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“Isn’t this a beautiful day, Ming-Xiong?” A laugh escaped the Windmaster as he said this. Letting his robes flutter in the mild summer wind, while the sun shone down on his face, making his bright skin nearly shine like a precious pearl in the sea. It wasn’t too warm yet and not too cold anymore, just a perfect day.
But Ming Yi didn’t felt any of this.
The sun, the wind, everything just felt like it was nothing at all, not making his skin prickle nor warm it the slightest. It didn’t reach the depths of his heart. It did stop moving centuries ago after all. How should it be moved by a simple early summer day. It wasn’t the first and wouldn’t be the last in his long life, but Shi Qingxuan made it sound as if it would be the first time he actually noticed this.
The Windmaster only whirled around, making his robes fly even more with the wind that went along this little hill they stood upon, only to look at him with a smile so bright that it nearly challenged the sun. His steps were light as if he wouldn’t weigh anything, as he walked towards him. Only stopping a few inches from Ming Yi before he linked his arms with his. Smiling up at him as if he tried to melt every barrier around his heart with it.
It didn’t. His heart still didn’t beat.
“Isn’t this a perfect day to just enjoy the day? Ming-Xiong, we should take a walk to the next city or village and see if they might have a place to drink and eat something.” Shi Qingxuan tugged a bit on his robes as he said so, appearing even more innocent as he actually was.
But he was just unaware of everything.
“Why should I go with you anyway?” Ming Yi huffed out his answer in an annoyed tune. As he always would and as always Shi Qingxuan only laughed even more at this, as if he had told the most funny joke the Windmaster ever had heard.
It was always like this. No matter how repellent he acted or how cold his voice was, Shi Qingxuan would never back away, he would pout, smile or even laugh at every reaction he made and Ming Yi wouldn’t bother at some point any more about this. It was always the same since they first met. As if it was just the most logical thing how it should be. As if it was just meant to be.
But it never was. So Ming Yi thought. It was just a coincidence that happened this way and nothing special.
“Ming-Xiong don’t be mean! Not on a day like this, not if you can spend time with your best friend!” A pout was visible on the Wingmasters lips, but soon after it turned again into a smile.
“And that would be?” Even his answer sounded in Ming Yi’s ears like a routine. A game back and forth, that only they understood. But no he just had to mistake it as if it would actually be something more.
“Ming-Xiong!” Shi Qingxuan whined as if he had heard the most tragic thing in the whole world. He tugged even more on the black robes he held in his hands. As Ming Yi looked down he could see a shimmer in the other’s eyes, as if he was close to crying right here and now just because of this.
The Earthmaster rolled his eyes annoyed, letting out a breath before he actually started to walk, taking the Windmaster with him as he was still linked to him.
Shi Qingxuan’s expression changed again as he noticed them moving, showing a bright smile that was even brighter than before, if it actually was possible.
Ming Yi didn’t know why he always relented to this behavior. He could just walk away and go on with his plans, working on them and making them actually perfect. And yet always if Shi Qingxuan reached out to him, if he asked him to go with him on a mission or just for fun in the mortal realm, even if Ming Yi said he didn’t cared and didn’t wanted to go anywhere with the Windmaster he mostly always relented to his pleading.
It was just part of the plan, that was what he always told himself. To gain the trust of Shi Qingxuan for his revenge. It was nothing more after all than this.
The street they walked was calm. Only their steps were audible beside the rustling as the wind went through the leaves of the trees and bushes. Shi Qingxuan’s chatter he could ignore just easily, and still he listened and answered with little sounds here and there, that the other actually knew that he was still listening.
It was the usual back and forth, but Shi Qingxuan didn’t mind it at all and Ming Yi didn’t really care about it. It was nothing more than another step to the actual goal. That’s what he told himself at least.
Every feast he attended or the other treated him to, was only a part. Every conversation, using his female form. Everything was just a part of it.
It was only about his revenge.
Nothing more.
Yes he liked to tell himself that. That it actually was the truth.
As the wind blew right into their direction, making their hair flow back, a sound came with it. Loud enough to be actually heard clearly but so delicate that it could be easily overheard if someone didn’t pay attention. Or if their senses weren’t as sharp as the one of a god.
“Ming-Xiong do you hear this?” The question itself sounded more than idiotic in his ears. How couldn’t he hear it? His senses were probably even better than the ones of the Windmaster by his side. An huff was the only answer he gave Shi Qingxuan at this. But somehow he either did understand it or simply ignored it completely.
“Isn’t it beautiful and sweet? I haven’t heard wind bells this clear for a long time. We must be close to a village. Let’s have a look, Ming-Xiong!” The Windmasters voice was full of spirit and glee as he said this. He didn’t waste any time before he pulled the Earthmaster along. Holding his arm even tighter. If blood would flow through it, he might have to worry that it wouldn’t come through anymore.
Shi Qingxuan only stopped the moment he could see a little village only some inches away from them. The sound of the wind bells is even brighter than before, as if they would welcome the new visitors in this little town.
Like a little child that had found a hidden treasure the Windmaster started to laugh as bright as the sound of the wind bells was, as if he would challenge them in an unspoken competition.
How many wind bells might there be? Ming Yi didn’t know and he actually didn’t care about it. He didn’t hear any of them any more. The sound of the village was silenced, as if it wasn’t there anymore, even if he could see it right in front of him. But the wind only sent one sound to his ears.
