he wore pants made of thick brown leather. Completing his set was a pair of lion-moulded polyenes and greaves. His boots were lined with scaled metal plates.

    In his grip, he loosely placed his black gloved hands on the pommel. The entire hilt was made of one metal curved piece and was polished to a shimmering silver. An industrial handguard rested beneath, sporting a simple and sleek outline of a straight cross. As for the blade that was a length longer than his arm, it held the same brilliance as the pommel, featuring a particularly deep fuller. The man¡¯s longsword was like a rod of silver jewellery in Ferase¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­You¡¯re¡­¡±

    ¡°I am glad that this face is still in remembrance of a sorcerer like yours truly.¡±

    As such, the man removed his helmet. Another elegant design of shining metal.

    ¡°Sir Serisan¡­Did they send you here?¡±

    ¡°I came here via steamship. It took me a while to get here from my base of operations and wow¡­you¡¯ve exceeded my imaginations.¡±

    The man of late forties told him as he scanned around the premises.

    ¡°...¡±

    Serisan appeared different to when Ferase last saw him. Now, he grew quite the beard on his squared jaw. A tone of light peach skin contrasted best with short spiky jet-black hair. Wrinkles were beginning to show under his eyes and forehead.

    ¡°You have come a long way, Sir Serisan. I can tell¡­¡±

    This next battle would be the hardest.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for the pleasantries, Sir Edelane. Or should I say, The Intangible Guillotine.¡±

    ¡°...I abandoned that name decades ago. What is your objective in bringing up that past?¡±

    ¡°It truly was a tale of blood, one that was driven out of necessity. But¡­as your former assistant and trainee, I cherished those moments much more-¡±

    Serisan frowned.

    ¡°-than those decades of waste where you slowly cripple into a disciplined slave for the Eldest.¡±

    ¡°Still gripped over the realization that he had no talent for swordsmanship?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say I deny giving that any malice.¡±

    ¡°My Master has already met the grave, so why not-¡±

    ¡°Listen, Sir Edelane.¡±

    In a clean twirl of his sword, Serisan flourished his blade forward.

    ¡°Now that that girl¡¯s life¡¯s work is up in flames, that concubine is no longer of interest.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°The Eldest was deemed a lost cause. And relations with the Arsenaults soured. The Head has lost quite a lot in the Eldest¡¯s antics. Hence, he does not want to lose you.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Will you yield?¡±

    ¡°I decline.¡±

    His expression was steadfast.

    ¡°...What a pity, Sir Edelane. I truly wish we can continue to battle like in the old days¡­under the banner of the glorious Kiefrurpez!¡±

    ¡°....!¡±

    Torrents of pressure erupted from Serisan¡¯s core, even overmatching Ferase¡¯s very own.

    ¡°To have survived this long against a trained battalion of a mixed group of sorcerers and knights at this age, I adore you for that.¡±

    ¡°...Darn¡­¡±

    ¡°Makes me feel more satisfied if I can beat you at this strength! After all¡­WE HAVEN¡¯T SPARRED IN DECADES!!!¡±

    A swelling pit of joy, excitement and vexation spiralled chaotically within the core of Serisan¡¯s spirit. And as he approached the backing wizard, his eyes glowed a deep amethyst.

    ¡®NO!¡¯

    Ferase was worried about this stage of a knight¡¯s journey and especially if he were to go against one in his ailing condition.

    A shockwave after!

    ¡°Whooow¡­¡±

    Serisan breathed.

    The swordsman has entered the ¡®zone¡¯.

    All that they acknowledged was their ¡®world¡¯.

    A manifestation of their wills to reality.

    And a direct counter to a sorcerer¡¯s ¡®omniscience¡¯.

    ¡®Omnipresence¡¯

    The fact that Serisan has unlocked this self-actualization; Ferase could not help but be proud of his former disciple¡­

    .

    .

    .

    The ground shook as Serisan blitzed forward. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Ferase sidestepped in the nick of time but his pristine blade split apart a section of his beard and left another deep cut on his right cheek.

    ¡°Excellent.¡±

    Serisan celebrated with a stern look.

    And he followed back with another thrust to Ferase¡¯s dominant hand.

    ¡°tch!¡±

    Immediately, Ferase took flight, avoiding the strike altogether. As he soared higher into the night, Ferase unleashed a wide scale spell, hoping to entrap Serisan amongst the others in an enormous frozen block of air.

    ¡®With his speed, if I were to cast it individually, there would be a high chance it would miss!¡¯

    However, as Ferase was about to activate the mechanism, a blur of purple light shot right at him. Serisan had unfortunately predicted Ferase¡¯s actions and lifted himself to higher levels. The floor cracked underneath him. Within his trajectory, Ferase failed to dodge in time and instead, was met by his longsword with a hastily made five layers of reinforced solid air. Once the thrust made contact, a chain reaction occurred and purple pulses shattered the barriers set within seconds.

    ¡°YAH!!¡±

    And the blade grazed Ferase¡¯s side by a significant amount. Grabbing the old wizard by the end of his tattered robe, Serisan twisted his body and using his momentum, launched the sorcerer speeding back down. Ferase gave no resistance.

    Breaking the landing with some uplift, Ferase managed to slide away from the upcoming descent of Serisan¡¯s downward slash. Clouds of dust soon settled, showing off a deep gorge on the ground in front of him.

    ¡®Shit!¡¯

    Another blitz, another cut. This time, it was Ferase¡¯s right thigh, but thankfully, not as severe.

    ¡°Amazing, Sir Edelane!¡±

    The swordsman continued to shower him with praise as Ferase narrowly dodged the next few attacks; with each one resulting in a much lighter cut. Ferase was finally adapting to his rhythm.

    ¡°Hah!¡±

    Serisan halted his current dash midway and settled for a wall of thrusts. Prepared, Ferase propelled himself away before it landed using added wind thrust. Getting close behind him, the wizard unleashed a power push of tearing gales. In haste, Serisan flipped overhead and smoothly landed behind him once more. Without breaking motion, his longsword twirled in for an extended trust to his chest. As the tip closed in, a myriad of pressurized air slashes erupted out in all directions from the sorcerer, shoving Serisan back as he refocused on obtaining solid ground. The attack never landed and in front of the stationary Ferase, his force winds accidentally tore down a block of houses.

    Closing his eyes, Ferase stomped his cane onto the cracked floor. As he felt Serisan¡¯s presence getting ever closer, Ferase heightened his mental capacity.

    Reaching out with a simple, yet deadly horizontal slash for the torso, just as Serisan¡¯s blade touched his skin, he felt that weird sensation. It was as if he was moving without a sense of distance.

    A perplexing sensation.

    And, time began to accelerate around him.

    The signature blue crystal at the tip of Ferase¡¯s cane crashed hard onto a transparent surface, emitting out tortuous vibrations. His armor was being bombarded by countless collisions every living moment, and soon it would be his very skin. Ferase had calculated his predicted whereabouts despite numerous countermeasures Serisan had taken. Variable speed, randomized route patterns and time intervals between such manoeuvres. He had taken all of that into account.

    Serisan could see Ferase¡¯s face turn paler by the minute and his eyes were bloodshot. He must end this quickly. To which, it humoured the swordsman. Further coating his body with this purple hue of energy, his body stepped forward, pressing against the cane.

    ¡°what¡­!¡±

    Serisan broke out of the atmospheric cage and he raised his longsword once more. Purple hues rose from its hilt as it fell upon the bewildered sorcerer. In its wake, a large portion of housing was split in half.

    ¡°s-shit¡­¡±

    Turning to his left side, Serisan saw the wounded wizard laying on the ground in agony. Blood gushed out in sporadic squirts. A distance before him, his left arm, cleanly sliced, laid in a pool of blood. Slowly, Serisan approached him while releasing his cracked armour. A final chat, he would say.

    ¡°I won, Sir Edelane. I injured you.¡±

    ¡°F-Floyd¡­¡±

    His face grew disoriented.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°Floyd¡­Haa¡­I see. Your ¡®world¡¯ is strong. Impressive, uck¡­¡±

    Blood fell from his dried lips.

    ¡°I suppose this is the end. Right now, I truly wonder if I could have won in a face off against Sir Edelane in his prime.¡±

    ¡°Hah¡­I truly got rusty over the years. Ed¡­¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°BUT!¡±

    The old man balanced himself awkwardly as he got up. Still gripping firmly onto his trusted cane, he flourished it aggressively back at the swordsman. Serisan¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°Let me die a true death, just like my Master.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯ll end this.¡±

    In silence, Serisan thrust forward a blade of purple.

    He missed.

    The trajectory changed and he was met with the ring of flames around his neck. As expected, it only left burnt marks, barely fazing him as Serisan closed the distance. Applying his special sword styles, the first ever in this fight against his teacher, Serisan¡¯s blades of purple surged out like a raging river filled with hostile eels.

    It was a wild display of refined sword prowess.

    Surprisingly, Ferase remained level-headed despite his agonizing wound. For every route the river took, howling gales swept the land, devoiding it of life. Powerful condensed air slashes parried Serisan¡¯s every move, from the thrusts to slashes. It was as though the old sorcerer wielded a sword, rather than sorcery. Ferase¡¯s cane remained unwavering and continued to direct blows towards the attacking knight. Soon, Serisan finally saw it.

    The pinnacle of Ferase¡¯s ¡®Omniscience¡¯. .

    ¡®He has reached it once more.¡¯

    Arteries popped as Ferase grinned gleefully.

    Upcoming sword strikes continued advancing, and each one was repelled back by a superior force. Air slashes of immeasurable heat flew in doves towards Serisan. Several hit, leaving serious lacerations across skin and armour. More and more slashes eventually glowed bright scarlet, bombarding the swordsman¡¯s defensive stances. It was Ferase going on overdrive. This was his¡­

    ¡°crescent-seeking plasmic sickles¡­How have I missed these?¡±

    He smirked in exasperation at the horrid nostalgia.

    And Ferase continued his onslaught of those plasmic blades, pushing back the swordsman. His purple coating of ¡®Omnipresence¡¯ barely held on against its superior damage.

    A forgotten attack abandoned by the Intangible Guillotine himself.

    ¡°Now, urgh! Now, that¡¯s more like it!¡±

    Serisan¡¯s eyes sparkled even brighter.

    Tensing his energies, Serisan pushed through. Shades of purple grew darker and he flushed bright red. Steam seeped from his exposed skin. Closer and closer, his blade was now in reach of Ferase¡¯s cane. It was time to end this.

    Flourishing his soaring longsword for a downward diagonal slash, he raised his arms, leaving an unexpected opening. A sickle broke through, striking his right eye and scattering pulses of spiritual purple.

    ¡°RAAAAHHH!¡±

    Trading one for the other, the beloved sorcery cane of the great Ferase fractured into half. Ferase had failed to react in time and the sapphire crystal cracked upon contact. In the end, Serisan¡¯s longsword tapped the ground in accomplishment.

    Living his final moments, Ferase charged straight for Serisan¡¯s head with a final plasmic sickle. The old sorcerer still had much fighting spirit within him.

    ¡°Come on, Floyd! Don¡¯t stop there!¡±

    And Ferase never had to tell him twice. Besides being the faster of the two, the swordsman also held the longer reach, whilst the sickle barely maintained any cohesive form.

    Serisan lodged his silvery purple blade into Ferase¡¯s skeletal chest.

    Finally, he had truly won.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Silence immediately fell upon the arena.

    Now, it was only the two of them in their world.

    The duo heard it all.

    The dripping of blood.

    The spasm of the muscles.

    Their irregular heartbeats.

    Ferase smiled as his bloodied eyes grew bleak.

    He was a blend of two in his final minutes, before slumping lifelessly over Serisans¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°It was an eye worth sacrificing¡­¡±

    The wound cauterized, leaving a black scar amongst dried maroon.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    .

    .

    .

    Afterwards, the remaining fourteen knights gathered around the body as they packed it up within a special artifact, alongside his treasured cane, to be displaced back to the main House once they reached the embassy. Ignoring the damage caused or the few passers-by that snuck in for a closer look, Serisan led them out of the town square with Ferase¡¯s body in tow. He still held his blade out in the open, dried with the remains of his teacher¡¯s heart. He felt proud.

    That¡¯s when the group halted in their tracks.

    Serisan at the front, held his hand in nonaggression.

    He now sensed it. Multiple airborne targets a street away, gazing like hawks from all directions. Right in front of them, it must be their leader.

    It was a man of lean stature and wore no hard armor. To Serisan, he appeared more of a wizard than a warrior, donning flowy wide sleeves and long robes of white and turquoise that fluttered in the windy darkness. His silky dark brown hair flowed graciously as he gave the foreigners a stern expression. At his hip, a layered ultramarine sash held his one-handed jian, coated with a glossy bronze finish. Interlocking both hands together, he gave Serisan a martial salute.

    ¡°Per agreement with your lord, you are free to leave with his body, and we shall address the collateral damage dealt accordingly. We take full charges for redevelopment.¡±

    ¡°..¡±

    ¡°Thus, hand over your part of the cooperation.¡±

    The martial master held his hand out.

    Even if Serisan was unable to make sense of the mysterious man¡¯s words, he got the gist of what was going on and pulled out a bundle of sealed letters from his dimensional ring. Diplomatically, they exchanged the documents in good will.

    Following the Knight¡¯s code and the Orthodox etiquette respectively, the knight and cultivator bowed for each other¡¯s participation and collaboration, before leaving their separate ways.

    The cultivator approached the town square.

    While the knight and his entourage returned to the Manustrion Principality Embassy.

    Chaos has finally ended in this eventful night of ShanWei.

    The City of International Commerce.

 Chapter 33 : Welcome Home [Part 1]

    ¡°I never got the chance to give my final farewells.¡±

    The frail woman softly spoke.

    ¡°...¡±

    Across her, her brother looked on with an indescribable expression.

    ¡°Once I entered that shabby inn, all I remembered was that they laid me down on a bed in one of the rooms and I blacked out immediately. And if I was not mistaken, I was out for a consecutive eleven days. While all that was happening, the maids nursed me back to health.

    ¡­I then asked Mr Tai that morning, ¡®What happened to Ferase? Is he alright?¡¯.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    TianXing chuckled in grief.

    ¡°The look on his somber eyes. A face full of burnt marks. It¡¯s imprinted deeply in my mind.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°He said, ¡°Butler Ferase went to accompany his Master.¡¯ I¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I¡­I ran. I tried to, but the maids pleaded with me otherwise.¡±

    ¡°what happened¡­¡±

    Came the mutter of the overwhelmed Eddisson. The realization that came from the news of his absent father¡¯s death and the manner in which he departed. It was an arduous amount for a nine-year old to swallow. Even so, that young boy clinged back to reality and tried his best to further understand his beloved mother¡¯s situation. Albeit, more of his heart would break.

    ¡°For the next several weeks, things settled back in ShanWei and my accomplices no longer saw any sights of those belonging to the Kiefrurpez house.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°However, as with how the both of us came to be¡­Heaven never left me be. My trials of life remained a tragedy.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Apparently, the ShanWei City Council was in cooperation with the Keifrurpez and, while the Kiefrurpez had their fill of my suffering, the City Council had other ambitions.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Hazy onyx irises glanced towards his way. Yet, he remained stationary.

    ¡°The establishment of White Ink had such an influence on the working class, that it sent alarms all over the Council board. Now that I have nothing, they were out to send a message to any future replicates.

    They never wanted another fetus of a monopoly like my own.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°They blacklisted me.¡±

    She smirked in exasperation.

    ¡°...¡±

    In spite of this news, YaoMing kept his silence. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°...Anyhow, this public decree left numerous impressions. I recall the horrendous display of my ink illustration across social boards and posters. I was wanted.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°This also meant that I was essentially trapped in that dreaded place. With constant manhunts and tightened border security, I had to rely on the Triad. Yet, misfortunes met my every turn as I lacked the necessary funds to even gain a briefing. My accounts and assets were either destroyed or frozen by the Central Bank.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Initially, Mr Tai remained loyal to me and readily assisted me in adjusting to my secret life, but even he once narrowly escaped death by the Police Guard. They surely are not to be underestimated.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I was heartbroken by this news and promptly dismissed him of his duty despite his resolute opposition. I¡­I can¡¯t have another one of mine be killed for my sake!¡±

    She feebly clenched her bony fist.

    ¡°So, I sent him off with a duty for his family.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Recounting back, it was not the farewell that I had hoped for. In the end, I left the inn with Eddisson in hand on worse terms.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...Br-Given my circumstances, I was an outcast¡­And, what better place would there be to accept people like myself besides the infamous Red-Light District¡­¡±

    ¡°....¡±

    Once again, TianXing tried to play it off with a forced tease. In vain, she looked away in disgrace.

    ¡°And as I expected, only a small-time brothel welcomed my employment.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Despite her hesitation, TianXing continued her shameless tale.

    ¡°I was placed under the lowest label¡­After all, no man would want to sleep with an aging married woman with an accompanying child for the market price of a ¡®virgin¡¯ princess.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...To make ends meet, I began to¡­spread my repertoire. Eventually, I was barely scraping by through my services to paupers, vagabonds and crate laborers. This detestful job lasted years.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Mo¡­mother¡­¡±

    Having accidentally witnessed some of these acts under her negligence, that was all Eddisson could muster for a reaction. Slowly, everything was reconnecting into a slumpy, defiling chapter of a childhood. He remained in an embrace.

    ¡°...I was sure that the streets would be my grave. I even contracted untreated syphilis, to worsen matters more.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°But, that¡¯s when that happened.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    She faced YaoMing.

    ¡°After another night of labor, I randomly felt the desire to take a stroll across the streets of the district. I took a turn for a shortcut to a park before I was suddenly knocked out upon entry.¡±

    She rubbed her neck.

    ¡°At that moment, I was sure they finally found me and glady, that wasn¡¯t the case¡­by the time I regained consciousness, I found myself on a small transport junk along a minor tributary. Beside me, was Eddisson and the last of our belongings.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I was prohibited to leave the cargo hold and a servant briefly informed me to behave as they headed inland to Yee Province.

    Once those news reached my ears¡­I was not as joyous as I wanted myself to be¡­Either way, I had no choice to refuse. Till this day, I have no clue on who orchestrated my kidnapping, but I sincerely thank them for their help.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°The journey was smooth, albeit uncomfortable. Though, I am now used to it.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°They dropped us in a nearby village and initially, the two of us walked our way back to DongBu. Apart from some bandits and alarmed crowds, we finally made it to the outskirts in tatters. To hide Eddisson¡¯s distinctive features, I¡­forcibly covered it with dirt or ash to ruin his natural blonde¡­A thing of, previously, my frustration.¡±

    She paused, before Eddisson allowed her to caress his disheveled grayish yellow hair.

    ¡°Child, why don¡¯t you wash it off once we reach your uncle¡¯s place?¡±

    ¡°Gladly, Mother.¡±

    A dim smile formed from her anemic lips.

    ¡°...Elder Brother, the rest of this scarring tale now comes full circle. And, I would like to once again express my deepest apologies for all my wrongdoings until this point. You, Hamilton¡­Eddisson, everyone. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Although she wanted to kowtow, TianXing sat lifelessly on the cushions as cramps riddled her body in such a foreign setting of comfort. It has been years since she had such treatment. Yet¡­

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°B-brother¡­¡±

    YaoMing was silent.

    .

 Chapter 33 : Welcome Home [Part 2]

    The carriage rocked on as the familiar sights of the vendor markets and housing appeared beyond ReZhui¡¯s window. They were approaching ever closer towards the Xu residence as the village was reaching noon. More people were out on the pavements while carts and rickshaws occupied now-cramped streets; slowly down YaoMing¡¯s carriage.

    Nonetheless, it was a minor setback. A couple of more turns, and ReZhui saw the neighborhood. At its center, the recognisable roofed front gates stood grand and tall with the banner of golden characters for all to see.

    The prestigious Xu Household.

    ¡®We¡¯re home¡­¡¯

    ReZhui thought to himself. He wondered what other drama would ensue once ShiYan found out about this.

    As the carriage finally made its stop in front of the opened double doors, some of the servants were already present at the entrance including XinLi. ReZhui proceeded to open the door and was soon greeted by the bright smiles of ShiYan. It was a face of light with her groomed hair tied into pigtails. She was in a robe underneath her nightgown.

    ¡°Hi ReZhui, what¡¯s with the early return from the Slum Welfare event? Is Father in there?¡±

    Given ShiYan is looking from beneath the carriage, their unexpected guests are out of sight for her.

    ¡°Y-yes, yes he is, ShiYan. But, Mr Xu may well be not in the mood to talk.¡±

    YaoMing has not moved a muscle since they set off and the three of them were frightened for disturbing his space. As ReZhui was about to inform his master, YaoMing got up and grabbed hold of his stepsister, carrying her in his arms. Eddisson moved aside voluntarily.

    ¡°...! Father¡­What happened to that patient?!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    YaoMing carefully went down the steps as ShiYan approached him.

    ¡°Do you need assistance, Father?¡±

    And, this was the first he spoke in a long time.

    ¡°Thanks ShiYan, but I can handle this myself. Instead¡­¡±

    He turned around to see Eddisson exiting the carriage as ReZhui watched on eagerly. Back to his daughter, YaoMing instructed her.

    ¡°Today, ReZhui made a new friend, why don¡¯t you introduce yourself to him? He¡¯s¡­pretty special.¡±

    ShiYan looked to where her father was referring too and saw something that she had never seen before. A boy of her age with ash-yellow hair and icy blue eyes. Although he appeared malnutritioned and sickly, there was a charm of uniqueness about him. Something extremely foreign. Then, she saw ReZhui chattering with him as the new boy ran his eyes around this wondrous estate and its neighborhood.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Go on, ShiYan. I will introduce this lady to you soon.¡±

    ¡°I see, Father.¡±

    She turned.

    ¡°ReZhui! Who is this new boy you befriended?!¡±

    With that, the brother and sister saw the little girl run her legs towards the bickering boys. Unaware that ReZhui was also keeping some attention to the siblings as well. As for the servants, YaoMing dismissed them to their normal duties and ordered XinLi to prohibit anyone from entering his pharmacy.

    ¡°That child¡­What a wonderful daughter you have, elder brother.¡±

    ¡°...Let¡¯s get you ready. I have been waiting since morning.¡±

    With that stated,  the duo made their way towards the gates while the children followed Eddisson as he wandered the area.

    Upon entry, her droopy eyes fell wide open. TianXing, having been away from her hometown for the past few decades, felt a sudden surge of nostalgia and belonging overwhelmed her.

    ¡°w-w-w¡­wow¡­¡±

    She saw the familiar courtyard where the two of them played as children; the bench where they gazed at the stars; the plants and herbs they planted; the steps that lead into where it all began; and the shelves of medicines that they studied passionately about.

    ¡°it¡¯s¡­I-¡±

    Tears started to form and fall. It was an indescribable feeling. Of warmth and closure.

    Never bothering, TianXing let them flow undeterred. Once again, her face was a flushing mess. But that never mattered now.

    ¡°Welcome home, Xiao Tian.¡±

    Came the soft words of a relieved YaoMing.

    ¡°Elder brother¡­t-thank you¡­I¡¯m sorry, but-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be.¡±

    ¡°huh¡­¡±

    YaoMing continued carrying her across.

    ¡°Despite your circumstances, even I have no right to punish you.¡±

    ¡°w-why?¡±

    ¡°...wait.¡±

    TianXing realized something. She looked around once more before making her statement.

    ¡°My condolences for XiaoFei.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you.¡±

    ¡°It¡­must be heard for ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°Her mother died giving birth to her so she only knew her through me.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, ShiYan¡¯s a strong girl. I can promise you that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad.¡±

    Being forced to become an orphan, TianXing knew worse about those emotions.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Xiao Tian?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Elder brother?¡±

    ¡°Remember this.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°You are still the girl that loved me. You are still the sister I will always cherish. You are still family!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Thus, no matter all that happened in the past for both you and I¡­Do you still regret all of it?¡±

    ¡°...Yes¡±

    It was a stern confirmation.

    YaoMing smiled at her response.

    ¡°Then, shall we share those regrets together, and possibly start anew?¡±

    ¡°...Alright.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, and apologies for making you witness that decades back. I owe you this a whole lot.¡±

    ¡°...I truly thought you would be bedridden.¡±

    ¡°But I managed. Just like you did.¡±

    ¡°We are stepsiblings after all.¡±

    ¡°Ha¡­that¡¯s true.¡±

    YaoMing stepped over the platform and into the pharmacy building where an intensive checkup would ensue for hours.

    ---

    ¡°Eddisson, stay put!¡±

    ReZhui shouted, alarmed.

    But the boy was already in a daze.

    He scurried about. The clean streets, wondrous flora odors and bright colors. It was nothing like he remembered back at the slums and the red-light district.

    ¡°INCREDIBLE!¡±

    As he carried his scrawny body further down the street, screaming out loud foreign words, passers-by began to move away in awkwardness.

    ¡°Beautiful-¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    ¡°ARhG!¡±

    Thankfully, ReZhui quickly caught up to him and grabbed hold of his collared shirt, restricting Eddisson¡¯s progress.

    ¡°ReZhui¡­I love this place!¡±

    For a timid boy, Eddisson now had eyes that sparkled.

    ¡°Darn it.¡±

    ReZhui knocked him on the hand and scowled.

    ¡°Eddisson, I am not your mother. I still don¡¯t understand English.¡±

    He held out his palm for him. With this reminder, Eddisson wrote his compliments, even writing out an exclamation mark.

    ¡°I see, well, I¡¯m happy for you.¡±

    Eddisson nodded back affirmatively.

    But, as they continued, a cry sounded behind them

    ¡°REZHUI!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s?¡±

    The duo saw ShiYan, in breath running towards them, frustrated.

    ¡°ReZhui! Listen to me!¡±

    She whined.

    ¡°I-i¡¯m sorry, ShiYan.¡± There was nothing ReZhui could defend against.

    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ll forgive this once.¡± ShiYan pouted. ¡°Now, introduce me! Who is this unique friend of yours?¡± She pointed straight for Eddisson.

    ¡°Hmm? Oh, sure. How was I too excited?!¡± ReZhui figured.

    ¡°...¡± came Eddisson¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°Ehrm..alright, the two of you. Eddisson, this is Xu ShiYan, a fellow classmate and close friend of mine.¡±

    ¡°Hello, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you!¡± ShiYan put up her brightest smile and bowed a greeting salute.

    ¡°ShiYan, this is Eddisson He. He has quite the story so it might be better if we just take this slowly, shall we?¡±

    ¡°...Sure.¡±

    But, Eddisson gave no response.

    Instead, in the face of this beacon of shimmering light, Eddisson froze before he cowered behind ReZhui¡¯s back.

    ¡°Eddisson? What¡¯s the matter with you?¡±

    For all the lustful ladies he had seen back at the brothels and the filthy, wild girls of the slums, ShiYan was something he had never seen before in a girl. In his eyes, ShiYan was, in all aspects, a mannered, kind girl of similar age with a cute, bold side. Moreover, he thinks she was just as beautiful as those prostitutes, but certainly in a much greater positive light. ShiYan questionably saw as Eddisson raced his finger across ReZhui¡¯s right palm. He wanted to tell him all of those thoughts of his, to which ReZhui put up a contemplative expression.

    ¡°I see, Eddisson. Well, if that¡¯s the case, I will guide you.¡±

    With his call, ReZhui shoved the powerless Eddisson in front of him and gave his instructions.

    ¡°ShiYan, could you give out your hand?¡±

    ¡°Sure¡­why though?¡±

    ¡°Eddisson¡¯s mother tongue is English. As for Mandarin, he could only read, write and listen. Speaking is his only flaw.¡±

    ¡°Whoa! I don''t even know any of those foreign languages.¡±

    ¡°I could say the same. So for now, until the three of us become fully fluent in each other¡¯s languages, Eddisson would only communicate with the both of us by writing out his characters.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡±

    As ShiYan was considering that idea, ReZhui nodded back at Eddisson. He had given that timid kid an opening for conversation.

    With his ears a flush red from the earlier compliment, Eddisson closed his eyes as he gently grabbed hold of ShiYan¡¯s hand and hurriedly wrote out his saying.

    ¡®What soft, smooth skin!¡¯ admired Eddison as he finished.

    ¡°I wish for the three of us to maintain a long friendship for the times to come. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, ShiYan.¡± was what he wrote.

    A pause while the girl thought of what he wrote.

    ¡°I hope so too, Eddisson.¡±

    ¡°Splendid, everyone.¡± ReZhui patted his back.

    ¡°But ReZhui, don¡¯t you think ¡®Eddisson¡¯ is pretty long for a name?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­Not that I bother, why?¡±

    ¡°Eddisson¡­Edd¡­I got it!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, ShiYan?¡± He wrote.

    ¡°Eddisson, from now on, I¡¯ll be calling you, Eddi!¡±

    ¡°...!¡± It was a first for Eddisson.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised. That had a nice tone to it as well¡­I¡¯m switching as well.¡±

    ReZhui raised his hand. ¡°What about your opinion, Eddisson?¡±

    ¡°...I like it too.¡±

    If he were not to write his response, his voice would have been incredibly muted.

    ¡°Now then, the both of you!¡± ShiYan pointed boastfully. ¡°Get in and wash yourselves! Hygiene is always our first priority.¡±

    ¡°True¡­¡±

    ¡®Boys are still boys, huh.¡¯ ShiYan grieved.

    ¡°I knew it! Now then, let¡¯s meet up at the communal room after you¡¯re done. I¡¯ll be preparing lunch with Sister Pu so take your time.¡±

    Normally, the three of them would want to barge into YaoMing¡¯s operation room out of curiosity but they had their reasons not to disturb the siblings. ShiYan, under the impression of that woman as a patient, prohibited herself for her father¡¯s concentration. Eddisson knew that any outside interference would lead them nowhere, while ReZhui figured that he was lacking in everything about them to step into their complex affairs of the world. His participation would never be of benefit for either of them, and he resented that fact.

    ¡®I just have to get stronger.¡¯

    Came his final thoughts.

    .

    .

    .

    Night soon fell upon the Xu residence. Brilliant moonlight seeped into the closed patterned doors as the family prepared themselves for dinner. On the round table that ReZhui once was approved for his friendship with ShiYan, he sat opposite to his master, YaoMing, who was busy talking to Eddisson.

    ¡°Listen up, Eddisson, your mother is now in stable condition and was washed thrice from head to toe. Now, she¡¯s resting in a special guest room.¡±

    YaoMing then waved for two servants. On their hands, there was a tray of hot congee and several bowls of herbal soup.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you help your mother with her dinner? I¡¯m sure she would truly appreciated it¡±

    Eddisson replied with a firm nod, before he joined up with those servants as they exited the room.

 Chapter 33 : Welcome Home [Part 3]

    ¡°What!¡±

    ShiYan choked on her food upon her father¡¯s revelation.

    ¡°That lady¡¯s my aunt?!¡±

    She could never reach that conclusion. It was just so random.

    Watching the daughter and father from his seat, ReZhui decided to entertain himself with the humorous reactions of his best friend. He grinned for this wholesome atmosphere.

    Slightly frustrated, YaoMing¡¯s snake-like eyes glared back.

    ¡°ShiYan, proper etiquette!¡±

    ¡°...apologies.¡±

    The once-energetic ShiYan slumped slowly back onto her wooden chair, clearing her mouth and chugging a cup of tea.

    ¡°But I¡¯m surprised, Father! You never told me you had siblings. I always thought you were an only child, like myself.¡±

    ¡°Listen, ShiYan, I was going to tell you when you¡¯re ready, however, seeing how things played out, I decided otherwise.¡±

    ¡°Father¡­¡±

    ¡°Her name is He TianXing and she is the blood mother of Eddisson.¡±

    ¡°¡®He¡¯? Isn¡¯t she supposed to be named ¡®Xu¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Supposedly, that¡¯s the case, but ¡®He¡¯ was her original surname.¡±

    ¡°So-¡±

    ¡°Yes, she was adopted, and my dearest only step-sister.¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­it¡¯s quite the eventful day, today.¡±

    ¡°Despite that both of us are not related by blood, I still consider her family and so, I hope you would accept her too. Calling her Aunt is just fine.¡±

    ¡°Aunt¡­Aunt, alright, Father.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡±

    ¡°...So¡­argh, my apologies, Father. I have so many questions.¡±

    ¡°Hence, my reasons for not telling you now. But now, I have no choice, do I?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s take this slowly, ShiYan. After all, this truly is one ¡®wild¡¯ tale. That¡¯s how she puts it.¡±

    ¡°...ReZhui!¡±

    ¡°...! Y-yes?!¡±

    Unexpectedly, ShiYan called out for him, and he nearly dropped his meat.

    Tensing her face, she growled.

    ¡°Do you also know of this?¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Suddenly, ReZhui felt a surge of restraint from his master in front of him. YaoMing¡¯s face darkened.

    ¡®Don¡¯t say anything that would disappoint her!¡¯ ReZhui felt that was what he would say if she was not here. It was a dangerous moment. But, he can¡¯t lie to his best friend.

    ¡°Yes¡­The whole story.¡±

    ¡°That¡­that means¡­Eddi also knows this too?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­he is her son so¡­¡±

    ¡°No¡­No! Why am I the only one in the dark about this!¡± ShiYan started to wail like an abandoned child. As she continued her cries, YaoMing froze for a moment, but eventually tried his best to calm her down. Thankfully for ReZhui, he was left unscathed in his distraction.

    ¡°Alright, alright ShiYan¡­¡±

    ¡°Father! How could you!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    But, the experienced YaoMing of a nine-year old daughter failed to give a comeback.

    Instead, she gobbled up her remaining rice whole and escaped the dining hall. Sounds of her running off into the corridors and towards her room diminished further as the nearby servants inquired in shock.

    ¡°Young lady!¡±

    ¡°My lord, we will attend to her at once¡±

    They too seemed bewildered by ShiYan¡¯s actions at this time of night.

    As the commotion died down, only ReZhui and YaoMing remained, and there was an awkward silence amongst them. Fortunately, ReZhui readied the guts to speak.

    ¡°Mr Xu, shall we check up on her?¡±

    ¡°You just had to be truthful, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°An admirable trait, I¡¯m sure. But, there is a time and place for that. It¡¯s not the standard.¡±

    ¡°...my apologies.¡±

    ¡°¡­Alright then.¡±

    YaoMing suddenly got up from his seat and laid down his chopsticks.

    ¡°Mr Xu, where are you¡­¡±

    ¡°I lack the appetite.¡± YaoMing turned to him. ¡°So, please enjoy the rest of the food, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°You deserve it.¡±

    ReZhui can¡¯t tell if there was a slight joy in his voice but it was certain that something was different.

    At the front, there was unfinished steamed fish, grilled tofu and marinated red pork. To the side, a half finished bucket of rice also remained.

    ¡°...I understand.¡±

    With that, ReZhui carried on with finishing the large leftovers as YaoMing headed back to his study.

    .

    .

    .

    It took a while for ReZhui to finish all those dishes by himself and managed successfully.

    ¡°I¡¯m stuffed.¡±

    Taking up one last sip of tea, ReZhui then left the dinner hall to take a stroll around the gardens. He could feel his stomach shaking as he did and it was a weird feeling. Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°...¡±

    Looking back, ReZhui recollected how all of this had happened. Moreover with the story of his master and his sister, it truly was an epiphany for him. The only problem was¡­

    ¡°I can¡¯t put it into words¡­but I surely felt something.¡±

    Humming under the moonlight as he strolled past ponds and flora, ReZhui lazed around with his hand held behind his head. A breath. And exhale. It was fresh. However, after some time, that young boy soon came close to the very end of the residence and that¡¯s when he sniffed something unique.

    ¡°...? What¡¯s this?¡± He sniffed more of this smoke. ¡°Arch! Disgusting¡­¡± ReZhui coughed and ran his nose. ¡°...I wonder where this is coming from?¡± And that was what he did.

    Jumping onto the soil of the gardens, he carefully squeezed in between raised bamboo stalks and shoved past berry shrubs. Even in the nightlight, ReZhui skillfully trekked past this unknown plot of land, before he found himself in a clearing. It appeared to be a bricked pentagonal room that had an walless corridor extension from a branch of the main residence building.

    ¡°...!¡±

    That¡¯s when he found that same very smoke emerging out of the farthest window around the corner. Instinctively, ReZhui dashed behind the opposite corner; hairs raised.

    ¡°...steady¡­¡±

    Fortunately, he was determined to find out this mystery. Beside him, ReZhui realized that the double doors to enter were left open. With caution, he entered without making any sound. Step after step, he hid behind a paper wall partition. Surprisingly, the space was filled with intricate vases, pots of wine and random piles of books.

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui was starting to ease his tension if his guess was right and he peeked an eye out to the open. What he saw was unexpected.

    It was his master, YaoMing.

    ¡°...what¡¯s he doing here?¡± muttered the boy. Contrary to the steadfast, pragmatic intellectual that ReZhui admired, here he saw a drunkard amidst a mess of white smoke out of a blown pipe of polished wood. YaoMing laid lazily upon the frame of the circular glassless window that illuminated natural moonlight into the space within. A perfect cast of his black shadow was imprinted on the flat cement floor of scattered jugs and cups. Some toppled empty and others spilt. The rest of the space followed a similar pattern of stacks of documents and cupboards of porcelain wine bottles. ReZhui flinched as the strong odors finally got him.

    ¡°...¡±

    Taking his chances, ReZhui emerged from the partition and approached his master, who never took notice of him even as ReZhui got closer. YaoMing¡¯s spectacled eyes continued to look out into the empty gardens and wall outside, from a backdrop of navy blue and the rising moon. All within the tranquility of night, besides the natural chirping of bugs.

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui was shocked at his appearance at a closer look. Unbuttoned outfit, unkempt hair that fell over his forehead, dead eyes, flushed cheeks and smoke coming out of his dried mouth with his pipe and a drained jug in either hand. Somewhere inside, ReZhui felt disappointed about this image of his master. In the end, ReZhui called out for him.

    ¡°Master?¡±

    ¡°...!?¡±

    In a jolt, YaoMing slowly turned to his student, facing directly at him in all his vulnerability. Thankfully, YaoMing somehow kept a calm expression at this surprise and tried to recover.

    ¡°Student¡­? ReZhui? W-what¡­how did you find this place?¡±

    ¡°...The food you gave me, Mr Xu. It was too much so I had to walk it all down. I think I already saw most of the estate, only to find you here from the¡­smoke you inhaled.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I apologize. I thought there was-¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, can you grab that jar on the third shelf for me?¡±

    Turning to where he pointed, ReZhui saw a cylindrical white glass container with rose patterns and white cranes .

    ¡°...Surely, Mr Xu. Wait here.¡±

    Screwing open the lid for his master, ReZhui handed it to him. What he saw inside was a browny, semi-viscous solution with a distinct tangy smell which got a reaction out of him. Though, immediately upon receiving it, YaoMing chugged it down in huge mouthfuls until the jar reached one-third full. ReZhui watched on in horror.

    ¡°Mr Xu, what was that?¡±

    ¡°This?¡±

    He nodded back.

    ¡°It¡¯s a concoction I made for situations such as this where my drinking time was disturbed and something urgent happened, like a sudden operation or an important message arrived to be dealt with. It consists of grounded cocoa beans, mushed ginger, honey extract, powdered nuts and boiled tea leaves. All those remedies were diluted into a proportional amount of water to form this brown brew.¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    ¡°As an apothecary, I still wouldn¡¯t recommend using this, ReZhui. But, I am an adult so forgive my hypocrisy.¡±

    ¡°I¡­understand.¡±

    ¡°...Anyhow, in the case of you, I would still rather want to keep my image maintained so please, give me some face.¡±

    A thought soon surfaced from ReZhui.

    ¡°Does ShiYan know of this practice of yours?¡± ReZhui asked genuinely.

    ¡°...Nope, not at all. Only the servants knew of this, and now you too.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Well, this is one more case for ShiYan to be mad at the both of us.¡±

    ¡°Now do you get what I meant earlier?¡±

    ¡°...I still think that letting her know the truth was the right thing.¡±

    ¡°Thick-headed as usual, I see. Even your father wasn¡¯t as egotistical as you are.¡±

    ¡°But Mr Xu, if it''s this matter¡­then I may listen to your advice back then. Especially when you drink all alone and miserable. My father always has this bright smile whenever he drinks, even if the quality is not of the best in Bai village.¡±

    ReZhui recalled the countless drinking parties he had over the years.

    ¡°...That brute would never survive in my shoes, so don¡¯t go offending your master here. You hear?¡±

    ¡°Alright, Mr Xu.¡±

    ¡°Splendid, then I¡¯ll allow you to leave as long as you keep this secret to your grave.¡±

    YaoMing shooed him away.

    ¡°...¡±

    But, ReZhui rejected his orders.

    ¡°Mr Xu, you are hurt, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°What is this nonsense you are sprouting? I already told you to leave, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    Taken aback by this sudden aggression, the boy pressed forward like he did before.

    ¡°...I-I want to help!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Clear bewilderment washed across his master¡¯s face.

    ¡°I want to know your thoughts, Mr Xu. Because¡­even if you were truly grateful that Eddisson¡¯s mother made it back safely-¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I feel like you could not help but resent her actions nonetheless.¡±

    ¡°THAT¡¯S ENOUGH, YOU MEDDLER!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    A crash of porcelain sounded in the returning silence. YaoMing¡¯s rage stunned ReZhui in place.

    ¡°...I-I-¡±

    ¡°Hah, darn myself!...Listen, ReZhui.¡± YaoMing creased his temples to level his thoughts. ¡°I am thankful for your worries and intentions but in the end, it will all be futile.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°What would you do if I told you my troubles? The reasons I am here smoking cigars and feasting wine?¡±

    ¡°I would¡­I¡­I¡±

    His mind went blank. This was not like back then at the temple with Eddisson. ReZhui truly was speechless. He didn¡¯t know what to do, and he couldn''t figure out why.

    ¡°I will¡­I-¡± His stuttering continued.

    ¡°If your heart¡¯s in the right place but you do not have the means to execute them, then it¡¯s just your own fantasies, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°I-¡±

    ¡°Quit playing the savior.¡±

    ¡°...?!¡±

    YaoMing gave the boy a stern glare.

    ¡°You are too young for that. You are just¡­another nine-year old kid.¡±

    ¡°...¡± His heart sank.

    ¡°...Hmph.¡±

    YaoMing then got down from the window frame and knelt in front of the shakened boy. His hands placed firmly on ReZhui¡¯s shakened shoulders.

    ¡°ReZhui?¡± YaoMing met the boy¡¯s frozen eyes.

    ¡°Yes¡­Mr Xu?¡± It was fear and weakness.

    ¡°Have you learnt anything from the trip to the slums?¡±

    ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t describe it, Mr Xu. I tried, but I couldn''t.¡±

    ReZhui then grabbed his chest. ¡°All I know is that there is this unsettledness in my heart.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­if I failed your tasks.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°...Don¡¯t be sorry. If you want to grow up, if you want to assist me in my struggles, this is one where I shouldn¡¯t influence your thoughts. Think deeper into it, especially my sister¡¯s life and how she lived it.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Where did she go wrong? Where did I go wrong? Even as adults, the both of us just embraced our regrets, living with them until we breathed our last. That¡¯s our resolution, and it¡¯s still not the ideal choice we wanted.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s how I faced it. A miserable existence.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, even if you see all this alcohol and depressants around me, that¡¯s the exception. I still am happy for the both of us reuniting, even if the circumstances say I found her at the lowest.¡±

    ¡°...I-I don¡¯t get it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why we live long. If I fail to find solace at this age, then I hope you will break that.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Also, I want to thank you once again.¡±

    ¡°...Why?¡± His mind raced, consuming all of his master¡¯s ramblings.

    ¡°If it¡¯s not for your kindhearted nature, you would not have saved Eddisson, which in turn would have never led me to find out Xiao Tian was his mother, and so on and so forth.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t express enough how much I resent myself for letting this matter of child bullying go under my eye, even when I conduct these welfare projects bimonthly for the sake of my people.¡±

    ¡°...Mr Xu.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a great karma that I had accumulated, and bringing you there was a worth that I had underestimated.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°So, I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    And the master soon got lower to the ground.

    ¡°W-wait, what are you-¡± ReZhui tried to stop him but slowly realized that¡­this would perhaps give his master some form of closure.

    ¡°I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart, ReZhui!¡±

    YaoMing¡¯s body kowtowed at the edges of ReZhui¡¯s feet as his head touched the cold, hard floor.

    ¡°For you brought back¡­a family¡­I failed to restore¡­and longed for ever since¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much, ReZhui!¡±

    The floor soon formed puddles and YaoMing¡¯s body shuddered in grief and relief.

    ¡°...¡±

    In the end, ReZhui did nothing but stood there as YaoMing did what he must.

    The moon shone brightly onto the duo.

    And the bugs chirped on, undeterred.

    There was no one else here that night.

    It was a night that the both of them would always remember.

 Chapter 34 : Loyal Friends, Grateful Tutors [Part 1]

    Two days had passed since that heartfelt night and for ReZhui, things have changed ever since. Normally, his master would still be at the slums for another several days to wrap up inspections and record keeping, but for today and the day before, he continued to remain at the Xu residence, doing business as usual. He prioritized that the caretaking of his step sister was to be overseen by him at all times and had already sent letters to delegate his duties to the other doctors at the scene. For a man of his position, everyone over there could only hope for the best and follow his orders.

    With such news spreading all over the neighborhood, they were ecstatic. If the main physician was absent from his very office, the Xu Pharmacy was certainly going to be close for that week, and for the past five days of inactivity, the number of unattended patients would accumulate all over the districts. Thus, from yesterday¡¯s service until today, ReZhui was pushed to the very bone. Masses of people would flock in to get his master¡¯s examinations. Overall, it was a hectic period for all of them, especially that boy.

    ¡°Boy! Gather five liang from cupboard 10 and check on the boil of pot 3. Remove any foam that gathers on the surface! Be careful!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr Xu!¡±

    In battered breath, ReZhui placed down his ninth bucket of sterile water from the well nearby. Wiping his sweat with a sleeve, the boy ran towards the back of the counter and into the steaming kitchen.

    Tending to the fires with a stick, he proceeded with his instructions before fanning away the excess bitter smoke and closed the lid shut.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°I¡¯m back, Master.¡±

    In his wooden tray, cracked stems of approximate mass scanned past YaoMing¡¯s concentrated eyes.

    ¡°Proper work. Place it on the table.¡± He then demanded.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Afterwards, ReZhui tried to walk away for a rest, a first that he had this morning.

    ¡°ReZhui!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr Xu?!¡±

    Unfortunately, his master had other plans for him.

