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The tension inside the air was nearly palpable. The air itself was so thick to breathe that it was already painful to breathe. He didn’t dare to breathe, even as he could do it again.
The rattling of the chains that held him hostage for this whole time, was the only thing he could hear. His vision blurred from the tears that formed in his eyes. His Voice was lost while his mind raced with everything that had happened and still was going on.
He had lost his godhood, he had learned about how he got it in the first place. What his brother did. What his best friend did. What his best friend actually was. Who he was. It was all so much, it was all too much and Shi Qingxuan could only cry over everything that had happened. Wishing for a moment that his brother actually had strangled him in his moment of madness. He was the cause of all this.
But he still could breath and watch Black Water Sinking Ships holding the Water Tyrant in a firm grip on his scalp. His eyes were cold and sent daggers towards the god while they spat out every insult he might still think about.
The grip on the gods shoulder and his scalp got firmer with every word as if it was only a moment of time before something happened and everything would be over. But in what way? It wouldn’t be good, the mortal was sure about it.
Panic started to boil up inside the former Windmaster the more he looked at this scene right in front of him. At this moment he didn’t want anyone to suffer, no one should suffer anymore just because of him, too many already did. And it wasn’t worth it.
As the panic was overwhelming his mouth was faster than his brain. It wasn’t something new, but right now it could cost so much.
“Please! We are the one who sinned!! We are the one who did you wrong! Ge did it only for me, because he didn’t know better! But can’t you see that Ge went mad? He doesn’t know what he is doing!” Shi Qingxuan shouted out but the grip around his brother's shoulder only became firmer. The claws nearly digged inside the robes and the flesh below. Nearly drawing blood.
“Qingxuan shut your mouth!” The Water Tyrant shouted at him but couldn’t say anymore as he was pulled back from the ghost.
His piercing yellow eyes nearly dig into the former Windmasters soul. It made his stomach twist and turn, he felt as if he had to throw up every moment because of this feeling.
As the Ghost King pulled harder on Shi Wudu’s hair, Shi Qingxuan’s eyes widened.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY! PLEASE LET MY GE GO! PLEASE…. MI….HE XUAN!” Shi Qingxuan shouted! Not even sure if he really changed the same mid sentence. He only shouted everything out of his heart, as he pressed his eyes shut.
He couldn’t hear anything anymore. There was no rustling of clothes or hair anymore and it scared the former Windmaster more than anything at this moment. He didn’t dare to open his eyes, but he knew that he had to.
His vision only blurry because of upcoming tears that started to sting in his eyes. Only then they widened fast as he saw the ghost look that was laid on him.
These amber eyes looked wider than before at him. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something but no word actually could leave them as he had to think about something that no one actually could tell what it was. If Shi Qingxuan would guess, he would say that the ghost actually was surprised. But Why?
“You rotten bastard! Keep your filthy hands off my brother, or…” The Water Tyrant was stopped in his words as he was pulled back with force, landing against the wall with a loud thud that actually pushed every air out of his lungs. This moment was well used to tie the god on this place as a longer Bone Fish appeared to bind himself around Shi Wudu in a firm grip, not letting him regain his breath that easily again.
“What did you say?” He Xuan moved forward, right at Shi Qingxuan without taking his eyes away from him.
It made him shudder. He would say it would only be because of fear but he knew himself that it wasn’t fully true. He was scared, even if he didn’t know about what exactly at this moment, but not only that.
“He Xuan…please. I beg you…let my Ge go.” Shi Qingxuan tried to hold his gaze every second. His voice was mixed with little sobs now and then even if he tried his best to sound stronger than he actually was.
“YOU BEG!?” He Xuan shouted so loud that it nearly shook the whole dungeon and its foundation. It made the mortal flinch for a moment and he tried to go back. But he couldn’t as a hand grasped his chin and held him in place. Make him look up into these amber eyes that were literally burning at this moment.
“How dare you beg for your brother's life, after everything that happened because of him! His actions brought misery upon my family! It brought me death! And with what audacity do you believe you are in the position to beg for anything.” Even if he wasn’t shouting anymore his voice was cold as ice itself. It nearly made his blood freeze.
