"Lunatic! Who gave you permission to enter the stables?" A stable boy pushed Wu Yong away from Tao Hua, ignoring the loud splat when the madman fell face first into the half cleaned floor. The boy could not be over thirteen years but he had the nerve to kick the older male until Wu Yong rolled out of the stall. "Ah, is this your horse? Is this thing the cause of your visit?"
"It was his horse before he was disowned. I think he named the horse Tao Hua, what a feminine way of thinking! You may go, we will finish kicking him around." Xue Liang says and before Wu Yong could react, Xue Liang and a dozen disciples are sprawled over him. Wu Yong knew their goal was to attack him but judging from the grunts and coughing they were hurting each other. Xue Liang retreated from the swarm of bodies. "There must be a better way of doing this."
"I suggest you take turns punching me," Wu Yong spoke up from under the pile of boys attempting to tug his hair up or batter his body. He could feel the moist breaths of different boys as they squirmed around. "I think I just kissed someone, get off! You all cornered me so I can only obediently take a few beatings."
"Get off of me, I just kissed the lunatic!" Bu Xin yelled beside Wu Yong. His shrill voice damaged all ears present. He was the first person to wriggle off of Wu Yong and he made sure to wipe his mouth. He and Xue Liang start pulling the boys off Wu Yong. "Xue Liang, Wu Yong is mad! He thinks he could kiss a man because he cultivated. We need to punish him as soon as possible."
"Wait, why do I feel so wronged by your words?" Wu Yong jumped to his feet and backed away from the group of ruffled students. Wu Yong could not tell if he is heterosexual or homosexual and yet, people make him a man lover. "I think you, Bu Xin, are the crazier one of the both of us. I did not press my lips against yours, someone pushed your face into mine! Punch me if you wish. We all know I would not touch someone like you."
Bu Xin felt his cheeks heat up under watchful eyes. He begged his peers to aid him in refuting the lunatic but they backed off quickly. Xue Liang scratched his neck and avoided his eyes. "Someone like me? Do you think a dignified cultivator such as myself would make a move on you? No one pushed me onto you, you pulled me in!"
Jiang Rui De snickered behind his sleeve, "I was the one who pulled your hair. Do you think you are so powerful? Wu Yong proved that he is not the innocent person we thought we knew. He must have been practicing the dark arts under our noses and now, I assume he is more powerful than you. You are so ugly that even a seductress would not flirt with you."
"Well, I may be ugly but I doubt you can ever get a wife because of your sharp tongue! Your father disowned you because of your ugly attitude so you cannot tell me that I am ugly!" Bu Xin pointed a finger at the sharp tongued disciple. He looked so furious his face was redder than blood. "I still have three scores to settle with you, Jian Rui De. Be prepared for the first battle!"
"Hey! I am still here, are we going to beat the lunatic or bicker among ourselves? Come and finish what you started at least," Wu Yong extended his arms above his head. He is prepared to take a few beatings to prove that he is still weak. "I did cultivate but I am not as powerful as anyone here. I have not reached the Sword Stage but I saw progress. Hit me, I can take pain better now."
Xue Liang assigned each boy a number which is the order in which they will attack Wu Yong. Of course, he made himself number one. He cracked his knuckles, swung his arm behind his head, and struck Wu Yong on the chin. He was impressed the jaw stayed intact. "You improved quite a bit, Xue House Lunatic. I am curious to see which method you used when no one gave you books are taught you lessons."
Wu Yong grinned weakly as he moved his jaw to ensure it did not slip. Xue Liang is strong and Wu Yong knew that if he was punched in the chin by Xue Liang on any other day, it would have suffered damage. Wu Yong watched Xue Liang exit the stables and groaned as the remaining boys stretch their limbs. "Hurry, I do not have all day to be a training puppet. I still need to wash Tao Hua."
The boys finally attack him two at a time. The boys who hated him the most aimed for his face. The younger boys are immature and giggled as they kick him in his jewels. The students whose goal was to follow the crowd aimed at the most random places but they hit hard enough. The last boy spat on the ground and left.
Wu Yong clenched his fists to suppress his throbbing body parts. He felt compelled to bring out his full powers but he also did not know the strength of the former Demon King. If he wanted to familiarize himself with the demonic powers he must overcome the year of sickness and he should practice in solitude. It is impossible to use dark techniques in Xue house.
Wu Yong grew tired of planning his future and saw what must be done immediately. He ignored all orders to keep out of the stalls and returned to Tao Hua with a smile. The horse trotted to his former master, looking at the man with soft eyes. Wu Yong sighed as he stroked the matted mane. "I doubt anyone will care if I take you to get washed up. Come with me to the river and I will make sure you return looking like a stallion fit for the best warriors."
Wu Yong did not need a rope to lead the horse out if the stable which confused the stable workers. He recalled from the past that most horses needed to be pulled by ropes to move because they were all stubborn. He realized that seeing a frail horse willingly trot without being coaxed or forced to walk is odd. The sight is even more incomprehensible when the strangest man is the person leading the horse.
"Tao Hua, remember the apple orchard you loved so much? We should pass it on our way to the river. If you want, we will stop there to have a snack." The horse whinnied in excitement. Like his former master, today must be the first day he steps out of the Xue house after eleven years. The streets and houses have changed but Wu Yong still had great sense of direction. He saw that a new road heading to the Jade River had been built. "The sign says Jade River is this way. In that case, the apple orchard is not too far from here."
