《Finding My Way Home》


 Prologue

    A silhouette crashed through the thicket. Branches grabbed at the clothing of the shadow as it desperately tried to flee.


    "Catch her! Don''t let her escape!" A voice bellowed over the chaos as a mob of torchlights and swords forged into the dark gloomy forest with a thunderous roar of rage.


    "Kill her! Kill her!" The mob chanted as it merrily hunted down its prey. I can''t let them win! I can''t let them win! she thought to herself; her heart was beating fast as her lungs desperately gasped for breath.


    Her lungs were about to give out any minute. I''m almost at the clearing. Just... need... to... make... it... With the last of her energy, she launched herself into the clearing, stumbled, and fell, exhausted.


    "Quick! Surround her!"


    In less than a minute, she faced a wall of hatred on all three sides. The men all had weapons in their hands: swords and whips ready to be used. The torches flickered as they all stood there, staring at her with hatred and glee. A young man then stepped out from the crowd. He had broad shoulders and had an ugly scar across his left eye. His mouth turned upwards in a jeering smile. His eyes showed a wildness and fierceness as he clenched his teeth. "You traitor! Death be to those who betray Zhen! You deserve to die!" he bellowed angrily.


    The crowd burst into a roar, "KILL THE TRAITOR! KILL THE TRAITOR! KILL THE TRAITOR!" It went on like a never-ending cycle for two minutes straight when suddenly, the man put up his hand and a hush fell among the crowd. "Zhen has come to kill you, Yue Yang, for attempting to rebel. Your treachery has corrupted your soul! Shame on your family for having a wrench like you! Now, you will face the consequences of your actions!" The man who had spoken earlier


    No one spoke. Crickets sung to each other in the night. The fire from the torch lights flickered uneasily. All clenched their weapons as they waited expectantly.


    "Waaaaa!" A shrill cry broke the silence. The woman looked down tenderly at the baby in her arms and slowly got up. There was a trace of blood on her lips from the branches that had hit her as she fled. Then, slowly, she met his gaze with defiance and slowly stood up. She glanced behind her. The edge was a few steps away. Slowly, she inched her way toward the edge.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "Hand me the Dan Wen," he demanded. She slowly and purposely wiped the blood from her lips. She smiled. Using her forefinger and thumb, she held up a semi-circular yellow piece of jade that hung from her necklace and said , "You mean this? You... are not worthy." It glinted and reflected the torchlights.


    "What?!" he roared.


    "I said, you are not worthy! Only the noblest, the kindest, and the most honorable people deserve to receive it! You are none of those qualities!"


    "Oh? What do you mean, ''I am not worthy?'' Are you blind to all the good I''ve done? Helping the poor, protecting the weak, and looking after my subjects? Of course, I''m worthy!"


    "If that''s true, then why did you have a whole sect of the Chun murdered? Why would you do that if you were good? How many innocent people must die before you stop your madness? How many have to suffer before you''re satisfied?" There was a bitterness in her voice. A cold silence settled among the group.


    "I loved you, Yue Yang. There is no other way. I''ve already explained it to you. Why don''t you listen to me?" he asked softly as all the hatred and rage disappeared from his face. He glanced at the child in her arms. "Yue Yang, please hand me the Dan Wen. If you hand it to me, I won''t kill you. I can take you back to the palace and you can continue to be the Empress. I will make sure to take care of our son and that no harm comes to him. Yue Yang...please..."


    "I once loved you too," Yue Yang replied softly and for a moment, her eyes softened and her shoulders sagged.


    The torch lights continued to flicker.


    Then slowly, understanding seemed to dawn on her for she stood up straight and held her nose up high as if to look down at him. Her eyes hardened. "But that was in the past. He is your flesh and bones. You know in your heart what you tried to do. You hate me. Stop pretending you ever loved me because you are a terrible actor."


    "Actor?" There was a dangerous glint in his eyes. She knew he was close to losing self-control.


    " I used to think I knew who you were and that you truly loved me, but now I realize how much of a fool I was to believe someone like you could actually love others. You just care about your own future and you used me like you used everyone else! The person I loved never existed! I regret ever meeting you!" Her voice rose with passion.


    Sorrow momentarily crossed his face but then hatred slowly replaced it. "Very well," he panted heavily. "I tried to persuade you. But you didn''t listen! Today, you must die!" he screeched as he lunged at her. Suddenly, she felt heat spread over her body and glanced down.


    There was a blade sticking out of her stomach. It was right below the child she was holding in her arms. She stumbled a couple of steps back toward the edge, still clutching her child close to her chest. She looked behind her and without hesitation, leaped backward. Air born, she felt herself plunging into the deep abyss beneath her.


    "NOOOOOO!" she heard a cry as she saw his face for the last time, looming over the edge of the cliff.  His hand was outstretched, but not to her. He was going to lose the Dan Wen. She closed her eyes and smiled bitterly. The baby was wailing.


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    Zhen(ëÞ£©:I, the sovereign, we, typically used by the emperor

 Successful Entry Exam?

    *Luo Xiao Zhao POV*


    "Boy! Get over here now!" The old man yelled as he stormed out of an old wooden house. "I told you to chop this pile of wood! Why isn''t it done?!"


    The boy glanced up from the well he had just pulled water from. It started to snow as the boy strained his eyes toward the man and began to say, "Fath¡ª"


    "Don''t call me your father! Call me Zheng Xia Ning!" He strode over to the boy and towered over him. Raising his hand over his head, he prepared to strike the boy. The boy, who by now was leaning against the full bucket of water that rested on the well''s rim, looked at the old man with fear in his eyes.


    The man''s arm came down. The boy felt a blow to his face, and his head snapped sideways as he dropped to the ground. His vision blurred, and he waited a couple of seconds before they returned to normal. He slowly glanced up at the old man who stood above him, fists clenched. He saw the rage and hatred the old man had for him. It was always like this. The old man would find any excuse to blame him and hit him.


    "Don''t you dare look at me that way!" He kicked the side of the boy''s abdomen hard. An intense pain shot through the boy as he curled up, bracing himself for the worst to come.


    The beating lasted for ten minutes, and by the time he finished, the boy could hardly move.


    "Get up! You idiot! Get up now!" He screamed.


    The boy lay on his stomach. Slowly, he put his two hands palms down on the ground and tried to push his body upwards. He had almost succeeded in lifting himself when he suddenly fell back onto his stomach, too weak to get up.