HIs tears finally spilled down his cheeks, draining the ghosts fingertips.
“I know it’s not me who should beg or plead. But please, everything was just because of me. Because of me everything happened. It is my fault and not my Ge! Please let my Ge go and punish me instead. Please! as my best friend, take me instead of Ge.” Shi Qingxuan’s eyes shone even in the dim light of the dungeon. Saying everything that he wanted to let out with all honesty his heart could offer.
The Ghost King's eyes widen again only slightly. But Shi Qingxuan could see it especially because he was right in front of him at this moment and he couldn’t do anything else but see into his face.
He Xuan took a breath that he didn’t need to take at all. Letting go of the former gods cheek as if it would burn him. Before he avoided his look.
The Ghost King looked from one to the other brother, while he actually tried to avoid the younger brother's look while he returned the death glare of the older.
He had planned everything through perfectly before he had to rush it because of the third trial that awaited the Water Tyrant. And he knew it would have gone differently but in the end it would always be the same. The brother’s had to suffer for what was done.
His plan started with both of them once he had investigated who was to blame for his suffering and for what happened to his family. They both were to blame. It was the start, but from this start it changed. Shi Wudu was to blame, he always was and he always will be. But Shi Qingxuan…yes, but Shi Qingxuan. That was a question he asked himself more than once during the centuries.
He Xuan clenched his fist and gritted his teeth at this moment as every thought went through his mind that actually did destroy every moment of revenge at this moment. He wanted them to suffer, he wanted one to suffer. He didn’t know what he wanted anymore.
To hear Shi Qingxuan apologize should mean nothing. But for the first time he didn’t apologize to his Ming-Xiong, he actually did apologize to him! He used his real name! Shi Qingxuan did say his name! And it wasn’t full of spite or anything else, it was sincere. Like the former Windmaster always was, even if his voice was choking from tears.
Not only did he apologize to him, he still said he would be his best friend. Did this idiot not learn? He had lied to him this whole time since they know each other and still he said something like this.
What a fool he was!
But right now who was the real fool?
Finally He Xuan looked up again and at Shi Qingxuan.
“I accept the trade.” His voice was cold again but echoed through the whole dungeon itself, even if it wasn’t this loud. Shi Wudu was about to shout again, but his words died down as the fish that bound him did drag him away. Out of the dungeon, out of his manor. Away from his island.
“Shall the heaven judge over all his wrong doings. Shall he get banished and live with this for the rest of his life.” He Xuan turned fully around to face the former Windmaster. The rattle of the chains was still audible until the ghost snapped his fingers and the metal crumbled into pieces as if it would be all the time so easy to destroy. Soundly they landed on the ground.
“If you stay here it wouldn’t be possible for him to reach you anyway.” Wouldn’t that be the best punishment for the Water Tyrant? He had doomed a whole family to save his precious little baby brother. To never see him again, to know he was by his enemy and never knowing what happened to him. That would be the real torture.
Shi Qingxuan rubbed his wrists that were already bruised from the chains, but he knew with time it would heal again. It was alright. It was deserved. But on the other hand, What punishment would await him now? He didn’t know why He Xuan had removed the chains now. It made no sense. But well as a mortal he couldn’t just swim away from this island.
“You mean it?” Shi Qingxuan looked surprised as he heard this. He Xuan’s voice wasn’t as cold as it was before. His voice was more like the usual one he knew from Ming Yi. It was neutral the most but still there was a little hint hidden in it that said he was actually unsure about anything. Shi Qhingxuan knew all the little quirks of him after all, that was what he had thought before and apparently it wasn’t as wrong as he thought.
“What?” The question escaped him as blunt as possible.
“That I’m your best friend.” His voice was neary only a whisper and it would be easy to overhear them. Now as a mortal it sure wasn’t easy. But still Shi Qingxuan managed it somehow. And suddenly something dawned on him.
Everytime he said the wrong name, called Ming Yi his best friend, how bad must it make the other feel if he never could actually say it to the real one. Even if he didn’t know that the other wasn’t actually Ming Yi, but still.
For the first time since they reached Black Water Island, Shi Qingxuan showed a smile.
“It never changed, He-Xiong.”