Chapter 8 — Two Fathers

There are no lights in the secret passage. Only blood behind Ta Vo Cuu's shoulder dripped to the ground. I was hugged by that person, and I could hear his breathing getting heavier and heavier. My father went last, the tip of the sword pulled over the cliff, scraping out a deafening sound. Always go ahead and explore the way. Uncle Tan supported Ta Vo Cuu, his voice trembling. “Master, first we have to stop the bleeding.” Ta Vo Cuu did not stop. “Leave here first.” I grabbed the hem of his shirt, my palm full of hot, sticky blood. “Let me down.” That person bowed his head and looked at me. In the dark, I couldn't see his face clearly. But I know that person is looking at me. "Afraid I won't be able to carry you?" I gritted my teeth. “Afraid of people dying in the middle of the road.” That person laughed very softly. "Your father hasn't paid off all the debt yet, I can't bear to die." My father said coldly behind me: "Don't use that matter to offend me." Ta Vo Cuu said: "It's been twelve years, can't I just scold you?" My father doesn't speak anymore. The secret passage is both narrow and long. There are very deep knife marks on the wall. There are also black dried blood stains. I couldn't help but raise my hand and touch it. Ta Vo Cuu immediately held my hand. “Don't touch.” I asked: "Is this a mark left twelve years ago?" That person was silent for a moment. "Right." My chest feels like something is blocking it. Twelve years ago, that person escaped from here. Was there so much bleeding at that time? Is it as cold as this? Are you still holding the newly born me in your arms? I suddenly asked: "Did you feel pain at that time?" Ta Vo Cuu's footsteps stopped for half a beat. The sound of my father's sword also stopped. The secret passage was so quiet that there was only the sound of small water. Ta Vo Cuu said: "I don't remember." I don't believe it. A person will only be cut by a knife and it will hurt. How can you not remember? Uncle Qin said in a low voice: "Miss, that night when the Master left the palace, no part of his body was left intact." Uncle Thuong immediately shouted: "Uncle Qin!" Uncle Tan seemed to have held back for too long. He choked and said: "What else is there to hide?" “The child is twelve years old.” “He should know who used his life in exchange for him living.” My father said hoarsely: "That's enough." Ta Vo Cuu did not stop him. That person just hugged me and continued moving forward. After walking about an incense stick, a bit of dim light finally appeared ahead. Uncle Thuong said in a low voice: "There is a door." I immediately woke up. But before I could be happy, a bell suddenly sounded from ahead. Keng. Keng. Keng. The sound is very light, but makes one's scalp tense. Often stops suddenly. My father stepped forward first. “Don't go over there.” Behind the dim light is a small stone room. In the middle of the stone room hangs a green bronze lamp. Under the lamp there is a person sitting. Are not. Not a living person. That person wore the old armor of the Eastern Palace guard, both hands on his sword, his spine straight. But the face has turned into white bones. I was so scared that I held my breath. Ta Vo Cuu also stopped. That person's eyes fell on the skeleton's waist. There hung a broken half of the tiger talisman. My father's throat moved slightly. “Co Chieu.” Ta Vo Cuu closed his eyes. “He's still here.” I asked: “Who is he?” My father did not answer. Ta Vo Cuu said: "The commander of the Eastern palace guards." “Twelve years ago, he stood guard at the end of the secret passage, blocking the last group of pursuers for me.” I look at that skeleton. He sat here alone for twelve years. No one collected the body. No one worshiped. Even the name is buried in darkness. My heart suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Ta Vo Cuu put me down. This was the first time since entering the secret passage that he let go. That person's shoulders staggered. Ba Tan quickly caught it. My father raised his hand to block, but Ta Vo Cuu avoided him. Ta Vo Cuu knelt on one knee in front of that skeleton. The blood on the body dripped to the ground. The person lowered his voice: "Commander, I brought her here." I stand next to that person. Not knowing why, I knelt down as well. “Uncle Uncle.” “My name is Tham A Dien.” “The person who once saved me.” “I bow my head and thank you.” My forehead touched the cold stone floor. Ta Vo Cuu's hand was placed on top of my head. Very light. It's like I'm afraid that if I use a little more force, I'll crumble. But just as I raised my head, the sword in the skeleton's heart suddenly moved. Uncle Thuong's face changed dramatically. “Back off!” The cliff behind the skeleton quietly cracked. Countless small crossbow arrows shot out from the dark hole.

My father pulled me back. Ta Vo Cuu waved his sleeve, silver thread flew out from his sleeve, wrapped around the bronze lamp and then tugged. The copper lamp hits the organ hole. Kerosene splashed. The crossbow arrow was deflected and stuck all over the cliff. But there was still an arrow straight towards Ta Vo Cuu's eyebrows. My father slashed it with a sword. The sword body immediately broke into two pieces. Outside the stone room came the sound of applause. One hour. Two hours. Very slow. Very light. Someone laughs in the dark. “Ta Wu Cuu.” “Sure enough, you will still come to worship him.” My father held the broken sword horizontally in front of him. Ta Vo Cuu protects me from behind. At the end of the dim light, a man wearing an old Eastern palace shirt stepped out. His face is exactly like the Crown Prince Tien in the royal paintings. 08 When that face appeared, even the wind in the secret passage seemed to stop. I once saw the portrait of Crown Prince Tien.