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Yue Qingyuan didn't experience pain as he died. The only emotion he felt as thousands of arrows pierced his body was resentment. Resentment towards Luo Binghe for taking his Xiao Jiu from him, but, more than anything, resentment towards himself for allowing it.
He had failed Xiao Jiu many times but never before had he failed him so terribly. Once again he forgot the advice he gave him so many years ago: don't be hasty, don't do anything stupid. Yue Qingyuan offered himself to Luo Binghe on a silver plate, thinking that the monster would be honorable enough to accept a one on one challenge, thinking that he wouldn't take advantage of his desperation. How foolish he had been. Xiao Jiu must have been furious with him. (There was no doubt Luo Binghe took his time to describe him his death in great detail).
As his soul left his body, he realized that, once more, he was incapable of saving his Xiao Jiu. He failed him and now he remained in the filthy, darkened prison of Huan Hua Palace. There was no way Yue Qingyuan could return to the wheel of reincarnation; not while his beloved remained on Luo Binghe’s hands.
He chose to remain.
Xuan Su broke along with his body and his restored soul simmered on Yue Qingyuan's regrets and resentment. The powerful emotions gave him a second life after death, helped him move forward so he could reunite with his Xiao Jiu and, for once, save him.
Even as a ghost he strived to become stronger. He needed all the power he could muster to defeat Luo Binghe, and his resentment, scorching and voracious, grew day by day until it gave him enough power to reach the heavens.
If he ever considered asking the gods for help, he gave up the instant he met them. They were spoiled and ignorant. They felt safe on their golden palaces and ignored the desperate prayers of the mortals with the excuse that they weren't allowed to intervene in their affairs. They couldn't understand that Luo Binghe wasn't just a problem of the demonic and human worlds, nor that he would soon come after them. Yue Qingyuan knew there was no point in trying to convince them to help and he chose to go back to earth as soon as he ascended.
He broke into the Water Prison with a flick of his hand and with the other he killed the petty demons that guarded it. He stopped the mechanism that controlled the acid cascade with a blast of spiritual energy and, once the acid curtain parted, his Xiao Jiu appeared in front of his eyes.
Yue Qinguan's heart sunk the more he took in the decrepit state of his Xiao Jiu. Luo Binghe hadn't just removed his legs, but also his arms and one of his eyes. The man was forcefully kept upright by thick iron cuffs around his waist and neck. His skin was gray and dull and it stuck to his bones with more vehemence than it ever did, even when Xiao Jiu was a starved slave in the slums of a now-forgotten city. Yet, he was still alive. Qi-ge had finally reached his Xiao Jiu on time.
Xiao Jiu didn't react as Yue Qingyuan reached for him. He had to kneel in front of him, place his fingers underneath his chin and move his head upwards to get a response. It wasn't quite the one he expected.
Xiao Jiu trembled with rage the moment recognition came to him. His single eye reddened and his mouth, now deprived of a tongue, gagged intelligible sounds. He must have thought he was an illusion, Yue Qingyuan noted; yet another trick from the demon. Only that could explain why his Xiao Jiu would shake with fear at the sight of his Qi-ge.
"It's all right, Xiao Jiu" he broke each cuff with a touch of his fingers, "Qi-ge is finally here. It took him long, but he is here to save his Xiao Jiu."
Confusion and incredulity flashed through Xiao Jiu's face. That wouldn't do, Yue Qingyuan thought. He should be happy that his Qi-ge had arrived. He didn't have to be scared anymore.
Yue Qinguan held Xiao Jiu's body against him. He was stiff and cold, but he fitted perfectly on his arms. It had been so long since he had been able to hold him like this. To think he spent years by his side without being able to touch him. How could he have endured the separation for so long? (How could he have allowed it?) Now Xiao Jiu's body was pliant instead of reluctant, his words muted instead of aggressive. Luo Binghe might be a monster, but modifying Xiao Jiu's body hadn't been a bad idea, after all.
Qi-ge would be able to take better care of his Xiao Jiu if he remained like this, he thought. It would make everything so much easier.
"Qi-ge will take good care of his Xiao Jiu from now on. Qi-ge ascended and fell from heaven just to save him. He is a god now. Xiao Jiu doesn't need to worry about anything anymore."
Xiao Jiu emitted a particularly high-pitched sound. Even without tongue, Yue Qingyuan could recognize his disbelief. He felt a warm wetness on his chest and he smiled as he acknowledged Xiao Jiu's tears.
Yue Qingyuan rose with Xiao Jiu still in his arms. Taking him somewhere safe was more important than revenge and he intended to leave the prison right away. Unfortunately, the demonic pest chose to appear right then.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Luo Binghe had already brandished his cursed sword against the intruder who wanted to steal his prey. Yue Qingyuan relished when the demon recognized who the intruder was. "How?" he muttered. "How could this be?"
Yue Qingyuan smirked. "You should've taken your time to burn my body and scatter my ashes, Luo Binghe. Not that there was much left of it..."
"Yue Qingyuan!" the demon said. "You've been a thorn on my side for far too long-"
Yue Qingyuan had no time to waste. He threw a flash of spiritual power towards him, making a hole in his stomach and smashing his body against the walls of the prison. The wound wouldn't kill him, but it would take a while for him to recover.
"I have to take Xiao Jiu somewhere safe, but rest assured I'll come back for you, Luo Binghe. I'll make you pay for every single thing you did to him and once I'm done with you, I'll shred your body and your soul into so many pieces, you won't be able to come back in a million years."
Luo Binghe growled in both pain and fury, but Yue Qingyuan barely heard him. He had already darted off with Xiao Jiu in his arms.
He glided with ease, the weight of his Xiao Jiu barely making any difference on his pace.
"You're safe now, Xiao Jiu," he whispered. "Qi-ge will take care of you from now on and forever. I promise you."
Xiao Jiu trembled on his arms as his mouth gapped something akin to his nickname. What a sweet sound, Yue Qingyuan thought. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the only thing Xiao Jiu could say was his name?
He nuzzled his head against Xiao Jiu's. It had taken a long time, but now Qi-ge and Xiao Jiu were back together as it was always meant to be. Yue Qingyuan promised himself he would protect him and make him happy from now on. He would make sure no one would separate them even again. Not even Xiao Jiu.
That was a promise he intended to keep for the rest of eternity.