Yao Fang woke up from a pleasant dream. It was Chinese new year and she took a rare vacation to stay with her family. It was the first new year without her little brother who passed away months ago.
She woke up late but she met her big brother and both parents in the kitchen still preparing a family breakfast. For the first time since the death of Xiao Shin, everyone was smiling.
“Jun-ge, the dark circles under your eyes are lighter. You slept well for once?” She asked her brother
“I had a nice dream” was his reply
“I did too. I dreamt of Xiao Shin living in a fantasy world among immortals and fairies” said their mother
The other 3 smiles dropped “I did too!” were their replies at the same time
“I dreamt he was younger and healthy. He was making lightning balls to amuse a toddler…” started father Yao
“Then he ate fried chicken for lunch but the chicken leg was twice as big as what we have,” added Yao Jun. His little brother was too sick to be allowed to eat fried chicken before his passing
Yao Fang smiled with watery eyes, “Afterward, he went shopping with his friends and bought a lot of candies”
“Instead of sleeping early he read books. It took cold water from a boy to wake him up the next day” replied mother Yao with tears
…
“It seems we really had the same dream” concluded again Yao Fang
“It means this is his current life” added Yao Jun
“A life free from sickness and full of magic” concluded father Yao. Mother Yao was silently weeping and could not add anything.
It was not the only dream the Yao family had about their youngest. For five years, they had similar collective dreams on Chinese New Year.
They were not sure if time flows differently in the other world but they saw Xiao Shin getting older, fight evil, protect the weak, fall in love and ascend to the sky. It was then that the dreams stopped.
Two years later, on the day of Xiao Shin's birthday they dreamt of him talking in front of a badly drawn painting. There were 4 people drawn on it.
“Xiao Long, JieJie, this is grandpa, grandma, uncle Jun and aunt Fang. They are very far away and we cannot meet them but they are daddy’s family” Said Bai Yu Shin to the 2 babies on his arms
Little Long was making baby noises and trying to touch the painting
“Don’t touch it! It took me days to paint this” complained Bai Yu Shin, taking a step back. As children of a couple of half immortals, Xiao Long and JieJie were born in the ascension stage and were a handful to take care of.
“Even without ever meeting them, I could paint them better than this” replied Fei Hong with a smirk
“No, when looking at it, my parents and siblings would know it was them right away,” replied Bai Yu Shin.
He was right, the painting reassembled the family painting Xiao Shin made when he was 6. At that time, he told his mother that he was too lazy to draw another person but the truth was he knew he wouldn't be staying with them for long. It was better for them to have less reminder of him. When he grew up, he understood it was cruel to do so and he made sure to leave them as many good memories of him as possible.
He turned back to the painting to say “Dad, mum, Jun-ge, Fang-jie, this is my new family; my lovely wife Fei Hong, my eldest son Bai YaoLong and my youngest daughter Bai YaoJie. I have a good, healthy and long life now.
I am only allowed to send this message to you so don’t expect another one…I am sorry I left you early. I wish we are fated to meet again”
With this, the Yao family woke up from their nap
~~~~~
Bai Yu Shin sighed, “You could have given me more time to say more” he complained to Ji FangFang who was hiding behind a screen.
“There is not much time left on the heavenly message stone. It was hard to get this one for you and I already filled it with 5 days of your life pre-ascension. Be thankful you could add a personal message. You are lucky to have ascended before the message was sent”
Time flew differently between planes and the Heavenly Dao rules made sending messages between planes possible only at a set time. For his 2nd life’s world, that time was every 250 years earth time. This was the only chance to send the message to his family.
The plane of the Greenwood continent had a shorter cycle, it was only every decade. Bai Yu Shin, Sun ChenLi and Fei Hong were able to send news of their ascension only a few years after it happened. Years before the secret realm closed.
That was over a century ago
“It is a nice day today, how about a picnic?” offered Fei Hong while taking Xiao Long from her husband’s arms.
Ji FangFang rolled her eyes, picnic was a new concept brought by her descendant. Now, you would see some immortals sitting on grass and eating something delicious while playing music or simply watching the scenery and chatting.
Those immortals spent all their mortal and immortal lives cultivating but Bai Yu Shin was right, we had more time to enjoy life. So why not do it?
“I will send this message stone to your old world and join you shortly with immortal Cheng. Don’t forget to add savory snacks!” ordered Ji FangFang
“I will invite ChengLi and his future spouse and make it a gathering,” added Bai YuShin. He paused when he saw his wife chucking
“What is funny?”
“My old sect master told me that the way to immortality was a hard process and, when attained, it was a lonely one” Fei Hong replied with a smile “But here we are, immortals with a family and friends”
“Darling, we gain what we pursue” and for us, it is a peaceful life and happiness with our loved ones
Fullname82
Thank you all for reaching the end of this story with me. Your comments and input motivated me and I even used them to improve it.
I feel pride and sadness for completing my first ever novel. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I had fun writing it.
Goodbye for now but not farewell, we will meet again with another story.
