A rooster’s crow pierced the newborn dawn as the door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit silhouette in the entrance. A sudden rush of anxiety gripped Yip Chor, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest.

"M-master Chor," a timid voice whispered from the doorway, halting Yip Chor's racing thoughts. It was Bingwen, the family's loyal servant, his thin form barely blocking the grey light of dawn filtering in through the cracked door.

"Bingwen," Yip managed to croak out, his voice as brittle as autumn leaves.

Bingwen stepped into the room, a lone candle in his hand casting long shadows that danced over the cold stone walls. The flickering light revealed the lines etched deep into his old face, the result of years of silent service and unwavering loyalty.

"Apologies for the early intrusion, Master Chor," Bingwen said, his voice trembling with an uncharacteristic urgency. "But it's time. You must prepare for your journey."

Yip Chor lay silent for a moment, staring at the slowly melting candle in Bingwen's hands. His journey. The words echoed in his mind, bringing with them a flood of emotions. Fear. Hope. Anticipation. This was the day he would depart from his familial home and journey towards his fate with Mei Lin. It was a path he had not chosen, but one he was bound to walk nonetheless.

Pushing aside his quilts, Yip Chor sat up, his bare feet touching the stone-cold floor. The chill served as a sobering reminder of the monumental day ahead. He looked at Bingwen, and nodded, signalling his readiness.

Bingwen, taking it as his cue, shuffled towards an intricately carved wardrobe nestled in a corner of the room. He fumbled with the latch for a moment before pulling out a set of robes, their fine silk shimmering in the candlelight. These were the robes Yip Chor was to wear on his journey.

Yip watched as Bingwen lay out the garments with meticulous precision. The sight of the silk robes sparked a mix of fear and determination within him. This was the beginning of his journey - a journey into the unknown, filled with uncertainty and trepidation. But it was also a journey that he must undertake.

As Bingwen left the room to allow Yip Chor to dress, Yip stared at the flickering candlelight reflecting off the silk robes. The day had finally come. There was no going back now.

Yip Chor took a deep, steadying breath, filling his lungs with the cold morning air. He reached out, his fingers brushing against the fine silk. The fabric was cool against his skin. For a moment, he let his thoughts wander, chasing the wild possibility that his fate may yet change.

There was another reason why the tremors of anxiety churned within him like a simmering cauldron, refusing to subside, sticking to his guts like hot candy. Today, his brothers and sister would return home after seven years apart, bringing stories of a land where cultivators numbered in the thousands. How proud he was of them!

Memories of his role as their caretaker during their formative years flooded his mind, evoking a bittersweet longing for the carefree days of youth when he was on the cusp of manhood, and his siblings were but bright-eyed little children.

"Big Brother, what lies beyond the stars?" Yip Lixin had once asked, his voice filled with innocent curiosity, as Yip Quinfan and Yip Jia eagerly listened by a tranquil pool of water outside their family estate.

"Well, Little Brother, gaze into this pool of water. What do you see?" Yip Chor responded, a twinkle in his eyes.

"I see my reflection!" Yip Lixin exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement.

"And what else do you see?" Yip Chor prompted, a mischievous smile gracing his lips.

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"I see... the stars!" Yip Quinfan interjected, his words completing his brother's train of thought.

"Yes, dear little brothers. The stars exist in the pond as a reflection," Yip Chor affirmed, his voice brimming with a storyteller's wisdom.

"But Lixin asked about what resides beyond the stars, Big Brother," Yip Jia chimed in softly, her large eyes fixed upon her older brother, her youthful curiosity seeking answers to the mysteries of the universe.

"What lives beneath the stars in the pond?" Yip Chor inquired, his voice filled with a smile.

"Fishes!... and Flood Dragons!" Lixin and Quinfan responded in unison, their voices echoing with boundless enthusiasm.

