Chapter 157 - I Am Home

Ying Yue was currently meditating with all the students. Some did well and others… others would end up falling asleep or moving in their seats. Exhaling deeply, he cleared his mind and rested his tension. The presence he called for appeared before him.

"What is it, Chosen One."

"Jade Emperor," he bowed, "I… I would like to know if my master, Pang Xi…. If he was reincarnated."

There were no response and Ying Yue closed his eyes with his head lowered.

"You wish to exchange him for the one Ye Wu brought back."

"Yes."

Another silence amongst the white room.

"Pang Xi has reincarnated into a farmer with no touch from the Heavens. He is living a common life."

"Thank you, my lord."

Head still bowed, Ying Yue felt his heart beating excitedly. His master was alive! He had missed the green haired mentor and he knew his brothers did as well.

"Be careful what you wish for child. Everything has a consequence."

Then, the golden light was gone and he was alone with his thoughts. The Jade Emperor knew his wish and what he wanted, but still divulge him answers. He understood there will be flaw in his selfish desires, but…

'Wait! Did he… Did he say Ye Wu brought back?! Not trying to bring back, but brought back?'

Ying Yue opened his wet eyes as he breathed hard like he was breathless. Grinning, he stared up at the sky and exhaled deeply.

'Soon, my love, I will see you once more.'

==

Xu Ling and Nuying were speaking quietly as their fingers touched one another's arms lightly.

"Is he still upset with me, Ah Ling?"

"He will come around, just give him time," the redhead touched her face gently, as if she was an exquisite art and she couldn't help leaning into the touch.

"I do not know what I have done to him, for him to think so ill of me," she frowned and felt lips pressed to her forehead, causing her cheeks to flush.

"He only worries."

"Of what?"

"That you'll steal me from him."

Her black eyes widened and her mouth parted, before understanding dawned on her. Of course that was the reason. Since she came, Xu Ling doted her and cared for her so easily as if he knew all of her. The redhead was strong, attractive, and made her stomach filled with flapping butterflies. Every time his fingers touched her, she felt an electric current racing to her heart.

Yet she had seen the looks from the pink haired boy.

"Then we… we shouldn't do this any longer. I should leave."

Golden eyes closed and a sigh escaped his lips.

Nuying pulled away and covered her mouth as she quickly left the redhead to himself. Xu Ling placed his head against the cool wall for a moment, before leaving the hallway to the cafeteria. Entering, he heard the students greet him with a bow and he returned the greeting. He sat beside his talkative son and ate silently.

"Father, I was thinking we should take our teams to fish. We can see who's can catch more fish!"

"Another competition?" Han Mo perked up, "I haven't chosen who I wanted from the both of you yet."

"You took too long, Uncle Mo."

"Hey! There were no time limit we spoke of!"

Ying Yue laughed and added, "It is a great idea, Lan-er. We would be able to save coins if we fish ourselves."

They laughed and Xu Ling was glad they had a separate table away from the students. If the children heard of every competition his son threw out, they would surely want to do them all. He glanced at the students to see how calm they were, how inexperienced at life still, even at the age of 15 or older. His golden eyes turned to his son. He already started the pink haired boy young. By the time Zhang Xu Lan was 19, he already accomplished everything Xu Ling could teach his son.

"Father?"

Black eyes blinked at him and Xu Ling did not realize he carded his fingers through his son's hair like when the boy was just a child.

"You've grown, is all. You are no longer a child."

His son looked at him with furrowed brows before looking around the cafeteria.

"Where is Nuying?"

"She is leaving."

"What?!"

"You must not worry, Lan-er. I will keep my promise to you-"

His son stood up and rushed out of the cafeteria leaving him blinking in confusion. He glanced at his brothers who were staring at him with the same expression. They left their table along with some of the students to witness Xu Lan pulling Nuying's bag from her hands. Xu Ling stepped forward wanting to intercept, but Ying Yue pulled him back.

"Ah Ling, let them speak."

