Chapter Text
Mu Qing tore through a forest, a multitude of ghosts on his heels. Mu Qing was not one to run away from any number of ghosts, he was a proud martial god, but this time was different. This time... they hurt. Mu Qing is used to the sharp cut of fangs and claws, and the pathetic attempts to keep their life after death. This time the ghosts had no sharp claws or fangs, but something just as sharp. Their words. They cut into Mu Qing more fiercely than any blade, more precise than even Feng Xin. They knew Mu Qing inside and out. They knew just where to cut to make him bleed the most.
As he ran, they shouted the vilest of things.
“Little beggar boy~,” there was a crackle as Mu Qing ran faster, feet pounding over the squishy soil. The very breath was dragged from Mu Qing’s lungs as he ran, the foliage thickening and the moonlight becoming thinner.
“Who just said you could run away? Don’t you know I will always catch up with you? I am you.”
Mu Qing awoke with a gasp, bolting upright and hands fisting into fists on the soft fabric of his sheets. His hair was a mess from tossing and turning all night, and the sheets too. He was too hot, the nightmare scared him too much for his good.
This is stupid! I am a martial god with over 7,000 palaces to my name how could this affect me this much?!
Deciding he needed to calm down, Mu Qing, despite his still-racing heart, calmly got out of bed and put on new robes. Not as nice as what he would wear in heaven, but nice enough. More like the style of clothing, he had Fu Yao wear.
…………………….
Mu Qing walked through a cherry grove, his racing heart calming somewhat. It was a familiar grove. It was where he had buried his mother. It didn’t used to be a cherry grove but after he became a god and had the means to do so, he planted the grove and has looked after it ever since.
Mu Qing followed the meandering path, illuminated only by the stray beams of moonlight, to the largest tree in the grove. There, amidst the roots, lay his mother’s body, now intertwined with and becoming part of the massive tree. Or, where it should be. Instead of the enormous cherry tree, there was only a stump.
Mu Qing stood there, in shock, for several minutes. Hesitantly, he reached out and ran his hand over the smooth cut. No... No... nononononononononono.
“NO!” The force of the yell shook several trees and could be heard all the way in heaven, waking several gods.
Mu Qing collapsed to his knees, stray branches cutting his kneecaps. Silent tears streamed down his cheeks as he leaned back, unable to believe what lay before him.
I must be dreaming this can’t be happening, it was so well-warded. Yes, I must be still dreaming. Dreaming... just a dream. Wouldn't that be nice, if my whole life was a dream?
Deep down, Mu Qing knew this wasn't a dream. Not even one a ghost had made. Sensations were too real and there was no way anyone besides himself and whoever had snuck in here and cut his tree down knew about this grove.
Silently, Mu Qing leaned forward again, his fingers tracing the ruff bark that remained.
“I’m so sorry mom... I failed you... again. But I will have my revenge whoever did this will pay with their life whether they be ghost, god, or human.”
Determination shining in his eyes, Mu Qing stood up and immediately looked for energy signatures left behind by the perpetrator. All beings had them from the most basic of humans who did not know a drop of magic, to the emperor of the gods themselves. The only problem was sensing the “fingerprint.” More powerful entities had larger fingerprints but they could also hide them. However, only Jun Wu, the ghost kings, and Xie Lian would be able to completely hide their “fingerprint” from someone as good at identifying them as Mu Qing.
Ahh... So that is who it is. I almost didn’t recognize it; it has been a while since I had sensed this particular fingerprint.
…………………….
Mu Qing raced to Tonglu Mountain, following the fingerprint the entire way. It was now midday, and multiple gods and his deputies had tried asking where he was after to connecting the scream to his disappearance. He ignored all it though. He had room for only one thought in his mind, vengeance.
He arrived at the monster’s hut at around one o’clock, saber in hand, to see him peaceful carving a long table out of his mother’s tree.
“Mei Nianqing,” he said, voice devoid of any and all emotion and cold enough to send a chill down even Jun Wu’s spine.
Mei Nianqing felt it too and glanced over and sternly replied, “Don’t use that voice with me young man.” Mei Nianqing’s eyes narrowed upon seeing Mu Qing’s weapon but he didn’t have the chance to comment.
