Xing woke to the sound of a wailing baby and flailing arms. He groggily pushed himself up, then looked down, barely able to see her through misted eyes.

He rolled off the bed, picking her up once strength returned to his arms. He yawned a full second and then heard the wails of the child grew louder, knocking sleep out of him in an instant.

“Alright Alright,” Xing said, smacking his lips. “I know you're hungry, but no need to throw a tantrum!”

Xing snatched up the milk pouch, holding it in his hand as he paced up and down the room trying to calm her down.

After warming the milk for a few minutes. He fed her, watching as she guzzled the milk down her throat.

Once she was finished, he circled his hand around her back and awaited the burp, which happened after thirty seconds. “If Yun Yan was still here,” Xing said softly. “I probably would’ve had a daughter by now.”

The pass few days as he took care of the child. His mind would linger Yun Yan and his child’s death. Those thoughts ravaged his mind.

The urge to run for the sizzling sensation of wine, just to numb the pain away was there, but he fought it.

After all, he swore to the heavens and earth that he would never drink another ounce of alcohol as long as the child was in his care.

His body disagreed mostly.

It crazed that sweet, sizzling taste of wine that made his tongue craze it even more. In that short week, he’d sat in his room cultivating, trying his best to fight those said urges.

As horrible as he was at cultivating, he still ascended to the Accentuation Realm, but that was due to him desiring the power to exact his revenge on Matriarch Yun for killing Yun Yan.

In that time, he’d learned so much about himself whilst living in seclusion for two years.

Before, he was a man living in a wine bottle, but now, that was behind him.

Xing looked into the child’s eyes and smiled, feeling his heart melt. Her cheeks were puffier compared to last week. He then walked over to the window, looking outside, watching as the sun finally began its descent into nothingness.

It wasn’t too late for dawn to rise, but it was still early enough for him to make one more trip. Xing bathed the child and wrapped her in a light quilt before leaving his room to meet Fan Qing for an unscheduled check-up.

◆◆◆

The marketplace where Qing’s shop was located was filled with people. Xing was unsure if to step into the chaos.

The market was a small one, but it felt as though the entirety of the city was there. The subtle scent of mud and medicine poured into his nose as he wrinkled it, trying to separate the scents.

It was a waste of time to do so, but he had to try, especially when everyone looked miserably jaded from the morning sun.

Xing sighed, then forced his reservation back into his stomach. He peered at the crowd, wishing it wasn’t as thick as a batch of dead leaves.

He sifted his way through the crowd holding the child as chest as he could. The moment people saw him, they made room for him to walk freely, which calmed his anxiety a bit, as he was worried someone would see the child from the corner of their eyes.

Once Xing found his destination, which happened to be around the middle of the market. “Found it.” He said, reading the characters that spelt out Fan Qing’s Store, ‘Qing’s Medicinal Home.’

He walked into the store, smelling the incense that burned away the foul stench that was muttered outside.

Xing wrinkled his nose, quickly realising that it wasn’t incense burning but the strong scent of medicinal items, wafting from the medicinal jars found behind the counter.

To his right, there was a table with six chairs with an unlit candle centred on the table. To the left of that table was a bonsai tree which was propped up against the window sill, relieving enough light to help it grow.

The staircase, which was located to the left of the staircase had two jars at the bottom, whilst the wall right before it had three paintings, showing the mountains and rivers in the far distance.

Overall, the store was plain but it held a tranquil ambience that Xing appreciated. The lack of an incense stick, left him confused as he still tried to finding one, further validating his thoughts that the store smelled strictly of medicine. “FA QING!” Xing shouted. “I’m here!”

The groan of a table fluttered from the left, and Fan Qing appeared, coming down the staircase. Qing’s eyes were dazed, whilst his face was littered with bruises.

He limped down the stairs, hopping on one leg, passing Xing whose eyes were speechless from the sight. “What happened?!” He asked.

“Fell down the stairs.” Qing laughed, smiling painfully.

“My daughter could come up with a better lie than that Fa Qing, what happened?”

Qing laughed, shaking his head and then walked by, ignoring Xing. He pulled up a stool by the counter and massaged his shoulder groaning from the pain. “How may I help Mr Kung?” Qing asked.

Xing smiled bitterly and nestled the child in his arms. “You told me to pass here after a week to pick up some medicinal items for my daughter, I'm here to collect.”

