Re-birth: The Beginning after the End - Chapter 126

Chapter 126: YOUR DEBT IS PAID

The path finally opened into a vast circular chamber where five figures waited – two middle-aged men and three middle-aged women, all carrying the dignified air of the realm’s keepers. Li Hua’s eyes scanned the room, searching for the ancient, white-bearded figure of Old Tang she remembered from her previous visit, but found no trace of him among the gathered keepers.

“Girl, are you looking for me?” A familiar voice called out, though its owner was barely recognizable. Where she had expected to find an elderly sage with storm-cloud beard and misty robes, there stood instead a handsome middle-aged man. His bearing was still as before, but gone was the ancient appearance he had shown during their first meeting. Only his eyes remained distinctive – though now instead of being pools of pure light, they sparkled with knowing humor at her obvious surprise.

The contrast was so stark that Li Hua couldn’t help but stare.

He laughed softly, a gentle warmth in his gesture as he reached out to pat her head. “It’s good to see you’ve managed to save both of your beloved brothers.”

She closed her mouth, not realizing it had been hanging open, and blushed slightly. She straightened up and bowed deep, her voice carrying genuine gratitude, “Thank you for your help.”

“It’s not a problem,” he waved his hand dismissively. “My, how you’ve changed since we last met.” His eyes, though no longer pools of pure light, still held that same penetrating wisdom as they assessed her transformation. Where once stood a determined young girl now stood a striking woman of exceptional beauty and strength. “You’ve grown stronger in every way.”

She nodded, her gaze shifting to her brothers as she spoke with unmistakable pride, “We did it together.”

“Excellent!” His voice echoed through the chamber, filled with sincere delight..

“Old Tang, about your price—” Li Hua began, remembering the weight of debt she had carried since their last meeting.

But before she could continue, Old Tang raised a hand, cutting her off with a gentle finality. “Already paid.”

Li Hua blinked, her brow furrowing as she tilted her head, the flicker of confusion spreading across her face. “Paid?” she asked, her voice soft but edged with curiosity. “How?”

“Lord Mo was thoughtful enough to share a few manuals he had uncovered,” Old Tang remarked casually. The mention of Mo Xing’s name made her heart falter for a moment.

A mix of gratitude and guilt flickered across her face like fleeting shadows. Mo Xing had already done so much for her—teaching her the thousand veil technique, risking his own safety to help rescue her brothers, and now this? The enormity of his generosity weighed heavily on her. She shook her head slightly, murmuring, “But I already owe him too much. The debt was mine to—”

Old Tang’s knowing smile stopped her protest. “Child, some debts aren’t meant to be calculated so precisely. Besides,” his eyes twinkled with amusement, “those manuals were worth far more than any price I might have asked of you.”

Li Hua hesitated, her lips pressed into a thin line. Though Old Tang’s words offered some reassurance, she still felt uneasy about the growing debt she believed she owed to Mo Xing. After a moment, she sighed and nodded, her resolve softening. “Then I will thank him when I see him again,” she said quietly, the determination in her voice masking her lingering unease.

Old Tang nodded, though the glimmer in his eyes suggested he knew more than he was saying.

The other keepers had gathered closer now, their attention focused particularly on Li Hua’s eyes – the same phenomenon that had caught Old Xiao’s attention earlier. Even in this realm of impossibilities, it seemed her eyes held something remarkable enough to draw the interest of these immortal cultivators.

“Shall we begin?” Old Tang asked, gesturing toward a circular arrangement of seats that seemed to materialize from the grey mist itself. His voice carried the same authority she remembered from their first meeting, though now it came from a much younger face. “We have much to discuss, and even in a realm where time bends to our will, some matters cannot wait.”

Old Tang moved to take his place among the gathered keepers, settling into his seat as he turned his attention to Grandmaster Yu.

The siblings stood before the assembled council, their training evident in how they maintained perfect posture despite the weight of so many powerful gazes.

“It’s been a while, keepers,” Grandmaster Yu began, his voice steady and filled with quiet respect. He bowed slightly, and the assembled keepers responded in kind, their movements dignified and solemn. The air between them carried an unspoken camaraderie, a bond forged through years of shared responsibility.

He gestured toward the siblings. “These children are Li Ming and Yu Ling’s children.” At their parents’ names, the keepers’ postures shifted subtly—a deep respect evident in how they straightened. One of the women bowed her head, while another pressed her hand to her heart in reverence.

“As you’ve probably heard, their parents have been brought back to the celestial plains.” His words carried a weight that made Li Hua’s throat tighten. The keepers’ collective presence seemed to soften, their empathy tangible in the room. It was a display of shared grief and respect that nearly overwhelmed her. She fought to keep her emotions in check, refusing to let tears spill.

“The siblings have inherited the dragon bloodline from their father,” Grandmaster Yu continued, his voice firm yet compassionate. “But with that inheritance comes danger. They’ll need guidance to conceal their cores from those who would seek to exploit them.” His words hung in the air, heavy with both the promise of protection and the burden of responsibility.

The keepers exchanged glances, silent but understanding. Each of them knew the gravity of what was being asked.

“So I ask you today,” Grandmaster Yu said, his voice resolute, “to help these children as you once did for their parents. To ensure that their gifts do not become their curse.”

For a moment, the room fell silent, the weight of his words settling over the keepers like a shroud. Then, one by one, they nodded, their quiet agreement a testament to their shared commitment.