A lost parent, a lost love. Heh, what else have I lost in this lifeti? I can't seem to rember, nor do I think I wish to.
Falling back, I laid down on the cold stone floor as the warm breeze whistled by. The retreating sun turned the sky turned a warm orange color, a stark contrast to the bright green spring leaves.
Why did Master even take here? And were all of those mories a part of his plan?
Ah, I can't wrap my mind around any of this. The mories of my father were a welcod surprise as those kinds of happy forgotten monts are so that I long to return to.
However, I can't recall where I've t this "Little Fox." The na sounded familiar yet held no weight to . Those mories seed to be like a play playing before my eyes. It was as if I was watching soone else's life.
Those mories seed to be mine, yet they belonged to soone else entirely.
I tried to grind my mind for any leads or clues; however, the harder I tried to rember, the more my head started to throb until it beca a piercing pain.
"Ahh, forget it" Hissing through my teeth, I held my head. If it's not sothing that I should rember, I won't.
As quickly as it ca, the pain vanished, leaving behind a cold hollow feeling. Ah, when did it beco so cold?
Curling up on the ground, I rubbed my arms as I waited for Master's return. When is that old man going to return from his snack run?
Probably not for so ti, considering his gluttony. Perhaps he already started to eat without .
As the minutes ticked by, the day grew colder as the orange sky turned a deep blue hue.
Ahh, I wish Senior Sister were here.
-
"Why aren't you eating?" Master nodded his head over at my relatively untouched food. "You usually eat quite well.
Is sothing wrong?"
"Oh, I'm just not that hungry today, that's all." Moving the white grains of rice around my bowl, I tried to stir up so drop of my appetite, yet none ca. "You can have my food if you want, Master. I know how much you don't like food going to waste."
Pushing the bowl and plate of food over to Master, I expected him to go for like a starved dog. After all, Master has never been one to deny free food when offered to him.
However, unexpectedly, he ignored the food as if it wasn't there at all!
"You should eat," Master said as he pushed the bowl and plate back. "You'll need your energy, and you shouldn't skip your als."
"..." But I really don't feel like eating
Looking up at Master, I tried to read his expression. However, Master just kept his head down and kept on eating.
"Try to at least eat four mouthfuls of rice."
"..." I don't want to.
"Jing Ran." Master sighed as he set down his chopsticks.
"Fine" I'll eat, I'll eat.
Picking up my utensils, I forced the cold rice down my throat to appease Master. Showing him the empty bowl of rice, only then did he give a nod of approval.
"See? That wasn't hard, now was it?" Master asked with a cheeky smile.
Rolling my eyes, I tried to bat off Master's teasing words to no avail. "Heh, I guess not"
"Keep eating; it's not good to do stuff on an empty stomach."
Aiyah, Master is the type to ask for a mile when given an inch. Fine, fine, I'll humor the old man.
Eating the rest of my dinner, Master finally stopped nagging . Since when did Master beco this caring about our habits?
Is this the sa Master that made Senior Sister and sleep in a shed for our first few nights after joining his peak?
"Alrighty!" Master clapped his hands together enthusiastically as a wide grin covered his face. " Ti for our next course of action!"
What does Master want this ti?
---
"Master, what are all these things for?" Carrying a large lunchbox, I lugged the massive box up the mountain path. "And are these things really necessary?"
Whatever was in here was f*cking heavy.
I'm starting to wonder if Master just likes treating like an errand boy.
"These gifts are for people who are very important to this master."
"Important?"
Master barely gave any face to anyone, so who could be so important that Master would personally prepare a lunch box of food for?
"Yes, yes, very important. So hurry up!
I don't want to delay any longer."
Hah, if you want to get faster, then help this disciple carry all of this stuff! How can you ask to hurry up while you hop free like a billy goat with no luggage!
However, being the good disciple I was, I bit my tongue and prayed that we didn't have to walk any further. These trips up and down this mountain are really taxing on this auntie's body, ah.
Luckily for , my answer ca quickly as we arrived at a plateau. Overlooking the massive valley below and surrounded by lush magnolia trees, two stone tablets sat on the edge of the cliff: a small one and a large one.
Smiling, Master made his way over to two tablets and kneeled before them. Beckoning over, I hesitantly made my way over to Master's side.
Looking over at the two tablets, the large one read:
"Here lies the spirit of Li Xue Qiu."
