Mythical Creature Series: Ah-JiangChapter 15

Edited by Yummers 

There was an accident when Shi Tou’s dad was coal mining. Everyone else had survived, but he was buried within the mine and never came back. During the first two years, his mom went to work in the city and she would send back a few hundred dollars each year. However there were no news from her recently. Some say that she had already gotten remarried. 5fx1Je

The Shi Tou’er who had no dad or mom was then taken in by the old man. The grandpa and grandchild lived together in the old place left behind by their ancestors in Cun Bei. Ten years passed like so and in the blink of an eye, the little idiot grew up with a bumpy journey.

Ah-Jiang did not need to ask for this information as he would often hear people gossip about it next to him.

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Most of the conversations were all talking about how pitiful the little idiot was, and how unfortunate he was. Not only was his brain not sharp, his body also wasn’t too strong. He heard that the little idiot used to get sick often when he was younger. The old man went to a monastery to plead and was greeted with a demi-god that came out of nowhere. He said that the little child’s soul was incomplete, as were the remaining soul pieces. So it was natural that he got sick easily, if it wasn’t treated correctly then he could even lure ghost gods and be targeted. Those words made the old man panic and worry so much that he spent close to a thousand dollars to do a ritual. Once the village secretary found out, they scolded him gravely.“At this period of time, we believe in scientism, these types of superstitions should be downed by lighting!”

That little idiot used to go to the hospital frequently, but once the ritual was done, his body slowly started to get better. It doesn’t matter if it was real or fake, the result was good so who cared if it was scientific or not? x27AKN

When others discussed such things, they all made the little idiot’s experiences into their topic of conversation. Their tones resembled that of a person talking about people who were devastated by an earthquake. While there were some that sympathized with him and sighed for him, none of them actually cared.

The more Ah-Jiang heard about those things, the more uncomfortable he got. For many days in a row, he tossed and turned in his bed with difficulty trying to fall asleep. Once he closed his eyes, he would see the skinny little arm, the expression with a pouty mouth and two eyes secretly peeking up.

It messed with his heart.

Shi Tou was already thirteen, but he didn’t look any taller than a ten year old kid. Ah-Jiang thought about the way Little Rock counted with his fingers seriously in front of him; his heart felt the pain of being stabbed by tiny needles. For many days, he had a face showed his lack of sleep

OJV0b

Everyday when the old man came, he would always bring his little grandson over with him. In their house, his younger son along with his family lived there as well. The uncle was fine, but the uncle’s wife did not treat the posthumous birth of her older brother in law very well. Especially after he was born, she really wasn’t too nice to Shi Tou. Her mouth went off frequently. When things got heated e, she would call him a freeloader. The old man treasured his little grandson so much that he’d rather go out and find a job to get enough money to raise Little Rock than let the little idiot be stepped over by his little son’s wife all the time.

That woman sure was something. Shi Tou usually helped look after her little fruit stand and did chores in the house. While on this topic, even though Shi Tou’s brain didn’t develop as others did, his hands and feet were still nifty. Even though the young master of the Jiang* family was good to him and would give him some snacks and cold water after school everyday, Shi Tou would still definitely finish up his work.

Ah-Jiang now knew what it meant to be anxious to return home. Even while biking, he would be paddling extremely fast,  shaking off the little girls who secretly followed after him. Once he went to the yard, that youth was always squatting within the flowers. Once he heard his footsteps, he would come out and then give him a big dumb smile as he called out, “Ah-Jiang.”

Ah-Jiang would be patient and sit on the stone steps to wait for Little Rock to finish his work. Then he would have a natural reason to welcome him into the house. He would take the youth into his room and open the red wooden cabinet. There would be many different types of known brand snacks and chocolates that came from different countries. There were also toys that his grandparents or people from the city who wanted to get on their family’s good side had sent. Ah-Jiang finally found the value in these things, because at least to Little Rock, they were very interesting. sFpew9

Ah-Jiang would not give all of it to Shi Tou at once. He would take out a few pieces of candy every day and stare as the youth finished them. He had let Shi Tou take some back home before, but then when he asked about it randomly, he found out that those snacks were all taken away by his aunt’s treasured son.

