"An Feng, I have been generous with you but you do not know how to repay favors. Meet your just retribution! Guards kill him!" said the bully viciously.
Today, he had to vent all his grievances and make that bastard pay. For the past few days, Ouyang Feng had listened religiously to his mother. But this morning, he heard from the servants that he may be replaced by An Feng in the engagement agreement with the Wu Family's 3rd daughter, Wu Mei. The Wu family was a famous noble family in capital city, with a long history of literature prodigies and high ranking official. Normally, the Feng family, issued of the Jianghu never be linked to such family. If it wasn't for his father saving the life of the family patriarch from assassins and being bestowed a marriage alliance in return, the Feng could only dream of such good fortune.
Wu Mei was a beautiful little girl, full of grace, when Ouyang Feng first laid his eyes on her, he immediately found her pleasant to his eyes. Only someone with such noble disposition and beauty could be fit for him.
In his head, Ouyang Feng naively thought that if An Feng was to become crippled, the bastard would no longer be suitable as a fiance and his position would not be threatened. He even had the ambition of being named sole heir. Thus, he had round up his personal guards, kidnapped An Feng and brought him to this haunted domain. With a bit of chance, the Shang's curse would also kill that dirty rat and he, Ouyang Feng, would forever be rid of that rival.
The guards looking at their little master were a bit concerned. Normally, they wouldn't get involved in kid's quarrels. Killing the heir was a grave offence so they hesitated quite a bit. If they were to be found guilty of the crime, they would have to pay it back with their life.
"Young Master, there is no need to kill him. What about we leave him here to be devoured by wild beast and attacked by ghosts and demons? In this forest, without guidance, he will never make it out alive. There is no need to dirty your hands on this." Said one guard cautiously.
Ouyang Feng had acted on impulsive rage, looking back, even he realized he had made a mistake. If this act could trace back to him, he would not be able to shoulder the repercussions.
"Then hit him some more so to vent my grievances and let us go. This place is giving me the chills!".
"We obey young master!"
The poor young boy was hit and left for dead in the forest. The guards and the bully turned back and left him, fainted and bleeding profusely.
Before entering his home, Ouyang Feng ordered his guard to fight each other, and even thrashed himself quite a bit to give the appearance of being attacked. Then the guard transported him in the main hall making great noises and startling the whole household.
"Master, master...the young master was attacked by assassins."
The whole family assembled in the main hall, incredulous. Who would be as daring to attack the Jianghu alliance clan leader's offspring? It was akin to declaring a war to the whole Jianghu! Only the imperial family would have such guts and as far they were aware, they had no disputes with the imperial family.
The guards conveniently explained the events as the young master was still unconscious. The young master invited his older brother to go visit his venerable teacher. On their way, they got attacked by assassins all dressed in black with their faces veiled. They all fought valliantly but in the end, they lost and had to escape. The young master was left in such a state and the heir had disappeared. They couldn't linger or they all would have lost their lives.
The 2nd wife conveniently almost fainted when she saw the state of her son. Being supported by her maid, she weakly pleaded.
"Dear husband, you must save our sons and investigate this clearly!"
When An Feng came back to him, he was in a strange room dimly lit by candles. He couldn't move, his whole body hurt like as if he had just came back from hell. A pungent odor of medicinal herbs emanated from him. In front of his eyes, he could distinguished 2 silhouettes being drawn on the paper screen.
"Uncle, will the boy survive?" The voice was young and low. Very pleasant to his eyes.
"Uncle did all he could. Everything is according to his fate." The second voice was much older and rough.
He wanted to call out to them but when he tried no sounds came out of his throat. An Feng started to panick and his state, inadvertently pushed the bowl of medecine that was left next to him.
Both the uncle and niece stopped talking when they heard the noise and hurryingly went to look at their newly acquired patient.
"De...demoons..." An Feng screamt in fear when he saw their faces but still no sound came out.
"Uncle, why can't he speak?"
"His throat was hurt but when his body heals, his voice should be back."
The young demon then took his mask off to reveal the face of a beautiful little being. Not sure if this being was a boy or a girl. The traits were feminine but the dress up was masculine and overbearing.
"Ai why did you show your face? What did Uncle taught you?" Bo Shang scolded his niece for being so careless.
"It's too hot Uncle and since he is a mute, he will not be able to talk about us.Besides since we save his life, he owes us a life debt. How are you feeling? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Were are you hurting? Why were you attacked?"
An Feng realized quickly those 2 weren't demons but humans in disguise. Being asked so many questions, he felt a bit dizzy and could only look at them ruefully.
"Ai, he can't talk, you should ask one question at the time."
The little angel looked at him and reasked her questions attentively. When he could neither answer yes or no with a head movement, he would shrug his shoulders. Both people seemed to care about his well being. It had been so long that he had received genuine care , his heart warmed up a lot. Back in the Feng Family, his step mother treated him with disdain, his step-siblings and cousins either hated or loathed him, his father was indifferent to him. Only his grandfather cared truly for him, still his grandfather could not indiscriminately deal and intervene in household matters. Since he joined them, he had eaten quite a large amount of dust at their hands.
"Little runt, you need to sleep. Once you feel better, we will return you to your family."
An Feng quickly healed and it was now the time for him to return home. On his departure day, Ai Shang went to him and put a small jade talisman in his hands. During the past days, she came to like that big brother she found in the forest a lot.
"Here, a protection talisman. I also have one." She nimbly showed him the one around her slender neck. "Those are unique in this world. I am lending it to you, so you must return it to me in the future."
An Feng also came to appreciate their family of 3 a lot. He did understood they were not simple character but never pryed in their affairs. Though his body recovered, he was still mute.