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“Do you know who these people are?”
Shi Qingxuan shook his head.
He Xuan answered, “Vile fates. Sordid fortunes. Lives lower than beasts. Fates that can drive a man mad.”
“...”
Shi Wudu: “... YOU!?”
He Xuan stood between Shi Wudu and Shi Qingxuan and said coldly, “Now, I give you two options.”
The first one, pointing at Shi Wudu: “Option one. You, pick one from this crowd and exchange your brother’s fate with them. Then, you make yourself disappear in the mortal realm.”
The second one, pointing at Shi Qingxuan: “You. I won’t touch your fate. But, here in this place, chop off your brother’s head for me. Then, never show yourself before me again, and I will pretend you’ve never existed in this world.”
Shi Wudu had claimed he’d end himself, but He Xuan was clear about it; when Shui-Ge encouraged his brother to do it, they fought over it, their opinions as different as always. Shi Wudu was determined to let his brother live; it wouldn’t matter to him as long as Shi Qingxuan was alright. He trusted General Pei would take good care of him.
He Xuan had been infinitely patient up to this point, but now he suddenly kicked out. Without warning, Shi Wudu was knocked to the side and he spat out a mouthful of blood, tumbling to the ground, unable to get up.
Shi Qingxuan yelled from the wall, “GE!”
He Xuan said chillingly, “Quiet! Enough of that disgusting display of brotherly love. Open your eyes and see where you are. No one will be moved by you here.”
Shi Qingxuan seemed to have an idea and said hurriedly, “WAIT, HE-XIONG, HE-XIONG! Can’t we both live? If, if, if you let us free—”
He Xuan cut him from spitting that nonsense, “I didn’t give you any third path.”
Witnessing the critical scene, Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan seemed to have thought the same, “There’s always a third path.” And thus he wouldn’t give up so easily.
“Hear me out, please, He-Xiong! Let us be free, and we’ll get banished from the Heavens! Start from zero as mortals, we—”
Shi Wudu exclaimed, “NONSENSE! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT NOW?”
Shi Qingxuan took a quick glimpse at him, but continued explaining. “We’ll give you all our merits, and you won’t know about us again in this lifetime!! Let us live, please.”
Just like that?
He Xuan stared silently at the younger brother. It was obvious he had faked it all, but in the end, he still had some feelings towards this person — The Young Lord Who Pours Wine, pfft. It was almost like he wanted to stop all this drama and say to him that if it wasn’t because of this useless brother of his, he’d look for less extreme solutions. He Xuan didn’t want to hurt Shi Qingxuan. Something inside him told him to listen to Shi Qingxuan’s option.
Shi Wudu stood up, and He Xuan kicked him again. Shi Wudu spat another mouthful of blood.
Shi Qingxuan had some hope towards this, and asked softly, “So, what do you think about it?”
He Xuan answered, “Fine.”
Shi Qingxuan smiled softly. Xie Lian left out an internal sigh of relief.
He Xuan continued coldly, “You can go. If I ever see you again, I won’t go so easy on you.”
Ship-Sinking Black Water wasn’t that dumb either. When Shi Wudu managed to get up, He Xuan took him by the collar and approached him, leaving only a few inches from touching their faces.
In a deadly whisper, he said, “Especially you. Thank your brother for saving your pathetic life.”
Before Shi Wudu had the chance to reply, He Xuan knocked him unconscious using a forceful blow and threw him to the ground, a trickle of blood spilling from his nose as his fierce expression softened as he had plunged into a deep sleep.
He Xuan removed the barriers and curses on the island and informed Hua Cheng about it through their private array, saying that he needed privacy to talk to Shi Qingxuan before letting him go with his brother. Xie Lian’s soul was yanked out and thrust upwards. He couldn’t enter again, had a quick conversation with Hua Cheng and another one with Ling Wen before meeting the reinforcement and dealing with this whole affair. As far as he knew, both Shi Qingxuan and Shi Wudu were okay, so Shi Qingxuan would probably drag his brother out of the Manor and the Lake to get to the beach. Just enough till they get there.
Shi Qingxuan left the Manor carrying his unconscious brother on his back; it was the spiritual presence in the part of the other group that was looking for them that prevented them from meeting any ghosts in their path. After a while, the pair of brothers ran into the other party.
“Are both of my lords okay?” Xie Lian asks.
Shi Qingxuan nods, forcing a weak smile to leave his lips. “Yes, luckily nothing serious happened. Although I don’t know about my brother's condition…”
Pei Ming walked over and checked him quickly, taking a while to get the words out of his throat. “It’s just a blackout; I can take him to the Capital. After all, it’s better not to force the Wind Master.”
