Yang Li Zhi started to pull the band waist, but Kenshin grabbed her hands preventing her from going further.
No. I'll do it myself. Please.
The girl stared at him for a moment, then pulled back her hands. Alright. You do it yourself. She said in her language. But
she remained in the room, made herself busy putting and arranging things on the table in front of Kenshin. The man watched
her in surprised, she seemed intending to wait for him changing clothes without she had to leave the room. She turned her
head to look at him, found that man still sat on the bed watching her. The clothes were on his lap. Well? You're going to
do it on your own, aren't you? The man chuckled, and nodded clumsily. I'm so sorry. But don't you think I'd better do it
without you being here? Really sorry. It's so inconvenience. The girl didn't understand his language, but she somehow could
get what he meant. She stepped back, her lips quivered a little.
You're sick right now. Aren't you aware of that? Allow me to help you.
Kenshin scratched his head, he seemed to be confused.
Well, girl, it's just ...
The girl took a deep sigh.
Alright, alright. I'll let you on your own. I'll get some meal for you.
And she walked toward the door. Kenshin thought he could hear the girl still grumbled.
Why is he so ashamed changing clothes before me? I won't do anything embarrassing.
The man shook his head, while his hands picked up the outfit from his lap and observed it from a moment. He once wore that
kind of outfit during his mission. It shouldn't take so much trouble putting on that cloth again. But he just finished with
the trouser when suddenly the door opened wide and the girl stood outside with a tray and small bowls on it. She looked
rather surprised when she saw he hadn't put on anything to cover his upper body. The man also seemed to be awkward in his
condition. He raised the cloth clumsily, tried to cover his bare chest. The girl's lips moved a little, forming thin smile.
Calmly she entered, approached the table and put down the tray. Then she walked again to the door and closed it. She turned
around again, and with her lips still formed a thin smile, she approached him.
Come on. It's alright. Let me help you.
Her hands took over the outfit from his, without he's being able to resist. Carefully and with patience she assisted him to
get into the cloth. While her eyes gazed curiously at the scars all over his upper body. She put the dark thick jacket
covering the upper suit, her slim fingers worked on the buttons. Then she dropped on her knees, her hands removed the
sandals and dampened socks off his feet. Took the new looked shoes and clean white socks from her right side.
Alright. I think I can do it with these things. Thank you.
Kenshin bent over from his seat to pick up the socks. But her hand moved faster, slapped his hand away. Then she started to
put his feet into the socks and the shoes. He watched her doing the task in silent, wondering. Then she raised up on her
feet, stared at him, smiled widely.
They looked perfectly fit on you! It feels nice, doesn't it?
Then she bent and reached for the turtle collar, adjusted it round his neck. Kenshin's hands once again grabbed her wrists,
with firmed grip slowly he lowered her hands. He raised his face up to look at her.
Thank you for all that you've done for me. I appreciate your attention and caring. I wish to be able to return your
generosity. Thank you again for taking care of me.
The girl was quiet for several moments before releasing her hands, and took a step backward.
I don't understand what are you talking about. Sorry if I've offended you. I'm just trying to give you a hand with the
clothes. You're sick. You need someone to take care of you.
Then she moved toward the table.
Alright. Now it's time to eat. Here, I've cooked a delicious chicken soup. I made this special for you.
She took a small bowl a spoon to the man. Seated herself on a chair near the bed, ready to feed him. He raised his hands to
take the bowl. But she pushed them aside.
No. Let me.
Then she scoop the spoon into the soup and carefully brought it toward his mouth. He looked hesitate for a moment before he
saw she nodded urging him to taste it. And the soup turned out to be fantastically delicious, he started to feel hungry and
yearned for more. She laughed a little, cheerfully moved her head in a way that made her looked amazingly pretty.
Do you like it? Of course you do. Here, have some more.
And she patiently fed him the soup.
