1 Death

There exist many theories on what happens after death. Is it heaven or hell? Are we reincarnated? Did any religions find the truth of life after death?

Li Zian always wondered about this matter. He enjoyed consuming literature and studying the different aspects of philosophy.

During his thirty years of life, he came to the firm belief that there was no life after death- your body failed to function, your mind went blank, and you drifted off into an infinite sleep.

Then you simply vanished from existence. Your body will remain, decaying, buried, or burnt to ashes, but you will be gone.

At least that's what he believed. Li Zian had been at a luxury restaurant with his girlfriend of fifteen years, Qian Ning, chatting happily. They had a private dining room to themselves, and it was just the two of them sitting opposite each other with their empty plates before them after a satisfying meal.

She was the person he held the closest bond with, and they loved each other deeply. They met at the age of fifteen, and since then they'd always been together.

Sure, they argued sometimes over silly situations, but in the end, they always made up, and their relationship continuously became stronger.

"We've been together for fifteen years, and we've discussed the future several times," Li Zian smiled.

Qian Ning nodded her head, and Li Zian continued.

"And you're just the perfect person. I don't believe I would be who I am without you in my life," he told her. He seemed nervous, and Qian Ning seemed to realise what was happening.

"You're the person who brings me the greatest joy in life, and I want to be together forever with you."

He stood up and withdrew a small box from his pocket. Qian Ning gasped, and her face became slightly red.

"Qian Ning, will you—"

BOOM!

The entire building shook and the floor beneath them collapsed. No… The entire building collapsed. He watched as Qian Ning dropped.

Li Zian's heart seemed to stop, and cold sweat soaked his body immediately.

"Why…." He fell, the walls around him and the ceiling above collapsing as well. The small box opened as the two of them fell, the ring flying out.

Qian Ning managed to catch it as they fell, and she smiled, sliding it onto her hand.

Hopelessness filled Li Zian, and Qian Ning felt the same.

They could hear screams and cries far below in the collapsing building, but they knew there was nothing they could do. They embraced their fate.

The two held each other close, and Qian Ning spoke soft words into his ear as they fell. "I hope we can be together in our next life."

Li Zian felt a sudden pressure in his heart. Death… This was how he died. This was death.

And soon he would find out what happened afterwards. Qian Ning's words echoed through his mind.

"If there's a next life, I'll be sure to find you. I won't let fate stop us from our happy ending next time," he told her with great determination.

Despite his firm beliefs, he hoped- no, he wished that there was another life after this. One where the two of them could reunite, and finally they could be truly happy together.

The debris all around them closed in, and Li Zian closed his eyes, holding Qian Ning's hand.

All noise vanished. The feeling of the wind against his face faded away, and his body stopped falling. Instead, he floated through a dark abyss, as if sinking through water.

He opened his eyes, finding the eery abyss. Darkness everywhere…

"So, this is death?" He asked aloud but got no response.

A warmth hugged his body, and his memories flashed through his mind.

Born to a poor family of six in Eastern China as the youngest child, he grew up in a society that was not perfect at all. He felt that the world he grew up in was not as it seemed.

He made friends, perused studying and sought for something that wasn't there.

He met Qian Ning at the age of fifteen, and at twenty he left with her to explore the world, taking a job in America. He saw the wider world and realised there was no true happiness- it was all cruel and cold.

The world was horrible, and Qian Ning was his only comfort. She was kind, understanding, but also strong and determined. She became a scientist for a drug research lab in America and helped save lives with her medical breakthroughs.

Li Zian worked as a prosecutor- locking away the guilty behind bars for the rest of their lives and helping bring justice to the ruthless world.

There were times when his life was hard, and when he just wanted to give up. But he persisted and got so far.

Only for it all to collapse, and now he was here.

"What a joke," He scoffed in the darkness. "That's life? A short lived, miserable existence. So what if I achieved some great things? That doesn't change anything."

He furrowed his brows and clenched his fist. He felt immense anger towards… Something. What was it he felt anger towards? Himself? The world? No… Fate.

"Qian Ning was the best thing that happened in my life, and now you've taken her away from me. She was just as miserable as I was, withering away in that old dump of a city, living a life of oppression and pain. And when we finally broke through that horrible life and achieved happiness at last, you took it all away. From both me and her."

The void was silent to his furious yelling, but he didn't care. He continued. "How many people have you taken happiness away from? How many people just wanted one thing in life, and had it torn away from them? If this is what life is supposed to be, then I don't want any part of it. There's no happy ending, because everything we do is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. We have no ability to forge our own life- things just happen, and we have to go along with them."

Cracks appeared in the void, and Li Zian continued. "I'm going to choose my own life next time. I'll fight back against fate and meet Qian Ning again. I'll do whatever it takes to meet the ending I want. So what if it's selfish? I'll do what it takes."

The cracks spread even further, and then the void shattered. Ripples of light spread across the darkness, transforming it into a white space.

A voice sounded in his mind.

"Foolish Child. The world is so much vaster than you can possibly imagine. Immortals rise every second, gods are born every day and millions die constantly. You grew up in the safety of your own world, but instead you want to break free and see the true world?"

Li Zian gulped and nodded. "I want to see the true world, no matter what it takes."

"I have no say in such matters, since your will broke fate. You must push forwards and march towards the true world."

"Yes… I'll march forwards and see the true world. I'll reunite with Qian Ning, and I won't let anything get in my way again."

"I like your attitude, child. But be warned, Fate is displeased with you. In return, you shall no longer exist inside the River of Destiny, and shall be a unique being."

The void went silent for a few moments, as strange ripples appeared before Li Zian. A spiralling portal filled with infinite cosmos appeared, pulling Li Zian towards it. He didn't resist.

"Good luck, Child. May we one day meet again."

Li Zian didn't understand much of what the strange being spoke about, but he knew one thing: from now on, he would lead a new life. What that life entailed; he didn't know. But he would do what he said… And nobody would stand in his way.