[Luo Xiao Zhao]

Out of nowhere, a man flew down between Luo Xiao Zhao and the pack of wolves. His sword glittered in the moonlight as he swung his arm back and forth and killed the wolves as they lunged at him. A wolf undetected crawled past the man and set its greedy eyes on Luo Xiao Zhao. After a second, it charged at Luo Xiao Zhao who cried out. Luo Xiao Zhao closed his eyes as he anticipated death. He heard a thud and slowly opened his eyes. The wolf's head was speared by the sword and was caught between the sword hilt and the tree trunk.

The man, with one smooth motion, twirled around and grabbed the sword, pulling it out easily. He rushed back into the pack of wolves. Luo Xiao Zhao, regaining some of his wits, grabbed the snubbed torch and twisted the end of the torch. Firelight appeared. He gazed at the man who fought.... There was something familiar about him. It wasn't until the man turned his face to the side, that Luo Xiao Zhao recognized him. His mouth dropped. No, it can't be! It can't be HIM of all people!

He heard a cry of anguish and saw the figure drop to his knees in pain. His sword lay on the snow in front of him. Without thinking twice, Luo Xiao Zhao ran as fast as he could and stood in front of the man, protecting him. The wolves were snaring at him. Luo Xiao Zhao didn't back down, instead, he picked up the heavy sword in his left hand and swung at the pack of wolves without control. The moon was now covered by the clouds and thunder boomed nearby.

"Get out of my way!" the figure yelled.

Xiao Zhao glanced behind him and hesitated. Before he could do anything else, the figure pushed him aside roughly and brought his two hands to his left side. He cupped his hands together and left narrow space between them. Then he used his body's strength to push his hands outward, palms toward the pack of wolves. An invisible hit the wolves all at once and they flew into the air. Landing some distance away, they whimpered as they got up and quickly fled the scene.

Xiao Zhao looked behind him and saw the man on the snow, gasping. He rushed over to him and took the man in his arms. The man's mouth was bleeding and his body was full of wounds. His eyes were closed.

"Zheng Xia Ning! Zheng Xia Ning!" Xiao Zhao shook Zheng Xia Ning violently. The light from the fire reflected off the old man's weathered, dark face.

He half-opened his eyes and gasped, "Xiao...Zhao..." He coughed violently then continued. " I'm sorry... for...the u-unfair... treatment...I ...inflicted...on you...I hope....in the....next life...we can m-meet again...a-and I can...right... my wrongs."

He looked at Luo Xiao Zhao and there was something different about him. To Xiao Zhao's surprise, Zheng Xia Ning smiled, for the first time in years and said, "L-let me...have...a...good look...at you."

He gently used both hands to touch Xiao Zhao's face. "You're alike...very, alike." He said as he gazed at Xiao Zhao's face. After a minute, Xia Ning whispered, " I-I h-have...o-one last...request..."

"Yes? Zheng Xia Ning? What is it?" Luo Xiao Zhao cried as he held the old man tightly.

"For...the...last...time...call...me...Father..."

Luo Xiao Zhao hesitated.

Xia Ning sighed. "I...understand..." He turned his head away.

"Father," Luo Xiao Zhao said plainly. Zheng Xia Ning smiled, tears of joy flowed out of his eyes.

"Thank...you," he whispered.

"Here," he said, as he placed a curved piece of yellow glass into Luo Xiao Zhao's hand. "This...is from... your m-mother...k-keep...i-it...s-safe..." Zheng Xia Ning's head dropped to his side as he said those words. His eyes closed, and his hand fell beside him.

"Father! Father!" Luo Xiao Zhao yelled desperately.

Thunder rolled and the skies opened as snow came sleeting down, but Luo Xiao Zhao didn't notice because he was holding Zheng Xia Ning tightly in his arms. A sense of regret overcame Luo Xiao Zhao. What if it had been a different ending? What if Zheng Xia Ning had lived? What would have been the outcome? But for now, Luo Xiao Zhao sat in the snow, mourning for what could have been...

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It was morning the next day and Luo Xiao Zhao had gone to town and asked for assistance in digging a grave. Madam Ming had been kind enough to rally some of her neighbors to help. After burying Zheng Xia Ning they left in a hurry, believing the forest was haunted.