The servant bought in royal jelly. This golden yellow sugar liquid was the little idiot’s favorite drink.

The older boy who was sitting across from him stretched out his legs as well.  The two of them sat on the ground, shoulders touching as Ah-Jiang watched Shi Tou fold up the candy wrappers neatly, placing them into his pocket.

“Thank you.” OFmgDQ

Little Rock took the honey and thanked the servant.

“You’re welcome, you’re welcome.” The woman who served the juice patted the bald head playfully.

Little Rock held the juice in his hands, taking little sips as he looked at Ah-Jiang. Ah-Jiang was really weird, sometimes he would give him the sugary liquid to drink, but sometimes he would give him really bitter beverages. Shi Tou didn’t know that ever since the young master saw his stick-like arms, he had nightmares for many days. He immediately searched for all of the nutritious stuff in his house. After all, his family wasn’t in need of these types of food. They would often either be given away or thrown out.

“Is it good?” PfAGvg

“Mn!”

The youth let out a burp from being full and nodded his head. Then he stood up to take the empty cup outside.

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There were a lot of books inside Ah-Jiang’s house, most of them were original novels but recently, some picture books were added.

Shi Tou didn’t go to school. He didn’t even finish first grade and was labeled a special needs kid. There was only one standardized elementary school in the village and the teachers were not willing to take on the burden of a special needs kid. They refused Shi Tou with a few good words. This made his aunt happy as well, even though elementary was now part of compulsory education; the books, backpacks, and lunch fees would all cost money. IHptkw

So Shi Tou was just left hanging like that. In his house, only his grandpa would teach him how to read and write. Under such circumstances, he at least learned how to write his own name and was also able to understand basic addition and subtraction.

Ah-Jiang flipped open a picture book and Shi Tou laid down by his feet while holding his own chin up with two hands. He listened as the other read one word out at a time to him. He would read one page each day and teach him how to write.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

The youth was very focused when learning as he followed one stroke after another with Ah-Jiang.

Ct-Aljcu geyyfv atf yjmx bo tlr tfjv rboais jcv ifa bea jcbatfg rlut. dhqQ2c

Qts kbeiv tf mjgf obg rbwfbcf atlr wemt? Gbc’a jrx tlw, tf mbeivc’a fnfc ecvfgrajcv la tlwrfio. Aera rfflcu atlr vewy xlv, la kjr ilxf tf kjr yfklamtfv. Rb, tf yjrlmjiis ufar j tfjga jaajmx.

After a while, Ah-Jiang mentioned the topic while at the dining table with his father, Representative Jiang*.

This son of his never opened his mouth to ask for anything and when he finally does, it’s such an odd request. The Jiang* couple smiled and agreed without saying much. After all, it wasn’t too big of a deal. They knew about their son being over intimate with that worker recently, but they also knew that their son was someone with a sense of propriety. Plus, it’s just a playmate. It was the same as a cat and dog.

Once Representative Jiang* had spoken up, Shi Tou quickly returned to school. UnRqQM

He wore the new school uniform donated by the Jiang* Family and carried a brand new backpack. Inside of it were new school books and school tools that Ah-Jiang had bought for him…then, jumping onto the backseat of Young Master Jiang’s* bike, he was finally able to go to school with him.

The elementary school, junior and senior high were both located next to each other, separated by a mere fence. They even used the same schoolyard.

When the senior high had study hall in the morning sometimes, Ah-Jiang would stand in front of the window and see the taller individuals within the group of little brats on the grass field. Because he was the tallest, he would always have to be at the back of the line. But this did not break Shi Tou’s enthusiasm at all, he was the most energetic during physical education. While the other kids were still half asleep in dreamland, he would’ve already ran a whole lap around the schoolyard. Due to Representative Jiang’s* special “instructions,” the teachers were not too bad towards the little idiot either. Plus, Shi Tou was never rowdy and was extremely obedient. After a while, some of the teachers with a soft heart were able to put down their prejudice.

