Chapter Text
Twisting, spinning, jumping. The world was a constantly changing image of colors and motions that rushed like violent river waters around Mu Qing. Barely able to keep up with his nimble target, he lunged at it. His saber created an elegant and fierce arc, portraying his vicious killing intent paired with an unmatched focus.
His opponent wasn't easy to beat, but Mu Qing was no ordinary man and he wasn't alone. A few steps beside him, Feng Xin held his own against their mutual enemy. They were getting close to the end of fighting. Mu Qing could see the creatures movements growing sluggish. Sharp eyes and even sharper claws and fangs reflected the sun. But like the sun, it would eventually set and vanish into the dark ground.
Weren't it for the following brief seconds.
A short glance at Feng Xin showed the other god taking a step aside. Too slow. The monster lunged right at the dark-haired man. Not able to think his actions through and only guided by the impulse to protect, destroy, Mu Qing brandished his saber as he swiftly placed himself between the both of them to deflect the glistening claws. Pressure, pain. Before he could comprehend more, he had already returned the blow and sent the evil being down with a slashed throat. Thick, black blood dropped from it's neck into the earth and covered the few light-colored flower petals between the short grass in dark substance.
A blurred sight, a constant buzz and the resounding echo of tearing flesh.
Mu Qing shook his head, to get a grip on his senses. The job was done. A body lay on the ground, already dissolving into dust. Just a blink and it would be gone, inevitable. He took a step away, ready to go.
"Wait!"
Mu Qing stopped in his tracks. He turned his head around. Just a fraction, but enough, to meet Feng Xin's deep gaze.
"What?" he asked in a rough tone. His voice barely holding a minimum of patience.
"Are you...I mean are you okay? You know the creature was poisonous, so did it come into contact with you?"
He was referring to the ravenous monster that hunted the woods around the near small village. Well, that was in the past since they solved the problem just now. Mu Qing had heard the villagers pray to him. They had begged him to save them from this monstrosity, but since the area lay near the border to Feng Xin's territory, there were also many prayers directed at him. Because of that they reluctantly resolved to work together just this once.
"What a stupid question! You better focus on yourself and your bad footwork and also, were was your attention? You nearly got yourself killed!" he couldn't help but snap, irritation clouding his mind. Hearing Mu Qing's words, Feng Xin looked taken aback. The next second his mimic was replaced by an annoyed scowl.
"Fine, just be your prickly self! I'll leave first." Without further ado he vanished, leaving Mu Qing alone in the empty clearing, surrounded only by a few trees and chirping birds.
With a blank face he pressed a hand against his right side and when it came back the once fair skin was tainted a vibrant red. His dark robes didn't give away the wound he sustained while fighting, hiding it successfully from Feng Xin's sight.
The martial god quickly considered his available options. Feng Xin was out. Yes, he definitely wouldn't refuse helping Mu Qing, but that first left him with the ordeal of having to ask him for his help. And even if he could lower himself down enough to beg his rival for aid he could already hear the taunting words and looks. Especially after Mu Qing's recent refusal. Letting down his guard and showing weakness around other Heavenly Officials was also out of question. However, if he didn't solve this problem soon, the consequences would be quite server like the recent case had showed him.
From what he and the other god came to understand, the villagers all reported similar cases.
For an instance, there was the daughter of a farmer, who lived near the woods. One day the young woman went in there to search for herbs and came back with several light wounds. She was quite shocked and couldn't recall what had happened. The father and the village healer speculated it had been a wild animal. But later on other things had happened that would eventually end up in the tragic death of the girl. The farmer tearfully told Mu Qing and Feng Xin, who wore their usual disguises, what had happened.
Many years ago, the mother of the young woman died while giving birth to her. Although the husband grieved his deceased wife, he loved his daughter more than anything and was beyond grateful to have her in his life. So he couldn't possibly find an explanation as to what had happened the next morning. They had a normal conversation, talking about her mother in fact, when suddenly the father started saying devastating things.
"I started comparing them and told her how much better her mother was. That she couldn't ever be as perfect as her. I looked her directly in the eye and said: Sometimes I wish you would have died instead of her!" Giant sobs left the man's mouth. Utter despair was written on his features. "I don't know why I said that. It couldn't be further from the truth! It was as if I was cursed and couldn't control my body."
He told them how the girl ran away crying and only after she left was the father able to regain control.
She went directly to her beloved fiance, who lived nearby. He recalled that besides her emotional state, she was also really pale and swayed a bit when she arrived at his house. Immediately, he wanted to invite her in and help her, only to discover his lost ability to control his limbs and voice. The earlier pattern repeated itself. The young man's mimic became irritated and he yelled hurtful words at her that weren't true. The young lady seemed to feel more and more unwell, clutching her head.
