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He Xuan has always been good at hiding what he feels. Keeping his mouth shut when he wanted to scream and not moving a muscle when he wanted to set the world on fire.
He is the one in the background pulling the strings. The one who pushes his characters in the direction he wants them to go, but lets them decide for themselves whether they want to go down that path.
He kept silent when Shi Qingxuan was haunted by the 'Reverend of Empty Words' for the first time in ages.
He kept silent when the windmaster sought help from the crown prince of XianLe.
He kept silent when his clone kidnapped him and showed him the truth.
He kept silent when Shi Qingxuan was devastated and dragged back to heaven by his brother.
And he kept silent when the windmaster revealed the shocking truth of his past, both of their pasts.
But now, as Pei Ming appears in Yushi Huang's territory and urges Shi Qingxuan to accompany him to help his brother, he breaks his silence.
Resolutely, he stands in Shi Qingxuan's way as he heads towards Pei Ming. The former windmaster stops in surprise.
“Ming-xiong, what is it?”
He Xuan doesn't answer, but he stares down the former windmaster with all his might. Don't go to him, his gaze says. Don't do it.
He has enumerated to Shi Qingxuan the atrocities his brother has done. The blood that was spilled so that Shi Qingxuan could live carefree in heaven. He has shown him exactly how many lives the continuation of his own has cost.
But that's where his involvement in his revenge stops. Shi Qingxuan is naive and he has stolen He Xuan's rightful place in heaven, but in the end, he was uninvolved in the action itself.
It has taken He Xuan years to figure out what he ultimately wants to do to the windmaster. He is still not quite sure, but what he does know is that he wants to save him from what follows.
Shi Qingxuan seems to interpret at least part of his expression correctly. His eyes take on a gentle expression. “Ming-xiong, I... thank you. But no matter what, that's still... I'm still worried, so let's just focus on passing this trial first!”
A surge of anger overcomes the 'earthmaster'. His fists begin to tremble. Silence , he admonishes himself. Silence and passivity, that's your role. But he is so tired of being silent. Xie Lian seems to suspect something will happen, because he steps forward and asks Pei Ming to lead him to the ship. The martial god protests, but Xie Lian insists that they should go ahead. The others would follow.
He Xuan doesn't notice. Not really. He is busy staring down the former windmaster. The words spill over his lips before he can stop them.
“You really want to help him? After all he has done, you want to help him stay in heaven? So he can keep doing what he wants, taking what he wants, no matter how many innocents get dragged through the mud?” His voice becomes unusually loud, so loud that Shi Qingxuan flinches.
“Ming-xiong, that isn't...” Shi Qingxuan wants to protest, but he immediately shuts his mouth again. Because what can he say in defence? He knows now more than ever that his brother has not always done the right thing. Won't always do the right thing.
Still, his determination does not waver. With tightened shoulders, Shi Qingxuan returns his best friend's serious look. “No matter what happens after, I need to help him.”
Stunned, He Xuan stares down at the windmaster. “You are really willing to stay beside him, even after you learned what he has done?”
Despair flits across Shi Qingxuan's face. “He's the only family I have left!” he shouts. “I know he did horrible things, but that won't stop me from loving him!”
He Xuan feels as if he has been beaten. Dully, he remembers someone ramming a knife into his chest on the night of his death. He remembers the stabbing pain that throbbed in his chest. He also remembers the satisfied, greasy face of the water tyrant as he bent over him and pronounced his death.
A hitherto unknown hardness mingles in He Xuan's gaze. “If you stay with him, you'll lose me,” he declares quietly.
Shi Qingxuan's eyes widen in horror. “Ming-xiong! You can't mean that!”
But the ghost king's attitude remains impassive. “I'm serious.”
The windmaster is shaken. He takes a step towards the earthmaster. “Ming-xiong, don't force me to choose.” he pleads in a trembling voice.
Unmoved, He Xuan returns his gaze. “Why not?!” It's one monster against another. It doesn't make much difference.
“Because it's not fair!” Shi Qingxuan shouts.
He Xuan squints his eyes. “Your whole life wasn't fair!”
