The waving of leaves in the thickly grown forest by a warm breeze created a beautiful rhythmic melody that could be heard all over the forest. Rays of light bounced through the gaps between leaves, painting across the forest with its light. Its peace was only disturbed by the movement of a young boy, diligently searching for fruits and berries from nearby trees. A few days ago, He had been in the forest with his grandfather, a couple of weeks after his seventh birthday. After all, he had to make breakfast for his sleeping grandfather.
Despite his efforts, he could only find a few pieces of bitter nuts, unripe berries, and edible leaves. A faint smile could be seen on his lips. "I can make a good soup with this." the boy murmured. Usually, he could only gather a few leaves. All the nuts, fruits, and berries he found were either damaged by insects like caterpillars or diseased by fungal infections. Excitingly he said, "My luck seems to be improving just like my grandfather said."
While he was on his way back to the place near the stream where he and his grandfather had set up their camp, with his keen eyes, he caught sight of a patch of grass disturbed by movement. He knelt near the grass for a closer look and found out about the tracks left by a rabbit. Without hesitation, he quickly followed the tracks. A doubt seeped into his mind. What if karma would interfere with his hunt as it usually does?
He recalls his memories of a conversation with his grandfather.
"Grandpa, why am I always so unlucky?", asked the young child.
In response, The old man asked, "Why do you feel that way, dear?"
"Every time you bring peaches home, the ones I eat are sour, while yours taste sweet. And it feels like I bring my misfortune wherever I go." said the young child.
The old man sat close to the child and he gestured for the child to join him on his lap. The child did as the old man wished. With a warm embrace, the old man explained, "
Together, they made their way to the tea table. The old man poured some tea into the cup and asked, "Feel the heat of the tea, don't you?" said the old man. Maung Nyo nodded in agreement, "Yes".
The old man smiled, and continued, " Now, what will happen if I pour cold water into the cup?"
Maung Nyo replied, " It will get colder, Grandpa."
"Exactly," affirmed the old man. "Just as cold water can cool hot water, good deeds can bring good fate which can overpower bad luck."
After a minute, Maung Nyo answered, "I understand, Grandpa."
The old man laughed jokingly and said, " I will give your adult name. You shall be Wiseman of the sun (
Recollection of this exchange with his grandfather calmed his heart. He had been devoted to doing good deeds ever since.
As Maung Nyo continued tracking his target. A rabbit came into his sight. He hid in a nearby bush and carefully picked up the stone aiming it directly at the rabbit's head while holding his breath. Before he could throw a stone, he heard the whistling noise, and suddenly the rabbit was struck by an unexpected arrow.
A male voice apologized, "Sorry brother, we took your kill." Maung Nyo glanced toward the source of the sound and spotted three men about a hundred meters away, slowly approaching the rabbit's corpse.
Maung Nyo stood up from the bush and responded, " It's ok. I understand." He couldn't help but feel it was just another example of fate's interference with his life.
"Here we go." One of the men picked up the rabbit and inspected his shot.
"Nice shot, you hit its lungs." another praised him.
The man holding a rabbit stood tall and broad-shouldered, with an unkempt beard and messy black hair tied to dirty linen. He wore a fur coat with a few patches from amateur sewing work conspicuous from a distance and confidently walked towards Maung Nyo. The other followed suit.
One of them was stocky with his greasy tangled hair and oily face. the other was a bony lanky man with a pointed chin and piercing eyes, wearing a tattered cloak that fluttered with every step.
As the men drew closer, Maung Nyo felt uncomfortable and instinctively took a step back.
"Don't be alarmed brother," said the tall man offering his hand to Maung Nyo. "I am
"What can we call you brother?"
"Maung Nyo"
"Brother, do you know any sources of water nearby? We have been traveling in the for a while. Here, take it. You can have it in exchange for information." Nga Khwe handed the rabbit to Maung Nyo.
Surprised, Maung Nyo considered for a moment. He could have made a good meal for breakfast to enjoy with his grandfather and accepted the rabbit. "Thank you. I can lead you to the stream that I am camping."
Nga Khwe smiled faintly. "Thank you, brother. We needed a place to rest while refilling our waterskins."
At the camping site, a lean old man with weathered skin and silver hair tied into a neat knot on top of his head was worriedly walking with his cane. His grandson was usually back before he woke up, busy preparing breakfast at the campfire. Today, he could not see him around the empty campsite.
"Grandpa!" Maung Nyo shouted, running towards the old man waving a rabbit in his hand. The old man glanced towards Maung Nyo and saw the other three coming towards the campsite with him. He scrutinized their appearance and noticed the reddish tint from the corner of their eyelids. "Get away!" screamed the old man, rushing towards his grandson.
"What..." Maung Nyo couldn't finish his question. The ground behind him exploded, scattering grass and dirt everywhere. He saw grandfather blocking the attack from the swords of three men with his cane.
Nga Khwe ridiculed, "So you still haven't lost your touch, the Literature Sage."
Nga Khwe's face and skin along with the bodies of the other two, slowly crumbled away like broken clay, revealing a piercing glaring eye from the cracks of his broken face.
"Transformation and clones, so you are a master of
They both broke away from each other.
"So you knew the destruction of your Sunrise sect. No wonder our scouts couldn't spot you in settlements recently. You were hiding away from the civilization."
The old man glanced at confused Maung Nyo for a while and returned his attention to the adversary.
Maung Nyo had never seen his grandfather's face so serious before. Recently he had wondered why they kept migrating from forest to forest without settling down in one place for more than a few weeks. Now, he understood the reason. "Grandpa, let me assist you." Maung Nyo's eyes shone brightly as he drew his dagger and shouted "Nga Khwe" while charging towards him.
The old man blocked Maung Nyo's charge and scolded, "Fool, keep out of the fight. He is far stronger than you."
Spinning his cane, the old man moved swiftly toward the adversary and swung it at him. The attack was blocked by Nga Khwe's sword and his cane became as soft as a tofu on contact. The old man looked at the state of his cane and while dropping it, he inquired "I guess using a cane as a weapon against Paṭhavī (Earth) user will not work. Is Nga Khwe your alias?"
"Does it Matter?", Nga Khwe positioned his sword above his head and swung it down.
"No, it doesn't.", the old man gracefully parried the attack with his both palms and redirected the sword away from him to the ground. Nga Khwe's sword cracked the earth upon impact.
Nga Khwe scooped up the sand with the flat part of his sword and swung the sand towards the old man. As the sand flew through the air, it transformed into metal needles, which the old man skillfully dodged.
"Still won't use your powers? Afraid of hurting the boy?" Nga Khwe taunted.
The old man didn't respond, his piercing eyes focused upon Nga Khwe.
"What if I start attacking the boy?" Nga Khwe threatened with malice.