30 Growing Farther Apar

-Long Wei-

[She will see. Will she still want me by her side?

She is my fated, but am I hers?]

He felt her movement through the necklace and ran to her. She was crying and reaching out to the moon. She looked lonely.

[You love the moon… and I wish to be your moon.]

He didn't know what he was until he saw her small pet. The moment he saw him he felt his blood rush to his back and felt something within him change. He felt his instincts emerge and his eyes glowed red but he didn't know how to control it. His power was different. He had no guide but he felt his blood scream to protect her.

They were both young but that was fine. It would give him time to grow close to her and make her fall for him. She had to be his. He would wait and if she was ever taken by another man in the future he would destroy him and take her back.

[She is my fated.]

[I can't live without her.]

He took in a deep breath and walked straight.

-Garden-

Fan Daiyu reached out to the moon.

[You're always there but I still can't reach you.]

She slowly lowered her hand but it was taken by another. She looked up to see Long Wei. He looked at her with a smile but she could see the anxiousness hidden within his heart. There was silence.

"You know. That necklace. It had a history. It was my mother's story…

If it scares you… I can leave."

[But I will come back for you]

"I will leave it with you"

[Because you are my fated. It belongs to you.]

"And you won't see me"

[But I'll always be looking out for you.]

Daiyu looked at him in astonishment. He seemed anxious at her reply but she could see hidden feelings that were hard to understand.

[Did he think I would kick him out for being different?]

"I can't believe you would think so low of me. Why would I make you leave? Didn't you see Ercan. He is different too but I love him"

Her words took him to heaven before he plummeted to hell.

"E-Ercan? Who is that?"

'You love him?'

She looked at his funny face and laughed.

"Why is your smile so stiff? I thought you saw him today. The small little guy that got you."

"Oh! Your pet!"

"He is Not a pet! He is my friend and you can't be rude because you are my friend too."

At that Long Wei finally released a sigh of relief.

[That small thing can't compete with me.]

The two children talked for some time before Daiyu went back to sleep.

When the sun rose again, she began her yoga stretches. Everyday the physician would come over to meet her but she never gave in eventually she had to break it to him.

"Mister, I am not ready to have a master."

He looked at her and in all seriousness he responded, "That's okay I can wait"

"But I don't want or need a master."

At that, he sighed. Seeing his disappointment, she felt a bit of guilt.

"But you can be my friend and you can come over whenever you want."

His face beamed, "Call me Uncle Morris."

She giggled, "Okay Uncle Morris."

After that, he practically moved into the house as their personal physician.

As months passed, the stretches she made became more and more vigorous. Long Wei would watch from afar, as she practiced every day and trained her body to become more flexible. At first, they were easy but each month he noticed how harsh she was with herself. She was motivated, spirited, cheerful, kind, and beautiful. Eventually a year passed. Everyone became accustomed to Ercan and kept total secrecy but there were times in which Long Wei noticed something strange about Fan Ying's look towards the small beast. It wasn't until they found out that he was already contracted to Daiyu that he gave up.

[That man seems to begin to want more. He isn't as pure as everyone thinks.]

Fan Daiyu's birthday came on September third. Everyone celebrated in big. They all looked so happy.

Fan Ying also felt happy but he started to realize he wanted the beast more than he thought. His greed wanted to overpower him. He never cared for riches but since young, he was obsessed with powerful beasts and cultivation. Yet he held back for his family.

Nuwa Yenay stood up to bring all the food but as she set them down, she ran and threw up on a bag. Everyone was worried. However, when Morris checked up on her he smiled.

"Everyone calm down. I need to say something.

Mrs. Fan here is PREGNANT!"

Fan Ying was ecstatic and Fan Daiyu was jumping with joy at the news. She was so happy that she hugged the person next to her.

Long Wei stiffened and his heart began to pound uncontrollably at the two small arms enclosing them. His face went beet red and he felt that he could almost faint. She released him as quickly as she hugged him. He could only look at the emptiness she left in his arms ans smile.

[This girl. Aish. When she grows up, she will be fatal to my heart.]

Although she was overjoyed, she noticed a slight twinge of pain at the corner of her heart. She couldn't understand. A sister/brother sounded amazing so why was there doubt in her heart. She let go and ran to her mother.

"Mommy. Will you still love me? Will the baby love me?"

