Chapter 4
…
The city was alarmed when a report was received by the police authority about a certain abduction and a murder case have happened in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. The report was sent by a unanimous person and the police went to that location and found a female student's body.
The body of the young student is still wearing her high school uniform. They did not discover any sexual assault, but as they investigated, they soon ruled out that the cause of her death was the laceration on her throat.
As the police further investigated, they soon discover more clues. A male student which is said to be close to her and her friend is also missing. According to some eyewitnesses, they saw the two going out of the school that day.
On the crime scene, the authorities found a knife lying on the ground under a broken chair. The police found some fingerprints and they deduce that they might be from the culprit of the crime. The fingerprints on the knife were then discovered to match her friend who is also missing.
With these discoveries, the authorities ruled out that the suspect is her friend.
And so a wide manhunt operation began in search for the criminal. And the name Xin Wei became wanted by the authorities.
Xin Wei has now become a wanted criminal.
Meanwhile, the old man who helped Xin Wei would always go to the city. And today on his trip, he heard this news and felt a conflicted emotion within his heart. He knew that the pieces of evidence were planted. He is not new to this kind of scenario, and this is the doings of those people who are really responsible for this incident.
To be able to manipulate the authorities in ending up with such an absurd conclusion made him feel a little angry.
However, he could not do anything about it. As an old person and powerless one at that, he could only grit his teeth and feel pity towards the young lad.
But then, he heard another piece of news and it was about the parents of Xin Wei. They are trying to deny the claim as they could not believe that their son is a criminal.
However, their plea for the case seems to be rejected by the authorities as the evidence against Xin Wei is really strong.
And so, Xin Wei was labeled as a murderer and became a wanted person by the authorities. His parents on the other hand did not escape being ostracized and were also oppressed by those around them.
…
The golden light from the sun made me suddenly wince as it hits my eyes as soon as I woke up. My body feels a little cold, but it's manageable.
It has already been 2 weeks ever since the incident and my body have already recovered to 70%. My dexterity has become 3, and I am guessing that this means that I might have recovered the dexterity of a normal person. In my own opinion, this number represents my average movement and walking speed which is around 3 kph.
Well, since I am still unable to run yet, as there are still visible wounds on my body and it causes me pain, this number is already okay.
Ever since my constitution hits 50%, my recovery rate suddenly slows down. Well, the reason for this is maybe because I am spending too much of my energy on learning. This is my way of alleviating my boredom in this forest.
I have already finished reading the book that grandpa showed me, and I am now learning about the basics of acupuncture by testing it on my own body and treating my own wounds.
I could even picture out in my mind my own body and as if I could see the blood vessels inside of me. I don't know if it was just in my mind or I could accurately see them. However, due to this, I could accurately insert the needles on my body.
If he is here, old grandpa would always guide me and is very patient towards me and my learning practice. He would always tell me that what I am learning would be for my own benefit and would be good for my future.
I really appreciate his good gesture and truly values his guidance.
As of now, old grandpa has considered me to be at the level of a normal physician as he could see that I can already use acupuncture really well. I could even use my finger as a way to press pressure points or pain.
"When will grandpa return?" I thought as I was waiting for him for a while now.
The sky is already up and I knew that he did not come home last night. It made me feel worried because I don't want to be left alone in this place and maybe because I don't want to lose another person that is important to me.
I promise that when I am able to leave this place and come back home, I will try to convince my parents to help grandpa.
While thinking up to this point. I suddenly heard some sound outside. The rustling of the leaves on the ground made me realize that there is someone out there.
Feeling a bit worried, I suddenly stood up and carefully looks out the window. From where I am, I could see someone lying on the ground.
My eyes went wide in shock as I immediately recognize who that person is.
"Grandpa!" I said as I quickly rushed towards him within minding the pain in my body.
I immediately arrive and kneel beside the old grandpa who is lying on the ground face down. I could see his already tattered clothing having traces of blood became more tattered. Then I also noticed that his hands and knuckles blood has blood on them.
I didn't know what to do as I began to panic. Tears slowly swell up from my eyes. But then my mind suddenly remembers what should be done to alleviate help old grandpa in this situation. My fingers and hands are trembling but I was still able to locate some of the pressure points on grandpa's body.
Although I am shaking, I was still able to hit the right points from his back, and then I carefully tilted his body over and also hit some points on the front of his body. Then I saw his expression changing as if the pain he felt has been alleviated.
After I saw his expression calming down, I immediately take him inside the house.
"Grandpa, don't worry, I will help you. This time, it's my turn to save you." I said as some unknown confidence is brimming inside my heart.
I took out some needles and began doing acupuncture in his old body. I could not help but feel my heartache as I saw the bruises and the dried blood on him.
I did not linger as after I applied acupuncture on his body and cleaned him, I went outside and began to gather some herbs.
Using what I have learned this week, I was able to find and make a natural antipyretic medicine.
I busied myself the whole day until nighttime and took care of grandpa's wounds.
The next day, I found myself laying beside the bed. I just woke up after I felt a slight pat on my head. I slowly lifted my head and saw grandpa's wizened face filled with his gentle smile.
"Grandpa… how do you feel?" I asked immediately after seeing him already leaning his backside on the wall while sitting on the bed.
"I am feeling fine. Thank you. It seems that you… you've improved really fast. I am amazed…" he said as he patted my shoulder.
"It's all thanks to you grandpa… if not for you… then…" I said as I tried to stop myself from crying.
"Sigh… these old bones of mine are not as strong as it used to be… young lad…" grandpa said but then he suddenly paused as if he is hesitating.
He looks at me and a tinge of pity could be seen in his eyes.
"I think, it's time for you to learn something useful from me," Grandpa said as he seems to have made a decision.
"Get me the brown leather covered book from there." He said while pointing at his old rucksack.
I followed and carefully scanned the rucksack. From inside I found many books. When I saw a brown leather covered old book, I carefully took it out.
"Here…"
"Hmm… This book contains all of my learning and my own techniques. I want you to have it. Read it, learn from it… someday, it will be useful to you…"
After hearing grandpa's words, I feel a bit confused, but I still took the book and carefully opened it. What I saw in its pages piqued my interest a bit.
But I don't have time to read the book right now. I still need to find something to eat as grandpa is unable to move yet. And so, I laid the book beside the bed.
"Grandpa, I will gather some root crops first, and we can have our breakfast…"
Old grandpa just nodded his head as I left.
That day, I busied myself taking care of grandpa at the same time I also began studying the book he gave me. I learned a lot of things from the book as grandpa wrote it really well. Other than the basics of martial arts movements, it also explains something more profound, but I skipped it because I feel like the topic is something that comes from fantasies.
Later that day, grandpa asked me to show him what I have learned.
And so, I tried to show him the practice movement and the positions that were drawn on the pages of the book. Though I am not that sure on how to do it, I was still able to at least perform the actions and positions written on it.
While on the bed, grandpa carefully guided me until I was able to perfect the first few movements and steps.
We continue doing this, he guided me while I moved my body, it was only after 2 hours that I found my self out of breath and my body began aching.
"Continue doing this until you can smoothly move your body. After that, we move to the next part." Grandpa said to me as I carefully helped him to bed.
After resting for a bit, I found that grandpa is already sleeping. But for me, I continue practicing according to what grandpa has told me.
Though I could feel my body aching, yet I could not stop as deep in my mind, a hidden determination was ignited. I know that this is what I needed; this is the skill that I desperately needed for my revenge.