Fateful Encounter with the Spirit Beast

ith a surreal feeling as if he were still dreaming.

Before Aisling could say anything, Dream Eagle spoke up, “Aisling, let me take this.” Knowing a husband better than anyone else, Aisling realized that her husband was ready to reveal Tianxiang’s long-held secrets about his background. At that moment, Aisling resembled the gentle and understanding woman she was during her time among humans, quietly standing by Tianyu Ce’s side, watching over Tianxiang with loving concern.

Tianxiang was astonished to find that they truly knew about his origins. The mix of anticipation and fear of being hurt unconsciously shifted from Dream Eagle to him.

Just as Tianxiang pondered the nature of his background, Dream Eagle began, “Your father, Tianyu Ce, was an orphan who lost both parents at an early age. His family believed he was a harbinger of misfortune, so he endured bullying throughout his childhood. In his youthful defiance, he ran away from home and wandered aimlessly, which shaped his proud and untamed personality. It wasn’t until he met the Captain of the Sky Eagle in the Kingdom of Cain that his life changed forever. The Captain wholeheartedly imparted the essence of military and strategic wisdom to him and took him on every campaign, training him to analyze every battle from the perspectives of timeliness, geographical advantage, and human harmony.

From then on, his life was filled with the harsh realities of war, experiencing numerous separations and losses, yet it also intertwined with deep emotional connections. This gradually opened his heart, allowing him to let go of his past and accept this society and his brothers who shared life and death with him.” Through this revelation, Tianxiang learned that his father’s name was Tianyu Ce. Although he had a tragic past of abandonment, he was a man of great character, one who valued emotions and loyalty.

After a pause, Tianyu Ce continued, “After much effort on his part and the Captain of the Sky Eagle’s recommendation and guarantee, he finally inherited the position of the Captain, which was a way to repay the fatherly figure that the Captain had been for him. For over a decade, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the Kingdom of Cain, never daring to neglect his duties. However, the problem arose when he fell in love with a woman from the enemy Delutin Duchy. He married her and together they had you. This led to accusations of treachery against the enemy, and in a desperate situation, your mother used a spatial transfer to send you to safety. They both chose to bind their souls to other beings, intending to meet their beloved son again in a different form.”

With that, there was no need for further explanation. Tianxiang looked at Aisling, whose face was already streaming with tears, and at Dream Eagle, who, despite appearing calm, now gazed wistfully into the sky, as if reminiscing. Within him, a clear yet vague answer began to take shape, waiting for Dream Eagle to reveal it.

Tianyu Ce let out a deep sigh, suddenly emanating a powerful aura. He focused his gaze on Tianxiang and spoke each word with determination: “I am your father, Tianyu Ce, and she is your mother, Aisling.”

Those words struck Tianxiang like an explosion, shaking him to his core and unleashing a tidal wave of emotions. The revelation made his heart race, and he stared at Dream Eagle with rapid breaths. Although he felt he had some understanding in his heart, hearing his father say it made it feel unreal. He had never imagined his parents could turn out to be like this. The harsh reality was almost too much for him to bear.

Seeing Tianxiang’s bewildered expression, Aisling had also considered how their son might react upon seeing them, but the truth could be brutally difficult to accept. Unable to contain her emotions, Aisling softly called out, “Xianger!”

Every midnight dream, the heartfelt calls of family that Tianxiang had yearned for-unknown how long he had hoped for or gazed into the abyss-were almost sealed away in the depths of his heart, but now they resonated with reality. This call was like the last surge of energy that triggered a volcanic eruption. Unable to contain the surge of emotions any longer, Tianxiang took a bold step forward and embraced his mother. The warmth of family broke through the vow he had made at his master’s grave to never cry again. Tears streamed down his face, falling onto Aisling and mingling joy and sorrow in a bittersweet symphony. Even Tianyu Ce felt his nose tingle at the sight.

In the following days, the small valley brimmed with warmth as Tianxiang shed his indifferent exterior and cold heart, eagerly sharing snippets of his childhood. Even the most mundane details could spark hours of lively storytelling, and his eloquence surprised even him. As he spoke with his parents about their past lives, their animated expressions were a stark contrast to the Tianxiang of old. If anyone were to tell Feng Xuewu and the others that Tianxiang had transformed like this, they would surely not believe it.

