A week after his arrival, different people from different places came to visit him. This lasted for 6 months They were almost endless , but most of them have the same reaction.
Tears of relief, then wishing him well
A man named Sliver was the first to visit, his voice was warm and friendly, he brought a beautiful man with him and introduced him as his fiance, his eyes looked soft as he narrated how they met , wolf king said that he will invite the Huli Jing clan to the wedding so bei Shang could visit. He doesn't seem to like Nick though and Nick looked like he also hated him but they were cordial till he left.
That night, he had a dream of a wolf who followed him in every reincarnation.
The second person was a Huli Jing named Summer, he have a red sun marking on the middle of his forehead, he was accompanied by a young man from the phenoix clan , He said that Summer eye sight was getting worse so he needed to be around helpers . Summer rolled his eyes and looked at Bei Shang.
Summer seemed soft as he said "Thank you for fulfilling the promise you made to me" when Bei Shang asked which promise, Summer said "Remember" then he left.
Bei Shang didn't know why but he felt a kind of connection to the leaving man ,he didn't go after him though.
That afternoon, he had a long vision about a antagonistic demon king and his loyal soldier, it went all the way to he promising the solider to make his king live long.
The third person wrote a letter to him, the letter was long with a lot of difficult words , He had to ask Nick for help translating the letter. Her name is Kate, Nick told him that they don't call her Kate in public but instead Queen spring. The name sounded a bit familiar but it only jogged a bit of his memories.
All he could remember was long days at the court with Kate and Summer arguing.
Kate said she was really busy and can't visit until the beginning of next year, she says that Broody would have come to visit but something was happening, she said they will both come to visit in two years time.
The fourth person also wrote a letter, all the letter said was " thank you and I am sorry" signed Winter. How vague.
When he had asked Nick , Nick had told him that it wasn't necessary he learnt about the person, just accept the thanks.
The last person that had visited him was a beautiful woman with elegant features. Bei Shang had been sitting in the tent watching Nick repair Mitch's top. These days , he spent a lot of his time either around Nick, just sitting beside him and observing him do things or around Mitch practicing his martial arts moves.
Mitch often tore his clothes in his practice, the north borders didn't have a lot of resources so they can't change his clothes every time, Nick took the time to repair it and make it as good as new.
The woman had just walzed in with his Shimei at her toes , immediately she saw him , tears brimmed in her eyes and she jumped into his arms and hugged him. She kept saying she's sorry and she's happy he's back.
"Taohua…" She held his face, tears still streaming down her face " My disciple "
He didn't know why he also felt like crying; A word slowly formed in his tongue "Shi..Shifu?"
She smiled and nod her head "I am your Shifu"
They had a long talk , her voice was soft as she recollected a lot of things, She told him about his days running around the mountains with his younger siblings, she told him about the gods fighting to brush his hair and how he was given merits for just being pretty , she told him about choosing love over godhood.
After she was done, she held his hand "Taohua…."
"Yes Shifu?"
"I am sorry I couldn't protect you"
"You said it was my choice right? To get punished "
"It was but I should have listened to you more. I am proud that you came back, I am proud that the heavens brought you back"
Bei Shang smiled , his heart felt soft , he followed his heart and put his head on her shoulder, she rubbed his cheek "Thank you Shifu "
Shimei was waiting for them when they came out of the tent, She looked briefly at Shifu as if wanting to say something, then she tightened her lips and turned to leave.
Shifu grabbed her wrist.
Shimei paused , an unknown emotion in her eyes "Yes Shifu?"
Shifu eyes were also unreadable, but her voice trembled "When are you coming back to the heavens?"
"You told me yourself you didn't want me in the heavens"
" I was angry, can't I be angry again?" Shifu whispered , her voice was oddly filled with shame.
There was a thick silence before tears brimmed in Shimei eyes , she sniffed and glared at Shifu "You really want to go through that route?!"
