I’m Your First Brother!
The wind accompanied the four brothers. A-Dai shrunk down to Xiaoshuai’s size so that they could play on the swing that used to be Kongkong and Miaomiao’s exclusive swing.
Cheng Yan, from the stone slab under the tree, sighed. “There’s no need to hide anything from me. What are your plans?”
Xiang Nan, lying on the stone slab that stashed all of their childhood memories, declared, “Establish a nation under humankind’s rule and my demands. Those who defy me shall be executed. “
Sitting with his legs dangling off the cliff, Lie Shang stated, “Only those who believe in Shifu shall live. As such, some are destined to die.”
From the tree branch, Mu Yu conveyed, “I will take away the minds of selfish cowards,” referring to his ability to use Divine Soul Formation on people.
Cheng Yan jerked his head up. “I thought you’ve come home!”
“I can’t forgive those who betray Shifu. He gave them a chance at life, yet they blighted him. If they can’t treasure life, they don’t need it,” Mu Yu spelt out.
“You’re making a mistake. Of all of us, you’re supposed to be the one who treasures life the most. You once told me that everyone has a reason to live and that we should not take their life. Have you forgotten what you said?”
“… ‘Once’ means that it’s in the past. I didn’t know how vile humans could be back then. I can’t forgive those who’ve forgone their principles just as I can’t forgive those from Eastern Desert City. I can’t find any reason to forgive them.”
Cheng Yan’s breathing developed into erratic breathing. “Why have you taken such a radical stance?”
“Everyone who acquires power starts desiring to establish their own sect, their own kingdom and forcing their rules onto others. I am creating order so that my family will never be beset by the tragedies I’ve witnessed.”
“You’ll never be able to kill all of those people you speak of! Human growth is boundless. Kill a coward, and another coward will rise!”
“In this world, good people are always getting the short end of the stick, while tyranny wins. All I’m trying to do is help people afford better lives and prevent evil harming the benevolent.”
“The three of you share the same basic stance?”
Lie Shang and Xiang Nan looked to Mu Yu after showing each other their own surprise at Mu Yu’s stance. Lie Shang questioned, “First Brother, why do you trust humans? Have you never detested them for vilifying Shifu or starting crusades to kill us?”
Cheng Yan’s angers took form in his hands. “I don’t trust them. I want to rip apart those who malign Shifu! That being said, I have to trust Shifu. Shifu has faith in mankind. He wants to protect this world, so it is my duty to fulfil his wish.”
“You don’t need to force yourself,” Xiang Nan asserted.
Cheng Yan, starting to crack after bottling up his own emotions, stomped to his feet and vociferated, “I must because I’m your first brother. I must take some weight off Shifu’s shoulders and be responsible for you three! I’m the eldest! I can’t hand ball the responsibilities to others!”
Cheng Yan did not know what to do. Mankind never failed to let him down, spurring him to follow Xiang Nan and Lie Shang’s example of rising to the top through brute force as well as ruling with an iron fist. Nevertheless, he constantly told himself that they were going down the wrong path even though he could not explain what was wrong as he knew the old Dustfallen Sect family would never reunite if even he abandoned his shifu’s path. He did not hate having to be “First Brother” and carrying the burden. Alas, the weight felt heavier and heavier with each step forward. Even so, he insisted on carrying it to the finish line, until his three brothers returned home.
Xiaoshuai and A-Dai stopped giggling, unsure of what to do.
“Sorry, First Brother, but I insist on walking the path I have chosen.” Xiang Nan regarded his brothers one last time prior to flying off.
“First Brother, I have never forgotten Shifu’s lesson to be congruent with our conscience.” Taking off after Xiang Nan, Lie Shang added, “I won’t spare anyone who denigrates Shifu.”
The wind howled louder and louder as Cheng Yan belted inside his mind in frustration. Even if he were to force Xiang Nan and Lie Shang to stay physically, there was no point if their heart was not at home. In a raspy voice, he asked, “You not leaving?”
Watching a branch grow, Mu Yu said, “None of us are wrong. Just like those who want to change things once they get their hands on power, we also want to change this world. Every sect has its own set of rules. Every nation has its system. We’re just another human being with a desire to enforce our rules. I’m heading to Pill Cauldron Sect.”
Mu Yu jumped off the branch and scrubbed Xiaoshuai’s head. Xiaoshuai gave Cheng Yan a hug since he did not know how else to comfort Cheng Yan and then returned to Mu Yu’s shoulder. A-Dai copied Xiaoshuai. Mu Yu descended to pick up Qiao Xue and Tian Ran, leaving Cheng Yan alone at Dustfallen Precipice.
Each gust of wind that blew against Cheng Yan’s skin hurt comparably to blades cutting him. Like the leaves that decided to leave their cosy home on the branches, his brothers had left home again. He pulled back his hunched shoulders and, under his breath, declared, “I won’t give up. I’m your First Brother.”
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