Chapter 25: Puppeteer

The Old Capital, as it is called now, was quite far in its decline. However, there were no signs of further fall. Every citizen that wished to move, or could, has already done that. New people, despite the urbanization in progress, were rare.

The city was large, ancient, and silent. In some depopulated districts only the sound of children playing and laughing could be heard, echoing far.

Especially now, during the evening, when there was nothing for kids to do but to enjoy themselves.

These children, though, were silent. Cao Yu was feeling a particular joy observing their faces, so concentrated, so serious while they were engraving on stone plates with their fingers.

His wrinkled face, little greyish beard, that he was stroking time to time, and balding head with only several long hairs left didn't suit for smiling. Still, there was little enjoyment in his life these days, and what he had, he wished to express. To show to the world and himself.

"Teacher, I'm done." Said one of the kids and looked up at him. Large, sparkling black eyes. Serious expression, short black hair and silky white clothes were of high quality, maybe just a bit old. His face whiter than the rest, and his demeanor stricter. The background wasn't an issue in this school, but with his experience, Cao Yu could see that the boy belonged to a clan. Maybe a declining one, but clan nonetheless.

He had a hint of pride in his actions. While he would usually rebuke a pupil for it, looking at his work and the reddish skin on his finger Cao Yu could only praise the boy. That was a good type of pride. The pride that the boy wished to keep up to and that was driving him forward. He saw someone like that before.

"Very good, Chen Zhu. Still, your touch is a bit too heavy. There's no need for that. You expending too much of your Qi drawing formations this way. Try to be gentler."

"I understand, teacher." The boy bowed.

Soon all other children started presenting their works. Cao Yu was mindful to praise what they did right and scorn what they did wrong. After many years of teaching, he came to the conclusion that being honest and respectful with pupils is the best way of education.

Finally, the kids returned to their places. Their eyes concentrated on him. There was some impatience in them; only Chen Zhu was sitting still. Cao Yu took a little copper bell from a small pillow lying of the ground and rang it three times.

"Ding, Ding, Ding."

"The lesson is over." He said.

The children bowed to him and started walking out the building in a strict line. With a smile on his face, Cao Yu was looking at how they were dashing into ran once touched by the reddish sunlight outside. Soon, he was left alone.

Cao Yu closed his eyes, listening to the silence.

…

After closing the classroom, he went on the street. It was a quiet evening; the red disk of the sun was looming beyond thin clouds, time to time showing itself and illuminating the white mass with distinct sunrays.

Cao Yu was walking steady and slowly, maybe a bit too unhurriedly. It was sad, but he could admit it: there wasn't much waiting for him at home. Only more silence.

Suddenly, he heard some commotion to the side. He hesitated at first but then relaxed. Anyway, nothing to do. Might as well see what it is.

He headed to the left of a desolate street and saw many people walking out of a large wooden house, no, rather a small palace. Several red pillars were supporting an extended roof. It was quite crowded; everyone was in pairs and with children. Also, there were several carriages, some with very expensive horses. He hasn't seen some breeds for a long time.

"Excuse me, can you tell what is going on?" He asked a middle-aged woman who was tightly holding the hand of a little girl. Both were in pink dresses.

"Oh, we were to a play." She answered with a smile.

"Puppets." Added the girl.

"Yes, yes. It was a puppet-show. Not a traditional, modern one. It is a very popular troupe. They will be in the town for several weeks more. I recommend you to see it with your grandchildren, it is very interesting.

After saying that she lead the girl away.

Cao Yu was standing still.

"Grandchildren…" He sighed and bitterly smiled. Then he started walking back but suddenly stopped. An idea came to his mind.

Half an hour later, after a long queue, he was walking to his home. It was darker now, so he had to bring the ten tickets he bought closer to his eyes to see them. His cultivation was never strong and now was in decline due to old age.

On the white, long tickets there were several dragons drawn: red, blue, and green. They were intertwined with each other and had silly faces.

Opposite them were several words:

"The Emperor and Dragon Brothers, an exciting tale of his Majesty's great deed…"

It should be interesting for children. He will give them a little surprise instead of the last lesson before the summer weekend. Cao Yu's mood uplifted when he thought about it, he started walking sightly faster.

It was completely dark when he saw his home, a little house on a backstreet, squashed between two rivaling antique shops.

Cao Yu started to search for the key in his bag when his expression suddenly froze. Could it be that he had forgotten it? He tried the door: no, it was closed.

He started browsing through his bag once more. His shadow was obstructing the moonlight, so he started turning around, trying to find a better position. But no matter where the shadow was still there.

Wait, was it his shadow? Feeling dread he looked at the ground and saw the shadow of an old man crossed by another.

Slowly he looked up. The moon was lying on the roof and before it was a dark silhouette.

