"But... how can you recognize me?! That case has passed for more than thirty years!" Zhu Su could get into a sitting position although he must get support from Hu Nayin. Clutching his painful stomach, he glared at Gao Qing.
"It's only my brother who has died, I don't! Yet I have to live like a wanderer who has been driven out and be a nomad to avoid the pursuit of the government. I have ever settled in Jingzhou, Luoyang, Taiyuan, Wuchang... and Kaifeng. I recognize all of my brother's disciples, all of you who have lavish lives because of the sacrifice of my brother who died as a result of sadistic execution. I have witnessed how you all become Fan Wangs, how you live your luxurious lives... I know everything!"
"But why are you in Mogaung right now?"
"Because I'm sick of Ming!"
The birds flew high, flapping their wings noisily as the silence covered the land below.
"You are sick of the royalty?" Zhu Su asked, his voice sounded weird.
"Needless to ask! I hate Ming so much, furthermore its ruling class!"
"Because the one who has killed Sir Gao is my father?"
Gao Qing spitted onto the ground. Zhu Su was stunned.
"Mr. Gao Qing, you are even more idealistic than Sir Gao. And you are very loyal in standing up for your kinship..."
"Because we are the only members left in our family after our parents left us. Since it is only two of us, of course, we should be caring for each other. And now, the Emperor is so ruthless by taking my beloved brother away from me!..."
"But your loyal principle is instead leading you to the wrong path. You know, you almost kill an innocent life because of your selfishness."
"If the life you mention is the emperor's grandson, then I am sure that I don't deviate from the way of wisdom!"
"You say you know everything about us, so do you know what kind of fate we are having right now?"
"Why do you ask such a stupid question?"
"You know it or not?"
"Yeah... of course, as a prince you live your splendor life as it should be, don't you?! Well, I know why you guys get stranded into Mogaung forest in such injured condition, then, you guys must be observing Mogaung since you are planning to conquer it, right?!"
"Totally wrong." Zhu Su let out a harsh breath. "You are indeed worse than Sir Gao. Anger and grudge has blinded your mind, you then arbitrarily create your own perceptions whereas the reality is in total contrast. I'm no longer Zhou Wang. So is my son, is also no longer Shi Zi. We are the people evicted from Ming because of political violence!"
Gao Qing's eyes went huge. "You tell a lie!"
"Why should I lie to you? If I'm still Zhou Wang, I don't have to behave like this. In contrast, a myriad of famous Ming physicians will queue to heal us!"
Gao Qing's wide-eyed eyes widened more, his gawking mouth quickly turned to laughter. He laughed out loud.
"In this Mogaung which is far from Yingtian I can hear such very good news. Thank you, Buddha, finally the karma has dealt with them! Amitabha, Amitabha! Elder Brother, your revenge is finally avenged! These evil people have received their punishments!"
"The only ones being condemned are only me, my son, and few other princes who coincidentally have bad luck. The other princes are still living in their palaces comfortably. Moreover, my eldest brother's son who has now become emperor. So, if you want my father's offspring to suffer, then your mission hasn't been completed yet."
"Huh!" Gao Qing blinked his narrow eyes. "Hey, don't say that your elder brother's son is fighting with you because of power, thus he kicks you out of Ming?!"
"Just like your brother brother, you are no less smart than Sir Gao."
Gao Qing's laughter reappeared.
"At least I have viewed the fighting amongst the Ming royalty, it has become a very good karmic vengeance for me to watch!"
Hu Nayin could not bear her anger anymore. She yelled. "Graybeard! Are you really a physician, or not?! It is the physician's duty to save people indiscriminately. The ethics of a physician is to save his enemy when he is injured. But you now deviate from it all!"
Responding to Hu Nayin's yell, Gao Qing was unexpectedly soundless, something never happened before. He only stared back at Hu Nayin's angry eyes with glaring eyes.
Zhu Su himself, was now observing Gao Qing, his emotions became unstable. Indeed, for the first time, it was anger which dominated his whole mind. All the actions and words Gao Qing did towards him inevitably made him angry. However, another kind of emotion emerged from the outburst of anger, a speck of feeling he somehow never thought it would arise. That was, a feeling of compassion.
Yes, he could not help but pity Gao Qing. His elder brother, only walked a pathway that was anti-mainstream regarding by Ming society, must die miserably, also was labeled as a state rebel. He had no family other than his brother. Moreover, because he was the younger brother of the "state rebel" and had a face similar to his older brother, his life was in danger since he must continuously avoid the pursuit of the government, and at last, he was forced to flee abroad, living in a remote forest isolated from society. Did Zhu Su himself also live such that way, and had a grudge so bad he agreed to take part in the civil war? Thence, even though he was angry at Gao Qing's cruelty, he somehow could understand him. Understanding that, behind it all, there was a heartbreaking story Gao Qing must endure, and could not go away from it for his life.
Once again Zhu Su let out a harsh breath, then said grimly, "Alright... Mr. Gao Qing. I should admit, my father has done both of you wrong. And... not only towards you and your brother, he had also wronged many people. I can't blame you if you hate him..."
Gao Qing could now open his mouth again. "Huh, you can talk such sweet words just because you want to cure your son. I know your real purpose. Your dirty tricks won't fool me!"
"No. I'm serious. What I say is really from the deepest part of my heart. After all, Gao Qi is my teacher, I must respect him. And, I will no longer force you to treat my son, nor will I step in this place again. I know that your grudge against us and my whole family won't vanish forever, and I won't blame you for it." Now Zhu Su could move his body a little, he stood up in lameness, then turned around. "Nayin, let's go home."
Hu Nayin protested. "But how about Shi Zi?!"
"We will be able to treat him, certainly... but we must leave here immediately, and don't disturb Mr. Gao Qing anymore. My father's guilt towards him and his family has been so bad, we shouldn't add with the fault we make by disturbing him."
Actually, Hu Nayin was very reluctant to leave this forest. But Zhu Su had already been firm in his choice. Finally, Hu Nayin had no other choice but to turn around and followed him.
Behind them, Gao Qing was standing still. His face looked strange, hard to guess what he was thinking right now. The reddish-yellow light emitting from the sun which was about to go down the mountain now glowed on his face. The twilight wind suddenly blew the foliage, making them dance in the air. And, at the same time, it blew his grayed hair and made it tangled, just like his mind right now.