An Utterly Ordinary, Bittersweet, Slightly Sweet Top’s Story

Sang Xia was a little black wildflower. He had no bright petals, no sweet fragrance, and he cultivated even more slowly than ordinary people.

His own kind disliked him, and humans did too.

Only Yufu, a Daoist who lived on a sacred mountain, with his white hair and gentle manner, praised him, saying, "Born with a natural grace."

From then on, Sang Xia was determined to become Yufu's little flower, though the Daoist only wanted him as a young disciple.

A hundred years on the sacred mountain, practicing every day without making any progress, the little flower demon's wicked intentions still refused to die.

Another spring came. With shining eyes, Sang Xia showed his master his flower and shyly said, "Master, I want to pollinate."

Every vein on the little flower demon's petals seemed to dance with delight, proclaiming his love.

The usually gentle Daoist fell silent, avoiding his gaze as he refused him. "Sang Sang, you should practice your cultivation."

Practicing cultivation was so, so hard.

One day, blood stained the sky above a bend in the spring. The flower demon, who feared pain most of all, trembled constantly. His petals fell all around him, each one torn apart.

Sang Xia's beautiful face was unusually pale. He murmured, trying to grasp at something. "Master, cultivation is so hard. I can't learn..."

The white-haired cultivator holding him was covered in blood. His lashes drooped, his voice trembled and rasped, and his face looked even paler than the flower demon's. He said softly, "Then don't learn. We won't learn anymore."

It seemed that dandelions were floating through the air, carrying the gentle sigh of a Daoist from many years ago.

"Sang Sang, grow up soon."

A short story, just a few chapters, complete. Updates whenever I feel like it.

Theme: Be strong and brave.