Chapter 5 Melancholic memories

With a heavy travel bag on his shoulders and feeling fatigued from the long journey, Yun remembered his father leading the frequent expeditions and trips they took together. His older brothers, especially the eldest, would mockingly stay ahead, while their father's expectant gaze remained on them.

According to Heng, those trips were meant to strengthen their bodies and spirits, but Yun couldn't recall feeling significantly stronger. Especially because his elders always seemed to handle the challenges much better than he could in his own life.

"Papa... Jin and Yun fell behind again," Shun complained, walking up ahead with their father.

Both young boys were leaning on each other, dragging their tired bodies due to the demanding endurance test disguised as a father-son outing.

Heng shook his head as he walked back to them, giving them a disappointed look that Yun knew all too well. It meant no food refills once they reached the mountain's summit or some physical exercise as punishment.

Their father was the kind of person they didn't need to hear to understand what he wanted to convey. With him, Yun and his brothers had learned to see beyond mere words.

Yun and Jin straightened up and picked up their pace; some bodily discomfort was better than going hungry. In no time, Jin had matched Shun's speed, leaving only Yun perpetually lagging behind.

As minutes passed, his feet felt numb, and his breathing grew heavier due to the altitude change in the area filled with dirt roads, trees, and surrounding shrubbery.

And then, Yun returned to the present. Why was he remembering such things now? He wondered, feeling engulfed by nostalgia. Perhaps he related this situation to what he was currently going through.

Returning to the present, Yun wasn't sure how long he had been walking. The dusty trail was long gone, replaced by bushes, wilderness, rocks, and trees towering like buildings. The sounds of nature told him he was far from any form of civilization.

Maybe things would be easier if he wasn't carrying a weak young woman on his back. He didn't know who she was or why he found her sobbing with barely any energy left. All he knew was that when he saw her lying on the ground, he couldn't help but see his ailing mother's face and felt deep pain for not being able to resolve this more efficiently.

Soon, he had to deviate from the straight path to find a stream; the water in his canteen wasn't enough for two thirsty people. Yun gently laid the woman under the shade of a large cypress tree, as he bent down to fill his canteen and wash his hands and face, covered in sweat and dust from the battle with the ruffians.

"Where... am I?" the young woman uttered weakly. Yun immediately listened and turned quickly to approach her again.

"Wh-who are you? What do you want? Why am I here?" she questioned, frightened.

"Calm down," Yun spoke respectfully to the stranger. "You were crying on the ground and then fainted. I brought you here to help."

She had been startled by the sight of the young man, but as he spoke, her fear subsided, replaced by a temporary sense of calm before returning to her expression of total anguish, and she began sobbing bitterly.

"If you wish, you can tell me what's troubling you, and I'll try to help," Yun offered. "But if you prefer to be left alone, I won't interfere further and will continue on my way."

"My... children! A man accompanied by a black tiger came to my house and took my four children!" she said between sobs, covering her face with her hands.

Yun felt great pity for her. He knew nothing about her life, but the fact that someone could snatch away innocent children from a mother was as inhumane as the devil Kuei himself, emerging from hell to take away pure souls.

"Please, calm down," Yun said firmly. "I am a traveler who came from afar to this crossroad. I offer to help you get your children back, and perhaps, in doing so, I will also find what I'm looking for."

"Really, young man? Thank you, thank you so much," tears kept flowing from the woman's eyes as she gratefully bowed solemnly on her knees.

"You're welcome," Yun replied, extending his hand with the food that the Yumai couple, Siu's parents, had given him. "Please stay here. How long ago did this happen?"

Not long ago, before you appeared," the young woman said amidst sobs. "He went in the direction of the forest; I just hope they haven't taken them too far away from here."

"Then I don't think they're too far, and it seems they didn't go to the village. I'll do everything within my power to help. Please stay here and don't move, I beg you," Yun replied.

"You are a fallen tianshi from the heavens, only Buddha could have placed you in my path," the woman said, bowing again and touching Yun's shoes. He bent down, took her by the shoulders, straightened her up, and looked directly into her hazel eyes.

"There's no need for excessive thanks. Just wait for me to return with news," Yun said, offering a subtle smile as he began to stand up.

"That's what I'll do, brave young man," the woman replied, smiling back.

Yun returned the gesture, this time with a broad smile. As he was about to turn around to leave, a sound from the top of the tree where they sought shelter caught his attention. He carefully placed his hand on the hidden dagger.

The tree branches rustled, and Yun tried to see what was lurking, but without success. Some dry leaves started falling on the woman's head and his face, and he had to brush them away with his hand.

Soon, the sound of a branch breaking and something falling quickly reached their ears. Yun's only thought was to dive towards the woman and push her away to avoid whatever was falling from landing on either of them.

The object crashed loudly, scattering a pile of leaves upon impact with the hard ground. When the pile settled, Yun couldn't believe his eyes as he looked upon what lay before him.

"But if it's...", he thought, very surprised.

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Glosary

Tianshi: angel

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