Finally after walking all night. A chu arrived at a fairly large city. Because it was still morning. So the streets still looked quiet. But the shopkeepers were already busy setting up the tables in front of their shops.
A chu approached a small noodle shop at the crossroads. His stomach was already sore. He didn't know how long it had been since he'd had any food in his stomach. The owner of the shop was a cheerful-faced grandfather. While wiping the table, he whistled cheerfully. Upon seeing A chu, he suddenly stopped whistling.
"Son, where did you come from? Why are you so dirty and smelly?" he asked, walking up to A chu.
The grandfather stopped right in front of A chu. He tried to observe A Chu from head to toe. He stared at A Chu for a long time. Seeing A chu's troubled state, he sighed.
"Hmm, there's no need for you to answer now. Something very serious must have happened to you. Now let's go in first! I'll make some food for you. You must be very hungry," Grandfather said.
Then he led A chu into his shop. He invited A chu to sit down and gave him a glass of water. Then he said,
"Wait here for a while! I'll cook some noodles for you. You mustn't go anywhere." A chu nodded slowly.
A while later. Two bowls of noodles and some buns were already on the table.
"Well, I haven't eaten yet either. Let's eat together. Eat a lot and take it easy," Grandpa said.
Without further ado. A chu immediately stared at the food. He ate with great gusto. Seeing A chu's attitude, Grandfather could only smile.
Not for long. Grandpa started telling stories,
"I used to eat breakfast like this, together with my grandson. When he was your age. Every morning, he would help me open the shop. After opening the shop, we always had breakfast like this." The grandfather paused to drink. Then he continued,
"Now. That grandson of mine has become a great man of the country. He invited me to live with him. But I can't get away from this shop." Grandfather told his story with pride. His eyes were distant.
From earlier. A chu listened to Grandpa's story intently. He ate his food silently. In his heart. A chu felt that this grandfather was very interesting and kind.
To A chu, the warmth given by Grandpa. meant a lot to him. Especially at a time like this. When he had just lost the people closest to him.
"Oh yeah kid, I just remembered. I think I still have some clothes that my grandson left behind. Maybe you can wear them after you clean yourself," said the Grandfather suddenly. He immediately stood up and moved from his seat. "You wait here for a while. I'll find it for you." Then Grandfather went into the interior of the room.
Seeing this, A chu immediately sped up his meal. A chu started looking in his pockets. Finally he found a toy made of gold.
The toy was a gift from his father. When it was A chu's birthday. A chu always carried the toy around. A chu put the toy on the table. He glanced at the inside of the room. It seemed that Grandpa was still busy looking for his grandson's used clothes.
Without waiting any longer. A chu immediately stood up and rushed out of the store. Before leaving, A chu briefly looked back at the shop and said,
"I'm sorry Grandpa, you've been very kind to me. But I can't stay in this place for too long. It's possible that my Master will arrive soon and bring disaster to you. I can't involve you in my misfortune. Thank you very much. Goodbye."
Not long after. Grandfather returned to the dining table, carrying a few pieces of clothing. But what a surprise he had. He saw that A Chu was no longer there. When he looked on the table. He found a toy made of gold. That toy was worth a lot of money in the market.
Grandpa could only sigh. He sat and thought for a long time. While staring at the toy, he muttered,
"How noble your heart is, little one. You left this golden toy to pay for your food. Are you afraid that I will lose money? You seem to need this gold more than I do." Grandfather sighed again.
"Alright. I will keep this toy. If in the future you remember this grandfather and visit this place. I will return it to you. I pray that whatever trouble befalls you will be resolved quickly. I wish you a happy life."
The grandfather was still pensive there. Meanwhile, the atmosphere outside. It was getting crowded by the hustle and bustle of people.
*****
A chu walked quickly. He approached a grocer on the side of the road.
"Excuse me Uncle. I would like to ask, where is the residence of the Yuan family?" asked A chu.
