11. Requiem of Life and Death I

"Mother, when are they going to come?"

"Patience, Hal. They are to arrive in a few moments. But are you sure you are okay? It is already getting cold; I can just call you when they arrive, you know?"

"No problem, I am already a Perfected-Core Formation cultivator, I can handle this much."

Arya directed a sweet gaze on Hal and ruffled his head affectionately to show her happiness, "If you say so my little prodigy...hehe." there were also hints of teasing.

Three years had passed, and it took Hal three years to reach Perfected-Core Formation Realm.

At least that's what others think.

In truth, he was already at half-step Heaven's Wheel Realm. However, he is trying to keep silence of it. In his upcoming birthday, he wishes to make a breakthrough in front of his parents to surprise them and show them his thanks.

'That should be my return gift to them.' Hal was pretty sure he would receive a lot of gifts, so this surprise is his gift of a sort. For his family to be happy and proud of him, that's his wish.

It was the 28th day of December, and it was still four days away before his birthday comes.

Right now, Hal stood outside the gates of the Estize Manor, and he could see the passing carriages being pulled by beasts and kids frolicking about around the snow. In his six years of being alive, he had never stepped out of the manor.

The reason why he didn't want to step out was simple – he wasn't ready yet.

'There are all kinds of dangers out there that might get me killed.' Such a simple line managed to encapsulate Hal's feelings towards the outside world.

He is in fear; the fear of death is ever-present in him, he does not wish to go back to the darkness, he wishes to bask in the light of day so why venture out to the world where you may end up killed?

He must prepare for when the time he goes to join an academy comes; no one will be able to threaten his life. When he turns nine, Hal would need to go out and seek an academy where he would be able to learn.

Self-enlightenment has its limitations.

Thirty minutes passed, and Hal finally caught a glimpse of the people they were waiting.

Two figures walked out from the crowds, two ladies wearing trousers and robes. Their feet encased in untainted white boots. They wore bamboo hats to conceal their faces, but Hal could tell who they were!

"Sisters!"

"Little Hal, you waited for us!?"

It was Darya and Alri coming back from their journeys on the outside world. The two moved to the little child that's now 1.17 meters tall. His body was lean, but as the two loving sisters came to embrace their brother, his skin felt smooth to the touch as it was back when he was as a baby.

Hal looked at his sisters affectionately and returned their embrace.

"Welcome back, sisters. It has been too long!"

"Haha, almost six five years? That's a long time, do not worry my brother. I have gathered a lot of treasure as a gift for your upcoming birthday." Darya bragged as she showed him a golden bracelet containing the fruits of her labor for the past six years that she was away.

Hal didn't care much about the treasures – but he won't turn them down as well, these treasures are gifts, and it will also help him in the future.

"Thank you, older sister Darya."

"This sister of yours also has gifts you know, and mine wouldn't lose out to Darya's," Alri argued.

"Of course, older sister Alri also gives the best gifts."

As Hal looked at his sisters, he had not seen for years and see that they were safe and sound made him happy. And because he cannot even feel their presence, he reckons that they have already reached a realm even Hal had yet to hear about.

He was excited about the possibility of learning new things his parents refuse to speak of.

While watching her daughters flock to Hal, Arya cleared her throat.

"Alri, Darya, you two seemed to have forgotten about this mother of yours."

"Of course not, mother…um, it is just that Hal is the leading man of this time as his day of birth is about to come. We are simply acting appropriately." Darya spoke with seriousness.

"Yes, yes, Darya's correct." Alri agreed whilst hugging Hal.

Arya gave up and shook her head at the sight of her daughters spoiling Hal so much as she too is guilty of acting in such a manner.

"Enough of that, welcome home, my lovely daughters."

She just embraced them as affectionately as she could, and the twins smiled as they said, "We're home."

Hal watched this and had a smile on his face.

He was enjoying life. This is a life that is filled with laughter and enjoyment; there are no hardships only troubles. Hal couldn't believe that this is now his life, and even though most of his maturity still remains, but he chooses to act like a child in the occasions he is together with any of his family.

'This is nice.'

He silently chortled. These past few years, he was not only making sure his cultivation improves as he was also doing his best to regain the better parts of his humanity.

The emotions that had been locked away is slowly showing as he was now smiling more than often.

Hal's maturity remains in this life, but he is putting the extra effort to make sure he is living his life as a kid. Childhood passes without anyone knowing it.

So, to incorporate his maturity with his wish to become childlike, his decisions coincide with the seriousness of a man who lived out thousands of deaths, and when he is together with his family, he acts like a child.

Some might see it as distasteful, but for Hal, he sees it as the right thing to do so one can enjoy living.

A life of being pampered and celebrated; this is his life now. He wishes for this life to never end, for his family to stay together, so he must grow stronger so he'll be able to protect them all.

"Come, little Hal, we shall tell you about our journeys and the Immortal Phoenix Sect we entered."

As his mind wandered, Darya and Alri held his hands as they entered the manor with smiles on their faces.

While they were entering, Arya looked towards the east.

"He's going to be late again."

As they entered the manor, Arya had to come back to her job, so she left Hal to spent his time together with Alri and Darya.

The twins told their stories as they spent their time together.

According to the two, they went far north to attend a sect named as the Immortal Phoenix Sect.

"We actually became an outer disciple four years ago, but it took us another four years to become Core Disciples and go out of the Sect without trouble. Hear this, there are millions of disciples in the Immortal Phoenix Sect, but there are only 47 Core disciples spread across the 29 Mountain Peaks. And from the millions of disciples who had been trying to become Core Disciples for years, these sisters of yours managed to do it in five!"

"Wow! Older sisters are amazing!"

"Aren't we?"

Darya puffed her chest up, and Alri who had Hal on her lap, ruffled her little brother's hair. Hal clapped his hands to show his amazement.

Despite their youthful appearances and their manner of speech and actions, these sisters of his were already 37 years old.

They are 21 years older than Hal, and as for the age of his parents, they were already in their hundreds. Hal just wasn't exactly sure what hundreds.

They could be around 300 years old or higher for all he cares, but he still didn't know. Hal wanted to know at one point, but Arya refused to tell him, saying it is wrong to ask such things.

And seeing her eyes at that time caused Hal to reevaluate if inquiring for the age of his mother is worth it. In the end, he couldn't learn Arya's true age.

The stories didn't end with the Immortal Phoenix Sect as his sisters had a bag of stories they wished to tell him like how they hunted for a Roc.

He listened attentively, and the Phoenix inside him was listening with interest as well. From time to time, it was even mumbling to itself, "Hehe, hunt the Rocs." Hal had learned something new about the Phoenix.

Before Hal could even notice it, four days had already passed, and it was already the night of the 31st.

The family was together for a rare family dinner. They sat around the table, conversing and laughing about certain topics Hal could not understand.

'I have been neglecting most of my studies. I need to also pour my efforts on the topography of the world, the economy, and other things.'

Hal had been learning a lot in this world, but after he became two years old, he stopped delving into anything other than martial arts and longevity.

'I'll begin a week after my birthday.'

He is in no rush, this life is moving quite favorably, and strength is still the key to survival so he won't take gaining strength out of the priority list, but he will also not put learning about other subjects in the backburner.

However, things are not so simple as it would seem. Because this world is still a world full of brutalities and danger, that seemed to have slipped Hal's mind as the doors of the dining hall burst open letting the cold wind of winter enter the well-lit hall.

BaM!

"Madam! Help! The Master and our brothers, they are in danger!"