章 12: Jin Tai Heng and Jin Ying Hua

Over the next few days, Taehyung whiled away the time by simply enjoying the new curiosities this life had to bring. He practised his cultivation, enjoying the rush of power through his veins. The feeling of practising his sword arts was something similar to dancing: all of your mind and soul focused, and you lived in that exact moment.

Taehyung also polished his dancing skills after relearning the sword arts. Whilst in the middle of doing the choreography for Boy With Luv, Xue Ya stumbled upon him by accident. The two held awkward eye contact before Xue Ya left, almost slipping in her rush to get away.

Jin Tong brought him across the canopy of the city, teaching him how to fly on a sword(Taehyung fell a lot. Xue Ya jumped out the window to save him, multiple times).

They went to restaurants and tried new food, Taehyung happily finding a similar substitute for his favourite japchae. Jin Tong had a lot of trouble with eating though, and usually only drank soup. After all, being a rock spirit meant that eating was a pleasure and not a requirement to live.

But, to be honest, what was the point of living if you couldn't taste the world's delicacies?

The canopy was a stark contrast compared to the dark undergrowth. Gentle leaves swaying in the wind, an almost rural feeling; as if one was on a farm in the deep mountains, the only worry being the health of the crops for the next season.

Bright green leaves and cream coloured decorations, streets made from wood that had been worn smooth by the endless years of footsteps. The tree spirits were certainly not many, but those who were there welcomed all with a gracious smile, their dark skin making them blend into the bark of the trees they embodied.

Taehyung was often seen in the library, sitting in a window seat with a book in his hands and a cup of tea by his side.

The morning sun sent its dappled rays through the window, lighting his figure up like a holy being. In his hand was a book about the different Heavens.

Taehyung tried to read the novel, but his eyes skipped paragraphs, his mind forgetting what he had read right as he had finished reading. Words entered his brain and went straight out. Twenty minutes had passed, and he hadn't read past a single page, just constantly rereading the line 'and therefore, the 3rd Heaven has a lot of natural resources'. Who asked the book to be so boring?

The gears inside his mind was whirling and working away. A look of impatience and annoyance flitted across his face. Who could it be?

Who was the one who sealed his memories?

Why did they seal his memories?

Furthermore, did they botch the sealing or was his huge memory loss just a side effect of travelling into this reincarnation?

Pieces of memory swam throughout his head. He had been studying these pieces frequently, and had clobbered together some semblance of who and what this Jin Tai Heng was.

As far as he knew, Jin Tai Heng had no living relatives, other than his sister. Taehyung had managed to get one piece of information out of Xue Ya: his sister's name was Jin Ying Hua. The two of them had always lived in this grandiose palace, far from Xuanpu City, their only company being each other and the servants around them.

Jin Ying Hua quickly showed her talents in cultivation, praised as one who would be able to ascend within no time. Jin Tai Heng hid in the shadows. He had talent, but he preferred staying out of trouble, cultivating without fanfare.

Until the day when Jin Ying Hua ascended, and he rushed to follow her, forever a faithful big brother. When he ascended, the Heavens seemed to tremble and shake, the clear skies turning dark in a blink of an eye. The Jade Emperor summoned him the day after; his eyes wary of this mere spirit who had somehow shaken the earth and the skies.

But, Jin Tai Heng proved himself worthy, fighting against the demons on the front lines. When the Jade Emperor summoned him once more, he was declared a saviour, and was granted land and titles, along with a heavy responsibility.

He had a smooth path ahead of him; his talent easing his way onto the road of becoming the next god.

Taehyung found that his memory started getting more and more fuzzy here.

Jin Ying Hua started becoming more and more distant.

Jin Tai Heng knew something was wrong. That flush in her cheeks, the sparkle in her eyes.

He told her she would suffer the Heaven's wrath, and that she should just quietly cultivate until she was proven worthy.

Taehyung was suddenly shaken awake. His body leapt up as he dropped the book he was holding. Somehow, he had fallen asleep whilst bathing in the warm rays of the sun.

Jin Tong stood over him, a concerned look on his face. He held a piece of paper in one hand.

[Miss Xue Ya said to come to the pavilion to talk about tonight's gathering.]

Taehyung nodded, yawning lightly. He threaded his fingers through his hair, combing the long tresses. Jin Tong waited for him at the entrance.

Under the sunlight, Xue Ya's body reflected the sun's rays, causing faint rainbows to appear on the shadows of the pavilion. A white, flowing dress wrapped around her figure, her ever present black daggers strapped to her thigh.

She bowed slightly upon seeing Taehyung. Over the past few days, her servant attitude soon faded away, her relationship with Taehyung becoming more of a close friendship.

"So. Tonight," Taehyung started the conversation.

Xue Ya glanced at him. "Do you still remember your manners?"

Taehyung was offended. Since when was he not gentlemanly and mannerly in all ways?

"Of course."

"You will be thrown into a storm. Especially with how you disappeared all those years ago."

Taehyung sighed. "I know."

"They will try to trick you, on account of your sealed memories. Without your memories, you are like a child to them," Xue Ya said, her voice hard and bitter.

"They can try. But they won't succeed."

Xue Ya smiled sadly.

"You haven't changed on the inside, even after losing everything."

Taehyung turned away. How could he say that he wasn't the same person she spoke so fondly of? Taehyung had experienced the feeling of losing everything.

First came the sadness, then the regret and despair. Next, the determination to do better, to salvage the situation. Finally, more despair as his mind wonders if it was even possible in the first place.

"Are you ready?" Xue Ya interrupted his thoughts.

"As I'll ever be," he replied.