Shi Qingxuan had never been the type to trust the General, but his body was sore and he was afraid of fainting with Shi Wudu in his care, so he only had the option of giving the unconscious body to the martial god, who carried him in both arms without difficulty. Shi Qingxuan explained shortly, and kept the details to himself, what happened inside the Manor; he said that the environment gave him a bad vibe, and it was best to get out of there soon. The group agreed, and they moved to the beach; Xie Lian, on the contrary, said that he had to check something and went with Hua Cheng to the Lake to take the remains of the original Ming Yi. When they returned, Shi Wudu had already woken up and there was an evident bad mood on his face combined with the listless tint that characterizes him.
Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry; this person looks very different from when he’s resting to when he’s awake, and he doesn’t seem to be the same in a hundred years.
“Are we ready?” Pei Ming asked as he saw Xie Lian and Hua Cheng were back. “So, someone will have to share their coffin as you see there are five of us and only four coffins…”
Shi Wudu said immediately, “Your Highness and Crimson Rain aren’t sharing it. Shi Qingxuan, you’re not gonna be left behind with that freak—”
Pei Ming said playfully, “That only leaves us, Shui-Xiong.”
Shi Wudu replied, “That only leaves you. I’m not sharing a coffin with you, and you have your spiritual powers, so I guess it ain’t a problem for you, General Pei?”
Pei Ming scoffed. No way he’s being treated like this now. “Shui-Xiong, may I ask..?”
Xie Lian interrupted softly, “Actually, my lord, why don’t you want me to share a coffin with San… Hua Cheng? I don’t mind if you ask me.”
Hua Cheng agreed, “Me neither.”
Shi Wudu was clear about it, “No. General Pei doesn’t mind waiting here, right?”
Pei Ming shrugged, but instead of just sitting around and waiting as he had been told, he grabbed Shi Wudu by his waist, almost romantically. He said, “Shui-Xiong, think about it. If we share the coffin, I have more possibilities of protecting you in case it breaks— although I doubt that, after all, I made those.”
Shi Wudu struggled to free himself and puffed a laugh. “I insist— General Pei shouldn’t pass for that much trouble when he can simply wait here for a boat when Ling Wen hears about it.”
“Don’t be so cruel, Wudu. I promise to be good.”
As Shi Wudu opened his mouth to reply, Shi Qingxuan cleared his throat to make his presence known. He said, “Let’s go, Gege… please.”
Pei Ming instantly let go of Shi Wudu and prepared the coffins; as it was said, the only ones sharing a coffin were Shi Wudu and Pei Ming. They were the last ones to leave the island.
Having agreed to share a narrow coffin that can barely fit two people was one of the less successful decisions that Shi Wudu has been able to make; Pei Ming hadn’t stopped joking about death, and that if anything happened, it’d be like those married couples who are buried together and when their skeletal remains are discovered, they’re both hugging each other with strength and passionate devotion — so romantic. Shi Wudu was one of those who detested having his personal space invaded so boldly; he can count on one hand the people he allowed to do so. He doesn’t appreciate that Pei Ming was one of them.
This cheap womanizer continued to make use of the excuse of the abrupt movement of the waters in which they were to touch the sensitive areas of the other immortal with his legs; because of this, muffled, almost melodic groans emerge from the throat of the tyrannical from time to time. With the reputation that Shi Wudu carried, he put all his efforts to keep quiet so that the other three people who were travelling with them wouldn’t hear him, but it was so impossible to concentrate with this flirtatious immortal distracting him.
Pei Ming even dared to challenge him and complain about the erotic sounds, “Quietly, Shui-Xiong. You don’t want the neighbours to hear us, right?”
Ridiculous. Even if he wanted to be heard, his moans would be the best they have witnessed in their pathetic hundreds of years. He doesn’t have any proof — not that he needs it either!
“Shut it,” Shi Wudu groaned.
“Thinking out loud?” Pei Ming teased again. “Maybe you need help?”
“I don’t—”
Shi Wudu couldn’t finish the sentence because his lips were invaded by the other as if it was that little push he needed to keep quiet; and the cherry on top was... the lump that formed in his crotch was greedily grasped by the martial god’s robust hand, and he squeezed a little. The jet stirred in his grasp as if looking for more space in that small coffin; his doom is on top of him, since Pei Ming doesn’t intend to let him go so easily, and is even being pious because of the restricted mobility that prevents him from messing up the impeccable, ethereal vibe that jet emanates.
-
Shi Wudu saw himself meditating in the lotus position, assuming that was the way he intended to ascend again; there was no trace of his brother anywhere, but as much as he remembers, it seems to be a replay of the first time: Shi Wudu ascended first, and immediately Shi Qingxuan followed him. Would He Xuan allow that? In theory, they weren’t running into him, nor did he say they couldn’t get promoted again on their own merits. As Shi Wudu thought about it, the quiet scene was interrupted by a storm that darkened the skies like a bad omen about something. Shortly after, a black-clad man appeared and walked over to where Shi Wudu was sitting.