Shocked silence. Shi Qingxuan lowers his head in shame. He is right. He has earned nothing in his life for himself. Nothing in his life has been fair to others.
“Well?” He Xuan demands a decision.
Shi Qingxuan raises his head. Slowly, he takes a step back. “I... I can't. I'm sorry.”
Something shatters in He Xuan.
“Fine.” He turns away. “You said 'no matter what happens after'.” the Ghost king mutters and looks over his shoulder at Shi Qingxuan one last time. “Keep that in mind.”
Shi Qingxuan stumbles after him, wanting to stop him, but Pei Ming's call from afar reminds him that time is of the essence. Then Ming Yi disappears behind a rock. His heart tightens. He has never argued with his best friend before. He didn't think it was possible! Everything was always so easy with Ming Yi. But now he is angry with Shi Qingxuan. Really angry.
It hurts, but another call of his name forces him to swallow the pain. Shi Qingxuan straightens his shoulders and marches off in the direction where the others have disappeared. First, he has to focus on what's important - saving his brother. After that... after that, he can turn his attention to the mess with Ming Yi.
Shi Qingxuan had hoped that Ming Yi wasn't serious. That he would reappear after a while and be a little grumpy, but that everything would be back to normal after a few hearty meals.
But he never came back. Neither of them did.
From the moment Shi Qingxuan boarded the ship, everything seemed to go downhill. Although they managed to locate his brother, the ship was caught in a violent storm that kept them trapped for a whole day.
Although his concern for Shi Wudu disappeared as soon as he came on deck and scolded the former windmaster for his stupidity, the uncomfortable pressure on his chest remained. Shi Qingxuan can't deny that it feels wrong to be traveling without his best friend. He keeps looking around for the familiar annoyed expression before remembering that it's useless. Later , he reminds himself. Later, he will make it up to him.
With that, he shakes off the uneasy feeling. What he can't shake off are the sharp glances Hua Cheng keeps giving him along the way. Shi Qingxuan doesn't understand. What has he done?
He knows that the red Ghost king doesn't like it when Xie Lian is in danger. But this time, the god decided to go on this trip all by himself! Shi Qingxuan had nothing to do with it! So why is the red Ghost king looking at him as if he's thinking of hounding a swarm of butterflies on him at any moment?
At some point, the ship drifts so far off course that they find themselves in completely unfamiliar waters. Worse even: the waters of another Ghost king.
Bad luck seems to follow Shi Qingxuan: While still at sea, he is separated from the others and ends up in a cell somewhere on the islands of Black Water. Xie Lian and the others find him, but as all the portals are locked, they are at a loss as to how to get off the island.
After some exploration, a dark castle finally appears in front of them, which must belong to the owner of the island. Xie Lian suggests searching for a portal there, and Shi Wudu eagerly takes the lead. The sooner he can get his brother away from this place, the better.
In fact, they discover a functioning, active portal on an inconspicuous door. But the willingness to use it is limited. It is difficult to tell whether traps have been set at this portal. And the only person who could give a clear assessment of this is not among them. Shi Qingxuan feels a telltale throbbing in his chest. Again, it feels so wrong to be traveling without Ming Yi. He would know what to do. He always knows what to do.
Once again, it is Shi Wudu who breaks the hesitation. He is determined to send himself and Shi Qingxuan through the portal - the important thing is that they get away from this unpredictable place. But Hua Cheng stops him and warns him that it is safer to send only one person through at a time. Otherwise the portal could collapse.
This holds Shi Wudu back for a moment, but eventually he drags his brother to the door. He has to take the risk. “No matter where you land, you stay where you are, do you hear me?” he tells the former windmaster. “Wait for Ge, I'll be right behind you!” Then Shi Qingxuan is sent through the portal.
He lands in a dark, seemingly endless forest. A shiver comes over him. Apparently, he is not yet outside the territory of the black Supreme. Obediently, he stays put and waits. But Shi Wudu does not appear. The others don't appear either. Slowly, there’s the frightening idea creeping up on him that this portal has been playing with the gods. Without further ado, he sets off in the hope of finding his brother and the others.
