The Yuan's Family Tragic Past.
1139 Words
During the days that followed The Healing Essence Shop introduced a new improved version of the Pink Princess Pellet to Ree Eagle Town. The Red Eagle Pellet Refining Association sent distinguished envoys to personally grade the new entry.
The independent reviews were glowing, reporting an increased potency of the popular pellet by sixty Percent with no side effects whatsoever. This led to the price of the Pink Princess Pellet to sky rocket over night.
From 30 spirit stones, to 50 spirit stones to finally stabilize at 100 spirit stones a pellet.
The Kong Family Patriarch , Jue Kong personally paid a courtesy visit to Old Man Yuan purchasing all hundred pellets at premium price. He ordered a thousand more princess pellets and to be delivered in two batches of five hundred each over a four week period.
Patriarch Jue Kong brought with him congratulatory gifts to Old Man Yuan further deepen their business ties. He also paid a down payment for the upcoming batch as per the agreement leaving the hitherto struggling Healing Essence Shop sixty thousand spirit stones richer.
The weeks that followed, there was nothing that could wipe the constant smile off Old Man Yuan's weathered face. Business was thriving and his list of friends and notable dignitaries increased seven fold as he dined and discussed business with the elite of Red Eagle Town.
Old Man Yuan returned to his shiny new Healing Essence Shop recently acquired near the thriving central business district of Red Eagle Town. He hummed a pleasant tune as he walked. He had just concluded another profitable business deal.
Old Man Yuan found Zhu Yuan closing up and distributing wages to the various helps they had hired recently to help in packaging and distribution.
"Ah good grandson, come. Let's go eat , you must be hungry. There's this new eatery I've been wanting to sample. I hear the dishes are splendid."
Grandfather and grandson soon were sampling various sumptuous dishes at the famous Red Fragrance Hotel.
"Here Zhu Yuan , this is yours. You have worked hard." Old Man Yuan laughed as he passed over a thick purse to the elates Zhu Yuan. He counted five thousand bronze spirit stones. Zhu Yuan was without a doubt one of the richest amongst his peers.
The Yuan duo went on to avidly discuss on a new business venture, working on an enhanced version of the gray men's pellet. One that would have an increased potency of 70%! Who knew the impact such a revelation would bring to the vibrant Red Eagle Town. The future was truly bright.
Old Man Yuan sighed with a happy smile.
" Zhu Yuan you are clearly deeply talented in pellet refining. A once in a century genius and such a young age. If you take this more seriously you have a bright prosperous future ahead of you. "
"You could completely revolutionize not only beauty pills but medicinal pellets and cultivation pellets as well. Although this will be more demanding of you, I believe in your talent. You can do it. But you have to put in more effort."
Zhu Yuan smiled, he knew how hard his grandfather had worked over the years. It was good to see him enjoy himself and laugh without worry.
"I know grandpa, but in truth my heart is not in it."
After a brief silence he disclosed.
"I want to follow the path of cultivation. I'll be participating in the upcoming entrance exams held by the Outer Sect of Heavenly Sky Sect."
"Must you?" Old Man Yuan's happy demeanor was lost immediately Zhu Yuan declared his intentions.
" I feel that I must. Its all I think about. I want to be like Cang Yi. The pride of Red Eagle Town."
"To be a great man, a man you are proud of."
How could Old Man Yuan not know of what was in Zhu Yuan's heart. He had fought against his will all these years. He could only sigh deeply and shake his head.
"The apple truly does not fall far from the tree."
Zhu Yuan frowned at Old Man Yuan's whisper but kept silent seeing that his grandfather was struggling deeply with something within himself.
"Zhu Yuan, listen to this old man. Its not that I dislike the way of cultivation nor your ambition. Its just that...."
Old Man Yuan sighed again, and continued his eyes closed as if he was recalling a very painful nightmare.
"Its just that my son .. Qiao Yuan. Your late Father. He too was obsessed with the divine way. He was an unparalleled existence not just in the Southern Sky Continent but in the entire Celestial Sky Continent."
"Wha...??? What do you mean ...??"
Zhu Yuan's astonished words were halted by Old Man Yuan's raised hand.
"Listen first my child. Yes your father was indeed a towering existence that stood above all in this Celestial Sky Continent. This was once the deepest source of pride but now if I had the chance to go back in time. The one thing I could change and forever do away with is the day my son Qiao Yuan started his cultivation."
Zhu Yuan looked at his grandfather as if he was looking at a stranger.
"Because despite all this immense power he held, he died tragically and caused the total annihilation of the Yuan Family. I'm old and have not much left to live. You are all that's left of the Yuan Family. "
"Please do not take this path. Follow the way of pellet refining. Live a long fulfilling life, continue the Yuan family bloodline."
Zhu Yuan heart trembled as he heard Old Man Yuan's pained voice. Since birth all he knew was his grandfather. He had no other kin, according to Old Man Yuan. All had perished due to a tragic accident.
They were annihilated.???
All of them???
"Grandpa what the hell do you mean!??"
"Tell me the truth!!!"
"I am entitled to this much after all these years you have lied to me !!"
"Tell me grandpa Yuan! Now!!"
Old Man Yuan's wise old eyes which were still closed shed silent tears. The tears slowly fell down his weathered face.
Seeing this Zhu Yuan's surging anger and enraged voice came down. He had never seen his grandfather this sorrowful.
"I'm sorry grandpa, my anger was misplaced. I didn't..."
"No its alright. You are entitled to the truth as you are coming of age."
"Your Father , our family met a disastrous foe, one that haunts me every single night in my nightmares."
"Who did this to our Yuan Family? What grievances did our Yuan Family have to with this foe to warrant such a cruel fate.!?"
Zhu Yuan's heart was shaking with so much raw emotion.
"There's no need for you to concern yourself with our sordid dark past. Its all gone, its all dust sprinkled away with time, and it ultimately has nothing to do with you."
"Just know this Zhu Yuan. The path you so desire. Its not full of glory, beautiful women and conquests. No its paved with blood, death and immense sorrow."
*****
- Writer
