Darkness befall upon his face as the cold night apprehended the light of day.
"Hua FeiXian... You have wrought inauspiciousness upon our clan. Therefore it would be befitting for you to die a gruesome death."
Hua SongChen raised his sword pointing upwards. The sharp blade shone against the moonlight. FeiXian could only close his eyes and accept his fate. The blade fell down but it did not struck his neck. Instead, SongChen turned away and released an exasperated breath.
"Since you saved my life, I will spare yours. But make no mistake, I'm not doing this out of my own courtesy not because you're my brother. The Hua clan upholds gratitude more than anything." SongChen said as he put the sawtooth sword back to it's sheath.
FeiXian stood up and bowed in front of him. Respect upon his elders isn't removed from his blood even though he had committed a mistake that is worthy of punishment by death.
---------------------------------
[Three months ago]
"Lao Xian! You're getting older than me that's not fair!"
"Min'er... Go and eat more meat so that you'll be as strong as I am."
"Hao. Min'er will eat more meat so Min'er can be as strong as Lao Xian!"
"You can stop calling me Lao Xian... Why not call me Xian Ge for a change?"
"Min'er likes Lao Xian more since you're getting old plus, you always wear ragged robes rather than good robes! You look like a grandpa already!"
"Why you!!!!"
In the peaceful town of Tang Ren, the Hua Clan lived happily. They have adapted to the laws passed upon their ancestors which made them as pacifists. In every war, they are sure to strike but upholding peace with other clans was their ultimate goal. Hua Jin had two sons, Hua SongChen and Hua FeiXian. Among the two sons, SongChen was the most favorable to become the next clan leader while the little rascal FeiXian roamed free and do whatever he wishes. Hua RuoMin was soon then born after FeiXian but there was one problem...
RuoMin was a child not born from their own father. Because of this, RuoMin was often picked and ridiculed by other clan members and so as the other clans. Illegitimate children does not belong nside the recesses of Hua ZhuangYuan. Everyday, FeiXian had to endure seeing his youngest sibling going through this morbid situation.
One cold night, a strong blizzard blew over the town. As usual, the citizens kept their children inside their respective houses except... RuoMin. She was left outside like a dog fending for her life battling the cold. Her hands shook as she blew a hot air coming from her mouth. No matter how hard she blows, it isn't enough for her to sweep away the cold. She was about to give up and close her eyes. She seated outside the pavillion facing the dark when...
"RuoMin... Come with me." She saw FeiXian holding a lamp. Taking her hand, her strength almost corroded but he put down the lamp and carried her inside instead. He laid her on the bed and called a servant to fetch a soup for her to eat.
"Psssssst!"
"Uh, yes second young master what do you need?"
"Do you still have hot soup left in the kitchen?"
"Ah, yes? What do you need it for second young master?"
"*facepalm* Isn't it obvious? Of course I'm going to drink it! I'm feeling cold!"
"Uh do you need me to call JiangYang to fetch the soup instead sir?"
"No!!!! Uh, I mean. You go fetch it instead or else! I'll reprimand you!"
"Oh no. I'm sorry young master. Alright I'll fetch the soup!"
The servant went scurrying to the kitchen and FeiXian then closed the doors. He attended RuoMin and looked at her feet. Her feet was full of scabs from her past wounds. He checked her robe and took off her outer clothes. The scarlet-colored scars made him vent few exasperated breath.
Taking a robe out from his stash, he gave it immediately to RuoMin.
"Wear it. Your robes are dirty."
"Lao Xian. My robes are not dirty. If father will know about this then you'll also be punished."
"Pfft. So what if father punishes me? I'm used to getting wounded don't you know?"
"Lao Xian. You're such an idiot."
"Go and put on the robes Ah Min."
She hesitated at first but FeiXian forced her to dress or else she'll die out of cold. RuoMin agreed and after that, a sound of knocking tapped upon the door.
"Second young master. Here is the soup."
"Alright. I'm coming."