“Where did you get that tree?” Mu Qing asked, his voice deceptively calm. A storm was brewing.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Where did you get that tree?”
Mu Qing took a step forward, and Mei Nianqing copied it with a step back.
“Why do you care?”
“Where did you get that tree?”
Mei Nianqing’s back hit his wood working table, he was trapped.
Mu Qing took another step forward, silent. “Do you know whose grove that tree was from? Why it should never have been cut down?”
“Well, since you're the one threatening me, I am going to assume you.” Mei Nianqing replied snarkily, arms folded.
“Correct. Why should you not have cut it down?”
“Because it was yours? I thought that was implied.”
“Wrong,” Mu Qing said, his breath ghosting over Mei Nianqing’s ear as he leaned forward, “it is what my mother’s body became.”
Mei Nianqing frowned, “Sorry? You really should be over her by now it has been eight hundred years and she was just some-”
Mei Nianqing didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence as a sharp gasp left his lips. He looked down. Mu Qing’s saber was impaled in his gut, skewering him. Mei Nianqing’s shaky eyes raised back up to Mu Qing’s face as Mu Qing pulled out his saber and stepped back. Mei Nianqing fell face forward onto the dirt, he thought the saber was for imitation, and he had zero expectations for Mu Qing to stab him. Mei Nianqing failed to realize Mu Qing’s devotion to his mother, the one good person in his life.
Mu Qing glanced down at Mei Nianqing's prone form. He had no more words to say to a man like him. Mu Qing looked back up at Mei Nianqing’s woodworking table, another hot flash of anger pulsing through him.
Mu Qing softly pet the bark, “I am sorry mother, I hope his death can be enough retribution for your pain.”
He then lit a spark on his fingertip and retracted his hand, watching his mother’s tree burn. The fire reflected in his broken eyes, and that, along with his bloody saber, gave him a maniacal look.
“Mu-Mu Qing?”
…………………….
Feng Xin woke up to a short and violent shout. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he looked around, identifying it to be about midnight. The voice sounded... familiar. He couldn't place it but he heard it a lot, just never with that desperation. The uneasy feeling in his gut intensified and he got up with a yawn and stretch, putting on more presentable robes. It wasn’t like he had anything better to do.
He exited his room, closing the door behind him gently, and went in search of one of his deputies who were still awake at this hour.
He eventually found one diligently cleaning in a corner, half asleep.
“Hello?” Feng Xin asked as quietly as he could, which wasn’t very quiet.
“Ah! General Nan Yang! This humble one apologizes.” The deputy replied with a bow.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry, I just had a question, did you hear that scream a few minutes ago?”
“Yes General.”
“Do you know who it was?”
The deputy seemed hesitant to reply. “I-I believe it was General Xuan Zhen, General.”
“Mu Qing?” Feng Xin asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.
“Y-Y-Yes, but I didn’t hear it well, I could be wrong.”
Feng Xin, however, was not listening. He already had two fingers raised to his temple and called into Mu Qing’s personal array.
“Mu Qing?” He asked.
No reply.
“Mu Qing!”
No reply.
Now Feng Xin was worried, sure it was late but Mu Qing was always a light sleeper or didn’t sleep, he surely would have replied by now.
Deciding to check at Mu Qing’s palace to see if Mu Qing was ignoring him, he raced over.
“Where is General Xuan Zhen.” Feng Xin asked the deputy at Mu Qing’s palace doors.
“I am sorry, I can’t tell you that General Nan Yang.” The deputy replied firmly.
“I don’t fucking care, either you tell me now, or you tell me after I beat you up for a while.” Feng Xin growled.
The deputy paled, but still held strong. They were loyal, Mu Qing’s deputies.
“We saw him leave his palace about thirty minutes ago.” Or not.
Feng Xin growled again, facing the other deputy who had replied to his question. “And where did he go?”
“I-I’m not sure.”
“Useless.” Feng Xin spat, turning away and descending to the mortal realm. It would be nearly impossible to find Mu Qing on his own so he went to Xie Lian for help.
…………………….
Feng Xin knocked on Puqi Shrine’s door and tapped his foot impatiently. It was now 1 a.m. Mu Qing had been missing for about an hour and a half. Eventually, the door slowly opened, revealing a glaring Hua Cheng.
