Chapter 133 – Echoes (IX)

Chapter 133

Echoes (IX)

It wasn’t her, he knew–it was a lingering image stored within the Soul Orb. She’d sapped the last of herself to create this, only on the small chance that he, one day, might remember she existed and come to see her.

But if he hadn’t died and hadn’t been reborn into this part of the world, chances were that this orb would have become some treasured ‘artifact’ of one of the Holy Lands as they spent endless generations trying to figure out its use, only to never succeed.

“I’m surprised,” she continued–well, not so much she as the projection. “I was certain some Heavenly Maiden would have swept you up and made you forget all about little ol’ me. Or, perhaps, she did, though the wily fox broke your heart, and now you’ve come here to mend it. Ah, my poor little Tao, I did warn you of the evil charms of the dedicated minxes, did I not? But you did not listen.”

Long Tao cracked a smile, his neck craned slightly as he stared at her face–she had a way with expressions. Rather, it was the closest he’d ever seen anyone to his Master–their faces were like canvases that could produce expressions the likes of which he’d never seen before on any of the millions of faces he’d encountered.

“On the off chance that you are not heartbroken and in need of tending, and that you’ve come back for me… I’m sorry, love. I waited for as long as I could. But the heavens, the cruel bastards, they cursed me with a life of yearning and longing. For a long while after you’d left, I cursed myself for ever loving you. If I had never met you, I’d have remained some farm girl, married off to one of them charming farm boys, and I’d have lived my ordinary, mortal life, never knowing just how little I knew.

“But you… you gave me a glimpse, love, and you made me yearn. Every day, I’ve waited. At our spot, beneath that dragon tree. I’d wake up at dawn and go there. Fen’er must have asked me a thousand times what I was doing, ha ha. But I never said. I just waited, hoping that I’d see that scrawny body of yours appear over the hill. Winter or summer, rain or snow, heat or storms, I was there. Waiting. And now… now I can’t wait no more, love. Fen’er is dead. Our grandkids are dead. Their grandkids are dead. Everyone… everyone is gone. It’s just me.”

Her voice cracked, and her smile disappeared, eyes drawing translucent tears.

“How are you? I’ve wondered so many times I’ve lost count. No, I know you are doing wonderful. I know you are sweeping through, a beauty in each arm, your name a terror already. But I worry. I worry because you have a big heart, love. And you believe. You believe like nobody else. I worry they will see that in you and take advantage. Aah, how I wished I’d shared your talents so that I could watch over you and tell you when they are bad, like I did while you were here. I go back to those conversations often, you know? Wondering whether I’ve taught you everything.

“But… you are strong. That is my faith and my reverie. And now that you’ve come back… haah, there are so many things I wish to tell you. I’d always played this part in my head, leaving behind a tiny piece of myself for you and what I’d say. Fen’er got married to that kid that used to follow you around all the time, begging you to take him in as a Disciple. You probably don’t remember Gon, but he’s a good kid. Smart. Strong. Devoted. He’d never taken in a concubine, even.

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“Their first, Min, oh love, he looked so much like you, it was like seeing a ghost. Was nothing like you, though; they’d spoiled the child rotten, and he got done in during a duel. Was barely nineteen when we buried him. I retired soon after, leaving it all to Fen’er. But… you know how she was like. Headstrong and stubborn, even when she’s wrong. The sect collapsed not long after she died. But I never descended again. You built this cottage for us, and I’ve long since deemed it as my last dwelling.