VOLUME I
Chapter FiveHe can't believe that Wenren would lie to him in a serious matter such as planting rice. The man didn't tell him it was a hard labor and an arduous job to do. Ritian's high spirit crumbled like tower of cards on a flick of a finger. Just a quarter of an hour of walking on the knee-depth mud, his sense of shame rose to a hundred percent.
The villagers were all waiting for him to fall because of the slick. Ritian didn't disappoint and managed to fall five times before mastering the art of walking down the silent grains.
Wenren was focused on carrying water jugs for the old men to drink. He didn't mind the heat of the sun and even smiled on everyone. Showing how carefree he was.
Although Ritian was a whole different matter compared to Wenren, he tried his best to overcome the snark forcing its way out of his throat. He repeated the 'Be Good, Be Friendly, Be at Peace' mantra on his head until he can't delude himself anymore.
In the end, he raised his brow on anyone who dares to come close within an arms length.
Ritian lowered his head, let his sweat fall down freely and resolutely buried the stems of rice he had in his basket.
One by one. Painfully curving his waist on an up-down motion ceaselessly.
The first three didn't hurt. The ten after it is a-okay. The following twenty repeated actions sent small sting of pain in his knees and back.
Anymore after those are pure torture.
He shouldn't have underestimated the rural life. Ritian thought the ones who lives in the city were the most unlucky. It turns out, he's just ignorant to the world.
Ritian dabbed his sleeves onto his forehead. The mud on his hands grazed his cheeks. He stifled an loud groan and opt for whimpering instead. Unlike the hardworking men surrounding him, he had no one who could come to his side and clean his face for him. He's a single man. He could only endure this mess.
"Ritian, come eat!" Wenren waved the basket he brought earlier. Ritian was instantly moved to tears. He asked Wenren what's inside the woven bag. The guy gave him his signature daddy laugh before nodding graciously, as if granting him a lifetime subscription for an adult site and not food. "It's sweet potatoes."
Ritian's smile faded. He restrained his pouting nature and showed him his excited expression. 'It's better than eating this mire.'
"Chief Juan!" Wenren raised a large crop. He motioned the man to get near. The village chief issued a boot-licking grin. His yellow set of teeth resembled a corn from afar. "Here, I brought a lot of these. Help yourself."
"Ah, you, Wenren…" Chief Juan's flattering didn't expire. "Indeed, the people of Han Village is fortuitious enough to have you. Such a gallant man is heaven-sent."
Wenren's eyes narrowed into slits because of his laugh. "Mr. Juan, I heard that Ms. Via's wedding will carry on next week. Do you need extra men to hunt? Ritian and I will be glad if you'd consider bringing us along."
Chief Juan is a nimble old man at the age of fifty. The white hairs on his eyebrows wasn't lesser than those on his chin and upper lip. Ritian stood three inches above him, and his back had an evident curve normal to the elderly. Albeit the overripe age, Chief Juan stealthily works at the field without drenching himself in perspiration.
"About that…" The old man sneak a look on Ritian's direction. Ritian pretented to enjoy the damp potatoes on his hands and peeled it with great interest. Chief Juan sighed. "Well, if you promise that you can guide this kid Ritian here, then I'll do my best to reason with Felino. You know that man. He can be overbearing when it involves his beloved children."
"Oh… that's more than enough, Chief." Wenren held a water container made out of a bamboo stem. He walked to Ritian's side and hang the rope on his neck. "I'm sure Old Felino will listen to you anyway. Mr. Juan is wise. That's why you're the chief here."
Ritian eyed Wenren's face. He can hear the faint threat on his voice. The man noticed his stare and purposely flick his hands. Ritian gasped because of the pain. "You brute!" he hissed.
The chief ignored his scream. His brows were scrunched in deep concentration. Ritian thought maybe he's already rehearsing how to please Ms. Via's father and accept Ritian and Wenren to the party.
The Han people had a unique way of celebrating marriage. They free ten wild animals with tags on their hind legs. Each men who's daring enough to hunt those animals, dead or alive, will be rewarded a large sum by the woman's family.
Looks like Wenren wants some dough on his hands. Ritian had no doubt of his ability. He concieved the man's thoughtfulness on wanting to give him a chance to prove himself on that joyful occasion. Wenren is a good guy. But Ritian is aware of his own capabilities— Ritian still love his life. There's no way he would toss his crude robe and thump his lame chest with his bony hands to join some perilous boar hunting activity.