The redhead watched his son's expression to see dipped brows and a frown. He saw tears in the female's eyes. Then his son dropped his shoulders as his brows relaxed. Zhang Xu Lan looked over at him and there was a small smile upon his son's lips. Nuying was crying and she looked at him for a moment, before walking over to him.

"Ah Ling," she whispered softly and the redhead stepped forward, "Master Zhang… he gave his blessings…" she smiled nervously and he turned to his son who nodded with a smile.

He returned the smile, thankful that the pink haired boy was willing to give his mother a chance. Cupping the tear faced female, he leaned forward and kiss those lips before everyone. He heard the gasp from Nuying before the female returned the kiss. When they pulled away, she was blushing, tucking her face against his chest.

He could hear the students cheering and some were making gagging noises, including his son.

"I gave my blessings but I don't want to see any of that," Xu Lan frowned, but it itched up into a grin.

Xu Ling let out a chuckle and pulled his son to him, placing a kiss on his forehead. This caused the audience to laugh, while his son flushed embarrassed.

"Father!"

==

Ying Yue stared at the water. They were fishing for quite some time and there were no fishes to be seen. This lake was known for abundance of fishes and he remembered that to be true a century or two ago. Frowning, he glanced over at his brothers to see them also thinking the same. In addition, there were something strange in the air, like a blanket of heaviness.

"Master Mo," Fu Shen spoke up, "Something is strange about this place."

"Ah, you feel it too?" Han Mo saw the nod and he grinned, "That's why you are my favorite, Shen-er," he whispered to the boy and was graced with a small shy smile.

"Does everyone have their items with them?" The brunette questioned and many nodded, but some just stared at him with wide fearful eyes.

"Everyone stick close to one another," Xu Lan spoke up as he stepped back from the edge of the river.

"Do you sense something, Lan-er?" Xu Ling questioned and his son nodded. The pink haired boy could sense them much easier than he could, so he trusted his son.

Ushering the students and placing a barrier, they waited. Their students were not ready for something stronger than the weakest demon. They knew whatever it was, was not a low-level demon from how much it hid itself from them.

The water moved and rocked.

Each master held their weapon and prepared themselves for a fight as the rings in the water grew. Then it was silent once more.

"Have your talismans ready," Han Mo instructed and some of the student had it ready, some struggled to keep their shaking hands steady, and others were too frozen to move.

Just as suddenly, something popped out of the water twisting. The roar rattled their nerves and some of the students had fallen over from the sheer fear of the creature. Ying Yue just stared at the water dragon, one he had never seen before.

It moved to him, quick and fast, but his nephew swung his twin blades at it. Another roar echoed in the lake as the water dragon swung its tail, sending waves of water at them. By the time the splash slipped off, they watched the dragon slinked down the river.

"It's running away!" "We must grab it!"

Ying Yue agreed they needed to capture the water dragon or else it would eat all the fishes in the river. This would only lead to lack of meal for the people in all sectors.

He took to his blade as the others ushered where to go on land. He could see the dragon demon just underneath the surface of water and blue eyes watching him. It twisted underneath some water homes from the village in the south before appearing once more just below the surface.

'Is it playing with me?'

Ying Yue wondered as he followed closely. Another twist around the corner and the light blonde knew he caught the water dragon. It was heading to a bank, a pocket of water, a dead end. Jumping off his blade, he turned the corner only to find his breath pulled out of him.

Raven hair and red robe.

The man had his hand up like he was petting the dragon who cooed at him. Heart in his throat, Ying Yue stepped forward and the man stopped. He licked his lips and touched his rings, swallowing his nerves as he opened his mouth.

"Ah Li?" He whispered like a prayer at night.

The man in red turned and Ying Yue was brought back to before they parted for centuries. Ye Wu certainly made his love looked just like he did. There were no scratch on him. He looked as smooth as their first lives together.

The man smiled and Ying Yue's heart fluttered.

"Hello my wife. I am home."