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In the grand chambers of the palace, Empress Jingliu, ruler of Xianzhou, sat upon her golden throne. Her gaze, as frightening as the blood moon, settled upon the figure bowing in front of her.
"Famed blacksmith Yingxing," she proclaimed, "we face a plight that threatens the very essence of Xianzhou. The suns that once nurtured life now bring untold devastation. I call upon your craftsmanship to forge a bow and arrow of unparalleled strength and precision."
Yingxing, renowned for his ingenuity and artistry with metal, nodded solemnly, "Your Majesty," he replied, "For you, I shall create a weapon capable of piercing the scorching wrath of the Suns."
"Blacksmith Yingxing," said the empress, her voice carrying the weight of a million expectations, “you must understand this: should your efforts fail to produce successful results, should your craftsmanship not meet the expectations that I place upon your shoulders..."
Her eyes, cold as though capable of frostbite, bore into Yingxing's soul. "Failure in this task," she continued, "shall not be tolerated. As a result, the palace doors shall be closed to you forever. Your status as the premier blacksmith in our land shall immediately be stripped away, and you shall find yourself and your families shamed and exiled for eternity."
The weight of her proclamation hung heavy in the air, a silent oath binding Yingxing to his task.
"I shall endeavour to surpass even the loftiest of your expectations. Failure shall find no place within the crucible of my forge."
As he got up, bowed and left the grand hall, his footsteps were heavy as though he had been shackled. Empress Jingliu watched as Yingxing departed, her eyebrows creased with concern. Now out of his earshot, she whispered under her breath what she wished she could have said to him.
“You must succeed and come back alive… old friend.”
🏹☀️🏹
Upon the highest peak of Xianzhou, where the heavens seemed within arm's reach, Yingxing stood, his creation held firmly in his grasp.
As he steadied his aim toward the fiery orbs that danced above, his every attempt proved futile. The suns utterly impervious to his forged arrows. Frustration gnawed at the blacksmith, and though he would never admit it, exhaustion crept up on his heavy shoulders.
Yet, one must never underestimate a creator's pride in his pursuit of a perfect craft. Yingxing would venture to various locations, acquire materials from all over the realm, and spend every waking moment fine-tuning his blueprint.
It was amidst one of these failed attempts that Yingxing first encountered a mysterious figure in the mountains. Seated upon a flat rock, the man was silent, his eyes fixed upon the glorious landscape of Xianzhou, spread out before him like a scroll painting.
Yingxing approached the curious presence before him, "Greetings, sir,” he offered tentatively, suddenly unsure how to strike up a conversation.
The man turned, and the blacksmith let out a soft exhale of surprise. He was a work of art, more so backed by the stunning glow of the suns in the sky.
As a famed blacksmith who had dealt with his fair share of precious gold and metal, Yingxing still found himself speechless as he beheld the eyes of the man before him—radiant orbs akin to the purest of gold.
"Greetings, artisan," the man replied, his voice like a soothing balm. "Your task is daunting, your determination commendable."
Yingxing sighed at his words. "I have laboured tirelessly," he confessed, "But the suns... they defy my every arrow."
The mysterious man regarded Yingxing with an understanding gaze. "Perhaps, in your pursuit, you should seek not only to destroy the celestial suns, but also to understand their role within our cosmic tapestry."
Yingxing frowned, pondering over the man’s words. “I suppose you mean that I should understand the enemy to better know their weakness?” The only answer he received was a knowing smile.
Although his attitude was frustrating, Yingxing’s curiosity was nonetheless piqued. "Tell me, what name do you go by?"
"Ah, my name," he mused, his eyes twinkling with subtle amusement. "Perhaps I will share it with you... but only after you have achieved your goal of shooting down the suns above."
Yingxing's heart surged with a renewed sense of purpose at the challenge laid before him. He smirked at the man before him, feeling a spark igniting within himself.
“Fine, I accept your challenge.”
🏹☀️🏹
Days turned into weeks and as Yingxing's attempts persisted, a bond began to form between the two of them. The silver-haired man, with his serene wisdom, became a steadfast companion through Yingxing's relentless pursuit, offering insights and playful banter that motivated and comforted him.
One day, Yingxing finally felt ready to face the suns’ challenge once more. He drew back the string of his bow, and closed his eyes before unleashing it. A prayer to the Aeons above to answer his effort with success.
