27 The Guardian and the Popinjay in Green (1/2)
Yun Yang moved forward.
Handicapped and raggedly-clothed people were everywhere but everyone here felt warm and content as if they had no other wish other than to be alive.
“Compared to our brothers who had fallen on the battlefield, we are indeed fortunate.”
This was what a blind veteran who had lost one of his legs told an armless veteran beside him as they lounged under the sun by the corner of a wall. His voice was low and his eyes were closed, as he continued to reminisce. Sunlight poured upon them, illuminating the serenity that was exclusive to a world without strife.
As Yun Yang walked past them, he stopped to take the scene in, his gaze envious.
On the street were also fierce-looking thugs who had their clothes left loose, roaming around with idle hands.
Yun Yang’s gaze shifted onto them as well, and the envy that was there turned icy cold in contempt. These were healthy and well-built individuals who possessed strength and martial skills, yet they took the despicable path to feed their family. Not only did they refuse to serve the nation nor volunteer themselves in the battlefield, they did not care to settle down peacefully nor help to maintain the safety of a less fortunate group. What they did instead were to steal and rob with their brute force, bullying the weak. These people had no consciences whatsoever.
They did not commit large sins but small, collective crimes and their deaths would be the first to be warranted in this world!
…
It was a plain courtyard. The wall was made of stacked rocks, five rooms were inside in addition to side-rooms on both the left and right. There was also a storeroom for junk on the south side. This family was not rich by the looks of it but it was obvious that they were better off than most of the others.
The door was half-opened, a girl of about two to three years was seen squatting on the block of stone by the door; her face rested on her hands, the thoughts in her mind solely her own.
A young, beautiful woman dressed in a plain robe came out from inside the house. “Nannan1, come back inside. Why did you run out to sit here again?”
The little girl did not move, her childish voice ringing out shrilly, “I’m here to wait for daddy to return. Mummy, where did daddy go? Why isn’t he back yet?”
The young woman froze, her eyes started to tear immediately as she lifted her head to look at the black evocation bell hung by the door. She murmured, “When my Nannan grows up big and smart, daddy will be back again.”
“Oh…” The little girl pouted and retorted, “But Nannan has already grown up…”
The young woman nodded forcefully, holding in her sobs as she said, “Yes, Daddy will be back soon…”
As she spoke, the dam finally broke, and her tears streamed down soundlessly.
Yun Yang stood concealed in a corner, feeling his eyes prickling at the sight of the mother and daughter pining after their husband and father. This young woman was the one he had saved the other night – Assistant General Wang Zhuang’s wife, Juan’er. However, the little girl had suddenly cheered in delight, “Hey, where did this kitten come from? It’s adorable!”
Somehow, a snow-white fur ball of a kitten had appeared by their doorway. The kitten was sparkling clean, not a single speck of dust was on its body; its round emerald eyes looked at the girl curiously from where it sat not far away from her.
The little girl Nannan instantly fell in love with it, tottering over. “Hey kitty, are you here to be friends with me?”
The kitten’s fur stood rose in alarm but then it abruptly grew relaxed as it looked at Nannan and actually nodded elegantly.
The girl crowed loudly with glee, “Wow, wow, this is great!”
Her mother was about to chide her, feeling amused from her child’s innocent words. The kitten’s just gotten here and it means that it wants to be friends with you? Does it even understand what you said?
What happened next had the young woman’s eyes widen like saucers; she clearly saw the kitten nod, as if in reply to her daughter. It then walked gracefully towards Nannan and extended a snow-white paw to shake her hand.
“Oh my…” The young woman simply could not believe her eyes.
“Great! You’ll play with me from now on, alright?” Nannan hugged the kitten happily, stroking it gently like it was a gem, her eyes turning into little crescent moons.
It was obvious that the kitten was rather reluctant but somehow, it did not resist and stayed in Nannan’s arms. Its delicate little paw raised hesitantly and lowered, as it mewled.
Nannan was absolutely taken with the kitten, hugging it all the way back to her house. “Mummy mummy, is there anything to feed it? Do we still have my biscuits? Do we still have my fish jerky? My…”
The kitten wrinkled its nose.
The young woman quickly followed, her voice faintly heard, “There, there, Nannan, put it down. Whose cat is this? Maybe it has an owner, you can’t simply take it, although I must say this kitten looks really adorable…”
Yun Yang smiled, leaving without a single word.
A pitiful meow could be heard emanating from the house.
“Henceforth, you shall be the guardian of this home… Whoever or whatever threatens to harm this place, I need you to attack without mercy.”
“This place, where the families of my brothers and my handicapped brothers stay… I need you to preserve its safety. Every night, you’re allowed to come back to the courtyard, I’ll double all the cultivation resources and food for you. But the moment you complete a mission badly, even if it’s just once, all these will be taken away forever! Do you understand?”
“Meow…”
“If any of those scoundrels threaten anyone, don’t hold back. Understood?”
“Meow!”
“Good.”
This cat was the same Eclipse Panther that had achieved the third level of a mystical beast. Yun Yang directed a flow of air of vitality and added another layer of camouflage before assigning it such a heavy task. Following on the execution of cultivation, this Eclipse Panther would improve by leaps and bounds. With a future ninth level mystical beast here to protect the families of his brothers, Yun Yang felt vastly more relieved.
Before he could take on the external forces, he had to protect and stabilize the internal ones first.
“My abilities are still weak, I am only doing what I can. My brothers, please do not judge me harshly. If I succeed in avenging you and remain alive in the process, I shall continue protecting my brothers’ families. If I were to fail… what I can do now is to have them live carefree for these five years and not worry about their safety for at least a hundred years with this panther here!”
“I’m so sorry, brothers, for this is all I can do for now.”
Yun Yang left, resolute and with conviction. As the Endless Divine Art surged through his body, Yun Yang felt energized, his blood boiling with power. Although only at most a fifth of his ability was recovered, Yun Yang felt impatient.
If I can’t beat them, my scheme will surely work against them.
…
Ji Ling had left the Residence of Yun, feeling wronged and so saddened that her tears dropped all along the way.