While her eyes watched his face in delight. Her hand occasionally raised to wipe his hair which moved toward the cheek.
Then her fingers touched his lips to clean light grease slightly smeared the corners of his mouth. He let her did those
things without he's being able to protest. This girl could be his daughter, but the affection she showed seemed awkward for
a man who acted in avuncular manner. He just tried to think probably this girl missed her old relatives, so he had to take
their place. She was doing all those things based only on sympathy and respect for the old one. And she seemed very happy
in doing so. After the bowl was almost empty, she put it on the table and lifted a saucer with a cup of tea on it equipped
with a lid. She brought them toward him and held them while he sipped the content. The tea was still hot.
Careful.
Then she put them back on the table and this time she took a small plate with some pies on it. She took one piece, cut it
into halves and shove one half into his mouth.
How it tastes? Good? I made them myself. Well, actually it lacks some ingredients. The real ones are very superb. You won't
be able to resist the temptation to eat one plate full of them.
She kept putting the pies into his mouth.
You look pretty, you know?
She stared at his face, examined every part in admiration. She felt a kind of adoration toward him. Then her gaze fixed on
the scars on his left cheek.
What is the story behind it? She spoke slowly, while her hand began to move to touch them. Then suddenly there were raps of
knocks on the door. She immediately lowered her hand.
Who is it?
Li Zhi? Are you in there? Why the door closed?
Yang Zhuo Lung called for her from the outside. She raised on her feet, put the plate on the table and walked toward the
door. The young man stood there, watched her in suspicion.
Is something wrong with him?
The girl shrugged.
I just helped him with the clothes and the breakfast. I closed the door because it's chilling outside. He could get cold.
O. Really? Have some respect on him, will you? Just don't embarrass yourself. I won't let my cousin disgrace our family
honor.
Then he moved pass her into the room. Smiled politely at the man who still sat on the bed.
Kenshin-sama, how do you feel this morning?
Never been better. Your cousin is taking good care of me. She is really full of attention.
Well, I hope she doesn't do anything that isn't pleasing to you. She can become to attentively when it comes to nursing
sick people.
The man nodded.
I see. She's surely a good nurse.
O. By the way, your friends are in the south near the yellow river.
Really? Near the river? Where is it? Are they alright? Five of them?
Well, not exactly. Actually we've lost two of them.
But how?
We're not sure. They told me those two were separated from the group when they got into the woods. Our men were still
searching for them. Takeshi-san will come here to see you.
My God. We're not going to loose another again.
I'm so sorry. And the kids started to like them. They really good as teachers when it comes to modern weapons.
They become your instructors?
Well, we heard from the survivors, those two are really good in handling rifled muskets.
The survivors? Are you sure they will be alright?
O, yes, I see. Don't worry. Those men who confronted you before had just left to join the forces at Shandong and Port
Marshal. They wouldn't have a chance to meet them on the way.
When will Takeshi come here?
He got up from the bed. Li Zhi hurriedly stood on his way.
Where do you think you're going? You're ill! I won't let you leave this room!
Li Zhi! Kenshin-sama are just going out for a while! You can't keep him in the room all day!
No, I won't let him! Just look at his face! He looks really pale!
Kenshin watched the two relatives argued and yelled at each other. He raised his both hands.
Alright. Alright. That's it. Will one of you be kind enough to let me to the lavatory? You're not expecting me to make a
mess here, are you?
Zhuo Lung immediately translated his words to his cousin.
Then I better get you a bucket!
She moved hurriedly to the door.
Li Zhi!
Zhuo Lung raised up from his seat.
Come on, Kenshin-sama. We'd better ignore her. She's not too sensible to deal with right now. Come on, this way.
He led the way to the rear of the house, walked to the right where the openness before them showed a quite vast yard.
Kenshin admired the sculptured poles, rooftops and beams. Some of the wings of the windows and doors were detached from
the hinges. Several panels were missing, left some dull gray heavy bricks.
