“Brother Qishan is dead? How did he die?” Pang Shanmin could not believe his ears and grabbed the person who gave him this news. He wanted to hear that this was a lie. The servant from the Tang Family were also weeping endlessly. “The Master is dead! He is dead!”
Even if the servant would dared to lie, he would not have dared to wear white, the color that symbolizes a family member passing away.
“Impossible! Impossible!” Pang Shanmin staggered as though he no longer knew how to work. Just a few days ago, he was at Xiangyang sending off his friend. When the man left, he looked confident but now there was only grievous news. Pang Shanmin could not accept the fact that his friend was gone just like that.
“You must be lying! You are lying to me!” Pang Shanmin and Tang Yun were very close. They grew up together and shared the same interests. Their intimacy with each other surpassed even the closest brothers. His grip on the servant’s shoulder tightened as he shook the servant back and forth. The servant felt the pain in his shoulders and wanted to push away Pang Shanmin. However, he restrained himself because he did not want to hurt Pang Shanmin.
Just as the servant was at his wits end, a voice entered the courtyard. “Chi Er, it is time to wake up!” An old man with grizzled hair. Although he was old, his every action felt dignified as he walked towards Pang Shanmin with the help of a walking stick. Naturally, the only person who would dare to speak so rudely to Pang Shanmin was his own father, Pang Degong.
Pang Degong was already over seventy years but he still managed to swing his walking stick hard enough to knock Pang Shanmin out of his stupor. Nobody expected Pang Shanmin to react violently and knock away the walking stick. Pang Degong who never expected this was not able to stand firm and fell to the ground.
“Lord Pang!” The Pang Family’s servant called out and immediately went to support Pang Degong.
“Ah!” With the voices of the people shouting and the sight of his own father falling down, Pang Shanmin worriedly asked if his father was all right. He was a filial son and was obedient to his father. Even though he was over thirty years old, he had not yet taken up a post as an official because he wanted to take care of his father. If his father had not chased him out, he would still be living with his father. The sight of his own father falling down caused Pang Shanmin to panic.
“No matter, no matter! This weary old body is not so old that I would not be able to move.” Pang Degong pushed away his servant and allowed his son to help him back up.
Based on the expression of those around him, Pang Shanmin realized that he was the one that caused his father to fall down. He immediately knelt down and said, “Father! Shanmin is unworthy! Please punish me!”
“Get up!” Pang Degong did not show any happiness at his son’s display of filial piety but frowned instead. Pang Shanmin obediently got back up.
Pang Degong looked at his heartbroken son and asked, “Is Qishan gone?”
The father and son looked at each other for a long time before Pang Shanmin nodded and bitterly confirmed that Tang Yun was dead.
Tang Yun Tang Qishan. He was an elegant noble that even Pang Degong had praises for. Although the man was not as talented as people like Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang, he had a kind of free wisdom that the other two did not possess. He conducted himself magnanimously and is a model noble citizen during that era. Pang Degong was very satisfied that his son was close to Tang Yun as his son would not stray too far off when the other was such an elegant noble. He recalled the times Tang Yun walk up to him and called him uncle. Now all of this was gone forever. He had thought that his son would have a companion to rely on but Tang Yun left this world earlier than him.
Pang Degong had experienced the pain of separation before. There weren’t many acquaintances of his generation left alive. The pain of separation even made Pang Degong wished to have passed away first.
Although Pang Degong felt regret, he coldly asked, “Are you so worthless to simply weep endlessly?”
“Father?” Pang Shanmin was confused. His father had once taught him that as a noble he should mourn even his enemies. Now the one dead was his close friend.
“Qishan is gone but he still had things to do! How long are you going to mourn his death? Are you going to mourn until his body has turned cold or is it until his wife and children go begging on the streets?” Pang Degong’s tone was strict.
Hearing this, Pang Shanmin felt at a loss. However, he also realized that his father was correct. Tang Yun’s job was left incomplete and Tang Yun’s family needed to be taken care of. Unlike the Pang Family, the Tang Family was a declining noble family. If he did not protect them, they would be completely wiped out.
“Besides that, Qishan has died but you do not know how he died and who killed him! Do you not want to avenge him? If that is the case, I would feel ashamed to call you my son and feel pity towards Qishan!” Pang Degong’s strict tone caused the servants to tremble in fear. They never knew this side of Pang Degong. The man was usually gentle and good natured to others even if they are from a different family. Yet the man was suddenly so strict to his own son.
“His killer? Revenge?” Pang Shanmin was stunned by his father’s words. What he had learned about nobility had nothing about vengeance. All he knew was tolerance. Pang Shanmin who was incited by this no longer knew what to do. However, Pang Shanmin still had the nature of a man in him. “That’s right. Vengeance! Brother Qishan cannot die in vain! The one that killed Brother Qishan must pay with his life!” Hatred filled his eyes and Pang Shanmin no longer resembled a simple noble. He now resembled a wild beast.
Pang Degong who saw his son now gave a bitter laugh. He did not know what kind of future his son would not create. Yet, he had no choice but to do this or his son would be destroyed. The death of a loved one could make one lost forever. On the other hand, the hatred in Pang Shanmin had caused the man to become like a different person. At the very least, it was better than becoming like the walking dead.
“Father. Shanmin understands now!” Pang Shanmin cupped his fist at his father.
“You understand nothing!” Pang Degong shook his head. How could Pang Shanmin understand how much he loved his son? As the loved one is dead, Pang Shanmin should be treasuring the ones in front of him even more. However, Pang Degong was unable to say this and simply told his son that Liu Biao might have the answers Pang Shanmin was looking for.
