Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Epic Tale : Twin Sword ❯ She Clan ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6

She Clan

 

 

Act 1

 

Shuhao opened his eyelids slowly and caught bright light, which faded away after few seconds and turned to be a scene of unknown young figure sat next to him. A warm smile graced the young man's face. Both of his grey eyes gave him full attention in the same warm feeling.

 

“Ah… you awake at last,” a gentle voice came to his ears. “Could you hear my words?”

 

He nodded weakly, then the young man asked another question, “Could you move your arm?” He tried and cried immediately for he felt a great pain when he moved his injured arm.

 

“Ah.. ah.. I see... you don't have to go further.” The young man said as he stopped him. “I just wanted to make sure your condition. Pain is a good signal.”

 

“..w..where am I?” Shuhao asked, finally able to say something. He saw his company withdrew from his side and reached a desk in the middle of the room to prepare something.

 

“Master Wu Po Sin's residence,” he answered and returned to the bed's side. “Last night, when I just arrived from Henan, your uncle came carrying you who already unconscious because of the blood lost.” He sat on the edge of the bed and help Shuhao to seat. Smiling, he gave him a bowl filled with medicine. “It's lucky that I came at the right time, wasn't it?”

 

Accepting the bowl, Shuhao took it to his mouth but paused when he smelled the medicine. His face expressed his disgust clearly. Understanding him, his company smiled. “The medicine will help you recover faster.” He rose up and walked out the room. “I will call Master Lu. He was worrying you all the time.”

 

After he was left alone, Shuhao drank his medicine slowly. He cursed in low voice when his tongue tasted bitter but pushed himself to finish the medicine and then put the empty bowl onto the small table next to his bed.

 

“Aiyooo! Shuhao!,” Li Qiao's cry entered the room as its door opened suddenly and her small figure rushed in to reach his bed. “Are you all right? Last night you lost a lot of blood.”

 

Shuhao answered weakly, “Yeah, I'm fine.” He saw his uncle showed up after Li Qiao. “I'm sorry, uncle. I let the White Devil ran away.”

 

“Fool! How can you still bring this up at time like this?!” Lu Shen sighed in distress. “Are you not aware that you made me worried?” he said to his ward with concern.

 

“Well… well…,” the young man who took care of Shuhao joined the conversation, Tan Kong beside him, tried to calm Lu Shen. “There is nothing to worry about. Young Master Chen is all right. His injury will recover after few weeks.”

 

Li Qiao let out a sigh, glad to hear the good news. “That's good! Then, Chen Shuhao, you should thank Master…” Didn't know the young man's name, she paused. “..er..”

 

Tan Kong let out a small laugh and took over the conversation. “Ah… my bad. I haven't introduced my niece yet.” He tapped his niece's shoulder proudly. “This is Liu Ching Yan. He is a physician.”

 

“No way!” Li Qiao stared the young physician in amaze. She know the name of Liu Ching Yan as the best physician in Zhao. “You really are Liu Ching Yan?”

 

Ching Yan smiled to her. “It seems that you know me.”

 

“Of course!” she replied quickly. “You are the famous Liu Ching Yan! You are the best physician I ever know!” she praised him and Ching Yan's smile widened. “You over judge me, miss. All of my ability came from my uncle therefore the best physician you know from now is Tan Kong, the main physician of Kaifeng Courthouse.”

 

“However,” Tan Kong cut their blabbering. He gave his attention to the injured young man and checked his wound. “As Ching Yan said, there's nothing to worry about Master Chen's injury. The wound will not cause any danger to his life and it is not taking place in vital part of the body,” he explained.

 

Shuhao smirked at the words. He agreed with Tan Kong. Feeling a pang of hurt in his heart, he replied as both his eyes expressed his anger, “He had no intention to kill me, that bastard. I swear I will stop him by my own and claim back what belongs to me.”

 

 

Act 2

 

A few days later at Wu Po Sin's residence

 

“She Clan?”

 

Lu Shen nodded at Wu Po Sin question. “I have learned this dynasty's past history but I never heard that name of clan. Perhaps Master Wu knew something?”

 

Giving Lu Shen no answer, Wu Po Sin looked at his aid and asked him a favor, “Tan Kong, could you help me to bring out the letter, please?” and Tan Kong walked out the chamber.

 

“Master Wu, do you know the name?” Lu Shen asked.

 

“I've heard about the name once,” he answered as he looked at Li Qiao and smiled to the girl. “Don't worry, Miss Li. It's not an information which known by who live outside the palace.”

 

Xiu Juan raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean by that? My father also mentioned the name before his death.”

 

Before Wu Po Sing managed to answer the last question, Tan Kong came back into the chamber. His hands carried a scroll of old paper, which handed over to the former judge of Kaifeng.

 

As Wu Po Sin accepted the scroll, he showed it to his guests. “This is a letter sent by Chen Cao from the land Xias.”