“Oh Lan, Almighty Aeon of the Hunt, guide my arrow and pierce the Sun!”
The arrow, imbued with hope and near flawless craftsmanship, soared through the sky. For a fleeting moment, it seemed as though victory was within grasp, and Yingxing's heart soared as he held his breath. Next to him, the silver-haired gentleman smiled, his eyes glowing softly.
Just then, the arrow veered off course, its trajectory deflected by an unseen force.
"What, how?" Yingxing blubbered, watching in despair as it disappeared into the endless void. Frustration surged within him, threatening to overwhelm his resolve. Each failed attempt, each near miss, added another layer to the mounting tension that coiled within him like a dormant serpent.
"Well, I suppose that is yet another failure. Another day passes without you knowing success… nor my name," Yingxing’s partner taunted with a sly tone, causing something to finally snap inside of himself.
"Just tell me your name!" Yingxing roared as he turned towards his companion. "What purpose does this secrecy serve? Do you take pleasure in my failures?"
"Patience, artisan," he replied calmly, his voice a soothing balm against Yingxing's rising temper. "All will be revealed in due time."
But time was a luxury Yingxing could ill afford, his frustration reaching a boiling point as he grappled with the weight of his failures and the unyielding silence of the man beside him.
"Enough!" Yingxing exclaimed, his voice raw with emotion. "I will not be toyed with any longer. Your secrets hold no value to me." He seized his bow and arrow, hands trembling with suppressed fury, and with a single swift motion, shattered them against the unforgiving stone.
Crack!
The sound of splintering wood and snapping sinew echoed around them like the shattering of dreams.
"I give up." With a final glare of defiance aimed at the silver-haired man, he turned on his heel and stormed away.
🏹☀️🏹
It wasn’t long before Yingxing found himself trekking up to the mountaintop once more.
Despite his rage and dissatisfaction towards his own countless failures and the presence of that infuriating man, Yingxing couldn't let himself fail in this mission. Many sleepless nights were spent tossing and turning, the image of his broken bow seared into his mind like a scar that would never recover.
How could he have done that to his previous craft? No matter that it had happened in the heat of the moment, it was still an act of blasphemy.
And it was all because of the man with moonlit threads in his hair.
It was his fault; all he ever did was watch as Yingxing failed over and over and over again.
The longer he thought about it, the angrier he got. And as Yingxing reached their usual spot on the mountain, he couldn't help but brace himself to face the mess he had created and left behind.
However, to his surprise, Yingxing was greeted not by the remnants of his shattered creation but by a sight that seized his breath—an immaculately restored bow, now aglow with a radiant golden hue that seemed to shimmer and dance with light from the heavens.
His steps faltered at the miraculous sight before him. Awe gave way to a surge of conflicting emotions—wonder mingled with an inexplicable sense of resentment, thundering like a fierce lightning strike within his chest. He reached out tentatively, fingers tracing the surface of the bow, now resplendent in its rebirth. Baffled yet inexplicably touched, Yingxing marvelled at the restored beauty of his creation.
“Seems like the owner has finally returned to reclaim his craft.”
Yingxing paused, turning to look at the figure that had materialised behind him. Though his heart leapt at the sight of him, Yingxing couldn't help but feel as if something was missing.
"You," Yingxing greeted cautiously, his voice tinged with a hint of apprehension, "your presence... it seems different.”
The silver haired man regarded Yingxing with a gaze now tinged with subtle weariness. The vibrant aura that illuminated his silhouette now appeared muted, as though a veil had been drawn over his being. Yet, unsurprisingly, he offered Yingxing no explanation, choosing instead to change the topic.
“I tried my best to fix it, though I cannot guarantee that it will be up to your high standards.” he said, head tilted at the bow in Yingxing's hands.
Not knowing how to express his gratitude, Yingxing merely nodded. Noticing his awkward demeanour, the man motioned towards the ten blazing suns that scorched the celestial canvas above. "Why don't you give it a try now? Let's see if your creation can finally withstand the celestial inferno," he jested, his tone light and teasing.
Embracing the sage's playful challenge, Yingxing raised the gleaming bow, notched an arrow, and smirked.
“I'll show you how it's done.”
With a steady hand Yingxing drew the bowstring taut, aiming at the skies. The weight of past failures lingered like a shadow, but a glimmer of hope sparked within him, fueled by his companion's encouraging jest.