The darkness enveloped the world and then his mind.

…

…

…

He woke up to the sound of something slicing through the air. His eyelids trembled and opened, and he saw a black sabre. It was still at first; then it turned into the black wind, then still again. That was something he saw so many times before. For a second, he thought he was there, in the past.

Then, his mind awoke. His body shivered. He looked at the man with long black hair, with a resolute face. It was longer now, sharper. All the childish roundness was cut. Not a naive kid anymore, but a handsome young man.

Once again the darkness sliced through the world, then the sabre was lowered. Cao Yu looked around. He was in a kind of barn, a bleak morning light was shining through the gaps in the roof. He was laying on the floor bordering a pile of straw.

"Good morning, Uncle Cao." Said the young man in a pitch-black martial robe with a slight smile on his face.

"Young Master…" The old man remembered. He couldn't forget. His Young Master, whom he was teaching formations in secret. Such a talented young boy… He is alive.

Cao Yu felt mixed emotions. He knew that it was possible, but he never truly believed it. His past was so far behind, as if in another world, but now it was looking straight into his eyes. Mixed emotions, but not because he feared death.

There was no much to look forward to anyway.

"Are you going to kill me, Young Master?"

"Of course." Said Shan, not changing his smiling expression.

"But before that, I want to know something."

"Something… I won't tell you anything." The old man could feel his hands. They weren't tied, surprisingly. Though, why surprisingly. With Shan around it was impossible for him to escape anyway.

"I won't." He said in a calm voice.

"Wei Clan deserved what it got. I won't tell you anything. You can kill me, I don't care

"Bold."

"Agh!" Cao Yu coughed. Heavy punch connected with his stomach. His limbs went weak and he fell down just after standing up. The blood started dripping from his lips."

"You can scorn me, you can scorn anyone, actually. But don't insult Wei Clan."

Cao Yu tried to look up. He couldn't see the face of the young man, but his tone remained unchanged. Was he really angry or was that some kind a routine he imposed on himself?

"We always knew you were an agent of the Han's Intelligence, Uncle Cao. We kept you around just because it is easier when you see your enemy's line of sight."

"Do you wish to get revenge?" Cao Yu stood to his knee, their gazes met.

"Of course." Said Shan.

"But I'm now asking you for that. If I just wanted the revenge, I would have slaughter everyone. The Emperor, the First Minister, the Grand General, Royal Guard, every snake at Intelligence... I will do it, but later. Revenge is secondary; first I want to know if anyone is still alive."

"I don't know that. I'm was just an external worker. They contacted me because of my position in the house."

"I know, and still, you are a connection to them. Tell me, who were you working for. Name, where you were you meeting, their habits... as much as you can."

The old man went silent for several seconds. Then looked at the ground and tried to stand up. He had to support himself on the pile of straw. Shan was patiently waiting for his answer.

"Why should I? Why should I tell? If you wanted to avenge, then maybe I would. But if anyone of them alive, then the last thing I wish is freedom for them."

"And death threats won't work, I know… But how about that?" He took something from his sleeve. Some white paper, no, it was…

Cao Yu's face went pale, then amused, like he gone mad, and then the old man started laughing.

"Hahaha, so it never changes. You of Wei never care about anyone. An antique from Hundred Warring Clans Period. I see now, though you were such a good little boy, you still one of them."

"Thanks, I appreciate your words. So, Puppet Show?"

Shan crutched the tickets in his fist.

"Your interest in children is high as ever." He smirked.

"Wicked mind give birth to wicked thoughts. But so be it, I will tell you everything, just…" The old man's gaze suddenly lost focus.

"I want you to do something."

"I listen, but remember, I won't promise until I'll be sure the price will be worth it." Said Shan.

The old man nodded.

"I want to know if that really is my wife who is buried in that grave."

Shan suddenly froze. Then, also in a bit more quiet voice, he said:

"Yes, it's Aunt Zi. Father ordered to look through the bones so there can't be any mistakes. They were good people, but we couldn't let them go away. No one was allowed to know what had happened at my Awakening."

"I see, good, good. Then I wish to be buried with her."

Shan made a troubled expression.

"I'm afraid, I can't disturb graves. I will be too obvious. It will give them too many clues. How about I spread your ash over it?"

"Ha, how crafty you are. What a bargain! But good enough. He called himself Shi Lu; he wore many colors but always had a hat. He had many identities, an elderly person, a young woman, a vagrant warrior, but his voice was always that of a young man. We met at nights, every second fortnight. The last time was at the village of Golden Hills - he was a wandering puppeteer."

"Good, that will do." Shan clenched his sabre with both hands.

"I'm sorry about Aunt Zi, good night."

"She didn't…" Before he could finish his words, Cao Yu once again saw the darkness.

And nothing more.

Ever.