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Chapter 10 - THE BEGINNING OF THE SALVATION JOURNEY

Luong left the next night to Uchum, where his father's uncle and the rest of his relatives live, without telling his mother, after three days of not talking to anyone. Luong struggled to locate his uncle and grandmother upon his arrival in Uchum. He discovered it one morning after sleeping with a man who happened to be his father's age mate. Luong was taken aback by his father's uncle's hostile reception, who refused to let him into the home, but his grandmother took him to a nearby neighbourhood, where he stayed for four days while people tried to persuade him. Luong finally summoned his grandmother one evening.

Luong was sad while sitting with his grandmother. "I had no idea I was a stranger here"; he asked, grandmother. "I would figured I'd returned to my people". "Can you please explain why Uncle is acting so threateningly or was there something my mother did before leaving this place"? His grandmother said: Son, it has been this way since the first day your father forced the marriage with your mother despite the opposition of your uncle.

Luong: But why should marriage be based on a person's ethnicity?

Grandmother: You have no idea, my child. The hostility between these communities has left many scars, especially in this family. Your grandfather, again, was assassinated by the society from which your mother hails. We found it even more challenging to forgive and forget because your father was assassinated by the same people.

Luong realised there was something significant going on here, and he needed to act. Luong set out with the aim of putting an end to the long-standing rivalry between these two communities. Luong had no idea where to begin as a young person with no prior experience or knowledge of these cultures. He wanted to see his uncle. However, at first, he declined to see him, but others persuaded him. His uncle asked him if he wanted to be like his great grandfather and be a man who could inherit the land. "Yes", said Luong. His uncle advised him that the only way to do this was to carry out a vengeful act. If you want to live in peace with me, you must seek vengeance for the murders of your father and grandfather. But, uncle, don't forget that I am a member of both cultures, and the very least I can do is to bring peace between them, Luong responded. His uncle became enraged once more at this stage. What did you mean about bringing peace? What kind of person do you believe you are? Many people have attempted it over the years with little success. If that's all you've come to tell me, I'll kill you first before going after my brother and nephew for vengeance. Things started to go wrong again at this stage. This man meant what he said. Luong needs to find a new root and hide from his father's uncle.