"That's right, Hashi-ni!" Han Dae uttered while both of them are walking on a wooden pathway, below is a pond with white fish and lilies reflecting their figures with the moonlight. Han Zeno faced him with a smile as he continued, "Young Lord Sei and Young Miss Sei left last week huh?" Han Zeno nodded. "And I still have your Gideon with me." Han Dae continued.
"Ah, I've never told you what is it for, have I?" Han Zeno asked with a smile.
Han Dae jumped in front of him in excitement as their tracks stopped. He smiled and eagerly said, "Ooh! I have a guess! I have a guess!" while raising his right arm.
Han Zeno smiled, "You do?"
Han Dae nodded, "When Hashi-ni played it the night I snuck out, flowers bloomed." Then he continued while walking side by side, "Then, the second time he played it for me, I felt better." He turned to face him with a giggle, "Hashi-ni's Gideon has the ability to heal and to give life."
Han Zeno nodded with a smile, "Correct. My, Han Dae! You're getting smarter!"
Blowing his bangs displeased, he uttered, "I am smart." while crossing his arms, he emphasized the word 'am' in irritation.
The two of them began walking again while Han Zeno continued facing the sky, "But you see, it can do more. My mother used to play the same melody to me and the results are indeed similar. However," he faced Han Dae who is already facing at him, "she told me that Gideon only grants the feelings of its owner."
"Feelings of its owner?" Han Dae repeated in a question.
Han Zeno nodded and once again face the sky, "I always play it whenever I have time on my hands. I play it lots when I was a kid. I am really amazed that time, especially when I saw withered flowers blooming while I play."
Asher blinked in disbelief, "Huh? Young Lord Han, your hobbies are pretty dangerous!"
"Doesn't Gideon take a toll on its owner's body?" Han Dae asked.
Han Zeno chuckled a bit upon hearing him. He seems happy and embarrassed at the same time, "It does."
"And you played it lots when you were a kid?!" Han Dae freaked and he shyly nodded with a smile.
"I blacked out for five weeks as a result." He answered. "But I got the hang of it afterwards." He giggled quietly.
"Hashi-ni..." Han Dae sighed. Then he asked, "What if other people play Gideon? Like, Shihan Xu-chou?"
"Mnn. He can play," Han Zeno answered, "But only that."
"Then, it is only Hashi-ni who can truly play with it." Han Dae sounds so disappointed.
"What is it?" he asked, "Do you want to do something with it?"
"I was just thinking, if Gideon grants its owner's feelings," he uttered.
"... if Hashi-ni feels like bringing someone back to life... can he do it?"
"Han Dae." Han Zeno spoke with such authority as he stopped walking in front of the big gates. There are two main gates in the place, one is for Fushi and on the opposite side is for Nagafushi. What connects the two is the stone bridge Han Dae crossed. The servants enter through Fushi while esteemed guests and those who have higher upbringings enter through the other.
Han Dae also stopped his tracks.
"You know that's taboo." Han Zeno stated.
"Ah!" Han Dae suddenly grabbed his own mouth, "I-I'm just wondering! You know, since Hashi-ni said so himself that he can still make withered flowers grow..." he waved his hands and scratched his head.
'Waah... I shouldn't have said that...' he thought.
Han Zeno sighed and faced Han Dae with a smile, "I do not have enough knowledge about that. Shall we go back?"
Han Dae blinked first thinking, 'I was so sure I made him angry...'
Asher can't help but agree, 'Damn right... but... if it can bring the dead back to life...' his mother's face flashed into his mind, 'Can... Han Dae... do it?'
Han Dae nodded in response, "It is getting cold outside after all—"
A sudden 'crash' surprised the both of them. Han Zeno immediately shielded Han Dae by hugging him, protecting his head. The stone gates just got breached and the two soldiers guarding the gates got crushed.
"Aha!" a female's voice echoed throughout the place as if she is chuckling. In the smoke appears a seductive woman with revealing beast skin clothes. Han Zeno saw her purple skin and two horns. Her hands have sharp nails that is indeed deadly.
"Found 'ya!" she shouted while aiming to scratch him.
Han Dae, "A high level demon?!"
Han Zeno, "A saintess."
Han Zeno pushed Han Dae with a lot of force that he ended up flying. He unsheathed his sword and sliced through her right hand smoothly. Han Zeno distanced himself as she catches her arm.
