Golden Carp Tower was laden with gold.

Pan Wukun walked along with Meng Yao upon the many steps that led up to the tower.

Meng Yao looked around in awe.

Engraved on stone walls were stories of the many generations of the Jin clan. These were the incredible exploits of his ancestors. A legacy he would add to one day.

Up ahead, two LanlingJin cultivators stood guard at the base of the tower.

"Halt! What business do you have at Golden Carp Tower?"

Meng Yao bowed. "We are here to meet with Sect Leader Jin."

The guards, taking notice of Meng Yao and Pan Wukun's shabby clothing, snorted. "Oh really? Do you have an invitation?"

Without saying a word, Meng Yao pulled out the pearl.

The LanlingJin cultivators paused in astonishment.

"Is that-?"

"I think it is!"

The guards whispered to each other.

"Is it a good idea for us to just let one of 'them' in? Wouldn't Sect Leader Jin be furious?"

"Well, we should let Sect Leader Jin know at least! It's not our decision what to do with those who are 'his'!"

One of the guards waved Meng Yao forward. "Follow me."

As Pan Wukun walked after Meng Yao, the other Jin guard blocked her way. "Uh-uh-uh. You stay right here. We have to make sure you don't try to steal anything."

Pan Wukun frowned and looked over at Meng Yao.

Meng Yao smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Pan-shifu. I'll be fine."

Pan Wukun watched Meng Yao as he ascended the stairs.

The top of those stairs was so high up.

It was a long way down…

Jin Guangshan lounged back against his chair, lazily waving his fan as he looked over some paperwork.

Madam Jin was in the room as well, chatting with some of her servants. "A-Xuan is growing so fast, isn't he? Oh, he looked so handsome in his new robes! He's turning out to be quite the fine young man!"

Jin Guangshan swelled with pride. Of course, his son was handsome. He inherited his looks, after all.

"Sect Leader Jin." Jin Guangshan's attendant entered and bowed.

Jin Guangshan folded his fan closed. "Yes? What is it?"

The attendant silently pulled a pearl out of his robe sleeve.

That pearl.

At the sight of the pearl, Madam Jin's face contorted in fury.

Jin Guangshan chuckled nervously. "Now. Now. Nothing to worry about. I shall handle this."

"Sect Leader. A son of yours wishes to meet you," the attendant whispered.

"Son? What son? I have important matters to attend to and Zixuan's next night hunt is approaching soon. I can't afford any distractions. Forget it," Jin Guangshan hissed.

Jin Guangshan's eyes settled on the pearl. "Dispose of that," he growled.

The attendant hid the pearl away in his robe.

"The boy has also presented a gift to you." The attendant held an ornate box out to Jin Guangshan.

"A gift? What? I don't need this. If I wanted something, I could just buy it myself." Jin Guangshan waved his hand dismissively. "Throw it away."

The attendant tucked the box away under his arm.

"There was also someone else accompanying the boy."

Jin Guangshan's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"A cultivator, Sect Leader."

Jin Guangshan ground his teeth. "What sect does this cultivator hail from?"

What sort of cultivator was foolish enough to escort one of his illegitimate children directly to Golden Carp Tower?

Did this cultivator really think that was going to get him into his good graces? Did this cultivator want to fall out of favor with him that badly? - Honestly, how desperate can you get?

"He is a rogue cultivator, Sect Leader."

Jin Guangshan sniffed.

Of course, it was a rogue cultivator. Those wild types never were raised with good manners and proper conduct. Apparently, not with much intelligence either.

A cultivator who was not worth his time then.

"I will hear no more of this matter. Make the boy and the rogue cultivator leave at once. You're dismissed," Jin Guangshan said to the attendant.

Once the attendant was gone, Madam Jin stormed up to Jin Guangshan. "Jin Guangshan! You-!"

Oh, dear. Now he was going to have to mitigate tensions with his wife. Again.

How troublesome.

Meng Yao stood anxiously outside Jin Guangshan's chamber.

He tried putting his ear against the door to listen in on the attendant's conversation with his father, but he heard nothing.

Of course, the heavyset doors would be constructed with special reinforcements against potential eavesdroppers. Not to mention it was probably to block out the noises of his father's…frivolous activities.

