act14mini

Looks more to me like they're afraid of you.

How many bad things did you do to make everyone so scared?

You should ask who started it.

People are the same wherever you go. They always find the boy who's easiest to pick on... But now that I'm back, I'm not afraid of them anymore!

What, never seen such a run-down place before?

All I'll say is you haven't seen anything yet.

Grr.

But I can add, this is the first time I've seen a temple like that at the entrance to a village.

And over here, why's there a fresh grave?

Because people die. Is that so strange?

The only thing is, I dunno which family they're from or why they were buried next to the temple.

Well, whatever. I might not know who you are... But if you're buried here, you were probably one of the villagers.

Death is a release anyway. At least your suffering's over.

The boy turns sideways and bows in the direction of the grave. Though his words are frank, his posture is serious.

We're almost there. My place is just up ahead.

Why'd you stop?

I...

...Forget it. Can't hide from it anyway. I'm not afraid.

Dad, I'm back.

He steps into a tiny shack of wood and mud, to find nobody inside. Various trinkets and knickknacks can be seen all around, but they are organized neatly.

Seeing the leftover food on the stove, the boy seems to let out a sigh of relief.

That's strange. All the stuff's still here, but nobody's home?

Maybe he's out in the fields? I'll go look for him.

Dad...? Dad?

Where are you...?

Stop him! Don't let him get away!

Fang Xiaoshi! What are you doing up on the rafters?! Get down here this instant!

This is the Yishan Temple, so take your antics anywhere else but here!

Not a chance!

The village is so big, why did you have to dump this lousy temple on our family's land? You're just bullying us! Zhou Liu, why not dump it at your place instead?

You know nothing, brat. The temple has been protecting Moushan Village for a thousand years, you don't just pick it up and move it.

The entire village agreed to this arrangement, it's not up to you!

Bah!

Didn't this land used to be completely barren? Why didn't you say the feng shui was good then? You're telling me after all these years my dad worked to make the soil fertile, the feng shui just happened to improve at the same time?

I'll come out and say it, you thought you could step up and bully the only outsiders in this village. Well, let me tell you, you're wrong!

Dad might just take it, but I sure won't!

You want the temple to protect the harvest? Well, I wanna blow it up so we can actually grow something to eat!

You wouldn't dare—

So many faces showing up at your door upon your return. I've only seen that happen to gamblers.

Well, I guess you were talking at least a little truth on the way here. The villagers certainly don't want you around.

That's why I told you to not bring me here.

But you never said why exactly...

The small yard is packed full of people, but none of the villagers move to start a conversation. They just stare at Qiubai and Fang Xiaoshi like the two of them are strange new beasts they can't let out.

*cough* *cough* Let... me through...

What's everyone bumbling about here for? Even Xiaoshi's manyue wasn't this lively...

A thin and tall man stumbles out from the crowd with labored breaths. His back, carrying a log, is as bent as the bow at his hip.

The man sights Fang Xiaoshi and freezes for a second, before quickly averting his gaze and slowly turning away.

Dad...

Hunter...

Hey, don't you forget our agreement...

I don't forget.

But Xiaoshi has been away from home for three whole years. He should have something to eat first, shouldn't he?

Let's head back. We can sort things out with the village later.

The fieldwork's already been lagging lately. In just a few days, Chunfen will have been and gone.

All that babbling on the way here, and you turn mute in front of your dad?

Dad... I found you.

The hunter presses his pale lips together, and without answering his son goes into the house, setting his log against the wall.

The boy freezes in place. Qiubai prods him with the hilt of her sword.

Please, Miss, have a seat. Thanks for bringing the kid home, I'm sure it took some effort. And please, have a drink.

No need. I don't want to interrupt the reunion.

I'll take a look around the village.

I'll give you the tour...

You stay put.

Miss, Miss... if I could have just a moment?

Zhou Liu is out there talking about a heroic heroine who brought Fang Xiaoshi home, so I had to see for myself.

Taking a look at you, you must be...

I am called Qiubai, from Jianghu.

Everyone here in Moushan is of the Zhou Clan. I am Zhou Shun, village headman and Clan Elder.

Our village is tucked away here in the northwest reaches of Yan, so we hardly ever see strangers.

Rest assured. I'm nothing but a Jianghu wanderer. I have no ill intent.

Oh, Miss, that's not what I meant to imply...

I happened to come across the boy out on his own, so I took a little detour and brought him back here.

Miss, you're a chivalrous one.

Dear guest from afar, a poor village like ours has nothing much to offer, but if you don't mind...

A few meters away from them stands a well.

Something crashes into the bucket above the well, sending it to the bottom.

A long sword juts out to hold the mechanism in place, pulling the rope taut.

Qiubai drags the bucket up.

Just a scared little burdenbeast.

Looks like the one from Zhou Dazhi's place...

Its mother died in childbirth, leaving this poor thing to grow up alone, so it's as tame as can be. It probably just got startled.

It's not hurt, at least. Seems like it passed out from all the water.

Oh, about that... how did you move to the well so fast? I feel like my vision blurred for a moment...

Was that kung fu?

The well is full of muddy water.

Yes... it was raining heavily last week, and the mud has yet to settle.

*sigh*, the last two years of drought have seen most of our crops wither away.

No wonder there are so many wells around the village.

Heaven can be very unreasonable at times. We either get nary a drop, or a nigh disastrous deluge.

Miss Qiu, where did you come here from?

Yumen.

But I believe I detect Jiangqi accent...?

I was born there.

I see... If you came from Yumen, you must have entered the village from the north. Head further south, and you'll find a section of the Chidao washed away by a mudslide.

Life is hard here.

With two raucous grunts, the young burdenbeast wakes up. The swordswoman loosens her grip, and it bolts around a corner in a blink, leaving nothing but a withered acacia tree in front of her.

It's already late March, but spring has apparently not yet come to this small, northwestern village.

Indeed, this is a perilous place. You said you came across the boy all alone? He must have gone through a lot after leaving the village.

Miss, I'd like to ask you something... what sort of trouble did the lad get up to out there?

No trouble to speak of. He was just lost out in the wilderness.