The Burning Bridge

LEI BO'S FACE WAS so still and serene that he looked like he was carved from jade. His long black robes hang elegantly on his slender frame, and the black fur coat draped over his shoulders gleams like a still lake reflecting the moonlight. Zhan Sheng's heart moved, his body trembled and without thinking, Zhan Sheng ran up to him and buried his little head in Lei Bo's lap. Lei Bo was stunned for several moments, frozen with the instrument in his hand, his eyes were wide before they softened and he chuckled, running a hand through Zhan Sheng's hair.

It was the most beautiful sound Zhan Sheng had ever heard.

Why do I feel like I'm walking on clouds whenever Lei Bo smiles at me?

Is it normal for a sword-fighting master to make my knees weak?

Wuuu! Things are even more confusing now!

"What brings you here, little one?" Lei Bo asked, his voice as soothing as a gentle breeze.

"I don't know," Zhan Sheng admitted, feeling a strange connection to the omega that he couldn't quite explain. "I just saw you sitting here, and I felt like I had to be near you."

Lei Bo's smile grew even warmer, and he wrapped an arm around Zhan Sheng's shoulders. "Oh? How come?"

Zhan Sheng blushed, feeling a sudden rush of embarrassment. "I can't sleep," he admitted. "I keep having these strange dreams, and I don't know what they mean."

Lei Bo nodded sympathetically. "I know how that feels."

Zhan Sheng's heart swelled with tender affection for the older omega, and he suddenly felt a strong desire to be closer to him. "Can I...can I sleep in your room tonight?" he asked hesitantly.

Lei Bo's brows climbed his forehead, but then he smiled and ruffled Zhan Sheng's hair. "Of course."

Zhan Sheng felt a surge of excitement and anticipation as he followed Lei Bo to his room. The older omega's presence was so comforting and reassuring that he felt like he could face anything with him by his side. Lei Bo's room was simple but elegant, with a low bed draped in soft silks and a few personal treasures arranged neatly on a wooden table.

The air was infused with the warm, comforting scent of sandalwood, mingled with the delicate aroma of jasmine and lotus blossoms. The room exuded a sense of peace and tranquility, and Zhan Sheng felt safe and at home nestled in the soft blankets beside Lei Bo. He put the instrument in a small cupboard near the bed, took off his outer robes, and settled into bed.

Zhan Sheng inched close, wrapping his arms around the omega, and snuggling deeply in his chest. He couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and gratitude for the older omega's kindness and generosity. He knew that this night would be one he would remember for years to come, a shining moment of tenderness and connection in a world that could often be harsh and unforgiving.

●

TWO YEARS HAD passed since the night Zhan Sheng had slept in Lei Bo's room. He was now eleven years old, taller, and stronger than before, but still filled with the same sense of wonder and awe for the older omega. He had grown used to seeing Lei Bo around the sect, always calm and composed, his serene presence a source of comfort and inspiration. Within that time, Zhan Sheng had reached the Core Formation, level five and he was close to a breakthrough in the Nascent Soul stage. Lei Bo had been a great help in his success and his training. To this day, Zhan Sheng found it puzzling that Lei Bo could teach cultivation, but could never surpass the Qi Condensation stage.

Today Zhan Sheng had been summoned to the throne room by his father, saying that he had some good news for him. But as Zhan Sheng entered the throne room to pay his respects to his father, he saw Lei Bo leaving. He was dressed in his traveling clothes, a pack slung over his shoulder, and he looked at Zhan Sheng with a distant, almost cold expression, before he walked out without a word.

Zhan Sheng felt a pang of confusion and hurt. Had he done something wrong? Why was Lei Bo leaving without saying a word to him?

"Lei-ge?"

Lei Bo ignored him and continued his long strides out the door. Zhan Sheng's brows pulled, and he stared after him with a strange foreboding sense clouding around him. Zhan Sheng saluted his father and waited to hear what he had to say.

The grand hall was filled with elaborate carvings, with a golden dragon at the center of the room, coiling around a jade pillar. Zhan Wei walked towards him from his seat on the throne, it was made of dark wood, with golden accents and cushions embroidered with phoenixes.