The Jin guard had led Meng Yao to an attendant, who was in charge of managing Jin Guangshan's meetings.

"Can't I show him the pearl myself?" Meng Yao had asked.

The attendant scoffed. "Sect Leader Jin must approve of a meeting before speaking with anyone. Be patient and wait out here."

And so Meng Yao waited.

Finally, the attendant exited the chamber.

Upon seeing the gift box and the pearl still in the attendant's possession, Meng Yao's heart filled with dread.

The attendant approached Meng Yao with a bored expression. "Sect Leader Jin has better things to do than speak with the son of a whore."

Meng Yao launched himself forward, only for a pair of Jin guards to seize his arms. "But I'm his son! Doesn't he want to see me?!"

"Son? What son? The only son he has is Jin Zixuan." The attendant grinned maliciously.

The attendant adjusted the gift box in his arm. "I'll be keeping this." He rolled the pearl between his fingers. "And this as well. This precious jewel would be wasted in your sullied hands." The attendant made a mock bow. "Thank you for such generous gifts."

The attendant turned to walk away. "Feel free to have a little fun with him, men."

"No! Wait! Please!" Meng Yao pleaded.

A Jin guard planted his foot onto Meng Yao's chest. "So long, son of a prostitute!"

With a kick, Meng Yao went tumbling down the stairs.

Pan Wukun tapped her foot on the ground. She was getting antsy waiting for Meng Yao to return.

The Jin guard was quite bored. Pan Wukun hadn't made any sudden movements, providing him with no reason to apprehend her. Every insult he slung at her, she silently ignored.

Loud thuds came from the stairs.

Meng Yao rolled down the stairs, staining them with splotches of blood.

Pan Wukun rushed forward, catching Meng Yao in her arms.

She carefully looked over him, noticing that his forehead was bloodied.

In the original novel, Meng Yao traveled to Golden Carp Tower on Jin Zixuan's fifteenth birthday. After being kicked down the stairs, Original Meng Yao would've silently brushed himself off with a neutral face, picked up his pack, and left without a fuss. But this Meng Yao, a younger one fourteen years of age, whose mother was still alive, wracked with heavy sobs.

Just a young heartbroken child…

Pan Wukun placed a hand on Meng Yao's forehead, healing it with spiritual energy while supporting him on her shoulder.

"A reject. What a surprise," the Jin guard said, not so surprised.

Pan Wukun ignored the guard and kept walking with Meng Yao.

"Come on. Let's get out of here."

In the city just outside of Golden Carp Tower, Pan Wukun and Meng Yao rested upon a bench.

Meng Yao silently stared at the ground, his forehead wrapped in bandages and a blank expression on his face.

Pan Wukun tapped her fingers on her knees in discomfort.

What to do? What to do?

Wait!

Comfort food helped, right?

"There's a vendor who sells steamed buns around here. Do you want to eat some?" Pan Wukun cheerily pointed a thumb at the bun seller down the street.

"No," Meng Yao said, voice emotionless. "I just want to be with my mother."

Pan Wukun frowned. "I'll be right back."

Meng Yao didn't respond, continuing not to look at anything but the ground.

Pan Wukun returned with some freshly made steamed buns.

Meng Yao scowled. "I said I didn't want an-mmph!"

Pan Wukun shoved the steamed bun into Meng Yao's mouth. "We have a long journey ahead of us to return home to your mother. I don't want her killing me in my sleep if her son starves to death under my watch. Eat."

Meng Yao chewed slowly on the steamed bun, tears starting to well up in his eyes.

Pan Wukun sighed, patting Meng Yao's back in comfort.

Of course, things didn't go well.

This was all pointless.

In the end, she hadn't managed to change anything at all.

Meng Shi brushed her hair, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

She may not receive as many clients as she did in the past. But her beauty was still very much refined.

How was A-Yao, she constantly wondered over the past few weeks.

Was Meng Yao stationed at Golden Carp Tower after being accepted into the Jin clan?

He must've sent out a letter by now.

The letter was taking so long to arrive though.

Had-had A-Yao forgotten her?

Meng Shi shook her head.

No! How could she think that her own son would stoop so low! He would never!

Or perhaps Meng Yao and Pan Wukun were preyed upon by evil creatures…

No! She must have faith in them! They were both capable cultivators!

