In the vast universe, there's a galaxy of jade trees, where mountains rose in soft, jade waves, their peaks wrapped in shiny jade green blossom trees with a mist that drifted like sleepy spirits.
People of the jade tree clan are known for their kindness, honesty and generosity, their hearts are as open as morning sky.
Behind it, the waterfalls clashing down the cliffs, their voices were soft and melodic, weaving through the warm air like an ancient lullaby. The sky stretched wide and endless just like an ocean of gentle blue, cranes glided effortlessly, their wings slicing through the breeze with serene grace.
I forgot to close the window last night, suddenly, a warm gentle breeze brushed my skin, carrying the scent of blooming lotus and damp earth. It felt like paradise itself sighing against my cheek. For a moment, I forgot what fear or sorrow ever felt like ;everything was peace, everything was light.
Then, the silence broke.
My eyes snapped open to the sound of noisy shouts of my friend, si yuan, rushing toward me, robes flying behind him as he yelled my name. "Ah-liang, Hurry! Master has been waiting for us at the mountaintop temple forever!" he said, half laughing, half panicked, tugging at my sleeve
I pulled out my robe quickly, wore it as I was fumbling, while si yuan stood outside patiently tapping his foot dramatically, arms crossed, pretending to be the grandmaster himself.
Finally, I stepped outside, glanced at si yuan and realized there's a sentence stuck in his tongue.
" you know? " He said, lowering his voice to an overly serious tone, " if you sleep any longer our master will turn us into rocks, I will be the wise rock and you will be the ugly one" he nearly choked laughing while I'm running behind him trying to kick him.
But anyways, his grin was wide and mischievous, which made it impossible to stay annoyed at him.
"Come on! masters waiting, let's keep running to the temple" He continued " if we are late again I will blame you, I will tell master that you were wandering around".
We sprinted across the high stone pathway of the temple, sandals slapping wildly against the ground. Si yuan flailed his arms as he ran, yelling "make way!". Up ahead, the staircase spiraled up the mountain like a dragon's spine, the path was so long that I almost lost my breath. We stopped to rest, and from the top of the stairs I heard an old, familiar voice echo down toward us.
"'Here you go again, chasing each other like wild monkeys…'"
Grandpa Yu stood beneath the temple archway, hands tucked behind his back, robe fluttering in the breeze like it had its own ancient wisdom. His long white thick brows lifted with amusement as he shuffled toward us.
Before either of us could catch our breath, he pressed something into our palms, two warm, sweet rice buns wrapped in fresh lotus leaves.
"Eat" he said, eyes twinkling. "No disciple of the temple is allowed to face the morning on an empty stomach, especially fools who sprint up mountains before sunrise."
Siyuan bowed dramatically. "Grandpa Yu, you are the savior of my very delicate soul."
Grandpa Yu snorted. "Your soul is about as delicate as granite, kid."
We sat on the stone steps beside him, legs dangling over the edge while cranes swooped below us. The buns were warm against our hands, their sweet scent curling into the air.
For a moment, we just ate quietly, letting the world breathe around us, waterfalls murmuring, wind threading through the blossoms.
Then Grandpa Yu spoke, voice suddenly low and thoughtful.
"Do you two know," he said, gazing out toward the endless mountains, "that our clan once guarded a treasure unlike any others?, a jade stone that held the breath of the heavens themselves."
Siyuan perked up instantly, crumbs on his lip.
"A treasure? Like a shiny-jade-I-can-totally-sell kind of treasure?"
Grandpa Yu thwacked him on the head with his fan.
"No, you little gremlin. It's a sacred relic."
His eyes softened, the kind of softness only found in old memories.
"It was called "Heart of the Celestial Jade". A gem gifted to our ancestors by the Emerald Dragon during the Age of Dawning. It pulsed with life and harmony. It kept our lands safe."
"But three hundred years ago," he continued, "during the War of Broken Banners… it vanished. Stolen in the chaos. Lost to blood and smoke."
A shadow crossed his face, gentle, but heavy.
"Since then, the jade tree clan has lived in peace, but never quite whole. Without the Heart, our harmony is thinner. Our protection is weaker, our future is uncertain."
Grandpa yu sighed, folding his hands behind him.
"Peace never lasts forever, children. The tides of fate are shifting again. I can feel it in the wind."
His eyes drifted toward the east, toward a horizon that shimmered a little too sharply, like something unseen was stirring.
I felt a chill crawl down my spine when I remembered we are late on our Master. "Grandpa yu, we gotta go" I said as I was rushing to run, si yuan elbowed me " Race?,Loser has to clean master's tea cups for a week". Before I could answer he was already halfway up the steps, shouting over his shoulders " too slow!, aren't you afraid of being turned to a rock by master" he shouted, voice spreading across the mountain.
We reached the temple's backyard, si yuan whipped around the corner of the landing and immediately crashed face first into something solid.
Or rather…
Someone solid
There was a loud "WHUMP", followed by an even louder "OOF"
as both bodies toppled backwards, like two sacks of rice tumbling off a cart.
For a moment, there was silence.
Birds paused mid song
Even the breeze seemed to gasp.
Then I saw the final seconds before the disaster from far away.
Si yuan was laying on the ground, tangled in his own robe..
And beneath him…
Brows furrowed, beard crooked, hat askew lay master's head, the strictest, grumpiest, most easily annoyed elder in the entire temple.
Si yuan blinked…
Master blinked…
Even the mountain blinked…
Then came the eruption.
" Si yuaaaaaaaaaan" the master roared, his voice booming off the cliffs. " Are you trying to send your master to the heavens prematurely?".
Si yuan scrambled to his knees, bowing so fast that he nearly head butted the master again.
"I-I-Master! Forgive me! My feet were possessed! The mountain rocks tripped me! Gravity betrayed me! I-"
"Presumptuous!" The master said before si yuan could continue.
" You reckless little comet!, You bring shame to the temple, danger to your elders, and chaos to every step you make!".
Siyuan looked back at me with wide eyes that screamed help me.
I pretended not to see.
Instead, I bit my lips to stop from laughing.
The Master dusted off his robe with exaggerated annoyance, glaring at both of us now.
"Well?" he snapped. "What are you waiting for? An invitation from the heavens? Move!"
We hurried obediently after him, no words said, slipped into the temple hall, trying to act normal after Siyuan's crash disaster, but the moment we crossed the threshold… we felt the energy shifting.
Every disciple inside sat stiff and silent.
Some stared down at their hands.
Others glanced at the doors with wide, trembling eyes.
A few had tears they didn't bother to wipe away.
The laughter that had followed us up the mountain evaporated instantly.
Si yuan's grin faded.
My stomach twisted.
We didn't need words; one look between us, and we both knew:
Something terrible had happened.
We walked quietly to our places and knelt. The hall felt colder than it ever had, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. Incense smoke curled upward in thin, anxious trails. Even the morning light filtering through the lattice windows looked dimmer, bruised.
Footsteps echoed.
Master Head approached his throne without a word.
He moved slower than usual, weighed down by something heavy and invisible. His robe, normally crisp and sharp, seemed to sag. He didn't even glare at Siyuan for existing; that alone scared me more than anything.
He sat.
The hall went silent in a way that felt unnatural, like the world had stopped turning.
Then his voice broke through, low and shaky; something I had never heard from him…