Fei Qianchi could feel this body appear again. As he stood in front of a cave, he carefully rubbed his fingers over his ring. He took a deep breath, trying to forget about what Su Lianghe had said. Too many lifetimes were becoming entangled. At this moment, he still owed a debt to Zhu Longwang.
He could feel the presence of a man, one who he knew well of. Perhaps this man would always blame him.
Fei Qianchi snapped his fingers, opening his blue eyes as he looked around. The same stones lighted up the cave. As he walked forward, Fei Qianchi kept his eyes opened while looking around.
“You’re here.” Zhu Luishui turned back to look at Fei Qianchi. His purple eyes were cloudy, laced with a layer of coldness. He stepped away from the coffin, watching as Fei Qianchi stepped closer.
“Yes, I’ve returned.” Fei Qianchi did not hide as he replied, speaking up as he walked closer.
Zhu Luishui’s eyes narrowed, clenching his hand by his side. “Then you know about everything he did for you.”
“I know everything now, Immortal.” Fei Qianchi’s voice was as equally cold as Zhu Luishui’s. His blue eyes were glazed and icy, reflecting his cold image. He looked down at the man who lied peacefully within the coffin.
He looked the same, as beautiful as always. Zhu Longwang was still, his skin pale. His thin lips were a light pink, the scar on his face made Fei Qianchi’s heart clenched in pain. He easily noticed that the Qi surrounding the coffin was now gone. He was running out of time. He reached for the vial, grabbing it from out of his storage.
“What are you doing?” Zhu Luishui asked, his brows furrowing. His face grew colder, staring at the vial in Fei Qianchi’s hand.
“Saving him. I’m repaying my debt to him.” Fei Qianchi opened the vial. From within, he took out a white pill, bead-like, shining with a light lure.
“Repaying a debt? Will that be enough?” Zhu Luishui’s voice was cold, piercing as he targeted Fei Qianchi.
Hearing these words, Fei Qianchi merely lifted his lips. “Enough or not, it isn’t up to you to decide, Immortal. You should retreat and work on repenting what you’ve done to Su Baicheng.”
Zhu Luishui’s eyes widened, shock filled them. He stepped back, a flicker of pain running past his eyes. “How do you know?”
“Immortal, you blame me for causing the death of your brother. I will admit that. I caused your brother immense pain. I was ignorant, I was cruel and evil. I have caused the deaths of hundreds. But you should also admit about what you’ve done to Baicheng.” Fei Qianchi’s voice rose. He knew that he was wrong, there was no way to right his wrongs. Hence, he wouldn’t justify himself. But Zhu Luishui couldn’t pretend he didn’t do anything either.
Zhu Luishui turned away, his eyes directed towards something else. He bit his lips, clenching his hand. “That was different.”
“Yes, perhaps it was. But you can’t blame me for everything. If you had explained yourself, if you hadn’t betrayed him, perhaps things wouldn’t be as bad as it was. Because of you, he took revenge by killing Longwang. I was involved in his schemes because of you.” Fei Qianchi’s hand tightened, clenching the pill in his hand.
He turned away from Zhu Luishui, leaning down as he gently pushed the pill against Zhu Longwang’s mouth. He pushed the pill in, letting it dissolve. Without caring of Zhu Luishui, Fei Qianchi watched as a strong burst of Qi waved from Zhu Longwang’s body.
Fei Qianchi backed away carefully, letting the pill do its magic.
“What did you feed him?” Zhu Luishui covered his eyes from the blinding light.
“I’m saving him. I’ve already told you this.” Fei Qianchi replied, looking down at Zhu Luishui.
Zhu Luishui gritted his teeth. “Who told you? No one should know about that.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“He told me. Before I died, he told me that you betrayed him. He told me that he loved you, that he gave you all of his heart but you never told him the truth and chose to kill him instead. Hence, to get revenge, he wanted to kill Longwang and he used me for that cause. He has now taken over Fushui Sect. Perhaps, he is already stronger than all of us. Your cultivation has slowly dropped over the years and my cultivation has not changed for centuries now. No one can rival him.” Fei Qianchi caressed Zhu Longwang’s cheek. The man’s heart did not beat, but his face seemed rosier now.
