Chapter 3: Grandma Meng
"These flowers ... ". Xinyu stated perplexed. "They are blooming for you Jiejie. It's been such a long time since you have been visiting them." While saying so, Ah-Huang took her hand and dragged her inside the archway quickly. "The ones inside must be anticipating you too."
Walking through the archway, the garden scenery gradually turned into a cave. Lit by fireflies and moonflowers, the space turned magical. "Seeing how the flowers are blooming so, Yu'er must have come." A soothing voice sounded in a path at the front. Looking towards the voice, an old lady walked into her view. She didn't need to confirm it as Ah-Huang ran over to the old lady, clinging to her cutely. "Nainai! We have come to visit you. This time, Ah-Huang has come to. Finally, Jiejie let me come this time. It is so nice here, Nainai. Yet you never let Ah-Huang come to visit."
Laughing heartily at the remark, she nudged his head gently and scolded: "You little ... only know to complain. Is the Netherworld a place to play at?" While the two were talking together, Xiaoyu didn't know how to interfere, maybe she shouldn't. Following the old lady and the little bun, she found herself in a tea-room with furniture carved out of stones, giving the room a cold feeling. Sitting down by the table, she saw Ah-Huang gobble down the cookies happily. She herself nibbled on the tea which had a soothing scent.
"It has been a long time, this old lady hope our Yu'er has been well." The old lady said, looking at her. "Yes, that's true" Xiaoyu replied slowly, forcing a shy smile. "Yes, yes, jiejie slept for so looong this time." The little bun chimed in. All the plates with snacks by his side were emptied and he laid down comfortably in his seat, rubbing his tummy satisfied. After a few idle questions from the old lady, she could hear the little bun breathing calmly in his sleep. He was so carefree, but she had yet to know how to enquire about her problems.
"You seem to be troubled by your memories and I may be able to help". The old lady said suddenly. Xiaoyu was a bit taken aback by her words, wondering if she read her mind. It looked like she was seen through already too. Maybe the Nainai knew this body so well that her antics revealed it. The old lady then stood up and said: "Follow me then. Though I myself don't know all the workings of the universe, I have known you for a while, I'll try to bring back some memories."
Xiaoyu stood up to follow her but suddenly stopped as she remembered the little bun. The old lady read her mind again. "No need to worry about Ah-Huang, the little one will find the way out himself, he probably knows the way better than you." She said. Thinking it is indeed true and a little embarrassed, she followed hurriedly.
"The universe works in the most wondrous ways, leading us to unfathomable paths. Yet it is all just paths, and what paths you choose to follow is entirely up to you. You must be wondering why you are here and where this is. You may even feel that this body doesn't belong to you. But if you believe me, this is your body. But who you are, only you has the answer. And maybe you already have the answer." The old lady spoke as she led Xiaoyu through long corridors. The corridors were covered with different herbs hanging down drying, giving off a rare homely feel. She talked slowly as she walked, telling Xiaoyu about the place she woke up to and her role in this place.
The world as we know it started with a tribulation, splitting The Three Realms. Still consisting of Heavenly Realm, The Mortal World and Netherworld, yet the mortal world is in the mortals own hands. To do what they want, and suffering from the consequences of their own actions, unfair or not. The Heavenly realm is kept to themselves, living in their own world. The last realm, the Netherworld, is unchanged, continued to guide the souls of the deceased towards paths of reincarnation. One of the connection points between the Heavenly Realm and the Netherworld was the Garden of life, which was the place Xiao woke up at.
Grandma Meng, as she introduced herself was a goddess of the Netherworld. Her duty was to send souls into reincarnation and served soup at the Bridge of Forgetfulness, which was where they were at now. And Xiaoyu, she was a hydrangea gained insight, a flower demon with thousand of years of cultivation. Hydrangeas rarely bloomed in the Netherworld where the sun doesn't reach, but Xiaoyu was a rare exception, not only managed to survive here but also cultivated enough to gain a physical human form. As one of the few spirits growing up in this place, she grew up close to Grandma Meng, who treated her as her child. After she gained a human form, Grandma Meng let her lived in the tree hut in the Garden of Life, where she acquainted Ah-Huang.
Looking at the Bridge of Forgetfulness ahead, Xiaoyu was told her sprout sprung up at the very foot of this bridge. There was a mist surrounding the other side of the bridge, it seemed like you could see through it, yet the more one looked, the less one saw. Yet flowers were able to sprout here, it is indeed curious. Xiaoyu felt herself walking closer to the bridge for a closer view, but the view was soon covered by a broad chest.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
nnabi
nnabi There you go, the chapter of the year!!
Just kidding, I'll try adding one more chapter for this year, hopefully. I'm a hopeless case of laziness.
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