CHAPTER 23: FALLEN IMMORTAL GODDESS REN LIFEN

CHAPTER 23: FALLEN IMMORTAL GODDESS REN LIFEN

Kai woke up from shuffling movements and voices outside of his bedroom. Curious about the commotion, he put on his clothes and went outside to see panicked maids and servants running north in the front yard. He looked around to see if they were under attack, but didn’t see any signs of it. Then, a physician accompanied by Qiao Shun paced across the yard heading the same direction. Qiao Shun’s face looked glum and Kai assumed it must be about his mother. Mei Mei ran across the yard and Kai caught a glimpse of her.

“Mei Mei!” he shouted before she darted away from him.

Mei Mei stopped and turned to see Kai standing at the doorway. Both met halfway.

“Mei Mei, is this about Qiao Shun’s mother?”

“Yes. I’ve just heard from a maid that grandma master’s breathing has been irregular.”

“I’m coming with you.”

She nodded and both of them ran with the maids and servants. Upon arrival to the North Wing, Kai saw the maids and servants kneeling in the front of the yard to pray and wait for the result. Kai and Mei Mei saw Qiao Shun inside with the physician.

“Gege!”

Qiao Shun heard Mei Mei’s voice and turned. Kai and Mei Mei ran up to him. “How is grandma master?”

“Not too good.” Qiao Shun was in a hurry, his mind was focused on his mother, and couldn’t talk with them right now. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.” Qiao Shun left.

“Gege!” Mei Mei ran to catch up with Qiao Shun and Kai trailed behind.

Qiao Shun entered into his mother’s chamber and saw his father, Qiao Wei Min, holding her hand. Then he saw his mother’s wrinkled face. Her eyes hardly opened while she gazed at his father. The physician checked her health and sighed sadly.

“I’m sorry Master Qiao. Madam Qiao will not make it for another hour.”

The physician bowed and left. Qiao Shun’s heart sank to hear the sad news. His mother was really leaving them. Master Qiao held her hand to his wet cheeks and sobbed uncontrollably.

“MOM!” Qiao Shun cried out loud and ran to the bed. He held his mother’s other hand and began to sob.

Kai and Mei Mei entered into the bedroom and stopped to see the Qiao family weeping. Shocked to see Madam Qiao on her death bed, Mei Mei cried out, “GRANDMA MASTER!” and quickly ran to the Qiao’s, sobbing along with them.

Kai glanced at the dying woman and was stunned to see her physical appearance. Qiao Shun’s mother was as old as a granny. She was petite and very fragile. Her face was full of deep wrinkles, sagging eyes, and her hair was thin and snowy. He couldn’t believe how old Qiao Shun’s mother was compared to his father, who was probably only in his late forties.

“It’s me Little Mei Mei!” she cried.

Madam Qiao wasn’t sure if she heard Mei Mei’s voice or not, so she turned her head and saw her. Surprised, in her weak and raspy voice, she asked, “Little. Mei. Mei?”

Mei Mei’s tears continued to stream down. “Yes grandma master. It’s me. I came back home!”

Madam Qiao was ecstatic to see her and cried to see a happy reunion.

Master Qiao wiped her tears. “Wife, please conserve your health…”

Madam Qiao glanced at Master Qiao and responded, “You. old. fool,” and smiled. Master Qiao cried laughing to know that she still had a sense of humor while dying.

Then Mei Mei thought of something. “I…I can help.”

Madam Qiao knew what she was going to do and shook her head. “No…don’t.”

“I have to. You can’t die grandma master. Please.”

“What are you going to do Little Mei Mei?” asked Master Qiao.

“I can transfer some of my demon essence to grandma master.”

Qiao Shun shook his head, “No…that is too dangerous. Mother will crave it! Then you will die!”

“Don’t worry. A little at a time will not hurt.”

“I forbid you to do this!” Qiao Shun demanded.

She pleaded and tugged his sleeve. “Please! Just this once!” and cried some more.

Qiao Shun knew of the consequences. If his mother tasted Mei Mei’s demon essence, she would become like one of the Seekers-addicted to it and would hunt demons for their essences. The only difference was that she would be more powerful than the Seekers due to her being a fallen immortal goddess. Then he thought about Mei Mei. He didn’t want any harm done onto her. They had only been reunited for five days and for her to sacrifice her life to save his mother was one thing he could not do. He was torn between the two and didn’t know what to do.