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–
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“What?!” From beside him, a man with green eyes looked at him in shock.
“Xiangyue.” Zhu Longwang called out. His voice was cold, yet it was also soft. His purple eyes were cold as he looked down at his hands.
“What’s happening to you!?” Wu Xiangyue stepped forward, confused, eyes narrowing. Yet, before he could even touch Zhu Longwang, he bounced back, hitting a barrier. The man covered his nose, rubbing it in pain. “What’s happening? Are you alright!?” As he looked up, he reached into his robe, about to grab something.
“Stop, do not take out that weapon.” Zhu Longwang stopped the man in a cold voice, making Wu Xiangyue flinch.
“Are you sure that you’re alright? It’s been centuries since you’ve been here. Although you had some mishaps, nothing like this has ever happened.” Wu Xiangyue slowly walked forward, gently touching the barrier, only to flinch away as he shook his hand from pain. “The barrier is protected by another layer of magic. I won’t be able to break through.” He looked around the peaceful courtyard.
“Is… did something happen in the mortal realm? Else, why would you be affected?” Wu Xiangyu was making many assumptions.
Zhu Longwang bit his lip, looking down. His purple eyes were cold and deep, as unfathomable as the deep sea. Yet, he didn’t make any sudden move. He was still, waiting for the next action.
A series of rumbling came soon after.
Wu Xiangyue looked back, turning around. “Your Royal Highness.” He bowed down upon the concrete pathway.
Before them, an elegant male stepped forward. His hair was tied with a gold crown, dressed in a gold and white robe. He held a jade fan in his hand, a light smile on his lips. Zhou Mengyao was the crown prince, the eldest son of the Jade Emperor. In the Heavens, he carried the title, Lord of Serenity, God of Peace.
“Zhu Longwang, you are now free.” Zhou Mengyao lightly said, bowing his head. His brown pupils stared at Zhu Longwang with a calm smile on his lips.
Zhu Longwang widened his eyes. Shock ran through his heart. Yet, he couldn’t stop the joy that sprouted in his heart. “Your Royal Highness…”
Wu Xiangyue furrowed his brows. “Your Royal Highness, did something, perhaps, happen in the mortal realm?”
Zhou Mengyao’s eyes swept over Wu Xiangyu, lightly nodding his head. “Yes. The Pill of Sacrifice has been consumed. He is now free to return back to the mortal realm. All the pieces of his soul have been gathered, he is now a complete soul.”
Zhu Longwang’s lips trembled, unable to hide the emotions in his heart. He… was happy, yet at the same time, what about Fei Qianchi? Was the man still alive? Zhu Longwang had spent centuries waiting for the man, but he had never seen him walk past. Hence, while he was happy, he was also scared.
“Why do you look so afraid? Are you still waiting for him?” Wu Xiangyue narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms as he cocked a brow towards Zhu Longwang.
“Him?” Zhou Mengyao asked, blinking as he turned to Zhu Longwang.
The light shine of the barrier was still visible. Inside, Zhu Longwang stood in silence. He was afraid. Looking back, his whole life had begun the moment he saved Fei Qianchi. Ever since then, Fei Qianchi became the light of his life, the sole reason why he continued to live. Even though he had spent so many years in solitude like this, he couldn’t forget about Fei Qianchi. That thought had never crossed his mind, such a thing as returning back to the mortal realm.
“Is that why this barrier was set up?” Zhu Longwang reached forward, touching the barrier that did not reject his touch. Perhaps it was time for him to return. His purple eyes were still cold, his beautiful brows were slightly cinched, but his face remained emotionless.
In front of Zhu Longwang, Zhou Mengyao stepped up. “Yes, the pill is currently putting your soul back in place. You will be leaving soon.” The man lightly tapped the barrier with his fan, a small cracking sound echoed. “This barrier is truly powerful. It deflects everyone except for you.”
Hearing this, Wu Xiangyue rolled his eyes as he walked over, patting his green robe. “It truly is. I thought I broke my nose.” He rubbed his slightly red nose.
