A Promise in the Rain

Thunder rumbled across the sky above a secluded bamboo hut nestled in the mountain peaks of the Mortal Realm. The storm, born of the Dragon of Air's wrath, had shaken the heavens. The Mortal Realm, which had long suffered under a relentless drought, now found its reprieve in the thundering skies above.

The first raindrops began to fall, releasing the burden the heavens had carried for so long. It started as a pitter-patter, growing into a steady rhythm, the rain washing over the earth with a force that spoke of nature's raw power. The storm was violent, but it was exactly what the Mortal Realm needed. Every drop of rain was like a breath of life, the dry earth eagerly drinking it in.

Ling Yue stood by the window, arms crossed, chewing on a strand of wheat, her gaze lifted toward the heavens in awe. The air hummed with the electric charge of the storm. She recognised Long Fei's maelstrom. He must have struck at Zhen Hua and Long Yan with righteous anger while blessing the whole world. And with it, she knew. He had returned.

Her heart, once heavy, now danced in joyous anticipation. She kicked open the door and dashed outside, arms lifted toward the sky as rain poured down. Water splashed across her azure skin, her wild silver-blue hair whipping in the wind as she pirouetted beneath the heavens.

The time of grief had passed. The world felt renewed. She felt renewed.

Her master had finally awakened, and even the earth rejoiced at the return of the Dragon of Air. Rain filled every cracked stone, every withered plant, every parched throat.

"He's back," she muttered, her smile brighter than the flashes of lightning that lit the sky. Her laughter resounded like the peal of a bell. She glanced over at Shui Yi, searching her face for any sign of understanding. But the mermaid leaned against the doorway, brows furrowed. For now, the secret was Ling Yue's alone.

An overwhelming sense of peace settled in her chest, but it was not just the rain. This moment was more than a fleeting joy: it was an announcement from her master, a reminder that her task in the Mortal Realm had officially begun.

She would spend the next eighteen years protecting and training the mermaid princess, preparing her for the trials ahead. Long Fei had given them so much—he should be proud of them when they reunite. He would keep his promise and find her.

***

The rain was relentless, quenching the long-held thirst of the barren land. From the doorway, Shui Yi stood in silence, watching the guardian revel in it. A surprising joy wove through the air, stirring a deeper emotion within the mermaid. The rain reminded her so much of Long Fei. His absence lingered like a soft, unspoken ache pulling at her heartstrings. She closed her eyes, letting the rain soak her skin. Even though he was no longer by her side, the rain reminded her of his silent presence, like a whisper in the wind.

As Ling Yue danced to the rhythm of the rain, the mermaid knelt. Her fingers brushed the wet soil, and as she began to hum, specks of shimmering stardust rose. Then she started to sing, and magic poured forth from her voice.

Wisteria vines began to emerge from the ground, twisting and curling around the bamboo walls of their humble hut. At first, the growth was slow, but soon the vines surged with life, unfurling delicate, cascading clusters of violet flowers streaming down like tears. Each petal bloomed in time with the guardian's movements, spraying its fragrance over the smell of rain-soaked earth. Their hut stood taller as though saluting to the heavens.

Shui Yi continued her ballad, full of yearning. The memory of the tender moments she had shared with Long Fei overwhelmed her; the way his presence had always calmed her, the way he had held her close when fear gripped her. Even though she didn't know he was returning, the rain held a magnetic pull that stirred her soul. It was as if the storm were his spirit, leaving its mark on her heart, and in the rain, she sang, her voice filled with longing.

Their hut breathed like a living being, animated by the magic of her melody. The longing in her heart poured out through her song, her voice melted into the rain. Wherever her voice reached, grass sprouted.

The wisteria listened to her ballad, its vines curling tighter around the bamboo stalks. Its flowers bloomed brighter, swaying as if moved by the melody, while the bamboo leaves bobbed gently in harmony.

Her yearning manifested throughout the earth. The once-dried-up mountain peak flourished, adorned in lush green foliage that tumbled all the way to the base.

As Shui Yi's ballad faded into the wind, the wisteria bloomed to its fullest, and the bamboo stood tall and proud, its leaves fluttering gently in the breeze. The hut, once dilapidated, was now a sanctuary of life and longing, a place where both nature and heart could be at peace.

The rain ceased, and the skies cleared to reveal a warm sun. Ling Yue turned to Shui Yi, her silver-blue hair clinging to her face. Sunlight gleamed on her gentle smile as a quiet understanding passed between them. "Everything is going to be all right."

The full meaning of those words still eluded Shui Yi. For now, the magic of the moment was enough. The sanctuary echoed their hearts—alive with quiet yearning and anticipation.

Then Ling Yue took off her mystical satchel, laid it on the ground, and rummaged through it. Pulling out boulders, logs, and ropes, she rebuilt the obstacle course that Long Fei had trained Shui Yi with. The guardian brushed her hands off and said, "This is for your daily warm-up."

The mermaid groaned, rubbing her temples. "I thought we were basking in serenity."

"Yes, it was cathartic, but I can't let you slack off."