I lay quietly in that little wicker chair, gazing at the pear blossoms filling the garden, my heart exceptionally calm. A faint breeze stirred, and several pear blossoms drifted slowly down.
I truly enjoyed this feeling of stillness. My mind grew ever calmer, ever more ethereal. Slowly, I closed my eyes and savored that mysterious state of being removed from the mortal world, watching the entire world from the sidelines. Silence reigned; I was the only one in the whole back garden... Slowly, as if a long time had passed, yet perhaps only an instant, I emerged from that state. I felt the fresh comfort of the breeze brushing my face and truly sensed the liquid Innate True Qi within me circulating even faster. A faint smile appeared on my face.
"Third Young Master, the boy you brought back has awakened. But he keeps insisting on finding his mother. None of us can stop him. Please go take a look." A maid in green stood at the entrance to the back garden, looking extremely anxious. Mainly because I had established a rule before: no one was allowed to enter my back garden without my permission.
Oh, he had awakened and was clamoring to find his mother. Luckily, Ouyang Liang had already sent his mother over. Heh heh.
Smiling, I ran toward the eastern wing of Star Peak Pavilion ahead. "Chun Yu, hurry up. I'll go see him first. Go take good care of the person Ouyang Liang sent over, understand? Hurry."
"Yes, this servant will go at once." Chun Yu immediately ran toward the western wing of Star Peak Pavilion, muttering as she ran, What is wrong with Third Young Master? He cares so much about these people. I've never seen him care about anyone this much before.
As I walked along the corridor, I heard Lang Feng's voice from afar. "Please, let me go find my mother. My mother is in the Ouyang Family. Her health is poor and she needs treatment. I lost this time, and Young Master Ouyang may refuse to treat her. Please, after I see my mother, I will come thank Third Young Master."
"No. We have no authority to let you leave. Wait for Third Young Master to return and decide." This had to be Uncle Wang. His tone was always exactly like that.
I immediately strode toward the room. The moment I stepped inside, Uncle Wang saw me, lowered his head, and promptly said, "Third Young Master, Young Master Lang Feng insists on finding his mother." After saying that, he moved aside to await my orders.
"Third Young Master, I, Lang Feng, am deeply grateful that you did not kill me, brought me back, allowed me to recover, and took care of me. But my mother still needs my care. I beg Third Young Master to let me find her." Lang Feng stood before me and cupped his hands.
I smiled and immediately helped him up. "Big Brother Lang Feng, don't worry. I already brought your mother here from the Ouyang Family. I've had a famous physician treat her, so rest assured."
"Really? Thank you so much. For Third Young Master's great kindness, I, Lang Feng, do not know how to repay you. Yet Third Young Master even calls me Big Brother—how can I possibly bear that?" Lang Feng's face flushed red with emotion as he repeatedly cupped his hands.
I looked at Lang Feng and said, "Big Brother Lang Feng, you are clearly older than I am. Calling you Big Brother is only natural and right. By no means should you refuse." This was merely a tactic to win him over. Effective, though it made me seem a bit like a petty villain. Forget it. Those who seek great achievements do not fuss over trifles.
"Third Young Master..." Lang Feng looked deeply moved. A ten-year-old child was still being spun around my finger. "Third Young Master, whatever orders you have in the future, I, Lang Feng, will obey without fail." Lang Feng's expression turned solemn as he answered with grave sincerity.
I smiled. Everything had gone exactly as expected. Looking at Lang Feng, I said with a smile, "Big Brother Lang Feng, come, I'll accompany you to see your mother. Let's go." I grabbed Lang Feng's hand and ran toward the western wing. It seemed Lang Feng desperately wanted to see his mother. He did not resist at all, instead gripping my hand as he followed me toward the western wing.
Crossing a small bridge connecting the eastern and western wings, we arrived before an elegant room. Chun Yu was standing outside the door, waiting for us.
"Greetings, Third Young Master. This young master's mother has fully awakened, and her health is much improved as well," Chun Yu said from the side.
"Oh, good. Chun Yu, go check on the kitchen. Tell them to prepare more nourishing food tonight. Big Brother Lang Feng's mother needs to build up her health. That is all, understand?"
