Chapter 3: Friend Or Foe
In a village very far away from the capital, a twenty- three year old young man sat under a tree. Beside him was a toddler of about ten years. The two were just resting after a tiring day. The shade fell over them barring them from the hot weather. They felt the cooling breeze hitting their skin.
"DouDou, what's the sky like?" The elder man asked while looking up in blank space, longing to see it once again. He thought thaf if DouDou explained it to him, he would be able to picture it nicely just like the way he would see it few years in the future.
"It's a light blue with few fluffy white clouds dangling below it." Jiang Qiru couldn't help the smile emerging on his face. He reached for DouDou's head and ruffled his soft hair. He could hear his giggling and could also guess that the little boy was smilling as well.
Jiang Qiru and DouDou have been living in this secluded village for five months now. They have settled in a small house and are living a quiet life free from all the village drama. Jiang Qiru played some zither for a living. The villagers especially the women loved his music so much. They all said that it was soothing and could touch thier souls. Well, he didn't understand anything about that.
Life for him was carefree and he wouldn't change it for anything.
"Young master, it's time to go back home." The little boy reminded the elder man.
"I told you long ago to address me as elder brother. We are no longer at Jiang mansion so it is okay to drop this troublesome title." Jiang Qiru corrected him while getting up to make their way back home. He carried his zither on his back and little DouDou had a few bags filled with groceries in both hands. They marched in their house's direction. It wasn't very far from the place they had just rested.
When approaching the gates, the little boy spotted a vivid figure resting on the wooden poles of their gates. He told his master of this and Jiang Qiru urged him to increase their pace so to help this man. While getting closer DouDou noticed that this man was seriously injured and that he was clutching his chest tight intending to stop some blood from coming out. He was panting lightly.
"Brother, what happened to you?" DouDou asked him whilst squatting in front of him. He let go of the bags in his hand and didn't even bother with some tomatoes rolling out of the sac, continuing on the soil.
The man didn't answer, he only raised his head and looked at the two people in front of him, one small and the other one tall. His eyes stayed longer on the tall man who wore light blue robes and held a cane in one hand. His eyes looked up at his face and spotted a thin black cloth covering his eyes. His hair was tied in a pony some strands falling at the sides of his face. He couldn't help but compare himself to this beautiful man.
There he was all dirty and bloody. His hair flying everywhere. He looked away from the blind man, while feeling quite ashamed. His dark brown eyes landed on his chest before shifting back to the little boy.
"Can't say, but can you help me with this." The man asked while hinting at his wound. DouDou looked at his master who immediately urged him to get the injured man inside their house. Jiang Qiru helped the man inside. He ordered the little boy to prepare some healing herbs which he applied on the deep wound and also told the man to rest.
He gave the man his room and then went to sleep in DouDou's. He didn't feel comfortable being in the same space with a stranger.
Early morning, he heard some chopping sounds from outside. He got up and went outside before calling for the injured man. "Brother, are you there?" He only heard a hum but that was good enough. He took a few steps to join him before he started scolding him for his negligence.
"Stop doing work, or your wound will open again." The other man listened quietly and secretly smiled after seeing the blind man scowl. "Sorry." He muttered before laying the axe down on a safer place. After thaf he guided Jiang Qiru inside the house. He went outside and came right back with a bowl of water which he handed over to Jiang Qiru who could only thank him and drink it quietly.
"Thank you for saving me. Do you have anything you want. I will make sure to do it for you." The blind young master shook his head. He didnt need anything at the moment. But he was not sure after a few months later.
"Ok. Ah I am thinking of leaving in three days. I have to hurry back home." Jiang Qiru only agreed with him and didn't bother to stop him.
He recognized this man from before. He was really kind and liked to repay what he owed to people a lot.
"No wonder I fell in love with him." He thought shaking his head slightly. He then decided to leave him to his own devices before looking for DouDou, he hasn't felt his presence since he woke up. It made him worry. He didn't forget to ask the other man however he didn't know as well.
When he was about to freak out he heard his call from outside and waited for him to get closer. "Young master, aunt Wu called me over to help collect her vegetables that's why I got up very early." He explained the moment he noticed that his master was worried. Jiang Qiru felt relieved. He settled down on the flat veranda and just sat there doing nothing.
He wished for the time to go faster, he just couldn't wait.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone