From a young medicine seller to a Taoist master

There was silence between us and I couldn't face her.

I have thought back to that day many times in the past ten years, but every time I think about it, I realize how much my words hurt her.

I didn't know what to say, nor how to face her. I just knelt quietly beside my father's coffin. I didn't want to care about other things. I was tired.

As her father's partner during his lifetime, it was necessary for her father to send someone over.

Anyone with a discerning eye knows that of course he kicked me out of the house, but that was just talk. I am still the actual heir, so it is necessary for him to have a good relationship with me.

She knelt in front of her father's coffin and tears fell again. My father watched her grow up and was very close to her.

The yellow paper kept burning, but she and I had no words to say, and the atmosphere was a little awkward.

When everyone had left, only her and her family were left.

I have learned a lot from ten years of experience, and I know it's time for me to speak up.

Shi...Shiyao, how about I come and see you off? I don’t know what to say.

Okay... okay, she was a little shy, but still agreed.

She and I were walking on the street, and we were both silent. I felt a little awkward, so I took the initiative to find some topics to talk about.

How have you been these past ten years? I am still the same as I was back then, with the love between men and women still young and immature.

I...I'm doing fine. She has grown a lot and I don't have many feelings for her anymore.

The two fell into silence again and arrived at her house at the same time.

Well...would you like to...come and sit with us? Your parents miss you very much, she said calmly.

I really wanted to go see my uncle and his family, so I agreed.

……

They have changed a lot and have become older, but they are in good health and can last for another ten years.

Xiaoye, it’s you. You’re back. The two elders are deeply impressed by me.

Yes, I'm back.

"Uncle and aunt, have you been in good health these years?" I looked at them, feeling a little emotional.

"We are all fine, but you have suffered a lot outside these years." Uncle patted my shoulder.

"It's okay, I learned a lot too." I smiled.

We chatted about family matters for a while and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious.

At this time, Shiyao came in with tea.

"Xiaoye, have some tea." She placed the teacup in front of me, her eyes somewhat evasive.

I picked up the teacup and took a sip. It tasted very bitter.

"This tea..." I looked up at her.

"I specially brewed this bitter gourd tea, hoping that you can remember the sufferings you once experienced." She said softly.

My heart moved, and I looked at her, finally summoning up the courage to say, "Shiyao, I'm sorry, I was too impulsive back then."

She was slightly shocked and tears flashed in her eyes.

"Let the past be the past. We have all grown up," she said with a smile.

I nodded, feeling extremely relieved.

At that moment, we seemed to put down the burden of the past and re-examine each other. I found that Shiyao became more mature and sensible, and I became more calm in the tempering of the years.

"Shiyao, actually I have always wanted to tell you all these years, I..." I hesitated to speak.

She looked at me with a smile, as if she had guessed what I was thinking.

"Xiao Ye, some things don't need to be said out loud, we all understand them in our hearts." There was a tacit understanding in her eyes.

I smiled. Yes, sometimes words cannot fully express the inner feelings.

In the following days, Shiyao and I got along more and more naturally. We strolled along the mountain trails together, enjoying the beautiful scenery; we tasted delicious food together and shared the little things in life. We gradually regained the innocence and happiness of our childhood.

I secretly vowed in my heart that no matter how difficult the road ahead would be, I would work hard to move forward and live up to Shiyao's expectations. Because I know that somewhere in this world, there is someone who silently supports me.

A few years later, we got married for real. We were almost thirty years old and she didn't have time to waste.

After marriage, our relationship was still very good. Not long after, Shiyao became pregnant, and I was about to become a father. Although it was a little late, I didn't regret it.

I originally thought that this was life, but a huge change plunged me into the abyss.

On that day, a huge change took place in the city lord's mansion. The city lord was killed by a Qin army general named Bai Qi, who then entered the city.

I originally had hope that they would not make things difficult for civilians.

But I was wrong, so wrong, he was a monster.

The Qin army started killing, but since there were advance guards, I sent my family away with the caravan and stayed here to guard the family business.

I luckily escaped the killing, but I also became a coolie, which was something I had never experienced before, but I thought it would only last for a short time.

But..., they...they...are not human, they even spare no elderly people and pregnant women.

I once accidentally found my mother's head among a pile of corpses. I went crazy and dug the body frantically, ignoring the falling whip.

Finally I found the bodies of my parents-in-law. This... this couldn't be true. I hoped in my heart that she had gotten away with it, but the body of an underdeveloped baby was revealed, and I had to find it all.

The once handsome face was now covered in gray blood, but it was still full of fear and pleading. The body was a little stiff, and his hands were protecting his cut open belly, with dried blood in his lower body.

I was crazy. I held her stiff body and laughed and cried at the same time, not caring about the stench at all.

But Qin Jun couldn't bear it anymore, and whipped me on the back with a powerful whip. I almost fainted from the pain, and was forcibly pulled away, unable to resist.

I hate it, I regret it, and I have extreme hatred for it in my heart.

Not long after, a group of troops from another country arrived. I originally thought they could rescue us, but they were easily killed by Bai Qi.

I hate the blindness of heaven for allowing such a person to have spiritual roots.

I now have an extreme idea. I want to assassinate him. I don't want to keep working for my blood feud. I want to die with dignity.

I'm waiting for an opportunity.

Bai Qi came to the street. This was the first time I saw him. He was high and mighty, ignorant of the sufferings of the world. I was as humble as a worm.

But I acted calmly because I knew that if he just glared at me I would be dead.

He suddenly had the idea to dig a tunnel, and I knew it was my chance.

My family has been doing business here for many years and is very familiar with the surrounding terrain. My chance has come.

I became a coolie team leader. Although there was no change, I finally had a chance.

I'm just waiting quietly, but I'm not so stupid as to not be prepared, that would be simply suicide.

I planted a "chess piece" in the tunnel. Under their arrogant gazes, I made up my mind to kill him. Even if I couldn't kill him, I would not let him have an easy time and make him remember this lesson.