Ashes on the Waters

Ji Yichuan looked at his son, deliberating for a moment before speaking. “All I can tell you is that he is a disciple of Snowdragon Mountain. His grandfather is even the master of one of Snowdragon Mountain’s peaks—a Primal Daoist.”

Ji Ning’s expression changed.

A Primal Daoist?

“He himself is merely a Zifu Disciple, nothing to fear,” Ji Yichuan shook his head. “But the Primal Daoist backing him… we truly cannot afford to offend him. If we continued the fight, the entire Ji Clan would be annihilated. That is why your mother and I never spoke of it, and never brought it up in front of you. After your mother and I secretly returned to the Ji Clan back then, we kept a very low profile. However, the enemy probably never even bothered to regard your mother or me with any importance.”

Ji Yichuan looked at his son. “You are older now, and your talent is exceptional. According to that Daoist Mu, you may even have a chance to join the Yinglong Guard in the future. That is why I am telling you all of this now. Otherwise… I planned to take it to my grave.”

“What is his name?” Ji Ning pressed.

“I will tell you when you become a Wanxiang Adept,” Ji Yichuan said. “If I die, your Uncle White will tell you. Back then, he risked his life carrying your mother as he fled for our lives. He saved your life as well, and he knows everything about what happened back then.”

Ji Ning pressed urgently, “You can’t tell me now?”

“What good would it do to tell you now?” Ji Yichuan barked. “To take revenge? That would be courting death! Calm your heart. Let a few years pass, and you will be more composed.”

“Remember this!”

Ji Yichuan stared at Ji Ning. “Don’t let hatred cloud your eyes. On this endless earth, which day passes without slaughter and hatred? You are destined to walk out of the Yan Mountains. Out there, on the broader lands, you will find those great sects, those ancient tribes, and those powerful religions—none of them are easy to provoke. Snowdragon Mountain is merely a whetstone on your path of cultivation!”

Ji Ning nodded gently.

“The hopes of both the Ji Clan and the Yuchi Clan rest upon your shoulders, do you understand?” Ji Yichuan said. “The thing your mother and I most long for is to see you earn a fearsome reputation across this boundless land, to see powers like Snowdragon Mountain bow their heads and submit before you!”

“Yes.” Ji Ning nodded solemnly.

“Make your mother and me proud,” Ji Yichuan said, looking at his son. “My son!”

…

The autumn wind blew, sending withered leaves tumbling down.

Yuchi Snow was seated on a long chair in front of the house. The chair was covered in furs, soft and warm, and another layer of fur was draped over her. Her face was growing even paler. She held her son’s hand, then turned her head to Ji Yichuan, who was standing nearby. “Yichuan, bring out all those fur clothes.”

“Alright.” Ji Yichuan quickly entered the house and soon emerged carrying a pile of fur garments.

“These are?” Ji Ning looked at the fur clothes.

Ji Yichuan explained, “Your mother has spent these past few days sewing these fur clothes whenever she had nothing else to do. Every stitch and thread was done by your mother herself.” Yuchi Snow, seated there, said softly, “It’s much slower now. It took me three months to finish just these twelve sets. They’re all sized to fit you now. Your mother won’t be able to stay by your side in the future, so let these clothes keep you company.”

Ji Ning’s eyes stung, and he couldn’t hold back his tears.

“Don’t cry.” Yuchi Snow gently stroked her son’s face. “I know. I can’t hold on much longer. I can’t endure anymore.”

“Mother!” Ji Ning’s voice trembled.

“I have lived a full life,” Yuchi Snow said slowly. “As a child, I enjoyed boundless glory in a great tribe. As a youth, I fled with my father. Then I met your father, and we adventured together. After that, I spent a peaceful decade in the Ji Clan… I have a father who loved me, elder sisters and brothers who loved me, a man who loved me, and you—my most beloved son. I am truly content.”

Ji Ning’s tears kept falling, uncontrollably. He could only keep holding his mother’s hand. Her hand was no longer smooth; it had become rough, like a withered leaf drained of life.

Yuchi Snow continued slowly, “You carry the bloodline of the Ji Clan, and you also carry the bloodline of my Yuchi Clan. Having you as my son is my greatest pride.”