    "You¡¯re worthless! If I had known you''d be this troublesome, I never would have agreed to take care of you! Humph!" He kicked the boy one last time before storming inside the wooden house.


    The boy lay on the ground with his eyes shut. How did I become so unlucky? He thought to himself as his mind drifted off.


    When he came to himself again, it was already nighttime, and he was still outside. Slowly, he forced himself to get up and dragged himself to a small wooden structure near the back of the house.


    This structure had cracks and holes everywhere, and during long, cold nights such as this one, he would shiver very hard. All he had in the wooden structure was hay for a bed, a wooden basin, and a small candle, which he considered a luxury. He pulled himself onto the hay and wrapped himself in a thin, worn-out blanket. He shivered uncontrollably. "One of these days, I''m going to die. It''s only a matter of time," he thought to himself as he slowly drifted off into a restless sleep.


    ***************************************************


    It was twilight when Zheng Xia Ning burst through the door screaming, "Get up, boy! It''s time for you to cut the wood!" He stomped over to the huddled form lying on the mat and ripped the blanket away. He tossed the blanket to the ground and forcefully yanked the boy up by his arms. The boy moaned.


    "What! Do you think that just because you are hurt, I should pity you? Or do you think I should give you a break? I''m telling you, ungrateful brat, that you are nothing but scum to me! I can get rid of you if I want! Now get up before I do!"


    The boy moaned as he was dragged out of the shack and brought in front of a pile of wood covered by snow. The man let go of the boy who immediately collapsed onto the ground. The man took out his whip and hit the boy. The boy groaned. "I said get up! Get up!" the man bellowed as he beat the boy blow after blow. The boy covered his head and ears as he curled up into a fetal position. Finally, Zheng Xia Ning stopped beating him and tucked the whip between his belt and his body.


    "You better have finished cutting this pile of wood before noon, or else you will have no breakfast," Zheng Xia Ning said as he smiled cruelly.


    The boy was left in the snow and felt relieved as he heard Zheng Xia Ning''s receding steps. After a minute, the boy got onto his knees and reached for the wooden pile. It took a couple of tries before he finally managed to grab the edge of a wooden block. As he attempted to stand up, his body screamed in pain. He felt his stomach splitting open. Despite this, he slowly used one of his arms to pull himself up. He was almost successful when his knees buckled under him. As quick as lightning, his other hand grabbed the wooden ledge, and he stabilized himself. He was standing up now, but barely. His heart was racing wildly, and his breath was shallow.


    Only at this moment did he realize he did not have proper clothing on. Except for a thin white robe, he wore nothing that could block him from the cold. Even knowing this, he knew that retrieving his clothes would be very challenging. Zheng Xia Ning always made sure he suffered as much as possible.


    Shivering violently, he picked up a solid piece of wood but dropped it due to his shaking hands. He tried again and managed to put the wood on the stump of a tree. He bent down, picked up an equally frozen ax, lifted it over his head, and brought it down. The wood split, and he made a new pile of split wood on the ground next to him.


    I hate him! I hate him! With each strike of the ax on the wood, he hit harder and harder despite his muscles protesting in pain. With every blow, his resentment towards Zheng Xia Ning grew. Yet every time his resentment surged, he tried to remember the good times he had with the old man when he was younger... It was only mid-morning when he finished. He wiped the sweat off his brow, walked to the door of the main house where Zheng Xia Ning lived, and just stood there waiting, something he had been taught since he was a child.


    "I am done," he called.


    No answer.


    He tried again, "I am finally done."


    Still no answer.


    The boy started to shift back and forth between his two feet and stared at the ground. He was startled when he heard the front door squeak open and slam shut. He furtively glanced up.


    There stood Zheng Xia Ning. His hands clenched, his feet apart, and his shoulders tensed. He shot his hand to his left, where he grabbed a neatly folded pile of clothing on the porch''s railing. Then, throwing them on the steps covered in snow in front of the boy, he sneered, "Get changed. Come back when you are done. I have a task for you."


    The boy gingerly bent down and picked up the clothing. He looked up only to find that Zheng Xia Ning was no longer standing on the porch. He headed back to his shack.


    The boy grabbed a basin and went to the well to fetch some water. He held the rope tied to one end of the pail and dropped the pail down the deep hole. It took a few minutes before he heard it hit the water with a splash. He held the rope and pulled on it as he slowly lifted the pale toward him. Taking the pail filled with water, he tipped the pail towards the basin. Water came rushing out of the pale, and the basin overflowed. Water flowed down the well''s rim and onto the icy ground. The boy was unaware of this, however, and was concerned only with bringing the basin back to his shack.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Once there, he washed his hands and face with icy water, which made him shiver. He quickly put on the second layer of clothing, which consisted of long, flowing sleeves that hung down from his arms. He pulled the remaining cloth from his left shoulder toward his right waist. Then, he used a strong piece of felt to tie the loose end of the fabric to his waist.


    Finally dressed, he stepped out of his shack and stared at the ground as he walked toward the wooden house.


    Once at the front of the porch, he stopped and stood there, waiting for Zheng Ning Xia to come out. It was an hour more before he finally did.


    "You''re out. Here''s your food, dog," Zheng Ning Xia said as he set a cold bowl of rice on the porch. The boy climbed on all fours toward the bowl of food, for he knew that to see him like that was one of Zheng Ning Xia''s delights. He remembered that the first time Zheng Ning Xia had set a cold bowl of rice on the floor, he had tried to walk toward the food only to be hit on the legs and screamed at. He was told he had to crawl on all fours to get the food and eat like a dog if he wanted to eat at all. The boy loathed Zheng Ning Xia, but where else could he go? No one would be willing to take him in. The first couple of times he ran away from home, he had tried to find someone who would take him in. But each time he met someone, they would immediately return him to Zheng Ning Xia, who immediately beat him. From then on, the boy had no choice but to do as Zheng Ning Xia demanded.


    The boy had just finished eating when Zheng Ning Xia spoke gruffly, "Today is Tuesday. Go to the market and buy some supplies." He handed the boy some metal coins that had square holes in them.


    The boy merely nodded and got up. He picked up a wooden basket and strapped it onto his back. Then he made his way down the mountain to the little town that sat at the bottom of the mountain.


    It was a treacherous journey. The mountain was very steep and in many places, the water had frozen. If he were not careful enough, he might have tumbled over the edge of the mountain and perished. Fortunately, he knew his steps very well and reached the bottom of the mountain in only three hours.