Tears also brimmed in Shifu eyes , her voice was soft " I am sorry "
"You humiliated me in front of everyone, sent me out and told me to jump down myself, I trusted you , I just wanted to protect you and still …"
"I am sorry Xuan hua "
There was another silence, Xuan hua and Shifu engaged in a silent staring competition before Xuan hua sighed.
"What do I get if I return?"
"You will be the head disciple for the palace"
Shimei nod her head, there was still a small frown on her face "Can I go back after telling everyone good bye?"
Shifu nod her head.
Shimei went to hug Bei Shang, her hug was tight as she kiss his cheek gently "Shixong, take care of yourself okay? "
Bei Shang nod his head, feeling a bit sad at the departure"I will , take care of yourself Shimei "
She bowed her head at the silent Nick, he bowed his head back "Thank you for your hospitality all this years , brother in law "
Nick smiled softly " Hmm "
She ran outside, Taohua and Shifu followed behind her , she went straight to where Mitch was practicing, Mitch smiled when he saw them coming.
"Grandma! Auntie Xuan! Mom!"
Shifu seemed a bit embarrassed "You still call me Grandma?"
"I called you Grandma last year "
Bei Shang smiled at his Shifu "You visited regularly?"
"It's not regular, it's whenever I had the time. Your husband and son are really important to you , I wanted to make sure they are in good hands"
"Thank you Shifu"
Shimei hugged Mitch so tight, Bei Shang thought he would break. She then pat his head , a soft smile on her face " Little Prince"
"Auntie Xuan…"
"I am going back to the heavens "
There was a thick silence, Mitch looked lost , his eyes filled with sadness "This soon?"
Shimei held his hand, her voice was soft "I will come back to visit you once a year I promise "
Mitch blinked back tears and hugged her tight, she hugged him back and kissed his cheek.
At first, she stayed because of the promise she made to her Shixong, later on , she stayed out of pure love. This little nephew of hers reminded her so much of her Shixong and he had a good heart too. She wishes him all the best things in life.
"Make sure you practice your martial arts frequently, I will quiz you when I get back "
"Yes auntie Xuan"
"Don't do anything that will hurt you okay? If you see someone bigger and stronger you…"
"Run and never look back, you can live to fight another day " they both look at each other and laughed , Shimei patted his hair again before letting go.
She looked at Shu hua " I am ready "
Mitch waved at them "Grandma take care , Auntie Xuan see you next year!"
Before they ascended, she waved goodbye at Mitch again, Mitch waved back barely holding back his tears.
Mitch stood like that even after they had gone.
Bei Shang pulled Mitch into his arms , Mitch held him tightly and sobbed into his arms.
After staying with them for a few months, he realized that Mitch and Nick had serious abandonment issues. Nick's own was panicky almost violent, he have had visions of Nick in a violent state, he had even woken up from a nightmare where Nick broke his ankles.
However Bei Shang didn't see this in full display until a day , he wandered off and got lost in the forest. Feeling tired of walking around, he had sat down under a tree to rest. Like he anticipated, animals tried to bite or climb him , it seemed connected to his scent , animals seem to misunderstand him as a plant or tree to eat or rest in.
He fought them off till he got so tired he couldn't move ; he just lied down , letting them chomp and climb as they please.
A few hours later , Nick had appeared where he was ; his pupils red and five tails waving in the wind. The animals scampered at his presence ; leaving only him to face the familiar yet unfamiliar husband of his.
His voice was cold "I told you to stay home!"
Bei Shang flinched, the sight made his heart tremble and his legs shake , in a fit of fear he had wanted to retort back, however his voice came out soft instead.
"I am sorry , I won't do it again"
Just like that , the oppressive atmosphere disappeared and Nick's red eyes changed to blue , his voice was no longer cold "Okay, let's go home"
A few more times , things that made Nick appear scary happened, however Nick responded more to soft words than coercion and anger.
Mitch however was different. He was soft and kind, extremely warm, however, years of living with Nick and repeated precieved abandonment from the people he loves have made him a bit twisted.
Mitch was willing to hurt himself to get attention from his loved ones and worst still , he wasn't afraid to lie anymore.
