Growing Together with My Daughter

My name is Jiang Xiuyuan. Once, I was a palace guard at Xianyang, my sword wielded only for His Majesty. But now, I am nothing more than a commonplace escort in Lord Xu Fu’s fleet, adrift upon the boundless Eastern Sea. My entire world these days revolves around my nine-year-old daughter, Jiang Yiyi.

Life at sea is as monotonous as a song with no end. The salty wind scours my skin day after day, leaving it as rough as the old ropes on our ship. But whenever I see Yiyi, peace returns to my heart. Like the other children, she wears the same plain linen clothing, but her eyes are as clear as the mountain stream behind our home, always reflecting my solitary image amid this endless blue.

“Papa,” she tugged at my sleeve, her voice carried away by the wind, “is the Immortal Mountain of Penglai really so wonderful? Is it better than the pomegranate tree in our backyard?”

I knelt down, brushing the wind-swept hair from her brow with my callused palm, forcing a smile. “Of course. Lord Xu Fu says that there, spring lasts all year, there’s no labor or war, and immortals will give us elixirs that keep us young forever. Then, Yiyi, you’ll never fall ill again, and I can always stay with you.”

“Always…” She repeated softly, wonder shining in her wide eyes. I knew she might not understand what it means to be immortal, but she understood the promise of never being apart. Since her mother’s passing, that has been our most extravagant wish.

“Brother Jiang, telling stories to your little one again?” A raspy voice called out. It was Old Zhao, a seasoned sailor