Zhu Fan sat in his hut, pouring some tea out of his new teapot.
The steam rose from the cup, and he swirled the drink a bit.
It was a quiet morning, just like always. The dragon was asleep, and his disciple was nowhere to be found.
Zhu Fan looked out the window, and looked at the teapot.
"Doesn't taste the same..."
He rose from his seat, and walked out the door.
Zhu Fan had lived for millennia, and in that time, he had grown out of his fiery nature.
He had grown to enjoy peace and quiet.
Taking a stroll through the garden he had planted, he plucked a peach from a tree, and took a bite.
He chewed on it, then turned towards the pond nearby.
He threw the half eaten peach in the pond nearby and remarked.
"Too sour..."
Zhu Fan took a breath, and walked forward.
Plants, animals, and even the elements on the Paradise Immortal's Mountain had gotten used to his aura, and it had no effect on them anymore.
He found Yi Lan, swinging her sword near the garden. While she had improved, it wasn't much in his eyes.
But he could see that fiery determination in her eyes, the same look that he had when he was young.
All while reminiscing his past, he gave her a few pointers. Nothing much, just a few form improvements and teaching her the proper way to use spirit energy.
Yi Lan had already reached the Golden core stage, sixth layer.
And she was showing no signs of stopping.
Even with a broken fire spirit root, she was cultivating in the best environment possible. And her cultivation speed greatly surpassed even the best geniuses in the world.
Zhu Fan looked at this little disciple of his, and thought to himself.
"It's best if we don't reveal the secret too early, let's just play along."
In the pond, Ao Bai snored away, the mischievous dragon had taken a liking to the egg that Zhu Fan had bought for breakfast, and it refused to let him cook the egg.
Zhu Fan and his disciple returned to his hut.
Although Yi Lan had built a hut for herself, she still usually stated at Zhu Fan's hut, and only returned to hers at night, when it was time to sleep.
Standing outside the hut, Yi Lan begged her master to teach her a technique.
Begrudingly, he taught her a technique he had picked up during his travels.
The technique was named Golden Reincarnation Blade and it could sever the opponent's soul, ensuring a permanent death.
As he was teaching her, the air on the mountain rippled, a gentle pressure enveloped the surroundings.
A calm laugh floated through the mountain.
Zhu Fan smiled.
"So, the old man finally decided to visit, huh?"
An old man walked up the gravel path.
His eyes were heavy and dim, and he wore simple grey robes. His hair was completely grey, and his face looked wrinkled.
The man walked slowly, but his steps were steady.
His stature betrayed his seemingly advanced age.
The man laughed, and walked through the peach garden, admiring the beauty of the trees.
The old man remarked to himself,
"It would look better under the setting sun..."
The old man walked through the garden, and reached the hut.
Standing outside the hut, he called out.
"Brother Zhu, are you hiding from this old man?"
Zhu Fan chuckled to himself, he could recognize that voice anywhere.
Taking a moment, he finally stepped out of the hut.
"So you finally decided to visit, Old Bai?"
He smiled and continued,
"How many centuries has it been since we last met?"
The man, Old Bai, just smiled.
"Too many for you to remember, it seems?"
Zhu Fan smiled at his teasing tone.
It was familiar banter with an old friend, and it was one of the last few things that he could truly enjoy in this world.
Seeing the somewhat downcast expression, Old Bai just laughed.
"Is old age getting to you, Zhu Fan? I never would have dared to imagine such an expression on your face."
Zhu Fan looked at him, wanting to refute his words. But he noticed something else.
"Old Bai, have you gotten injured? Your spirit energy is weaker than normal..."
Old Bai shook his head,
"You worry too much."
Zhu Fan knew he didn't want to talk about it, but he was still concerned for his friend.
He already had an idea as to what it could be. Old Bai had always been a talented in cultivation, but not at his level.
Sighing, he didn't push further, he simply walked past Old Bai and walked to the edge of the cliff.
There, he sat on a seat in a pavilion he had constructed specially for meeting with friends.
Old Bai noticed the look on his face, and he knew that Zhu Fan had probably already figured out what was wrong.
And he appreciated him for not pushing the issue.
