Blood Bonds And Golden Ties

Chapter 13: The Revelation

[Luo Xiao Zhao]

Out of nowhere, a man flew down between Xiao Zhao and the pack of wolves. His sword glittered in the moonlight. He swung his arm back and forth, killing the wolves as they lunged at him. A wolf undetected crawled past the man and set its greedy eyes on him. After a second, it charged at Xiao Zhao who cried out. He closed his eyes anticipating death. Thud! He slowly opened his eyes. The wolf's head was speared by the sword, caught between the sword hilt and the tree trunk.

The man, with one smooth motion, twirled around and grabbed the sword, pulling it out easily. He rushed back into the pack of wolves. Xiao Zhao, regaining some of his wits, grabbed the snubbed torch and twisted the end of the torch. Firelight appeared. He gazed at the man who fought.... There was something familiar about him. It wasn't until the man turned his face to the side, that Xiao Zhao recognized him. His mouth dropped. No, it can't be! It can't be HIM of all people!

He heard a cry of anguish and saw the figure drop to his knees in pain. His sword lay on the snow in front of him. Without thinking twice, Xiao Zhao ran as fast as he could and stood in front of the man, protecting him. The wolves were snaring at him. Xiao Zhao didn't back down, instead, he picked up the heavy sword in his left hand and swung at the pack of wolves without control. The moon was now covered by the clouds. Thunder boomed nearby.

"Get out of my way!" the figure yelled.

Xiao Zhao glanced behind him and hesitated. Before he could do anything else, the figure pushed him roughly aside and brought his two hands to his left side. He cupped his hands together and left a narrow space between them. Using his body's strength, he pushed his hands outward, palms toward the pack of wolves. An invisible force hit the wolves all at once and they flew into the air. Landing some distance away. They whimpered as they got up and quickly fled the scene.

Xiao Zhao looked behind him and saw the man on the snow, gasping. He rushed over to him and took the man in his arms. The man's mouth was bleeding and his body was full of wounds. His eyes were closed.

"Zheng Xia Ning! Zheng Xia Ning!" Xiao Zhao shook him violently. Light from the fire reflected off the old man's weathered, dark face.

He half-opened his eyes and gasped, "Xiao...Zhao..." He coughed violently. " I'm sorry... for...the u-unfair... treatment...I ...inflicted...on you...I hope....in the....next life...we can m-meet again...a-and I can...right... my wrongs."

He looked at Xiao Zhao and there was something different about him. To Xiao Zhao's surprise, Zheng Xia Ning smiled for the first time in years and said, "L-let me...have...a...good look...at you."

He gently used both hands to touch Xiao Zhao's face. "You're alike...very, alike." He said as he gazed at Xiao Zhao's face. After a minute, he whispered, " I-I h-have...o-one last...request..."

"What is it?" Xiao Zhao cried as he held the old man tightly.

"For...the...last...time...call...me...Father..."

Xiao Zhao hesitated.

Zheng Xia Ning sighed. "I...understand..." He turned his head away.

"Father," Xiao Zhao said plainly. Zheng Xia Ning smiled, tears of joy flowed out of his eyes.

"Thank...you," he whispered.

"Here," he said, as he shoved a curved piece of yellow glass into Luo Xiao Zhao's hand. "This...is from... your m-mother...k-keep...i-it...s-safe..." Zheng Xia Ning's head dropped to his side as he said those words. His eyes closed, and his hand fell beside him.

"Father! Father!" Xiao Zhao yelled desperately.

Thunder rolled and the skies opened as snow came sleeting down, but Xiao Zhao didn't notice. He held Zheng Xia Ning tightly in his arms. A sense of regret overcame him. What if it had been a different ending? What if Zheng Xia Ning had lived? What would have been the outcome? But for now, Xiao Zhao sat in the snow, mourning for what could have been...