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Chapter 66 : A Life For A Life Part

Before Mo Xian and Tian Lang could become both renowned Peak Masters, they once lived in the same household, but they were not blood related.

A little boy who was wearing a sky blue robe embroidered with white clouds opened the door and greeted his mother in a matured way but it only made him stubborn and adorable.

A gentle looking woman who was doing an embroidered phoenix on a pure white handkerchief shifted her gaze at the little boy. Her rosy cheeks brightened up on the ray of the sun as her coral pouty lips let out a soft smile.

The little Tian Lang didn't asnwered and only nodded with his soft chubby puffed like a dumpling. His mother bended over to the small wooden table and poured him a cup of tea and patted the small chair beside her.

The little Tian Lang pursed his small lips that made his chubby cheeks squeezed even more, maiking it rounder. He took a few steps and sat on the small chair, he may not look like but the little Tian Lang hates it when his mother, Jiang Yuxin, treats her like a child. Even though his father who was once a general at the Empire of Ghongzi died at war when the Empire of Wan Rong waged a war after their military troops went past the Fanghuan River and trespassed the Fangxin River that was near the Empire of Ghongzi.

The Empire of Ghongzi is rich in farmlands and natural resources because they are near the highlands and far away from the plains. Unlike the former emperor of the Empire of Wan Rong who likes to show off his luxury to the rest of the world, the emperor of the Empire of Ghongzi on the other hand always keeps a low profile and focused on the good stability of his people instead.

The Ghongzi empire was not that rich but also not that poor. They kept their natural resources to themselves and do not like to trade, their military power was weak and the emperor knew that so he never traded with anyone because if the others knew that they have infinite natural resources, the other empires will keep and eye on them that will bring the Empire of Ghongzi's fall.

The Empire of Wan Rong was able to trade because of their Huangxin Port but they didn't have enough resources, especially the good ones to trade so the emperor, ho was thick-skinned stealed resources to the others instead. One particular traitor of the Empire of Ghongzi revealed to the emperor of Wan Rong Empire that the Empire of Ghongzi had infinite resources that came from the mountains.

The emperor of Wan Rong Empire was a greedy and selfish person. He bought his own military power using the money on the trades and waged war at the empire of Ghongzi. The empire of Ghongzi's guard was down and the border was easily breached. Tian Zangxi, Tian Lang's father who was the general that guarded the border lost because of the military numbers.

However the Ghongzi empire was weak in military power but a powerful cultivator was backing them. It was the former master if the Zhuzi Peak near the Empire of Ghongzi that killed most of the empire soldiers that raided the Empire of Ghongzi. The Empire of Wan Ring lost the war but the protective borders if the Empire of Ghongzi were all destroyed and at that time, outsiders can easily trespass inside the empire.

( Zhuzi means bamboo in chinese. )

After Tian Lang's father died and the letter was delivered at their Manor, a bamboo fan was gifted to him as a compensation from the Former Zhuzi Peak Master. Tian Lang who was only five and a father's boy and he was devastated to hear the news, he threw the fan away because he was offended the cost of his father's life was just a bamboo fan to be compensated.

The years passed and Tian Lang was already ten, he never touched the fan nor he never let it be seen on his sight. He grew up as matured that even his mother can baby him anymore. The little Tian Lang sat on the small chair, looking calm and collected. His mother raised the tea cup and took a sip before talking.

The little Tian Lang nodded his small head, he raised the tea cup that was too big for him and took a sip. Tea dripped down on the edge of the tea cup and stained his sky blue robe. His mother immediately used her phoenix handkerchief and wiped the stain on her son's robe.

The little Tian Lang frowned and spoke,

His mother smiled and replied,

Jiang Yuxin, Tian Lang's mother, was once a commoner and she hand a childhood friend named Wui Xin. Tian Zangxi once met her at the capital of the Empire of Ghongzi and fell inlove at first sight. His father doesn't care about status and asked her mother in marriage. However, even if his mother is already a noble and often ridiculed by everyone, she remained pure and didn't listened to those nasty rumors, saying she was a gold digger.

His mother sat again after cleaning the stain on his robe.

Tian Lang was angered, he abruptly stood up and clenched his small fists.

his mother's soft voice sharpened, full of rage and disbelief.

Tian Lang snapped.

The little boy's lips trembled and tears started pouring down to the corner of his eyes. His mother trembled and only lowered her gaze, she crouched down to her son and whispered.

The two didn't talked for days until Wui Xin's son arrived at the Manor with Jiang Yuxin beside him. A little boy stood behind his mother, his hair was disheveled and his body was malnourished. His skin was pale as if it was lacking blood and he was wearing an old brown robe and bare footed.

Jiang Yuxin smiled at the little boy.

The little boy's lips trembled and replied with a small voice.

Jiang Yuxin replied,

Tian Lang who was infront of them interrupted,

Jiang Yuxin's gentle smile disappeared as she shifted her gaze at her son.

Tian Lang frowned at his mother,

A sound of slap resonated throughout the large manor, a stinging pain appeared on Tian Lang's swollen left cheek. He looked at his mother with a disbelief expression as he caressed his left cheek and tears rushed down on his both cheeks.

His mother paused and didn't replied. She knew that their household was slowly going to fall and Tian Zangxi's relatives will most likely drove them out and claim all of his belongings. The little Tian Lang walked out of the entrance of their Manor, leaving his Mother stunned and the little Mo Xian at the back trembling in fear.

Day by day, Mo Xian lived inside the Manor pampered by Jiang Yuxin but she didn't have the face to look at her son. One time, at the backyard of the Manor, Mo Xian was playing with dirt and Tian Lang was strolling around looking grumpy and they both met by chance.

The little Tian Lang glanced at Mo Xian with his brows raised.

