Source of Eternity

Chapter 11

~THE NEXT YEAR~

One morning, at dawn, I awoke and went outside to the garden. I started to water the flowers. A minute later, Huo Rong joined me. "Couldn't sleep...?" he teased.

"Not when Master Gang is going to teach us how to reach the mystical realms of the immortals," I said.

"Are you scared?" he asked.

"No..." I lied. He tilted his head to the side.

"Sure..." he said with a small smile. "You'll be fine. If anything, I'll protect you."

"You always have, Huo Rong. Thank you, brother."

"You're welcome, little sister," he said with a smirk. I slapped his arm.

"Stop it...!" I whined and pouted childishly. "You're not helping! I'm not even two months younger than you...!"

He laughed. "Alright. Seriously, though, just say the word, and I'll rush to your side."

I nodded as Master Gang came from his meditation chamber and met us in the garden.

"Master..." we both said with a bow.

"You both rose with the sun...?" he asked as he sat down on the ground. We did the same.

"Yes, Master," I said. "I could barely sleep."

"Ah..." he said with an understanding nod as he closed his eyes. "And you, Huo Rong?"

"I couldn't sleep either, Master," Huo Rong admitted as he sat in a meditation position. "Master? What are we going to learn today?" he asked as he cast a hopeful glance at me. I gave him a small smile as I joined them in meditation.

"Well...what would you like to learn, my pupil?" answered Master Gang. My eyes shot open in surprise and I looked at Huo Rong as I nodded towards Master Gang.

"We, Meifeng and I, were hoping that you could... teach us how to enter the spiritual realm of Penglai...?"

Master Gang closed his eyes for a minute. Then, he opened them again. Neither Huo Rong and I breathed one more word of the subject. After a long pause, my master smiled. "I see no reason to hold you back further. You both are ready."

Huo Rong and I smiled as we stood and bowed. "Thank you, Master."

He bowed back. "I hope you find what you are looking for in Penglai. Now, close your eyes."

We did as we were told. Then, I concentrated on a picture of the island that I'd seen. I prepared to go there. Suddenly, I was flying through the universe, and I landed on solid ground. "Should you need me, I'll be with you," Master Gang's voice said in my thoughts. I smiled as I looked for Huo Rong. He'd fallen face-first into a mud puddle. I tried to keep a straight face as I went to help him back up, soft snickers escaping from my mouth.

"I can hear your giggling, Meifeng," he said as he wiped the sticky substance from his face.

"I couldn't resist," I said as I nodded. Then, I looked towards one of the beautiful palaces. "Now or never..."

"W-we're going to climb that...?" Huo Rong asked nervously, referring to the ginormous mountain in front of us.

"No turning back now," I said with a smirk. "I'll protect you, Huo Rong."

"Hey! That's what I'm supposed to tell you!" he exclaimed as we walked to the mountain, unaware of any tests we'd have to face along the way.