    It was spring in the town. The boy lived on the boundary between the spring country and the winter country. He always enjoyed going to town because he liked spring much better than the all year winter up in the mountains. The marketplace was bustling with all kinds of noises. Wooden carts of loaded goods lined the street made from cobblestone. Sellers called to by-passers as they tried to attract customers to their goods.


    The boy stopped by his usual fish stand. Madam Ming greeted him with a smile. "Oh, it''s my favorite buyer: Luo Xiao Zhao! I saved the biggest fish for you today! I knew you''d come! How are you? I didn''t see you last week!" She showed him the big fish she had saved for him and started to gut it.


    "Good morning Madam Ming! Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I''ve been doing pretty well. I was just a little busy last week and couldn''t come. How is business going?"


    "It''s going very well! It''s been especially busy today."


    "By the way, I noticed that today, there seems to be more people passing by. Do you know why that is?" Luo Xiao Zhao asked.


    "I heard that a bunch of Jing bandits were causing lots of trouble in the south and were looting and burning lots of people''s houses. All these people are passing through this area hoping to get to the north where it is safer," she replied as she continued to gut the fish.


    "These bandits are so heartless! What is the government doing about the whole situation?"


    "The government is very powerless in the south because they are underfunded."


    "Why isn''t the emperor doing anything?"


    "I believe he wants to send money but the situation down there is too dangerous. I guess he is just waiting for the right time. Here''s your fish," Madam Ming said as she handed the fish to Luo Xiao Zhao.


    "Thank you, Madam Ming! Have a great day!" He called as he walked away.


    "You too Luo Xiao Zhao!" She called back.


    He stopped by a bread stand next. As he was paying for the bread, he overheard two men talking as they were served food.


    "Hey, did you hear the news?" One guy asked.


    "No. What news?" The other replied.


    The guy glanced around then lowered his voice saying, "I heard that an expert in martial arts is coming to town today."


    "Really? It''s been a while since an expert has come to this small town."


    "I know right? It''s been years since any expert in martial arts has been willing to come. He''s not just passing by though, he is recruiting people to join his sect! I heard that he just appeared in Jiang Hu not long ago and has beaten martial arts masters all over Jiang Hu."


    "Wow! Really?! He must be very skilled! Too bad we don''t really have martial artists here that he can challenge."


    "He isn''t here to fight anyone."


    "I know, but it would''ve been exciting to see a fight."


    "I agree. It''s been a while since the town had this much excitement."


    "Excuse me, sirs," Luo Xiao Zhao interjected. "You said that this skilled master is one of the best in Jiang Hu? Do you know how I can become one of his disciples?"


    "Indeed. He is one of the best in Jiang Hu. I believe that you have to pass a specific exam to become his disciple. The exam is to be held in the town hall," the first man replied.


    "Thank you, sirs. I shall take my leave now," he said as he clasped his hands in front of him and bowed to them. They bowed back.


    If I can learn martial arts and become well known in Jiang Hu, then I can escape from that horrible man, Luo Xiao Zhao thought to himself as he headed toward the center of town.


    The town hall was single-leveled and took the shape of a hexagon. It had a balcony surrounded on all sides and with each turn of the building, a rusty-red column stood to attest to the many years it had remained faithful to its people. The walls of the building were made of gray stones carved out of the quarry nearby and the roof was made up of glazed tiles which overlapped each other. Where the ends of the roof met, the tiles curved into an upward fashion.


    At present, there was an old man with a white beard who sat at a desk in front of the wide doors. He had his feet propped on the desk as he leaned on the back legs of the chair. There was a piece of grass sticking out of his mouth. A hat woven from grass covered his eyes as he rocked back and forth on his chair.


    Luo Xiao Zhao stepped up to the platform, quietly strode to the front of the desk, and observed the man for a minute before speaking, "Sir?"


    As soon as the man heard Luo Xiao Zhao, he leaped into the air, spat out the grass and whisked his hat off. "I promise you, I wasn''t sleeping. I was only¡ª" The man suddenly stopped mid-sentence upon seeing Luo Xiao Zhao. He scowled. "Oh it''s only you," he said as he settled down into his chair and prepared to put the hat back on his face as he tried to go back to sleep.


    "Wait," Luo Xiao Zhao stopped the man''s arm that held the hat.


    The man glared at Luo Xiao Zhao and shook the arm he held.


    "Oh," Luo Xiao Zhao said awkwardly as he let go of the man.


    The old man coughed. "What do you want?"


    "I want to take the exam."


    "Do you have a tablet with your name on it?"


    "I needed one for those?"


    "What did you think? Wang Shi Fu is an expert. Not just anyone can enter the exam."


    "Are there other ways for me to get in?"


    "No. There aren''t," the man dismissed Luo Xiao Zhao, clearly annoyed as he tried to put the hat on his face once again.


    "Well, could you at least give it a thought before turning me down?!" Luo Xiao Zhao violently slapped the man''s hat away.


    "Hey!" The old man yelped. "Don''t you have any respect for your elders? What did your parents teach you? You disrespectful child!"


    "You don''t know my parents. You have no right to even mention them! Besides, it''s not up to you to decide what my parents teach me," Luo Xiao Zhao replied as he pushed the basket of tablets off the desk and rested his left foot on the desk.


    "You¡ª" the old man fumed.


    "What''s going on here?" A new voice broke in.


    Luo Xiao Zhao jerked his head up and his jaw dropped.


    ??????????????????????????????

 Shi Fus Lesson

    *Luo Xiao Zhao POV*


    A young man dressed in white stood in front of him. The right man''s arm was folded in front of his stomach as long sleeves hung off his arm. His other arm he held behind his back as he stood straight and tall with elegance. He had a small bun that was decorated with a metal band and stuck up from his head as the rest of his long, white hair flowed down his back. More than anything, he looked more like a scholar than a martial artist. His hands were white, soft, and delicate. They didn''t seem like hands fit for fighting.


    Luo Xiao Zhao took his foot off the desk and started to walk toward the newcomer. However, the old man quickly intercepted his path and held up his arm as a means to block Luo Xiao Zhao from getting closer.


    "Well, Wang Shi Fu, this boy tried to barge into the building without a name tablet. I told him he couldn''t and so he threw a fit," explained the old man.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Wang Shi Fu asked as he eyed Luo Xiao Zhao carefully.


    "Yes! Yes!" The old man said hurriedly.


    "I was asking him. Not you. Answer me, is that true?" Wang Shi Fu asked as he turned to Luo Xiao Zhao.


    Luo Xiao Zhao only studied his shoes.


