1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
Red Book

On the banks of the Jingtze River I stood

Look at the sky in the afternoon

Hope that you will come back

Carrying a handful of flavors I've ever given you

But reality cannot be lied to

That you have gone and will never come back

If you want to wait

May we be reunited

The poem opens up the story in the red book.

It is said that there was a young man named Zhang who ventured to find an antidote for his illness. His family was still of noble descent, and of course he was the young master of his family.

One day a fire broke out at Zhang's residence and killed all of his family members. Zhang eventually became an orphan. He was also taken care of by his uncle. When winter came, Zhang's disease recurred. His uncle had summoned many healers to treat Zhang's illness, but still nothing worked.

One day, Uncle Zhang met a monk and asked for help. The monk told Uncle Zhang that the cure for his nephew's illness was in the Land of Clouds. Uncle Zhang who heard the monk's reply was shocked. He heard that the land existed only in legend, but it turned out that the land really existed.

Then the monk explained again, that the one who could reach the place was his own nephew. So, he had to make this trip himself. The monk also told his uncle to take Zhang to see him before leaving to search for the cure.

After hearing the monk's explanation, Uncle Zhang returned home and told Zhang what the monk had said. Zhang understood, and he too would make the journey himself. Uncle Zhang was certainly worried that Zhang's illness would recur in the middle of the journey, while he traveled alone.

Finally before Zhang left, he and his uncle met the monk. The monk said that on his later travels he would meet people who would become his travel companions. He also gave a dagger as a weapon of protection for Zhang. Zhang thanked the monk, said goodbye to his uncle and left the village.

On his way to find an antidote, he meets two people he has not known in different places he went through. The two men then went with Zhang.

It was not without reason that they followed Zhang in search of a cure, but because there was no life expectancy for the two if they still settled where they were. Because they have experienced a lot of suffering and distress in their previous place.

Therefore, they decided to join Zhang. Initially, their journey went well. It's just that while in last place before reaching the destination, one of Zhang's friends he finds on the way is suddenly kidnapped by a herd of bandits. The bandits would free Zhang's friend if Zhang could give them the medicine he was looking for.

Naturally Zhang was confused by this exchange system, but eventually he decided to do so on the condition that the bandits would not harm Zhang's friend. The leader of the bandits determined a place to transact, namely at the mouth of the Yangtze river.

Finally Zhang and his remaining friend continued the journey to get the antidote in order to save his friend immediately.

Zhang also managed to reach the Cloud Country and obtained the antidote after making transactions with the ruler of the country. With his friend, Zhang rushed to the location where his friend was being held hostage, the mouth of the Yangtze river.

After arriving at the hostage place, Zhang met with the leaders of the bandits to transact. Finally Zhang gave the medicine to the bandit leader and Zhang's friend was free.

When they were about to leave the place, suddenly the leader of the bandits ordered his armed subordinates to surround the three of them. The leader ordered that the three of them be killed and their bodies thrown into the river.

Outnumbered and outgunned, the three of them were killed horribly. Their bodies were washed away so they could not be found. While the bandits rushed away so as not to be caught by the ruler of the region.

Though Zhang's hope is to live longer after taking the medicine and wait for the person he was looking for all this time in the place where he was killed now. But fate says something else, and he must die a terrible death with his unfulfilled wish.

“Pity this young man named Zhang. His family burned to death, and he could not meet the person he was waiting for,” Shuwan said after finishing reading the story in the red book.

It did not feel like Shuwan had read the book for hours and the sky had turned dark as night had come. Shuwan's stomach was rumbling with hunger. Finally he stopped reading and closed the red book.

“Gosh! Is it like this? I missed dinner. Did you leave food for me? My stomach feels really hungry now.”

With a lethargic face he went down the stairs and found his brother and grandfather who were enjoying a television show.

Shuwan approached Jianying.

“Kak, why didn't you call me at dinner?”

“I already called you, even went into your room. Seeing you're focusing on reading I don't want to bother you. So I ate first with grandfather," Jianying replied.

“Then how now? I feel so hungry because I haven't eaten?”

“Just relax, I set aside your dinner.”

“Really? Thank you for remembering me." Shuwan's face returned as his brother still left him dinner.

“Of course, now eat before it gets late. Or your body will be like an elephant because it eats too late,” Jianying said teasing her sister.

“I won't be fat! After all, every day I do physical exercise, so the fats in my body instantly burn again.”

Jianying laughed and said, ”I'm just kidding. Already, eat first and get to sleep.”

“Iya, yes. I eat. Sometimes I think that you're more chatty than mom.”

“What did you say?” jianying asked with a face that was a little annoyed at being teased by her sister.

“Nothing. Then I eat first.”

Shuwan sits down and eats at the dinner table alone, as he is the only one who hasn't eaten. After finishing eating and cleaning his cutlery, he approached grandfather to convey his point.

“Kek, tomorrow I'll go on a mission.”

“Alright, prepare yourself and also the equipment you have to bring,” he said.

“Good, Cake.”

“Now rest. I will concoct the herbal medicines for you to bring tomorrow," Jianying chimed in.

“Okay, Boss!” shuwan said as he made a respectful gesture towards his brother.

Shuwan went upstairs and rested in his room to gather his energy and strength.

Tired of reading books all day, Shuwan fell asleep quickly. The quiet and soothing atmosphere made Shuwan fall asleep soundly.

The sound of the clock ticked, and the earth still continued to rotate.

In his heart, Shuwan dreams. It's just that the dream is not clear, it only looks like pictures of fuzzy movie rollers. He was shocked because of his dream so that he woke up with a sweaty condition and gasping for breath.

“What was that dream? Why does it feel like real?”

He also looked around his room. His gaze turned toward the window, and realized that morning had arrived.