Whoosh── QaPZ6g

The physics teacher and the other students in the class looked over at the sound’s direction, only to see the Young Master Jiang* who sat in the back next to the window standing up suddenly. Almost half of his body was dangling out of the window. Nobody knew what he saw but his face immediately paled, he didn’t even have time to grab his backpack as he sped towards the backdoor.

“Hey, hey, Mr. Jiang*, where are you going?”

He stopped. “Report, I have anemia.”

“…Okay, then rest well. Now, let us look at this formula next…” l9Euk3

Once Ah-Jiang ran to the schoolyard, the mess there had already ended. The students from higher grades in sports clubs had taken up most of the grass field and the rest of the elementary students from one class were chased out of the schoolyard.

Shi Tou was now taking classes together with first graders, those kids usually liked to play with him. Kids at that age weren’t too observant so they only thought that Shi Tou was held back because of his bad body. Shi Tou made a bunch of friends and Ah-Jiang would always give him candy to share with his friends too, this period of time was the happiest he had been in all the years he’s lived.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

The usage of the schoolyard today was original for the elementary kids to use, but those hooligans from the senior high did not go to class. Instead, they came to the field to play soccer and pushed the grade-schoolers out. When the older kids bullied them, Shi Tou was the first one to stand up against it and obviously, he was beaten for it. Such things to Shi Tou was already something he was used to, but those people just couldn’t keep their mouths shut. One moment they would call him a moron another they would say his luck had caused his dad’s death and even his mother ran away with some other feral man…

Shi Tou got up as he hugged the rubber ball that had rolled away. The other kids all stood on the side and looked at him with strange expressions. dMb34Z

“Little Rock!”

When Ah-Jiang had come over. Shi Tou was standing under a tree while hugging the red rubber ball that had been newly bought just a while ago. Half of his face was swollen with a ferocious red mark, a huge part of his white sportswear was stained with blood. The other kids had already left.

“Ah-Jiang”

Shi Tou heard the voice and lifted his head in surprise, two bloody red lines of liquid flew down his nose. 74j3Ex

Ah-Jiang’s whole being seemed to have been stilled by something, he wasn’t able to move at all. Shi Tou let out an “ah” and tried to raise his hand to wipe his face clumsily, but heard Ah-Jiang say, “Don’t move.”

That voice was cold, even Shi Tou had realized that something was off. Ah-Jiang took out his handkerchief and bent over to lift the other’s chin up, helping to wipe the blood off of his face.

Shi Tou didn’t dare to move, Ah-Jiang’s eyes were really ferocious right now, it was as if he was going to devour someone.

“Little Rock, tell me, who did this?” KC2SZ9

Ah-Jiang’s voice was really light, it sounded pretty similar to the tone he would use to coax the other into drinking those bitter drinks. Shi Tou held his neck out and on his hand was  the handkerchief that he used to pinch his nose with. He looked over in a certain direction but didn’t say anything.

Ah-Jiang looked over and nodded. “Little Rock, close your eyes, okay?”

“Oh.”

The youth raised his hand obediently and covered his own two eyes. 2wEN8c

Ah-Jiang walked over and intruded into the field where the class of boys were kicking balls, he stood out enough for all of them to stop.

“Hey, what do you want?”

“Who did it?”

The group of people looked at each other, they didn’t know what to do.  Their eyes turned to the back, all looking at the carefree youth there. Ah-Jiang had a really good memory and he recognized that person, when he had first seen Shi Tou, it was this boy who pushed him. ETSyfx

“What, Young Master Jiang*, trying to be a hero? Tsk, what relationship do you have with that moron? Making──”

Not even waiting for him to finish, he swung a punch at the other and it hit straight on that guy’s nose bridge, smashing the other right onto the ground. Not waiting for him to get up either, Ah-Jiang went over and kicked him in the abdomen harshly. The others finally came back to their senses after hearing the shrill cry, but just as they were about to jump on to restrain Ah-Jiang, they saw him swipe something out of his pocket. With a slashing sound, he pointed the item at the youth covering his nose on the ground.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

It was a small swiss army knife. Under the sun, the blade reflected a bright eye-piercing light, pointing straight at the youth’s widened eyes.

