The Orphanage and a Fading Past

We will be away for a while, so please take good care of yourselves and Tuantuan.

Within the modest courtyard, Luochen revealed her intentions to descend the mountain for a period of travel and experience.

“Indeed, you both must exercise great caution.” Li Ze raised a hand, taking a slow sip of his tea, his voice carrying a distinct weight of solemnity.

“Sister, where did the other sister who accompanied you last time go?”

From Luochen’s embrace, Tuantuan looked up, her innocent eyes widening with a guileless curiosity.

“Ah, she departed due to certain circumstances, and this time, as I descend the mountain, I intend to seek her out as well.”

Luochen gently ruffled Tuantuan’s hair before setting her down upon the ground.

“Grandpa Li, upon my return from this journey, I shall bring you the finest tea in all the world.”

Li Ze’s robust laughter resonated throughout the small courtyard. “In that case,” he declared, “I shall certainly await your return.”

“What about me, what about me?” Tuantuan’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, awaiting Luochen’s response.

“How would you like it if I recounted tales from my travels upon my return?”

“Oh, splendid! Stories! I absolutely want to hear them!”

“The hour grows late, so we shall embark on our journey now.” With a final, gentle pinch to Tuantuan’s soft, childlike cheek, Luochen offered her farewells.

Li Ze took Tuantuan’s hand, his gaze following Luochen and Su Yue’s retreating forms until they vanished into the depths of the mountain forest.

“Grandpa,” a tender voice inquired, “will I, too, be able to become as remarkable as the sisters someday?”

The innocent, childish voice broke through Li Ze’s reverie, drawing him back to the present.

“Indeed, you will. Your Grandpa, you see, once soared through the heavens as an immortal, so you are bound to be just as exceptional.”

Li Ze knelt, his calloused hand gently caressing Tuantuan’s adorably chubby cheeks.

“Grandpa, you’re exaggerating again!”

Li Ze’s hearty laughter rang out once more, its joyous sound echoing warmly within the serene courtyard.

****

“What’s wrong?”

Luochen discerned a subtle unease in Su Yue’s demeanor, her face betraying a rare, uncharacteristic nervousness.

“It’s nothing,” Su Yue replied, shaking her head. “It’s merely my first return to the orphanage after such a long absence, and I find myself wondering if everyone will still be there.”

“It will be alright,” Luochen reassured her, gently taking Su Yue’s hand.

“Regardless of what we find, I am here with you, am I not?”

“Mm,” Su Yue murmured, her fingers tightly lacing with Luochen’s soft hand.

Only when the familiar edifice and the recognizable silhouettes within its courtyard came into view from a distance did Su Yue finally exhale a long, tremulous breath.

Perhaps Zhu Qing’s assessment had been somewhat mistaken, for Su Yue had not only procured gifts for their visit but also carried a small present for every person she remembered from her childhood.

Hand in hand, the two women passed through the orphanage’s main gate.

“Aunt Wang!” Su Yue called out, waving to the woman diligently sweeping the courtyard.

Aunt Wang looked up, her eyes, already etched with the delicate lines of age, initially clouded with confusion before finally curving into a warm smile upon recognizing the visitors.

“Yueyue, how have you fared all these years you’ve been away?”

She hurried over, her gaze lingering curiously on Luochen, who stood beside Su Yue. “And who might this be?”

“This is my Senior Sister,” Su Yue explained, “who has accompanied me on my travels down the mountain. I have been thriving at Feibai Sect, largely thanks to her guidance and care.”

“Hello, Auntie,” Luochen greeted, her demeanor impeccably polite.

“Ah, thank you for looking after our Su Yue. She possesses a rather reserved nature, so I truly appreciate your efforts over these years.”

“Not at all,” Luochen replied with a graceful smile. “My Junior Sister’s talents are highly regarded within our sect.”

Luochen offered a graceful smile, then followed the two women into the house.

“A girlfriend, then?” Aunt Wang whispered conspiratorially into Su Yue’s ear.

“She’s my Senior Sister!” Su Yue retorted, casting a slightly exasperated glare at Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang merely offered an knowing, ‘auntie’ smile, her expression conveying a profound understanding.

“This, then, is Yueyue’s room from her childhood. As she was the sole person from our town to be accepted into an immortal sect, and a prominent one like Feibai Sect no less, her room has been meticulously preserved all these years.”

The room’s furnishings, though exceedingly simple, were entirely spotless, a clear testament to diligent and regular cleaning.

“During her time here in the orphanage, she would often sit on this very stool, gazing out the window for what seemed like an entire day.”

Aunt Wang’s voice softened, imbued with a touch of wistful sentiment. “Thanks to Yueyue,” she mused, “our annual subsidies increased considerably, which allowed me to keep this orphanage, teetering on the brink of closure, operational.”

Luochen blinked, already conjuring an image of Su Yue sitting forlornly on the simple wooden stool.