    "Forget it. Let him enter," Wang Shi Fu ordered.


    "What? But he¡ª"


    "I said let him enter. Don''t make this hard," Wang Shi Fu said firmly.


    The old man looked down and sighed. Reluctantly, he let his arm fall to his side.


    Luo Xiao Zhao looked at the old man smugly as he passed him.


    "What is your name?" the man asked.


    "My name is Luo Xiao Zhao. Thank you for accepting me," Luo Xiao Zhao said as he clasped his hands in front of himself and prepared to bow as a sign of respect. However, as he was about to bow, Wang Shi Fu reached his hands out and took hold of Luo Xiao Zhao''s arm and stopped him. He said, "No need to bow to me yet. I am not yet your teacher. I only allowed you to take the exam. Bow to me later after you pass my exam."


    Luo Xiao Zhao let his arms drop to his side as he said, "You''re right. You''re right. I am still not your disciple but don''t worry. I will soon be." He smiled and entered the building.


    Wang Shi Fu looked up to see an onlooking crowd. "What are all of you looking at? Get back to your work. There''s nothing to see here."


    "That''s right! Go back to work," the old man yelled as the crowd started to disperse.


    Wang Shi Fu sighed and headed back inside, closing the door behind him.


    Luo Xiao Zhao entered the building to find himself in a spacious room made of white stone. In front of him were lines of tables occupied by dozens of people. By now, there was a low buzz in the room as the potential disciples talked among themselves and wondered where the Shi Fu had gone. Luo Xiao Zhao scanned the room and found an empty table near the back corner of the room. He slowly made his way towards it and once he reached it, sat down cross-legged.


    When he looked up, he found Wang Shi Fu at the front of the room. He cleared his throat and said, "Let us continue the examination. As I was saying, the exam will have three parts: a writing part, a reading part, and a chance for you to show your skills in martial arts. Now let us continue. I have sheets of paper up front which I will give to you all. I am sure that most of you had brought your writing brush which¡ª"


    "I thought you were testing to see our skills! Not our reading and writing ability!" A voice protested loudly.


    "He''s right! Why are you giving us such a useless exam?" Another voice chimed in.


    Then suddenly, dozens of people were talking at once.


    From nearby, Luo Xiao Zhao heard one say, "Is he really a Shi Fu? Maybe he doesn''t know what he''s doing!"


    "That can''t be right! Isn''t he the world-renowned martial artist Wang Jing Ling? He must have his reasons," another replied.


    By now the confusion and the chatter was at its peak when suddenly a voice thundered, "Silence!"


    It instantly grew quiet. There was a heaviness in the air and an intensity that no one dared to break because Wang Shi Fu had spoken.


    As if surprised himself, Wang Shi Fu looked around awkwardly and when he realized everyone was staring at him, he cleared his throat uneasily. "Everyone, please. There is no need to get this loud over an exam. If any of you have qualms about my testing method that is fine. Just remember that the door is right there for any of you with complaints. You may take your leave," he said smoothly as he lifted his arms and pointed toward the direction of the door.


    There was a stillness in the air. It was so uncomfortable that a couple of people started to squirm. Then suddenly, a man stood up and declared, "Fine. I don''t even want to be a part of your sect. Who would want to when you ask them to do useless tasks?" The man marched away, leaving the remaining people to make their decisions.


    "What he says does make sense," someone concurred.


    "I bet I can get into other, more well-established sects than this sorry attempt in creating one," another said.


    Slowly, one by one, people left until only half of the original number of people remained.


    Wang Shi Fu, during this whole ordeal, did not flinch at all but instead just stood there stoically. When everyone who wanted to leave left, he finally turned his eyes toward the remaining group of students.


    "You all still want to stay?" He asked.


    The students exchanged glances and finally, Luo Xiao Zhao spoke up. "Wang Shi Fu, if we don''t follow you, who else would we follow?"


    At this, the students started to agree.


    "Who else would we follow? No one else would be willing to teach us," a short stout boy said.


    "Yes. Yes. What he says is right," a tall slim boy agreed.


    A silence followed then, and for a minute, Wang Shi Fu said nothing as he looked at the ground. Finally, he looked up and said, "Well if this is the case, please take out your brushes and ink pads."


    He started to pass out the thin pieces of paper.


    The piece of paper felt soft and fine to Luo Xiao Zhao who had never touched anything so smooth in his life. Luo Xiao Zhao started to look around to see if he could borrow a brush from someone.


    By now, Wang Shi Fu was pacing around as he spoke, "I want you all to write a poem about springtime. Try to convey your feelings and thoughts on this season. Try to be as detailed as possible. Now I will stop talking and let you all start." With that, he went to his desk and sat down behind it as he kneeled and sat on the back of his legs. He picked up a brush and started to write.


    Luo Xiao Zhao was getting desperate but on neither side of his table did he see someone who would lend him a brush. On his right side was a boy about 16 years old. Although he had a brush and could have been writing, he was instead playing with a red string as he tossed it around and wound it around his fingers again and again. Luo Xiao Zhao was not interested in getting to know this crazy boy and didn''t bother to. Then Luo Xiao Zhao glanced to his left and saw a boy around 18 with black hair flowing down his back. He had a cold blank expression as he focused on the test. Luo Xiao Zhao could instantly tell the boy was from a respected family. He had clean white clothes that didn''t have a single crease in them and he wore an emblem of a lion made of metal on his forehead. He was currently focusing all his attention on the task at hand. Luo Xiao Zhao, upon seeing his choices, immediately chose the boy on his right side.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Hey," he whispered to the boy who was intrigued by the red string.


    No reply.


    "Hey," he called a little louder.


    At this, the boy looked up. "What?" He said not quietly.


    Luo Xiao Zhao nervously glanced toward the Shi Fu who didn''t seem to hear.


    "What''s your name?"


    "What?!" He asked so loudly that his voice echoed in the room. At this, Wang Shi Fu looked up and tried to find the culprit who had just spoken. Luo Xiao Zhao used his arm to support his head as he turned his head away.


    "Why are you talking, Li Zheng Shao?" Wang Shi Fu asked in an authoritative tone.


    "I..." Li Zheng Shao glanced at Luo Xiao Zhao but seeing no help offered, resolved to stare at the paper in front of him.


    "No more talking or else you will be disqualified," Wang Shi Fu warned.


    The boy on his right didn''t look at Luo Xiao Zhao the whole time. Luo Xiao Zhao knew that his time was running out so in a desperate attempt, he turned to the boy on his left.