In front of the epitaph, Luo Xiao Zhao had placed bowls of fruit on both sides. Directly in front of the epitaph was an incense pot. Luo Xiao Zhao took a couple steps away from the epitaph and then fell to his knees as a sign of respect to the departed. In his fingers, he held three incense sticks that were already lit. With the incense in his hands, he bowed three times. Then he stuck the incense sticks vertically into the pot. Smoke floated up from the sticks.

He faced the epitaph and started to speak as if Zheng Xia Ning were still alive. "Zheng Xia Ning, or should I say father, I know we never saw eye to eye. There were times when I wished you were dead because of how you treated me. Although I hated you for the way you treated me, I am still thankful for a roof over my head. I guess there were some difficulties that you were unable to discuss or bring up. In the next life, if the heavens give us a second chance, may we never meet again. I just hope fate will be kinder to you in your next life."

Luo Xiao Zhao looked at the epitaph a bit longer before he got up and turned away. With one last glance, he looked at the epitaph. Then he set his eyes in front of him, never looking back. It would be much later in life until he would set his eyes on that grave again. ************************************************************************

Luo Xiao Zhao returned to the house Zheng Xia Ning had lived in and, for the first time in years, he entered Zheng Xia Ning's living quarters. In the room was a wooden cabinet to his right, a stone stove to his left, a bed near the window directly across from him, and to his right, in the corner of the house, he saw a desk. The desk captured his attention.

It was worn down with black splotches of ink here and there. There were a dozen scratches on the surface of the table and on the legs of the table were lines that seemed, to Luo Xiao Zhao to be like one who counted the days. It sat in a gloomy corner of the house as if forgotten. The desk told of unspoken sadness and tragedy. Luo Xiao Zhao pictured Zheng Xia Ning bending over the desk and he no longer saw him as merely a cruel, heartless person. Father was a human too. He must have gone through much hardship. The more Luo Xiao Zhao thought about Zheng Xia Ning, the more he felt pity for him. Luo Xiao Zhao ran his fingers along the surface of the desk. The runes in the table told of a hidden story of hardship and pain. Sometimes, pain wasn't shown on someone's face but on the objects they possessed. The deep cut in the table showed that Zheng Xia Ning was a learned man and yet, Luo Xiao Zhao never knew. What other secrets did Zheng Xia Ning hide?

Luo Xiao Zhao scanned the ground and the corner of a piece of paper caught his eye. It was stuck under one of the legs of the table. Lifting the desk up, he gently pulled the paper out. It turned out to be an envelope. He broke the seal of the envelop and unfolded the pieces of paper. They read:

(Dear Luo Xiao Zhao, when you read this letter, I may not be alive. Luo Xiao Zhao, I haven't treated you well over the years. I am ashamed and sorry for mistreating you. I never said a nice word to you or really got along well with you. I know that in your heart, I am your father. But have you ever wondered why I never let you call me father? Why I hit you so hard every time you called me that? I know that I will leave this world soon, so I hope I can help you one last time. I know you have always wanted to know what happened to your mother, even if you don't say it. I can see the longing in your eyes to know what your mother was like. She was the kindest, most beautiful woman I've ever known, but in her heart she kept so many secrets. I want to tell you the secret I have been hiding at the bottom of my  heart all these years.

Actually, I am not your father, but your grandfather. When I learned the current emperor wanted to kill your mother on the charge of attempting a rebellion, I knew something was wrong. How could your mother rebel against the emperor when she was deeply in love with him? So I immediately mounted a horse and road to Bei Pan, not taking a single break. I thought I could save her, but when I arrived, it was already too late. She had jumped off a cliff and her body was missing. Since she was declared a traitor, the emperor refused to look for her body and give her a proper funeral. I was not satisfied, so I went to the bottom of the cliff she supposedly jumped off from, and searched for her body. I combed through the forest but couldn't find a trace of her.

I later found out, the cliff she jumped off of, was not located in the winter sect, but an area between the spring and winter sect. They had spread false news so that anyone looking for her body would never find it. I was determined to find her body, so I went to the bottom of the cliff she actually jumped off of.

I found a waterfall that created a deep pool. As I scanned the shore of the pool, I found blood marks and saw traces of an object being dragged across the ground. I followed the tracks into the woods and found grass that was flattened down. I followed the tracks for sometime when I saw a figure on the ground in the distance. I rushed toward it and sure enough, it was your mother. She was battered by the whole ordeal. I went to her side and knelt down. Holding her in my arms, I said, 'Yue Yang, Yue Yang, wake up!'

