Broken Bonds

Chapter 8

Translated by: anameescans

It was two hours past noon on the second day of the new year. The weather carried a chill since the snow which had fallen on the night of New Year's Eve had yet to melt, leaving behind a snow-filled world enveloped by a sheet of silvery white.

Every year at this time, everyone who should have returned to their family home, returned home; and who had to pay a New Year's call, paid a New Year's call. Thus leaving only those still remaining on duty at the Fouyouju headquarters—most of whom were assigned to guarding the outer walls of the courtyard; and the reason for this compound within the Four Sects of the Tianmen having such a deserted appearance during this period.

Currently, within the Northern Sect Master's Plum Courtyard, was a sole man resting on his knees, in that frigid fallen snow.

Wearing only a single robe, in that rustling, freezing wind; that man's wild black hair draped over his shoulders, and a face drained of colour, gave off the impression of an utterly sorry figure except for his back, which nonetheless, was still held perfectly straight—no different than the unyielding bole of the Winter Plum Blossom, not something that could be so easily broken.

But Beitang Ao, having always been rather calm person, had zero fondness for those who spoke or acted out of turn.

Therefore, with not only the Northern compound being located in a remote location compared to the other sects, but with it also having far fewer servants—most of whom were dependable and aged. Occasionally, when they would pass before Yan Feili, they did not dare spare him a single glance. All due to the Sect Master's order stating that none should pay attention to the man and they should just let him kneel where he was.

So on that morning, where the ever dignified and undemanding General Yan, with a ragged appearance and face deprived of colour, suddenly burst into that court; then upon seeing Beitang Ao and his fiance, Lin Yanyan, who were on their way to offer prayers at the temple, proceeded to say nary a word and simply dropped onto his knees with a "thump" in front of his Sect Master. Such a scene, made everyone around them jump in fright.

Beitang Ao's face became ashen, as he stared at that man for a long while with a cold expression. After which, he ordered him to continue kneeling if he loved doing it so much, and for everyone to just ignore him, before carrying along a doubtful Lin Yanyan on their way.

Bursts of bone-chilling wind pierced through Yan Feili's entire body, as he was now, from head to toe, freezing. That cold snow persisted, reaching all the way to his heart, causing his consciousness to slip back into the memories of his past.

The year back then, like the one of current, was also a winter of bitter cold. And on such a night, in a cold and gloomy abandoned temple, the beggar who had raised him from birth had passed away, leaving himself along with Li Qi, another little beggar, both behind. At that time, he still did not have a name of his own, but because that old beggar's surname was Yan, those who knew him all called him Yan Er; a name he thought was quite good, as it was easy to say and easy to remember. Besides, since he was originally a baby abandoned on the mound of a grave picked up by that old beggar, so why would he be called by a different name?

That night, both he and Liu Qi had used used their one and only straw mat to wrap and tie up the old beggar's body. The two little boys straining as they dragged his corpse during the wee hours of the morn which happened to be the beginning of the new year.

As they passed through the street frantically while making their way to the graveyard, the sudden explosions of firecrackers set off by each and every family in celebration of the new year, had begun.

There was one family whose gate soon opened, where a group of children carrying strings of firecrackers, looking around the same age as them, bounced outside excitedly until the sight of their figures made them jump with a start. This led an ugly, fierce-looking lump of a man to rush towards them. The lump then kicking him and Liu Qi both over.