"You're here good," Zhan Wei smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "In ten years, there will be a competition between the four sects," Zhan Wei said. "The Heavenly Orchard sect is one of the most powerful sects in the country, and they have the backing of the Emperor himself. Their progeny is an omega named Zi Yin, but I advised you not to take them lightly. They're filled with white wolves, strong and swift. Next is the Snake Poison sect, which is filled with snake shifters and poisonous auras, making them formidable opponents. They'll most likely have Jia Zedong's main disciple, Shen Shi fight. They are cunning and swift, always be on your guard. The last is the Fearless Gang sect, which is filled with mountain lion shifters, known for their strength and agility. Their main disciple is Dong Hu, who won't go down without a fight. You'll need to train hard to beat them."

Zhan Sheng's heart began to race with excitement at the thought of competing against such strong opponents.

His first competition!

It was every cultivator's dream to participate in one of them and have his skills on full display for the first time. Zhan Sheng could barely contain his eagerness.

"It's a test of strength and skill, my son. Each sect will compete in a series of challenges that will test their abilities in combat, strategy, and knowledge of the elements," Zhan Wei answered.

"What do we have to do to win, father? How can I bring glory to our sect?" he asked, determination shining in his eyes.

Zhan Wei placed a hand on his son's shoulder, his voice filled with pride. "You have ten years to prepare, Shengzi. Train hard and master your abilities. Bring honor to our sect by coming out on top and proving that we are the strongest," he said.

Great. Amazing! Zhan Sheng was ready to begin. "Does Lei Bo know about it? I'll tell him right away!"

Zhan Wei's happiness dimmed. "Lei Bo is leaving on a mission," he explained. "He won't be back for a while."

Zhan Sheng's face froze and he thought he'd heard wrong. "W-what? Lei Bo is—"

"Going away. I'm afraid he won't be able to train you for the time being."

Zhan Sheng felt like he was underwater. Lei Bo? Leaving? It didn't make sense. His heart squeezed painfully as he tried to comprehend his father's words. He swallowed around the blockage in his throat. "W-where?"

Zhan Wei regarded him for a moment. "Business. Lei Bo is an essential piece to how the Burning Fire sect is as successful as it is today. But don't worry I've asked a fellow disciple Wei Shen who would be able to—Shengzi?"

Zhan Sheng fled the throne room, his heart beating out of his chest. He had to find Lei Bo before he left, he couldn't bear the thought of losing Lei Bo, not after all the comfort and guidance he had provided over the years. Zhan Sheng ran out of the throne room and into the treacherous snow outside. The world was a blur of white and gray as he stumbled through the snowdrifts, his tears freezing on his cheeks. He called out Lei Bo's name over and over, hoping against hope that the older omega would hear him and turn back. Just then he saw a black figure far away, his robes billowing in the wind.

Lei Bo stood tall in his black fur cape, his back turned against Zhan Sheng. The wind howls around him, whipping his cape and hair wildly. Snowflakes swirl, clinging to his dark clothing, as he gazed off into the storm.

"Don't go!" Zhan Sheng cried, running as fast as his feet can carry him. He slipped several times on the icy snow until he crashed onto the ground, scraping his knees. Zhan Sheng sat in a twisted heap on the snow, his tears hardening on his cheeks. "You promise!"

Lei Bo was like a statue, and then finally, his head turned slightly and Zhan Sheng could barely make out the stunning cinnabar near his trembling lashes.

"Don't follow." Then he walked away and soon he was swallowed up by the white fog. Zhan Sheng collapsed in the snow, his heart breaking into a million pieces. The world around him was bleak and barren, a frozen wasteland of pain and sorrow. It was as if the very air had turned to ice, suffocating him with its cold embrace. He felt lost and alone, adrift in a sea of uncertainty and despair.

He thought of Lei Bo's warm, comforting scent, and the memory only made his pain worse. It was like a cruel taunt, a reminder of everything he had lost. Zhan Sheng didn't know how long he lay there in the snow, his body numb and his heart heavy. Eventually, gentle arms wrapped around him, pulling him out of the snow. Zhan Wei took him inside and dried his tears using a small piece of cloth.

"It hurts for now, but it won't for long. You'll see him again. I promise."

Zhan Sheng felt like a shadow of his former self, lost in a world that had grown cold and dark. Why did it hurt so much? Lei Bo wasn't his family. Yet, Zhan Sheng didn't want to live without him.

The memory of Lei Bo's kind smile and gentle touch was a distant dream, a fleeting moment of warmth in a world that was now filled with ice and snow.