Chapter 116 Two Rotten Trees

Tonight, the moon is semi-circular, and the millions of stars overhead illuminate the dark sky around the small house, which is nestled in a thicket of trees. The stars above the small stone house surrounded by nature are especially clear because there is no additional light from the nearby houses. At night, the breeze blew through the trees and grass, making a sweet rustling sound around the house. The five Tanzanies sat around the firepit having dinner.

"You have no idea how angry I was when that bastard pushed me on purpose. If I weren't thinking of you, I would have knocked a few teeth off his gums," Abrafo said, biting off the drumstick.

U-ri said, "You haven't told us how you met Lady Kexin."

Abrafo said, "I was walking around and saw a group of people queuing in front of a mansion, so I asked one of the people in the queue. He told me that today is Lord He's birthday... This Lord He and Kexin are family." Abrafo bit the chicken on his hand angrily. "She walked up to me and humiliated me in front of everyone, calling me a beggar and then suddenly changed her expression and wanted to know where we lived."

Hajime asked, "You didn't tell her where we were, right?"

Abrafo giggled and said, "Like hell I will share our location with her. Do not worry, I hate her as much as you do."

Michio asked, "What did you tell her?"

Abrafo said, "I told her that Yul was seriously injured, there was no food or medicine, and we were living in a mortuary temple outside the city."

U-ri coughed as Abrafo's words caused him to suddenly swallow his food. "Did you really tell her this?" he asked, clearing his throat.

Abrafo said, "I deliberately gave the wrong location. I did not want her to be here to disrupt our peace."

Yul said, "So, that's why you ran away from her."

"Yes, like I said, I do not want her to ruin our peace," Abrafo said, looking at Yul who was sitting next to Hajime on the other side of the fire pit. "Heh...but speaking of which, you met a beauty. It also seems that you two have something in common."

Yul said, "We don't."

Abrafo said, "Even a blind person can tell that something special is going on between you and her. If not, why would she quote you such a romantic verse or even give you the winning prize to you."

U-ri looked at Hajime and said, "Giving someone a gift is often the beginning of a friendship. It doesn't mean anything romantic. Lady Lai quoted a love poem because it was part of the challenge to win a prize."

Michio said, "Uri is right. Even Hajime quoted a love poem and won two prizes. One of the prizes was given to me. It doesn't mean that Hajime and I have anything special, it just means that Hajime regards me as a good friend."

Abrafo said, "Even if so, the way that lady looked at Yul was different from the way she looked at us."

U-ri knew that if he did not change the subject, Abrafo would continue talking. U-ri said, "Stop badmouthing Lady Lai, remember she is our biggest buyer right now? So, let us talk about business."

Hajime asked, "Business? What kind of business?"

Yul said, "Lady Lai wants two hundred hairpins within ten days. If it is completed on time, she will pay ten silver leaves per hairpin."

Michio said excitedly, "Does this mean we can finally leave?"

Abrafo said, "Yes, but." He looked at Hajime. "Do you think your hair will grow fast enough to make two hundred hairpins by the deadline?"

Hajime said, "Well, it took me all night to get my hair back to its normal length. As you all can see, I am still golden in color."

U-ri said, "Then we don't have to worry about not having enough hair to make two hundred hairpins."

Hajime said, "We do have a big issue."

Abrafo, Michio, and U-ri asked at the same time, "What's the issue?"

Hajime said, "Yul and I can't make enough hairpins by the deadline, and I need every one of you to learn how to make hairpin. So, did Lady Lai, tell you which one she wants?"

Yul said, "The flower design."

Hajime felt relieved. "Thank God she chose the simplest design."

Michio looked at Hajime with a smile. "It's time to shave your hair before bath."

When Hajime and Yul arrived at the creek, the other three had already finished bathing. Hajime dipped his toes into the water, and the cold feeling sent shivers down his spine.

Hajime said, "I would prefer bathing in a hot spring than cold streams water." He took off his clothes and slowly sat down. The chilly water rose to Hajime's chest.

Yul said, "We have no choice now." He took off his clothes and sat a yard or two away from Hajime.

Hajime looked at Yul and said, "Come closer and let me wash your hair. I've never noticed before that washing your hair can be such a challenge when your hair is as long as woman's hair."

Yul did not hesitate and turned his back to Hajime. Hajime started to help Yul wash his hair.

Yul said, "When I was patrolling the city boarder with my father, we came across the city of Zans in the north. We happened to come upon this valley with many hot springs."

Hajime asked, "Does this valley have a name?"

Yul said, "The locals call it Smoke Valley."

Hajime smiled and said, "Smoke Valley? They do not have a better name for this valley. What an ugly name to name such place."

Yul chuckled and said, "My thoughts were exactly the same as yours, but when I saw Smoke Valley with my own eyes, I felt that the name Smoke Valley was the most suitable."

Hajime asked, "How could that be?"