She grinned and reattached it on her. Han Zeno's eyes widened the moment the smoke clears. Behind her is a whole army of mixed level monsters.
"Alright rascals!" she shouted, "It's time to take back what's ours!"
Han Zeno faced Han Dae, who is still stopping himself from flying, and ordered, "Han Dae! Call for back up!"
"I swear I'll come back!" Han Dae said and ran.
Group of monsters began their attack. Han Zeno is finishing them off with a slice on their head if possible. He gathered some spiritual energy from his right palm and pushed the gigantic fat one flying outside the place.
But then his palm felt numb.
"Huh?" he wondered in confusion.
The female demon giggled like a madman, "It's working! It's working!" she eagerly exclaimed.
"Why?" Han Zeno wondered, his face full of confusion. Then, another wave of monsters attacked. Han Zeno focused on using his sword and dodging their attacks instead of using his spiritual energy to block it but some gave him no choice but to use his spiritual energy.
'Why?' he wondered once again after slicing the head of a monster, using his spiritual energy ion his sword. Feeling the numbness of both his arms. The female demon find an opening to attack and scratched his back.
Han Zeno distanced himself, floating, he suddenly felt heavy. 'Huh?' he wondered as he fell back to the ground.
She laughed once again, "What's the matter young lord? Exhausted already?"
"What did you do to me?" he asked while chasing his breath, forcing his palm to hold his sword tight, fighting his shutting eyes.
"Me?" she asked, "I didn't do anything! I have someone do the job for me, and it went pretty well."
'Someone?' Han Zeno asked. 'Who's someone?'
The monsters circled the both of them, as she continued, "We're only here to take back our place. With that being said, please die." she said emphasizing the word 'our'.
Without a second thought, the monsters charged in without waiting for an order. Han Zeno focused to gather the remaining spiritual energy that he feels he has on his left palm and pushed it on the ground that made them flying.
Han Zeno fell sitting on the ground with his left palm bleeding and ears ringing. He coughed up some blood. Half of them died, the rest are still moving well and is running towards him already.
The saintess dodged the attack and is ready to rip him to shreds when a sword stabbed her back passing through her stomach.
"Forgive me, but we don't accept rude visitors."
Han Zeno's eyes widened when he saw his Shihan behind her. Behind him are soldier cultivators.
"Kill them, spare no one." He ordered.
"We will, Shihan!" they all shouted and began attacking them.
She tried to scratch Han Xu but he dodged it, jumping in front of Han Zeno. He faced him and asked, "What is going on here, young lord?"
Han Zeno's eyes are shutting and he is already nodding but he still had the strength to utter, "Han Dae..."
He faced his Shihan and asked, "Where is Han Dae?"
"I did not allow him to come back here. He insisted, so I locked him in a room."
Meanwhile, Han Dae is still struggling to break the barrier Han Xu made to every sides of a stock room.
"Oh come on!" he shouted while using a sword he saw in the room to cut through it, "I have to go back!" combining it with his spiritual energy, he continued as the blood of his palms drips.
"Let me out of here!" he shouted once again.
Asher encouraged, "Don't give up! We can do it Han Dae!"
Han Qin is passing through the hallway when she heard Han Dae's voice from outside.
Such good timing!
"Let me out!" he shouted.
Han Qin wondered and gasped, "Is Han Lulu bullying Han Dae again?" she immediately opened the door and the barrier disappeared. She froze in shock upon seeing Han Dae swing his sword beside her.
Her pretty face turned deathly pale in an instant exclaiming, "Dear god!"
Han Dae gasped. He faced Han Qin who is still stoned. He smiled and said, "Thank you very much Han-ji!" he said and ran.
"Wha-What just happened?" Han Qin wondered while still in shock.
Running, Han Dae saw Han Xu assisting his Hashi-ni in walking.
Looks like the battle has ended.
He ran towards their direction shouting, "Hashi-ni!" with eyes full of worry.
Han Zeno opened his eyes and smiled at Han Dae, "Good job, Han Dae. You brought them just in time."
Han Dae saw his poor condition. Han Zeno cannot even walk by himself. His forehead, mouth and ears are bleeding, his back is scratched and his whole body is numb.
Just in time? You call this just in time?!