"Third Young Master..." Lang Feng grew emotional again. Unable to help it, I pulled him along. "Brothers of one household, there is nothing to say. Go see First Wife." I said it immediately; otherwise, who knew how Lang Feng would keep thanking me? He truly seemed desperate to see his mother. Without even waiting for me, he went straight in to see her.
A very kind-looking middle-aged woman lay on the bed. One could vaguely tell that she had been exceptionally beautiful in her youth. Decades of hardship had turned her hair grayish-yellow, and her complexion was poor as well. Yet she now seemed extremely happy, a smile appearing on her face. She appeared to be joyfully speaking with Lang Feng. Mother and son seemed to have endless things to talk about, speaking without pause, as though they had forgotten that I, their benefactor, was still standing by the door.
"This common woman greets Third Young Master." Lang Feng's mother seemed deeply grateful, or perhaps she was simply too nervous to see someone of my social standing. She immediately tried to get out of bed. I was startled. She was getting down—what for? I could figure it out with my knees. Naturally, I would not allow that to happen. I intended to associate with Lang Feng as an equal; if she knelt, how would I face anyone afterward?
I moved as swiftly as the wind and immediately supported her with both hands. "First Wife, Big Brother Lang Feng is my big brother. It is only proper for me to take care of you. Please do not do this. Focus on recovering your health, and leave everything to me."
I looked at Lang Feng and said, "Big Brother Lang Feng, stay here and have a good talk with First Wife. From now on, First Wife will live here, and you should not leave either. Stay with me from now on, understand?"
"Third Young Master..."
"Big Brother Lang Feng, don't be so overly polite. What do such things matter to a real man? Keep First Wife company. Tonight, sleep in the room you were in earlier. I'll have the servants prepare the food. I'm leaving, ha."
Lang Feng watched Zhang Xingfeng's retreating back from inside the room, deeply moved. Since childhood, apart from his parents, no one had ever cared for him so much. Receiving another person's concern for the first time filled his heart with warmth. Third Young Master, I, Lang Feng, will be unswervingly loyal to you for the rest of my life. I will never betray you, or may heaven strike me with thunder and lightning. Lang Feng secretly swore this oath in his heart. Zhang Xingfeng likely had not expected Lang Feng to become so utterly devoted to him so easily.
Mainly because Zhang Xingfeng did not know what it felt like for someone who had never received care to finally receive it.
The night was like water. Standing before the window, I found even breathing the fresh air a pleasure. The night wind carried air laced with threads of moisture against my face, and my skin naturally absorbed those tiny droplets. Gazing into the boundless stars overhead, I found the countless scattered stars as unfathomable as the heavenly way itself.
Threads of spiritual energy entered my body, circulated through my meridians, and slowly transformed into liquid. My liquid Innate True Qi continued revolving tirelessly...
It was getting late. I leaned out the window, preparing to close it, when I suddenly noticed that the light in Lang Feng's room was still on. A shadow could faintly be seen by the window. Lang Feng was not asleep yet. What was he doing?
Curious, I left my room and headed over.
Standing outside the window, I saw that Lang Feng was reading. Oh, Lang Feng could read. Not bad.
I quietly entered through the door and stood silently behind him. He seemed utterly absorbed. What book had drawn him in so deeply? I craned my neck. Oh, it was merely a Shaolin Long Fist manual. Shaolin Long Fist was the most common martial art set in the Ming Dynasty. Every servant in my household knew it, along with Shaolin Arhat Fist. However, Shaolin Arhat Fist was easy to learn but difficult to master, whereas Shaolin Long Fist produced results more quickly and was especially easy to pick up. Thus, every wing in my household had manuals for Shaolin Long Fist and Shaolin Arhat Fist in its bookcase.
I stood there for a while. Lang Feng seemed to sense someone behind him—his reactions were far too slow—and turned around. "Third Young Master!"
"Oh, I saw that your room's light was still on, so I came over to take a look. I did not expect you to be reading this Shaolin Long Fist manual." I smiled.
"Third Young Master, forgive me. I should not have rummaged through your things. I beg you to pardon my offense." Lang Feng immediately became frightened and uneasy.
