Chapter 12 Names To Their Face

After returning to the room, Guozhao Zhiqiang put Deming on the chair. He grabbed the towel and wiped the rain off Deming's head and face. Then three gently knock knocked on the door.

Tam Qiu stood outside holding a tray with a bowl of medicine and clothes. She looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang and said, "Senior brother, it's me."

Guozhao Zhiqiang nodded at Tam Qiu. Tam Qiu walked in with a smile on his face. She put the on the table.

Tam Qiu, "Brother Deming, I'll change your bandage for you." She looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Senior brother, I have Ah Kun ordering food downstairs, do you mind getting it."

Guozhao Zhiqiang stood up and walked out the door without saying a word.

Tam Qiu smiled and said, "Don't take it to heart, senior brother is always like this." She took off Deming's robe and began to tend his wound. "You know it's rare to see senior brother is so caring towards others, and you can see it yourself. He has a cold attitude. I didn't expect that he would be so worried about you." She wrapped his wound. "You are the second person he cares about outside of our classmates."

Deming asked, "Who is the first?"

Tam Qiu, "You met him. Hu Dingxiang from Snow Sector. You look so much like him. Maybe you two are twins, or close relatives like Ah Kun mentioned."

Guozhao Zhiqiang was walking along the corridor to the main hall of the inn. He met Hu Dingxiang. He slowly walked past Hu Dingxiang, and Hu Dingxiang grabbed his wrist.

Hu Dingxiang asked, "How is he?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said without looking at Hu Dingxiang, "He will live."

Hu Dingxiang, "Zhiqiang, did he say anything?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "He didn't say you were involved. He hasn't seen the boss's face."

Hu Dingxiang, "What are you talking about?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, "What did I promise you nine years ago?"

Hu Dingxiang, "I don't remember."

Guozhao Zhiqiang chuckles and said, "Of course, how do you remember things you haven't heard of?" He looked at Hu Dingxiang. "Do you know what the interesting part is?"

Hu Dingxiang asked, 'What?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "Nine years ago, he remembered every word I said to him in that bamboo guesthouse, and you did not remember a word of our conversation."

Hu Dingxiang, "You mean I have something to do with this?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang stared straight at Hu Dingxiang, "You took me back to Mountain Village because you need me to help you win the competition, in order to marry Deputy Zhou's daughter. To ensure that I will help you, you let Deming replace you and he spent those two days and one night with me. Am I right?"

Hu Dingxiang, "What are you talking about? I don't know anything about it. So, when you asked me, I didn't understand what you were talking about? I just met Deming today. I am as confused as you are. I want to talk to him. I want to know if he is my lost cousin that my mother often mentions."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "You have a cousin brother?"

Hu Dingxiang, "Yes. I always go out hunting because my mother told me to find him. Do you think I want to marry Zhou Caihong? I did it because my mother asked me too. She's getting older. This is the only way I can repay her."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "I see. You can be a good son and continue to fulfill your mother's wish." He took three steps forward and stopped. Guozhao Zhiqiang turned to look at Hu Dingxiang. "A warning to you." He stared at Hu Dingxiang's eyes. "Stay away from Deming. I will not let anyone harm or take him away from me."

Hu Dingxiang, "When I tell you I like you, I'm serious." He grabbed Guozhao Zhiqiang's arm.

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "Back then when I told you that I wanted you to go with me, I was also very serious." He pulled his arm away and walked towards the main dining hall.

Tam Qiu smiled at Deming and said, "There ... all done." She poured a cup of tea and handed it to Deming. "Brother Deming, why are you running away?"

Deming said, "I don't want to be a burden to anyone."

Tam Qiu smiled at Deming, "I don't think senior brother would mind. I'm stepping out, you can change." She walked to the door and closed the door.

After a while, Guozhao Zhiqiang walked into the room with a tray of food. He puts the dishes on the table. He picked up his chopsticks and handed to Deming.

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "Eat something. Did you tell me you are hungry?"

Deming slowly stretched out his right hand, reached out and grabbed the food. Deming stuffed some food in his mouth. This reminded Guozhao Zhiqiang of the night they had dinner nine years ago. Deming eats with his hands. Guozhao Zhiqiang stood up and sat beside Deming. He took out his handkerchief and wiped the oil stains on Deming's mouth and Deming's hands.