He's a very wealthy landlord. The owner. Now he's deceased. His family took refuge to Peking.
Zhuo Lung explained while his hand pushed open a half heavy door.
Over here.
They got into a quite vast stone walled hall, tubs of stone lined along each side of the hall. Spouts made also from stone
protruded from the wall over the tubs.
They made some kind of water pipes installation. They heated the water at the back.
It take very long route to the lavatory. Don't you think?
Ha, ha, ha. Yeah. So it seems.
They arrived at the back which opened to another yard. This one was rather narrow. There was Yang Li Zhi washing a wood
bucket near a well. She looked furious when she saw the two men headed for the lavatory behind her.
Koko Lung! You're aware how far this place to the main chamber! Why do you take him here? I'd told you I'll bring him the
bucket!
He wants to see around.
There's nothing to see here! Take him back to the main chamber!
Li Zhi! Don't be ridiculous!
Excuse me. Is that the lavatory? Kenshin moved toward the back, passed the girl. Li Zhi followed behind him, brought the
bucket along.
It's very damp here and cold. You could get sick. Watch your step. It's wet and slippery.
Kenshin wandered what the girl was talking about, and he heard them two again argued. He stepped inside a small concrete
chamber with high ceiling above him. The room was only fit for one large person, if that the size to measure it because now
the girl with her slim figure and himself lean and skinny could share the space. She followed him stepped inside the
chamber and stood with her back at the doorway, watching him. He felt rather offensive, frowned for a moment, then decided
to ignore her outrageous behavior. Without uttering any words, he stepped backwards and made loose the cord at his waist
to release his pants. He was ready to squat over the hole at the floor with two pedestals at each sides, when suddenly Zhuo
Lung dragged her out with such a force that made her almost fell back against him. And he slammed the door shut.
Come here, you! Sorry for that, Kenshin-sama!
He pulled her away far enough from the lavatory, where he thought the guest wouldn't be able to overhear. Although he
wouldn't understand anyway. But just in case.
What are you thinking? Huh? I've said show some respects for him! He's our important guest! You are a decent girl, aren't
you? Or at least that what I am thinking of you. Is that it?
He's sick! He needs someone to take care of him!
And what else would you do to humiliate yourself? To disgrace our family honor?
Koko Lung! What's exactly this preach going to? What's your point?
Li Zhi, I think I know what are you thinking and feeling right now. I am the one who brought you up. I am the one who can
feel when you are in some kind of trouble although you never say it. I took the responsible to raise you up and make sure
that one day when the times come, you'll go through it in such honorable way and make proud of our family.
She listened to him still in defiant manner, before then she shook his head and pushed the bucket into his hands.
Alright! Alright! I get it! Here, do me a favor, make sure he doesn't get his clothes dirty. It's really hard to obtain
such clean outfit. Don't let him soak any inches of his shoes and socks. He could be freeze. Now I have to prepare lunch.
Then she left him to the kitchen, without even bother to take a glimpse at the lavatory. Zhuo Lung watched her walked away
leaving him stood in confusion with bucket in his hands.
Geez, she's still very hard to deal with. After all these years...
Then he approached the well and filled the bucket full with water. When he rose to carry it to the lavatory, he saw the
guest's head looking out the door, watched about him.
She's already left?
Preparing food for lunch. I am really sorry for this inconvenience. This situation really gets me abashed somehow.
No. I am the one who should apologize. Because of me, you two quarrel a lot.
No, no, no. You're our guest. She should show some respect and honor. Well, I don't know. She never behaves like this
before. Usually she treated others casually, never with this kind of attention. But, you're a sick person right now.
Probably that's why she's too exaggerated in the way she treated you.
Kenshin nodded, smiled friendly, full of understanding.
Of course, that must be it. Actually she is a polite and kind heart person.
Zhuo Lung felt relieved.
So, you don't take it as offensive? You can spare her behavior?