While the smaller one read:
"Here lies the spirit of Luo Xi Wang.[1]"
This is
"Hello, dear," Master greeted tenderly. "It's been so ti since I've last visited, haha.
I know how anxious you get when I don't visit, and even more so when I make the trip here. Haha, but don't worry, these old bones can keep going.
What about you? What do you think about this year's weather? It's been quite windy, yes?
Ah, such a sha.
Xiao Wang would've loved this weather. It's the perfect type of weather to go kite flying.
You know how much of a wild child that girl isalways running around.
Haha, my wife, you claim that Xiao Wang got her energy from , but I'm certain it was from you!
Rember that ti that we raced up Mount Fuhua? Haha, I don't know where you got the sudden boost of energy, but you managed to beat to the top!
Oh, hush! I didn't go easy on you that ti!"
Master continued his back and forth with his wife. Although I was a bit confused about what was going on, I didn't wish to disturb Master's good mood.
"Ah, you're asking about the one that I brought with ?
How could I forget! This girl right here," patting my shoulder, Master smiled at the two tablets. "Is my second disciple, Jing Ran!
Em, Jing Ran, greet your master's wife and daughter."
"Uh it's an honor to et you, Madam Luo and Young Miss Luo." Bowing my head, I went along with Master's orders.
"Haha, see what good disciple I got? I bet you're jealous right now, aren't you, wife?
You always favored little girls who matched your energy."
After chatting a bit longer with his wife, Master gave her offerings of sweet flower wine and cakes while bringing out a platter of roasted duck and mantao for his daughter.
Father and daughter seem to have similar tastes.
After offering so incense and bowing our farewell, Master and I started our quiet journey back to the mountain shack.
"You're probably wondering why I brought you here, right?"
I watched Master's back as he guided us back to the house. I was curious to know why he brought here. However, I felt like I was intruding on sothing very personal and private.
"It's fine to ask questions.
You'll never know if you never ask."
Well, here goes nothing. "Why did you bring here, Master?"
Master stopped walking before he turned around. "Why don't we sit down first? I know a good spot where we can sit and chat."
---
Sitting on a cold stone bench, Master and I sat side by side as we looked over the quiet valley as I munched on so jerky that Master gave while Master sipped so of the leftover flower wine. The soft chirps of crickets and the luminescent glow of the moon were our only company.
"As cultivators," Master started. "We're forbidden from having worldly attachnts as it could hinder us from ascending to a realm.
However, there are a few exceptions to that rule.
When one ascends to the higher realm, there will only be three things a cultivator will regret parting with.
The first is your sect.
The second is your children.
And the third is your partner." Master took a heavy sip of wine while I waited for him to continue. "And let tell you, there's nothing more painful than venturing in this world alone, Jing Ran."
Under the white light of the moon, I swore that I could see a few tears in Master's eyes, but yet they didn't fall. Reaching out, I patted Master's back, unsure of how to comfort him.
This was the first ti that I've seen Master like this.
"Heh, thank you for your pity, my disciple.
However, my pain has since dulled over the years."
"That doesn't an it doesn't hurt at all. You still feel sothing, Master."
"... heh." Master smiled as he took another drink of wine. "I suppose I still do"
After a few more slips of wine, Master's mouth seed to unhinge as words poured out. "You know," Master slurred out. "There's a lady I know, Li Xue Qiu
Have you heard of her?"
"Em. Isn't that the na of your wife, Master?"
"Ehmm, she is.
A fine lady. From the outside, one would think of her as a docile noble lady, heh
I sure thought so when I laid my eyes on her. Smooth and pale skin, and fine black hair, she was beautiful.
The kind of beauty that would knock you off your feet.
Heh, quite literally!
When I tried to approach her, she kicked off my feet in a fell swoop!
I swear after that I fell in love with her, aha!" Master's laughter started to die down as it was slowly replaced with a drunk sob. Rubbing his back, it was the only consolation I could think of giving right now.
I hated to see Master so down.
"Ah, my little snowball[2]. I wish I could've spent more ti with you and Xiao Wang. If only I weren't so foolish so arrogant.
Maybe then, things would be different"
[1] Xi Wang - hope, wish, expectations. For a na like this, I'm sure that Master Luo had high hopes for his daughter. ;-;
[2] Xue Qiu - snowball.
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