    ¡°Like yesterday, help out at the front with the bills and the inventory stock. I see that they need more manpower.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr Xu!¡±

    Yet, ReZhui could never refuse, because if he does, that meant he was not up to the challenge. Passing lines of people, he stepped over the platform, onto the medicinal counter. Account books, diagrams, knives and scales line the polished wooden deck and at the very end, close to the entrance, ShiYan was there counting coins and professionally playing with the abacus. She looked shining with her white working robes and her black silky hair tied into a ponytail. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui, swarmed with a newfound determination, shrugged off his exhaustion and approached his friend.

    ¡°ShiYan?!¡±

    ¡°..........Oh, ReZhui¡­Hold¡­¡±

    She flicked the beads in rapid succession and wrote down the prices before returning change to the current customer.

    ¡°Yes, ReZhui! Did Father send you here again?¡± She turned an eye to him.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to assist so¡­like before?¡±

    Instantly, ShiYan slides him a random abacus upon a booklet. With this sign, ReZhui knew what her answer was.

    ¡°I will take one half of your line. May the people at the back come to the front!¡± ReZhui gestured his hand to the patients.

    ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ShiYan smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, ReZhui, I will finish my part before you will.¡±

    ¡°...? We shall see. Your pace has slowed from an hour ago.¡±

    ¡°Says you brute, my father¡¯s errand boy. I dare consider otherwise.¡±

    ¡®...They are father and daughter, alright..¡¯

    ReZhui signed.

    ¡°What? I know you thought of something.¡±

    ¡°N-nothing, ShiYan. Let our competition begin!¡±

    Both their spirits were full of vigor.

    .

    .

    .

    ---

    Evening soon fell over the Xu household, and the setting sun casted long, dark shadows into the depths of the main pharmacy building. The last of their customers had already left with satisfied smiles and the frontal double doors were closed for the day, marking the end of service. Sat upon either of the wooden chairs, the duo laid lethargically. On the table next to them, there were used warm towels and an account booklet.

    ¡°Three hundred and forty six.¡± ReZhui boldly declared. ¡°What about you, ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°...Ha¡­I estimate, five hundred and ninety.¡± She grinned.

    ¡°Not fair, ShiYan. That¡¯s your overall total.¡±

    ¡°It still counts.¡± She teased.

    ¡°Alright then, I see to it that we are tied.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Fair enough¡­¡± ShiYan whined as she tucked away.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Now, now, as long as the patients had no complaints about the two of you, I, as a master and father, am proud of your performances.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    In unison, ShiYan and ReZhui got up to see YaoMing holding a tray of a teapot and a bowl of sandy medicine.

    ¡°Father!¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu, what are you doing here?¡±

    Giving the duo a lax expression, YaoMing placed the tray on the table and prepared them a cup each.

    ¡°ShiYan, afterwards, could you accompany your father to his study? He has quite the workload to complete.¡± YaoMing inquired.

    ¡°Sure thing, Father!¡± Her youthful eyes sparkled like diamonds.

    Affirming her response, he then turned to ReZhui and handed him the tray with only the medicinal soup.

    ¡°What do you need, Mr Xu?¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, I trust you would send this to Xiao Tian. Eddisson is also there to help you out.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad.¡± YaoMing then got up, leaving the unfinished teapot. ¡°Let¡¯s go, ShiYan.¡±

    With that, they went their separate ways.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 34 : Loyal Friends, Grateful Tutors [Part 2]

    ReZhui smiled as he heard the diminishing sounds of ShiYan¡¯s excited footsteps.

    ¡®Perhaps I already did what I needed to do back then.''

    He made a turn.

    ¡®Either way, I now love how things are going between everyone.¡¯

    Mentally, he gripped his fist in aspiration.

    ¡®Let¡¯s continue to do our best, myself!¡¯

    He then arrived at the front of the room where YaoMing told him she was staying. Looking at the width of the room, ReZhui breathed deeply.

    ¡°Here goes nothing.¡± And he knocked before opening the wooden double doors.

    ¡°Mrs He, please pardon my intrusion.¡±

    ¡°...! Oh, child, don¡¯t bother. Please, come and take a seat.¡± TianXing, dressed in a warm robed nightgown, gestured to a stool next to her bed and bedside table. It was the place YaoMing would sit whenever he did her personalized health check ups. Nodding at her request, ReZhui approached with caution. He passed Eddisson who surprisingly fell asleep on the nearby round table under a pile of books. He slept very soundly.

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui then placed the tray onto the table and sat down, meeting TianXing from eye to eye. He also looked around the room. It was relatively huge to his very own and had limited furniture or grandeur. The paints used were calm and muted. With the large bed placed next to a window that looked out to one of the beautiful gardens in the residence, this felt like the ideal place to recover, and there she sat, with her back resting on the cushioned headboard and her lower torso under several layers of blankets.

    Facing back to TianXing, ReZhui now realized how much of her story was true. Even at a distance and moreover now, infected with syphilis and riddled with black spots all over, now that she was healed, washed and well-fed, ReZhui had no doubt that TianXing truly was a natural beauty, especially when she was younger. Perhaps, she was the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen in his life. There was a level of maturity in her aura that charmed him regardless of age.

    ReZhui flushed a hint of red, and looked away in embarrassment.

    Unbeknownst to him, TianXing realized this.

    ¡°I am sure ShiYan will grow to a finer woman than I am. You are one lucky man, ReZhui.¡± she teased.

    ¡°...Sorry, Mrs He¡­anyhow, Mr Xu told me to send you this.¡± He carefully handed her the bowl.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have plenty of strength now. So let go now.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Slowly, with grace, TianXing then swallowed the medicine whole. A slight flinch in her strained expression suggested this was not a pleasant dish.

    ¡°How is it?¡± ReZhui asked regardless.

    ¡°I just have to put up with it. Artificial flavoring would make it more distasteful. The key for such herbs, ReZhui, is to hold your breath as you consume it quickly.¡±

    ¡°I see. Then, please continue your rest, Mrs He. You must get better soon.¡±

    However, before ReZhui could get up, TianXing fired back.

    ¡°What¡¯s the rush, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    Facing back, he replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to not disturb the patients? YaoMing instructed that to me.¡±

    ¡°What a considerate child you are, ReZhui, but I feel hurt if you think that I¡¯m not worth your time.¡±

    ¡°But, Mrs He, that¡¯s not what I meant-¡±

    ¡°Then, for your ¡®patient¡¯, you wouldn''t mind staying beside me for a little longer, do you?¡±

    ¡°...I understand.¡± And he shuffled his stool closer.

    ¡°Was it instinct?¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°You knew I had a purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Rubbing the back of his head in defeat, ReZhui admitted, ¡°Well, I did have a feeling that something was up between my master and yourself.¡±

    She smiled, and then clapped, like her expectations had been met.

    ¡°I applaud your skills, ReZhui. It¡¯ll be much easier down the line if the potential has already seen utilization.¡±

    ¡°Mrs He¡­what are you¡­¡± She surely was playing a mind game here.

    ¡°I heard from Elder brother about what happened that night.¡±

    ¡°w-what!¡± In shock, ReZhui jerked up.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Excuse me¡­but how did you know that? Did YaoMing share this?¡±

    ¡°For such a man as my beloved elder brother, ReZhui, he would never do that. He would rather keep it to himself and manage from there.¡±

    ¡°oh¡­¡±

    ¡°But, he has quite the bad track record for keeping it hidden so I saw the change in his mannerisms the day after.¡±

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui could hardly believe that.

    ¡°He was a tough one to crack but I eventually won.¡±

    ¡°I see..¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°...This just means that you now matter much more to him than what you initially thought off.¡± She whispered into his ear.

    ¡°I-I-alright.¡±

    ¡®So it¡¯s like that, huh.¡¯ ReZhui chered inside.

    ¡°But, ReZhui, listen closely.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I disagree with his methods.¡± She had a stern glare.

    ¡°...¡± And he had no response.

    ¡°Freeing my delusional self, came back the old, merging both anew-¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the lady of He that you see today.¡±

    ¡®Could I do this too?¡¯ ReZhui reflected.

    ¡°Quite the night owl this persona was, appearing only in my 40s.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s better late than never, so let me emphasize this, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°What¡­¡±

    ¡°Give up growing your dreams.¡± She growled sternly.

    ¡°...NO!¡± Like a spotted deer, ReZhui went on the defensive. He has seen enough to never abandon it all. ¡°I cannot allow it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a double-edged sword, ReZhui. Unpolished and stiff. LuJi would never wield you into battle.¡±

    ¡°I¡­Enough with these riddles.¡±

    ¡°You have already seen how my life turned out once I stepped beyond our boundaries.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°I was the step-daughter of a dying household with little to spare. You, on the other hand, are just the son of a backwater village chief that¡¯s satisfied with its isolated lifestyle.¡±

    ¡°D-don¡¯t insult my-¡±

    ¡°You will fall harder, ReZhui, and let me tell you once more, it would never be a peaceful resolution in this dog eat dog world that we live in.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Why risk it all when you could leave it to the others that are deemed worthy for this role? You could live the life of a farmer, have a mundane life, have a regular happy family and raise your cherished kids. In your older years, lie on your rocking chair with your adorable grandkids as you witness your last sunset. You can pass without ever seeing another gun nor blade in your life!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Why bother with other people¡¯s business? ¡­It¡¯s less painful that way.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    There was no reply.

    ¡°So ReZhui, what would you do now?¡±

    ¡°I¡­I¡­I will never give in!¡± he declared.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°Mrs He¡­did you know why I am even in this very place to begin with?¡±

    ¡°I can guess-¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± ReZhui stood up. ¡°Hence, I wanted to learn more of everything. Everything that I can grasp in my power to grant me strength¡­¡±

    ¡°Strength?¡±

    ¡°The strength to protect those that I care for.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Ahhh¡­armmm¡­t-the-though you may be right in saying that I can find an easy way out and turn a blind eye¡­If I were to do what you say, I will be lying to myself about what I truly wanted.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    And that¡¯s when it all clicked for him.

    ¡°I¡¯m scared!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m frightened¡­When I first heard your story, it pains me that you suffered so much, I knew it was sympathy. But this other emotion I had. I now realized, it was fear or unreadiness.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I am unprepared, so I will continue to train under Mr Xu and Teacher Woo.¡±

    ¡°ReZhui¡­¡±

    ¡°I would like to thank you too, Mrs He, for worrying about me. But, I will be fine and I must be fine.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s also how I found my answer to his question.¡±

    The boy grinned in reassurance. ¡°I guess this world is so huge, that I totally forgot what fear was.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Mrs He?¡±

    ¡°I recalled when we first encountered one another. Do you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±

    ¡°And I figured, this is actually our first exchange of words, agree?¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s actually true.¡±

    ¡°Well, what a first expression, am I right, ReZhui?¡±

    Her face was calm and warm.

    ¡°I suppose so.¡±

    That¡¯s when she lowered her head in a deep bow. Once again, ReZhui fell into shock.

    ¡°Mrs He, w-what are you-Please sit up!¡±

    But she didn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°As the other sibling of this household, I too have the obligation to convey my gratitude to our savior.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much, ReZhui. For Eddisson, my dearest brother and myself, may the Buddha bless you a righteous path.¡±

    In the end, ReZhui knew the significance of her actions. Anything done to deny it would only be a strike at her very pride.

    ¡°...I understand.¡±

    So, let them be.

    And TianXing, having done what she wanted, returned to her resting position.

    ¡°I also want to apologize for insulting your family earlier, ReZhui. I just wanted to ensure your resolve.¡±

    ¡°Why though?¡±

    ¡°Because for one to rival against men of power, an individual must first start with sheer grit and overwhelmingly tenacity.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And there¡¯s plenty within you already.¡± She patted the front of his chest.

    ¡°What¡¯s this all leading to, Mrs He?¡± Anticipation and frustration were sides of the same coin.

    ¡°Such a unique character will also come in handy, ReZhui, because to bring out your true potential, I volunteer to be your teacher under those categories of social, financial and economical structures of society.¡±

    ¡°w-what¡­!¡±

    ¡°I insist, ReZhui, and my eldest brother also agreed to this instantly.¡± Her smile spread from ear to ear.

    ¡°...!¡± It was another reveal that drove his mind blank. She then pointed at the table Eddisson was fast asleep upon.

    ¡°See those books over there?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°Eddisson spent the entire night going through the course for yesterday and now it''s your turn.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow morning, a delivery will come for your set of books and I¡¯ll officially be lecturing you both from then on.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Until the both of you would reach my level with readied second-hand experience.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°What do you say, ReZhui, my benefactor?¡±

    ¡°I will do it.¡± Came his steadfast answer.

    ¡°Splendid¡±

    With her encouragement, ReZhui then approached the table, wondering how to remove those books without waking Eddisson up. As TianXing watched on with humor, a thought soon surfaced within her.

    ¡®At least¡­this may be my form of vengeance against the darned Kiefrurpez, not that I will forgive myself if I sincerely consider that the sole intention for my current actions. Hamilton, Ferase, Mr Tai. Our child is now safe within your deepest wishes. He has arrived under your in-laws'' household with me at the reins as well, while I¡¯ve permanently damaged myself over the past decade and those deeds would soon catch up with me.

    But you don¡¯t have to worry. I still have the energy to make these children grow, to eventually surpass me and possibly his father and godfathers.

    Though, I hope that Eddisson would never consider this revenge as his whole existence. If he throws coal at his enemies, his own hands would also be burnt, and as a mother, I cannot wish for that to happen. I hope that he will find his own way of living before it¡¯s too late.

    In the meantime, I will continue to do my hardest until the time comes for me to join you all¡­until then, I hope you will be watching over us above the Heavens.¡¯

    Given there wasn¡¯t any altar or cemetery, all TianXing could do was pray from the bottom of her heart, and she surely hoped that this much would be plentiful enough to reach their souls above.

 Chapter 34 : Loyal Friends, Grateful Tutors [Part 3]

    Days passed fairly quickly as everyone slowly started to return back to their regular duties. The long lines of unattended customers soon dwindled down and the practitioners sent over to the slums had already returned from the event, bringing along the positive news that this month¡¯s objectives were achieved. A representative of the village council has done their part for its people and their reputation.

    Certainly, this meant YaoMing was once again preoccupied with piles of paperwork. For ShiYan¡¯s routine downtime spent with her father at his study, he had to send her out to leave him be for the next couple of days. However, she resisted, and failed.

    There she now stood at the other end of the corridor that led into his study. Having personally been carried out by her father, the first time that he had ever done so in her life.

    ¡°Father¡­¡±

    Her face was a blend of delightful surprise and cringeworthy bewilderment.

    ¡°Oh well, as long as I like it, it¡¯s fine to improve, father.¡± Pouting at his non-present self, ShiYan shifted her attention to herself.

    ¡®What shall I do now?¡¯ She thought.

    The sun was still a long way from sunset and the gates to the Xu pharmacy were closed for the day.

    ¡®It would be quite some time until dinner. So¡­Oh! Shall I see what ReZhui and Eddisson are up to?¡¯ She perked up with glee.

    Determined, ShiYan dashed across the estate to her aunt¡¯s room, where ReZhui and Eddisson told her that they would always be there. Eyeing that recognisable entrance, ShiYan readied her excitement before she slammed the doors wide open.

    ¡°Guys, what¡¯s up!¡±

    A rush of youthful energy entered the dead room, startling Eddisson and TianXing.

    ¡°ShiYan!¡±

    ¡°S-S-ShiYan?¡±

    Came their responses in unison.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Turning back to one another, the mother and son were wordless at their synchronization. However, TianXing quickly broke out of that moment and followed up her statement.

    ¡°Arhm, anyhow, ShiYan, what are you doing here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be with Eldest Brother?¡±

    Eddisson nodded as well.

    ¡°Father said he was busy, so¡­I came here because I¡¯ve nothing else to do.¡±

    ¡°Anything else?¡± TianXing smirked.

    ¡°...I¡¯m also curious about what those two are learning from you.¡±

    ¡°How adorable, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Throughout her session with her Father and at dinner, YaoMing slowly told her everything that was said back at the carriage. For ReZhui, he somewhat felt jealous that she could hear all this without the pressure of a potentially furious YaoMing seated at the side of herself.

    Once finished, ShiYan sometimes made trips to TianXing and introduced herself properly but the number of those encounters would now only fill a hand. Other times, she was focused at the pharmacy or spent hours helping out in that office under his guidance. The fact that TianXing herself rarely took a step outside the guest room furthered the lack of interaction between the two. Hence, the aunt and niece were frankly not on the closest of relationships, though both are determined to resolve that. Today¡¯s one such opportunity.

    ¡°So those are my reasons, could I join them too?¡±

    Giving herself time to consider, TianXing then shuffled to the side, giving her space beside her.

    ¡°Take a chair from the corner, ShiYan.¡±

    Immediately, she followed her instructions and sat on the new round table. Though ShiYan had her earlier doubts about those pimples and dark spots, her father dispelled any worries, telling her it wasn¡¯t infectious through touch besides bodily fluids.

    Now, TianXing donned another soft white robe and her black long hair flowed gracefully down her recovering body.

    ¡°...That¡¯s a lot of books.¡± ShiYan commented at a glance.

    ¡°Are you frightened, ShiYan?¡± TianXing teased.

    ¡°Nope, I saw Father¡¯s desk. He¡¯s much worse.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a natural thing, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    Showing her a questionable expression, ShiYan pointed somewhere for her aunt to see her point. It was beside her and Eddisson.

    ¡°What happened to ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ShiYan saw a lifeless boy. His face was flat on the table¡¯s surface and his usually tidied hair had thick strands all over his texts with his bun loosened significantly. She also could have sworn that she saw steam emerging out of his head.

    ¡°...¡±

    Unfazed, TianXing turned back to her.

    ¡°Did you just notice that, ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°I had my suspicions at first, mainly because ReZhui would always be the first to loudly wave back in this sort of scenario.¡±

    ¡°...I guess he¡¯s too exhausted to even realize.¡± Her aunt smiled.

    ¡°Then, why is Eddisson¡­¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m vine, ShiYan. I juess I just understand ghese sudjects much faster dhan ReZhui does.¡±

    Eddisson meekly answered her. But, she was more interested in another much major matter.

    ¡°Eddi?! Y-you can now speak mandarin?¡±

    ¡°Ah-ah¡­I-¡±

    In the background, his mother looked on with pride.

    ¡°-I am still yearning. My focabulary is still weak and I am sure that I pissed some tones just now.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter, Eddi. I don¡¯t even know a single word of english.¡±

    ¡°No¡­I-¡±

    ¡°Enough, Eddisson, just accept ShiYan¡¯s compliment and be proud of it.¡±

    ¡°U-Understood, Mother.¡± And he got back to his writing.

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, ShiYan. It¡¯s just an old habit for him to talk with me solely in english.¡±

    ¡°Alright then. Say, what happened to ReZhui? Should we wake him up?¡±

    Reaching out to grab one of his books, TianXing replied, ¡°What a child he is, I¡¯ll admit. ReZhui may have the passion that leads the path amidst absolute darkness, a source of shining hope, yet, he¡¯s surely not the brightest mind in the shed.¡±

    TianXing placed the textbook in front of ShiYan. A roughed up manual with multiple folds and ink splats.

    ¡°The foundations of the world around you¡­¡± She read the black brush font title.

    ¡°As you can see, ShiYan, it¡¯s quite the book, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°Extremely.¡±

    ¡°ReZhui took a week to finish this. Eddisson had three.¡±

    ¡°I suspect that Elder brother will be drowning in work for approximately a week¡¯s time.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Could you complete this before then?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see, Aunt He. I may not be Eddisson¡¯s level, but I can vouch otherwise against ReZhui. I¡¯ll defeat him!¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Oh my¡­¡± TianXing sneered.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°Father!¡± The young daughter slammed her hands onto the round clothed table.

    ¡°...?¡±

    Finishing the last of his food before swallowing, YaoMing then laid his bowl of rice and gave back a frustrated glare.

    ¡°We¡¯re eating, ShiYan. You do not have to scream.¡±

    ¡°Please let me stay and help out, Father!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Eyeing the boys on the other side of the table, YaoMing asked them, ¡°What did she do this evening?¡±

    ReZhui, fresh from his much needed nap, returned an unknowing expression as he continued to chew on his food.

    ¡°I have no idea, Mr Xu¡­I was fast asleep.¡±

    On the other hand, Eddisson quickly summarized what happened earlier.

    ¡°...Like what Eddi said, Father. I can¡¯t stand going to Aunt He¡¯s classes anymore.¡±

    ¡°If so, ShiYan, you can decide not to go and rest until dinner. No one¡¯s forcing you.¡±

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t allow that.¡±

    ¡°Unless you are trying to convince me to allow you entry to my office, I will consider some leniency and thought.¡±

    ¡°But Father¡­¡±

    Turning back to the boys and her, YaoMing realized something that he would usually never take note of.

    ¡°ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°Yes, father?!¡±

    ¡°What do you find hard in social studies?¡±

    ¡°I find memorizing herbs and medicinal routines much easier than assumptions of people and scenarios of events for the most part.¡±

    ¡°...ShiYan, I think that¡¯s what you call critical thought.¡±

    ¡°Yes, and I am not so keen on that.¡±

    ¡°Well, at least you started somewhere. The time you spent with Xiao Tian was useful, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°I¡­cannot say that I gained nothing.¡±

    ¡°Hence, you just have to take it in at your own pace, besides your lack of passion for it.¡±

    Yaoming then raised his chopsticks and consumed another beef dumpling.

    ¡°Anyhow, you would soon feel at ease once you do so. ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes¡­Mr Xu?¡±

    Alerted by his sudden calling, ReZhui nearly choked on his rice.

    ¡°It¡¯s important news for you. I just received a letter from Elder Woo.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean-¡±

    ¡°Yes, your father is coming to town for some business so he asked me to inform you that he will soon be picking you up for home. Everyone misses you, is what he wrote.¡±

    ¡°I see! Alright then, I can¡¯t wait to return home!¡±

    He immediately sat up in joy.

    ¡°No pressure, ReZhui. You can come and go as you please as long as you inform me about the details.¡±

    ¡°So, when is he arriving here?¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow at midday.¡± YaoMing poured himself another cup of tea.

    ¡°Midday¡­I suppose he is going to do some shopping beforewards.¡±

    ¡°As one should, ReZhui, and I already instructed the servants to pack up the little luggage you brought here.¡±

    ¡°Understood¡­¡±

    ReZhui soon fell into deep thought.

    Somewhat curious, YaoMing inquired about him. ¡°What else is bothering you, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Oh it¡¯s nothing, Mr Xu¡­¡± He averted his gaze. ¡°Actually, I hope you would allow this request.¡±

    ¡°Speak.¡±

    ¡°Do you mind if I bring ShiYan and Eddi along?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Erhm¡­¡±

    ¡°What for though?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s¡­Ah¡­I want them over for some fun at my place.¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡± YaoMing turned to his daughter. ¡°What do you say, ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°Yes! I want to, Father!¡±

    ¡°...¡± YaoMing staggered back.

    ¡°Please¡­¡±

    ¡°...Eddisson?¡±

    Even with his mouth full, Eddisson instantly nodded with admirable vigor. Those two really agreed with this proposal. On the other hand, this also meant TianXing could rest more fulfillingly and he could work without disturbance.

    ¡®It¡¯s a tolerable excursion.¡¯ Yaoming thought. ¡°Alright, the three of you, I will permit it.¡±

    With that news, the children¡¯s eyes sparkled brighter with excitement.

    ¡°But, that¡¯s if Mr Zhang would agree with this.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    In the end, the entire dining experience grew rather gloomy pretty quickly.

    .

    .

    .

    That night, the three children slept later than usual. For ReZhui, it was the anticipation of introducing his newfound close friends with his family that kept him awake. Both Eddisson and ShiYan returned to their respective parents and quickly arranged the appropriate luggage needed for the stay at the mountainous Bai village.

    Time flew fast and midday finally arrived.

    At the front gates to the courtyard, YaoMing kept watch as the children fiddled around with their packed goods. Sun shone overhead and his eyes squinted. Once they opened, YaoMing suddenly made out the wide outline of a wagon and a familiar man of huge bulk charging towards him. Turning on his heel, he alerted the kids.

    ¡°Get ready, everyone-!¡±

    At that moment, the loud huffs of horses interrupted him and the carriage roughly stopped steps away from the entrance.

    ¡°...¡±

    With a rocking of the wagon, the grunts of a farmer could be heard as he landed hard onto the stone road. Dusting himself off, the farmer then greeted YaoMing with a light bow.

    ¡°It''s a pleasure to meet you once again, YaoMing. How long has it been since then? I do hope you find ReZhui¡¯s stay meaningful and please forgive him if he did cause any inconvenience.¡±

    ReZhui watched as his father smiled with confidence. Dressed in a familiar outfit of handsewn brown and white Hanfu tunic and baggy black pants, he now had a different aura around him.

    ¡°Hahaha, likewise, GuoZhao. However, you truly underestimated your very son as you have raised him very well. He¡¯s a disciple worthy of his master¡¯s pride.¡±

    ¡°...¡± Both father and son felt heartstrucken by that declaration and ReZhui had his ears flush a little.

    ¡°Very well, YaoMing. I trust your word that ReZhui is just as what you said.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± YaoMing saluted a hand greeting back.

    ¡°Anyways, I have some stuff remaining to trade with. How are the goods I sent several weeks back?¡± Mr Zhang headed for his wagon full of bought supplies and his own selling items.

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I came prepared.¡± YaoMing then gestured for the servants who pulled out a small cart. ¡°They sold high above the market price for their origins of foraging. You could say those fox pelts, especially, are a collectors item.¡±

    Returning back with the aforementioned goods, Mr Zhang placed them into the cart, securing the trade. YaoMing gladly handed him several wrapped documents and a large pouch of silver taels.

    ¡°I unilaterally decided to split 20 to 80 respectively. Consider your majority share a sign of good will from the Xu household.¡±

    ¡°...I understand.¡± Now finished with business, Mr Zhang approached ReZhui and his friends.

    Kneeling in front of him, Mr Zhang patted ReZhui on his shoulder; his coarse hands touched worn clothes. They met eye to eye.

    ¡°Hello young man, did you miss me?¡±

    ¡°...Pa!¡±

    Instantly, ReZhui ran forward into a warm embrace.

    ¡°...¡±

    To which Mr Zhang readily accepted his advances. Surprisingly, he felt that ReZhui had grown significantly taller over the past weeks. Emotions spilt over as Mr Zhang decided to conclude their last dispute.

    ¡°ReZhui, I¡­would like to apologize for what I said-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be, Pa.¡±

    ¡°Huh!¡±  He was shocked at his response.

    ¡°...¡±

    Once the duo let go of one another, ReZhui gave his father a calm expression.

    ¡°Pa, I¡¯m glad that I had you as my father. The means to which you sacrifice your pride, the stress of being a Chieftain and the responsibilities of a father, you had it all and I only burdened it further.¡±

    ¡°ReZhui¡­¡± Mr Zhang could not believe what he was saying. In the background, YaoMing grinned at his benefactor.

    ¡°But, I changed! I visited the slums of DongBu. I learnt about the faraway city of ShanWei where men of color roam about with swords and guns. I was told of a wider world outside of the Middle Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°So, Pa, whenever there¡¯s another time that bastard mayor comes to cause trouble, I will be there to save you from him. It¡¯s a promise.¡±

    ReZhui smiled in between dripping tears. Clenched fist raised.

    ¡°ReZhui.¡±

    Mr Zhang ruffled up his youthful black hair. ¡°That¡¯s my boy. I¡¯m so proud of you¡­and thank you.¡±

    ¡°...YES!¡±

    The two held on to their last hug before YaoMing soon intertwined.

    ¡°Erhm!¡±

    ¡°Oh, YaoMing.¡±

    ¡°Mr Xu?¡±

    Averting his gaze, YaoMing added, ¡°...Sorry for interrupting your moment but I believe you must reach home before sunset, correct?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the plan but a small delay wouldn¡¯t matter much.¡±

    ¡°Well this does, GuoZhao. ReZhui¡¯s new friend and ShiYan insisted that they tag along.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°Will you then?¡±

    ¡°The more the merrier, YaoMing. We would love to have them.¡±

    ¡°Then that settles it.¡±

    Afterwards, ShiYan greeted Mr Zhang and joined ReZhui at the back of the cart. That¡¯s when Eddisson approached him¡­

    ¡°N-nice to meet you, ReZhui¡¯s father. My name¡¯s Eddisson He¡­a-and I¡¯m nine years old.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Large icy blue eyes, pale skin, natural blonde hair.

    Being a reclusive mountain farmer all his life, Mr Zhang froze in shock. He was seeing something that he had never known existed before. But thankfully, YaoMing was there to smooth tensions down.

    ¡°Now, now, Eddisson, you already did your best and uncle over here has welcomed you.¡±

    ¡°Really¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes, so go join the rest, alright?¡±

    With a gentle push, YaoMing sent Eddisson on his way before turning back to his friend.

    ¡°Steady yourself, GuoZhao. He¡¯s just like any other kid of the Middle Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°B-but his appearance¡­Is he ill?¡±

    ¡°Trust me with this, GuoZhao. Just treat him like your ordinary boy and everything will fall into place very soon. Eddisson¡¯s just the offspring of a foreign man.¡±

    ¡°...How did ReZhui get to know him?¡±

    ¡°Ha! It¡¯s quite the unbelievable story that I would love to share with you in detail over a cup of tea¡­but, now¡¯s not the time, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s getting late soon¡­One last question though, YaoMing.¡±

    ¡°Speak it.¡±

    ¡°...What was ReZhui''s reaction to all¡­this?¡±

    ¡°From what I saw, he was never stunned by Eddisson¡¯s unique appearance initially. Moreover, he defended Eddisson against people that ostracized him. Regardless of any differences, he will always hold out a helping hand to anyone he deems good.¡±

    ¡°Wow¡­¡±

    ReZhui did better than his own father.

    ¡°Talk about maturity.¡± He scowled.

    ¡°Yes indeed, my disciple is quite the eccentric individual, but that doesn¡¯t mean I should call his actions humourous, wouldn¡¯t I? After all, I still think he is a man of good moral character that people should follow more often for society to change for the better.¡±

 Chapter 35 : The Seven Swords of Light [Part 1]

    The group managed to finish the rest of the journey by nightfall without the necessary stop by the school run by Teacher Woo. Regardless, they knew Teacher Woo would now be fast asleep and decided to head back tomorrow morning. Along with ReZhui and his two companions, Mr Zhang had brought along several useful items and supplies for the upcoming winter season. All were planned to be shared equally among the villagers.

    As usual, the residents of Bai village were already waiting for them at the foot of their fertile plateau. Once they saw the hanging lamp of the wagon, they burst out with cries of welcome. In the center, ReZhui saw his mother waving with his baby brother in hand, while the children, consisting of mostly his classmates and his brothers began their wild charge towards the cart, excited to see ReZhui and the toys that Mr Zhang had apparently promised to buy for their efforts in the harvest. While ReZhui and the others now barely had any interest in such things after what they learned and witnessed, it was still a curious sight for their downtime and they instantly released the bags that contained them. The reunion party has already commenced.

    Another warm greeting from his mother had ReZhui in tears once more and Mr Zhang began unloading the cart with the help of the other farmers. Meanwhile, the mothers and the children returned to the village square where large red tables were spread about and filled with a lot of dishes. To a corner, ReZhui saw the distinctive vases of wine that he and ShiYan carried together up the hill, lined alongside the other brown pots of cheap wine on multiple racks.

    ¡®The adults surely are going all out.¡¯

    With his thoughts scanning around the nostalgic village, ReZhui suddenly felt a mass scurrying behind his back, cowering in fear. Of course, it was Eddisson. Sighing, ReZhui looked back as ShiYan approached close, followed by an intrigued crowd.

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem, Eddi?¡±

    ¡°T-those kids¡­they started pulling my hair. Should I¡­faybe I should return to caking my hair in-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Eddi!¡± Before ReZhui could say the same, ShiYan apprehended those self-deprecating words of his.

    ¡°Stand up straight!¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, Madam!¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± And she yanked him away from ReZhui and into the group of children behind her.

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui looked on with weary eyebrows. It seemed that ReZhui would have to be dealing with this routine until whenever in the future. As he walked up to his fellow classmates and village friends, they immediately bombarded him with questions as well as ShiYan.

    ¡°Brother! Brother! Who is this?¡±

    ¡°Is he a friend?¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, he looks funny!¡±

    ¡°What happened to his black hair?¡±

    ¡°Did you tame a spirit?¡±

    ¡°Where did you find such a monster?¡±

    ¡°No way, he looks ugly with that nose.¡±

    ¡°He speaks funny too.¡±

    ¡°Is he sick?¡±

    ¡°Should we replay him as the enemy?¡±

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui watched on, wordless.

    ¡°ShiYan! W-why did you come back?¡±

    ¡°Did you come back for us?¡±

    "Who did you miss?¡±

    ¡°Did you bring your makeup box this time?¡±

    ¡°I w-want to conf-¡±

    ¡°I hope you show you around my father¡¯s field. We got the largest stockpile of rice grains in the world!¡±

    ¡°Nonsense, I hunted the most boars.¡±

    ¡°...¡± ShiYan decided to let it all pass out from one ear to the other. Certainly, this louder group was the minority and many other of his classmates stayed at the back, watching things unfold. Slowly and patiently, ReZhui waited until all the chaos had died down and gestured to ShiYan to do the same in order to maintain her image of a studious town girl. From within, she gritted her teeth.

    ¡°Is everyone done with their questions?¡± ReZhui exclaimed, and silence and nods answered.

    ¡°Alright then everyone, please welcome another close friend of mine, Eddisson He. Eddi, introduce yourself.¡± He demanded.

    ¡°H-hello everydone, I am honored to make your acquaintance¡­¡±

    ¡°...!¡± ReZhui released Eddisson wasn¡¯t done.

    ¡°I am nine years old like you all. I love reading and learning. My favorite meal is red braised pork belly and my hometown is a large city near the sea called ShanWei.¡±

    As he continued his impromptu introductory speech, no one interrupted. Everyone surprisingly paid full attention to his every word. Even the women and most of the arriving farmers, who were initially puzzled at this weird boy, listened closely. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°I sleep on a mattress of soft fabric, and wear clothes of the kingdom I was borned and raised in all my life¡­I am the son of a Middle Kingdom woman and a man of the Manustrion Principality, a foreign land crossing oceans on the other side of the world where I heard men of different origins thrive, such as my definitive looks. I-I may not be made purely of the blood of all of you, but, I still live the same lifestyle as you all. The same beliefs, practices and language. Your culture is very much mine as well!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°¡­Hence, I pray that you all will accept me regardless.¡±

    Eddisson bowed down in face of flush scarlet.

    ¡°...¡±

    Silence soon filled the square as the villagers remained deep in thought. They were clueless on what to consider. Like Mr Zhang, they never heard of these places like ShanWei nor the Manustrion Principality. A cautious instinct of a like-minded, homogenous group.

    ¡°...¡±

    Yet, from what YaoMing said and reinforced by Eddisson¡¯s plea, Mr Zhang soon reached an epiphany. His face darkened.

    ¡°...¡±

    Mr Zhang was, after all, the Chieftain of the Bai people and to catch up with what he predicted are decisive times of change in the nearseeing future. It¡¯s entirely for his people¡¯s sake. So¡­

    ¡°Everyone!¡± Mr Zhang had to set an example, even if it¡¯s not entirely righteous when compared to his son¡¯s actions. Opening up to this boy of mixed race would be their first step to rejoin with the surrounding villages of the Bai River basin for their cooperation, starting first with DongBu and the Winterless Spring Festival.

    ¡®I still have a lot to learn and take action.¡¯

    ¡°Shall we accept this young friend of ReZhui as our own?!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Ultimately, we are all human beings. What¡¯s so trivial about color when even my son treats him like every one of us? Are the people of Bai village so scared of change?¡±

    Slowly, Mr Zhang will try his best to engrave his ideas with the community. Change is coming and he has to prepare for it.

    ¡°Well, I do! And what better way to interact with one another than our communal grand feasts!¡±

    ¡°OOOOHHHHHH!!!¡±

    Suddenly, a loud uproar of the crowd erupted at those words. A new mentality is seeding in.

    ¡°Welcome everyone, I call for this feast¡­BEGIN!¡±

    With his signal, the hundred or so individuals rushed for the tables in quick succession. Some of them were nearly toppled over.

    Eddisson, still burning hot from embarrassment, was soon dragged into ReZhui¡¯s village friends who had decided to give him a chance at having fun. Admittedly, Eddisson¡¯s playing was tougher for him than understanding economical books.

    ¡°Pa¡­Nice work.¡±

    As for ReZhui, he made short contact with his father who smiled in relief at his son¡¯s response. Mr Zhang truly hoped this was the best route for his people. Once Mr Zhang walked to the wine rack with his fellow farmers, only ShiYan and ReZhui remained at that spot, and they looked at each other.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Sooner or later, they will also be swept away with the party spirit so ReZhui decided to ask her this right now.

    ¡°ShiYan, there¡¯s something I would like to ask-¡±

    ¡°Was it only because of the heat in the moment or due to their lack of education? Either way, what they did to Eddi was awful and now they shove it under the rug like that?¡±

    But ShiYan said hers quicker.

    ¡°...What¡­¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, do you think it¡¯s unnecessary for me to ask about that?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­at first, I thought that my journeys outside the village had changed my perspective so much that I believed that what I saw before of my childhood friends was false.¡±

    ¡°Do you still think like that?¡±

    ¡°...No, not any more.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°ShiYan, I think you raise some good points that counter my new first impressions so thank you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure.¡±

    ¡°Also, for your question earlier, I can confidently say that my father will change the status quo of this village, alongside Mr Xu for everyone else.¡±

    ¡°...What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a hunch, ShiYan. I just¡­want to share my thoughts.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no problem there, ReZhui. It will be all safe with me.¡±

    ¡°...One more final thing, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Back then, when you laid eyes on Eddisson, why didn¡¯t you react in a similar way to everyone else?¡±

    ¡°...why huh?¡±

    ¡°Ahhh, if I offend you in anyway, please forgive me-¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°What¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true that I nearly freaked out when I first saw Eddi. He looked¡­strange and acted foolishly. There¡¯s no way I will even come close to greet him.¡±

    ¡°What harsh words¡­¡±

    ¡°I-it was you, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±

    She averted her gaze.

    ¡°I felt jea-NO!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for your showcase of friendship with Eddi, I would have hesitated, even after knowing he is my step nephew from Father.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡±

    ¡°But, I don¡¯t think like that anymore! I think he¡¯s just your average guy dealing with a dysfunctional family like myself.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my first connection with him, and it sprung up more from there. So, I thank you too.¡±

    ShiYan smiled beautifully back at him.

    ¡°...Oh¡­alright¡­That¡¯s nice to hear, ShiYan.¡±

    He then gave her his hand.

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°We should enjoy the feast ourselves too. Shall we?¡±

    ¡°...! YES, LET¡¯S GO!¡±

    Instead, ShiYan grasped hold of his hand and ran, pulling him ever closer to the loud crowd of food and wine. It was a lively time that night.

    .

    .

    .

    ---

    When morning came, the rising sun rose in between the towering mountains. Slim gaps of light shone through onto the village square where bodies laid about, fast asleep. While most of the mothers and younger children returned to their homes at midnight, the rest continued, leading to the scene before them. ReZhui, awakened from a nearby call of a rooster, found Eddisson clinging by his side on a patch of grass near his home; while ShiYan slumped over a wooden bench in deep slumber across the route.

    Mr Zhang passed out on a table and the wine rack was unfortunately toppled over.

    It was a fun homecoming.

 Chapter 35 : The Seven Swords of Light [Part 2]

    Several days had passed since then.

    ReZhui and his friends got themselves adjusted to life in the farming village, residing in his father¡¯s house like usual. While Eddisson helped out with supervising the pigs and chickens, ReZhui was tasked with manual labor at the paddy fields, suggesting to make use of his improved strength. ShiYan assisted his mother with the housework, something that was not in her system ever since she took a passion in medicine at a young age. Overall, ReZhui¡¯s mother had a rough ride in teaching her the ways of a typical woman.

    Once they all settled in, ReZhui and ShiYan insisted that they go down the mountain to Teacher Woo¡¯s place that they missed earlier on their journey up. Mr Zhang easily agreed to their demands and on their 6th day, the trio finally set out for their school.

    They trekked down familiar dirt routes and passed through spots of forests and loose streams, before they reached halfway through the entire mountain trail. In battered breath, Eddisson finally dropped to the ground wherever ReZhui stood. They each wore enclosed clothes that slinged across their torsos carrying spare clothes and small rice cakes. ShiYan scanned about the area until she spotted a gated clearing. Right above, smoke could be seen. Alerting the boys, Eddisson reluctantly got up and shoved his feet close to the space. What he saw next was a humble home. A logged bungalow with a wide base. Across it, a pretty steep slope looked over the rest of the trail as the trees sank lower. The sight of it made his knees buckle.

    ¡°Eddi, what¡¯s the matter with you?¡± ShiYan whined, turning to the back.

    ¡°S-sorry, ShiYan¡­I-I¡¯m not used to climbing high klaces. Forgive me.¡±

    ¡°...well, at least this shows you¡¯re maintaining your body, right, ReZhui?¡±

    Placing a hand on his back, ReZhui reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eddi, with time, your body grows stronger and this would be a breeze for you.¡±

    ¡°ReZhui¡­how long did it take?¡±

    ¡°...? Let me see¡­I suppose four years of continuous back and forth from teacher Woo¡¯s school.¡±

    ¡°I see, I still have a long way to go.¡±

    At the side, ShiYan signaled ReZhui to return to course.

    ¡°A-anyhow, Eddi, welcome to our childhood school!¡±

    In a proud, humorously haughty voice, ReZhui spread his arms wide as he led Eddisson in through the front door. ShiYan closed behind them. Walking through these dusty corridors from weeks of inactivity, ReZhui felt different upon this visit. It wasn¡¯t the only place outside Bai village that he knew, but it was now his first.

    The trio then showed Eddisson the empty classrooms, the rows of tables and the large blackboard, and that very pond that kicked started this entire phase of their lives. It was quite the sentimental trip for especially ReZhui and ShiYan, with the two smiling at what became of them.

    As they reached the end of the hallway past a curtain, they finally arrived at the front of his office.

    ¡°...!¡±

    However, before they could knock, the metal lock opened, opening up to the very same old man that taught the duo. Once they made eye contact, both ShiYan and ReZhui rushed towards him in excitement.

    ¡°Teacher!¡±

    ¡°Teacher Woo!¡±

    As they reached close for his rocking chair, the old man patted his students on their head for their efforts.

    ¡°Teacher Woo¡­¡±

    ¡°Have you been eating well, Teacher Woo?¡±

    Grinning from ear to ear, the old man confidently replied, ¡°Such mischievous children you two still are, entering the premises without considering my poor heart once I hear voices back there.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Apologies, Teacher Woo!¡± ReZhui clasped his hands together in a prayer. Laughing heartily, the old teacher waved it aside.

    ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯m the same as before, an unchanging rock on your river path. What stories would the two of, No, three of you, witness next?¡±

    Sensing that Eddisson reacted to his calling, Teacher Woo slowly got up from his seat and reached out to the blonde boy.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°Hello, son of TianXing, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you at last.¡±

    ¡°...Yes, Elder Woo¡­likewise¡­¡± Eddisson meekly replied.

    Surprised, ReZhui inquired back.

    ¡°Teacher Woo, did you hear this from Mr Xu?¡±

    ¡°On point there, ReZhui. YaoMing sent me a bird retelling the wondrous and tragic news in his writing. Let me honestly express, it was the first time I had ever read such a heartwarming story.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And it¡¯s all possible due to you, ReZhui. You were the cause of all this.¡±

    ¡°Teacher Woo¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, what blessed students have I helped raise!¡± The old man boasted.

    For ReZhui and the others, they willingly watched this wise elder have his moment of joy.

    Afterwards, with a little more exchanges, the trio found some wooden chairs to sit and were given some newly brewed tea.

    ¡°Sorry, you all, this teacher didn¡¯t expect visitors at this time of the month.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s Older Brother Wei and Older Sister Tian? Aren¡¯t they your apprentices and studying here?¡±

    ¡°Ah, those two, I sent them home.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°They both wanted some time off. What¡¯s a better gift for the new year than a well-deserved break? Nothing else, ReZhui. Time¡¯s important; use it wisely.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    And he drank a sip.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    Silence.

    However, Eddisson, feeling unnerved, inquired more of the teacher.

    ¡°...Elder Woo, what¡¯s your yelation with my mother?¡±

    ¡°Relation, you ask? That¡¯s an easy question, Eddisson. I¡¯m one of her many tutors.¡±

    ¡°whoa¡­¡±

    ¡°She had quite a lot of talents, and it¡¯s indescribable how much she truly loved YaoMing in the past¡­Speaking of which, how¡¯s she doing currently?¡±

    This time, ShiYan replied.

    ¡°Father said everything¡¯s stable.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯m glad. Back then, there was a limit to how much I could interfere with DongBu¡¯s power play from my post. Even after retiring and settling here, I¡¯m still deemed an outsider for the most part. But, back to TianXing, YaoMing wrote that she grew to be multilingual. Remember to ask her, if possible, to teach you everything there is to it. I¡¯m sure it will be helpful in your future.¡±

    That¡¯s when something clicked in her.

    ¡°Teacher Woo, Aunt He is already teaching ReZhui and Eddi about that. I once attended a class and was taught a book called, ¡®The foundations of the world around you¡¯. Do you recognise that title?¡±

    ¡°Of course, dear ShiYan, it¡¯s the first text that a scholar must master in their career. The soil of a tree is how I compare it.¡±

    ¡°But, Teacher Woo, it¡¯s so hard! I gave up about an hour in!¡± She started to whine.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­that certainly is an understandable reaction. It¡¯s not for everyone but hard work and proper timing will carry you a long way regardless, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°So, please don¡¯t compare yourself and do your best.¡±

    ¡°...you read me¡­¡± ShiYan muttered as she pouted.

    ¡°Haha, good, good. Alright then, anything else the three of you would like to ask this old man?¡±

    What went on next was an hour long conversation, consisting of detailed academic explanations and mindless chatter. Midday soon approached and Teacher Woo cooked them lunch for the day, before it was time for them to head home.

    Once again at the entrance, Teacher Woo stood close to the door, waving at the three as they left.

    ¡°This old man had a great time, children. Enjoy the upcoming winter season with your families!¡±

    ¡°We sure would, Teacher!¡±

    ¡°Teacher Woo, take care!¡±

    ¡°W-we¡¯ll visit again, Elder Woo!¡±

    With that done, they walked back up the mountain.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡®Ok, ok, now¡¯s the time, ReZhui. You can trust them.¡¯

    ReZhui and the others had been hiking up the trail for the past few minutes and he finally realized that they were alone at last. So he stopped, and approached a gap in the forests, leaving Eddisson and ShiYan dumbfounded.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, where are you going? The trail¡¯s this way.¡±

    But he remained still at the edge of the route. A deep breath in. ReZhui spoke.