FeiXian silently gestured RuoMin with his pointing finger in his lips. He quietly crept up to the door and opened it slowly. He grabbed the soup with his hand and shut the door loudly. Shaking out of fear, the servant walked on the hall going back inside the servants' sleeping quarters. Seeing that the servant left, he let out a released a breath of relief and gave the soup to RuoMin.
RuoMin received the soup with her hand but she immediately give it back to FeiXian. He was befuddled by her gesture but when he saw the wounds in her hands, it seems like his world stopped spinning.
'Just how many wounds did father inflict on her?'
He shook his head and offered RuoMin to let him feed her.
"Let me feed you."
"Lao Xian. I can feed myself."
"Your hands are severely injured."
"But Lao Xian father will..."
"Screw father! Your illegitimacy isn't enough reason for you to be treated like this."
FeiXian slammed his hand on the table. Afterwards, he went to his treatment box and got a bandage on his hand. He cleaned RuoMin's hands and put bandage on it after he fed her. RuoMin could not contain the happiness inside her heart. She felt for the first time that someone was on her side. She bowed with her head on the floor to Hua FeiXian.
"Min'meimei is truly grateful for Xian ge."
"Get up Min'er."
"Truly... Meimei is an illegitimate daughter but Lao Xian still showed kindness."
FeiXian helped her stand up and seated her on the bed.
"It's a cold night outside. You can sleep on the bed. I'll sleep on the mat."
"But Lao Xian... I'm afraid sleeping alone. I always sleep beside mother."
"Hao. Then let's sleep together. Lao Xian is going to tell you a wonderful story."
"A story? Mother would always tell me one."
"Yes yes. Now... It's about a story of the great Ao Xian and the wild pig he hunted..."
---------------------------
Sounds of flogging resonated the Hua Recesses the next morning. A cry of a child can be heard faintly from the distance. Clan members have huddled at the Disciplinary hall and saw Hua FeiXian beaten by a stingray whip. His clothes was almost torn off covered by blood but he did not move a single inch nor did he cry or shed tears. With tears in her eyes, RuoMin pleaded to Hua Jin not to put more punishment on FeiXian. But Hua Jin would not listen. His heart is sealed with laws and prohibitions to the point that he wanted to beat his second son to pulp.
"Please clan leader! I was the one who instigated him to help me."
"Shut up RuoMin! Look now... Look at the consequences of your imprudence! I have to beat my second son to pulp for him to learn his lesson!"
"But Clan Leader... I..."
"Shut up or I'll feed you to the hunting dogs!"
The whipping lasted for a day and afterwards, FeiXian was sent back to his own room with guards at the front door. His resentment grew strong as he was confined inside his room. Dark marks started appearing from his hand up to his chest. It almost corrupted him turning his eyes into pitch black when... He heard a faint sound of an Erhu from a distance. The Erhu's music calmed him down and the curse suddenly disappeared.
Hua FeiXian recognized the tone of the Erhu and hatched a plan on escaping his room. He opened his windows. The guards were designated at his front door only so all he needs was to escape using the windows.
Quiet
Calm
and Precise.
Like an assassin that vanished into the void, FeiXian ran up to RuoMin and sat beside her at the back garden. It happened at that time that Clan leader Ji was passing by and hid himself behind the bush. His brows raised as he heard FeiXian and RuoMin talk.
"Lao Xian. I could not understand why father gets angry at me."
"You are too young to understand Min'mei."
"But Lao Xian. I did not wish to be born this way. My life is like a punishment. What did I do in my past life that I have to deserve this kind of life right now?"
"Don't fret Min'er. No matter how many whips and lashes father might give me. I would still love you like a brother."
"Thank you Lao Xian. You're truly heaven sent."
Both FeiXian and RuoMin scrambled from their seats as Clan Leader Jin stepped forth. He gave a cold shoulder at WuXian and gripped RuoMin's shoulder. The grip was so forceful that it made RuoMin's shoulder turn black and blue.
