Work Text:
Sometimes she would sleep and would dream about what happened that day.
Dreams that her mind wishes that she can change.
They can have a happy ending.
They can have a happy life.
They can lives.
Yet fate was cruel to all of them.
Waking up after a long, restless night, Catty found herself sitting on the floor and looking out for the moon again. It was another full moon, another day pass, and guilty and grief still haunted this mortal body. Tears once falling now has stained on her cheeks, red puffy eyes as she wonders how are they doing now? How long has it been since that days? Right, decades, it's been decades now.
Catty glances over the picture frames on her wall, remember those eyes bright like the sun, warm smiles with hands holding her closely, as she would smell those old cheap perfumes, remind her of a place that she once called home. And she would remember those times with that child and her fiance as they would be laughing at her right now, calling her a softie, Kind-hearted. Catty didn't realize she was crying until she hears herself sobbing shakily, slowly turned into a loud wail as everything was too much to bear again. She would cry, scream, punch a wall until her knuckles are bleeding and her throat is raspy because of all the screaming and wailing.
Soon everything has gone silent once again, along with her whimpers. For a while, Catty enjoys this silence before a ringing tone beside the ears, knowing that only one person would call her in this kind of hour. Ignores the messiness on her knuckles and answer the call right away, Adur's smiling face was on the screen again.
"Well, I was going to be sorry for bothering your sleep, but it looks like you're awake already."
Adur chuckles as he seems to figures out what happened, based on her bloody knuckles and puffy eyes, before sending her a mission scroll again. Small mission in this night, it seems. For once, she accepted it without making any sarcasm to say in her voice, knowing that he would threaten her anyway. Seeing how she obeys that quickly, he smiles again as he willingly offers great rewards if she finished this mission and another month of resting, meaning not to bother her. They exchanged few words later on, mostly was business, nothing else, not like he would care for her health anyway. After exchanging was done, the sun has risen as she doesn't want to go to sleep again, so her only option was doing the mission.
It was the same process as before, drawing a circle, chanting your power, save whoever the god or goddess was, or bring back the creatures that have gone out, take the rewards, and suffer. It's never-ending for her fate. Stare down at her now bruised knuckle, wonder if she needs something to hide it? Catty took her time bandage up as she grabs her bags, pours half of the magic power in the circle before chanting the spell.
"Locomoarmus Vulgergio."
Welcoming the warm, bright yellow light shining through the circle as she let it send her to where she needs to go. Hoping it's a good place as well, maybe she would spend some time there as well, to clear her head.
"Your Highness, it's those beaming lights again."
His husband, Hua Cheng, said while staring at where was those beaming lights were. Xie Lian glances over where Hua Cheng was looking, see those similar beaming lights again as he remembers a young girl on the cart, humming a sad melody. The same girl who was not a Mortal or God, she was between it. The same girl who offer him lots of gold that enough to fix both Paradise Manor and their temples, yet his husband would refuse to use those gold because it belongs to him but isn't she is the culprit who broke Paradise Manor's roof as well? In the end, he won't accept those golds, and it remains in their temples, safe and sound.
That same girl with those sad looks has made him wonders what happened to that girl to have those looks like she has seen everything she once loved being taken away back and forth?
That girl. Tang Qing.
Xie Lian looks in the direction the beaming light was, then looks over his husband, offering him the kindest smiles, those natural smiles that he falls in love with eight hundred years ago.
"Can't let our friend waiting. Shall we go then?"
"Can't we leave that pest be?" Hua Cheng asks, slightly annoyed about what happened.
"I know that looks in you, San Lang. That's the looks of someone who see his old self again. And since you didn't tell me what happened on the roof that day, so it is fine for me to ask her about it."
Hua Cheng only smiles in defeat as his hand automatically finds the most graceful part, his waist, knowing that his husband's face would bloom in pink, and nods at him. Holding out the familiar dice and rolled it, before they both heading to the door and open it, all Xie Lian can think was to talk with that girl again.