Working on the fields seems more manageable for Ritian now! No risk of cutting his head off.
Chief Juan left after giving Wenren another bout of his adulate complements. Ritian saw how Wenren's eyes turns to a stern color of brown before noticing his attention. It flashed into a warm hue with just an eye blink. "What's with you?" Wenren inquired, "Are you constipated?"
"Just wondering…" Ritian took a big bite out of the sweet potato. His words became muffled but Wenren understood nonetheless. "Do you really want to help me or you want me to get minced? Really? A hunt? With me?"
Ritian rolled his sleeves up to his shoulder. He flexed the skinny arm. "What? Am I going to hunt with you or I'll be the bait instead? Wenren, really?"
Wenren's tight expression softened. His smile more genuine now than earlier. "Just stay behind me. You won't be hurt. Not even a hair out of place, Ritian."
Ritian's brow shot upwards. "Oh?" He wiggled his shoulders to slide the sleeves down. "You think I love being coddled, hmn? Being an unuseable, pampered monkey?"
'Because you're damn right!' He smothered the surging inspiration on his heart to simper. 'I'm the damsel in distress! I know how to clean and cook— I'll be your princess, Mr. McKnight!'
Wenren became serious at what he said. The man didn't understand the implication in his words.
"I didn't mean to offened you." He gathered the rest of the sweet potatos and put it in front of Ritian. "Here. Take all of that. I'm sorry."
Ritian scented the abhorrent smell of mud on his cheek. This time he wasn't horrified. He laughed. "Then, I must thank you for this."
Ritian was now sentient that the people in here may or may not comprehend what he says.
Wenren fixed his woven basket and attached it once again on his back. He had a faint appreciation on his eyes when he looked back on Ritian. "We'll try fishing tomorrow. Get ready."
VOLUME IChapter Six Ritian's body had adapted to the intensive walks around the Han village. Wenren's perseverance in teaching him the basics to the most difficult task of life in the mountains inspired him to do better. In just a week, he managed to cook rice perfectly. Unlike the bread and wheat he was accustomed with, Ritian has to know the techniques in cooking rice and crop. He can't believe the exorbitant amount that a single loaf of bread can cost in here. Wenren explained that the prices of each item varries on some places. On the Central Planes, the situation was reversed and most poor family had to eat is stale bread because the rice can cost triple than how much the Han village sell it to its people. Han village sometimes export rice to other places if the harvest was too much. Ritian roughly understands this logic. The Han village doesn't make bread, so the price would be higher. Only Mr. Felino, the only
VOLUME IChapter SevenWenren's fishing spree was stopped because of an emergency meeting in the village. He managed to catch several small fishes. All of which Ritian personally picked from the net one by one. No one helped him. That suits his greedy stomach. Chief Juan was followed by Old Felino when they strolled in to inform the men. Ritian had a feeling that it's going to be bad. Wenren didn't mind him though. Ritian knew why. He was never optimistic since he came here.The entire village never gave him something to be happy about.It's a shame he didn't see how Wenren set the small net. Sari was a little kid who doesn't care about what to say. He managed to know the latest issue of the community. He had a feeling that the meeting was about moving the wedding date earlier than the one they've set.Ms. Via was getting anxious everyday about Cheel. The man's cold treatment messed with the woman's confidence. Via sincerely felt
Chapter Eight Ritian didn't have any other choice but to steam the fish. He borrowed Wenren's pot and started to boil a few cups of water. He laid the fishes on top with a bamboo strainer and waited. Ritian didn't know why he felt guilty on this more than he felt squeamish after giving away two of Wenren's hard-earned dinner. The thought of making Wenren eat these bland dish makes him squirm in restlessness. 'They don't have salt in here,' Ritian mused, 'I'm not going to live a long life here because there's no available spices within reach.' A knock awoken Ritian's senses. He gathered the hem of his robe and went to the door. The meeting lasted for a great while so Ritian hadn't seen Wenren for the whole afternoon. He had never felt lost like the way he were earlier. He was flabbergasted. Wenren became an integral part of his rural life adventures. A few hours without him scares Ritian a little like a chick without its mother. The knock resounded. Ritian pulled the latch of his d
