Chapter 1: The beginning of tomorrow

Growing up I was raised by my grandfather, who trained me every day in the art of Kung Fu. He made me do chores, and when I turned 10 he had me start strength training. the only way I could do what I want is if I could win in a fight against the old man. he would always tell me that at my age my father was way better and make me mad. day in and day out constant training learning becoming stronger.

Never gave me the time of rest, and my sister she was praised everyday. Getting special treatment from my grandparents. They called her the gifted, she always had high marks and was very talented and had a lot of friends. Me on the other hand I had me, myself, and I. I had friends just online in the video games I played. Even tho I had a perfect grade in all my classes and I trained everyday with my grandpa, I was still not good enough in their eyes. Being strong wasn't good enough for them, having good grades wasn't good enough I was still not good enough.

it got worse when my grandmother died when I was 15, I was given more and more training while sis watched and played with friends. I was the one who picked up the chores that were left behind. I did everything I could I skipped several grades and I started college when I turned 17 this year.

Last year my grandpa told me that he has taught me everything he knows and that I just need to sharpen my skills alone for now on and if I ever wanted his respect that I needed to be able to win against him. Today my grandpa, sis, and I are going to the shrine to wish for a good year and give a offering.

"Ling Lin go on to the shrine me and Cheng Lee will meet you there, grandpa has something to talk about with your brother", as Ling Lin ran down the path she slightly turned and yelled "DON'T TAKE SO LONG SLOW POKES!" we where walking for a minute or two with the silence creating a awkward and uneasy filling between us. "um grandpa I've been working really hard on my combat training and might even impress you."

"oh is that so Cheng Lee, well I guess I will have to test you out when we get home, but there is something we need to talk about."

He spoke with such a weight holding his words back and making it hard for him to look me in the eyes and just say it. He turned away then said "To be honest your parents where supposed to tell you after you got older, and to be honest either way this information is presented to you it doesn't change a thing between us. You was adopted at birth by your parents."

he gave a big sigh as the weight was lifted off his chest. I looked at him and said "grandpa I already knew after how sister acted different around me a few years ago I'm guessing she found out." aghhh of course I didn't know what am I saying.

"oh you found out back then ahahah, well that's good kid so I was stressed out over nothing. alright then i'm going to run up ahead make sure your sister doesn't get lost or hurt see you at the shrine kid."

"okay grandpa race you there"

he then sneakered with a grin as if saying its on kid with his expression. So all this time I was adopted and no one told me not even my younger sister. How am I supposed to feel now, being lower than low was it because I was adopted. Old man do you really see me as your grandchild.

As we were running towards the shrine in the distance grandpa looked at me and said "you've gotten faster kid, that's good. If i'm not here its your job to protect Ling Lin remember that kid." It was almost as if he saw the future cause how could he know what was to come, but no one could have guessed what was about to happen.

We got to the top of the mountain at the base of the shrine where Ling Lin was waiting patiently on us, "you all took so long, grandpa what did you have to talk about that kept you all for getting here sooner."

"oh Ling Lin it wasn't as long as you say it is, but It was time he learned of his past." he said oh so softly as to not let me hear them talking about it, as if they had new plans to make. we gathered hand in hand said a prayer, bowed our heads and walked through the gate all at once.