Chapter 01 Every Scar Has A Story

Zhu Mingyang stared at the punishment pole standing in the middle of the training yard. He is familiar with this pole, because it was here that he traded his life for revenge. It was here, that he realized that someone still cared about him.

Zhu Mingyang was not sure whether what he heard was correct, but he heard the voice of Gu Yinjie calling his name. Then he saw Gu Yingjie flying towards him. He no longer remembers how many times he has recused Gu Yingjie or how many times Gu Yingjie has recused him, but it doesn't matter, because he liked that sweet soft voice calling "Mingyang".

In the tavern, an oil lamp illuminates the entire room. The blood from Zhu Mingyang's right chest slowly flowed to the right chest, dripped down through the frim abdomen, and soaked into the belt around his waist.

There are many scars on Zhu Mingyang's back. There are some faded scars and some newer scars. Zhu Mingyang grabbed a piece of white cloth from the table and pressed it firmly on wound on his right chest. Many people might think the wound is painful and they couldn't tend the wound themselves, but for Zhu Mingyang, he becomes prone by such wounds and no longer feels pain. Then the knocked on the door make Zhu Mingyang look up. He saw Gu Yingjie holding a wooden basin.

Zhu Mingyang said, "Go over with your right foot, walk straight for ten steps, and then put the wash basin on the table."

Gu Yingjie lifted his right foot over the door frame on the ground and he walked ten steps straight forward. His right knee bumped the chair in front of him. He stopped and put the water basin on the table. He guided himself with the table and sat next to Zhu Mingyang. He sat patiently, waiting for Zhu Mingyang to finish cleaning his wound.

Zhu Mingyang asked, "How are your eyes?"

Gu Yingjie replied, "I can start see shadows like figures."

Zhu Mingyang, "So, Mu Dishi didn't lie."

Gu Yingjie, "The gentleman with him said Mu Dishi don't lie."

Zhu Mingyang clean up his wound, after applying the medicine to the wound, and placed a cloth gaze on the wound. He passed the long white cloth to Gu Yingjie. Gu Yingjie helped wrapped around Zhu Mingyang's shoulder. After tying the cloth, he wrapped his arm around Zhu Mingyang's waist and leaned his left face on Zhu Mingyang's shoulder. Zhu Mingyang could feel his warm tears falling on Zhu Mingyang's right shoulder.

Zhu Mingyang said, "Yingjie, don't let anyone see your tears. As the heir to the Gu family, you better know not to cry. If the enemy sees your tears, they will end your life without hesitation." He stretched out his hand and wiped Gu Yingjie's tears.

Gu Yingjie, "Mingyang, you will be the only one who sees me crying." He moved his hand over to Zhu Mingyang's left abdomen and toward Zhu Mingyang's back. He stroked the long scar on Zhu Mingyang's left abdomen to the back with his fingers. "Mingyang, every scar on your body is because of me. No matter how many scars you have, I will always remember all the scars, especially this one." He stroked his fingers beside the big scar. "This is your first scar. That wolf's claws were so long. I thought you would die then."

Zhu Mingyang, "But I didn't."

Gu Tingfuang sat on a chair in a spacious open-air arena. Standing next to the stairwell were his eight sons and four daughters. There are five eldest sons and three younger sons. Gu Tingfuang raises his children equally without gender prejudice, so the Gu's children are ranked by age, and Gu Yingjie ranks tenth among the twelve children.

Gu Tingfuang said, "Bring in the debtor who sold his life to the Gu family."

A group of twenty men, four women and a little boy walked in front of Gu Tingfuang, his children, and his disciples. One of the elder member read the name of each debtor. Some of these debtors are vagrants or criminals. After he read the background of each debtor. He looked at Gu Tingfuang and said, "Leader Gu, that is all the debtors."

Gu Tingfuang looked at his children and his disciples. He said, "Each of you, choose your guard. Your guard's job is to protect your life with their own life. Everyone standing in front of us sold their lives to us. You are the sole owner of your guard. Your guard will only listen to you, not even me." He looked at his children and disciples. "The eldest will choose first."

After everyone has chosen, there were only five debtors left, and these four debtors were inexperienced debtors expect for Lou Longwei.

Gu Zhiruo touched Gu Yingjie's left sleeve. She was scared and said, "Ge, I'm very sad."

Gu Yingjie smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, this is just a family tradition."

Gu Tingfuang looked at the three youngest children and said, "Yingjie, you are next."

Gu Yingjie, "Father, if you are okay, I would let the two youngest children to choose first."

Gu Tingfuang smiled and said, "It is rare to sacrifice for others. I will allow it."

After his two sibling chosen their guard. There is only an old woman, a young man and a little boy left standing in front of everyone.

The elder member senior of Gu Household read again, "Grandma Yang sold her life to the Gu family to avenge the death of her grandson. She is eighty years old. Luo Longwei is twenty one years old and sold his life to the Gu family for protection from his enemies. He has good swordsmanship skills. Zhu Mingyang is thirteen years old and sold his life to the Gu family to avenge his mother's death."

Gu Yingjie looked at the little boy who was three years older than him. The little boy did not speak to anyone or make eye contact. The little boy looked sad, but Gu Yingjie could see the determination in the eyes of the sad boy.

