The Way Is Water

When he was seven, Zhan Yi was found to have a mortal root. Then immortals battled, slaughtering everyone in his village.

An old man in gray robes said, "The Dao is water."

He didn't understand. He only remembered his parents lying in a pool of blood, and the fire in his heart that refused to go out.

As he tempered his body deep in the mountains, he came across an injured white fox.

The little thing brushed his cheek with its tail and nudged a Red Spirit Fruit toward him. He couldn't speak, and neither could it, but it stayed by his side through every night he could never have endured alone.

Until two ancient monsters appeared, intent on taking his innate Dao Embryo.

The white fox burned up all nine of its tails to keep him alive.

For the first time, it spoke, its voice as soft as a mountain spring: "Master, I've kept that gate open for you... Come find me when you're ready."

From then on, a gate appeared deep within Zhan Yi's dantian.

Someone was waiting for him inside.

Outside the gate, he began learning to walk the path that would bring her back.

He entered the immortal sects, learned blacksmithing and alchemy, made friends, and wiped away blood and tears again and again in the Mortal Realm...

He moved slowly, but never stopped.

Because he remembered their promise:

"Once you arrive, it won't be long."

This is the story of a boy who became someone's place to come home to.

A promise that crossed the line between life and death, and a group of people who put down roots as they waited.

The Dao is water. Home is where you belong.