The White Phoenix

Chapter 30 - History of the Phoenix

"A'Ying, I wish to speak to you about something before we head out for training," Wangji said.

"Okay," Wei Ying said as he sat down at the table with Wangji.

"GeGe and I have found someone to help you learn more about your fire cultivation. I know you are a bit afraid of it, but if you learn how to use it, control it, and understand it, perhaps your fear will go away," Wangji told him.

Wei Ying was a bit anxious now but he was able to understand, "so you won't be the one to train me on the Fire cultivation?" He asked.

"I would love to be the one to help you, but I do not know much about Fire cultivation and how to wield it. That is why we hired a tutor to help you who does," Wangji said.

"Is there a reason why I am the only one in Gusu who can use fire?" Wei Ying asked, "why am I so different?"

As Wei Ying was now ten, Wangji was wondering if he was old enough to start understanding a little bit more of his real identity and background, "A'Ying, do you remember that I told you that you are a phoenix?" Wangji asked.

"How come I cannot turn into one?" Wei Ying asked.

"You will be able to when you are a bit older, but you are actually from a land that is very special. You are only a child at the moment but in a few years time, you will gain your other abilities back," Wangji said.

"Other abilities?" Wei Ying asked.

"Have you heard of the term, nirvana?" Wangji asked.

"Isn't that a term of rebirth?" Wei Ying answered, "since you said I was a phoenix, they are known for their rebirth. After a curtain amount of time, they burn up and turn to ash, and are reborn again from the ashes."

"Close, yes they are reborn again from the ashes, but it is an egg that is formed from them. After five days, they are born again. Which is what happened to you. I have been caring for you since, with the help from GeGe," Wangji explained.

"How did you come across me?" Wei Ying asked.

"Are you sure you wish to know now? I am not sure if you can handle all this at once," Wangji said.

Wei Ying moved to Wangji's lap, "I wish to know where I come from, what I am, what I used to be. If I was bad before, isn't rebirth a chance of redemption as well?" He asked.

"Very well," Wangji said, "I am always here for you. If it is too much, tell me."

"I will," Wei Ying said.

Lan Wangji took in a deep breath before he started to speak, "long ago, you were actually known as the crown prince of the realms. You are the grandson of Tian Jun, the king of the Celestial Realm, or all of them anyway. You are actually fifty thousand years of age. Which is the age set for your nirvana. That was actually your first one. You were reborn and given to a family in the cultivation world to be raised so you can grow and connect to a new world. In that process, that family was not kind.

"The wife of the family, was harsh to you. Abused you verbally and physically. You believed that your self-worth was nonexistent. After you grew to the age of sixteen or so, you and your sworn siblings actually came here to Gusu for an indoctrination. While you were here, the abuse you experienced was starting to take its toll on you. Your suffering started turning into something else, anger, fear, rage. When provoked, you engulfed into flames and passed out to the point of exhaustion.

"I was the only one who could touch you because I am immune to your fire. Your real parents and your grandfather came and helped you by inducing a new nirvana to take place. That was when you were set in my care. Now, you grew up with love, protection, respect, and proper discipline and education. You are properly training and cultivating, and you are able to pick up on things very quickly. So you see, you are actually a god, A'Ying. At the moment, your dormant and will gain your godhood back when you reach eighteen. You will have your knowledge back of your past lives. And the reason you are comfortable with me, is because I am your soulmate."

Wei Ying took all of that information in, in stride. He was quite surprised to learn that he was actually a prince, but knowing this, he did not gain any sense of newfound pride or arrogance. The moment he heard the word, soulmate, he was wondering what that meant.

"What is a soulmate?" Wei Ying asked.

"Someone who you feel deeply connected with. Someone who you are meant to spend your life with, no matter what," Wangji explained, "but you are still young so you do not have to worry about that right now."

"But, is that why I am always better when I am beside you, instead of being away from you? Is that why you care for me more than anything?" Wei Ying asked.

"One of the reasons," Wangji answered, "the main reason is that I just love you, A'Ying. I will always love you, no matter the lifetime. I am happy to be the one to help you, teach you, guide you. I will always do what I can to love and protect you, A'Ying."

"I Love you too, A'Zhan...but if I am a phoenix, then what does that make you?" Wei Ying asked.

Lan Wangji smiled, "that makes me, your tickle monster," he said and started to tickle Wei Ying.

"A'Zhan!" Wei Ying squealed as he was now at the mercy of Lan Wangji. He continued to squeal, wiggled, and laugh.

The truth was, Lan Wangji did not know what would come of him after Wei Ying gained his main life back. He just wanted to continue to be by Wei Ying's side.