Everyone inside the arena already knew that Gu Yingjie would defiantly choose Luo Longwei.

Gu Yingjie said, "Zhu Mingyang."

Everyone gasped.

Gu Tingfuang looked at the young Gu Yingjie, "Jie'er, are you sure?"

Gu Yingjie, "Yes father. I choose Zhu Mingyang as my guard."

Gu Tingfuang, "Take Grandma Yang to the kitchen, and Luo Longwei underground." He looked at the chosen guards. From now on, each of you will train hard. Your task is to protect the life of your master, even if it means sacrificing your own life. If your master is injured, you will be severely punished. From now on, your life, belongs to your master."

For the next four months, the chosen guards trained rigorously and arduously every day. After they completed the first level of training, the guards was instruct to follow the Gu children on a hunting trip.

Zhu Mingyang and Gu Yingjie wandered in the woods until Gu Yingjie was tired, and they decided to sit beside a rock to rest.

Gu Yingjie looked at Zhu Mingyang shyly and said, "Mingyang, I want to pee." He ran behind the rock and untied his belt.

Gu Yingjie saw the little Gu Zhiruo and her personal guard picking up flowers. Gu Zhiruo put a flower onto her guard's right ear and he smiled at her. Then an arrow came out of nowhere, piercing the guard's left chest. When Gu Zhiruo's guard fell to the ground, another arrow flew out piercing Gu Zhiruo's chest. The little five years old girl fell beside her guard.

Gu Yingjie slowly hid himself behind the stone. After a while, he didn't see anyone walking by, so he crawled back to Zhu Mingyang slowly.

Zhu Mingyang asked, "Why are you crawling?"

Gu Yingjie covered Zhu Mingyang's mouth and they hid themselves in between two small rocks. They don't know who these two masked men are, but they can say that these two masked men are here to kill them.

Man one, "I thought I saw him here."

The second person laughed and said, "There are other opportunities to kill him."

Zhu Mingyang and Gu Yingjie waited until almost sunset before they came out of hiding. When they began to walk back to the Gu resident, it was already dark. They could heard wolves howls through the night.

Zhu Mingyang, "Hurry…walk faster." He grabbed Gu Yingjie's right hand.

When the two little boys came out of the forest, a little wolf was waiting for them. The wolf growled at the two little boys. Zhu Mingyang put Gu Yingjie behind him. The wolf rushed to the two little boys. Zhu Mingyang pushed Gu Yingjie back when the wolf jumped towards Zhu Mingyang. Zhu Mingyang's push caused Gu Yingjie to fall to the ground and sprain his ankle. The wolf jumped forward and nailed Zhu Mingyang to the ground.

Zhu Mingyang was pinned down by the wolf. The wolf opened his mouth to bite Zhu Mingyang, but he quickly grabbed the wolf's neck with both hands. The claw of the wolf's right leg pierced Zhu Mingyang's left abdomen. Zhu Mingyang knew that if he gave up now, the wolf would kill him and then Gu Yingjie. He squeezed the wolf's neck hard. The more pain the wolf's leg inflicted on Zhu Mingyang, the harder he squeezed the wolf's neck. After struggling for a while, the young wolf finally gave up and died. Zhu Mingyang threw the wolf from on top of him. He heard Gu Yingjie crying. Zhu Mingyang slowly got up and looked at the young frightened master.

Gu Yingjie cried, "Mingyang… Mingyang…I can't stand up."

Zhu Mingyang bent down and said, "I will carry you back home."

Zhu Mingyang and Gu Yingjie returned to the Gu Manor. Gu Tingfuang was outrange. He just received a message that his youngest daughter was killed by two unknown people, and now he saw Gu Yingjie limping to him. He was very angry. He looked at the injured Zhu Mingyang coldly.

Gu Tingfuang said angrily, "Do you think I was joking when I said, if your master got hurt, you will be punish severely?"

Zhu Mingyang, "No."

Gu Tingfuang, "Good. Since this is your first time, and I am not a heartless man. You will receive three whip lashes on your back. Do you have any objections?"

Zhu Mingyang, "No."

Two guards came and dragged Zhu Mingyang onto the pole. One of the guards stretched out his whip and began to whip.

When the first whip fell on Zhu Mingyan's back, he felt his skin torn. The wound burned like a fire, and the pain caused him to fall to his knees. When the second whip fell on his back, it hurt so much that he void on his pants, but he didn't cry. When the third whip fell on his back, it was so painful that he passed out.

When Zhu Mingyang regained consciousness, he was already inside the woodshed lying on a straw mat. His left abdomen and the three whip lashes on his back were bleeding badly. Then, the door slowly opened, and Gu Yingjie secretly closed the door behind him.

Gu Yingjie cried and said, "Mingyang, I'm sorry...It's my fault that you were hit." He handed Zhu Mingyang a bottle of medicine.

Zhu Mingyang said, "I promise that I will become the strongest guard in the history of the Gu family. I will protect you until the last breath." He stretched out his bloody hand and wiped Gu Yingjie's tears. "You better know not to cry. If your enemies see your tears, they will end your life without hesitation."