"Meng Shi! Meng Shi!" Someone knocked loudly on her door.

"Coming! Aiya! What's the hurry!" Meng Shi opened her door to see Sisi.

"They're back!" Sisi said.

Meng Shi ran out of her room.

She knew it!

She knew A-Yao would be back!

Surely her son must've returned in the splendid golden yellow peony robes of LanlingJin sect!

Meng Shi made her way to the staircase. Not being able to hold in her excitement any longer, she looked down the first floor to find her son.

Meng Yao's head was wrapped in bandages. His expression was sullen.

What? - Meng Shi felt complete and utter shock. Confusion. Disbelief. - No. No. This can't be.

Meng Shi rushed downstairs over to Meng Yao, brushing a hand over his head. "A-Yao! What happened!"

Meng Yao turned his head away, not saying a word.

Meng Shi hurriedly ushered Meng Yao into their bedroom.

She brushed her fingers through his hair, trying to console him.

"What happened, A-Yao?"

Meng Yao bit his lip.

"Did you give the pearl to your father? What did he say?"

"What does it matter, Mother?" Meng Yao said quietly.

Tears rapidly streamed down Meng Yao's cheeks. "He didn't even care to see me! No message! Nothing! Not even a single 'hello'!"

"A-Yao!"

"Father doesn't care about us at all!" Meng Yao clenched his fists on his knees. "He just had his subordinates take care of me! His attendant stole my gift for him and the pearl!" He placed a hand on his bandaged head. "Then his guards kicked me down the stairs!"

Meng Yao laid his head into Meng Shi's chest, bawling loudly.

Meng Shi cradled Meng Yao's head, her tender touch opposite to the rage boiling inside of her.

Curse you, Jin Guangshan! Curse you to the deepest depths of Diyu[1]!

"A-Yao, listen to me. Do not bother with Jin Guangshan any longer."

Meng Shi gently lifted Meng Yao's head away from her chest, held his cheeks in her hands, and looked deeply into his eyes.

"You don't need your bastard father's approval. A-Yao, just live and be happy for me…and for yourself."

Meng Yao's lip wobbled.

"Mother…"

Meng Shi's eyes glistened as she smiled softly at her precious son.

"A-Yao…"

Mother and son clung together, crying their hearts out.

With nothing else left, all they had was each other.

Pan Wukun stepped away from the wall.

She had listened in on everything Meng Shi and Meng Yao said to each other.

Meng Shi was already dead when Meng Yao went to Golden Carp Tower in the original story.

Did this change anything?

Were things for the better or for the worse?

What was going to happen now?

Did I do the right thing?

"Mother. I don't feel so tall anymore."

Instead of a tall cotton cap, a simple flat cotton cap now sat atop Meng Yao's head.

Meng Shi had cut and sewn the cap back together, adjusting its length and make.

Meng Shi patted Meng Yao's head. "It was always getting crooked and falling off anyway. The cap will fit better now."

Meng Yao embraced Meng Shi. "Thank you, Mother. I love it," he said softly.

"I am proud of you, A-Yao. Always have. Always will."

"Pan-xiushi. Will you please continue mentoring A-Yao?"

Meng Shi's eyes were bloodshot. Her clasped hands trembled violently.

"Please. I beg of you. Where else will A-Yao go? When I'm gone, who will A-Yao turn to?"

Meng Shi bowed on the ground. "Pan-xiushi, you are my last hope."

Pan Wukun watched as Meng Shi let out anguished cries, her teardrops splattering on the floor.

Meng Shi looked so broken.

How pitiful.

Sometimes Pan Wukun wondered if she'd gone in too deep.

None of this should've been any of her business.

So why?

Was she really going to deny a dying woman's request?

If she did, what would she be then?

Heartless.

Selfish.

Cruel.

Cowardly.

It wasn't how her parents raised her.

It wasn't what Pan Heng taught her.

It wasn't the kind of person she wanted to be.

Pan Wukun crouched down and grasped Meng Shi's hands in hers.

"I shall."

Glossary

[1] Diyu: The realm of the dead or "hell" in Chinese mythology

A/N: Meng Yao goes to Golden Carp Tower around a year earlier than in canon. (In canon, it was Jin Zixuan's 15th (16th, if you go by East Asian Age Reckoning) birthday.