    "Hey," Luo Xiao Zhao called.


    The boy didn''t respond to the call.


    "Hey," Luo Xiao Zhao tried again.


    Then the boy suddenly spoke, "Wang Shi Fu, the boy sitting by me is disturbing me. Could you please punish him?"


    "You¡ª" Luo Xiao Zhao said indignantly as he felt his face flush.


    "Why are you bothering him, Luo Xiao Zhao? Didn''t I warn you that anyone who speaks during the exam will be disqualified?" Wang Shi Fu questioned.


    "Wang Shi Fu, I just wanted to ask for a brush to start the exam," explained Luo Xiao Zhao.


    "You came in unprepared. You shouldn''t expect others to make up for your mistake now, should you?"


    "I didn''t know I needed a writing brush. I thought the exam was only on the usage of martial arts."


    "Is it your first time taking an exam?"


    Luo Xiao Zhao looked around with uncertainty. "What do you mean?"


    "Is this your first time attending an exam?"


    "Yes."


    "Since it is your first time, I won''t fault you for your mistake. If you had taken other exams, you would have known to be prepared for anything. That includes bringing a writing brush and paper," Wang Shi Fu sighed. "You can take my writing brush," he said as he picked up the brush and held it out.


    Luo Xiao Zhao stood up and walked toward the front of the room. He felt all the students'' eyes on him as he did so. When he finally reached the front and gently took the brush from Wang Shi Fu. He bowed slightly and Wang Shi Fu nodded. Luo Xiao Zhao took his leave and quickly retreated to his desk.


    At his desk, his heart beat quickly. He forced his breath to slow down and concentrated on the task at hand. Fortunately, he knew how to write. If not for his determination and secrecy in learning how to write, he would not have been able to pass the exam. His caretaker had forbidden him to learn how to write, claiming Luo Xiao Zhao wasn''t smart enough to learn. Luo Xiao Zhao wanted to prove Xia Ning wrong and so he rebelled. He would steal some of the wooden bamboo scrolls Xia Ning had and would teach himself to read at night. He remembered once, he got caught, and in a fit of rage, Xia Ning refused to give him food for three days and nights. On the second day without food, Luo Xiao Zhao was sent to buy food in town. When he arrived at the town, however, he felt weak and collapsed on the ground. He thought he was going to die, but fortunately he met an elderly woman who gave him some food. This woman was Madam Ming.


    From that day onwards, Luo Xiao Zhao promised himself that he would always buy fish from her stand to show her his gratitude.


    Now as Luo Xiao Zhao focused on writing, his hand wrote the characters gracefully as if they had a mind of their own. He could tell that the tip of the brush he was using was made from the fur of the fox which happened to be one of the best brushes anyone could afford. He had only written one page when Wang Shi Fu spoke. "Alright everyone, put down your brush."


    Everyone did as they were told.


    Wang Shi Fu stood up and started to pace around the front of the room as he started his lecture, "Look at this." He said as he held up his own piece of paper he had been writing on. "I want you all to take the piece of paper you were just writing on and hold it up like I am now."


    Everyone followed his example as they held up their paper with one hand.


    "Now I want you to do this," he said as he suddenly crumpled the paper to everyone''s dismay.


    "Shi Fu, why do you want us to crumple the paper up? If we crumple it up, then you won''t be able to grade us on our work," a voice to Luo Xiao Zhao''s right protested.


    "You''re right," Wang Shi Fu agreed. "But I have my different reasons. Do you trust me enough to do as I ask?"


    Wang Shi Fu looked around the room with his piercing gaze and made eye contact with Luo Xiao Zhao who squirmed in his chair. He felt soul naked in front of Wang Shi Fu''s gaze and quickly broke eye contact.


    There was a hesitation among the group until one boy, about the age of 17, declared, "I will crumple my paper. Wang Shi Fu has his reasons and if we are to become his disciples, we must learn to trust him. As a sign of my trust, I will now crumple my paper." He put the paper in his palm and crumpled it.


    The rest of the group followed suit and the crumpling of paper could be heard throughout the room. After it was done, everyone waited breathlessly for Wang Shi Fu to speak.


    Wang Shi Fu looked pleased as he smiled. "Well done everyone. You have all passed the first test. For a sect to be established, the disciples must learn how to trust their leader, and all of you, have just demonstrated that to me. However, I have another reason I had you crumple your paper. I wanted you all to know that what is written on the paper ultimately does not matter. It is the process that matters. Think of it this way, when you were writing each stroke, were you aware of the impact each stroke of the brush had on the overall message? No? Yet each stroke is very important in making the message clear. If you accidentally add or forget a stroke here or there, you could change the character and thus the meaning of the whole message. This is true not only in the world of literature but also in the world of martial arts. Each move you make is very impactful. With each move, like the stroke of the brush, you can either save people or hurt people. Martial arts are used not only to kill, but to protect."


    There was a short pause then Wang Shi Fu suddenly said, "Alright. That concludes the writing section of the exam. Let us go on to the next section which is the reading section. I will hand you bamboo scrolls for you to read. Afterward, I will ask you some questions."


    Wang Shi Fu took a pile of bamboo slips and passed them down.


    The bamboo scroll was made of pieces of bamboo that were smoothened and bound together by a throng. On each slip of bamboo, a narrow vertical column of about twelve characters existed. The scroll felt cool in the hands of Luo Xiao Zhao and brought delight to his fingers. As he read, he found characters he didn''t know. Based on the context of the passage, he figured out the main ideas conveyed. At length, Wang Shi Fu interrupted the silence. "Let us begin answering the questions."


    Wang Shi Fu asked a series of questions based on the passage such as "What sect invented the wheel," "What does each sect value," "Which sects are the biggest," and "Which are the smallest?" For each question, multiple hands went up and then Wang Shi Fu would pick someone to answer. If they got it right, he would congratulate them. If they got it wrong, he would gently correct them.


    At last, he no longer asked questions based on the passage but instead asked, "Now that we have gone through the reading and the questions, do you know what the purpose of this drill was?"


    Everyone looked at each other puzzled.


    "I wanted to test your ability to comprehend the task given to you. As you read, you had to learn to comprehend the words written in front of you. In Jiang Hu, the world of martial arts, it is important to comprehend the consequences of your actions as well as the situation you are facing. Without proper comprehension, Jiang Hu could be thrown into chaos and many people would suffer. I hope that you all want to learn martial arts for the right reasons and not for fame."


