The White Swordsman

What was that big meeting?

"Young master, do we need to escort you inside?"

Zhang Xiang raised one of his hands up, signaling the bodyguards not to. Those who understood only bowed respectfully then left leaving Zhang Xiang right in front of the Pavilion.

As soon as the bodyguards left, Zhang Xiang stepped into the pavilion as quickly as possible, fearing for his first uncle's well-being. But by the time he reached the connecting hallway to reach the uncle's room, Zhang Xiang's steps stopped right beside the second uncle's room. Seeing the door of the room open, he heard a conversation inside the room. However, the topic of conversation this time made Zhang Xiang a little interested, it made Zhang Xiang ventured to peek into the uncle's conversation.

Zhang Xiang knew what he had done was wrong, but he really dared to do this because he was very curious. Peeking through the door, the second uncle was talking to the third uncle.

"Big brother, it's better if we fight together to defend this sect."

"NO WAY!"

Jing Beiyuan frowned. "Why can't you?" he asked.

"At the big meeting, I must win the jade key! No one can lead the sect but me," he replied firmly.

That made Jing Beiyuan shake his head in disbelief. The elder brother was still ambitious to seize the jade key in order to rule the Hua San sect.

"Did big brother forget about Xiang brother's mandate to take care of the sect together?" asked Jing Beiuyuan.

Han Ying smiled sarcastically as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't care about the mandate, the most important thing is that I must be able to take the jade key from that useless brat's hands! I don't want that brat to become the ruler here, what will the sect become?" he said angrily.

Hearing the insults that again came out of the second uncle's lips loudly made Zhang Xiang again get angry. Behind the podium, Zhang Xiang had already clenched his hands into fists, while putting on a fierce face. The uncle never stopped belittling him again, which made Zhang Xiang's conviction to practice martial arts even stronger. And now he discovered a new fact, the jade key he was currently holding was the main topic in the big meeting.

Zhang Xiang had had enough of listening to his uncle's talk, he hurriedly left the room and met his first uncle in a room not far from the room.

***

Zhang Xiang was transfixed by the state of the first uncle who was lying limp with a pale face. Several potions were available on the bedside table, a thick blanket covered the uncle's body up to his chest. Zhang Xiang looked pityingly at his uncle, a sense of guilt rising from his heart. Everything that happened must be because uncle thought too much about him to be sick like this.

Zhang Xiang asked the doctor about his first uncle's illness, he said that there were no serious problems, just some old diseases. However, one thing that made the illness persist was the lack of nutrient intake in the human body, making it easy to get sick.

Zhang Xiang also heard some confessions from the waiter that the first uncle did not want to eat these few days because he was worried about Zhang Xiang's condition, he thought that Zhang Xiang out there must not be eating either, it made the first uncle want to do the same. But it was the physical fall that was at stake.

There was no one to accompany the first uncle, only servants and doctors to keep an eye on how the first uncle was doing. Meanwhile, the second and third uncles were busy arguing over the big meeting. This angered Zhang Xiang, but he did not dare to scold his two uncles.

Zhang Xiang slowly brought his body closer to the first uncle, Zhang Xiang grasped the first uncle's hand tightly, but suddenly the first uncle's eyes opened, showing his surprised expression.

"Zh--zhang Xiang," he said softly.

"Yes uncle, this is Zhang Xiang."

"Are you home, son? Is this really you?" asked the uncle while touching Zhang Xiang's face very gently.

Zhang Xiang smiled kindly as he nodded his head slowly. He knew that first uncle did not expect him to return, but in order to convince first uncle that what he saw was real, Zhang Xiang grabbed first uncle's hand and clasped both hands tightly.

"Zhang Xiang is real uncle."

The uncle smiled. "You're finally back, where have you been all this time? I've been looking for you."

Zhang Xiang didn't answer, he just smiled. He knew enough, his uncle must not know about his whereabouts. It's very dangerous for the teacher uncle later, Zhang Xiang doesn't want his three uncles to hurt the teacher uncle later.

"Promise uncle that you won't leave again," said the uncle.

But Zhang Xiang was expressionless upon hearing the first uncle's words, he could not answer because he actually returned to the pavilion only to see the first uncle, the rest of the time he would return with the teacher uncle to continue his main goal. A few seconds later, a voice came from the door.