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "Don't you know how to use those chopsticks?"

Deming shook his head. Guozhao Zhiqiang picked up the rice in the bowl and fed Deming with chopsticks. After eating, Guozhao Zhiqiang carried Deming back to bed.

Deming, "I can walk to the bed. You don't have to hold me."

Guozhao Zhiqiang blew out the candles and climbed onto the bed.

Deming, "Why don't you go to your room?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "This is my room."

Deming, "Should I go to another room?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "You have no money to pay for your own room."

Deming, "Then I will sleep on the floor. I don't want to..."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "I will do nothing, you are injured. Go to sleep." Guozhao Zhiqiang stared at Deming in the dark. He has never told anyone, even his shimu, he can see in the dark. Deming blinked in the dark, perhaps doing some thoughtful thinking. Deming cute innocent face put a smiled on Guozhao Zhiqiang's face.

It was close to midnight when the thunder resounded across the night sky, and heavy rain fell heavily on the roof tiles. Deming's cry for help awakened Guozhao Zhiqiang.

Deming murmured in his sleep, "Please let me go. I didn't see your face." He started sobbing softly. "Someone helps me. Please help me."

Guozhao Zhiqiang stretched out his hand and hugged Deming into his arms, "I am here, and I will always protect you." His words calmed Deming's breathing. He kissed Deming on the forehead. "I am here. Don't be afraid, I will protect you."

Early the next morning, the Guozhao hunters and the four disciples of Snow Sector sat in the dining hall having breakfast before they parted ways. Hu Dingxiang's eyes fell on Deming. Deming also stared at Hu Dingxiang.

Frist Snow Sector disciple, "Second senior brother, that person looks so much like you."

Second Snow sector disciple said, "If you two stands together, it will be hard to tell who is who at first glance."

Hu Dingxiang, "My mother told me that I have a cousin who has been lost since childhood. We look exactly the same. When I have a chance, I want to talk with him."

First Snow sector disciple, "He is with the Guozhao hunters."

Tam Liang put his bag on the table and said, "Senior brother, we are ready to leave."

Tam Kun looked around the table and said, "Senior brother, the Snow Sector disciples are going to Capital City."

Tam Qiu said, "The road is for everyone to share, not just us. We must keep an open mind."

The Guozhao hunters and Snow Sector disciples shared the same road to Capital City. They knew that from here to the outskirts of Waterfall City, there would be no village. During the next two days of their journey, they will have to seek shelter in abandoned temples or sleep on the side of the road.

Almost at dawn, the group of young hunters discovered an abandoned temple. This temple is old and desolate for many years. Vines and trees have grown to the wall. The Guozhao hunters rested on one side, and the Snow Sector disciples rested on the other side.

Guozhao Zhiqiang sat beside Deming, and he asked, "You tired?"

Deming said, "A little."

Guozhao Zhiqiang moved away from Deming and put Deming's head on his lap. Guozhao Zhiqiang blushed and wiped off the hair on Deming's face. He smiled at Deming, who had closed his eyes. Hu Dingxiang on the other side of the temple stared at them.

Deming did not sleep but closed his eyes because Guozhao Zhiqiang wanted him to rest. He was afraid that if he didn't follow Guozhao Zhiqiang's requests, Guozhao Zhiqiang might hurt him. According to Tam Qiu, Guozhao Zhiqiang is a good person. If he is a good person like Tam Qiu mentioned, then why should he make friends with an evil person like the boss. Then he heard familiar footsteps coming towards him. His heart beats fast, and he tries to keep his breathing steady. He dared not open his eyes. The boss's footsteps came towards him. He thought, there are so many people here, the boss dares not hurt him in public. Tam Qiu and others treated him very well, and if the boss strike him, they are most likely to help him. He knew that there were so many witnesses, no matter if it was the boss or the man, they would not hurt him. His heart trembled in fear, but at the same time he wanted to look into the eyes of the wicked man who had been torturing him since he was six years old. He gathered all the encouragement in his heart, and he opened his eyes. He was staring at Hu Dingxiang.