Bandages

Introduction:

The storm continued, turning the surrounding world upside down. Alleria and Sylvanas couldn't discern what was inside, but they shared a common thought: it was like a cocoon, about to burst forth.

Old Wu, the gardener, couldn't think of anything he wasn't passionate about. If there was anything, it was definitely his daily work at Temple of the Jade Serpent. Although he sometimes assigned these tasks to new apprentices who came to practice there, most of the time he had to do it himself. In his spare time, Old Wu's hobby was brewing beer. The problem was that patiently waiting for the beer to ferment and mature was quite a headache. Not only because he was impatient to know how the beer would taste, but more importantly, after each brewing session, he would be filled with all sorts of ingenious ideas, imagining entirely new beer recipes.

His curiosity was firmly gripped by the constant stream of novel ideas that kept popping into his head. The brewing process required time, effort, and ingredients. The last batch of fine wine had already depleted his entire stock of grains and vegetables, so now he had to start preparing again and find new ingredients.

In the Emerald Forest, finding brewing ingredients is a piece of cake. The Red Candle Forest outside Temple of the Jade Serpent is full of red honeydew berries. These berries aren't exactly ideal for brewing, as they tasteless, but the juice inside the peel is a real gem; just a little is enough to turn the wine an alluring crimson. Many people love this color: Instructor Xia, who oversees the apprentices' basic skills, loves it; Master Shiquan, who teaches practical combat techniques, loves it; even Elder Yunpu Temple of the Jade Serpent, loves it. Of course, Old Wu also loves this red, just like the tank top and trousers he's wearing.

The journey to Red Candle Forest wasn't too far. Along the way, he passed the Twin Dragon Shrine, but Old Wu didn't go to worship. Instead, he went to the west gate of Temple of the Jade Serpent and chatted briefly with Shang Long, the guard there.

"You're going into Red Candle Forest? Alone?" Shang Long scratched his beardless chin. He was a few years younger than Old Wu, wearing worn armor, with brown hair tied in a ponytail. As a disciple who had graduated from Temple of the Jade Serpent, he had chosen to stay here as a paid guard. As a guard, he knew very well what could pose a danger to the temple. For example, the Greenwood Sprites, who were not a friendly bunch and always liked to steal from the Pandaren; and the tigers that frequently appeared in Red Candle Forest, who, looking hungry, only saw the Pandaren as dessert. Therefore, Shang Long seemed quite uneasy when he heard that Old Wu was going to enter Red Candle Forest.

"You should probably find a few more helpers; that would be safer."

"My disciples are all doing their morning exercises, so there's no one to help me," Old Wu said. "But they need my wine for the welcome banquet for the new disciples, so I have to prepare early."

Shang Long sighed softly, gazing at the slumbering forest ahead. "May the Xuen help you drive away those dangerous animals."

"Master Xuen won't help me." Old Wu waved his fist. "But I Strength of a Thousand."

The two laughed heartily; a long chat is always pleasant. Old Wu walked into the Valley Forest he was heading to. For countless years, Pandaria had been the homeland of the Pandaren, but that didn't mean every place was frequented by humans. Old Wu wasn't afraid of unfamiliar surroundings. He had been to Red Candle Forest several times; at first, he might have felt a chill down his spine, but gradually, he grew accustomed to the quiet atmosphere, telling himself that the chill was just the morning breeze.

After searching for a while, he found a plant covered with red honeydew berries. Excitedly, he took out the empty water bag hanging from his waist, picked the berries, and slowly squeezed them to draw the juice into the bag. The remaining pulp was of little use, Old Wu buried it in the soil, hoping that the seeds inside would take root and sprout.

One tree certainly wouldn't satisfy his needs, but the deeper he ventured into the Red Candle Forest, the more fruit he could find. Before he knew it, Old Wu's water bag was already half full; with just a little more effort, he would be done.

Suddenly, the Pandaren's nostrils flared slightly; there seemed to be an unusual scent in the air. Old Wu raised his head; the movement not far behind him sent chills down his spine. A fully grown Red Candle Forest Tigress was approaching with a cub. Their mouths moved constantly, panting for the scent of prey in the air. The tigress walked ahead, her head swaying from side to side. The cub seemed very active, darting among the bushes while its mother searched for food.