Old Bai sat opposite to Zhu Fan, and tried to make small talk.
"So, brother Zhu, how is that pet of yours?"
"Ao is okay, he's just put on some weight lately."
"A fat dragon? Truly only something you can see with the Great Sage."
Old Bai chuckled, the two friends bickered a lot, and they teased each other for just about everything.
Old Bai looked at the clouds, and then looked back at Zhu Fan.
He had come here to visit him, but there was a very special reason for it.
Old Bai spoke, his voice carried the fatigue of someone who's lived through too much.
"All those years ago, you saved me from that demon spirit. I've spent every moment of that time trying to catch up to you..."
Zhu Fan also looked towards the clouds, but he looked down at the world below the mountain.
The setting sun filtered through the clouds, and the world glowed golden.
For a moment, there was silence. Just peace and quiet.
Then, Old Bai spoke up.
"So, Great Sage, what now?"
Zhu Fan looked at him, then smiled.
"Great Sage? I'm just an old man looking for a quiet place."
Old Bai laughed, and pulled out and old chessboard from his sleeve.
The board was worn out, some of the pieces were broken, and some were outright missing and replaced by pebbles.
Yet, this friend of theirs had kept the two of them company for millennia. It had been a gift that Old Bai had recieved from a certain someone.
"One more match, let us see who truly plays the best."
"Of course."
The two had played against each other, many, many times before. But they never arrived at a clear winner.
While they set up the board, Zhu Fan asked Yi Lan to brew them some tea.
Old Bai looked at his new teapot and said,
"Finally retired the old pot, eh? Its rest was long overdue."
Zhu Fan just shook his head.
"It doesn't matter, what's gone is gone, isn't it?"
Old Bai chuckled, and played a move.
"Your turn."
Then, he looked at the teapot again,
"You've always been quick to move on. Always looking for something new, always looking for something better."
Zhu Fan picked up a piece, and looked at Old Bai before placing it down.
"Have I? Well, not anymore. I've come to realise that moving on isn't always the best thing."
Old Bai looked into his eyes, but he knew he couldn't change Zhu Fan's mind. Zhu Fan was a stubborn person, and when he set his mind to something, he wouldn't budge.
As the game begun, the two quieted down. They didn't talk, and even the world seemed to drown into silence.
Occasionally, they would make remarks to eachother, just some friendly teasing.
But when the game reached it end stages, the world went silent.
The golden glow cast a long shadow on Old Bai's face, and Zhu Fan's eyebrows creased.
Old Bai responded to Zhu Fan's every move.
He was a great player, and over the course of his travels, he had come to be known as the GreatChess Immortal.
Zhu Fan hands moved slowly, but every move came from his experience and a long time of thinking.
Old Bai, on the other hand, was quick to make moves. He even tries to tease Zhu Fan in the middle of the game.
"Always thinking 10 moves ahead, aren't you?"
Zhu Fan simply responded,
"It's easier to win that way."
The pieces clattered on the board, and the two friends slowly got entranced in the game.
As the sounds of the pieces finally came to an end. Zhu Fan looked at the final position once again.
"Another draw..."
Old Bai chuckled,
"It seems so..."
As the game finally ended, Zhu Fan decided to finally speak his mind.
"Why did you visit me now, Old Bai? You're not the type of person to drop by for a quick surprise visit."
Old Bai sighed, and he looked at the chessboard again.
"So, I really can't hide much from you, can I?"
Zhu Fan looked into his dim eyes.
"There's no fire left in you, is there? You're just as lost as all the others, and you've finally given up on trying to find your way out."
Old Bai laughed, then went quiet.
He looked at the clouds, the mortals below, and the mountain. Then finally responded.
"I don't have much lifespan left, i could die any moment now. I just wanted to meet my last friend before I passed away."
Zhu Fan looked into his eyes, then looked at the tree of enlightenment.
"I could give you a peach, maybe you'll get an epiphany, maybe even extend your lifespan a bit?"
Old Bai contemplated the offer for a moment, then refused.
"I'm sorry, brother Zhu, but I'll have to decline. I have reached the end of my path, there's no reason for me to extend my lifespan anymore than I've already lived..."
