Chapter 6: Family Situation

"Greetings, 1st Uncle" Wang Shenyang says to his uncle "Wang Datian"as he cupped his hands in salute. "I've missed you dearly."

Wang Datian smiles at him. " Yes, I miss you too, Wang Shenyang," he replies warmly. "It's good to see you again."

"1st uncle please come inside allow me welcome properly." Wang Shenyang said to his uncle as he led him into the temple.

A few minutes later, Wang Shenyang came with a hot tea pot and poured a cup.

Wang Shenyang picks up the cup of tea from the table an offers it to Wang Datian.

"Thank you." he take the cup and sip its contents. It is strong and bitter. A wonderful taste that reminds you of home. This cup has been here for years, but still holds the same flavor.

"How are things going in the family headquarters?" Wang Shenyang asks his uncle.

"Things have been going well. Wang Shenyang, I am pleased to hear that you're doing well too."

"Yes, I'm happy here. Thank you for asking."

"So tell me...what news do you bring back from the family? Anything interesting happen while I was away?"

As they talk about the family business, Wang Datian looks around the room. He notices there were scattered particles of blood and qi. "You seem to have had a bloodline breakthrough, am i right?"

Wang Shenyang nods. "Yes, I had recently broken through to the 2nd stage of the ShenShui Long cultivation manuel."

"That's excellent! Congratulations!" Wang Datian exclaims. Then he adds "It must be quite hard if you haven't trained yourself before. How long did it take?"

"Well, I train myself on my own. It took me about six months. But don't worry. With you perception and talent, you can definitely surpass me in no time. I look forward to seeing you grow stronger. We shall both get our chance to show off in front of everyone someday soon!"

Wang Datian chuckles at his nephew. "Yes, we will. That would make your father very proud."

"Your Father is not here now, but when he gets back, we'll all celebrate together."

"Yes, I know. He's a busy man, so we should be more understanding." Wang Shenyang says sadly.

"He is a great man." Wang Datian says with pride.

Then Wang Datian says, "But enough about me and Father. Let's talk about you. What have you been up to these days?"

"Oh, I've been training with your Grandfather, every day since I came back. I also spent some time helping out at the family business."

"And have you seen any interesting sights?" Wang Shenyang asked curiosly.

"Why yes, actually. I went back to the clan headquaters just a few weeks ago and visited the Ancesteral Temple of the Golden Dragon. Your grandfather and the other elders have been very busy lately, but I think they might have had some time to spare for me."

"Tell me about it. Do you find anything odd about it?"

"Strange indeed. I saw something strange there."

"What was it?" Wang Shenyang asks curiously.

"They seemed to be working on some sort of project. The place was full of blood and qi." Wang Datian says.

"Blood and qi? You sure it wasn't the qi leaking from some dead demon beast?" Wang Shenyang asked.

"No, it was different. Looked like some sort of body fluid."

"Okay, let's say it was blood. Who got injured? And why?"

"I didn't get a good look. I only heard the sound of dragon roars, but I didn't have the time to stay and ask. Before I knew it, I had to leave."

"Did anyone else see what happened?"

"Only the elders. No one else stayed behind."

"Hmm..." Wang Shenyang ponders for a moment. "It sounds like they're creating a dragon was rampaging in the temple. Your grandfather and the other elders wouldn't let me in on what was happening. Why would they go through such lengths to hide this secret?"

Wang Datian shrugs.

"I don't really know, but I suspect it has something to do with the family patriarch. I heard he's been called away on some urgent business, so perhaps that's why."

"Family patriarch?" Wang Shenyang asks. "What happened to him?"

"Don't you know? He disappeared few weeks ago. About two weeks ago, I think."

"Disappeared? Where did he go? What did he do?"

"Nothing much. He simply vanished one day without a trace. One day, he was there, the next day, he was gone. No one knows where he went or who with, but the elders seem to know something. They sent us off to do our jobs, and they'll handle everything." Wang Datian says.

"Is that all you know?"

"Pretty much."

"Strange. All right, please keep me posted. If you happen to learn anything more, you can always reach out to me."

"Sure thing."

The two of them finish their cups of tea. Wang Datian places his empty cup down and stands up.

"It's getting late, I should probably be going. I want to visit the family headquaters tomorrow, if possible. I need to speak with your grandfather."

"Alright." Wang Shenyang answers. "Goodnight then, 1st uncle."

As Wang Datian leaves, Wang Shenyang stands by the door. "Thank you for the visit, 1st uncle." he says as he bowed his head slightly. "I hope to see you again soon."

"If I return, I will be sure to stop by." Wang Datian replies.

After Wang Datian was gone, Wang Shenyang takes a moment to reflect.

"Well, I suppose that's that." he sighs.

An hour later, Wang Shenyang is sitting alone in his quarters. His mind is racing. There were so many questions running through his head.

"What the hell is going on at the family headquarter?" Wang Shenyang wonders. "Why would the elders go through such lengths to hide something from us?"

"There seems to be some sort of dragon rampaging in the temple. But what exactly is going on there?"

Wang Shenyang thinks as he continues to ponder.

As he sits down on his bed, he notices that his left hand is trembling slightly.

"I wonder what happened to the patriarch. Is he really missing? Or have the elders lied to us?"

Wang Shenyang shakes his head with a smile. "Probably the latter. I'm sure they're keeping it from us for reasons of their own."

"The elders have always care very much about the well been of the family and its interests."

"Even though they've been so secretive, I still trust them."

"And that's why I feel like I know them so well."

"I've been thinking about what happened today, and I've come to a conclusion."

Wang Shenyang pulls out a piece of paper from his robe and writes out his thoughts.

"First, I think the dragon rampaging in the temple is real. The elders aren't lying to me."

"Second, I suspect it has something to do with the family patriarch."

"Third, I think the elders are hiding something from me. They're keeping a secret."

"Fourth, I believe whatever is going on at the temple is related to the disappearance of the family patriarch."

Wang Shenyang stares at the words on the paper and tries to work out the implications.

"Fifth, I think this secret has something to do with the family patriarch."

"Sixth, I think it may have something to do with the family inheretence."

"Seventh, I think the elders are preparing for something big."

"Eighth, I think the family patriarch is involved somehow."

"oh well, I'll eventally find out what it is."

"Let's just hope it it not anything negitive."

Wang Shenyang smiles to himself.