10 Short-Term Redemption

Wu Niu slid down the hill at an exponentially increasing rate, all well maintaining a perfectly supine posture. If he were to lean too far forward, then he would be thrown off balance. Sliding would turn into tumbling, and from this height, that would mean debilitating injuries. He could not afford for that to happen.

"Go down there, dumbass!"

"No way! Are you insane!"

Suddenly, there was the sound of a man tumbling down the hill. The man screamed in terror as he began to plummet audibly.

-Did they push him?

The man who was pushed was moving way too fast and quickly overtook Wu Niu. It was Wu Chin, and he was tumbling down the hill like a ragdoll. As he hit the more leveled ground below, a few of his bones loudly snapped and cracked.

Wu Chin let out a shrieking roar as he lay on the ground, incapable of movement. His legs were snapped inward at the kneecaps, and his arms were a mangled mess. He thrashed his head around wildly as his face contorted with pain.

-Sorry, Wu Chin.

As the bottom of the hill became clearer to Wu Niu, he was relieved to see the ground softly curved flat, negating the force of the steep decline.

As Wu Niu slowly slid to stop, he heard the patriarch yelling about something or other. However, at this distance, it was all but impossible to perceive what it was that he was saying.

Although Wu Niu could venture to guess what their next plan would be.

-They're going around for sure.

Sitting forward, Wu Niu turned to see the men walk out of view. Then turning back, he pushed himself onto his feet.

-Luckily I have a thirty-minute headstart.

Wu Niu's attention was brought back to Wu Chin, who was writhing and groaning in agony. Lifting his head, he wheezed and murmured.

"J-Just, get it over with quickly."

Wu Niu blankly stared as he processed what his uncle had said.

Lightly chuckling, Wu Niu imposed, "Uncle Chin always was such a joker."

Slowly stepping toward the defenseless Wu Chin, a smile plastered Wu Niu's Face. At first, he only let out a light chuckle, but by the time he was standing behind Wu Chin, his light chuckle had become a maniacal cackle.

Wu Chin, now fully engulfed in fear, mumbled, "S-So, it's true. Y-You really are a d-demon."

Wu Niu silently crouched out of Wu Chin's field of view.

Wu Chin held his breath, frozen in terror. Surprisingly, a pair of hands clasped onto his armpits and lifted him off the ground.

In an immediate reaction to this, Wu Chin yelled, "W-Woah, what are you doing?!"

Wu Niu began to drag the debilitated Wu Chin toward a tree.

"What'd ya' think? I'm gonna lean you up against that tree over there!" Wu Niu exclaimed while lifting a finger to point at a tree only a few dozen paces away.

Wu Chin's immediate reaction defied the terror he had only mere moments ago.

"W-Wait, so you're not going to kill me?"

"No?! Why would I do that? You're my greatest uncle; I can't kill you." Wu Niu responded with a concerned look.

A moment of silence befell them.

Eventually, Wu Chin worked up the courage to once again speak his mind.

"B-But… I betrayed y—!"

"I forgive you."

Wu Niu's response was so immediate that it caught Wu Chin off guard.

Relaxing his neck, Wu Chin let his head dangle so that he could see Wu Niu's face. He was surprised to see the lack of even hint of animosity within Wu Niu's heterochromatic eyes.

"F-Forgive?!"

Wu Niu looked down to meet Wu Chin's gaze and then asked, "That's what I said, wasn't it?."

Wu Chin averted his eyes. He was far too ashamed to look him in the eyes.

"U-Uh, what about getting revenge on me. I would've let them kill you after all."

"Nah. There's not really any point in killing you since you don't pose a threat to me as you are now. Not to mention that I most likely won't ever be seeing you again."

Wu Chin's regret for having wronged his Nephew Niu hit its boiling point. It was almost as if he wanted Wu Niu to kill him to satisfy his shame inspired self-loathing.

"That's not what revenge is about, Nephew Niu! It's about the satisfaction of taking the life of someone who wronged you—!"

Wu Niu shook his and said, "No! There isn't anything satisfying in killing someone. It is only ever something that should be done when it's absolutely necessary. I can't believe my very valued Uncle Chin forgot that. After all, your teachings are what inspired my creed."

Wu Chin fell dead silent. His throat had clenched to the point that made speech incredibly difficult.

Letting out a deep sigh, Wu Niu continued speaking.

"Someone who is transgressed upon, and so, in return, transgresses upon others are worst kind of hypocrites. Revenge isn't virtuous or even valid; it is just a justification for more wrongdoing. You told me that uncle. Remember?"

Wu Chin's breathing slowed as his body finally began to relax. Tilting his head back forward, he hid the tears that were welling up in his eyes.

Another moment of awkward silence befell them. Wu Niu had almost reached the tree; it would be then that they would part ways forever. Thinking about this made him wonder if he was deliberately drawing this out.

"I don't… want to lea—"

"Don't act like your better than everyone else! Get off your damn high horse!"

Wu Chin's words caught Wu Niu off guard.

Wu Niu spent the next few seconds thinking about how to reply.

"I'm not better than you or anyone else for that matter. I've made poor decisions, and I will keep making them for the rest of my life. The best thing we can all do is acknowledge that fault about ourselves and try to improve upon ourselves."

Wu Chin looked down to the ground in utter silence. It was clear that he felt remorseful for his actions, which is all Wu Niu needed to rekindle his care for him.

Arriving at the base of the tree, Wu Niu rested Wu Chin up against a tree trunk.

Wu Chin stifled his crying and looked away as he spoke.

"T-Thank you… for not killing me. I don't think I could ever repay this kindness."

Wu Niu gave a warm smile and said, "And you don't have to. The knowledge you have imparted unto me about this world is greater than any favor I could've asked for. I'd reckon that alone is sufficient payment."

Wu Chin could hide his tears no longer. The flood gates had been cracked, and the tears had begun flow down his face like aqueducts.

"Run now! They're coming for you!" Wu Chin yelled with a wobbly voice.

Wu Niu nodded and huffed, "Right."

Wu Niu bolted off deep into the pink and green forest and out of view of Wu Chin.

Sighing and dropping his head back against the tree, Wu Chin looked up into the sky and spoke to himself.

"If that was a demon, then I must be the devil."

Chuckling dismally, Wu Chin closed his eyes and waited patiently.