"Big brother is awake?"

"Zhang Xiang, you're back?"

While the third uncle was focused on his brother waking up, the second uncle was instead focused on Zhang Xiang's presence in front of Zhang Yong.

The first uncle smiled as the third uncle approached him, and soon after, the third uncle realized Zhang Xiang's presence and smiled excitedly at him.

"Zhang Xiang, you're back? Since when? Why don't you call me uncle?" asked the third uncle excitedly.

Zhang Xiang smiled. "Just now, uncle." Zhang Xiang replied briefly.

But the second uncle's gaze seemed to dislike Zhang Xiang's presence back in the pavilion. Seeing Zhang Xiang smiling, he only put on his cold, indifferent face in front of all of them. The first uncle noticed this and reprimanded the second uncle for his attitude.

"Han Ying, why are you being indifferent in front of your nephew? Are you not happy to see him come home?" he asked.

Second uncle chuckled softly. "Tsk! Happy, so what kind of expression are you asking me to put on? I'm usually like this too!" He said.

"At least give a greeting, a welcome, or at least a hello," requested the first elder brother.

Second uncle looked away, then looked at Zhang Xiang with a forced friendly expression. "It's good that you're back, I hope you don't run away. Trouble everyone!" He said in a stern tone.

Hearing that, the first uncle and third uncle just shook their fists lightly. A very childish attitude, which they often saw every day. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiang, who saw this, remained silent while controlling his expression well. He hid his annoyance towards second uncle as much as possible, having heard the conversation between the two of them earlier.

'Without you even saying it, I already know that your happiness is only in the jade key, you must be happy that I'm back because you can take the jade key without fear of someone else taking it. But it's not that easy uncle, I won't give this key to anyone, and I will find out about this key.' Zhang Xiang thought while secretly clenching his hands together.

"Zhang Xiang, have you eaten?" asked the third uncle suddenly.

"Jing Beiyuan, you bring your nephew to eat, I'm sure he hasn't eaten yet," pleaded the first uncle.

"Uncle eat too! For a speedy recovery, Zhang Xiang will come back after eating."

After saying that, Zhang Xiang and the third uncle left the first uncle's room to eat. Though Zhang Xiang had already eaten with the teacher uncle earlier, Zhang Xiang would use this opportunity to find out about the jade key and the big meeting discussed by the third uncle.

Once the two of them were some distance away from the first uncle's room, Zhang Xiang stopped his steps right in the hallway near the father's room.

"Uncle!"

"What's wrong Zhang? Did you leave anything behind in first uncle's room?" he asked.

Zhang Xiang shook his head. "Nothing uncle. There's actually something I want to ask uncle."

Third uncle frowned. "What do you want to ask?"

"Do you know about the big meeting?"

Suddenly, the third uncle was surprised to hear the question Zhang Xiang had just asked. Staring at Zhang Xiang with a look of astonishment, third uncle's mouth fell open. He did not know what to say to Zhang Xiang regarding this matter.

"Where did you find out about the big meeting?" asked the uncle curiously.

"I've been living abandoned, homeless outside for the past few days, so I've heard a lot of people around me discussing the big meeting. Almost everyone is talking about it, which makes me curious. Does uncle know anything?" asked Zhang Xiang fishing.

But his expression turned nervous. He immediately shook his head. "Uncle doesn't know anything about the big meeting," he replied nervously. Then he spoke again. "Let's not ask uncle about this matter, you're a child, you don't know anything," he said.

Zhang Xiang was silent, apparently the third uncle was still unwilling to be honest with him. It did not matter to Zhang Xiang, he would find out about this matter on his own, slowly later.

The third uncle again pulled Zhang Xiang's wrist and invited him to eat. As soon as they arrived, the waiters flocked to serve Zhang Xiang, while the third uncle left Zhang Xiang alone in the room to enjoy his meal. But seeing the third uncle leave, Zhang Xiang immediately put away all the food, leaving the room to perform his act.

"Young master, are you not going to eat?" asked the female servant who managed to stop him in his tracks.

Zhang Xiang cleared his throat softly. "Ekhem!!! No!" He replied after which he left the room.

Continued...