Ah-Jiang stepped on his chest with one leg as the tip of his knife faced the other, his expression was so scary that it seemed like he was going to make a move at any time. s7kEb4

The kids on the side didn’t dare to close in and the kid on the ground looked at the knife tip that was less than a finger distance away from his own eyeball as he trembled all over in fright.

“Try to touch him again…” Even under the scorching sun, his voice could send shivers down their spines.

Then sounds of footsteps came close, Ah-Jiang swiftly put the blade back and put the knife away. He stood up straight and backed off a few steps without a single mark on him.

A teacher came by with a bamboo stick and was yelling loudly, but upon seeing the son of the Jiang* Family, the color on his face instantly changed. dLF1VK

Afterward, the kid on the ground was sent to the hospital. The hit he received was a bit too hard to the point where it almost bended his nose bridge, he might have to get a surgery too. The Jiang* Family paid for his medical fees and also gave them quite a bit of money. The kid’s family were just some average citizens and they all ate from the farms under the Jiang* Family’s name, so of course they did not dare to complain at all.

Ah-Jiang came out of the study room and his body was covered by a layer of cigarette smell. Representative Jiang* didn’t call him over to scold him, he only left a sentence with a deep meaning after a few mouthfuls of smoke, “This incident, you did not resolve prettily.”

It was true that he didn’t do it well, but he had to help fight back for Little Rock, even if it was just for one little moment.

Ah-Jiang was suspended from school for two weeks and was “self reflecting” as how he should be. He was free for most of the time and everyday, he would still drop off and pick up Little Rock at school at the same time. But he quickly realized, the youth’s smile slowly disappeared, it seemed like they had returned to the time when they first met, the other wouldn’t tell him what was wrong when he asked either. The time of Shi Tou getting out of the school became later and later each day, Ah-Jiang waited a few times but this time, he decided to just sneak into the grade school area. He went to the first grade’s classroom and after looking around, he couldn’t find the other. rg18mW

Did he go back? No way.

Ah-Jiang’s brows furrowed and then went to look around the school. The school wasn’t big and it was already after school so there weren’t many people left either, in just under half an hour, he found his Little Rock.

Shi Tou was squatting down in the smelly trash pile when Ah-Jiang had found him, he had also just found his homework book.

Ah-Jiang took out all the other books in his backpack and the school tools that were added in from before had been all gone since a while ago. Most of his school books were ripped apart and also had many doodles drawn on by others. fqNJWa

After he confronted the homeroom teacher, these events stopped but the youth was seriously isolated by the other kids in his class.

The two week suspension was over really fast, Ah-Jiang went back to school and sat by his usual spot that was beside the window. During the first grader’s physical education class, a tall kid sat under a tree by himself as he looked at the grade-schoolers playing games in groups in front of him.

Afternoon, the older youth rode his bike and the youth behind him held onto his waist, the river water was covered by the red sunset color, few sparkles of light shone in the water.

“Ah-Jiang.” sIPBbd

“Mn?”

“If…”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

The youth’s voice was soft and far.

“If I was a moron, would you also dislike me?” s3evtz

The bike shook once and Ah-Jiang stopped, he looked back. The youth behind him had his head reached out, and within his clear eyes, there were no bits of impurity within them. Ah-Jiang suddenly felt a suffocating uncomfortableness rushing up within him as heat surrounded his eyes.

He lowered his body and was able to embrace the little idiot.

At that moment, many scenes suddenly popped up in Ah-Jiang’s head. He didn’t know what they were, but yet he yearned for them greatly. It was just like every time when he was together with Shi Tou, he would always feel like some scenes were familiar, but yet he can’t find a link to see the reason behind it.

Every time, he wouldn’t be able to grasp a hold of it clearly and it would go away, but in the instant of him embracing this body, he felt like he understood something. 3ok0wI

In a certain book, it was written that every single life had its own reason.

