WangXian Forever 5

Chapter 96 Shifu

Li XiWang hurried over to the standoff between the two animals, and her parents, one of whom was cowering behind the other.

The moment she touched the dog, it turned back into the desert fox and licked her fingers, making little clicking sounds and snorts.

"DaErduo! How have you been? Did you miss me?" She still spoke in that deeper voice.

The fox leaned into her touch and nuzzled her hands as she petted its ears, producing a humming sound from its chest.

Wei Ying found it slightly unnerving that this version of his daughter was so much more confident and completely at home in this place that was utterly new to them. And this was the longest she had embodied her real self.

He was all too aware of that problem which they still needed to fix, which was how to reconcile both parts of Li XiWang and Bai Hua.

Xiao Mao raised herself up on her claws and hissed, clearly jealous.

Li XiWang petted her too.

"Come on, Xiao Mao. Both of you must make friends now. We are going to be together forever and it's no good if you don't like him."

She placed both animals in front of her and kept her hands on each one. They sat up straight, and as she fed both her spiritual energy, their blue eyes glowed with a blue fire. Li XiWang's eyes burned with a silver flame as all three souls connected.

Wei Ying looked up to see Hexie openly crying. He tugged on Lan Zhan's sleeve and gestured towards her. Lan Zhan handed him a white handkerchief, and he went over to her.

"Here."

She gratefully accepted it, and wiped her face.

"Why do you call her Shifu?"

"Because as Bai Hua, she was my Master, and even now, she still is. I have been waiting for this day for so long."

"Please tell me more."

Lan Zhan came to stand next to him, but kept an eye on their daughter.

"I knew Bai Hua from when she resided in the Jade Emperor's Palace, before she went into hiding. She accepted me as her disciple many moons ago. And she foretold everything that has happened so far, even this meeting. Although I must confess, when she said she was coming with her parents, I thought she meant Tiaopi De Long and Zai Shu Xia. Not you two."

"Foretold?"

"Yes. Don't you know? Bai Hua was Gifted. But this, the ability to see into the future, it was a gift. Actually, a reward from the Jade Emperor himself, because of her selfless nature and excellence in curing people. He bestowed it when she went to live in his Palace." She grinned at him. "Don't believe me, do you?"

She didn't wait for his reply, instead she led them out of that room. They walked past six rooms to the end where she opened a blue painted door.

"Welcome to the Records room."

This room was also circular, with floor to ceiling shelves. Each shelf was marked by a year, filled with scrolls and ledgers.

"My Shifu made great use of her time, from the moment she found out she was going to die."

"She knew?" Wei Ying was astounded. How would you even cope with that kind of knowledge?

Hexie nodded sadly.

"My Shifu was betrayed. She even knows who it was."

"Wow!" Wei Ying could only blink owlishly at her. "That's just..."

She patted his arm fondly.

Lan Zhan scowled.

"I know." She added.

"Who betrayed her?"

"She won't say. That's the one thing she hasn't written down. And believe me, I've looked." She sounded determined.

Wei Ying realised that her chubby exterior, complete with rosy cheeks and cute appearance belied a steel interior.

"This is the letter my Shifu left for me. On the day she died, she locked me in this house with a ward that would last three days. Then she spent that time perfecting the wards on the outside of this place so no one could enter. And one final external ward to hide this place. If you had come without her, you would have perished. Not even your ashes would have remained."

"Thorough." Wei Ying commented.

"Perfectionist." She replied with a smirk. "Here. She was a genius. Is a genius."

She handed him a piece of parchment.

All in all, it made sense, Wei Ying thought to himself. Li XiWang was exceptionally clever, she was caring and she had expressed a clear desire to heal people. And her core. Just a few steps remained between her and the realisation of immortality. He turned his attention to the letter, standing closer to Lan Zhan so he could read it too. His arm found it's way around his waist, pulling him closer.

Wei Ying suppressed a smile, already feeling so much better.

My dearest Hexie,

I must apologise to you, my most loyal and best disciple and friend.

I want you to know, if there was another way, I would have done my utmost to do it. Alas, I am left with no choice.

If you cannot forgive me, I will understand.

If everything goes according to plan, I shall return with my parents. If you are still here, then please look after DaErduo for me. He will miss me too much, and you always made him feel better.

There are three levels of wards around these perimeters, but I have activated them to recognise your blood. If you wish to leave, you may do so.

Otherwise we shall meet again in ten years time. If I gave you the exact day and time, would that be showing off? I'm not going to, just in case.

Farewell, Hexie.

Wei Ying looked up from the letter.

"This is a lot to bear...for anyone."

"It was difficult...in the beginning." She admitted. "But I had to look after the fields and the gardens and I kept myself busy like that. DaErduo was my company and together, we survived."

She smiled sadly.

"She really can see into the future."

"Yes. And you better hurry."

"What? Why?"

"I have read past her predictions for this day." Hexie took them back to the library room.

She pointed at something outside from the door.

Wei Ying and Lan Zhan looked to see three shapes still sitting outside near the tree that was sending energy waves out.

"Is that...is that us?" Wei Ying asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Yes."

"But...then..." he looked at his own body and then at Lan Zhan.

"These are your "Ling" bodies. Those are your corporeal bodies. You were separated when you entered meditation. It is my Shifu's special ability. But you only have seven days."

"Until what?"

"Until they begin to disintegrate. The body is nothing without the soul. Just a collection of the five elements. Oh, and in five days, the Children of the Tree will find you, or at least, those waiting for you outside the barrier."

******

A/N

Hexie = Harmony

Heping = Peace

DaErduo = Big Ears

Dear Readers,

Can you find the connection? If not, Wei Ying will clear things up in the next one...