BOOK 1. This was the first book that I started to write in May 2023. I always liked the idea of the story. Shen Wei patrols at night looking for trouble to stop while he teaches by day and has health plus emotional problems because he's over taxi...
The characters are not mine, I have borrowed then from a wonderful author Priest, and adapted them to suit the storyline. This is just pure imagination, not meant to offend in any way and has been edited from it's first release now that I have learned a little more. Most of the story has stayed the same but with a few corrections, my typing is not perfect so all the mistakes are totally mine. Hopefully you will enjoy this book and go on to read the next one.
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Shen Wei wore long black flowing robes, hooded to give an air of power and mystery as he walked aimlessly along the deserted streets, listening intently for the smallest movement which would alert him to any possible hidden danger, but so far everything is quiet. The shops were neglected with dust ridden windows in this unforgiving area of the city, the local criminals had moved in driving the ordinary people away, leaving their broken businesses behind, and hoping to make a better life elsewhere.
Patrolling was necessary but on quiet nights, Shen Wei had time to reflect on the person missing from his life, lost friend, lover and soulmate. A relationship which had wounded him so deeply, that he never wanted to forget one single moment of their life together. He had hoped that he would return but after continually waiting and watching for centuries, his expectations were gone and replaced by inconsolable grief. Black Robe walked this life alone.
The alarm woke Shen Wei for his day job as a professor at the university where he taught Ancient History and Archaeology, and after his usual routine of showering and breakfast, he left for work. His morning walk was completely different to his outings at night, he enjoyed the sun and the chance to see the smiling faces on his regular route to the university and today was no different.
He arrived on time and went straight to his study to start organising his files and have his usual cup of tea before his first class. Then lifting his briefcase he headed for the door, but an unexpected wave of dizziness slowed him down and he reached for the handle while slowly sinking to the floor. He landed softly with his back against the wood giving him support, and preventing anyone from entering. He had recognised the vertigo which was associated with his anaemia and had to wait until the room stopped moving and his headache calmed. The nausea lasted a lot longer and he knew that it would pass but he was forced to call the principal asking him to rearrange his classes while he time off to visit the hospital.
Shen Wei was polite and listened to all the advice he was given by the doctors, and accepted the iron tablets and the anti nausea meds to help with his queasiness. He thanked them for their kind attention, leaving as quickly as he could to return home where he sat with a hot cup of green tea. He knew that he had been over doing it recently between the night patrols and the exams approaching, and he decided to visit his herbalist friend and doctor in the countryside. Normally he could have teleported but his nausea was taking its time to settle, therefore he organised a taxi rather than drive.
Chu's cottage was on the edge of a small town surrounded by fields, with a garden full of wild herbs and medicinal plants not normally found in this area. He was an exceptional gardener and medic with the reputation of never turning anyone away who came in need of help. he looked up from his herb collecting and watched Shen Wei approaching, sensing that he wasn't in good health.
"Hello My Lord, good to see you, I have tea ready in the kitchen, come and have some."
Chu lead the way to his well organised kitchen which was at the back of the house leaving the door open for a gentle breeze to flow through with the smell of the herbs from the garden, mixed with the flavour of the tea and they sat down at the table while they enjoyed their drink.
"I had a feeling that you might be calling, it's been a while. Daqing is not here at the moment,he's travelling, would you like to stay overnight or is it a quick visit?"
Shen Wei smiled, he had only planned for a short visit and some advice.
"Thank you for your kind offer but I only came to talk. I had an unexpected health scare at workthis morning and wondered if there was anyone in the area who could have been connected toit? Anyone with unusual abilities?"
Chu knew about Wei's transient bouts of anaemia which were usually associated with his non regular eating habits but he also had several patients with abilities from the other world that many people were unaware of.
"I'm sorry professor but at the moment, no one that I've seen or heard of could do this to you, maybe it is just simply anaemia, have a rest, stay for one night and I can give you some strong herbs to take away to help this condition."
Shen Wei felt like a fool, looking for ghosts that weren't there, he realised that he needed that rest away from his night walks, so he agreed to stay at least one night, and also follow Chu's medical advice. Chu gave him a change of clothes and took him to see Daqing's room, where he would be staying until tomorrow. He never realised just how tired he was and settled down secure in this old cottage, surrounded by pine trees. He left the window open to sleep allowing the hint of pine mixed with smell of the herb garden to float in with the small breeze, listening to owls and the nightlife of insects compared to loud car horns and noisy traffic.
Wei also heard Chu moving around his kitchen, preparing his medical jars for the next day's visitors, the irregular stream of patients, because he refused to allow an appointment system to stop anyone who needed help, and he was well known and trusted in this area as an amazing medic and herbalist.
