Re-birth: The Beginning after the End

"Here, take these." Grandmaster Yu said as he reached into his sleeve, pulling out three jade tablets.

Two had the Beast Tamer Sect engraved and one had the Heavenly Smith Sect written in ancient characters, each tablet shimmering with power that seemed to ripple across their surfaces.

"With these tablets, you can enter directly as inner disciples," he said, his tone casual as though he hadn't just offered them a privilege that most cultivators spent years fighting to achieve.

The siblings exchanged startled glances. "How?" Li Wei asked, voicing their shared confusion.

Grandmaster Yu's eyes crinkled with amusement as he sipped his tea. "I'm quite familiar with the Sect Masters in this realm," he explained, his tone carrying a hint of understated pride. "We've known each other for... quite some time. When I mentioned my grandchildren would be seeking admission, they were quite interested in meeting you."

Li Hua held one of the tablets and smiled, "Thank you, Grandpa."

He reached over and patted her head, "Make me proud."

The siblings nodded as they tucked the tablets into their sleeves.

"I'm going to miss your meals." Grandmaster Yu whispered, "These past few months with the three of you have been wonderful."

Li Hua waved her hand, and suddenly the kitchen counters were laden with carefully prepared meals, snacks, and treats—enough to last for weeks. "Well then, I'm glad I prepared," she said, pleased to see her grandfather's eyes light up at the sight.

Li Wei and Li Hao stared at the abundance of food, recognizing their favorite dishes among the spread. Their sister had always taken care of them, and even now, preparing for their separate paths, she thought of their comfort.

"Sister, you..." Li Hao began, his eyes wide at the sight of his favorite spicy dishes waiting to be stored in his storage ring.

Li Wei touched one of the bamboo containers, knowing it would stay perfectly fresh once placed in his pocket space. This level of preparation showed that while his sister's cultivation had grown formidable, her heart remained unchanged.

Grandmaster Yu's eyes twinkled as he observed the careful arrangement of dishes.

"These containers here," Li Hua pointed to a stack of bamboo boxes, "have your favorite spicy braised pork, Li Hao. And these have the chili fish soup you always ask for seconds of." She moved to another section. "Li Wei, I've prepared extra portions of the slow-cooked beef with medicinal herbs, and those mushroom dumplings you love."

She gestured to various smaller containers. "There are sweet rice cakes, candied fruits, and those sesame balls you both fight over." A smile touched her lips as she remembered their childhood squabbles. "I made enough this time, so no arguing."

"And Grandpa," she turned to a special section, "these have your favorite winter melon soup, along with those bitter tea cookies you pretend not to like but always finish first."

Each container was carefully labeled, arranged in sets of thirty days' worth of meals. "The snacks are packed separately," she explained, "and there are extra portions of everything, just in case..."

The unspoken words hung in the air—just in case they couldn't see each other for a while, just in case the path ahead was harder than expected, just in case they needed a taste of home to remind them they weren't alone.

"And when we meet again," Li Hua added, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes, "I'll make spirit wine for us. I found an interesting recipe in..." she paused for a moment, almost mentioning the library before smoothly continuing, "...some old texts. It's supposed to be quite special."

Li Hao's eyes lit up at the mention of spirit wine, while Li Wei raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Even Grandmaster Yu looked interested, though he tried to hide it behind his tea cup.

"It will take some time to perfect," she continued, already thinking of the careful refinement process detailed in the ancient manual, "but it will be worth the wait. Something to look forward to when we reunite."

The promise of future gatherings made the impending separation feel less final.

"I'll make a visit again soon," Grandmaster Yu said, rising from his seat. His words carried both promise and reassurance—a bridge across the coming separation.

As the siblings cleaned up the breakfast dishes and stored away the prepared meals, anticipation began building for the journey ahead. They gathered their belongings, each lost in thoughts of what awaited them at their chosen sects.

In the front courtyard, morning light painted the stone paths in gentle hues. Grandmaster Yu stepped forward, his movements carrying the grace of countless centuries. He waved them over with a soft smile.

"In case you need to reach each other..." His fingers traced an intricate pattern in the air, wisps of essence forming complex characters. "This is the Distant Echo Sound Transmission technique. It will let you communicate across realms." He guided them through the hand seals, showing them how to direct their thoughts to a specific sibling by focusing on their unique essence signature. "When someone sends you a message, you'll feel a gentle resonance in your core—like a familiar bell chiming." He had them practice, each sibling sending simple greetings until they could recognize the distinct feel of each other's spiritual connection. "Stay in touch with each other," he added softly, his eyes holding a grandfather's concern beneath his usual composure.

Then he handed each sibling three talismans. "In case you need to reach me."

The siblings nodded, tucking these precious connections to their grandfather safely away.

With that done, he made a gesture that seemed to part the very air, summoning his spirit beast—a magnificent crane whose feathers shimmered with traces of energy.

"We'll head to the Heavenly Smith Sect first," he announced, helping them mount the majestic bird. The crane's presence alone spoke of their grandfather's standing; few cultivators could command such a noble spirit beast.

As the crane rose into the morning sky, the siblings couldn't help but gasp in wonder. This was their first time riding a spirit beast, and the experience was unlike anything they'd known before. Li Wei instinctively steadied himself with a thread of water essence, while Li Hao's eyes sparkled with childlike excitement. Even Li Hua, who had memories of soaring through clouds in planes and helicopters, found this entirely different—more alive, more connected to the very essence of flight. Her feet dangled at the crane's side as they cut through clouds that seemed close enough to touch.