The Voyage In The Blizzard - Chapter 47
Feeling the reality as if there were nothing but the house of Xing Fu and Lei, Longwei, since he came to this village ceased to feel himself. Having lost all connection with himself, he seemed to be floating along an unknown river that led to no one knows where. And only Lei gave his slow flow of life a certain liveliness and reality. But now, knowing that he sacrificed his pride and honor in order for him to continue living, Longwei no longer knew what was happening around him. Sheer oblivion captured all his senses.
He asked the question, when was he more alive, when he lived in complete seclusion, or when he joined this clan and became part of this cold world? But there was no answer.
Having time to reflect on this on the way to the main house, Longwei, deciding that he needed to tell everything, to tell about his feelings and that it is all his fault, that he is the one who is responsible for everything what happened between him and Lei, he imagined in his head what could happen to him. But there was no fear in him, in that particular moment. Although knowing that Xing Fu deeply appreciates his father, he still harbored the hope that he would turn a deaf ear to their love and take it as a misunderstanding.
With courage in his heart, pushing the door, Longwei went inside and immediately noticed that all the soldiers of the First Clan were gathered in the main house. And there were even those who were much older than the rest..
At the very end of the hall, he saw Xing Fu and Sun who was standing next to him. At the sight of Sun, Longwei’s heart beat faster, blood boiled to his head, giving his eyes a reddish tinge of rage. Catching his sly look on himself, Longwei, deep down in his soul laughed at him, namely, that now, in front of everyone, he would reveal his cards, though without clear evidence, but he would tell everyone about his dirty plans and motives.
Harshly recalling all the words he said to Longwei before he left, he remembered the very sentence that kept him so brave.
Remembering that Sun himself confessed that he had caught one of the beasts in order to train it and teach it to obey, Longwei confidently walked towards Xing Fu.
And when he reached him, Xing Fu said loudly, “The purpose of today’s meeting is that I want to announce to you all about a small change that has occurred in our clan.” Looking at Longwei, Xing Fu continued, “Due to recent events, I want to tell you that your teacher Lei decided to leave our clan voluntarily. I will not hide that his decision is very harsh and unexpected. But nevertheless, very stupid. I will also not hide that your respected Master Lei left you all, to become part of the Second Clan. ” Pointing at Sun, Xing Fu gave him an inimical look. “Your teacher Lei, without explaining anything, decided to leave once and for all. And he will no longer step on the doorstep of our clan. You will not see him again.”
Longwei, unable to hear any more how Xing Fu’s speech was going to the point that he wanted to throw mud at Lei for betrayal suddenly cried out, “Shut up!”
All eyes were on him.
“Xing Fu, you’re wrong. The reason Lei left is actually in me. And also because of what we saw in the Second Clan.”
Xing Fu shook his head as if expecting a full explanation at last so he approached him.
Sun, changing his expression to a worried, nervously smiled and wanted to say something to stop Longwei, but nevertheless he was silent.
Longwei, looking at Xing Fu continued, “Lei did not betray our clan at all. He did not want to turn his back on you. He is not like that. And what you think of him is wrong. The reason why Lei left our clan like this is because that he blackmailed… ”
The head of the Third Clan burst into the house with a loud roar. Without ceremony he exclaimed, “Brother Xing Fu! What happened?!”
Seizing the moment, Sun picked him up at his word. “Brother On! I hope that teacher Boqin is all right?! What a horror, I can’t believe that one of those creatures reached Three mountains. And what should we do now?! What kind of curse is this! When will it end.”
Screaming hysterically, Sun ran up to On and grabbed his hand, pretended to be frightened and deeply worried.
“I think all the soldiers of the three clans should start to split up and start guarding the forest. So that no place will be left without proper supervision. We will not allow these creatures to enter our homes. At least children live on these mountains.” he said.
Sun added, “You’re right, we all need to build strong guards around the three villages.”
The soldiers of the First Clan, who were still young and did not know anything about the war or the beasts, began to whisper to each other, creating even more chaos and noise.
For Longwei to be ignored, Sun said loudly, “You all need to start guarding the forests. For now, we need to use all the soldiers we have. And don’t wait until all of them are fully trained.”
Loudly rustling as indignation and light protest, the soldiers unanimously repeated, “Before sending unprepared novices to a meeting with the most ferocious creature, isn’t it worth to complete full training? You will destroy all the soldiers before they go to the battlefield. And if so, then who will fight there, outside of these mountains? Do you want every inexperienced young soldier to meet death in the forest from the fangs of a single beast that got here? ”
He looked at Xing Fu and asked, “Then what do you suggest? Sit and wait until all these creatures invade our homes? Continue to study and train?”
Delun’s voice was heard through the crowd. “One of the soldiers of the Third Clan was killed. If it was a beast, then I don’t think it will stop. It will destroy us one by one. In our clan, for example, there are a lot of newcomers, they just turned eighteen. And what do you suggest? Use them as bait to once again make sure that there are actually beasts around the villages? If you want soldiers to guard the three mountains, then send those who are older. We are more ready than they are. ” Pointing to the soldiers that were younger, Delun added, “We will protect the three mountains. But only we. Those who are older and who are stronger. And you should protect these youngsters for the future.”
“And in general, how can we be sure that it was exactly one of the beasts? After all, Master Xing Fu said that he was not sure about it. Then why strengthen the security and waste time on nonsense?” Someone shouted out from the crowd.
