***** Vol.2 Chap.56 An honored guest *****

Ah-Tong was an excellent host. He brought her to his house and introduced her to his family. His wife, Ah-Chu had a broad smile and immediately headed off to the kitchen to cook a midnight snack. She asked Ah-Tong to give her a brief tour of the village. Ah-Tong was always so polite and smiled, although he did not really tell her much more about the village than what she observed with her own eyes. After a delicious snack, Ah-Tong showed her the spare bedroom that used to belong to Ah-Tong’s child.

“Sleep well. You had a long day, and tomorrow will also be a long day.”

“Thank you so much for your kindness. Ah-Tong.”

In spite of all the uncertainty swirling around her mind regarding her life and her future, she slept soundly that night. Indeed, she was tired. She woke up early in the morning. Her first impression was to escape, but she could not bear the guilt of an entire village being slaughtered on her account. But if she went back to the gangsters’ den voluntarily, it was certain death for her and perhaps Jar-Li as well.

The dilemma once more boiled down to her death or the death of the entire innocent village.

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Of course, she rationalized to herself that if she could find the cure, so many people could be helped. But was that because she wanted to save her own life? Could she bear the guilt of sentencing the entire village to damnation? There was no answer. In the end, she decided that the best strategy was to go back to the Boss with one of the villagers and plead her case before the Boss. If it meant her death but salvation to the village, then her death was not in vain.

Besides, she had found the village. She had finished her father’s work.

There was a knock on the door.

“Good morning.” Ah-Tong spoke on the other side of the door.

“Good morning.”

“Breakfast is ready.”

“Oh, thank you. I will be out in a minute.”

She got up and stretched. Still, she was not sure what she should do. As she left the room, she was greeted warmly by Ah-Tong’s family. They sat down and had a nice breakfast.

“The elders wanted me to escort you back to the den and to plead on your behalf. With me as your escort, the gangsters will give you safe passage to the Boss.”

There was a hint of anxiety in his voice.

“What happens after that?”

“I don’t know.”

Anxious but subdued, “OK, I will go with you.”

She thought she detected a sigh of relief.

“Would you like some more tea?”

“Yes, please.”

“Just to satisfy my curiosity, how do you make this tea?”

“The secret ingredient is a rare flower that is only found in a nearby cavern.”

“Do we have time to go visit the cave before we go?”

“Yes, if we hurry.”

“I am ready.”

“Then let’s go.”