Yin-Yang Chronicles; Taeyang’s Odyssey

Chapter 1.

Su Yan - Taeyang! Taeyang!

His heart leapt at the sound of her voice, then sank like a stone in the ocean. It wasn’t real, she wasn’t in the room with him.

Su Yan - Come on, why aren’t you answering me? Tell me, what are you doing?

His mind rejected the truth; so, it created a lie that made reality false. By all means necessary, he wanted to live in this falsehood. He sat with his back to the wall, his eyes watered and weak sobs escaped his trembling lips.

Taeyang - Su Yan, I’m crying because you are gone.

Biting hard on his lower lips, he hugged his knees tight and wept. Looking at the blurry figure, he wished he could go back and change things. However, he had no such power.

Su Yan - Do you believe in reincarnation?

Her voice came again, this time beside him. He turned and saw her by his side. Her crimson eyes stared back at him. Long black hair and that beautiful smile. She wore a green tunic like him, and a simple silver necklace endowed on her neck.

He blinked. The room disappeared and a small garden stretched out before him. The retiring sun made the garden breathtaking.

Su Yan - Stop staring like that.

She giggled and asked again. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”

Tears poured like a rain. This memory was till fresh. He took a breath and forced a smile.

Taeyang - No, I don’t believe in it.

Wiping his cheeks, he asked, “what about you?”

He knew exactly what she would say next, and his lips moved as she said it.

Su Yan - Same, but I hope it’s real, hehe. I want to see you again.

She got to her feet, took a few steps, then turned to him.

Su Yan - Promise me something, Taeyang.

She rose, stepped forward, then turned to face him.

He sighed deeply. “What’s that?”

Su Yan - Don’t follow me to the afterlife.

Taeyang - Hmph, why would I when you’re not that special?

He snorted and looked away, while she raised an eyebrow.

Su Yan - Promise me.

Taeyang - Fine (sigh) I won’t follow you… not until I kill that demon.

He clenched his jaw. The fire in his eyes could burn down a village. His hatred for the demon knew no bounds.

Su Yan - That’s not good enough. With your talent, you will reach that demon’s realm. You need to see the world, live your life and enjoy it.

She rejected the decision he had made. He was her only family longed for him to live for as long. Dissuasion wasn’t easy, so she gave him another option.

Su Yan - Until you find another reason to live, make this your reason to live. Kill all the demons in the world. Make sure no demon walks on this earth.

His eyes widened after he heard her. There was no way he could do that, for that was harder than finding a needle lost in haystacks.

Taeyang - That’s impossible.

Su Yan - Then don’t die until you make it possible. If you come to the afterlife, I will kick you right back.

He saw the seriousness in her eyes. She really didn’t want him to die. After all, who would want their family to? Her love for him had no limit.

Taeyang - As if you can, haha.

Su Yan - You! Tch… Promise me!

Taeyang - I promise, happy?

Su Yan - Hmph, yes.

She pouted, and he laughed at her. For a moment it felt like the world was okay again. Happy she was by his side. If only it could last…

Su Yan - Time to head back.

At her words, the sun faded away. Without it, the flowers withered away and floorboards took their place. The cold wall at his back reminded him, ‘you can’t stay in a memory forever.’ Su Yan was got and he was back in his little room… Alone.

A knock broke the silence, However, Taeyang didn’t move. He didn’t want to see anyone right now. With his hands, he wiped his face clean and breathed in and out. The knock came again.

Taeyang - Come in.

The worn out door creaked open and an old man with a scar on his chin walked in. His thick grey hair was well kept a contrast to his wrinkled face and a very pale skin. He looked like he had a foot in the grave, but the presence around him said otherwise.

Taeyang - Deacon Liu.

Taeyang jumped up, and bowed. Deacon Liu stared at him and forced a smile. To deacon Liu, who was a cultivator of a high level, the death of a very low level cultivator meant nothing. However, he felt her death could cause a hindrance to the talent he had found.

Deacon Liu - Have you finished mourning?

Taeyang - Yes, I have. Thank you for giving me the time to.

He bowed his head again, grateful for deacon Liu’s consideration. Unknown to him, deacon Liu cared little about his loss. He only allowed Taeyang to grieve properly in order to prevent a heart demon.

Deacon Liu - Alright, let’s go.

Taeyang - Understood.

Deacon Liu turned around and stepped out of the room. Taeyang exhaled before he followed him out. Deacon Liu’s presence had choked him; he had never felt this pressure from anyone else.

Waiting outside was a beast; four-legged, with spots of a leopard and a single curved horn on its forehead. Its golden eyes landed on Taeyang and he shivered. Though not their first time meeting, Taeyang felt frightened by it.

A growl escape its jaws. Slowly, it rose, towering over Taeyang. Rippled beneath the fur were strong muscles. Ancient rune-like patterns wraps around its neck like a collar.

Deacon Liu - Get on!

Taeyang obeyed deacon Liu, who had already climbed. He struggled for balance. When he settled, Deacon Liu tapped the beast’s side.

Like a bolt, it shot away. Taeyang jerked back; he almost fell off.

??? - Taeyang! Goodbye!

??? - You little brat you couldn’t even bid us farewell.

??? - Bye Taeyang, don’t forget us.

??? - When you become powerful, don’t forget our village.

A crowd of villagers waved Taeyang and cheered him on. He looked back, a look of disgust carved on his face. Eleven years ago, he was abandoned here and they refused to accept him in their village.

Taeyang - There’s nothing here for me.

They had once rejected him, for that he had no reason to return. He turned away.

Taeyang - I’ll rise, I’ll be the strongest and I’ll burn all demons in the world.

Deacon Liu smiled when he heard it. Taeyang’s words had proven his worries invalid; he wouldn’t give in to a heart demon. At least not without a fight.

*BOOM*

The eruption of an explosion too them by surprise. Dirt rose in the air. Taeyang’s body flew like a rag doll. The shockwave had sent them flying.

He slammed into ground, hard.

Blood poured from a deep wound on his forehead, blinding his vision. A terrible pain crept up his left arm into his shoulder. While his left side burned.

His ears rang. His head spun.

Through his blurry vision, he saw the beast rise with a roar, baring its fangs toward the smoke.

Deacon Liu - It seems we have company.

Deacon Liu stood tall beside the beast as he brushed dust off his garment. “They outnumber me.”

A sword appeared in his hand. Sturdy and sharp with a blue hilt, gleaming like lightning. Taeyang didn’t see him draw it.

“Come!” Deacon Liu’s cold voice quaked the earth. “Let me show you why I am a deacon of the Mystic Leopard Sect!”

The beast released an earthshaking roar almost immediately. As if synced, they stepped forward, ready to face the enemies in the smoke.