Yul said, "Well, in the morning, if you stand on the top of the mountain and look down into the valley, the hot springs will create a thick plume of steam that rises into the air, and it looks like smoke."

Hajime said, "In that case, it must be too hot to take a bath."

Yul said, "Yes, the water is too hot to take a bath, but the locals use bamboo as pipes to bring the hot water to the village for use." Hajime began to scrub Yul's back. "The morning scenery in Smoke Valley is very beautiful. If there is a chance in the future, I will take you there."

Listening to Yul talk about his past did make Hajime smile. Although Yul had good intentions toward him, he knew that Yul's kindness to him was nothing more than friendship. Furthermore, he has not forgotten that his true self is dying somewhere in another universe.

"All done," Hajime said with a smile. "I believe the scenery must be beautiful. Maybe then, you can take Lady Lai with you."

Yul looked at Hajime and asked, "Why did you suddenly mention her?"

Hajime said, "I am not Abrafo. I am not teasing you. I am serious." Hajime looked at Yul. "Yul..."

Yul replied, "What?"

From Yul's answer, Hajime could see that he was annoyed by what Hajime mentioned. Hajime sighed and said, "Since there are only two of us here, let's talk." He sighed. "The reason why I took the initiative to help Tangzang was because I made a deal with Avolokitasvara."

Yul asked, "What kind of deal?"

Hajime said, "If I help the King of Tanzang get the White Dragon Tail and prevent Tangzang from being destroyed, Avolokitasvara can grant me one wish. When I walked into the palace that day, my intention was not to marry anyone. I am just teasing your king by making such a request. So, you don't have to abide by our marriage and lose the chance of finding someone you like." He looked at Yul. "You are free to love whoever you want. You do not have to be afraid to show your love to others, fearing that I will no longer help you get that white dragon tail."

Yul turned Hajime to him and said, "Like U-ri said, it's too late now. If you and I are still alive, we cannot get married anymore. My parents recognize you as the eldest daughter-in-law of our family. The wedding ceremony has been done. You have kowtowed to the ancestors of the Bayarmmaa family recognized them as your own ancestors. This means that according to law and spiritual beliefs, you are the legal daughter-in-law of the Bayarmmaa family. Even if you die, your body will be buried in the Bayarmma family cemetery. When you are alive, you are a member of the Bayarmma family; when you are dead, your spirit will also be a member of the Bayarmma family."

Hajime looked up at Yul and said, "In that case, I will allow you to marry a second wife."

Yul sighed and asked, "Are you talking to me now because of what happened today?"

Hajime said, "I just want you to be with the person you love. You know, spending your life with someone you do not love always ends badly. My parents were no exception. My father decided to marry my mother, because she was pregnant with me, but in the end, my father could not marry my mother because he did not love her enough. Then he had a relationship with his colleague and finally left my mother. I do not want you to be like my father, having to sleep with the person he does not love night after night, sharing the same bed...Do you know the meaning of two rotten trees leaning against each other?"

Yul said, "No."

Hajime's tears flowed down from Hajime's eyes. Hajime said sadly with tears, "It represents two people who don't love each other but are still together. There is no love, no affection, no attachment, but they refuse to be separated, just like two rotten trees leaning on each other and refusing to fall." He smiled at Yul with tears streaming down his cheeks. "If you live with someone you don't love, the days are too long. If you have to share the same bed with someone you do not love, the sun always sets too fast. The night is too long if the one you do not love sleeps next to you. The blanket is too small in winter when sleeping in the same bed with someone you do not love. These are the words my father once said. I was too young to understand the meaning at the time, but now I understand. I hope you can love the person you want to love, so that a day feel like an hour, a month feel like a day, a year feel like a month, a lifetime with the one you love will feel like a year."

Yul wiped away Hajime's tears and placed a kiss on Hajime's forehead. "The story you told me in Skeleton Desert is different from the story you're telling me now," Yul said. "So, which of these two stories is the real you?"

Hajime said, "Both are real."

Yul said, "When I met Lady Lai, I admitted that her appearance did make my heart flatter, but appreciating a person's beauty does not mean you have to fall in love with that person."

Hajime said, "This is not my first rejection. So, don't feel bad about your decision. I want true love, not pity love. I want to give my love to someone who also love me to the same degree. Do you understand?"

Yul leaned forward, lowered his head, and kissed Hajime's lips. Just when Hajime was about to pull Hajime's head away, Yul grabbed the back of Hajime's head and continued to kiss Hajime's lips.

Hajime was forcibly kissed, and his breathing became rapid, "Don't...Yul... don't...mmm...mmm...mmm..."

Yul continued to kiss Hajime and he realized that both Hajime and him were reacting to their sudden kiss, so Yul pulled Hajime into his arms and placed him on his lap as he continued to kiss Hajime.

Hajime knew from Yul's kiss that Yul was inexperienced, or he had never done anything like this with another man before, so Hajime reached out and took his and Yul's member into his right hand and started moving them in the rhythm that Yul's kissing.