Chapter 4- First Meeting Under the Maple Tree

It's been two months since Lanyao’s return, and October has just started.

The fall in West Wind Town was beautiful, and even more stunning at Su Peak. Su Peak was surrounded by the vast maple forest. The bright red color atop the mountain looked as though the mountain was ablaze in an inferno. The entrance to Su Peak was called the Crimson Road, as during the fall season, the red-orange maple leaves spread across it like a welcoming carpet.

Lanyao returned to his sect in the hope of finding peace. He had lost his eyes and his heart; what remained was his cold body. And this cold body longs for warmth, to feel alive.

He had heard somewhere —Home is a warm harbor. No matter what happens outside, home is the place that offers peace, comfort, and safety. But Lanyao had never had one — he was an orphan. So for him, his sect, Su peak, was his home, or he thought so — but somewhere in his heart, he knew that this was not true, this place was never his to call, actually, no place in this world was his.

Even so, he returned to the Xifeng sect, thinking maybe this had become his home; he had lived here for more than ten years, spent his childhood here, and at least this place could give him a little warmth.

Yet even after two months, there was no warmth, there was no ease. Living there only made him more anxious. Anxious of the stares that he could not see but feel, anxious of the murmurs around him that reflect disappointment and pity, anxious of remembering those painful memories of his childhood.

Anxious that he could become someone he never wanted to be.

Actually, he never wanted to be a good person, nor did he want to be a bad person; he never wanted to live like an immortal. He only wanted peace. A peaceful life. He wanted a place he could return to, a place to cuddle when he was hurt, a place he could call home.

But he had none.

The roadside place where he used to sit and beg when he was a child, his courtyard in Su peak where he spent ten years of his life, and several other places he lived when he was wandering for seven years— all were the same cold place. It feels like the winter in his life has never ended.

And never going to end.

Lanyao walked down the crimson road. He took every step slowly and cautiously. His demeanor was elegant and beautiful as he walked down that red road towards the maple forest. With each step, the breaking of crisp leaves sounded through the forest, and the swirl of wind created A perfect melody composed by heaven.

Lanyao listened, and with every beat, he tapped his white cane rhythmically on the ground, layering a harmony with heaven and earth. The fragrances of the dried maple leaves mixed with the nature’s chorus were taking him back to those years of his youth. At that time, he lost his way in this forest. He was just a child and new to this place, and went there in a fit, but soon he realized he had lost his way. For three days, he was there all alone in the forest.

It was a hard time, but lost in the forest, he found his silver lining. He made his first friend, and that friend was a little butterfly. thought it sounded a bit odd to have a friend like this, the little Lanyao was much happier than ever. The butterfly had bright blue wings with dark corners, and in this red forest, it looked distinctively alluring.

Lanyao was enchanted by it; he had never seen a butterfly so beautiful, and the matching of blue eyes and blue wings made him believe they were fated friends. He finally had a friend.

After that, Lanyao spent most of his time in this forest. He learned all the ins and outs like the back of his hands and came to meet his little butterfly every day. Don’t know how and why, but this butterfly, too, seemed to consider Lanyao his friend. It fluttered around him, cherishing his presence, and sat down on Lanyao’s nose, nuzzling to show affection.

But their friendship didn’t last long as his little butterfly friend died after twelve days. Lanyao was devastated. It was the first time he had a friend, and it was the first time he realized how hurtful it is to lose someone.

After that, he never attached himself to anyone, even though he longs for such company, or maybe he never found something like that again.

now standing at the same place once again, he remembered the fleeting memory of that happiness entangled with sorrow. How much time had passed since he was happy like this?

He walked through the forest, gliding his hands over every tree on his way. As if in search for those twelve days he had forgotten.

He had walked down the same path for ten years. If somebody had told him to walk seven years ago, before the time of his wandering, he would have found that place even if he were blindfolded. But now even that place once dear to him seems impossible to reach.

Don’t know how much time had passed and how long he had walked this road before he finally stopped and stood against a giant maple tree. This tree looks normal to anyone, just like other maple trees in the forest, but for Lanyao, it was special.

It had the largest trunk, and its leaves had the most brilliant color. along the roughness of the trunk, there lies a large gash that differentiates it from others. But that's not the only thing that stood out. It was the mark of his first friendship, it was the tree under which he shared his joy with his friend, and it is the place where the grave of his friend lies.

This is the very same tree under which Lanyao had buried the blue butterfly.

Lanyao caresses the trunks as if gasping the last memories of his butterfly friend. He rested his head there in a longing to meet his friend again.

I saw you under the maple tree for the first time. You look as pure as the blue sky.

This is where our friendship started, this is where we parted.

In the hope of seeing you again, I visited your grave today.

Drink the wine we could never share, said the words that were left unsaid.

Lanyao sat down facing the tree. With the strip of cloth concealing the blind man’s eyes, he faced up towards the sky, praying for his long-lost friend -

Hope you are reborn and living a happy life. without any worry, without any pain.

May your dreams turn into reality and your nightmares disintegrate into fireflies illuminating your path in the night.

Hoping your path once again crosses mine, against the heavens, so we can meet under this maple tree one more time.

He stayed there for quite some time before taking his leave. As he turned, he felt something light land on his head. It was a maple leaf. Lanyao held it between his fingers before his head, as if he was looking at it, then brought it near to his nose, sniffing its mild earthy fragrance. It's part sweet and part woody smell, refreshing him.

He stilled, sensing someone's presence in the forest. “They were here for quite some time”. He turned, but before he could take another step, someone grabbed his hand. That person hadn’t been anywhere near him, Lanyao was certain of that. Yet in the blink of an eye, he appeared before Lanyao, leaving him no time to react or retreat. This person’s qinggong was truly commendable.

He held onto Lanyao’s hand, and in Lanyao’s grasp lay the maple leaf. The two of them were locked in a quiet stalemate— neither letting go, neither pulling away.

“Su Huzi?” the unknown person questioned. His voice was deep and husky.

“Yes,” Lanyao replied.

The unknown person laughed and mocked,” How could you be Huzi, you don’t even have a beard. ”

“………..”

Lanyao was taken aback. “It’s Húzǐ. Huzi is meant for a fox child.”

The unknown person laughed even more —“yeah yeah that suits you more”— his laugh faded, and he pulled Lanyao closer, snatching the leaf from his hand— “a cunning, crafty, deceitful person like you is indeed a fox child.”— his laugh had completely gone as he mocked Lanyao —

” A SLY FOX”.

Lanyao doesn’t know what to say. ignoring this unknown person's sordid remarks, he continued,” Who are you? What should I call you?”, asking for the person's identity, but the other person ignored as if his words didn't matter and continued.

“How are you feeling after losing your eyes? huh?”

“…………” Lanyao was silent. Why is this person so aggressive? he thought. Even though Lanyao could no longer see, he could still identify a person’s identity by their voice or scent, even if they were meeting after a long time.

But he didn't remember who this person was? Lanyao was sure it was his first time meeting him, but the way this person talked….

“Sorry for my rudeness, but do I know you?” Lanyao asked.

The other person sighed.” Don’t you know me? I am your biggest enemy. ”

“………..”

“How could you forget me?” the person whispered in Lanyao’s ears,” How could you forget the very person who had taken your eyes?”

Lanyao flinched in surprise.