He doesn’t know how long he wanders through the dark forest, trembling and frightened. Until he finally hears shouts. It is the voice of his big brother. His heart leaps with relief before he sprints off after the voice.
When the familiar silhouette appears on a clearing between the trees, he could cry with joy. “Ge!” Shi Qingxuan shouts - and crashes against an invisible wall. The former windmaster stretches out his arms and feels a solid wall in mid-air. “Ge!” he shouts again, feeling the panic more strongly again. “Ge! Here! I'm here!”
But Shi Wudu does not look at him. He doesn't even hear him. He walks across the clearing with a hurried look. Shi Qingxuan recognizes the clearing as the place that houses the lake and its portal. He resolutely ignores the rising fear and scans the barrier. Perhaps there is a passage somewhere. Maybe he can -
Faster than the eye can see, black roots shoot out of the ground and wrap themselves around Shi Qingxuan's wrists and ankles. The former windmaster cries out and falls down. The hard ground tears open his knees. The former god tries to get up again, but the vines around his joints hold him in place.
At this moment, he spots a dark figure approaching Shi Wudu from behind. The former windmaster screams in panic and tries to warn his brother, but neither he nor the figure respond to his shouts. The rough bark scrapes the skin from his flesh as Shi Qingxuan struggles and writhes, but his bonds do not give an inch. He is forced to watch whatever happens now.
Shi Wudu is no fool. He may not be a martial god, but he can sense an approaching danger. “Who's there?” he calls out and turns around. A blurry figure steps into the clearing between the trees and stretches its arms out towards him. The watermaster doesn't think twice, but fires a barrage of water arrows at the creature.
Effortlessly, the figure moves out of the way and takes another step closer until its outline becomes clearer in the faint light of the surroundings.
Shi Qingxuan's eyes widen. No. It can't be.
Shi Wudu frowns. “You?!”
Ming Yi steps out of the shadows of the trees. “Me.”
Shi Qingxuan is confused. What is his best friend doing here? Has he followed him to pull him out of the mess as usual? His heart flutters with relief for a moment, but something about Ming Yi's look worries him. There is an emotion in his eyes that he does not recognize.
Shi Wudu quickly regains his composure. He is confused, but his watchful attitude has not disappeared. “What are you doing here, earthmaster?” he asks.
Ming Yi's eyes narrow to slits before he tilts his head back and laughs. A shiver runs through Shi Qingxuan. It's not a nice laugh. What's wrong with him?
Full of disdain, the earthmaster looks at the god. “It's shameful how blind you are!” He shakes his head. “Have you already forgotten my face within only a few centuries? After you tried so hard to make sure I was dead?”
Shi Qingxuan doesn't understand. What is Ming Yi talking about? He must be delusional. Unless... His heart stops for a moment in shock. No. No, that's not possible.
“Ming-xiong...”
Ming Yi turns his head in Shi Qingxuan's direction. He can see me, the former windmaster realizes. Immediately, he starts tugging at his shackles and calling out to his best friend. “Ming-xiong! Ming-xiong! Help!”
The earthmaster watches him motionlessly as he wriggles like a fish caught in a net. Only then does he realize the reality. The things that Ming Yi has just revealed. And what it means for him and his brother. No...
The former windmaster desperately searches Ming Yi's face for something that tells him it's all a lie. A wicked joke in his already shattered world. Yet there is nothing but cold anger and determination. Did he already have this expression before?
Shi Wudu has come to the same conclusion. “You're that scholar.” His face is white as he says it.
'Ming Yi' turns his attention back to the water tyrant. “The one whose fate you stole? Correct, that's me.”
Shi Qingxuan hiccups. It can't be. This is his best friend. It can't be that all this was done to his best friend. Fear creeps in with the shock. But is this really his best friend?
Shi Wudu has also redoubled his caution. But he can't shake off the confusion. “You're not dead?”
'Ming Yi' spreads his arms out in defiance. “Do I look dead to you?”
Shi Wudu straightens his shoulders. He is aware of his miserable situation, but he will not back down. Especially not in front of someone he had already defeated centuries ago. “What do you want from me now?” he demands to know.
'Ming Yi' takes a breath. It seems he has been wanting to get the following words out for a while. “ Kneel. Kneel before the ashes of my family and beg their forgiveness.” He straightens up a little and something merciless enters his eyes. “And then beg for mine.”
Shi Wudu huffs. “What forgiveness? I'm not sorry for what I did. I protected Qingxuan. If your family suffered, that's on them. And you... you survived, didn't you? Where's the harm done?”
“'Where's the harm done'?!” ‘Ming Yi’ repeats incredulously. “I could have taken my rightful place in heaven if it wasn't for you! My family would have survived if it wasn't for you!” Besides their argument, this is the first time Shi Qingxuan has heard 'Ming Yi' speak in a raised voice. It shocks him as much as the words he speaks.
'Ming Yi' takes a step towards Shi Wudu. “You took my fate and exchanged it for Shi Qingxuan's rotten one, even though it's forbidden. You hung the Reverend of Empty Words on my neck, even though your job as a god is to protect people from these demons.”
With every word he says, the sky above them seems to darken further. Shi Qingxuan feels a chill run down his spine.
“You allowed my life and then my family's to be destroyed.” 'Ming Yi' continues. “I was innocently sent to prison, my sister and fiancé were kidnapped and broken, my parents died of diseases they contracted as a result. And me?”
His eyes narrow to slits. “I remember exactly how I collapsed from exhaustion that cold night. I remember your face .” Caught off guard, Shi Wudu flinches.
But 'Ming Yi' doesn't even seem to notice. He is stuck too deep in his own memories. “You descended only to check if I was dead. Your expression was so... self-satisfied .” He casts an inquiring glance over Shi Wudu. “You don't regret it one bit.” he states incredulously.
Against all expectations, Shi Wudu starts to laugh. It intensifies the chill creeping through Shi Qingxuan. “Regret what?” the god asks aloud. “My number one goal is to protect Qingxuan. It always has been.”
“Hypocrite!” ‘Ming Yi’ shouts angrily and spits at the watermaster's feet. “And that's what they call a god!”
Piqued, Shi Wudu takes a step back. “You’re the one to talk! What have you been doing in heaven all these years? Why didn't you confront me right away if it was so important to you?”
Shi Qingxuan's breathing quickens. His mind barely has time to process the new information and come to terms with the current situation. But his brother's question gives him pause. What did 'Ming Yi' want from the two of them up there in heaven if he knew of his fate all along?
The former windmaster is overcome by an irrational fear that the time he spent with him may not have been based on friendship, as he had always believed. This possibility scares him more than the current situation.
'Ming Yi' eyes the watermaster silently for a while. “I wanted to know who else was involved.” he finally explains.
Shi Wudu frowns. He remembers that the earthmaster hardly kept in touch with anyone in heaven. No one, to be precise... except for Shi Qingxuan. The god freezes.
“Where is Qingxuan?” he asks. Until now, this was nothing more than a surprising, albeit annoying, tirade to him. But the thought that this impostor might have done something to his little brother causes a surge of panic. When 'Ming Yi' doesn't answer immediately, the panic is joined by anger.
“He had nothing to do with it! He didn't know anything about this! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!”
Now Shi Wudu is the angry one, while 'Ming Yi' calmly returns his gaze. “He's not the one I'm here for.”
It's not a concrete answer, but it lowers the watermaster's panic enough for him to think rationally again. If this wretch had hurt Qingxuan, he would not have missed the opportunity to let Shi Wudu know so that he could get back at him.
This knowledge gives him new self-confidence. CHallengingly, he sticks his chin up. “Then why are you here? You don't seriously think I'm going to kneel in front of a few measly pieces of ash and beg for forgiveness?” He tilts his head back and laughs again. “Never.”
Shi Qingxuan watches the two of them and bites his lip to stifle a whimper. He knows his brother can be cruel, but it hurts beyond belief to witness it firsthand.
The former windmaster turns his attention to 'Ming Yi'. He expected him to react to the cruel words with more anger. But apart from his hands, which he clenches into fists, he remains calm.
