Chương 11: Shortcut to a Strong Dao Heart

While Shou and Si had given each other a mental handshake, the boy anticipated Shou's answer with sweaty palms. Though he felt that the older brother in front of him was at times rather unreliable and had a strange tendency to talk with himself, he seemed like-able. If possible, he hoped that brother would act as a caretaker for a period of time.

Shou opened his mouth. "Hey, if you wish, won't you sell—"

"My dear son and husband! Mommy has returned!"

A voice cut him off—an action that seemed rather popular in this era. He searched for the source and found it belonged to a woman brazenly slamming the door open. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, as if drunk, and she had a gentle smile plastered on her face.

The kid knitted his brows the moment he saw her. "Welcome."

"Is that all you have to say to me," the woman complained. She then turned around and realized there was another person standing next to her son. "Oh, I apologize, I did not realize that someone was here." Her already red cheeks brightened like a glossy tomato.

Shou on the other hand was focused on something else. "'Mommy'?"

"Oh my, where did you find such a pretty boy?" The woman came closer and stared at him.

"You do realize this is a herbalist store, right? People come and go," the kid answered.

"Oh, Tee-hee." She stuck her tongue out. "It's been a while, I forgot already."

The kid rolled his eyes.

"Is that your mother," Shou asked, and the kid nodded, albeit reluctantly. The boys eyes were as cold as ever, making it hard to ascertain what he was thinking.

The mother, on the other hand, was ecstatic. She walked around, and just like Shou had done, took everything in her hand, as if feeling itchy were she not to leave her fingerprints on everything.

"I thought she wasn't with you anymore."

The boy squinted his eyes in confusion. "Why would you think that?"

"Ah, forget it." Shou shook his head. "However," he then realized, "since she is back, you would have no need for me to watch over your father, right?"

The boy smiled due to his question, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "No, I need you now more than ever."

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"See for yourself."

The kid rested his head on the counter and did not explain anymore. Meanwhile, Shou saw the mother moving to another shelf. She pulled a handkerchief out her pocket, an already dirtied one with pink little dots. She looked at the many dust-stains and decided that this particular shelf had one too much, so she tried rubbing them away. Slow at first, but the tenacious the spot was, the tenacious she got. It was a black one, seeped into the wood, and she pressed on, once too much. The shelf shook, and with no further notice, broke apart.

"Mom!"

The woman jumped in fright, as she watched the shelf's collapse. The shattered glass flung through the air, scattering like starlight, and created a crisp noise. She turned around and stared at the two of them. There was a short silence, before she innocently struck her tongue out.

"Oops."

The kid rubbed his temples. "Ah, whatever, just get away from there." He stood up and looked for a broom.

"No, dear, I can clean this up!" She ran forward and held her hands up high, determined to tidy up the mess.

"I'd rather you not."

However, she didn't listen. Headstrong, she headed for the broom in her sons hand. He dodged, making her pout. There was a short silence, and next, a small standoff between them began, mostly with his mother jumping around.

She, through means unknown, grabbed the broom, but then tripped, falling into another shelf, which similarly collapsed. Seeing that, the woman blushed as she avoided any eye-contact.

"Wait, that one wasn't my fault." She stood up and collected the shards. "Okay, maybe it was."

The boy didn't reply. He simply stared through the window, a hazy cloud reflecting in his eyes.

Shou, even though witnessing the entire spectacle, did not know what to say. 'I think I understand now,' he thought. Si was also silent.

"What is this noise," the kids father called out from upstairs. Shou heard the squeaking doors, and then slowly, heavy footsteps one step at the time. The father supported himself on the wall, dragging his feet with a pale face to the store-front.

"Darling, I am back!" The woman shouted out loud.

The father's eyes opened wide. "Oh honey. You've been gone for 12 days. What happened?"

"I got lost," she said, "I was trying to buy some medicine for you, but I swear, the road turned longer than usual. If only there was a shop that specifically sold those remedies."

"Again, quick reminder, we are a herbalist store," the kid commented. "Ah, whatever."

The parents did not care for the kids remark, as they busied themselves by looking into each others eyes filled with tears; The mother ran, the father staggered, both with arms stretched out, reenacting a heartfelt reunion.

However, it did not take long before the young woman managed to ruin that serene picture, by stumbling over her own legs and falling to the ground. She crashed face first, and when she got up, her forehead glowed red, just like the blood running down her nose. The father stopped short and now stared at her in worry unsure on how to react.

"You and your father must have it hard."

The kid sighed. "How do you think my father got ill," he asked, but did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, the couple continued living in their own world.

"Oh, honey look at you! Still clumsy as ever, but that is why I love you!" His father grabbed her shoulders and helped her up.

"Darling, my nose hurts," the woman said and sulked.

"It's fine. Recently I have created a herbal mix, it will help soothe the wound."

Suddenly, the easygoing woman shuddered. She still smiled, but when Shou observed further, he realized how stiff it was. "Darling... I'd love to, but just to be sure... What is the recipe?"

"Rest assured, it is entirely natural. I took some black moss growing on the wall, the remains of a dead mouse I found, and the leftover food from a few days ago that I couldn't entirely finish." He took out a thick black concoction. "Finally, I added the typical over-the-counter herbs. So what could possibly go wrong?"

The woman shuddered again. "Oh, I realize it does not hurt that much, no need to waste your precious salve." She frantically waved her hands.

"Do not be courteous," the man reprimanded sternly, "Who knows what might happen if we leave it like that."

"Darling, who knows what will happen if I don't."

The couple that was just merrily chatting started to wantonly scuffle.

The kid explained, "My father ate his own medicine. Ever since then, he had a stomachache," he paused, "My father loves taking garbage and mixing it to see what will happen."

"Ah, darling. It burns, it burns!"

"It's fine, that means it's working. I think."

The kid closed his eyes and covered his face. "As you can see, my parents are idiots," he said, his voice quivering.

"Shouldn't you stop them?"

"I guess I should." He answered, but did not move. It was as if he was devoid of any worldly desires.

Seeing that, Shou squinted his eyes. "Ah, I got it," he exclaimed, "so this is why you possess a strong Dao Heart. You must have been training your mind everyday in this environment." He then nodded in satisfaction, for he had solved another puzzle.

"Please don't talk about that," the kid whispered softly.

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