"I knew that something was wrong with you, so I waited for you to come to me. You always come to me with problems you needed help with. Why... Why didn't you come to me, Yī Diǎn? You know of my love for you, and you know there is no limit to how far I will go if there is anything you need. So Why Yī Diǎn? Why?" Wǔ Qiáng Jié asked his nephew in a voice full of utter heartbreak, agony, and grief.

He wasn't upset with his nephew at all. He just felt that there was somewhere he went wrong. If his nephew, whom he treasured more than his own life, couldn't trust him enough to come to him when he needed help. Then there must have been something he unknowingly did to lose his nephew's trust. Those were the thoughts in his mind as he looked beseeching at his nephew, waiting for an answer. His brain just couldn't understand how he lost the trust of his treasured and beloved nephew.

"I thought I could convince him, uncle. I was so focused on trying to convince him I lost sight of the bigger picture, and then I ran out of time." Wǔ Yī Diǎn said through his tears of remorse and regret.

A low groan of sorrow rippled through the nearby warriors upon hearing Wǔ Yī Diǎn's words. It made them understand his actions. Although his action helped to shield a traitor, it wasn't deliberate. He was trying to convince his friend. How could the saddened warriors not know that Wǔ Yī Diǎn was not the type of person to easily give up on a friend without first doing all that he could? Sadly the situation didn't allow for the time he needed to compel his friend.

"Haven't I taught you that even the emperor seeks the council of his counselors and officials at times. There are some problems that are too big for one person to handle. When facing those problems trying to solve them on your own can bring harm to not only yourself but also those around you." Wǔ Qiáng Jié said in a voice of such overwhelming grief.

"I'm sorry, uncle. I failed you and all the uncles. I'm sorry. I promise I will carry your teaching with me always. In my next life, I promise I would be more diligent and not fail." Wǔ Qiáng Jié closed his eyes against the anguish and pain that encompassed his heart. All he could think was that his nephew didn't answer the question of why he didn't come to him. He tried hard to think of what he did wrong that caused him to lose his nephews' trust. However, he could think of nothing.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

What Wǔ Qiáng Jié failed to realize was that just as he would do anything to protect his nephew. His nephew also would do anything to protect him. Under the misguided thought of protecting his uncle from the taint of his friend's treasonous actions. He never confided in his uncle as he normally would. It wasn't that this nephew lost faith or trust in him. It was that his nephew had wished to protect his brave, courageous, and devoutly loyal uncle from the taint of treason.

"Thank you, uncle, for raising me until now. You've been a mother and father, a brother and a best friend. You and the uncles gave me so much love that although I am an orphan, I never once felt as if I was lacking. I am sorry I didn't follow your teachings more closely." Wǔ Yī Diǎn said and bowed to his uncle. However, hearing his nephew's words made the pain in Wǔ Qiáng Jié's heart explode. Wǔ Qiáng Jié doubled over in pain, clutching his chest as agony ripped through his heart.

Looking up to the warriors that surrounded them, Wǔ Yī Diǎn said, "Uncles I sorry for disappointing everyone and falling short of the teaching everyone so carefully taught me. I thank you for your love and care. Many of you treated me better than you treated your own children. Never forgetting about me and always bring me the best gifts from outside. I am very sorry for breaking everyone's heart and not living up to your teaching."

The young man kowtowed to the warriors that stood around him and his uncle. "Please watch over my uncle for me." Not a warrior surrounding the uncle and nephew pair could contain the tears that leak from their eyes. They all help to raise the young boy that was now bidding farewell in one of the most horrible and painful ways.

"Aiya Yī Diǎn" Wǔ Qiáng Jié grasped his chest trying to contain the physical pain that ripped through his heart. "You're breaking my heart." he gasped out in a hoarse, raspy voice. His nephew farewell caused grief, torment, and agony to ripped through his heart as he bent over clutching at his chest in pain. He missed when Wǔ Yī Diǎn reached over, grabbed one of the butterfly swords Wu Qiáng Jié wore on his waist, and ran himself through with it.