Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Seeing how embarrassed Xie Lian seemed to be about the robbery incident being brought up, Shen Yuan decided to change the subject.

“It really is strange,” Shen Yuan said. “You spend centuries arguing with each other over every little thing, yet the second one of you is in trouble, you two rush over without even thinking. I don't think I've ever seen people hold grudges so enthusiastically while also refusing to let each other die.”

Feng Xin let out a loud snort. “Who's refusing to let him die? If he fell off the bridge, I'd think about whether it was worth climbing down first.”

“Yeah, well I did,” Mu Qing muttered, not even looking at him. “And you still went and got me.”

Feng Xin looked like he wanted to deny it, but after opening his mouth, nothing came out. He clicked his tongue instead.

“That doesn't count. If he died before I got another chance to yell at him, who else would I yell at?”

“That sounds less like an excuse and more like you're proving Shen Yuan's point,” Xie Lian said with a laugh before turning to Shen Yuan. “The three of us have always been like this. We argue, we split apart, and then when something happens, we end up standing together again before we even realize we've done it.”

Mu Qing huffed. “Speak for yourself.”

“I’m speaking for all of us,” Xie Lian replied. “If you really didn't care, you wouldn't have come today.”

Mu Qing stayed silent.

Shen Yuan looked over at him, then smiled. “He's got you there.”

"..."

Mu Qing sighed through his nose. “Can the two of you stop ganging up on me?”

“We're not,” Xie Lian denied. “We're just telling the truth.”

Mu Qing narrowed his eyes. “How could anyone believe that? You're smiling too much while you say it.”

“Am I?”

“You are.”

Xie Lian reached up to scratch his cheek, chuckling. “Well... I suppose I am.”

Shen Yuan laughed under his breath. “It's nice seeing everyone settle things, even if only for a few minutes. I was starting to think that every conversation needed to become an argument before it could end with you guys.”

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

It was a little too nice, actually. Like the calm before the storm, which he supposed was accurate given the situation.

Feng Xin barked out another laugh. “You aren't wrong. Spend another few months with us and you'll get used to it. I’m surprised you aren’t already.”

Shen Yuan’s expression turned slightly sour at the thought. “It sounds healthier not to.”

“Hmph,” Mu Qing huffed. “Give it time. Living around idiots like him long enough makes anyone worse.”

“You've lived around us the longest,” Feng Xin shot back. “What's that say about you?”

“It says I've suffered the most,” Mu Qing griped.

Shen Yuan smiled, amused. This group was so interesting!

The conversation lulled from there as they simply focused on walking. If one were to ignore all the lava and possible death, the walk could almost be seen as fun. Speaking of fun things, while he hadn’t had time to admire them, those empty shells from before had been so interesting! He’d never seen things like them before. When he and the others had first seen them, they’d seemed to be completely immobile.

Were they and the empty shells they’d jumped on different, then? If so, then were they related to the resentful spirits? They seemed to be related on a physical level, sure, but were they actually?

They had looked human enough at first glance. They had arms, legs, torsos, and heads. If someone only caught a glimpse of one from far away, they might even mistake it for an actual person standing perfectly still. But once they got closer, the differences became impossible to ignore.

When the resentful spirits had flooded through them, they had moved. So were the shells just vessels? Like puppets waiting for someone to pick up the strings? If that was the case, could any resentful spirit use any shell, or did they have to match? The shells were people once, so maybe only a specific resentful spirit could possess a specific shell. Or maybe it had to do with strength. Perhaps stronger resentful spirits could take over one easily, while weaker ones couldn't control one at all.

"...Shen Yuan?"

Shen Yuan startled, looking up to see Xie Lian watching him, expression caught between concern and curiosity.

"You've been staring at the lava for quite a while," Xie Lian said. "Did you think of something?"

"Hm?" Shen Yuan blinked before realizing he'd slowed down without noticing. He hurried a few steps to catch back up with the group. "I was just thinking about those empty shells from earlier."

