Chapter 8: Li Wei (1)

"Li Wei, tell me about yourself," she stare at the young guy eating dinner in front of her. Judging from his temperament and the way he eat, she can clearly see that this guy have a good upbringing, probably coming from a good, well educated family.

He stare at her for a while, stuffing another meat inside his mouth.

'For a 10 years old, her cooking skill is not bad.'

"Oh well, seems like I just need to interrogate you myself," she put down her bowl and stare at him.

"How old are you?"

"14 years old"

"Where are you from?"

"Donghai Province"

'Well, where the fuck is that, my knowledge about this place is so basic. Ahh nevermind…'

"I saw you reading the book on that table. You can read?"

"Of course..."

"So which school you go?"

"School…?" He paused for a while, thinking, "I went to school for a while, then I learn reading from a friend."

'Ahh I see. I'm home-schooled too. My master make me learn...'

"So by the way, why did you end up being sold as a slave?"

He stay quiet for a while, sorrow and sadness can be seen from his eyes.

"You know what, nevermind, you don't have to talk about it. I won't make you talk about it."

"Its okay, since you saved my life, I trust you with my life," he drink a cup of tea before continuing, " I was born in Donghai Province. My family is a merchant family doing business at the city. Donghai city is a city by the sea, it's a port famous for trading goods from all around the continence. Our family is one of the richest family in the city."

'Ahhh.. rich guy indeed.'

"When the war broke out 5 years ago, a lot of innocent citizens where killed in our city. The enemy's army are everywhere, killing thousands of lives. Because of the rich resources in our city and its location as a harbor city, the invading country wanted to take over the city and conquer it."

'5 years ago.. Her parents in this world were also killed in the war.'

"The night the army invade our city, it was chaos everywhere in the city. There is almost no where to run. Thousands of army are invading the city, they burn building everywhere and kill innocent lives. My parents took me through the secret path to the port, where a boat was waiting to take us away. However that night, we encounter an army blocking our path. My father try to divert their attentions so my mother and I can run away safely. We promised to meet at the port, but he never make it there."

Thinking about that bloody night, he can never forget how his father die brutally in the hands of the troops, while his mother and him hide in the shadow, trying not to cry watching his father who desperately trying to save his family.

"My mother and I managed to get away from the city that night, and the boat take us to a small fisherman town. My mother however, started to get sick. She was too depressed because of my father's death. Watching her cry everyday breaks my heart. She looks like a body without a soul. She cry all day, she refuse to talk with anyone, she even refuse to eat. 2 years later when I was 11, she passed away. I was so happy when she passed away, because I know she finally got what she wished for – she just want to be together with my father again. I scatter her ash in the ocean, then I join a merchant boat and sail around the continent."

He paused for a while, drinking another cup of tea.

"Since the past couple of years, I sailed with the merchant. However, few week ago, our boat was attacked by pirate when we were nearby this province. Most of the crews on the boat are either killed or captured as slaves. The separate us and took us to different places. They sold me to a mine owner and I was forced to mine. After few days there, the mine owner's daughter saw me and took a liking to me, and said that she want me to be her husband. She must be crazy, she's too violent and too ugly, I would rather die than marry her. So I try run away when she took me home, but I was captured back instead. They torture me for a week or so, before they sold me to the slave trader. That's how I meet you."

"Ahh I see.. Such an unfortunate life you have lived. You must suffer a lot."

There was a long pause between them.