Qing Tianchui had a mournful look after learning about his wife. Having learned that she had died despite him doing everything to save her was a souring feeling.
Still, knowing that his son made it out alive was sothing he was quite happy about. He didn't rember much about the rest of his life. Even mories from before he was sent to the lower realm were but glimpses here and there.
He couldn't even rember the face of his own mother.
He knew she loved him, and that he loved her, but that love no longer existed within him. At least, not like he did for his son.
Pearl explained his part of the story, going into every adventure he had. He told his father about how he had gotten revenge on the man that had murdered him. How Alex had led a war to the doors of the Dragon Emperor and killed him.
The dragon didn't get as happy as he should have been.
"I had wished your life would be more simple, with not as much violence. As many troubles and obstacles. I wanted your path to be smooth. I should have been there to smoothen it. I see now that you were torn from a peaceful life, and it is all my fault."
Pearl held a gentle smile. "I don't mind, father. It is my obstacles that helped grow to beco who I am today. Had it not been for that, I might have beco soone I could never be proud of."
Qing Tianchui lowered his head. "The least I should've done was protect your mother as well. Even if I died, she would've raised you. And I failed even at that. I wish... I wish she could've seen the sort of beast you've grown to beco."
Pearl grinned. "I have t mother," he said. "My brother can bring alive the remnant of the soul in a beast's beast core, and I talked to her through that. She could only talk for a few hours, but I was just
happy I got to talk to you."
He looked up at his father. "I had imagined our talk would be the sa as well. We would only get a few hours at best, but my brother managed to find a way to extend that by so long. I... I'm so happy, father."
His eyes began tearing up as well.
" too, son. too."
The two father and son conversed for a while, catching up on lost mories. They were lost among themselves for a while before they were interrupted.
Bai Jingshen peeked through the door, looking at the two. "Can we co in? Or should we give you two so more ti?"
"Co in, grandpa," Pearl said.
Bai Jingshen walked in, followed by Xiao Ren and Alex.
Xiao Ren gasped slightly upon seeing the red and yellow dragon sitting atop the bed. She had t the dragon up close twice before. Once when they ca down to the lower realm, and the second ti when he had brought over a sick human woman to visit their healers.
She had only seen him from afar even then, but she most definitely recognized him.
"Greetings," she said in a bow. "I am Pearl's great grandmother. I was irong's mother, who was iyoung's mother."
"Oh!" the dragon stood up, bowing in a greeting as well. "That makes you my senior then. Please do not bow toward ."
"Do you rember now?" Bai Jingshen asked from the side.
"I know who you are, but I cannot say I rember you," Qing Tianchui said. "I fear my earlier mories are so scattered that the few tis we've interacted aren't enough for to retain so. The only mory I have of you is your back facing us, while you fought a... thing. I hear that was your master."
Bai Jingshen smiled. "That's enough, I guess. Do you wish to talk to your mother? I'm sorry, but we cannot let you talk to anyone else for safety reasons. Should others know that their dead ones can live again, your new master will no longer be safe. However, we should be able to handle your mother alone."
Qing Tianchui couldn't help but smile. "I would love to see her again. I cannot imagine how she must feel if she knew that her son was alive again. I do not rember much about her, but even if just for her sake, I must et her. I owe that much to her."
Bai Jingshen turned toward Alex, looking for his input.
Alex shrugged. "It's his will, so we let him do what he wants to."
"Okay. I'll see what I can do then," Bai Jingshen said. In a flash, an artifact appeared before them that looked akin to a twisted string of tallic threads, with a large box in the middle.
He gave the artifact to Pearl. "The two of you will have to hold onto the either ends of the string and push away all your cultivation base, or whatever it is that you have. Then, I'll activate the artifact and let it
search you."
"What is this?" the dragon asked.
"Since you were brought back to life a different way, we're checking
whether you are still considered Pearl's father or not. It's a simple
test, so let's get it done with."
Pearl and Qing Tianchui held onto the two ends of the string and hid their aura. Bai Jingshen activated the artifact and a cool energy poured out of it, flowing into the bodies of the two beasts.
After a while, the box started spinning, the string untwisting itself. Bai Jingshen smiled upon noticing it, but right before it was fully untwisted, it stopped and moved no further.
"What's happening?" Alex asked.
Bai Jingshen frowned. "I'm not sure. If he was truly considered the
father, it should have fully untwisted itself. But if he wasn't, it shouldn't have done much at all. Even the twin of the parent wouldn't
undo more than just a few twists."
Bai Jingshen turned. "I think this ans he's just a step away from being considered a father."
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