“Then I will break my silence.” he declares. Shi Wudu's face turns unnaturally white as he realizes what 'Ming Yi' is getting at. The impostor slowly circles the other. “What do you think they'll do to you in heaven if your deeds become public? With you AND your beloved brother?”
As soon as 'Ming Yi' has uttered the words, he has to dodge a beam of spiritual energy. He jumps back, but Shi Wudu wastes no time in throwing the next blast after him. His mind is made up: he must protect himself and his brother. At all costs.
Shi Qingxuan watches the action in sheer terror. “Stop it!” He can't bear the thought of either of them being injured. With all his might he struggles against his restraints. He pulls and tugs until the blood seeps down his joints, but the roots don't give an inch. Tears of rage and despair well up in his eyes. “Stop it!” he shouts again, but they don't hear him. The former windmaster is forced to watch the fight helplessly.
'Ming Yi' barely manages to launch a counterattack. Although he hurls a load of spiritual blasts of his own here and there, nothing reaches a strength that could come close to threatening one of the highest gods of heaven.
Finally, Shi Wudu has had enough and fires a particularly powerful blast. 'Ming Yi' leaps backwards, but gets scathed on the shoulder. The god is pulled to the ground. As he struggles to get up, his eyes widen. A huge rain of water arrows shoots down on him.
There are too many of them to dodge in time. The arrows hit the ground with a splash, almost in sync. Several of them pierce the earthmaster's body. An arrow shoots through his chest, leaving a gaping hole where his heart once beat.
“NO!” Shi Qingxuan screams. Ming Yi sinks to the ground, lifeless. At the same moment, the shackles around Shi Qingxuan's joints finally loosen. The former windmaster rushes through the loosened barrier and stumbles towards the unmoving Ming Yi.
Shi Wudu, who only now notices his brother, jumps up. “Qingxuan, what are you doing here?”
Shi Qingxuan does not answer, but falls to his knees in front of the earthmaster. Trembling, the former windmaster stretches out a hand towards him. His skin is cold. Has it always been this cold? His shoulder is torn open and blood is pouring from his chest. So much blood. And he's not breathing.
“M-Ming-xiong...” 'Ming Yi' does not respond. The former windmaster starts to shake him. “Ming-xiong, this isn't the time to take a nap! Please wake up! Please! Ming-xiong!!!”
The watermaster steps next to his brother and grabs him by the shoulder. “Come on, get away from this mess! You'll only get dirty.” Then Shi Wudu discovers the bloody wrists. “You're hurt! What did that bastard do to you?” He grabs an arm and wants to send spiritual power through it.
But Shi Qingxuan pulls himself free. “How?” he chokes out. “How could you do this?”
Shi Wudu is taken aback. Never in his life has his brother spoken to him so boldly.
But he remains resolute. “I did what I had to, Qingxuan! I had to protect us! He would have betrayed us and everything we've worked for would have been ruined!”
Shi Qingxuan looks at him, stunned. Everything we've worked for? What has Shi Qingxuan done? Nothing in this life has been rightfully given to him. He has taken everything from Ming Yi, no, the scholar He. Even his life.
“He was my best friend!” he cries. How could Shi Wudu do this to him? “He just wanted an apology!” Shi Wudu starts to speak, but Shi Qingxuan won't let him. “You hurt him already! WHY? Why did you have to do it again? When will it be enough?! ”
His older brother's eyes are as hard as steel. Not a single spark of remorse can be seen in them. It hurts just as much as holding the lifeless body of his best friend in his arms. Shi Wudu grabs his brother's joints again. “Qingxuan, one day you will understand -”
“ No! Don't touch me! Never touch me again!” Shi Qingxuan screams and backs away. His eyes are veiled in tears as he clutches 'Ming Yi' even tighter. “You took him! You took him from me! I won't forgive you, never!”
Shi Wudu starts to reprimand his brother when an eerie knock interrupts the silence of the dark forest. Shi Wudu pauses and listens. No, not a knock. It's clapping .