He stopped, took a sip of the now-cold tea, and spoke again.
"And, at this point, I just want to rest."
Zhu Fan's smile had disappeared, and even a bit of regret clouded his eyes.
"If that's what you want, then so be it."
Old Bai smiled, and pushed the chessboard across the table,
"Take good care of it for me, will you?"
Zhu Fan picked it up, stored it away.
Old Bai could see the regret in his eyes. He knew this was a big thing for him.
He knew immortality is more of a curse than a boon, living forever and watching everyone you've ever cared about die out.
Watching Eras change and kingdoms rise and fall. The world changing around you.
"Zhu Fan, how does it feel to be immortal? To know that you'll outlive every single person you've ever cared about?"
Zhu Fan let out a sigh, and took a sip of his tea.
"To be honest, it does scare me. But then again, everyone dies someday, perhaps I will too?"
Old Bai looked at him, and for a moment, he couldn't believe himself.
This was the same person who always dove head first into problems. The same person who never regretted his choices.
That same Zhu Fan had a sorrowful expression. That same Zhu Fan was actually regretting his path.
But just a moment later, that look disappeared.
"I knew it would be like this from the moment I started on my path. So, I have no regrets."
Old Bai let out a chuckle.
"Regretful, then immediately determined. You haven't changed a bit."
"Maybe I haven't, maybe I have. But I know one thing, I'll never stop walking."
Old Bai smiled one last time, he didn't fear death, because he had no regrets in his life.
"Goodbye, old friend."
Zhu Fan sighed, and bid him farewell. He knew this wasn't a regular farewell...
This was the last time they would ever meet.
"Goodbye, old friend."
Old Bai didn't respond.
His spirit had already left his body, joining everyone else on the path to reincarnation.
Zhu Fan looked at the body, and gave Old Bai one last farewell.
"May you find the peace you've been looking for, old friend."
Finally, Zhu Fan channeled some spirit energy.
Ashes flew in the golden sunlight.
Zhu Fan got up, and looked at the clouds, seeing the flowing ash, he smiled.
He turned around, and walked towards Yi Lan's hut. He had a disciple now, and he still has to teach her, he couldn't waste too much time.
As she heard him walk towards her, she opened her eyes and excitedly asked.
"Master, who was that old man?"
Zhu Fan glanced towards the pavilion, then responded with a slightly shaky voice.
"Just an old friend."
Zhu Fan looked at her, then he started to walk. He walked through the peach garden again, the golden sunlight illuminated the leaves, and for a while, the garden looked like a true paradise.
Yi Lan followed her master, trailing behind him while completely quiet. She could sense that her master's mood was off, but she didn't know what happened.
Zhu Fan plucked a peach from one of the trees, he brought it to his mouth, and took a bite.
It was a sour peach, but this time, he didn't throw it away.
As they strolled through the garden, they eventually reached Zhu Fan's hut, and Zhu Fan walked inside.
Yi Lan followed him, and sat down on in front of him.
Zhu Fan glanced at her, then decided ease his mind a bit.
"Disciple... What do you plan to do if you become immortal?"
Yi Lan was slightly surprised, but she recovered quickly.
"If I become immortal, I'll explore the world, experience everything there is to experience, and become famous all over the world. Like the Great Sage!"
Her answer wasn't much, it was typical of anyone her age. A child can't truly understand the complexities of living forever.
Zhu Fan smiled at her childlike innocence, then turned serious.
"Disciple, listen closely to what I'm about to say..."
Yi Lan quickly sat upright, and paid full attention to him. While she paid attention to him, her face was full of confusion.
Zhu Fan took a deep breath, and for a moment, he reflected on his past.
He knew it would come to this, the moment he reached this stage of his cultivation, he knew he would outlive everyone he cared for.
But did he regret it? Perhaps he did. But not anymore, that talk with Old Bai cleared his mind. And he realised something really important.
He looked out the window, and then he spoke.
His voice was gentle, but it carried the pain of someone who had learnt through experience.
"Listen close, disciple..."
"People will come and go. As long as one is born, they will die. I too, will die someday. But what matters is to strive for what you want to achieve, because lives are meant to be lived..."
Yi Lan just nodded.