The late afternoon breeze blew gently as Zhao Xiao and Zhao Long left the market, their steps carrying them toward the small road leading back to their village. The grasses swayed softly at the roadside as if welcoming their return, and dry twigs that had fallen from the trees spun lightly in the wind, dancing around their feet. The ends of their clothes fluttered, while their hair swayed with the rhythm of the evening breeze. The fading sunlight bathed the sky in a golden hue, casting long shadows that walked beside them.
Zhao Xiao glanced at his son from the side, then spoke in a soft voice, almost swept away by the wind.
"Long'er… why did you leave without telling Father? I searched for you everywhere."
Zhao Long lowered his head, his small face looking weary under the warm glow of dusk.
"I just… got bored," he answered quietly. "You were taking too long choosing vegetables… so I walked around a little. But suddenly… I was already in the middle of the crowd. I couldn't find my way back."
Zhao Xiao smiled faintly—warm, with no trace of blame.
"Alright… Father is sorry. Next time, I'll choose the vegetables quickly so Long'er won't have to wait too long, okay?"
The little boy nodded quickly, the light in his eyes returning, as if that simple sentence was enough to wipe away the great fear that had held him earlier.
Zhao Xiao ruffled his son's hair.
"Now we have to hurry home. Or else your mother might get angry. Do you want Father to carry you?"
A wide smile instantly brightened the child's face. His little arms rose, asking to be lifted. Zhao Xiao chuckled, then gently carried him onto his back.
"Hold on tight. We'll get home faster this way."
"Let's goooo!" Zhao Long shouted cheerfully.
With a soft laugh, Zhao Xiao began running along the dirt road of the village. His steps felt light, as if the relief in his heart had restored the strength that had nearly left him earlier. The breeze brushed against their faces, carrying the scent of damp earth and rustling leaves. The last rays of sunlight shone on their backs, creating the illusion of a warm glow following them as they ran.
Simple wooden houses appeared in the distance, lined neatly with old wooden walls and straw roofs reflecting the golden dusk. Some villagers still outside waved as the two passed, and Zhao Xiao returned the gesture with a small nod while continuing to run.
When they finally reached their little home, Zhao Xiao slowed down. The old wooden door creaked softly as he opened it.
"We're home!" they both shouted at almost the same time, their voices echoing gently inside the room.
From the kitchen, a gentle woman's voice responded, "Welcome back."
Zhao Xiao set Long'er down.
"Go wash up first," he said, patting the boy's shoulder.
"Okay, Father!" Long'er ran toward the bathroom, leaving a trail of tiny laughter behind him.
Zhao Xiao walked into the kitchen. Chen Lin was standing by the stove, cutting fresh vegetables from the basket he had brought earlier. Her face was calm, illuminated by the flickering light of the oil lamp.
"Still not done cooking?" Zhao Xiao asked quietly. "You should rest, Chen Lin. Let me finish it."
But Chen Lin turned and smiled gently.
"No need. I just started cooking. So… go keep Long'er company."
Zhao Xiao paused, then nodded. "Alright."
He left the kitchen, the aroma of vegetables beginning to fill the room. Outside the kitchen door, the sound of water splashing from the bathroom mixed with Long'er's soft laughter.
Zhao Xiao walked slowly toward the bathroom. Through the small gap in the wooden door, he could hear the clear splash of water and the boy's pure laughter. Thin steam floated in the air, carrying the scent of warm water and soap. He paused, smiling as he watched his little son playing happily, small splashes hitting the bamboo walls around him.
Zhao Long turned, and his eyes sparkled when he saw his father standing at the door.
"Father!" he shouted excitedly. "Come bathe with me!"
Zhao Xiao chuckled. "I'm still wearing my clothes. They'll get soaked."
"But Father is strong!" Zhao Long replied innocently, his eyes shining as if that request was the most important thing in the world.
Zhao Xiao sighed softly, then smiled and nodded.
"Alright, just this once."
He stepped inside without removing his clothes, letting the warm water hit him. But after only two steps, his foot landed on something slippery.
"Huh?" he muttered instinctively.
In an instant, he lost his balance.
Thud!
The sound echoed through the small bathroom, followed by a large splash. Zhao Long was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Father fell! Father fell!" he yelled, splashing water everywhere.
Zhao Xiao held his sore back while laughing.
"Hahaha, it's alright, Long'er. I just… slipped on your soap."
He picked up a small bar of soap and displayed it with a mock angry face.
Zhao Long's laughter grew louder, their voices echoing throughout the bamboo room.
From the kitchen, Chen Lin called out, "What was that noise?"
Zhao Xiao quickly answered, "I just slipped, everything's fine!"