A figure in red emerges from between the trees, his pale hands clapping together in a casual rhythm.
The water god immediately tenses up again. “Crimson Rain Sought Flower! What are you doing here?” How long has the Ghost king been standing there? How much has he noticed?
“Oh, I was just looking for one of my butterflies. It was dispbedient and escaped,” Hua Cheng explains. A single silver butterfly flutters from the sky and circles him once before settling on the Supreme's outstretched finger.
“But look at that! It flew here and decided to record everything happening here. Huh.” A gleeful grin hangs at the corner of his mouth as he looks the watermaster straight in the eye. “It would look really really bad for you if I coincidentally decided to link the memories of the butterfly with the dreams of your followers. And maybe even worse if I sent it to the Heavenly Official's communication array.”
Shi Wudu almost chokes on his breath. He would like to shake the Supreme with rage and throw him into the dirt, where such scum belongs. But Hua Cheng is not as easy to get rid of as a puny god like 'Ming Yi'.
He must be wary of the Gost king. A threat like this is serious. As much as it goes against his grain: to protect Shi Qingxuan and his position, the best tactic at the moment is to kowtow to the Supreme.
That's why he stretches his back before putting his hands together and bowing as gracefully as possible in his condition. “Honored red Calamity. What do I have to do to keep you from ruining our lives? I'll do anything.” After a few moments of silence, he adds between clenched teeth, “... Please.”
Hua Cheng crosses his arms and leans against a tree. “Mmmmh. How nice you can beg!” A dark shadow flits across his eyes. “What a pity it's long too late for that.”
A dazzling light tears open the dark sky and forces Shi Wudu to put his hand over his eyes. When he can see again, he is surrounded by a group of martial gods.
In their midst is Ling Wen, a parchment in her hands. “Watermaster Wudu, based on available evidence, you are accused of violating the heavenly laws of the honorable Emperor and murdering a Heavenly Official, earthmaster Ming Yi. You are hereby escorted to the upper court immediately to receive judgment.”
Ling Wen meets his help-seeking gaze with quiet regret. He has always seen her as a good friend and extremely capable comrade. She is not uninitiated in the watermaster's past. She probably would have found a way to pull him out of this affair had Hua Cheng not made sure that at least two out of three realms got to see his deeds.
Like this, he is on his own. Frantically, he looks around for Shi Qingxuan. His little brother looks at the useless corpse in his arms and pays no attention to the rest. Inwardly, he is overcome with rage. How can he give in to his emotions in this situation? It doesn't help. He has to get them both out of here. Quickly. He hastily rushes towards Shi Qingxuan, but before he reaches him, two martial gods stand in his way.
Shi Wudu hurls his full strength at them, but before he can escape, he is surrounded by new gods. Next, he feels the tingling sensation of immortal binding cables around his wrists.
Shi Qingxuan sits away from the action and continues to clutch his best friend. There are other people around him, pulling Shi Wudu away from him. Heavenly light falls on the gruesome scene, but Shi Qingxuan is oblivious to everything.
The sounds around him are muffled, colors and shapes blur into one another. The only outlines he can still see clearly are those of his best friend. He clings to them, has to hold on to them so that they don't disappear too. Somehow he has to stop him from leaving.
“Ming-xiong...” he mumbles again. Only then does he realize: He's calling for the wrong name. Hastily, he slaps a hand over his mouth and swallows his noise. This person doesn't deserve this treatment. “H-he Xuan...” he begins, timidly. That must have been his true name, right?
Shi Qingxuan scrutinizes the pale features beneath him. Even in this state, his brow seems to be slightly furrowed. The former windmaster carefully strokes it to smooth it out. “I'm sorry for what I said.” he whispers choked. “I'm sorry for what I did. I... I didn't know. I should've known. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.... Please wake up, He Xuan!”
No reaction. The blood under his chest is beginninh to dry. Shi Qingxuan's throat becomes tight. He gently shakes the lifeless upper body. “Yell at me! Tell me how stupid I am! Be angry with me, hate me, kill me, just... just open your eyes. PLEASE!”
