"You know, grandma, I'd love to tell you everything that happened, but not right now. I need some time to process everything I've been through. I hope you don't mind."
Zhao Shuqin nodded in understanding, even though she was a little disappointed. But she knew it was best not to rush him. His grandpa was the same. When he was ready, he would talk. She stood and, followed by Taotao, walked out of the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Once alone he listened to the sound of the cane fading into the distance. When he didn't hear anything else but his own breath, he tried to feel his face through his bandages. Lifting the hands at his face, he touched the contours of his face. He pressed his fingers hard trying to find out the level of pain he could endure. But there was no pain. He began unrolling the bandages. There was no sign of scars from what he could feel beneath his fingers. Finally he let out a sigh of relief. He started to unroll the rest of the bandages all over his body.
His smile grew wider seeing his skin smooth underneath them. There was no pain either, so there was no need to be worried about what was going to happen next. He started to think about what his next move should be. After all, he still had four names to erase from his life. He started to frown remembering the old man interfering. He felt a bit disappointed of the fact that he failed in killing Danxuan.
He shook his head, trying to ignore those disruptive thoughts. He turned his attention to remembering what happened in the world of his dream. He remembered the books and scrolls and concentrated on bringing them out of his soul space.
While he was experimenting with everything, the clan was in turmoil. This was because out of nowhere four strangers appeared in their courtyard. They were three women of different ages and looks and a middle-aged man.
The one leading them was the man, shown by the deference two of the ladies had toward him. The third one, seemingly the youngest of them all, had no such qualms, as she was dragging him everywhere she went by the amusement in the man's green eyes. It was nothing new to him, no doubt about that. And he didn't seem to mind getting dragged into some conflicts along the way.
"Daddy don't forget what you promised mom! You said, in your own words" she clears her throat and deepened her voice trying to imitate him, "She'll not get harmed along the way. If even her hair is touched by anghbdfs..."
The rest was lost in a gurgle of noises that ended in sort of a fart as the man quickly covered her mouth with his empty palm. He looked around and for the first time the ladies beside him showed a hint of fear. Their reverence was definitely greater towards that "mom" the girl just invoked. Feeling relieved for the first time, he let out a whizz of air from deep inside his chest. Then he looked at the victorious smirk of the girl who looked merely 15 or so but was so ruthless towards her own father. Threatening him with the utmost effect of getting her own way. Almost blackmailing him every time and every single time still worked like a charm. And only because he wanted to go around the courtyards in front of them to get to the mountains a few minutes later. Maybe two hours, tops. He sighed remembering an old saying. If you let your enemies learn your weakness, you're doomed. But if your kids find it, you're done forever. They will use it to get their way in everything they want from you. If you don't let me do that, I'll tell mom. If you don't give me that, I'll go to mom and tell on you. Of course, everyone has their little fears. Some fear heights, some fear bugs, some fear crawlers. But the most rational and irrational fear is that of your own wife. Of course it helps adding to your fear the fact that she's the living vengeful God of death who hears everyone who say her name, no matter how loud. Even in their thoughts, for her, it's a direct path to the offending party. Of course, it was certain death, and not a pleasant one. At best you'll be joining the ranks of her legions, left and forgotten there, sent to your death in every mission. If you're really good, you'll even get noticed, and that's where the trouble really begins for the unfortunate one. He will be joining her elite secret corps. They're unfortunate souls trapped in their body for all eternity, unable to die no matter what they do or how many wounds they sustain. Sure, it's a step up. I mean immortality, right? But immortality at what costs? You'll be constantly marching, fighting, always on the move wherever the danger is greatest. Along the time, you'll lose some limbs, but you'll still be marching in the sounds of drums, no matter what. I mean they'll get reattached later after the battle. Not in perfect condition, but still good to go chopping some heads off. At some point you're only a pile of bones lying on the ground dented and with cuts all over the place. Nope, you'll still be marching in the sounds of drums for the growing glory of the Everqueen.
The man looked around to make sure she really wasn't there, and sighed in relief. That woman. He's protective of his children, but not like her. Even if you look a bit off while looking at her children, especially this little one in front of him, you'll be dead before you know it. Not really. Because it took a man fifty-three days to finally be allowed to die just because he took a glance at her little girl while she was passing by.
Now, with that, it's time to get back to the story.
