A profound darkness enveloped Zego. He felt no pain, no cold, only an endless void. Slowly, the void began to be filled by a gentle, loving voice, a whisper that felt so familiar.
"We did not leave you completely, my child..."
Zego opened his eyes, and he found himself in a silent space, bathed in a warm, silvery light. In front of him stood a woman. Her face was so beautiful, with hair as white as silver that fell to her shoulders like an elegant waterfall. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and her smile was so gentle, full of charisma, yet also filled with an unspeakable sadness. It was his mother.
Zego's tears flowed. He ran to hug his mother, feeling a warmth he had only ever dreamed of. "Mother... Father... where are you? Why did you leave me?" he sobbed.
His mother returned Zego's embrace tightly. "We never left you, my son. We are always here..." His mother pointed to Zego's chest.
Zego shook his head. "But... I don't feel you."
His mother smiled, then she released the hug and wiped away Zego's tears. "Your father... Your father..." Her voice trembled.
"What about Father, Mother?! Tell me!" Zego urged, his heart filled with anxiety.
His mother looked down, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Your father... he was judged by the gods up there, for his actions. It caused his death, and his blood flowed from above, falling into this world... As a result, the world was plunged into chaos."
Zego was shocked. "Father was judged by the gods?!"
His mother nodded, then she touched Zego's eyes. "Yes, my son. These beautiful eyes... were inherited from your father. Eyes that are like the stars in the sky."
Zego looked down, feeling a pain in his chest. "Mother... You don't know, because of these eyes, many people died... Including Uncle the Village Chief who made a promise to you."
His mother fell silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. "So, he kept his promise, huh... But Zego, it seems he is not completely dead..."
Zego was startled. "Huh? W-what do you mean, Mother?"
His mother could only smile. "Someday, you will know..." She bent down, kissing Zego's forehead gently. The kiss felt so real, so full of love. Suddenly, the silvery light faded, and Zego felt himself returning to the darkness.
Zego jolted awake from his long sleep. His breathing was irregular, and he was gasping for air. Cold sweat soaked his entire body. The image of his mother's face, the warmth of her hug, and that mysterious whisper were still etched vividly in his mind.
"MOTHERRRRRRR...." Zego screamed, his voice cracking, echoing throughout the silent gorge.
He looked around, confused. He was in a small cave, with a straw bed and a rough blanket. The cave was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs. He immediately got up from his bed, feeling something strange about himself. An uncontrollable power, a different energy.
"Was that a nightmare? But it felt so real," Zego thought to himself. He looked at his hands, feeling a much stronger energy flowing within him. He felt his entire body was different, lighter, stronger, as if he had been reborn.
"Where is that old man?!" he wondered, a sense of unease creeping into his heart.
"Elder... Elder... Elder..." Zego shouted, his voice bouncing off the walls of the gorge. "Where are you, old man! Don't hide! Come out quickly! Your disciple is awake!"
But there was only silence. No answer. No movement. Zego ran throughout the gorge, searching for any trace of the Elder. But there was nothing. The gorge felt empty and quiet, with only the roar of the waterfall as his companion in the silence.
Zego returned to the cave where he had woken up, his heart filled with a bad premonition. Suddenly, his eyes caught something. A small piece of paper lay on the stone table, drawing his attention. It was a note written in the Elder's handwriting.
Zego picked up the note, his hands trembling. He read its contents carefully:
"My boy, I was forced to leave you because my time has come. I must return to the Eastern Continent immediately. So, continue your journey. When you are strong enough, find me in the Eastern Continent, in the city of LOUYANG."
Zego dropped the note, his eyes wide. "What... What does he mean?! Didn't I still have months left?! He... he left me?!" he screamed, his voice filled with anger and despair.
Without thinking twice, Zego ran out of the gorge, heading towards the village. He wanted to find out what had happened. He ran with incredible speed, using his Wuji Step unconsciously. He felt his new power flowing within him, making his movements feel so effortless.
Upon arriving at the village, Zego was greeted with overwhelming joy. The villagers, seeing him, immediately shouted, "Zego! You're awake!"
They hugged him, crying and smiling. Zego was confused. Why were they so happy? He felt as if he had only been asleep for a few days.
"We were so worried, my boy," a mother said. "You've been asleep for a very long time."
"How long?" Zego asked, his heart pounding fast. "How long was I asleep?"
A village elder walked closer, looking at Zego with a moved smile. "Zego... you have been asleep for two years."
Zego's face turned pale. He was speechless. The world around him seemed to blur. He had lost two years of his life. He should be 16 years old now. Zego couldn't believe what he was hearing. Two years that he should have spent training, seeking the truth. Now, he had woken up in the same world, but he was no longer the same person. And the Elder... the Elder was gone.