One day, the family found themselves discussing martial arts and magic. Tianyu Ce asked, “Xianger, I’ve noticed that you seem to lack internal strength, yet your mental power is unusually high for someone your age. Why is that?”

Tianxiang replied, “I lost my internal strength when my meridians were destroyed.”

Tianyu Ce continued, “What internal martial arts had you practiced before?”

Tianxiang answered, “I practiced the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Technique.”

Upon hearing the name of the technique, Tianyu Ce’s expression shifted, displaying shock and delight. He exclaimed, “What a twist of fate! Truly, what a twist of fate!”

As Tianyu Ce laughed, a spark of realization lit up in Tianxiang’s mind. He too was thrilled as he said, “Ludon is your subordinate, no wonder he possesses the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Technique.”

After the laughter subsided, Tianyu Ce nodded and said, “Ludon is the Vice Captain of the Sky Eagle. I didn’t expect him to have left as well. How many days did it take you to master the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Technique?”

With confidence, Tianxiang held up his finger to indicate a number. Tianyu Ce’s eyes sparkled with intrigue as he asked, “One week?” Tianxiang shook his finger, and Tianyu Ce exclaimed incredulously, “One day!” Tianxiang shook his finger again, affirming, “One night!” Tianyu Ce responded with three enthusiastic “Good! Good! Good!” revealing the immense joy and pride he felt as a father.

Tianyu Ce could hardly imagine the surprises Tianxiang was poised to bring him. He then asked, “How can we restore your martial arts abilities?”

Tianxiang, sounding a bit discouraged, replied, “There are three methods: the first is Dragon’s Essence; the second is the Goddess of Life’s resurrection staff; and the third is spirit transformation magic.”

Upon hearing this, Tianyu Ce’s mind sparked with an idea, though he kept it to himself. He comfortingly said, “There’s always a way out. This is a test from the heavens. No matter what happens in the future, you must live courageously and avoid negative thoughts.” Tianxiang didn’t catch the subtle implications in his father’s words; he simply nodded to show he understood.

In the deep of night, Tianyu Ce and Aisling gazed lovingly at their sleeping son, their hearts swelling with satisfaction. Without the need for words, their silent understanding about their son’s safety meant they would not enforce the use of the name Tianyu Longxiang.

Once they confirmed that Tianxiang was sound asleep, Tianyu Ce sighed and said, “The joyful time we’ve spent together these past few days has left me with no regrets, especially seeing how mature Tianxiang is becoming.”

Aisling, aware of the conversation between father and son earlier that afternoon, felt a mixture of joy for her son’s achievements and sadness for his injuries. Noticing her husband’s sentimental side, she understood what weighed on his mind. She gently inquired, “Do we really need to use spirit transformation magic?”

As Tianyu Ce gazed into the endless night sky, filled with vast and bright stars, he slowly said, “I remember someone saying that every star in the sky represents a person. Stars appear and disappear, just as birth, aging, sickness, and death are part of nature’s cycle. So, I don’t cling to my current life, for this is my final mission as Tianyu Ce.” After a pause, he continued, “Fate is like the distant stars on the horizon-elusive. We strive to master it, but since I can no longer grasp it, I will leave it to our son. Let him take hold of the stars in his own hands.”

Listening to her husband’s profound words, Aisling felt an awakening within herself. No longer burdened by worries about Tianxiang, she confidently said, “I have never regretted being with you, just as you have never regretted your decisions. Let Xianger continue our dreams and gallop across the Xuanwu Continent! We only need to watch over him from above. I still stand by my old saying: life and death together, never living alone!”

Faced with the resolute support and deep love of his beloved wife, Tianyu Ce couldn’t help but exclaim, “What have I done to deserve such a wonderful wife? What more could I possibly want?” They spent the night in silence, immersed in their soulful connection, without needing grand declarations of love, until dawn broke.

In the days that followed, Tianyu Ce took on the role of a strict master, eager to impart all his knowledge-from military strategy to the Thirteen Styles of Sword Techniques-to Tianxiang. Even for someone as talented as Tianxiang, it was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Aisling acted like a warm elder sister, tenderly and clearly explaining the origins and applications of mental magic to Tianxiang. She even shared her unpassed secrets with him, encouraging him to use what he could, and to find a successor for what he couldn’t. Although Tianxiang was surprised by his parents’ actions, he still basked in the warmth of family and the joy of their reunion, failing to notice the underlying strangeness in what felt like a final transmission of wishes.