Zhu Longwang was silent as he listened to them. At one point, he stopped thinking about returning. After his soul shattered, he entered Heaven. Here, he was told about how catastrophic his actions were. He flipped the whole world and even Heaven wasn’t spared. After that, the Jade Emperor punished him. He should’ve gone to reincarnate centuries ago, but he stubbornly refused.
Countless Gods and Goddess persuaded him to undergo a trial where his souls would forcefully be retrieved, but Zhu Longwang still refused. He waited, all to see a familiar face appear before him.
Wu Xiangyue turned back Zhu Longwang, smiling as he said, “Well, it looks you will be leaving then.” He walked over, swinging his right arm over Zhou Mengyao.
Zhou Mengyao didn’t seem to mind, merely letting Wu Xiangyue do as he want.
Zhu Longwang looked at Wu Xiangyue. Wu Xiangyue was the first God he encountered. He was the Lord of Pride, God of Carelessness. This man had helped Zhu Longwang bear the lonesome days that slowly passed by.
“Yes, it seems like so.” Zhu Longwang slowly replied in a low voice. He looked at both Zhou Mengyao, who smiled lightly, and Wu Xiangyue, who had a grin on his face.
Zhu Longwang was rather close to them. He had many encounters with Zhou Mengyao, who was a messenger for the Jade Emperor, and Wu Xiangyue, who accompanied him.
“I remember persuading you to just undergo your trial. Even without it, it looks like you will be returning back.” Wu Xiangyue couldn’t go past the barrier, thus, he could only slouch over Zhou Mengyao.
“It is time for you to return. The array is being activated.” Zhou Mengyao broke their last parting. The man pointed down to the golden array that was being drawn, shining upon the ground.
Zhu Longwang, who saw this, slowly looked up. “Thank you for everything you’ve done, both of you. I… was truly stubborn, disobeying all of the orders the Jade Emperor gave me, but Your Royal Highness still chose to protect me under your wing. Even Xiangyue was willing to let me stay in his pavilion in the city he ruled.” There was no way he could ever repay the two for what they had done for him.
“What are you saying, little brother? It’s what I should do. Not to mention, you also saved me from a great hassle by taking away the Jade Emperor’s anger.” Wu Xiangyue smirked, turning to look at Zhou Mengyao’s white cheek. He tapped Zhou Mengyao’s cheek with his hand that was still over him. “This man did most of the work. Obviously, we’re quite old once compared to you humans. But I will anticipate the day you ascend into Heaven.”
Zhu Longwang smiled, his body staggering slightly.
“Go. Zhu Longwang, it was an honor to meet and befriend you. I, Crown Prince of the Nine Heavens, will await the day you ascend. Until then, please take care.” Zhou Mengyao slightly bowed his head, speaking in an even tone.
“I, Lord of Pride, God of Carelessness, will watch over you. Now, make sure you confess this time, little brother.” Wu Xiangyue grinned, showing his teeth.
Zhu Longwang looked at the two, “Of course.” With that, he closed his eyes.
–
Fei Qianchi stared at Zhu Luishui. His eyes were cold and careless. As they sat across the table opposite of each other, Fei Qianchi continued to glance to the side, to where a bed was situated. Upon the bed, Zhu Longwang lied. There were evident changes to his body. For one, his chest was moving, a heartbeat finally appearing. He was also breathing, his cheeks began to gain more color.
The past few days, Fei Qianchi watched over Zhu Longwang. He saw all the changes, especially when Zhu Longwang first regained his heartbeat, to when his body was finally warm. Fei Qianchi knew that the man was alive now, he was a living being. Fei Qianchi just had to wait for the man to wake up.
Perhaps he was afraid that the pill wouldn’t work. But… having judged Su Lianghe’s actions, Fei Qianchi was not afraid of being fooled. Though he had no idea why Su Lianghe behaved so different, Fei Qianchi was able to see that the man also didn’t want to harm him.
“How has Baicheng been?” Fei Qianchi asked, looking away from Zhu Longwang and turning to the older man in front of him.
Zhu Luishui sat silently, purple eyes casted downwards. “Well. Ever since he took over the sect, he slowly merged his people in. Fushui Sect is now known as a powerful sect, comparable to the demonic sects.” The man stopped suddenly before he gritted his teeth. “Perhaps it was only a matter of time before Fushui Sect became like so. Even if he hadn’t return, Fushui Sect had already changed.”
