'Blemish' originally refers to a spot on a jade . A tiny spot that causes the jade to lose its value .

It can also mean a flaw or defect .

It is a good derogatory term .  

But what happens when Blemish meets Time?

Will that blemish in time change everything?

"I'm only telling this secret to my grandson," Grandfather managed to croak out .

I sat helplessly by his hospital bed, rea.s.suring, "I'm here, Grandpa, I'm Luqiao . Tell me, I'm listening . "

"They . . . they must all leave . I'm only telling my grandson . Get out, all of you," he repeated insistently before his voice dissolved into coughs .

"Do you guys wanna go out for a bit, Dad?" I turned and asked my relatives .

"Let's go, everybody . Listen to your grandfather, Luqiao . " Dad sighed and exited with the rest .

Grandfather grabbed my hand tightly . "Luqiao, you're exactly like me when I was young . You're also the smartest and you will be more capable than your father . "

"Is this what you wanted to tell me?" I asked, not really understanding him .

"No, no . Do you know how old I am this year?" he asked before coughing again .

"Aren't you 63?"

"No, I'm 73 . If I tell you that I'm 73, would you think I'm very young?" he asked .

He wasn't making any sense, but I still nodded . In his current condition, I would do anything to prevent antagonizing him .

"There's a place in this world called Blemish of Time . It's a place G.o.d has mistakenly left . The people there have no concept of Time and they don't grow old . Only the richest bunch lives in that world . That blemish offers them immortality . I've had the honor of working for them for a decade, which is why I don't look as old as I really am," he explained .

"Are you sure you're not joking, Grandpa?" I asked, absolutely confused but stirred .

A place where people don't grow old?

Grandfather reached a wobbly hand into his pillow and took out an identification card .

I eyed that yellowing card . A young man of age 20 something . He looked somewhat like me, which made sense after I caught a glimpse of Grandfather's name on it . Although the card had already expired for a few decades, it was still proof of his real age . He really was 73 and he really did look much younger than his age .

"Now you understand . Remember to burn it . I'll tell you the location of this place and its secrets," he continued .

I hurriedly nodded and stashed his card in my pocket .

"Remember Bluewave City? The entrance to Blemish of Time is underneath that . I was recruited for a job in Bluewave City when I was 18 . I knew nothing at the start, but I eventually discovered that I was actually a porter for Blemish of Time . The job paid well but it also had many restrictions . The air in that place is poisonous, so you can't leave the moment you take a breath of it . "

"Poisonous? But you said they won't grow old?"

"You won't be able to leave once you breathe the air within . Leave and you'll die from asphyxiation . As such, I had to wear thick protective clothing and wear an oxygen mask when moving the guests' items . While bodies of the wealthy stop deteriorating, they'll still have to eat, s.h.i.+t, and sleep," he told me .

"Porter?"

"That's right . It was only later on that I realized how tiny the place is . About two square kilometers . The land is extremely costly in there and prices are calculated by per square meter . Those who can't afford it will be banished, and they die moments after leaving . But if you have the money, you'll live forever in there . "

"So you're saying that those who breathed the air within can live forever, but the moment they leave, they die? And you worked as a porter, wearing special clothing and masks, for ten years?" I clarified .

"See, I told you you're much smarter than your father . "

He coughed twice before he was able to cover his mouth with a tissue paper .

I saw blood spreading on the white sheet .

"I don't have much time left," he added .

I nodded, wanting him to rest but also developing a yearning for that place . I wanted to know everything about it .

"I wore a third generation suit, but because of a newly released fourth generation suit, the former became obsolete . The old one had a fatal flaw, it cannot guarantee a 100% seal from the outside air . It is the reason why I managed to maintain a youthful appearance despite wearing it for 10 years . They gave me a new ident.i.ty after dismissing me and that was when my lungs started giving me problems . Look at the blood here and you'll know . It's been slowly acc.u.mulated from years of breathing in poisonous air . "

I nodded . "Are you telling me all these to get me to work there? Why? For the high salary?"

"No . It's for the secret of Blemish of Time, of course . "

"What do you know about it?" I asked anxiously .

"I've been pondering over its secret for a few decades now . I remember every single detail of my experience there and I've finally realized what's unique in there," he answered between b.l.o.o.d.y coughs .

"I'm listening," I said urgently .

He raised his head slightly and continued, "There's a special type of gra.s.s in there . It looks good and it can't be found anywhere else . Its leaves are transparent and you can see their veins . I suspect that it has something . . . to do . . . with the se . . . secret . Over 60 years have pa.s.sed and I . . . I don't know how the suit . . . has evolved . . . It is risky but I hope to . . . gra.s.s . . . "

The blood had clogged his throat so much, his voice was becoming distorted .

"You want me to steal the gra.s.s and create a new Blemish of Time?" I asked .

Grandfather nodded, unable to talk . A few moments later, he stopped breathing .

After a long pause, I stood up and exited the ward .

"What did he say?" Father asked .

"He's gone . He said I'm smart, should work in the city, and not waste time in this small town," I lied smoothly .

"Did he really say that?" Father asked doubtfully .

I nodded . "Yeah, I've thought about it and I agree . "

Before Father could respond, I walked away .

A pile of ruins outside the village .

I lit a bonfire .

I gave Grandfather's old identification card a last look before tossing it into the flames .