The Journey Home

For the first time in a long time Wulin's feet finally felt the ground which he had been desiring since he left. He couldn't explain it but for some reason floating through space like that made him feel nauseous, luckily he hadn't thrown up or else that really would've been to embarrassing.

Coming back to his senses, Wulin began to notice that everyone's gave had landed on him, the heat from their staring turned his cheeks a rosy red, he began to inch towards Gu Wei who was still standing next to him. Slowly moving behind Gu Wei's leg to grasp his pant and hide himself from their piercing gaze.

Gu Wei looked down at Wulin, a quiet laugh, almost a chuckle escaping from his mouth. He couldn't help but link his childhood manners to Wulin's current actions. Many didn't know but before Gu Wei stepped onto the profound path he had been a very shy boy who could barely speak with people who weren't close to him, like his mother, father, or close friends.

Curiosity taking control of Wulin's body he slowly peeked his head from behind Gu Wei's leg, looking around at everyone. There was a few grandpa's, presumably elders. A handful of middle-aged men, accompanying them were children who seemed to be close to Wulin's age.

As Wulin was studying everybody, Gu Wei began to introduce everyone, starting with the old fogies.

" Now Wulin, those three right there are your Grand Elder's, other than me who is a rank above them, they are the most influential people within the clan. Starting from the left is Gu Zhenkang, in the middle is Gu Guanyu, and to the right of him is Gu Luoyang." Gu Wei told Wulin.

Wulin looked at each person respectively as Gu Wei introduced them. Looking at the first one Gu Wei introduced, Gu Zhenkang, he first noticed his shiny bald head, and the vibrant red robe that he wore. As Wulin looked up into his eyes a natural feeling of oppression assaulted him, kind of similar to the feeling that Wulin's grandpa would give him.

Moving his gaze to the man in the middle named Gu Guanyu, the most noticeable things Wulin could feel about him was his soothing aura, dressed in a white and gold colored shirt and pant. Looking at him Wulin felt relaxed, no longer was he nervous, scared, replacing it was a simple smile that seemed to scream contentment.

Finally looking towards the last Grand Elder, Gu Luoyang, guessing that of the three Grand Elder's that he was probably the strongest. The moment Wulin gazed upon him he felt as though he was being poked and prodded by an immeasurable amount of needles and pins. Not daring to keep his gaze there for too long the only thing Wulin could make out was the dazzling purple and gold clothing he wore.

Stepping forward a little bit, just enough to make a difference, Wulin bowed his body at a 45 degree angle whilst saying, " Wulin greets his elders."

The three Grand Elder's looked slightly pleased at Wulin's actions and gave him a quick nod, letting him know that it would be okay to step back to where he was originally standing.

Stepping back, Wulin continued to look around the platform, his gaze passing everybody till it came to land upon a young girl, dressed in a light blue shirt with a similarly blue skirt coming down to her lower thighs, glancing at her 'unique' hair color that was unusual to say the least. It was a bluish-violet color that contrasted with her big brown eyes.

Seeing who Wulin's eyes were intently staring at Gu Wei interrupted, " Ahem... and that there would be my daughter, Gu Feng, she very pretty... isn't she Wulin!"

Embarrassed about being caught staring Wulin's sight came to the person standing in the dead middle of the pavilion. Looking at the woman standing there he became nervous, he knew who that was, who that had to be, she was the only "woman" there.

This time Gu Wei didn't introduce the person Wulin was looking at, as he could tell that Wulin already knew whom he was looking at.

Vibrations ran through Wulin's heart as he stared wide eyed at the graceful looking woman standing in the center of the platform. Dressed in an uncomplicated dress the color of green accentuating her dark green eyes. Her thin nose that sat above her smiling lips. Giving off a warm and inviting presence.

...

As Gu Yun watched Wulin she couldn't help but be nervous, or more so scared, trying to take a step forward she found herself faltering as the thoughts " what if he doesn't like me, or even worse, detest me", resurfaced in her mind once more.

Taking a deep breath Gu Yun threw her fears to the back of her mind, determined to keep her simile on for Wulin, she bravely took a step forward, and then another getting closer to officially introducing herself to her new son.

...

Wulin watched as Gu Yun walked towards him, not fast yet not too slow as well.

Recalling what his father said to him at that time, " Wulin , it is my hope that you can love, cherish, and treat her as your own mother, she will be your rock in the future, there to comfort you, and support you.", Wulin put all hesitations he had aside and began to walk towards Gu Yun as well.

As the two met in the center of the platform there were no words exchanged, as they didn't need to. They could both feel the emotions the other were radiating outwards.

Gu Yun kneeled down onto one knee and wrapped Wulin inside of her arms allowing him to rest his head on her shoulder as he similarly hugged her back. continuing to stand there wrapped in each other's embrace for a while.

Gu Wei floated above them looking down at the duo with a smile on his face, this was the first time since Gu Yun had her accident that he had seen a genuine smile form from the bottom of her heart,

the first time he had seen contentedness displayed on her usually cold and distant face. Quietly Gu Wei motioned to the rest of the people gathered on the platform to begin getting aboard the carriages which they arrived in.

As the silence was broken Gu Wei drifted to the side of Gu Yun and gently tapped her on her shoulder and then begin walking to the carriages.

Understanding the silent message that had been passed on to her Gu Yun patted Wulin's shoulders and whispered," C'mon we have to board the carriage's now."

"Mnmm", Wulin hummed taking his mother's hand and walking towards the large carriage's.

After boarding the carriages Gu Yun told Wulin that the trip would take a while, in total it would take about a day to get to Wisteria City, and that he should rest for a while, however the constantly changing scenery wouldn't allow Wulin to sit still.

Enraptured by his surroundings, Wulin stared out the window of the carriage into the forest, seeing the small animal that looked absolutely adorable, then changing to the great plains that revealed Spirit Lions, and tigers that lurked in the Wisteria Forest.

Eventually Wulin did end up feeling the waves of exhaustion that pummeled his body. Yawning, Wulin walked to his mother's side and curled up beside her closing his eyes to try and sleep.

Gu Yue looked down at Wulin with tenderness in her eyes, extending her hand to lightly rub his back as he lied there to further coax him to sleep. After a couple minutes of listening to the light rhythmic breathing coming from Wulin she reassured herself that he had finally fell asleep. Bending her upper body over Gu Yue leaned towards Wulin's forehead planting on it a light kiss. "Sleep well my child", Gu Yue faintly whispered to Wulin.

...

Platform of Ascension,

Standing in the center of the platform were three hooded figures, "You're absolutely 100 percent sure this is exactly where the ball of fire descended from."

"Of course your excellency! I wouldn't dare lie to you, I wouldn't live to see the light of day if I had."

"I know you wouldn't lie to me, you've been by my side for so long but, I can't be to sure regarding this. You may not know but this should a very important time inside the Gu Clan."

"How so?"

"Roughly every two generation's the Gu Clan experiences a sharp rise in power. What's even more strange is that what you experienced earlier on isnt the first time that such a spectacle has occurred, and it is this even that marks the beginning of an abrupt rise in power. The only thing capable of making the Gu Clan Master move is that, and if it is what happened here today is what i think it is than perhaps now is the time for us to put the puzzle pieces in to action! Come, let us head back, there isn't anything we can do from here anyways."

...