Mo Xian didn't answered and only proceeded to make a small mountain. Tian Lang was offended but he was quite curious on what Mo Xian was doing, so he took a step forward and crouched down beside the boy. Tian Lang asked again.

Tian Lang looked at Mo Xian.

Mo Xian answered while continuing to make a little mountain, his clean white robes was now stained with dirt and his puffy cheeks was a little bit dirty.

Tian Lang stared at the little grave.

Mo Xian shook his head and answered in a small voice.

Tian Lang didn't answered, he was a child who never saw the outside world. Somehow, he felt sorry on the boy infront of him and subsconciously lowered his hand to help him build a small mountain.

Mo Xian looked at him with a smile, his puffed cheeks turning red.

Tian Lang glanced at him and saw the dirt in Mo Xian's cheeks. Tian Lang used his sleeves to wipe out the dirt in Mo Xian's cheeks and they both laughed. While they helped each other to build a mountain, Tian Lang asked.

Mo Xian answered, his face slightly turned bitter.

Tian Lang:

Mo Xian:

Tian Lang realized that Mo Xian must've lived a harsh life. He never listened to his mother on the first day they met but now he seemed sorry. Tian Lang asked.

Mo Xian answered as he shook his head.

Tian Lang:

Mo Xian replied,

Tian Lang clicked his tongue and responded.

Mo Xian let out a small giggle.

Tian Lang stared at him for a long time. He then continued to make a small mountain and spoke,

Mo Xian replied,

Tian Lang paused. His first impression to him was a weak child full of cowardice and two faced. His hand was already full of dirt as he spoke, he innocently asked.

Mo Xian's big eyes looked up at him and glanced down again as he continued to make a small mountain.

Tian Lang suddenly felt guilty and looked down at the pile of dirt.

Mo Xian smiled.

While the two continued to make a small mountain, Jiang Yuxin at the back let out a soft smile while looking at the two children awkwardly being friends.

Nine years have passed and Jiang Yuxin became weaker. She woukd often cough and also faint just by the slightest heat so Tian Lang forbids her from going outside and his mother was bedridden. There was no doctor who wants to check on her mother because of the rumors that's why Tian Lang could only nurse her mother from time to time because they doesn't have the riches to pay for the medicine anyway.

The servants all resigned and they didn't dared to sell Tian Kang's father's properties because Tian Lang knows that his father worked hard to achieve those. Mo Xian is the only one knows about medicinal herbs that's why he was a big help to the family. Until one night, the gate was banged open and Tian Zangxi's relatives and other nobles entered the Manor with military troops behind them.

"Sieze this bitch and her son!"

"Gold diggers!"

"Filthy!"

Tian Lang went out of the house with a surprised expression.

The walls of the Manor was hammered and it cracked into pieces, even his mother's embroidery fell on the ground and stained with dirt. Tian Lang was about to burst in age but an imperial soldier grabbed his both hands.

Mo Xian was also beside him and was trembling in fear. He kept struggling on the soldier's grasp but his body was too weak ti fight back. Tian Lang glanced at his uncles and aunts.

A stone was thrown to his face and his forhead started to bleed. Tian Lang stared at the people infront of him who were standing wuth grins and sneers oj their faces with bloodshot eyes. One if his uncle spoke, his uncle spitted on his face and laughed.

While the people repeatedly threw stones at Tian Lang and Mo Xian, a shout came from the backyard of the Manor.

Jiang Yuxin was wearing a thin white ribe covered with a scarf. She keot panting while she ran and immediately kneeled in everyone, blocking Mo Xian and Tian Lang with tears streaming down on her eyes.

"Kill that bitch!"

"Kill that gold digger!"

"Kill her!"

Stones were thrown at Jiang Yuxin. She kept blocking the two young men with her body and endured the sharp pain while she repeatedly begged.

Tian Lang was struggling so much and his eyes were trembling.

Everyone turned deaf ears on him and repeatedly threw stones at his mother. Jiang Yuxin's head was bleeding and she suddenly to tremble as she kneeled. A large stone was thrown at her head and Tian Lang's mother fell on the ground, blood started to gush out from her head and spread out on the ground.

Mo Xian was too devastated to see her Aunt lying lifeless infront of him, he repeatedly shook his head and trembled.

Tian Lang's voice roared throughout the Manor, the people halted and stopped until they suddenly bursted out laughing.

One if his aunt spoke,

In a split second, her head came flying and blood gushed out of her neck. The people yelled in fear and started to run away, but a brown and green silhouette went pass them and their heads suddenly came flying. In a blink of an eye, the whole manor was bathed in blood and headless bodies were lying on the ground. A bamboo fan floated in the air stained in blood and landed infront of Tian Lang.

Tian Lang ignored the fan and approached Mo Xian who was holding her mother. Her eyes were open with a hint of pain and her skin was all white because of too much blood loss. She was buried at the backyard if the manor beside the small mountain that the two built nine years ago.

Tian Lang was holding on to the bamboo fan on his hand while the other was holding Mo Xian who was too shock and was walking in a daze beside him. The two of them were bathed in blood but no one saw them as they climb up the mountain. Tian Lang stared at Mo Xian and sighed heavily.

Mo Xian looked at him with an anxious face.

Tian Lang shook his head and gripped on his hand tightly.

Mo Xian's body trembled and sobbed.

Tian Lang:

Mo Xian abruptly shook his head with an anxious face.

Tian Lang looked at him with a serious expression and spoke,

The two went on separate paths. Mo Xian accidentally arrived at the Mount Hua Peak and was scouted by the Former Mount Hua Peak Master to be his disciple because of his good attribute while Tian Lang covered the murder case at the Empire of Ghongzi and cultivated his bamboo fan along the way, and was killed by the old palace master.

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