When Catty - or Tang Qing, again, open their eyes, all she was eyes, beautiful and bright blue-green eyes. It reminds her of the sky when it's in summer, those leaf in the backyard was so stunning in those times. The person wakes their hand in front of her eyes as she follows every moment, blinking away all the dizziness that happened now, laughter blooming in their voices as she groans. Slowly tries to getting up slowly before the same person has to lead a hand and help her get up Tang Qing mutters thanks before taking a closer look at the person who helps her. The man seems like a homeless man, with one of his arms and legs was crippled, as she thought fate didn't leave any human's life happily, those smiles would say otherwise like there's always sun in this man, even in this situation. Those smile matches with the eyes, brights and gives you a welcoming feeling, like a summer's winds calling for you in the hottest day. Noticed how his shoulder is shaking, Tang Qing snapped out of her thought and quickly exam it if something worse happened before all she heard was a burst of pure laughter, ringing like the wind chime in her old home. 'Being a lazy cat, again.' that child laughs as she would enjoy the glimpse of the sun, hitting on her bright luxe brush hair - No. It's not the time to think about that.
"I- I'm sorry for laughing. The way you say that my laugher sounds like a summer's wind makes me burst. I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you."
Ah, she speaks her thoughts out loud again.
Embarrassing flood through her body and vein, as she quickly hides her face in her hand, ignores the stranger's hand try to pull it away from her face. So he decided to make jokes, lots of it that enough to make her laughs as well. Unlike others who would try everything to win favor, this man is very cheerful and kind, soon she found herself dropping her hands away as those brights eyes sparkle at her with a smile, brighter than any stars.
"I'm Shi Qingxuan! I have found you outside the royal capital, and with a little help from my other friends, we bring you here at Wind Master and Water Master's temple." Shi Qingxuan said with beaming smiles on his face, yet she knows there's hidden sorrow in those eyes. She has seen it thousand times, in every age, in every gender, notice it, and wishes to soother that sorrow away in them.
A mere mortal like you even dare to say that? You're not a God.
Yet those harsh words appear in her head again, remind her why she has to do these useless chores for those gods. Because she was naive to think that they would care for her as well and now, looks at her, laughs to herself, as she raised her head and takes his other hand to her, brings him out of the temple before giving him the biggest smile she once did.
"It's almost lunchtime, right ge? Let's find somewhere to eat, my treat."
Well, she did say her treats, after all. Smile softly as Tang Qing watching everyone who helps Shi Qingxuan was getting drunk (though there's one person who eats quite a lot. She wonders can a human eats that lot?) while she eats in peace, without getting disturbed by anyone. Humming while enjoying her warm tea as she hears her soon-to-be friend call the name that she didn't want to hear after few months, spilling her warm tea over.
"Hua Cheng! Xie Lian! Come and say hi to my new friend - What was your name? I'm sorry, I didn't get your name before coming here with you." Shi Qingxuan giggly said, clearly is drunken now. If not, he can see clearly how white her face was when she mentions the names, and she spills her drink as well.
Fate isn't kind today.
"Sorry, Qingxuan-ge! I need to go now. Thank you, everyone, for helping me!" Hastily placing her money down, more than enough to Shi Qingxuan and his friends have food for weeks. As soon as Tang Qing standing on the rail while yelling sorry repeatedly to Shi Qingxuan, who keeps yelling back to her to not to jump, this is the second floor, which she ignores and jumps. She soon regrets the decision she makes. As soon as Tang Qing jumps down, a familiar voice fills in the air.
"Ruoye! Catch her!"
And before she knows it, a white cloth wrapping around her waist tightly and securely leaving her hanging by the window. Bell chimes in the air as her face soon turn paled as familiar faces appear in her view, grinning at her states right now: fricking human sausages, that's what he sees her right now!!
Fate was cruel to her today, it seems.
"H-ah..ha.. uh Hi Your Highness, Crimson Rain? Lovely weather, isn't it?" It is the worse way to start a conversation after you ruined their house's rooftop a few months ago.
"San Lang, don't bully her. Also, can you bring her up here as well?" Xie Lian's voice appears from the second floor filled with kindness, as always as she can feel the white cloths letting her down slowly until her legs touch the hardened ground. Tang Qing gentle pat the white fabrics like her mother would when she is young, as she watches it slowly slithers up back to the owner. A silent thank you mutter between her lips before getting picked up by her collar harshly by the red-clothed man, dragging her back to the second floor where his friends and old friends are there.
"I can walk on my own."
