Return of the Mythic Bloodline

"What do you need to tell me that you sent Jambavan away?" Ume asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Aren't you a sharp lady?" I chuckled, grabbed her hand, and sat beneath the shadow of a tree with her.

"Ume, as you already know, I'm not from this world and was brought here by an accident," I began in a low voice. "From the moment I reached here, I was looking for a way to return to my family, whom I abruptly left behind."

"I'm aware of it, Raj," Ume replied. "You even had a dream about your mother a month ago because you were missing your family."

With a little hesitance in my voice, I revealed, "Well, Ume, I wasn't actually having a dream. It was the memory of my other body."

"Other body?" she asked, confused.

I began explaining the dreams I had been having since I reached here. I told her about my other body, which was the reason behind those dreams. I even told her the details about the dream I had of Maa.

"So, concluding from what your mother said, it has been five years in that world since your other body has been lying unconscious."

My eyes dropped to the ground as I replied, my voice laced with sadness, "I can't even begin to imagine the agony Maa has endured all these years, watching her son lie unconscious like a lifeless body. I-I hate myself for causing her so much pain—"

I was about to break down, but Ume immediately embraced me and said, gently brushing my head, "Dummy, it wasn't your fault but the decision of fate that led to these circumstances."

"B-but Ume, I'm a sinner… My Maa is suffering there, yet I dared to have second thoughts about returning…"

Ume's hand that was brushing my hair suddenly stopped.

"Wh-what do you mean?" she asked, stuttering.

"I have found a way to send my consciousness back to the body on Earth. However…"

Taking a brief pause, I declared, "There might be a possibility that I won't be able to come back here."

No response came from Ume. Her grip around me tightened, and after a whole minute of silence, she asked with shivering lips, "Is that why you asked me what I would do if you someday disappeared? So you have already made the decision to return to your world."

"Ume, I—"

"I don't blame you, Raj. If I could get a chance to meet my parents, I would have also done it without a second thought."

She slowly parted from me and asked in a low voice, "Just answer my two questions."

"What is it?"

"When are you leaving, and will you come back to me?"

"I will be leaving once we return to the castle," I replied. "As for your other question, you are the woman I decided to marry, so there's no way I will abandon you, my lady. Besides, I have a promise to keep to Nymeria. I will return within a year, even if I have to tear through the heavens."

"Then I shall wait for you here," Ume said with a smile on her face. Even though she was smiling, it was the saddest I had ever seen her.

After a moment, Jambavan returned without the squad.

"Ay gave a few days off to those kids," he said, quietly sitting at the centre of the array.

We teleported back to Forlorn City, where Vyaghra was looking over the prisoners of war in the underground village.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Did you also feel that strange heartbeat that shook the land and sky alike?" Vyaghra asked the moment we returned to the castle.

"Jambavan will explain to you the reason behind that phenomena," Ume stated, grabbed my hand, and took me inside her room.

"I shall protect your body here until you come back to me," she said, pushing me onto the bed.

"Do not create trouble there. Do not court wenches in my absence."

Her arms slowly wrapped around my chest as she continued, "Eat properly… take care of yourself… have a wonderful reunion with your family, and… and…"

Her voice began to crack, her face resting on my chest, her voice barely audible, "And… do not forget about me, or I might—"

"I love you, Ume."

Her breath hitched, and a quite silence filled the space between us.

"S-so you… sniff-sniff… finally said it," she murmured, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"You… you are… sob-sob… so cruel. Why did you only say it… sob-sob… just before you were about to leave when I waited every day to hear it from you?"

"I'm sorry for making you wait so long."

I embraced her in my arms and gently kissed the tears on both her cheeks before whispering, "Please don't cry, baby, or I won't be able to leave."

"Now you won't even allow me… hic… hic… to cry?"

In a low soothing voice, I began to sing, softly patting her head,

"O my love~ How do I stop myself from loving you? Your love is a strange, intoxicating spell~

Without you, even my heartbeat stumbles— even breathing starts to feel like hell~"

"Ahh—hnngh… sob… You expect me… sob… sob… to stop crying after hearing such sweet lines?"

A flood of tears began flowing from her eyes as soon as she heard my song of confession.

After continuously weeping for several minutes, she finally calmed down and readied herself to send me away.

"Go now," she murmured, parting from me.

Letting out a saddened sigh, I took the lotus position on the bed, closed my eyes, and murmured inwardly, "Vivi, synchronise my consciousness with the body on Earth."

"Initialising host's request…"

"Establishing the connection with body on Earth…"

After a couple of minutes…

"Connection stabilised!"

Ding…

"For the time your consciousness is transferred to another body, the change of cultivation method from battle mode to meditation mode is recommended.

Vivi could activate automatic cultivation in this body until you return.

Would you like to do it?

[Yes] [No]"

"Hmm, so basically this is a kind of AFK cultivation," I thought inwardly. "Well, it's better if the body can cultivate itself. Do it."

"The cultivation method is changed to meditation mode!

What would you like the automatic system to cultivate until you return?

a) Soul

b) Body

Note:

1. Soul cultivation includes increment in the depth of Soulforce, which requires constant consumption of Soul Stones.

2. Body cultivation includes manifestation of blood, bones, and flesh until they reach the maximum capacity according to the current limits of the host's body."

My Soulforce was already at the level of a High-Tier cultivator, so it wasn't beneficial to cultivate it further. Meanwhile, I needed to increase the manifestation of my blood, bones, and flesh, so I instantly selected the second option.

"Body cultivation is selected for automatic cultivation.

Should Vivi begin the transfer of the host's consciousness?

[Yes] [No]"

Gathering every bit of mental strength inside me, I ordered, "Do it."

"Beginning the transfer of host's consciousness…"

The sounds started to turn distant and the vision began distorting, but then Ume's face appeared before me at the last moment.

"I almost forgot to say it back."

She grabbed my cheeks, gently tapped her lips with mine, and murmured,

"I love you too, Raj."