The tigers in Red Candle Forest are ferocious predators, as Old Wu had ventured into the forest many times, knew very well. He understood fear and knew that fighting two large cats would likely cause a great commotion and attract more tigers. But if he tried to run, two legs couldn't outrun four. In desperation, a brilliant idea struck him. Looking at his hands covered in red berries, he quickly smeared the juice on his face, then picked up two berries and used them to shield his face. He crouched down, imagining the two tigers walking by nonchalantly...

Well, it turns out that idea was incredibly stupid. When Old Wu quietly moved aside his cover, he saw two tigers right in front of him, their feline eyes sizing up the Pandaren in camouflage. Time seemed to stand still. Old Wu reacted first, leaping to his feet before the two large cats realized he was their meal. The cub, startled by his action, ducked into the bushes. But its mother only took a small step back, then roared and pounced on the unarmed Pandaren.

Old Wu stumbled backward in a panic. Although he lacked practical experience Monk, years of watching the apprentices at Temple of the Jade Serpent had given him a rudimentary understanding. He kicked off with both legs, his broad feet striking the tigress's face and left shoulder, causing the beast to roll several times before regaining its footing. In the process, Old Wu's left leg was scratched by the tigress's claws, leaving three bloody rips in his trousers. Ignoring the pain, he scrambled to his feet and fled.

Just as he had thought, Pandaren's two legs couldn't possibly outrun a four-legged tiger. Hearing the predator's footsteps and muffled roars getting closer, Old Wu shouted urgently, "Help!"

There was no response. He couldn't even hear the shouts of the apprentices sparring inside the Temple of the Jade Serpent. Only then did he realize that he had lost his sense of direction and was unsure whether he was fleeing to the location of the temple.

There was only one outcome: he was caught. Several sharp claws pierced his back. The force of the impact knocked him down. Pain immediately overwhelmed Old Wu. His head was submerged in the mud. He tried to stand up. However, the excruciating pain of his flesh being torn apart was unbearable. He was exhausted, in unbearable agony, and even felt that he was about to die. Tigers roared around him, as if the sky were about to collapse. As his consciousness gradually faded, Old Wu only heard the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground, then the sounds of fighting, and then he knew nothing more. Darkness quickly enveloped him.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, and a gentle breeze creaked open the half-closed door. A fragrant aroma slowly wafted from the wine vat. On the wall hung a portrait of the last emperor of the Pandaren.

Old Wu woke up groggily. He wasn't sure if it was the light or the smell of wine that woke him, but anyway, he was awake. The sounds of the apprentices at Temple of the Jade Serpent diligently practicing martial arts reached his ears. He could hear familiar hawking calls from outside the house; those sales all took place in an open area within the temple grounds. He was at home, in his own bed, the embroidery on his pillow telling him this. And his uncomfortable sleeping position reminded him that he was lying face down, his neck a little sore.

As he cleared his hazy consciousness, he tried to figure out how long he had been asleep. His head felt like it was being pounded violently, as if it were about to explode. Old Wu sighed deeply. He suspected he had been dreaming, and it was a nightmare. Every time he tried to recall the details of the dream, his skull felt like it was being repeatedly struck. He could only grasp a few of the blurries from the illusion: he encountered a tiger... and then he was knocked down. He couldn't remember what happened in between.

"How much did I drink?" Old Wu muttered, wondering if he had lost another drinking contest with one of his apprentices.

He lifted his head from the pillow, trying to get out of bed. A sharp pain shot through him, and he cried out and collapsed, panting heavily. The sensation came from behind him, and Old Wu instinctively reached out to touch it. He felt his entire body was bandaged, and when he pulled his hand back, he was shocked to find his palm stained with a red, lacquer-like substance. After smelling it and confirming it wasn't blood, he relaxed.

Old Wu began frantically trying to recall what had happened, and slowly, more and more images flashed through his mind. Was the nightmare real? Had he encountered danger? His memories became hazy and sluggish.

After several attempts, he finally got out of bed, but his face was contorted with pain. He wrapped himself in a robe and drew water from the water tank to clean the hair off his hands and face. Then he walked towards the door.