Bei Shang had no idea how to navigate this Mitch.
Bei Shang patted Mitch's hair " Don't do crazy things to get her to come back"
Mitch raised his eyes " Huh"
Bei Shang sighed "I am serious, don't hurt yourself, don't do anything bad "
There was a thick silence, before Mitch gazed at the sky , his voice was cool almost detached " I wasn't planning on hurting myself until i see a year have passed "
"…." Bei Shang sighed " Shimei always fufils her promises, just trust her okay?"
"Why do everyone leave me?" Mitch asked.
"Can we go on a walk ?"
Mitch nodded.
The walk was quiet , going all the way to his former spot where he was stood as a tree for 8 years. Half of his memories have come back, however the ones with Nick were still a bit vague , the ones with Mitch were very clear , he could understand Mitch's emotions, realizing that no matter how tall Mitch have grown , deep down, he's a child.
"Mitch…"
"Yes Mom"
Bei Shang patted his hair, his voice was soft "Mitch , in life , there are people who will leave. Sometimes it's for a little while, sometimes it takes a bit longer, sometimes they never come back. It's a bit painful but it's how relationships are , ephemeral and dreamy"
Mitch looked at a bird feeding it's chicks "I don't like being the one left behind"
"I know"
" I am angry being left behind"
Bei Shang nod his head patiently "I know, it hurts but most people in your life are not meant to stay forever. I left and I came back, your dad had a difficult time but he stayed by your side , my shimei will visit you and my shifu visited frequently the times I was alive …also Nayima…wait …Nayima "
"Nayima?"
Bei Shang rubbed his forehead "Who is Iran?"
Mitch blinked and held his mom's hand "You remember Iran?"
"And Broody…also Nayima " Bei Shang head twirled and he held a nearby tree , Mitch guided him to sit and patted his back in comfort " My best friends …they are my best friends "
"Mom it's okay "
Bei Shang sat there , letting the memories come through; they merged and separated, moving through his mind like a flim. By the time he was awake, he was back in the tent , his head on Nick's lap , a callaused hand softly combing through his hair.
The smell of burning wood , the jasmine scent of Nick, the warmth of Nick's lap and the blanket around his body.
"Nick …"
Nick placed the hand on his chin " You fell unconscious during a walk with Mitch "
"Your fascination with my feet have reduced"
The hand froze.
"You have also gotten gentler" Bei Shang laughed, tears in his eyes as he held Nick's fingers tightly " I remember"
Bei Shang felt drop of tears on his face; he sat up and pull Nick into his arms; Nick broke into sobs.
Bei Shang kissed his cheek and hugged him tight. " I am sorry it took a year"
"I have resigned myself to the fact that you will never remember " Nick sobbed into his shoulders " We can always start on a clean state you know?"
Bei Shang smiled tearfully " I don't want a clean slate , I want you"
Dangerous and loving, Possessive and Caring, Manipulative yet Soft. A combination of bad and good , two sides of the same coin , two personalities of the same person.
His husband Nick Storm Park.
A while later , Bei Shang looked at the sky , his body wrapped around Nick's own.
"What about we go to the mortal realm for a year?"
Nick kissed the side of his forehead " What about Mitch?"
"We take him with us "
"Kate won't be happy "
"We don't have to tell her " Bei Shang smiled and Nick laughed " We just have to make sure we come back in time "
Nick nod his head.
Reincarnations after reincarnations , his life have always been surrounded by tragedy and lost love , giving him nothing but pain, however in between this pain , his happiest moments were always with this Huli Jing.
He rubbed Nick's chin " We can even get married there , official certificate and all"
"Really?"
"Yes"
Nick smiled tearfully " I love you Bei Shang"
The day that the Huli Jing stood before him , looking at him wi
th love and care was the luckiest day of his life , the day he was saved by the fisherman from drowning was the blessed day of his life, he wants to spend the rest of his eternity with him.
Bei Shang kissed his hand " I love you too"
The end.