"The ones the resentful spirits were using?" Xie Lian asked.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Shen Yuan said, bringing a hand up to his chin thoughtfully. "Were they using them? Or were the shells moving because of something else? They were completely lifeless until Jun Wu did whatever he did, but that doesn't necessarily prove the spirits were controlling them. Maybe they’re their own creatures?”

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

Xie Lian considered it for a moment before nodding.

"You're right. Correlation isn't the same as causation," he said. "It could simply be that both reacted to Mount Tonglu opening."

"Exactly!" Shen Yuan said, pointing at him. "That's what I was thinking. If the mountain itself was responsible, then the resentful spirits and the shells could just be responding to the same thing instead of one controlling the other."

"Though if that were the case," Xie Lian continued, "why would the shells begin moving only after the resentful spirits rushed into them? I don't think I saw a single one move beforehand."

"Neither did I," Shen Yuan admitted. "But we also weren't exactly standing there taking notes."

Xie Lian smiled. "That's true. We were a bit occupied."

Shen Yuan nodded. "And if they are being possessed, there's still the question of how it works. Do the spirits choose whichever shell is closest? Or is there some connection between a spirit and the shell it enters?"

"If there is a connection," Xie Lian said, "perhaps it has something to do with the body they once belonged to."

"I thought about that too," Shen Yuan replied. "But it felt like there were more shells than spirits. If they're only temporary vessels, then abandoning one wouldn't matter."

"Then again," Xie Lian added, "if that were true, destroying the shell wouldn't accomplish much. The resentful spirit could simply move elsewhere.”

Shen Yuan nodded. "Which was exactly what happened earlier.”

The two fell quiet, each turning the idea over in their heads.

Mu Qing glanced over his shoulder with a look that suggested he had been listening to every word despite pretending otherwise.

"Your Majesty," he said, "now isn't the time to be thinking about all of that."

"I know," Shen Yuan said with only the slightest hint of embarrassment. "But if nobody thinks about it, then nobody figures anything out. Besides, it's either this or I spend the whole trip worrying about where Pei Ming and Hua Cheng ended up.”

And then, like the floodgates were opened, the worry from when he’d first woken up came crawling back once more.

Right.

Where had they ended up? Hopefully not somewhere with a crowd of those things waiting for them. Hua Cheng could certainly handle himself, and Pei Ming was far from weak himself, but getting separated in a place like this was asking for trouble. Especially when Jun Wu was still lurking around somewhere.

And that wasn't even taking Airplane and Mei Nianqing into account.

Those two had gotten separated from everyone else much earlier. At least Hua Cheng and Pei Ming had ended up together last time, but there was no telling where Airplane and Mei Nianqing had been thrown. There was a chance Jun Wu wouldn't bother with Airplane, but if Shen Yuan was being realistic, that chance was practically nonexistent. Airplane had escaped alongside the rest of them on the giant statue. From Jun Wu's perspective, wasn’t that just giving him the middle finger?

Mei Nianqing's situation wasn't any better. If anything, it was far worse. It had been made painfully obvious that whatever relationship the two of them had once shared was long gone, and considering what Jun Wu had done to the previous generation of Heavenly Officials (something Shen Yuan had ignored when he’d learned about it and ignored now)...

He didn't even want to imagine what he had planned for Mei Nianqing.

[ Pity Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

"Shen Yuan," Xie Lian said suddenly, glancing over at Shen Yuan. "I was thinking, and, well… Aren't you still wearing the Brocade Immortal?"

Shen Yuan blinked before looking down at himself.

"...Oh."

Right. He'd forgotten all about it. It wasn’t his fault though! So much had happened since then that it just… slipped his mind! Really, you couldn’t expect him to remember something that had been dead quiet since he put it on!

"It hasn't done anything since we got here," Shen Yuan said as he tugged lightly at his sleeve.

"The Brocade Immortal?" Feng Xin repeated, looking between the two of them with a shocked expression. "You're wearing that?"