Well, she kind surprise me as an old one. I think that's alright. I can take it just fine.
Thank you very much for the forbearance. O, here the water to wash yourself. She says you'd better careful not to soak your
clothes. She doesn't want you to get freeze.
Thank you very much for your generosity. You two are good children. Your parents must be very proud of you.
The young man seemed rather surprised, he smiled and nodded.
Yes, of course. Now clean yourself, sir. And soon I am going to show you around the place.
Very well.
Kenshin reached for the bucket and closed the door.
Several minutes later they were standing on the small hill a little far from the large house. Grass grown high and dense,
covering several tumultous forms of graves. Most of the massive tombstones in poor conditions, ruined and scattered
everywhere as debris.
Here the family graveyard. Some peasants who turned into rebels raided this area and smashed the tombstones. Ruined the
house and took everything they could put their hands on.
What's the story about the last owner?
They said a son of a peasant who got suffered by the landlord one day came here in his position as the palace soldier. He
wanted to pay revenge. He slaughtered many of the landlord's bodyguards. Then slitted the landlord's throat, and gave
warning to his family that they should leave the place soon. For some peasants would also like to avenge those many years
of suffering under his oppression. So they fled and left this place into destruction.
He must be a high skilled warrior.
Yes, he is. We'd heard from a trusted source that he learned his remarkable fighting skill from a respectable invincible old
warrior. They said he lived a life in a hermitage, and would not easily accepted anyone wished to be his apprentice. That
soldier must have something exceptional about him so he got the honor of receiving the teaching.
Hmm..so it seems. And master Zhao knew the old warrior personally?
Yes. Those old warriors were considered the incredible of martial arts in the mainland today.
Then your people took this place as one of the base camps?
Right. Just imagine. This place had survived the Taiping Rebellion. And lost in the hands of a peasant boy paying revenge.
We thought its position fine enough for defense, and so far it had given us quite a shelter.
A fortress for the rebellion...Hmm... Sooner or later they're going to reach this area.
The troops you mean?
Right. The skirmishers. I and the boys could arrive this far, then they must be behind us.
They are not in big party campaign, I assume?
No. Just one platoon with several technicians. They are detached in quest for area suitable to erect telegraph poles.
Is there any chance they in attempt to occupy another area?
Not this one coming here. When we are heading to the north east perhaps we will encounter such party.
Along the border there are still several villages. Some our people are attempting to alert and help them to refuge. Hope
they are not engaged in the battle. They are not ready yet to face modern weapons.
Are you sure Takeshi will come here to meet us?
Well, our people are coming here with him along. Probably they got into another affair first.
Kenshin sighed, he looked up at the sky. The clouds kept moving to the west, scudded leaving bright blue sky above. Now
he wished that he could somehow get in touch with people back home. Telling them the worst situation and his inability to
protect the boys who desired to get home, back to their families. They were not a bunch of deserter, they didn't run away
from the battle. They just realized they were being used for the cause against their principles. Just like himself, who
were getting aware of the sides involved in passing conscript law upon him and Yahiko.
You must be worried about them a lot.
Excuse me?
Those young soldiers. You must be very concerned about their safety. I mean, they are already big boys now. Perhaps they
know how to watch over their own backs.
Kenshin smiled, folded his arms in front of his chest.
Well, they just volunteered to take side with me to save the prisoners. And that made them as deserters. So, I kind feel
responsible to make sure that they wouldn't get any harm and take them back to their families. At least that's what I got
from several days journey through that mountains, they wished to come home safe and sound. And now we lost four of them.
He bowed his head down and smiled bitterly.
I guest they put so much hope in me. They had a lot of trusts in me. And I let them down.
I am sure it's not your fault, Kenshin-sama. They made their own decisions, they must already know the risk. It's not an
adventure. It's a matter of life and death. It's a matter of conscious.
What if I tell you that they have no choice of being here? They were forced against their own will to serve something
wrong.
