Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Epic Tale : Twin Sword ❯ Burden ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5

Burden

 

 

Act 1

 

Hainan, eighteen years a go.

 

The afternoon sun shined in bright red and Mei Hua Hill in the south of Hainan Island filled with orange shade. Wind blew down Mei Hua white leafs from their trees on to the ground, which was now almost covered its surface. The Hill was so calm... so quiet... so grieve.

 

Two figures stood oppositely in a wood gazebo founded in the middle of the hill. The first was a thirty years old man. He was one of kangouw major superiors, dressed in blue and carried a sword between his folded arms. He appeared gently and enchanting. People acknowledged him as Lu the swordman from the south.

 

The other figure was a young woman aged around twenties, with lean and tall shape wearing a modest orange colored outfit. Her skin was exceptionally pale. Her face was beautiful, shaped by her black long hair. This woman was fame as `White Cat' in the world of Kangouw and had some reputation as the only disciple of the great Kangouw swordman Chen Cao. She carried a year old child in her arms.

 

“It has been a while since our last meeting, Master Lu. This Ye Xue owns you her honor,” the young woman gave Lu Shen a slight bow.

 

Lu Shen looked intently at Ye Xue. He asked in concern, “You look unwell, if I may say.”

 

She gave a weak smile, aware with her own condition. “This last one year was quite hard for me.”

 

“Indeed. The accident between those twelve superiors is too hard for you to bear,” Lu Shen replied, anger in his voice. “Chen Cao owns you forgiveness from his grave for giving you this burden.”

 

“Burden...” Ye Xue sighed. “The hardest burden I have was Master Chen's death.” Tears fell from her face.

 

“You still grief for him? After two years...”

 

Ye Xue gave out a bitter laugh, as if she was mocking her own foolishness. Slowly, her small hands whipped out the tears on her face. “I can't believe that you too still detest him.” Her eyes gazed at Lu Shen, her smiled loosen. “I am tired.”

 

He gazed back, eyes widened in shock of her words.

 

“I want to have a rest.”

 

“What are you talking, Ye Xue?”

 

The young woman did not answer. She held the boy in her arms, eyes on the child. “I understand that your relation with Master Chen was not too well... but may I depend on you for taking care of Shuhao?”

 

“Shu...? This child...”

 

“Shuhao... is Master Chen's only blood.”

 

“What?” Surprised, he pointed his eyes on Shuhao. “...Chen Cao's son? ...but Chen Cao did not...” Held his words, his eyes switched to Ye Xue, asking for an explanation for the next second he figured out the truth by himself. “...your child?”

 

She did not answer but gave a bitter smile and repeat her question. “Would you mind to take care of Shuhao?”

 

 

Act 2

 

Zhou Main City, The Yang Fortress.

 

“Ye Xue died... right in front of me, by using the Black Sword.” Lu Shen was just ended his explanation about Ye Xue. There were only him and Shuhao inside the guest pavilion in Yang Fortress, talking seriously about Ye Xue and he was aware of the young man's miserable reaction at his words.

 

“This was not meant to be happened,” Shuhao said.

 

“I'm sorry...”

 

“Why you let that happened?”

 

“Shuhao, I...”

 

“Why you let that bastard hurt my mother?!” Shuhao stared at his uncle; rage showed in both of his eyes, which were, soaked by tears. “That man... he left her even he knew she was carrying me!”

 

Reply his ward's gaze, he tried to explain the matter, “Shuhao, your father was a man with loyalty. He had responsibility to the Emperor that he could not put away.”

 

Disagreed with his uncle words, Shuhao cried in anger, “Were I and mother not a responsibility? He left us with Black Sword, which was, desired by every single people in Kangouw!” Held his words, he tried to calm his feeling. He, then, continued with softer voice, “Did he really love my mother? Did he really want me?”

 

“Shuhao! Watch your words!”

 

Shuhao silenced by Lu Shen's shout. Suddenly he laughed; laughed at his fate. “I never thought; having a sure name will be such a sore.” With no more words, he walked out the room and left Lu Shen behind.

 

Lu Shen let out a deep breath, felt hopeless to fix the situation. “Ye Xue... Chen Cao... the burden you both gave to me; I don't think I can bear it anymore.”