Once he was sure everything was going to be alright he turned only to see the four of them were surrounded by a large group of people who were each holding a weapon. He and the two other women looked at each other and he could see one was still the cold, precise and unwavering killer she always, just was gentler when he was around. The nogai princess really was adequate to her name. A sword cold as the morning. But she always gave him hope. At least after the other was no more. He turned to the black-eyed immovable wall of faith standing beside him on the other side and smiled. Still, cold and creepy and merciless to others, but at least her faith in humanity was rekindled after a long time on the brink of the abyss. He had to thank his step-mother for her, and to think he ran away from home just by feeling her presence nearby in the past. Anyone would have run in his stead honestly, but he had more reasons to be afraid of it, having run across a being like her in the distant past and it almost brought over the end of days for him and those close to him. True, they were only a few, five to be exact. They won in the end, but it was a close call. Three used their utmost strength crippling them for years, he lost his powers, being sealed inside his special weapon alongside the being as a cathalist, leaving only dying embers of their former glory. And that in turn led them to their doom and their current situation. To think after that, he spent years of toil and blood gathering enough soul essence to bring her back to life after being sealed inside his weapon by her grandmother.
"Good riddance to that old hag. Everything started with her and ended with her help. She won't be missed, not by me anyway. She was too nasty for my taste. God may have pity on your soul! Not likely, since you killed him. It's true, even gods can't pass the test of time. And so the devil may drag you into hell. Not likely either. I sealed him in chains and threw him into the deepest abyss where no light can enter, where there's only despair and where the creepy things lie in wait for the upcoming darkness. Good riddance to all three of them. Each of them wronged me, used me and then threw me under the bus. I can't stand the thought of me being a toy in other people's games. I can only accept the role of the puppeteer."
These were the thoughts running through his mind while looking at these women and then turned towards the crowd.
"Who's in charge here?"
An old man walked out from the crowd. There was respect and reverence towards this man, he could see that in the eyes and postures of those around him.
"I think you've realized you've trespassed in the Wei clan territory."
"Wei clan? Not ringing any bells."
At that moment the girl stepped in and dragged him by the sleeve to get his attention.
"What is it now? Don't you see what mess we're in because of your need for speed? I'm trying to get us out without having to waste effort."
"Daddy, stop lying. Since when did you start being like this? You used to hate liars, thieves, criminals, now you're lying! To my face! Effort? What effort? With the snap of your fingers you could erase the whole town from the map. Probably this entire country, too!"
"But I'm tired, I came only to relax myself."
She shook her head.
"Whatever. As if I'd believe that. Everything you do is for a reason. Maybe more than one single reason. So stop saying things neither of us believe."
The man looked at her for a moment than shook his head.
"I'm too lazy to even bother with what you just said."
"That's what mom always says too."
The man jumped as if stung by a bee. He lloked around and asked in a low voice and a guarded tone.
"What did she say about me?"
"That you're too lazy to even try!"
"What does it mean?"
"I don't know."
"But you said it! So you must know something. Is it going to cost me? Is she mad?"
"I don't know. I'm just repeating what she said to the other ladies and all started laughing. So I guess you're off the hook because om laughed too, but I would be careful, because she wasn't pleased by the way she said it."
"To whom? Who was with her? What were they talking about?"
"Aunt Tan Quinji, aunt Jean, aunt Ileane and a couple others. Daddy, what's an orgasm?"
The man looked apoplectic at the young girl in front of him, cursing through his teeth.
"Nothing, it means something without value."
"Oh, so that's why you're lazy!"
The man looked up to the sky looking for the next bolt of lightning.
"I should have splashed you anywhere else but where you ended!" he thought.
Turning back to reality he asked the more pressing question.
"Why did you drag me away?"
"Doesn't mom have a new Black Guard? Isn't he an old man with that surname?"
"Still not ringing any bells. Why should I care about this old man?"
"Because mom owed him a favor for way back a long time ago and he came to ask for the return. In exchange for his service, we'll bring his family over for protection."
"Protection? All his family? How and why are we to do that?"
"His family is only his wife and grandson. The rest are not important."
The man shook his shoulder noncommitally.
"Don't care, it has nothing to do with me!"
"We should at least ask and find out if those persons are here, right?"
The man shrugged again.
"Still don't care."
A small shadow was sitting in the corner, next to where they were talking and she looked dejected, but when her mind brought her back, she perked up and rushed into a courtyard.