Vengeance Upon Fate - Chapter 20

Towards the brink of twilight, young Kurogane woke up, unable to sleep any further. Within seconds he was wide awake and got up for an early start to the day. Wuxiaworld for visiting.

He picked up the roll of cloth and walked out towards the main city pathways. It was no surprise that the streets were still vacant of any people.

(I should probably find someplace to wash up,) he thought, rubbing one of his eyes with an arm.

He began to walk south, eventually reaching the southern gate of the city.

(I’ll tell the guards that I’m heading out for an early hunting trip. If I get past them, I can go over to a river nearby and use the water.)

The city’s open gate had two guards standing on each side. Despite how still they stood, Kurogane could only assume they were wide awake. It was as if they were standby decorations waiting to be admired by others.

Upon coming closer, the guards turned towards Kurogane and approached him.

“Hey kiddo, What brings you to leave the city this early by yourself? Asked one of the guards.

“Well… I have to go hunting early if I want to feed my family for the day.”

“Huh? Are you part of the Adventurer’s guild or something? Asked the other guard out of suspicion.

Kurogane paused and remembered that the city had an Adventurer’s guild. The one place where people from all over would come and complete quests to earn their money.

“Uhm.. y-yeah… I’m new here so you probably never seen me before, hehe.”

Kurogane placed his hand behind his head, forcing a chuckle since he started to get nervous.

“And how exactly are you going to provide for your family in a dirty kimono with nothing but a belt and questionable dagger attached to it?”

“Sir, are you telling me that more equipment is necessary to hunt rabbits?”

The other guard laughed loudly, enough to urge himself to hold onto his chest. Unable to control himself in the moment, he slapped the back portion of the other guard’s helmet.

“HEY!”

“He got you there bud! Maybe next time, ahahahaa!”

The guard sighed as he looked away from his laughing partner.

“Your folks must be needy. That probably explains that attire of yours. Fine then, go on ahead.”

Kurogane smiled and nodded before proceeding to the outskirts of the city boundaries.

(Didn’t mean to shun him down like that…) he thought while nervously looking down.

After walking for a solid fifteen minutes, Kurogane stumbled upon a flowing river on the right side of the main path. Even from a fair distance, it looked perfect for his needs. Without a second thought, he made his way to a tree that stood near the flowing waters.

The area was slightly lower-leveled, so one would have to go off course and make their way downhill to the location.

There appeared to be a log that was set down between the river and the tree near it. It was the ideal area to rest and prepare for a bath. There were even a few lower branches that would come in handy for hanging up clothes in the meantime.

Kurogane’s face lit up in excitement as he jogged over and placed his rolled-up cloth next to the log.

He quickly undressed and untied the cloth, wearing it over himself so he could wash his kimono in the meantime.

After rinsing and wringing his clothing, he hung it up on a lower branch of the tree and removed the cloth he wore, placing it on the log, followed by his belt and weapon as he went over to the pond to bathe himself in the gleaming waters.

Upon stepping into the water, Kurogane was greeted with an immense shiver through his body, as he never really got used to the morning coolness of the river.

Bearing the overwhelming chill, he closed his eyes and squatted. As much as he tried, he ended up gasping aloud until his body slowly assimilated.

Kurogane eventually started to play with the water, holding up some of it using his palms as he joined them together.

This flashed memories of the harmonious moments he spent with his mother at the river behind their house.

…

{Hehehaha}

Kurogane’s eight-year-old self never got tired of the river. He would swim around, throw water everywhere and do all sorts of obnoxious things such as bubbling with his face in the water.

His mother would sit on the grass with her feet within the river, moving them through the peaceful tides and smiling at Kurogane, who would be having the time of his life.

〔You’re still the same baby I used to carry around. My adorable, silly little baby,〕 said his mother, giggling and placing her hand near her lips as she closed her eyes.

〔Heyyy, I’m not a baby anymore. I’m eight years old!〕 replied Kurogane, forming a pout face and wrapping his hands on his chest.

With an idea suddenly coming to mind, Kurogane let his expression loose and made his way over to his mother.

〔Mom, can I see your hand for a second?〕

〔Sure dear,〕replied his mother, who was curious about his reasoning.

As she reached her hand out, Kurogane grabbed onto it tightly with both arms, his face occupying a child-like, mischievous grin.

〔You should swim with me!〕

〔Oh but honey I-〕

〔Too late! Hehe.〕

With all his might, Kurogane pulled her into the river.

{Ohh…ohhhh..eeeahh}

This resulted with a loud splash, enough to make Kurogane close his eyes as the airborne water flew towards him.

She was now soaked all over and dripping with water, blushing slightly from embarrassment.

〔Aw, I just washed this Kimono…〕

She looked at Kurogane, whose face was still smiling. That joy she witnessed was all she could ever ask for.

〔Oh well!〕she said, shrugging to herself.

Both immediately burst out laughing.

She placed her hand on Kurogane’s head and patted it gently. The sensation of his mom’s soft fingers waving through his hair was enough to make him remain still as he closed his eyes in enjoyment.

Moments later, she followed up with a sneaky splash attack, directly impacting Kurogane’s face.

〔Got you!〕

{Geeyaaaghhh}

He smiled and countered with another splash, both laughing ever so happily together with all the fun they were having.

…

These memories brought sorrow upon young Kurogane. The water that rested on his palms slowly started to drain out of the gaps of his hands, eventually leaving them empty and hollow. A painful reality had certainly made its way to remind him.

However, his moment was suddenly interrupted, as he could sense as if someone or something was watching him.

….?

He immediately turned his head towards the tree which his peripheral vision supposedly detected something from. Nothing appeared to be there.

After getting out of the water, Kurogane wrapped himself with the old cloth and peeked behind the tree. Still nothing to be seen.

He took a sigh of relief and shook his head.

(It must be too early for me.)

Kurogane sat on the log for a while, eventually getting up and taking his Kimono, which was now dry enough on the areas he had cleaned earlier.

After slipping it on, he equipped his belt and dagger, rolled up the cloth and headed back to the central fountain of the city – ready to make it in time for his post-dawn meetup.