Raining Comets (Part 2)

Wei Zhan looked at Ning Yuan, as he rolled his eyes, his nose scrunched in disgust. There was no way to disguise his obvious annoyance and irritation, due to their current circumstances that landed them into an interesting situation. They'd been tasked with creating herbal medicine and using acupuncture needles to help perform life saving treatment on a group of strangers they randomly found at the base of Dafu Mountain.

Dafu Mountain was a heavenly place for those with seemingly god-like healing abilities. The mountain itself was built off the back of medical practitioners. In fact, the mountain was rumored to be the original birthplace of medicine and the introduction of non-invasive acupuncture.

The Heavenly Clinic was once a temple. And this unnamed temple once belonged to a monk, who specialized in creating medicine that specially dealt with life threatening injuries. And with his medical prowles, he created and refined thousands of medical antidotes for the strongest of unknown poisons. The temple was almost immediately repurposed into a clinic and became a safe haven for those who needed extensive and intensive care.

“Why did Elder Sister force us to take care of them? Wei Zhan spat in disdain. “We're junior cultivators not babysitters!”

“She chose us for this task. She trusts our abilities.” Ning Yuan answered as he walked with a box of acupuncture needles.

Although Wei Zhan had gone silent, the phrase, “I beg to differ.” was clearly written on his youthful face.

“Maybe… this is an opportunity for us to prove ourselves.” Ning Yuan continued, a small smile on his lips.

“And how is this supposed to be an opportunity for anything? I would rather be out hunting ghosts than playing doctor.”

“But if Clan Leader Xi approves our work ethic, we could be nominated to attend the National Guardian Academy next year.”

“W-Wait! Seriously?!” Wei Zhan asked in hurried shock. “I-Is Clan Leader Lan Xi really going to do that?!”

“Well–”

“Why didn't you say something sooner?!”

“This is why we must make a good impression of our talents this year.”

“I couldn't care less! This just gives me a chance to one-up Lan Yu!”

Ning Yuan gave a small smile as he started laughing politely at his close friend's determination.

The National Guardian Academy was a prestigious academy located within the heart of the Five Great Nations. The competition to land a secured spot as a possible candidate for the academy was rumored to be extremely tough. Those who were lucky enough to pass the entry exam were immediately put through various assignments, tireless training, and near death experiences to earn promotions and earn prestigious titles.

During the earliest settlements of the Nations, there were several members of each of the Five Prestigious Clans, who grew weary and tired with the current peace treaty. This specific peace treaty was to ensure safety and encourage positive reinforcements that would accommodate the years of discrimination in the Five Great Nations.

From the defectors of these lesser known and smaller clans, came together to form the Central Nation, Zhonghua. The Nation of Zhonghua was the smallest of the five and was the only certified Nation to combine the prosperity of the other four under peace and harmony.

Their motto: “To treat everyone equally, as equally as day and night.”

And to further capitalize on this motto and the name of their Nation being, "a central beauty", the original founder of Zhonghua, Lady Zhu, opened an academy for promising cultivators, exorcists, and the like. Through this academy, talented students would exercise their refined skills, strengthen their kinship through teamwork, and most importantly, offer the Five Great Nations a sense of security and safety.

Those who graduated from the academy were promoted to National Guardians. And being known and celebrated as a National Guardian was considered to be the highest honor a person could be given. Even the most privileged of sect leaders were forced to obey the commands of the National Guardians.

The two disciples walked on an elongated stone path that led to the Heavenly Clinic. The location of the clinic was located inside the Dafu Mountain. And even getting to the clinic, itself, involved traversing through a series of twisted, ominous passageways.

Scenic was the main aspect of the atmosphere. A waterfall could be seen directly behind the clinic, enveloping its white walls and black rooftops with mist. The building stretched along the picturesque landscape, while the medical herbal gardens added to the heavenly background. The entire scenery resembled that of a tranquil world from a Heavenly Realm. To the left, was a freshwater stream that flowed through the various passages and was filled with rich minerals. And to the right, was a series of wooden huts used by the staff and highly skilled medical personnel.