"It is nothing. Use these things as you please. I was only surprised that you do not know Shaolin Long Fist. Nearly every martial artist knows it!" I immediately explained.
"Oh, when I was young, I only learned literacy from my mother. The rest of the time, I hunted in the mountains. When I was little, I went hunting with my father. But later, my father was surrounded by a pack of wolves. To save me, he was bitten several times. By the time we returned home, he had lost too much blood and died. I was only six that year. Father died for me." Lang Feng's eyes seemed to moisten.
"After Father died, Mother and I depended on each other for survival. I diligently practiced the qigong Father had taught me, but unfortunately, it was only an ordinary manual. Otherwise, Father would not have died. Still, I kept practicing it, and I kept hunting in the mountains. I did not dare go deep into the mountains, only hunting around the outskirts. That was how Mother and I lived. Then one day, when I returned home—when I returned home—a white-browed fierce tiger was devouring people. The villagers were all fleeing outside, but my mother kept waiting for me. She was waiting for me to come home, waiting for me to come home! When I saw her, the tiger had bitten her arm. I was terrified, terrified that I would lose my mother. I had only one thought: save Mother, kill the tiger. I do not know what happened. When I regained consciousness, that tiger had already become a heap of shredded flesh. I do not know what happened. The villagers were all terrified of me and stayed far away. Only my mother still looked at me, still with that same kind gaze. I only wished to stay with Mother forever, never to be separated, to care for her forever, forever... But that day, when I got home, the nightmare began. Mother kept burning with fever. I sought help, but no one was willing to help me. I looked for doctors, but they all demanded a great deal of money. I knelt and begged people. Eventually, an old physician was willing to take a look. I was full of hope then, but the result was that although Mother's illness was not severe, she needed long-term careful recuperation and expensive tonics. Where could I get such things? Later, I saw that the Ouyang Family was recruiting attendants who could study alongside their young masters, so I went. I hoped they could care for my mother. Their requirement was to be able to kill fierce tigers alive. Ever since the day I killed that tiger to save Mother, the flow of energy inside me had grown stronger. Killing tigers was no longer difficult. I passed with ease, and the Ouyang Family agreed to care for Mother. Then later, I met you, Third Young Master."
I looked at him, and for no reason, my heart clenched with pain. I could imagine everything he had sacrificed for his mother. How old was he? My eyes could not help reddening. I could truly feel the profound bond between mother and son, and it pained me that he had borne such a tremendous burden at such a young age. Ha, what was wrong with me? In my previous life, I certainly would not have been moved by this, yet now I could hardly control myself. Had I become childish, or had I gained more human feeling? No matter what, I was still myself. I would live in a new way, begin a new life, and not be influenced by my previous life.
"Big Brother Lang Feng, how about we become sworn brothers?" I greatly admired and respected him. From this day onward, Lang Feng would be a brother who shared life and death with me. I looked at Lang Feng, my gaze unwavering.
"Third Young Master, you..." Lang Feng seemed extremely surprised. Sworn brothers were nothing like brothers merely acknowledged in words.
"If Big Brother thinks highly of me, then become sworn brothers with me. If we are brothers, say no more." I spoke firmly, staring at Lang Feng without blinking.
Lang Feng took a deep breath and said, "Good. I have decided today."
"Good, Big Brother. Let us swear brotherhood here beneath the bright moon." I said with a smile.
"Good. A true man does not fuss over trifles. Here it shall be." Big Brother was equally forthright.
We walked onto the grass outside the room and knelt side by side, raising our joined right index and middle fingers.
"I, Zhang Xingfeng, today beneath the bright moon, become sworn brothers here with Big Brother. We shall share fortune and misfortune alike. We do not ask to be born in the same year, month, and day; we ask only to die in the same year, month, and day. Heaven and earth bear witness: should I betray my brother, may both men and gods cast me aside."
"I, Lang Feng, today beneath the bright moon, become sworn brothers here with Second Brother. We shall share fortune and misfortune alike. We do not ask to be born in the same year, month, and day; we ask only to die in the same year, month, and day. Heaven and earth bear witness: should I betray my brother, may both men and gods cast me aside."
Before you continue