Chapter 120 - The Long Ago Tale (2)

Yang Jinhai was just like his son in the past. Not believing in such a story but only what he sees with his eyes, "I can no longer deny it."

"What do you mean?" Yang Chen didn't understand what his father meant. He never took that story seriously, but a part of him never forgot about how it went. 

A long-ago tale that was so ancient, but was enforced to be passed down from their family to the next. To be reminded of their sin and the curse that has not yet been undone. It will follow their descendants from one generation to the next. 

Unfortunately, throughout time, the story became lost in translation. A prophecy given that was turned into a cursed. Then into a made-up story that they all laughed at for its absurdity. The story Yang Chen refused to believe in went like this…

[Long, long ago, a woman was walking down a dusty road. In her arms, she carried a newborn son who was so tiny and weak. Upon his birth, he never cried once like any healthy baby. When he sleeps, he slept like the dead, and when woken, it was only to be fed. 

She was tired and exhausted from giving birth recently. Though, as that was the case, she dragged her legs on this endless road. Trying to keep up with a group who was intentionally leaving her behind. They didn't want a sick and weak person pulling them down. Especially, not a person with a newborn! 

She begged them to wait for her, but the more she pleaded, the faster they walked. Their carriage kept on rolling until it was out of sight.

She broke down and leaned her weak body against a tree. The woman paid that group with everything she had. They didn't have to give her much in return. Only to please allow her and her newborn to travel with them.

The woman cried, but not too loud because she didn't want to wake up her newborn. She lost everything! Everything! All the gold, jade, and silk clothes she had were exchange for safety and food. Her properties were stolen or burned to the ground. 

What did she do to deserve this? She was angry and wanted to end her life right there on the spot. Then she was reminded why she fought so hard to stay alive. The tiny stir in the newborn asking to be fed broke her will to stop her thoughts.

She fed her baby and patted his head. That's right, she promised her husband to take care of their son. She cried again, almost breaking the last promise she made with him. The last promise made between them as husband and wife. 

The woman and her newborn were on the run from a war. Since they were the runner, that means it was their country that lost to the enemy. The emperor was killed, and his head was hung at the front gate. Set as an example for those who might oppose the new rulers. 

Her heart almost popped out of her chest as she sneaked out the gate that day. With the emperor dead, it shouldn't be long until someone issued to have all his officials killed. There was no way those wretched enemies will allow her and her child to be kept alive. Not a child who is a direct descendant of the Right Prime Minister from the Yang family. 

The woman was hungry, but she made sure her newborn was always well fed. 

"Eat this," A wrinkly hand held out a dirty and moldy bun. 

The woman who used to eat more than five different lavish dishes in one sitting didn't think twice to devour that bun. The woman who was used to having others bowed their head to her. She licked her dirty fingers to have that bun taste again. She didn't care because she had to keep herself alive! If she dies, no one will take her baby. 

"Child, you have been through a lot." said the person who gave the woman the bun, who was an elderly grandma. She patted the woman's head and caused her to burst into tears again. 

The woman doesn't know where this elderly grandma came from, but her words hit her hard. She was their life savior for another day. 

"Would you like this old woman to give you a prediction?"

The woman wasn't a believer and would have never associated herself with these people. She believed they were nothing more than swindlers. But this elderly grandma saved her life, so she kindly accepted the reading.

"I don't have anything to give you," The woman said, rocking her child who had fallen back asleep. All she had was given away to those who abandon her. There was only her child, but she will never give him up. 

"I don't need anything in return. Child, it was fate that brought me to you." The elderly grandma replied as she took the woman's hand and traced it. "From what I see, in this lifetime, this child would be your last."

The woman hugged her newborn son. As if she knew that her baby right now is her last, just like the elderly grandma said. 

"As time continues to turn and we are gone from this world. This child will go on and carry your family's bloodline. Your descendants will continue to roam and prevail through all that comes their way."

The woman cried again, but this time in relief. As a nonbeliever, she was still happy to hear her son will grow into an a.d.u.l.t. Whether it was true or not. She held onto the little belief that he will. 

"Your lineage will eventually get less and less as times goes on. Until only one child is born in every generation. They will be all son. After that, the mother may conceive but won't give birth." 

Even after being told that, the woman still didn't believe the elderly grandma's prophecy. Then the next part of the predictions convinced her soul and heart.