Chapter 15
Part 2
Damn bitch, truly a tiger fallen into the plains, bullied by dogs. He, a mighty shape-shifting demon cultivator, was being toyed with like a plaything by some… thing he couldn’t even name. Not only were his limbs slow to heal, but this creature had the nerve to come snatch his prey.
In his prime, a single swipe of his claws would have torn that creature apart. If not for that bitch Lian Wushang’s relentless pursuit, if not for his own severe injuries, he wouldn’t have needed to hunt low-spirit game in the mountains just to survive.
Ah Heng turned slowly, wild pheasant in hand. “Rest easy and recover. I’ll check on you tomorrow.”
The leopard snarled furiously, “Get lost! I don’t give a damn about your visits!” Taking advantage of the leopard’s immobility to snatch his prey and infuriate him to the point of spitting blood—Ah Heng was truly wicked.
As Ah Heng walked through the woods with the pheasant, a faint sensation suddenly stirred in his heart—Old Wen had met with trouble!
Ah Heng quickened his pace toward the dilapidated temple. Before he even exited the woods, he spotted Gouzi scrambling down the mountain path, calling his name. “Ah Heng—Ah Heng—hurry back! Old Wen fell!”
Gouzi’s face was streaked with tears, his freckled features looking even more haggard than usual. Ah Heng handed the pheasant to Gouzi and sped up.
Old Man Wen lay on the straw mat inside the dilapidated temple, his complexion ashen. His eyes were closed, and he was moaning softly. His graying hair and beard trembled slightly with each breath.
Gouzi followed Ah Heng inside. Ah Heng reached out and felt Old Man Wen’s pulse. It was no use. Old Man Wen’s organs and bones were too old and worn out. His time had come.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death—the natural cycle of life. Everyone understood this truth, yet when it came to oneself or those close by, few could control their emotions.
Gouzi burst into tears with a wail. Sob after sob, he choked out, “Just as we reached the little bridge, Old Wen said he was thirsty and wanted water. I was about to give him a drink when he collapsed!” Ah Heng patted Gouzi’s shoulder. “Stop crying. Go prepare the pheasant. Old Wen might want to eat it later.”
Gouzi sobbed uncontrollably, but he still went to prepare the pheasant. Ah Heng was his savior. With Ah Heng around, Old Wen would surely be fine! Gouzi deluded himself with this thought.
Ah Heng pondered for a moment, then attempted to draw spiritual energy and channel it into Old Wen’s body. He carefully sensed the flow of energy, then guided it to flow through his own hands. To his surprise, it actually worked.
Old Wen’s physical capacity was already at its limit. If too much energy was sent, it could kill him instantly. Ah Heng delivered it very carefully and with restraint. Old Wen let out a long, drawn-out “Hmph—” and then slowly opened his eyes.
“Is it Ah Heng?” Old Wen’s voice was faint as a mosquito’s buzz. “Have I… slept for a long time? It’s already dark outside…” Ah Heng held Old Wen’s hand, lost in thought. He’d always been a jinx, priding himself on never lying. But now, he truly couldn’t bring himself to tell the truth.
A chill crept through Old Wen’s fingers. This weathered old beggar quickly grasped the truth, and a faint smile touched his lips. Smiling now required immense effort; he could only tug slightly at the corners of his mouth, revealing yellowed teeth. “Ah… so the time has come.”
Gouzi sidled over, clasping Lao Wentuo’s other hand. “Don’t talk nonsense, Lao Wentuo! Today Ah Heng caught a huge pheasant. I’ll make you a beggar’s chicken later! This whole bird is yours! Happy now?” Gouzi pressed Lao Wentuo’s hand against his warm cheek. His voice rang with cheer, yet tears streamed down like beads snapped from a string.
“Our Gouzi… makes the best chicken…” Old Wen’s fingers twitched slightly as he let out a long sigh. “Ah Heng… I can’t hold on… I’m leaving… Gouzi… he’s still so young… Old Wen knows… you’re capable… In the future, you must look after Gouzi… give him a meal… Gouzi is small and hardworking… he doesn’t eat much… Can you promise me that?” Old Wen’s voice had lost its usual tone, sounding as if someone had clamped down on his throat.
Ah Heng replied softly, “I promise you. As long as Wen Heng lives, Li Er Gou will always have a meal.” Ah Heng truly didn’t know how else to ease Old Wen’s mind. He himself had no memories; if not for Old Wen, he’d still be drifting aimlessly somewhere. Though their time together had been brief, Old Wen had given him and Gouzi all the love they needed.
Ah Heng made up his mind: he would take Old Wen’s surname. If Old Wen passed away, Ah Heng could at least accompany him on his final journey as a younger generation.
Old Wen’s cloudy eyes welled up with tears. “Good… good child… you actually… took my surname… Good! Good!” Old Wen had never had children of his own, yet at life’s end he’d unexpectedly gained a young descendant. His heart swelled with joy, though his eyes could not see Ah Heng.
Old Wen raised his hand to touch Ah Heng, but the boy quickly lowered his head. Instead, he took Old Wen’s hand and guided it to stroke his own face.
Old Wen smiled. “Good… My Wen family has a good child now… I can rest easy…” Though he spoke of peace, tears streamed down his face even harder. How he wished he could recover, take the two children, and live a few more days in peace.
Gouzi wept, his face streaked with snot and tears. “Old Wen, don’t say such gloomy things! You’re supposed to be immortal—how could you die? You promised to take me begging to so many places! We agreed we’d never part—why did you leave first? What am I supposed to do now that you’re gone?”
The ashen pallor on Old Wen’s face gradually gave way to a flush of color. The tree-bark-like wrinkles on his face slowly smoothed out. He seemed to perk up suddenly, his speech becoming more coherent. He said to Gouzi, “Gouzi, climb up onto the statue. By the left ear… there’s a hole… inside it, there’s a cloth bundle… take it out…”
Gouzi released Old Wen’s hand and nimbly scrambled up the statue’s base in a few quick leaps. Light on his feet, he perched steadily on the statue’s left shoulder.
The statue was badly damaged, and indeed, behind the left ear was a mud-sealed hole. Gouzi scraped away the crust, reached inside, and pulled out a dusty cloth sack. Then he slid down from the statue just as swiftly: “Found it!”
Old Wen gasped heavily: “This… was left for me by Old Li when he passed… You’re not… Old Li’s… grandson… You’re the child Old Li snatched from… a dog’s jaws while begging…”
Gouzi froze upon hearing this, staring blankly at Old Wen: “Old Wen, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
Author’s Note: Old Wen is about to leave, and suddenly I feel terribly cruel.
![Flying Dust [Fei Chen]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/9k.png "Flying Dust [Fei Chen]")