Chapter 64: In the Beginning

~~~

“Master?”

The sky has turned dark by the time Liu Jin arrives home. Yet, under the light of the moon, Liu Jin can easily make out his master’s form. Old Jiang waits for him outside the clinic, smiling one of his usual smiles, the type that makes Liu Jin painfully aware of his own inadequacies.

“Has my standing in your eyes fallen so far that seeing me like this is cause for surprise?”

“I…”

Liu Jin’s brain scrambles for something tactful to say but comes up empty.

“I-I did not mean…”

“You did.” Old Jiang’s face turns serious. “More importantly, you should.”

“Master?”

The word comes out of Liu Jin’s mouth once more, but this time with a different cadence.

“A doctor should not mince words out of fear. If someone is dying, do not ignore it. To do otherwise is an insult to your skills. I am dying. That is something you and I have known for quite some time. Do not be afraid of saying it. Do not be afraid of thinking it. It is natural for you to treat me as a dying man should be treated, shameful as it is to admit it.”

To that, Liu Jin has nothing to say.

“Of course, the day I die is not today,” Old Jiang adds in a lighter tone. “Today, I woke up feeling quite well, well enough to take a walk. In fact, I think that is what I will do.”

Panic flares up inside Liu Jin.

“Master, are you sure?” Try as he might, Liu Jin cannot hide his concern. “In your condition…”

Old Jiang chuckles when Liu Jin trails off.

“You cannot bring yourself to say it still? What a disciple I have raised, but worry not. I know my body better than anyone. I still have quite a few days ahead of me, so do not stop me from enjoying the few good ones I have left. Besides, I believe your father wishes to discuss something with you without the input of his old master.”

“My father?” Liu Jin blinks, not having expected that. “Did he mention anything in particular?”

“I cannot say he did. Knowing him, it will be something needlessly complicated and overly sentimental,” Old Jiang says, walking past Liu Jin, leaving him alone in front of the door. “You two do enjoy such things.”

Perhaps under other circumstances, Liu Jin would have responded to the taunt. Now, he stays silent as his master walks away. He does not even have the strength to look at his back.

“By the way…” Liu Jin’s head perks up. “What did you think of the tournament? It is not often one so young experiences how sects operate.”

This time Liu Jin does turn to look at his master.

“You knew?”

Old Jiang throws his head back and laughs. “I do not need to leave my room to know what happens in this city, disciple. Even if I did, Xiao Zheng’s Qi spoke quite clearly tonight. I daresay he is pleased. Are you?”

Liu Jin takes a moment to think, and it is not just because his master deserves a proper answer that he does so.

“When Elder Brother asked for my help, I was happy,” Liu Jin admits, looking up at the stars. “Having the opportunity to help him. Being able to beat Wu Yan. I even enjoyed getting along with Xiao Fang, but…”

The smile that was forming on Liu Jin’s face slowly fades away.

“I didn’t like that I couldn’t beat Yun Han on my own. I told myself I didn’t care about winning or losing the tournament. However, I still felt frustrated at my own weakness.”

Because, deep down, there had been a part of him that really wanted it.

Victory, that is.

“When Xiao Fang and I were left out of everything at the end, that was annoying in a different way.” Liu Jin frowns. “Rather than it being our achievement, it felt like we were just moved across the board by everyone else. Master, if you ask me what I think of this experience, I can only say it was tremendously disappointing.”

But…

“But there were some parts I didn’t mind. Some parts… I even enjoyed.” Liu Jin shuffles awkwardly, looking at his feet. “I feel… Master, I feel I don’t want to lose next time. Does that make sense?”

Old Jiang laughs.

“Does it make sense? Oh, foolish disciple of mine, nothing could be more natural.”

~~~

His father is preparing tea.

Liu Jin does not interrupt him, silently taking a seat at the table instead. Liu Jianguo’s movements brim with practiced grace. He has always been good at making tea.

It occurs to Liu Jin, as his father pours the heated water into the teapot, that his love for tea may be something he inherited from his father.

“This is a different blend,” Liu Jin notes once his father finishes. The scent coming from the tea is not the usual one.

“I had saved it for a special occasion. It seemed fitting to use it today.”

Liu Jin brings the cup to his lips. The tea is still hot, but that doesn’t bother him. His eyebrows rise as the tea hits his taste buds.

“It is good.”

“Is that so? Most people find it too bitter the first time. It is said to be an acquired taste, which is why it can be hard to find.”

Liu Jin shakes his head. “No, I like it.”

He is not lying. While the tea does have a slightly bitter taste, it is not to the point of being unpleasant. Instead, it gives it character.

His father smiles.

“The leaves used for this blend come from the Storm Dragon Empire. To be more specific, the leaves can only be found near the capital of the Storm Dragon Empire, the place where I grew up in.”

The cup almost slips from Liu Jin’s fingers. The child stares at Liu Jianguo with wide eyes.

“Father?”

Liu Jianguo chuckles.

“Once, I cowardly thought it would be fine if you never knew the truth. Then you found Master, and I realized the Heavens were not done with me yet. You needed to know, but when? When you became Master’s disciple? When you submitted yourself to a god’s trial? When you overcame that trial? Time and time again, I wondered if the right time had come. To think I’d be such a coward at my age.”

His father shakes his head.

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“I have a pretty good idea of what you have gone through today. Regardless, it doesn’t matter. Even before that… Yes, ever since I saw your fight with Yun Han, it was clear to me that it was already the time. You possess courage, skill, and good judgment.”

Liu Jin cannot bring himself to speak. Ever since he found Old Jiang, his father’s past has been the biggest mystery in Liu Jin’s life. Over the years, Liu Jin has managed to gather pieces of it, but it has never been enough to form the full picture.

Is he about to hear his father’s tale?

“Make no mistake. You are still young, and you are not immune to the recklessness associated with your age. Yet, it is clear the world will not treat you as a child. Unfortunately, my son, you are too capable for your own good.”

Liu Jianguo pauses, taking a few seconds to gather his thoughts. His tea has gone untouched all this time. Steam rises from the cup and drifts lazily between father and son.