A Dream for Many I

Hua turns his head around and looks at the scenery behind him, quite regretful as he sighs heavily

-Something's wrong?- asks PeiZhi, fixing the stack of freshly cur wood on his back -It's just that... I know we have to move again but I've somehow grown found of that small village- He says as his eyes pass over the fields, looking at the few old men getting them ready for the upcoming winter.

The two men had to disclose their location to meet an old friend of PeiZhi, a guard still serving at the Palace. He thought that it was about time to let his sister know about the current situation... Writing a letter under his friend's name while addressing it to Qin Luo. But just for precaution he and Hua moved again, you never know when someone will turn on you these days or if they'll sell you out.

-I know, I know... Once this will be over I'll make it up to you, I'll buy a beautiful Mansion deep in the mountains and establish a Sect with my sister were we'll be able to live and train peacefully for the rest of our days- he smiles while passing an arm over the shorter man's shoulders -Do you guys not know anyway outside of sword flights?- pouts Hua

-Why? Isn't this idea appealing enough to you?- chuckles Pei, teasing him -Imagine... Perfectly clean houses, a green garden with white sand, a few lotus pond here and there that connects with a small natural waterfall, white curtains everywhere flowing in the breeze and white uniforms... Nothing heavy as the War ones, just simple and practical cultivator's hanfus. We could relax and be paceful, my sister would take many disciples on and we'll be a family together, eating cooking training and having fun-

-Mmmhn... What if we took a house in a city nearby you sister's sect tho? I mean, I'm not very suited for those stoic things! I wanna go out to drink and dance around the festivals wearing fancy clothes hehe- the older man rises his eyebrows amused -Uhhm? Aren't you mundane?! Ah I need to teach you better than waste your life like a scoundrel... Only seeking the pleasure of the flesh- he says making both of them laugh.

...

They approach a small village by a still lake, walking on top of a little wooden bridge -So what have you written in the letter?- asks Hua -Nothing sentimental as you probably expect... I just explained the situation briefly in a way that she would understand. I tried to conceal in a story so, in case they were intercepting Qin Luo's letters too, they won't find anything suspicious in it. The guy who sent the letter is a relative of Qin Luo and has two little kids, so I made it sounds as child's story-

-Really? How cleaver is my Pei'Ge!- Hua grabs onto his arm and smile foundly -I kind of feel ashamed, for relying on her to solve everything but... I know my limits and she's the only capable one right now. I'm sorry Lai'Er to trouble you again...- he sighs, receiving a pat from his lover -It's ok, she will understand. It's not like she has to run back here and help us. It would be useless anyway, as long as the war goes on and that man sits on the throne nothing can be fixed-

Some kids start running around them, playing with straw dolls and lotus leaves -Oh??? Foreigners!- yells one upon noticing their presence, and hides behind her brother -Stay away or I'll let the village chief know!- screams the boy

Hua looks at the kids worried and kneel down before them -Don't worry, we aren't bad peoples... We're just seeking shelter- a taller boy takes a stick out and point it at them -That's what everyone else said and yet they all were bad peoples!- -No no we can prove it... I really...- the man studders and PeiZhi has to intervene for him -Take us to your village chief then, he will be the one to judge- -Fine, come with us-.

The boy starts walking back toward the small village over the water. A very strong scent of dirty water can be smelled along the stench of dead fish... The village is made of around 40 or 50 straw stilt houses upon wooden pillas, completely covered in dark weeds. Some of the houses are burnt in a few spots while others are falling apart, the villagers seems extremely poor as they rush toward the main venue to witness the passage of the two men. Greasy hair and dirty faces aren't even the most common traits, what really stand out is the amount of peoples with missing limbs or big injuries on their bodies.

-Pei'Ge... Are you sure we can stay here? These people... We shouldn't burden them with our presence- Hua crawls closer to the other man, feeling as if those hungered eyes were pushing him down -My love, we'll do as we've been doing untill now. We ask for permission to live here, if they refuse we'll leave and search for another place... Sleeping around the woods untill we find another place to settle down- he pats his hand and the shorter one nods with a bitter smile.

...

The two men site down at the table, in front of the Village chief -I'm sorry for the cold welcome you've received but... As you might understand, we aren't really going through the best of times for this village... Everyone has become scared of outsiders- -Might I ask what happened here? I saw all the wounded peoples and the burnt down houses- asks PeiZhi -Mmmhn... We'll, when the war first started we weren't so unwelcoming. We actually gave shelter to many refugees back then... But when the Emperor changed we started facing quite the problems, they came to ask for money and food. One small fish gets divided in 3 here, we have not enough for ourselves so even less do we have any to give for the soldiers and royals...

But apparently that didn't please them so they made a mess of our village and destroyed some of our houses, saying that we were just being selfish and didn't want to share. Later on, many people came to seek shelter again... But they weren't refugees this time, only criminals and ill intentioned peoples that harmed us greatly. Stealing away our remaining food...

That's when we took the decision to not welcome anyone anymore. Upon hearing that news, some people were unhappy and they came during the night to burn down our houses and dirtied our lake. Among them some were officials from the capital, using this as a way to make us pay for not giving them anything... Since then a few riots occurred, bandits began to see us as a weak target and our village has not been able to survive anymore...- sighs the old man -So that's why I must ask you to leave-

Hua widens his eyes -But we are sincere... We can even help you fight those bandits and...!- -No, we don't want to fight... Just leave and allow us to accept our fate- -Sir, we can still do something about it... Look at all the children, will you really let them die of hunger?- -If this is what Heaven wants, then yes. We are doomed and destined to die anyway, so there's no use in fighting and only making things worse-

-This is what a coward would say, still you cannot decide for then- tries to reply the young man but PeiZhi stands up and and bows -We'll take our leave then- -Pei'Ge no! Those children...- -Stop it Hua! Let's go- the delicate man tears up -But Ge- PeiZhi drags him out by the wirst as he screams behind him.