Tang Qing complains while Hua Cheng only grunts in response. Surprisingly he did let her go, although a silver butterfly appears after letting go of her collar and flying around her, mocking how she looks right now in his eyes. Ignores those thoughts away, they both heading back to where she was once sitting and see how worried Shi Qingxuan was, even he was drunk.
"T-This silly girl! How can you even jump down the second floor?! If it isn't for his highness and Crimson Rain, what will happen to you, huh?!" Tang Qing's mind jumps up to the words she thinks every day. Her mind was screaming, begging her to say it out.
Yet Tang Qing seems like there are those invisible noose wrapping around her throat as she tries to speak up. However, nothing came out.
She feels helpless at that point.
Hung her head low as defeated, Shi Qingxuan quickly feels guilty and brings them to the table, where they were sitting and decided to enjoy the meal. After explaining to Shi Qingxuan why she did that, Shi Qingxuan let outs amusing laughs as Xie Lian only smile nervously, knowing that his husband was still annoyed that she ruined the rooftop. Meanwhile, Tang Qing's expression looks like she is ready to bury herself in a hole now. Ruoye seems to pity her as it slithers out from Xie Lian's hand and over where she was. Tang Qing looks down at Ruoye before patting the white cloths like before again, and somehow it eases her mind a bit.
"That's why you jump down from the second floor? Because you ruined the rooftop?" Shi Qingxuan laughs while his arms wrapping around her shoulder which Tang Qing quickly pushes his arm away and ignores his whines for being so cold toward him beside her ear. As she grabs the cup in front of her and empties it in one go, coughing as the liquid burns in her throat, knowing that it was not the same tea she was drinking before glares over Shi Qingxuan, who is acting innocent right now. Tang Qing didn't hesitate as she playfully punches his shoulder as he keeps whining in her ears again. Now she is praying that she wouldn't say anything stupid.
She did say something stupid.
Xie Lian would never think to see this side of her, yet it's surprising to see her open herself and laughs more, like old friends. Are they friends now? He wonders as he watches Tang Qing rambling about what happened with her friends last time. So during that time, the person she called God of Wines was keeps pestered in the communication that gives her no choice and casts the spell away, as she explains her plan wasn't mean to be it. Once she gets them out, only to gets frustrated more with the maze inside the Paradise Mansion, so her friend has suggested the only thing that he can think of: destroy the rooftop (which worked, surprisingly.) So when facing Hua Cheng, her mind wasn't in the right state, so she says what comes to her mind and didn't think about it, which she can't remember anything after healing up.
"So you don't remember much what happened in that battle?" Xie Lian asks.
"I'm sorry, your highness. My memories back there were quite blurry. I can't remember what I say at all."
"You did say that you would leave the purple trash here if you have a choice." Hua Cheng sneers as he crosses his arms, watching her processing the words.
Tang Qing blinks twice, processing his words as she remembers that she says that to him!
"Yes, I did. Still thinking about that options tho. Fewer gods to deal with." Tang Qing grins back as she answers it with pure honesty in her voice, following up with a burst of laughter as she remembers what happened when she got back. Screw you, God of Wine! Frowning at her sudden burst of laughs, Hua Cheng thinks it was from alcohol but decided to ask anyway.
"What happened to that trash ?"
"We have a sparring match. That was -" Tang Qing stopped herself from saying the following word before letting out a small nervous laugh. "He loses, so now he owes me."Tang Qing hums as she ignores how Shi Qingxuan's eyes went wides. Hua Cheng and Xie Lian were surprised and amused to hear that answer.
"Wouldn't your emperor say anything?" Xie Lian asks, wonder if he can have a match with her someday.
"Nope. The emperor is the one suggestion it! Which reminds me." Tang Qing pulled out an odd crystal jar, pushed it toward Hua Cheng, and humming as he examines it closely. When he finished studies it, Hua Cheng decided to open the jar only to pull out a single emerald eyeball and a violet one, fresh and clean, which doesn't overwhelm him. What puzzled him was he recognizes those eyes, and she gives them to him as nothing happened. Shi Qingxuan feels sickened as Hua Cheng studies at the eyeballs more closely; it doesn't remind him of that trash but the person in front of him more.
" An eyes exchange for his debts." Tang Qing hums, seems like she was pleased while observed his expression and movements.
"Whose eyes is it?" He asks, gazes back at her.
Tang Qing finished her cup of tea before standing up. Her grin still hasn't left her face.