With eyes wide open, Han Dae closed his bloody fists thinking,
'If only you stayed beside him... if only you are strong enough to stay with him... you weak creature! You should know better! What the heck are you doing all these years?! You useless piece of shit!'
"Han Dae." Han Zeno called and he snapped back to reality. Blinking in surprise, he asked, 'huh?' and his Hashi-ni continued, "Your hands are bleeding."
"Ah!" Han Dae hid his hands behind him.
"Young lord!" Han Lulu came rushing their way with female servants behind him. He intentionally bumped Han Dae to move him out of the way, "You are severely wounded! We have to treat you right away!"
Han Zeno forced a laugh.
In the morning, Han Dae is in his room to take a rest after doing some work and training on his own. Han Xu is visiting Han Zeno at the moment to talk about something. His Hashi-ni is advised to stay in bed for the rest of the day.
While wiping his face, someone kicked the door of his room and soldiers stormed the area. "Han Lulu-chou?" he wondered but he received a glare from him.
Han Lulu, "Capture him."
Han Dae's eyes widened as they began approaching, "H-Hold on! Wha-What on earth did I do this time?!"
"Han Lulu-chou, is this it?" one of them asked while holding the pouch Han Dae got from the village he and Han Zeno visited in monster hunt.
"It is." He grabbed it and examined it. "Take him away!" he ordered the moment Han Dae's arms are grabbed and is tied behind him.
"Han Lulu-chou!" Han Dae shouted while he is being taken away. In front of him is the head servant. "What is going on?!"
"Hmph! Stop playing innocent, you dirty brat! I know I was right for wanting to kick you out!" he looked at Han Dae with pure hatred and disgust. He used to loathe Han Dae for getting too close with his young lord he so idolize, but this time is different.
Hating runs deeper than loathing.
In his mind, Han Dae already got what he wants by acting too friendly to his respected young lord. How dare he do something so unacceptable?
"Huh?" Han Dae asked and saw that they are heading to the Trial Area, also known as Judgement Place.
"Wh-why are we..." Han Dae asked but the soldiers pushed his down so he could kneel. Raising his face, he saw a man in crimson, holding his head high, his handsome face is firm, showing no empathy, his blue eyes emit the look of a displeased person.
Indeed, it was Han Zeno's father, Han Uriel.
He immediately lowered his head once again, "M-My Lord..." he uttered. 'H-Huh?! Wh-What is His Highness doing here?! Why am I being put in a trial?!'
"Stripped naked and banished or beheaded, which do you prefer?" he asked.
Asher and Han Dae, 'H-Huh?!'
"M-My Lord! M-May I ask why?" Han Dae asked, raising his head.
Han Uriel faced Han Lulu and nodded. The head servant lowered his head first before stepping forward, showing Han Dae the pouch they found in his room.
"Servant Han Dae is guilty for serving his own tea to Young Lord Han." He said.
Asher, "What the hell is wrong with that?!"
Han Uriel, "Young man, as my son's personal attendant, you should be knowledgeable that only the food served by his cooks and servants are the ones he should take and eat."
Han Dae kept silent for a while before answering, "B-But Young Lord Han—"
"Do you know what you have been feeding to my son?!" Han Uriel raised his voice that shocked everyone. He is, after all, a man of few words.
Han Lulu continued, "The flowers inside here are poisoned. The evidence is here." he said pointing at a female servant who is holding a tray. On it placed a white bowl and a sample of tea made from the flower.
Han Dae hastily faced Han Lulu, "Huh?!"
"They have been tampered with a demonic spell that disrupts the flow of a Jinji's spiritual energy. Small intake will have no effect, but if it is given more than three times each day, the result is the same as yesterday night."
Han Dae lost his will to defend himself.
Does that mean he has been feeding his Hashi-ni poison every day? Does that mean without even knowing it, he has been slowly killing him? Does that mean that the reason why he is badly injured last night is his fault? He can no longer think straight.
He doesn't know. He doesn't know until now. But could he say that in his defense? Trying to poison his Hashi-ni... death! He deserves death! He is supposed to ensure his Hashi-ni's safety, but because of his carelessness, this is the price to pay!
'I'm gonna get killed... I-I have to die... They'll kill me... Hashi-ni!'
"Father!" said a voice that echoed throughout the place.
