1 A Visitor in a Stormy Nigh (2/2)
”There's a storm coming.” Yun Bei Fen pointed at the sky to make sure the old man would understand even though the old man was obviously completely wet from the rain already. The water was still dripping from his coat, after all.
”So he can't come out if there's a storm? What about you? Why are you standing here and not inside?”
The child hesitated again. ”Uncle has to stay with his children. They'll be afraid if he doesn't.”
”And you're not afraid?”
Yun Bei Fen shook his head. ”Mother and father are already gone.”
”So you can't be afraid?”
Yun Bei Fen nodded.
The old man took a deep breath and looked at the house behind the boy. They had already talked for a while. And who knew how long the boy had been standing here? Why didn't anyone come to get him? Could it be that his uncle and aunt didn't have enough time to care for him? This child really was too pitiful.
He looked a bit closer at the little one. Considering his bone structure, he was probably suitable … ”Say, Yun Bei Fen, would you like to be a cultivator?”
The boy blinked. ”A cultivator?”
”Mn. Like the Black Warrior of the north. You could follow the way and become an immortal.”
Yun Bei Fen didn't really understand what this was about but he still remembered that the old man had said before that his parents had wanted him to do that so he nodded.
The old man gave him a smile, reached out and tousled his hair. ”Then let's go in and ask your uncle if it'd be alright.”
”But it's going to storm soon.” Yun Bei Fen shrank against the wall next to him. He didn't dare to step out from the dry space at the gate.
”Mn. That's true. How about this? I'll give you this coat. It's actually an immortal treasure. As long as you wear it nothing will happen to you regardless of how much it storms.”
”Really?” Yun Bei Fen looked at the simple-looking coat.
”Mn. It's true. Here. You have it.” The old man took the gray coat off, revealing a pristine white robe beneath it and put the coat on the boy's shoulders. He patted his head and picked him up from the ground. ”Let's go in and hear what your uncle says.”
He carried the boy over and knocked on the door. Soon enough, steps sounded from the other side and a man opened. He looked at the old man in front of him and the little figure in his arms and frowned. Wasn't this his brother's child? Why was he with this old man? Who was this man anyway?
”You …”
The old man nodded at him. ”May I come in?”
”Ah. Sure.” Yun Bei Fen's uncle stepped aside but vigilantly stared at the old man. Xiao Xi town was a small place and he was sure that he had never seen this person before.
The old man put Yun Bei Fen down and patted his head again before turning to his uncle. ”I am Baili Chao, an Elder of the Teng Yong Sect. When passing through this town I coincidentally saw your nephew Yun Bei Fen and I felt that this boy might have some fate with the path to immortality. Would you be willing to let him join our sect?”