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It was about time and they finally arrived in Scalegorge Waterscape - the home of the Vidyadhara and the Ambrosial Arbor. Dan Heng was just too tired, wanting to finish this as soon as they could. He felt exhausted after being lied to not once, but twice.
Dan Shu pretended to be his friend. However, she made him drink medicine that made him hurt the Cloud Knights in the Exalting Sanctum. Tingyun was also his friend, but she turned out to be a puppet for Phantylia - their enemy-to-be. He also had a feeling that he has a level of closeness with Tulong - the very woman who abandoned him.
Dan Heng does not remember a time in his life when he stepped foot on a beach, the sand giving in to the weight of his footsteps. He stares at the horizon - ruins that speak stories. The ruins also has the statue of a high elder, who looks too familiar. They began exploring the ruins all while defeating the monsters in it. General Yingxing just left them there, claiming he had somewhere important to go to.
“You okay?” March asked, elbowing him gently. It seems Dan Heng was not discrete enough to hide what he feels for the past times he has been lied to.
“I… I don't know, to be honest.” Dan Heng answered in a whisper. To sum it, he feels mad that he allowed himself to be fooled - not by one, but by two people. He feels sad because those he viewed as friends fooled him like a puppet dancing in their palms. His emotions swirled like an unpredictable whirlwind of ice and snow.
“If it's about Tingyun and Dan Shu, don't be sorry.” March harrumphed, “They chose this path and they fooled you!”. She crossed her arms. “If anything, you have every right to be mad! I mean… What friend tricks you into doing things you don't know?!”.
“A fake one?” Dan Heng answered the question that was not meant to be answered. However, March only adds in her own ideas instead of correcting him.
“Exactly!” She added, snapping her fingers, “What Dan Shu and Tingyun are shouldn't concern you anymore! They're the friends who used you and your kindness even if it was the same Tingyun that we saw earlier.”.
To be honest, Dan Heng was not sure if it was Tingyun whose neck snapped earlier, killing her. She could very well be alive. At least, he hoped the best that the vessel Phantylia used was not the same Tingyun who tricked them into creating that Aeons-damned elixir. If it was, he does not know what to say to Kafka as those two were close friends.
“I don't know what to say to Madame Kafka since… You know… what happened to Tingyun.” He stammered.
“Madame Kafka is a strong woman.” March 7th patted his back, “She'll… I'm sure she can handle grief.”. Sure. Kafka is always seen smiling blankly. Despite those smiles, Dan Heng had the feeling that it hides her true feelings within. Though, he could never imagine her smiles wavering when she finds out one of her closest allies died as a vessel of their enemy.
Caelus sighed, now riding the boat to Scalegorge Waterscape - the very home he dreaded returning to. If one wonders why he went to the Xianzhou, he got way too antsy in leaving Dan Heng, March and Mr. Yang be after not receiving their messages. The signals were way too unaligned, causing their connections to fail over and over again.
With much reluctance, Caelus returned to the Xianzhou, jumping to Cloudford under Himeko's command. He was joined by a man who carries a casket (Luocha, he remembers his name) and a Cloud Knight named Sushang. Eventually, they went to Central Starskiff Haven safe and sound. Thankfully, his human disguise was enough to fool every local who could have mistaken him to be the traitor of the Xianzhou.
I'm coming, Dan Heng. He desperately thinks, I'm on my way.
So, here he is - riding a boat to Scalegorge Waterscape after briefly arriving at the Alchemy Commission. He sees the moss-covered ruins of the home Qiong destroyed just to seal the Ambrosial Arbor. He expected to see Dan Heng, March and Mr. Yang soon, steeling himself for the ass-whooping he is about to receive for lying to them.
The boat creaks, softly hitting the sand. From afar, his eyes widened upon seeing the face who has chased him for centuries alongside Stellaron Hunter Yukong. That black hair, electric blue eyes and the unmistakable scent of thunder lingering in the air around him. Jing Yuan - the former general candidate who was then replaced by Yingxing when the former was affected with Mara.
“You're here, Qiong - the little sinner.” Yukong sneered with a sly fox-like giggle, “Finally revealing yourself, huh? After so many years of hiding.”.
A heavy breath came from Jing Yuan as lightning sparks all around him, “You… You're here indeed. What gives you the guts and not run with your tail tucked between your legs?” As usual, Jing Yuan has that soft manic smile despite being personal with him, “Qiong?”. That name also sounded more like an insult like the rest of what that woman and this amnesiac idiot says.
“You two must be more stupid than I thought.” Caelus crossed his arms, revealing his still-sheathed sword in case something goes south, “How many fucking times do I have to tell you? I am not that sinner you call me, I am Caelus - the guard of the Astral Express.”.
“Very well, guard of the Astral Express.” Jing Yuan reveals his spear, his form now crackling with lightning and thunder, “You didn't expect me to let go of our past that easily, did you?”.
“Because I've got nothing to do with it.” Caelus scoffed.
“You didn't even experience death, so… I shall impose it upon you.” Jing Yuan’s lightning intensified after he said that statement. His black and golden spear began to glow with power, sparkling with the same element that its owner is known for. Caelus instinctively held the handle of his sword.
“Always knew you'd be here, criminals.” Caelus heard a voice followed by the sound of a popping bubblegum. A girl with silver hair tied up in a ponytail sat on one of the stones, glaring at Yukong and Jing Yuan. He recognized her by her stage name Silver Wolf - Kafka’s protégé. “Now, put your hands up or else I'll hack you literally.”.
Just fucking great.