Temple of the Jade Serpent was still as he knew it; the Pandaren were all busy with their own tasks. Old Wu wanted to ask if anyone knew what had happened to him, but doing so might only attract strange looks. So he didn't disturb anyone and headed towards the exit of Temple of the Jade Serpent. He remembered meeting Shang Long; perhaps that guard knew something.

As usual, Shang Long was at his post. Seeing him approach, the Pandaren immediately broke into a smile.

"Thank you, Jade Crane, you're awake," he said. "I thought you'd be bedridden for months."

When Old Wu heard this, his eyebrows arched as if asking a question. "What are you trying to say? How long have I been asleep?" he asked.

Shang Long laughed and apologized for his joke. "Don't take it seriously, you only slept for three days."

"Three days?" Old Wu blinked in disbelief, muttering to himself. That explained the nightmare. "Shang Long, what happened to me? Why did I sleep for so long?" he asked.

The Pandaren guard shrugged and shook his head slightly. "Who knows? I don't entirely know what happened to you," he replied. "You said you were going to Red Candle Forest that morning. I don't remember how long you were gone." Old Wu knew that Shang Long sometimes dozed off during work hours; it wasn't a secret. "When I found you, you were lying in the passageway not far away." He pointed to where Old Wu had appeared. "You were already unconscious, and you were wrapped in bandages. Several water bags tied around your waist were filled with red juice."

Old Wu gently pounded his aching head. "Full? That doesn't make any sense at all. I think I only collected half," he said wearily.

"Elder Yunpu said you were attacked by a ferocious tiger. Lin treated you."

Lin? Old Wu thought of Lin Rouzhang, the assistant to Elder Yunpu, a sweet-looking female Pandaren. She had only recently arrived at Temple of the Jade Serpent, Old Wu was surprised at how quickly her strength had increased.

"Any more details? Did you see who brought me back?" Old Wu was puzzled by his own certainty that he hadn't run back, but that someone had rescued him, taken him back to Temple of the Jade Serpent, and perhaps even helped him collect some berry juice.

"Hmm," Shang Long pondered, "You were muttering 'help' under your breath."

Old Wu sighed, his back throbbing with pain. But he couldn't get any more useful information.

"Oh, right. Lin took your clothes to wash. You'll have to go to her if you want them back."

"Of course," Old Wu nodded. "I also want to thank her in person for the treatment."

After saying goodbye to Shang Long, Old Wu walked back step by step, his mind filled with more and more questions. Alone, he carefully recalled which nameless savior had done it. As far as he knew, he had indeed been alone in the forest that morning. Simply put, Old Wu didn't believe that the two wild beasts had spared him, nor could it be the Greenwood Sprites. From what he knew of them, their mischievous nature never showed them any mercy towards other creatures, especially Pandaren.

"You're here?"

Old Wu looked up, intending to blame the owner of the voice for interrupting his thoughts, but standing in front of him was Lin Rouzhang. All of Old Wu's confusion temporarily vanished.

"Lin? I was just about to look for you..." He noticed that the female Pandaren was holding his red vest, which had been washed clean. "Thank you for your help."

Lin gave a polite yet reproachful smile. "A patient should be resting in bed. Elder Yunpu sent me to check on your condition."

"I can move now." Old Wu scratched the back of his head and carefully took his clothes. He had originally wanted to avoid the female Pandaren's gaze, but the strange light in Lin's eyes caught his attention. "Is there anything else?"

"Actually... there is one." Lin produced a bloodstained bandage from nowhere and showed it to Old Wu. "It was tied to your body. The medicine on it stopped the bleeding from your wound, but when I changed the bandage, I found that this medicine was not listed in any of the Pandaren pharmacopoeias. I also asked the Murlocs and the Hozen in the temple, and they all said they didn't recognize it. So I was very curious, do you remember who saved you? I studied this medicine, and it works very well."

As Old Wu listened, he swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, Lin. I also really want to know who saved me. But I didn't see that person at all, and I don't even know if they were a man or a woman."

"That's such a pity." Lin nodded. "Anyway, it's good that you're awake. Now Elder Yunpu can rest assured."

"Please also convey my thanks to the elder." Old Wu bowed slightly, the gesture minimal. "I will ensure he drinks the most delicious wine at the new apprentice's welcome banquet."

Lin Hui bowed and turned to leave. Old Wu frowned as he looked at the bandage on her hand.