 

 

Act 3

 

Shuhao gazed onto the beautiful face on his forward. Her face was so close to him. Her brown eyes soaked with tears, staring at him sadly. Her thin lips smiled and then parted to release words.

 

“Forgive me, my child... I have to go after your father.”

 

He felt two warm hands, which held his shoulders earlier, leaved him. After that, he could see nothing but red, which slowly turned out to become darken.

 

 

Act 4

 

Shuhao woke up from his sleep. Both his eyelids opened slowly to catch a bright and white light that entered from outside the window. He was lying on a comfortable bed inside a fine room of Yang Fortress. It was quite. He remained in his position for a while. His thought still fixed onto his dream just now.

 

Before this time, the dream appeared to be unclear, blurry. Now, after he know his past, everything became very clear. Bad memories of the incident on a red flower covered hill returned to live inside his head, as if it was.

 

The sound of someone knocking the window, which came suddenly, broke his daydreaming. “...Yeah? Who's outside?”

 

“It's me Li Qiao,” a cheerful voice of Li Qiao came as her small figure showed up from outside the window. “Why, Young Master Lu... How much more time you will spend this day with sleeping? The sun already raised high above your head.”

 

Sighed, Shuhao closed back his eyes lazily. “...I don't care...”

 

“Wake up, will you? Lady Xiu Juan and your uncle wait for your appearance at the main pavilion. They have something to discuss,” she informed.

 

“I don't give a damn about them.”

 

Impatient with Shuhao's manner, Li Qiao jumped into the window, approached his bed and tried to wake up the young man while her rosy lips grumbled with loud voice, “I can't believe it! You are such a lazy one! Lady Xiu Juan gives her trust on me to call you up; I will lose my head if I failed.”

 

Shuhao laughed as at her grumble. “I do hope you lose your head so you won't be such noisy like now.”

 

“What?!” Before she could say more, Shuhao grabbed her arm and pulled her next to him. Her green eyes widened, stared Shuhao's in shock.

 

“Besides, Miss Li, It is quite impolite for a young woman to come inside a man's room like this.” Shuhao gave Li Qiao a slight smirk and caused her face blushed.

 

Trying to hide her embarrassment, Li Qiao tossed away Shuhao's arm. She replied nervously, “Chen Shuhao! It is not the time to play around! My teacher sends me a message! She manages to predict the next murder. We have a work to do!”

 

 

Act 5

 

A couple days later, in Kaifeng

 

Lu Shen led his small group enter the city of Kaifeng. It was a group of four. He himself; Shuhao who already knew his identity as Chen Clan's successor; Li Qiao the messenger of Zhang Yi Feng; and Yang Xiu Juan who insisted to be included and counterfeited her identity.

 

In the last twenty years, the famous city they visited was not having a lot of change. Kaifeng was very busy as before, crowded by visitors from outside the city. The main way packed of storehouses and vendors. Old buildings stayed at where they were in good shapes. The famous medicine house of Kang Clan remained at the end of Hun Street. Right in the front of it stood the legendary courthouse of Kaifeng.

 

Lu Shen stood in the front of the courthouse gate. His eyes pointed at the old building as his memory recalled. He said at Shuhao, “The courthouse of Kaifeng... this is the place where your father gave all of his faith.”

 

The young man did not answer for he was uninterested with his father's past.

 

“So this is the courthouse of Kaifeng for real!” Li Qiao murmured in amaze. Her eyes stared wide at the courthouse as her lips drew a large smile. “Aiyaa!! I never dreamed that I could come to this place. I have to go inside to see Wu Po Sin.”

 

Yang Xiu Juan gave out a small laugh at Li Qiao's words. “My... My... You claimed that you know Zhao history well enough. Don't you know that Wu Po sin is not in charge anymore of the courthouse? His majesty already replaced him a few months ago. He is too old.”

 

“...Eeeh? Is that true; what you said just now? I wonder why I don't know at all about the news,” Li Qiao asked. “Your learning is not hard enough,” was the princess' answer.