Mei Mei continued to plead, crying. “Please…we do not have much time. I want to save grandma master…”

Qiao Shun’s eyes tightened shut and finally gave in. “Alright.”

Mei Mei wiped her tears and thanked Qiao Shun. Master Qiao and Qiao Shun gave her room as she went to sit next to Madam Qiao. Mei Mei touched her wrinkled face.

“Grandma master, I’m sorry, but I must.”

Madam Qiao was too weak to speak and cried helplessly. Mei Mei shut her eyes and concentrated on gathering her essence. A glowing green aura appeared and outlined her body. Kai watched from the doorway as she leaned over to Madam Qiao’s lips. Madam Qiao’s mouth automatically opened wide, and a green energy of light came out of Mei Mei’s mouth down to hers.

Mei Mei felt her life being depleted slowly as her essence left her body. She felt dizzy and her body was getting numb and cold. Minutes later, Mei Mei closed her mouth to stop the transfer before it became uncontrollable. She tried to sit up but her body was too weak. She was about to slumped down onto her grandma master when Qiao Shun caught her just in time and placed her on his shoulder. She slowly glanced up and saw him; her eyes were dazed as she faintly smiled.

He glanced down at her. “Are you alright?”

She slowly nodded. “I’ll be fine in a couple of minutes.”

Madam Qiao opened her eyes and felt energized and alive. Her face had more color and something else was different. Her deep wrinkles were a slight lighter and her hair had some grey streaks. She turned to Master Qiao.

“Wei Min…”

“Li Fen…” Overjoyed, Master Qiao leaned down and hugged his wife.

After the hug, Madam Qiao stared upsettingly at Mei Mei. She tried to sit up, so Master Qiao quickly helped lift her fragile upper body up.

Madam Qiao scolded, “You should not have done that Little Mei Mei. Now, your life will be in danger because of me.”

Mei Mei lowered her head, “I’m sorry grandma master, but I cannot let you die like this.”

Madam Qiao let out a big sigh of disappointment. Master Qiao rubbed Madam Qiao’s back to calm her down. “Wife, don’t blame Little Mei Mei. She was only trying to help.”

She turned to Master Qiao and raised her voice, “Husband, if it was my time to leave then let it be…Now that I’ve taken in some demon essence, I will harm Little Mei Mei.” Master Qiao didn’t want to argue with her and remained silent.

Madam Qiao turned back to Mei Mei, “No more transferring your essence to me ok?”

Mei Mei nodded, “Oh…” and pouted.

Madam Qiao saw Kai at the doorway, “Who is he?”

All of them turned and glanced at Kai. He walked toward the Qiao’s and folded his hands in front to introduce himself to them.

“My name is Yang Kai Li. I’m a friend of Mei Mei.”

Glad that Mei Mei found another mortal friend, Madam Qiao introduced themselves to Kai. “Mr. Yang, I’m Qiao Shun’s mother and Mei Mei’s grandma master, Ren Li Fen.” Then she introduced Master Qiao, “This is Qiao Shun’s father, Qiao Wei Min.”

“I’m please to meet you both.”

He couldn’t help but to be fixated on Madam Qiao’s fragile and wrinkling body. She noticed, “Mr. Yang, I can tell from the way you stare at me, you are curious by my physical appearance.”

Kai’s head immediately tilted down, “Please forgive me for my rudeness.”

She laughed heartily, “It’s ok Mr. Yang, I understand. I’m a fallen immortal goddess, thus I aged quickly each year. Now, how did you and Little Mei Mei meet?”

Kai was about to speak when Mei Mei replied, “Over a year ago, I escaped from Black Forest and saw Kai lying unconscious nearby Mystic River. Since then, we’ve lived together. I concentrated to become mortal and he searched for his lost love, Cecilia Lin.”

“Cecilia? What a weird name,” said Madam Qiao.

“Because Kai and Cecilia are not from our realm!” Mei Mei said excitingly.

That stunned Madam Qiao and Master Qiao. Kai got annoyed by her answering for him and turned to her, “Ok Mei Mei, you know I can speak for myself right?”

She pursed her lips and muttered, “I was only trying to help.”

From Madam Qiao’s knowledge, the only realms were the Mortal, Celestial, and Demon. Kai didn’t look like a god or a demon, but for sure, a mortal. She became curious.

“Mr. Yang, what realm are you from?”

“I’m from another world called, Earth. Somehow, me, Cecilia, and a criminal, Tsui Man, fell down from the sky to Mortal Realm.”