Chen Lin sighed deeply. "Alright, but be careful! Don't break the bathroom!"
"We'll be careful, Mother!" both father and son shouted, followed by another burst of laughter.
Chen Lin shook her head, smiling faintly as she turned back to the fire in the stove. Father and son… they really are the same, she thought.
In the bathroom, their laughter continued. They played with the water, splashing each other, creating droplets that danced in the air. Zhao Xiao scooped up bubbles and placed them on his son's head like a hat, making the boy laugh until he almost choked.
"Look, I've made you into a bubble soldier," he joked.
"You too, Father!" Zhao Long said, flinging water at his father's face.
For a moment, time felt frozen within that laughter. To Zhao Xiao, moments like this were true happiness—simple, but soothing to a heart once worn down by life.
After finishing, the two stepped out soaking wet, their clothes dripping. Chen Lin looked up with raised eyebrows but said nothing; she knew this was simply how the two people she loved most enjoyed their time.
Zhao Xiao helped dress his son in dry clothes, then carried him to the kitchen. The scent of dinner filled the house—a mix of steamed vegetables, warm rice, and the faint aroma of slow-burning firewood.
"Is dinner ready?" Zhao Xiao asked as he sat down.
"Almost," Chen Lin replied, lifting the pot lid. White steam rose softly, spreading a comforting smell.
Zhao Long swung his little legs impatiently. "I'm hungry, Mother!"
Chen Lin chuckled. "Just a little more, dear. The soup is almost done."
A few minutes later, she served wooden bowls of rice, boiled vegetables, and a bit of smoked salted fish from the morning. When she placed it on the table, the simple aroma felt like a small miracle.
Zhao Xiao looked at the meal, then smiled. He knew—what made the food delicious wasn't the taste, but the hands that prepared it and the laughter that accompanied every bite.
After finishing dinner, night settled over the village. The sound of crickets replaced the bustle of the afternoon market. The oil lamp flickered, casting dancing shadows of the three figures sitting side by side—father, mother, and child—wrapped in a warmth more comforting than any feast.
Once the meal was cleared, Chen Lin said gently but firmly, "Long'er, go to bed first."
The boy nodded eagerly and ran toward his room.
Zhao Xiao helped Chen Lin clean up. Their movements were in sync, like two people who had long shared life's rhythm.
But just as everything was almost done, Chen Lin suddenly called out.
"Long'er!"
The boy paused at his doorway. "Yes, Mother?"
"Tomorrow I'm going to the city. Do you want to come?"
Zhao Long's eyes shone like tiny lanterns. He nodded vigorously and ran into his room with sparkling joy.
As the house quieted, Zhao Xiao told his wife about what had happened at the market—how he lost sight of their son for a moment and panicked, how an old woman helped him find Long'er again. Chen Lin paled, then sighed.
"Don't be careless again, Zhao Xiao. If something happened to Long'er, I…"
She couldn't finish, but the tremble in her voice said everything.
Zhao Xiao apologized and reminded her to be careful tomorrow, since some cultivators in the city were not trustworthy. Chen Lin accepted the warning with a nod.
After cleaning up, she said she would sleep with Long'er. Zhao Xiao nodded, preparing to step outside for some fresh air.
She asked why he was going out at such a time.
"I won't go far, just outside to breathe," he said quietly.
In Long'er's room, the child sat on his bed, staring at the night sky through the window. Stars twinkled as if greeting one another in silence. He counted them with his tiny fingers, then wondered if any of those stars had delicious food. He leaned back, thinking whether becoming a star would make his parents happy.
But soon another thought entered: humans could only see from their own perspective.
"I wonder if Mother can only see from her own eyes too…" he whispered in his heart.
Chen Lin entered and smiled.
"Long'er, let's sleep."
The boy nodded and lay down. She closed the window and lay beside him. Slowly, his wandering thoughts drifted into sleep.
Outside, Zhao Xiao sat on a wooden chair, staring at the same sky but with a completely different weight in his heart.
"Will everything be alright tomorrow?" he whispered. "Please, Gods… protect my family."
But far beyond planet Wesu, beyond the stars Zhao Long counted, sat a being in a distant galaxy. He sat on a majestic throne surrounded by golden, black, and white aura. The room was ancient, yet the throne seemed like that of a ruler from another world.
With long black hair and heavy robes, his presence radiated overwhelming pressure. Resting his head on his hand, he muttered in boredom:
"I'm tired of the order of this world. I want to shape the world to my will."
He snapped his fingers.
Instantly, a star exploded into a massive supernova.
He watched the destruction coldly.
"But this power to destroy matter consumes lifespan and mind. I must save it… for the one who sealed me."