2023-09-21 23:02:51Chapter 01: The Beginning of the Encounter
Two brothers were leisurely walking along the riverbank, enjoying the quiet night. These adventurous men were engaged in conversation as they soaked in the peaceful atmosphere.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of small footsteps approaching them. As seasoned cultivators of the martial path, they recognized the footsteps as those of a young child.
Before long, Guan Yu and Guan Wei saw the figure of a tired child approaching. The child, upon spotting them, stopped running about two spear lengths in front of them.
The exhausted child, taking irregular breaths, remained frozen in place. He slowly approached and, at a distance of one spear length, immediately prostrated himself before Guan Yu and Guan Wei.
"Sir... Sirs... Fan'er pleads... Please help my mother, sirs... Please help my mother, sirs!" the child said while repeatedly bowing to Guan Yu and Guan Wei. The two of them exchanged glances, observing the actions of the five-year-old.
Guan Wei stepped forward and approached the child. "What is your name, young one?"
"My name is Tian Fan, sirs," the child replied quickly.
"Please rise, child. What's wrong with your mother?"
"My mother won't wake up, sirs. She's been in bed since yesterday, and her body is cold!" Tian Fan explained with a worried expression.
"Her body is stiff, sirs... Please help my mother. Fan'er promises to be your servant forever, as long as you check on my mother's condition!"
"It's my promise as a young man. My mother used to say that a man should keep his promises, and he should never break his word or owe anyone!" he declared firmly.
Moved by the determination of the young child, Guan Yu and Guan Wei agreed to his request. Guan Yu picked up the child and carried him.
"Where is your home, child?"
Tian Fan pointed in a direction, and Guan Yu, carrying Tian Fan, and Guan Wei leaped in the direction indicated by the young boy.
After a quarter of an incense stick's time, they arrived at a ramshackle hut near a small river. They hurriedly entered the hut.
Guan Wei, also a medic, immediately examined the woman lying motionless on a wooden pallet in the small room.
In truth, even without Guan Wei's examination, they could tell that the woman had lost her vital signs. As cultivators, they could sense that the woman had passed away.
However, to give the young child some hope, Guan Wei followed the child's request to examine his mother.
"Come here, child," Guan Wei called the young boy closer. "Can you check if there's breath coming from her nose?"
Tian Fan promptly directed his finger under his mother's nostrils. "There's none, sir!" he replied quickly.
"Now, get close and put your ear to her chest."
"Do you hear or feel her heartbeat?" Guan Wei asked.
"No, sir," replied Tian Fan, his head still resting on his mother's chest.
"Your mother has passed away, child. It seems she hasn't eaten for days, and her condition was already weak. That's what made her condition worse and led to her passing," Guan Wei explained calmly.
Guan Wei didn't want to sugarcoat the situation for the child. He wanted him to accept the reality and be strong in this harsh world.
Hearing Guan Wei's words, Tian Fan fell silent and stared at him intently. After a few breaths, Tian Fan nodded in understanding.
Tian Fan looked back at his mother, hugged her lifeless body, and then took two steps back. He performed three bows in front of his mother's body. Afterward, he turned to Guan Wei and prostrated himself before him.
"This child pays his respects to the medic, sir. Thank you both for checking on my mother!" he expressed his gratitude.
"As promised, I will serve you as your servant," Tian Fan added firmly.
Guan Yu and Guan Wei were taken aback by the five-year-old's words. They hadn't expected such a declaration from him.
"We didn't help expecting anything in return. There's no need for you to become our servant. It's only natural for people to help each other," Guan Wei quickly replied.
"Sir, my mother used to say that a man should never break his promises and oaths," Tian Fan insisted.
"Fan'er promised to be your servant, and I kindly ask that you accept me as your servant in return. I have nothing to offer, so please accept me as payment for your services," he said seriously.
Guan Yu and Guan Wei exchanged glances, surprised by the determination and strong-willed nature of the young child.
"Very well, if that's what you want. You will be our servant until we believe your debt is paid," Guan Yu exclaimed, winking at Guan Wei, who understood his brother's intentions.
"Thank you, sirs. This servant will not disappoint you," Tian Fan said with gratitude.
"Tuan, may I request some time to take care of my mother's body? My mother once said that if she passed away, she wanted her body to be cremated, and her ashes to be scattered in this river," Tian Fan requested straightforwardly.
"Yes, take your time," Guan Wei replied, offering a small smile to Tian Fan.
Tian Fan immediately left his home.
"Why did you agree to make the child our servant, brother?" Guan Wei asked his older brother.
"This child has strong principles and a strong will. The more we refuse, the more we'll challenge his principles. Besides, I already told him he would be our servant until we feel he's paid his debt," Guan Yu explained.
"This child is not as simple as he appears. I just wanted to evaluate his character and determination. Do you understand, brother?"
"Wei'er understands your point, brother," Guan Wei replied.
"Good. Let's observe what the child is doing," Guan Yu said.
Guan Yu and Guan Wei watched as Tian Fan, without any light source, easily reached the edge of the forest. In the dark night, they could see him gathering dry sticks by the river's edge. His thin body carried the sticks by tying them to himself, and he dragged them towards his hut.
"This child has a strong memory. His maturity doesn't match his age," Guan Yu noted.
"True, as long as we guide him properly, he can become someone great," Guan Wei added.
"Although he may not be a genius, individuals like him can surpass even geniuses," Guan Yu stated.
"Like a rough stone, with proper polishing, even a worthless stone can become valuable. Don't forget, even diamonds start as ordinary rocks," Guan Yu explained with a broad smile.
"You're right, brother. This child has the potential to grow," Guan Wei said with enthusiasm.
"Yes, that's correct!" Guan Yu agreed confidently.
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