章 31: Vow

Bian opened his eyes to find the shining sun hammering his face. "Argh." It hurt. All his skin was like being bitten by a lion.

His whole body was papper. A bandage on his arms, legs, even on chest made him hardly move. He roughly freed his right arm from those bandages. "What the... " his skin split open and sewn.

"You've come to your senses, at last, great." A well-dressed old man sat cross-legged at corner of the old building's forecourt. Stroking his beard, he said, "The operation was successful. Congratulations."

"Who are you? What do you mean the operation was successful? And where is this? Where are my brothers?"

"My advice is don't open it for three weeks. Follow my advice, then you will be healed fast."

"Who are you, old man! Answer me!"

"How rude. Why can't you be like Lan?"

"Lan? Where–" Bian tried to back on feet, but his legs sponged, even though he succeeded, he almost fell. "—Where is my brother!"

Two men helped him sit, but Bian shooed them away. His face reddened and voice thundered, he pointed at old man's face. "Tell me, or I'll split you in half!"

"Hey, brainless swine!" Cute girl shouting. After putting down the fruit, she approached Bian and pushed him.

"How dare you push me!" Protest Bian. "Lucky you're a woman. If it were a man, I'd have broken your arm!"

"Aiya, look. Your body was sticky and weak and you scream like a shit." She clasped, shook slightly, unable to believe what was happening. "Physician Huo Tuo, do you regret helping this ignorant?"

Her words confused Bian. After some refugees told him what had happened, he knelt before Huo Tuo in grieving manner. "Please forgive me. Thank you, great healer Huo Tuo. I owe you my life!" He prostrated himself twice.

"Aiya, thank to your siblings." Huo Tuo turned his head to the side, faced Lan and Quan fell asleep snoring. "That kid called Quan touched my heart with his attempt to ask me to help you. Too bad I couldn't break my vow. Then, your brother Lan, he's calm and smart enough to gave me an idea for helping you without breaking my vow to a god."

"Brothers!" Quan got up and ran to hug his brother. "My God, you're awake? You're awake!"

"Careful, Meerkat, your brother is not fully recovered," said the girl.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you." Bian said to the girl, salute with a slight bow. "What's your name?"

"Shu Shu." She showed her white teeth all of sudden.

Bian apologized ince more to the physician, Su Shu and the refugees. It wasn't long before Lan woke up and hugged Bian.

They started a small party with sips of wine and laughter. Just a few minutes, just channeling gratitude to the gods.

Amidst a glimmer of happiness, Bian stepped towards the middle of Shi Chuan, assisted by Lan.

"Big brother, where are you going?" asked Quan, following behind them, then helped Big Brother to his feet. "It's better to rest. Tomorrow we go back to the capital and tell father."

"There's something I want to do."

Lan and Quan shared their experiences with the assassins during the trip, but Bian remained silent. His heart felt guilty for the seven elite troops.

Because of his stupidity, they died. What about their families? Do they have parents? Wife? Is there a child waiting for them at home?

"Bro, we arrived."

Under the torment of the blazing sun, the barren earth burned like hell. Bian's heart swelled with anger and revenge. They injured Kun's people, meaning they hurt him. If Kun's people suffer, he feels the same way.

The refugees worked together, digging graves and burying what was left of the mass burnings. There was no expression on their faces, not even a sad one, only sweat. Their tears evaporated by suffering.

Bian pawed ashes, clenching them tightly. "I, Kun Bian. Swear to the gods, and will repay those Han for injuring the people of Kun!" He turned left and right, gazing at his two brothers.

"I vow I will bring justice to those involved." Lan slashed his palm, and blood dripped from it.

Bian laughed. He did the same. "Together, we can…."

Bian and Lan waited for Quan to do the same, but he was reluctant.

"Barbaric. I don't want to hurt myself like you guys."

Bian held out a dagger. "Come on, hurry up. You're Kun, right?"

"Yeah, I'm Kun, but come on. What's the point in injuring yourself? If you want to make a vow, then make it."

"Brother, come on. Solidarity," Lan cooed Quan. "Come on. We know you are brave."

"You… you barbarians, coercion. All right, all right, stop looking at me with those eyes." He bit his thumb until blood dripped from it. "This is enough. I swear I will help Kun become the greatest Dukedom."

The palms of the three Kun stacked together, three brothers vow revenge, bring justice, and make a Kun to be great. The oath started a new era of conquest.

The Three Brothers and the refugees returned to the capital the next day. They sent three healthy refugees to check on the other cities and brought all other refugees to the capital.

Who would have thought three brothers could rebuild the unity stretched thinner by distrust and rivalry.

****

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