The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the hazy clouds of mist that drifted from the large hole in the mountainside. In such a place as tranquil as this, a heart would be calmed like water in a traditional Zen garden. Only the peaceful songs of the nightingales could be heard, their voices singing a melody that swept through the peacefulness of the clinic.

Walking into the clinic, Ning Yuan and Wei Zhan walked through the clean hallways. Their assigned patients were just at the end of the hall, isolated from any of the other patients. They opened the door to the jingshi room the patients had been given.

Inside the recovery room, a child stirred slowly. A young child. They appeared to just barely reach their adolescent years. The child's face was round and fair skinned, with plump cheeks tinted in a rose color. The sun’s warm rays lit their hair ablaze, a vibrant color of reddish brown standing out against the off-white pillow. Blinking away the sleep from their eyes, the child carefully sat up, wearing red and gold colored qixiong ruqun robes.

The sun is so warm.

This was the first thought the child had, as their amber eyes traced the outlines of the scenery.

Outside the clinic’s moon shaped window, the child took a look at their immediate surroundings. By the time the child had a relatively decent grip on their bearings, a quiet knock rapped on the wooden frame on the door. The child jumped out of fright but said nothing, as the door opened, revealing Ning Yuan and Wei Zhan who returned with supplies.

“You've woken up! What a relief.” Ning Yuan sighed, as he gave the child a faint smile.

“What.. happened?” the child asked, as they felt their head suddenly become fuzzy.

“Huh? You really don't know?” Wei Zhan sighed exasperatedly, as he crossed his arms on his chest. “You and your friends are lucky to even be alive.”

“You were running a terrible fever, which resulted in you dying twice during the night.” spoke a voice from a door that was suddenly opened.

Wei Zhan and Ning Yuan immediately went quiet, their breathing being the only thing to be heard. The child broke out into a cold sweat and was so scared that they couldn't say anything.

Frozen, the three of them stared at the woman standing in the threshold of the adjacent room. One would call her a maiden. A maiden with a cold and arrogant expression. Her skin was slightly tanned, a sweet caramel color. While her features were mature and soft, one couldn't bear to overlook the distant and exhausted appearance that flashed in her dark, ink-colored eyes. The robes she wore were plain, red wine colored that seemed to glow in the brightened room.

The four individuals stayed silent for a few short seconds. It took Ning Yuan’s proactive salute to the woman, to break the prolonged silence.

“Elder Sister Wu.” Ning Yuan spoke, giving his respect to the older woman. “We've returned with the supplies you have requested.”

“Put them on the table. The one with silver hair needs his bandages changed.” the woman spoke after a salute of her own.

The child only watched in silence, as the boys, named Ning Yuan and Wei Zhan, left the box on a small wooden table and departed from the recovery room. The child’s gaze then shifted to the woman named Wu. She crossed the room with sure, swift movements. Her long, black hair was neatly tied into a topknot, as she opened a drawer to remove a fresh cloth. Even under the child's petrified stare, they couldn't verbally describe how distinctive her beauty was.

Wu Qing could be considered one of the most famous and well-known doctors in the Northern Nation of Shenzou. Born to a relatively small clan of prosperous and well-off apothecaries, Wu Qing was the favorite daughter of the clan leader, Wu Shen. Unlike most young women, who were taught important household duties, Wen Qing entered an all-boys academy under the disguise named “Han Xing.” Excelling in advanced medical knowledge and liberal arts, Wu Qing left the comfort of the Wu Clan, to pursue a job as a traveling medic. And while her time as a traveling medic at the time was few and in-between, she was eventually sought after by her old mentor, Rou Han. Having such an extensive and impressive background, it was no wonder Wu Qing of the Wu Clan had garnered so much command and respect.

“If you have time to stare, you have the time to introduce yourself.” Wu Qing spoke suddenly, her back still turned to the child.

“My… My name is.. Kira.” the child answered, his voice shaking.

