Chapter 9: Vol. 1 Chapter 9 - ‘Qin’
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***Two hours after leaving the 'Training-Area***
/povMC/
"Okay!.. eat up!.. now every bite you take I want you to chew and eat slow.. if you focus on eating you can feel the 'energy' being absorbed into your body.. these 'energies' will then go on to build up your muscles and strengthen your body.. eating and resting are just as important steps in training as any other.." I inform my brother as I hand him his share of the vegatable-filled 'steamed-buns' I made for us..
"Eat slow okay.. hmm.. mm.. so good.. I do feel it brother.. I can my sore muscles relaxing.." he says as he starts taking a bite of the buns.. enjoying the taste for sure..
"After we finish eating I want to go play a song with my 'qin' the gods sent me in a dream for my grandmother.." I told my little brother my plans..
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***after eating and returning to the Manor***
/povMC/
"Grandma!.. I wish to play you some music.. Jade could you hand me my 'qin' please my dear?.. This song is named "Qiao-County'.." I tell my grandma whilst Jade hands me the piano..
I take a breath and get focused for my performance.. I lightly started to 'pull' and 'pluck' at the strings made from the small-intestines of a sheep.. and I open my mouth to sing "Funny how she comes the night..
I need her more than ever..
I've been down in low cotton..
As lonesome as can be..
And I think about her often boys..
And even when I'm sober..
I read over the love notes..
The ones she wrote for me..
And if she wants one night..
Well that'd be just fine, well..
Somebody fetch my walkin' cane..
I'm gonna get my baby..
I'm gonna run to meet her 'neath..
The shadow of the pines..
She's gonna hop that 'horse-carriage'..
She'll get off at 'Qiao-County'..
Love me 'til the morning comes..
And leave me like a dream..
And I'd run to her through wheat fields..
And over 'cross the clover..
I'd wade a mile of briar patch, boys..
Just to touch her skin..
And I reckon I'm the foolish kind..
To beckon to her callin'..
But I can't seem to help myself..
Let that woman win..
And if she wants one night..
I'm gonna get what's mine, well..
Somebody fetch my walkin' cane..
I'm gonna get my baby..
I'm gonna run to meet her 'neath..
The shadow of the pines..
She's gonna hop that horse-carriage..
She'll get off at 'Qiao-County'
Love me 'til the morning.. comes..
And leave me like a dream..
Buddy, all I know..
Is I can't win.. for losing..
Either lay here.. in this lonely room..
Or let her have her way..
Buddy, all I need..
Is one night where.. she don't leave..
And this one just might.. be the night..
She decides to stay..
Somebody fetch my walkin' cane..
I'm gonna get my baby..
I'm gonna run to meet her 'neath..
The shadow of the pines..
She's gonna hop that horse-carriage..
She'll get off at 'Qiao-County'
Love me 'til the morning.. comes..
And leave me like a dream..
Love me 'til the morning.. comes.."
"The 'Land-Spirits have Blessed my 'Cao-Clan'!.. O 'blessed-by' the 'River-Spirits' my 'Cao-Clan'.. o such unique and wonderful music!.. o my goodness that was such a lovely piece of music my sweet angel.. you are so perfect.. when your mother returns from visiting your father at Luoyang.. I'll have her move her into the 'Master-Wing' with me here.. you can play music for both us anytime.. o how perfect!.. Ang! You must strive to be like your 'eldest-brother' it will be expected of you to support him in growing our family.. back into a behemoth that our ancestors can watch over proudly!.. too long has my 'Cao-Clan' slowly wither.. like the meat withering away from the bones from the refugees suffering starvation.. while the wealthy families in the capital feast on beef and 'wallor' in wines.. 'Cao-Clan' must be different!.. the 'emperor' will not help us!.. you two must become powerful 'young-masters'.. you will be the face of the entire clan in only a decade.. it sounds like a long time.. unfortunately my sweet boys it's not.." Grandmother says to us giving us a 'spiel' about 'responsibility'.. 'amateurish' ofcourse.. I crack my neck.. making little 'crack' and 'pop' noises.. the sound of my helmet 'rubbing' against my 'shoulder-guards' produced 'creaking' noises.. I took a breath ready to show my grandma how an actual 'spiel' sounds.. "Grandmother!.. Hear my words!.. The 'Han-Dynasty' is already dying!.. it was been afflicted by man-made diseases and disasters.. it has been ravaged!.. soon the 'chaos' will start.. The 'Azure-Sky' is over!.. The 'Yellow-Sky' will 'soon-rise'!.. the 'gods' have sent me their warnings!.. thats why I want permission from you to recruit 'servants' from the 'county-seat' to build a 'Clan-Guard'.. the 'yellow-turbans' will be in 'open-rebellion' with the 'Han-Dynasty' within two years.. it is 'known'.." I inform my grandmother..
"The Taoists!?.. I knew it!.. I told Song!.. They have been trying to win the 'hearts' of the people!.. O no!.. so many of them are spread all over the country!.. we must have our owned 'armed-forces'.. Yes we will have 'house-keeper' Lin accompany to 'Qiao-Town' to buy young men and woman who are being sold or selling themselves.. this instant!.. Jade!.. fetch the 'house-keeper' for me quickly girl!.." she 'rants' out before ordering Jade to fetch 'house-keeper' Lin..
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***After Jade returned bringing the 'house-keeper' as ordered***
/povLin/
I enter the 'main-hall' of the 'Cao-Mansion'.. following behind 'Jade-Phoenix' the 'personal-maid' of the 'eldest-grandson'.. good gods!.. "'Eldest-Grandson'!.. is these weapons and armor real!?.. were they crafted by the 'gods'!?.." I could help but shout out..
The 'five-year' old 'eldest-grandson' of the 'Qiao-County'.. 'Cao-Clan'.. standing all of three and a half maybe feet of height.. completely armored hold his 'flying-serpent' helmet.. in one of his arms.. looking like a 'child-of-war' born from 'ancient-spirits' told in the stories the old 'wise-men' would tell.. when I was just a boy of ten.. that was over thirty five years ago.. now I am still the same age as my 'young-master'.. 'Cao-Song'.. the now 'Head-of-Family' of the entire clan..
"Do not ask questions you shouldn't!.. you have been loyal to this clan for generations.. thats the only reason you still live Lin.." the 'Madam-Ding' shouted at me.. making me 'clam-up'..
"Forgive me 'Family-Head'!.. Please punish me!.. I am the 'Cao-Clan's' most loyal servant 'First-Madam'!.." I shout while 'kowtowing'.. whilst slamming my forehead with enough force on the 'hard-wood' floors of the mansion..
'Bringing' blood to flow from 'cracks' in the skin on the top of my face.. to flow down past my eyes to the bottom of my chin.. then onto 'dripping-off' my chin.. and falling onto the floor.. collecting into small 'puddles' of my 'lost-blood'..