But no matter how much he begs and pleads, the body in his arms doesn't move.
Someone steps next to him. Shi Qingxuan's tear-blurred gaze looks up and recognizes Hua Cheng. He looks down at the two of them with an inscrutable expression. Then, a swarm of silver butterflies suddenly appears out of nowhere and covers He Xuan's lifeless body.
The former windmaster flinches back in shock, loosening his grip. Taking advantage of this moment, the butterflies lift the body off the ground. Shi Qingxuan tries to stop them. “No!” But he can't reach them. His heart tightens, so he turns to Hua Cheng. “Chengzhu, don't... Don't take him from me, please!”
The red Ghost king looks at him with a surprisingly hard expression. “You didn't care when he was still with you. Now it's too late.”
His words pierce the already aching heart of the former windmaster. Nevertheless, he doesn't want to give up just like that. If he has to, he will fight... But Shi Qingxuan realizes how stupid the thought of trying to take on a Calamity as a mere human is. He will never be able to defeat him, no matter how determined he is.
Hua Cheng seems to be able to guess his thoughts. Defiantly, he nods to the Heavenly Officials who are preparing to return to heaven. Standing uninvited on the territory of an unknown Supreme for too long is not something they are comfortable with, even in a large group.
Shi Qingxuan's shoulders slump. He's not comfortable leaving his best friend to a Ghost king he barely knows. But he knows the Officials in heaven well enough to hope that He Xuan's body is better off with Hua Cheng.
“Then...” he sniffs softly. “Please don't hurt him.”
Hua Cheng's expression remains unchanged. “He's dead.” he declares coldly. “ I have done the least harm.”
Shi Qingxuan flinches. A few sobs leave his mouth instead of a reply. He watches silently as Hua Cheng turns around and disappears into the forest along with the floating body.
Shi Qingxuan wraps his arms around himself as he begins to tremble. Now he is alone. Truly and completely alone. The two most important people in his life are gone. How could this have happened?
Suddenly Ming Yi's last words of their fight come to his mind . You said no matter what happens after. Keep that in mind.
No matter what happens after. No matter what happens after. No matter what happens after.
Shi Qingxuan would never have expected THIS to happen! That Ming Yi, no, He Xuan... That his brother would be capable of something like this....
No matter what happens after.
He should have known. It has happened before. He should have known better. He could have prevented it if he had...
No matter what happens after. Keep that in mind.
He Xuan tried to warn him. He didn't listen to him. Now he has lost him for good.
In the distance, a ghost stands hidden between trees and watches the events with a carefully concealed expression. His gaze is particularly fixed on the whimpering human. Blood oozes from his chafed joints and drips on the former white robes, but he doesn't even seem to notice. He stares into the distance with glassy eyes and whispers the same words over and over again.
A dull bang draws the ghost's attention away from the human. Next to him stands another ghost dressed in red with his arms crossed. “There you go.” mumbles Hua Cheng mumbles. He has thrown a lifeless body at his feet. “I thought you might want this back.”
He Xuan bends over the earthmaster's shell. He looks at the face he has worn for so long. Due to the blood loss the skin is now almost as pale as his own. He runs a hand over the slightly altered features. Then he crushes the face under his fingers and the shell dissolves into black dust.
Hua Cheng watches him carefully. “So it's finally over, huh?” He Xuan straightens up and nods. “My revenge is complete.”
The red Supreme hums. “Mn. I can see that. You've done a great job! Shi Wudu's reputation is ruined for good. He has lost everything he holds dear: his status and his brother's love. Life as an ordinary person will be a nightmare in which he will be trapped for the rest of his life.”
Hua Cheng tilts his head. “Only one question remains.” He looks past He Xuan at the clearing. “Are you satisfied with the result?”
He Xuan follows his gaze to Shi Qingxuan, who is left alone on the cold floor, crying and whimpering without anyone left to care.
He Xuan has always been good at hiding what he feels. Pushing his emotions aside for a greater cause, his greater cause. He believed that pursuing his revenge would free him from this burden. However, it seems he is doomed to continue this behavior if he doesn't want to go insane a second time.