“Ying’er,” Chaoxiang called out. “Help me out of the bath.”

Bo Ying jumped up from his seat, dipping his hands into the medicinal bath, splashing the potion-laced water across the floor.

He pulled Master Chaoxiang free, then carried him to his bed, resting him on a thick cloth.

Master Chaoxiang winced when he caressed his chest, right where the Sect Master Uaang Bang of the Thunder Palm Sect-Palace had left his palm print.

“Master.” Ying said, but was waved off.

The pain subsided quickly and Chaoxiang dabbed the cloth around his chest and back.

The strong scent of herbs and arid potions waft in the air, bringing tears and a runny nose to Chaoxiang despite lying in the bath for an half an hour.

Bo Ying dragged the bath barrel through the door with a groan, then spilled the water across the ground like a waterfall flooding off a cliff.

The wind flowed through the door, providing a little coolness for Chaoxiang’s body, who smiled feeling the wind caress his chest.

He rolled his neck and shoulders, alleviating the little stiffness he felt, then smacked his lips, eyeing the chair that was right in front of him. “Do you have something to say Ying’er?” Chaoxiang finally asked.

“I have many things to say, Master.” He answered dryly.

Chaoxiang sighed, shaking his head, as he turned to Bo Ying, raising his hand ushering Ying to the chair in front of him. “I see, Go ahead. Speak.”

Bo Ying bit his bottom lip, then lowered his head. He didn’t speak for three minutes, feeling as though his master was about to rebuke him for what he was about to say, but he didn’t care.

It had to be said.

“Why Master?” He finally asked. “Why did you give that child some of your Qi?”

Feng Chaoxiang’s lips curled into a smile, and he looked to Ying, nodding and pursing his lips. “Is this what has been on your mind for the past two days?”

“Yes, Master...you’ve lost vitality fighting Brother Xing and Su’er. Then, you gave that demon child some of your Qi. You don’t have much longer to live!”

“Bodhidharma light boy, do you think I need that Qi When I am already dying?”

“That’s not the point Master!”

“Oh really….then let me ask you this. What’s the first thing you do when you see a wound?”

“Treat it.”

“Don’t you see the wounds of Xing’er and Su’er’s hearts? Has it not occurred to you, that this might be a way for them to heal?”

“But the child is an Axsumite! That child isn’t something to fix people Master! You know it!” He said firmly, clenching his fist, lowering his head.

“We’ve been here for three months. I’ve tried my best to allieviate your pain. You’ve Ascended to the Qi Perception Realm! I know how hard it was for anyone to ascend to the next realm, but giving away Qi without a second thought. She an Axsumite Master! An Axsumite!”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Chaoxiang appeared in front of Ying. His face snapped right from the back slap he received from his master.

Killing aura sprayed across the room, then Chaoxiang aimed it Bo Ying. “I taught you martial arts boy, I can cripple you in an instant if you speak of the child that way again.”

“GO AHEAD!” Ying shouted, tears forming in his eyes. “It seems you care about it more than you do us. You’ve resigned yourself to death without thought of us!”

“Boy, I am an eighty-six years old. Death has been awaiting me for such a long time. I welcome it, with no regrets.”

“Maste--” Ying tried to say, but was cut off from Chaoxiang with a wave of his hand.

“You know what your problem is Bo Ying? You’re smart, intelligent and have the makings of someone that could do great things for Huaxia. But none of that will matter when you don’t have a caring bone in your body.”

“I CARE Master” He shouted.

“You care for those around you. The ones you deem important, but everyone’s important in their own way.”

“Even Uaang Bang?” Ying said coldly, voice laced in venom.

“I’ve said this before, child. Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to ascend to the Qi Perception Realm. His Thunderous Lightning Strike, allowed me to understand the weaknesses within the Soft Heart Sutra and the Guided Fist. Xing’er, Su’er, Guo’er and even you lad, can have the foundation you need to excel. No. Increase your martial arts prowess. I was never the best martial artist, nor have I ever cared to be, but you four, are destined to be true heroes.”

“BUT MASTER HER PALM STRIKE IS KILLING YOU!”

“Silence Bo Ying! Do you want you want your brother and sister to hear? What did I say before they arrived?”

“Do not let them know why you’re dying.”

“Did you forget what you swore?”

“I have not!”

“Then let this be the last you mention Uaang Bang and the Thunder Palm Sect. Do you understand?”

“Yes Master,” He whispered.

Chaoxiang scoffed a smiled, cupping Ying’s shoulder. “Good, Now listen, Xing and Susu will need your help in the future. I don’t know what it will be, but if they want to protect the child, they will need to be stronger, a lot stronger than what they are right now. Can I trust you to do what’s needed?”

“Yes Master...you can trust me, but if the child is evil. I will strike her down with my hand!” He said.

“Good. It will be my greatest shame to raise someone that would hurt Huaxia. However, if the child is loveable, you are to care for her as your niece...understood?”

“Yes Master, I will try.”

“Don’t try…do it!”

“Master”

“DO IT AND YOU SWEAR BY IT AS WELL!”

“M-M-As,”

“Swear. It. Bo. Ying.” Chaoxiang said, biting each word.

Bo Ying slid from the chair with a boom, knees pressed against the ground. He raised his hands to heaven, fat jiggling around his waist. “I, Bo Ying, swear upon the Heaven and Earth, that if the child that Ban Susu and Zhao Xing would die by my hand if she becomes evil and plans to hurt Huaxia in any way or form.

“However...” Chaoxiang said.

“However, if the child’s heart is filled with love and righteousness. I will love her as my own. As I swear to Heaven and Earth.”

“To Heaven and Earth,” Chaoxiang added.

Reservation rested on Bo Ying’s brown cool eyes. A look he rarely showed. Chaoxiang noted it and smiled. You’ve come so far Ying’er, you truly are a gem.

Ying rose from the ground, snatching the knife off the table, he cut his palm in a circular motion, squeezing his palm as tightly as he could.

The blood trickled from his palm spooling in front of him as he outstretched his arm. Then, he went back to his knees, bowing reverently. He slapped his head against his blood, then rose his head from the bow.

The blood on his forehead made him seem like Bodhidharma re-incarnated, but with puffier cheeks. The look of resolve on his face made Chaoxiang nod, and fill him with pride.

Chaoxiang watched Ying’s first bow. It was deep, affectionate and most important of all sincere. Ying gave another bow, following the same pattern and repeated it a few more times.

A few times more became twenty bows, then twenty bows became fifty. Sweat mixed with the blood of Ying’s forehead when he reached seventy-five bows and continually poured down when he stopped at one hundred bows.

The serious expression that Ying had painted across their face, filled Chaoxiang with satisfaction, but this wasn’t enough of course. “Your words sound sincere Ying’er, but let me remind you, in your heart if you fail to do as you’ve just sworn, expect your world to be what you have given, for breaking an oath.”

“Yes, Master!” Ying said.

“Good.”

“What are you gonna do with Su’er and Brother Xing?”

“What else? I’m gonna tell them what they need to hear.”

“Understood, Master.”

“Good,” Chaoxiang said, waving his hand away.

Ying pushed himself up from the ground, leaving Chaoxiang to rest. A rest he needed, because he knew dealing with Zhao Xing and Ban Susu could lead to arguing, as usual.

But not today, He thought, not today at all.

The linchpin he had would bind them together, or force them to bicker long past his death. “Let us hope these muddled brain children aren’t angry.”