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.
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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.