 

Shuhao startled at the information. His eyes observe the scroll showed with high interest and his emotion raged suddenly, for what reason he did not sure. He saw the paper covered with dark stain of blood in almost every place. It's probably Chen Cao's blood.

 

“Tian… I wonder how bad he injured,” Ching Yan whispered.

 

“From what we heard, Master Chen died right after he finish this letter,” Tan Kong said.

 

Wu Po Sin opened the scroll. “Because of the stains, there were only little words left we could read.” He, then, started to read the letter out loud.

 

Our mission failed. There is a traitor inside Zhou army …………………………̷ 0;……………….when this letter arrive at Your Highness' hand, there will be two of She Clan came to meet you in Kaifeng. They know all…………………………&# 8230;.they have the silver………………………. as identification………………….”

 

He sighed deeply as he finished the reading. “So far, that's all I could read.”

 

“Two of She Clan… who are they?” Lu Shen asked.

 

“They never reach Kaifeng,” Tan Kong answered. “My guess is they are informers who work for the king.”

 

“Informer of the king?” said Li Qiao. “No wonder I never know that name.” Moved closer to Wu Po Sin, she pointed a spot on the scroll. “Chen Cao also mentioned silver sword.”

 

Wu Po sin titled his head. “Actually… this part is unclear but that's a possibility. If it's true that they have silver sword with them, it made sense how White Devil could possess the sword.”

 

 

Act 3

 

Shuhao threw away his sword and sat down onto the ground. His body was damp with sweat and he breathed hard. He took a deep breath and try to control his pant. Closed his eyes, he felt the hot heat of sunlight above him.

 

His lips cursed in low voice. He already spent weeks to master Lu Shen's martial art. He practiced day and night since he came back to Hainan, not wasting even a single minute and yet he hadn't succeeded. If it continues like this, he will never be equal with White Devil.

 

He gathered all the courage left within him and stood up. He reached his sword and started to resume his practice while his mind went to a past conversation, which happened in Kaifeng.

 

In that conversation, Xiu Juan said, “I will head back to my fortress to find another clue about She Clan while Miss Li find Zhang Yi Feng to asked about eighteen years ago event between twelve clans and you, Chen Shuhao, need black sword to match White Devil therefore…”

 

“…..head back to Hainan? Are you serious? I don't want to waste more time..,” he remembered his disagreement with the princess' plan.

 

“The White Devil will not appear for a while,” Li Qiao assured him. “Looking at his pattern, he probably moved in month or more.”

 

“Miss Li is right. This is the best plan we have. We will inform each other when we found another clues and then we gathered back in Kaifeng.”

 

 

­Act 4

 

Fang Yu Jie sat some where on the hill next to Lu Clan stronghold. She leaned her back to a tree behind her while her hands held meal box placed on her lap. Both of her brown eyes fixed on a figure on top of the hill that is doing a practice.

 

It's been weeks since that young man came back from capital. She's watching the whole time therefore she knew that Shuhao never stopped practicing since his arrival as if he wanted to repay all the practices he always wasted before. She also watched the young man doesn't enjoy the practice and always looked miserable as he threw his sword to the ground several times.

 

Yu Jie sighed sadly. She worried about Shuhao. She was afraid he would injured himself because of the hard practices. She was afraid he would fell ill or…

 

She smiled. That was not he truly afraid about. She sighed once again, this time it's very deep. The truth was… she was afraid Shuhao would forget her someday. She was afraid… there would be no more place for her in his mind as he became more obsessed with White Devil.

 

“Yu Jie…,” Lu Shen called her. She looked up and found him stood next to her. She rose immediately and bowed to him in respect. “Master Lu.”

 

Answering her, he smiled. “You always watch him practice like this all the time?” he asked but Yu Jie didn't answer as her face blushed red. He sighed to her reaction. “That fool is trying to catch up his lost and waste your attention because of it.”

 

“It… it's not like you thought, Master. Shuhao…”

 

He cut her, “You don't have to cover him, Yu Jie. He never comes up to you anymore since he came back, I notice it.” Yu Jie didn't answer him. “Few weeks ago, in Kaifeng, Shuhao was lost from a young man known as White Devil who possesses his father's sword and yin jing. It's such an irony.”

 

“Is it true that Shuhao is Chen Cao's heir?” Yu Jie asked.

 

“A truth, even though we tried to keep as secret, will always reveal when the time comes,” was his answer. Changing their conversation topic, he asked back. “I hear that you will go along with your father to Hang Zhou.”

 

“We will leave the next day after tomorrow.”

 

“Does Shuhao know this?”

 

Yu Jie graced a bitter smile on her pink lips. “He is busy all the time….” Ended their conversation, she picked up her meal box from the ground and gave Lu Shen a slight bow. “It's almost late. Father will get worried if I don't come home soon. Excuse me, Master,” as she finished her words, she walked down the hill and went home.

 

Lu Shen watched as her small figure slowly faded in distant, then his attention came back to his ward. His lips parted, let out a whisper. “Foolish child… you will sorry for this.”

