Inside the Dragon Inn, a vibrant hum of celebration filled the air as the ten victorious brothers arrived, their faces flushed with triumph. Laughter and boisterous chatter spilled from every table, a joyous cacophony. The eight brothers, still buzzing with triumph, settled at a table adjacent to the Fang family, where Fang Weisheng and Fang Weimin sat, though a palpable tension already clung to Fang Weisheng, a dark cloud amidst the light.
Master Fang, his face alight with paternal pride, beamed at his assembled family. "Eat! Everyone, eat to your heart's content! Today is truly special. First, your magnificent performance in the competition! And second, the rare joy of our family eating together. A double celebration!"
But Fang Weisheng, his anger a simmering cauldron, couldn't shake his resentment towards Lee Dachin, the man he felt was an outsider. He turned abruptly to his father, his voice raw with accusation, cutting through the festive atmosphere. "Father, why do you insist on staying with Uncle Lee instead of Mother? Why are you always apart?"
Fang Yaoting's eyes, usually so gentle, hardened instantly, a dangerous glint appearing. "That is none of your business, Weisheng," he stated, his voice a low, dangerous rumble, a clear warning.
"He doesn't deserve your love, Father!" Fang Weisheng retorted, his voice rising, fueled by a desperate need for answers, for understanding.
Wang Shuchun flinched, a flicker of deep disappointment crossing her features, a silent plea for him to stop. "Fang Weisheng, do not speak to your father like that. It's disrespectful."
But Weisheng was beyond reason, his frustration boiling over, his words spilling out unchecked. "If Uncle Lee truly loves you as he claims, Father, then why is he never at any family gathering? He doesn't deserve to be a part of this family! He excludes himself!"
Fang Yaoting stared at Fang Weisheng, his jaw clenched, silent fury radiating from him, his body tensing.
"Big brother, stop it!" Fang Weimin pleaded, his voice tinged with panic, grabbing Fang Weisheng's arm. "Father is truly angry now! You're pushing him too far!"
The eight brothers at the next table, their own celebration momentarily forgotten, turned to witness the escalating drama, their faces aghast. They watched, horrified, as Fang Weisheng stubbornly clung to his grievance, his doubts about Lee Dachin spilling out like venom, poisoning the air.
Fang Yaoting, his face a mask of barely contained rage, rose slowly, his movements deliberate and ominous. He channeled all his furious energy into his palm, then slammed his hand, with devastating force, onto the table. The sturdy wood shattered into a thousand splinters, scattering food and porcelain across the floor with a deafening crash.
"The apple is not far from the tree," he snarled, his eyes blazing as he glared first at Wang Shuchun, then at Master Fang, a silent accusation passing between them, a history of pain. Then, his gaze, cold and unforgiving, landed on Fang Weimin, his voice sharp. "You pack up. Leave Cloud City. Return to Capital City with your grandparents and your mother. Immediately." Without another word, Fang Yaoting turned and strode out of the inn, the six Guozhao hunters following him like silent, grim shadows, their faces reflecting his fury.
Master Fang looked at Wang Shuchun, his voice heavy with resignation, a profound sadness in his eyes. "Take them to their room, Shuchun. They need to pack."
Fang Weisheng and Fang Weimin sat on the edge of the bed in their room at Dragon Inn, the silence between them thick with the aftermath of the explosion, the shattered table, the angry words.
"I already told you," Fang Weimin said, his voice laced with exasperation and hurt, tears pricking his eyes. "Don't say it anymore! Why didn't you listen to me? Why did you push Father so far? Now Father has kicked you out of Cloud City, not just you, but me too!"
"Why is everyone on Uncle Lee's side…even you, Weimin?" Weisheng retorted, his voice cracking with a wounded bewilderment, unable to comprehend. "I'm not wrong! I was just asking questions!"
"Uncle Lee already told us there are some things children shouldn't be involved in!" Fang Weimin cried, his own anger finally surfacing, fueled by frustration. "Why didn't you listen to him? How dare you yell at Uncle Lee? You even accused him of not loving us… no wonder Senior Brother was so furious with you! You deserved that whipping!"
A soft knock, then Wang Shuchun entered, her smile a fragile attempt at calm, her eyes filled with a deep sorrow. "Why are you two so impulsive?" she murmured, her gaze tender as she looked at her sons, her heart aching for them.
"Mother, I'm not wrong," Weisheng insisted, his voice still defiant, though tinged with pain.
Wang Shuchun sat beside them, her hand gently stroking Weisheng's hair, a comforting gesture. "You are not wrong, my son, but your Uncle Lee is not wrong either. Some things are simply too complicated for children to understand, too painful."
"Then make me understand, Mother!" Fang Weisheng pleaded, desperation in his eyes, wanting the truth.
Wang Shuchun sighed, a deep, weary sound that spoke of years of unspoken pain, of burdens carried alone. "It's not your Uncle Lee's fault that he cannot attend the Fang family reunion or any other occasion." She looked at her sons, her gaze steady, resolute, knowing this was a truth they needed to hear. "You two are old enough. It's time to tell you." Her voice dropped, a quiet confession, filled with a profound sadness. "Your father never loved me, nor did he ever wish to marry me. It was your grandfather who forced your father to marry me. It was an arranged marriage, not one of love."