From his place, Shi Wudu asked, “Can I help you with something?”
The man was clear, a deep voice emerged from his throat, “It’s useless to ascend.”
Shi Wudu stopped concentrating on his training, and watched him from below; that face had no traces of gentleness, much less mockery for such a fierce sentence.
The man repeated, “Do not ascend. It’s not in the deal.”
He Xuan. Shi Wudu thought it was ridiculous, and any detail that wasn’t explained at the time was childish to mention now; he frowned, and rose from his place, facing He Xuan. The man looked nothing like his true form more than his gloomy garments.
Shi Wudu said, “Why should I bother? As long as we don’t get involved with you, it’ll be fine.”
This wasn’t so different from changing the rules of the game in the middle of a game for your convenience. Shi Wudu continued, “And what if I changed fates? What is done is done. I’m not going to retract.”
When He Xuan opened his mouth to speak again, as his lips moved, the only thing Shi Wudu could hear were the waves crashing against each other; when he finished, the noise continued louder, and Shi Wudu stood there waiting for whatever the other had to do. After a few seconds, a deathly silence surrounded them both, and everything around them darkened, leaving only He Xuan illuminated by a light.
The unfriendly tone of voice along with those threatening words was heard clearly this time.
“Didn’t you hear what I said? Just give up. This is your reality now.”
Although Shi Wudu wasn’t willing to give up. He didn’t care for this ‘Scholar He’ or whatever, just mind your own business and eat your words when he’s welcomed by the Heavens again.
He Xuan continued, “This is your fate, so stop trying to change it.”
“I won’t ever stop challenging destiny,” Shi Wudu said, arrogantly as the sound of waves crashing started again.
He Xuan’s voice could still be heard, though. “I won’t tell you again…”
The sound of waves crashing increased and it was impossible to know what he said after that warning. With no way to know, it seemed this Water God was ignoring him on purpose.
He Xuan approached dangerously and knocked Shi Wudu to the ground, prepared to end his life.
However, as Shi Wudu struggled to free himself from his grasp, the surrounding completely darkened and left him in total darkness.
Maybe he’s dead? Before he could figure it out, he realized he was at the bottom of the ocean; one of those bonefish swam up and stood in front of him, showing off its more than three meters in length, opened its mouth and there revealed a head with a dying, wandering expression.
Shi Wudu’s head. The owner of that head was speechless to see this; instead of looking at the rest of his body, or wondering how he could see this scene, he froze with the words stuck in his throat. The fish closed its mouth and swallowed his head before swimming to where Shi Wudu was.
When it opened its mouth again, this nightmare couldn’t be ended since Shi Wudu woke up panting and with a layer of cold sweat covering his pale skin. Because he was sharing the bed with Pei Ming —who knows how he got there— the general was awakened by the movements that the jet was making, and now he had his gaze fixed on him, concerned.
Shi Wudu noticed and frowned at the sight.
Pei Ming asked, “Are you okay?”
Shi Wudu simply nodded. “Yeah. I didn’t pretend to wake you up. Can I ask you for something?”
“Of course.”
“Tomorrow the Shi brothers will be banished from the Heavens. I’d hate to be a beggar and have this kind of fate, even if we both have the potential to ascend again, so take care of Qingxuan for me when I’m no longer here.”
That was such a great responsibility. Shi Wudu continued, his voice slightly trembling, “I wouldn’t forgive myself if I knew Qingxuan was left here to die by his older brother. Can’t stand that idea.”
Pei Ming wanted to comfort him by saying they’ll indeed ascend again in less than a hundred years, but Shi Wudu wouldn’t forgive him if the General was to pity the pair of brothers. Instead, he said, “... Alright. I’ll do it.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise you to never leave you to die in the mortal realm.” Pei Ming said, “And I promise you to protect your brother’s life with mine after you die.”
This was the first part of a bittersweet farewell. The second part will come by in a couple of hours. Shi Wudu nodded, pleased and nostalgic. With nothing more to promise to the other in the moonlight, Pei Ming circled Shi Wudu’s body with his arm, who now looked so small and defenceless despite the innate tenacity as he snuggled into his grasp, and left a soundless kiss on the dark hair of the man before closing his eyes, his hand gave him delicate caresses on the arm, gradually diminishing until he fell asleep. Shi Wudu simply let himself be done, inconsolable, the only thing left for him was to wait to see what awaited them in the human world.
Remember: when humans ascend, they are still human; when they fall, they are still human.