The two old friends follow the stone path, anticipating the taste of the apples and the cool water of the river. Along the road are beggars sitting with arms extended to receive alms. Among them is a monk meditating, a figure of peace among struggles and discomfort. The beggars try relentlessly to get money but the merchants and villagers who pass by avoid their hands.
A group of young cultivators arrive from the river, prancing around with unsheathed swords. They wore green robes* indicating they are students studying under the Li Sect. Besides recognizing their uniforms, he could not recall knowing a person from the sect. Of course, he remembered the second best cultivating sect in Jirong. The rowdy boys must be trying to throw dirt on their sect name, going around pushing each other in every direction.
"Hey, look at the new beggar over there! I didn't know beggars also owned horses, what animal abuse!" One boy slurred as he pointed at Wu Yong with a slim finger. The boys must have snuck out to drink by the river since the Li family rules prohibits drinking while training. The beggars lining the road quickly scurry away, glad the notorious group found new prey. The boy who spoke first stumbled in front of the group like a walking corpse.
Wu Yong crossed his arms and shielded Tao Hua with his body. His steed should not have to see a bunch of teenagers boasting about the amount of jars they drank. He heard the tallest boy shout the number three proudly. Wu Yong hissed and covered his ears as the noisy group lumbered towards him. "Can you dignified cultivators keep your mouths closed? You scared away the beggars and birds! Will you be responsible if they cannot live past today because of you?"
"Hey, loud mouth!" A beefy boy shouts from the back. He pushed his way through his companions to see who hindered their travels. He sees the man in ragged clothes and gagged at the sight. "Your hair is messy, your clothes have holes! Your hands and face look like you have been rolling inside an outhouse. Your horse is underfed and you both reek. How dare you order us, the disciples of Li Sect to lower our voices? You are nothing but an ant, go mind your own business."
"I do not expect you to listen to me but at least show that you are disciples of the Li Sect. You should be more mindful of your actions since you are in Li central, Jirong." Wu Yong started to raise his voice but stopped when Tao Hua made a noise. He felt the noise was the equivalent of a whimper. "I know that I am not as high and mighty as the youngest of you but I know about the reputation of the cultivation families. Your Master will be disappointed to see you stumbling around. Fix your robes, wipe your drool and move on quietly!"
What was so hard to understand? After Wu Yong delivered his passionate lecture the group of boys continue towards him. They are quieter than before but their actions were disgraceful. Swords were being thrown around, barely missing faces and limbs. A few boys were tripping while kissing each other. As a person who was always portrayed as a homosexual, this did not bother him. The most absurd action Wu Yong saw, however, was a boy pretending to be a fire breathing dragon by spraying his breath in different directions.
Wu Yong passes the group with Tao Hua following his heels. Wu Yong shook his head as he counted the number of Li family rules that were being broken by the group of about a dozen boys. He does not care about them being punished and he felt happy knowing their master would not approve of their behavior. "I suggest you sober up, drink water and pretend you are sick upon entering Li house. May the righteous path prevail!"
Wu Yong rolled his eyes as he spoke the last words. If these boys represents the majority of the newest generation of cultivators, the righteous way might as well be a myth. Giving into temptations, breaking rules, and disrupting the peace! Surely, the righteous sects should have improved their teachings ever since he became imprisoned. Wu Yong spat on the ground the boys tread.
Wu Yong and Tao Hua walked on, following the path quickly. Wu Yong wondered when or if the Xue family would notice the lunatic left the house and stole a horse. He felt pure happiness as he pranced along the dirt road to what should be the apple orchard and the river. Wu Yong paused to study his surroundings, checking the trees. "The apple orchard should be around here."
Wu Yong could smell the faint aroma of apple blossoms but the scent had faded over the years. He was right, the path did go through the orchard but he was wrong about on thing: the orchard no longer existed. The young man clenched his fists until his knuckles turned snow white. The orchard had thrived in fertile land. The dirt is still fit for farming. He winced in pain, "An orchard was stripped down and replaced by burial mounds? It is no wonder the beggars do not have apples to eat around this time of year. Such a useful orchard is now a useless plot of bodies and dirt! I have seen everything."
In a fit of rage he threw his hands into the air. The orchard had been a capsule of memories for him and he assumed for many others. As a child he would admire the apple blossoms during the days they were in full bloom. He would play music under the trees while petals fell like delicate flakes. He loved the sour taste of unripe apples and the sweeter taste when the fruits were ripe.
How can one enjoy burial mounds of anonymous people? To make matters worse, these mounds did not have plaques to indicate who lay where. Wu Yong arranged his face to stare at the mounds without emotion. He could feel the dark energy drifting in the air. Most burial grounds attract evil spirits and if the energy is strong enough, ghouls come also.
He used to pity the dead because they are always forgotten sooner or later but at this moment, he lost those feelings. He tries to figure out why the mounds existed but he was not thinking of digging up bodies. The mounds made him furious but he stuck around to estimate how many bodies lay under the soil and how many spirits were walking in the area. When he had his fill of dark energy, he continued onward gloomily.
He still felt angry but he knew he was powerless. No one seems to be irked by a massive burial ground situated next to a road so he was even more crazy. "When I die, I'd rather be cremated and have my ashes spread across the world. It is a lot better than making the faint of heart terrified by merely lying in the ground. Being rooted to one place is not my style anymore."
***
Colored Robes: Each sect chose a color to represent their purpose. For example, the green robes were inspired by nature which is a forceful entity that can also be calm. This reflects their forceful and passive ways. Besides having symbolic significance, the color coded clothes allows everyday people recognize from which sect the students hail.