Han Dae flinched the moment he heard Han Zeno's voice behind him. Han Zeno approached them wearing bandage on his head and a white robe. His face is pale and his lips are chapped. He is also sweating terribly. He must've ran the moment he heard what had happened.
He is still having trouble moving his legs but he approached his father passing by Han Dae.
"Son, go back to your room." Han Uriel ordered, his prideful face slightly changed. He is a caring father after all.
"Can I ask him a few questions first?" Han Zeno begged while chasing his breath. Han Dae faced him the moment he heard him. All servants who are there are gossiping once again.
"See? I told you he did something!"
"Why does young lord bother saving him? He literally tried to kill him!"
"Good gracious! He truly is young lord's favorite!"
"He betrayed the young lord though!"
"What he did is unforgivable!"
Han Uriel sighed, "Go on."
Han Zeno faced Han Dae and asked, not forgetting to smile, "Han Dae, correct me if I'm wrong, but, this flower... did you get it from the Village of Mist?"
Han Dae nodded, "Mnn."
"That time, when did you pick them?" Han Zeno asked.
"I didn't!" Han Dae uttered and lowered his head, "This servant didn't have the time to pick them. I received them from one of the village elders..."
Han Zeno blinked, "One of the village elders?"
Han Dae nodded and faced him, "Yes. I received it from a female elder. She told me that the fragrance can relax a person's mind and the taste can cure fatigue so I made young lord drink it."
"Han Dae..." Han Zeno uttered, "There is only one village elder, and it is a male."
"Eh?" Han Dae's voice cracked.
Han Zeno once again faced his father, this time, with a smile like he usually does, although his face is indeed getting paler and paler as his sweat drips down his cheeks, "Can father forgive him in my stead?"
Everyone got shocked and the gossips became even louder. Han Lulu exclaimed, "Young Lord--!"
"Father have heard this servant's explanation. He got tricked by a demon. It is not his intention to poison me, let alone kill me." Han Zeno stated.
Han Uriel, "Still, his ignorance almost lead you to your death."
Han Zeno lowered his head, "I beg you, father."
"Son," Han Uriel said after sighing, his face shows kindness and his eyes became kinder, like Han Zeno's. "Why don't you just find another servant? One who is more capable in handling the job?"
"Forgive me, father. But I only want him." Han Zeno said confidently.
Silence enveloped the area. even Han Uriel kept his mouth shut for seconds.
"Fine." His father said that surprised everyone. Han Lulu even let out a loud, 'what?!' in disbelief. "I will not banish him nor kill him. I will also forgive him if that is what you wish."
"M-My Lord--?!" Han Lulu exclaimed.
"However," he continued, "in order for that to happen, I will have to punish him. A hundred whips each day until you are fully healed." Han Dae's eyes widened.
Asher gulped, "H-How long would it take for Han Zeno to recover?"
Han Zeno's eyes widened, "B-But father! A hundred whips—"
"Go to your room now." He ordered. Han Zeno knelt in front of his father and said, "Then father should punish me as well for disobedience and ignorance."
"Hashi-ni!" Han Dae shouted, 'Don't say that! You are already hurt!'
Han Zeno did disobeyed and drank the tea Han Dae made him despite knowing that he cannot do so. Ignorance is that because he trusted Han Dae too much.
Han Zeno, "I am willing to take a hundred whips each day plus half of his!"
Asher, 'Waah... this master-servant relationship is crazy!'
His father raised him while he continue to beg, "Father please..."
"Of course you will not go unpunished." His father said, "Until you are fully healed, you aren't allowed to wake up."
"Huh?" Han Zeno asked. His father immediately poked his forehead with an acupuncture pin and he blacked out.
"Take him to his chambers." Han Uriel ordered Han Lulu. Han Lulu hastily grabbed Han Zeno with care and called other servants to help before leaving.
Han Uriel once again faced Han Dae whose head is turning at his Hashi-ni, "Choose." Han Dae faced him and said,
"I regretted my actions. If Young Lord Han still truly wants me to stay by his side, I accept my punishment."
"Wise words." He replied, "I will leave your punishment to the Head Servant Han Lulu's hands."
Han Dae was then dragged inside a prison and was locked.
"You wait there until Han Lulu arrives." One of the soldiers said before leaving him. After he left, a person entered and it was Han Xu, Han Zeno's Shihan.