Chapter 9Ritian watched with shaking hands as Wenren started to sniff around. The cold was biting on his skin nonstop with the hairs standing up on the back of his neck. Every turn of his head was a risk of seeing a ghost or an angry feral animal. He could only stare at Wenren with unflinching gaze."You look stupid." Wenren harrumphed. "He said you killed the man. What? You're afraid of his spirit?"Ritian choke back the tears that threatened to flow. He hissed, "I thought you believe me when I said I didn't kill him! I have no idea, okay? I don't even know him.""You're lying. He said the two of you have slept together before."Ritian rolled his eyes. He pushed the need to stomp his feet to prove his point because he's not stupid. "I said I don't know him. Wenren, we need to find the body of that martial artist then have it reported to the authorities.""What if you'll get involved in the investigation in the end?""My conscience is clear." At most, Ritian can always tell the truth
Chapter 10Ritian dried his hands with the hem of his robes. He bent low to blow some air to the crackling fire. The pungent smell of vinegar hovered the room. He swallowed a little. It's been a while since he ate anything with flavor. Oftentimes they ate steamed fish. His tongue almost fell off because of numb. Now that Wenren brought some garlic, vinegar and salt, Ritian make use of everything and tried cooking the fish with it.He got the fish from helping the men pick the net. Ritian conversed with the old women, laughing with them even though he doesn't fully understand their jokes. He got home with some little fishes. Ritian thought all of his smiles were worth it.Wenren made some money from selling the rabbit meat he had hunted that morning. Because he got some fair share of rice from working in the paddy fields, Ritian managed to make a decent meal this time.He hoped to share it with Wenren.Cheel has finally gone home to his fiancee's house. The issue quieted now because th
Chapter 11'This looks... suspicious.' Ritian chug the water bottle in his hand. His eyes wandered inside the cave and asked Wenren the most important thing at the moment. "Where did you get that lamp? I didn't see you bring something.""How would you see it if you spent most of the time with your head bowed in my arm?" Wenren's voice doesn't have an obnoxious tone. It gave him the illusion that he's genuinely asking.His cheeks warmed shamelessly. He chastised himself inside while he mumbled to the man, "Fine. I was scared, okay? Who hang those things like it's Halloween!""What's Halloween?"'Those animal figures outside!' Wenren told him that it's just a diversion to drive away people like them.Ritian purse his lips. He decided to move forward and look for anything that he can sell. This cave has a lot of things he don't quite understand.There were a lot of spiritual stones. Ritian can feel it. The effects made him relax unwittingly. Wenren stopped fussing about it though. Becaus
'A dunce.' Ritian mumbled as he struggles to carry two buckets of water and two gallons of shame on his back. There were beefy, huge men inside the kitchen but Via's entourage of three young ladies and two man party insisted that he should carry it. Like a man.But Ritian doesn't want to be a man! He wants to be someone's princess!His face flushed with tiredness. This is the fourth one in a row and if they're not going to make him stop, he will resume thinking that they're not making good food in the kitchen but instead building a small pool with all those water.Cheel is home now. Old Felino basically tied him in the house. How come Via still hated his guts?"Here. Is this enough, Auntie?" Ritian specifically asked the elder. But the men butt in, "How come it's too little? We are having Via's wedding. You go and fetch one more time."'But that's exactly what you asked me earlier! How many 'one more time' do you honestly need? Why can't we just settle this with our fist?!' Ritian bo
Ritian wore his white robe before using the outer cloth that Wenren gave him. The contrast of white and red made him look... extremely different. He was presentable and he looked lively."Wow..." Ritian sighed. Just like the rest, he wanted to use beautiful clothes and be at his best most of the time. Taking care of himself and feeling good at his own appearance is a healthy mental snack. "Damn, boy. You look rich."Ritian pose for fifteen minutes in front of the yellowed mirror. When his vanity was finally satiated, he discovered another problem.'Indeed, I look great from up to my ankles.' He look down and lamented quietly, 'But what about my feet? Do I go prance around the village barefooted?'Ritian rummage through his spoils of war on the other day. He noticed a pair of sandals. It was made of wood and the straps were a type of hard fabric.It looks like new.Ritian remembered the foot of the dead body that they found last week. 'No. That foot was huge. This sandals shouldn't be