Kapitel 27: Chapter 27: Elder Wu

Chapter 27: Elder Wu

As Huang Wei and Jiang Lei walked through the village, they were greeted by respectful greetings from the villagers.

"Greeting, Lord Wei."

Jiang Lei replied with a nod, his mind filled with the disturbing dream that had been bothering him.

Huang Wei could also feel this, his brow furrowing with concern "Lord Wei, what do you dream about?"

Jiang Lei hesitated, struggling to put his feelings into words."I saw a monstrous creature, and a figure I can't forget, as if it has some relation with me. It was battling that creature."

Huang Wei remains silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. "Dreams can be strange, my lord. Often, they are bits of our thoughts. But if they trouble you, Elder Wu might have some answers."

Intrigued, Jiang Lei asked, "Tell me more about Elder Wu. Who is she?"

Huang Wei took a moment before responding, "Elder Wu is the leader of our village when it comes to spiritual matters. Many believe she has a special connection to the goddess and knows things about the future. If anyone can help you understand your dreams, it's her."

"But my father, he doesn't believe in her but we can't blame him for this, he's been the protector of our tribe for many years. He's seen the village through many challenges, and he has a strong sense of responsibility for its well-being. If he can't understand anything then he always question about that."

"Huang Wei, these dreams felt very real. Do you think they're related to my past?"

Huang Wei said thoughtfully "It's possible, Lord Wei. Elder Mei might have answers. She knows a lot about all this."

Seeing Jiang Lei's suspicious gaze, Huang Wei said in an assuring tone "Lord Wei, Elder Wu emerged when we were facing the crisis of water, it was her who discovered the well for us, so since then we believe she receives direct messages from our goddess, a divine messenger with solutions to our troubles."

"I also hope that she will get me answers of my questions."

______________

While talking Huang Wei leads Jiang Lei to a secluded area on the outskirts of the village. There, a humble cottage stands, surrounded by a tranquil aura.

Elder Wu's cottage stood at the edge of the village, nestled amidst a grove of ancient desert trees. The structure itself seemed to blend seamlessly with the natural world, as if it had sprouted from the earth itself.

"Please wait here, my lord," Huang Wei said, showing Jiang Lei to a spot outside. "I'll tell Elder Wu you're here."

Jiang Lei nodded, watching as Huang Wei went into the house. After a while, Huang Wei came back, beside her was a woman with him.

Elder Wu was a woman in her mid forties, she has a beautifull face and very deep eyes that has a mysterious charm in itself.

As Elder Wu gazes at Jiang Lei with eyes that seem to peer into his very soul, her lips curl into a gentle smile.

"My lord," Huang Wei addresses Jiang Lei, "this is Elder Mei."

Elder Wu greeted Jiang Lei warmly and respectfully. "Welcome, Lord Li Wei. I was expecting you."

Jiang Lei gave a polite bow. "Thank you for seeing me, Elder Wu."

"Dreams can be like whispers from the past. Let's sit, and you can share your dreams with me."

She turns her gaze towards Huang Wei who has kept his head bowed, afraid he will accidentally see her.

"Huang Wei, I need to talk to Lord Wei alone, Please make sure no one interrupts us," Elder Wu requested, her tone gentle yet firm.

Huang Wei agreed with a nod, speaking respectfully. "Sure, Elder Wu. I'll make sure we're not disturbed."

"Lord Wei, please follow me." She gestured him to follow her.

Jiang Lei went behind her while inspecting his surroundings.

The main room was spacious, the walls adorned with nature and symbols, softly glowing with muted colors. Oil lamps gave a warm light, and a central table held scrolls, crystals, and tools.

She gestured Jiang Lei to sit on the table, both of them sat and she takes the initiative to ask, "Lord Wei, you can tell me in detail about your dream here."

Jiang Lei described his dreams to Elder Mei, talking about the scary creature, the person he couldn't forget, and the troubling words.

Elder Wu listened closely, her expression unreadable. "Dreams often have bits of our past mixed with the present."

Jiang Lei's curiosity grew. "Do you think my dreams mean something to my past, Elder Wu?"