    ¡°Listen Eddi, ShiYan, this is something that I kept a secret for all my life. Although much of it started a few months back, it¡¯s still a fact that I never told this to my father and mother, Teacher Woo, or even Mr Xu. And now, I am about to show it to you what it is that I am hiding.¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, t-this is too sudden.¡±

    While Eddisson was anxious, ShiYan pushed through.

    ¡°ReZhui, if it is something that you would hide from even your family, why tell people like us?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing like that, ShiYan. It¡¯s just¡­¡± He stiffened to word it right. ¡°...only the both of you would understand how I feel about this revelation, and that I trust you will keep this a secret for life because of what we have been through together.¡±

    ¡°ReZhui¡­¡±

    ¡°If I were to tell the adults, they would surely never listen to my pleas and act otherwise.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°So, please, would you still follow me?¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­lead the way.¡±

    After that bumpy start, the trio went off course, with ReZhui as the guide to their new location. They trekked through wilder forestry and rocky grounds, over creeks and surging rivers while the sun peeked over the foliage overhead. Fortunately, no animals crossed paths, and as they journeyed deeper, ReZhui explained it to the best of his ability.

    ¡°Eddi, are you alright back there?¡±

    With heavy breath, Eddisson acknowledged firmly. That lunch had given him a well needed break.

    ¡°Good, then let me ask you, do you ever wonder how I was able to fend off those assailants of yours?¡±

    ¡°No¡­I-I just assumed it¡¯s just something you learnt along the way.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m now taking you to that said place.¡±

    ¡°What!¡±

    ¡°HUH?¡±

    Even ShiYan interjected. Everything was slowly coming together.

    ¡°REZHUI! So-so that day after we both were absent from school and I saw you detach from your brothers¡¯ group and rushed into the woods¡­was it that destination all along?¡±

    Shocked at her observations and awareness, ReZhui could only a straight, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Wow! Then, are we gonna learn to fight too?¡±

    ShiYan was awfully excited about this reveal.

    ¡°It depends on my master, who I will introduce later, so follow me.¡±

    Eventually, they had to take multiple breaks to keep pace with Eddisson, who was in much worse shape than on the trail. The terrain was certainly harder to cross and ShiYan understood that more than ReZhui. Nonetheless, they pressed forward.

    Two hours soon passed in a blink and the trio finally reached a landmark; the familiar chopped tree trunks, across the elevated plateau. Sat on a couple of them, they devoured their supply of rice cakes before their awaited arrival at the steep cliffside.

    ¡°WOW!¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    For the cherished scenery that ReZhui and MianJu once kept to themselves, he felt elated that more of the people that he dearly loved could appreciate the view. Their eyes gleamed at the grand expansiveness of the river basin that they lived in. ShiYan and Eddisson continued to admire the sight for several minutes before ReZhui had to reel them back for their true objective.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone, he¡¯s just nearby.¡±

    Once they went down the flight of uneven steps, they had finally made it. Another round of amazement ran out of their mouths as they slowly took in the view of this wooden dwelling. It was surrounded by nature, isolated in the middle of nowhere and at such a top summit. It was mystical.

    ¡°...¡±

    Immediately, ReZhui felt a whisper in his ear. It was ShiYan.

    ¡°ReZhui, I now see where you are coming from. If the authorities were to be informed about this; that there someone was living without official documentation this high up, problems will occur. Moreover, our parents are the cautious and responsible kind.¡±

    ¡°Exactly, ShiYan.¡± And he then told the duo to stay behind as he informed his master, resting at the boulders laid scattered around.

    .

    .

    .

    After ReZhui knocked on the front double door, simple wooden blocks engraved in rectangular patterns, it opened to a familiar face. It was Jia MianJu, and even if he still had his blindfold on, ReZhui could still feel his stern gaze, shaking him a bit.

    ¡°ReZhui, why did you bring your girl friend and this foreign white kid? Didn¡¯t we promise this is a secret between the two of us?¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Instantly assaulted with burdening questions, ReZhui feebly replied.

    ¡°Brother MianJu¡­so, you do know they are coming along.¡±

    ¡°Of course, in fact-¡± He then faced in their direction, sending chills down the two of them, ¡°I knew about it ever since you returned a couple of days back. It was obvious what your other intentions were.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­My apologies, Brother MianJu.¡±

    ¡°...I suppose there is more to this?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­Ehrm, can we come inside first?¡±

    ReZhui never felt this hesitant around him before.

    ¡°Sure, be my guests.¡±

    In light of his permission, ReZhui scurried back to the frightened duo and managed to convince them to enter his cabin, despite their reluctance. At least, this was a steady start for him.

 Chapter 35 : The Seven Swords of Light [Part 3]

    ShiYan sat cross-legged opposite to ReZhui, with Eddisson beside him. They were in the main communal room with a low table placed at the center. Straw and cloth mats laid about, dyed a tame lime-green and brown. To the right of her, large sliding partition walls opened out to a tranquil view of a small garden. It was the ideal spot for relaxation.

    However, that all faded away with the entry of MianJu through the arched doorway with a brown pot of hot tea in hand. Eddisson showed a similar reaction as the man sat down at the width of the table. As he did a minor tea ceremony, ShiYan realized how this gentle practice is completely juxtaposed with his appearance and earlier demeanor. She could never imagine how ReZhui was friends with this kind of individual who probably got lots of blood on their hands.

    Donned in all shades of black, with the metal bracers and sleek greaves, padded robes and the ever-recognisable blindfold, ReZhui thought it was the usual for MianJu. Though, the other¡¯s expressions said otherwise.

    ¡°Please, take a drink.¡±

    MianJu gestured, and when they took a sip, ShiYan and Eddisson found it extremely soothing. The bitterness of the raw leaves was just in the right proportion to the heat in their mouths.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad the two of you enjoyed it. ReZhui also had similar reactions when he first arrived.¡±

    ¡°I mean, the taste never gets old for these past years, Brother MianJu. When are you gonna tell me your secret?¡±

    ¡°Whenever I like it, ReZhui, so don¡¯t use your friends to bait me in.¡±

    ¡°Haha¡­you got me.¡±

    ¡°...¡± Watching the two of them chatter, ShiYan needed to make sure this person was on their side.

    ¡°E-excuse me, SIr¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, pardon me, ShiYan!¡± ReZhui interrupted.

    ¡°What¡¯s now, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Since it¡¯s your first time meeting each other, I think it¡¯s right to make me do the introductions first.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± MianJu replied curtly.

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± ShiYan approved while Eddisson nodded.

    ¡°Very well, ShiYan, Eddi, meet Brother Jia MianJu, a lone blacksmith in the mountains with a very profound understanding of the martial arts. I met him several years ago after he saved me from a pack of wolves in these woods and now, he¡¯s my combat master.¡±

    A round of amazement arised from the other two.

    ¡°Pleasure to make your acquaintance. May fortunes continue our relationship.¡± MianJu bowed a formal greeting.

    ¡°Now, Brother MianJu, this here is Xu ShiYan, a close friend of mine whose father I worked under as an apprentice as well.¡±

    ¡°Likewise, may I call you Brother just like ReZhui?¡± She bowed back.

    ¡°Sure.¡± MianJu clasped his hands together.

    Back to ReZhui, ¡°On my side, his name is Eddisson He, the son of a Middle Kingdom woman and a foreign man. We met through quite the circumstance but everything turned out fine in the end. Now, he¡¯s under the same mentorship as me under ShiYan¡¯s aunt. Also, his mandarin may have several missed tones so please excuse him.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Eddisson, it¡¯s a pleasure once again.¡±

    ¡°Y-y-yes¡­same with me too¡­¡±

    MianJu never expected the character from Eddisson. Moreso, he was curious.

    ¡°ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Do you mind telling me about how you came across Eddisson?¡±

    ¡°I would love to!¡±

    For the next few minutes, ReZhui told MianJu mostly everything. From the tasks set up by Teacher Woo, that conflict with the bastard Mayor of Luo ChengShi, the slum welfare event and the fight against his bullies, MianJu sat motionless, absorbing every piece of information without a single expression or interruption. In ShiYan¡¯s eyes, that was incredible discipline.

    ¡°And that¡¯s how we fought those guys off. What do you think, Brother MianJu?¡±

    ¡°You did well, though there is room for improvement. Don¡¯t be complacent with just this win.¡±

    ¡°Understood¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I said technique, body and mind are necessary, intertwined together to produce a person¡¯s greatest fighting form. You haven¡¯t scratched the surface of what defines that.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Brother MianJu.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you listened. The fact that you emerged the winner to save a person¡¯s life is a sign of your headstrong righteousness. Be proud of it, ReZhui. Although, there would be times where you instinctively know that your opponent can end you with ease, it¡¯s nature¡¯s law for prey to run away for the sake of their survival. Follow it to fight for another day, even at the expense of another. Remember that.¡±

    Albeit harsh and foreboding, ReZhui took it to heart, knowing this was his sign of concern.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother MianJu, I will grow stronger so that that time never comes. I¡¯ll promise you that.¡±

    ¡°We shall see. I¡¯ll still continue your training as always.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of that, Brother MianJu, could ShiYan and Eddi also join me?¡±

    ¡°Join you¡­I see no problem with that.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that was also too obvious?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I see, alright.¡±

    After that awkward exchange, ShiYan pumped up in excitement.

    ¡°Seriously, Brother, you are going to teach us!?¡±

    Waving her to sit down, MianJu clarified himself.

    ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t go back on my word. We can properly start on your next visit because I know you and Eddisson live quite far from here. Today, I will explain to the both of you how to practice some body strengthening and mind conditioning respectively for your individual needs.¡±

    ¡°Brother MianJu, what do you mean individual?¡± ReZhui asked.

    ¡°Unlike you, ReZhui, Eddission is a weak kid. A child with the fingers of a lady. He would never survive your intensive training and instead injure himself further. Therefore, I will lend him several beginner manuals about Arrays and Formations to get him started. A simple workout will suit his bodily needs for the time being. Do you get me, Eddisson?¡±

    ¡°I-I understand, B-brother MianJu.¡±

    In response, MianJu nodded.

    ¡°Sorry to interrupt brother MianJu, but what are those moves you mentioned?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t told you yet? Alright, hear closely. An Array is the use of the certain landmarks, constellations, pinned flags, exerted Qi or numerous others to entrap or mislead opponents by changing their perception of reality. Overall, it¡¯s the casting of an illusion.

    On the other hand, Formations are coordinated movesets that amplify in specific aspects once activated. Whether it¡¯s attack, defense, speed or situational awareness, the potency of Formations increases with the number of individuals, the skill of the individuals casting it in unison or the degree of synchronization of the casters.¡±

    ¡±Then¡­how does studying Formations help Eddi?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true that they are not ideal currently, but Arrays and Formations come hand-in-hand with one another, and Arrays are the most useful for Eddisson at the moment. To some extent, the three of you can form a Formation in the future but that¡¯s just running before crawling.¡±

    ¡°What about the Qi requirements?¡±

    ¡°Low-level arrays typically do not require them, and I doubt you will run into anything but grunts with swords around here. This will suffice.¡±

    ¡®...Like last time huh?¡¯ ReZhui scowled in thought, and as he did, ShiYan took her turn.

    ¡°Brother, what about my training?¡±

    ¡°ShiYan, in your case, I can pass you a beginner manual about the martial arts of Mt. Emei, called ¡®Vocals of the Perpetual Fists under Spring¡¯. It¡¯s publicly standardized so it should be easy for you to self-learn in the time you aren¡¯t here but be aware that there is progress to be made to turn it into your own and you would have to do some body strengthening as well.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait, Brother!¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    Having handled ReZhui¡¯s enthusiasm for years. ShiYan¡¯s spirit barely fazed him.

    ¡°Although, I am interested in knowing where is Mt. Emei is located. I imagine it with a peak way, way higher than this one!¡±

    ¡°You are correct with that prediction, ShiYan, but remember that when we say Mt. Emei, people will usually refer to the sect rather than the mountain itself.¡±

    ¡°Sect?¡±

    ¡°Exactly, Brother MianJu. Speaking of which, Eddi''s aunt once told us about this faraway place of business and foreigners called ShanWe, have you heard of that before?¡±

    ¡°...!¡± With ShiYan¡¯s and ReZhui¡¯s inquiries, MianJu immediately realized that their scope of the world had significantly grown. Whether he should help expand that or limit their interest, it was something he had barely foreseen. In the end, he went silent under deep contemplation for proceeding his next actions. Ultimately, knowing too much could get these uninvolved children targeted and killed. MianJu would never want that.

    As he seeked decisiveness, ReZhui felt something was up, that MianJu was hiding something.

    ¡°...¡± Perhaps ShiYan and even Eddisson eventually figured it out. To keep the fire burning, ReZhui decided to press forward with his dream.

    ¡°Brother MianJu, she told us many things.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Aunt He mentioned the existence of the prestigious White Crane Clan of the Righteous Iron Martial Sect.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡®That far?¡¯ This reveal caught him off-guard.

    ¡°She talked about the Third young master of that clan, Bai LuJi, and his influence across the city. His skills were reminiscent of the four seasons and he once sliced a bullet in half from a¡­gun, I guess that¡¯s how she calls it, at a very short distance.¡±

    ¡®Even guns!¡¯ MianJu was quickly losing ground. They already know a lot, even more than most adults around here.

    ¡°She describes him as one of the most powerful people she has ever met and I want to surpass that, Brother MianJu.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°So please, tell us more about what you know.¡± It was no longer a request but a demand. The trio were curious. Too curious, and MianJu could only accept in silence.

    ¡°...Fine, I will give you everything.¡±

    ¡°YES!¡± In unison, the children finally cheered with glee and vigor.

    In the background, MianJu could only watch and smile in surrender as they settled down. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡­He¡¯s just that capable¡­¡¯

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°The Middle Kingdom is a vast empire of many lands that share the same culture and origin, dating back to the settlements of the Yellow River further North where the capital, ZhongXin, resides in all its glory for the past few thousand years.

    Currently, we live under the Xie Dynasty, a bloodline that has ruled the Middle Kingdom for the last 600 years and are still under the seat of power.

    While the emperor and his extended family continue to position themselves as the highest authority of the people and the destined inheritors of the Will of the God-Emperors, there are numerous other parties and factions that fight amongst each other to support them and gain further power, of which three are the most prevalent. There is the Imperial Court of Governance and the Eunuch Administrative Union whose power play mainly takes place within the fortified walls of the Forbidden City.

    The Imperial Court of Governance consists of a large number of influential families that have assisted the Emperor for generations and are the nobility of the state. Rarely would there be any change of position to the status quo and it''s a cesspool no sane man would come out alive.

    The eunuchs are the ants of the greater executive head, carrying out everyone¡¯s orders until they die. Sometimes, they have a say in the internal politics and many directly serve the Emperor. Hence, they proved an adversary for the Imperial Government.

    As for the final contender and the most relevant one in your questions, we all call it, ¡®JiangHu¡¯.¡±

    ¡°whoa¡­¡± The trio repeated in unison. It sounded very mystical at first, but Eddisson quickly questioned the characters used.

    ¡°Brother MianJu, doesn¡¯t that literally mean ¡®Rivers and Lakes¡¯. Why would you name yourself after that?¡±

    ¡°It has many connotations and meanings, varying from the dynastic rule or the time period they lived in, but, the one we martial artists always refer back to is the idea that, like how water stretches far and wide to all corners of the world, an untamable force of nature that civil society bends around and makes way, we are a class of people that are independent from the government and the dynasty.¡±

    ¡°Essentially¡­bandits and rebellious organizations?¡± ReZhui blurted out with innocent eyes.

    ¡°...Yes, originally JiangHu was such a place near the outskirts of the Middle Kingdom. Different factions held their own unique morals and way of life. Their eternal pledge to the Code they swore to serve under. I heard that was one of the wildest eras of JiangHu, however now, things have drastically changed. One must fight blade and tongue to survive out there, and these traditions were passed down from descendant to descendant, forming the martial arts and Cultivation that I am teaching you now.¡±

    ¡°oh¡­¡±

    ¡°Many of the successful factions grew to become powerful warlords that aligned well in cooperation with the next corresponding dynasty for wealth and prosperity. It was a steady balance until a fierce northern nomadic alliance under a Supreme Khataganate overthrew the weak Qiu Dynasty and subjugated it under foreign control. Backing the new ruler was an incredibly powerful force, that the remaining remnants of the previous dynasty and the Warlords took over two centuries to strengthen their forces and finally take back the capital, which was changed to ¡®NanDu¡¯ in the wake of the barbarian¡¯s conquest.¡±

    ¡°...¡± This felt like a history lesson that Teacher Woo should be reciting. ReZhui was certain he would soon go back and ask him more about this time.

    ¡®This is so much more interesting, why doesn¡¯t Teacher Woo never bring this up?¡¯

    ReZhui wondered.

    ¡°The succeeding dynasty, the Yue, could not have liberated the Middle Kingdom without the absolute backing of the Warlords and their armies so the first Emperor of Yue, the GuiLian Emperor, established all the Warlords with such prestigious positions of power, ranging from the management of cities, provinces and landmarks. Moreover, he coined a new title for the seven major factions and alliances that participated in his campaign. And you know what it''s called.¡±

    ¡°The Seven Swords of Light¡­¡± ReZhui answered.

    ¡°Yes, and with the new reforms that favored the Warlords, their influence and power grew exponentially throughout the Middle Kingdom. One that was barely held back by the rising parties that I mentioned earlier. Until this very day, it had always been maintained as a three way equalizer.¡±

    ¡°Then, who do they consist of, Brother MianJu?¡±

    ¡°Now, present day JiangHu is drastically different than in the past as I said. Warlord¡¯s and their followers renamed themselves as Sects with each promoting a new path of martial arts for newcomers. That is their main reputation nowadays despite their obvious handling of numerous other societal affairs like the White Crane Clan in ShanWei city.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°These Sects can range from a single household to whole territories with fully manned armies.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°And to burst your bubble, the White Crane Clan, in spite of their dominance over that international trading hub, they still fall under an alliance far greater than you could imagine.¡±

    ¡°w-what¡­¡±

    ¡°In JiangHu, we have generalized all the factions into another three more categories based on the righteousness of their Code of Order.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°For the most honorable with the strictest of regulations, we call them the Orthodox Sects. To those that stray away from that discipline, lacking in their ancestral prestige or go against the interests of the Orthodox Sects, they are deemed the Unorthodox Sects.

    And finally, the ones that are detested by all and practice immoral crimes against humanity, they are labeled the Demonic Sects.¡±

    ¡°...!¡± The trio shivered once MianJu reached the end. His voice was a stern warning.

    ¡°Listen closely, regardless of whatever situation you found yourselves in, remember to never give a hand in the Demonic Arts. They are extreme, require human sacrifices or blood and can drive the practitioner insane. These vile beings basked in violence and chaos! So, do not ever give a thought about considering such a Sect, do you hear me?¡±

    Frantically, they all nodded in fright.

    ¡°...¡± Taking another mouthful of the lukewarm tea, MianJu breathed calmly and continued.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start off slowly with the major players. Within the Orthodox sects, there are sixteen factions that everyone in JiangHu knows about. We call them, ¡®the Five Great Clans and the Nine Supreme Sects with the Beggars¡¯ Union and the Hao Agency¡¯.¡±

    ¡°what¡­¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...Brother, that¡¯s quite the long name, and why are the last two distinctly separate?¡±

    ¡°The Beggars¡¯ Union and the Hao Agency are actually very similar to each other. The reason they are here and separate is due to the fact that they fit in neither category, being not rich and not of a single bloodline, but are still one of the more powerful ones due to their sheer size and scope all over the Middle Kingdom. They say that the Beggar¡¯s Union alone is the largest out of all individual sects. To each faction, beggars and prostitutes serve as the majority respectively. Both are also known for their neutrality against all conflicts and are the primary sources of intelligence gathering for all sides. After all, their only interest is the highest bidder. Together, they form the Lower District¡¯s Plight Society, an alliance that takes up one of the seats of the Seven Swords of Light, in which they still formed despite their fair share of disputes.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Onto the Five Great Clans and the Nine Supreme Sects, they each govern their own provinces, assigned by the GuiLian Emperor but have endured some changes to the territories over the centuries, and practice a different form of martial art that is disparate from the others.

    Starting with the Clans.

    Firstly, there is the Tang of the southern regions, and they are infamous for their specialization in alchemy and concealment combat. In battle, their poisons are second to the Unorthodox Sects, but are the deadliest among the Orthodox members and are ahead of the Demonic Sects. They also have better doctors than the other Great Clans.

    Next, we have the Murong Clan, which can trace their ancestors back to the Babarbian conquests so they are the youngest of the Great Five, but have the strength to back their title. They are much wilder as expected and have greater heightened senses than the others. They rule over parts of northern provinces and are probably the second line of defense from the tribes of the far North.

    Nangong is the third Clan and they are considered the most righteous of all the Orthodox Sects. For their martial arts, they primarily are sword users and have produced some of the strongest warriors that JiangHu has ever seen, like the Almighty Sword Saint. In terms of numbers, they have the largest amongst the Clans and the Supreme Sects, managing the central regions.

    Then, we have the Zhuge Clan, who are the descendants and disciples of an ancient strategist by the same surname. Eddisson, this is the family that specializes in Arrays and Formations, performing the strongest and largest casts that JiangHu has ever seen. They are the smallest family, with intellectuals and scholars who rarely hold a sword in combat but make up for it with their minds and tongues.

    Finally, there is the Peng Clan further north. Influenced by the barbarians, they have connections to spirits and the supernatural, gaining enlightenment, experience and strength from them. They are also the least active in matters relating to JiangHu so they are the second smallest of the five with the least land given.

    Is everyone still following well?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    That was a lot to take for them, but having been curious about this subject for a long time, especially ReZhui, they easily digested all of that. This was interesting.

    ¡°We are fine, Brother MianJu. Please tell us all!¡±

    ¡°...Alright, I oblige.

    The Nine Supreme Sects.

    While they typically do not rule over provinces such as the Five Great Clans, they are commonly found on specific landmarks that sometimes also represent a significant part of their martial arts, which are comparable to the Great Five.

    There is the Mount Hua Sect, based at Hua Mountain, one of the Grand Peaks of the Middle Kingdom, and its surrounding lands. Their martial art usually uses swords with a deep fundamental thought about flowers and in particular, plum blossoms.

    The Shaolin Temple is next. Based in two locations of the Northern and Southern temples atop their respective mountain ranges, they consist of regular monks and warrior monks that believe under Mahayana and Chan Buddhism. They have numerous combat styles but in all commonality, their physical vessels and mental consciousness are hard as the toughest iron.

    In a similar vein, the Mount Emei Sect also follows the Buddha¡¯s teachings and instead consists of Buddhist nuns of a similar role who live their lives on Emei Mountain. But in their martial arts, rather than the rock solid postures of their counterparts, theirs has a mixture of flexibility too.

    Next, we have the Mount Qingcheng Sect, who are also nuns in manner but by practice, they closely follow Daoism, rather than Buddhism. Hence, although their martial arts is identical to Mt Emei on the surface level, their Qi and Aura controls are strikingly different.

    We then have the Diancang Sect, based in the forestry of the southeastern regions. Quite a small school relative to the rest but they are well-known for heavily involving their Aura manipulation into their martial art, the greatest degree out of all the Sects. Simply because they practice flying swords.

    Neighboring the Nangong sect, the Wudang Sect reigns over their domain. If Mount Hua is famous for their decorum and mystery, Wudang is popular for their leniency and their male to female disciple ratio at an exact one to one. Their martial art revolves around the concept of Taiji and all of their prominent moves are essentially redirection. One of the largest too.

    Onto the Kongtong sect¡­all I can say about them is that they are the wildest of the Orthodox sects. A group that still retains their lowly bandit behavior from centuries ago and uses unconventional weapons. They are the only sect that labels fist as their primary.

    The Zhongnan Sect is usually the overlooked one. They are a devoted school of Daoist thought with the most generic set of martial techniques that does not set itself unique. I would call their martial arts, a master of none. The only reason they inherited this title is due to their notable feud with the Mount Hua Sect, and are actually playing on an even field.

    The last one on the list would be the Kunlun Sect, based at the Kunlun Mountain range that stretched below the Karagan desert and the plateaus of the northwest. They were once part of the Demonic Sect but they have slowly changed their ways and have proved their worth of morality over the centuries after a devastating defeat from the Southern Celestial Adret Sect. Now, they are regarded as the indirect messenger between the forefront of the Demonic Sect and the rest of JiangHu. For their martial arts, it¡¯s a tamer version of their true Demonic Art and now uses animal blood as a major foundation.

    For where they would fit in the Seven Swords of Light, the Mount Hua Sect and Shaolin Temple were each given one spot for themselves. The rest of the Orthodox Sects would gather under one banner called the Central Conformist Alliance or the Wulin Alliance, for short. This takes the next spot on the list.

    So, that¡¯s all of them.¡±

    Immediately, ShiYan shot out a question.

    ¡°Brother, what is the Southern Celestial Adret Sect? And why does Mount Hua and Shaolin Temple get their individual titles?¡±

    ¡°Firstly, I will get there soon. For your second, there is no disclosed answer that I even cannot solve. But, I don¡¯t recommend finding out when it¡¯s none of your matter, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­¡±

    ¡°As I was speaking, the last two categories are much less complex. The Unorthodox Sects only has two prominent players amongst other minor institutions.

    The Poison Gourd Sect is a group that lives in the very south of the Middle Kingdom, where rainforests thrive in huge numbers. They are the warriors that produce the deadliest toxins in all of JiangHu with some that are said to be incurable and their methods of making them are unknown. For their martial arts, they heavily use ranged and projective weaponry, often mimicking poisonous animals.

    Next, we have the Southern Celestial Adret Sect. Rather than a school, they are a military group that functions as a Sect. If you remember that the Muyong Clan is the second line, then the Southern Celestial Adret Sect is the first frontier against an invasion by the barbaric nomads and are tasked by everyone to hold the frontlines long enough for reinforcements. Originally, they were exiled members of all the sects of the Wulin Alliance but soon carved out their own identity as the protectors of the empire. Their martial art is catered to dealing with those barbarians so they are the only ones with horseback riders with an emphasis on halberds.

    These two sects take up another two seats on the Seven Swords of Light. And now only one is left.¡±

    ¡°I understand now.¡± ShiYan nodded. Looking to ReZhui and Eddisson, they still gave him their undivided attention. This was one he was most reluctant to tell.

    ¡°...Anyhow, I will now talk about the Demonic Sects.¡±

    ¡°...¡± The trio held their breath in anticipation.

    ¡°Amongst the three factions, the number of Demonic sects are the least in number but do not let that fool your perception. While there are those that somewhat represent what they used to be in the past like the Blood Sect, the Joyous Corpse Temple, the Yama Cult and the Guilao Sect, the rest are absorbed by a much larger entity that I will tell soon. There is also another one of the same scale and each one lies in the shadows of the northern and southern parts of the Middle Kingdom.

    In the southern provinces, the Heaven and Earth Society rules supreme in the darkness. Rather than say they are a school, it is a chaotic amalgamation of different clans and families that signed up under one banner. There is no uniform martial art and they do lots of criminal activities that I dare not speak about until you are older. Overall, it''s a mess, but if grouped proper, they are a major treat to everyone.

    Finally, we reach the last Demonic Sect. It is the one that had consumed all the other immoral sects; the one that is the true haven for outlaws, criminals, zealous pagans, vigilantes and vagabonds alike; the one who¡¯s manpower ranks third, behind the Wulin Alliance and the Beggar¡¯s Union; the one that takes the last position of the Seven Swords of Light; and the one who is deemed the ultimate nemesis of the entirety of Jianghu and its very existence, we called them¡­¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°The Heavenly Demonic Cult¡±

    As MianJu finally revealed it, the trio froze in fear and goosebumps surged through their bodies. Imagining what such a sect would be like was terrifying.

    ¡°Rather than calling it a sect, they instead functioned more like a religious cult of fanatics from the very start of its establishment. And¡­the one to lead them all, who everyone calls the embodying entity of malice itself, the venerable Heavenly Demon.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Below him, powerful beings of unfathomable strength, rivaling the power of many sect leaders, grovel glady underneath that entity¡¯s feet without defiance. For in the world of hell, high above the Karagan Desert in the inhospitable landscape of jagged, steep mountain ranges, sky piercing snow peaks and elevated barren plateaus of the XInJiang province, only one law rules supreme, ¡®The weak submits to the strong, there is no exception¡¯.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°To strike with your mouth, you must first back it up with might, otherwise you will end up dead. And above all that, for the entity that reigns unbridled, the Heavenly Demon is the most powerful of them all, hailed as the strongest of all the demons and the divine warriors of the Wulin Alliance, it¡¯s a miracle that the Heavenly Demonic Cult never overstepped its written boundaries and invaded the Central Plains.¡±

    ¡°...whoa¡­¡±

    ¡°Regardless of the status quo, we must remain wary¡­because throughout all of JiangHu, the Heavenly Demon has no peer equivalent.¡±

 Chapter 35 : The Seven Swords of Light [Part 4]

    Once MianJu and the others had taken some time off to calm themselves, he came back from the kitchen with another set of delicious tea for them. He then poured each individual cup, observing their reactions. Even if they tried to hide it, MianJu easily knew that telling them about the archenemy of JiangHu would leave them some foreboding thoughts in the back of their minds. Who wouldn''t, especially after seeing how much they could affect Xie society. This would likely have never happened if he stayed silent, but he can¡¯t go back on his word and perhaps, it¡¯s for the better.

    ¡®This may motivate them to get even stronger or stay further away from the conflicts. Either way, it is much better than ignorant bliss.¡¯

    And, he considered giving them some reassurance about this.

    ¡°Everyone, I get you¡¯re frightened but let me expand on why I personally think their threat is just waiting for rocks to turn to diamond.¡±

    ¡°How so¡­¡± ShiYan asked in a weak voice.

    ¡°The number of times we officially had disputes with them could only be counted on two hands. Spanning the Wulin Alliance¡¯s relationship with the Heavenly Demonic Cult over millennia, there had been no more aggressions in the last thousand years, and that is a fact.

    Moreover, while they have the strongest martial warrior, the Orthodox and Unorthodox Sects have more members that take up the top ten rankings with the second and third strongest belonging to the Grand Elder of the Wulin Alliance, Nangong PingLi, and the Fiery Blaze King of the Unorthodox HongYan Sect, whose identity is shrouded in secrecy.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Stress is a worse toxin for body strengthening and your future meditation so don¡¯t worry too much as we still have plenty of strong fighters on our side as well. Besides, there are more urgent matters at hand¡­¡±

    ¡°...B-but, Brother MianJu-¡±

    ¡°Enough is enough. Although I promised everything, this is too much for ¡®everything¡¯, so please refrain from asking more.¡±

    ¡°¡­darn it¡­¡±

    The children sulked in unison.

    Disregarding their demands, MianJu looked out to the garden. Long shadows were forming from the treeline.

    ¡°Anyhow, I think it''s time for you three to head back before your parents question why. ShiYan, Eddisson, I will prepare those manuals with misleading book covers so study wisely back home.

    As for ReZhui¡­Just remember that necklace I gave you, in case you do anything outlandish again. We will begin training the next time you return here.¡±

    Nodding back to his instructions, MianJu rushed to his small library, leaving the trio to get ready for their trip back to Bai village.

    ¡°What a fun day we had today, am I right?¡± ReZhui smiled back as they headed for the entrance.

    ¡°...¡± Looking at a surprised ShiYan, who then grinned proudly in her recollection, Eddisson hesitated for a moment before replying.

    ¡°T-thank you for bringing us along, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Nodding at his statement, ReZhui opened the door that faced out to a descending sunset. Light seeped in, nearly blinding them.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to hear that, guys!¡±

 Chapter 36 : The Spring Festival [Part 1]

    Days crept nearer as the first snow began to fall. The nights grew longer and darker. Wildlife went into deep slumber and the forest trees were covered in layers of white. Of the routes that led down from the Bai village, snow began to accumulate, hindering access to the rest of the lower river basin area. Fortunately, further communication was conducted between YaoMing and GuoZhao. Attempts to build deeper ties started and developments were made for the past few weeks to organize efforts to remove excess snow from the central route that linked to Teacher Woo¡¯s bungalow. Then, trade, initiated by ReZhui¡¯s father, slowly made its way up the mountain with YaoMing as the merchant¡¯s temporary checkpoint. Despite this, the dirt trail still was unused for most of the day and this has not stopped ReZhui and his friends from making regular trips both ways on foot in extreme weather. Rather, they saw it as an opportunity for conditioning the body and enhancing their breathing amidst this encompassing veil of thin air.

    Up in the farmlands of Bai, the terraced paddy fields were a hard brown and individual storehouses sprouted about, filled with grains and salted meats and furs.

    Down at the Donbu village, traffic in the streets trickled but vendors and rickshaws still resumed their businesses for it was their livelihood and kept the economy going. Store business, on the other hand, remained unaffected, albeit a lower customer flow. The Xu Pharmacy went about their services undeterred and witnessing the winter themed ice gardens was a new treat for ReZhui and Eddisson, as they progressed with their apprenticeship. As for their martial training, the trio managed to fabricate stories, paving their way out of suspicion which would lead to their parents discovering MianJu.

    They found the manuals in a second-hand bookstore.

    They blended in with the other kids as they waged their own plays of battles.

    Those were some of the lies told to them.

    And once in a while, cladded in thick layers of cloth and fur cloaks, the children would set out for the arduous trip across the mountains, trekking through hip deep snow in thick forestry. All to arrive at the lone, tranquil residence of the blacksmith MianJu, whose furnaces blasted with rage throughout the day, providing immeasurable warmth, complemented by his delicious tea, to the accomplished kids with flushed cheeks.

    While there, MianJu corrected their martial arts and introduced some extra pointers too, particularly in mobility and situational awareness. Thanks to his efforts, the time taken to travel significantly decreased by the end and the children were able to reach home before evening even with this short daytime. Overall, the winter months were a peaceful and fulfilling period for everyone and ReZhui was steadily reaching his goals, working his gains little by little from everyone he knew fondly of to the best of his ability.

    Winter lasted long, with the first sighting of budding flora only seen after another cold two months and a half. This finally signaled the start of spring and the awaited beginning of the new year, sending waves that the Spring Festival was just around the corner. GuoZhao and the villagers emerged from their dwellings and proceeded with routine like last year. Getting the paddy fields ready for the next harvest; the grazing of released goats and sheep; and the retracing of wild wolves. foxes and boars, there was a lot to do in this tiny village, alongside the upcoming preparations for their own Spring Festival. By that time, ReZhui was at home with his family, separated from ShiYan and Eddisson at his master¡¯s estate.

    He first thought of asking them to come along but it seemed that he didn''t need to.

    Unlike the years before, ReZhui wouldn¡¯t be attending this year¡¯s celebration with the villagers. From a bird sent by YaoMing and ShiYan, GuoZhao received the long anticipated invitation to attend this year¡¯s Spring Festival Leader¡¯s Gathering as the honored guest. Moreover, YaoMing also wrote about how GuoZhao¡¯s family would also be welcomed to the festival as he guaranteed that it would be a fun experience, especially when it¡¯s not too far away.

    Once ReZhui and his brothers were told about this, they were surely thrilled and their mother simply complied with her husband.

    The snow thawed, and the dirt road was smoothened and freshly caked in brown. A cart, loaded with the entire Zhang family raced down the trail, onwards towards the venue.

    .

    .

    .

    The Spring Festival.

    A tradition that dates back thousands of years and is celebrated by all citizens of the Middle Kingdom. For the expansive lands that the Xie resides across, each Spring Festival varies from region to region, and in the practices of the residents along the Bai river basin, it was one that the leaders took as a guise for appearances but for the general populace, it was the real deal and their largest yet.

    A two day event of color and food.

    Located at the outskirts of DongBu village, where the mighty Bai River flows once again after months of inactivity, a large portion of the banks on either side of the river had been tiled with brick and wood. Atop each of the two solid foundations, massive structures were built. Maroon pagodas outlined the border of these premises and makeshift roofed stalls sprouted around them like the spreading veins of a leaf midrib. The more these vendors and merchants rented these spots, the more these veins linked up with the other extensions. Eventually, they form quite the complex maze for people to wander into. However, consideration was always the priority at the event¡¯s centers.

    Encircled by these bustling networks, a large pavilion was built at the central spot of the eastern river bank, raised upon multiple platforms with multiple stairways leading up to its grand entrance that faced the setting sun. Stone lion statues stood guard at every entrance on ground level, while carved dragon motifs were placed abundantly throughout every edge of this landmark. On the other hand, the western bank featured an even larger space where an unroofed semi circular stage stretched far and wide, facing out to an open concourse. Behind it, a blocky curtained metal framework served as the performers¡¯ preparation center.

    Connecting these two banks across the bisecting Bai River, an enormous, yet fanciful bridge of red, yellow, bronze and chalk white rose high above the surging water currents.

    Additionally, from the nearby ox-box lake, which was the main reason this section of the meandering Bai River was chosen for DongBu¡¯s site of hosting, streams of calm freshwater flowed into man made routes dug deep enough for koi fish to swim. As such, patches of small floral gardens with artificial ponds were randomly distributed throughout the premises. Small bridges were also constructed where these narrow rivers flowed underneath and the sight of these colorful fish was witnessed. Overall, these formed an extensive drainage network throughout the eastern bank for the added beauty of the scenery.

    And, ReZhui was soon going to experience all of this, plus more, with his own eyes.

    .

    .

    .

    The cart halted to a stop once they arrived at a roadblock, a tall wooden fence supported with stacks of sandbags. Like the other hundreds of wheeled vehicles parked messily around, GuoZhao pulled his cart to the side and leased his horses to the nearby keeper who was paid to ensure its safety. That young man of short stature had rows of wooden stables behind him, ready for service, and he guided them to a separate room in a swarm of hay and dust. Their cart was empty for the time being so GuoZhao and ReZhui paid no worry to someone possibly stealing an old transport. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    It took them all day to get here and the sun was already setting. However, that doesn¡¯t mean they were late as the traffic of carriages and crowds all around them seemed like it was still at its peak. Sticking together, the family pushed through the crowd.

    The last leg of the journey to the banks was a trip on foot. The road towards it was paved with stone and concrete, presenting a wide passageway for everyone to follow while protecting their festive outfits from the surrounding forestry and muddy swamp lands.

    Slowly, the waves of people staggered forward and in a few claustrophobic minutes, ReZhui survived the cramped conditions and had finally reached past the last bottleneck, the inspection of the Police Guard.

    He raised his arms wide and stretched his back, eyeing at the others who did the same or rushed in. His brothers later emerged, followed by his father and mother. They regrouped quickly and stood in front of the gateway. Raising their heads together in unison, the sight of the grand red triple arched entrance was reflected deeply in their black irises. Amidst the now dark, starless and cloudless night, numerous crackling bonfires were lit at the top in huge stone concave bowls. Large banners of red and yellow draped from high places, while lines of spherical paper lanterns hung across the distinctive upturned roofs. At its center, a large framed sign of polished wood faced downwards at an incline. In bold black ink, it said the name of this very place called ¡®the Lungs of Bai¡¯s Twin Breaths¡¯.

    After taking in more of that majestic architecture, ReZhui ran forward and under the archway.

    ¡°Wow!!!¡±

    He immediately froze, once he reached the other side.

    ReZhui saw a sea of red and gold. The dark maroon roofs of the stalls were also hung with rows of lanterns, but this time, they came in all shapes and sizes, ranging from animals to different fruits and vegetables. Colorful, patterned kites flew past him, soaring overhead by sprinting children while larger, more detailed ones appeared stationary, sparkling like stars at heights taller than the pagodas, whose edges of their roofs were also filled with similarly shaped lanterns from earlier. Further down the streets, he could make out the shape of the tall background of a stage and from the blocking stalls, a faraway acrobat rose high above the roofs; just enough for ReZhui to witness. Like him, those nearby saw it at a glance but still followed the cheers of the audience held further inward. The entire area erupted in applause, nearly shaking ReZhui off-balance. This was a first for him and his family. The amount of lights and fires, the clear variety of aromatic perfumes and smells of food gushing into his nostrils, and the amount of people that passed by him, shoving and pulling about. It was the most chaotic and fun that he has ever been too.

    ¡°REZHUI!¡±

    A startling call from his father sounded, as he finally made eyesight of his location. Dragging the rest of the family along, he joined with ReZhui at the center.

    ¡°Father, this is awesome!¡±

    ¡°It truly is, right!?¡±

    From the constant chattering corridors and screaming shopkeepers, it was a cacophony of noises, resulting in all of them shouting out at the top of their lungs to even make sense of each other. At this realization, the Zhang family had a good laugh before they questioned on following a line of people going into one of the many routes into this dense network of shops. But, they decided otherwise and slowly pushed their way to the side of the ongoing starting spot. As they readied themselves to truly explore further, ReZhui soon got a sharp tap on the shoulder, sending massive impulses all over his body and jerking around in instinct. Fear and surprise showed itself within his widened eyes in the presence of his best friend, ShiYan.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    Instantly, she gave up holding it in, and then unleashed an awful lot of laughter until her stomach hurt. Behind her, ReZhui turned to find Eddisson speechless. Despite the lack of screams, Mr Zhang and the others quickly figured out what just happened and got their share of humor into it as well. Once everything settled down from that awkward encounter, ReZhui opened first.

    ¡°ShiYan, I nearly saw my soul fly away! Don¡¯t ever do that again!¡± He whined in vain.

    ¡°Come on, ReZhui, I thought you said you already gained greater situational awareness! Well, isn¡¯t that a lie?!¡± She smirked away.

    ¡°N-no¡­Well, not in this scenario. I am completely overwhelmed! Just look at this many people, ShiYan! This was my first!¡±

    ¡°If so, it looks like you better get used to it! Over here, thousands of people have gathered from all of the other villages, just to celebrate the Spring Festival together as the people of the proud Bai river basin!¡±

    ShiYan spread her arms out and twirled gracefully on the spot.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ReZhui then recalled that story his father told him months back.

    ¡°What a great purpose this is!¡±

    ¡°I can say the same, ReZhui.¡± came the words of his father. Perhaps he thought of the same as well.

    ¡°Pa¡­¡±

    Crouching down to ShiYan¡¯s level, Mr Zhang scanned her and Eddisson from head to toe.

    ShiYan had her shiny long black hair tied up in a ponytail using a flower patterned bronze fastener of cylindrical shape. Her lips had a touch of red paint, and hung loosely from her black sash, a red pouch filled with scented powders and flowers covered her in a wondrous scent. She donned silky red robes with golden highlights and a yellow-brown inner layer. Newly sewn cloth sandals of black and light pink further completed her already stunning beauty.

    Onto Eddisson, his combed hair, that parted at the middle, itself was already a lucky symbol of fortune, being maintained well over the past months from neglect, it now shone brightly like a lit torch and constantly brought curious stares from passers-by who had never seen a blonde person before. He wore a maroon tunic of shimmering silk with bright red patterns near the sleeves and lower torso, and fastened with golden knot buttons that ran down the center. His pants were also dyed in a dark red with his new black leather wrapped boots.

    In comparison, ReZhui, with the allowance earned from his master and his father having taken part in significant trade exchanges last winter, was able to buy the materials needed for a new set for this Spring Festival. His mother had given him a distinctive golden-yellow collared shirt that has dragon illustrations sewn in with white tread. Similar scarlet knot buttons secured his fit at the side of his left shoulder. Silky black pants touched his ankles and he wore newly bought white cloth sandals with bright red outlines. Finally, his hair which has grown significantly longer was cleanly tied into a bun and fastened with a red ribbon and covered by a white cloth.

    ReZhui¡¯s father, on the other hand, wore a similar outfit to his son, while MeiYue and the other brothers also wore robes and tunics of red and yellow but significantly different and older. The baby, wide awake from the noises, smiled around, covered tightly with the usual white wrappings and a golden outer layer.

    ¡°ShiYan, you look incredibly beautiful today! This uncle approves of it!¡± Mr Zhang smiled at the young girl.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr Zhang!¡±

    He then turned to Eddisson and said the same, ¡°You may have the auspicious hair, Eddisson, but my son¡¯s charm knows no boundaries!¡± He proudly teased him. In response, Eddisson simply bowed and nodded with joyous eyes.

    Suddenly, he got a slap on the back.

    ¡°Pa, please¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmph!¡±

    Patting ReZhui on the head, he inquired ShiYan about the venue.

    ¡°Say, ShiYan, do you happen to know where your father is? I would like to be as early as possible!¡±

    ¡°Oh, father!? He knew that you would be here around this time so he told me this!¡± She pointed to one of the many openings.

    ¡°Follow down that route and head for the bridge on the other side! Cross over that and head for that massive pavilion at the center! That¡¯s where Father and the others are in attendance!¡±

    Mr Zhang retraced her directions and clenched his fist. He was ready for this.

    ¡°MeiYue, please take care of the kids while I¡¯m gone.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    He then embraced her for a much needed hug.

    ¡°It may take me a long night to sort this out and I apologize once again for not being able to fully accompany you all for this new Spring Festival experience, but¡­this is for our village¡¯s sake. So please-¡±

    His lips were halted by her index finger. Once smooth like milk, it was now coarse and sandy, but he still smiled at her gesture.

    ¡°Dear, you don¡¯t have to say much more. ReZhui and the others would be fine, and I am just here for the ride. After all, I am quite old to be enjoying all of this new stuff. Haha¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I pray for your success, GuoZhao.¡± She smiled back. ¡°Make sure you come back with the good news.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡±

    With that, he also said his farewells to ReZhui and the others before disappearing off into the growing crowds. His massive back was soon nowhere to be seen in the sea of scarlet and gold.

 Chapter 36 : The Spring Festival [Part 2]

    ¡°Tell me, ShiYan, how much did Pa give you?! Come on, quickly!¡±

    ¡°Patience, ReZhui! Your father really sealed it¡­tight-¡­-ly! Argh!¡±

    Currently, ReZhui was alone with ShiYan and Eddisson, walking aimlessly through one of the vendor streets. Previously, ReZhui intended on going together with his mother and brothers, but MeiYue permitted him otherwise. In her words¡­

    ---

    ¡°But Ma, wouldn¡¯t it be better if we stick together? The more the merrier, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Sighing at her child, she replied, ¡°Listen, ReZhui, with the number of people here, it would be worse if we lost each other along the way rather than we split off in the first place.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, Ma! I can pace myself slower for you and I am sure my friends could too.¡±

    ¡°No, ReZhui. I wouldn¡¯t want to be a burden for the three of you and I believe all of you deserve this.¡±

    ¡°...!¡± She pinched his cheek. ¡°What¡­Ma!¡±

    ¡°Listen up, child, I have raised you ever since you were an infant. My eyes have seen everything from head to toe, so do not think you could get away with fooling my thorough observation of you.¡±

    She pressed deep into his torso. Instinctively, ReZhui contracted his abs and she traced his firm muscles.

