A Wuxia Tale: Twins of Trouble

Hunting Ground

(WANG DAO)

The man guarding me pushed me to the ground. I kneeled and braced my tied up hands on the ground to prevent from kissing it.

I gritted my teeth. The cold air in the forest is drying my sweat from getting dragged by the men who captured me.

I hope Hua got home to get some help. I hope she is safe.

Please...let my sister be safe.

I know I am in a dire situation. I am tied up and surrounded with men holding various weapons. One wrong move and they might kill me.

I have to focus. Be calm and quiet. Cooperate with these men who got me.

Until Baba and Father came.

They are coming. I know. I feel it inside me. My parents are now on their way to get me.

"I know," I mumbled to myself.

"What did you say?" The man who dragged me and guarding me shouted over my head. "Speak up, boy..."

"Water," I said. "I am thirsty, Sir..."

He held out his bamboo canteen on me. I swallowed. I don't want to drink that. I am used to the clean, boiled water Father insisted we drink at the estate.

The water on the canteen came from the small stream we passed while going deeper into the forest. The hunting ground of the Emperor. I am not sure if that water is clean.

I will not drink that.

"I change my mind. Thank you Sir," I said slowly and in full humility.

"Based on the boy's clothing, he is born from a noble family," a man dressed in peasant clothing sat next to my guard. "We got ourselves a rich boy here,"

I swallowed again, "Bring me back to my family and my Baba will reward you greatly. I swear..." I enticed them with reward.

I am not lying. Father will reward anyone who will do his children great favor. That is why our household is known in the Capital as the household that gives servants generous wages. Father compensates the servants on the estate generously as long as they do their jobs of protecting our family.

We don't abuse our slaves. Father makes sure there's enough food for everyone. Cleanliness is a must. That we don't waste food and that we share the harvest in the orchards and our vegetable farm to the people working for us. Every year, during the Moon Festival, Baba rewards the servants a day of not working so they can join the festivities and even give them some spending coins.

My parents are known for their generosity. And if these men can be convinced to take me back, I know my parents will reward them justly.

"How much will they pay for you?" The man in peasant clothing asked interestedly.

"Don't be tempted," my guard said. I stared at him. Something is familiar about him. He is wearing a black robe but I think there is something underneath it. I look down at his feet and with the flickering lights from the torches around the make shift camp, I saw soldier footwear.

I stiffened. A soldier. My guard is a soldier. What is a soldier doing with crates of weapon and barrels of firepowder?

Does Baba knows about this?

I turn my head at the wagon full of barrels of firepowder. With that much fire power, it can create a hole in the Imperial Palace and shook the whole place up.