Pathway

Chapter 64: Twilight [2]

Ju Feng remembered his mother and grandparents. The faces he knew from birth. The love they've been showing him, the beautiful things they've shared together and the near-death experience they also shared together.

How could he ever forget uncle Luyang, the powerful titan lord who had bought him his spatial sac.

The memory of his friends at the Last-Sages sect, the concern he felt with the troubled Yingjie. How seeing the faces of the two siblings Cheung and Daxia made him smile. The feeling of weirdness he recieved when observing the strange Yuan Chun Hua. Not to mention elder Cao Wang Xiu, the ever graceful light Daoist. Or, the grand elder who would say "Remember, study hard and train harder" and would look at them as if they were about to face the gods. That was awesomely funny.

Or when he had been sent to Charat planet by the guardian Qiyuan. Ah, senior Qiyuan, the ancient gatekeeper. He remembered participating in the trials as if he was a member of the outer sect. Although it was by accident, it was fun all the way despite the threat of solitary solitude. He had meet his three roommates, the beautiful Lu Mei Ying. He even had his own hillock.

Life was indeed beautiful.

True, we are exquisitely aware of the terrible, threatening and scary things in life. The enormity of all those terrible awful things could make the universe seemed devoid of light. The awareness is just our ability to survive. The beauty in life could never be denied.

"Senior, I think life is beautiful."

"And why is that?"

"Because I have people who love me."

"What about people who don't have anyone to love them?"

"Then, maybe they have people they love in their lives."

"Mm-Hmm, true. But what happens when the people or things you love are taken from you? Will you still find beauty in life?"

Ju Feng bowed his head in thought. If he was to loose everyone who loved him and he loved? How could he even think of living? Would there be beauty in life then? Part of him screamed 'there would be debt to be paid', while the other part shouted 'peace with the world.. A crossroad.

"Senior, It's so hard to determine. But being alive is the beauty of its gift."

"You want to be alive, yet you are here, don't you wonder why?"

"Senior, I believe it was an accident. Sometimes accident happens."

"Oh, yes.You walking into the force-field and stepping on the heavenly seal was an acident. I agreed. I mean, If you find so much beauty in life, why are you still here in this threshold?"

"Because I'm dying?"

"Yes, i kmow that. But, do you really want to die?"

"No senior, I don't want to die."

"Then, why are you still here?"

"I don't know what to do, senior. Please help me."

"Isn't that funny? You want me to help you against death? But, I will help you. Your attitude and your Karmic virtues intrigued me."

The old man turned mid-air to face Jufeng.

"I know who you are Zhang Ju Feng. I know about the shadows that have been chasing you. It's true that i don't get involved in these matters because of my creation, but as long as I don't go against creation itself, no entity has any power over me. I'll tell you this once, so listen carefully. Two we are. A sister I have. And we are laws of creation. The understanding of this is left to you. As for your current predicament, think about all the reason you find beauty in life and push them into the thread of your life-force. Only the thread, if you still want to live."

Ju Feng did as he was told and his life-force started to get stronger.

"Farewell young mortal, may we meet in the future if you are strong enough."

Ju Feng slowly opened his eyes to see elder Ju Long sitting very close to him with his eyes closed. He slowly shifted his head to find out about his location. Minute later, he relaxed his mind in relief. Alright, he was at the sect's Misty-Fountain, but what was he doing there? He didn't recollect coming to the place. His last memory was of him walking into an invisible barrier. Nothing after that. For him to be at the Misty-Fountain, he must have sustained a severe injury at the least.

He was trying to move into a sitting position when the sound made elder Ju Long open his eyes.

"Ju Feng, you are awake. Don't move. Let me quickly inform grandelder first."

Elder Ju Long quickly located the grand elder through his spiritual sense and informed him about the development through the mind voice.

In an instant, the grand elder appeared at the Misty Fountain, beside Ju Feng, in one step. With an easy smile on his face, he restrained Ju Feng who was trying to bow his head with difficulty while still lying down.

"Grrrand elder."

"No need, young one, I'm happy to see you have recovered. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine grand elder. Only having an headache."

"That's fine, it will go with time. At least, the worst is over."

"How long have I been here, honoured elder?"

"Four hours without moving a muscle."

Elder Ju Long answered while he was still attending to Ju FenJ.

"I remembered walking into some sort of energy and was trying to get out when i stepped on something and I though I saw myself flying. That's all I remembered, grand elder."

"That'll do. I believe you stepped on a seal which is why you are still alive. Although you could have died easily, it also gave you a chance at survival. If you were stuck inside the force-field with the revenant, you would have been dead by now. We are fortunate you are still alive. Get some rest, when you are feeling better, elder Ju Long will bring you to the haven."

"Thank you, grand elder."

He turned to elder Ju Long.

"Thank you, elder Ju."

He closed his eyes and fell asleep.