Deeply disturbed and unable to grasp what was going on, she again turned around to leave. However this time, after just a few steps, she suddenly collapsed. In the same moment her fiance got his control over tongue and body back, but it was already too late. Nothing could be done anymore. He and the father of the girl, upon his hurried arrival, could only determine her death.
There were four other cases. The victims didn't share any similarities in appearance, personality or family background. But they all went into the woods and came back with lost memories and several wounds. The creature seemed to transmit a poisonous curse that temporarily expanded to people in the victim's close vicinity. They would say horrible things and each time the victim would feel worse, both in body and in mind. Until they finally got too weak and all came to a tragic end within one to three days.
After listening to each case, the two martial gods had come to the conclusion that the bad state of the victims bodies was accelerated by negative feelings. The curse aggravated this effect by confronting the victim with fabricated words that left nothing more than devastation and hopelessness in it' wake.
Mu Qing was no mortal. Yet even immortals could suffer from curses that could, if left untreated, end up quite badly. So the first thing he had to do, was find something to delay the effect and then research for a way to absolve his organism of the poisonous substance.
He couldn't help but curse at Feng Xin in his mind. Why couldn't that idiot have been faster on his legs? But even more so, he cursed at himself for acting without thinking and practically placing himself on the line of danger to save his centuries old enemy. Even if they somehow made peace after the events at Mount Tonglu, it wasn't an easy feat to just throw away nearly a millennium of constant fighting and bickering. Working together on the same case was already a big step out of their usual comfort zone. It wasn't that he didn't want to be closer to Feng Xin, he mused. Quite the contrary. It was just hard to break old habits and the other didn't make it any easier.
Since Mu Qing already did the first step with his embarrassing f-f-friends- confession, which even now made him blush of the sheer mortification, he would gladly allow Feng Xin to do the next step towards friendly territory. Whenever that may be.
--->---<--->---<--->---<---
Back in the Heavens Mu Qing rummaged frantically through his personal storage of various medicinal herbs and flasks he had collected over the years. Then, at the very front of a lower shelf, he finally found what he was looking for.
A small bottle with a clear liquid. It's label said: Energy cleanser. For external use only. For best results: Add a few drops to a warm tempered bath.
It wouldn't solve the curse, but it was strong enough to counteract the poison for the time being. The sinister energy would have a much harder time working through his immortal body than with the humans from the village, even without the Energy Cleanser.
The martial god immediately went to his personal rooms and organized himself a bath. His wide and open chamber was diverted into three areas. In one part stood a large bed with silky, dark linens. Further parts were a separated corner with a table and seating mats as well as a generous area for bathing and dressing. The design reflected Mu Qing's elegant aesthetics while the atmosphere held a clean and light notion.
Letting out a long breath to relax his tense muscles, Mu Qing went to the bathtub. Steam rose up in the air, indicating the warm temperature. With swift movements, he first poured in the medicine and then took off his several layers of clothes, folding them neatly, before stepping into the water.
Immersing himself completely, Mu Qing soaked his hair in the water. Then, leaning back against the wooden edge, closing his eyes and humming contently, he gave himself a short moment to enjoy the feeling. The smell of lilies permeated the air. Other than the added bathing fragrance, the air was clean. No scent of the Energy Cleanser was detectable.
Mu Qing opened his eyes to examine the cut at his side. It was rather small and since it didn't bleed anymore he wouldn't need to bandage it. Lying back again, he got himself comfortable. Slipping into a meditative state to concentrate further on his spiritual energy, he cut off his other senses, covering them in a hazy blanket.
He didn't notice how much time had passed. Until a sudden, unignorable noise led to him snapping his head up in the general direction of the disturbing source.
Two simultaneous shrieks pierced the air.
--->---<--->---<--->---<---
Feng Xin grumbled under his breath as he had done since leaving Mu Qing. Knocking on the wooden door to Puqi Shrine, he tried to reign in his agitation, patiently waiting for Xie Lian to appear at the entrance. A short time later, his friend did just so, greeting him with a wide and honest smile.
"Feng Xin! It's good to see you. Come on in!" Making room for his visitor, Xie Lian let him pass by, closing the door after him.
Scanning the room for a certain red figure, he released an inner breath when he found the inside of the shrine to be empty.
His friend seemed to have caught on and reassured him. "San Lang has business to do. A few ghosts causing trouble, nothing serious. He left this morning and probably won't be back for a few hours, so that should give you enough time to tell me what's troubling you."
Without sparing him a glance, Xie Lian walked to the kitchen and began to prepare tea.
Dumbfounded, Feng Xin stood there, staring at him. "What? How did you-? I wasn't even-"
Turning away from his current task, Xie Lian sent him a reassuring smile. "Well, you look like you have something on your mind. It's alright, just sit down, the tea will be ready right away."
