CHAPTER FOUR
"What is your name, young boy?"
"Feifei." Feifei struggled to breathe caused by the strangulation. He barely took notice on how the old man addressed him.
He can feel his throat swelling!
What a bad old man! Hmpfh...
"Why are you dressed like a girl?" The old man was puzzled as he closely studied the young boy. "Are you rebelling? Or are you hoping dressing up like a girl would eventually turn you into a girl?"
The old man found his logic so ridiculous that he laughed out loud while slapping his thighs in mirth.
Feifei on the other hand was stunned into silence and fear. Not daring to breathe. It's only now that he noticed the peculiar look on the old man's face.
All he can think of is.... This is bad!
Seeing the silly, frightened expression of the young boy, the old man controlled his laughter but still smiled evilly.
"You don't want others to know, do you?" The old man guessed based on the terrified expression on Feifei's face.
"Don't worry. I won't ask questions and I won't tell others. Rest assured. Everyone has its own story. You are entitled to keep yours."
Feifei held his chest in relief and looked at the old man with eyes full of gratefulness.
With the way he made Feifei the butt of his joke earlier, the old man was ashamed of the grateful look the young boy gave him.
The old man coughed to cover his childish behavior. "I'm impressed you know how to stop my wounds from further bleeding."
"I have no mother. No father. Other children always hurt me. I learned." Feifei smiled sincerely at him.
The old man felt his heart soft. He never thought he can feel this kind of softness towards another person. He thought all his softness was buried when his whole family was heartlessly slaughtered.
He then felt a kinship towards this poor and pitiful child. He is alone. He also has no one. No family. He and Feifei are on the same boat.
"How old are you now?"
"I'm five."
The old man recklessly laughed out loud. "A perfect age for learning."
At first, the old man has no intention of accepting an apprentice. But because of his affinity towards Feifei and the life saving grace he owes him, he accepted Feifei as his only apprentice and sincerely treated him as his grandson.
That's when Feifei began to have a Master. A Master who is proficient in the arts of both Poisons and Medicine.
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At the beginning, Feifei was curious what his Master was doing in the forest and why he was injured. Which his Master answered in silence.
Then he began to wonder where his Master lived. Which was also answered in silence.
He also asked his Master how he knew he was a boy. Which was answered by an exasperating laughter!
Since then, he developed a habit of not asking questions outside poisons, diseases and treatments.
Or he would die of annoyance!