Her eyes fluttered open and she whispered weakly, 'Take care of my child...' She held the child out to me. I took the child in my arms. She then handed me a curved piece of yellow glass. She said quietly, 'Guard this treasure...don't let anyone else lay their hands on it...' Then she breathed her last. I buried her and mourned and I decided to settle down in this shabby house in the winter region. I never knew where she got the glass, nor did I know why it was so important. All I knew was that it was something she deeply treasured. I kept it safe from the outside world, afraid that others might take it.

As for the boy, I also brought him with me. I knew at first glance that you were meant to be my grandson. I took you home and gave you a new name: Luo Xiao Zhao. I raised you, but I found that as you grew older, you became more and more like her. Every time I saw you, I felt a sense of regret and sadness and I kicked you out. I thought I would feel better this way, but I was wrong. I felt more sad every time I saw you, so I beat you. I know I shouldn't have treated you like this, but I had no other choice. Luo Xiao Zhao, if you want to know about your mother and the origin of the piece of glass you are holding now, you must go to Jing Du City . There, you will find the answers you want. Although I beat you whenever you tried to read, secretly I knew you were still learning. I just wanted to show you how hard life is and that not everything you do should be seen. That's all I have to write now. In the future, if one day we can meet again, I hope you will forgive me for my mistakes and be willing to have a heart-to-heart talk with me. Zheng Xia Ning)

Luo Xiao Zhao read the letter twice. He glanced around the room, dazed. The world he thought he knew crashed around him. He walked to the front of the cabinets and sat down with his back against them. He sat there looking at the floor as sunlight reflected off it. He held the letter tightly in his right hand while his other hand held his wrist. And just like that, he sat in that position for many hours, never moving once.

By the time he finally made a decision as to what his next move would be, it was almost night. He got up and started to cook. He cut some cabbage that was in a basket, grabbed a handful of mushrooms from another, and cut a large chunk of meat. He then cooked some rice and after he finished cooking, he put the food on the table. He set the three different dishes down on the table and then took a bowl out from the cabinet and scooped himself a big bowl of rice. It has been a while since I made myself this much food.

He dug into the food and stuffed his mouth full. He propped one of his legs up and picked up his bowl. The lovely taste exploded in his mouth. My mouth is so happy right now! Luo Xiao Zhao thought to himself as he smiled. Later that night, Luo Xiao Zhao spread his mattress on the floor near Zheng Xia Ning's bed. He had thought about sleeping on Zheng Xia Ning's bed and had even started unrolling the blankets when he remembered what his grandfather was. His body involuntarily shivered and he threw the blankets on the floor.

After settling himself on the floor, he blew out his candle and lay on his back. Snuggling into the warm blankets, he felt warmth for the first time in years. With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes.

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The next day, he packed his bags and decided to walk around the mountain one last time before setting out. The air was chilly but refreshing. When he was younger, he used to walk this certain path a lot, especially when he was feeling sad.

There was something peaceful about being alone among the snow covered trees with not a soul around. The sunlight bounced off the snow as the it shimmered it the sun's glorious light. Icicles hung off from trees and created rainbows here and there.

It had just snowed yesterday night and Xiao Zhao sprung through the snow happily. He loved making new footprints in snow that had fallen not long ago. There was something exciting about making a new path when no path was visible because it was like forging his own path and his own world. Only here, among the sleeping forest, could he be anything and anyone. He could be an intrepid explorer who could go wherever he wished, or he could be an emperor just setting out on his journey to save the world. As he enjoyed the quietness of the forest, his mind wandered. Could I really go to Jing Du? I haven't walked Jiang Hu at all and have never left Chang Long. What adventures await me outside?

He was deep in thought when he saw a faint trail of glowing green slime. He picked up his pace and when he arrived at the site, he bent down. Poking two fingers into the slime, he brought them to his nose. It was exactly what he thought it was.

"Strange," Luo Xiao Zhao muttered. "They don't usually come to this side of the mountain..."

Luo Xiao Zhao snapped his eyes wide in horror. He spun around in a wide circle and inspected the ground. In front of him, a couple of steps away, were marks of something sliding down the side of the mountain. Xiao Zhao ran to the marks and glanced down. Half way down the slope, was a body half covered in snow.

"Hey! You there! Are you ok?!" Xiao Zhao called.

There was no answer.

"Hey!" He tried again.

Still no answer.

Curious, Xiao Zhao started down the slope, grabbing tree trunks to break his fall.