With a crisp snap, the arrow was fired and it began sailing towards the blazing suns at an unbelievable speed. And then, as if in response to the newfound harmony that resonated between the artisan and his companion, the arrow pierced through the heavenly veils and struck the very core of a sun.
A hush fell over the mountaintop, the atmosphere charged with anticipation. Then, the ground began to tremble and crack, the oceans’ waves churned and the heavens shook as the sun imploded, sending sparks that rained down on them. When the skies finally cleared up, there were only nine suns left.
Disbelief washed over Yingxing as he turned to his partner, his eyes wide with wonder.
“Did… did you see that?”
The man next to him bellowed with laughter, "Artisan Yingxing, it seems the forge of your emotions has birthed something truly magnificent."
Yingxing, taken aback by the man’s sudden joviality, couldn't help but crack a hesitant smile back at him.
“Well then, there's no time to waste. Let us begin the cleansing of the ten suns in the skies!” Yingxing declared as he aimed another arrow at the next target.
🏹☀️🏹
Nine suns had fallen beneath Yingxing's aim, their painful blaze fading into oblivion. Yet, as he stood upon the threshold of his ultimate triumph, hesitation gripped his heart as he aimed at the final sun in the skies above.
With a soft exhale of breath, he turned towards the figure beside him, silent yet ever-present, his smile a beacon of serenity amidst the tumultuous currents of Yingxing's emotions. In the depths of his gaze, Yingxing finally dared to speak.
"I know," he whispered, "I've known who you are for a while now… You're Jing Yuan, the sun deity, aren't you?"
A beat of silence passed before Jing Yuan's laughter, soft and melodic, danced across Xianzhou’s mountains. "It seems that my attempt to hide my identity has failed.”
Yingxing frowned. This was not the answer he had been waiting for.
“So, now what?” he said, almost accusingly, still refusing to look at Jing Yuan. “Are you just going to… stand there and watch as I shoot down your source of life? I heard that sun deities are linked to their sun and if it dies then so do they. And yet, here you are, watching quietly as I attempt to shoot you down? You're really fine with that? Why do you only ever watch from the sidelines?”
“What are you waiting for?”
“Truthfully, I don't know either,” Jing Yuan replied, his voice softer than it had ever been, “perhaps… I am but a coward.”
“You? A coward?”
With a tired smile, Jing Yuan nodded. “I couldn't seem to find it in me to leave you and return home, despite knowing that your task would end my life. Isn't that quite pathetic of me?”
Not knowing how to reply to that, Yingxing closed his eyes, letting himself get lost in the labyrinth of his own thoughts. It was only when a gentle hand turned his cheek, guiding his gaze to meet Jing Yuan's, that Yingxing's attention snapped back to the present moment. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of the beautiful man standing before him.
"Do you truly harbour so much resentment towards me?" Jing Yuan asked. "Won't you forgive me for my selfish desires?"
Jing Yuan gasped as Yingxing's lips met Jing Yuan's in a tender embrace, taken aback by the unexpected gesture. Yet, as the kiss deepened, he found himself yielding to the unspoken desire that pulsed between them, his heart intertwining with Yingxing's in a symphony of shared longing and unspoken truths. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the intoxicating fervour of their lips, the final blazing sun as the sole witness of their love.
When they finally pulled away, breathless and reeling from the intensity of their shared passion, Yingxing was the first to break the silence. "And what if I said I won't forgive you?" he asked.
Jing Yuan chuckled, "Oh, I am aware that you mortals tend to bear eternal grudges," he remarked, his tone light yet tinged with a hint of melancholy. "Still, won't you at least entertain me?"
Just then, a subtle shimmer enveloped Jing Yuan's form, casting an ethereal glow amidst the darkening mountaintops.
"It seems I have spent too long on Xianzhou," Jing Yuan explained, "it is time for me to return home."
Yingxing's heart clenched at the sudden realisation, a pang of longing echoing within him at the prospect of Jing Yuan's departure. "So you're leaving me? Just like that?"
Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Leaving? The Sun never leaves, certainly not of its own volition. Unless you shoot it down, of course," he smirked, his voice teasing one final challenge to the artisan as he slowly faded into the gentle glow of the sunset.
"So if you feel betrayal and anger that cannot be quelled, then there is only one thing for you to do: Aim for the Sun."