Just when we thought that Uncle Quan would only be another dead end, Mr. Zhang pounded the table with his fist suddenly!
"I know the officials in your village!" He said at once, "Leave this to me. I'll organize an activity. I'm sure we'll succeed this time." He patted himself on the chest, looking absolutely confident. Then Aunt Fen, his supportive and sensible wife, added immediately, "Xiaojun (Nie Xiaojun) called me yesterday. He's coming to visit us with his family. He's the director of a hospital now. I'm sure I can get him to get a few of his men to organize a charity clinic event at the village for the old people there. Husband, arrange for some caterers to prepare food. The checkups would need the participants to have their stomachs empty before the event, so they'll be hungry and thirsty. I'll foot any medical bills if anyone needs immediate treatment. Let's make them all happy!"
Her husband nodded and Aunt Fen looked at us, "The few of you will j
Before we could say anything else, a child's crying voice broke just outside. An old lady walked through the door and spoke to the old man, "Look at your grandchild! He is not coming off the electric car that he just got on outside! He's not listening no matter what I say!" Aunt Fen scrambled forward, saying, "We'll have ways for him to show himself, but we'll just need you to help calm him down when he comes!" She held out a key, "This is the key for the electric car outside." Before Master Six's eldest brother could yelp any protest or assent, a portly man walked through the door this time. When he saw Mr. Zhang and Aunt Fen, he immediately addressed them respectfully, "Master Zhang! Mrs. Zhang!" He took the key from her and muttered a quick "Thank you" before walking out. Next, we heard him saying outside, "Come on, son! There's no need to cry! Come, let Daddy take you for a ride!" So that man was this old man's grandson! He's also Mr. Zhang's business
I supposed there are times when, despite all our beliefs and convictions in our realities, we had to encounter something that would still amaze, astound and even boggle our minds. Just like what I was seeing. The white brilliance that engulfed me gave way to a view of a busy street, filled with people walking around me. But what was more unbelievable was that everything and everyone was ancient; the people were dressed in clothing articles that only belonged in medieval China and so were the architecture and buildings around me! "This is impossible?! Have I been hurled back to the past?!" I shook my head, as if vainly trying to reawake myself from a long and unbelievable dream, then I remembered Master Six's words before he sent me here. "Go see for yourself if you will. Only then, you'll know." "Has he really?!"As I reeled with trepidation the full comprehension of traveling through time, I broke into a stroll, ambling absentmindedly through the mob of p
As soon as the words escaped from the man who was carrying his child, the Taoist priest and I were immediately stunned. Redeem your children?! "What do you mean?" The puzzled Taoist priest sputtered, and the man began disclosing the truth. War was ravaging the lands and the hundreds of thousands of Ming soldiers who were powerless to repel the Northern barbarians and rebels had instead taken to torturing the common people. The wretched armies, instead of protecting the people, had come to rob and plunder and had taken the children of Wu Zhong County with them when they retreated to Fengrun District. Then they delivered letters of demand to the parents of the children, demanding ransom. Worse, the children would be slaughtered if the parents were late in delivering the ransom. Those that I saw leaving the city with sullen looks on their faces were those who were on their way to Fengrun to redeem their children. Those whom I saw on their way back, but with empty wagons o
When Father finished, the priest went out. But before he swung the door of the room shut, he gave Father a curt nod, indicating his assent. But I was however left stunned like a large frozen snowman in the middle of the room. "What did I just hear?! His mission is severing the dragon leys?!" My past recollections about the history of the dragon leys rushed back into my mind like a broken dam: Bian Dashou not only severed Li Zicheng's dragon leys by orders of the Ming Court, he'd even made full sure that both dragon leys of Li Zicheng and the Ming Empire were snapped in the same time to allow the Jurchens to take the country and founded the Qing Empire! "But here is the priest whose task is to destroy the dragon leys of Li Zicheng!? Does that means he's Bian Dashou?!" My head shifted slowly as I slowly turned to look at Father, who was still nonchalantly sipping at his wine, and Mother, who remained perched on his shoulder. They hardly said a word even aft
Slow recognition went off like a bomb as the name "Zhang Zixiang" resounded in my mind! The glimmer of inspiration that flashed through me earlier finally made sense! "'Zhang Zixiang', 'Shaanxi' and the 'County Magistrate!' I should have known! I am in Mizhi County of Shaanxi! Bian Dashou is here!" According to Chen Yixuan, Zhang Zixiang's actual name was Li Zixiang! He was the older brother of Li Zicheng. Hence this magistrate office in front of me could only be the Mizhi County Magistrate building and the County Magistrate serving here would be none other than Bian Dashou himself! The keeper of the Dragon-slaying Blade! Excitement swelled in me, burgeoning quickly that it made me leaped to my feet and I flew over the walls of the building. In the frenzy of my elation, I had not thought about how I even manage the jump. Next thing I knew, I was already speeding after Zhang Zixiang who was already being led inside. With a small jog, Zhang Zi
With more and more secrets heaped upon my lap, I was forced to seek out the one person who held the answers to all the mysteries: Father. I wanted to speak to him about his past and his connection to the Dragon-slaying Blade but to no avail. Following some deductions, I concluded that Master Six was the only one aside from Father and Mother who knew everything. Hence it was he I sought. Although we were many a time beaten back by difficulties, we finally found the immortal but he looked reluctant enough to impart the truth he knew. But at last, he relented. He wanted me to see the truth for myself and I was sent back through time to the eventide of the Ming Dynasty. Here, I saw the keeper of the Dragon-slaying Blade, Bian Dashou and also my parents in this era. By following Bian Dashou, I came to Mount San Feng Zi where Li Zicheng's late father and grandfather were interred. Without any doubt, Mount San Feng Zi was hallowed grounds which wou
My interference seemed to have saved Bian Dashou, much to his and the yeti's surprise. They paused for the briefest of a second with shock and I was shouting, "What the hell were you doing?! Use your magic! Or are they just for show?!" But I know no one was able to hear me. Bian Dashou clambered up with flakes of frost falling from his robes and furs. But to my shock and dismay, the fool moved closer and closer towards the yeti like a lamb offering itself to be slaughtered! I was utterly shocked by Bian Dashou's behavior and it somehow made the herd of more-than-ten yetis angry! Despite the snowstorm, I felt my blood froze. Is he mad?! Why is he not running for his life at least?! The yetis bared their fangs at him and roared, then they stormed at him again! But Bian Dashou continued his casual stroll toward them! He would either have conveniently chosen to be blind at this exact moment, or he was willingly embracing Death! The yetis came at
"So, I am right! These people were confused!" But I could not see for sure what sorcery or contrivance was leading them astray. There were ways to confound people and render them lost and clueless. Ghosts Barriers, a simple magic that common ghosts and spirits were capable of, was one of them. Zhu Mei's Windchaser enchantment was also another. But there were also mazes that could be conjured or erected. But I had not been looking closely enough, hence I failed to make out what was it leading us running in circles in the snow. Bian Dashou stopped and surveyed their surroundings, looking deeply into the falling snow quietly. But even he failed to see anything out of place. He waved and beckoned his party to keep moving. With their bearing renewed, the party pushed on. Only this time, I became more alert. We pressed on for another hour, then the lethargic and humdrum silence was shattered by a cry. We looked around and saw the cry came from the