That morning, Aisling handed Tianxiang two magic scrolls, a trace of gentle sadness evident in her voice as she said, “Xianger, you must wait until your father and I are gone before you can open these scrolls, understand?”

Tianxiang looked puzzled and asked, “Are you two leaving me? What’s going on? Why do I have to wait until you’re gone to open these?”

Aisling forced herself to stay calm, concealing her sadness as she replied, “Xianger, your cleverness and maturity have been a comfort to us. Your talent is a rare gift, and we hope you can make good use of it to create your own heaven and earth. Having spent these last few days together, we feel we have no regrets, but as with all gatherings under heaven, we will inevitably have to part.”

Just as Tianxiang was about to speak again, Tianyu Ce suddenly appeared, adopting a tone of paternal authority to interrupt Tianxiang and said, “Xianger, today we are going to teach you an important magic spell. It’s essential that we demonstrate it ourselves. Don’t ask why; just follow my instructions. Understand?” Out of respect for his father, Tianxiang had no choice but to swallow his words and reluctantly nodded.

Soon, the three of them, along with two eagles, arrived at an open area. Following his father’s guidance, Tianxiang drew three Hexagram magic circles, intertwining them closely together. Tianyu Ce and Aisling stood still in the center of the magic circles on either side, while Tianxiang settled cross-legged in the center circle, relaxing his mind and spirit to enter a state of profound stillness and clarity.

Once everything was ready, Tianyu Ce and Aisling exchanged a knowing smile, a smile filled with so many emotions-reluctance, joy, affection, and the hope of rebirth.

Suddenly, they both closed their eyes and began to chant the magical incantation, following an unusual rhythm during their meditation. As the tempo quickened, a faint blue light began to emanate from Tianyu Ce, while Aisling radiated a gentle, indistinct white light. Following the patterns of the magic circles, the blue and white lights surged rapidly toward Tianxiang.

The white light was hot, while the blue light was cool. The contrasting sensations invaded Tianxiang’s body simultaneously, nearly overwhelming his will. However, the two beams of light seemed to possess life and consciousness, converging directly at Tianxiang’s baihui acupoint. The light then flowed through his meridians like quicksilver, cascading from top to bottom. As the lights merged within him, Tianxiang felt as though he had returned to the very beginning of life, floating in the amniotic fluid inside his mother, embraced by warmth, protection, and nurturing.

The life-giving water, the sustaining light, and the elements that merged to create new life were rapidly repairing the damaged sinews within Tianxiang’s body. As time ticked away, he paid no mind to the aches and tingling sensations coming from inside him. Instead, he kept his consciousness calm and focused, allowing his thoughts to settle as he awaited the final moment.

Suddenly, two triumphant cries of joy echoed through the skies from the Dream Eagles, awakening Tianxiang just as the restorative process completed. He opened his tiger-like eyes, which shone with a brilliant intensity. Leaping to his feet, he heard a series of crackling sounds from within, and he felt extraordinarily refreshed. The new world around him was a blend of hazy yet vivid sensations, with various elements of spiritual qi swirling toward him, enlightening and intoxicating him. Within his Dantian, a long-dormant power surged, eager to break free, clamoring to be released. As he channeled his Qi, he discovered that the spiritual qi he once thought lost had returned, filling him with delight over the recovery of his martial arts abilities. Unable to contain his excitement, he let out a triumphant howl, even more powerful than his earlier cries.

Suddenly, the echoes of the eagle calls vanished, leaving only Tianxiang’s joyful roar resonating in the valley. Ecstatic, he wanted to share his experiences with his parents, but the two Dream Eagles standing silently on either side of him remained steadfast, and he could no longer feel the fluctuations of his parents’ presence.

This abrupt shift jolted Tianxiang from his heightened euphoria, and he quickly began to question why his martial arts had restored. Could it be his parents? The thought struck him like lightning, and he suddenly cried out, “No!” His voice, filled with anguish, pierced the heavens and stirred spirits, carrying a tone of profound sorrow. This cry even brought tears to the eyes of the Dream Eagles, who still lingered nearby.

His eyes brimmed with red, his voice nearly hoarse, yet it could not ease the pain deep within Tianxiang’s heart. The feeling of loss surged through him, and suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his arm. He turned to see the Dream Eagle by his side, its eyes brimming with tears as it gazed up at him. The sight tugged at Tianxiang’s heartstrings, bringing memories of his parents, who were now separated from him by the void of Yin and Yang, darkening his spirit once more.

