Xiao Xiao's funeral went off without a hitch but what concerned everyone was Ryuu's reaction, since his mother's death he has become completely silent, his looked dead, more importantly he behaved like a puppet if someone made him stand he would be standing while staring into space until someone made him sit, then he would just keep on sitting while staring into space with the blank look and it worried his masters greatly.
Veena frowned as she heard the news, "So he did not eat anything at all.", she replied as she bit her finger, "this is not good at all, even if cultivators can sustain without food and water for a very long time, I am more worried about his mentality, this is not good if we do not snap him out of his current mental state then it will greatly harm him."
Maheswara suddenly stood up as he went towards the door as he spoke without turning back, "Well I am off to have a rather enthusiastic walk with Ryuu."
Nuwa couldn't help but ask Maheswara out loud, "What do you mean by an 'Enthusiastic Walk'?", a question that was reverberated through the mind of every person present in the room except for Maheswara.
Maheswara just send a small smile at them, "Well it is a chat between men, do not concern with this things, do not worry he will be just fine.", as he teleported to where Ryuu was.
Maheswara
Frowned as he saw Ryuu curled up in a fetal position laying on his bed his dead eyes staring into space, he did not even show the slightest bit of emotion or any form of awareness as Maheswara went and stood in front of him.
He made Ryuu sit up straight but when he still made no reaction Maheswara spoke with a small frown, "Well kid you better grit your teeth."
With that he slapped Ryuu hard couple of times, and for the first time in a while Ryuu paid notice to anything other than staring into space, he raised his hands as he gently rubbed his now swollen red cheeks, it looked as if he had stuffed his cheeks with big lemons, and for the first time since his mother's death he spoke, "ouch mastah ith husts a loth", Maheswara snorted it seems that his slap made it harder for Ryuu to speak.
Maheswara commanded him in a serious manner, "You are coming with me.", as he placed a hand on Ryuu's shoulder as he teleported along with Ryuu.
Ryuu blinked as his vision cleared, he looked in amazement as he found himself inside a garden, it was so peaceful so serene in the middle of the garden was a small lake and in between which was a gazebo, no it looked more like a shrine dedicated to someone, made out of complete white marble like stone and white roof, incense were seen burning, as what seemed to be a tomb of shorts inside the gazebo.
Maheswara looked went towards the shore of the lake while holding Ryuu's hands when suddenly a small boat appeared in front of them out of thin air, he climbed the boat followed by Ryuu, as soon as they stepped in the boat moved in its own volition as it reached the gazebo Maheswara landed first before he helped Ryuu to land, as they went inside the gazebo.
As they went inside the space around the gazebo suddenly wrapped and they found themselves inside a huge gigantic hall way, as they strolled through the walkway Ryuu noticed various items being displayed on the wall encased in jars, some weapons some everyday materials, they ranged from things used by a child to that of adult. Some of them had interesting labels like 'First Weapon', so on and so forth, they stood in front of a door, which Maheswara opened by pushing it, as they came it Ryuu notice that he was inside a shrine of some sorts, Ryuu breathed in the smell of incense which calmed his mind down a lot as he saw a person sitting on a a meditative position with his eyes full of compassion and love, on closer inspection the person looked a lot like Maheswara himself, as such a question came into his mind who is this person.
Maheswara then spoke softly, "The statue belongs to my oldest child and my only son, Pangu."
Ryuu was startled at that as he looked with disbelieving eyes at the statue, which so life like that it seemed it would start moving any second now.
Maheswara did not pay attention to Ryuu as he continued speaking, "Eons ago when my child was alive, a great evil appeared, before its appearance there were a single plane of existence known as Pangaea, a great war ensued because of it countless strong cultivator fell during those time, so great was the war that the plane of existence fragmented into many smaller planes. The reason the great evil was defeated was because of my son used a 'Taboo Technique' to defeat it, my family and I watched helpless as my own son turned into ash in front of our very eyes we watched helplessly unable to do anything. But because of my son's sacrifice today gazillions of life forms exists, the guilt the helpless still gnaws at us everyday doesn't go past when I do not wonder was there something different that I could do to save him."