Qiao Shun raised a brow, “Tsui Man?”

Kai turned to him, “Do you know him?”

“Why yes. He and his Quad Brothers Bandits are wanted criminals in Chu Kingdom. The Chu officials have been trying to find them for over a year now.”

Kai scoffed as he thought about Tsui Man. He couldn’t believe Tsui Man would recruit a new gang in this Realm.

“Tsui Man’s a dangerous and smart man. He was supposed to be assassinated by Cecilia and me that night, but we ended up here instead.”

“How did the three of you enter into our Realm?” asked Master Qiao.

Kai retraced his memories of that night when Cecilia and he fought with Tsui Man. “All I remembered was a very bright light coming from a pillar that the archaeologists uncovered…”

Madam Qiao became surprised and raised her voice. “A pillar?” She needed to confirm something and turned to Master Qiao. “Give me paper and brush!” she demanded.

Master Qiao quickly ran to get the items she requested.

Qiao Shun was curious, “What is it that make you so anxious mom?”

“Shun-er, I have a feeling I know this pillar.”

Moments later, Master Qiao came back with some papers and a brush and handed it to Madam Qiao. She took them and started to draw the celtic diamond-shaped symbol. After she was done, she showed it to Kai.

“Does this pillar have a symbol like this?”

Kai looked at it and remembered its green glowing light. “Yes. It glowed with the other symbols.”

The brush and papers slipped under her fingers and dropped down onto the blanket. The tip of the brush’s black ink smeared the blanket before it rolled down to the bed. She was shocked of the discovery and shook her head.

“Impossible…that is impossible…”

Master Qiao, Qiao Shun, and Mei Mei, were worried and called her name, but she tuned them out, only to try and figure out how this could have happened. She needed to let Kai know about the pillar and hoped she could get some answers from him.

She looked at Kai. “Mr. Yang, the pillar you spoke of is a Celestial pillar. It was Golden Emperor’s treasure that he created with his own immortal blood. He had a gift of bending dimensions, and only he could use the pillar to travel through the parallel dimension of Mortal Realm. However, there was a battle between the gods, which led to The Battle of the Split Realms, and the Golden Emperor was defeated and killed. Now, his pillar stood alone in a sacred hidden place, left as a remembrance of the tragic battle.”

“Golden Emperor? I’ve heard about him through some demons. Wasn’t he the god that oversaw the gods, demons, and mortals?” Mei Mei asked.

Madam Qiao nodded, “Correct.” She turned to Kai again. “I believe your world, Earth, is the parallel dimension of Mortal Realm. The only person that can trigger the Celestial Pillar again is the creator, the Golden Emperor, but he is no longer living. Thus, it is impossible for anyone else to activate it.”

“So how did we get to the Mortal Realm then?” asked Kai.

“Good Question. I don’t know,” she answered bluntly.

Mei Mei scratched her head. “Grandma master, this is so confusing! There must be a reason why they came to our realm.”

Madam Qiao thought of something. “May you lend me your hand?” she asked politely. Kai looked at her and was hesitant. She chuckled, “Don’t worry. I am not going to harm you. The only way to find the answer is possibly through you.”

He understood. It was something that he needed to know also. He slowly gave her his hand. Her small fragile hand held onto his. “Now, stay still while I concentrate.”

He nodded. Madam Qiao’s eyes glued onto his as she used her Soul Seeking to search deep in his soul. She saw his world, Earth, full of technology, modern landscapes, transportations, beautiful landmarks, and mortals like him. Then she saw him born, he was sent to an orphanage, and then she saw her. A little girl with braids, helping him beat up the bullies. The little girl introduced herself as Cecilia Lin to Kai. Madam Qiao searched more about him, but his heart and mind were only full of the little girl. Madam Qiao saw Cecilia handed a rose petal to Kai and both smeared the scent on themselves, her stealing candies from the staff for both to eat, and her sleeping next to him on his bed. As they grew older, they became close friends and inseparable. They had zero tolerance of bullies and protected the weak. Then they were hired by the CCIA and worked in the Special Black Ops Division. Madam Qiao saw their entire world of assassin, training and killing targeted criminals. She then saw their strong emotional and physical affection toward each other-their intimacy, and their good and bad times together.