 

 

 

Act 5

 

The same day at Yang Fortress

 

It's been days since Xiu Juan looked through his father's old manuscripts inside the fortress' library. She knew that his father participated in the war happened eighteen years ago at the land of Xias. If their hypothesis is true, then his father might have a record about She Clan.

 

Tired, Xiu Juan sighed and dropped the scrolls from her hands. She rose from her chair and walked distant to one side of the library room. She stood next to an open window and stared at the night sky above her.

 

Her mind was full with tons of unanswered questions. “What happened eighteen years ago?” she whispered unconsciously.

 

“I know what happened,” a voice came suddenly, surprised her. Xiu Juan looked at small figure of Li Qiao outside the window. The girl smiled widely and said, “It's in the red chest inside that closet.” She pointed at a closet inside the library.

 

“Huh?” was her reaction.

 

“The manuscript you're looking for,” Li Qiao explained.

 

Xiu Juan stared her, was not quite sure to believe the fortuneteller but she reached the chest after all. It locked. “Just broke it,” she heard Li Qiao's advice. She hesitated for a moment before she drew out one of her short blades and broke the opened the chest with force. Her eyes widened as she looked at an old journal written by his father.

 

Xiu Juan whispered in disbelieve, “…war of Xias journal…” She looked at Li Qiao. “How could you know?”

 

Li Qiao replied her question with mocking smile. “Your learning is not hard enough.”

 

Ignored her mockery, Xiu Juan opened the journal and took a slight read. “…so it's true…” “What?” Li Qiao asked but she didn't answer as she stared the fortuneteller. “Got something from Zhang Yi Feng?”

 

Li Qiao grinned at her question. “What do you think? My master is the best source in Zhao land.”

 

Xiu Juan smiled back. “Then it is the time to come back to Kaifeng. You better sent Shuhao a message.”

 

 

 

Act 6

 

The day after in Hainan

 

Lu Shen walked up the hill. He saw his ward's figure on the top of the hill, practicing his martial art. His pace stopped when his ward performed the skill perfectly and the air around them filled with a marvelous energy of sword. Stunned, he didn't realize when the energy pierce his skin surfaces.

 

The figure, Shuhao, now stood to face him. Both of his green eyes fixed at his. His lips smiled weakly. Immediately, his tired body fell to the ground and Lu Shen approached him.

 

“How's that, old man?” Shuhao said between his pants. “I've mastered your arts now.”

 

His uncle smiled and answered him with proud, “You are indeed Chen Cao's son.” He gave out his hand to Shuhao and helped him to rise. “Miss Li sends a message. She and Princess Yang await you in Kaifeng.”

 

 

Act 7

 

Shuhao ran to the harbor with high speed. If he's lucky, he could depart from Hainan with the first ship. He gave a slight look at the sword in his hand, a black sword, which has Chen Yi Ze name carved on its cover.

 

Uncle, this is…” he recall his conversation with Lu Shen not long ago. His uncle handed him the sword as he explained to him, “Your mother trusted me this sword before she died. It was one of your father's swords. It's yours now, Shuhao.”

 

Looked straight forward, he saw the ship was boarding. “Wait for me!” Using his skill, he jumped forward to catch the ship.

 

 

Act 8

 

“He's already leave.”

 

Both of Yu Jie's brown eyes looked disappoint. She was standing on the hill where Shuhao used to practice. Her hands brought a box of meal. Today, she cooked Shuhao's favorite food. She came to see him as usual but he found Lu Shen instead of that young man. “…leave?”

 

“That fool went right away after he received a message from the capital. He leave with the first ship this morning,” Lu Shen told her.

 

“Is that so? I don't know…” was her sad reply.

 

Silenced for a while, Lu Shen could see the sad feeling expressed on her beautiful face. Her eyes ready to fall tears as she forced her self to smile. “That's too bad. I cooked him his favorite food today.” Bowed slightly, she gave Lu Shen her respect. “I shall go home, then. I left father when he's packing at the house.”

 

Lu Shen nodded. “Please give your father my regard. Have a safe trip to Hang Zhou,” he said as she left the hill. He cursed his ward for this.

 

“What do you mean you're not going with me?” Shuhao asked him this morning.

 

“I can't leave my stronghold for now. Do not worry. You already mastered my skill. With help from Miss Li and Princess Yang, you definitely will defeat White Devil,” he assured him. He paused and changed the subject, “Are you sure you don't want to delay your depart until tomorrow?”

 

“We already discussed this,” Shuhao replied. “For now, there is nothing more important for me than capture White Devil. After all of this finish, I can meet Yu Jie when ever I want.”

 

“Someday you will regret this.” He remembered, his ward said stubbornly, “I will regret more if I fail to catch that murderer.”

 

Snapped out from his thought, Lu Shen walked down the hill as he cursed his stupid ward, “Fools…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epic Tale