"Clever man like you and don't have an answer for it?"
"If I remember correctly, this is your eyes."
Hua Cheng grunts as he put his eyes back to the jar. The atmosphere soon turns sour instant as all eyes were on her, yet her smile still hasn't left.
"Does it matter?" Tang Qing answers, yet those words sound unconcerned as she watches the group full of fishers standing outside closely in the window before glances back at him.
"You accept the debts. That's all I care about now. I'm glad that I can meet everyone, but I need to go now. Goodbye, dage, your highness, and Crimson Rain."
With a smile on her face, Tang Qing gets up and heading over to the fisherman group who walk in, asking them few questions before heading downstairs to pays for the food, before blending herself with the busy crowds.
Have you heard the tale about the tragic story of a young sea witch falling in love with a mortal? They say it was love at first sight when the man helping the sea witch get back to where she belongs. From that accident, they fall in love with each other like a fairy tale. However, it soon turns into a tragic story.
Fate was too cruel to them.
What happened to them?
The human was too greedy. Once he archives his goal, riches, research, famous, everything, he soon forgets the one has to help them reach it, while all they care about now was how much they earn, forgets the young witch who waits for him outside even if it's raining, storming, or sunny.
In the end, it wasn't longer love.
In the end, the greedy tides have washed away those loves.
As for the young witch whose still waiting for that man she loves, ask the fellow fisher if they know anything about the love of her world if they know that if he is okay. Yet no one answers her, their eyes avoid her as she was confused why aren't they say anything.
Did something happen to him?
And when she go figured it by herself, she was speechless, furious at him.
That man's life has ended at 24. The cause of his death was unclear.
And for the young sea witch whose hearts now swarmed with the sea of wraith, still luring outside the sea and waiting for the tragic fated souls to come past her, to hear her song about her unfortunate love.
Be careful, young one. Because those men who faced her fury would say one thing about it: It aren't kind, she would never let you alive once you hear her song.
Tang Qing set sail on her tiny boat, ignores everyone's looks piercing on her head, like she is a crazy person who set sail to stormy weather. Disregards every pointed glares and whispering, prayer on their mouth as all they only see was a young girl walking into her death, all she needs to do is ignores it all. Once Tang Qing found a safe place to stay before heading to danger, she sighs once more as she runs through her plans in her head, making sure that this plan needs to work or she'll become the cause of everyone's deaths. Tang Qing watches the birds fly away and a small silver butterfly fly right in front of her, shining beautifully.
"Hello there, little fella."
Tang Qing hums as she reaches out to touch the butterfly, waiting for the painful zap to come, although it never did as the butterfly rest on her finger. It was peaceful for her with the new friend before a gush of air blown harshly right in her face, as the sea is pushing the boat closer to the danger zone, which means she needs to get ready.
"I have to go now. Stay safe, okay?"
With final words, she set the butterfly on the rail as it slowly flying away. Soon as the butterfly flies away from her boat, she can hear a faint singing voice from a distance as Tang Qing noticed that it only appears once the butterfly leaves.
The mission went from zero to one hundred quite quickly.
After lots of talking to the witch nicely (she maybe pissed off the sea witch with the song), the sea witch doesn't cooperate with Tang Qing.
So now here she is, being swinging around by a giant octopus upside down like she is a rag doll!
She feels like she is going to vomit any moment now.
Before Tang Qing can summon out her weapon, a swamp of silver butterfly hits directed into the octopus's eyes before it screeching in pain as it throws her away hard. Bracing for the hard impact, Tang Qing closed her eyes and waited, yet nothing happened as familiar arms holding around her ankles and her shoulder, sending her back to the ship. Once Tang Qing's foot is in the wooden plank again, she turns over to the familiar persons - Xie Lian and Hua Cheng, who is fighting the octopus as confused mixed with surprise were written all over her face, wonder how did they find her here. Before she can ask how they found the ship, a loud screech has snapped her out of her thought as the tentacles grip around the side strong. Before another appeared and crashed right where they're standing. Luckily that they quickly dodge it.
"We'll talk later. Right now, we need to aim for the octopus's head and its legs!" Xie Lian shouted as he pulled out the Fang Xin and helping his husband.