    ¡°W-what¡¯s this now, Ma?! You¡¯re embarrassing me!¡±

    She then tried to push him off-balance but ReZhui immediately resumed a temporary stance and stabilized his core. MeiYue felt like she was pushing a heavy rock.

    ¡°See what I mean? You can¡¯t hide it.¡±

    ¡°...well¡­¡±

    ¡°I am still clueless about what Mr Xu did to you to make you gain this healthy and strong physique that I had seen your father had in his later teens, but whatever it is, I am thankful that you are passionate about doing it and keep up the good work.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And I digress¡­¡±

    She hugged him while taking the chance to whisper close to his left ear.

    ¡°ReZhui, to be honest with you, out of all my sons, I can confidently say that you are the one I least worry about.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°While QiWen and CuLei only stuck to the paddy fields, you are flying off to places that I never knew, and in the future, I may lose sight of your ambition.¡±

    She let him go.

    ¡°You are becoming an independent man, ReZhui, with your talented friend.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...You do not deserve to be restricted by us plain farmers. Go on, and do what¡¯s best!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui felt what his mother said wasn¡¯t all falsehood. Although he detested those thoughts, he admitted that a part of him was convinced and now, they were all he could think of. His reasoning grew lazed and finally, he accepted.

    His beloved mother¡¯s best wishes got the better of him.

    ¡°I now understand, Ma. Thank you, and I love you.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back, wait for me!¡±

    .

    .

    .

    A loud crunch sounded in the area, muffled by the passing crowds.

    ¡°AT LAST!¡± ShiYan cheered at her strength. After chipping away at the seal of that gifted red packet for quite some time, she had finally opened it.

    Looking over her shoulders, ReZhui noticed the white interior and waited in anticipation.

    ShiYan tucked her fingers into the opening and spread the sides apart. Out of the hole, several bronze coins and a flat pouch of seeds fell onto her hands.

    ¡°whoa¡­¡± Stopping at the side of a stall, the trio soon began identifying what ReZhui¡¯s father gave her.

    Instantly, Eddisson gave his detailed account.

    ¡°I-I see¡­20 bronze, and those seeds probably belong to a family of Saan flowers.¡±

    ¡°Saan flowers?¡±

    ¡°They have petals of violet and short stems. Traditionally, they are used in cosmetics. With their distinctive smells, they can be a substitute to the powders in your perfume pouch, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°I see, Eddi. How thoughtful of him!¡±

    ¡°Eddi, was this from that botany journal you borrowed?¡± ReZhui questioned.

    ¡°YES! And I finished it last month. It truly was a colorful book.¡±

    With ShiYan¡¯s uncovered, she turned to Eddisson with his very own.

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°Well, what are you waiting for? Open it, Eddi!¡±

    ¡°R-right!¡±

    With some extra tugging and nailing, the red packet opened in similar fashion.

    ¡°Oh!¡±

    ¡°Interesting!¡±

    ¡°W-what¡­¡±

    In his hands, there was the same 20 bronze but this time, he received paddy stems. The same ones grown in ReZhui¡¯s village. Given that this was not only ReZhui¡¯s first with such a massive scale, but also Eddisson¡¯s first ever Spring Festival, the blonde boy¡¯s eyes sparkled at this gesture. It meant a lot to him.

    ¡°ReZhui¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Please tell your father that I give my thanks to him.¡±

    ¡°...Sure thing!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Alright then, boys! How shall we spend this money?¡± ShIYan smirked. In her hands, she slid out several more red packets from her pockets and fanned them in front of ReZhui, giving him immense shock.

    ¡°ShiYan¡­how much is in all that?¡±

    ReZhui was not fazed by the sheer number that she had, given that he also received a lot from the farmers in his village.

    ¡°Father¡¯s very alienated from his distant relatives after what had happened so I only received one from him, another from Aunt He and the rest from his subordinates and close acquaintances. In total, I counted 7 silver taels.¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    Instead, he was surprised at the amount she was given throughout the day leading to the festival.

    ¡°This much should be more than enough for us to spend lavishly at the fairs, and ReZhui, remember that Eddi is also part of my household so he also gets a similar amount.¡±

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui furrowed his eyebrows at him.

    ¡°I-I mean, not everyone ShiYan met also gave me. Only those that have professional ties to Mr Xu gave me some spare handouts out of courtesy-¡±

    ¡°Eddi! I told you to drop the formality, didn¡¯t I?!¡±

    ShiYan pounced on him, pulling his ear.

    ¡°R-right, ShiYan! I¡¯m sorry! Aahh!¡±

    ¡°Say it then!¡±

    ¡°Mr¡­Mr YaoMing.¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s better!¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Satisfied, she released him from her grasp and tidied herself up. Eddisson promptly stepped aside, flushed red at his checks with a part of his hair sticking out awkwardly. He noticed it and proceeded to smoothen it down.

    Watching this animated duo in action, that was the spirit of the Festive New Year for ReZhui. In a light laugh, he commented.

    ¡°You two really are growing closer to one another, like a true brother and sister!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°ReZhui!¡±

    Eddisson looked away in embarrassment, while ShiYan glared back at him, realizing how much of this was new to her, who¡¯s always labeled as the lord¡¯s treasured daughter. An only child, previously called for the both of them at different ends of the wealth spectrum and race.

    In spite of their reactions, ReZhui knew that deep down, his words struck their hearts and he smiled innocently back at them, much to the dismay and anger of a flustered ShiYan.

    ¡°Take this, foolish ReZhui!¡±

    She launched a straight right punch to his left pectoral muscle, but ReZhui took evasive movements, sliding on the outside and into her out-stretched arm. He then proceeded to entrap her in an arm lock.

    ¡°Ach!¡±

    Realizing this, ShiYan weaved her leg into his unstable stance, aiming to trip him to the ground.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    However, they both failed to react in time to either one''s counterattacks, resulting in a stalemate. Now they stood; still, firm and in a delicate balance. Any unnecessary movement could end with the both of them falling to the ground and dirtying their fresh bright clothes.

    ¡°...wow¡­¡± ShiYan grimaced at this pose. Many onlookers passed curious eyes into what they thought was a performance while Eddisson panicked at the sudden escalation. Sighing, ReZhui called to him.

    ¡°Eddi¡­A little help here. It seems like we are stuck.¡±

    At his request, Eddisson, having gained significant muscle as well over the past months, easily supported ReZhui and ShiYan partially in either arm while they loosened their limbs. Their impromptu performance had ended for the crowd, who some cheered unaware.

    ¡°...Does your arm hurt, ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°Thick-headed bastard¡­I too apologize for being the aggressor.¡±

    They reconciled with one another.

    ¡°A-anyhow, shall we explore more of this place?!¡± Eddisson demanded, hoping to bring the conversation to something more light-hearted.

    ¡°...ShiYan, could you lead the way?¡±

    ¡°Hah! Did you know I am a veteran of these places, ReZhui? I know these stalls like the back of my hand, you see!¡±

    ¡°Then lead the way, young lady!¡±

    ¡°Prepare your stomachs, gentleman!¡±

    Walking in bold, long strides, the trio truthfully started their Spring Festival celebration spree right at that moment on.

    .

    .

    .

    Wherever ReZhui¡¯s eyes landed, it felt like a blur of red and gold. Handheld lanterns that passed him and lanterns hung underneath the rooftops of stalls. Animals, food, furniture and weapons, whatever item he could think of, ReZhui saw countless shops selling them along wooden racks.

    Some sold masks of wood or hardened paper with the maker¡¯s inkwork being shown at the entrance as a form of attraction. Multiple children, ages younger than him, were seen running around wearing them. Most of the time, he was reminded of MianJu who would perhaps consider his unchanging black blindfold a part of his mask.

    ¡°ReZhui, do you want one?¡±

    ¡°Huh!?¡±

    ShiYan looked back at him and sneered.

    ¡°I think everyone should at least get one before they reach fifteen.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    ¡°Eddi, what about you¡­Wha!¡±

    But, he was already there at one of the stalls that caught his eye.

    ¡°Happy Spring Festival, weird kid with the golden hair, what could this uncle get for you today?¡±.

    The mask maker emerged out behind the display shelf, while ReZhui and ShiYan sprinted up to his location. Rubbing his fingers, Eddisson then pointed a finger to one. It was a colorful, wavy design. The dominant blues and whites made out the shape of a wrinkly smirking grin, with the thick lips being a bleak black. Dried fox fur was stuck underneath the bulging cheeks of the said mask, which then connected together to form a thick, humorous mustache.

    ¡°...really¡­¡±

    The craftsman was surprised, moreso the bewilderment from ShiYan and ReZhui.

    ¡°A-are you sure, kid? Why not choose those ones below there?¡±

    This particular mask was the variety used by horror opera theaters and the potential buyers for these were expected to be adults.

    ¡°No please, I want that one there.¡±

    ¡°...Alright, kid, you win.¡±

    And the mask maker knelt down and gave it to him.

    ¡°WHOA!!!¡±

    Now in his hands, Eddisson brought his mask closer and continued to view it in awe. The craftsman also received his payment. A total sum of 45 bronze coins.

    ¡°Thank you, Mister!¡±

    Eddisson said as he put it on.

    ¡°No worries, kid. The customer always has the final say in this, and with appearances as unique as yourself, I should¡¯ve been more prepared to expect the unexpected. Have a good one, kid!¡±

    With that last wave, Eddisson rushed back to ShiYan, reciting all the fascinating details he found in this mask. Meanwhile, ReZhui was scanning over his remaining set of masks.

    ¡°Hey, pretty boy!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    The mask maker approached beside him, admiring his own designs.

    ¡°Is that golden-haired boy a friend of yours?¡±

    ¡°Eddi is a close companion.¡±

    ¡°...Erghm, anyhow, got any choices, kid? Or are you planning to top up his performance with yours to question my sanity?¡±

    ¡°Say, Mister Maker, do you mind if I ask you a question?¡±

    ¡°And now, you¡¯re doing just that¡­I¡¯m all ears.¡±

    ¡°Although you did call Eddi a strange and awkward kid with blonde hair and blue eyes, why didn¡¯t you detest him upon first contact?¡±

    ¡°Wha¡­That¡¯s¡­a weird question indeed.¡±

    ¡°Well, I find you abnormal, Mister, for not distancing yourself away from Eddi. Why¡¯s that, unlike many others before you?¡±

    ¡°...Damn, handsome, aren¡¯t you the child philosopher?!¡± The craftsman scratched his neck.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°My answer¡¯s easy. As long as it¡¯s a customer with the will to spend money, no matter if it''s a saint or demon, I will still entertain them to earn enough to feed my family for the next day.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°But, I can see other businesses rejecting him regardless, so I have another reason to back myself, boy.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°I am an artist. My entire livelihood revolves around colors and the abstract.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°So meeting a child with a palate swap wouldn¡¯t freak me out in any way unnecessarily. Understand, pretty boy?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­Yes, I do.¡± He declared.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re satisfied, have you picked a choice already?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m still¡­¡±

    As ReZhui informed the others to wait outside, he entered behind the stall for more options.

    ¡°Whoa!¡±

    Within the room, dozens of masks hung from pins nailed to the yellow wooden walls. At the very end, there were buckets of water and blocks of pigment, and the door that led out to the alleyway.

    ¡°See which one is yours, kid.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui¡¯s eyes ran around in circles all over the place. Two minutes had passed and he still hadn¡¯t found a match. Surprisingly, the mask maker remained patient and proceeded back to do his next piece, shoving aside some trash to shuffle his chair towards the child. From row to row, it continued to be unsuccessful.

    ¡°Darn it!¡±

    ReZhui was already fed up with this and decided to try in the next mask stall.

    Turning back to the craftsman, ReZhui was about to tell him that he gave up, but that¡¯s when he spotted something.

    It was a mask of bold, sharpened patterns. A myriad of bright scarlet and black with a sleek, serpentine unibrow, followed by three spots along the shape of the lower eyelid. Both of which are of jade green. Finishing it off were the distinctive set of gold teeth that curved outwards like a yaoguai of folklore.

    ¡°Mister, I want that one.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    His eyes met at the lone mask that sat across him, sticking out under a pile of ink-splotched illustrations. Picking it up and examining it near a lantern, the craftsman sighed deeply.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ReZhui asked.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing, kid. It¡¯s just¡­I used to create multiple of these designs from the previous Spring Festivals. If I recall correctly, this was a bestselling design a decade back and I had many orders placed for them. But the customers soon got tired of them and six years later, I narrowly sold my last at a bargain.¡±

    He then held it high.

    ¡°This. This is the one that¡¯s bargained, but I rejected the offer at the last second.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I guess since then, this thing has been under the wraps in my utensil crate, away from the wear and tear like the others I dispose of.¡±

    ¡°What a story, Mister.¡±

    ¡°Well, that''s a blunder on my part. Catch!¡±

    ¡°AH!¡± ReZhui successfully caught it, ¡°Oh right, the money!¡±

    ¡°Hold it, boy.¡±

    The craftsman held his palm out.

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s free.¡±

    ¡°Seriously? Why though?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®why¡¯? That mask has been sitting there for so long; I doubt you¡¯re older than that.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the last that I¡¯ve ever made, so keep it safe.¡±

    ¡°...You got it, Mister!¡±

    With that, the trio gathered back together and blending in with the other children in the crowds, they wore theirs with pride.

    ¡°ShiYan, are you gonna get yourself one?¡±

    ¡°Nope, I¡¯ve grown tired of wearing one. I don¡¯t see the appeal anymore.¡±

    ¡°I see, that makes total sense.¡±

    ¡°Say ReZhui, did that artisan really give you that for free?¡±

    ¡°Exactly, ReZhui¡­t-that¡¯s not fair.¡±

    Eddisson also added.

    ¡°Well, what else can I say other than that I got lucky? Haha! Does it bother you, ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°Wha-no way that would, you brute! That thing clearly shows its age despite the high quality. Rather, it¡¯s Eddi who should be jealous!¡±

    Their bickering continued until they reached the end of the first street.

    Afterwards, ShiYan led the boys all over the Western Bank of the Bai river. There were hundreds of different food stalls to try from and for a novice, they would surely have a hard time finding the best dishes for the night. While judging the length of the queues is the optimal strategy, nearly every stall has at least several people waiting for their orders. Especially when all the stalls served food that were equally delicious, competition was fierce. Thankfully for ReZhui, ShiYan probably had tasted all of them and could differentiate the greatest from the great. Hence, they only ordered from the places she took them too and ate the food she recommended.

    From light to heavy meals, a range of flavors served sweet to bitter, and large varieties of spices and supplements, it was a treasure trove of mouthwatering sensations. ReZhui had several bowls of generous noodle portions. From flour, glass and rice noodles, they were either poured into warm bowls of meat broth, dipped in mixtures of sauces or stir-fried in a wok atop a roaring flame.

    Rice cakes, bread filled with endless combinations of toppings, smoky seasoned chicken and beef on a skewer, delectable but deadly spicy stewed liver and stomach lining, and finally, freshly iced tanghulu, ReZhui surprisingly ate all of those in consecutive order from one whole hour of sitting, standing and walking all over the place.

    On the other hand, ShiYan, and especially Eddisson, also devoured all those appetizing dishes in a similar time. Perhaps, the fact that they traveled while eating most of this stuff, helped them immensely in quickly digesting all that food. In the end, they certainly had their fill.

 Chapter 36 : The Spring Festival [Part 3]

    ¡°Ahhh, I¡¯m stuffed!¡± ShiYan cheered in delight.

    ¡°Yes¡­we can see that¡­¡± ReZhui replied lethargically as he regrettably took the final bit of the last fruit. Despite the large number of tanghulu he had consumed, his lips were still a bright red and his tongue felt like burning up.

    ¡°ReZhui, in all my years, never have I ever imagined that you are incredibly weak to spices.¡±

    ¡°ShiYan¡­Ha ... .It''s not a matter of weakness¡­I just need time to get used to it, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever had spicy food before?¡±

    ¡°Definitely not. My village doesn¡¯t grow¡­chillies, is that how you call it?¡±

    In response, ShiYan teased a glancing side eye.

    ¡°...! Why¡­look at Eddi!¡± ReZhui directed at his agonizing state.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°ShiYan, what about Eddi? Why is it only me that¡¯s getting targeted here¡­¡± ReZhui whined, and he was correct.

    Eddisson was in a much worse state. Having drank water with tanghulu, his face was still drenched in sweat and his cheeks flushed a deep red with his inflamed lips. His blue eyes teared up, becoming bloodshot. Saliva subconsciously dripped out of his gasping mouth. Eddisson tried to put up a strong front and believed he could follow ReZhui in braving through that spice together. Although he did finish his bowl, Eddisson paid heavily for that.

    ¡°...¡± Watching him, ShiYan tried thinking of methods to cure it, however, nothing came to mind.

    ¡°How did you build a spice tolerance, ShiYan?¡± asked ReZhui.

    ¡°I actually never thought of that. Father is also a good eater so I inherited that trait too. That meant I never struggled with the spice, so I thought Eddisson would have a better time with it, just like me-¡±

    ¡°Foolish ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    The trio heard a familiar voice behind them and the sounds of rattling wood rang closer and closer. What ReZhui saw was a fallen beauty that narrowly grasped on to that quality of adoration. From the street they were in, many men instinctively turned their gazes towards her while most women could not help but stare in awe of this desired mature aura that they aspire too, which enveloped her slim frame.

    Donning pure white silk HanFu robes with scarlet and black flora paintings around the sleeves and lower torso; her long black hair, caked with gel that made it gleam in the nightlight and appeared like her naturally silky qualities returned before her demise, was tied in a complex bun that resembled a butterfly; white powder and cream applied on the skin which hid her hideous black spots; and despite her sitting atop a simple but robust wooden wheelchair, her face and upper body was plentiful for onlookers to ignore that fact. In ReZhui¡¯s eyes, this was the closest to what he would expect in her prime and he overestimated his own imagination. What he had in mind was nowhere near the degree of charm from what she presented right now.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Did you forget that Eddisson is my son, and your step-nephew? Let me tell you this, both Hamilton and I never do well with the chillies.¡±

    ¡°T-that passed my mind, Aunt.¡± While ShiYan was amazed at first in the Xu residence and the fact that TainXing helped her with this get up, she was now surprised to find her here in the open fair.

    ¡°Mrs He¡­¡± ReZhui¡¯s eyes met hers. With ShiYan done, she steered to him.

    ¡°Good evening, ReZhui, how are the tasks I gave you progressing? Have you finished at least half of them?¡±

    ¡°W-well¡­I¡¯m a third there.¡±

    ¡°Oh ho, so you didn¡¯t do it.¡±

    ¡°I apologize.¡±

    ¡°Haha, no worries, ReZhui, it¡¯s the Spring Festival tonight, so it¡¯ll be bad fortune if I were to be scolding you right now. Please be patient until next week.¡±

    ¡°...!¡± ReZhui shuddered in fear, keeping a triple mental reminder to read it once he returned home.

    ¡°Aunt He, what are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Seriously, children, I was hesitant that Eddisson couldn''t have the guts to inform you of his intolerance, and it seems I was right, wasn¡¯t I, son?¡±

    ¡°...I-I¡¯ll do better, Mother¡­¡±

    The blonde boy averted her gaze.

    ¡°Haaa,¡± sighing heavily, she handed him a gourd of milk.

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°Drink it, Eddisson, it¡¯ll work better than either regular or frozen water.¡±

    Nodding firmly, he chugged the cooled milk down his throat and immediately, Eddisson realized the relieving comfort that came after that. He then continued to drink it, planning to get all of this into his system while the others watched on.

    ¡°Son, you better man up soon, because I can¡¯t always be running around to make sure you¡¯re alright. That¡¯s your new year''s resolution, do you hear me?¡±

    ¡°...¡± There came a quick nod, before he resumed drinking.

    ReZhui, feeling she was eyeing back at him, returned her gaze in awkwardness. He might have figured out what she meant with her sudden change of contact.

    ¡°A-anyways, Mrs He, I want to wish you a Happy Spring Festival.¡±

    ¡°... . What¡¯s with the formality, ReZhui?¡±

    Teasing with a pout, she then pulled out a red packet from her sleeve pocket and handed it to him, which felt heavy on one side. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Happy Spring Festival, ReZhui. I pray prosperity follows wherever you go.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mrs He.¡±

    ¡°Hey, ReZhui, go open it now.¡± ShiYan eagerly leaned over his shoulder.

    In the back, Eddisson, finished with his milk, also probed him about it.

    ¡°Alright then, here it goes.¡±

    Tearing the seal with ease, his fingers split the covers, revealing a small, shiny reflective surface. impatient, ReZhui grabbed it out, and in his palm, there laid something he had never expected to get from anyone.

    ¡°ReZhui¡­this¡­¡±

    ¡°What!¡±

    ¡°I-I got, Mrs He gave me a Gold tag.¡±

    Speechless, ReZhui only met her gaze. Instead, ShiYan asked his thoughts.

    ¡°Aunt He, h-how in the world did you get that when you were originally penniless?¡±

    Eddisson also nodded in approval of her statement.

    Looking at them with a troubled expression, TianXing replied, ¡°Apparently, beloved Elder Brother was successful in reclaiming all our ¡®lost¡¯ possessions after he restored our family¡¯s name. That included my frozen bank savings before I migrated to ShanWei.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°All the debts I had during that period. Elder Brother paid them all back with interest using my money and, given I was just as productive back then, I still had a considerable sum to last a generation.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Benefactor, this is my last one, haha.¡±

    Still shocked, ShiYan tried to inform ReZhui to convince her aunt otherwise but he stopped her.

    ¡°I¡¯ll accept it, Mrs He, and I promise to use this only for the direst of situations. Thank you once again.¡±

    ¡°....Heh, you truly are raised well.¡± She muttered.

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°...NOW THAT''S DONE, CHILDREN. SHALL WE VISIT THE PARK?!¡± TianXing fumbled the transition.

    ¡°Park?¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, there¡¯s a water garden across the bank. It¡¯s one of the places where the crowds barely reach.¡±

    ¡°You take the words right out of my mouth, ShiYan. Well, shall we?¡¯

    Given the trio had explored most of the night fair, they gave a series of affirmative replies, and the group began their trip towards the park. Along the way there, they passed by the central concourse of the western bank where the stage was set; while they all already witnessed the acrobatic performances, the opera plays and the harmonious ensembles, the group decided to watch one midway until the very end before continuing on. It was another opera play when they arrived. The rhythmic percussion and high-pitched, intense vocals. The cacophony of sounds made by disorderly strikes of hollowed wood, animal hide or shiny metal and the low melodies of the stringed instruments. These all enhanced the performances from the actors with their light-footed, exaggerated movements, akin to routined marital demonstrations in ReZhui¡¯s eyes. One wore armor of yellow leather and held a ceremonial bronze Jian in hand. He timed dodges perfectly as he slid past continuous thrusts from his opponent.

    The other man, donning red leather, was on the offensive, repeating the onslaught for another few minutes before he cried back in retreat with a backflip. A screeching shriek sounded from the swordsman and he then somersaulted to strike his legs. The red man leaped high, flinging himself across the stage and gaining position.

    In his burly arms, he swung around a massive polearm. Streaks of silver flew around him before he brandished his weapon straight at the enemy. Sounds of its flexible blade wobbling against the winds gained applause from the audience.

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui clearly saw his weapon. It appeared like a blacksmith stuck a single-edged, thin broadsword to the end of patterned bo staff. Groomed animal hair, dyed a bright red, covered the attachment point of this weapon, providing an immense flare to its movement.

    Six bronze rings were loosely attached to the blunt spine of his blade. Every time he shook the polearm, the rings were like miniature cymbals as they rattled vigorously together with the sharp flapping of the wobble. The red man charged forward, ensuing the duel between them.

    ¡°Mrs He.¡± ReZhui looked beside her.

    ¡°Yes, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Do you know what that weapon is called?¡±

    ¡°You mean the red man¡¯s one?¡±

    He nodded.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a popular halberd, said to only be wielded by the strongest and most chivalrous of warriors under the Deity of War, Integrity and Loyalty, GuanYu.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Across all of history, no one wielded it better than he did in a time of chaos and despair. In his steps, armies charged forward with unstoppable morale! Or, that¡¯s how historians used to say.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°But if one thing¡¯s for certain, it¡¯s that that weapon was always by his side. And we call it-¡±

    The two performers clashed their blades in a loud spectacle.

    ¡°-the YanYueDao.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui, having been practicing the Jian with MianJu ever since the beginning of his martial journey, seemed to feel his blood surge when he first heard that name. Never had he felt that for the Jian.

    ¡°Anything else, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°...Nothing else comes to mind. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Come on, ReZhui, are only weapons and fighting in that head of yours?¡± ShiYan interjected.

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°ShiYan, perhaps you have a better question to ask me?¡±

    ¡°Why surely I do!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡±

    ¡°In ShanWei city, how did you celebrate the Spring Festival?¡±

    ¡°...That¡¯s truthfully the better option, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°YAY!¡±

    ¡°You all do know why the Spring Festival started in the first place, don¡¯t you? Aside from the numerous folk tales and legends surrounding its origin, the most grounded reason was to commemorate the farmer class of society. Their duty in the sunny fields is critical to the survival of the Middle Kingdom and the higher classes wanted to appease them for that. However, that¡¯s the initial political movement. Now, it¡¯s a matter of a national holiday to thank the Heavens for blessing last year¡¯s harvests and hopefully, this year¡¯s too. But, I digress.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Rather ShiYan, I would call the Bai river basin far from the norm with this special celebratory site. Like any other place throughout the Middle Kingdom, the main activities are set within the city¡¯s streets, decked with red lanterns and rows of market stalls. Performances like these were more commercialized in specific venues that scale larger than our very own estate. Food¡¯s the same, practices as well¡­Oh, this one would interest you all!

    While LuJi and the White Crane Clan rule over as the topdogs, they still permit smaller martial art schools and sect branches to set up bases within their conditions. Many of these schools will host this event called, the Dancing Lions Parade the Auspicious Scriptures.¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­what¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Every martial association will select eight members of skill to don the costumes of four golden lions, forming a pride. These prides would battle against one another, while mimicking the actions of the beast. Their ultimate goal is to obtain a white scroll, hung high above the center of the city concourse.¡±

    ¡°What happens when one gets it?¡±

    ¡°Obviously, there¡¯s the reputation of the mightiest, but secretly, they would be exempted from the taxpayers, administered by the White Crane Clan themselves. Oh, how I wish that was granted to me¡­!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    There was only silence.

    ¡°What? I was expecting more amusing faces.¡±

    ¡°Aunt He, you spoil the fun when you suddenly bring up finance.¡±

    ¡°Oh well¡­But, heed my words, children! One day, when the three of you will enter the workforce, you all will understand my wishes tonight.¡±

    ¡°...We see that.¡±

    To be frank, they technically are already working under special conditions, and they all knew that. Despite this, no one furthered that conversation as the performance had ended and the crowds dissipated. Surely, they will return when the next act commences.

 Chapter 36 : The Spring Festival [Part 4]

    What ReZhui saw as he stepped foot upon the pond bridge was a refreshing site. The reds and yellows remained commonplace, but significant green took up a dominant spot. Flush foliage of thick-branched trees and trimmed shrubs, he smelt the damp soils and the aroma of leaves. Small streams of koi fish flowed all over the place, and throughout the park region, there were nine public gathering areas. These locations featured lots of wide stone tables and wooden chairs. Aside from the small number of youthful couples strolling past, the rest here were just the elderly, and they sure were vigorous.

    Clack! Another one sounded just like before. All over, ReZhui saw Mahjong boards and their accompanying white, shiny tiles. They slammed those hard and made random screams or shouts. The smell of wine and tea grew stronger, the more they reached the center.

    TianXing¡¯s servant was dismissed outside so Eddisson was tasked with pushing his mother¡¯s wheelchair to her destination. Although he was weaker than ReZhui, he had no problems moving.

    ¡°Mother, where are we going?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, somewhere nostalgic, son. Why?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­just curious¡­¡±

    ¡°Haha, don¡¯t sweat it, boy. We¡¯re close.¡±

    Behind them, ReZhui and ShiYan noticed they were approaching the highest point in this park. Surrounded by flora and looking over a large green pond, they arrived at a medium-sized gazebo of gold but old. Naturally worn down concrete and wooden frames, carvings that were no longer distinguishable and finally, the elderly gentlemen and ladies within. It was something ReZhui never expected close to a place of celebration.

    Watching TianXing closely, he felt an incredible emotion swelling up within her.

    She clenched her fist first, and then breathed in deeply.

    She was ready.

    ¡°Grandpa Lu, Grandpa Ge, Grandpa Zhi, Grandma Qui, Elder Dian!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Suddenly, like a flock of birds, the elderly turned to face her. Individually, they grew wrinkled, coarse, and white or bald. Today was just another regular day for them in a life that lasted decades. It was already rare for commoners like them to survive this long and they carried on their mundane lives. But for this very Spring Festival, this might be their last surprise yet.

    ¡°No¡­it can¡¯t be!¡±

    ¡°T-thank the heavens¡­¡±

    ¡°Please, this old man must be seeing things.¡±

    Their eyes brightened at the sight of her presence and an overwhelming sensation filled their consciousness. Some were on the brink of tears.

    ¡°Everyone¡­Your age hasn''t caught up with you yet.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    She spread her arms wide, giving them a warm smile.

    ¡°This is the real me in the flesh. I¡¯m finally home¡­¡±

    ¡°...X-xiao¡­XiaoTian!¡±

    Immediately, most of them grabbed their canes and staggered towards her. In response, TianXing readied herself and launched herself out of the wheelchair, to the shock of everyone behind her. On either side, they were all limited with their disabling bodies but they persisted. TianXing feebly wobbled into their arms with each senior soon giving her a much-needed heartfelt embrace.

    .

    .

    .

    After all those emotions calmed down, the elderly carefully assisted her back into the wheelchair. Eddisson then positioned it at the head of the square marble table placed in the gazebo¡¯s center. On the grey table top, ReZhui noticed another board game being played. Different to what he saw earlier, this one appeared to be suited for only two players, unlike previously, where he saw a maximum of four. It consisted of a black gridded pattern carved into polished hazel brown wood. Lots of tiny black and white stones were placed all over the play area at the line intersections with the black pieces currently having greater numbers present on the set. Two wooden bowls, holding the remaining stones for each colour respectively, sat at opposing corners of the table for the ease of the individual players.

    Grandpa Ge and Grandpa Lu sat back in their stone stools near the table; they were the prior participants of this match. The rest took the seats beside them to observe their pieces'' positions. For now, their fingers remained.

    ¡°XiaoTian, would you like to continue our conversation over a friendly spar?¡± Grandpa Ge gestured for his spot.

    ¡°Much obliged, Grandpa Ge.¡±

    He shoved his chair aside and Eddisson rolled the wheelchair in. A couple of shuffles and everyone was ready. The children, insisting that they went through much worse, declined the seniors¡¯ demands to give them their seats.

    A lot of glances, in particular, aimed at Eddisson. While this was a common occurrence, the elderly held the most alienating glares in the face of their mentality, unwavering after decades of inclusivity.

    The two cleared the board of all pieces. TianXing had the white, while Grandpa Lu took the black. They gave one last look of sportsmanship, before they began.

    ¡°XiaoTian, I hope your travels haven¡¯t got you rusty.¡±

    ¡°I say the same for you, Grandpa. It¡¯s been more than two decades since we last competed. I¡¯ve matured wiser while you¡¯re on the verge of returning childish respectively speaking.¡±

    ¡°Ha! You underestimate this old fellow in the one thing he¡¯s horned for his whole life. I lived playing WeiQi.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡±

    And they commenced. The first piece was initiated by Grandpa Lu. A black piece placed at the very end of the grid. TianXing retaliated with a white stone at the center. It was a drastic contrast.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Individually, they knew the other¡¯s patterns very closely, but that¡¯s their memory from decades ago. It may not be the same now.

    Twitching his finger, Grandpa Lu placed his next stone, and TianXing followed suit. Slowly, the back and forth routines grew faster and more intense. Their hands dashed across the board with blinding speeds. Every stone collided hard onto the board, followed by a loud clack. Eyes rolled from side to side as they strategically positioned their next piece.

    While the other seniors were able to catch up to them, ReZhui and Eddisson lost track of their movements. For ReZhui, these were similar to thrusts of a blade. For Eddisson, the black and white outlines reminded him of basic Non-Qi Arrays.

    ¡°...¡± ShiYan, on the other hand, looked at them in doubt.

    Amidst the clacking of stones, she questioned them.

    ¡°Guys, do you even know what this is?¡±

    ¡°No, ShiYan, I was just about to ask you that. Though I do know what Mahjong is back there.¡±

    ¡°...Eddisson?¡±

    ¡°Like what ReZhui said, but I did see Mother playing this with her customers during her services.¡±

    Scrunching up her face, she sighed.

    ¡°Well, future scholars, what you are seeing in front here is called the WeiQi. It¡¯s simply a game of encirclement.¡±

    ¡°Encirclement?¡±

    ¡°Surround your opponent¡¯s coloured stones with yours and reclaim their loses. A skilled player will know when he needs to resign, or otherwise face pointless resistance.¡±

    ¡°Oh, have you done this before, ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°Sometimes with Father but he¡¯s too ruthless to let me win so I never looked back.¡± She whined.

    ¡°I see. Then, Mrs He now¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve never realised she was this skilled-¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡°FIRST!¡± announced Grandma Qui in cheers, interrupting her.

    It was finally time to attack.

    A large clump of white stones had been fully surrounded and Grandpa Lu spent no time removing them from the board to his side. In return, he smirked, drenched in sweat.

    ¡°...¡± But, TianXing was left unfazed.

    In the next few moves, she launched her counter, and removed several smaller groups, with her other stones forming barely noticeable borders. This pattern continued for some time with Grandpa Lu removing large portions of her stones and TianXing ambushing smaller, less maintained clusters. At first, their stone count was even, but the farther they proceeded, the casualties of the black stacked higher and higher, at a faster rate than her whites.

    Grandpa Lu¡¯s obviously unsteady at this development and his darker complexion could be seen flushing red from the pressure. TianXing, conversely, kept a stern look across the board and her makeup didn¡¯t smear.

    While Grandpa Lu froze for a moment to reassess the situation, TianXing continued her bold agenda which was unstoppable.

    ¡°Damn¡­¡±

    Finally, she had separated his forces into her planned localized groups, and everyone knew this was the endgame. However, once it was Grandpa Lu¡¯s turn next, he didn¡¯t grab another black piece from the bowl. Fidgeting, he tapped the table in hopes for a breakthrough but sadly, nothing lit up. In the end, he stood.

    ¡°...!¡±

    And that signaled the end of the game. TianXing had won in a span of a few minutes.

    What came next was a round of applause from all of the spectators. Interlocking his hands in a gesture, he congratulated her win with a grin.

    ¡°I have much to learn despite my old age, XiaoTian. Complacency is time¡¯s younger companion.¡±

    ¡°Please, Grandpa Lu, you flatter me.¡±

    ¡°Still haven¡¯t changed huh?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, so, anyone else?¡±

    And Grandpa Zhi volunteered.

    ¡°XiaoTian, I¡¯m still ranked below DiYun, so please go easy on me.¡±

    ¡°Certainly, Grandpa Zhi, I honestly detest speed matches but that old man loves his adrenaline.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Grandpa Lu growled as he sipped his cold tea.

    They soon commenced.

    ¡°...¡±

    In the ongoing silence besides the clacking of stones, a surprising individual questioned her something.

    ¡°D-dearly XiaoTian¡­is that charming boy with the yellow hair your son?¡±

    Stopping the match momentarily, she turned to Elder Dian, the oldest of the bunch at the ripe age of eighty-seven.

    ¡°Yes, yes he is. He¡¯s the only child in the family.¡±

    ¡°Did he eat something poisonous? Or, was he struck by Heaven¡¯s calling? Is your husband with you to help with things?¡±

    ¡°...Nothing like that, Elder Dian. I just fell in love with a man with yellow hair and icy blue eyes¡­and he never made it.¡±

    ¡°...raise him well regardless, XiaoTian.¡± Although this was something new for the Elder, she still considered him a male with a role in society.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elder Dian, I promise to do so from now on.¡±

    ¡°...¡± The trio understood what she meant.

    While¡­

    ¡°XiaoTian, how lucky of you to get a boy on your first pregnancy. ZiYi had to try four times before she gave birth to a baby boy.¡± Grandpa Ge tried to brighten the mood.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t be harsh on your great-granddaughter, her son is huge. It¡¯s a good sign I tell you.¡± Grandma Qui commented.

    But their conversation soon digressed. Meanwhile, TianXing resumed, before Grandpa Lu interrupted.

    ¡°TianXing?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°While I-No, everyone here was fully aware of what happened in the past and knew about YaoMing¡¯s court trial, we never came to your aid and so did many of your father¡¯s dwindling allies.¡±

    ¡°So?¡¯

    ¡°On behalf of everyone here,¡± The seniors stopped bickering and paid full attention, ¡°I want to apologize for everything. We too were scared of going up against them and potentially affecting our families. Please, accept this late and sudden plea of ours!¡±

    Silence only came, and for a while, TianXing¡¯s face darkened in memory of her beloved brother¡¯s beatings. To this day, his screams were vivid; never to fade away. Despite that, she soon regained an exasperated look.

    ¡°Perhaps, it¡¯s for the better, Grandpa Lu.¡±

    ¡°What¡­¡±

    ¡°For the past month, rekindling relationships with everyone I used to know fondly off, I think these exchanges of apologizing and forgiving are driving me unnecessarily insane. It¡¯s honestly tedious and pointless.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°That bastard noble family and their clique that got us in the first place were executed till their last blood relative; and I got to meet my destined soulmate, even if it was a brief few years of happiness.¡±

    ¡°XiaoTian¡­¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t bother telling you about all the suffering I had gone through nor would I pressure you all into feeling guilty about it even from under your graves. It is what it is, everyone.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°All I have now is Eddisson, my underserved son, ShiYan, a treasured niece, and ReZhui, my last benefactor; and I plan to impart all I had learnt over the last three decades into their flourishing minds. At the very least, they would have a higher chance to not end up like me or Elder Brother.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°First. Grandpa Zhi, remove your stones.¡±

    ¡°A-ah, right¡­¡±

    Just like that, the seniors felt a burden lifted off their shoulders and they proceeded to take turns battling against TianXing. The tense atmosphere soon dissipated once the cries of the elderly sounded in defeat. TianXing single-handedly destroyed all of them with little difficulty, while ShiYan watched on, embarrassed when recalling what she thought of her. Eddisson kept his mind spinning, analysing the matches in great detail. The patterns and faults. He felt confident that he would at least last long against them. Meanwhile, ReZhui, feeling grim that she still considered him so, only leaned against a column in the background.

    That¡¯s when the elder approached and sat beside him.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Have you already eaten, child?¡± She asked gently. Her eyes hidden underneath layers of fat.

    ¡°Yes, Elder Dian, I had a great time trying out all these foods.¡±

    ¡°...Your name¡¯s ReZhui, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It is, Elder, and forgive me for forgetting, Happy Spring Festival!¡±

    ¡°Haha, likewise boy, and what a funny name your parents gave you. Re, Zhui.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Silence.

    ¡°Benefactor-¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°Quite the title you earned, special.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve grown used to it¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you detest it?¡±

    ¡°Well, as long as Mrs He is proud of it.¡±

    ¡°Selfless child.¡±

    ¡°No way, Elder DIan, my master says otherwise.¡±

    ¡°That YaoMing boy?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m under his apprenticeship.¡±

    ¡°Then, learn well from these two siblings. United by circumstance, not by blood. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve only seen once. How lucky am I in this lifetime!¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ReZhui went along with this senior¡¯s ramblings.

    ¡°Are your parents nearby?¡±

    ¡°Wha-Why ask?¡± That was sudden.

    ¡°Why not?¡± She plainly asked.

    ¡°...Sorry. Anyhow, to answer your question, my father is attending the Summit gathering across the river.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that meeting! Yes, yes, what wonderful memories I had from back then?!¡±

    ¡°Hold on, Elder Dian, were you-¡±

    ¡°Yes I was, boy. I was the deputy of the previous village head, and it was such a fun experience.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°We looked forward to sharing our finds of new wines and hosted drinking events in that pavilion. I even threw up on my Head¡¯s back once. Although, those times were a calmer period. The current generation, including YaoMing boy, are now facing dangers farther from one another.¡±

    ¡°...! Elder Dian, you mean that bastard mayor from Luo ChengShi?¡±

    ¡°So even you encountered that animal, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­Yes, I did, and he even made my father, the Chieftain of Bai Village, bow down to his knees. He¡¯s the worst!¡± ReZhui gritted his teeth.

    ¡°Chieftain? Bai village?¡± The elder contemplated. ¡°So you¡¯re his son?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the eldest.¡±

    ¡°Ha! Well then, that solves it!¡±

    ¡°W-what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Eyeing back to him, the elder gave a cheeky grin.

    ¡°ReZhui, listen closely.¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°With this very gathering, please expect things to escalate in your future. I may be too old to see this through but as the next in line for the title of chief, it¡¯s important for you to know this.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Once your father returns from that pavilion, for all of the people that reside within the Bai river basin¡­expect them to unit together as one.¡±

    ¡°W-what¡­¡±

    ¡°This would be the first in several hundred years¡­and not for the right reasons¡­¡±

    ¡°Elder Dian, I don¡¯t get it-¡±

    ¡°AAAAAAHHHHH!!! HELP!!!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Suddenly, a frightening cry sounded throughout the western bank. Above all the music and their festivities, a clear, throat-wrenching scream was heard for all to hear. Everyone in the park, including ReZhui, jerked their heads towards the origin of that female voice.

    It was the public performance stage.

    What immediately followed was the low rumbling of crowds and their noises of panic. Men shouting, women and children cowering. A mass of people retreated to the park in an attempt to escape the ongoing chaos.

    Elder Dian, still recovering from the horror, called out to TianXing.

    ¡°XiaoTian, what¡¯s going on over there?!¡±

    The other seniors inquired similarly.

    Both ShiYan and Eddisson looked at ReZhui and vice versa, before to TianXing.

    Her face darkened and her brows furrowed.

    ¡°Eddisson, everyone, stay here.¡±

    However, before she could roll off on her own, Eddisson stopped her wheelchair.

    ¡°Boy, what¡¯s the-!¡±

    Glaring back at him, Eddisson returned her a determined look.

    ¡°I¡¯m coming, Mother.¡±

    She then faced ShiYan and ReZhui, who both tagged along with her son.

    ¡°Not you two¡­¡±

    ¡°Mrs He, I must ensure that my Ma and brothers are unharmed, otherwise, what was the point of that talk we had before if I don¡¯t act now?¡±

    ¡°I-if ReZhui and Eddisson are coming, then I should too!¡±

    This was her first, witnessing something this massive, but her spirit won¡¯t permit that.

    ¡°Children¡­¡±

    Their defiance and resolve couldn¡¯t be shaken with mere words any longer. In the end, she sighed.

    ¡°Alright then, you all can come along, but remember to act wisely and thoughtfully and stay behind me at all times!¡±

    They nodded affirmatively.

 Chapter 36 : The Spring Festival [Part 5]

    Since TianXing was in a wheelchair, it made cutting through the running crowds much easier and in minutes, they arrived at the concourse square.

    ¡°...!¡±

    Once they emerged from the masses, the group was soon greeted with a scene they never expected. ShiYan nearly threw up in sight of it. Eddisson recalled his memories of his days at the brothel, whimpering in his legs; while ReZhui felt his heart beating rapidly. He clenched his fist and his face was a raging mess.

    ReZhui saw people gathering together, forming a ring around the scene. Those in front shoved the others backwards and the people at the back rushed forward to better observe what¡¯s going on. Many threw curses and pointing fingers. Others picked up random stuff and started to hurl them onto the open stage, but they barely reached them.

    Nine bodies laid lifelessly in a pool of blood atop the platform with visible lacerations all over their unarmed bodies. Several bodyguards, armed with swords dripping blood, stood across its borders and swung their blades violently towards the people, signalling their warning to anyone that got close.

    ¡°HELP, ANYONE! SOMEONE!¡±

    An extremely alluring dancer, earlier dressed in the finest of robes and colourful ribbons, had the ends of her glittery hair tugged on mercilessly by a hand, ruining it into an appalling mess. Her legs were severely beaten, frailing about as she slid across the wooden surface in her torn dress. Beside her, the other dancers remained on the ground in distress. Some were kowtowing down to the assailant that harassed their coworker, while the rest clung desperately to her feet, pleading him to stop the act.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, love! Let¡­GO OF HER!¡±

    ¡°AAAAAAHH!¡±

    ¡°LORD, GREAT LORD, HAVE MERCY!¡±

    ¡°Please spare Sister Yan!¡±

    A burly, fat man of prestige tossed those feeble dancers off to the side with a clumsy kick and continued to drag the dancer off the stage.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    ReZhui recognised him. The silky layers of scarlet and shiny bronze. His multiple necklaces, beaded with shimmering pearls, and his jewelry encrusted rings of the finest metallurgy. The signature jade belt sewn with tiger hide that barely held on from his immensely plump frame. It was the mayor of Luo ChengShi, Sun QuanYong.

    ¡°Hey-!¡±

    ¡°Shut it, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°...!¡± TianXing extended her arm out, halting ReZhui¡¯s frustration.

    However, unlike before, ReZhui didn''t object to the person¡¯s demands as he was aware that she was more experienced. His blind justice would only reap more sorrow, and he knew very well what might happen otherwise.

    ¡°ReZhui, Eddisson, ShiYan, remember well, it may be hard to get adjusted to the sight of unalived bodies, but trust me, lashing out or cowering down in fear is a dead man¡¯s play.¡±

    ¡°Mrs He¡­¡±

    ReZhui also realised how calm she was compared to everyone here, including himself, in a very similar manner to his master. She held an expressionless face with steady eyes. Her arms were relaxed and she breathed normally. This was already commonplace to the poor lady who survived the horrors of ShanWei. One that she might have actually felt a little nostalgia for. Witnessing and experiencing all those tense moments in her life, her current stay at the Xu residence was like heaven and earth, and this exact scenario has once more brought out that raging fire from within her, which she desired to share with all of them what that warmth felt like.