She nodded. "Yes, our past can shape our destiny. Understanding it might help answer your questions."

Jiang Lei gazes at her, hope mingling with uncertainty. "Can you help me find those answers?"

Elder Wu looked into his eyes, showing wisdom beyond her years. "I'll do my best, Lord Jiang Lei. But remember, finding the truth may not be easy."

Jiang Lei gazed at her with determination. "I'm ready. I want to know about my past, whatever it takes. if you can help me, I will not forget this favor of yours throughout my life."

Elder Wu reminded him kindly, "Lord Wei, this is my duty, not a favor. You've helped our village with many problems. How could I refuse you?"

"But, Lord Wei, I need some time to prepare. It won't take long, just two or three days at most. Can you wait?"

Jiang Lei agreed without hesitation. "Of course, that's not a problem at all. I can wait."

"Lord Wei, I have an urgent meeting with Lord Liang today, he should be waiting for me now, if you don't mind....."

"Ok, I understand, then we are meeting after two days, right."

"We will surely meet soon." She said smiling, "Huang Wei, please take Lord Wei to his room." She called Huang Wei.

"Creak!"

The wooden door opened and Huang Wei entered and looked at Jiang Lei with questioniing eyes, asking if everything is ok.

Jiang Lei looked at him assuredly and said "Elder wei has her own work to be done, so we should not waste her time, let's go."

"Hmm, Ok!" Huang Wei nodded signalling that he understood and took lead to go with Jiang lei.

Elder Wu looked at the back of Jiang Lei with a strange smile in her face, "Lord Wei, I really hope we will meet soon."

___________

While walking they reached a quieter part of the village, Huang Wei turned his gaze towards Jiang Lei, his curiosity evident in his eyes.

"Lord Wei," he began cautiously, "I noticed that your conversation with Elder Wu was quite short. Did she tell you anything about your dreams?"

"She did, Elder Wu believes that my dreams are related to my past, and she wants to help me uncover the truth about my identity and the meaning of those dreams."

Huang Wei's eyes widened in surprise and then he asked curiously. "What did you decide?"

"I've decided to trust her guidance. She mentioned that she needs some time for preparations, and she's asked me to wait for a few days. She believes she can help me to find the truth of my strange dreams."

Huang Wei nodded understandingly. "So, she didn't share any specific details yet?"

Jiang Lei shook his head. "Not yet. She mentioned that the process won't be easy, and she needs to do some preparations before we start it."

"It's good that you're giving it a chance, Lord Wei. Elder Wu has a reputation for her insights, and if anyone can help you, it's her."Huang Wei's voice held reassurance.

Jiang Lei's gaze turned thoughtful. "I hope so, Huang Wei, Elder Wu mentioned someone named Lord Liang, Who is he?"

Huang Wei's brows furrowed slightly, as if considering how to explain. "Lord Liang is the head of our village, Lord Wei.

Jiang Lei's interest was piqued. "I see, what does Lord Liang think of her?"

Huang Wei's expression became serious, he understands 'her' in Jiang Lei's words. "Actually, Lord Wei, Lord Liang is one of Elder Wu's strongest supporters. He firmly believes in her insights and that she is the messanger of our goddess."

Jiang Lei's brows lifted in surprise. "Really? I thought, there might be some tensions between them."

Huang Wei shook his head. "It's quite opposite. Lord Liang believes Elder Wu's wisdom and guidance . He believes that her advice has helped the village to come across many challanges ."

Jiang Lei brows furrowed as if thinking something. "That's unexpected! I thought there might be some differences between them, after all both of them are central power and controls the village."

Huang Wei nodded. " There have been many villagers who has apposed her but Lord Liang has also been her strongest supporter, he is the reason why no one dares to oppose her, He thinks her as a vital asset to our village, especially in times of crisis."

"Your Village is really interesting Huang Wei" He praised while murmuring"all this seems so contradictory."

While walking they passed by a group of children who were playing near a hut, Jiang Lei's eyes softened with concern. He noticed that the childrens were very thin as if they don't get adequate amount of food, their clothes hanging loosely on their frames.