    Pause.


    "Now let us go out and finish the last portion of the test. Please follow me," Wang Shi Fu said as he led the way out.


    The group followed him.


    He led them to a small clearing in the forest nearby. After the group had gathered around him, he spoke, " The last test is simple. I want you all to try to beat me in a match." There was a smile on his lips.


    At this, the group murmured among themselves.


    "He''s skilled in martial arts. How come he asks us to best him in a fighting match?" someone asked.


    "I know right? His standards are way too high," another responded.


    Then a voice rose above the clamor and everyone stopped talking.


    "Fine! If you insist on fighting, I will!" A tough-looking boy beside Luo Xiao Zhao declared as he pulled out his sword and charged.


    In a flash, Wang Shi Fu whipped out his sword and they instantly clashed.


    The boy went for the feet of the Shi Fu but the Shi Fu flew into the air and continued to spin horizontally, instantly putting the boy on defense as he tried to block the blows of the Shi Fu.


    Then the Shi Fu landed and they continued to spar. A jab there. A Dodge here. It went on for a minute. Then, with a firm and quick flick of the wrist, Wang Shi Fu disarmed the boy and his sword flew out of his hand and landed vertically on the ground. The boy tried catching his breath as he bent over gasping.


    Wang Shi Fu sheathed his sword and said confidently, "Anyone else wants to give it a try?"


    No one dared.


    Wang Shi Fu sighed. "Very well. To be honest, this was not a test of martial arts but a test of courage. What is your name?" he turned toward the boy he had just fought.


    "Li An," he replied.


    "Li An fought me despite knowing he would lose. That''s courage: to do what is necessary even when you already know the results. He also showed no fear when he fought me despite having a strong opposition. That is a good quality to have. Well done, Li An," he paused. Then continued, "That is all for today. Tomorrow, I will reveal who has passed the test by putting a notice on the town board. Thank you all for your time. Goodbye."


    He walked away.


    The remaining people started to disperse, murmuring amongst themselves.


    Luo Xiao Zhao hesitated a bit longer before finally chasing after Wang Shi Fu.


    ??????????????????????????????

 The Mission

    *Quan Mo Ran POV*


    A high-ranking feudal official started on his way home late one night. He had been busy the whole day and had to stay late to finish reporting criminal cases. Having realized how late he would stay at the Ya Men, he ordered his right-hand man to return home without him.


    The official walked down the cobblestone road and whistled as he enjoyed the quietness of the night. By now, the streets were empty and void of life. The wind picked up as he passed dark, silent shops. The red lanterns that hung from the shops swayed back and forth unsteadily. The feudal official pulled his robe tighter around him as the wind became stronger. Tonight, the moon was shining brightly with no signs of clouds. He felt his neck hairs stand up, and he stiffened.


    Someone was watching him.


    Trying to act nonchalant, he kept walking. He glanced to the side and saw a shadow following him a couple paces back.


    Pushing down his nervousness, he asked, "Why are you following me?"


    There was no answer.


    The feudal official slowly turned around. He came face to face with a cold, black mask shaped like cat eyes. Except for the man''s menacing black eyes and his mouth, his facial features were entirely covered.


    "W-who are you?" The official stuttered.


    The man''s lips cracked into a malicious smile. "I''m one of the innocent souls you killed! I''ve come for revenge!" With that, the man stabbed the official in the stomach. Blood spurted on the walls.


    *************************************************************


    A shadow walked through the empty cobble streets of Yong Ping City, his black cape fluttering behind him. The figure weaved around the city and made his way to the biggest pleasure house.


    Two stories high with red columns on both sides supporting the porch, it had a big sign that read, Â¥»¨Á«. At the doorway, there were many women who waved him in and reached their hands toward him. He ignored all of them and pushed their hands away.


    Inside the building, there were round tables where men sat and women entertained and served them. In the middle of the room, a group of women who had their faces covered and a thin cloth hanging on their arms, were dancing. Men came here to have fun and become drunk. On the surface, Lian Hua Lou appeared to be just an ordinary brothel, but that is just a cover for something more sinister: a black market.


    The owner of the pleasure house came to greet him. The mysterious figure strode toward the counter while the owner trailed behind him. Once they had arrived, the man went behind the counter. "What can I do for you?"


    The figure barely glanced at the owner as he pulled out a golden metal card with a black character ''Íõ''on it. The man''s eyes flew open in surprise but he quickly recovered. "This way please." He lifted his arm in front of him to his left side so as to show the figure the way.


    "Stay there," the figure ordered. "No need to walk me there. I know my way."


    "As you wish," the owner bowed.


    The dark figure walked to the back of the building where a room was prepared. The room was set apart for people who wanted to do black business. The figure entered a room that had a marble table and chairs made of deep colored wood. On the table was a pot of tea and some small round cups placed on a tray. Behind the table sat a man who had an unkempt, long brown beard with different colored beads woven into it. His hair, likewise, was woven into many braids with beads in them and tied into one high ponytail at the back of his head. He wore a strip of animal fur from his right shoulder to his left thigh. The man was surrounded by a group dressed much like he was.


    Throwing a round object wrapped in cloth on the table in front of the group, the object landed with a thump. "There''s the human head you wanted," the figure said as he pointed at it. The man at the table immediately opened the cloth bag and there, soaked in blood, was a head. He smiled as he closed up the cloth bag. "I''ve heard of your reputation. Today I can attest that your name is well deserved! It is no wonder that you are hailed as Lian Hua Lou''s best assassin!"


    "If there is nothing else you want me to do, give me my money and I''ll take my leave," the figure said bluntly.


    The man at the table leaned forward on his elbows as he observed the figure. Finally, he nodded to the man on his right, "Nian Sang, hand him the money."


    "Yes," Nian Sang said as he dutifully took the bag of coins from his pocket and carried it to the figure. The figure picked up the bag of coins, tossed it into the air and caught it. The bag of coins jingled as they landed in his hand. The figure smirked and walked away.


    The man at the table called, "Nice doing business with you, Yang Hao Ran. Hou hui you qi." I hope we meet again.Yang Hao Ran merely walked away and started on his way home.


    Outside, it was just as empty as it had been when he first came. In the east, rays of sunlight were just coming over the horizon as the sky turned from a dark blue color to a bright pink. Dawn was coming and he had better hurry home before his younger sister, Quan Rui Ming, woke up. To her, he was just Quan Mo Ran, her older brother, but to the rest of the world, he was Yang Hao Ran, the cruelest and coldest killer in Jiang Hu. If she knew where and whom he had visited, she would be worried. The last thing he needed was for his younger sister to worry about him.


