It's not something that he talks about often. It's not relevant to his life now, to look back on his childhood years and reminisce about his difficulties. Why would anyone need to know that Fang Duobing used to be wheelchair-bound, that he had been so ill that his mother feared to even name him until he was five.

But Inigo is asking, and maybe it's something worthwhile to tell, so they can understand one another a little better.

"I was born sickly. When I was a child, I couldn't even walk. My... My uncle tried to teach me swordplay, but he was impatient and grew frustrated every time I couldn't hold a sword." That's not the truth of the relationship, but what else could he do but gloss over the fact that it was his father. The full story was much too complicated for one sitting, and this much is enough to tell already.

"My mother tried to console me by saying that I didn't need to learn, she would take care of me. No one could understand my frustrations, that I wanted to learn but I couldn't make my frail body hold a sword meant for someone who could stand."

"Then... Someone else came along and offered me a small wooden sword." He obfuscates again, this time out of respect for Li Lianhua and his secrets. It doesn't matter much, when Inigo doesn't know his name regardless. "He told me that if I could learn to swing it, he would train me. He didn't berate my shortcomings or make excuses for my inability. It was simple, straightforward; and most importantly, it was just like anyone else. With that lighter sword, I was able to make real progress for once."

"I could credit my determination to him. I still put in the work, even when it was painful, but he gave me hope that it could amount to something, that what I wanted wasn't out of reach."