Fox Child

Chapter 18

When dinner time comes I lead him to the dining hall, his legs healed but weak. It is time I introduce him to my sect. I can tell everyone is observing my nephew. I had already introduced him to my second-in-command Lu MoBing and my son Lan WeiZu who is three years older than A-Yew. He will take over as the sect leader next year. I sat down next to MoBing helping A-Yew to the table and giving him only finger food making it less awkward for him with everyone here. I can tell everyone is observing my nephew.

"As everyone has noticed the boy I brought in. This is my nephew Lan WenYew he has been found after ten years. As his only living relative, he has been placed under my care. I want you to treat him with the same respect you do my son Lan WeiZu and myself. If I am told otherwise you will be punished."-Uncle Ming.

After two weeks I decided to inquire about these last ten years. I was hoping a-Yew would come to me himself unfortunately it has not happened. I took him to the cold pond, he splashed his feet in the water laughing. I do not know why he enjoys the cold pons so much.

"A-Yew I want to talk to you. I wanted to let you settle in and was hoping you would come to me and explain the resentful energy surrounding you and your sword. It has been ten years since I have last seen you and I know nothing about your life over that time. I was hoping you could tell me."-Uncle Ming

I looked towards Uncle squinting. My eyes had been hurting recently from the sun. I was told that over time my eyes could heal letting me see if I take my medicine and not hide away without candles. Uncle Kai only brought what was needed and not missed. Candles were not as important as clothes and food for me. over these last two weeks.

"Mother and father died. Wandered streets, hungry and alone. Falling over and passed out in the woods of Yilling Uncle Kai found me. Brought me to his home. Cared for me. Gave food, made clothes and if lucky stoll candles. Sleep in a cave, with little lights. Taught to cultivate, the resentful energy trapped me in Yilling Woods. Not powerful enough to leave, the land of death. Uncle could come and go always careful not to be seen. He made my sword of black bamboo the only thing that grew and a bone I found in a red bath. Made me black bamboo flute with red tassel from his belt. Four months ago I left the dead land. Fell from tree broke legs and attacked by bear. Almost died nice lady healed me. Left before fully healed, found you thanks to Uncle Kai. Uncle stayed home, could not come."-WenYew

His speech has gotten much better over these months. I was sad to hear how he lived after his parents died. This Uncle Kai seems eccentric and poorer than anyone I have come across. I have been to Yilling many times over the years and never came across A-Yew. Why did he steal candles? If his home was a cave in the woods that would explain why I never found him. What does he mean that resentful energy kept him from leaving? Is this why the resentful energy seems to be embedded into his meridians? Did he grow up surrounded by resentful energy? He called his home the land of death and talked about a red bath he pulled a human bone out of that was made into his sword with black bamboo. 

Then Kai sent him off alone even though he could cultivate. What does he mean by land of death and red bath? Then there is the fact that he has been exposed to resentful energy for at least nine years and he did say his sword and flute are made from black bamboo as I thought. I did not want it to be true but it was as if he was describing the burial mounds. He should have died in the first hours he was there. Why would a cultivator live there? Why would they not leave? Another thought came to me. The time A-Yew came there was when the burial mounds calmed down.