    ¡°Moreso, children, when you have to be prepared to kill someone for your own sake. For your own survival.¡±

    That blazing night where she was trapped in that smelting furnace. To protect her infant child and to preserve all the oxygen she had left, TianXing reminisced the moments before she fired that concealed pistol.

    ¡°Your first kill is your worst experience yet, and it gets more numb from that point on, hence, you must never look back!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°And be glad you lived to see another day.¡±

    ¡°U-understood¡­¡±

    ¡°Eddisson.¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, Mother?¡±

    ¡°Push me closer.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Hesitating initially, Eddisson gathered the strength to advance forward.

    TianXing¡¯s eyes craned upwards as they approached closer until she was in the line of sight of the mayor. The endless cries that berated him continued to rain down relentlessly. In spite of that, the mayor continued his agenda in ignorance.

    TianXing breathed in deeply. What she said next silenced the scene.

    ¡°Hey manwhore, go fuck yourself in your grandmother¡¯s casket!¡±

    Her mature voice sounded loud and clear. This alien language, never heard by anyone in the vicinity, drew all their attention to the woman in the wheelchair and the three children. Heads turned back towards them and they immediately made way for her. Even the Mayor heard it right and glared frustratingly in her direction.

    ¡°Who said that?! Show yourself!¡±

    Soon enough, he made eye contact with that said woman and she returned him with a stoic stare of her own, seeping out her fuming hatred.

    ¡°W-who-How dare you?! What the fuck did you say to this great one! I will not tolerate any insults conveyed behind my back! Out with it!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    TianXing replied amused.

    ¡°Mayor Sun, I truly am impressed. I had never expected a nobleman like yourself to be this illiterate. Why are you so hot-headed? Impulsive like a mad dog, yet furious at the disrespect of your subjects.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    The mayor felt his veins rupturing. From the defiance of this rebellious dancer to the intervention of the public, there was now the belittlement from a disabled mother of three. He raised his hand, targeting her.

    ¡°Guards, yank that bitch¡¯s tongue out and sell her off to the dens at this very instant!! I shall not withstand such hostility against me!!!!¡±

    ¡°...!¡± Right as the guards turned their way, ReZhui and ShiYan quickly braced themselves while Eddisson reached out for his pockets. They immediately expected a fight to protect her.

    However, TianXing acted before anyone could move a muscle.

    ¡°QuanYong!¡±

    ¡°...?!¡±

    Unbelievable.

    Everyone thought in unison.

    No one would ever dare addressing a stranger on a first name basis, especially the mayor of a castle city. Although they all wholeheartedly resented him, he still was a man of power, and courtesy must be practiced regardless to maintain self discipline. Unbeknownst to most of them, TianXing once held monopoly over the millions of the common populace of ShanWei through White Ink. There¡¯s no way a man, who oversaw an ever increasingly defiant trend in his region of influence, could ever stand a chance against TianXing in her prime, and that perspective carried over to this confrontation. She pressed forward confidently.

    ¡°Do you apparently have no shame resorting to violence when the very reason you could even hire such a force was through your late father¡¯s handling?¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Moreso with that disclosure, the mayor has never received this level of scorn or resistance, even from his own parents and advisors. ReZhui was also taken aback at how bold his teacher was. However, unlike his amateurish approach, she had the knowhow and, shockingly, the intel to back her methods.

    ¡®Is this what my master meant by my naivety?¡¯ ReZhui was reaching an epiphany.

    His answer.

    ¡°...¡± Meanwhile, the mayor clenched his fist. He really wanted to go down there and personally ruin her with his bare hands. A petite woman like her stood no chance against him. Evenso, she had struck him where it hurt the most.

    HIs pride.

    In his reckless state of mind, the mayor¡¯s endless egotistical tendencies overridden this flaming temperament, resulting in him finally setting down his anger with a deep sigh. He had to play it cool like he always did in the past. His hands massaged his temples, but TianXing was not going to let him off easily.

    ¡°Mayor Sun, for what was the need to order bloodshed?¡±

    ¡°...!¡± The mayor had to win this. ¡°Listen up, madam, they attacked my men.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t fulfil the urgency to slaughter them in cold blood, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°Defiance against me is regarded as an act of treason, you know. They deserve it.¡±

    He defended back with such child-like passion.

    ¡°Ha!¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°...Ha..haha¡­hahaha¡­hahahaha¡­.hahahahaha!¡±

    ¡°...?!¡±

    In bewilderment, everyone heard TianXing¡¯s gleeful laughter. It was maniacal. Many even feared her sadistic voice full of pleasure.

    ¡°B-bitch! What¡¯s that act for huh!¡±

    While he still vividly remembered those horrid emotions from what the mayor lectured him that day, ReZhui genuinely felt in that moment and forever more, he could no longer be subdued by the mayor¡¯s distorted view of the world, reality and himself. Truthfully, a thought passed by, asking himself how his past self a few months back could be so disgustingly weak. Then, he recalled all his experiences since then. From Teacher Woo and Brother MianJu, to Mr Xu and finally, Mrs He, she was the final piece. Her efforts really showed in his current outlook and moreso, TianXing herself.

    She was having the time of her life.

    Somehow, her sincerest joy from watching the mayor¡¯s abysmal play of framing his antics in a light of innocence and godsent will, has invigorated his true feelings, breaking his go-to act. In her eyes, it was a relatively thin veil of falsehoods. He was, once more, nothing against the masked monsters that lurked within ShanWei¡¯s walls. He was the kindergartener who said he was the talk of the school and TianXing was his teacher.

    ¡°Hahaaa¡­Mayor Sun, you¡¯re delusional, do you know that?¡±

    She declared nonchalantly while wiping the tears out of her eyes. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I am the Mayor of Luo ChengShi. The most powerful man in this region of the Middle Kingdom and I rule-¡±

    ¡°You are no emperor.¡± She curtly interrupted with a grin that juxtaposed her condescending glare.

    ¡°W-¡±

    ¡°You are also no king, nor are you the absolute example of a mayor of the people. You are just a perverted manchild. The epitome of shamelessness!¡±

    ¡°YAHHHHH!!!¡±

    ¡°HEAR HER WORDS!¡±

    ¡°SHE¡¯S RIGHT, MURDERER!!¡±

    ¡°...!?¡±

    Suddenly, the shouts of the crowds roared wildly with newfound vigour. The shouts of affirmations and insults started once more, startling the mayor in his tracks. Broken past his very limit for the first time, the mayor erupted.

    ¡°WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SPOUTING, YOU BITCH! WHORE! WIDOWER! FOX DEVIL! AND FUCK YOU ALL! I¡¯LL HAVE YOUR CHILDREN AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS ENTIRE VILLAGE FUCKING BUTCHERED TO BITS!!! AND YOU ARE GONNA WATCH IT ALL CRUMBLE DOWN FOR WHAT FILTH YOU BARKED!!!¡±

    The mayor had numerous voice cracks in the midst of his pitiful comeback, and TianXing was not done yet, left completely unfazed.

    ¡°If you are blindingly aware, Mayor Sun, it is not us but you, who should be facing the consequences of your actions! Today, in the thick of your people¡¯s most joyous celebration, you went about carrying out murder, battery and assault on multiple innocent peoples. That alone deserves a hearing in the Panel of Imperial Justice, and that¡¯s not also accounting for all the other heinous crimes you committed over your employment for the last year.¡±

    ¡°Empty threats like these fall on deaf ears, bitch!!!¡± The mayor desperately tried to keep pace.

    ¡°And your mouth¡¯s even more vulgar. Seriously, why can¡¯t you do stuff in decency like¡­I hope you do, politely asking the dancer if she permits giving you her services for the night and if she rejects your ripe pig physique, raise the prices higher. You¡¯re already a lenient investor with a failing track record and the owner of several properties and land sites before you took your position so I seriously doubt money was the issue.¡±

    ¡°...How¡­how did you-¡±

    That comment caught him off-guard. This was something he spent a fortune silencing away. ¡®How the fuck did she found out?!¡¯

    ¡°In other words, the true young master of a falling family. I wonder how you could keep up this facade for so long? Honestly, Mayor Sun, I really admire your mental strength for deluding yourself.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°To make things worse, you rely on us for funds, and increase our burden unilaterally! Our hard earned money was surely embezzled for god knows what in that belly of yours, and later, you might potentially reduce our manpower without even considering the repercussions for that decision nor make a proper solution that benefits both parties.¡±

    ¡°Woman.¡± The mayor growled.

    ¡°...?¡±

    He sounded like a cornered predator, making a last stand to a human. There was no point in keeping ¡®face¡¯ anymore. She knew too much to just be a random commoner, so he simply asked her, ¡°May I know your name?¡±

    And she cheerfully smiled back.

    ¡°My name is He TianXing, a single mother and unemployed. A helpless peasant of a corrupt system that includes yours truly!¡±

    ¡°...!?¡±

    ¡°Why? Are you surprised at how immediate I was?¡±

    No matter how much he tried to hide it, the mayor was stunned at her boldness, and he would make her pay once he forcibly checked her records.

    ¡°The He family, is that so?¡±

    ¡°You are correct!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡®This woman!¡¯

    ¡°ZaHaha! Enjoy your early victory, bitch!¡±

    ¡°Still delusional, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    The mayor gritted his teeth.

    ¡°Be prepared for the turmoil your family will be facing because I swear to myself that I will make sure you will come crawling back to me in blood and agony, begging deep in tears for mercy! I shall assure you that!¡±

    ¡°So you rather wouldn¡¯t at least reflect on what I just said for your sake¡­What an ungrateful animal you truly are.¡±

    ¡°Talk the talk, bitch. Even the Imperial Court of Governance would never find me guilty, I have the connections! Haha!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°There is no such thing as a fair world order. What only matters is money and power, of which you have none but I am the definition of. So, deal with it! Accept your fate and wait in anticipation as I will return! Your stress and sorrow shall drain you whole.¡±

    Despite his attempts to intimidate her, TianXing casually dismissed his threats.

    ¡°Do your best, manchild. Go preach, whine and cry out your insecurities to the Heavens for society¡¯s sake. In the end, injustice always loses, but I digress. Would you now, so politefully so, let go of that woman and leave this venue of happiness at once? An hour as your companion is worth a decade of dharmic meditation. Do you not fear for your karma?¡±

    ¡°Hmph¡­this conversation has made my dick go limp. You can keep this girl for all I care.¡± He then tossed aside the fatigued dancer. Thick strands of hair could be seen falling out of her in midair and she fell hard on the head with a thud. The mayor then scratched his neck, side eyeing TianXing one last time. ¡°It¡¯s no longer fun, you hear, with that attitude of yours.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°However, I will not go home empty handed.¡±

    He then signaled the guards to descend from the stage.

    Swords brandished, wherever they swung, the crowd retreated in waves.

    Mayor Sun walked down the steps and cracked his knuckles which were caked in blood.

    ¡°Mayor Sun, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re gonna take out your anger on more civilians?¡±

    He spread his arms out wide in a T pose.

    ¡°Yes I will. This is the start of your torturous present, woman.¡±

    ¡°...Unbelievable.¡±

    Despite her best efforts, the extent to which one could control a situation via only dialogue relied on numerous factors. TianXing had the tools required so she won by a landslide, and by logic, the mayor must even be hesitant to touch the other residents. But, such persuasion concerning thoughts about ¡®face¡¯ and common sense to the mayor would only work if he was a sensible person. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t. The sheer madness of his soul was something she could never quench if the madness never opened him up for civil conversations.

    Realising this, ReZhui questioned her.

    ¡°Mrs He, what happens now?¡±

    ¡°Well, ReZhui, if talking never works out, you must be wise to always consider and reconsider using appropriate physical force to submit the outcome to your liking.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s why my beloved Elder Brother¡¯s right on time.¡±

    ---

    ¡°Alright, guards, let¡¯s savor this moment, shall we? One silver for every dead man and one Gold tag for every child¡¯s head.¡±

    As if the guards were mindless puppets, their eyes were resolute and ready to pounce onto the masses. They cried, screamed and hurled objects as they backed away but the streets were tightly packed, creating bottlenecks and it left those with the best view first on the slaughter board. They shoved and crawled under. Compact like fish in a basket.

    Some eventually gave in and knelt down, hoping the guards got them first and giving the rest much needed time to escape.

    ¡°Ready!¡±

    They raised their blades.

    ¡°Set!¡±

    They stepped forward.

    ¡°GO-¡±

    ¡°HALT YOURSELVES!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Suddenly, a much louder voice roared across the premises, overriding the mayor¡¯s orders.

    ¡°...!¡± ReZhui instantly recognised it. Eyeing back at her, TianXing smirked cheekily.

    ¡°We¡¯ve won.¡±

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°No way, my treasured subordinate is here too? Oh what a wonderful surprise!¡±

    Instead of being furious for interrupting him, the mayor gladly welcomed him with open arms. Although, his actions weren¡¯t being reciprocated.

    In his familiar scholarly qipao, he now wore a new one, dyed in maroon red, with highlights of gold and black lines. His buttons were engraved wood and the inner layer that reached his ankles had the lower skirt flaps coloured a matt black. Today in particular, he held a fan accessory in his left hand. He then swiped it open with one swift motion. It had a solid dark brown wooden frame and in between each branch, hard paper of the smoothest touch with written black calligraphy was attached. Its wingspan was large, providing ample wind to his face. Overall, it completed his appearance for this festival and his expression was just his typical.

    A stern look with snake-like eyes.

    ¡°Mayor QuanYong, what brings you here to this humble festival hosted by backwater villages?¡±

    ¡°...!¡± Surprised by this opening, the mayor prayed it would not turn out how he feared it to be.

    ¡°What''s the silence?¡±

    ¡°A-ah..haha¡­As a fellow friend, YaoMing, I am stupefied to see a studious individual such as yourself attend such festivities. I figured you will be slaving away in your office like you always do. That tax for this month is still not yet paid, you know.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s precisely why we ran this festival for your sake, Mayor, but why did you have to ruin it? And you never answered my previous question, why here of all places?¡±

    This time, subtle disgust and frustration was felt from YaoMing¡¯s words.

    ¡°...¡±

    And that¡¯s when the mayor decided there was no point playing around and dropped the act. The mayor replied, brooding helplessly.

    ¡°I¡¯m disappointed in you, YaoMing.¡±

    ¡°Likewise, ever since you took control.¡±

    ¡°Still keeping this professional, huh? Backstabbing bastard¡­¡±

    Closing his fan with a snap, YaoMing then waved it around over his head, signalling something.

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°I will, if you continue to obey that mother¡¯s desires and leave at once.¡±

    He pointed towards the entrance with grace.

    ¡°...YaoMing-¡±

    ¡°I had enough of you, Mayor QuanYong. The only reason you are now still alive is because I am no tyrant ruler like yours truly. I prefer if we keep the peace.¡±

    ¡°...¡± The mayor fell speechless.

    ¡°So, behave.¡±

    ¡°...¡± How did things change so fast?

    ¡°And stay behind your damn city walls. We have enough of our problems to settle and we don¡¯t welcome one more in the form of you. Wreck havoc against my people or any other resident of the Bai river basin once again¡­and I promise you wholeheartedly, I¡¯ll kill you.¡±

    ¡°...¡± This was not how things were supposed to go.

    Throughout this, the Mayor stood firm, flinched and perplexed. He hardly understands the hostility from a random citizen; moreso with a lower subordinate who has bowed down to him for their entire relationship, to now reprimanding him. The Mayor gave such an infuriating dumbfounded face that, when YaoMing expected him to comply with his declaration and he gave him that reaction in return, that was the final straw that broke the camel¡¯s back.

    ¡°LEAVE, YOU BASTARD!¡±

    ¡°...!!!¡±

    ¡°DID YOU NOT HEAR ME WELL? I¡¯M DONE BEING PATIENT WITH YOU! GO HOME THIS VERY INSTANT OR ELSE!!!¡±

    All that pent up rage, and his eventual outburst, built up over the countless lives he failed to save due to this manchild and the humiliation this equally prideful scholar went through for his mercy, reverberated intensely throughout the venue, sending waves of goosebumps into everyone that heard him. As for the mayor, he staggered backward in instinct, and his legs buckled under his massive pressure. That¡¯s how serious YaoMing¡¯s threat was, especially after seeing the massive number of injured and dead bodies right in front of him.

    Per his morals, he would usually examine them first before dealing with the mayor, but not tonight. YaoMing held back his urges and channeled in the role of he always placed second. At the present time, he was the ruthless politician for the people, before the meticulous village doctor everyone knew him for.

    ¡°...Guards, is he not bluffing?¡±

    The mayor held onto his last hope, and immediately, they all nodded in unison. Upon YaoMing¡¯s arrival, they had already sensed multiple targets from each of the pagodas with a particularly intense one spotted far off into the nearby mountains, precisely blasting out their sheer intent for murder onto only the guards. The fear of that unknown predator alone already made them secretly loosened their bladder. Initially, they felt disturbed by a faint impulse over there for a long time, as if something was watching them purposefully, but they passed it off as being paranoid of their master¡¯s safety. However, they now still believed their reason, but immensely regretted dismissing that sensation as useless intuition. Although, even without that presence, the number of YaoMing¡¯s forces were larger and could potentially overwhelm them regardless. Hence, all of them knew retreating with the mayor was the best action.

    ¡°...fuck this¡­worthless, useless motherfuckers.¡± Mayor Sun grunted, stomping his foot. It seemed that there was no way out for more blood. Eyeing back the intimidating glare of YaoMing, the mayor shuddered before he finally answered.

    ¡°Guards!¡±

    ¡°...?!¡±

    ¡°We are heading back! Tch¡­¡±

    Without a second glance back, the mayor walked away with his head held high and the crowds broke apart to let him past. Silence filled the venue and only the crunching of loud footsteps of a grumpy mayor could be heard.

    The troublemaker of the Bai river basin has finally been repelled at last.

    .

    .

    .

    What ensued next was what one calls a true celebration.

    This joyous occasion of the Spring Festival, reminiscent of when the thunderous boom of fireworks and the bold bright colours of red worn by the villagers chased away the mythical beast of the Nian, was now boosted tenfold by the fact that their villages had successfully got rid of the monster¡¯s direct counterpart.

    Unfortunately, it was not all sunshines and rainbows as there was a lot of blood spilt in doing so. The nine bodies were soon covered with pristine white blankets and immediate prayers were soon conducted to bless everyone by warding off evil spirits who would be drawn in by the deceased.

    The dancers were immediately treated by a makeshift team organized by YaoMing and volunteers were given water buckets, brooms and cloth to clean the streets of the chaos. Once the dancers were administered with first-aid care, they were immediately sent to the nearest pharmacy in DongBu. As YaoMing¡¯s place does not fit that criteria, he sadly never followed along.

    Overall, the recovery process took hours before everything could barely return to normal, but everyone remained elated. After all, this inconvenience was largely inconsequential to the massive confidence they gained. At long last, the mayor¡¯s iron grip on their communities weakened and the residents felt more secure than ever before.

    Before long, the sun soon rose on a sunny, spring day.

    It was a special day.

    A day that marked a new beginning for the people of this humble river basin.

    Their independence.

 Chapter 36 : The Spring Festival [Part 6]

    Two days had passed since then and the Spring Festival resumed operations.

    ¡°...¡±

    In a pagoda on the fifth floor, a boy, dressed in similarly coloured clothes from the day before, sat alone on the fancy chair within the balcony. It overlooked the entire eastern and western banks with the ferocious Bai river intersecting between. His eyes gazed upwards to the cloudless night sky, full of shiny stars.

    ¡°...¡±

    He then looked downwards. Across the skeletal wooden railings, his sights landed upon the central concourse. It was lively and joyous with the stage filled with entertainers. Dances, opera and instrumentation. The platform saw more performers throughout the days and the audiences grew. After that catastrophe, the news of the mayor had spread all across the villages, bringing a new influx of residents to celebrate the occasion.

    The cheers and claps filled his ears and he smiled in anticipation.

    That¡¯s when the boy heard something. It was the sound of sliding doors.

    ¡°...!¡±

    Turning behind his back, he was surprised, making direct contact with two snake-like eyes behind a frame of spectacles. It was his master, YaoMing.

    ¡°Mr Xu¡­what are you doing here? Aren¡¯t you busy?¡±

    Grunting a bit, YaoMing approached the boy and took a seat beside him.

    Sighing in relief, he replied lazily.

    ¡°What a nice view this is, do you agree, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, it is.¡±

    Silence.

    ¡°...I managed to squeeze in a break from everything that¡¯s going on, so  ReZhui, I don¡¯t intend to miss this one.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad, Mr Xu.¡±

    ¡°Anyhow, I¡¯m surprised to see you here without those two around. I thought you four are gonna watch this together.¡±

    ¡°We sure are. It¡¯s just the timing when they left to buy some food before the main event coincided with your arrival. Though, Mrs He promised to return as soon as possible¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°Ah-oh, it¡¯s nothing, just¡­¡±

    ¡°Alright, I trust you, ReZhui.¡±

    In actuality, the thought of TianXing recalled a conversation between the two of them right after the mayor¡¯s retreat. An important one...

    ---

    ¡°Mrs He?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Were you always this offensive in your prime?¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    She never expected that analysis.

    ¡°Again, it depends on numerous factors, including the skill of your opponent. Conclusion is to know your opposition well!¡± She smirked, hinting she knew his main topic.

    ¡°Alright then, if knowing your enemy is vital, how did you get all that?¡±

    ¡°What specifically?¡± She teased.

    ¡°Those shady business deals and all!¡±

    ¡°Hahaha, look at you, ReZhui!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stop. It is pretty easy to gather intel, you know. The only problem is the sources you gather them from.¡±

    ¡°Sources?¡±

    She then whispered something in his ear.

    ¡°With the right connections and the gold to spend, you could obtain wondrous things, ReZhui. Fortunately for me, I still have both to spare, and the informant guild I rely on has a branch in Luo ChengShi.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°You heard me right, it¡¯s that expansive and they are the best at covering my tracks besides at home. They may even be hidden amongst the crowds here, I assure you that.¡±

    ¡°H-how are you so sure?¡±

    ¡°They can tell you anything that has happened in the Middle Kingdom. I can also request  them to investigate someone in complete secrecy.¡±

    That¡¯s when something clicked in him.

    ¡°Throughout JiangHu¡­¡±

    ¡°...! What?¡± Alarmed, TianXing brought ReZhui close to her face. Her hot breath and perfume tingled his nostrils.

    ¡°...!¡±

    His eyes widened, stunned.

    ¡°How did you discover that name?!¡±

    ¡°Ah-ah¡­I read it from a diary I found in the second-hand section of the library. W-why?¡±

    From his response, her face showed obvious annoyance.

    ¡°...Argh, never mind. I was the one who introduced the concept of these martial warriors into the three of you in the first place. So, how much more do you know?¡±

    ¡°I-I was thinking, Mrs He. Did this informant guild of yours have connections to either the  Beggars¡¯ Union or the Hao Agency?¡±

    ¡°...¡± And that¡¯s when she deduced he probably knows all of them. TianXing was aware ReZhui was telling lies to her, but ultimately decided not to press forward. She had faith that the method he used to obtain this information was one that would not bite him back in the future. His situation reminded her of something similar in the past and TianXing related to him. She understood the sudden urge to keep her secrets from anyone for reasons only she understood. In the end, she relaxed herself.

    ¡°ReZhui¡­that is a discussion for another time, and I can¡¯t give the reveal without Eddisson and ShiYan present, can I?¡± She finished off with a joke.

    ¡°If so, when will you tell us all?¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­I suppose when the entire duration of the Spring Festival is over. This is part of my curriculum after all!¡±

    She winked at him.

    ¡°...Understood.¡±

    ---

    That was the only answer he could give for that lackluster end, and the awaited answer still rings at the back of his mind ever since.

    ¡°Thanks, Mr Xu.¡±

    Another silence filled the room. ReZhui was unusually quiet and inactive despite YaoMing expecting more. Eventually, he managed to find an opening. This tranquil atmosphere with his apprentice honestly creeped him out now.

    ¡°Say ReZhui, did your parents comment on anything regarding this festival?¡±

    ¡°Comment? Well, all I heard from them were showering praises, and that the energy was draining them so quickly, both Pa and Ma spent most of their time in the parks.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I''m glad they thought of it as such, and I am very familiar with their reasons too.¡±

    ¡°...by the way, Mr Xu, if you are worried about them, my entire family came untouched from the bastard¡¯s shenanigans. They were all at the eastern back when I went looking for them afterwards.¡±

    ¡°Prevention is the best medicine, ReZhui, and that truly gave me extra relief so thank you. I apologize for not inquiring sooner.¡±

    ¡°No matter, master, you already have a lot of things to consider.¡±

    ¡°How thoughtful, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°Enough with my praises, Mr Xu, because you are also one as well!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°...Father told me everything.¡±

    ¡°...! H-how much did he disclose?¡±

    ¡°He said the summit meeting was a success. Everyone was on board to establish closer relationships and boasted in great lengths about how this will benefit our village.¡±

    ¡°I expected much.¡± YaoMing sneered.

    ¡°My father also expressed his gratitude for your actions. Out of all the leaders present, you were the only one besides him who rushed out towards the scene once the news of the killings reached there, despite everyone else also having personal hatred for that bastard.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°When my father insisted on tagging along, you persuaded him to leave it aside and instead make sure Ma¡¯s alright while you go ahead with that confrontation alone.¡±

    ¡°...Ahem¡­Listen ReZhui, while I appreciated the sentiment, I must admit this was during the heat of the moment, and even then, I honestly never had high expectations that I could pull this off successfully. After all, this was all XiaoTian¡¯s idea to begin with. She was the one who suggested this scenario, and I volunteered to complete the solution together.

    She was to hold him off for as long as she could until I could step in with the security escorts from the pavilion as instructed. ReZhui, what you saw back there was all genuine. I was absolutely furious and I was serious about killing him. But let me tell you sincerely, this was the first time in over several decades where I had gambled a decision this perilous against more potential losses of human life.¡±

    ¡°...Mrs He said something similar. The mayor was just that unpredictable, wasn''t he?¡±

    ¡°His thought process bypasses all logic. Due to that, I was the most scared back then.¡±

    YaoMing¡¯s shoulders slumped and his face soured.

    ReZhui could never imagine the thoughts that overwhelmed YaoMing¡¯s consciousness as he faced off against that manchild. Knowing this, ReZhui simply smiled back with his bright onyx eyes meeting his own.

    ¡°Regardless of what you felt, Mr Xu, what matters most are the results.¡±

    He then stood up in front of him and spread his arms wide. The tip of his fingers reached the ends of the furthest pagodas of the banks.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°You still did it! My master has finally won! And when you forced that bastard mayor out of town for good, Mr Xu had never looked so cool before until that night!¡±

    ¡°ReZhui¡­¡±

    Immediately, he got up from his seat and turned around, assuming a scholarly pose.

    ¡°...?¡± ReZhui looked on in bewilderment, clueless to realise his master¡¯s ears were a bright hot red.

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem, Mr Xu?¡±

    Still standing away from him, YaoMing replied snarkily.

    ¡°D-don¡¯t be a meddler into everything I do, boy! Ahh¡­what a naive brat, first my daughter, then my new friend GuoZhao, my stepsister, Eddisson, the reunification of the Bai river basin, and now myself¡­Why has the last several months have been so lively and momentous after this kid started barging into my life¡­Arghh, this really is taking a toll on my old age¡­¡±

    YaoMing grumbled with dwindling volume.

    Eyeing back at ReZhui, YaoMing remarked once more.

    ¡°It¡¯s all because of you¡­¡±

    ¡®That everyone has changed for the better, even myself included¡¯ YaoMing¡¯s pride held back speaking out his honest thoughts.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°...? Ahm¡­you¡¯re welcome?¡±

    ReZhui answered deep in speculation.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    However, their silence was short lived as noisy chatter and laughter soon grew louder; the sounds of footsteps towards the balcony sped closer.

    ¡°Hurry, everyone! It¡¯s about to begin!¡±

    ¡°ShiYan, look forward or else you will trip!¡±

    ¡°Son, floor it!¡±

    ¡°R-right mother¡­¡±

    ¡°Boys, behave, you hear Ma?!¡±

    They were familiar voices. But before ReZhui and YaoMing could react, the group came bursting through the sliding doors, slamming hard to the sides. Unfazed, the standing duo welcomed the returning bunch along with a few guests.

    ¡°Pa, Ma, what are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Well, we met Mrs He along the way and they invited us over, so if you don¡¯t mind-Argh¡±

    GuoZhao was pinched by MeiYue, signalling he maintained some modesty.

    ¡°Ha, don¡¯t worry, Pa, the balcony could use more company!¡±

    ¡°Like the boy said, GuoZhao.¡±

    YaoMing then handed him a poured bowl of wine.

    ¡°The Xu family would be glad to have you all around.¡±

    ¡°...Alright then!¡±

    GuoZhao accepted his treat and chugged it whole.

    More bickering ensued before ShiYan called out to their feast.

    ¡°Guys, it¡¯s time!¡±

    And as soon as everyone looked up in unison, popping sounds were heard in the distance.

    Streaks of light, numbering the hundreds, shot up high into the dark blanket of darkness. No clouds covered their ascend and once the fuses ran out, the canisters exploded.

    ¡°Whoa!¡±

    Both families awed in unison.

    In ReZhui¡¯s clear onyx irises, blinding colors of the light spectrum shone brilliantly in the backdrop of pitch black. More explosive booms continued to deafen his ears as more fireworks rose from the ground. All eyes tonight were focused on the massive spectacle. Fireworks in a large variety of floral patterns blasted off in all shapes and sizes. Some were smaller than an airborne lantern while others span the width of the nearest mountain range. Where one had fallen, a newly different blossom flew in to replace it. Hence for the next several minutes of total silence throughout the river banks, only the crackling and booming of fireworks filled his ears. The entire sky never lost its light, like the sun had returned but split into millions of tiny pieces, covering the night sky.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°ReZhui, how was your first ever fireworks show?¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    YaoMing, with his eyes glued to the sky above, inquired nonetheless. The event was nearing its end and the last canisters were sent flying.

    ¡°This¡­This is beautiful.¡±

    No more words were needed to express his joy.

    ¡°...I see.¡±

    That¡¯s when¡­

    ¡°...?¡±

    YaoMing reached out for ReZhui¡¯s palm and gave him something. It was thin and woody with a seal glueing the opening shut.

    ¡°ReZhui, I also intend to give you this from the days prior, but stuff happened. Anyhow, remember to not open this immediately, I am not XiaoTian.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The fuses met their end and the powder ignited.

    For the finale, four sole large characters of layered red and gold marked the end, bringing out the erupting roars of the applauding masses below. The two families of Xu and Zhang gave their heartfelt cheers with many deep in tears. As for ReZhui, he turned to Mr Xu and vice versa.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr Xu.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And I also forgot to say this too, have a Happy Spring Festival!¡±

    ReZhui then grinned widely from ear to ear.

    ¡°...!¡±

    Likewise, YaoMing softly beamed and patted the young boy¡¯s tidied hair.

    Their eyes looked upwards for one last time as the words dimmed and turned to ash; finally fading away into the vast sky above.

 Chapter 37 : From Teacher to Student [Part 1]

    Five years later¡­

    High above the farmlands of the Bai river basin, where a chilly plateau atop a mountain range resided, two figures were sparring vigorously, amidst the clearing surrounded by aging tree stumps.

    Feet glided across the low grass and their torsos stretched far and firm. Footwork became an intense dance as they weaved in from one another. Their metal blades sounded with a screeching clang once they clashed with precision and power. This demonstration was a testament to their martial prowess. However, it was clear from the start where this match was headed.

    One out of the two of them was the dominant of the other with him being pushed back throughout this entire spar.

    A tall lean man, donning his usual all-black attire of flowing robes and leather armour with his signature black blindfold, proceeded with a low stance that scraped the ground with his knees. His arms plunged out straight with either arm reaching opposing ends, that if one were to draw a line from end to end; it would come out perfectly horizontal. What resulted afterwards was an unstoppable thrust. The man, with the spear in his left hand, launched that blunt diamond spearhead, speeding it forward in a streak of red and iron.

    ¡°..!¡±

    His unfortunate opponent noticed this but failed to react in time regardless. His muscles barely had time to move from the man¡¯s previous onslaught and were now in searing ache. In the end, the opponent had to give ground and fell, letting gravity pull him away from the spear¡¯s trajectory. In sight of this split second decision, the man felt proud, albeit left no visible expression.

    Grunting in pain from the impact, the opponent immediately kicked off from the earth and did two backward somersaults, nearly crashing into an unsuspecting tree stump. He was one knee down but hastily took guard by brandishing his blunt metal Jian pointed forward in both hands. His posture was truly desperate and instinctive.

    Thankfully for him, the man didn¡¯t press forward and gracefully got up from his position with no wasted movement while maintaining full possibilities for countermeasures. The opponent knew that even if another attacker were to creep up from behind, the man would easily dismiss the assault as simply swatting away a nuisance bugging fly.

    Approaching the opponent, the man spoke.

    ¡°Would you like a break, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°...Ha¡­Ha¡­¡±

    Despite his miserable state, drenched in sweat and marked with red, the now grown up ReZhui, nearing the ripe age of 15, looked back up at his combat mentor, into his black blindfold and smirked confidently.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, Brother MianJu. I still have much more left in me!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    MianJu examined his current state. Compared to the kid of small and adorable stature, the boy has bulked considerably over the past half decade. Well-defined dense muscles of relative thickness that were rock hard to the touch when contracted strengthened his entire frame, while controlled amounts of body fat covered the vital organs. His height reached MianJu¡¯s shoulder, who himself was taller than average.

    His face grew more angular, with his overall oval face being more square and pointed from eye level to his forehead, and his lower half retaining most of the rounded features. Although, his jawline developed much sharper and slimmer, ending off at a rounded chin. His black straight hair also grew longer, which was kept tidy in a compact bun held by black string. Because of this spar, long strands loosened up and shorter outliers stuck to his forehead and neck in sweat.

    ReZhui now wore a plain combat outfit with tough brown pants and black, ribbon strung boots. Two wide straps of hardened olive green and black cloth loosely covered both sides of his front torso, over his wide shoulders and behind him, leaving his arms, inner chest and sternum, his inner and lower abs, and the side torso exposed to the air. He also wore cloth wrappings and bandages all over his arms and hands, evident of his marks of black and blue from all the spars he had with MianJu for a significant portion of his childhood and he was proud of it.

    Unfortunately for him, all that effort was not enough to even win him a close finish to a draw. MianJu¡¯s skills and experience still vastly outclassed ReZhui¡¯s very own and admittedly, he has grown pretty infuriated about this revelation.

    ¡°ReZhui, you do know that at where you stand now, no one else besides myself, within the entirety of the Bai river basin, could ever dare challenge nor threaten you into a fight?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And that includes multiple enemies that I taught you earlier, so what about a break?¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°No, Brother MianJu, please¡­Ha, one last time for today?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going down there today, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes I am.¡±

    MianJu looked up to the rising sun. There was still time before midday. Besides, he knew how fast the boy could travel downhill with his cultivated physique. Sighing quietly, MianJu gave in and blitzed forward.

    ¡°...!¡±

    Wits on end and adrenaline gushing, ReZhui slid away in a hair¡¯s breadth. Within another kick, he propelled himself away, aiming to increase the distance. But, MianJu was weirdly more relentless this time and closed near with a single motion, thrusting the blunt spearhead one more time before swinging it wide in an arc dual-handed to the right.

    Consequently, ReZhui sidestepped the first and narrowly parried the second, shoving the trajectory overhead. He then used the opportunity of misdirection to hurriedly grab hold of MianJu¡¯s wooden shaft as taught with his left, but he countered with letting go the staff¡¯s end, grabbing ReZhui¡¯s very own outstretched arm by the wrist joint. ReZhui then tried to score the killing blow by thrusting his Jian in his free right hand into MianJu¡¯s torso, seeing both his arms were occupied. But MianJu, still in control for most of the length of the spear, slid his right arm down the pole and used the additional leverage gained to block the attempted stab.

    ¡°Tch!¡±

    Failing once, ReZhui tried one more but soon found himself with the shaft of the spear speeding towards him. His left arm twisted beyond its normal range of rotation and he readily stepped back with his right foot planted behind to keep him steady. All his weight was now concentrated upon the left foot as he continued to lean further left in hopes to offset that exertion, while his blade was held in a compromising position, serving as the barrier to prevent the other end of the spear from striking his head. MianJu shoved forward and the Jian forcibly dug deep into the pole from ReZhui¡¯s firm opposition as his hamstrings burned intensely.

    From that short exchange, they ended up in an arm lock. A stalemate, at a glance.

    ¡°Argh!¡±

    But ReZhui was surely at the disadvantage as MianJu applied more pressure onto his wrist, clearly signalling to ReZhui to let go or risk his joint breaking. If he released his grip, ReZhui would lose himself this closest opportunity for a killing blow and would have to resort to facing another barrage of thrust attacks. In both scenarios, he will lose either way but ReZhui decided to remain, hoping his tenacity will push him through as he tried to come up with a new plan. In this tense position, MianJu felt nothing. He hasn''t used any Qi yet and only brought ReZhui down to this burdening position through sheer skill.

    Witnessing ReZhui¡¯s agonising face as he gritted his teeth away, MianJu took the chance to talk once again.

    ¡°Brute force, ReZhui? It¡¯s smart for the average bandit, but not against me.¡±

    ¡°B-brother¡­When would you let me truly cultivate?¡±

    ¡°As I stated from the beginning of training, the world of JiangHu is a place of ruthlessness and tragedy. Any form of Qi cultivation, if unmasked, will bring you enemies day and night.¡±

    ¡°Arrrrr¡­RHAAAA!¡±

    MianJu pressed a nerve at the end of his radial.

    ¡°And you, ReZhui, like many others who begin their martial journey, will never learn to hide your cultivation progress unless you reach the higher echelon of the ascension realms. Thus, it will only bring unnecessary danger for your stubborn sake.¡°

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s exactly why this last spar will end quickly¡­In your utter defeat.¡±

    In spite of his monotonous warning, his voice struck fear into ReZhui¡¯s consciousness and momentarily made him lose his grip. But that was plentiful for the mentor as MianJu proceeded to fling ReZhui¡¯s arm away and push him slightly, shifting his centre of mass. With his hand free and the Jian no longer plunged into the spear, ReZhui fell hard onto the ground, butt first.

    ¡°..!¡±

    However, ReZhui was unfazed and immediately somersaulted backwards once again.

    ¡°...¡±

    MianJu, knowing this, closed the gap instantly and thrusted his spear. In retaliation, ReZhui slid beneath the attack and closed in for MianJu¡¯s feet. Ultimately, the spearhead pierced deep into the ground instead, and MianJu took this outcome calmly. ReZhui, with both arms on the handle, spun around, driving enormous momentum to severely strike MianJu¡¯s right foot and cripple his movement.

    The blur of dull silver approached near but the blade never reached its target. In a hair¡¯s breadth, MianJu took off from the ground and landed safely behind ReZhui at a farther distance.

    Nevertheless, MianJu realised it and acted accordingly, using the spear as a supporting frame to flip overhead.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ReZhui quickly got up in wariness. He had never seen such agility before, but before he could sort his thoughts out, MianJu lunged back at him with another flurry of slashes, giving him no chance to purely strike back. His movements hastened quicker and mightier. The small tuft of red hair at the end of the spearhead was the only reason ReZhui could keep up with these blinding attacks. MianJu¡¯s spear eventually wobbled excessively from his downright incredible spearmanship at keeping the momentum going and after surviving the onslaught for a meagre one minute, ReZhui lost it.

    The bending of the pole mercilessly misguided ReZhui¡¯s perception of the incoming thrust. The first five parries were credited to sheer luck and instinct alone. But, these attributes could never help him for long. MianJu spun the spear overhead and swung around for a power slash to his left. ReZhui tried to parry but his blade was also drawn off-course once in contact with the vibrating spear. The last thrust was unleashed and ReZhui caught sight of the red tuft, raising his Jian to block it. Unfortunately for him, the spearhead changed course from the wobble and his defense was rendered useless. Like a snake coiling past rocks, the spearhead reached his chest and struck him fatally at the heart. The accumulated energy then burst out from the tip and ReZhui soon found himself propelled far from where he previously stood, crashing hard into a tall tree stump.

    ¡°Argh¡­ARC!¡±

    His eyes went white from the impact and his mouth foamed uncontrollably. In a temporary daze moments after, ReZhui finally fell unconscious. What he last saw was MianJu¡¯s unshakened figure standing firm. He had barely moved a step.

 Chapter 37 : From Teacher to Student [Part 2]

    An hour had passed since ReZhui¡¯s one-sided defeat. Luckily for him, if there¡¯s one more thing he has gained from all this, it was undeniably immense endurance. MianJu plainly waited forty minutes for ReZhui to wake up from his nap after setting him to rest atop the tree stump. Once he woke up, MianJu brought him back to his humble dwelling where he administered some ointments and brewed him a cup of fine tea.

    Currently, MianJu and ReZhui were outside, more specifically underneath the roofs of the backyard of his small smithy. It was a cosy place of fire and iron with no walls that partitioned them from the wild flora and forestry far off in the distance. The cool early autumn winds blew past his skin as ReZhui sat lethargically upon a wooden bench carved out by MianJu himself. He looked to his right, eyeing the large piles of chopped branches and tree bark stored at the very end and right next to it, stockpiles of iron ore and coal separately. To his left, it was the front entrance, leading to a set of stairs from the platform, and in front of him, MianJu was very busy with his smithing. The rhythmic beats of his hammering against red hot iron. The flying sparks, floating embers and the manner at which his body moves with every strike. In the midst of this, a raging furnace was running in the background, heating and melting the iron for a future pan mold. MianJu had previously stoked the kiln to its maximum from a fresh batch of coal and wood in his secret proportions.

    ReZhui has watched his work for a long time and his professional labour was still very addicting to watch. Unlike during his spar, MianJu wore a light robe of starry black, tied loosely on a grey sash. Strangely, ReZhui never questioned why he still wears his black blindfold, deeming it a part of him ever since in his younger years.

    ¡°..Arch!¡±

    But that¡¯s when a sharp ache stinged his chest, interrupting his pleasant watch. He shuddered about, recalling why he came here. He turned to the stool beside him. Atop it, a new set of clothes were folded for him to wear and a small wooden box too.

    Removing his filthy mess of combat attire, he inspected his injuries. Multiple new bruises emerged from his forearms and there was a deep redness on his wrist.

    ¡°...¡±

    What¡¯s most glaring though was a thick patch of bandages wrapped around his chest, concealing a large spread of blistering red from that final blow. At its deepest, a small red dot marked near his nipple but fortunately, no blood was split and MianJu sensed no internal damage. All that accidental build up of energy should have shot the spearhead straight through ReZhui¡¯s chest and tore down a line of trees ahead, but MianJu was able to redirect it into that burst using an immediate release of his aura. Something MianJu never told him directly but surely knew ReZhui would have figured later nonetheless.

    He first got himself dressed up with these new clothes like the ones he always wore back at the two villages.

    Ultimately, it was a clean fit. He wore a plain blue HanFu tunic with a white inner layer that reached below the waist and to his ankles with a shirt of white, cut into two at the sides. One faced at the front and vice versa. His long wide sleeves of white were tied back into black leather bracers with light brown pants that closed off into a pair of black cloth shoes completing the getup. Draping over all of this was a dark brown sleeveless robe with thickened collars of a dark beige rectangular pattern.

    ReZhui adjusted his clothes one final time before he sat back down, glancing back at MianJu. He was still deep in concentration for his forging.

    ¡°...¡±

    Picking up the wooden case, he could guess what was in there and ReZhui turned out correct. In his rough, calloused fingers, ReZhui held a small medicinal ball. It was azure blue with splotches of light purple and magenta. Its surface was smooth to the touch akin to glass; something he had never felt before for such a herb. Normally, the ones he received were always coarse with a sandy finish. Curious, he questioned MianJu.

    ¡°Brother MianJu, what is with this medicine you gave me?¡±

    Quenching the current metal piece he worked on, the sounds of the sizzling water came out as his early response. Vapour emerged out of the trough in a mystical spectacle.

    ¡°...¡±

    Placing the cooled iron plough to the side, MianJu put down his hammer and plier to a nearby rack before he promptly took a seat beside him, ignoring his drenched state.

    ¡°You used Qi earlier, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°...! W-what do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°... . Although it was a miniscule amount, I sensed an opposing life force, and the only other individual present was you.¡±

    ¡°...Fine, you caught me.¡±

    ReZhui never realised he exerted that much from within. It was all during the heat of battle.

    ¡°You used Qi to reinforce your core when we were both locked in that position, am I right?¡±

    ¡°Why did you have to express the unnecessary? I¡¯m sure Brother is already confident with his observations.¡±

    ReZhui whined away. In response, MianJu lightly grinned.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of embarrassment, ReZhui. Rather, my intentions were honestly congratulatory.¡±

    ¡°Really¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sincere about it. Now, let me ask you something that I cannot deduce myself right now. How did you come across this technique that I never taught you before?¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s pretty easy. Eddisson¡¯s current Array manuals have some written basis about this application. Since those Arrays require remotely displacing Qi into certain materials to induce temporary properties or other forms of manipulation, I just experimented with that concept and later came up with the practice of considering my own body parts ¡®foreign¡¯ to achieve a similar effect.¡±

    ¡°...What a leap in logic, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°But, you wouldn¡¯t doubt me either, correct?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a reason traditional foundations lasted over millennia until the present day, ReZhui. I fear that this may come with some unknown effects later on. The idea of rejecting your ¡®vessel¡¯...Body constitution¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡± In the face of MianJu¡¯s muttering analysis, ReZhui brought him back to reality. ¡°Brother MianJu, do you hear me?¡±

    ¡°Right, pardon me earlier. Listen, I have no opinion of this technique yet, but there is one thing I will be certain of.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Although I admit this could be as effective as the usual practice, it will never be as energy efficient to begin with.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°You can feel it, don¡¯t you? A slight slumber in your unawakened meridian near your stomach.¡±

    ¡°...¡± Perhaps MianJu was telling the truth.

    ¡°You only never realize it because it¡¯s used for shorter periods of time, and with a smaller quantity of objects imposed with your Qi. Remember, the disciples of the martial sects are trained for full-body enhancement. If you were to direct Qi to every possible muscle, undetermined whether most are identified as a single unit of a bundling group or individual tissues, it¡¯s mentally impractical to monitor all of them.

    Arrays are different. The ingredients imbued with Qi are limited. While the more complex, larger scaled Arrays say otherwise, those opted for more casters and in most cases, require their reserve of Qi to be used only once for the initial setup. Maintaining it afterwards is less straining than thorough augmentation simply by the fact that an Array is usually static.¡±

    ¡°...¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡°Hence, don¡¯t ever do that again. It¡¯s not beneficial to you, ReZhui.¡±

    MianJu demanded with his monotonous voice, but ReZhui could not believe what his teacher was saying given the circumstances.