Madam Qiao searched deeper inside of him. She wanted to find something different about him or ‘this Cecilia lady’ that he had his mind and heart on. Finally, she found it. Cecilia was different than Kai. Whenever she got a cut or bruise, her skin healed within hours or days with no scars. But when she was sick, it took her weeks or even a month to get better. Then Madam Qiao saw them fighting with Tsui Man. She saw Cecilia flew and hit the pillar. Moments later, the pillar glowed and they disappeared, fell to Mortal Realm into Mystic raging river, and separated.

Madam Qiao stopped the Soul Seeking and let go of his hand. She was worn out from using too much of her energy that her weak body collapsed onto Master Qiao’s chest.

Master Qiao held onto her. “Are you alright?”

She nodded, “I’ll be fine after resting.” Her eyes shifted to Kai and faintly smiled. “Mr. Yang, you really love this woman, Cecilia.”

Kai’s eyes glistened and nodded, “She’s my life.”

“I agree with you. Throughout your entire life, you have been surrounded by her. I believe that she is the reason for traveling to our Realm.”

Everyone gasped and became silent for a second. Kai was stunned in disbelief and shook his head, “That can’t be. She is from my world. How can she trigger the Celestial’s pillar?”

“I need to talk to her,” said Madam Qiao.

Mei Mei interrupted, “But grandma master, she is nowhere to be found. Kai and I have been searching for her over a year and couldn’t find her. However, we stumbled upon an abandon house along the way to Mu Village. The place was a mess and when we searched inside, we found some of Cecilia’s belongings, but no Cecilia.”

“Mei Mei, where is this place?” asked Qiao Shun.

“It is north of here. It looked like a wedding massacre took place there. Blood everywhere on walls, on the ground…”

Stunned, Qiao Shun interrupted Mei Mei, “That is the Yu residence!”

Kai turned to Qiao Shun, “You know that place?”

“Yes. The couple, Yu Xing Fu and Xiao Xing, was getting married but some men came and attack. All of their guests and her husband got killed.”

Kai needed to know if Cecilia was presence at the wedding. He searched for the drawing of her in his shirt pocket and found it. He unfolded it and handed it to Qiao Shun.

“Have you seen her?”

Qiao Shun took the drawing from Kai and looked at it. His eyes widened in shock.

“THAT’S XIAO XING!”

Mei Mei clasped her hands in front and cheered, “KAI! CECILIA IS XIAO XING! SHE IS ALIVE!”

Kai was full of joy. “Where is she now?”

“She is heading to Wu Tribe to get healed.”

“Healed?” asked Kai.

“Yes, she was hit by Venomous Vixen’s Black Death Palm Technique and was severely poisoned.”

Hearing that Cecilia was wounded worried him. Her immune system was weak. A simple cold could turn into flu overnight, and she could end up in the hospital for it.

“Since she is poisoned, I’m afraid she is vulnerable and will be an open target for demons and bandits. I need to catch up to her.”

“I have sent two of my best men to go with her and Physician Guo already. I will accompany you on this trip since I know the route they are taking; but, when we reached to the Black Forest, it will be difficult to pass through. The talismans that we have will only last us for a couple of hours when entered in. We will have to know exactly where Wu Tribe is to pass the forest with ease.” Qiao Shun turned to Mei Mei, “You know the Black Forest well…”

Mei Mei’s eyes got big and shook her head. From what she had to endure being trapped over fifteen years was hell. “Oh no! I’ve just gotten out of there a year ago and I am NOT GOING BACK!”

Kai pleaded, “Please Mei Mei.”

“Nope.”

Qiao Shun leaned close to her, “I will buy you as many red ball candies if you help.”

She had a huge smile, and her mouth was already watery just thinking about the heavenly sweet taste, melting in her mouth to give her a sugar high. She turned to Qiao Shun and bobbled her head in excitement.

“Ok!” then she remembered Madam Qiao and frowned instantly. “But grandma master needs me though…”

“Mei Mei, I rather have you go with Qiao Shun than feed me your demon essence,” said Madam Qiao.

“But you may die…It takes almost month to get to Wu Tribe.”

“If it’s my time to leave, then let it be.”

Mei Mei, Qiao Shun, and Master Qiao were saddened. They knew that it was her wish. She wanted to leave peacefully in a natural way. Then Qiao Shun thought of something. From hearing his mother explained about Cecilia being the main culprit for traveling to their realm, he also thought of what Guo Jing had said about the magical place.

He turned to them. “I’ll be right back,” and he quickly rushed out of the bedroom.

