Chapter 130: Reunion II

That orange hair that seemed to resemble the sunset, and those fiery red eyes that seemed to be burning coals, there’s no doubt about it!

“Maste ” I cut myself short by covering my mouth but the damage has been done. I was just filled with so much joy that I blurted out something so controversial. What if she didn’t recognize me? Would she think I’m weird? Do I look like the Yongrui she knew before? What if she becomes suspicious of me?

I covered my face in frustration, trying to hide my embarrassment in front of Master. She didn’t age at all, still as beautiful as ever. I still remember the time when I first met her, I was mesmerized by her beauty. To normal people, I guess one could call her my first love.

Except she was already married by that time and her daughter was almost the same age as me, just like right now.

As I tried so hard to hide my countenance in front of  my master, I felt something warm enveloped my neck and something soft on my face. A nice fragrance entered my nostrils, making my tensed self relaxed a little bit. It was a very familiar smell, something that felt like home after all these years.

That’s when I realized that Master Shi Yanmei locked me in her embrace.

“U-um, Maste er, I mean, Shi Yanmei?” I cluelessly asked.

“How dare you address your master by her name.” Shi Yanmei softly smiled at me as she pinched my cheeks. “And how dare you assume I wouldn’t recognize my long-lost disciple. Even if I didn’t see you for ten years, I would still recognize you.” She continued.

“B-but… “

“What? Do you want me to tell you that you look younger than before? How rude. I don’t know what sort of cultivation technique you practiced while you were missing but it’s very effective. Can you teach it to me later?” She continued.

“Ah er, you must be mistaking me for Yongrui… Yongrui is already dead, five years ago.” I continued as I hugged her in return. And then, leaning into her ears, I whispered something to continue my statement. “I’m sorry, Master, but I’m hiding my identity at the moment. I’ll tell you everything later.”

Master Shi Yanmei heaved a sigh before giving me a kiss on the forehead. “I understand, I hope to hear everything from you when the time comes.”

A pitter-patter of footsteps could suddenly be heard from behind Master. “Mom, what are you doing?! Isn’t that MOM! Tang Yongrui is the same age as me, you can’t possibly be thinking that, right? Even though dad died a decade or so ago, you can’t possibly marry someone who’s twenty years younger than you.” Shi Meili exclaimed as she tried to pry her mom away from me.

Oh no! This is not good!

“H-hey, Shi Meili! We were just talking about you! I was just asking your mom if you could join me back at the Tang Shelter. And she sealed our agreement with a hug after asking me to take care of you.” I immediately reasoned out before Shi Meili got the wrong idea. Sure I’m close with her mom and all that, she’s my mentor after all. But, there’s no way I’d see her as a romantic partner.

But I wasn’t lying when I said she was my first love back when I first met her. Yeah, honestly, that hug made my heart skip a beat. And we aren’t even twenty years apart, just a little short on ten years. I just look five years younger, Shi Meili.

“Wait, what are you talking about, Yongrui?” Master Shi Yanmei covered her mouth, trying to suppress her shock. It was written all over her face that I didn’t tell her anything about it.

I’m so sorry, Master, I will explain all of it to you as soon as I can!

“Yong Rui! Are you all right?!” Wu Yan and the others exclaimed as they rushed towards me.

I heaved a sigh of relief. In hindsight, I’m just glad that everyone was all right. “Yeah, I’m okay. Someone helped me stabilize my Qi Core.” I responded with a smile.

“Yeah, and that person is me. Geez, Yongrui, is that how you thank your Master?” Master Shi Yanmei asked as she wrapped her arms around mine.

“Mom!!!” Shi Meili pouted as she went between us and wrapped her arms around mine instead. The rivalry between the two of them was so humorous that I find it hard to suppress my chuckles.

“It’s quite shocking, who would’ve thought that you’re a close acquaintance with the Meili Shelter Leader. Well, I’m just glad that the four of us made it out alive.” Liu Zhi smiled.

“Yeah, I thought we were going to die back there. Fortunately, people from the Meili Shelter got here in time.” Blade added.

“Yong Rui, how are you feeling?” Wu Yan asked, her face reddened. “I’m sorry, we couldn’t hold off that Imperial Zombie.”

“N-no, I should be the one… I should be the one apologizing, Wu Yan. I ended up being a burden.” I muttered lightly.

“Now now, all of you, you shouldn’t beat yourselves up.” Shi Yanmei clapped her hands as she stood in the center of our group. “I brought some food for a late dinner, why don’t we eat up before we head back to the Red Sea Shelter? The scenery here is nice, you know. And also, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do with your friend over here so this would be an opportune time.”

While Shi Meili and Wu Yan were giving us strange glances, Liu Zhi, Blade, and the other cultivators from the Meili Shelter all agreed to the food. Of course, who would reject some free food?

“Come with me.” Shi Yanmei said as she dragged me to a corner under the shade of a tree. As for everyone, they gathered around a makeshift fire that Blade made so they can cook the soup together.

A warm conversation could already be heard from the group while Shi Yanmei and I separated ourselves from the group. As usual, Shi Yanmei and Wu Yan couldn’t help but observe us, just in case we step over the line as if we would do such things while everyone could see us. What are they thinking?!

Once we reached the spot where Shi Yanmei was comfortable on, a Light Qi Energy enveloped us like a bubble. It wasn’t surprising that the Light Qi Energy that cloaked us was the same Qi Energy I saw while I was unconscious.

“I just covered us in my area. Here, our conversation will remain private and it will be impossible for anyone to hear us. You can speak any time you want. Or you want me to speak first?” She asked with a straight face. There was a hint of worry in her eyes.

I looked up and pondered on what she said. At first, I thought that I would only reveal all the information I have regarding myself. But now, my Master was offering me to ask her anything that happened in the past and she will tell me about it. Of course, I can’t pass that up. There was no need to think about it further. “Master, can I say something first?” I asked.

“Sure.”

After receiving her approval, I cleared my throat and cupped my hands in front of her. “I’m so glad to see that you’re as healthy as ever, Master. Your disciple deeply expresses his well wishes.”

“You don’t have to be so formal, Yongrui. I’ve known you since you were little. You’re basically mine, my child.” She said as she approached me and gave me another hug.

This time, the hug was even tighter than before, making it hard for me to breathe. But I didn’t complain, I could tell that Master really missed me, just like how I missed her after all these years.

Because the bottom line is, ever since I became the Sect Master of the Tang Sect, I couldn’t meet with Master anymore, nor was I able to visit the Meili Sect since it’s secluded and only girls can enter inside it.

Just then, I felt something warm and wet drop on my shoulder, followed by one after the other. It didn’t take me long to realize that my Master was crying.

“Master?”

“Five years ago… I, I wanted to visit you.” She began. “But just when I excused myself from my Sect, I heard the news that the Tang Shelter has fallen and no one survived. I didn’t have time to mourn for you, Yongrui, because my Sect was attacked as well. It was but by a stroke of luck that we survived the first wave of the outbreak. I’m just glad that you’re alive, Yongrui. And I’m really sorry, I should’ve visited you sooner. I’m a failure as your Master.”

My hands moved by their own as I hugged my Master in return. Although I received evil glares from Wu Yan and Shi Meili, I didn’t mind it for now. Master truly cared for me even though no one else did, and reciprocating her hug is the least I could do to express my thanks to her.

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