Chapter 9 – So I Heard (2)

As I said before, a yin yang master is destined to have five shortcomings and three deficiencies. Even though Grandpa only studied from the beginner book that Old Blindman had left behind, he was still affected. The so-called five shortcomings meant “widower, childless, orphaned, alone, and disabled.” The three deficiencies pointed to money, power, and life.

Grandma had died from blood loss after giving birth to Third Uncle, leaving Grandpa to raise the three sons by himself. Being without a wife at his old age, Grandpa suffered from “widower.”

After that, Second Uncle had gone missing as a child. Only First Uncle and Third Uncle were left. Third Uncle was a lawless man. He refused to get married and just picked fights every day. First Uncle was an elementary school teacher in the village and lived relatively peacefully, but his only child—the Lin family’s only heir—had some mental disabilities. Everyone in the village called him “Silly Boy.”

Grandpa believed that this was all because he became a yin yang master. This was why he didn’t like that Third Uncle was part of the streets. He feared that Third Uncle would die there one day.

Now that Chinese Tunic actually wanted to bring Silly Boy away, Grandpa didn’t hesitate at all. Standing, he said, “Sir, wait a moment.”

He practically ran out the door. In a little bit, he brought Silly Boy to Chinese Tunic. My First Uncle and the crying First Aunt were behind him. Grandpa handed Silly Boy right to Chinese Tunic.

Silly Boy was still smiling dumbly with snot falling out his nose. Not knowing what was happening, he grinned at me. “Little Brother, here! Candy!”

The villagers all said that Lin Gengchen had two extreme grandsons—one fool and one bastard.

Silly Boy and I were naturally the target of bullies. Silly Boy liked to smile. He would smile no matter how people bullied him. But if anyone tried to bully me, Silly Boy would fight them. He was tall and had brute force. Most kids weren’t his match at all.

In his world, people could bully him but not his little brother.

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Seeing that Chinese Tunic was about to bring him away, I ran over and hugged Chinese Tunic’s leg, crying, “Don’t take away my brother! Don’t take away my brother! I don’t need you to save me anymore! Just let me die, please!”

Grandpa pulled me to the side. Looking at Chinese Tunic with red eyes, he said, “It’s my dumb grandson’s luck to be able to go with you.”

Seeing me cry, Silly Boy’s expression fell. His fist smashed toward Chinese Tunic’s face.

Chinese Tunic easily grabbed his hand and immobilized him.

“What’s his name?” Chinese Tunic asked Grandpa.

“Lin Kunlun,” Grandpa said.

Chinese Tunic nodded. “I’m leaving.”

He carried Silly Twin onto the car. Grandpa covered my mouth while my First Uncle hugged his wife tightly. We watched the military truck drive off without being able to do anything. Grandpa didn’t let me go until the vehicle disappeared from sight. I ran out immediately until I reached the exit of the village. I fell to the ground weakly and sobbed.

Grandpa went over and picked me up. Crying in his arms, I yelled, “Grandpa, I don’t have a brother anymore! No brother that’ll stand up for me anymore!”

I could feel Grandpa’s entire body trembling. When I looked up, I saw tears streaming down his wrinkled face. He knelt on the ground, hugging me tightly.

“Child, don’t cry. You and Kunlun will be brothers forever. Don’t blame me for being heartless. Whether he takes Kunlun away now or when you go with him at 23 years old, it’s good for both of you. It’s a great opportunity. If you want, you can blame me for being unable to protect you two.”

Seeing my crying Grandpa, I couldn’t describe how sad I felt. I reached out to wipe at his tears. “Grandpa, don’t cry. I won’t cry. You can’t either.”

“Child, I know how hurt you feel,” Grandpa said, hugging me. “The villagers just want you to die and all the kids bully you, mocking your pitiful mother and insulting you as a mountain ghost’s bastard. But child, you must remember that everything you go through now is what the heavens owe you. You’ll make them pay you back in multifold one day.

“If the heavens won’t let you live, then you must. Not only will you live, you’ll live well and become accomplished! Everyone who humiliates you today will kneel before you one day.”

Clenching my jaw, I nodded.

Grandpa dried my tears and carried me back home. When we got there, we saw Captain Wu pacing anxiously in the yard.

He walked over when he saw us. “Sir, I already brought Chinese Tunic to you as you said. You don’t know how hard I worked to have someone send the message. So, about my brothers…”

Grandpa nodded. “Captain Wu, don’t worry. I obviously won’t forget about it, but I need to make it clear. I’ll try my hardest to do it. If I can’t rescue them, just treat it as me atoning my sins. If I happen to save them, I hope you can keep it a secret for me. If others ask, just say that Chinese Tunic saved them, alright?”

Captain Wu nodded. “Yes, I understand.”

“Wait at the foot of the mountain at midnight,” Grandpa said.