“What about Hu Jia and the others?” Su Yue inquired, her tone brightening noticeably as if a pleasant memory had surfaced. “I even brought them gifts!”

Aunt Wang’s expression clouded with a profound sadness. “Hu Jia’s village, where she married, was tragically ravaged by a wolf tide,” she began. “Wen Xiu succumbed to consumption and passed away. As for the other children, some vanished without a trace after departing the orphanage, while a few occasionally return to visit.”

“How could this be?” Su Yue’s previously relaxed expression abruptly solidified, her voice laced with a palpable tremor.

“Child,” Aunt Wang said softly, patting Su Yue’s shoulder, “such is the precarious existence of mortals in this world; death, perhaps, awaits them tomorrow.”

“That so many of these children managed to reach adulthood successfully has already far exceeded my expectations.”

“It’s time to serve lunch to the children. Would you two care to observe?”

Su Yue offered no reply, her mind still reeling from the somber news.

“Junior Sister,” Luochen suggested gently, “perhaps we should go and see.”

In the dim confines of the room, only a faint sliver of light managed to penetrate through the slightly ajar doorframe.

Amidst the pervasive darkness, Luochen stood bathed in the gentle light, extending her hand towards Su Yue.

“Mm.”

****

“What a remarkably beautiful big sister!”

“Wow.”

Amidst the children’s astonished exclamations, Luochen effortlessly integrated herself into their lively group.

She knelt among them, regaling them with captivating stories, appearing as ethereal and pure as an angel bathed in the golden sunlight.

“Yueyue, it appears fortune smiles upon you.”

Su Yue offered a soft smile. “My Senior Sister,” she declared, “is the gentlest and kindest person in all the world.”

Aunt Wang nodded. “So, are you truly not considering making her your girlfriend?” she pressed playfully. “I haven’t many years left to live, and my greatest wish now is to see you settle down and have a home of your own.”

“Please don’t utter such words,” Su Yue chided, a hint of rebuke in her tone. “Moreover, I already possess a home; Zhu Qing Peak is precisely that to me.”

In truth, she was indeed making efforts, though naturally, such matters had to remain a closely guarded secret until their successful fruition.

“In any case, seeing that you are thriving brings me immense relief.”

“Oh, and speaking of which, do you have any clues regarding the circumstances surrounding my arrival at the orphanage?”

Aunt Wang patted her head, a flicker of memory crossing her face. “As a matter of fact, yes, there is. The last time a sect came to town to recruit disciples, the tokens they bore displayed the very same pattern as the token carried by the individual who brought you here all those years ago.”

Su Yue had merely posed the question on a fleeting whim, never truly anticipating that any genuine clues would emerge.

“Which sect was it?” she pressed, her voice laced with urgency.

“It should have been called… Chiyun Sect.”

“Chiyun Sect…” Su Yue murmured the name, a thoughtful expression settling upon her face.

This sect was, in the current era, the foremost righteous faction, second only to Feibai Sect; however, its recent circumstances had grown rather bleak.

Following the ambush and slaying of its former Sect Master Yan Shu by Cult Master Ye Yuli of the Netherworld Sect, Chiyun Sect had been conspicuously slow to appoint a new eighth-rank expert to safeguard its domains. Consequently, other sects now cast covetous glances upon its coveted position as the second most influential power.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Su Yue added, “do you recall the color of that person’s token?”

A new thought seemed to strike Su Yue, prompting her to inquire further.

“Gold,” Aunt Wang replied without a moment’s hesitation. “Its dazzling brilliance was so striking that it has remained vivid in my memory ever since.”

Gold—was that not a token exclusively held by a Sect Master?

Could it be that the Sect Master of Chiyun Sect herself had brought her here?

Yet, she had already perished at the hands of Ye Yuli. Why? Was there some inherent connection between these two disparate events?

Su Yue fell into deep contemplation, resolving to seek an opportunity to visit Chiyun Sect and discreetly gather information.

****

“Please remember to take these spirit pills at the appointed times,” Su Yue instructed. “I refined them myself, and they are suitable even for mortals.”

“Regarding the gifts I brought for the others, please give them to any who return to the orphanage. For those who have passed away, you may handle them as you deem appropriate.”

At the threshold, Su Yue was earnestly imparting her final instructions to Aunt Wang.

“I understand,” Aunt Wang replied, her voice tinged with reluctance as she bade them farewell. “The path of cultivation is fraught with peril, so you, too, must exercise great caution.”

“Rest assured, Auntie, I will ensure Junior Sister’s safety,” Luochen promised with a playful smile.

“Do remember to visit us often.”

“Certainly.”

Su Yue waved her hand, offering a final farewell to this place so richly imbued with memories.

As she watched their retreating figures, a gentle smile unconsciously graced Aunt Wang’s features.

Yueyue has truly grown up. How wonderful.