Chapter 1: Liu Jin

Chapter 1: Liu Jin

This is a world of countless heroes and countless legends.

It is the year 506 of the current Emperor's reign, and the Crimson Cloud Empire is enjoying a time of peace and good fortune. The Empire is strong. Its borders are at peace. The people are happy and prosperous.

All is well.

Among the countless cities in the Empire, Eastern Port City is not the largest city nor is it the smallest. It is not the oldest city nor is it the youngest. It is a city like many others, just a coastal city located close to the northern border of the Empire.

Our story begins with children fighting in its streets.

"Take it back!" One child cries out.

The child is a small one. He has barely seen seven years in this world and has never once seen another city. His hair is black which is not uncommon in Eastern Port City. His eyes, however, are ruby red, something that has always drawn its fair share of stares.

His name is Liu Jin, and he is angry.

"Take it back," Liu Jin says once more. His hands are already clenched into small fists.

"Why should I?" One of the other kids shoots back. There are two of them, both are taller and older than Liu Jin. "I didn't lie. My father said so. Your father is a useless cripple. Everyone in the city knows that."

"My father is not a cripple!" Liu Jin shouts. His face is red with anger, and his fists tremble. However, the two kids pay his anger no mind. They just laugh.

"Yes, he is," the final kid says. "I heard my father talking about it as well. He said your father is only good at hiding behind the Xiao Sect. Otherwise, no one would bother with his fake medicines."

"My father said the same thing. You are just a useless cripple's son. I bet your father is already teaching you how to steal people's money for the Xiao Sect."

That is all the seven-year-old can take. No child who loves his father can stand by when others badmouth him. Liu Jin's tiny fist flies.

It is a sloppy swing. Too slow. Too wide. Too weak.

Even his fist is badly made.

Against another kid, it is enough. The blow lands right on the face of the child nearest to him, making him stagger back a couple of steps.

"My father is not a liar!" Liu Jin shouts the words before throwing another punch. "And he is not a useless cripple."

This time he punches the other kid. The child is caught by surprise by Liu Jin's sudden actions so the blow hits home.

"You've done it now, cripple's boy," says the kid he first punched. He is already advancing towards Liu Jin with his fist ready.

"Yeah," says the other. "Maybe if you're lucky, you'll end up a cripple like your father."

It is two against one, and they are both bigger than him yet Liu Jin does not run. He is angry and just wants to keep hitting the two. He wants to make them regret ever bad-mouthing his father.

Like that, a simple brawl between children starts.

Needless to say, Liu Jin loses.

~~~

"You have been fighting," Liu Jin's father, Liu Jianguo, says.

It is nighttime already. His father has him sitting on the table as he applies ointment over his bruises. Liu Jin is trying very hard to avoid his father's disapproving gaze.

However, his father is not deterred.

"Except for me," Liu Jianguo says. "No matter how hard I try, I cannot cultivate. My meridians are too damaged. The energy won't flow properly through my body. Whether I like it or not, I cannot deny I am a cripple."

He says it all with complete calmness. There is no shame or sadness. There is no bitterness.

It simply is.

"Is it really that bad?" Liu Jin asks. He manages to find the strength to look at his father's eyes. "Is not being able to use Qi really such a bad thing?"

"Of course, it is," Liu Jianguo replies without hesitation. "There are many things you can do without strength. However, there are many more things you cannot do without strength. If I had strength, I would have shut down those rumors a long time ago. Instead, I can only heal my son's bruises after he tried to defend my honor."

The words cause Liu Jin to flinch. "I am sorry, father," Jin says, bowing his head. "It is just... to me, father is the greatest no matter what people say!"

No matter how many bruises he gets, his father can make them go away. No matter how sick he gets, his father will fix him. Every day, Liu Jin sees his father help someone. No matter how sick the person is, his father will heal them. No matter who gets brought to the clinic, his father will make them better, sometimes for free.

How is that not amazing?

Regardless of what people say, his father is the greatest. Liu Jin believes that from the bottom of his heart.

To be able to heal people like his father is without a doubt Liu Jin's fondest wish.

"That is why... I couldn't just do nothing when I heard them talking about father like that!"

How can he stand by and let them trample the name of the man he admires the most? It is impossible. He knows this. No matter what his father says, he cannot change it. Liu Jin can only wait his father's rebuke.

However, no such thing comes.

Liu Jin blinks in surprise when he feels his father's hand on his head.

"Ah, what to do? What to do?" His father says. Liu Jin looks up and finds a small smile on his father's face.

"Father?"

"Yes, I am that, and as your father, I should tell you to stop getting into fights even if it is to protect your father's name... especially if it is to protect my name. I do not need my son fighting my battles."

Liu Jin opens his mouth but a look from his father silences him.

"However, I cannot fault your heart, son." The smile on Liu Jianguo's face grows. "Your judgement needs work, but it would be a waste if I tried to curb those tendencies now. You wished to defend something important to you. What type of father would I be if I told you acting like that is wrong?"

Liu Jin is confused but happy with his father's words. "Then?"

"I have no interest in healing your bruises in the future, so it would be best if I made sure you aren't wounded anymore. It may be a little early, but I'll talk with Xiao Zheng tomorrow."

A bright smile breaks across Liu Jin's face. "Thank you, father!" He says, bowing.

A second passes before the words fully hit him.

"The Xiao Sect?" He asks, lifting his gaze a little.

"Who else?" His father replies. His smile now has a teasing edge to it.

Liu Jin does not have anything against the Xiao Sect. They help his father, and the Xiao Sect's Patriarch has always been nice to him.

It is just...

Xiao Fang is a butthead.

~~~