A Day in the Life

Spreading the News

     Ali was so excited to tell his Uncle Moyuan the good news! He'd been waiting and waiting since he and father found mother at the Eastern Sea for this day to come, at last he'd have a little brother or sister! Mother and Father had entrusted him to tell High God Moyuan that mother was pregnant, it was the number one top secret in Heaven that only a few knew. Of course, Ali was the best at keeping secrets with maybe a few exceptions, but those were accidents! He ran through Heaven almost making it to the South gates when he was stopped by Tian Shu calling out to him from behind.

"Little Highness! Wait for me! You can't go alone!"

Ali let out a long suffering sigh, "I can to go on my own! Tell father that I won't get lost like mother, I know the way."

"Little highness, it was your mother that told me to go with you, actually. You know how mothers like to worry," He explained patiently.

"Hmpf!" Ali pouted. Then he thought about the last time he went to visit his Uncle and how he'd landed his cloud on the back of Kunlun mountain and couldn't find his way in. It was nightfall when Second Eldest Uncle found him wandering up and down the mountain side trying to find the entrance. "Well, alright then you can come, but only because I don't want mother to worry."

Tian Shu smiled to himself, the little prince was like his father when it came to cultivation and academics but he had inherited his mother's stubbornness and horrible sense of direction, a worrisome combination. He bowed slightly to his charge before jumping on a passing cloud beside the young royal.

Ali flew through the sky in and out of wispy clouds eagerly making his way to Kunlun Mountain, and Tian Shu only had to redirect his course once. Finally they made it to the sacred mountain, descending towards it's base they were met by Bai Qian's eldest senior brother Die Feng smiling happily in welcome.

"Well if it isn't the royal Riceball? What brings you here little one? Did you come to help me feed shifu's cranes?"

"I didn't come to play today. I have to see Uncle Moyuan straight away Eldest Uncle," Ali stated importantly after bowing in greeting.

Die Feng bit back a laugh while looking over at Tian Shu who was also trying not to smile at the little immortal's serious tone and expression, "I can see that you're here for serious matters. I'll take you in, Shifu should be at the training grounds with Thirteenth and Fourteenth." He replied in an equally serious tone. Die Feng turned quickly towards the mountain, before his laughter escaped, to guide them up.

    Ali loved Kunlun Mountain most next to Qing Qiu, he looked around at the surrounding forest, there were so many interesting things to see and do here. Once he and mother came together to visit Uncle Moyuan and after seeing him she showed him around Kunlun. She showed him all the best places to catch fish, which trees were the funnest to climb and where her favorite hiding places were. When Father came to pick them up later that day, they decided to prank him by playing hide and seek to see if he could find them. Father wasn't very good at it though, in the end he cheated and used magic to find them all the way up a tree hiding in a giant crane's nest giggling together. Ali grew excited thinking about the birth of the baby, he'd show him all the exciting things to do in Heaven, Qing Qiu, and Kunlun. "Hopefully father gets better at hide and seek by then, so we can play all together." Ali sighed to himself.

    The trio walked through the gates of Kunlun, passing disciples bustling about along the way. Turning a corner, they reached the training grounds. Ali watched in silent awe as his Uncle sliced through the air with his Xuanyuan sword. His body flowed from one form to the next effortlessly, his sword an extension of his arm, a look of calm concentration on his handsome face. Ali had never confused the High God for his father like others did, though they had the same face and wore similar impassive expressions. His father's eyes were much more peaceful and warm while his Uncle Moyuan's looked like banked flames that could ignite at any moment. They stood watching until he noticed them waiting on the side of the grounds. He stopped his training immediately, smiling warmly at Ali as he kowtowed in respect. Uncle Moyuan looked like father the most when he smiled at him this way and he couldn't help jumping into his arms excitedly.