Doing as he told him to, the martial god walked over to the small table and sat down on a mat. Silence filled the room, but not for long, as the withe-clothed crown prince joined him with the clattering service. He placed the set on the surface and poured them each a cup of tea.
"Alright, now tell me what happened."
Feng Xin cleared his throat. "I told you about that case right? With the cursed villagers and the supposed evil creature in the woods." Xie Lian gave an affirmative nod, prompting him to continue.
"Mu Qing and I went there together and solved it just now. It was the average monster, nothing too dangerous, but I let my concentration slip. Only a second, but it nearly got me, weren't it for him. Mu Qing fended the creature off and killed it. However, just when I thought, it could be quite nice to work on cases with him, he already slipped back to his scratchy old self. It's so frustrating! Why does he have to be so complicated? He said he wants to be friends with us, but I don't see it. All he does is insult me and being his closed off self. Since eight hundred fucking years!"
Feng Xin's pent-up energy and wild gesticulating gave no room for interruptions. At the end he just slumped in his seat, defeated and not really expecting an explanation about Mu Qing's ever mysterious character traits.
"Why did your concentration slip?", Xie Lian simply asked, making Feng Xin snap up his head.
"Huh?"
"You said your focus got away while fighting. Why? What happened?" he inquired in a calm tone, taking a sip from his tea, before putting the cup back on the table with a resounding clang!
Feng Xin's sword bounced off the rock that appeared behind the lanky creature as it ducked away from the swing of the god's weapon. Sparkles flew through the air, only to fade immediately after coming into existence. Feng Xin felt a lone bead of sweat running down his temple. Unerringly, he continued his onslaught, silver metal flashing with the speed of his movements. He and Mu Qing attacked their opponent from both sides. Holding it in a constant defense of snapping fangs.
Feng Xin chanced a glance at his combat partner.
Not a single hint of exhaustion, his form agile and elegant. Mu Qing was like the personification of the distant moon. Cold in appearance, but reflecting a shimmering light, mirrored in his long, silver hair. It whirled around him in silky strands as he spun on his feet, quick like an arrow. He emitted an ethereal gracefulness, capturing Feng Xin unprepared.
And from a place deep within his mind came a thought that had hid behind guards for hundreds of years, ever since unspoken. Budding it's way through Feng Xin's head, making it's way to his heart, that thought came forth with brutal clearance that left him speechless.
Mu Qing is beautiful. Why hadn't he realized before?
Snapping out of his trance-like state just in time to see the poisonous monster lunging at him, he took one step aside. Too slow. But then, suddenly, Mu Qing appeared and slashed right back at their mutual adversary, killing it successfully. The fight was over.
Irritated by his oncoming memories, Feng Xin tried to drown them in his cup, emptying it in one go.
"You want to know why I got distracted? Let me tell you! It's Mu Qing, it's always Mu Qing! How are we supposed to work and fight together, when he has nothing better to do than constantly annoy me? He doesn't even has to say a word. I just have to look at him and instantly he infuriates me. It just can't work between us."
Xie Lian listened attentively and took the pause at the end of his rant as an opportunity to refill their cups. Feng Xin still couldn't calm down properly. Crossing his arms, he frowned into the empty space beside Xie Lian.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you say that at the end, you and Mu Qing solved the case together and he not only killed the creature but also saved you from an attack? For me, this sounds really great!", Xie Lian took a patient breath. "Feng Xin, you can't expect everything just to fall into place the instant you two try to be less antagonistic with each other. Such things need time and you know how hard it is for Mu Qing to trust others and open up to them. After eight hundred long years it will take a while to change."
"You're right. I don't expect him to suddenly be this whole new person. But is it really asking too much of him to be a little bit more friendly?"
"Then how about you try to work on a better relationship? Make the first step and go to him, talk to him. Find something you can do together. It will probably take a lot of persistence, but I'm sure he will open up more eventually."
"I guess I could do that..." the martial god grumbled.
Xie Lian raised an eyebrow, giving him a questioning look. "You don't sound convinced. Be honest with me! Do you even want to be real friends with him? Because if you're just forcing yourself to, it won't work out. You know that, right?"
Feng Xin opened his mouth to speak up, but paused, uncertain. Friends. The word resounded in his head, leaving shrill traces that scraped uncomfortable at the walls surrounding it. Trying to grasp the origin of the feeling, it fled from his seizing hands.
"No, I-I mean... I don't know... yes, I want us to be friends! It's just... something feels different recently. I don't know what it is. They are only fleeting thoughts here and there and I don't know what they mean, but they make me so much more infuriated with him. Every single time I just want to... punch him in his face or... I don't know," helplessly he dropped his shoulders and ran his fingers through his hair.