    ¡°Brother, I understand that too. However, you left me no choice. If you would gladly allow me to learn the proper way to utilize Qi, then maybe I wouldn¡¯t find myself stuck with this flawed technique.

    But no, all because one has to cultivate a foundation first before they can start. Eddisson¡¯s Arrays need no cultivation base to use his Qi but I need to. That¡¯s what you always told me and those reasons ring in my ears every time I ask to progress. What gives?!¡±

    ReZhui looked frustratingly at his black blindfold, hoping to get a reaction out of him, but to no avail. Instead, MianJu felt silent until the tension cooled off. ReZhui returned level-headed and then, he spoke.

    ¡°In spite of what I said, ReZhui, please take it not as belittlement but as correction from my genuine care to you as the one who you call Teacher. As I said in the beginning, I was genuinely impressed at how you found your way around to reach this level of strength but, that doesn''t mean I shouldn''t apprehend your mishaps, should I?¡±

    ¡®Evenso, it¡¯s still your decision that made me do this.¡¯ ReZhui scowled internally.

    ¡°So that¡¯s why, ReZhui, I plan to change my ways. Seeing your desperation, I finally decided to risk it all and guide you through cultivation.¡± MianJu ended in a light-hearted

    ¡°Exactly, Brother MianJu, this all started from your teachings so you are in the wrong here. Thus, I insist that you-Wait, what!?¡±

    MianJu¡¯s last sentence went in one ear and out the other for ReZhui. He was so focused on his ultimate comeback, aimed to persuade his mentor once and for all.

    ¡°...Did you not hear me before?¡±

    Apparently, ReZhui had already done so¡­

    ¡°Sorry¡­it passed beyond me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be teaching you how to cultivate the first stage in order to learn the Qi manipulation of a true martial artist.¡±

    ¡­from the very start after their spar.

    ¡°Are¡­are you serious now? You aren''t lying to me, are you, Brother MianJu?¡±

    ReZhui had waited religiously for this very moment for the last five years and now, he couldn¡¯t believe his ears. However, for MianJu, he never figured out ReZhui''s huge fuss about this revelation.

    ¡°...You heard me clearly, ReZhui. I¡¯ll take you to the first stage, and only the first stage.¡±

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui never felt his heart sink so quickly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ever hope that I will continue to guide you up the ascension ladder. No, I will still go by my code of law. My reason stands as the top priority, albeit I will give some leniency for this case. The first stage should be the bare bones of cultivation so detecting you as a rival cultivator will remain as the hardest.¡±

    MianJu smiled in relief.

    ¡°...Alright, Brother. I-I¡¯m grateful.¡±

    While ReZhui wished to seek more power, he also realised that probing deeper will probably alter MianJu¡¯s decision, since he too was considering ReZhui¡¯s own safety in all this. Pleased with his student¡¯s reply, MianJu pointed to the azure ball.

    ¡°If you would like an apology, you could think of this medicinal herb as one.¡±

    In ReZhui¡¯s palm, the glassy ball rolled around.

    ¡°Firstly, what¡¯s this, Brother MianJu?¡±

    ¡°On my latest trip to the Northern Capital to make deliveries, I stopped by one of my regular alchemy stores, which I highly recommend for their impeccable quality of elixirs. Fortunately for me, I arrived at the right time as the shop owner just finished brewing up a new medicine for cultivation use. A one of a kind, all would say. It was an intense auction that I participated in next, but I managed to save the last one out of three at the staggering price of seven thousand golden tags.¡±

    ¡°W-wha¡­Seven thousand¡­Brother, where did you get that money?¡±

    ¡°My smithing is also one of a kind, ReZhui, and I do have a lot of patrons.¡±

    ¡°So, this ball you bought¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, ReZhui, this particular elixir, when consumed, will grant the person an extra century¡¯s worth of internal Qi.¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­How cool!¡± ReZhui¡¯s eyes were wide open.

    Glancing back at ReZHui¡¯s reaction, MianJu grinned softly.

    ¡°ReZhui, do you realise how great this is?¡±

    ¡°No, but please do tell.¡±

    ¡°Regular medicinal balls can only store a maximum of twenty year¡¯s worth of Qi. Anything beyond that will take much longer and are very rarely made. This took two decades for the owner to make.¡±

    ¡°But Brother MianJu, can¡¯t one just consume five smaller elixirs to gain the same effect as this single medicinal ball?¡±

    To that, MianJu simply answered.

    ¡°At first glance, ReZhui. But there is a difference nonetheless.¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m not buying it. Sounds very much like it¡¯s just an elaborate marketing scheme, Brother MianJu. Are you sure you aren¡¯t fooled by this blatant sense of illusionary quality?¡±

    This was one of ReZhui¡¯s strong points too. His studies paid off with him giving MianJu a snarky, doubtful look. Witnessing his enjoyment, MianJu immediately thought of an allegory.

    ¡°ReZhui, listen to this clearly. Imagine each of the regular medicines as their individual cups with coloured water.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°Next, imagine the azure elixir as a large pot of pink water.¡±

    ReZhui nodded.

    ¡°The difference here is that each of the individual cups contains water of different pigmentation while the pot has one unified colour of equal amount. When these five pills are consumed together, preventing the opposing energies from ripping one¡¯s insides before cleansing them in time for ascension takes a lot of work all at once, and that¡¯s horrendous since cultivation itself is also deadly if executed wrongly. The presence of the five energies is just a huge risk for all cultivators so they rather take it slowly by consuming one elixir after the other between timed internals.

    Likewise, the azure elixir contains a single, harmonious kind of energy in larger amounts which is perfect to fasten one¡¯s progression through the ascension realms.¡±

    ¡°...I see.¡± Given ReZhui barely knew the steps to cultivate, this somewhat made sense to him. A slight disappointment at MianJu¡¯s simple comeback.

    ¡°While the manufacturing of elixirs itself are secrets worth the alchemist¡¯s and their extended family¡¯s very own lives, it¡¯s common knowledge that each individual elixir is never identical to the next. That¡¯s all tied to how they are made.¡±

    MianJu poked his temple with his finger.

    ¡°It¡¯s something to keep in mind, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°... . I understand.¡±

    ¡°Excellent. We will begin the next time you return here.¡±

    ¡°What! Why not today?¡±

    Looking up towards the overhead sun, MianJu replied.

    ¡°It¡¯s reaching noon soon, and you still have other errands to take care of.¡±

    ¡°Fine¡­¡±

    ReZhui fiddled with the glass elixir dissatisfied.

    ¡°...¡±

    That¡¯s when MianJu eyed him a bewildered look.

    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡±

    ¡°...! Waiting? For what?¡±

    ¡°The medicinal ball. Consume it whole.¡± MianJu replied bluntly.

    ¡°...Now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. If you are scared of this particular one, just remember it¡¯s a similar experience to all those other times I gave you pills and elixirs. It¡¯s not worth the fuss over it.¡±

    Seeing MianJu misread his actions, ReZhui held his arms forward.

    ¡°No, no, no, that¡¯s not it, Brother MianJu. I just thought you have to eat it before meditation.¡±

    ¡°... . That is not the norm either, ReZhui. As long as you don¡¯t use your accumulated Qi before your first ascension, you will still retain that energy by the time you return here. To which I am confident, lifting inventory and filling account booklets do not consider the need to use martial strength, aren¡¯t I right?¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s how it is¡­Well then, say so earlier, Brother MianJu! I¡¯ll swallow this elixir in a heartbeat!¡± His voice rose with excitement. Patting him on the shoulder, MianJu got up from his seat.

    ¡°To be frank, ReZhui, developing your first cultivation base doesn¡¯t require much Qi in the first place, but that just means you will have plentiful reserves to practice Qi manipulation.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­can I raise further-¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    MianJu answered plainly, yet sternly.

    ¡°...There¡¯s no way going through you, huh.¡±

    Sighing, ¡°I¡¯ll be back from the storehouse shortly, ReZhui. So take your time absorbing that century¡¯s worth of Qi.¡±

    And MianJu descended down the stairs towards the back of his workshop. The call of nature and his smoking furnaces were the only sounds remaining.

    ¡®Should I sit cross legged whilst I swallow it? No! That¡¯s too excessive. Brother MianJu clarified this would just be like all the others, but¡­¡¯

    The glassy surface shimmered in the sunlight.

    ¡®It¡¯s too exotic to ignore that.¡¯

    Fiddling with it more and more, ReZhui needed to be decisive. His head spun around, worried that his amateur actions would make something go wrong.

    ¡®Alright, fine!¡¯

    ¡°Hu¡­ If Brother is so nonchalant about this, then let¡¯s just get this over with, quick!¡± ReZhui muttered, ¡°Thank you for the meal.¡±

    ¡°Aaaahmph¡±

    With the ball rolling above his tongue, ReZhui then immediately swallowed it whole, giving no time for saliva to cover around it completely. His immature Adam¡¯s apple jerked outwards and sank down. The spherical bulge in his larynx came and faded in the blink of an eye. The azure elixir was officially inside him now.

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui clenched his fist and contracted his guts in preparation for any sudden sensation.

    ¡°...¡±

    However, nothing happened as he waited. He anticipated an explosive ripple in his stomach; the rise in digestive acid; or perhaps, simply an increase in his body temperature, but there was none. It only felt similar to eating regular food. In the end, ReZhui breathed a sigh of relief mixed with dismay.

    ¡®Well¡­that was anticlimactic.¡¯

 Chapter 37 : From Teacher to Student [Part 3]

    As he rested his head on the arms atop his knees, MianJu entered the scene, carrying something in hand. Still approaching unnoticed, MianJu bent under, questioning his disciple¡¯s sulking expression.

    ¡°Are you alright, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°...! Oh, Brother MianJu, everything¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°Have you consumed it yet?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes I did.¡±

    ¡°So, how was it? The process.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like what you said. It¡¯s all the same.¡±

    ¡°...Ah, I understand.¡±

    And as MianJu retook his seat, ReZhui spotted something in the corner of his eye.

    ¡°...¡±

    Realising ReZhui¡¯s change of interest, MianJu directly brought it out in the open and pressed it hard onto his chest. Once he let go, it slid down his torso and cleanly landed on ReZhui¡¯s lap and palms.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ReZhui laid sight to it, and his previously droopy mood took a complete reset.

    His eyes stretched wide open, with his mouth hanging low, agasp. His hands shuddered and shook, as he slowly raised it to eye level. MianJu has never seen his pupils shine so bright before. His gift clearly reflected upon his black onyx irises.

    ¡°What do you think, ReZhui? I worked my very best to make it your perfect fit.¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­Is this really made for only me, Brother MianJu?¡±

    His eyes were still locked upon the item.

    ¡°Yes it is, and be proud of it.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°From teacher to student, I present to you-¡±

    ReZhui grasped firmly on the handle and released it from the sheathe, emerging rays of reflected sunlight.

    ¡°YES!¡±

    ¡°Your first ever actual hand-held weapon of your own responsibility and keeping.¡±

    ReZhui was speechless.

    ¡°As the original blacksmith who forged this weapon, I call it, ¡®The Sterile Stream Born of Twin Peaks¡¯.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    While MianJu felt proud of its name, ReZhui was caught in more captivating matters as he split the twin Jian. Overall, anyone who inspected this would instantly fall in awe of its craftsmanship.

    The weapon was a twin Jian.

    Its scabbard was a polished light brown wood. Four bronze fittings coiled around at equal intervals throughout the structure, including the locket and chape which have the longest sections, carved out into pouncing tiger heads and accompanying floral motifs. At the throat, the hole was divided into two entry points for the dual blades and the wooden separation ran deep until the very tip.

    Both swords were absolutely identical to one another, even down to the bare metal contents. The handle¡¯s shape was complementary to the locket¡¯s, carved out into the lower fangs and incisors of the solitary beast. Although it was fully made of a light-weighted iron alloy, the handle was painted in the colour of bronze, completing the look. There was also a wide wavy patterned bronze pommel that curved in towards a blunt point at the end, and the handle had a smooth wooden surface with an elliptical cross-section on one half and the other being straight flat.

    The blade was full tang with a diamond cross section, and it reached the length of ReZhui¡¯s forearm. There were no imperfections nor scratches, and the surface was polished and shiny.

    ¡°...whoa¡­¡± ReZhui sounded like a broken record with how many times he has expressed his amazement. The handle truly fitted perfectly in his hand and he even tried wielding it with a hand and a half, grasping the pommel too. To no surprise, it felt excellent. Dual wielding both blades in unison, and ReZhui could understand where MianJu was probably coming from with this design choice. Their weight, by themselves or together, were no issue for ReZhui, even if his blunt sparring ones are of a heavier variant. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    And speaking of sharpness, ReZhui gladly skimmed his index finger lightly across the edge of the blade. To his fascination, it easily dug deep into his skin. Any further and his blood will be split, marking ReZhui as his blade¡¯s very first victim.

    Totally ignoring MianJu for the longest time since then, ReZhui quickly rushed out into the field surrounded by dead tree stumps. Their treasured training grounds. Ignoring the fact that he was still wearing civilian clothing, ReZhui placed one Jian in the scabbard and swung around the other one.

    MianJu stood from afar and under the last autumn breeze of this chilly morning, he only saw a child beneath the skin of his adolescent self. His sword, capable of countless bloodshed, was now his new toy. Unrestrained, ReZhui unleashed his attacks, studied over the past half decade under MianJu. He thrusted, parried and binded imaginary blades. Footwork swayed from side to side in a controlled manner while his body dodged incoming strikes. He then somersaulted backwards and launched off overhead while twirling his blade along with him. Landed smoothly, ReZhui pounced forward, trailing behind a streak of silver and voice filled with joy. He was so elated that his face presented the brightest smile that lit the darkest days.

    And throughout all of this, his clothes never hindered him. Rather, it enhanced the impromptu demonstration that served MianJu, his only spectator, proud. The dark brown robe fluttered loosely against the autumn breeze while his white skirts compactly flowed with his feet, shoved around to make way for mobility.

    There was no manual to his martial arts. It lacked the flair and cohesiveness belonging to a Sect or Clan. It¡¯s animalistic, instinctive, yet disciplined. It¡¯s unique. Unique only to him and no one else.

    A dance of the most fundamental of the standardized basics, that¡¯s grinded up, stacked atop, stuffed more and filtered upon through his experience of countless battles against the martial prowess from only one man dressed in all black that lived mysteriously alone, deep within the mountains.

    That¡¯s the martial arts of a fourteen year old ReZhui.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°Made with the finest materials that I can get, freshly stoned and covered with a new coat of oil. That¡¯s your new weapon, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much, Brother MianJu¡­and I¡¯m sorry for everything I said earlier!¡±

    ReZhui bowed deeply in front of him.

    They were back at the workshop, sheltered from the midday sunlight.

    ¡°...Again, ReZhui, I do not fault you in regards to that¡­but, I will no longer stop you¡­¡±

    MianJu sincerely wished that from the bottom of his heart, but ReZhui was just as stubborn.

    ¡°Thank you again, Brother MianJu!¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, I get it. Although¡­please always keep this in mind, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    He still had that broad, pure smile plastered on his face with those gleaming onyx eyes.

    ¡°...Well, this twin Jian is built with stealth and self-defense in mind, so that¡¯s why I made it smaller than the standard length, plus with one more blade in the scabbard; just in case you are surrounded by multiple opponents or they disarm you early. At least, you still got a spare.¡±

    ReZhui nodded earnestly.

    ¡°Ideally, I expect this weapon to be close to you at times so this strap will let it rest underneath your outer layers, away from plain sight. We can¡¯t afford to have your parents discover our secret.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    As instructed by MianJu, ReZhui tightened the maroon leather belt across his lower torso, and additional flattened cords attached the scabbard to his leftmost side, with the locket facing vertically upwards. ReZhui then slid both blades in; their hilts sounded sharp with a satisfying click.

    Over the blade, he wore back his blue tunic and buttoned up the right side. Truth to behold, MianJu was right. ReZhui looked down and, despite literally feeling the wood pressing onto his obliques, his eyes saw no noticeable difference to before he equipped his twin Jian. Moreover, that¡¯s his body, which ReZhui knew every part of. For the average observer, no one would even guess this innocent boy will be armed with a military-grade Jian that is this close to him. The tunic had no protruding bulges and even when ReZhui did regular tasks like sitting, bending or running, the scabbard stuck close and barely affected his articulation.

    MianJu was even impressed at himself with how much his measurements had paid off.

    ¡°One final thing before you can leave, ReZhui.¡±

    ReZhui halted his cheerful jumping spree, turning back to him.

    ¡°Yes, Brother MianJu?¡±

    ¡°I trust that you will not use this dangerous weapon for anything else besides self-defense.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a compulsory warning, but considering who you are¡­I doubt you are that kind of person.

    All I want to say regardless, is¡­be mindful of the consequences and the aftermath once you decide to draw that blade. I¡¯m confident you will use it wisely at the right time, and the appropriate place.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all.¡±

    MianJu then stood up from his stool and tossed ReZhui his brown sleeveless robe.

    ¡°Until we meet again, have a prosperous day ahead.¡±

    MianJu smiled lightly.

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui recalled those words from before. The readiness to react with violence. This was different back when he defeated those thugs. In his hands was a weapon capable of ending lives. His bare body held no such potency. It was new territory for the young teen, but he had hope. If MianJu believed in him, so must ReZhui himself, and if the Bai river basin that he called home remained peaceful, perhaps the boy would never have to resort to this. His final option.

    Ultimately, ReZhui prayed that this moment would never come to him.

    ¡°Thank you for your advice, Brother MianJu. It truly helped a lot.¡±

    ReZhui solemnly replied as he wore the robe and adjusted the collar.

    Eyeing back at his signature black blindfold, ReZhui plainly assured him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry more about it, I¡¯ll be back in a week like the usual.¡±

 Chapter 38 : Along the Way Down [Part 1]

    A humble creak cut its way through the thick forestry, descending downhill in a wriggly fashion. Pebbles deposited close and numerous smaller creatures gathered around to quench their thirst. In one particular section, where a group of large boulders laid together on one side of the bank, a fox suddenly appeared out of the nearby shrubs on the opposite side in all its arrogance. To the dismay of those present, the little critters scurried and scattered, and the fox was readily left to his own space. Sticking out his long tongue in triumph, the fox lowered his head to the damp soil. Cool water sprinkled plentifully, exciting the fox more. A quiet whimper of delight later, and he finally edged near the body of water. As his tongue was about to lick up into his mount, the fox¡¯s ears sprung upwards in instinct.

    He jerked his head to his behind, where the ever approaching sounds of crunching leaves grew louder and more frequent. Warriness filled his mind as he considered his choices. He hasn¡¯t had a drink yet, but there was a possibility that a lone predator, such as an outcast wolf, could be coming here to do the same.

    A low hum through his mouth. He has decided against it.

    The fox took precaution and proceeded to quietly retreat to the exact bushes from before. He moved slowly to avoid making a sound, however, the fox underestimated the speeding intruder.

    Seconds later, a paw away from cover, the loud crackling of a fallen branch perked up the fur on his back. He was in a state of panic and immediately jolted away to safety. His heart pumped heavily as he turned to the sounds. The central and largest boulder shook unnaturally, and out atop it, appeared a blur of black and brown.

    ¡°...!¡±

    It leaped overhead, momentarily blocking a patch of sunlight above him. The fox craned its head up, barely keeping up with its trajectory, as it vanished shortly afterwards, into the forests ahead. Only the loud thud of a fall greeted the fox a quick goodbye.

    ¡°...¡±

    His wide ears twisted around. Fortunately for him, only the chirping of birds and the calm flow of the creak filled his ears. It appeared that no more threats were close. The fox let out a cheerful squeak in realisation and approached near.

    First dip into the water and the fox felt so refreshed.

    .

    .

    .

    Amidst the green forestry, an increasing dominant number of spots marked red, yellow or orange riddled across the treetops. Leaves began to change colour as summer came to an end and the heat waves grew colder with another chilly one blowing past the tree trunks.

    The ends of his dark brown robe were once again lifted airborne, fluttering gracefully in the wind, after ReZhui smoothly got up from the somersault. His legs were like springs, propelling him faster and further as he zoomed across the mountainous terrain undeterred. Through all the obstacles that roughened his trek, ReZhui easily weaved over approaching rocks and fallen logs. The angled landscape of the mountain that once needed both his legs to be placed steadily on the ground, now he was simply skipping about from a kick of one of his feet. Although there was no trail, ReZhui took no pauses to reconsider his directions. He has done this path for a significant portion of his life. For any detour he took, ReZhui would still make his way back to the ¡®regular¡¯ track.

    He knew this place like the back of his hand.

    Parkouring over a surfaced tree root, ReZhui finally heard it.

    He never fails to smile at the sight of this fantastic accomplishment from a while ago. This was something he and his beloved father took great pride in; they even took part in constructing it.

    ReZhui soon reached a wide clearing from the line of trees and was greeted by a wooden fence surrounded by decorative stones and sparkling pebbles. Grass and maintained weeds covered the rest of the open space showing its modernity and care. Across the waist height fence, there it was.

    A road that stretched far on either side as usual, but was widened a fair amount and now sported two full lanes for two four-horse carriages traveling both ways. There were also spaces at the edges that served as pavements for pedestrians such as himself. What was once a road riddled with mud and potholes, was renovated into a dirt road with improved smoothness, and currently lying beside him, the road was now tiled in a manner of engineering feat similar to those roads paved along the outskirts of DongBu. Sticking the stones to the ground, layers of cement and clay of varying proportions ensured the road¡¯s rigidity.

    ReZhui¡¯s eyes sparkled and his mouth formed a proud grin.

    With finesse, he jumped over the wooden fence with ease and landed softly on the stone pavement. He took out a handkerchief from his inner pockets and wiped his neck and face clean. Although ReZhui knew his body was already well-adapted to this form of travel and is incredibly efficient at it, he still does it for decorum. In the end, he returned his handkerchief, only slightly damp from his sweat, into his pockets.

    Just as he finished adjusting his clothes, a long column of horse drawn carriages and wagons strolled past him. ReZhui took a glance at them as they passed uphill.

    There were three stagecoaches and seven cargo wagons with a bodyguard escort of twelve men on horseback. They were armed with simple spears and swords with majorly leather armour, while most of the goods they carried were draped with durable, waterproof cloth all over them so ReZhui had no way to know what they sold.

    ¡°...¡±

    Some of the guards also eyed back to the fourteen year old kid in the brown robe on the opposite pavement. Naturally, they dismissed him of any threat being of that age and proceeded on with the others. ReZhui realised this but decided it¡¯s not worth the fuss over. Unbeknownst to them, that boy could possibly single handedly beat all of them in a fight.

    They went their separate ways.

    .

    .

    .

    Further down the road to DongBu, ReZhui passed by a lot more people. There was a travelling couple that was in the middle of their hike up this trail to his village. Another train of wagons held an impressive amount of fabrics and iron tools for their trade later uphill. Finally, a group of artisans, riding on horseback, raced past ReZhui¡¯s walking pace and all he saw was their diminishing outlines as they descended down the mountain.

    Overall, it was quite the leisurely stroll.

    He playfully held out his arm onto the fence. The coarse natural wood rubbed his bare skin while he neared an upcoming batch of wild flowers. Its bold scent wafted towards his nostrils, tickling him close for an impromptu sneeze. Thankfully, it never came to be.

    The road then curved right and continued downwards. Every few minutes or so, there would be a wide and gradual turn around a curb, alternating from right to left. This uniform design made the road appear like a slithering snake at the steepest of places, and a major improvement from the earlier route.

    Soon enough, ReZhui reached the halfway point, where a recognizable site stood strong all these years and was just as lively as he remembered it to be. Unchanging, it was a relatively flat clearing that had grown larger. From above here, two trails of smoke now emerged out from the treeline with one much darker than the other.

    Approaching closer, ReZhui saw a small tavern to his left. Single-storied and newly constructed out of wood and brick. The eatery was majorly outdoors with a simple frame holding a feeble roof, with some seats spread out beyond the tavern¡¯s platform. A red and white banner of tattered cloth hung loosely atop a tall makeshift pole of wood outside the premises and close to the road. Inside, a lowly family of seven ran the operations and were now attending to six tables of travellers. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui then faced his right where a familiar sight filled his eyes. Nostalgia swarmed within, and his heart felt warm. It has been years since he graduated from there but that never meant he wouldn''t keep in touch.

    Since the road was built further away from the school to prevent unwanted noise pollution and disturbance, the large front yard which was originally part of the dirt road was turned into the school¡¯s very own homegrown vegetable garden. Two large boxed fields of soil now reaped a plentiful harvest with four lines of fully grown cabbage each. Beyond that was the previous fence, left as a memory of the old, and at the very end, was finally the school itself, always retaining its humble self. However, despite the changes and developments made surrounding it,the bungalow grew more worn down compared to half a decade ago. The paints were very much faded and parts of the wooden beams were starting to decay.

    Regardless of its dilapidated state, its doors still remain open for everyone willing to learn, and aside from some ruckus of the eatery, ReZhui could clearly hear the vigorous activity of reading children.

    As he stayed a while, curious to decipher what exact passage the students were chanting aloud, someone slowly and quietly crept up towards him. Footsteps crunched softly on the sandy ground before the individual pounced on him.

    But, ReZhui was aware of this and instinctually sidestepped to the left. He also raised his right leg simultaneously, catching the person and breaking a dangerous fall. He smirked back at the individual, raising them up steadily.

    ¡°Not today, XiaoAi. Try better next time.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not fair, Big Brother ReZhui!¡±

    An adorable girl''s voice sounded.

    ¡°Your big brother will never fall for it!¡± came his playful reply.

    It was the tavern owner¡¯s third daughter and the youngest in the family. Dressed plainly in several hand-me-down robes layered tightly with four pigtails held by pink ribbons, the six year old immediately pouted. Her eyes grew watery in defeat.

    ¡°...¡± Unsurprised that she would do this, ReZhui glanced annoyingly towards the tavern¡¯s entrance, where her father manned the counter. ReZhui also guessed that the mother must be in the kitchen but the other children were nowhere to be seen. Hearing her childish wails, the father, a man in his late forties, frantically got up and looked far in his direction, and instantly calmed down once he realized it was ReZhui she was dealing with. Giving the teen a lethargic grin, he went back to his accounting.

    ¡°...¡± ReZhui slumped, knowing the father just left him alone to attend to this little gremlin. Nonetheless, he gladly entertained her for the time being.

    ¡°Say, XiaoAi, where are the rest of your brothers and sisters?¡±

    ReZhui crouched to her eye-level.

    ¡°NO! Fall first when I push you!¡±

    ¡°...! Haa¡­¡±

    ReZhui then spread his arms wide, and the little girl took her chances. She rushed forward, tackling him hard to the ground with her falling onto his torso.

    ¡°YAY!¡±

    She gave him a wide smile.

    ¡°Argh¡­alright, XiaoAi, get off now.¡±

    ¡°Alright!¡±

    As ReZhui dusted off his clothes, the girl finally answered, like she needed to receive payment first.

    ¡°Some brothers and sisters are still studying, and Eldest sister is out to get the groceries.¡±

    ¡°Oh right, school¡­¡± ReZhui never considered that.

    ¡°My turn! What brings you here, Big Brother? Because today, Mama brewed delicious soup. The pot is huge!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet, XiaoAi, but thanks for the invite.¡±

    ¡°Aww¡­¡±

    ¡°B-but, to answer you earlier, I¡¯m returning to DongBu for errands.¡±

    ¡°...What¡¯s ¡®errands¡¯¡±

    ¡°Right¡­Just know that I got things to do down there. Lots of them.¡±

    ¡°Can XiaoAi come? She¡¯s been bored since morning!¡±

    ¡°Haha,¡± ReZhui pinched her plump red cheeks.

    ¡°Ey! Itsh urts!¡±

    ¡°You got a good heart, XiaoAi. Sadly though, no matter how many times you ask, it will always be the same answer.¡±

    ¡°A hard no¡­?¡±

    ¡°Well, not sternly hard, but yes, that¡¯s you¡¯re right¡±

    ¡°But, helping out at the eatery is boring! Boring!¡±

    ReZhui could feel the father¡¯s gaze on him; piercing eyes telling him quickly subdue this raging tantrum. Fortunately, he sort of came prepared.

    ¡°Remember XiaoAi, once you turn eight, you will truly be as busy as your siblings.¡±

    He then pointed her at the school opposite them.

    ¡°You will be learning so much that I assure you, one day, you will come running back to me in tears for the amount of work you have to put in.¡±

    However, rather than fear, this bold girl took it as a challenge.

    ¡°...Papa said the same thing¡­I hoped you said something different, Big Brother.

    ¡°Haha¡­that¡¯s simply all there is to it.¡±

    ¡°Is that truly it?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Aww¡­I have to wait another two more years¡­¡±

    She fiddled clumsily with her oversized sleeves.

    And just as they finished their small talk, the sounds of cheering students erupted out of the school.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ReZhui and XiaoAi, along with the others at the tavern, turned to the front yard where the doors smacked wide open and children that only reached ReZhui¡¯s lower torso poured out in numbers.

    ¡°Big Brother, is that¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s lunch break, XiaoAi, and I suppose you could be preoccupied with your brothers and sisters. Look, there they are!¡±

    In their direction, two boys and a girl ran towards them.

    ¡°Afternoon, Big Brother ReZhui!¡±

    They cheered in unison.

    ¡°Good afternoon to you all as well. So, XiaoAi, what do you do now?¡±

    ¡°...Yes! Everyone, Mama¡¯s prepared soup for us!¡±

    ¡°Yay!¡±

    With that, the siblings gathered together and raced against each other for the kitchen.

    ¡°Bye bye, Big Brother ReZhui, I¡¯ll save some for you when you return!¡± came her final farewells before disappearing into the interior.

    ¡°Thank you, XiaoAi! Have fun!¡±

    He waved back at them.

    ¡°...¡±

    Now with everything settled, he could finally continue his journey.

    However, before he could turn to face the pavement, a large arm caught him by the neck in total surprise. It then tugged him close for a tight bear hug, and all of this happened in the blink of an eye.

    ¡°REZHUI!¡± shouted a deep male voice as he proceeded to lift him off the ground and squash him whole.

    ¡°I¡¯VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH! WAHAHA, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE WE LAST CROSSED PATHS! I¡¯VE HEARD EVERYTHING! WE¡¯RE GLAD YOU¡¯RE DOING SO WELL!¡±

    ¡°...!¡± ReZhui felt his eyes popping out and he could even hear his own heartbeat as he barely made out the words spoken. But with his mouth muffled by the man¡¯s chest, ReZhui struggled to tell him to stop and the man was screaming out aloud himself. That¡¯s until a youthful woman intervened.

    ¡°REZHUI! REZHUI-AH AH YEI YEI! STOP IT, WEIQI! STOP IT!¡± suddenly came the man¡¯s high-pitched shrieks of agony. His ears quickly grew flush red as WeiQi pinched them with her sharp nails, pulling hard at the pinna and away from his head as well.

    Side eyeing her, WeiQi gave the man an annoyed glare.

    ¡°Clumsy brute, can¡¯t you see ReZhui¡¯s in pain right now? Hah, I can¡¯t believe an idiot like you is still adamant about joining the imperial government.¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­OH MY GOSH, REZHUI!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The man finally realised ReZhui¡¯s deflated state and hurriedly set him down carefully. Giving ReZhui time to gather himself together, WeiQi continued to berate the man mercilessly, to which he simply tossed aside her criticisms with a carefree attitude.

    Eventually, ReZhui regained his composure and approached the bickering duo.

    They too noticed this and made eye contact once more. This time it was a proper introduction, and ReZhui began the conversation.

    ¡°Older Brother Wei of Wei HuaYan?¡±

    ¡°Yep, that¡¯s me in the flesh!¡±

    Two heads taller than ReZhui, HuaYan was now a fully grown adult of a burlier physique, dressed plentifully in an orange and brown HanFu tunic, thick white inner layers and a star patterned maroon robe that was draped over his well-built body. He also wore a black cap decorated with white ornamental pearls, making it seemed like he had cut his hair short. His face was angular with a prominent jawline. A small goatee completed his look, signaling his outward maturity.

    Slinged behind his back, HuaYan carried a white cloth bag, containing his and WeiQi¡¯s necessities.

    ReZhui then faced her.

    ¡°Older Sister Tian of Tian WeiQi?¡±

    ¡°Long time no see, ReZhui. You¡¯ve grown well.¡±

    Slightly taller than him, WeiQi too had become a full-fledged grown-up with a petite frame, shown more prominently with her uniquely narrow shoulders. Sporting a simple, but extremely elegant HanFu skirt of natural pink and flower-patterned peach that fell gracefully from the top of her relatively well-endowed chest, she also wore an inner layering of lime green with narrower openings at the long ends of the sleeves. Keeping her warm in the autumn wind was a thick, wide scarf of scarlet that hung over her neck, flowed down her shoulders and behind her forearms. Light makeup was applied and her silky black hair was let loose with a part of it forming a flower bun atop her head with glimmering fasteners.

    Together, they both attracted quite the attention from everyone around them, but there¡¯s more than what meets the eye to them as ReZhui experienced earlier.

    Smiling back at them, ReZhui crossed his hand in a greeting salute.

    ¡°Good afternoon, Seniors, we truly have a lot to catch up about.¡±

 Chapter 38 : Along the Way Down [Part 2]

    In the end, ReZhui and his seniors agreed to walk each other towards DongBu village. Meanwhile, on their leisurely stroll, they excitedly exchanged words.

    ¡°Say, ReZhui, how long has it been since we last talked? I reckon it¡¯s a long time ago.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll say a year back, but even then, it was only a quick passing, wasn¡¯t it, Older Brother Wei?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I believe whatever you say, ReZhui. I truly cannot recall.¡±

    ¡°Our apologies, ReZhui. The both of us were busy with a load of stuff.¡±

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t mean to pry, Older Sister Tian. But just now, I was under the impression that Older brother Wei failed the civil examinations, is that true?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he failed miserably.¡± She curtly stated.

    ¡°Rahhh, come on WeiQi, please give me some face in front of my junior!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m simply telling the facts.¡± She looked away temporarily.

    ¡°Listen to me, ReZhui! I¡¯ve tried retaking the damn thing three times in a row, and every single time, I was rejected from employment.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I would gladly accept even the lowest official position, but there¡¯s none left for me!¡±

    He shook ReZhui by the shoulders.

    ¡°...I see, b-but, there should be other plans ready for you, right, senior?¡±

    ¡°Certainly there are plenty, but that¡¯s my dream ever since I was little and I will continue to take the civil exam until I succeed!¡±

    ¡°This walnut brain now aids his father¡¯s workshop, managing all the inventory and cash flow. Rather economical than political, I frankly say.¡±

    WeiQi interrupted her companion¡¯s motivational speech.

    ¡°W-well, it¡¯s not like you are faring any better, WeiQi.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I just received a letter from a major textile wholesale trader, offering me a contract for a trial run as their newly appointed branch supervisor.¡±

    She then smirked teasingly at HuaYan.

    ¡°...! W-wha¡­why wasn¡¯t I told of this sooner?¡±

    ¡°I was planning to bring it up at the right time¡­and it appears the wait was worthwhile. Hehe.¡±

    ¡°Just when I was hopeful¡­¡±

    Poor HuaYan slumped his shoulders in defeat. ReZhui and WeiQi watched as he slowly regained his joyful spirit, like a deflated balloon rising high. In the meantime, there came a weird silence once their conversation reached this awkward end.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    That¡¯s when ReZhui got a starter.

    ¡°By the way, seniors, what brings you here to Teacher Woo¡¯s place today? I thought he dismissed your positions.¡± ReZhui has also never crossed paths with them before from that day on. Suddenly, tossing all the disappointment out the window, HuaYan lit up with beady eyes. He rejoiced at the change of topic.

    ¡°Teacher already did, ReZhui¡­ But.¡± He eyed WeiQi and back to him, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we last saw him.¡± She also nodded at his reason.

    ¡°We actually arrived yesterday and stayed the night at his bungalow over some expensive alcohol we bought.¡± WeiQi added.

    ¡°Originally, we planned to leave early in the morning as we already booked a carriage and we figured that our presence would disturb his classes. However, expect the unexpected, we ultimately decided to cancel the charter and volunteer otherwise.¡±

    ¡°Have you seen Teacher Woo, ReZhui? We can immediately tell him and his school won¡¯t make it for much longer.¡± WeiQi anxiously wailed.

    Hearing this, ReZhui replied firmly.

    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­Sadly, Teacher Woo is still pushing himself past his later years.¡±

    ¡°The old man needs to retire. ReZhui, has the village done anything to convince him?¡±

    ¡°We tried but Teacher Woo¡¯s too persistent.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Seniors, you do realize his syllabus not only improved but also maintained similar timetables from your stay there. His quality of teaching has never changed since I left.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s true.¡± WeiQi lowered her head.

    ¡°That¡¯s the feeling we also got as we had dinner last night.¡±

    ¡°Did you two manage to talk about retirement?¡±

    ¡°It was such a good time that we were honestly scared!¡±

    WeiQi nodded at his thoughts.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°However, ReZhui, the old man did say something peculiar that one time right?¡± HuaYan turned to WeiQi.

    ¡°Oh right! He did rant about how the development of this road helped him to expand his garden.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s the point, ReZhui. You also saw the miserable state of the school. Don¡¯t tell me Teacher is also against renovation too if he was happy to lend the land around it for construction?¡±

    ¡°That kept bugging us the entire night sleeping there!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui at that point was starting to believe his seniors were here for an unintentional quick getaway from work or they were still very respectful to Teacher Woo. Either way, ReZhui meant no ill will towards them and entertained their questions anyway.

    ¡°Well¡­Teacher Woo is against that too. I was told that the DongBu village council raised considerable funds to refurbish the school and included that in the DongBu-Bai package deal. Upon hearing the details, Teacher Woo apparently lashed out at them for being simply too foolish, and instead allocated the money to building several more roads linking Bai village to the main villages on the other side of the Bai Mountains.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°He actually took the time to manage part of the road¡¯s construction, cutting costs by nearly a fifth!¡±

    ¡°Yes! As expected of the old man!¡± HuaYan cheered. On the other hand, WeiQi inquired more.

    ¡°ReZhui, did you confirm this with Teacher Woo?¡±

    And that¡¯s when ReZhui halted himself, slowly muttering his answer; barely audible unless one paid full attention.

    ¡°...I too am afraid to ask¡­¡±

    What he thought of them somehow coincidentally came biting him back squarely in the ass. There perhaps was something new to learn from there, he thought to himself. ReZhui then had a burly hand pat him hard on the shoulder. Looking up, he saw HuaYan smiling empathetically at him.

    ¡°No worries, Junior, even we young adults fear him. I can easily understand for a teen like yourself.¡±

    ¡°...Thank you¡­¡±

    WeiQi soon intervened with something new.

    ¡°Ah yes, speaking of which, HuaYan, have you ever seen a fourteen year old this tall before?¡±

    ¡°...Wait up.¡±

    Still with his hand on ReZhui¡¯s shoulder, HuaYan began to press it hard, feeling his toned trapezius and deltoids.

    ¡°...!¡±

    He then gave her a bewildered look.

    ¡°No, not only that, WeiQi, our junior¡¯s also packing some muscle for his age.¡± Currently, ReZhui saw HuaYan¡¯s eyes filled with curiosity and amazement. Quickly before they somehow come to the discovery of MianJu, ReZhui tried shifting the conversation elsewhere.

    ¡°I¡¯m a farmer¡¯s boy, Seniors. Maybe I¡¯m just lucky to attain this body from working off the land?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­that does make sense, but darn, aren¡¯t you proud of yourself? Nice work, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°Even so, I saw other farm kids and they were never this robust. I hope ReZhui isn¡¯t consuming drugs or anything alike.¡± WeiQi was adamant about her observation which was truthfully correct.

    ¡°Argh, WeiQi, has that maternal side of you started to bloom? Just accept that our junior¡¯s earned great karma in his past life. Haha!¡±

    Luckily, HuaYan was buying into that theory and WeiQi could only consider herself to be paranoid afterwards.

    ¡°Hah¡­Fine, HuaYan, I dropped my case.¡±

    ¡°Excellent!¡±

    With that concluded, the trio walked around the upcoming bend and continued downwards. A man-drawn cart later passed them, before something popped up in HuaYan¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Say, ReZhui, I completely forgot to ask this earlier but I think it''s fair play for you to answer if you already asked us.¡±

    ¡°Tell ahead, Older Brother Wei.¡±

    ¡°Why are you visiting DongBu village?¡±

    ¡°To run some errands¡­also, I got an apprenticeship job at the village doctor¡¯s pharmacy. Tomorrow marks the start of my next training session.¡±

    ¡°I see! So, agriculture by dawn and medicine at noon. What a busy teen you are, ReZhui!¡±

    ¡°Well, senior, I specifically only handle management and finance so rather, I¡¯m aiming at mastering merchantry.¡±

    ¡°Merchantry? What a word you say. I call that entrepreneurship.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s similar enough, you dimwit.¡±

    ¡°Still, WeiQi, there¡¯s a noticeable difference!¡±

    ¡°ReZhui, isn¡¯t that ShiYan¡¯s place where you¡¯re working?¡±

    ¡°Why yes it is. For now, she¡¯s still striving to be a doctor, just like her father and my master!¡±

    ¡°Aww, ain¡¯t that the greatest news ever? I wonder what she looks like now. The last time I saw her was in your last year of school, the same as you, am I right?¡±

    ¡°HEY! Don¡¯t keep ignoring me, the two of you!¡±

    HuaYan wailed behind her, but she paid no mind, while ReZhui gave them a simple sigh at their antics.

    ¡°If that¡¯s when you left Teacher Woo¡¯s mentorship, then yes. Huh¡­!¡±

    That¡¯s when something clicked instantly. A switched on light bulb.

    ReZhui subconsciously gave them a cheeky grin on his face.

    ¡°...ReZhui?¡± WeiQi questioned.

    ¡°Seniors, for one of my errands, it¡¯s something that happens today, and I was thinking of inviting you both to join me.¡±

    ReZhui welcomed them charmingly.

    ¡°Join what exactly?¡± HuaYan questioned.

    ¡°ShiYan is hosting a dinner for me at a local restaurant later this evening, and I figured the more the merrier. So, what do you say?¡±

    Eyeing back at one another, the duo considered their choices.

    ¡°HuaYan, I¡¯m going.¡± WeiQi blurted.

    Scratching the back of his neck, HuaYan reasoned.

    ¡°Argh...Well, we do intend on staying the night here at a nearby hotel before setting out to our villages by carriage. This dinner goes very well with our schedule so¡­Firstly, are you really sure ShiYan wouldn¡¯t mind our intervention, ReZhui?¡±

    Broadly grinning from ear to ear, ReZhui reassured them.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m certain she would love the extra company. It¡¯s quite the grand feast that she promised, and it¡¯s not like I can finish all of them on my own.¡±

    ¡°Alright then, ReZhui. I¡¯m tagging along too!¡±

    ¡°Well said, indeed!¡±

    ReZhui saluted them in gratitude.

 Chapter 39 : DongBu Village Anew [Part 1]

    ¡°I hope you will agree with me about this, WeiQi, but I¡¯m starting to think that canceling our ride this morning was better for both of us.¡±

    After a long while of tranquility and silence with only nature''s call reverberating around them, she was stunned at HuaYan¡¯s sudden question.

    ¡°...! Well, I do find encountering ReZhui a wonderful turn of events, however¡­¡±

    She then looked to her side where the freshly paved cement road laid in all its glory.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s the experience of walking down this path that is also worth acknowledging. It¡¯s a wonderful stroll indeed.¡±

    ¡°Yes, looks like you¡¯re on the same page as I am. If we were on that carriage half-awake from a hangover, I doubt we would even bother noticing the developments made around here.¡±

    He then turned to ReZhui.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure a fellow resident like yourself is very proud about this, am I right, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°WHY, YES I AM!!!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    The duo instinctively shuddered back at this unexpected, immense display of pure-hearted joy. ReZhui was squealing about, armed with sparkling beady onyx eyes, like a little boy finally gifted a new toy. The sheer brightness of his charisma that emitted throughout him could blind the duo severely. It was too much.

    ¡°I-We can see that, ReZhui¡­¡± HuaYan shielded his eyes against ReZhui¡¯s radiance with his sleeve.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone this amazed about a road, but that may just be me.¡± WeiQi remarked.

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t blame the two of you, but for myself personally, this road has a lot of firsts.¡± ReZhui said in contemplation.

    ¡°Firsts?¡± HuaYan interjected.

    ¡°Ultimately, my home village has long secluded themselves from the rest of the Bai river basin area for multiple generations. I can tell it¡¯s going to take some time to establish close ties that rival those with the other villages and one another. However, it is a first in the Chieftain¡¯s attempts to bridge that gap.

    It¡¯s the first ever route that can be categorized as a true road, compared to that dated, pothole-riddled dirt road, that belongs solely to my Bai village, and our villagers participated greatly in its construction, despite most of the engineering being handled by those of DongBu. Even I took part in some portions.

    Remember when Teacher Woo redirected funds to the development instead. Together, they allocated more resources into reconsidering Bai village¡¯s purpose in a broader perspective encompassing the river basin. In the end, they decided to build three more roads that led downhill into each of the other neighboring villages on the opposite side of the Bai mountains.¡±

    ReZhui then pointed grandly uphill towards Bai village and its subsequent snowy peak. His seniors followed suit.

    ¡°Now, it¡¯s the main route that leads up to the first ever road junction that is the highest ever with multiple intersected paths. With this network, you could say riding up this route would save someone significant travel time since you go ¡®through¡¯ the mountains rather than around them.

    Finally, this is the first ever project that involved the collaborative effort of both DongBu and Bai village. A testament. A symbol of the ever growing friendship between these two wonderful communities of people.¡±

    His proud gaze overlooked the landscape beyond. It was not as faltering and grandiose as the cliffside near MianJu¡¯s abode, but it was just enough to bring up the atmosphere he wanted.

    ReZhui then turned back to his seniors, who had parted their lips in awe of his words. Subconsciously, they felt their hearts resonating, as if they were helplessly drawn into what ReZhui¡¯s feelings were, and they never considered that strange. It appeared natural to them.

    ¡°The outside world has a lot to offer that the humble rice farmers of Bai village do not even know a speck about. As per the Chieftain''s words, they will greatly benefit from this recent developments, starting with this paved road, and later future prospects that are about to come.

    That¡¯s why I adore this road so much.¡±

    In the wake of the end of his unanticipated speech, WeiQi held her palm close to her mouth. This time, she was extremely flabbergasted at what this young teen just said and how articulated his words and mannerisms were, especially when this entirety was thought off on the spot.

