He never had a plan, he just went with the flow

Chapter One

The world around him was loud and chaotic, causing a disorienting experience as he was thrown around. He felt like he had been pulled into a current with no way of telling up from down. Whenever he gained the energy to attempt to stabilize himself, a new wave came through draining him of all of his energy. Not to mention, there was a weird poking sensation that disappeared as fast as it came.

He didn’t know who he was. He couldn’t remember much, only brief flashes remained of his life. But, he knew he was dead, so maybe this place was some type of afterlife. Or maybe he’s just a ghost without enough spiritual energy to manifest.

‘Oh, shit. A-Niang’s going to kill me whenever I get out of this mess.’

A voice rang out through the screams. Was that his voice? Why does it feel so foreign? Also, A-Niang? He has an A-Niang? No, wait, of course, he has an A-Niang, he wouldn’t have been born if he didn’t. He rolled his eyes. At least he thought he did. He isn’t sure if he had eyes. Do ghosts need eyes to see? His thoughts flowed like a river as the poking sensation slowly grew into a prickling one.

The wave eventually deposited him somewhere. He knows this because the resentful energy around him increased. But, it feels familiar as it curls around him, like a greeting from a dear friend. He sits down as the resentful energy attempts to guide him somewhere, all the voices inside screaming over each other. He let it guide him until he reached a hollowed tree. In the center was a boy. He was tiny, maybe 3 at most, and seemed to be developing a fever.

Something in the far corners of his mind prickled as he observed the boy, he knew him, but from where? He kneeled in front of the boy as he cried out in sleep, “Granny, don’t leave me……A-Niang, I’ll be good………Please don’t leave me” It was like a gong went off in his head as he felt a pang in his no-longer-existent heart, as a memory suddenly forced its way to the surface.

It was pouring in the Burial Mounds as the spirits in its depths cried out, knowing their new arrivals were to be slaughtered like cattle by those who claim themselves to be righteous. But, Wei Ying paid them no mind as he focused on his one single task. He looked down at the child, who clung to his chest in confusion as he looked around, trying to find his grandmother.

“Xian-gege-”

“Shh, little radish. We can’t be too loud.” He quickly whispered as he stealthily covered the child's ears to block the sound of the incoming cultivators. A-Yuan nodded, clinging closer to him as he looked around for a place for him to hide. He didn’t care about his own life, but he will ensure all of this will be worth it. It doesn’t matter if he failed to protect Wen Qing and Wen Ning – lies. It will always matter to him – as long as someone survives. Then everything he sacrificed would be worth it, and the life Shijie lost wouldn’t be in vain as long as he managed some good with the borrowed time.

Finding a hollow tree along the edge of the Burial Mounds, he stops and places A-Yuan on the ground. A-Yuan looked up at him, tears already filling his eyes. He tried to reassure him with a smile as he kneeled in front of him. “A-Yuan, I need to go do something important….” He pauses, trying to find the right words to say as he fights tears. “But, it’d be too dangerous for you to be there. So, you have to stay here.”

“Why? Why do you need to go?” A-Yuan cried as he buried his face in his robes. His hands shook as his eyes started to well up, “Because, if I don’t they might come after you. And if they get to you, then that’ll make Xian-gege very sad.”

“Don’t leave me…please..” A-Yuan’s shoulders shook as he held his robes in a tighter grip. Wei Ying could only sadly look down, knowing he could not grant his little radish this one request. He pulls out a talisman and gently places it on A-Yuan’s back as he rubs the boy’s back as a form of comfort.