Xie Lian regarded him with a pensive look, as if searching for something. Then, as if he found it, a spark lit up in his eyes. "Oh!", he exclaimed.
"What oh?"
"Uhm.. it's nothing! I just remembered... just remembered that I've wanted to try this new recipe for San Lang later. Yes! That‘s it," the crown prince stuttered, while sitting up straight and letting out strange sounding laughs in between words.
Unconsciously leaning a view inches away from his eccentric friend, Feng Xin's instincts screamed at him to run away after hearing the word recipe.
"You can stay for dinner. I'm sure San Lang would be okay with that. I can make enough for the three of us!" Xie Lian exclaimed enthusiastically.
With widening eyes, Feng Xin waved his hands frantically through the air, nearly falling over himself. "No! No, no it's alright, I'm not hungry! Not hungry at all! Don't bother, I'm fine! Still have things to do, places to be, you know..." Why were these strange laughs now coming from his mouth instead of Xie Lian's?
Who, at hearing his words, perked up again. "So you'll meet up with Mu Qing?"
"Uh, uhm yes. Yes, in fact I'll visit him right away!"
"That's great! Really, Feng Xin, I'm happy to hear that," Xie Lian gave him a warm smile.
Flustered, the other clapped his hands on his thighs, ready to stand up.
Simultaneously grabbing the still full cup and drinking it up hastily, he thanked his friend for the tea, who replied, "We should repeat this sometime soon. Maybe I'll stop by in the Heavens to visit your palace. Otherwise, you know were to find me most of the time!"
"That sounds good, we'll definitely do that!", smiling back and bowing his head in farewell, Feng Xin made his way to the door.
"Oh and Feng Xin?" He turned around, giving Xie Lian a questioning look.
"Be patient with him."
Taking a short moment to absorb his words, Feng Xin nodded affirmatively.
--->---<--->---<--->---<---
Arriving at Mu Qing's palace door, he was stopped from entering by two seemingly young but steadfast guards.
"I'm sorry, General Nan Yang. Our General doesn't receive visitors at the moment. Please come back another time."
Annoyed, Feng Xin clenched his hands into fists. He tried to contact Mu Qing through the spiritual communication array, but it was blocked off. In the past this was mostly the case when they had one of their bigger or smaller fights, or just overall had a problem with each other. So, nearly all the time. However, the last few weeks the communication path was mostly kept unlocked. Another possibility would be that the other was working and just didn't want to be interrupted.
Whatever! Feng Xin came here with a goal in mind and wouldn't just turn on his tail.
"It'll take no time at all, I just need to drop this off. He asked me to bring it over. Just let me in for a minute and I'll be gone right away. I won't disturb him," he lied and showed them the paper bag in his left hand, while trying for an innocent smile.
The guards eyed him skeptically, but not able to discern a potential ploy, they relaxed slightly, exchanging brief eye contact.
"Alright, please make it quick, General," bowing briefly, they stepped out of the way. Feng Xin did what they asked him to and rushed through, not taking the risk that they may change their minds.
Swiftly walking around the many corridors, he searched for the study, hoping to find Mu Qing in there. When he arrived at his destination, it was for an open door and empty room. Right then, one of the deputies hurriedly passed him by, taking a second to scrutinize him suspiciously.
"Excuse me, do you have a short moment? Could you maybe tell me were General Xuan Zhen is? I have something important for him," Feng Xin stopped him, again holding up the paper bag.
The man didn't seem to want to waste any precious time and answered him without delay, feet already moving forward, clearly on his own mission. "He should still be in his rooms, General."
"Many thanks."
Knowing the vague layout of the premises, he soon found Mu Qing's private rooms and knocked. Nothing. He knocked again. Still no sound.
"Mu Qing, it's me, Feng Xin! Are you in there?" he called through the door and waited with bated breath. But got no answer.
"I just need to talk to you quickly," he paused. "I know you're in there, fucking say something already!" Loosing his patience, he knocked again, this time more demanding. But slowly his irritation turned to slight worry. Why wasn't he answering? Was he still angry with him, therefore ignoring him? Feng Xin didn't think so.
"Hey, Mu Qing! Is everything alright? Can you hear me?"
Silence.
"This is stupid! I'll come in!" Not waiting any longer, he burst through the door and came to a stop in the middle of the room.
Scanning his surroundings, his gaze immediately landed on the wooden bathtub and more importantly, on the person inside it.
Time seemed to grow slower, yet at the same time, rushed past him with the speed of lightning. It's effect branded the unexpected image into his mind.
Feng Xin caught glimpses of bare skin, a water drop dripping down a neck, a shoulder, a che-
Mu Qing snapped his eyes open, alarmed by the loud noise the martial god had made when he barged into his rooms just now.
A paper bag promptly found it's way onto the floor.
Two simultaneous shrieks pierced the air.