The grocer looked a little puzzled. Why would a child who looked like a beggar. Suddenly came to ask where the Yuan family's residence was?
"Yuan family? If you mean the family of the Great Swordsman Yuan. They live in the foothills at the back of town," the grocer replied, pointing A chu in the direction.
"Thank you very much Uncle," A chu said as he walked away. It was understood that every time A chu went to visit this place, together with his father and mother. They always rode in a horse-drawn carriage. So he didn't know for sure. The location of his uncle and aunt's residence.
After walking for a long time.
A chu finally arrived in front of a magnificent building on the outskirts of the city. This building was surrounded by a high fence. It seems that the owner of the house. As if he wanted to cut off contact with the outside world. At the front. There is a large red painted door. Then above the door. There is a signboard that reads,
"The residence of Yuan Tan the Iron Sand Palm Fist."
*****
The Yuan family's Iron Sand Palm Fist has been famous for a long time. It was passed down from generation to generation, to the Yuan family's children and grandchildren. Now in Yuan Tan's hands. This martial arts has become much more terrifying. It's managed to dominate the Yang Ciu region and its surroundings.
A chu tried to knock on the gate and called out,
"Excuse me!"
But there was no answer. A chu once again tried knocking on the door. This time he tried harder. Suddenly from inside. There was a sound of people approaching.
Not long after. The door opened. A half-aged man, tall and thin, came out. His face looked fierce. That person then approached A chu and asked sarcastically,
"Hey, what are you doing, little boy? Make all this noise in broad daylight."
Then the man looked at A chu from head to toe. Seeing A chu's decrepit and dirty dress like a beggar. He exclaimed,
"If you want to beg. Get out of this place immediately!"
A chu smiled bitterly at the man's words. But A chu's appearance was not much different from beggars. Decrepit and smelly.
"I just want to visit Uncle and Aunt Yuan. Are they at home?" replied A chu politely and kindly.
The old man looked at A chu's face for a while. Then he turned around and entered the house.
Not long after. A lady came out of the house. The lady had a beautiful face and a medium cut. If you look closely. Her face looks very similar to Mrs. Li. It was because this madam was the younger sister of A chu's mother, Qiao Lian.
Qiao Lian was shocked when she saw A chu standing alone in front of her house. She immediately approached A chu.
"A chu! Why are you here by yourself? Where are your mom and dad?" asked Qiao Lian.
"..."
A chu couldn't answer. Because he suddenly remembered the death of his parents. His eyes looked glassy. A chu lowered his face, to keep his tears from seeping out.
When she saw the change in A chu's demeanor. Qiao Lian could grasp a conclusion. Her tears melted away. She immediately hugged A chu tightly.
"Oh, A chu. What misfortune has befallen you? Be strong and calm. Because now, you're safe with us," Qiao Lian said. Then Qiao Lian immediately invited A chu inside.
The Yuan family's house had a large yard. Qiao Lian walked A chu down the hallway to the center room. There sat a man dressed in pure white. The man seemed to be engrossed in a book.
Sensing his wife's arrival, the man smiled. The man had a handsome face with a short mustache adorning his face. His eyes looked gentle and friendly. This man was none other than Yuan Tan the Iron Sand Palm.
"Who is the guest who came to visit at this time of the day?" Yuan Tan asked.
But the question was answered immediately. Because right behind his wife. He saw A chu's figure. Yuan Tan looked shocked. He immediately stood up and approached A chu.
"Aren't you A chu? What happened to you?" Yuan Tan said. Seeing A Chu's predicament, his eyes filled with tears. He couldn't help but feel his eyes glaze over.
A Chu closed his eyes. When he thought of the sad events that had just happened to him. He always wanted to cry and scream.
"Mom and Dad are dead. Because they were harmed by someone..." A chu stammered.
"What? Bastard! Who could have harmed them?" Yuan Tan exclaimed. This gallant man was furious. There was a look of regret and sadness in his eyes.