Chapter Text
“Grandma! Tell me that story about two immortals in love!” asked a sonorous voice.
Among the duvets and plush toys scattered on the bed, a mop of dark hair peeped out. A small boy, about five years old, crawled out of a cocoon of blankets, hugging one of the pillows tightly. With his right hand, he impatiently smoothed his disheveled hair and looked at his grandmother with big shining eyes in hope of hearing the story he loved so much. His grandmother sighed, barely suppressing a slight smile. Her grandson sometimes reminded her so much of her son when he had been this age. The old woman sat down on the bed next to the boy and gently touched the top of his head, patting down the naughty strands.
“Shh,” she put her finger to her lips, “I'll tell you, but you have to promise me that it will be our little secret, okay? Or else your mother will scold me that I told you this story again. She doesn't like it.”
“I promise," the boy nodded.
“Then let us first tidy your bed,” the old woman said, as she was pushing the toys aside and rearranging the pillows, “Now, get under the duvet.”
She booped his nose and chuckled lightly, seeing the indignant look of her grandson. While the boy was getting comfortable, she extinguished almost all the candles, leaving one to burn by the bed. The boy did not sleep well in total darkness.
“Settled?”
“Yes!”
“Well, then listen,” she tucked the duvet and began her story, “Once upon a time there lived a boy. He was a good boy. He obeyed his parents and was very well-mannered, yet the cruel fate didn’t treat him well. One day he was left completely alone: his parents died at the hands of the ghosts. They took the boy with them to the Valley where they lived. The ghosts were frightening, they did terrible things. The boy didn’t want to become like them. He decided that he would be the Master of the Valley so that they couldn’t hurt him. And he became one, but in return he lost something very important. In order for the ghosts to fear him, he had to become the scariest of them all. At that time he chose a new name for himself – he took the old surname of one of his parents, Wen, and called himself Kexing, a guest, since he no longer belonged to any of the worlds. It seemed that he had lost his humanity forever, but one little girl melted his heart. He called her his sister and took care of her, although he himself was still a child. And it seemed that the injustice of the world made a villain out of the boy, and there was no way for him to atone for what he was forced to do until he met his soulmate. He introduced himself as Zhou Xu and accepted Kexing as he was. He showed him that Kexing was still capable of goodness. Together they went through hardships and joys. They loved each other very much and, of course, deserved a happy ending, but his soulmate was doomed to die very soon. Wen Kexing did his best to save his lover. He tried so hard that his hair took on a silver tint, and he himself lost the ability to age. It looked like everything had worked out for him, that the ritual that was supposed to save his beloved had been successful, yet his A-Xu did not wake up. His soul did not return to the body. Kexing tried to find him for decades but didn’t succeed. Then he imprisoned himself on the mountain, went into deep meditation hoping that, having united with his soulmate in the constant exchange of qi, he would soon return to him. They say that he is still waiting for him there, on the mountain. And so, many generations of our family pass down this story from mouth to mouth, because Gu Xiang, your great-great-great-great-grandmother and his sister, didn’t lose hope that one day her brother would reunite with his lover and live happily ever after.”
“Grandma, Kexing will meet him again, right?”
“Of course, he will. There is no power greater than the power of love, Junjun.”
“Good. I'll meet my soulmate one day, too! And I will love him as Wen Kexing loves A-Xu!”
Junjun paused, thinking about something, then nodded to himself and confidently said, “Grandma, my prince will be the best.”
“Your prince? Junjun, you yourself are a prince. The time will come and you will marry a princess or... do you want to be a princess yourself?” Grandma teased, watching his reaction.
“No, I will be a prince, and he will be a prince! We'll play together and... and... and hug. I don't want a princess! Girls are nasty. I want a prince!”
“Alright, alright, a prince. Just don't tell your parents about this.”
“Why?”
“Oh, they will be upset that Junjun is such a stubborn little boy,” she teased again and tickled him.
“Grandma! I'm not little! I'm a grown-up! Anyway, I’ll definitely find my soulmate, then we’ll get married,” grumbled Junjun.
“Of course, my sweetheart. Just as I’ve said, a stubborn boy,” she ruffled his hair, “Now, it’s time to sleep. Good night, dear.”
She kissed him on the forehead and tucked him in. As she was leaving, she stopped in the doorway and cast a gentle glance at her grandson.
“I hope that it will be so, Junjun. I hope that you’ll find your happiness,” whispered the old woman, shaking her head, and walked out, carefully closing the door behind.