Work Text:
Living in Dark River is always eerie.
Every day, you hear news about death, of names you never heard of, of someone you met once on a mission, of close comrades, of those whom you respect the most, of the one you call partner in everything.
Every day, you watch people you went on missions with dying one by one, the corpses lying helplessly as if they bear witness to every tragedy that has been brought by and upon Dark River.
People only talk about the side of of Dark River that they want to hear: the one that says "There will be death when you meet the people of Anhe.". Never the side of loss they also have to face daily for the path they had to choose but what can an assassin say? They have no right to demand justice for those they've lost. Only revenge is suitable and accepted so Su Changhe wails in the most agonizing voice and rage. "I will kill them. I will make sure this world burns with me. I will kill everyone who made Su Muyu suffer."
The body in Su Changhe's hands has turned almost cold. The rain stopped long time ago, yet he still shivered. Tears he held back moments ago have long since dried up. Su Changhe could only sighs and weeps in silence, looking at the body in his arms. Su Muyu looked so serene, peaceful in the most dreadful way possible. Su Changhe is a man his of word; he keeps his promises. He said that no one would dare to hurt Su Muyu unless he died first. But today he broke his promise. Su Muyu is gone because he protected Su Changhe.
Su Changhe's martial arts have been proven the best in Dark River, yet he reacted so slowly when Su Muyu blocked the attack with his body. It was as if time froze and he could do nothing but stare as the blade meant for his heart stabbed Su Muyu's instead. When he realized what had happened, he was already too late. Su Muyu was already lifeless in Changhe's embrace. Blood stained Changhe’s hands, painting them red. The wail heard that night was laced with lament and agony. Changhe felt like he had lost his mind, like someone was stabbing every part of his heart, yet he couldn't die, no matter how painful it was. The tears couldn't even reach his cheeks anymore.
The one who killed Muyu has gone, leaving Changhe to sob helplessly. "Muyu... Why did you have to go first? Why couldn’t it be me? Why couldn’t I go first? Why did you have to do this? Why were you so selfish? Do you think I wanted to be saved by you? Why are you so cruel? Leaving me alone to weep for you.. Why?"
In the end sadness was the one that got the best of Su Changhe. He felt like he was drowning. Nothing mattered except Su Muyu. He kept hugging Su Muyu's body until Su Zhe's voice reached his ears. "Xiao Changhe, we have to go." Su Zhe just patted Changhe’s shoulder then left.
Changhe had no choice but to bring Su Muyu's body back to Dark River. He thought of so many ways to bring him back from death, already willing to sacrifice everything, yet nothing would bring Su Muyu back to life. The only way was to turn him into living corpse and Changhe knew Su Muyu would despise him so much in afterlife if Changhe dared to do this.
Changhe finally burried Su Muyu's body in the place where they used to gaze at the moon together. It was a beautiful place. Su Muyu once said that the moon in Dark River looked rounder, better than anywhere else. Changhe never cared anyway, as all he did was drink his wine and stare at Su Muyu when the latter didn't notice. But tonight it was different. Changhe finally realized that what Su Muyu said was true. The moon did look beautiful. Changhe didn't dare to even think about it but he felt as if Su Muyu was trying to comfort him. Maybe in another life, he and Su Muyu could be just two ordinary people who loved to gaze at the moon. Maybe in another life Changhe wouldn't lose Su Muyu. Maybe in another life..