"Shihan Xu-chou..." Han Dae lowered his head as a sign of respect.
"Did young lord cause such scene?" he asked, "If he didn't, I won't be able to see you here." He gave him a bottled water, "Drink. He told me to take care of you before storming the Trial Ground."
Han Dae grabbed it and thank him, "Many thanks, Shihan."
"On my way here, I have heard that they are doubling your workload, and punish you a hundred whips a day. Is that true?" he asked while Han Dae is still drinking.
Han Dae nodded.
"I guess you don't have time for me anymore." He sighed.
Han Dae held the prison bars tightly that it causes loud noise, "I have! I will work it out! I promised Hashi-ni that I will receive Shihan Xu's approval and become a Zushi no matter what!"
"Thing is, if you changed the appointment schedule I won't have time with you." He answered bluntly. "Look, young man. I don't want to give you false hope. The only time you are free to do whatever you want is midnight until three in the morning. And that time, I am supposed to sleep, and you should too, since you'll be working once again."
Han Dae looked down but a thought came to mind, "Isn't there another way?"
"Hmm?" Han Xu asked.
"For Shihan to teach me without ruining his sleep?" Han Dae asked.
"Are you really that desperate?" Han Xu raised a brow.
Han Dae nodded, "I want to get stronger..."
'And stronger... and stronger... so that I could protect Hashi-ni... so that I could be useful to him... there is no other way than to get stronger!'
"Very well." Han Xu said as he stood. "I will set a barrier in the training ground. It will activate every midnight and disappear once the clock hits three. The damage you make will remain, all you have to do it to be able to break it using your own sacred weapon."
Han Dae gulped.
"If you managed to do so," Han Xu continued, "there is a doll inside the barrier. Once you've presented it to me, I will pass you."
Han Dae lowered his head, "Thank you for giving me another chance, Shihan."
"Why are you eager to put everything on the line for him? Are you a moron?" Han Xu whispered. Han Dae flinched, he seemed to hear it, but he did not ask anything.
Han Xu then smiled kindly, "They will wake Young Lord Han the morning of his departure. Make him happy by presenting yourself with him."
"Thank you for having good expectations." Han Dae answered, "Shihan Xu-chou, before you leave, may I say something?"
"Go ahead." Han Xu said.
"I don't know if could survive the lashes each day." he uttered, "So I want to tell my story to someone who is willing to listen."
Han Xu's eyes widened slowly, his kind smile is back and he gave his forced disciple a nod.
"Since I was a child, my father left before I was even born and my mother killed herself the moment I can already walk on my own. I guess both of them don't have any expectations on me. They said that mother is a prostitute from the slums and that my father is a righteous man. But no cared for me in the end. I tried my hardest to live and survive until I arrived here."
Han Xu's eyes widened in surprise.
"But all I got were hatred, glares and judgement. Every single day I feel that I am on a knife's edge, one wrong move and look, here I am."
Han Dae continued, "Still, I want others to be proud of me. Han Sanya-jia... Han Suru-chou... Han-jia... Han-ni... my friends from Fushi... even Hashi-ni..."
Han Dae wiped his tears and faced him, "All of them are wishing me good luck, supporting my back, expecting something from me. That is the best feeling I got. It's like a have a one big family." but then he remembered, "Of course, Shihan Xu-chou is now one of them!"
Han Dae raised his right hand, "That is why I want to put everything on the line for the people I care about."
Han Xu smiled, "That's good." Turning around, he continued, "I am not worthy to become a part of that. I just helped you because of the young lord. Count me out."
Han Dae blinked in a wonder, 'Why? Shihan still look at me with eyes full of willingness...'
While walking, Han Xu's apprentices approached him and greeted him.
"Greetings, Shihan." they all lowered their heads. Han Xu greeted them as well. As they pass by, Han Dae's words echoed in his mind,
'I guess both of them don't have any expectations on me.'
His kind smile slowly disappears upon remembering it. In his mind, he thought, 'That's right. I never would have thought...'
He looked up to the skies to see the birds flapping their wings, flying free.
Able to go wherever their hearts desire, wishing for nothing more.
Stretching his right hand above, as if he is reaching for something long gone, he smiled bitterly.
'... that I will have expectations on you.'