Chapter 5: Adopt (1/2)
Presently, the people inside the hall are discussing something. The young Taoist who lead Shaw Danon and Baye respectfully said: ”Master, and Shishu(note 1), disciple Dubaku, in accordance with your orders, has brought two...”
Suddenly his words get interrupted by a mournful sound of shouting echoing from the hall: ”Ghost, ghost! Ghosts!”
Dubaku is surprised, but notices Shaw Danon and Baye are even more-so. Although the sound is broken and ugly, it is of extreme familiarity to them. Shaw Danon, not caring much for keeping composure any longer, rushed into the hall and shouted: ”Uncle Bozo, Uncle Bozo, is that you?”
Marked by his impatience, his voice contains slight anxiety and sadness. People see it in their eyes, sadness arising from their hearts. In the corner, behind the crowd of people, a middle-aged man dressed in woodcutter's clothing; both hands clenched tight to cover his head, curled tightly in a corner, shaking. The ”ghost, ghost” sound issues out from the gap between his hands.
Shaw Danon and Baye, who had just entered, immediately recognize that the person is a woodcutter from Grasstemple Village. Last name Wang, second child of the family (note 2), a kind-hearted individual with a smile on his face all the time; always treats the children very well. Beside chopping firewood on the mountain, he also returns with fruits and shares them with all the children.
Shaw Danon rushed to Uncle Bozo without thinking, grabbed his shoulder and shouted loudly: ”Uncle Bozo, what happened? Why are the village people all...all dead? My mother and my father, what happened to them? Say something!”
Uncle Bozo heard Shaw Danon asking the same question over and over again; seeming to have touched him on some level he ceased saying ”ghost, ghost,” then, slowly, looked up at Shaw Danon.
Everyone in the hall grew quiet, even some of the people who had been seated could not help but stand up; all eyes turned to Shaw Danon.
Uncle Bozo's eyes shone crimson, filled with fear. He stared at Shaw Dannon for a long while but said nothing, frowned, as though he were struggling to remember something.
At this time a Jadeon could not help but step forward, as he was about to speak he was quietly pulled back by the person beside him.
Shaw Danon witnessed Uncle Bozo's lack of response; he saw Uncle Bozo staring at him lifelessly. Shaw Dannon could not wait any longer and again shouted: ”Uncle Bozo, what happened to you?”
Unexpectedly as Uncle Bozo heard his loud shout, his body began to tremble, fear spread across his face again, he rolled to the other corner, curled up with both hands covering his face; his mouth kept moaning: ”Ghost, ghost, ghosts!”
Sighs suddenly issued out from everywhere in the hall, Jadeon people are disappointed; those who stood up have not returned to sitting. Shaw Danon sought to ask again but was grabbed by Baye.
Shaw Danon, puzzled, looked back. Baye's eyes filled with tears, mournfully responded: ”there is no use, he has gone insane.”
Shaw Danon shocked, did not say anything.
Baye is one year older than him, more meticulous in his thoughts, he looked at everyone in the hall and noted all of them wearing Jadeon clothing, both men and women. Most people in the hall have a weapon with them, the majority being long swords. Six people sitting on chairs appear to be superior to the others, especially the one sitting in the middle dressed in a dark green robe; the head of Jadeon, Master Doyal Shen.
Baye pulled Shaw Danon towad the six people; kneeling in front of Doyal Shen he began to knock his head against the floor, ”bang, bang, bang” kowtowing in honor of the faction head.
Doyal Shen looked over them carefully, sighed, said: ”Poor child, you can stand up.”
Baye has not arisen, peered up at these immortal-like people, sadly replied: ”Master, we are young and ignorant but suddenly befallen by great changes; we do not know what to do. You elders are strong, know the past and future, please help us!”
Shaw Danon is not as intelligent as him, so he followed suit and said: ”Yeah, immortal elders, you must help us!”
Everyone who was listening could not resist a smile spreading across their face. Shaw Danon is just an ignorant child; but, then, all eyes fall on Baye.