Fei Qianchi looked at the man. Perhaps, he also saw himself in the way Zhu Luishui had gone through countless tribulations. In the end, he gave up from the guilt. Now, it was his turn to love a man who had been by his side for centuries.
“Why did you betray him? For a title, was it worthy everything you sacrificed?” Fei Qianchi asked, blue eyes narrowing. For a title, Zhu Luishui caused a series of event that stemmed from it. In the end, countless lives were involved.
Zhu Luishui looked down, his lips lifting sorrowfully as he looked up. He stared into Fei Qianchi’s eyes. “Perhaps no one will know my own pain when I did what I did.” Zhu Luishui’s eyes shifted to his brother who lied still. His eyes softened. “When my parents died, I was still young. At the age of 15, I lost both of my parents. Longwang was only 5 years old back then. In Fushui Sect, we were suddenly thrown into a den of wolves. I had to use what little authority I had, the power that my parents left behind to protect Longwang.”
The man held his hands together. “I was desperate to protect Longwang. My parents once told me that no matter what, I had to protect Longwang. When I grew older, Su Fuwen approached me with a deal. He promised me power and authority so long as I was able to complete that mission. I agreed. I knew what I was getting into. I knew that I had to kill a man in exchange for power and I willingly agreed.” Zhu Luishui’s voice cracked. “From the beginning, I fooled and played him. I pretended to save him, I pretended to be innocent and kind. He never doubted me, he trusted me with all his heart. And that made me suffer even more.”
“I fell in love with him. And he loved me too. We got married, and I continued to lie to him. I thought that I could be happy with him, I thought that I could just forget about the deal I had made with Su Fuwen. It came back to haunt me. He threatened to kill Longwang if I didn’t complete my side of the deal. I couldn’t let him die, I couldn’t let the only family I had left die. So, I chose to kill Baicheng instead.” Zhu Luishui looked away, his head hanging low as he stifled his voice. “I know how evil I am. But when it came to my brother and the man I loved, I had to save my brother. In the end, with these hands of mine, I stabbed Baicheng and I pushed him off of the cliff.”
Fei Qianchi listened without saying a word. It wasn’t up to him to decide whether or not the man had made the right choice. Zhu Luishui was stuck between two walls. No matter who he saved, he would have been scorned in the end. If he chose Su Baicheng, he would have been scorned as a man who cared not for his family. If he chose Zhu Longwang, he would be known as the man who betrayed the man he loved. In the end, he chose his brother, his family.
Fei Qianchi listened with a heavy heart. If it was him, he wouldn’t have been strong enough to bear all this pain. It explained why Zhu Luishui cut himself away from the world. While he had saved Zhu Longwang and even became known as the Lord of Suzhou, he sacrificed his heart in return, a man who was his world.
“But why didn’t you tell him the truth?” Fei Qianchi asked. Yes, Zhu Luishui was right, but why hadn’t he told Su Baicheng the truth instead of hiding it?
“I,” Zhu Luishui stammered. “I didn’t want him to know. He was scarred and it was hard for him to open up. I didn’t want him to push me away if I told him the truth. I was selfish for his love, I didn’t want to tell him that I was there for the purpose of killing him.”
Fei Qianchi shook his head. All these events led to one another, they were entangled in a mess. Fate played its hand, and everyone went through this pain. In the end, countless people were involved.
Fei Qianchi sighed as he massaged his temple, hiding the emotions in his eyes.
The root began with betrayal. Betrayal could change a man for the worse. And now, everyone was experiencing the consequences of one man’s betrayal.
Fei Qianchi lifted his lips in exasperation as he turned to Zhu Longwang, looking at the man with soft eyes.
If it was him, even he wouldn’t know what to do.
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.
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… saben qué, pndjps todos ಥ_ಥ
Autor-nim, ah Autor-nim … Solo lloraré …
Another dumb character, Zhu Luishui. He’s afraid of Su Baicheng hating him, but he’s not afraid of killing him. That doesn’t make sense.