Suddenly, Tianxiang felt the two magical scrolls in his embrace and remembered his mother’s instructions. Hurriedly, he opened them, and a blinding beam of light burst forth, its force causing the scrolls to slip from his hands and settle quietly on the ground. Above the scrolls, the vivid images of a middle-aged man and woman materialized before him. The woman’s voice, filled with maternal love, called out, “Xianger!” Instinctively, Tianxiang replied, “Dad, Mom!”

Just as Tianxiang was about to rush forward to embrace them, Aisling interjected, “Xianger, this is your mother using mental magic through a memory chain to seal our appearance and the words we wish to convey to you within the scrolls.” At her words, Tianxiang stood frozen in place, filled with a rush of yearning affection.

Tianyu Ce continued, “By the time you see this scroll, we will have already left this world. However, we do not regret using spirit transformation magic to restore your martial arts. You shouldn’t blame yourself or dwell on what could have been. Remember, you live on to carry forward our dreams, so cherish every day and every moment, and believe that there is a place meant for you on the Xuanwu Continent.”

Aisling added, “Xianger, please forgive us, your irresponsible parents. The moment I saw you, an indescribable flutter filled my heart; perhaps it is a mother’s instinct. Seeing you hurt and in distress breaks my heart, and thinking of you going hungry or cold fills me with sorrow. Though our time together has been brief, I hold no regrets, just a deeper sense of guilt. But I believe, Xianger, that you will take good care of yourself and will never let me down. Right?” Tianxiang nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice.

Tianyu Ce said, “We have taught you all that we needed to share. The two Dream Eagles will guide you out of the valley, so take care of yourself!”

Aisling continued, “In these few short days of family joy, I believe we have drawn our hearts closer together. I trust you will understand and appreciate our parents’ struggles. Remember that I will be watching over you from above, proud as you build your life and achieve greatness in the world.”

As soon as the words left their mouths, the phantoms began to shrink, breaking apart like particles of light. Tianxiang struggled to contain the sorrow in his heart, his tears brimming at the corners of his eyes. He steeled himself, putting on a façade of strength as he watched his parents’ illusions fade from view. When the images finally vanished completely, silent sobs escaped him, each tear falling drop by drop to the ground. Tianxiang could only hold himself together for this moment, determined not to cry in front of his parents, wanting them to leave in peace.

Wiping away his tears and suppressing the pain in his heart, he bent down to carefully pick up the scrolls from the ground. He turned to the Dream Eagles and said, “Please take me out of the valley!”

As they journeyed out of the valley, the wind brushed against Tianxiang’s face, stirring ripples within his heart. Thoughts of his Master’s passing, the loss of his grandfather and Huci, and finally, the sacrifice of his parents cooled the passionate fire within him once more. Yet perhaps due to the earlier resolution of his deep-seated hatred, Tianxiang found that he harbored no extreme thoughts; instead, his expression bore a lingering sorrow that had intensified since their last meeting.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, Tianxiang did not rush to leave. He turned to the Dream Eagles and said, “Thank you!” Then he leaned against a tree trunk and sat down. The Dream Eagles nodded in acknowledgement before stretching their wings and soaring into the sky. As he watched their figures grow smaller, the images of his parents became increasingly vivid in his mind. The days they had spent together felt like an unshakeable bond, tightly weaving through the fabric of his heart. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he knelt on the mountaintop and gazed at the deep blue sky. A feeling of relief washed over him, filled with determination as he silently vowed, “Dad, Mom, I won’t let you down!” He then bowed three times toward the valley before resolutely turning away, stepping into an uncertain future.

Destiny is like a wheel, where the joys and sorrows of life meet and intertwine. Perhaps it was Heaven’s compassion that allowed a family separated for over a decade to reunite, but the excitement of the reunion and the warmth of their bond were fleeting moments, like a blooming flower that quickly fades. What remains within their souls is the boundless, selfless sacrifice and love they shared. Or perhaps it was a test and a cruel trick from above that led to this absurd family tragedy of life and death. Regardless, one must follow the turning of destiny’s wheel; it does not spare anyone, be they a sovereign of a vast empire or an ordinary person, from its path.