But you can't just blame yourself. I mean, they finally spoke against what they thought as evil. They stood up for what
they believe. And they were ready to take bullets for that. Now that was something we people admire from you. Decent,
honorable warriors from the land of the east.
And I just knew few of them at the military base at Hiroshima. Takeshi is the only one who ever learned at the dojo. The
other one or two, I just met them at the village. But they showed so much courage stood behind me to get the villagers out
of the chaos. There were no doubts in them, nor even occurred to their mind that probably they wouldn't get proper
gratitude from the people they'd just saved.
He breathed a sigh in grief.
I felt I've just dragged them into death eventually, by my selfishness.
I'm sure that's not what it looks like. You people only thought about injustices were going before you. And you fought
against it. They died honorably, in defending their own faith.
The people at the consulate might appreciate your wittiness. They must have approached you because of the shrewdness.
Zhuo Lung heaved a sigh, and looked up at the sky.
I still love my country, Kenshin-sama. When you realized what they were up to. You must make up your mind. And I decided to
take my own side without having to sacrifice my conscience.
Yes, that's what you should do, isn't it?
Sir, I assume that you are aware of those who have sent you here?
Well, not really. I've just got conclusion on things that I thought associated with the events happened in the last few
years. But I am still not sure.
Is there any chance it have any connection with your past?
Where do you get such conclusion?
Well, I am just guessing.
... I am still not certain whether it got to do with my past or not. One thing for sure, they've succeeded in dragging me
into their plans.
You think you should reject their order to be sent here?
I don't know. First they just pleaded. Begged me to get involved in special mission. To save the life of their relative.
One of my ex-comrades. Then suddenly they passed conscript law upon me and my friend. I can never turn down a request for
help. But the way they dragged me into this...well...
Zhuo Lung took a glimpse at his cousin who was watching them from the house. He grimaced, she looked grim.
Sir, why don't we just get back into the house? It seems my cousin has almost finished the cooking.
Really? She is a good cook, isn't she?
Well, she is. Master Zhao's sister who taught her. And she is very fierce in her instructions. She was a difficult old
woman.
And she got herself a marvelous student.
They both reached the main house at the time the girl was chasing around a brown fat duck. The animal ran towards them and
got a halt at Kenshin's feet. It was going to turn into other direction when his hands easily grabbed and raised it. The
girl approached him and snatched the animal from him, and suddenly she moved a large kitchen knife so fast in front of him.
The light followed the knife slashing the air in a blink of an eye, and the duck's neck was sliced in two, but it didn't
get cut off. It's head fell loosely to one side. And Kenshin was amazed on how she managed to prevent the blood from
spurting out. It was something not every cook could apply in cutting living things. It was an incredible skill of sword
fighting. The girl looked at him sharply, and left them to the kitchen with the carcass.
What's the matter, sir?
It seems we are going to eat a duck slashed by incredible sword style.
Zhuo Lung chuckled.
It's one of her marvelous techniques in cooking tender and crisp duck meat. The taste will be superb.
The old lady taught her that?
You will be surprised when you find out what other martial arts techniques she's good at. Together with her brothers, they
came from warrior family. They participated in putting down the Taiping Rebellion, though later they became the rebels
themselves.
Marvelous ancient fellow warriors...You should be proud as the young generation, you still have the chance to know them
personally and gain knowledge from them. And...
And what about you, Kenshin-sama? You're so humble, and Mr. Zhao Rong Zuo admires your high techniques so much. We all
consider you as the master.
O, please don't put so high value on me. I am nothing compared to those incredible warriors.
After hearing the witnesses from the villagers you've just saved? Even Li Zhi told us about how you could relieve yourself
from her vein locked techniques. And the way you assisted her with what she called a weird, arrogant, yet very effective
techniques. The rumors went fast among the rebels and the warriors, they claimed actually you are the one who brought
those forces here.
Really? Well, I'll be damned!