FeiXian could not tolerate such cruel behavior. Seeing RuoMin's tears, he gripped his hand and draw his sword from it's sheath pointing upon his father's face.
"Hua FeiXian! Why are you pointing your blade at your own father?"
"Enough already father! Min'er doesn't deserve to be maltreated! She had never done anything that offended you!"
"Did she taught you how to talk back to me like that?"
Clan Leader Jin pulled the sword from his sheath. He placed it below RuoMin's neck. RuoMin's tears fell down on the sword's brilliant metal as she continued crying.
"Why are you doing this father? RuoMin had never done anything bad for our clan."
"Never done anything bad? Hah. You baffle me FeiXian. Have you ever forgotten? RuoMin is the product of Liu Quihung and your own mother. A product of cheating! An abomination!"
"She's the exception father! One mistake is enough. Fixing mistakes by doing another is not a good thing!"
"You! You're being unfilial! Withdraw your sword or I'll exile you along with this wench."
"I'd rather be not your son."
"Very well then... From now on, treat yourself as an exile! And bring this wench with you! You two are not needed anymore."
The Clan leader let go of RuoMin and pushed her to FeiXian. He immediately caught her and took her hand. They both went outside the Clan's main entrance.
They were unaware that SongChen was waiting outside. As FeiXian exited, SongChen initiated an attack which made him pull his sword and crossed blades with SongChen.
"RuoMin! Wait for me at WenXi city! I'll catch up to you!"
"Yes Lao Xian! Take care of yourself."
"I will. I just need to deal with this little trouble."
RuoMin reined a horse heading for WenXi city's direction meanwhile, FeiXian still crossed blades with SongChen.
"What did you do to anger father like this?"
"Anger what? Did he instructed you to kill me and RuoMin?"
"Indeed. You two have never been filial! Your crimes are punishable by death!"
FeiXian froze. He had never been unfilial. He would always obey his father always and never dared to defy what he orders.
SongChen's sword swayed FeiXian's. The sword that FeiXian held flew and stuck to the ground.
Darkness befall upon his face as the cold night apprehended the light of day.
"Hua FeiXian... You have wrought inauspiciousness upon our clan. Therefore it would be befitting for you to die a gruesome death."
Hua SongChen raised his sword pointing upwards. The sharp blade shone against the moonlight. FeiXian could only close his eyes and accept his fate. The blade fell down but it did not struck his neck. Instead, SongChen turned away and released an exasperated breath.
"Since you saved my life, I will spare yours. But make no mistake, I'm not doing this out of my own courtesy not because you're my brother. The Hua clan upholds gratitude more than anything." SongChen said as he put the sawtooth sword back to it's sheath.
FeiXian stood up and bowed in front of him. Respect upon his elders isn't removed from his blood even though he had committed a mistake that is worthy of punishment by death.
"Go now... Catch up with Min'er."
"Hao. I will. Thank you Chen ge."
FeiXian got his sword back to his sheath and reined a horse. He took one last glimpse of the Hua Recesses before riding a horse heading to WenXi city.
————————————————
'Was that a dream or a memory?'
Hua FeiXian woke up inside a chamber. He remembered everything... He was subdued by a man named Zhuge Liang.
Wei Yue then came inside his room. He was still a bit dizzy after his fight with an immortal.
"Oh you're awake. Thank heavens!"
"Why? What happened?"
"Didn't you know that during your fight with Zhuge Liang, you almost died?"
"Almost died? How did I survive?"
"Of course your immortal lover Na YingLuo came to the rescue."
"YingLuo... Luo Na! Where is she?"
"She's in ChuanXi city. Apparently his father came to fight this Zhuge Liang."
"Oh. I see. What brings you here? I thought you all were headed for the stronghold of ChuanXi?"
"I came here to get some ancient scrolls. Maybe Dragon Blades' King Fu might live if I remove the poisoned curse from his body."
"Wh—What?"
"You have a lot of catching up to do. Follow me."