POV Bubby Chang

The barren rocks and cracked ground makes me feel even lonelier that I am not with Chi. The ground seems as if it hasn’t been walked on for years, which is probably untrue since the silk road filters right into Yarkand. Maybe I should have stayed with him, I think to myself, but that would only hasten our chance of dying. I’m so conflicted and all I want is Bubby Chi.

“Would you like a ride young traveler?” A man on a cart pulled by a horse slides right besides me without me noticing.

“Uh, yes please, that would be greatly appreciated.” I respond sounding much like my brother. As I climb onto the back of the cart the man asks me a series of questions about what I’m doing and where I’m from. Why am I out here all alone? Where am I going?

“I need to find the oracle of Yarkand, he’ll solve my problems.”

“You mean she,” says the man, probably cracking a smile from hearing my audible sigh, “Ah yes, Xing Yun is a wonderful lady and a brilliant woman. Do not doubt her power just because she is a female.”

“I don’t have much of another choice. If she is a female, so be it.” I hear the man scoff from my comment.

“Well young traveler I hope you meant that in the most respectful way. For here we respect our elders as people such as Confucius taught us.”

+ + +

I enter the city finally ready to get this adventure done with. I run to where the man tells me the oracle is to find out that there is nobody there. Well let me rephrase that, nobody there that can help me. A wild clump of 20 people await for the oracle to show up for she has been missing all day.

I moap back to the man who carried me in, since he is standing exactly where I left him. It’s like he knew I would come back from an unlucky search for the oracle.

“She was not there, young traveler? What a surprise.” he says almost mockingly.

“No she wasn’t” I respond back, glaring at him.

“Well maybe you should have a look around the town that is Yarkand before you leave so soon.

“I have nothing better to do.” I say as I follow his cart through the trading center of the town. As we pass by boothes I see different kinds of goods placed out along the tables. Commodities such as grain crops, cotton, hemp, beans, fruit, and mulberry leaves. Herders have pins full of sheep are auctioning off horses and camels.

“Not so much of a buzz in your town, eh?” The man asks.

“Not where I live at least. It wasn’t even this busy and this rich with diverse foods in the last city I stopped at.”

“Ah, so you have made a long journey to see this oracle, yes?”

“To be frank with you, I didn’t have many other options. I either die or I leave my family forever.”

“What did you do boy!?” He acts surprised and then chuckles after a couple of seconds. It’s like he knows everything I’ve gone through.

“Are you the oracle?” I ask and he laughs even harder.

“Oh no silly boy, I am just an old man who’s gone through a lot. Your past, present and future seems all written out on your shoulders. It’s just easy to guess where you’re coming from.” I smile.

“Maybe you’re not all bad old man, maybe this town doesn’t have just one asset. I beginning to like it.” I say smiling at all the people and happenings around me.

“Well I’m glad you’re enjoying it, it will be the last city you’ll get to look at.” A mysterious voice from behind me says. I whip around quickly to see a boy a little older than me completely covered in cloth. He jabs at me with his dao. It is embroidered with silver and the handle is so ridiculously beautiful. If that was the object I was killed with I would be so honored, except I don’t really wanna die right now, I say to myself quickly maneuver around the sharp tip.

“Stay still! This will only sting until your body completely drained of blood and fluids.” The masked figure says. Not only does his grostest explanation of how he wants to kill me catch me off guard but his familiar voice stops me from jumping around the sword. And instead of slashing at air he slashes my side.

“Oh Buddha,” I mumble as I fall to the crusty ground, “Arch” I say as I writhe in pain.

“Ah yes, I’ve finally won,” the figure says and he crouches over me, “Seeing you writhing in pain gives me so much joy, after what you put me through.” He says and then kicks me on the other side of my torso.

“Enugh!” I spit out. I can’t imagine why someone would be after me, I have no known enemies. I want to figure it out but being in so much pain I just can’t force out any words except, “why?”

“Why?! Why is his question people!” He faces the entire city square, nobody has dared to move since they are so scared of being attacked themselves, “Well to answer your pretty little question my friend, I did it because you’ve stolen everything from me. The attention, the talent, the intelligence, the ambition, and worst of all: the love in my parent’s hearts. Before you and your little brother were born I was the star of attention. I was the most loved child. I got the gifts, I got the opportunities. MY PARENTS LOVED ME! And then you two came along and took it from me. My parents love you both more than me. Why?! I dunno. How come you get your answer and I don’t get mine?” He screams at me and the rest of the town. I remember his voice now, it’s cousin Shin Cher Ron. He never seemed like the murderous type but the quiet ones are always the one’s you have to look out for.

While he’s distracted I conger enough strength to kick him in the stomach. It sends him stumbling back almost hurting himself in the process with his large dao, that alone hurts me everywhere.

“Oh, your death is just going to be 10 times more painful-” He starts till he’s cut off, he must of noticed something near to him, I can’t really see what’s going on. Then I hear a body slam to the stone ground, “god, get off me.”

“Never! You hurt my brother.” IT’S CHI! HE CAME BACK FOR ME! I hear him struggling to pin Ron down, which is fair since he’s 4 years our senior. But there’s more commotion, people start fighting Ron and helping Bubby Chi. Just as the crowd starts to attack I am pulled out of the action by the old man.

“I’m a doctor he says, I can save your life.” he says slightly worried about my condition.

“Thank you…” I say as I trail off to black out.