The others remained puzzled by his sudden exit and waited anxiously of his return. Moments later, he came back with an item covered in a white handkerchief.

“What’s in there gege?” Mei Mei asked curiously.

He unwrapped the handkerchief and revealed the swaying red jelly-like flower for them to see. Everyone, except Madam Qiao, was astonished of the flower and had never seen anything like it before.

Madam Qiao turned to her son, “Where did you get this?”

“There is a magical place full of these flowers not too far from the Yu residence. Physician Guo told me that the place bloomed after Xing Fu found Miss Xiao’s unconscious body. I believe she created this flower.”

Madam Qiao pondered, “How can she create this flower? Is she a goddess as well?”

She explained to them, “The flower is called the Immortal Gem and is only grown in the Celestial Realm. It is strange that the flowers grew at the magical place when it shouldn’t have. Take me there and bring an empty wooden chest.”

Qiao Shun nodded. After some more conversation, Master Qiao and Qiao Shun announced to the maids and servants outside of the front yard of Madam Qiao’s health. All were relieved to hear the good news and left merrily back to work.

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Qiao Shun helped his mother get out of the sedan. Kai and the others were awestruck of the place full of jelly-like flowers in different colors. Mei Mei ran through the little field of flowers and giggled. She picked a neon pink flower, then a red, and then another, all until her hands couldn’t fit any more of them.

Kai came up to her and chuckled, “Don’t you think you have enough flowers in your hands?”

“Then you help pick some for me.”

“Fine.” He smiled and kneeled down to pick some flowers.

Madam Qiao couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It reminded her of her home, the Celestial Realm. Its’ valleys-full of immortal gem flowers, and their golden dots of lights floating everywhere, covering the background scenery of hundreds of waterfalls, forestry, and the aqua sky, making it look enchanting.

“Wife, do you miss the Celestial Realm?”

With teary eyes, she nodded, “Yes, very much. I can’t believe the Immortal Gems are here.”

He put one arm around her shoulder and leaned to the side, his head onto hers, “We can come here anytime when you miss home.”

She wiped her tears, “Thank you husband.”

Mei Mei and Kai came back with a bunch of flowers. She handed it to Madam Qiao.

“For you grandma master.”

Madam Qiao was touched by her thoughtfulness and thanked her. “Little Mei Mei, you do not need to worry about me dying anymore.”

Everyone became confused and gathered around Madam Qiao. “What do you mean grandma master?”

“These flowers are like medicine for the Celestial Gods. It replenishes our body and soul. Although I’m a fallen immortal now, I still have a bit of the god essence and it will temporary prolong my life. That is why I brought the chest to put the flowers in.”

All of them were excited to hear the news.

“Then let’s fill the chest with flowers!” said Mei Mei cheerfully.

Qiao Shun, Mei Mei, and Kai started to pick the flowers until they had a handful in their hands. They dropped the flowers in the chest and picked some more. As Kai was picking flowers, he stumbled upon a grave and stood there. He read the wooden name.

My beloved Yu Xing Fu

He pondered, “This must be him…”

Qiao Shun saw Kai stood in front of Xing Fu’s grave and sighed. He walked toward him and patted his shoulder from behind.

“I can’t believe that Xiao Xing is Cecilia Lin,” said Qiao Shun.

“Do you know why she wanted to marry him?”

“Kai, I’ve heard from Physician Guo that she lost her memories when Xing Fu found her. Then, their relationship took its course.”

Kai remained silent.

“Ey, don’t tell me that you’re jealous,” Qiao Shun teased.

Kai smirked, “Whether I am jealous or not, that is not the main point. I’m disappointed that I couldn’t save her or else she wouldn’t have lost her memories then.” He paused and took a deep breath to detain himself from getting emotional. “I’m just glad that she found someone that could take care of her and loved her when I cannot.”

Qiao Shun felt pitied for the man. Kai had searched deep and wide, and never gave up hope to find Cecilia. To know that Cecilia lost her memories, she was Xiao Xing, and then almost married Xing Fu, must be overwhelming for the poor man. He tightened his smile and patted his shoulder to comfort Kai.

“Xing Fu was a great man…But don’t be so hard on yourself. Although she lost her memories, there is still a piece of you that lies deep within her heart. You just need to help her find it.”

“Thank you for your encouraging words.”

“You’re welcome. Now, come and help us pick these flowers if you want to leave tomorrow.”

Kia nodded.