    Heading northwest of the city, Quan Mo Ran walked down a couple small alleys and weaved through the maze-like city until he stood in an alley. Facing the thick wall which was built around the city that protected the people from invasion, he felt the rough wall for the mechanism. If he had a choice, he would not have chosen to go this way out of the city and would have rather left through the big gates located in the south eastern side of the city. But he wasn''t able to. At this time, the gates were still closed which ensured that no one could get in or out. The route he was currently taking was a common route that only people associated with the black market would know. This hidden doorway allowed people to go in and out of the city unhindered or detected and was useful when dealing with black business. After feeling for the mechanism for a minute, he finally felt the slight bump in the wall. It was so slight that an onlooker would not have noticed it. Pushing the bump in the wall, he took a step back. Through the dimness, he saw a black object swing open and reveal a narrow path on which both sides grew wild grass. After stepping through, the gate closed behind him. He was left in the wilderness.


    He started his journey home and had been walking for a bit when the sun''s soft golden rays started to dye everything around him in a golden light. He was in a beautiful lush forest and was just enjoying the bird sounds and the moist smell of the forest, when his ears twitched. Instinctively, he leaped into the air.


    An arrow whizzed through the spot he was stood just a moment ago. He landed on the ground softly and spun around just in time to see a cloaked figure fly at him, palm outstretched. He met the figure''s open palm with his own and an invisible force was felt. Quickly, he turned his hand in a clockwise position and simultaneously swung his other arm underneath the opponent''s wrist, catching the foe off guard. The opponent started to fall backwards. Yang Hao Ran whipped out his dagger and used his qinggong to quickly appear by the opponent''s side. Grabbing the enemy, he brought the dagger to the enemy''s throat and held it there five seconds before letting go and taking a few steps back.


    He knelt down, brought his hands to his chest with one hand holding the other in a fist, and bowed his head. " C¨¡n ji¨¤n Yi Fu," he said.


    "Please rise," the voice commanded.


    "Thank you, Yi Fu," Quan Mo Ran obediently straightened himself.


    "Your martial arts skills have improved," Yi Fu observed.


    "Yi Fu," Quan Mo Ran bowed slightly to show his respect, "Thank you for the compliment. If you have something for me to do, just say so. I would like to get back to Quan Rui Ming as soon as I can." Quan Mo Ran straightened.


    "Quan Mo Ran, why do you assume I have something for you to do?"


    "Could it be that you came here to chat?"


    "Humph. That''s how you view me? Y¨§ b¨¤. Since you want me to get down to business, then I will. Have you ever heard of the Wu Bian Wu Ji?" Yi Fu said as he walked toward Quan Mo Ran.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Yes. I have heard the name in Jiang Hu. The Wu Bian Wu Ji is a treasure beyond comprehension. It is named as the Wu Bian Wu Ji because if it is opened, then the possibilities that can happen are boundless and vast. Though it remains vague as to what kind of possibilities, it is rumored that whoever gathers the four pieces and assembles it, can rule the world. But it''s all just a legend and it can''t be verified," Quan Mo Ran replied.


    "I am here to tell you, the rumors about it are true."


    "Really? How are you so sure?"


    Yi Fu took out a bamboo book from his long sleeve. It was titled, ØÔ°ËÕóÆß. Quan Mo Ran held out his hand to receive it.


    "How did you get this? Didn''t it disappear from Jiang Hu? This is one of the most sacred scripts in the world with many secret arts and techniques that can be used to break any formation. But why are you giving this to me?"


    "I am giving it to you because to open the Wu Bian Wu Ji, you must first break a formation. Indeed, it did disappear from Jiang Hu, but no one knows the dark truth behind its disappearance."


    "And what is the dark truth?"


    At this, a sinister smile spread across Yi Fu''s face. "The things you shouldn''t ask about, don''t ask about."


    "Oh, I see..." Quan Mo Ran rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You want me to break the formation because my ancestors had both the skills and the knowledge."


    "You are indeed smart. But I not only want you to open the formation, I also want you to find the Dan Wen, which is a piece of the Wu Bian Wu Ji."


    "I''m confused. I thought the missing pieces could break the formation."


    "Everyone in Jiang Hu knows the first part of the poem which goes, ''±øȨÄÜÁ¦ÎÕ°ÙÄ꣬µ«»Êʱ´ú±»ÃÉÆ­¡£ÂúÃų­Õ¶Ãð¾Å×壬µ«Ô¸µÈʱ²ÅÄÜÈ롣˭ÄÜΪËûÃÇÉìÔ©£¬Ö»ÍûºóÒáµÃ¹«µÀ¡£ÈôΪ¸÷ÃñÔ¸ÎþÉü£¬¹ú¼Ò´óʱØÓи£.'' The military power has been held for a hundred years, but the royal family has been deceived. The whole Quan family was wiped out to the ninth descendant. Only when one has waited for the right time, can one enter. Who can avenge this wrong? Their only hope is that their descendants can see justice. If they sacrifice willingly for the people, the national affairs will be blessed."


    "Yes, I''ve heard. The Quan royal family held great military power but due to a small error, the emperor was deceived and his whole clan was killed. If the Quan family sacrificed themselves willingly, the world would prosper, but they didn''t, hence the reason why there is tyranny and suffering. However, no one knows what people can enter if they wait for the right time."


    "Yes, you are right. Not many people know because they don''t know the second part to the prophesy :But not many people know the second part, ''ÌìÏÂ̫ƽÐèËı¦£¬´ºÏÄÇﶬ¸÷Ò»µÀ¡£ÈçÒªÓñ¦¿ª²Ö¿â£¬ÐèҪȫ¼Ò¶øÆÌ·¡£'' For world peace, there are four treasures, one each for spring, summer, autumn and winter. If you want to open the treasure warehouse, you need the whole Quan family to pave the way.''"


    Quan Mo Ran clutched his sword but refused to show any emotion and instead asked coldly, "What does this poem have to do with me?"


    "Quan Mo Ran, are you not even curious what the first part means?"


    "Respectfully, Yi Fu, I am slow-witted. Please enlighten me."


    "Didn''t you notice that the character ''Ȩ'' is your last name£¿"


    "There are many last names that sound like that," Quan Mo Ran replied, trying to test the waters.


    "Sure, but there are not many families that have that exact character ''Ȩ'' as their last name, symbolizing power. Do you know about your greatest ancestor?"