“What do you want?” Hua Cheng growled quietly.
“Mu Qing is missing.” Feng Xin whispered-yelled.
“And how is that my problem?”
“He’s Dianxia’s friend!”
“Yeah, and you two can figure it out on your own.” Hua Cheng replied, shutting the door in his face.
Feng Xin just knocked again.
“You again.” Hua Cheng answered, his eye narrowing in displeasure.
“C’mon you know Dianxia would want you to help, please! I can’t find him anywhere!”
“Despite the fact that you clearly have not looked everywhere, it’s the middle of the night, and he’s probably peaceful sleeping in his room and not being woken up at an insane hour to answer stupid questions-” Hua Cheng took a deep breath- “I will allow you to ask Gege for help in the morning as long as you beg.” Hua Cheng then shut the door in Feng Xin’s face.
Feng Xin then spent the next several hours looking for Mu Qing with no luck, returning to Puqi Shrine at around 7 a.m.
…………………….
Xie Lian was peacefully talking to San Lang about some of the ghost’s antics in Ghost City.
“They hung him by his hair from the gambling den?” Xie Lian asked with a gasp.
“Yes, they said if he wanted to fly so bad he could just hang up there all day and greet patrons so at least he was doing something and not just causing a ruckus.” Hua Cheng replied with a chuckle and a twinkle in his eye.
“Did you-” Before Xie Lian could finish talking, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Ah, one moment sorry San Lang.”
“You don’t have to apologize for anything Gege.”
Xie Lian let out a light laugh as he moved to open the door, “Of course I do San Lang, no one is right all the time.”
“Gege is.” Hua Cheng stubbornly replied.
Xie Lian heard him but was now focused on the god standing in his doorway. Feng Xin was a picture of disarray. His hair, usually neatly in a bun, was now a wild tangle, with a few stubborn strands falling over his forehead. His robes, once crisp and neatly draped over his body, hung loosely from one shoulder. A sleeve was rolled up haphazardly, while the other dangled limply, frayed at the cuff. His trousers were equally rumpled, the creases lost in the chaotic folds, and they hung awkwardly around his waist as if they'd been hurriedly pulled on. Scuffed shoes completed the ensemble, caked in dirt and who knows what else. His overall appearance gave the impression of someone who had either just woken up from a restless night or had weathered a particularly tumultuous day.
“Ah, someone have a rough night?” Xie Lian asked kindly with a smile. “Please, come in.”
Feng Xin stumbled in and plopped down on a chair around Xie Lian’s small table. Much to Hua Cheng’s displeasure. Feng Xin buried his head in his hands, defeated.
“I truly looked everywhere; I have no idea where he is.” Feng Xin said roughly.
“Where who is?” Xie Lian asked with a lopsided smile.
“What?!” Feng Xin said jerking upright. “Mu Qing! Didn’t Hua Cheng tell you?”
Xie Lian looked over with displeasure at a sheepish Hua Cheng.
“I was going to tell Gege but Gege needed to eat first, plus isn't he a major martial god something?”
“San Lang still should have told me, I don’t even need to eat, I can worry about my friends.”
“Well, Gege should get better friends who don’t knock on the door at insane hours.”
“We will talk about you not telling me stuff latter but first, Feng Xin, explain Mu Qing and his disappearance.”
‘Well, it was around midnight when I was awoken by someone shouting ‘no’ really loudly. I got up and asked around to see who it was. One of my deputies mentioned that he thought it was Mu Qing, so I headed over to his palace. When I got there, the deputy on duty informed me that Mu Qing had left about half an hour earlier, and they had no idea where he had gone.”
“So, you came here?” Xie Lian prompted.
“Yeah, but your husband told me to come back latter even though Mu Qing could be in danger.”
“Hmm. And you looked while you were waiting and could not find him?”
“I searched the entire heavenly capital, the only place he could be is somewhere in the mortal realm which is huge.”
“San Lang, do you have a way to find him?”
“Yes, but do you really want to help him Gege? I am sure he is just overacting and General Xuan Zhen will show up soon enough.”
“I would rather be safe than sorry.”
“Yeah, I do then. Where was the last place you knew he was.”
“His’ rooms probably.” Feng Xin replied, scratching his messy hair.
“Then let’s start there.”