Hua Xianle

Chapter 5:

After a whole month of healing, Hua Ying was finally able to sit up on his own, though he still couldn't stand up or walk because of his injuries. That did little to deter his growing family, who set to work making him a wheelchair so they could take him out for fresh air. The Heavenly Kingdom always greeted the boy with kindness, relishing in the smiles that made the sun seem lacking.

When Yushi Huang first met the child, she looked at A-Ying and excused herself, coming back with the freshest vegetables she had. She went on and on about how children needed all the nutrients they could get to be strong and healthy. Hua Ying accepted the gifts with a silent, yet dazzling smile.

Yes, A-Ying was still silent most of the time. On a rare occasion, he would say something to those he was comfortable enough with, simple sentences or simply calling their name. More often than not though, he remained as silent as a winter night.

Over time, it became clear that Hua Ying was extremely attached to Crimson Rain. He'd practically shine brighter than the sun every time his father came home from wherever he went. One of the few words everyone could remember hearing from the boy was an energetic "A-Die!" each time, a call that never failed to bring smiles to everyone's faces.

Ling Wen and He Xuan were other constant presences for the boy, acting as teachers and mentors for him. Since it was unlikely Hua Ying would grow out of his selective mutism anytime soon, it was prevalent that he knew how to read and write more extensively. He proved to be an eager student, improving both physically and mentally.

Unfortunately, even with his continued improvement, Hua Ying was still suffering from horrible bouts of anxiety. He would refuse to take a nap no matter how much his family urged him, and when he did sleep, he would have horrible nightmares. He woke up multiple times in the night, would throw up everything he ate, and would cry and sob as the scars on his back ached unceasingly.

Not long after finally getting better, the stress the boy suffered made Hua Ying ill once more.

It didn't take long to figure out the cause of his stress. With his body on the mend, his mind was beginning to process the abuse he'd suffered. Without constantly needing to fight for survival, his trauma was coming to the surface and taking its toll on the poor child.

Since A-Ying wasn't feeling well, his uncles and aunts did everything they could to make him feel better. Every day, he would get visitor after visitor, each with a gift for him to remind him he was loved.

Shi Wudu and Shi Qingxuan came with matching, oversized stuffed toys shaped like bunnies. One was black, and the other was white, and both were placed on A-Ying's bed like cuddly sentinels.

"A-Ying, get well soon okay?" Shi Qingxuan said softly as Shi Wudu carefully replaced the wet towel on the boy's forehead. "Once you're all better, we can go out and play. Doesn't that sound fun?"

He Xuan came next with a bowl of colorful fish. "I figured you would need some company here. They're yours now, so name them however you want."

Ling Wen brought her nephew an expensive new brush, "so you could practice calligraphy once you heal." It was the finest brush she could find, and with some added enchantments engraved into the wood, it would last him for as long as he needed it.

Pei Ming came with a whole jewelry box, a big one that would make even the mortal Emperor jealous. "Pretty jewels for our pretty little prince."

Yushi Huang came with a newly knitted blanket. "With this, you will never be cold, no matter where you go, and you will always have a piece of home with you."

Feng Xin gifted him a bow and a whole quiver full of arrows. "I plan to teach you everything I know about archery. So get well soon so we can spend time and grow stronger together, okay?"

Mu Qing came too and gave him a whole set of hair accessories. "A-Ying has beautiful hair, and these will make it even prettier."

Lang Qianqiu came and gave him some painting materials, all of the highest quality, of course. "I've seen one of your sketches before and it was absolutely stunning. I hope you continue doing what you enjoy."

Many more gifts came from all the Civil and Martial Gods, along with the Calamities, but the best one so far was from A-Ying's fathers. It was a white tiger cub, a heavenly beast that they picked out just for him.

"He will be your best friend and your companion for life," Xie Lian told his son as the boy cuddled with the warm tiger cub. "I hope you take care of each other."

With all the love and support from his new family, Hua Ying knew there was nothing to be afraid of. None of them had ever hurt him, and they never would. More than that, they would protect him from those who sought to harm him, and not even Madame Yu could defy the Heavens.

With these pleasant thoughts at the forefront of his mind, Hua Ying closed his eyes and slept peacefully for the first time in days. By the morning, his fever finally broke.