The only thing he heard was the Windmasters laugh, that sounded like a sweet melody coming with the wind.
As Ming Yi turned around he could see this bright smile of Shi Qingxuan, his cheeks a hint of pink as the joy had warmed his cheeks. And he looked up at him with these bright turquoise irides. Even they showed the joy just perfectly.
Ming Yi had calculated everything, everything was only for his revenge, a part of this game he would win.
He didn’t felt anything after all.
His heart didn’t beat and if it was only because of revenge.
He wanted to tell himself this and that he hadn't felt his heart beat for a short moment, like it did once as he only could look at the Windmaster.
There was no wind on Black Water Island.
No, that wasn’t true. There was wind once, blowing softly through the dark forest and rippling the black ocean. Soft but still so powerful. So powerful that it could shake the foundations of this island's master even.
But that wind died.
The Ghost King looked up into the wide sky. The clouds looked like they would start to rain any moment, but they wouldn’t. Not if he didn’t say so. It was his territory after all, his element and nothing would happen here without him knowing.
But to command or hold something back wasn’t right now on his mind.
Usually at this time of day he wouldn’t be around his Island, he hadn’t been here for years, abandoning it completely. Even if he could have enjoyed the time of peace after his revenge was through. He should have felt lighter, more relieved, but he never did.
He didn’t regret anything at all, at least not if it came to Shi Wudu.
His Island was so ineffably silent. Not like the mortal realm where he did spend most of his time, these last few years.
He Xuan never had planned this to happen. He never thought about it the slightest and he would actually laugh someone right in his face if they would suggest that he would roam the mortal realm to take care of someone.
But still this was how it was. And he knew it wasn’t part of his plan anymore. He couldn’t argue with this. Because his plan was through. There was nothing anymore.
He gripped the little thing in his hand harder.
There was no reason anymore why he should be in the mortal realm.
Thoughts went through He Xuan’s mind. Thoughts he never thought he would ever have. Would there have been another way for his revenge? He avenged his family, it was right, they could rest in peace after all these years. But was there another way? To make Shi Wudu pay for everything he did and to…
It was as if a jolt went through his unbeaten heart. It shouldn’t be possible that he felt something and still his heart ached at this thought.
Would there at least be a way to not hurt Shi Qingxuan? To not let him end as a beggar? To at least let him stay immortal?
Nobody could give him an answer to this.
But He Xuan knew something himself very well. He had taken the former Windmaster divinity away in a fit of rage. He was blinded at this moment because he hadn’t a lot of time left for his plan. It was his fault that Shi Qingxuan became a mortal. It was his fault that he ended the way he did.
He was the only reason why he roamed the mortal realm. Why he lingered in the shadows to have a look now and then at the former god. Why he got himself more into debts than he already was to make sure that he had food or warmth or anything else that he needed without becoming too suspicious.
Why he repaired the Windmaster fan the way he did.
But of course He Xuan wouldn’t stop lying to himself about it.
He didn’t care, he only wanted to make sure that Shi Qingxuan stayed alive as long as possible to suffer. Even if he never did.
Everything was only something he had to do to make sure about it. He didn’t care. He didn't want to see if Shi Qingxuan was fine and well. He didn’t chase away everyone who might cause the mortal any harm. To look at him didn’t ease his heart. To hear his laugh wasn’t like music to him.
It didn’t…
It wasn’t…
The Ghost King denied everything.
Never going closer to the former Windmaster. Why? Because he didn’t want to scare him? Because he felt too ashamed to do so? Maybe, he was simply a fool for not doing it in the first place, as he forgot about one simple thing.
A mortal's life was short. And ended with the blink of an eye.
He had heard his name, his real name, from Shi Qingxuan’s mouth the first time, but the first was also the last. As He Xuan arrived at the abandoned temple the former Windmaster was no more.
He Xuan hadn’t thought to ever feel this way again, but he did at that moment. It was like a dagger through his heart. There was only pain and then he just felt numb. He only worked automatically as he took the body to bury it while the only thing that remained was the Windmaster fan in his hand.
But since then the wind has stopped.
It was so silent and for the first time he didn’t like it. Wishing for other days and hoping that they might come back again. Not sure if this was actually possible, but still hoping it could be.
He Xuan closed his eyes. His thoughts wandered in this moment. Not back to his family or all the pain he endured. His unbeaten heart was calm at the moment as he gripped the fan even harder. His hand trembled a bit.
He thought about that one time and the sound of the wind bells that he had forgotten about, because the only sound that went through his mind was the bright and joyful laugh of the Windmaster.
It was as clear as if it was actually there, as if there was actually wind that brought it to him. Before he finally realized that there was a breeze playing around his robes and hair, bringing a sound to him that he thought he would never hear again.
And after a long time a smile grazed his lips.
“Qingxuan…” It was only a whisper. It was as if he could feel a touch after this word. But maybe his mind went crazy already. He didn’t care at all about what was the truth now behind it.
“Let’s meet again in the next life. Shall we?” It was the only thing he whispered in the wind before He Xuan snapped the fan in two pieces. It crumbled down in bits, but the moment it hit the ground the Ghost King Black Water Sinking Ships was no longer by its side.
The broken fan was the only thing left behind on this island. The only one that could tell what happened and that it was actually part of two people, like a connection between them.
But nobody would ask him. Nobody would come and see how the first raindrops did fall into the dark sand. Nobody would see how water and wind roamed together through this island now.