1 A Visitor in a Stormy Nigh (1/2)

The sky was overhung with dark clouds and rain drizzled unceasingly onto the roofs of Xiao Xi town, gathering in puddles on the street. In the distance, thunder rumbled and every now and then lightning illuminated the outline of the trees.

The hunched down figure of an old man hurried along between them and hastened toward the gates of the town that had already been shut for the night. The man stopped in front of them, grabbed the hem of his cloak's hood and looked up while blinking against the rain. Who knows what he did but a moment later the tightly shut doors swung open as if moved by invisible hands.

The man hunched back down and hurried into the town, the gates silently shutting behind him again. He walked down the main street, his gaze flitting over the houses at the side while his brows drew closer and closer together. It seemed as if he was searching for something but couldn't find it.

He turned into a side street and continued on. Halfway down the lane, the light of a lamp lit up the darkness surrounding him. The hunched down figure stopped and peered through the crack in the door. A small figure could be seen on the other side. It blinked its big eyes and looked back at him.

The old man once again grabbed the hem of the hood and lifted it up. ”Little boy, what are you doing out here? Where are your parents?”

The child lowered his head.

The old man crouched down in front of the door and took a closer look at the boy. He wasn't dressed nicely but still neatly and his face was clean. He was probably the child of the family living here. ”Child, what's your name?”

The boy looked up again. ”Yun Bei Fen.”

”Oh? That's a good name. Did your parents tell you what it means?”

Yun Bei Fen shook his head.

”Mn, Bei means north and Fen means to strive. The north is the territory of the Black Warrior that represents longevity. So your parents hoped that you'd have a long life and since the Black Warrior followed the Way they may also have hoped you'd also strive for that and discard all evil.”

Yun Bei Fen looked at him but it wasn't clear if he actually understood what the old man said.

The man smiled. ”Little boy, are your parents inside?” He nodded at the house he could see behind him but the child already shook his head. ”No? Then where are they?”

Yun Bei Fen lowered his head again. ”Gone.”

”Gone?” The old man's expression changed. ”So, is there anyone else living here? Or are you alone?”

Yun Bei Fen thought for a while and then nodded.

”You're alone?”

The boy shook his head, giving the old man a bit of a headache. Why was it this difficult to talk with this child?

”So, who else lives here?”

”My uncle and his wife. And their children.”

”I see. Could you call your uncle out?”

Yun Bei Fen shook his head again.

”Why not?”