Ryuu watched as a lone tear formed in his teacher's eyes which he wipe away quickly, "You know Ryuu there is a saying, 'Teacher for a day, Father for a life', to us you are like our son Ryuu, all those years ago when you tried using that taboo technique I felt as if I was going to lose another child of mine."
Ryuu lowered his head feeling a little guilt and shame for his behavior all those years ago.
Maheswara took a deep breath as he threw a question towards Ryuu, "Child do you know when a person truly dies?"
Ryuu looked puzzled at that true death what does his master mean, isn't a person when he dies signifies his death, he shook his head negatively at Maheswara as he answered, "I do not know teacher."
Maheswara smiled kindly at him as he answered, "A person truly dies when no one remembers that person, Ryuu you are your mother's legacy the proof that a woman as awesome as her existed, I know you are hurting badly but think about the promise you made to your mother before her death, how you promised her to live your whole life happily, how to live without regrets."
Ryuu digested the words of his master as he realized he was doing exactly the opposite, he spoke almost as if a whisper, "Master does it get easy the pain and suffering."
Maheswara gave a sad smile as he spoke, "No it doesn't but if you suffer your mother's spirit would not be able to rest she will suffer deeply, let me tell you something Ryuu, in this entire universe there are only six others people who know the existence of this shrine and they are the only one who have permission to enter here beside me as they are my family, and now you are the eighth person to know about this shrines existence, I view you as my family child", he kneeled down beside Ryuu as he spoke, " so please let me shoulder your pain, my family and I may never take your mother's place in your heart neither do we wish to do such blasphemous action as taking her place, but we would feel honored if you allow us to be even a small part of your life."
Ryuu's eyes teared up hearing Maheswara's speech as he broke down crying for the first time since his mother's death as he was hugged by his teacher who consoled him, meanwhile a stray thought ran through his mind, 'No father should be cursed to carry his child's coffin, Pangu my son I failed you that day, but I promise I won't make the same mistake with your baby brother.'
What they did not notice a person hidden in darkness was watching the pair, its eyes had a mixture of concern and disapproval, and it suddenly vanished from that place as it deemed that it had learned enough about the situation.
Meanwhile back in Vance clan it was time for their clan gathering which is held every decade, various elders cousins and brothers all gathered this day, a day for huge celebration, the last time they gathered they discussed how to get rid of Ryuu in order to cleanse the clan from its corruption, as well as how to punish Xiao Xiao and Zhu Zhu for their transgression against the clans, after a decade their decision had changed as they now wanted to find them and ask for forgiveness although some begrudgingly, as they were jealous of Xiao Xiao's prowess.
Today was a normal joyous day among the clansman as they gathered for celebrations, as they seldom get to see most of the clansman outside such huge gathering.
Salazar was seating in the clan head's seat with his wife just beside him, he was very happy as he laughed loudly, his grandchildren had just drew for the first position for under Primal-Daoist cultivators competition, he was very happy his descendant's were strong, only to turn a bit somber at the thought of his youngest grandchild but he quickly took control of his emotions and hid it expertly.
Suddenly a servant ran into the hall with a fearful look in his face, Salazar knew the servant very well as he was the person who was in charge of cleaning the room where the lineage stone of the Vnace clan was kept.
Seeing his panicked expression Salazar felt a chill on his spine as his wife looked fearfully, "What has happened Golan, why are you panicking so much?", he asked the servant.
All the noise in the room died at his sight as everyone gave their undivided attention.
The servant bowed his head low enough that his forehead was touching the floor as he spoke out fearfully, "Your Lordship when I went to clean the Lineage Hall today."
Salazar spoke out impatiently, "Speak out already what happened."
The servant spoke out fearfully, "Your Lordship, Young Mistress Xiao Xiao's name has stopped glowing."
The implication of the statement hit them full force, Xiao Xiao daughter of Salazar and Beatrice was no more, hearing it Beatrice fainted and Salazar was so shocked he dropped his wine glass shattering on the cold marble floor, before he ran towards the Lineage Hall as if his life was depended on it, but he was greeted by the cold hard truth his daughter's name had stopped glowing signifying his death.
Meanwhile Ryuu's birth parents were shocked before their shock and sadness changed into concern and fear, 'If little sister/ sister-in-law is dead, then what of their baby boy', with that the joyous mood of Vance clan descended into grief and chaos.