Fang Weisheng stared at Wang Shuchun, his mind reeling, struggling to comprehend the devastating revelation. "You mean Father was forced to marry you?" he whispered, disbelief coloring his voice, his world tilting.
Wang Shuchun nodded, a tear glistening in her eye, tracing a path down her cheek. "Your Uncle Lee and your father were deeply in love before I ever entered their lives. They vowed to love each other until death parted them, a sacred promise. Your father and grandfather even made a solemn agreement: if I gave birth to a son, your grandfather would allow your father to marry your Uncle Lee. That was the bargain."
"And?" Fang Weimin prompted, his voice hushed, leaning forward, desperate for the rest of the story.
"After you two were born," Wang Shuchun continued, her voice trembling, the pain fresh, "your grandfather reneged on his promise. He forced your father to choose between Uncle Lee and his own family, his lineage. If your father chose Uncle Lee, your grandfather threatened to disown him, to cast him out of the Fang House forever, to strip him of everything. Your uncle, seeing your father's despair, made the agonizing decision to break up with him, to set him free. Your father, heartbroken, was going to end his life, so profound was his grief. So, your uncle swore an oath before your grandfather and the Fang ancestors: he would never claim to be a part of the Fang family. As long as your grandfather didn't separate them entirely, he wouldn't take a single penny from the Fang's coffers. Your grandfather then told your Uncle Lee, in no uncertain terms, 'Never step into the Fang Mansion.' And he has kept that vow."
The twins sat in stunned silence, their minds struggling to process their mother's devastating revelation, the weight of a lifetime of unspoken sacrifice.
Fang Weisheng's memory flashed back to a cold winter day: his father and Lee Dachin visiting. His father had entered the house, but Lee Dachin had stood outside, waiting patiently in the cold. On his mother's birthday, when his father visited, Lee Dachin would always send a gift, but he would remain outside the Fang residence until dinner was over, and then his father would leave with him. The pieces of a painful puzzle clicked into place, revealing a tragic, beautiful truth.
Wang Shuchun reached out, gently rubbing Fang Weisheng's head, her touch tender. "It is profoundly wrong to say that your uncle is not worthy of your father's love. Your Uncle Lee is the only person truly worthy of your father's love, because he has nothing but pure, unadulterated love for your father, a love that transcends all obstacles." She sighed, a deep, sorrowful sound. "Your Uncle Lee loves your father so much that he buried his own pride and dignity beneath his soles, just to remain by his side, to be near him." She looked at her sons, her eyes filled with earnestness, a profound lesson. "Wei'er, do you understand that the Fang family owes your Uncle Lee a debt of gratitude so vast it can never be repaid? When I was pregnant with you two, your Uncle Lee took such meticulous care of me, ensuring my health and comfort. He never mistreated me in any way, not once. Only your Uncle Lee could be so kind to his rival. I know I couldn't do it. I'm sure neither of you could."
Fang Weisheng's defiance crumbled, shattering into a million pieces. Tears streamed down his face, hot and stinging, a torrent of remorse. "Mother, I'm wrong. I'm so wrong!" he sobbed, burying his face in his hands.
"If you know you're wrong, my son," Wang Shuchun said, her voice gentle but firm, "then you need to apologize. Truly apologize."
Fang Weisheng bolted from Dragon Inn, his feet pounding the ground as he raced towards his home, his heart aching with regret. When he burst through the doors, Fang Yaoting and Lee Dachin were still at the table, eating in a strained silence, the shattered table a stark reminder of the earlier anger. He rushed towards them, his chest heaving, tears blurring his vision.
"Pack up and leave!" Fang Yaoting snarled, his face still etched with fury, his voice cold.
Fang Weisheng slowly, painfully, sank to his knees. He knelt before Lee Dachin, his body trembling, tears streaming down his face, his voice broken. "I'm so sorry, Uncle Lee, I'm so sorry! I was wrong. You are right. There are some things that children should not be involved in. I should never have spoken those words."
"Get up, Weisheng," Lee Dachin said, his voice soft with compassion, reaching out a hand. "You were punished by Zhiqiang's whip; don't kneel for too long. You're injured."
But Fang Weisheng refused, shaking his head vehemently, his body still trembling. "I deserve it. I'm sorry, I spoke ill of you. Please don't forgive me, please don't hate me, Uncle Lee."
Lee Dachin reached out, gently placing a hand on Weisheng's shoulder, his touch comforting. "You are my son, Weisheng, and my family. I will never hate you. Never."
Still refusing to rise, Fang Weisheng instead wrapped his arms tightly around Lee Dachin's waist, burying his face against him, sobbing uncontrollably. "Uncle Lee… I'm so sorry, please help me beg Father not to drive me out of Cloud City! I don't want to leave!"