"Indeed! Fishes and Flood Dragons. If they reside beneath the stars in the pond, then it stands to reason that their twins exist above the stars in the heavens as well!" Yip Chor proclaimed, his words igniting the imagination of his younger siblings.

"Wow, Big Brother knows the grand dao and all the mysteries!" The three siblings widened their eyes in awe, their gazes fixed upon the night sky as if expecting to witness the wriggling of a celestial serpent.

"But Big Brother, what lies beyond the sky fishes and sky dragons?" Quinfan queried, his voice tinged with wonder.

"Hmm, you pose a profound question, young Quinfan. A question that speaks to the boundless nature of the cosmos," Yip Chor responded, puffing out his chest as if channelling the wisdom of ancient immortals. "What lies beneath the lake?"

"The lake floor!" the siblings chorused in unison.

"Well, if there is a floor to the lake, then it follows that there must also be a ceiling to the heavens. However, that ceiling is not the end, for just as there are creatures and oceans of water that dwell beneath the lake floor, there are vast oceans and environments beyond the celestial ceiling, waiting to be explored. Greater heavens, if you will," Yip Chor explained, his words carrying an air of profound discovery.

"Wow, Big Brother, how far does it go?" Jia inquired, her voice filled with a mix of awe and curiosity.

"It goes as far as your determination and curiosity are willing to take you," Yip Chor replied, his smile gentle and reassuring.

Yip Chor allowed a fleeting smile to grace his lips as he reminisced about the innocent exchanges with his siblings. The weight of tension, apprehension, and shame at the prospect of seeing them again lifted momentarily, replaced by a heartfelt longing for their presence. He missed them dearly, and he knew that would never change.

Yip Chor left his room and made his way to the house courtyard, where preparations were being made for their departure to the Lin family's grand summer house in the countryside. Traditionally, weddings took place in the groom's family estate, but in this case, as the Yip family belonged to the merchant class and the Lin family held aristocratic status in the surrounding area, the ceremony would be held amidst the splendid courtyards and vaulted ceilings of Lin's prestigious country abode.

As Yip Chor stood there, his gaze turned towards the door of the main house from which a large bearded figure approached—the patriarch of the family. His visage bore the weight of wisdom and expectations, and a stern expression adorned his face. Yip Chor could sense a mixture of concern and judgment emanating from the older man.

"Yip Chor, my eldest grandson," the patriarch began, his voice tinged with a blend of disappointment and disapproval. "You appear too thin, my boy. Your eyes are sagging. Your mortal youth is burning out, you are beginning to show the signs of age. You must paint your face to appear younger. Remember, you carry the weight of our family name. Do not disappoint us."

The words hung heavily in the air, forming an invisible barrier that threatened to dampen Yip Chor's spirits. His grandfather's gaze seemed to scrutinize every inch of him, magnifying his perceived flaws and imperfections. Yip Chor's father, approaching from behind, a stoic figure who seldom spoke, remained silent as usual, his presence casting an air of unyielding authority. However, it was his mother who stepped forward, her voice soft yet filled with encouraging warmth.

"Chor'er, today marks a new chapter in your life, and I do not doubt that you will embrace it with grace and sincerity. You are capable of great things, my son."

Yip Chor felt a glimmer of hope rekindling within him, his mother's words a soothing balm to his weary spirit. He nodded, finding solace in her unwavering support.

Just as the conversation reached a natural pause, a familiar figure peaked her head out from behind them all. Yip Chor's heart skipped a beat as he recognized his sisters cute face. She was taller than he remembered. More mature. But the same radiant smile adorned her face as she jumped out from behind the elders, her presence breathing warmth and familiarity into the air.

"There he is, big brother Chor'er, the groom-to-be!" his sister exclaimed, her voice infused with genuine delight. She walked forward confidently, enveloping him in a warm embrace that rekindled the sense of belonging he had longed for. Yip Chor felt his breath choke in his throat as his emotions sought to break free into tears. What he didn't expect was to feel something that felt like water dripping down his neck. Was his little sister crying?