Baye is under great changes at a young age, also facing well-known individuals like Master Doyal Shen, but his speaking remains in perfect order; well organized, his calmness is far stronger than that of usual children, compared to the foolish Shaw Danon, who even thinks Doyal Shen is a god.
The Grasstemple Village tragedy is something that Jadeon had never dealt with for thousands of years. Things occurred right under the eyes of Jadeon, the whole Jadeon faction was shocked. Doyal Shen was surprised and angry when he heard this; he immediately called for a meeting with the other six heads of the houses. Now, except the head of ”Bamboo Height” Master Shui Yue who did not attend, the other five are present within the hall.
Being one of the seven house's heads in Jadeon, of course means they are Jadeon's strongest people; and Jadeon's strongest people are, of course, the strongest people in the world. Each of the leaders there are thinking the same thought in their heads as they peer at Baye: ”A good piece of jade.”
Master Doyal Shen smiled, said: ”I don't know future or past, but you live near Mount Jadeon, Jadeon cannot ignore this. However, I would like to ask you a few questions, I hope you can answer.”
Baye nodded: ”Yes, disciple will answer with all the knowledge I have. Master, please ask.”
Master Doyal Shen nodded his head and said: ”how did you escape this tragedy unscathed?”
Baye was stunned for a moment, said: ”replying to master's question; I remember last night I was at home in bed sleeping. However, when I woke up this morning I found myself sleeping under a pine tree next to Xiaofan; I have no idea what happened. Xiaofan woke me up, we returned to the village, then we saw that...that...that scene, and fainted.”
Master Doyal Shen's eyebrows frowned, he looked at Shaw Danon next and said: ”You woke him up; how about you, then?”
Shaw Danon reflected for a moment, then replied: ”I don't know how I got there; when I woke up I saw only Jing Yu next to me, so I woke him up.”
Master Doyal Shen looked at the other leaders, eyes full of confusion. If someone had come to the rescue, why save only the two children? If not, then, there is no other answer for it!
Master Doyal Shen thought for a moment, said: ”So that means you know nothing about what happened last night.”
Two of the them responded at the same time: ”Yes.”
Master Doyal Shen sighed, cried out: ”Xavion.”
”Disciple, here.” A tall and burly Jadeon disciple replied. He was standing behind a seated short, plump man. Xavion appears to be this man's disciple.
Master Doyal Shen said:”You are the one who first discovered Grasstemple Village's massacre; what happened that day, repeat it.”
Xavion said: ”Yes. This morning, disciple and a few Shi Xiongdi (Note 3) returned from attending to a selection of affairs; we were flying back. When passing over Grasstemple Village, the disciples looked down inadvertently and discovered more than two hundred corpses piled together in the village; a miserable sight. Disciple and the others quickly went to examine but only found the two children. Noticing they were unconscious, allowed a Shidi to bring them back first. Later, in the village latrine,” his hand pointed toward Uncle Bozo who was curled in the corner, then continued ”we found this person. But, his eyes are dead; entranced, no matter how disciple asked, no response. Simply kept repeatedly saying: ghost, ghosts, ghost.”
Baye's body shook a little, asked: ”Big brother, did you count the number of people?”
Xavion responded: ”I found a Shidi who trades firewood with your village daily, he was very familiar with the people at your village. After he was identified and we were done counting the tally: Grasstemple Village, all forty-two families, a total of two hundred and forty-seven people, aside from you three, are all dead.”
Although his heart had already known, after hearing what Xavion said he comprehended. Baye and Shaw Danon are still not helped and their eyes almost black out and faint again.
Master Doyal Shen sighs softly, his left hand swings, a red bead flies out from his sleeve, flies in front of Shaw Danon and Bay, rolls across their foreheads; suddenly, cool air flooded their bodies. Their minds, which had originally been taut, nerves seemed to loosen; they grew physically and mentally exhausted, could not help but fall asleep.