The Mysterious Old Man (1)

Everything start off when Housekeeper Ou knock upon the Li's door… It was just like every normal day Xiao Ling had to wake up to cook for her grandmother and her. Living in a little house in the hills will little to bother. Only when the village kids decide to come and play was when it is livly most. Now that the war has now coming to an end, everyone is getting ready to greet their love one that had went to battle. Despite the mourning over the past few years, no one is happier to see the war ends.

Xiao Ling however, have nothing to do with it for she was against it. Sometimes she wonder if the emperor was just plain stupid or smart to go to war with the neighboring country just because their king insulted him. Even so, what can she do as a commoner to stop a childish game of the old man. Setting up the table which lay two bowls of rice, a dish of stir fry vegetables and a bowl of bird soup. Satisfy, she would help call her grandmother over, "Grandmother, lunch is read-…", yet stop midway feeling heartache at the sight of her grandmother. Sitting their silently as if she did hear her, the fact she is like a living doll that needs to groom every day and night. Honestly, ever since Xiao Ling's mother pass away, her grandmother was never the same. Being blind and now mentally ill, Xiao Ling now had to over work herself every day to support the both of them.

But what can she do knowing the fact that her relative have cut their ties, only leaving her to fend for herself. Taking a deep breath, she walk over to her grandmother who had been sunbathing in her rocking chair for awhile now and brought her into the table to eat. Although she already know that her grandmother won't respond to her she still gather her courage to said, "Grandmother look! Today I was able to cook the bird soup you love so much". She laughs as she pick up her spoon, "Here, don't you think it as match to mother's" she said as she hold the spoon to her grandmother's mouth, yet again no response. Just when she was about to give up, there was a knock at the door.

"I'll go get", she quickly reply before setting her spoon down and held to open the gate.

Opening the door…

"Do Li Lingxi lives here?" a old man around his forties ask Xiao Ling when she open the door. Upon hearing her mother's name, Xiao Ling couldn't help but quickly close the door, at the same time the old man was surprise to see the girl of how much she resembles a woman he knew. Before the door closes, he was able to stop it with his foot between the gap as he grasp for an answer. "Do you know her, how are you guys related?", he couldn't help ask as Xiao Ling. How much Xiao Ling want to say, she refuse to reply. Whatever that is related to her mother, she'll tie it down and throw it at sea. She had promise that she'll live peacefully, and that peaceful path she choose is not having any connection with anyone. Especially something troublesome and is about her past.

Struggling with the door, she know she couldn't close it and let go. Instead she race into the courtyard to find a stick to chase out the dog that had berge in. "Miss, do you know Li Ling Xi", Old Ou ask desperately to know.

"What if I do, what does that have to do with me?", Xiao Ling answer, not giving him anything as she found the broomstick.

"Miss, you do not know. But I'm on a important mission to fetch Miss Lingxi", Old Ou told submissive at the same time when he notice that he was unwelcome. Seeing how things turn out, he didn't know what to say now that thing had become more complicated. One thing he do know that his master wishes to meet this woman of his dead son. Casted away for so many years, he did regret it and in hopes to reconnect the family. "Miss, I beg you. One word and I'll leave".

"And if you don't?"

"Mark my words, as long as you tell me where Miss Li is I'll leave", he promised with a hand swearing to the sky.

Xiao ling stare at him a bit more, but didn't seen any ill intention and drop the broom.

"Fine, but you are to leave once you see her", Xiao Ling remind as she turn and left.

"Thank you miss…" Old Ou thanked her as he follow behind her. But what he didn't know that the person he had been searching for months had already join the earth.