Chapter Text
The last thing Chu Wanning remembered was Taxian-jun, the emperor of cultivation world holding him in his arms while crying and saying the meanest words Chu Wanning had ever heard out of his mouth, he reached his hand for his face to soothe him of his pain but everything went blank and the next moment he was lying in his bed, the drums were going off and everything was dark, he slowly got off the bed and lighted the room with a spell, everything was same, but not at the same time, there was a pile of books on the table, after looking around for a long time, he finally reached the conclusion that he had been reborn, but he didn't know in what time, in what period and so he started reading the books, but could not recollect any memories of this Chu Wanning, whenever he tried to remember something, his head hurt and his body would go in a shock and so he didn't go out for the whole week, and finished all the books, before coming to this party tonight.
The elders had finally finished greeting and congratulating the northern diper celestial, wanye Yuheng, on coming out of his seclusion.
"Shizun", Xue Meng said coming in front of him, his sharp eyes staring right into Chu Wanning's.
"Xue Meng", Chu Wanning called softly, taking in all the features of this proud son of heaven's, Xue Meng seemed to be more handsome then in the last life, their last life was so messy, Chu Wanning had lost everything, no one believed in him but Xue Meng, he..he was always there, trying his best to take out his defeated shizun, even when he lost all hope and pushed Xue Meng away, he still tried his best, he still fought with Taxian-jun, his disciple, who he thought would never grow out of his tantrums.
"Shizun, I missed you", Xue Meng said and threw himself in Chu Wanning's lap, hugging him, he knew his shizun would tell him off, but he could not control himself.
"I missed you too, Shizun is sorry, I failed you", Chu Wanning said hugging him back, in his last life he lost a lot so much that he didn't care for his fake image anymore, he was a human, it was okay to cry and have emotions, he was not so thin faced now, after all he knew now that showing care to the people you love is far more important than maintaining an image that only hurt oneself and others.
"No shizun, how could you say that, if it was not for you, we would have all died, it was us, it was all of us who failed you", Xue Meng answered crying loudly, not caring even a bit for his image.
"It's okay silly child, it's okay, Don't cry anymore, you are already 21 years old and still crying, get up, let me take a proper look at you", Chu Wanning said and patted Xue Meng's head, who looked up and let go of him.
"Shizun, I have so much to tell you and I have also prepared a gift for you, but..but I will give it to you later", Xue Meng said and before walking away from Chu Wanning, he gave him a smile and folded something small into his hand.
"Shizun, this disciple congratulates you on coming out of seclusion successfully", Shi Mei bowed his head in front of Chu Wanning.
"En", Chu Wanning gave a small nod in acknowledgement, this person, he had not seen this person in his last life, shi Mei had grown up to be tall and beautiful, his peach blossom eyes were softer then before, his cheeks were full and he looked too beautiful.
How could Chu Wanning have been so blind in his last life, how could he compare himself to Shi Mei, he was so beautiful, so gentle so kind, but what was chu Wanning, he was just an old soul, In a body that was too weak, he was so ugly, so cold looking, so inhumanely, how could he ever think he could compete with him.
Shi Mei felt that Chu Wanning was silent for too long, he didn't even acknowledge him properly, of course he would not show as much concern to him as he did for Xue Meng, but this was too much, he was too cold and everyone in the hall could feel that, shi Mei turned around silently and was about to walk away but Chu Wanning held his hand.
"Shi Mei, how have you been?", Chu Wanning asked coming out of his daze, making Shi Mei stand still without replying for a second.
"I have been good shizun, I was away for sometime to learn medicine and other things", Shizun Mei answered softly as his eyes were fixated on Chu Wanning's hand which held onto his own.
"Hmm, I knew you would make shizun proud, you need to tell me everything you did these years", Chu Wanning said with a small smile on his face.
He was grateful to Shi Mei, so much that no one would ever know, world was in peace because he was alive and well, because Mo Ran could still see him everyday, of course he had to be grateful, Chu Wanning could not save the world, even if he begged and cried and used all his existence , but he could not even save one person,but Shi Mei, Shizun Mei was different from him, he only breathed and the world was still intact, everyone was still happy and alive.
Chu Wanning wanted to laugh at himself, how could he ever think he would make a place in Mo Ran's heart, when the one he was competing with was this ethereal beauty that has for sure descended from the heavens, he felt too stupid.
"Shizun", Shi Mei called, making Chu Wanning look up at him again, the corner of his eyes was stinging,tears threatening to fall down at any moment, his hold on Shi Mei had also significantly tightened.
"Shizun, are you okay?", Shi Mei asked, seeing Chu Wanning's eyes.
"En, I am just a bit tired, it's okay", Chu Wanning reassured and let go of his hand.
His heart was thumping loudly in his chest, it was his turn now, next would be More Ran, his thoughts were running wild, while his hands shivered uncontrollably, Mo Ran, what was he thinking, he didn't know, he just wanted to get up from here and run away, he could not bear to see him, just as he was contemplating about how to make an excuse and run back to red Lotus pavilion, a soft voice sounded near him.
"Shizun, congratulations on coming out of seclusion", Mo Ran said in a low voice, his condition was not any better then Chu Wanning, of course how could he be normal, His Wanning finally came out, he had waited five years for this moment, his Heart was running wild and his eyes were taking in every one of Chu Wanning's features, his beautiful pheonix eyes, his sweet thin lips, his nose bridge that was high, his sharp jawline that always gave him a godly look, he was too good, too beautiful, so beautiful that it hurt Mo Ran, he hoped that Chu Wanning would hug him too, then he would relax, then maybe it will hurt less, then everything will be okay.
"En, how have you been", Chu Wanning asked looking at his hands in his lap, he never looked up, he didn't need to he knew how Mo Ran looked, what was the need to look at his face, he would only cry, he didn't want to meet those eyes again, those eyes that screamed how much they hated him, those eyes, which wanted him dead, no matter how many years, Chu Wanning's heart was still not ready to move on, to understand that the man would never love him, that his love for this man was a waste because he loved someone deeply, because there was Shi Mei in his heart, he never had a chance.
"I have been good, I have been wandering around these years, cultivating, I was waiting for Shizun to wake up", Mo Ran explained, hopeful that Chu Wanning will look at him, he had put in so much effort into getting ready, the robes he was wearing were exclusively made by a grandmaster, with the finest fabric, he knew Chu Wanning didn't like things that were too extravagant but he still wanted to look his best, show Chu Wanning he was more handsome then Xue Meng and praise him.
"En", Chu Wanning gave a short reply and then got up.
"I want to go back now, I am feeling tired", Chu Wanning said and got ready to leave.
"Shizun,.I will accompany you", Mo Ran offered, hopeful that he could spend sometime with Chu Wanning alone.
"No, you stay here and take care of Shi Mei", Chu Wanning said and left before Mo Ran could say anything, he had made up his mind, this time, he would protect Shi Mei with his life and make sure that......