    "My ancestor was Quan Kun and he used to be a ruler of the Jing in the autumn region, back when there were four rulers for each season. After the former ruler of the Summer sect, Su Bing Zhou, who was also a Jing ruler, courageously gave up his power to Quan Kun so that the Jings could reunite in the time of war, Quan Kun became the emperor of the Jing and led a war against the two Yan kings: Dong Shan and Shi An Ning. But in the end the Jing lost and became slaves, and my whole family was murdered," Mo Ran said steadily, as if memorizing facts.


    "Do you know why they went to war?"


    "If you want to tell me something, tell me plainly," Quan Mo Ran said pointily.


    "They went to war because the Yan wanted the treasure all for themselves. They set a trap for Yuan Zhi and made the beast go crazy."


    "What for?"


    "If the beast went crazy, they could then claim it was a bad idea to open the treasure. By doing this, they had the perfect excuse to ''keep the pieces safe.'' Then after they gathered all the pieces, they could destroy the Jing and control the world. However, not only did Quan Kun refuse to give them the piece, he also wanted to open the treasure again. If they let him open up the treasure, then their plot would be exposed. Therefore, they purposely angered Quan Kun and made him declare war. Then after the war, they murdered your whole family in the guise of protecting the world from the destructive Jings. In reality, they murdered your whole family in order to take the Sui Shou."


    "What a treacherous...plot," Quan Mo Ran looked at the sky as he gripped his sword tightly. His jaw tightened.


    Quan Mo Ran gripped his sword hilt until his knuckles turned white. He took a deep breath and  forced his hand to relax. Then slowly, he lowered his eyes from the sky to meet Yi Fu''s gaze and said, "I understand. But what does any of this have to do with the poem?"


    Yi Fu closed his eyes and sighed. "After the beast went crazy, Quan Kun, Shi An Ning, and Dong Shan worked together to place a seal on the door of the treasure. This temporarily restricted it. One day, however, the beast broke free, and Quan Kun happened to be nearby. He quickly created a formation and once again trapped the monster.


    The beast is directly connected with the treasure. In order to open the treasure, the beast must also be released. As you are aware, in order to break a formation, the maker or his descendants must personally disable it. Right now, the emperor thinks the limiting factor to opening the treasure is the missing pieces."


    "The current emperor is Shi Ling Chen...who is the descendent of Shi An Ning...If the first seal wasn''t broken...When looking at the situation that way..." Quan Mo Ran closed his eyes and tipped his head toward the sky. "The limiting factor isn''t the only missing pieces...It''s me."


    There was a brief pause.


    "I told you this for your own good. You need to know the truth. I want to work with you so that you can take back what was rightfully yours. Besides, don''t you want to take revenge for your murdered family members? Are you really willing to let your family die just like that? Look around you, look at how the emperor is treating your people. Are you really willing to let them live like rats?"


    Quan Mo Ran gripped his sword hilt tightly. When he opened his eyes, he set his jaw and said, "I will work with you. On two conditions."


    "Oh? Tell me," Yi Fu said.


    "Firstly, you can''t harm my sister in any way while I''m away."


    "That easy? I assure you, no harm shall come to her if you do not go back on your word."


    "Secondly, you have to let me have the throne and the Sui Shou," Quan Mo Ran said.


    Yi Fu rubbed his chin and then replied, "Alright. I can promise you the second condition if you allow me to control your army."


    "Very well. You got yourself a deal. How do I know you won''t go back on your word?"


    "Do you not trust me, Quan Mo Ran?" there was a warning in his voice.


    "Naturally. I was just making sure we came to an understanding," Quan Mo Ran said as he stood in front of Yi Fu. Then eyeing Yi Fu wearily, he said, "Since we are going to work together in the future, could you tell me more about these missing pieces?"


    "There is no reason for you to know everything about the missing pieces."


    "What do you mean it''s not essential for me to know? Since you want me to help you search for the missing pieces, shouldn''t I know more about them?" There was a hint of repressed anger in Quan Mo Ran.


    Yi Fu did not speak. After a moment, he finally replied, "You don''t need to know. I only sent for you to find me the last piece and help me break the formation. As for the other pieces, I have my own plans."


    "But what if¡ª"


    "Don''t question me," Yi Fu warned. "All you need to know is that there were four pieces that were given to the four biggest sects. These sects were located in the north, south, east and west with each sect controlling a different season. However, currently, Emperor Shi An Ning has both the Xue Lu and the Sui Shou, so it would be useless for you to go to those sects. I only need you to find the Dan Wen. From legends, the Dan Wen is said to be a piece of yellow jade that curved slightly inward at both ends with characters engrained on it. It originally belonged to the summer sect, however, 18 years ago, it suddenly disappeared. The last time it was seen was when the former empress, Shi Yue Yang, jumped off a cliff. If I were you, I would start there. I want you to find it and meet at the Wu Bian Wu Ji, which is located at the point where all four seasons meet. In other words, I want to meet you in the heart of this land. Find it for me...or else..."


    "I understand," Quan Mo Ran bent his head and brought his arms to his chest and half-bowed.


    "Very good. You may take your leave," he said with a flick of his hand, and dismissed Quan Mo Ran who straightened and left.


    By the time Quan Mo Ran reached his house, the early morning sun was shining brightly.


    The house had a thatched roof supported by wooden poles and gray stones made up the walls of the rectangular house. Though small, Quan Mo Ran was proud of this little place he called home. He walked over to the well that sat at the center of the clearing and picked up a bucket. Lowering the bucket until he heard a splash, he drew water from the well and placed it in two basins: one for Quan Rui Ming and one for himself.


    He then gingerly carried one basin into the house. Upon entering, he trudged over to the wooden table that sat in the middle of the room and set the basin down. He got a fresh piece of cloth from one of the cupboards and placed it beside the basin. He then tiptoed across the room and peaked into a second, sparsely furnished room.


    There were two beds in the room: one was on his left side and another to his right. The bed frames were made of wood with stuffed straws as the mattresses. At the foot of the right bed, was a closet they both shared. Quan Mo Ran''s bed was to his right, and on top of it, lay his folded blanket. Quan Mo Ran now glanced to his left. His Mei Mei was fast asleep. He smiled to himself. I will come back after I collect the dry seeds we''re sunning outside.


    He exited the house and walked across the yard to a place where pumpkin seeds were drying in flat woven baskets. He bent down to pick up one and had straightened when he heard screaming emit from the house...