Yao Fang woke up from a pleasant dream. It was Chinese new year and she took a rare vacation to stay with her family. It was the first new year without her little brother who passed away months ago.
She woke up late but she met her big brother and both parents in the kitchen still preparing a family breakfast. For the first time since the death of Xiao Shin, everyone was smiling.
“Jun-ge, the dark circles under your eyes are lighter. You slept well for once?” She asked her brother
“I had a nice dream” was his reply
“I did too. I dreamt of Xiao Shin living in a fantasy world among immortals and fairies” said their mother
The other 3 smiles dropped “I did too!” were their replies at the same time
“I dreamt he was younger and healthy. He was making lightning balls to amuse a toddler…” started father Yao
“Then he ate fried chicken for lunch but the chicken leg was twice as big as what we have,” added Yao Jun. His little brother was too sick to be allowed to eat fried chicken before his passing
Yao Fang smiled with watery eyes, “Afterward, he went shopping with his friends and bought a lot of candies”
“Instead of sleeping early he read books. It took cold water from a boy to wake him up the next day” replied mother Yao with tears
…
“It seems we really had the same dream” concluded again Yao Fang
“It means this is his current life” added Yao Jun
“A life free from sickness and full of magic” concluded father Yao. Mother Yao was silently weeping and could not add anything.
It was not the only dream the Yao family had about their youngest. For five years, they had similar collective dreams on Chinese New Year.
They were not sure if time flows differently in the other world but they saw Xiao Shin getting older, fight evil, protect the weak, fall in love and ascend to the sky. It was then that the dreams stopped.
Two years later, on the day of Xiao Shin's birthday they dreamt of him talking in front of a badly drawn painting. There were 4 people drawn on it.
“Xiao Long, JieJie, this is grandpa, grandma, uncle Jun and aunt Fang. They are very far away and we cannot meet them but they are daddy’s family” Said Bai Yu Shin to the 2 babies on his arms
Little Long was making baby noises and trying to touch the painting
“Don’t touch it! It took me days to paint this” complained Bai Yu Shin, taking a step back. As children of a couple of half immortals, Xiao Long and JieJie were born in the ascension stage and were a handful to take care of.
“Even without ever meeting them, I could paint them better than this” replied Fei Hong with a smirk
“No, when looking at it, my parents and siblings would know it was them right away,” replied Bai Yu Shin.
He was right, the painting reassembled the family painting Xiao Shin made when he was 6. At that time, he told his mother that he was too lazy to draw another person but the truth was he knew he wouldn't be staying with them for long. It was better for them to have less reminder of him. When he grew up, he understood it was cruel to do so and he made sure to leave them as many good memories of him as possible.
He turned back to the painting to say “Dad, mum, Jun-ge, Fang-jie, this is my new family; my lovely wife Fei Hong, my eldest son Bai YaoLong and my youngest daughter Bai YaoJie. I have a good, healthy and long life now.
I am only allowed to send this message to you so don’t expect another one…I am sorry I left you early. I wish we are fated to meet again”
With this, the Yao family woke up from their nap
~~~~~
Bai Yu Shin sighed, “You could have given me more time to say more” he complained to Ji FangFang who was hiding behind a screen.
“There is not much time left on the heavenly message stone. It was hard to get this one for you and I already filled it with 5 days of your life pre-ascension. Be thankful you could add a personal message. You are lucky to have ascended before the message was sent”
Time flew differently between planes and the Heavenly Dao rules made sending messages between planes possible only at a set time. For his 2nd life’s world, that time was every 250 years earth time. This was the only chance to send the message to his family.
The plane of the Greenwood continent had a shorter cycle, it was only every decade. Bai Yu Shin, Sun ChenLi and Fei Hong were able to send news of their ascension only a few years after it happened. Years before the secret realm closed.
That was over a century ago
“It is a nice day today, how about a picnic?” offered Fei Hong while taking Xiao Long from her husband’s arms.
Ji FangFang rolled her eyes, picnic was a new concept brought by her descendant. Now, you would see some immortals sitting on grass and eating something delicious while playing music or simply watching the scenery and chatting.
Those immortals spent all their mortal and immortal lives cultivating but Bai Yu Shin was right, we had more time to enjoy life. So why not do it?
“I will send this message stone to your old world and join you shortly with immortal Cheng. Don’t forget to add savory snacks!” ordered Ji FangFang
“I will invite ChengLi and his future spouse and make it a gathering,” added Bai YuShin. He paused when he saw his wife chucking
“What is funny?”
“My old sect master told me that the way to immortality was a hard process and, when attained, it was a lonely one” Fei Hong replied with a smile “But here we are, immortals with a family and friends”
“Darling, we gain what we pursue” and for us, it is a peaceful life and happiness with our loved ones
Fullname82
Thank you all for reaching the end of this story with me. Your comments and input motivated me and I even used them to improve it.
I feel pride and sadness for completing my first ever novel. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I had fun writing it.
Goodbye for now but not farewell, we will meet again with another story.
