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He didn't know where the note came from or who sent it but it didn't matter. What mattered was Li Lianhua was in danger. Again. And he's probably spent what little internal power he has. Again.
But he went. As quickly as he could he flew to the cliff, just in time to see Lianhua jump off. "What is that idiot doing?" He didn't even have time to finish that thought, he dove right to Li Lianhua's path and caught him.
"Ah Fei!?" Was all Li Lianhua said before he passed out.
When he landed on the cliff, he picked up the remains of Li Lianhua's sword and flew off once again. It took everything he had not to kill Zijin on the spot, besides he had more pressing matters.
When he arrived at the mountain retreat, he was ready to kneel, even beg Li Lianhua's shiniang for help. He knew what he was going to ask, and if worse comes to worst, let's just say Jiao Liqiao won't be his only female casualty. But the old woman took a look at him and the man in his arms and he led them inside. She served him tea while he waited. She had enough time to thank him before she passed. He dutifully buried her beside her husband before he sat by Li Lianhua's bedside, long enough to be sure that the pallor of death was gone from him, but not long enough to wait for him to wake.
He'd sent for Fang Duobing to help Li Lianhua because he knew nothing in this world would make Li Lianhua forgive him for what he did. And so he left a message.
"I will wait for you to collect my debt."
And so he waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Two years after the emperor died and Qing'er ascended to the throne,Qiao Wanmian personally visited him, probably to hand over the invitation to the Sigu Sect Tea Party. He had been receiving such invites since after they defeated Shan Gudao but he never went. He had no interest in such things.
"Xiangyi..." She began. His heart skipped a beat
"said you will not dare decline. He said you owed him this."
He smiled. And agreed.
And so he prepared for death. A death he would welcome and knew he deserved. He settled his affairs with the Alliance and set out.
To his surprise, a smiling Li Xiangyi met him in the dense forest.
"Let's take a walk."
When the silence between them became unbearable, he stopped walking.
"What are you waiting for?" His voice harsh.
Li Xiangyi turned around, blinked a few times before saying: "Oh"
"You believe I owe you a life. And I'm here to take it."
He closed his eyes. He'd been in a lot of near death situations but this was the only time he saw his life flash before his eyes.
Not really his life, mostly it was his time with Li Lianhua and Fang Duobing. A smile crept on his lips as he waited for Li Xiangyi to take the only thing he could offer.
~o0o~
Li Xiangyi took a life that day, and that's something he would never regret. Perhaps, it was the best choice he had ever made. For him it felt like it. Even if time turned back, he'd never choose differently.
The last thing he remembered was jumping off a cliff. Then he woke up with a very worried Fan Duobing looking after him. He recognized the place he was in and the moment he felt his energy and connected it to Fan Duobing looking like a sad and lost puppy. He knew.
His shiniang only left him a letter. She explained how a man came to her doorstep with an almost lifeless Li Lianhua and she knew. She had said that it was her choice, and that the man was brave enough to bear the burden of his actions.
"I do this out of my love for you as your master once did. I have lived a full life and to know that this could be exchanged for yours is a privilege I will gladly take. I want you to take this life and live it to the fullest.
Do not hate the man for bringing you here. He acted out of love as I do. Do not deny me the chance to show my love. Do not deny him the chance to show his love."
But he knew Di Feisheng loved nothing but martial arts. The only reason he would save him is for that duel to continue.
The thought seeped into his heart like a brand new, bitter poison. This time he couldn't let bygones be bygones.
And so he decided to take Di Feisheng's life. Li Lianhua is dead, and it would seem the Li Xiangyi from ten years ago had risen from the depths of the netherworld for revenge.
He practiced swordsmanship again. As much as he wanted to challenge Di Feisheng, he couldn't let anybody else know he's alive. His existence threatened the emperor and in extension, Fan Duobing and his entire clan. And so he waited.
When Zhan Yunfei visited him to announce his marriage to Xiaobao's aunt he wished them well.
"How about you?" Yunfei asked. He laughed dryly.
"Isn't there someone you love as well."
"How many times to I have to tell you-"
"I'm not talking about Qiao Wanmian."
Yunfei looked at him in disappointment and sighed.
"We should've locked you both up in my wedding chamber."
Yes, he's definitely going to kill Di Feisheng.
After the emperor died, he set off to complete his mission. There was a festivity at the Alliance and he could easily blend well in the crowd.
"He's not here." Fang Xiaobao said, coming up beside him
"Who?"
"He hasn't gone out much since that day. I guess he's just waiting for you to end it all." Xiaobao shrugged.
"He's at the pavilion. You know, the one on the cliff." Xiaobao turned around but not after patting him on the shoulder.
"I didn't ask!"
But he went anyway. He kept a great distance from the pavilion but he could still see Di Feisheng. The once strong features seem pale under the moonlight. The eyes that held unquenchable fires now seem glassy and dead. Why? Why does he look like a dead man when he can have the world in his hands?
Something stirred in him. Anger. Disappointment. The Di Frisheng he knew was leagues off from the man in front of him. Oh, what would he give to bring the old Di Feisheng back.
Oh…
And now he understood.
Now he's even more determined to settle things with his former rival.
And so Li Lianhua took Di Feisheng's life. If the man doesn't value it, then why not make do with it as he pleased? He regrets nothing.
~o0o~
The first snow of the year had falled the night before, and as much as Li Lianhua wanted to stay in bed, he had to prepare breakfast. He slid out of bed and into the discarded robe on the floor. It's a big bigger than him but he liked how it enveloped his body. He went on to prepare the food, making sure to add an extra portion for Xiaobao before he set the table.
"Huwang, time for breakfast."
The puppy came out from under the basket it took as a bed and trotted towards him. He smiled and petted it before laying a bowl down. Hulijing's son has the same appetite and would definitely get as fat as huli jing. He laughed.
He then looked back at the bed.
"Tsk. Still not awake."
He walked back to his bed and lightly hit the blanket covered lump.
"The soup's getting cold." A soft groan was heard before a hand shot up from beneath the blanket and pulled him back. Almost immediately strong arms and a leg kept him immobile.
"It's cold." A gruff voice said.
"Yes, because it snowed last night." This was answered by a hum.
"You can sleep all you want after breakfast."
"Will you be beside me then?"
"Why are you so clingy?"
"Because you like it."
~o0o~
Di Feisheng got a new lease in life. Just when he thought the love of his life would end him, as he felt himself being pushed by Li Xiangyi across the clearing then pinned against a tree, he was finally happy. At least he will die by his love's hand.
But the death blow did not come. Confused, he opened his eyes and met with Xiangyi's piercing stare.
"Do you love me?"
He was a dying man. There was no point in lying.
"Yes."
What came next surprised him. Li Lianhua was kissing him him. It was hungry, needy kiss that he returned with all eagerness. They were both breathless when they stopped. Li Lianhua was smirking.
"Are you still insisting you owe me your life?" He nodded
"Good. I'm taking it. You now have to spend the rest of your life with me."