“Mother…” Ji Ning looked at his mother.

“Ning’er, in the future, will you live at Serpentwing Lake?” Yuchi Snow looked at her son.

Ji Ning nodded.

As a cultivator, he always needed a place to settle down. Western Prefecture City was too noisy, with too many prying eyes. Serpentwing Lake was far more secluded. And the aquatic palace was there… he truly would end up living at Serpentwing Lake most of the time.

“After I die,” Yuchi Snow looked at Ji Yichuan beside her, “cremate me, and scatter my ashes into Serpentwing Lake. Yichuan, you won’t be jealous, will you?”

Ji Yichuan’s eyes were moist. He forced a smile. “A little jealous. But when I die, I’ll have my ashes scattered there too. We’ll be together again in the end, won’t we?”

Yuchi Snow smiled.

Ji Yichuan gently embraced his wife.

“Ning’er.” Yuchi Snow’s voice grew even weaker, but she was still smiling. “I want to see our Yuchi Clan’s Windwing Evasion. Show it to me.”

“Yes, Mother.” Ji Ning rose to his feet.

A pair of Dharma-treasure wings materialized behind him. Suppressing the overwhelming grief in his heart, he began to execute the Windwing Evasion. Ji Ning was like a roc, instantly streaking across the sky, landing on a distant rooftop within the courtyard. Then, with another flash, he flew to another spot. His wings pulsed, and his figure was like a dream, like an illusion.

In this moment, Ji Ning poured every ounce of his being into the Windwing Evasion, because it was his mother’s final request.

“Wind!”

As he moved, the wind against his body felt like his mother’s hand caressing his cheek. The touch of the wind was the longing of an unwilling farewell.

Gradually…

Ji Ning’s movement technique grew even more profound. He was like a genuine roc, even faster, even freer, even more ethereal and untamed. A roc, a great roc soaring above the nine heavens. Unconsciously, Ji Ning began to merge the True Meaning of Wind he had comprehended during that night-long enlightenment into the Windwing Evasion. He even infused it with a thread of deep longing, like a bird remembering and cherishing the wind.

“The great roc…” Yuchi Snow’s eyes lit up. She murmured softly, “The great roc…”

She seemed to see her elder brother.

That stalwart man, the man who had cherished and protected her since she was young—her brother. When he executed the Windwing Evasion, it looked so much like what Ji Ning was doing now.

“Big brother.” Yuchi Snow felt as though she had returned to the past.

It was a large courtyard. Her elder brother was training in the Windwing Evasion. A young girl, she ran toward him, shouting, “Big brother! Big brother!”

“Little sister.” That man, as imposing as a mountain, turned to look at her.

“Elder sister. Father.” She saw two more figures. There was a refined, bearded middle-aged man, and a girl with a cold, proud bearing. That was her father and her elder sister.

“Big brother, elder sister, father… I’m coming.”

The young girl ran over. She ran to her brother, her sister, her father. They were together again. Finally, they were together again.

…

Yuchi Snow lay in Ji Yichuan’s embrace. Her eyes were closed.

A serene, contented smile was on her face.

“Ah… ah… ah…” Ji Yichuan opened his mouth, trying to make a sound, but he couldn’t speak. He held his wife tightly, tilting his head back, but the tears still streamed down his face.

In the distance, Ji Ning came to a halt. Trembling, he walked over step by step. When he reached his mother’s side, he knelt down.

“Mother!” Ji Ning let out a low, wailing cry.

…

The sound drifted beyond the courtyard walls. The servants outside heard the grief-filled, heartbroken cries of their young master, Ji Ning, and instantly understood that their mistress had passed away. They, too, couldn’t help but bow their heads and weep. They could never forget that benevolent mistress.

Ji Ning left Western Prefecture City and took up residence on the island at the heart of Serpentwing Lake.

Carrying out his mother’s final wish, he personally scattered his mother’s ashes into the waters of Serpentwing Lake. From that day forward, Ji Ning developed a new habit. He loved to lie in a small boat, letting it drift freely across the surface of Serpentwing Lake.

It was as though…

He was lying in his mother’s embrace. So warm.