Chapter 19: Hidden path to Ziwei.

Qin Qianyu's internal body clock woke her up on time. Using a damp cloth she wiped the sleep out of her eyes and settled into doing an hour of breathing exercises.

Bai Saan started to stir and after stretching and yawning the tiger plodded around Qin Qianyu for some attention.

"Little cat, don't disturb her, come, let's clear our minds with a walk."

The tiger had its head lowered the entire time grandpa Wú spoke, two parts respect and awe and one half fear had flooded it's instincts.

The tiger seemed to understand and followed after grandpa Wú.

He scoffed when he noticed the tigers attitude towards him versus his disciple.

The pair walked sometime and soon found themselves heading down a densely covered old path.

Although it was covered in tall grasses, vines and other types of foliage, to grandpa Wú it was like taking a stroll around his own garden at home.

"Things never change, only time and people."

Grandpa Wú muttered to a confused Bai Saan. The pair had come into contact with a large flat stone standing upright like a giant seed wanting to sprout.

That was the inscription written by two different people, a statement followed by a rebuttal forming a single concise sentence.

"Things never change, only time and people."

Grandpa Wú along with Bai Saan walked around the stone monolith. Some time later they entered into a clearing and a small lake could be seen in the distance, in the middle of that lake sat a large mound island with three Jade pillars.

Once closer, the Jade pillars turned out to be unmarked headstones for three different people.

The tiger sat on the bank while grandpa Wú, used his movement technique to flash across the body of water.

Kowtowing in turn he finished up and started clearing away the weeds and over growth as he started cleaning around the mound.

His actions were quick, precise, and without complaints.

He then returned to the headstones and washed them all thoroughly.

When he was done, he sat down facing the middle headstone.

"Qingxuan, a month ago the prediction you made came true. 35 years since you left me she turned up at my door. Did you know then that I would be at my wits end? Did you know that I would be in that very room, on that very day that I'd be there at the moment in time with a noose already around my useless and tired neck?"

"You know Qingxuan, If it weren't for Xiaoyu's crisps clear voice calling out that day, I may have stayed in the torturous and toxic trance that's been plaguing me all those years and I would have followed to find you . . . "

Grandpa Wú was reminiscing about the day Qin Qianyu entered the studio. On that day he was actually planing on taking his own life, the time frame for his disciple's arrival had lapsed by a single minute, so, he was determined to follow after his Master in shame.

However, Qin Qianyu's clear voice boomed inside his mind like lightning and thunder as she called out for assistance. Grandpa Wú threw the noose that was already around his neck off and hurried towards the voice.

He watched as she introduced herself and offered a polite and sincere bow. It was at that time that he spied the Jade around her neck, visions flashed in his mind in a an instant, he remembered this Jade precisely, as his master had gifted it to a person she had bumped into and told the woman she was to pass it on to her own daughter because it will help shape her destiny in the future.

That woman was Qin Qianyu's birth mother.

At that time she was still very young, not even a preteen, but, she knew of and even had recalled that this Master Qingxuan was a person who did calculations for rich and famous people so she didn't find faults in her words.

Qin Qianyu's birth mother made sure that no matter what, this Jade was to be given to her daughter and she did manage to pass it on to Qin Qianyu through her own mother, Qin Qianyu's grandmother, Granny Liu.

After thinking about what he was about to do and the reason why he was about to do it, Grandpa Wú wanted to punch himself in the face so hard.

He told the headstone every little detail of their time together to date.

"Oh that's right, guess what? Hehe, I've also recollected and passed on all of your needles and your techniques. Xiaoyu's a quick learner you know. We also almost missed getting the main needle but we manage to obtain it in the end thankfully."

"But that's not all, she even got herself a damn cat just like you! Even the naming sense of hers is just like yours! I can't even fathom."

Grandpa Wú spoke about Bai Saan and looked to his left towards the other Jade pillar.

The Jade pillar was representative of her pet "cat" Baixi. Qingxuan had named the tiger as such because she had found it right here in this very hidden gully next to a stream.

The old man spoke softly, he laughed, he got angry, but he mostly sighed a lot. All of these emotions were brought out as he recounted his days with Qin Qianyu.

"Although you two share many similarities, Xiaoyu has many many more attributes unique to herself, she's like you in a sense but also she is not, but more importantly, the girl really has no shame! But she understands herself. Haa! I wish she had your mouth though, honestly . . . sometimes It feels like I'm speaking with a god damn delinquent or gangster! But . . . I guess that's what makes Xiaoyu . . . Xioayu!"

Grandpa Wú smiled lightly, tears gathered at the corners of his eyes. They fell as he lowered his head,

"Qingxuan . . Everyday it gets harder and harder, I . . . I really miss you . ."