Lee Dachin smiled, a gentle, comforting pat on the back of Fang Weisheng's head. "Stop crying, my boy. Men would rather shed blood than tears. As long as I'm still here, no one can drive you out of Cloud City from your own home."
Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming sat on the porch outside their bedroom, the quiet evening settling around them, a peaceful contrast to the earlier drama. Deming watched, fascinated, as Guozhao Zhiqiang held a small wood carving tool, meticulously engraving something onto the black beads of the bracelet he had bought earlier.
"Zhiqiang," Deming began, his voice soft, "before your ex-lover interrupted us, you still hadn't answered my question." He paused, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "What were you two talking about? Why did you avoid my question about Teacher Lee?"
"By the way, he is not my lover," Guozhao Zhiqiang corrected, not looking up from his task, his voice flat. "We didn't talk about important things. He tried to win me back, but I refused."
"What about Teacher Lee, then?" Deming persisted, his gaze unwavering, sensing the deeper truth.
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming, a sigh escaping him, a hint of resignation. "You won't let it go, will you? You're as stubborn as I am."
"I won't let it go unless you answer me, Zhiqiang," Deming insisted, a stubborn set to his jaw.
Guozhao Zhiqiang put down the bracelet, his gaze serious, a profound sadness in his eyes. "My masters, my Shimu, Teacher Lee are my family. If you and I swear to love each other until death do we part, and they tell me, in front of you, that if I choose you, I can never return to Cloud City, that they won't recognize me, that I'll be disowned… what will you do, Deming?"
Deming's eyes widened, a sudden, painful understanding dawning on him, the weight of the hypothetical question crushing him. "I'll break up with you," he whispered, the words heavy with pain, knowing it would be the only choice.
"If you break up with me, and I would rather die, what will you do?" Guozhao Zhiqiang pressed, his voice low, his eyes piercing, demanding an honest answer.
"I'll live somewhere else, Zhiqiang, and never set foot in Cloud City," Deming replied, his voice thick with emotion, tears welling in his eyes. "Maybe somewhere nearby, so you can easily come back if you want to visit your family, if you miss them." He looked up at Guozhao Zhiqiang, his eyes filled with a profound sadness, realizing he had just answered his own question, the painful truth of Lee Dachin's sacrifice. "So, that's what Teacher Lee meant when he said, 'some things children shouldn't get involved in'. He chose to be an outsider for love."
Guozhao Zhiqiang nodded, his expression somber, confirming the painful truth. "Master Fang and Third Master agreed that if Fang Shimu gave birth to a son, he would allow Third Master and Teacher Lee to marry publicly. The day after the twins were born, Master Fang broke his promise. Master Fang would not admit that Teacher Lee is part of the Fang family. Teacher Lee's love for the Third Master is too strong. He assured Master Fang that as long as Master Fang let him continue to love Third Master, he would never step into the Fang's house. He would never claim to be a member of the Fang family, and he would never take a penny from the Fang coffers. He sacrificed everything to be near him."
Deming murmured, his voice laced with a wistful longing, a deep admiration. "I wonder if anyone will love me like Master Fang loves Teacher Lee. To love me until death do we part and make such a sacrifice."
"Give me your left hand," Guozhao Zhiqiang commanded softly, his voice filled with a profound tenderness. Deming stretched out his left hand, his heart pounding. Guozhao Zhiqiang gently placed the black jade bracelet onto Deming's left wrist, it's cool weight a promise. He then knelt on one knee, his gaze locked on Deming's, and brought Deming's hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to it, a solemn vow. "I, Guozhao Zhiqiang, swear to heaven: as long as I am still breathing, I will only love Deming. If I die, I will wait for you in the underworld until we meet again. This is my unbreakable promise."
"Are you serious?" Deming asked, his voice barely a whisper, his eyes wide with disbelief and overwhelming emotion, tears streaming down his face.
Guozhao Zhiqiang stood, pulling Deming closer, his gaze intense, filled with an absolute certainty. "Death can't stop me from loving you, Deming. Nothing can." He leaned in, capturing Deming's lips in a deep, passionate kiss, a promise sealed. After a while, the distant sound of fireworks exploding in the night sky made them break apart, breathless, their hearts soaring.
"When are you going to teach me how to summon you if I need you?" Deming complained playfully, still flushed from the kiss, a new kind of security in his voice.
Guozhao Zhiqiang held Deming's left hand, his thumb tracing the beads of the new bracelet. "I have engraved a binding rune on this bracelet. You don't need to pull a talisman; as long as you have this bracelet, you can use it. I will teach you a summoning spell tomorrow. You will always be able to find me."
Hand in hand, they watched the vibrant fireworks paint the night sky, their colors reflecting in their eyes. The last burst scattered across the darkness, and then, as if on cue, fireflies began to dance, twinkling lights drifting through Peach Blossom Mountain, a magical, serene end to the night. Guozhao Zhiqiang pulled Deming into his embrace, and kissed him once more, the world outside fading into the soft glow of their shared moment, a promise fulfilled.