Jiang Lei turned to Huang Wei, his expression etched with worry. "Huang Wei, why do these children look so thin and malnourished?"

Huang Wei's gaze looked at the childrens with worry and love in his eyes. "Lord Wei, it's the decade-old drought that's returned. Our village is facing the same water shortage problem as before."

"The drought again?" Jiang Lei's voice held a hint of disbelief. "But didn't you mention that Elder Wu discovered a well during the previous drought?"

Huang Wei nodded in agreement . "Yes, that's true. Elder Wu's guidance led us to the well, and it sustained us through those difficult times. But now, even that well has dried up. We're running out of water, and with it, our food sources are also declining."

Jiang Lei's gaze shifted to the children again, his heart became heavy . "We can't let this happen again. Is there anything that can be done?"

Huang Wei sighed, he can also understand the current situation very well but he is also very helpless . "We're doing everything we can, but water is scarce in these lands. We've sent scouts to search for new sources, but so far, there's been no success."

"We have to find a solution, Huang Wei. These children deserve a better life. I won't let them suffer like this."

Huang Wei's eyes met Jiang Lei's, a mixture of gratitude and hope in his gaze. "Thank you Lord Wei for your support, if our goddess wished, we will come out of this problem again."

_____________

Deep within the heart of the village, a massive building stood tall, approximately 20 meters long, with its walls adorned with ancient engravings depicting various creatures of legend.

Inside this grand structure, Elder Wu sat across from a middle-aged man.

He was Lord Liang, the venerable head of the village, and his presence radiated authority and wisdom. Deep-set eyes hinted at the numerous trials he had weathered throughout his life, etching lines of experience on his weathered face.

Elder Wu, as always, sat in her characteristic manner, one leg crossed casually over the other. She sipped from her cup with an air of nonchalance, her gaze steady and perceptive.

"Sip!"

After a moment, she placed her cup down, her gaze locked onto Lord Liang. Her tone was calm but carried an undeniable seriousness. "Lord Liang, you understand the seriousness of our situation. We have no other viable option."

Lord Liang met her gaze, a shadow of concern clouding his eyes. "But Wu Xiu, he hasn't done anything wrong to us. How can I allow this to happen to him?"

Elder Wu leaned in, her voice resolute. "You must understand, Lord Liang, this is not a choice between individuals. It's a choice between the life of one and the survival of our entire village."

Lord Liang slumped back in his chair, his face bearing the weight of the world. "Wu Xiu, you know the kind of person I am. I cannot make such a decision. Is there truly no other solution? Even if it means my own sacrifice, I am willing."

Elder Wu's gaze remained unwavering as she reiterated, "There is no other path, Lord Liang. You must make this decision. Do you want to see the horrors of a drought like the one that struck a decade ago, or do you want your villagers to have a fighting chance at life?"

"But...."

"There's no other way."

Chen Liang wanted to continue persuading but he was interrupted by Wu Xiu.

Chen Liang, weakened by the unbearable choice before him, finally relented with a heavy heart. "Very well, I choose my villagers."

"Thump!"

As the words left his lips, Chen Liang seemed to age instantly, he felt like he has lost all the strength, he felt to his chair, the burden of his choice etched into every line on his face.

Elder Wu nodded, her eyes reflecting understanding, though no hint of triumph. "You've made the right choice, Lord Liang, for the sake of our village's survival."

The tension in the room lingered, the weight of their conversation heavy upon both Elder Wu and Lord Liang. The fate of the village now hinged on a decision that would forever haunt their memories.

Outside, the village continued its daily activities, unaware of the pivotal discussions taking place within the grand building. Life went on, yet beneath the surface, an impending crisis loomed, and the future remained uncertain.

The villagers' fate hung in the balance, awaiting the unfolding of events in the hands of their leaders, Elder Wu and Lord Liang.

Author's Note - Friends A BIG THANK YOU to all, I have won the WPC contest because of your love, keep supporting me like this with your love, once again a BIG THANKYOU.

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