Ah-Jiang suddenly thought, could it be…he came to this world, also carrying such a reason.

Later on, the number of times Ah-Jiang went to school lessened as Mrs. Jiang* hired a few famous tutors for him. The education level here couldn’t even reach the tail of senior high in the city, so might as well just have him stay at home to study. Plus, even though Representative Jiang* didn’t say anything, Mrs. Jiang* was not happy about the bad reputation of her son caused by the little idiot of Cun Bei. She didn’t dare to tell her son directly so she took a turn and made Ah-Jiang more busy so that he wouldn’t have extra free time to go and find that feral kid.

Even so, Ah-Jiang was still determined to drop off and pick up Shi Tou at school. No matter how busy he was, he would find time for it. xh6HiV

Ah-Jiang realized that Little Rock had a weird hobby; he liked to sit by the river outside of the village. He didn’t know what he looked at but if he just sat there, he would end up sitting there for a whole day.

The elder people in the village usually never let others go near it, it was said that many people drowned in it year-round.

Ah-Jiang stopped his bike and Shi Tou was squatting down by the river shore. The fish in the river were not scared of him as they swam around his palm.

As the youth behind came near, as if they had an engine installed, the fishes swarmed away quickly. HBoCb2

“Ah-Jiang!”

Shi Tou got up, his face was dirty. Ever since Ah-Jiang stopped coming to school, those people who bullied the little idiot became even more restless. There would always be new wounds on Shi Tou’s body every once in a while. Today he was probably chased by those people so he couldn’t wait for him at the school.

Ah-Jiang felt something sinking in his chest, his fist clenched. The people who had bullied Shi Tou before, he hadn’t seen them much since the last incident.

The head of the Jiang* Family had said that Ah-Jiang had a ferocious aura on him. Those words didn’t come without a reason either, the Jiang* Family had a good relationship with the great master from the Bi Yun Monastery of the Pu Mountain. Someone born with such an aura naturally, what they do would have great impacts and others would be willing to serve for him; it was great material for a ruler. But the great master said, his aura was so strong that he may end up going too far to obtain what he wants, moreover… duw13

As for what was after “moreover,” no one knew. Heavens’ fate can not be spoiled.

While checking over the wounds on the youth’s body, Ah-Jiang noticed and paid special attention to the blue-black birthmark on his shoulder.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Then, an odd feeling spun around the top of his heart, making him uneasy for the rest of the night. He couldn’t do well during his lessons either. At night, he didn’t have the energy to focus so he went to bed earlier than usual.

After lying for just a short while, Ah-Jiang opened his eyes again. HG704N

He realized then, he wasn’t in his room. More accurately, he wasn’t sure if he was in a dream.

He was taller now and was wearing a long elegant robe, then quickly, a man who seemed like a servant came in and said, “My lord, we’ve brought the people.”

Then he followed that person to the main hall. Within the great hall that could hold thousands of people, the dark floors were toppled with human heads. One after another, people were brought up and interrogated. Although he didn’t know what was being asked, he knew that anyone who couldn’t answer would be bought away, close to meeting death.

Ah-Jiang sat in the hall, he seemed to have an understanding of the situation now. In this dream, he was a tyrant. In front of his eyes were the prisoners of war that his underlings had caught. pauUsz

These prisoners were taken away one after another and at last, a young man was brought up. He had the worst injuries out of all of them, his white bones exposed and sticking outs. The person who did the interrogation said, “That one’s an idiot, we won’t get anything out of him, drag him out.”

Just as he was about to be taken away, Ah-Jiang stood up from his throne. He walked over and lifted up that person’s chin.

Those pair of eyes were clear and pure.

This person was…Little Rock? dKABZq

Leave a Comment

4 comments

  1. I feel so bad for little rock, it really sucks when your isolated or just dont relate to people. Thank you for the update!! ❤

  2. Little Rock is too pitiful

    Please let something happen soon

    Thx for the chappy

    (≡^∇^≡)