Tang Qing stares at them before pulling out her hammer and joining the battle as well. After fighting a while, she noticed that all it cares about was her, want her dead. So she let it focused on her while others attack the limps out, dodging every swing and smash while swinging her hammer into the head a few times, but only to paralyzed one of the brains, which buys them enough time to destroy the remaining limps and the brain.
Once defeating the octopus, the sea witch appeared as her hand holding something precious to Xie Lian, his ring. Before Hua Cheng can go after the sea witch, a barrier appeared in front of him, the same brightening yellow barrier that happened a few months ago now was in front of him and Xie Lian, trapping them on this ship. Tang Qing ignores the loud slashes, calling for her name as the hybrid quickly stripping down the outer robes, shoes, and bag before tying her hair up into a high ponytail. Sigh in relief as she now only wear her inner robes with her hammer in her hand, turn over two of them who are still trying to get out of the barrier, her expression was the same as before, as Xie Lian wishes to smoothen those frowns away.
Smile suits better on her.
"I suggest that you should stay here with his highness, who knows -" She stares at the cut that has a tremendous impact on the barrier before slowly disappeared, only to irritate Hua Cheng even more.
She tries again, but he didn't seem to let her finished her sentences.
If they keep doing this childish fight, the chances of the ring being destroyed - what will happen - suddenly she sees herself once again, helpless in front of those people. No, this time will be different. She snapped.
"Will you just listen to me for one second?! " Tang Qing screamed out of her lung as she gazes at him with those same pained mixed expressions, her whole body is trembling with rage as she stomping toward the barrier. "For once, listen to me and stay with him! It's a fucking trap, that sea which knows that you two are married so it wants to destroy the ring in front of you! Goddammit." She punches the nearby pole hard to let out some steam before going back to her usual self, ignoring the crimson liquid dripping down from her bruised knuckles as she waves her hand as nothing happened.
"So why does it matter to you?" Xie Lian asks, yet he seems to know the answer already.
" ...." she slowly moving closer. " Because if either two of you jump down now, the sea witch would simply crush that ring. A deadly trap. But if it's me - a fucking worthless trash, she won't expect anything. Meaning - " Tang Qing stopped as she stares at the gap between them has disappeared, her power was going haywire again. Time sure is running low for her.
"The ring is useless for her. So I can get it back safely, and no one gets harm. Unless she wants a fucking fight, of course." Heading back the edge again as the wave was welcoming her and calling her name, waiting for swallowing her up. And once it grows bored, it throws her lifeless body aside and lets it rot.
"Tang Qing! At least promise me that you'll be safe, please." Xie Lian's eyes fill with concerns as those emotions always aiming toward her. There was so much thing she wants to tell him that she is sorry deeply from the bottom of her heart. But all she can say was: " Please head back to the shore, Your Highness, Crimson Rain. The ship won't be lasting any longer."
Which that, she let herself falling deep into the abyss.
After around two hours has gone, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng would be waiting at the dock. Xie Lian would ask his husband if he feels pain or anything and all he feels was cold. Like he is deep down to the bottom of the sea, and that's all he senses though it doesn't help him calm down at all. Anxious flaring through his body, Xie Lian can't wait anymore and starts heading to the ship and ready to set sail to find her. Before he can head back out, a dimly yellow light appeared in front of him as he sees his ring floating around those dim lights. Gentle grasp it in his hand as all the anxious thoughts have left him, feel safer now as the ring are here with him.
"The ring is safe, San Lang." But where is her? Where is Tang Qing? What if-
"Gege, let's ask the nearby boat that came to the shore."
Hua Cheng pointed to a nearby boat that got in the harbor; some fishermen were pulling a limp body that wears the same clothes as the girl. Xie Lian and Hua Cheng run over where they are, asking where did they found her as they explain, Xie Lian checking her pulse and scanning through her injured body.
"The ring...safe now?"
The first thing she asks is the ring, not her wound or anything. He can hear her mutter as she coughs all the water out of her lung, wincing when he touched the stabbed wounds.
"It's safe. It's here with me now. But you're not, at the moment."
"I have worse ..." were her final words before falling into the darkness. Xie Lian quickly wraps her with his robes before picking her up like it was nothing, glancing over his husband worrying.
"We need to heading back to Ghost City, now. Can you tell Yin Yu to call some female medics as well?"
" Gege's wishes are my command. "