“I did?” Qing laughed, staring at the roof. “I don’t remember saying that.”

Qing turned to Xing and their eyes met. Xing’s eyes went from warm to cold, whilst Qing’s were filled with fatigue.

“You did. No…you demanded that she be brought for one final check, after after a week.” He said coldly. “...Or do I have to remind you--”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“You don’t have to remind me of anything,” Qing said shyly, shoulders slumping. “Since you’re here, I guess I did tell you to come by.”

“How else would I find your store, without directions? Do I look like I know this city?”

“Humph...I see your point.”

Was I too cruel when I demanded him to save you? Xing thought, looking at the child.

Xing then pulled the prescription out of his pouch, sliding it to Fa Qing. The old man snatched up the prescription looking at the characters with a quizzical expression.

Once he’d glossed over it a few more times. He then nodded as if he wrote the damn thing. “Yellowsting fever, It’s all coming back to me.” He said softly.

Qing slid off his stool, arching his back in an attempt to relieve some pain that aroused his lower back. “I’ll check on the items for you.”

“I don’t know what your deal is Fa Qing, but I’ll forgive it as you’ve treated my daughter well.” He whispered to himself.

The physician returned after few seconds bringing a small brown box with a chiseled design of a fox at the top.

After turning the box in his hand Xing realised the box wasn’t brown, but smoked black, which sheened brown when the light caressed its surface. “Your items are in there, along with the little girl is to take them.”

Qing opened the box, pulling a yellow and white herb from inside. He slid the herb towards Xing, who tilted his head in confusion. “This is sunlight herb.” He said.

“Sunlight herb?” Xing asked with a laugh.

“Yes, sunlight herb. It’ll help your daughter's immune system to fight off the yellowsting fever. You just need to shave off two beads worth. Grind it in water and have her drink it, every other day.

“Every other day?”

“Yes, in the morning.”

“In the morning?”

“That is correct.”

“Is this any different from that purple thing you gave her?” Xing asked.

“Yes. You remember how regularly she soiled herself for three days?”

“Of course, I remember,” Xing answered bitterly.

“Right, As I said, Taspis helped flush her system of the yellowsting impurities. Sunlight herb provides her with the nutrients that left her body during the purge.”

“I remember that much Elder Qing, I just needed to understand what the sunlight herb does.”

“Right, one more thing. You need to find her a wet nurse.”

“Who in Huaxia would be willing to offer their milk to Axsumite baby Mr Qing.”

“I don’t care. She needs a mother’s milk. The antibodies found in a mother’s milk will fight off any disease or cold she could potentially get. Goat or Cow Milk cannot do anything like that…understood?”

“Loud and clear, but how long does she need to take this sunlight herb for?

“Until her stool is as normal as it can be.”

“Normal?”

“Yes, have you been checking it as I suggested?”

“No?” Xing answered.

Fa Qing bellowed a long sigh, shaking his head and wincing as he moved a joint he wasn’t supposed to. He turned to Xing, whose expression was dull as the floor

“That’s fine. Do you remember what colour it was when last you saw it?”

“Dark brown.”

“Dark brown? was it darker than that?”

“It was,” Xing answered, rocking the child in his arm.

“Right, once it’s just brown in colour that’s when you know she’s fine. However, don’t forget to keep allowing her to drink water. It’ll help with her fluids, she can’t rely on milk and bean paste alone.”

“I see, and how long should this supply last?”

“Two weeks the most.” Fa Qing answered.

“Give me four weeks' worth.”

“That’ll be—“

“Not another copper coin…I’ve given your three silver nuggets, that should fill your store for months.” Xing growled.

“…as you can see. I’m injured Master Kung, and without a doubt yo—“ He said, stopping himself.

“Without a doubt…What?” Xing asked. “Are you accusing me of something?”

A thought hit Xing in an instant, “Were you attacked because of me?”

“No.” Fa Qing said, shaking his head.

Xing looked into his eyes, watching him for a lie, but the moment Qing noticed Xing’s gaze, he shifted his eyes as if he were hiding something.

“Who did you tell about my daughter?” Xing growled. He raised his hand in the air, then slammed a fist in the centre of the counter, breaking it in half.