    On the other hand, HuaYan shook off this trance and gave his typical response. He approached ReZhui and vigorously gave him a hard slap on the back, grinning from ear to ear.

    ¡°...!?¡±

    ¡°AH AH ReZhui! Spoken just like a true politician!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    While ReZhui simply accepted his words as a light-hearted joke, WeiQi suddenly turned furious with a darkened face and narrow slitted eyes. Fumed, she steadily drew nearer towards him.

    ¡°Say, Junior, what do you say of becoming one with me? We can rise the ranks together, reaching the top of the government and serve beneath the Emperor himself! Can¡¯t you imagine the level of power and wealth we will have?! So, what do you say?!¡±

    HuaYan got him, placing his arm over his shoulder.

    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m fine, Big Brother Wei. I don¡¯t have the ambition to gain any of that. I am simply satisfied with how things are going now.¡±

    ReZhui raised his palms forward, close to his chest in surrender.

    ¡°Aw¡­¡±

    Disheartened, HuaYan let go of him, and playfully, ReZhui saluted him as he trotted away.

    ¡°This junior will humbly dismiss himself from your aspiring offer.¡± He joked solemnly.

    ¡°but¡­But, ReZhui-YAOI AH AH! WeiQi!¡±

    As usual, her bony hands, equipped with long nails of pink nail polish, pulled tightly on the meat of his left ear. HuaYan shrieked in pain as he arched backwards unnaturally, taking steps towards her in hopes to lessen the soreness.

    ¡°What! What now!?¡±

    He desperately exclaimed.

    In bitter breath, WeiQi lectured back.

    ¡°ReZhui poured his heart out into a sensational and emotional heart-felt piece¡­And all you said afterwards was this! A childish, ill-natured witticism, accompanied by a deluded retrospection of your desires.

    I never expected you to stoop so low, you brutish bastard.¡±

    ¡°Oh come on, WeiQi. Give me a break, will you? Ah argh!¡­A little jab in there wouldn¡¯t hurt, would it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly where-¡±

    ¡°AH NO!¡±

    With that, the duo¡¯s squabble resumed once more with ReZhui standing far, sighing reluctantly. He sat down on a nearby rock as he witnessed WeiQi¡¯s onslaught on poor HuaYan who¡¯s readily parrying with his lax comebacks.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°How are the others faring today, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°...! Pardon?¡±

    ReZhui was caught off-guard, and HuaYan, giving ReZhui a doubtful look, reiterated his question.

    ¡°Erhem, I meant, my fellow juniors, besides you, in that class. What are they doing currently?¡±

    WeiQi also perked her ears up.

    ¡°...¡±

    Realising how both his seniors¡¯ interest piqued, ReZhui paused for a long while, looking back into his past memories. He doesn¡¯t want to undermine their individual efforts and hopes to express their actions optimally. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Most of them are trying their hardest in life. Some of my older classmates are getting engaged by their parents or chosen individually. The latest couple that I can recall was QuiXin marrying off to someone else in the village. They were given a temporary portion of her father-in-law¡¯s land to cultivate the paddy, and it seems that they were successful at getting a full harvest in time. I even heard rumours that she is carrying a child for the past month.

    A few others are still helping out in their families¡¯ farms. I see to it that they will inherit their fields in the near future.

    However, there are a certain lot who are taking the recent headways more seriously and are regularly talking about making it big.¡±

    ReZhui informed them.

    ¡°Big? To what extent?¡± WeiQi asked.

    ¡°They are now saving up money to migrate outside of Bai village with some of my classmates who are planning to travel together as a band and support one another in those new communities.

    On behalf of all of them, I would say that all they desire now is a life that has no relation to rice paddies and farm animals. You could say they are bored and opportunistic. With the progress made by the Chieftain, they grew less hesitant to explore, and now, a brand new path for my generation of people is in sight.¡±

    ¡°I see. How bold of them.¡± HuaYan commented proudly. He knew being a pioneer of anything takes a certain level of will to proceed and eventually succeed until the very end, as such with the civil entrance exams that he was striving to pass. Despite everything he expressed in his light-hearted nature, HuaYan firmly believed that rising up in governance is the last thing he must achieve in his lifetime to reward his future family and parents a better standard of living. Thankfully, his father was able to earn just enough to fulfil the proper education he needed to even step foot into the examination hall. The ancestry of his all deceased relatives was always limited to skillful artisans that specialised in woodwork, including his father and brothers. However, he wanted to change that, and that led him to what he has become now. A failed candidate of numerous trials, but that doesn¡¯t matter to him. There was still time for him and HuaYan was still looking into the gapping glimmer of hope for building his later legacy; as the trailblazer of the Wei family that will raise his family¡¯s status for the generations to come. Ultimately, he respected those juniors ReZhui mentioned.

    ¡°...¡±

    ReZhui, sensing HuaYan¡¯s stern thoughts, reinforced their efforts.

    ¡°CanYi once told me at his mother¡¯s paddy field that he will accept any other job offered to him, as long as it doesn''t need him to touch anything green or just dirt in general. If you get to meet him by any chance, you can tell he is really desperate, especially after the other roads were completed.¡±

    ¡°That really is wonderful to hear, ReZhui.¡± HuaYan immediately said right after him, ¡°I may not return here for quite some time after today so for now, please send my regards to all of them, and inform CanYi and the rest that their Big Brother fully supports their dreams so never give up no matter the struggle!¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll let them now once I head back up!¡±

    ReZhui returned with equal enthusiasm. WeiQi, on the other hand, gently smiled as she followed along behind their backs, while laughter erupted between the two momentarily.

    HuaYan then turned to the road with an earnest expression.

    ¡°I suppose this is why you adore this road with all your heart, am I right, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ReZhui paused, before he nodded solemnly.

    ¡°Very much so.¡±

    ¡°...AH, MY BELOVED JUNIOR!¡± HuaYan pounced atop him in a bear hug.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°I hope that more residents of Bai village will follow their example!¡±

    And with that, HuaYan let him go.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Big Brother Wei.¡± ReZhui reassured him in a bated breath.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°This very road is designed with the very purpose to efficiently link up the peoples on opposing sides of the Bai mountains. With how Bai village stands at its center, there will always be a constant flow of artisans and merchants travelling through my village, and that activity will definitely bring in the rest that the Bai village needs to stay more connected with the entire Bai river basin.

    The trend will continue.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°And the road will last a lifetime to support it.¡± ReZhui boasted with a smug look.

    Now, HuaYan was satisfied and he simply returned an affirmative gesture back. However, there was someone else beside him who wasn¡¯t, and ReZhui realised this as well.

    WeiQi anxiously questioned the young teen.

    ¡°I¡¯m very happy for you, ReZhui, along with your village. Your words tell all that I need to know since my absence here for the past few years. Evenso, aside from all that grandeur estimation and prediction for the sake of the wider community, have you ever considered for yourself what you will be doing in the near future?¡±

    ¡°...! Myself?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± She insisted sternly.

    Pausing for a moment, ReZhui was obviously shocked that he would be asked this question. It had been quite some time since ReZhui last said he was already set on what he had to train for for the past half decade, and he sincerely never regretted that choice.

    ¡°...¡±

    Right now, it was the same as back then with YaoMing. Nothing has changed, except for the fact that he had the skills to back it up. Scratching the back of his neck, ReZhui plainly said.

    ¡°Ah well, about that, I haven¡¯t really thought about what specifically. I¡¯m just happy to learn more from ShiYan¡¯s father and continue to help run his pharmacy.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Both WeiQi and HuaYan never expected that reply, and they were puzzled at how confidently ReZhui was saying this half-hearted and aimless answer. Not suspecting that yet from his seniors, ReZhui continued regardless.

    ¡°Perhaps, as being the Chieftain''s eldest son, I would eventually get passed down the responsibility of managing Bai village and to some extent, the entire river basin, in which case, I will gladly accept when the time comes. However, that would just be me dreaming of the uncertainty.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°In the end, I just want everyone to be happy, and as how I see things are right now, there¡¯s nothing that¡¯s disrupting the status quo.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Now sensing their bewilderment, ReZhui finished with this.

    ¡°So, please take that as you will.¡±

    HuaYan replied first with a low grunt.

    ¡°...erhm¡­¡±

    Shattered expectations.

    Given how ReZhui carried himself beforehand, they both anticipated that ReZhui would be aiming to become the Chieftain, or even possibly, join all the villages into one single entity rather than an united alliance. Although the first item was readily checked off the list, the manner he expressed that desire was totally different to the passion he had about the road. It was like night and day.

    Finally, WeiQi wanted to question his choice of delivery, however, this was stopped immediately by HuaYan. In a loud voice, he interrupted her and riled up ReZhui for the upcoming events.

    ¡°So that¡¯s how ReZhui?! What a relaxing life you are planning to have.¡±

    ¡°Haha, please Big Brother Wei, it¡¯s harder than you think it is.¡±

    ¡°Looks like the Heavens rewarded you on a silver spoon, huh, Chieftain¡¯s male successor?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious, right?¡±

    ¡°Argh fine! No, I ain¡¯t, ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad¡­Hah¡±

    ¡°Now then, shall we make haste? We cannot be late!¡±

    ¡°True, I shouldn¡¯t make ShiYan wait any longer!¡±

    Once ReZhui paced faster downhill to where his focus was solely on getting there in time, the seniors right behind him eyed at one another in disagreement, unbeknownst to him. WeiQi glared knives at the man, holding herself not to lash out after seeing his expression. It was different, not like him. Rather than his usual light-hearted, reluctant gaze, it suddenly turned cold and serious with his eyes indicating a focused mind.

    Whether she enjoyed pinching his ear and quarrel all over again, WeiQi reasoned this was not the time and that HuaYan had his intentions for disrupting her earlier.

    ¡°Why?¡± She speedily blurted.

    Having been her closest companion for over a decade at this point, HuaYan knew this was her eventual response, and was proud that she acted like he needed to.

    ¡°If he can explain all of that right then and there with no preparation whatsoever, I trust that by time, ReZhui will naturally grow out of this quickly and find his true purpose in life.¡±

    He muttered sternly to her.

    ¡°...Isn¡¯t that too risky? A child with this much potential that we both surely have never seen before, and you are immediately betting on a probability?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s shown great maturity.¡±

    HuaYan sharply replied.

    ¡°And immaturity.¡±

    WeiQi added.

    ¡°But, he¡¯s just gonna turn fifteen this year.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why.¡±

    ¡°No it doesn¡¯t. Believe in him.¡±

    ¡°That boy is both mature and immature at the same time, in certain areas at the extreme of either their highs or lows. Isn¡¯t that someone you must reel in to safety?¡±

    ¡°You are being overly cautious, WeiQi.¡±

    ¡°Which is the reason one of us is employed and it ain¡¯t you.¡±

    She scowled back.

    Internally, HuaYan felt like smacking his head in frustration and probably WeiQi too.

    ¡°...¡±

    That¡¯s when he thought of something brilliant.

    ¡°What about our old man?¡±

    ¡°Old man¡­Wha-why are you bringing Teacher into this?¡±

    ¡°You clearly remember how close ReZhui is to him, so I am sure that in the last three years or so, there would be a chance that they had this exact same conversation, and yet, look at him now. That meant Teacher deemed it better to let him experience it naturally. Do you get me now?¡±

    He hissed back at her.

    ¡°...¡±

    It was a desperate last effort to silence WeiQi and make her agree with him before ReZhui would be alerted of their secret conversation.

    ¡°...¡± However, there was only silence from her as her eyes indicated contemplation.

    Moments later, she finally answered.

    ¡°Fine. You win this round.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Upon hearing those words, it felt like his pent up emotions were gushing out like out of a broken dam

    ¡°YESSS! YAHAAAHAHAH!¡±

    Suddenly, ReZhui jerked back to see a cheering HuaYan, light on his feet. In a short trance, he hopped around WeiQi and teased her with a chant, repeating the words ¡®I won, I defeated you¡¯. Much to her bursting embarrassment and frustration from likely her first ever surrender, WeiQi lost it, blushing a deep red.

    ¡°YOU HEARTLESS BRUTE!!! UNGRATEFUL BASTARD!¡±

    ¡°Aaah!¡±

    Despite her shorter, petite stature, she managed to tackle him to the ground and unleash a flurry of feeble slaps to his face. An ecstatic expression was pasted stuck to his face, never to change for quite some time in spite of her attacks.

    Their screams and whines grew louder this time throughout the forests. Birds flew away in fear while ReZhui watched behind the sidelines, clearly confused. Luckily for the three of them, no one was there to pass disgusted glances until the very end of their fight.

    It was a chaotic few minutes for ReZhui caught in the crossfire.

 Chapter 39 : DongBu Village Anew [Part 2]

    Eventually, the trio reached the end of the cement road and the very bottom of the Bai mountains. Unchanged from before, further down the path, there was a wide junction with one of the routes leading them into the entrance of DongBu.

    Passing under a tall, shimmering white and grey archway, reminiscent of the entry point to the venue of the Spring Festival, featuring one main entryway for vehicles with two smaller secondary paths for solely pedestrians and a large sign board that had ¡®Eastern Gate¡¯ written all over it in bright golden font, the trio finally completed their first length of the journey.

    While ReZhui showed no signs of fatigue with minimal sweat around only his neck, it was unfortunately not the same for WeiQi and HuaYan. ReZhui turned back to see the lethargic states their bodies were in. HuaYan had not gained as much stamina as ReZhui, who¡¯s current physique could allow him to run up and down the mountain three more times before he showed the exact amount of fatigue as his senior did.

    For WeiQi, it was far worse. After that pathetic squabble with her companion, it took considerable amounts of her energy too. Despite that, she pushed through until the very gates and she made it.

    .

    .

    .

    Assisting WeiQi with his body, ReZhui partially carried her to a nearby tavern for a much needed quick refreshment with HuaYan barely catching up behind him.

    Over there, ReZhui carefully placed her on the stoll and with that, they were set to order. Shortly afterwards, a scrawny waiter in a brown tunic approached them with a damp towel resting atop his left shoulder.

    ¡°Afternoon, Sirs and Madam, what is your order?¡± His loud, energetic voice sounded.

    With the both of them still recovering their breath, ReZhui took the forefront and placed a short order that confused the waiter given it was past teatime.

    ¡°Three bowls of nuts please.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing, Sir. Your order will come up soon.¡± The waiter then left their table. ¡°THREE BAGS OF NUTS, COOK!¡±

    His voice dominated the already crowding tavern of chattering guests, as he left the scene. Back towards the recovering duo, ReZhui poured both of them a cup of water from the nearby vase, and slid each one close.

    HuaYan gulped the entire vessel in one go while WeiQi sipped in smaller mouthfuls. Quickly quenching his thirst, HuaYan whined back to ReZhui. Annoyance filled his voice.

    ¡°ReZhui, on what herbs are you consuming, man?!¡±

    Unfazed, ReZhui simply replied.

    ¡°I suppose your hometowns never had any intensive landscapes that would maintain your stamina and strength from years ago. Because, I never recalled either one of you turning up this tired, especially from a downhill trek.¡±

    Hearing that, HuaYan slammed his palm to the wooden table.

    ¡°NO! Don¡¯t continue any further!¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°I AM NOT THAT OLD YET!¡±

    ¡°... I never implied that, ever.¡±

    ¡°Yes you did, ReZhui! Just to let you know, I¡¯m still at the ripe age of 23. Don¡¯t reason to me that I am already an uncle!¡±

    ¡°I never said that though¡­Ha, never mind.¡±

    ¡°Curse you, damn body¡­¡±

    HuaYan appeared on the verge of tears while WeiQi was unfortunately too exhausted to silence his foolish antics once more. Sighing deeply, ReZhui stood up and poured their cups again, hoping to cheer up their spirits.

    ¡°Seniors, the day¡¯s not done just yet. We still have a feast to attend to.¡±

    His solemn voice informed the reluctant duo.

    .

    .

    .

    Unlike the road or Bai village itself, DongBu village had always remained like what it was half a decade back. After all, this society has already developed to its maximum and some may even relabel this village as a town with its population and economic activity.

    Aside from that refurbished gateway to Bai village from earlier, the streets barely changed from what ReZhui recalled to memory. The rows and columns of two or three storied buildings and dwellings, constructed strongly out of cement or concrete. The towering alleyways and the darkness that they brought with it. The tiled floors and blooming vendors of different shapes and sizes from wooden carts to laid, dusty carpets. All of which were preparing for the upcoming night market. Horse-drawn carriages, rickshaws and never-ending crowds of people filled the wide streets with endless bustle of leisure and trade. A moving sea of individuals covered a village concourse, to the inconvenience of the trio who struggled to squeeze through them.

    In spite of all this, ReZhui now only regarded these characteristics of DongBu as not the monstrosity that frightened him to the core the first time ShiYan brought him here; rather, it was easy to say that the once isolated mountain boy has now deemed this occurrence a fundamental part of why he loves this community very dearly.

    It was a second home to him now.

    .

    .

    .The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    After a couple more turns and strides across winding pavements and under stone overpasses, the trio soon reached a particular street that was totally different to the rest of the DongBu.

    ReZhui entered an arched gateway that smelt of flowers, covered in red banners. He then proceeded through the narrow corridor between two three-story brick buildings before turning around the bend. That led him into a wide area that extended far into the distance with majestic welcome. Despite its size, the number of people present were ants compared to the districts before then. From the hexagonal stone tiles laid skillfully on the walkway, the crystal jaded blue river that calmly rested beside the street on the left and on the opposing river bank, a similar scene was built up, to the line of wide bark trees with dripping foliage with three beautifully constructed stone bridges with lion motifs located further down the path, it was a tranquil start for a dinner spot unlike the chaos that they had previously passed by.

    ¡°ReZhui!¡±

    A manly shout rang out from behind him.

    Catching up towards him, ReZhui turned to see HuaYan and WeiQi. They quickly readjusted themselves proper before formally entering the premises before them. Once they finished, ReZhui signaled to them.

    ¡°Are you guys set to go?¡±

    ¡°All ready!¡±

    ¡°Yes, we are.¡±

    They said respectively.

    Nodding back, ReZhui led at the front to where ShiYan told him she would supposedly be at.

    Venturing deeper into this unique route, ReZhui saw several benches built in the spaces between groups of trees with all of them being placed atop raised wooden platforms bordered by gray bricks, closest to the backs of the misty river.

    To his right, there was a mixture of terraced buildings and individual multi-story structures that boldly expressed higher society architecture with refined woodwork and rectangular patterned windows and doors. Their roofs¡¯ ends pointed sharp and tall towards the early setting sky. A blend of red and yellow with a hint of ultramarine were off into the horizon.

    Long vines and dense patches of moss covered across their exterior and grey wall partitions. Small shrub gardens further enhance the atmosphere of their entrances while lone weed and grass stalks crept up between the tile gaps, visible for passersby to instantly notice.

    ReZhui read the signs and glanced at the interiors from far away, making out that all these buildings were luxurious, high-end restaurants or shops to various degrees.

    Not knowing whether it was intentional or accidental, the waft of strong aromas from the accompanying greenery and the delicious foods soon entered his nose, nearly causing him to sneeze. Not only that, in the wake of a passing wooden canoe, the water rippled and algae separated. The natural scent of freshwater also began to rise high into the atmosphere, diffusing and mixing along with the fragrance of the foods and flora. All of this overwhelmed his nostrils and gave off a particular tangy smell that¡¯s unique to anywhere in DongBu village. ReZhui had been here several times on several occasions and that could only be counted on one finger. Thus, this combination of scents would never cease to pull out a weird sensation from within him. But he was not alone; WeiQi and HuaYan had even stronger reactions. Together, they felt an immature merge of raw fish paste and marinated soy chicken bone stock.

    A polarising description if they were to complain out loud. In spite of that, they push through.

    ¡°...¡±

    Their heads continue to turn in all directions.

    From the small number of individuals and cliques that were present there; walking past them; curious gazes across open windows; resting atop benches; or leaning from bridges, ReZhui and the others straight away realised that this place was for the influential, niche and wealthy.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep going. It¡¯s somewhere nearby.¡±

    ReZhui whispered in assurance.

    Fortunately for them, their attires were just plentiful enough for those nobles to soon take away their gazes. Their formal, multi-layered garments matched those worn by travelling merchants, who were people that were the definition of money itself. Along with their respective fully educated backgrounds and subsequently, civilised mannerisms, there wasn¡¯t a large majority of alienating glances drawn at them.

    .

    .

    .

    The calm river stretched far throughout this particular high-end street until its very end. Although, there were going to be some tangents made naturally. A certain section further ahead was such a case and the trio eventually stopped at a small intersection.

    ¡°ReZhui, are you sure this is close to where ShiYan told you to be?¡±

    WeiQi asked anxiously.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Junior. Don¡¯t tell me we¡¯re lost!¡±

    Looking intensely at the three splitting paths, undecided for which one to take, ReZhui grumbled back in innocence.

    ¡°Will you Seniors remain silent for a while? I¡¯m trying to recall¡­¡°

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are the village doctor¡¯s apprentice for all this time, and he never invited you to a single premium diner?¡±

    HuaYan retorted.

    ¡°Haha, my master did, you see. The problem is eating out rich is ShiYan¡¯s specialty and this is the fifth time she¡¯s been so vague from all the places she visited herself.¡±

    Scratching his back, HuaYan simply concluded.

    ¡°You should learn more about your girl, ReZhui. This is embarrassing.¡±

    And it was. Initially, he had confidence that the place was somewhere he had been to but that turned out not to be the case, while realizing that too late.

    ¡°Hoh¡­¡±

    ReZhui squatted down in contemplation.

    WeiQi, still determined, then suggested, ¡°How about we each split off from here, and return once we found news?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m following along.¡± HuaYan declared, eyeing lowly at ReZhui¡¯s crouched back.

    ¡°...¡± Feeling his gaze, ReZhui sighed in defeat.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the lef-¡±

    ¡°RAHHHH!¡±

    ¡°...!¡± Alerted, ReZhui faced the origin of the sound. Followed shortly by HuaYan and WeiQi, more screams disrupted the permanent repose of this district. And to ReZhui¡¯s horror¡­

    ¡°BASTARD!¡±

    ¡°GET THEM!¡±

    It sounded dangerously thuggish and reckless; growls from the depths of their throats and full of testosterone.

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    Worried for whoever¡¯s on the receiving end, ReZhui dictated that the ruckus came from the middle route, as responsive wails and cries followed shortly. Gritting his teeth, ReZhui¡¯s feet launched himself forward with immense acceleration. His body turned into afterimages.

    ¡°ReZhui! W-wait up!¡±

    HuaYan shouted, after ReZhui¡¯s departure. Though with that reaction time, ReZhui was already too far away to even hear him.

    Panicked by what¡¯s happening, WeiQi blindly grabbed HuaYan¡¯s hand, dragging him along behind ReZhui¡¯s tracks. Rather than a flight response, WeiQi knew, and soon HuaYan as well with her gesture, that they should at least inspect what was happening, especially when their beloved junior boldly entered the fray with zero hesitation.

    .

    .

    .

    The duo considerably lagged behind ReZhui¡¯s inhuman sprint. Along with them, some others were also approaching the scene, that¡¯s just around the corner, out of curiosity.

    Soon enough, their panting selves finally reached a small mumbling crowd formed sparsely across either side of the tiled street. They had made it just in time and easily found a spot at the front.

    ¡°...!¡±

    However, their worries immediately turned into bewilderment and shock as they deduced what was happening. Beyond them, closest to the scene, was a relieved teen dressed in white and blue, donning a dark brown sleeveless robe.

    ReZhui, unseen with what expression he made, stood frozen. He recognised someone, but not like this.

 Chapter 40 : The Xu Household [Part 1]

    ReZhui dashed forwards, hesitant that he would fail to make it in time against the potential assailants. He even considered unsheathing his twin Jian but hesitated, and decided otherwise. The teen felt confident that he could hold this off with just his fist.

    The stale winds blew past his running form as he sped along the pavement. His black robe flew high above the ground as he propelled himself further. Moments later, ReZhui¡¯s feet screeched to a halt, arriving into a similar street from earlier, filled with rows of fancy restaurants and high-end stores. Already, twelve or so people had gathered with curiosity around this empty street with a few horse-drawn carriages parked along the sidewalks. All of them were bickering with one another and pointed fingers towards the entrance of a relatively small pagoda styled restaurant.

    Yet, that was it. The threats and intimidations of those unknown thugs from before; there was no signs of their presence out here, and clearly, the surrounding nobles aren¡¯t alarmed whatsoever.

    ¡°...¡±

    Confused at how the situation came to be, ReZhui steadied himself and took a deep breath in.

    ¡®Perhaps I was just overreacting too much. It''s unimaginable that a wealthy district such as this would even dare allow lowly bandits to disturb its peace.¡¯

    ReZhui thought to himself in the sight of ever growing commotion around him. He shuffled to the side and away from the noble social circles, still deep in contemplation.

    ¡®Unless¡­¡¯

    That¡¯s when an idea came to mind and it wasn¡¯t a good one.

    ¡®Gangsters!¡¯

    His thoughts ran wild.

    Unfortunately for him, just as ReZhui even considered that possibility, a sudden shatter of wood and glass sounded from the restaurant, spooking everyone around him in immediate distress, including ReZhui. They all instinctively retreated back, as the loud crashes, followed by more gut-wrenching screams of agony, approached closer and faster towards where they stood.

    ¡°AIII!¡±

    A passerby lady shrieked in fright, alerting the rest, as a front window cracked forebodingly. Not only that, a bloody fist emerged out of the same window, further shattering the wooden frames before it collapsed entirely and the burly hand made its way back in, undeterred. More gossip erupted from the audience and their distance enlarged significantly.

    Meanwhile, watching all of this, ReZhui tried to imagine the actual brawl that¡¯s ensuing right inside there. His face grew a sour expression.

    ¡°...¡±

    Taking another step forward to the entrance, ReZhui could never have expected what occurred next.

    ¡°...!¡±

    A man, built like a brick wall, was seen flying out of another window and he crashed hard onto the tiled pavement beneath, still entrapped in the broken window frame that came along with him.

    Without time to digest what just happened, more screams sounded and several more men were flung out from the establishment. The bronze double door blasted open with such sheer force that each one jerked off from their hinges, crashing loudly onto the side gardens ahead.

    For the men present, everyone grimaced at their obviously bloodied state. In total, the thugs numbered an exact nine with the five of them wearing dark orange tunics and the remaining three donning purple robes.

    ReZhui, having witnessed all of this happen in mere seconds, simply stood there and came to a confident judgment. Alike the onlookers around the scene, he realised their different codes of clothing, deciding that this was an impromptu dispute between gang groups that rose to harmful levels of severity.

    ¡°...¡±

    Nodding back to himself, ReZhui turned to the restaurant. Rather, he was now worried about the potential victims inside that were unfortunate enough to be caught within the crossfire. After all, the brawl inside appeared worse from all that¡¯s happened.

    ReZhui strided forward to the stairs of the restaurant.

    ¡°YOU BASTARD!¡±

    A gangster cursed out loud.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ReZhui immediately turned to face the man. It came from a thug of perhaps, higher ranking amongst his subordinates. Sporting several sword slashes on his wrinkled face and a messy beard, his uniform was of purple and currently, his visible injuries specifically include a black eye and a deep redness across his neck. Multiple stabs and pokes riddled his torso but it seemed that the gangster was still unfazed. Unlike his men who continued to lie weakly on the cement floor, he bravely got back up with a short wobble and a crooked leg. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    ¡°How dare you?! Leave us be for fuck¡¯s sake!¡±

    Exclaimed another senior member of the opposing party of darker orange.

    A younger, fitter man with similar injuries, stood up in arrogance and denial. He had a distinct bandana of patterned white and black, and a dislocated nose. Despite their casualties, the two leaders strangely now held no hostility towards one another, despite signs of earlier dispute. The surrounding crowds buzzed away with discussion while ReZhui fell dumbfounded.

    Considering he was a step away from the stairs, ReZhui assumed they were referring to him, but that was apparently not the case. Their furious eyes barely even met his and their attention, instead, lying further into the entrance of the restaurant, and their comments would soon be answered.

    ¡°NO WAY IN HELL, YOU UNCIVILIZED SCUM!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Alerted, ReZhui faced back to the sound of another voice, and everyone did as well.

    For him, it was familiar, and feminine.

    A bright, vigorous and higher-pitched voice. It was both adorable, yet foreboding.

    ¡°...no way¡­¡±

    ReZhui smirked at the realization. A part of him really wanted to scowl her for the chaos that unfolded, however, ReZhui felt like he would do the same, albeit with more self-control. It was a much wilder start to their reunion, and he really enjoyed that.

    Making way for the center stage, ReZhui stepped aside, just in time for her presence.

    Out of the demolished entrance of the restaurant, there appeared a slim teenage girl that was around the age of ReZhui. She walked boldly, stopping at the edge of the stairs as she pointed a rude finger towards the gangsters, beaten black and blue.

    ¡°HAND OVER ALL YOUR MONEY FOR REPAIRS AND NEVER RETURN HERE EVERY AGAIN!¡±

    Her petite stature ordered towards the dangerous thugs.

    ¡°....¡±

    There were mixed reactions from the people present. The passing nobles found this young lady¡¯s words heroic, childish and brash. On the other hand, the two leader¡¯s minions, including that brute of a man, easily cowered back in fear, ready to give her their money bags.

    ¡°What the hell are you guys doing?!¡± warned the orange leader. Veins popped out of his neck. ¡°We are the infamous Resolute Sand Crew of the Marsh Highlands! How are we listening to the demands of a feeble rich girl?!¡±

    However, no matter how much the young leader would raise his men¡¯s morale, they wouldn¡¯t budge a step forward.

    Instead, he got a stern look from the older gangster dressed in purple.

    ¡°Resolute Sand, my Vine Cutter Squad calls for a temporary ceasefire.¡±

    ¡°What did you say, old geezer?!¡±

    ¡°As much as I hate your guts, interrupting our treasured lunch¡­¡± He cracked his knuckles, ¡°I greatly detest heading back to base, being labelled as swine for losing to a fucking child even moreso!¡±

    The purple man shouted with rage.

    ¡°...I see, then, let¡¯s do so, old man. I will rape her once we are finshed beating the shit out of the little highness. I can¡¯t wait to see her beg and lick!¡±

    Eyeing back at him, the young man smiled gleefully.

    ¡°...¡±

    Further away from them, ReZhui easily heard their immoral declarations and subconsciously clenched his fist in anger.

    ¡®How dare they talk like that to ShiYan?!¡¯ He cursed from within.

    Looking back to where ShiYan was standing, he finally got a clear view of her appearance. While some parts of her clothes became ruffled and roughly folded, it was overall a minor distraction from her otherwise splendid getup for the upcoming occasion.

    Dressed in a long, silky Hanfu shirt of magenta and light pink with white patterned illustrations of flowers and butterflies sewn atop and wide baggy sleeves, that reached further down her hips, an inner layer of white and a flowy, embroidered light purple dress that fell from her upper breasts, tightened with a green ribbon, until her ankles, ShiYan presented herself as the representation of youthfulness and casual noble fashion. Her large eyes remained unchanged for the past half decade, and her jaw became more well-defined. The general ovular shape of her face also grew more pronounced. Long, shimmering black hair was thoroughly folded up into a flower bun that ended at a raised ponytail using a shiny hair fastener. Despite her considerable day activities, her skin continued to maintain its admirable pearly white colour, ridden of any noticeable blemishes and dark spots.

    ¡°...¡±

    In spite of ReZhui¡¯s long glance at her, ShiYan still hasn¡¯t caught sight of him as her attention was now fully locked onto those thugs.

    Upon hearing those words from them, her face darken. She gave them a disgusted expression back.

    ¡°...¡±

    Steadily, ShiYan paced herself as she descended the stairs. Her returning glare and loud grinding of her footsteps against the stone steps presented them a threatening display, nearly freezing the both of them in their place. For all their empty talk, they already experienced first hand what her capabilities with her companion were, and paid badly for it. However, if it¡¯s one thing gangsters must hold high on above all else, it would be their overwhelming egos. For all the pain they had as the men stood, it¡¯s their pride that carried them this far from a lowly carrier boy.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    No matter how much they hesitated, their ¡®face¡¯ was ultimately on the line right now.

    ¡°Oi, heated dogs, I heard that loud and clear. Must I repeat myself once more before you tuck tail and run?¡±

    ShiYan growled once she reached ground level; on equal footing with the two gang leaders. In the background, the spectators watched on in anticipation and excitement, like one does in rooster fight offs.

    ¡°...Bitch,¡± The young man remarked with a spit, ¡°A dog¡¯s barks worse than their bite. Prepare to take back everything you just said to us with your whole body.¡±

    Following up, the middle-aged man calmly warned her, ¡°Female child, I admit you have some skill, however, that was against one of us. A free for all. But now, we are united.¡± He readied a fighting stance. ¡°There¡¯s a difference.¡±

    ¡°Well said, old man! ARGHHH!¡±

    The young man also prepared his. His eyes were like that of a tiger.

 Chapter 40 : The Xu Household [Part 2]

    ¡°...¡±

    On the other hand, ReZhui watched on as ShiYan halted in her steps. A short leap away from their outstretched hands. Breathing deeply, ShiYan sighed, before she carefully folded up her sleeves until her elbows. Her arms appear healthily bony and there was light application of red paint on her fingernails. There were some obvious signs of redness from the short engagements back at the restaurant but that was all. Internally, the duo gangsters fell bewildered at how their brute strength barely injured these apparently thin, flimsy arms that may break with a single hand chop. However for ReZhui, it¡¯s clear for any true martial artist. While appearing weak, there was firmness and toned muscular refinement hidden beneath.

    ¡°...¡±

    ShiYan quickly analyzed their positions.

    Or rather, their lack thereof. It was not textbook technique that she assumed but instead, pragmatism from decades of experience in thug life.

    The older man loosened his arms, lightly flinging them about as he awaited; while the youngster crouched low. His legs tensed and pupils constricted.

    ¡°RAHHH!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Without a moment¡¯s notice, the young man propelled himself forward, charging straight towards her legs. It was a simple, yet effective tackle, perfected at blinding speeds.

    Seeing this, ShiYan returned in hand. Closing near her feet, the youngster felt a small palm atop his head.

    ¡°...?¡±

    Downward force.

    ShiYan carried herself over his path using the man as support. She spread her legs in a split and safely landed on her feet behind him, while the youngster, helplessly caught in his own momentum, crashed hard into the coarse tiled road, picking up considerable dust that covered his fall.

    ¡®How did she react in time?!¡¯ was his last thought before his face scraped the road beneath.

    However, that doesn¡¯t mean she could stop there.

    ¡°Take this, girl!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    As soon as ShiYan touched ground, she instinctively bent her torso backwards against an incoming punch from the older gangster. Her arms steadied herself behind and her legs launched afterwards, striking the gangster with a double kick that carried her earlier momentum; more than enough to send the old man tumbling backwards despite his stable footwork.

    Using the gangster as a jump platform, ShiYan gained speed and turned on her right palm, swiftly cartwheeling close to where the youngster crashed.

    Given that all of this happened in mere seconds, the young man had barely recovered from that, getting up fast with a worsened face. Unfortunately for him, that fast recovery was still too long as ShiYan transitioned smoothly, soon delivering him a clean kick at the heel to the face.

    ¡°Urgh¡­¡±

    It struck below his temple, but even with that inaccuracy, ShiYan¡¯s continual energy was sufficient to send the young man into a dizzying mess, leaving her more time to deal with the other opponent uninterrupted.

    ¡°YAHH!¡±

    She swept her feet once more across the youngster, tripping him back again to meet the ground.

    ¡°CURSE YOU!¡±

    The older man rushed forward for a right hook to her face, but ShiYan was already aware of that. With a side glance back, she twirled on her heel and sidestepped beneath his right arm, missing his mark. Whilst that, ShiYan wrapped her arms around his now extended arm, curling to the shoulders like a snake. She stepped forward and swiftly tucked her right foot to his left like a scythe to a bundle of grass.

    ¡°...!¡±

    Realising how she executed that so quickly and seamlessly, the old man was caught in a lock. His right arm was also not in the position to be of any assistance and he needed extra balance. But not for long¡­

    ShiYan tried to shove him backwards, however, the old gangster, with a size and weight advantage, held on like an immovable wall. He responded with his own opposing force forwards, easily overwhelming her petite frame. Now, he planned to bring her down and render mobility a past opportunity.

    The old man exerted his strength and ShiYan assisted as well, primarily their binded feet. With her extra shove, the man¡¯s left leg lifted off the ground and not in the way he hoped for.

    His left leg kicked high, unreasonably high. So much so that the only support he had left was his right leg and now, his center of mass had also shifted backwards.

    ¡°...!¡±

    The old man just realized what he had done.

    He was going to fall, and that would be a major disadvantage.

    Using gravity as additional force, ShiYan tensed her body as she readied herself for the move. Arms still locked in one another, ShiYan slammed the old man hard onto the pavement below. A loud thud could be heard from where they stood.

    The crowds around her reacted and flinched upon the sight.

    ¡°Eughr!¡±

    Head first onto the ground, the gangster¡¯s eyes rolled back from the recoil. Saliva splattered out from his gaping mouth and eventually foam rose from its depths. Despite his incredible durability, with the earlier brawl back at the restaurant and his already aging body, another severe blow to the head was all she needed to bring down this lifelong gangster into a state of unconsciousness.  It would be quite a long while before he could get back up from such a concussion.

    ¡°...¡±

    ShiYan, still fine and well from all that has happened besides her hands, readily got up from her half-squat, really relieved that her clothes had barely gotten dirty. After her impromptu inspection, she turned to the youngster, who has now regained his sense of balance, and is obviously different from before the fight.

    His demeanor had changed drastically.

    From his optimistic, borderline wild nature with his canine-bared grin, the ailing youngster has fallen dark and solemn. His ruined face showed no arrogance. Rather, it was expressionless, as if all his desire now is to bring her down as soon as possible, no matter that cost. He no longer underestimated ShiYan; that her first interference was just on a chancing whim.

    She was the real deal, and he had to take his steps seriously. Otherwise, he will face the same ridicule and pity as his newfound ally.

    ¡°... . Come forth, scum.¡±

    ShiYan spoke plainly.

    Silently, the youngster gritted his teeth at the realization, but reverted otherwise.

    A step forward. Another stride. Third stomp.

    A roundhouse kick.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ShiYan ducked and returned a leg sweep. However, even he was nimble, and the youngster skipped up at the last second.

    While airborne, he launched a simple frontal kick to the stationary ShiYan, aiming straight at her face.

    ¡°...!¡±

    Immediately, ShiYan leaned backwards and followed up with a backflip, getting out of his reach. Evenso, the youngster was not done yet. He still had energy within him.

    Landing smoothly, the youngster charged forward with a tough punch at the recovering ShiYan. Thankfully for her, ShiYan made it in time to connect the blow, driving her outstretched elbow into his hardened fist. The resulting collision caused her to slide back considerably.

    Minor grunts could be heard from her as she contracted her core.

    Knowing he was on the trend to push further, the young man shook off the blistering pain of his red knuckles and pursued regardless. Another punch thrusted in towards her, but ShiYan tilted her side in the nick of time.

    The youngster continued with an uppercut to her abdomen. Although, one more tight elbow connected instead. The sheer power of this blow momentarily lifted ShiYan airborne and sent her flying backwards. Her feet crunched solid upon landing and she resumed her stable footwork.

    A sidekick flew overhead.

    A back kick missed its target, and two sharp jabs met her elbows.

    ¡°urgh¡­¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    The youngster was relentless with his long chain of offensive attacks, barely giving the youthful teen a breather.

    Despite this, ShiYan remained calm and acted accordingly. At first, she clearly got pushed back, however, she has now stuck her ground. From his flurry of blows of every limb, she blocked with her elbows and knees. For those that were deemed too risky and potentially filthy, she dodged and countered.

    A straight punch was launched and ShiYan began the bind.

    However, the youngster managed to pull away just in time, knowing how he may have no counter to it. It was too much of a risk.

    In the end, all ShiYan did was tore off his ruined sleeves and scratched his arm red.

    It scorched a searing pain but that was the least of his priorities.

    ¡°...!¡±

    Taking this gap of inactivity, ShiYan tried to grasp the lead once again, landing a clean, well placed vertical punch right towards his heart. A deep thud sounded from the impact and the youngster groaned silently in agony.

    Falling back in staggered steps, the young man immediately applied pressure to his chest. He sincerely felt his pulse stop and then restarted at an irregular rhythm.

    Together, the onlookers grimaced at the outcome.

    The young man, nearly tripping across the fainted figure of the older gangster, choked, coughed and wheezed heavily. Drowsiness crept up his mind, the more he retreated. All in all, he was on the verge of breaking down. Additionally, that large surge of attacks had unfortunately blasted away most of his remaining stamina, so currently, it was as if he suddenly had another adult man strapped to his weakening body.

    However, ShiYan ignored all of that.

    It was her turn.

    Without resistance, a rapid chain of vertical punches followed suit, crushing his core.

    Helplessly bent forwards from the failing torso muscles, the youngster¡¯s head fell right into her reach, and ShiYan made full use of that.

    Transitioning smoothly out of that chain, she spread her arms out like a soaring crane.

    ¡°Hah¡­¡±

    Her fingers bent and stiffened. They protruded out like an eagle readying its claws, and it dived in for its spotted prey.

    The eagle accelerated fast.

    So fast that it became a blur and without a chance to notice, its target was suddenly pierced with sharp talons on both sides, delivering it instant death.

    ShiYan¡¯s ten fingers slammed particular acupuncture points, encompassing the area around his temple. They were needles for a purpose.

    A purpose to render the opponent unconscious.

    And that, it truly did.

    ¡°...¡±

    From the agonising pain swelling all over his body, akin to a balloon ready to burst, the last he saw was her stern expression. A righteous gaze.

    Her fingers reverberated shockwaves that echoed and rippled within his skull with great intensity. Erratic blood flushed out and into his brain, rendering all thought useless. Finally, there was a stinging, high-pitched screech which rang loudly in his inner ear.

    It was ShiYan¡¯s finishing move.

    .

    .

    .

    A moment of silence filled the street, before she readily released her grip. Deep scarlet dots were clearly visible from their departure and the youngster had blacked out long before. His eyes were rolled up, leaving bloodshot whites.

    ¡°...¡±

    His head tilted and cranked lower. A small stream of blood began to trickle from his ears.

    First sound was the fall of his knees, and the second, his head, and the last was his upper torso. Coincidentally, the two gang leaders collapsed near one another, although not in a regretful embrace.

    The match was over, and ShiYan emerged the victor.

    With that, she simply stood, taking in all that had happened and the setting she was currently in.

    At the same time, murmurs began to crept up amongst the crowd before one lady raised her hands for a respectable clap. The gesture quickly spread, and everyone erupted into cheers of congratulations for her martial prowess and the satisfaction of entertaining them all with a good fight.

    Realising the ruckus she had accidentally made, ShiYan dismissed them with a short bow, recognising their compliments.

    In regards to the remaining thugs, their faces remained plastered with expressions of disbelief and fear. For they believed they were the ones who dared to extort and plunder through intimidation and might, their lowly, uncivilized selves were now finding themselves on the other end of the stick.

    It was common knowledge within the societies of outlaws and vagabonds that greed reigned over all judgements, and this is the fundamental principle by which all operate. Those who carry out banditry will face banditry by their own kinmen. Ultimately, the strongest shall hoard all the stolen by force, while whatever leftovers are scavenged by the less powerful.

    The latter was them, and begrudgingly, their captains.

    However, not in all their lives, they have witnessed their money taken away by a petite and youthful beauty of a girl.

    Right immediately, ShiYan rolled the leaders¡¯ bodies over as she searched for their money bags.

    In the end, she gathered several beefy bags of silver taels from all the thugs of the Resolute Sand and Vine Cutter. Feeling the weight in her hands, ShiYan then tied them together in a bundle using some string. Meanwhile, the subordinates rushed forward to their respective leaders. They executed some hopeless first aid on their injuries before lifting their unconscious bodies carefully onto their backs, along with their other knocked out members.

    ¡°...¡±

    ShiYan turned to them once she was finished. Her eyes were still full of suspicion and caution.

    ¡°What else?¡± She blurted.

    Akin to tamed wild dogs, they whimpered at her voice and avoided her hostile gaze.

    ¡°...¡±

    Eventually, one member, with a severe burn to the neck from boiling hot tea, replied feebly.

    ¡°A-are we-Does Young Lady need anything more f-from us peasants¡­¡±

    He looked like he would break out into a nervous sweat from that mere interaction.

    ¡°... . What the hell?¡±

    ShiYan was growing irritated.

    She couldn¡¯t believe their sudden docility. However, she remained optimistic. Laxing her gaze, the girl informed them well.

    ¡°If you scumbags have finally realised the errors in your ways, then I advise turning over a new leaf. Quit your banditry and start repaying your karma by leading a more moral and honest life.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Moreover, that¡¯s not only towards you all, but for the rest of the groups that are not within my reach. Tell them this clearly, that I sent them a message¡­Return to the workforce, whether it be the farms or construction, otherwise this will befall upon those I come across. Remember, I can tell your kind apart very easily.¡±

    She pointed at the bodies of the two captains with boldness and held her head high. It was her warning.

    ¡°Yes, Madam! Sorry, Madam!¡± came the thugs in unison. With that, ShiYan clarified one last thing.

    ¡°Alright, you may leave.¡±

    She shooed them away, like birds in a park, and at her words, they all perked up. The gangsters wailed their final pieces of gratitude before the group finally scurried out of the scene, never to be seen again.

    Meanwhile, the surrounding passersby quickly began to disperse and separate, attending back to their own business. After all, they were all higher class people with an educated importance on place and time. With this commotion ended, their presence here served no purpose. Hence, any lingering reactions were taken along with their cliques.

    This also made it easier for ShiYan, as she looked to this situation as one not worth garnering necessary attention.

    She sighed deeply and took out a pink silk handkerchief from her pocket sleeves after unfolding them.

    As she turned around to head back inside however, ShiYan¡¯s path was suddenly blocked by a certain individual.

    ¡°...?..!¡±

    Raising her gaze upwards, ShiYan was immediately caught off guard, spooked at who was in front of her. She yelped softly in surprise. An adorable youthful voice.

    In the face of her expected reaction, the individual returned her an amused, proud smile. Yet, their eyes also met, filled with a sincerity of longing for reunion.

    ¡°N-no way¡­¡±

    ShiYan¡¯s hand covered her mouth in shock.

    It was a recognisable face of a young male teen of later fourteen. He wore layers of thicker clothes, optimal for travel and daily use, and donned a long dark brown garment. Being only a head shorter than his large frame, ShiYan¡¯s neck had less of a problem cranked upwards. Her ears also turned a bright tomato red.