When he finally arrived near the body, he knelt down and quickly used his hands to push off the snow that had gathered on the figure. He turned the body over and saw the face of a youthful man. The man's clothing was smooth and pleasing to the skin and Xiao Zhao knew that he was touching silk. The man's hair was put into a bun at the top of his head and was held in place by a metal band.

"Hey," Xiao Zhao shook him.

There was no response.

Xiao Zhao put his fingers underneath the man's nose and felt to see if he had breath. There was faint air that came from the man's nostrils.

Taking his fingers away, he grabbed the man's arm and draped it over his shoulder. Then he supported the man's weight as he half-carried and half-dragged the man up the mountain and toward his house.

After arriving home, Xiao Zhao gently laid the man in bed, helped him change, and then covered him with a blanket. Then he hurriedly made a fire in a small mental basin and brought it to the bed side. He went to the well and got some water, drenched a cloth, and placed it on the man's forehead. He then dressed the man's wounds and then prepared some medicine for him.

Luo Xiao Zhao was just fanning the metal pot that held all the herbs when he heard a thump emit from inside the house. He quickly set the fan down and rushed inside to take a look. The man was on his knees. His right hand was on the desk nearby as he tried to stand.

Xiao Zhao hurried to his side and exclaimed, "Why are you up? You're not suppose to try to walk until you're a bit better. I just bandaged your wounds up a couple hours ago and they probably reopened. Here, sit down." Xiao Zhao grabbed his arms and gently helped him sit on the bed.

"W-who are you?" the man asked confused.

"I'm Luo Xiao Zhao."

"Where is this place?"

"This is my house at the border between the spring and winter kingdom. Here, let me redress your wounds," Luo Xiao Zhao said as he moved to help the man.

"No...I think I'd rather do it myself," the man replied.

"Alright then. There's the medicine. If you need anything, just call me," Xiao Zhao said as he stood up. "I will prepare dinner. It will be around an hour or so before I'm ready. Meanwhile, you stay in bed and take care of yourself."

The man nodded. Luo Xiao Zhao left to prepare the food.

After Xiao Zhao had set the table, he went to the bedside and gently shook the man awake. "It's time to eat," he said.

The man sat up blurry-eyed and yawned.

"Do you want me to help you walk over to the table?" Xiao Zhao asked.

The man nodded.

Xiao Zhao held out his arm as the man grabbed it. They made their way to the dinner table. Having been seated, Xiao Zhao said, "Eat. I know I don't have many dishes, so please make do with what we have."

The man nodded. Before touching anything though, he took out a white piece of cloth. He grabbed the chopsticks and wiped them with the cloth. Then he grabbed the empty bowl and wiped it on the inside and out. He preceded with the cup on the table. Xiao Zhao watched with fascination at this strange man. Just when Xiao Zhao thought he would be done wiping, the man then grabbed the serving utensils and wiped the handle as well. Finally satisfied, the man put some food in his bowl.

"Do you think my things are unclean?" Xiao Zhao asked.

The man looked up and said quickly, "No! Not at all! I just have this habit of wiping everything. Even if something is already clean, I still have to wipe it."

"Why?"

"I feel uneasy if I use something that is not wiped, especially when it comes to bowls, utensils and such. Don't take offense," he said rather nervously.

"Don't worry. I'm not the type," Luo Xiao Zhao assured him.

The dinner table fell back into silence and after a moment, the man spoke, "Aren't you curious about who I am and why I came to this side of the mountain?"

Luo Xiao Zhao kept eating as he replied, "Who you are and what you are doing is your business. If you want to tell me, you will. If you don't you won't. It's none of my business."

The man nodded as he continued to eat. A silence settled among them once again. Finally the man broke the silence. "My name is Fang Han Jun."

"That's nice," Luo Xiao Zhao said, unsure of what to say.

There was another short silence.

"How long do you think it will be until all my wounds heal?"

"Three days at most. Many of your wounds are surface wounds and can heal quite quickly," Xiao Zhao said.

"Oh."

"I'm going to take care of you for those three days," Xiao Zhao said. "But after that, let's each go on our own way. You can do what you need to do, and I'll do what I have to do."

Fang Han Jun nodded and they continued in silence.

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Hey guys thanks for reading my story! Feel free to comment!! You can also answer this question if you want to: Do you think Zheng Xia Ning was redeemed from his past mistakes? Why or why not? Thanks for your support and have a lovely day!!