The box of sunlight herbs flung off the counter, flying across the room from the force and hitting the staircase spilling the sunlight herbs all across the floor.

The child wailed into a cry and began huffing and puffing, going into a fit. Xing’s heart trembled because he had never seen her like this, but he had to ignore it. He needed to know If she was in danger. “WHO DID YOU TELL!”

Xing hopped over the counter, crunching broken wood beneath his feet. The physician stepped back hitting his wall of jars.

He turned left trying to hobble away from Xing, but only stepped back when Xing appeared in front of him in flash, slapping him in his chest and sending him flying into shelves.

The shelves cracked, followed by a wincing howl from Fa Qing’s lips. Xing appeared on top of him, stomping his foot into his chest, and pressed down. “W…a..it..!” He croaked, but Xing didn’t care.

“Why should I?” He asked calmly. “I paid three gold nuggets for secrecy, medicine and decorum. Yet you told them about my daughter!”

“I didn’t tell them anything they didn’t already KNOW!” Fa Qing spat, blood creeping down the side of his mouth.

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?”

“They already knew of your daughter Master Kung,” Fa Qing said softly “They already knew she was an Axsumite! It wasn’t me that told them!”

“Liar!” Xing hissed.

He buried his hand into the man’s chest further, and a blood hurdling groan whistled from the man’s mouth, as he spat more blood from his lips. “Do I have a reason to lie to you Master Kung!”

“Of course! copper…silver…gold. Anything that shines. You people would take anything once given the chance! I’ve seen this city. It’s nothing but a dirt pit ready to be swallowed by hell!” Xing growled.

“That may be true.” Fa Qing croaked, “But, do you think we have any silver or gold here? The Governor of Shaanxi has all the silver and gold! Do you think I’d let them take it? MY FAMILY NEEDS TO EAT!”

“…and what of my daughter? Doesn’t she deserve to eat as well?”

“Everyone has a right to eat under the heavens Master Kung, but when has feeding a worm ever brought about enlightenment? You claim her as your own, but you shackle her to a miserable fate. It would’ve been best if she died, why let her struggle to live in Huaxia!”

“…because every child is precious, regardless of where they come from…even those unborn!”

Xing took his foot off Fa Qing’s chest and knelt down right next to him. The steam from his lips brushed the physician’s nose, which wrinkled from the heat.

The menacing gaze Xing gave him, would’ve scared the bravest of men, but to a man like a physician Qing, it seemed as if the devil himself had arisen from hell to deal with a man such as he.

“I will ask you one more time. So choose your words wisely. Are you going to make your wife a widow with fatherless children?” Xing said calmly.

The anger in his voice was like a quiet storm, brewing in the distance. Xing wasn’t as abrasive as this usually, but with the thoughts of the child’s life being in danger, he had no choice but to be cruel!

“Who did you tell about my daughter?”

“I told no one about your daughter Master Kung. The Young Master came here already knowing of our relation. He asked a few questions, which, I didn’t answer immediately as you can see from my wounds.” Qing said, he rolled his sleeves up, showing his lacerated arms.

Fa Qing’s hands were filled with lacerated cuts that were as fine as glass. Xing tried counting the amount, but after he reached twenty he stopped.

A strong scent of salt emanated from his hands, making Xing wrinkle his nose. He used salt to clean the wounds…expensive. He really put that gold nugget to work. Xing thought. “A name Physician!” He spat.

“I don’t have a name! He hid his face and asked questions. Questions related to my visit to the Red Lantern Tavern!”

A thought appeared in the back of Xing’s mind. Of course...how could I be so foolish! He told himself. Hostess Li! Ju never saw her. Only Fa Qing knows about her. NO ONE has ever entered my room!

Xing pushed himself up and turned towards the door. The sunlight that was fluttered into the room, was now blocked by a group of people whose eyes stared inside as if they knew something. “GET LOST!” Xing shouted, releasing a wave of Qi from his body that shook the store and blew people down.

He darted towards the door and sailed over the fallen group of people. He looked left and right, looking for the closest roof and ascended to the sky like a bird, stomping on the roof and heading towards the Red Lantern Tavern.

Each step that brought him closer, felt like a nail into his heart. He hoped that by paying for privacy he would’ve gotten that, but in the end.

All he received was lies, worries and frustration. Which would only fuel his fury even more, if anyone tried to stop him.