Wu Qing said nothing in return. Turning to face the child in front of her, for some reason, she couldn't express how intrigued she was by the person before her. When she first received word of three critically injured, albeit, rogue cultivators, she witnessed three comets free falling from the starry night sky. And despite her dealing with rogue cultivators of various kinds before, she never expected one of them to be a literal child. Yet, she pushed aside her concerns and made use of her medical knowledge to save them. While her medical assistants helped in the recovery efforts of the other two rogue cultivators, Wu Qing's full attention went towards the child, who was in the worst condition. Covered in lacerations and an extremely high fever, Wu Qing practically exhausted herself to save the child's life.

Not once but twice.

Kira had died. Twice. And seeing the child staring at her without any recollection of where he was or what he went through, made Wu Qing extremely confused yet intrigued, and very rightfully so. Yet, as she stared at the child, Wu Qing realized there was something within his eyes. Something she didn't understand. But it was something she trusted. Yet feared.

Kira’s expression was calm. Almost too calm, when she considered how much trauma he went through just to stay alive.

“Thank you for helping me!” Kira chirped with the purest amount of happiness.

Wu Qing didn't expect the child to react in such a way. Sadness, anger, shock, fear— the child held none of these emotions. Her heart skipped a beat suddenly.

Only a few hours had passed after their first initial meeting. Wu Qing stubbornly gave Kira permission to take a step outside of the clinic to get some fresh air. Kira didn't realize a Human of such unparalleled beauty like Wu Qing could ever exist. But judging from the words she spoke to him and how she carried herself with conviction and strength, Kira knew befriending a person like her was going to be difficult.

“Do you feel ok?” she asked Kira, her eyes shadowed with an expression he couldn't read.

“I feel great! Why?” Kira answered the question with an equally confusing question.

“Nothing. I was just checking. Go outside.”

I wonder what she meant. What was I supposed to feel ok? Kira wondered to himself.

As Kira looked around the surrounding property, he realized he had no idea where he was or how he got to the Heavenly Clinic in the first place.

Typically, cultivators that belonged to the cultivation world, would be given a jade token. These tokens were usually made of jade stones and would be used as gateway keys to enter and exit barriers around various provinces and sects. As long as cultivators kept these tokens with them, they'd be free to come and go as they please. This was to further ensure the safety and well being of the disciples that were selected to study under the tutelage of various sects. However, no such token could be found on the child's body.

“This place is beautiful!” the child exclaimed.

I just wish I knew where I was…

The child adventured some more and discovered a peaceful Zen garden behind the clinic. Stopping to take a rest, he reached a stream that ran straight through the garden. Because there weren't that many falling leaves on the banks of the stream, the child threw his hands into the water. The water was cool as it passed by Kira's dry lips, quenching his insatiable thirst. The child let out a sigh of satisfaction. It was then, he leaned over to see a distorted reflection on the water's surface.

And it was quite an unusual sight.

A youthful, doe-eyed boy with reddish brown hair appeared on the surface of the water. He looked small and innocent by nature, with a small button nose, soft brows, bright amber eyes, and small lips that gave a confused, yet curious, expression. Hair accessories that looked like golden hairpins, dangling beads, and tassels hung symmetrical in his hair. This added to his immense beauty.

That's… me? Kira gasped, as he blinked several times as he stared in confusion.

As he slowly lowered himself further in the water, his long eyelashes gently swept over his eyes. And the longer the child stared at his reflection, the more he started to suspect he was staring at a cute girl. His entire appearance created the illusion that he was an apsaras. It was something Kira didn't expect to find appealing, let alone fall in love with.

And after taking a few more curious looks at his face, Kira quickly cleaned his face and eyes. He couldn't believe what he just saw. He had to have been dreaming. Right?

Kira tried his best to recall the events the night before, but drew nothing but blanks. Despite all the confusion he was confronted with, he managed to almost immediately grow accustomed to his new look. As he patted his round cheeks, the boy began to laugh at his own silly behavior. The amount of enjoyment Kira expressed shined brighter than nine suns.

“I look so cute!" the boy chirped. “I can't wait to show Riku and Tazuna!”

“How do you know my name?”

Kira felt a strong presence behind him.