Withering Bamboo

The chief led the trio to a large tent. It was supported by multiple bamboo poles and the canopy was made out of leaves.

The atmosphere around the tent was gloomy and there was always a number of people rotating in and out of it.

Inside the tent, there was a large number of people in the dozens that appeared to be asleep. Some had their family members by their side, anxiously holding their hand. Others had their family grieving over their loss.

No one said anything.

The Village Chief turned away and walked back to his house.

"The world is cruel." The Village Chief began his speech.

"It forces people to change. How could these people possibly welcome others when their loved ones have succumbed to ability rejection before their very eyes?

Not only do they have to deal with the pressure of gathering food to survive the next day, they also have to worry about the fear of being bestowed an ability their body cannot take. When faced with these circumstances, it is only natural that their hearts would change.

Previously, it was easy to welcome others with open arms because our hearts were full. We were happy with our lives and were more than welcome to let others in."

Shen felt a ripple in his heart. "What about you, chief? Why did you welcome us?"

The Village Chief shook his head bitterly. "Because I've already lost everything from the start."

And just like that, Shen's resolve trembled. His mind recalled back to their very first encounter when his parents left his infant self at the village. Shen was then picked up by the Village Chief who later entrusted him to the abbot of the Temple of Enlightenment atop Mt. Stupid.

The Village Chief was very kind to him back before he fully committed to his decision to become a monk. His mind drifted back to when they would make warm stew together every winter. Or when they would gather wild vegetables and steam them at the start of every spring. In all these instances, it was just the Village Chief who started these activities before all the other villagers would gather and do these fun tasks together.

The other villagers would gather their family to do these seasonal tasks together while the Village Chief would stand back with his warm smile and encourage them at the side.

Truly… the Village Chief has been alone all this time and he never questioned why. This was because he, Shen, who started with nothing was given everything he lacked by the Village Chief and the village itself.

"Because I've already lost everything, there's no need for others to suffer the same pain." The Village Chief continued. "However, this world is just too cruel. On top of having to watch their loved ones slowly wither away from ability rejection, they've recently started to see cases of recovery. Can you imagine the hope and despair these people go through?

Despair from when their families and peers suffer from ability rejection. Hope for when they saw that first case of recovery. They think to themselves 'Maybe he/she can recover too!' only to be met with the touch of their cold body the next morning.

What are they supposed to do with their feelings then? Those who had their family members recovered are elated beyond belief while those who suffered loss could only feel regret and jealousy. And thus, the cycle of hatred begins.

It doesn't help that those who have recovered are stronger than the others. Those who have lost could only grit their teeth and endure. This village is crumbling apart from the inside, Shen."

A single tear dropped from the Village Chief's eye when he finished his speech. They were already back at his house.

"Amitabha, thank you for enlightening this monk, Patron." Shen bowed deeply. His heart ached deeply like never before. He could do nothing to this pain and could only reflect on the chief's words.

Spring-Autumn was touched. "Such a good man, doomed to suffer." He could only sigh.

The Village Chief led them to their rooms. Shen had his own private room while Spring-Autumn was with Rainmist per their request.

It was just Spring-Autumn and Rainmist in the room now. The room was lightly furnished with a medium-sized bed, a desk, a cabinet, and interestingly enough, a violin on a stand. From the state it's in, it was obvious that it was well taken care of from the lack of dust on it.

"What's wrong?" Spring-Autumn suddenly asked Rainmist who has been quiet for a while.

When his voice reached her, she was already on her knees, almost in a fetal position.

"There's a chance of recovery from ability rejection? Could she be alive?" Rainmist whispered.

Spring-Autumn came to a knee in front of her and shook his head at her miserable state. It was only at the mention of her beloved daughter that she would crumble.

"How many days was it that you were left alone in that base when she was taken away?"

Rainmist did not answer. "It was her uncle! It was her uncle who took her away! He must've known!" Rainmist grabbed Spring-Autumn's hand and held it tightly. Her dark eyes had a look to it he has never seen before.

"Isn't that good then? Woden is fairly strong so she's in good hands." Spring-Autumn tried his best to calm her down but it might be for himself as well. His mind couldn't help but recall back to his days with Blue before the great change and when the great change occurred. She was his first crush and it translated to his desire for her mother with her disappearance.

"Yes! She must be! She must be!" Rainmist was so excited at the possibility that those were her last words before she fainted in the arms of Spring-Autumn.

"Let's hope that's the case so you don't experience that despair once again." Spring-Autumn prayed for the possibility of acquiring both the mother and daughter before lifting Rainmist's collapsed body onto the bed.