As they entered the village, everyone watched the visitor with curious eyes. It was rare for someone to arrive on a Sunday, especially a new face
"The news of a new resident hasn't spread yet. I'm keeping it as a surprise for everyone. Our village is small, just 100 families living here, not even 500 people. The last time you came, everyone was very busy," Chief Li said, laughing.
Greeting the residents with a nod and a smile, Zion Chen made a joke, with a hint of sincerity: "For a second, I thought it was my disability drawing all the attention."
"Hahaha! Brother Zion, you have a great way of handling things. You don't need to fear that sort of thing in our village. In the past, it was common for accidents to happen in the mountains, leaving people Disable. Our village has always been one of the welcoming, with the kindest people in the entire northern region of the country. I had a small career in the army, but I retired young because I couldn't live without my village." Big Li was surprised to hear Zion mention it so directly. Seeing the man limping, he had felt a trace of pity, but watching him joke about it now sparked a certain admiration in the giant man.
"What a coincidence. I was also in the army, but this injury cut my prospects short. Now, I hope to have a quiet life by moving to the farm," Zion Chen smiled as he accompanied the father-son duo. Even with his limp, he managed to keep a quick pace.
"Wow, really? How incredible to find a brother-in-arms! I think we were destined to be brothers!" Big Li was shocked, but happiness soon spread across the giant's features.
"I'll organize a party for your move! Our village is small, but it's prosperous. The lands are fertile every year, except in winter when the snow falls heavily. So much so that our village has a strong reputation for producing organic and artisanal goods. Let's celebrate Young Zion's arrival!" Chief Li seemed eager for a party.
The father-son duo excitedly showed Zion Chen the village. Chief Li even grabbed one of the suitcases to help carry it. They showed him the central plaza and the family-run restaurants. Many residents came over to greet them.
A friendly old woman waved to the group as she passed by. "Chief Li, is this the new resident? I'm Aunt Ya! I have a little candy shop near the village entrance. Come visit me, and I'll give you a good discount!" She winked, offering a warm smile.
"I definitely will, thank you!" Zion replied gratefully.
"Already attracting customers, are we, old Ya? Young man, come have a drink at my bar when you have time. I guarantee you'll like the spirits!" an old man sitting in front of a small bar shouted, laughing as he made his pitch.
Zion Chen nodded with a laugh and continued walking.
'So this is what happiness and belonging feel like?' As he followed the pair, a light, warm, and contagious feeling quietly blossomed in his heart, making him question it.
'Sometimes, bad things happen for a good reason. Maybe leaving that dark world will finally let me feel this 'happiness' and 'peace' my brother always talked about on missions.' Memories of the past resurfaced, playing repeatedly in his mind.
"Brother Zion?" Big Li suddenly touched his shoulder, pulling him from his reverie.
"Sorry, I was a bit distracted."
"You must be tired from the journey. Son, accompany him to Edenroot Farm. It's getting late. Let's not tire our new resident any further. Young Zion, I wish you a warm welcome and a good night!" Chief Li nodded, understanding the situation. He noted that the sun was setting and dusk was falling. "Just to reach the small village by car is a 2-hour trip on bad roads."
"Thank you for everything, Chief Li. A good night to you!"
"Leave it to me, Dad!" Big Li said, easily hoisting three suitcases onto one shoulder.
"So, you're going to stay at that farm? Brother Zion, you truly are a man of courage!" Big Li asked with a tone of surprise as they turned onto a small forest path near the Chief's house.
"They say that farm is cursed. That the land is toxic to life. Every farmer who has lived there either abandoned it or died trying to plant something. I don't understand why brother would buy such a worthless piece of land." Big Li continued, staring doubtfully at Zion Chen. There were clearly other, much better farms nearby.
"As I told Chief Li, my condition doesn't allow me to be too far from people, in case an accident happens and I need help. Of all the farms in the northern region, this one is the closest to a village and has a pleasant climate. And... this might sound silly, but when I looked at that land, I felt I needed to help bring life back to that place." Remembering the state he'd found the farm in, Zion Chen recalled the first time he'd discovered his interest in plants, and he smiled.
Seeing the smile on the man's face, Big Li laughed loudly and clapped him hard on the shoulder, his gaze full of admiration. "Hahaha! I admire Brother Zion's determination and spirit! Whatever you need, you can count on me!"
John Li believed that a real man needed determination, good humor, and integrity to deal with life's hardships. Just from this brief meeting, he had come to truly admire Zion Chen's calm and good-humored nature.
"I also admire your good humor, Brother Li." Zion called John Li 'brother' for the first time. He felt completely at ease with his new friend's demeanor.
"This is the place. Edenroot Farm. It's getting late, so I should run back."
The pair arrived at an open field at the end of the road. A large wooden arch, standing about 10 meters tall, was inscribed with: "Welcome to Edenroot!" It offered a full view of the farm.
"Brother Zion, I hope everything goes well for you. Good night!" Leaving the bags on the ground, Big Li shook Zion Chen's hand in farewell and made his way back to the village at a quick pace.
"Good night!"
"So, this will be my new home... I hope, finally, after 32 years, to understand the roots that led Brother Li to give up his career." He said, looking at the old wooden cabin that gave the place a robust appearance.
By that point, the sun had fully set. The full moon shone brightly in the starry sky, casting a mysterious light over the farm, which was enveloped in absolute silence. The old-looking barn and mill stood a short distance from the cabin, projecting long shadows across the land and creating an eerie atmosphere.
Zion Chen observed the scene in a trance, lost in the silence for several minutes. His vision began to merge with memories of the past. The same lifeless land, the same suffocating silence that not even animals or insects dared to break for fear of death. But unlike reality, his vision was filled with corpses and blood, painting the ground in a sickly red color.
"Maybe this is why I chose this farm. This strange resemblance... the same feeling in a place like this. No matter how hard I try to run, everything always leads me back in this direction... I truly hope I can change this destiny." Watching what seemed to be a hallucination, he spoke to himself, displaying a calm that would have frightened anyone watching.
SLAP!
Suddenly, he struck both his cheeks violently, leaving red palm marks on his face. Everything seemed to snap back to normal.
His vision and the reverie vanished. He tried to force a smile.
Sigh.
"Why am I still thinking about this? I'm a cripple now. In the end, things are changing. Just being here is proof of that. I've finally broken free from the past, and I must find my peace."
Picking up part of his luggage, Zion Chen took his first step toward the farm. Even with his limp, his steps were firm as he decisively moved into this small farm, far from everyone and everything.