Post by Lu Xiang on Aug 2, 2010 12:34:23 GMT
Prologue
Inorder to understand a man; you have to understand his past, his present and his future. I brought him into his past. I fell in his present and watched from the afterlife until his last seconds elapsed.
I, his father am not worthy of a name. Nothing more then a ancestor of the Lu clan. My son would beg to differ. He cherished me upon his firmly shut lips; emotion wasn't for him. They called me Chirping Swellow; I was always genuine and kind. Apparently wise as well. But this story isn't about me..
Scratched away the mud, I dug my hands in and the lords presented me with a child that only the heavens could bless. The diamond from the rough, a child destined from greatness. He felt no different in my hands at birth to his brothers and sisters. Infact we almost discarded him at birth due to his pale skin. The doctor was determined he was going to die before he made his passage as a man. How wrong we would've been. I didn't live to witness his achievements; but celebrated his death and as he laid beside me in our graves. Father and son. He was born Xiang of the Lu clan. Lu Xiang; if you are slow. Nothing more then a lowly peasent born on the outskirts of China.
He was tiny; born away before his time. The elders said he was eager to be of greatness. His hands struggled to move back and forth as the light of the world tested him. He didn't crawl up nor hesistate refusing to falter even as a newborn - no matter how comforting his mothers womb had been. He painted him; with his own father's blood. Two markings upon his face. A complete contrast upon his pale, snow-like flesh. He looked up at me; huge eyes, burning. It was then I knew.
A small village; my father hunted these lands and his father before and once I died Lu Xiang was intended to do the same. We were simple folk; living from the land and returning all that we had taken. There was six of us by the time of Xiang's birth. Me, my wife, Xiang himself and his two older sisters (And latter go on to have another sister and two brothers). He often rejected them due them teasing him and played with his youthful cousin who was only two years older Lu Bu; often they would both return with blood covered faces - battling their arrogance and strength. Education costed alot and wasn't something we had access too. It was more important to have warriors then to have scholars in the barrens. China wasn't a nice place to be; with the persistant rebellions and upsurptations we were declined access and left to survive alone as a small travelling party of several families.
We were humble about it; Lu Xiang grew up fast presenting himself before us as a strapping young man. Exchanging several hundred blows with his cousin without faltering. Obviously he never won - Lu Bu always cheated or played dirty before disregarding him and spitting upon him. He had a tough childhood; but his ignorant eyes were sealed over it. Something about him painted his black skies; blue.
The Summer of Lu Xiang's twelve year we ran short of grain. Before we could starve ourselves and taking precaution we sent him and his uncle to fetch some from the city. Trading furs and other exotics from the outlands with the merchants. The carriage wasn't much. Infact it was homemade; and would take the two of them several weeks or even months to even reach the capital. It would be Lu Xiang's first trip to China. Travelling along the newly made silk road - It was fortunate that he had a safe encounter. It is important to remember this would be a turning point it Lu Xiang's life forever..
He had been a good boy from a young age; rarely back chatting. Remaining respectful. Obviously he indulged in things we resticted - fighting and drinking from a young age but never once putting women before his own family. He had always been violent however; being banned from a monastry for beating one of his fellow class mates only being pulled from the child to cuss and abuse the teachers. I punished him like any father would; a hundred lashings upon his bare back.
One hundred lashings; one... hundred.
Inorder to understand a man; you have to understand his past, his present and his future. I brought him into his past. I fell in his present and watched from the afterlife until his last seconds elapsed.
I, his father am not worthy of a name. Nothing more then a ancestor of the Lu clan. My son would beg to differ. He cherished me upon his firmly shut lips; emotion wasn't for him. They called me Chirping Swellow; I was always genuine and kind. Apparently wise as well. But this story isn't about me..
Scratched away the mud, I dug my hands in and the lords presented me with a child that only the heavens could bless. The diamond from the rough, a child destined from greatness. He felt no different in my hands at birth to his brothers and sisters. Infact we almost discarded him at birth due to his pale skin. The doctor was determined he was going to die before he made his passage as a man. How wrong we would've been. I didn't live to witness his achievements; but celebrated his death and as he laid beside me in our graves. Father and son. He was born Xiang of the Lu clan. Lu Xiang; if you are slow. Nothing more then a lowly peasent born on the outskirts of China.
He was tiny; born away before his time. The elders said he was eager to be of greatness. His hands struggled to move back and forth as the light of the world tested him. He didn't crawl up nor hesistate refusing to falter even as a newborn - no matter how comforting his mothers womb had been. He painted him; with his own father's blood. Two markings upon his face. A complete contrast upon his pale, snow-like flesh. He looked up at me; huge eyes, burning. It was then I knew.
A small village; my father hunted these lands and his father before and once I died Lu Xiang was intended to do the same. We were simple folk; living from the land and returning all that we had taken. There was six of us by the time of Xiang's birth. Me, my wife, Xiang himself and his two older sisters (And latter go on to have another sister and two brothers). He often rejected them due them teasing him and played with his youthful cousin who was only two years older Lu Bu; often they would both return with blood covered faces - battling their arrogance and strength. Education costed alot and wasn't something we had access too. It was more important to have warriors then to have scholars in the barrens. China wasn't a nice place to be; with the persistant rebellions and upsurptations we were declined access and left to survive alone as a small travelling party of several families.
We were humble about it; Lu Xiang grew up fast presenting himself before us as a strapping young man. Exchanging several hundred blows with his cousin without faltering. Obviously he never won - Lu Bu always cheated or played dirty before disregarding him and spitting upon him. He had a tough childhood; but his ignorant eyes were sealed over it. Something about him painted his black skies; blue.
The Summer of Lu Xiang's twelve year we ran short of grain. Before we could starve ourselves and taking precaution we sent him and his uncle to fetch some from the city. Trading furs and other exotics from the outlands with the merchants. The carriage wasn't much. Infact it was homemade; and would take the two of them several weeks or even months to even reach the capital. It would be Lu Xiang's first trip to China. Travelling along the newly made silk road - It was fortunate that he had a safe encounter. It is important to remember this would be a turning point it Lu Xiang's life forever..
He had been a good boy from a young age; rarely back chatting. Remaining respectful. Obviously he indulged in things we resticted - fighting and drinking from a young age but never once putting women before his own family. He had always been violent however; being banned from a monastry for beating one of his fellow class mates only being pulled from the child to cuss and abuse the teachers. I punished him like any father would; a hundred lashings upon his bare back.
One hundred lashings; one... hundred.
