Chapter 4: Origins

The Xu family in Jianye City was not among the wealthiest or most prestigious, but they were well-known in the city nonetheless. Xu Jiaorong was the lady of the house, kind-hearted and generous in spirit.

Xu Xuan had lived with the Xu family for many years, always regarded by him as his true elder sister. From a young age, Xu Xuan was intelligent and quick-witted, with a deep passion for medicine and learning.

Xu Jiaorong loved him dearly, taking meticulous care of his daily life and supporting his studies in medicine.

One day, while sorting through old belongings at home, Xu Xuan stumbled upon a worn-out pouch embroidered with strange patterns, its age evident from the faded fabric.

Holding the pouch, Xu Xuan asked Xu Jiaorong, “Sister, where did this pouch come from? I’ve never seen it before.”

Seeing the pouch, a complex expression flickered across Xu Jiaorong’s eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke slowly, “Xuan, this pouch was with you when I took you in. The truth is, you are not my biological brother.”

The words struck Xu Xuan like thunder. He stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what he had just heard. “Sister, what did you say? How could that be?”

Xu Jiaorong sighed deeply and took his hand, sitting him down to recount the story of long ago.

“Many years ago, a great fire swept through a small village. The blaze was fierce, reducing almost the entire village to ashes. By the time I passed by, the fire had already died down.”

“In the ruins, I found you, still an infant, wrapped in swaddling clothes, with only this pouch beside you. Your biological parents must have perished in that fire. Seeing you so helpless, I brought you home and adopted you.”

Xu Xuan’s heart churned with a mix of emotions. He had never imagined his origins were so tragic. Clutching the pouch tightly, it felt as though it might hold clues to his true parents.

“Sister, do you know anything else about my birth parents? Could the patterns on this pouch have any special meaning?” he asked.

Xu Jiaorong shook her head. “I don’t know what these patterns mean. Over the years, I have tried to find any news about your real parents, but all efforts have come to nothing.”

Determined to uncover his origins, Xu Xuan took the pouch and began asking around Jianye City.

He questioned the elderly and consulted scholars knowledgeable about symbols, yet no one could decipher the pouch’s embroidery or identify the village where the fire had occurred.

Throughout this search, Xu Xuan often found himself despondent, sitting alone by West Lake, staring blankly into the water.

One day, as he sat by the lake, a white-bearded old man passed by.

Noticing Xu Xuan’s troubled expression, the old man asked, “Young man, why do you look so sorrowful?”

Xu Xuan shared his story of his origins and his quest to find his birth parents. The old man examined the pouch carefully, furrowing his brow in thought.

“Young man, I believe I’ve seen the patterns on this pouch in a remote place called Qingyan Village, far from Jianye City. But this is just my guess. You might consider going there to see for yourself,” the old man said.

Hearing this, a flicker of hope ignited within Xu Xuan. After thanking the old man, he resolved to journey to Qingyan Village.

Packing his belongings and bidding farewell to Xu Jiaorong, he set off on the arduous path, crossing mountains and valleys.

Upon arrival, he found Qingyan Village in ruin, long abandoned.

Searching the village, Xu Xuan discovered charred traces, confirming his suspicion that this might be where his biological parents perished.

In a corner of the village stood a stone stele inscribed with faint words.

Carefully deciphering the inscription, Xu Xuan read about the village’s history, including an account of the great fire, which was said to have been sparked by a group of mysterious men fighting over a precious treasure.

Xu Xuan’s heart raced; he realized his own origins might be entangled with these enigmatic figures. Determined to uncover the truth about his birth parents, he vowed to continue his investigation.

Though the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty and danger, Xu Xuan held fast to his resolve. Only by unraveling the mystery of his past could he truly understand himself—and step confidently toward his future.