 

Their conversation stopped when a middle-aged physician approached. Both his eyes stared sharply, not to Li Qiao nor Xiu Juan but Lu Shen. Whit his deep voice, the old man asked politely, “Pardon Me, Master… You are the one known as Lu Shen from Hainan, are you not?

 

 

Act 6

 

“Oh! How Wonderful! I really have no thought that I will able to meet you once again before Tian take this old life,” Wu Po Sin the former person in charge of Kaifeng courthouse cheered.

 

Lu Shen smiled to the old man. “It is my honor to meet you again, Master Wu. I see you are in a good shape,” he replied and this made Wu Po Sin let out a laugh. “If not because of Tan Kong forces me every day to consume all his medicines, I will be ash by now.”

 

“As for your knowledge, I never come up with such a patient as Master Wu. Everyday, he always prepared a reason to not having my medicines and it will end up spending quite a time only to simply finish my job,” Tan Kong joined the conversation as he sighed. “Such a troublesome,” he added and once more, Wu Po Sin laughed.

 

Listening to the elders, Li Qiao couldn't help but mutter in low voice, “Huh? Surprisingly... all this time, the rumor told that Wu Po Sin is a cold-handed judge who frights bad people…”

 

“Hm?” Wu Po Sin's laugh stopped. Giving the young girl a smile, he responded to her, “Are you one of the bad people?”

 

Li Qiao answered nervously, “No! I'm not! I am Li Qiao of Zhang Yi Feng the fortuneteller from the west land. It's true! You have to believe me!”

 

The name spoken made Wu Po Sin widen both his eyes. “Ah! You are that little fortuneteller's disciple.” He chuckled. “No wonder… listening to the way you talk, you are indeed Zhang Yi Feng's disciple. Don't worry, little miss, if you aren't doing anything bad, then you don't have to be afraid of me.” He changed his attention to Xiu Juan who sat next to Li Qiao. “Princess Yang Xiu Juan, if I'm not mistaken. It's quite a time and you have grown to be a wonderful lady.”

 

Yang Xiu Juan graced a smile. “Xiu Juan honored that Master Wu remembers her.”

 

“Please accept my regret about your father.”

 

Nodded, Xiu Juan replied with bitter smile, “Thank You.”

 

Changed his attention once more, this time for Shuhao, he eyed the young man deeply then asked Lu Shen, “And I suppose this young master is…”

 

Lu Shen answered quickly, “He is Chen Shuhao.”

 

Having the answer, Wu Po Sin held his breath and placed back his eyes on Shuhao, this time with sad look. “You have the same eyes with your father.”

 

Giving his respect, he bowed silently to Wu Po Sin.

 

Smiled, Wu Po Sin looked back to Lu Shen and continued their conversation, “Well then… you haven't telling your purpose in Kaifeng. I bet it is more than giving this old man a visit, is it not?

 

 

Act 7

 

Wu House at night

 

Shuhao sat on the edge of his bed in troubled. His body was tired because of the long travel but he couldn't sleep even though he tried to. His mind refused to rest. Letting out a deep breath, he rose up and walked out slowly from his room and the cold of night air stroke his skin immediately when he opened the door. The view of dark sky above the small courtyard greeted him in silence.

 

He sat on the stone bench inside the courtyard, as his eyes stared blank to the sky above and his mind was wandering, thinking about the hard burden he held as the successor of Chen Clan. He was not aware of Wu Po Sin reaching behind him.

 

“There was times when Chen Cao watching the same night sky as you're doing now.”

 

Surprised, Shuhao woke up from his thought. He turned to Wu Po Sin who already sat next to him. The old man's eyes locked sadly to the sky above them while his lips drew bitter smile. “He didn't do anything particular. He only sat in this courtyard and looking at the sky until dawn. I never know what he was thinking about and I never ask,” he said. “I wonder if you know something.”

 

“I never met him while he was still alive. I wasn't born,” Shuhao simply replied.

 

“Ah… so you are Ye Xue's son.” Wu Po Sin sighed. “Even now, I place Chen Cao as my own son,” he continued. “He was a very loyal subordinate and he will sacrifice everything he owns for this kingdom, even his personal live and his life.” Held his words for a moment, he stared Shuhao with his already soaked eyes.