Cough cough

"I remember, I was the same age that Xiaoyu is now when you had taken me as your disciple. I remember thinking how both my parents were against sending me to you, then when you told them that the Wú family would experience grand and significant changes for the better, only then did they agree. Did you know that at that time I felt like a sack of rice? Hmm, it was because I'd been sold off, in my mind, I wasn't a person but a thing. It hurt me to know that those people never considered me human let alone their own child or sibling. My disciple is different, the things she values and cherishes are reciprocated. I can only look on in envy. Unlike her, I had grown dependent on you, my master, you, Baixi and even that damn Bug eyes! Haise! Just remembering that damn pug is creeping me out!"

Grandpa Wú's face twisted thinking how he was scammed into buying a bug eyed pug after being told it was a Shih Tzu.

"Well, at least I got to spend 20 years with you, but, it looks like I can't even spend a year with my own disciple . . . How useless am I?"

Cough cough cough cough!

"Haa! It looks like I'll be seeing you three real soon Master."

Grandpa Wú sat in silence for a long while before getting and leaving the hidden grove with Bai Saan.

Soon the pair arrived back to Qin Qianyu finishing off her morning training with the Shadowless steps thrown into the mix.

She had found that not only had her foot movement speed increase but also her attacks and evading skills.

The Shadowless steps encompassed her entire range of movement from kicks, punches and dodging.

Grandpa Wú didn't interfere he started making a simple meal for her while she finished her self training.

Like clockwork the pair both finished what the other were doing and came together.

Grandpa Wú hand Qin Qianyu a half damp half dry towel to wipe off with then the pair sat down to eat.

"Master did you sneak off for a drink? I can smell wine on your breath."

"Mhm, it was quite cold I needed some liquor to warm up."

Grandpa Wú replied, he didn't mention to her what he had done or where he had went when she started her breathing exercise before doing her training.

That space was only for him, plus he didn't want his disciple to feel obligated. She should grow, love and live her life, her way.

That was how he saw it. He was just a small resource to her growth and a little blip in her journey.

"So what's next? Are we going to adventure around the forest here?"

"Nope, our plans were thrown out of whack because of those poachers and the incident at Shenlong. So we have to go meet some people and sort out the documents to bring Bai Saan home with us!"

Qin Qianyu's eyes went wide, she shot straight up and pranced to grandpa Wú's side. She took his hands in hers,

"Grandpa! Are you fooling me!? You're not allowed to fool me!"

"Heh heh! My Xiaoyu is too smart to be fooled, after breakfast we'll go meet some people to transport Bai Saan and for you to sign the required documents to keep him in your care."

"Haha! Grandpa is the best! . . But would having a tiger in the city be alright for him?"

"What do you mean!? Have you not been to a zoo? The studio's backyard is enough to be his enclosure and when we go on road trips like this, don't tell me you're going to leave him behind?"

"But what about when I move to the capital? I can't leave him with you! He'll die of a heart attack from your awesomeness!"

"Who said I only have the one studio!? There are two in the capital, the main studio is where our other house is."

"Oh yeah! Haha grandpa is truly the best, you've thought of everything on my behalf. Grandpa how should I reward you?"

"Don't mind me, you're my one and only disciple after all."

"Grandpa you've never married right? Should I set up a blind date for you!?"

" . . . "

"Shelly kid! What's wrong with being single!? Huh!?"

"Mhm!? Well said grandpa, I'm with you on that! Let's both stay single forever! Besides they even have products to cater towards ones "needs" oh let's also make a rule, we can look, we're allowed to look but nothing else Deal!? Deal! So let's just stay the way we are right now forever!"

" . . . "

The light in grandpa Wú's eyes dimmed when he heard her declaration.

"Sorry my girl, I may have to disappoint you on that one, but until then I'll do my utmost."

He thought to himself as his smile grew from seeing the excitement flowing out of Qin Qianyu as she and Bai Saan rolled around the grass together.

Cough cough cough cough!

"Grandpa!"

Grandpa Wú's eyes were red and his skin colour changed as he waved Qin Qianyu off,

"I'm fine, some food went down the wrong way, don't mind me keep playing,"

Grandpa Wú got up and move away to a more isolated spot as he coughed he was bringing up blood. He spun his eyes around to make sure Qin Qianyu wasn't around.

He saw her in the corner of his eye coming towards him. He started removing his trousers and squared down when Qin Qianyu saw this she froze on the spot, turned around and walked the other way.

Grandpa Wú watch as she walked away and sighed heavily in relief.

After his pretend act, Grandpa Wú acted as if nothing was wrong and soon the trio set off in the direction of the airport to meet up with the people who would deal with the paper work for Bai Saan.

By the time the pair had finished with all the necessary paper work a permit was issued on the spot for Bai Saan and the day had turned to night.

Qin Qianyu even got a complimentary collar and harness for him. She put them on him and guided him into the area for stowing pets.

"Bai Saan it's only for a little while, so have a nap, or better yet make some friends, that way if you meet them again you'd have some one to talk too."

"Rorrrh!"

Bai Saan nudge his head against Qin Qianyu's body, she wrapped herself over his entire face to the disbelief of the animal control staff tasked with loading and transporting people's pets

"Alright be good, remember if you bite off a hand, make sure no one sees you, that way you won't be blamed."