While there was a loud noise and slight chaos in the hall, Sun walked away from On and went up to Longwei. Having created an ideal environment for him himself, with a joyful smile on his face, he whispered, “If you tell at least something, then I will not keep silent about you and Lei. And besides, my whole clan will confirm that they have witnessed your love. And also, do you remember Ju Long? So he will join me too. So do not think that you will take off my mask in front of everyone, do not think that you have all the trump cards in your hands. At the moment, your life with Lei is in my hands. So stay calm. If you don’t tell anyone, then Lei will be fine, and you will be fine too. ”
Grabbing his hand and squeezing it tightly, Longwei said through gritted teeth, “And you too, don’t think that Lei will stay in your clan forever. It’s all temporary. And over time, everyone will know who you are. People like you can’t feast for a long time.”
Sun nodded his head mockingly and walked away.
Longwei, restraining himself only because of Lei, played in his head what could happen to him. Not wanting to admit it, yet knowing the truth, Longwei was cornered. And if, before, he would have immediately told about everything, without thinking about himself at all, but now, in his life there was a meaning, a meaning that he had to protect, and even if the price of that would be the safety of the whole clan.
As expected, love makes a person an egoist and at the same time a complete fool.
Interrupting the noise with his loud voice, Xing Fu raised his hand and said, “This is not why I gathered you all here today.”
After stopping their argument and planning further action, all eyes were again directed to him.
“As I said, your teacher Lei left our clan. And now, since you need a new teacher, and since all worthy warriors are on the battlefield, and of course, following Lei’s last wish, I have chosen a new teacher for you.” Pointing to Longwei, Xing Fu said with a strange smile on his face, “Longwei will be your teacher for an indefinite period. I think he will cope with this role. And since he showed himself in the best light, showed all his skills in combat and using the sword, I hope he teaches you how to become stronger than you are. ”
Expecting some kind of reaction from Longwei, Xing Fu looked at him. Mixed emotions were in his eyes and Longwei did not know whether he was angry with him or not.
“Longwei will become our teacher?”
“Longwei, he’s only twenty four years old.”
“How so?!”
“Quiet everyone!” On exclaimed. Clapping his hands, he said, “To be honest, Longwei’s talent is very precious in this world. He has all the potential to become a great warrior. So I have no doubt that he will be a good teacher.”
Putting his hand on his shoulder, Sun added with a friendly sway, “Longwei, I always knew that you would climb very quickly to the heights. Like your father, you achieved everything in a very short time. Not like my soldiers. No matter how much time I spend time on them, but they are still weak. But now, with teacher Lei, I think they will become just like you. Xing Fu, I am so glad that there is such a talented young man in your clan. Now I can rejoice with peace of mind that the best warrior has appeared in my clan. And I hope that you are not offended that I have stolen your best warrior. Because now you have a much better warrior, and this is Longwei. ”
Taking his hand, Sun as if his longtime friend exclaimed, “Come on, smile! Longwei, you should be happy. Not everyone at such a young age becomes the teacher of an entire clan. And you are not far from the rank of great warrior.”
Longwei, not knowing what to say, just looked at Xing Fu. And all he wanted at that moment was for Xing Fu to read his thoughts and understand that Lei would never have done that and that the man standing next to him, with a sly but benevolent smile, is actually not going against the beasts, but wants to go with them.”
“Bravo Longwei!” Someone exclaimed loudly from the crowd. Longwei did not immediately find who it was, but when he noticed Yue-Liang behind On, a tired smile flashed across his face. At that time, his soul needed such a friend as Yue-Liang. Stopping his lost gaze on him as if he had found an oasis in the middle of the desert, Longwei felt a sharp pain in his heart.
Finally, when all this “celebration” was over, Longwei at the request of Xing Fu stayed.
Looking at Sun who was walking past him, and what he managed to whisper in his ear, namely the following, “Think of Lei.” Longwei was able to resist the urge to confess everything.
After extinguishing half of the candles and plunging the room into the twilight, Xing Fu sat down on his chair with a heavy sigh. Ye Ying returned with a cup of tea and said loudly, “Master, I got one of the dragonfire stones for you, and I also made your bed.”
“Okay. Now go get some rest.” Glancing at Longwei, Xing Fu said, “Sit down.”
The soft, cold chair felt so comfortable after a whole night in the tree that Longwei began to feel sleepy. After everything that happened, for the first time feeling tired all over his body, Longwei remembered the morning when he woke up and saw Lei next to him. He remembered the sensation that every touch brought him, how pleasant it felt to be under the warm blanket, and Lei’s voice that sounded so close.
Interrupting the flow of his memory, Longwei said, “Master, are you sure of your decision? Isn’t it better for me to leave this place? I don’t think I can be a good replacement for Lei.”
“Before leaving this clan, Lei told me his last request. He said he wants to leave you as a coach and teacher. According to him, you have all the qualities of a real warrior.” Looking up, Xing Fu added, “I think you can handle this role. Even though I don’t understand why Lei did this, I hope you will raise my clan to the heights where Lei couldn’t reach.”
“Teacher Lei, he, he didn’t mean at all … Master, you shouldn’t think like Lei betrayed your clan. It is not like that. He would not do that. He respects you very much.” Longwei stammered his conversation but Xing Fu interrupted him.
“Lei’s motives are incomprehensible to me. But he was right, in this world no one is holding anyone, no one belongs to anyone. So who am I to keep someone. The battlefield takes many lives, everything is decided there, but I am only the head of the clan. Longwei, I trusted your father with my life, and you too, I trust the whole clan. ”
When he finished, Xing Fu got up and left the room, leaving Longwei alone with one flickering candle.