 

Wu Po Sin whispered, “Please don't hate your father. It's all my faults” and tear slid down his face. “I'm sorry…”

 

Shuhao kept in silence, not sure how to reply the old man. Before he could find something to spoke up, Li Qiao interrupted the conversation. The girl showed up from the other side of courtyard, approaching him in rush.

 

“Hurry up, Shuhao! I found out Master Wu An's hideout in this city! We should hurry up or the White Devil will reach him first!”

 

 

Act 8

 

Shuhao ran with high speed behind his uncle Lu Shen while Li Qiao and Xiu Juan followed them behind. They managed to reach their destination of house named Shong and entered right away. Opened the main door widely, a hard smell of blood rushed out from inside the house as a horribly scene presented in the front of them.

 

Lu Shen widened his eyes. The main room inside the house was totally in mess. Furniture broke in pieces and the walls painted red with bloodstains. A body lied on the floor, unmoved and covered with blood with long and deep wounds all over it. They inspected the body, which no other that Wu An. He was already dead.

 

Shuhao stared pass the open window across the room. “He still near.” With no more words, he ran out the house by the back door, chasing the murderer into a thick wood behind the house.

 

Shuhao entered the wood, following his insting. The blood was still fresh and Wu An body was still warm. He was very sure that White Devil was still in this wood. Sped up, he ran through the trees. His young blood raged. A strange emotion emerged from his bottom heart inevitable; an emotion, which exploded when he saw a white figure in a distance. The figure stopped as if realized his appearance, waiting for him.

 

Shuhao stopped his pace. Fifteen feet in the front of him, stood a lean body of White Devil. His beautiful face graced cold smile. His bright red eyes pointed on his opponent.

 

“Amazing of how you could realize my move this fast,” he said coolly.

 

Shuhao drew his sword. “You will not be able to run away this time. I will stop you!”

 

He chuckled. “You are assuming that you can stop me? Who do you think you are?”

 

“My name is Chen. I intent to have what belong to my family back,” Shuhao replied and this made the smile on White Devil lips disappeared.

 

“Interesting… You want to have back your father sword, eh?” he drew silver sword blade out from its cover slowly. “Facing a Chen, I should use all my strength.” After the world, he moved with extreme high speed to attack Shuhao and their swords crossed.

 

Shuhao gave a counterattack but easily dodged by his opponent. He sent another attack and again, dodged.

 

“How disappoint… You have to try harder if you want to beat me.”

 

“Shut the mouth up! I will surely take that sword!” Wiped his sword, he made White Devil jump back to dodge and the white clothed young man chuckled in mock tone. “And how will you take this sword?”

 

“Don't underestimate me…” Shuhao yelled in anger but a sharp pain on his shoulder stop his words as the silver sword pierced his body, “Ugh!!” The sword in his hand fell to the ground as his opponent push him back and pinch him to the tree nearest with silver sword. “Aaaagh!” a pain cried came out from his mouth along with fresh blood.

 

“Pathetic…” He heard the White Devil mock him. Shuhao stared weekly to the red eyes in front of him. “You called yourself as Chen? Are you not aware that you fail your father's great name? Even you are not my equal.”

 

“..Y..you..”

 

Lowing his voice, the White Devil said with disguise, “You don't worth the name… and so this sword.”

 

“w..who are you? How you could have the sword?”

 

The White Devil didn't answer but smiled coldly as he drew out his sword from Shuhao's body, let out a cry of pain from Shuhao's mouth and then put it back into its cover. “…too shame… I have no time left to fool around.”

 

Shuhao growled, “If y..you… don't kill me k..now… I assure you… I will kill you in the future.” He heared his opponent laughed while walking distant. “Then make sure you remember this name of She. I will wait for you,” was the answer before White Devil's white figure lost in sight.

 

Shuhao felt his whole body weakened and he fell to the ground. Loosing a lot of blood, his wound on his shoulder shot pain but the pain was nothing compare with the hidden pain felt deep in his heart, which came from his hurt pride.

 

“Damn you, Chen Cao… what burden you gave me through this name?” Slowly, he lost his consciousness. Before he fainted, he managed to hear his uncle and Li Qiao's worried voice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epic Tale : Twin Sword