    ¡°R-ReZhui¡­is that truly you? No, it-it is you!¡±

    Altogether, her ¡®performance¡¯ was what ReZhui intended with his act. Satisfied, he raised his right hand for a light wave.

    ¡°You were not expecting this, aren¡¯t you, ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Well, here I am, in all my glory! I hope I made it in time because-¡±

    ¡°TAKE THIS!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    A speeding kick went overhead, blowing some loose strands of his tight hair bun.

    ¡°Whoa.¡±

    ReZhui ducked in the nick of time, and effortlessly asked back, bewildered.

    ¡°Is this how you return a greeting now? It wasn¡¯t like this the last time so, what gives?¡±

    ¡°RAH!¡±

    One more came swinging from the side, and another, and another. It was a large barrage of high mobility kicks. However, ReZhui continued to dodge and block every blow she threw at him.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just beat up those two guys earlier? You must be feeling tired, right?¡±

    He asked plainly.

    ¡°STAY STILL! Just¡­let me¡­¡±

    A vertical fist launched forward, and ReZhui readily caught it within his palm, temporarily halting any further assault.

    ¡°Just tell me slowly, what did I do this time?¡±

    ¡°You saw the entire thing, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°...W-what if I said no?¡±

    ¡°That convinces me otherwise, ReZhui. Try better with your tongue!¡±

    Her cheeks flush a brighter red.

    ¡°Alright, alright, I did¡­and it was a fantastic display of your Dao and martial prowess, ShiYan. ¡­¡±

    ReZhui saw her face lowered and darkened.

    ¡°So you witnessed all of it from the start¡­but never bothered to lend a helping hand in my lone fight against two fully-grown men?!¡±

    ¡°...ah well¡­¡±

    ReZhui averted her gaze, ¡°I was going to if things go south. You do not know how much self-restraint I had to experience throughout- ¡±

    She gritted her teeth.

    ¡°At the very least, you called out to me and cheered for your support!¡±

    ShiYan whined loudly.

    ¡°Ah¡­haha¡­¡±

    All around them, for those who stayed behind for other purposes, they turned a glance back to this escalation, confused at how her demeanor changed drastically from a righteous hero into a regular teenage girl. This was also the thoughts of HuaYan and WeiQi who suddenly felt a great sense of deja vu.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    As they continued to witness this shining display of adolescence with such eyes, HuaYan was the first to break their silence in the midst of the other¡¯s squabble, grooming his goatee while he spoke.

    ¡°Poor ReZhui, truly what a feisty girl he has got himself with. WeiQi, shall we pour water on this fire?¡±

    ¡°... . I agree.¡±

    She then shoved him forwards, nearly tripping him over.

    ¡°W-what was that for?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the loud mouth out of the two of us so the stage¡¯s all yours.¡±

    She held out an open palm.

    ¡°...¡±

    Seeing her serious expression, HuaYan just sighed.

    ¡°Wish me luck then¡­ and that I do not get kicked to tomorrow.¡±

    He muttered the last part in prayer.

 Chapter 40 : The Xu Household [Part 3]

    ¡°So it''s true that you were planning to call the Police Guard if needed, am I right, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the law, ShiYan. They clearly damaged another¡¯s property so that is enough justification and a lot of evidence to support their sentencing in prison.¡±

    ¡°Why bother, ReZhui? A few months later, those bastards would be free to roam, and the cycle repeats itself. In a way, the current system is flawed and would never work to progress. Hence, my way strikes two birds at once.

    Through fear and respect, there is a deterrence which is much more lethal than a simple time in jail. That¡¯s me. So, upon seeing how exposing themselves would bring a huge risk to their wellbeing to the point of being crippled like those two examples I sent, less of this stuff will happen.

    Moreover, there is the benefit of easier dealing with the aftermath on my side. Without the Police Guard involved, Father would have no chance of finding out that his only daughter is out here knocking down men of crime. We are still keeping my martial arts a secret, correct?¡±

    ¡°...certainly, ShiYan. However, you did overlook several considerations. The current juridical system is one that has been practiced for over a few millennia by now. Surely, if that has continually persisted as our primary model, you cannot simply criticize and switch over on a whim. And the criminals, not all of them are pure evils and you clearly underestimate their willingness to change. But, what¡¯s more unbelievable is your claim. Ultimately, your power to keep them at bay is so similar to a chance of being punished through prison time, that the only difference here is that you are limited by only yourself compared to the vast network of the Police Guard.

    This is purely an emotional statement, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Or, you are gonna tell me next that you can pummel down fifty men simultaneously?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Cooling down from her outburst, ShiYan pouted away from him.

    ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t really planning on making that a statement anyways.¡±

    ¡°Really? It totally looked like you did.¡±

    ReZhui teased.

    ¡°...! How dare-¡±

    ¡°ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! Rein in the horses, you two quarrel-birds. Man, it was tough finding an opening there. Who even talks about that stuff at your age?! Leave some of that for the rest of us adults, haha!¡±

    HuaYan, followed behind by WeiQi, interjected with a hearty voice. In unison, ReZhui and ShiYan turned to face their seniors.

    ¡°...¡±

    While ReZhui quietly signaled a big thank you for breaking the tension, ShiYan had another astonished expression.

    ¡°...! ReZhui, is that¡­is that who I think it is?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ShiYan, we crossed paths earlier this morning on the way down the road and given how long it has been since our graduation, I suggested joining our dinner feast because why not? The more the merrier, aren¡¯t I right, seniors?¡±

    ShiYan pointed at the man with the goatee.

    ¡°Older Brother Wei?¡±

    ¡°Yep, that¡¯s me, alright! What a strong pearl beauty you grew up to be, ShiYan.¡±

    Then towards the woman beside him.

    ¡°Older Sister Tian?¡±

    ¡°What an unexpected surprise, it truly is. I¡¯m sure we have lots to talk about once we dine in. Please take care of us, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°Bless the heavens, it¡¯s great to see you all stop by!¡±

    Filled with excitement, ShiYan welcomed them with a big hug, squeezing the two of them within her petite, firm arms. Her head buried deep within the gap of their torsos.

    ¡°Arrgh, S-ShiYan, you may put us down¡­¡±

    HuaYan tapped her shoulder repeatedly while WeiQi plainly accepted her gesture through the discomfort.

    Watching this, ReZhui silently cursed back, recalling that ambush on their first encounter.

    ¡®Take a taste of your own medicine, Older brother Wei!¡¯

    Eventually, ShiYan let them go, unaware about her own strength.

    Thankfully, the two seniors never bothered that.

    .

    .

    .

    The restaurant was three stories tall and considerably narrower than the rest of the buildings nearby. Dark maroon tiles, structured like a pavilion roof, protruded outwards and upwards. At each pointed end, green jade dragons completed the design. The ground floor was supported atop a raised platform of polished stone that led up from the small flight of central stairs. On either side, there were potted flora and bushes like all the other front yards in the street. The walls were bricked and coated with white paint mixed with a hint of gray. Its texture was coarse and bumpy, giving a natural feel.

    ReZhui looked above where the bronze double doors used to stand. Still intact from all that fighting was the large rectangular signboard. Glazed black wood and shimmering white marble, those two materials were crafted together to make an ornate piece that read out the words, ¡®Little Stone Abode¡±.

    Although the doors and windows were destroyed, there was plenty much to enjoy about the rest of the high-end restaurant. That is until the four of them reached the interior.

    Entering first, ShiYan told the group.

    ¡°Watch your step, there¡¯s debris everywhere.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    And ReZhui clearly saw that.

    Splattered fluids of wine, soups and sauces. Porcelain crockery and cutlery; clay pots and vases; and table top glass were all shattered into hundreds of tiny bits and pieces. Rows of round wooden tables and patterned chairs broke and splintered, to the point of irreparability.     Several cracks and holes punctured overhead to their wooden gridded ceiling. Most of the low hanging lamps and lanterns were torn and crushed. Splattered blood stains, both large and small, had dried up, leaving the premise with an unpleasant maroon backdrop.

    Taking his first steps in, ReZhui asked, ¡°ShiYan, how about we stop by another place instead? I would rather not disturb the managers, after what has happened.¡±The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Leaping over a sweeped pile of glass, ShiYan replied sternly.

    ¡°I have already chosen this place today and shall stick with it. Such a barbaric brawl would never stop me now.¡±

    She then pointed her finger up.

    ¡°Anyways, there¡¯s always the second and third floor that remain untouched.¡±

    ¡°Well then, I leave that to the expert, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°Hehe, you can count on me for tonight¡¯s food. I vouch for their quality!¡±

    ¡°Lady ShiYan!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    And as she said that, a frantic cry rang from across the main hall.

    Sprinting up towards her was a short, plump man of equal height, and dressed in shimmering brown garments and a beige skirt. His round face was full of distress and tears as he knelt down close to her knees. Behind him, there were five staff workers that followed suit.

    ShiYan, obviously shook by this advance, lashed out in annoyance.

    ¡°Owner?! W-what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I, Jang HaoEr, and the rest of my employees sincerely thank Lady ShiYan and her entourage for their virtuous deeds in saving our restaurant!¡±

    ¡°W-...¡±

    Declaring their gratitude, the owner then kowtowed three times, in unison with the other five staff members.

    ¡°What the hell? Owner, owner, please get up.¡±

    She gestured openly.

    With still a sobbing face, the manager bowed once more.

    ¡°Young Lady, you are too kind.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    Blushing hard from the embarrassment, ShiYan managed to snap herself out of that, and complete the agenda. After all, it was already dinner time, and the skies were getting darker.

    ¡°Here you go, Owner!¡±

    She slapped those money bags into his palms.

    ¡°...?¡±

    Feeling the jingle in those purses, the owner looked up towards her, only to give off an even paler complexion.

    ¡°No¡­no, no, Lady ShiYan, w-we can¡¯t take this. You are already too generous towards us. Anymore, and¡­¡±

    He then got up and promptly gave the bags into her hands.

    ¡°Keep it for yourself, Lady ShiYan. You have done enough.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    However, that response does not sit well with her. Furious, she shoved the purses back to him, and clarified her stance.

    ¡°...! But-¡±

    ¡°Listen up, Owner. I only came here for great food, and that¡¯s what I will be getting from you! Nothing else! Your kitchens are unharmed, along with your chefs. so after this, book me and my friends a good spot on the third floor. Get the waiters to fill in my order, serve us well, and I will return home later, after paying the appropriate prices just like any other customer.

    No discounts, you hear me?!¡±

    Although many would consider that a threat, ReZhui easily deemed it as a declaration of modesty and morality.

    ¡°Still-¡±

    ¡°And finally, Owner, that money was originally dirty money. However, given the circumstance, those bandits¡¯ cash are rightfully yours to keep for repairs and restoration. So, use them wisely.

    If there¡¯s anything you wish to pay me back, it''s making sure my efforts for this place do not go to waste. Understand?¡±

    She demanded clearly.

    ¡°...¡±

    For a while, the Owner simply stared at the bags in contemplation, but he eventually answered with a formal salute.

    ¡°It¡¯s a promise, Lady ShiYan.¡±

    His hands interlocked firmly.

    The Owner¡¯s reluctance finally waned away, and ShiYan perked up in satisfaction.

    ¡®Mission accomplished!¡¯ was what ReZhui assumed ran across her mind.

    .

    .

    .

    Afterwards, the Owner assigned a senior waiter to guide the group upstairs. Further towards the end where the entrance to the kitchen was, a flight of wooden stairs was situated at the corner. Outlined with animal carvings and sculptures, the consistency for luxury continued upwards.

    Once ReZhui reached the second floor however, a surprised, delighted look was suddenly plastered over his face. Akin to when he first saw ShiYan, he also wondered about something else at the back of his mind, and his answer was now right in front of him.

    The floor plan had a similar layout to the ground level. Rows of round tables with additional features such as artwork and plants decorating the ends. Thankfully, the holes beneath them haven¡¯t penetrated to the second level, which shows the building¡¯s durability.

    Not only that, the other customers absent below were all actually residing upstairs with whatever scraps of food they could escape with, amidst the crossfire. About five groups of people were present here, ranging from friend cliques to entire family gatherings. Despite the ruckus experienced earlier, they could be seen eating naturally to the remains of their dishes along with some new orders for replacement.

    After all, this class of people could afford several rounds in a single sitting. But, of course, in a hastily made retreat upstairs, there was only so much that one could do to make it out unharmed so several of them already had first aid applied to them. Cloth bandages and slings, and washes of alcohol and warm water, were administered professionally. And the one who did it all for these solely money-educated folk faced ReZhui and the group at the right time, just as the individual got up from finishing a scraped knee. Wiping off the forehead¡¯s sweat, they then made eye contact.

    ReZhui¡¯s glimmering onyx eyes met the gaze of a sparkly icy blue pair.

    An unusual characteristic around these parts of the Bai river basin.

    ¡°No way, it seems I was right to not judge otherwise!¡±

    ReZhui smiled proudly.

    ¡°It¡¯s been quite a while, isn¡¯t it, Eddi?¡±

    Donning a simple dark brown QiPao that fell to his ankles with five black knots for buttons on the right, the youthful teen also wore a chalk white garment as the inner layer, and finally, a light tan robe with wide, long sleeves that fitted perfectly for his now slim and tall frame. His pants and shoes were a typical matt black and his collars on top were fastened tidily. A dark leather belt was also strapped around his waist, beneath the QiPao with several small utility pockets attached firmly and concealed. Overall, it was a getup of the utmost decorum.

    Complementing those icy blue eyes within grown rectangular outlines that was loosely reminiscent of Hunter¡¯s eyes, Eddisson¡¯s blonde hair, having recovered from years of caking it with mud and ash, was now a golden yellow hue. The front curled up naturally and parted into two sides further to the right. This curliness became less apparent as the hair reached over his ears where a singular, long braid fell near his waist, instead. However, since Eddisson¡¯s hair was naturally wavy, the ends curved outwards like a hook.

    A chiseled jawline was slowly carving out its shape and his Adam''s apple was the most pronounced. Similar to his eyes and jaw, his face also grew more angular, shaping into a long rectangle over the past half decade. The signs of his previous childhood neglect and malnutrition were nowhere to be seen, and he could not be thankful enough for it.

    Grinning softly, Eddisson rushed forward with his arms spread wide open, and ReZhui gladly returned the gesture.

    ¡°ReZhui!¡±

    A tough thud sounded as they collided into a hug.

    Their arms interlocked with one another, deep in embrace.

    It was a brotherhood beyond the ties of blood.

    Several slaps on each other¡¯s backs and hearty laughter, ShiYan and the others watched on with warm-felt expressions. Eventually, the two teens released themselves, full of vigour.

    ¡°I was wondering where you were when I saw ShiYan show up outside. So, you were here after all, huh?¡±

    ReZhui cheerfully commented. At the moment, Eddisson was only slightly taller than him, purely due to having a longer neck and legs.

    ¡°Well¡­everything happened so suddenly when ShiYan and I just sat down on our table. Getting everyone to safety was much harder than it appeared to be.¡±

    Eddisson rubbed the back of his head.

    ¡°So, the two of you split up? Or¡­¡±

    ¡°Eddi immediately set up an illusion to temporarily disorient the bandits for most of the others to make their escape. Once that¡¯s done, the two of us started beating the crap out of those scumbags with him as my support!¡±

    ShiYan punched her palm with a smirk.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°But, of course, everything had to come crashing down when you changed course towards the second floor, Eddi! I remember telling you specifically to do the casualty check after we thoroughly empty them clean so what gives, when you suddenly disappear, leaving your beloved sister to fend for herself all alone, huh!?¡±

    From that smooth transition into a short outburst, Eddisson averted his gaze from her. His ears burnt red.

    ¡°A-about that, I just thought it was plenty enough for them¡­¡±

    ¡°What! Argh, just how many excuses can the two of you make up?¡±

    ¡°Again ShiYan, Eddi and I both know how skilled you are, so-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s besides the point, you brutes!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

 Chapter 40 : The Xu Household [Part 4]

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Expressionless, perhaps exhaustive, eyes.

    The seniors remained at the sidelines. This was, overall, a repeat of earlier.

    From their perspective, it was just a whining little sister, mad upset about her ¡®ignorant¡¯ brothers, and as HuaYan suggested to WeiQi a while ago, their intense squabble died down after some time, to the inconvenience of the other diners a short step away. However, they simply put up with it, knowing full well the trio could easily silence them by overwhelming force.

    On the other hand, there was the troubled senior waiter, who waited long for that break in the conversation, and he promptly informed their group to head upstairs. Realising just how much time they had wasted, the trio obediently maintained their silence until they reached their table.

    As they walked up the final flight of stairs, HuaYan grabbed hold of WeiQi¡¯s shoulder to her sudden surprise, and whispered softly in her ear. Their gazes landed on the trio above them, showing clear signs of hunger and fatigue from all that¡¯s happened.

    ¡°Looks like they haven¡¯t abandoned the expectations of a regular youth, WeiQi.¡±

    ¡°...Right.¡±

    ¡°... . Isn¡¯t that a much needed relief?¡±

    ¡°Unlike you, mine¡¯s all over the place.¡±

    Amidst all of their practical abilities and theoretical knowledge, unbelievably unattainable by any regular adolescent teen at their age, both HuaYan and WeiQi evidently saw their varying emotional sides, carefreeness and recklessness. While HuaYan managed to convince her to not worry so much about the trio¡¯s potential futures, a part of her can¡¯t let go of the sentiment about how these talents could possibly come to cost them dearly in ways larger than themselves, and he knew this to a T.

    Knowing that this hesitation on whether to act now and how was seriously bugging her, HuaYan reasoned once more. All she wanted was the best for those three and that''s an effort not to be dismissed, but dealt accordingly.

    ¡°I am sincerely proud to be dearly close with someone who deeply cares about those around them, and that¡¯s why I will say this, WeiQi.

    As long as they are happy, like they are now, there ain¡¯t no harm with letting them explore. Perhaps being more lenient about it will lead to even better things being achieved by those three. Believe me when I say this.¡±

    Eyeing him back one last time as they stepped atop the third level, WeiQi finally concluded.

    ¡°We are no better, HuaYan. What are we currently, in our early twenties? I can guess their tutorship had people much more experienced than us, and in greater numbers. I say they ended up more well-equipped than even ourselves today.¡±

    ¡°...you could say that.¡±

    ¡°Hence, who are we to judge so quickly, like you said before?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°So please, just ignore what I voiced earlier, but I am deeply thankful for your constructive input and am sorry for wasting our time.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Shall we return to the feast?¡±

    She held her hand out.

    ¡°...¡±

    Although he felt unnerved at her final statement, HuaYan fell speechless in making a proper comeback, and he knew as well, WeiQi was the same.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Knowing this conversation reached a roadblock to their furthest extent, HuaYan eventually backed down.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t be, WeiQi. These exact experiences are the reasons why I always cherish your company.¡±

    He grasped her palm firmly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    ¡°... . Yes, let''s.¡±

    .

    .

    .

    Everyone was spread out evenly along the round table.

    HuaYan and WeiQi sat next to one another.

    ReZhui sat beside him, and Eddisson towards her. In between the two boys, ShiYan sat at the forefront.

    The table was fanciful, made of polished wood with a red table cover draped evenly over it. A rotatable circular glass was placed at its center with a large teapot placed on top. Five sets of tableware were placed professionally beforehand, and once the group took their seats, the senior waiter walked close and elegantly served each of them a hot cup of brown tea.

    ¡°Lady ShiYan, may I get your order?¡±

    The waiter asked as he finished.

    Normally, one would refer to a menu or a board. However, ShiYan had been eating here by herself several times already, so she simply told him to get them the usual. The others nodded blindly with full trust.

    Giving all of them an affirmative grin, the waiter excused himself.

    ¡°Well received, Lady ShiYan and distinguished guests. The food will be here shortly.¡±

    .

    .

    .

    Now that they were waiting for their dishes, what better way to pass the time than further chatter, and they did just that.

    Blowing hard on her cup, ShiYan then chugged everything whole. From that energy-intensive fight to her arguments, the first gulp felt like heaven. Her thirst was quenched, and she cheered for her throat¡¯s rejuvenation.

    ¡°AHHH! That was good!¡±

    Meanwhile, ReZhui sipped his slowly, watching her actions awkwardly.

    ¡°...What¡¯s the matter, ReZhui?¡±

    She noticed his gaze as she took the spare cup of tea.

    ¡°Nothing, ShiYan.¡±

    He found it adorable.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ShiYan quickly finished her second fill.

    There was soon silence, considering they were the only ones on the third story. Thankfully, HuaYan was a talker.

    ¡°Say everyone, shall we ask for some wine? I¡¯m dying for some! Uh!¡±

    Elbowed hard by his companion, WeiQi scowled back as usual.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you listen to yourself? They are not of age yet, doofus.¡±

    Massaging his sides, HuaYan remarked.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true. My father regularly held drink outs with me and his friends every week from back then, and as he always said, ¡®Age is just a number.¡¯¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m flabbergasted that I am just hearing about this right now.¡±

    ¡°Really? I suspected you found out sooner.¡±

    ¡°Once you build up a tolerance from a young age, it¡¯s harder to notice.¡±

    ¡°Anyhow, that¡¯s only you, WeiQi. For all my juniors, what do you say? It¡¯s all on me tonight!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Raising his hand forward, ReZhui calmly informed him.

    ¡°Sorry Big Brother Wei, but we never drank alcohol before and don¡¯t plan on doing so now.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    From where he sat, everyone saw the gradual fall of his smile. Grumbling away as his expectations shattered, WeiQi glanced stealthily at his hunched posture, quietly amused.

    ¡°Why¡­how could you say that, ReZhui¡­¡±

    HuaYan was on the verge of tears.

    ¡°It¡¯s really simple, Big Brother Wei. We know how drinking intoxicates the body and deemed it necessary to prolong its prohibition for as long as possible.¡±

    Taking another chance to further drag him down, WeiQi commented teasingly.

    ¡°You should be thankful for your current job, HuaYan. Look at ShiYan¡¯s physique. Her lack of consumption enables her to gain a body that goes up against larger men, alongside her fighting skills. Full abandonment for extra health sounds like a good deal, you hear?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s been a day since, WeiQi.¡±

    She eyed back in disgust.

    ¡°Hmph, if you¡¯re still adamant about shortening your lifespan, go order some for yourself.¡±

    ¡°No way, WeiQi! The taste of wine is one thing, but the joy of watching others do the same goes hand in hand for the ultimate drinking experience. Please! How about I buy some for you at least?¡±

    ¡°I pass.¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    Ignoring his pleading state, WeiQi turned back to her juniors, specifically to ShiYan.

    ¡°Aside from his problems, I would like to stress the rest too. ShiYan, I adore your power. Well done.¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ReZhui saw her fazed out before she flushed away in embarrassment, and he clearly knew why. Having willing to take great lengths to keep her connections with MianJu a secret, this incredible feat of learning how to defend oneself, especially for a girl of her status while going against the norm, had gone unnoticed by everyone from the very start. Although she didn¡¯t mind the lack of attention, ShiYan had wished for at least her father¡¯s appreciation of her progress despite the clear necessity not to for ReZhui¡¯s sake.

    Over the years, that desire waned away and the support of ReZhui, Eddisson and MianJu were just enough to push her forwards.

    Hence, this sudden compliment from WeiQi caught her off-guard. Her expectations were so non-existent nowadays, that this simple gesture made her so elated, as all praises often have diminishing returns. The first, and perhaps only ever time, an outsider sincerely congratulated her held the most importance to her.

    ¡°Ah¡­ah, ah, ah¡­t-t-t-ta-thank you very much, Big Sister Tian! It¡­it was nothing much, really¡­¡±

    ShiYan shyly replied, still recovering from that emotional impact.

    Smiling proudly at her modesty, WeiQi then faced the two boys beside her.

    ¡°And for the two of you, I suspect it¡¯s something similar, right?¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    While Eddisson looked to ReZhui for his opinion, he, on the other hand, grinned cheekily.

    ¡°Ahaha, looks like the cat¡¯s out the bag, huh?¡±

    ¡°B-but, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Eddi, I see no harm in revealing it when stuff¡¯s so blatant already. Although, it would be greatly appreciated if you two would please keep this to yourselves. There will be a lot more hassle than if there were only rumours about ShiYan¡¯s fight¡­which had been seen by all back then.¡±

    ReZhui bowed his head.

    ¡°Oh, no worries, ReZhui. HuaYan and I will gladly follow along. Right?¡±

    WeiQi glanced at HuaYan.

    ¡°...¡±

    Realising that she took his words to heart, HuaYan readily replied with affirmation.

    ¡°You can count on us, ReZhui. After all, the two of us will be heading home the first thing in the morning. Gotta resume the workflow as soon as possible, you know.¡±

    ¡°Hold on, seniors, what exactly brings you here then?¡±

    ShiYan interjected.

    ¡°Oh right! We only told ReZhui.¡±

    ¡°True, and to answer your question, ShiYan, HuaYan and I came to visit Teacher and catch up on lots of things.¡±

    ¡°I see, so how was Teacher Woo? It¡¯s been a long while since we last visited, right ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Now that you mention that, I cannot recall exactly. A few months perhaps?¡±

    ¡°It''s approximately four months and twenty seven days, ReZhui.¡±

    Eddisson added.

    ¡°Well then, if that¡¯s what Eddi calculated, then it really was long.¡±

    ¡°Teacher¡¯s fine, ShiYan. He¡¯s still as happy as ever, teaching the children of tomorrow. However, we can¡¯t ignore the signs that he is getting much older and less energetic after noon.¡±

    ¡°oh¡­ReZhui, how about we send some elixirs some time later?¡±

    ¡°I was thinking the same.¡±

    ¡°How splendid, the two of you!¡±

    ¡°Well, Sister Tian, he¡¯s not only your teacher.¡±

    ShiYan sneered playfully.

    ¡°Speaking of which, ShiYan, Mr Xu is still the forefront village doctor, correct?¡±

    HuaYan randomly asked.

    ¡°Hmm¡­aside from some minor and major establishments of new positions and resignations of the corrupt and uncooperative, DongBu¡¯s village council remains the same as always. Why the question, though?¡±

    ¡°I was not expecting that broad of an answer, but then again, I shouldn¡¯t have for you three. A-anyhow, I¡¯m just curious, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Raising an eyebrow, ShiYan dug deeper.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°XiaoQiu village, neighbouring HuaYan¡¯s very own, recently had a drastic change in leadership, along with some minor ones further east. According to him, all of the top positions were replaced so suddenly.¡±

    WeiQi filled in.

    ¡°What WeiQi said. I was just wondering if something big¡¯s happening and how to prepare for whatever changes are made, but if a councilman¡¯s daughter directly tells me their village still maintains its status quo, then maybe my suspicions are far-fetched.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Finding this story pretty foreboding, ReZhui decided to make sure, interrupting ShiYan.

    ¡°It may be different in other-¡±

    ¡°Big Brother Wei, do you know why the current board was overthrown?¡±

    ¡°...! Strangely enough, I don¡¯t know. Even those in my social circle have no clue.¡±

    ¡°Was the current board a desirable group?¡±

    ¡°I would say they are satisfactory. Seriously, no one expected this change to occur.¡±

    ¡°....¡±

    ¡°ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°ShiYan, Eddi, did anyone significant get replaced this Spring Festival?¡±

    Immediately, Eddisson retold the conclusion.

    ¡°No one. Like ShiYan said, it¡¯s only the corrupt and immoral that were fired. Moreover, XiaoQiu and GuLie of HuaYan¡¯s village are outside the Bai river basin¡¯s political envelope.¡±

    ¡°Sister Tian, what about your village?¡±

    ShiYan interjected.

    ¡°There are no changes from what I heard. Overall, I think GuLie is just the sole anomaly, simply due to the fact it¡¯s one of the larger villages in the area.¡±

    ¡°That may not be true¡­¡±

    Eddisson corrected.

    ¡°...! Wha-wha¡­¡±

    With everyone facing towards him, ReZhui demanded his answer.

    ¡°What¡¯s your reason, Eddi? Did you realize something?¡±

    ¡°This may purely be a coincidence, but if I recall the map correctly, GuLie village is one of the main transportation nodes that has direct links towards Luo ChengShi. So¡­¡±

    Suddenly, at the call of that place, everyone¡¯s faces darkened, especially ReZhui''s.

    ¡°Eddi, are you implying that that fat pig is behind all of this?¡±

    ¡°Think about it, ReZhui. We have never even stepped foot in that place during the past five years. In the end, we are clueless as to what''s going on over there.¡±

    ¡°... . That¡¯s true, Eddi. But what benefit does that bring? We have no need to hear about his inhuman antics as long as he never interferes with the lives throughout the Bai river basin as outlined by Mr Xu. And surprisingly, that lump of meat actually listened for once and here we are half a decade later. Everyone¡¯s at peace and free from that tyrant¡¯s grasp.

    He knows the consequences if he returns here once again to wreak havoc over the populace. What difference does it make when that bastard could¡¯ve easily unleashed his rampage years ago? The fact that he didn¡¯t even until today suggests that he wasn¡¯t the mastermind for the establishment of a new council in Big Brother Wei¡¯s village.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Or at least, that¡¯s what I think¡­¡±

    Once finished, ReZhui shuffled back down in self-reflection. Contemplating his words again, ReZhui found his logic pretty solid and ultimately, stuck to it.

    Meanwhile, with everyone else shakened by ReZhui¡¯s sudden analysis, Eddisson immediately backed down, considering his own thoughts to be inadequate and senseless. On the other hand, ShiYan wanted to voice out her opinion. Unfortunately for her, what she had in mind was just pure speculation. In spite of that, ShiYan stated her stance on this.

    ¡°Although your reasons are sound, ReZhui, I think it¡¯s still foolish to discredit such a possibility.¡±

    ¡°...Let¡¯s say that was the case, ShiYan, Eddi. What are we going to do about it?¡±

    ReZhui asked straightforwardly.

    ¡°Well¡­that¡¯s perhaps something we could consult with Father.¡±

    ¡°....Right.¡± In the midst of his rage, that thought never crossed his mind, ¡°That¡¯s really the best option we have.¡±

    Delighted that ReZhui agreed so, ShiYan detailed further.

    ¡°We can let him know as soon as tomorrow, and you could also send a bird to Mister Zhang to let him know as well.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t do the latter, ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°...! What? Why not?¡±

    ¡°The messenger bird stationed at the Xu residence was only taught to reach our house, and currently, he¡¯s absent from his regular duties.¡±

    ¡°Absent? Is this another cross-village talk?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Pa told me it would take at most a week before he returns from his trip. His target today is the DuKa village across the Bai mountains.¡±

    ¡°Your father¡¯s hard at work, huh. I even sometimes hear Father grumbling about how his letters to him were answered days after they were sent.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I would say the same with my master. But, top priorities matter, and Bai village is still lacking in their ties to the larger communal economy. Hence, Pa is doing his best with further networking.¡±

    ¡°Looks like the apple didn¡¯t fall far from the tree, as expected of my exemplary apprentice¡¯s father.¡±

    ShiYan remarked sternly with a deep timbre.

    ¡°ShiYan, was the impression of my master seriously necessary?¡±

    ¡°Look at you going on talking about Bai village¡¯s development, repeating the same stuff over and over again. You would really make a good street vendor, you know?¡±

    She mocked squeakily.

    ¡°Alright, alright, everyone!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°...?¡±

    Alarmed, ShiYan and ReZhui turned to HuaYan. He spread his arms wide and forward.

    ¡°I am very sorry for bringing up this intense discussion. Thank you very much for your full attention to this issue that¡¯s solely my village¡¯s own problems.¡±

    He clapped his hands in prayer.

    However, ReZhui simply sighed at his response, and gladly refilled the senior¡¯s empty cup of tea. Smiling back as he did, ReZhui reassured him.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t feel indebted to us, Big Brother Wei. Prevention is better than a cure. If I were in your shoes, I would have done the same thing, if not more. In the end, it¡¯s all for the sake of our loved ones, and the villagers.

    Do you agree, senior?¡±

    ¡°What ReZhui said, Brother Wei. This news was for our benefit too.¡±

    In the background, Eddisson nodded his head with vigour.

    ¡°...wow¡­¡±

    He softly muttered.

    ¡®Were WeiQi and I this participative at a similar age?¡¯

    This time, he was truly filled with adoration for them.

    ¡°...y-yes. I understand fully!¡±

    Coincidentally, just as HuaYan ended the string of conversations, footsteps could be heard from downstairs. Their shoes stumped hard on the wooden surface as they made their way up.

 Chapter 40 : The Xu Household [Part 5]

    With full anticipation, the groups awaited themselves. ShiYan, specifically, felt her tongue drool.

    Emerging out of the stairway was the senior waiter, and behind him, a band of servers lined in orderly fashion, armed with mouthwatering dishes. The strong and distinctive smells of various foods quickly wafted into their nostrils, further enhancing this serving experience.

    After a short bow, the senior waiter signaled to the servants before pouring a new fill to each of their cups.

    ¡°Sorry for the wait, dear guests. Here¡¯s the food you had ordered. Please, enjoy!¡±

    He later dismissed himself with a flattering grin.

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°Wah!¡±

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±

    ¡°Excellent!¡±

    Everyone sang their praises from the first impressions.

    ¡°ShiYan.¡±

    ¡°Yes, ReZhui?¡±

    ¡°Once again, what a wonderful course you chose. It looks delicious! Thank you!¡±

    Averting her gaze, ShiYan pouted proudly.

    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re very welcome¡­¡±

    ¡°Well then, not if I dig in first! YHA!¡±

    Suddenly, HuaYan launched his chopsticks with incredible speed, towards a large plate of steaming hot crispy pork belly. Sliced uniformly by hand into long thin strips, the individual layers of the shiny brown outer crust, the wrinkled meat, and the semi-solid blocks of pure white fat, were laid atop one another in multiple rows of domino toppling. Picking up three pieces at once, HuaYan then dipped them fully into the various sauce bowls. A combination of dark soy paste, crushed herbs and chilli bits covered a significant part, and finally, it entered his mouth. The hard crust crunched loudly with every munch. The accompanying condiments added depth and much needed moisture to the fried pork.

    ¡°Hmmm!¡±

    A scope of rice after, and HuaYan¡¯s eyes sparkled.

    And that¡¯s just one out of the many dishes present on the glass top.

    ReZhui opted for red braised pork belly instead. Unlike its other counterpart, this was served in a deep bowl of thick brown stew. Although, the individual pieces of meat had a red tinge to it, across a dominantly brown colour. ReZhui grabbed the specialized soup spoon and carried a considerable amount into his bowl of rice. Soaking the thick soup with a portion of his rice, he then reached out for the abundance of stir fried vegetables all over the table. A couple of chopped lettuces and cabbage from over there and into his bowl. Raising it close to his mouth, the youthful teen chugged down everything into his mouth using his chopsticks as the sweeper. Fluffy white rice with tender meat and crunchy vegetables. The myriad of flavours and textures overwhelmed his senses, bringing out a similar reaction.

    Meanwhile, ShiYan and WeiQi started off with lighter meals.

    They both took small bundles of soaked water spinach out of a bowl of dark green soup, reminiscent of a swamp. They were dotted with chopped red chillies and flaky peppercorn from the South. Water continued to drip out of their soft stems as they placed them onto their rice bowls.

    A side of roasted duck pieces was also taken. They glimmered brightly against the central lantern and were glazed mesmerizingly with a sweet coating. The outer skin was a shiny honey-brown while the meat themselves were dull gray with tinges of blood-red. ShiYan dipped her slice into a small plate of accompanying black sauce while WeiQi had hers without additional condiments.

    ¡°...!¡±

    They took a spoonful of their own combination and were immediately greeted by an explosive palate. The duck meat was dry and chewy, contrary to the water spinach, whose stems were soft and fibrous. The little ends of the leaves were slurped vigorously like rice noodles. The dark black sauce, with a distinct nutty aftertaste and watery nature, and the associated spices and chillies, delivering more impact to the otherwise subdued flavours of the spinach, further enhanced the eating experience.

    As for Eddisson, his chopsticks landed on a wide plate, laid atop with sections of steamed chicken. Akin to the roasted duck, the steamed chicken was shimmering appetizingly with its thick layer of golden skin that he truly fancied. Using a soup spoon to repeatedly spread the light brown soy sauces all over the dish, Eddisson then took a piece, perfectly soaked in its flavourings, and added the chilly paste of the crispy pork belly. Followed up next with a large mouthful of rice, Eddisson relished in the simple pleasures that danced on his tongue. The meat was succulent. Every chewy he made, the rich juices flowed out that were naturally retained. The golden skin was kept for last in the corner, and once it was, Eddisson enjoyed munching solo. It was rubbery to the touch and refreshingly cold compared to the rest of the meat.

    He perked up in rejoice.

    At the center of the dining table, there was a similarly wide plate placed. ReZhui, eyeing that specific dish, inquired ShiYan about it.

    ¡°ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Is that bean curd that I¡¯m looking at?¡±

    ¡°Correct! While I do enjoy all their interpretations of the usual cuisine dishes, I always come here solely for their amazing bean curd. It¡¯s their specialty!¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    Reaching out his porcelain spoon, ReZhui cut into a significant portion of the bean curd. It broke so easily, and he also scooped more sauces along with it. What rested in his spoon was the recommended dish of this establishment.

    ¡°...¡±

    Looking at it, he now figured why ShiYan said so. Unlike other known tofu makers here, they strangely kept the outer skin with the usual white, soft innards. Although the skin was already drenched by the juices, they, who were possibly deep fried in oil for a short while, retained their crisp shape in some parts. Several small bubbles could still be seen throughout. Complementing it was their signature sauce which appeared to be a unique concoction from a primary base of soy sauce, littered all over with large amounts of minced beef meat and small chopped cube carrots.

    Taking it in whole, ReZhui felt the crunchiness of the skin like a cracker, which was a new experience, together with the crushed bits of pure white bean curd and minced meat and vegetables. Everything melted nicely with the soy based sauce, and in the end, ReZhui only swallowed a stew-like blend.

    Incredibly so, he found it absolutely delicious, especially the final mixture.

    ¡°ShiYan, that¡¯s another great find. Well done!¡±

    He raised a cup for her.

    ¡°... . Thanks, ReZhui! You can count on me for our next!¡±

    She returned his gesture.

    ¡°WHOA, WAIT A MOMENT! The two of you should have waited for us if a toast was in session! YAHH!¡±

    HuaYan hurriedly grabbed his half-filled cup and clashed his against their own. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°Haah¡­HuaYan, there¡¯s no need to rush.¡±

    WeiQi pinched his ear before connecting hers as well.

    ¡°M-me too!¡±

    Eddisson, being the final piece of the puzzle, panicked and raised his cup with a full mouth.

    Given ReZhui was the initiator, naturally the group awaited his final words.

    Glancing at each and every one of his treasured friends, ReZhui smiled and shouted proudly, ¡°EAT BIG, SLEEP DEEP!¡±

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°CHEERS!¡±

    ¡°CHEERS!¡±

    The group screamed in unison.

    A nice clack sound of porcelain soon sounded amidst their erupting voices of joyous laughter, and their hearty feast commenced once more, later into the night where the moon shone bright.

    .

    .

    .

    The dinner lasted for several hours where ReZhui and the group conversed just as much as they ate those large portions. Several more times, HuaYan tried to order for wine, but was precisely stopped by WeiQi¡¯s efforts. In the end, he could only pretend to be drunk which proved risky in the face of his partner¡¯s growing dismay.

    Eventually, the five of them finished their plates clean, leaving only small puddles of sauces and chewed bone. ShiYan then alerted the senior waiter, who promptly signaled the servants for cleanup while he escorted the guests to the ground floor and led them up to the counter where the plump owner was manning the station for them specifically.

    ¡°HUHHH!!!?¡±

    ShiYan slammed her palm hard on the front desk.

    ¡°...! Lady! L-lady Xu, p-please calm yourself! Please!¡±

    The plump owner bowed his head down in fear. His face paled at her fury.

    ¡°How are you expecting me to not be angry, Owner?! The last time I came here it was a solid thirty six silver taels that you charged me for a similar portion, and now, it¡¯s increased to sixty one!? What nonsense is this?! This is fraudery, for heaven¡¯s sake!¡±

    ¡°Ahh¡­Lady Xu, please, hear me out about this one¡­¡±

    ¡°...Speak up then.¡±

    She blurted.

    ¡°This inhumane increase in prices is not ours to make. We have no choice but to do so for the same return in profit as before. Our supplier also increased their prices exorbitantly so there¡¯s very little control on my part other than following along¡­¡±

    ¡°...Ohh¡­¡±

    Hearing this, ShiYan fell silent. After all, it was a total shock for her. Unlike the other nobles spending their money with no restraint, YaoMing and subsequently, his daughter, held a much tighter control on how blindly they spent. They were willing to spend when it¡¯s worth the high prices, but for food that suddenly spiked twice as much in a matter of weeks, ShiYan judged that suspicious. As seen from before, the other customers barely batted an eye at that.

    In her place, ReZhui spoke up.

    ¡°Owner, how is that possible?¡±

    ¡°...I unfortunately have no idea¡­however, what I do know is this observation I made myself just recently. For a separate trade with those same suppliers, they paid me back with some bronze coins as change. Tell you what, they were of a different metallurgy. A poorer quality, I would dare say so myself.¡±

    ¡°...I see¡­¡±

    Several hypotheses emerged in his head. Although, like the case of GuLie village, there was very little information to go by and this could be worse as the impact of this potential issue has already sunk its claws within the communities of the Bai river basin.

    Patting ReZhui on the shoulder, Eddisson leaned in close and whispered his thoughts.

    ¡°ReZhui, would this be a true case of exponentially high inflation rates? It¡¯s impossible to rise so much in so little time.¡±

    ¡°I think so too, but what¡¯s causing it? I have no clue.¡±

    ¡°...could you ask the owner this?¡±

    ¡°Do tell.¡±

    .

    .

    .

    ¡°...?¡±

    The owner and the rest watched as the two teens discussed further with unintelligible mutters. A short while later, ReZhui returned to the plump owner.

    ¡°Alright¡­ . Owner?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, dear guest?¡±

    ¡°What is legally permitted for you to disclose about those suppliers of yours to us?¡±

    ¡°...Well, I could say they are a very professional band of men, and they have connections throughout the Middle Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°...Anything else?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all unfortunately, for my sake mainly. A fish delivered fresh makes the whole difference between my food from the top there is around here, dear guest. I can¡¯t have extra competition that threatens the deals I painstakingly cultivated with my own providers. Rumours will eventually find their way out someday, but by then, it doesn¡¯t really matter I hope. But for now, I greatly apologize for being so uncooperative even after you saved my restaurant.¡±

    The owner bowed deeply.

    ¡°....ShiYan, would you like to split the bill? I will pay the other half.¡±

    Seeing there is no more use for the other questions, ReZhui decided that instead. Eyeing back to him, ShiYan simply sneered.

    ¡°Hmph! Your money is still technically Father¡¯s money, so there¡¯s no difference otherwise.¡±

    ShiYan then brought out the exact amount from her money bag and placed it on the table.

    ¡°Well, owner, I hope you can at least reduce the prices on my next visit. Or else, I will only be getting the bean curd and nothing more!¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, Lady Xu! We will do as much as we possibly can!¡±

    .

    .

    .

    With the payment done, the group made their way out of the establishment with stuffed stomachs and questionable expressions. All because of what happened earlier that the atmosphere was starting to become like before at the dining table about GuLie.

    In spite of that, they tried to maintain a cheerful outlook.

    ¡°So ShiYan, what are you planning on doing about this?¡±

    WeiQi asked, worried.

    Glancing back at ReZhui, ShiYan plainly concluded, ¡°I¡¯ll see what we can do with Father¡¯s opinion. I¡¯m sure he must have noticed this way before I did.¡±

    ¡°...surely you must have seen a similar trend amongst the other stores, ShiYan?¡±

    ¡°Nope, not to such an extreme. Ultimately, a slight increase or decrease is commonplace nowadays. ¡­or is that just me, Sister Tian?¡±

    ¡°N-¡±

    ¡°Not at all, junior! WeiQi and I are the price setters in our places too, you know?!¡±

    HuaYan jumped into the conversation.

    ¡°R-right.¡±

    She remarked awkwardly.

    Despite her expression, HuaYan simply smiled back. ReZhui and Eddisson also joined in on the ruckus.

    ¡°It¡¯s really great that the three of you are so well-versed with this at such a young age. For all of your senior¡¯s expectations¡­¡±

    ¡°w-wait!¡±

    HuaYan forebodingly approached the three of them and pounced, trapping all of them in a huge bear hug. Poor ShiYan was squashed at the center between two walls of males.

    ¡°You have succeeded way beyond that, so be proud of your progress and never stop!¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Remember well that your seniors are always there if you need any help, so don¡¯t hesitate to reach out.¡±

    His voice was calm and mature. His expression, while unseen by all of them, they all knew he held a face of pride. WeiQi subconsciously put one up as well at this wholesome sight. Altogether, there was an incredible feeling within all of them.

    A finale before they head their separate ways for the foreseeable future.

    A remembrance until another chance may come where they crossed paths again.

    A promise for perseverance whenever chaos intrudes; they can count on one another.

    HuaYan eventually let them all go, satisfied with his physical affection shown.

    ¡°Our coordinates are still the same as before, so don¡¯t worry about your current messenger birds, got it?¡±

    ReZhui, having recovered the fastest from that, obligately answered back.

    ¡°Yes, Big Brother Wei and Big Sister Tian.¡±

    He saluted back.

    ¡°Thank you for stopping by.¡±

    ¡°Have a safe trip home!¡±

    ¡°Pleasant nights ahead, Seniors.¡±

    ShiYan and Eddisson voiced their farewells respectively.

    ¡°...¡±

    Lightly patting him on the back, WeiQi sincerely asked.

    ¡°...!¡±

    ¡°Getting tearful, are we?¡±

    ¡°...N-not at all!¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    HuaYan put up his face.

    ¡°Aha, nothing really. It¡¯s just that¡­the hotel rooms won¡¯t book themselves.¡±

    ¡°...I see. Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Aren''t the last words your gig?¡±

    ¡°...I¡¯m drunk.¡±

    He blushed a little.

    ¡°...! Ahahaha¡­Alright then.¡±

    WeiQi waved both her hands, swaying them vigorously from side to side.

    ¡°ShiYan, Eddisson, ReZhui, thank you so much for the dinner! HuaYan and I will be taking our leave now. Sweet dreams!¡±

    And after a few more unexpected minor back and forths, the trio, under the lumination of moonlight, finally lowered their waving hands at the sight of the distant dark outline of the burly scholar and his petite partner. In the backdrop of the empty street, they strolled hand in hand, and never looked back.