Nuwa Yenay smiled, "Baby of course, everyone will love you and you will love everyone. We will all love one another."

She smiled and they hugged.

Long Wei watched and gave out a silly smile.

Then the kids went out to the garden while the adults put Nuwa Yenay to rest.

-Garden-

After a long time of being together, they all had a strong bond.

"Mallory you need to start cultivating if you want to stay by my side. How will you protect me and my sibling if you're weak?"

"Eldest miss I will do anything to stay by your side!"

She saluted and looked at her in determination which made both of them laugh.

"That's good Bambi. You need to grow into a strong Bambi just like in the movie."

They were already used to her gibberish so they just kept on nodding.

Just like a pro Fan Daiyu switched personas and became a strict teacher.

She stood up straight and let out an intimidating aura.

[Miss you could really be an actor.]

Mallory looked up at her in admiration and followed all her instructions. Likewise, Long Wei did so too.

"Good, good, good.

Both of you are excellent students."

Every day at the same time, the couple would pass by and see the tiny girl acting like a wise old man and cultivating with the kids. At some point, even Morris joined in to learn from her. Fan Ying once asked him why and Morris could only sigh.

"If only you knew that she is a million times better than any teacher out there. It has only been a few weeks and Mallory has already advanced to the first level and Long Wei advanced to the sixth. Every night they leave the house and go underground so that no one can feel their breakthroughs. Even I have advanced a level in this short amount of time. Four weeks and I advanced to seventh. She is an amazing daughter. I was a fool to think that I was worthy of such a genius."

However, Fan Ying didn't believe it. As for why? Because of his own pride.

Fan Daiyu began to break through in her sleep within her Golden Void and stretch and teach during the day. It was tiresome for her soul and body but it kept her alert and spirited.

However as time passed by the time she spent with her father was less and less.

Months passed and it was already May. The child would be born soon.

Fan Ying rarely looked at her and Nuwa Yenay was too busy focusing on her new child's birth.

He was more focused on his other child and he felt that she didn't need him. She had already overcome her trauma and seemed to be faring better than he ever could. Instead of feeling accomplished or proud at her intelligence and astounding performances, he felt annoyance. He had always been the center of attention. He was the man who was noble and gave up the throne for his brother but now he seemed to be less than his daughter and it kind of irked him. He loved her but he never thought she would be like this.

She was like the late empress, his adoptive mother. He loved her too but she too was in the way of his brightness. He had to break the ties, undo the knot, and erase all mistakes. He needed to erase her from his mind.

And he did.

Then he met Yenay. Everything changed for the better.

Everything is better when he shines the most.

Eventually they only saw each other during lunch. She would try to hug him but he never responded back. He no longer gave her his most heartfelt smile and she could feel it.

[Father doesn't love me anymore.]

[He used to but ever since I almost drowned and they told him my cultivation level he stopped caring. Is it too much? Am I too strange?]

{But no one knows you have progressed to the eighth level other than us.}

She looked up at her father and felt it was strange. Why did he change so much? He seemed like a different person.

But this was who Fan Ying was. He had a twisted separate personality that rarely came out. He was kind but it was because all his negative feelings were stored away and saved until someone destroyed his peace. The four times it happened where all with his loved ones. This would be the fifth.

Fan Daiyu tried her best to keep her sadness away from her smile as she looked up at her father.

"Daddy, I love you."

Nevertheless, she was disappointed. He wasn't making his foolish face or dazed face. He didn't look like he was on cloud nine either. All he did was give her a small smile and said, "I know Daiyu."

He stood up to leave but his body became rigid at her dejected question.

"Does daddy still love me?"

"Yes Daiyu, daddy still loves you!"

[Daddy will always love his little girl.

Daddy will always love you even if you die.]

He didn't turn around. He didn't look back as he left and left her alone in silence.

[Daddy. Then why did you look so annoyed when I said I loved you?]

She cried in silence and waited to calm herself before leaving.

Soon enough a figure followed.

He followed her everywhere because he wished to see her grow but he hadn't expected to see her in so much pain again.

Long Wei had already grown used to her cheerful appearance. She never cried after her nightmares disappeared and whenever she did he was there so that she could cry her feelings out. Her insecurities were daggers that stabbed deep into his heart but what could he do when the ones causing them were her family. Her loved ones.

[He doesn't love her. He has gone crazy.]