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A man can see without his eyes, but he cannot see without his heart.
Hua Manlou learned this truth after his sense of sight was taken away from him at a young age. But he's for...
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Hands dipped into the cold, glistening waters of the rushing river, the stream's crisp chill biting at the skin. The water shimmered in the light, its surface reflecting the soft hues of the sky above. She cupped her hands, bringing the cool liquid to her lips, savoring its purity as it flowed past her rosy lips. A bamboo staff lay forgotten against the tall, swaying grasses at her side, its smooth surface glinting slightly in the fading light. As she drank, the air around her was filled with the gentle murmur of the river and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.
She paused for a moment, taking in the surrounding beauty of the riverbank—the lush green of the grasses, the vibrant colors of the wildflowers, and the ever-present song of nature. Then, with a practiced motion, she pulled a weathered gourd from the bag slung across her back, carefully dipping it into the clear stream, filling it with the cool, refreshing water. Once it was full, she stood once again, her body moving with grace, as she reached down to reclaim the bamboo staff, lifting it from the grass where it had rested.
"Xiuming, Elder Hu. Let's continue."
As she began to move away from the riverbank, Xiuming approached her, concern clouding her features. She reached out, placing a hand gently on her chief's shoulder. "Chief, you've already traveled so much without resting," she said, her gaze searching her leader's face. "You've traveled more than the rest of us, and I'm already beginning to feel tired. Are you sure you don't need a break?"
Chief Jiang allowed her eyes to linger downward for a moment, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle into her bones. The fatigue was undeniable, creeping into every muscle, yet she could not afford to slow down. There were still miles to cover.
"If you're hungry, you can have some of my bread," she offered.
Xiuming huffed softly, a strand of her hair drifting loose from its neat binding and brushing against her cheek. "That's not the issue," she replied. "I'm worried for your sake. Is Hua Ruling's 60th birthday celebration really that important that we have to arrive a day earlier?"
Chief Jiang's gaze dropped for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her face. In truth, she was utterly exhausted. The kind of tiredness that gnawed at the edges of her thoughts, the kind that only rest could cure. The last thing she wanted was to continue moving forward without a proper night's sleep, without the comfort of a real bed beneath her.
But there was no other choice.
"Yes, it is. His home isn't that much farther; we can make it there an hour before sunset," she replied, her voice steady, though the exhaustion lingered beneath. She gripped the bamboo staff tightly, feeling its familiar weight in her hand as she straightened, her gaze lifting to the path ahead. With renewed determination, she pushed herself forward, one step at a time. "Hua Ruling will treat us very well, I promise. You'll have the best food and the best rest that money can buy."
