Bamboo Village was seated beneath the great Mt. Stupid. Before the great change, Mt. Stupid was a fairly large village with a good amount of money flowing into it every year. Named after the deep green bamboos that surrounded the village, Bamboo Village made their business off selling these durable bamboos.
The versatility of bamboo allowed the villagers to pursue the craft of various merchandise which popularized the Bamboo Village. This merchandise varied from sculptures to food like bamboo shoots or bamboo sweets.
Because of the successes of Bamboo Village, the temple up on Mt. Stupid benefited as well. The nature of villages was that they were situated away from bigger cities. This led to a trend where more than half of the younger generation left the village to pursue a life in the city before settling back down in the village as they grew older. As such, there were a lot more elderly than the young in the Bamboo Village.
Shen looked at the Bamboo Village fondly and calmed his heart. Tranquility and peace returned to his mind. Despite being a young monk, Shen's attainments in the arts were way above his peers, especially since he was raised as a monk his whole life.
In the background, the sun was quickly setting. Red streaks painted across the dark sky as the sun's rays showed their final brilliance before setting. The red glow shone on Shen's bald head as his yellow ropes fluttered.
The Bamboo Village was enclosed in a dark wood wall. There was a large gate where the entrance would be.
Behind Shen, Spring-Autumn and Rainmist let out wows of admiration. They could tell that the wooden wall was a piece of work that took much effort from many people inside the village. This was especially evident in how the ropes that tied the planks together had small, almost unnoticeable traces of blood on them. Presumably from the extreme workings of the hands that rushed to finish this wall together.
This was unlike the earth wall of Diamond City where a lone person's power was enhanced through the assistance of others and then constructed in one go.
"Let us enter, Patrons," Shen nodded and pushed the wooden gate open.
With a creak, the large gate that was more than 15 feet tall opened under the immense strength of Shen.
The creak that came from the door was not a high pitched one. Rather, it was low pitched and confirmed one's affirmations of the strength of the planks that made up the gate.
Just like every other existence that was enhanced from the great change, trees were given the same enhancement.
Shadows and silhouettes behind the gate shuffled about when the gate opened.
Thud!
The gate completely opened and the state of the village was revealed.
The village appeared as though a tornado swept through it. Some houses were torn down, while others stood tall. It was an unusual sight.
The villagers that greeted them consisted of about 8 numbers and wore worn down cotton shirts and jeans, appearing like the perfect vision of a hardworking farmer. In their hands, they held sharpened bamboo spears. Their skin was tanned from years of working in the sun and their exposed forearms were thick and rugged from years of labor. The characteristic brown hair of Bamboo Village's villagers peeked itself through from under their straw hat.
"Shen?" One of them said in a surprised tone of voice when Shen's shining bald head came into view.
"Amithaba, Patrons," Shen greeted while cupping his fists together.
The villagers have yet to lower their spears. "What are you doing here? We can't accept any more people!" One of them yelled out.
The commotion attracted the attention of other villagers that were bathing in the sun.
Spring-Autumn and Rainmist simply stood back and watched as Shen was about to get kicked out. With nothing much to do, Spring-Autumn took liberties with Rainmist and sneaked a little squeeze of her perky ass.
"Is this what getting molested feels like?" Rainmist brought her fair hands up to her lips and chuckled.
"You are now being molested by a dirty old man!" Spring-Autumn took a big squeeze and said back quietly.
"Scary~," Rainmist played along and shook her alluring ass along with Spring-Autumn's hand. "But seriously, get your old appearance back. I much rather prefer the handsome, young, you," She said smilingly and returned her attention back to the entrance of the village.
Shen kept a cool head. "This monk is just here to check if Patrons were safe and sound. If the presence if this monk is not required, this monk shall leave,"
"Leave! We don't need you here!"
While Shen kept a calm appearance outside, his heart was conflicted. The villagers previously raised him like their sons and now he was nothing more than an outsider. Was this the true nature of people? Shen could only ponder.
Did the moments they spent together really mean nothing to these people?
Just as then was about to turn around and leave,
"Wait!" A hoarse voice bellowed followed by a panting sound.
"Village Chief…" One of the villagers said as he took a step aside to give the Village Chief room to see Shen.
The Village Chief could be considered a middle-aged man entering the later stages of his life, bordering that of an elderly man.
His hair was cut short and gray, his eyes had a deep depth to them, having experienced the vicissitudes of life. Just like other villagers, he wore a worn down cotton shirt and a jean. However, unlike other villagers, his left arm was not present. It could be assumed to be lost through battle during the great change.
"Please…" The Village Chief leaked out a voice. "Allow him to stay with me for a while. I will take care of him,"
The other villagers turned silent. "Only for a few days and then he must leave," They said and returned back to their stations. From this brief exchange, it could be assumed that they were guards.
It was just the lone Village Chief standing beyond the gate now. "It feels like it's been forever since I've seen you," he leaked out a smile. "Follow me in, your friends too," his eyes landed on the elderly figure of Spring-Autumn and the youthful figure of Rainmist before nodding.
"Amithaba, you have my thanks, Village Chief," Shen bowed his head and said solemnly.