The morning mist drifted lazily across the Black Marsh.
For the first time in days…
No one heard the cries of poisonous beasts.
No hunters rushed through the village.
Even the wind seemed to move more gently, as if the marsh itself wished to rest.
Children chased one another between the reed huts, their laughter echoing over the quiet waters.
Near the center of the village…
Grandmother Wu struck her wooden staff lightly against the ground.
“Enough running.”
Her voice was calm.
Yet every child stopped immediately.
Little Stone scratched the back of his head.
“Grandmother…
today is the Moon Marsh Festival.
Can’t we train tomorrow?”
Several children quickly nodded.
Grandmother Wu looked at him for a long moment before smiling.
“If tomorrow always came as we expected…”
“…there would be no need to prepare today.”
The smile on Little Stone’s face slowly disappeared.
Even Zhao Long lifted his eyes.
Grandmother Wu slowly walked toward a young marsh willow whose thin branches swayed with the breeze.
She placed a wrinkled hand against its trunk.
“Tell me…”
“Why has this tree lived longer than the giant oak beyond the northern river?”
One boy answered confidently.
“Because it is poisonous.”
She shook her head.
Another girl raised her hand.
“Because the marsh protects it.”
Again…
Silence settled over the children.
Grandmother Wu finally looked toward Zhao Long.
“And you?”
Zhao Long studied the willow for several moments before replying.
“It bends.”
A warm smile appeared on the old woman’s face.
“It bends,” she repeated.
“When the storm comes…”
“The willow bows.”
“When the storm leaves…”
“It still stands.”
She gently tapped the tree with her staff.
“The proud tree challenges the wind.”
“The wise tree greets it.”
Little Stone frowned.
“So…
being stubborn isn’t always brave?”
Grandmother Wu chuckled.
“No, child.”
“Sometimes surviving is the bravest thing a person can do.”
Zhao Long quietly repeated those words in his heart.
Sometimes surviving is the bravest thing a person can do.
He did not know why…
But they felt important.
Very important.
At that moment, Elder Han approached carrying a basket filled with herbs.
He overheard the last sentence and laughed.
“Wu, you’re making the children think too much.”
Grandmother Wu glanced at him.
“And you’re making them eat too much.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
The children burst into laughter.
Little Stone quickly ran to Elder Han.
“Elder Han!
Are you making honey cakes for tonight?”
The old hunter stroked his beard.
“Only if someone catches enough marsh fish before sunset.”
Little Stone puffed out his chest.
“Leave it to me!”
Elder Han laughed.
“You haven’t caught a fish bigger than your hand all year.”
More laughter erupted.
Even Zhao Long smiled.
It was a small smile…
But Grandmother Wu noticed.
She looked at Zhao Long for a brief moment, her eyes soft with affection.
“Good,” she thought.
“A child should know how to smile.”
Far beyond the village…
Hidden behind a curtain of reeds…
A crow suddenly took flight.
Not because of a beast.
Not because of the wind.
But because several silent figures moved through the marsh.
One mercenary knelt beside a poisoned trap.
He frowned.
“They know this marsh well.”
The captain crouched beside him and touched the trap with the tip of his sword.
“Then we shall learn it.”
He looked toward the distant village where faint laughter drifted across the water.
“Let them celebrate.”
“They won’t be laughing for much longer.”
The marsh answered only with silence.