Mu Qing looked appalled. "Why?"

Shen Yuan scratched his cheek. "It's... a long story. The short version is that it attached itself to me."

"It attached itself?" Feng Xin asked. "Just like that?"

Xie Lian cut in before Shen Yuan could. "We couldn't remove it afterward, so it's stayed with him ever since."

Mu Qing's brows drew together. "And you've just been walking around wearing a cursed spiritual artifact this whole time?"

"I wasn't exactly thrilled about the arrangement," Shen Yuan replied, feeling a bit indignant. It wasn’t his fault the thing mimicked his clothes! "But after it hasn’t tried to strangle me, so I figured we were making progress."

Feng Xin stared at him. "...You say that like it's reassuring."

"It was reassuring compared to the alternative.” Shen Yuan shrugged.

Xie Lian let out a quiet laugh before his expression grew thoughtful again.

"Has it been behaving since the Palace of Ling Wen?" he asked. "It hasn't tried to do anything strange?"

Shen Yuan shook his head. "Nothing. It's been quiet enough that I forgot I was even wearing it."

"That's a little concerning in its own way," Xie Lian said, frowning. "The Brocade Immortal has never struck me as something that would stay obedient for long."

"I know," Shen Yuan agreed. "That's why I'm trying not to celebrate too early.”

Mu Qing glanced at him once before looking ahead again. "So you're carrying around a dangerous cursed object, and you neglected to mention it."

"I didn't neglect it," Shen Yuan corrected. "I forgot."

"You forgot."

Shen Yuan was beginning to feel offended. There was no need to sound so skeptical, Mu Qing! He was telling the truth!

"I've had a lot on my mind,” Shen Yuan replied. 

[ Pity Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

Feng Xin shook his head, seemingly a bit in disbelief. "I'll give you that one. Compared to Jun Wu trying to kill us, I guess a cursed robe slips down the list."

"It really does," Shen Yuan admitted. "Though now that Xie Lian brought it up, I'm wondering why it hasn't done anything."

The thought settled over the four of them. Considering everything that had happened since entering Mount Tonglu, the Brocade Immortal should have had countless chances to act. Instead, it had remained completely still.

Suddenly, Xie Lian hummed. “Maybe it’s because of you and General Pei.”

Shen Yuan blinked. “Huh?”

He tilted his head. “Think about it. It’s only ever done things for Ling Wen, right? And General Pei was accused of courting Ling Wen once, so the Brocade Immortal went after him. So, by that logic, with the Brocade Immortal seeing you two together…”

Shen Yuan stared at him for a moment, uncomprehending. Was he…?

His eyes widened, hiding his reddened face behind his sleeve. “Xie Lian!”

He was saying that because he was a cutsleeve, the Brocade Immortal didn’t see him as a threat! That was just uncalled for, Xie Lian!

Xie Lian laughed softly, tilting his head slightly. “Well, I’m not wrong, am I? Aren’t you and General Pei courting one another?”

Shen Yuan stumbled over his words. “No- I mean, yes, but-” But there was no need to point it out, alright?! None at all!

Xie Lian only smiled.

"...What are you two talking about?" Feng Xin asked. "What does General Pei have to do with the Brocade Immortal?"

"It's nothing," Shen Yuan answered a little too quickly. "Don't worry about it."

Mu Qing scoffed. “As if anyone would believe that. Feng Xin, you’d have to be a bumbling and blind idiot not to notice what’s going on between him and General Pei.”

Feng Xin went quiet. Then, under his breath as if Shen Yuan couldn’t hear him, “I was trying to save him some face!”

Shen Yuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

As the conversation drifted away again, Shen Yuan reached up to rub the side of his face.

His fingers brushed against something cool.

The earring! He'd completely forgotten he was still wearing it!

After everything that had happened, he'd never gotten around to taking it off, much less giving it away. Since Xie Lian was right here...

Shen Yuan reached up and carefully unhooked the small blue earring from his ear before holding it out. “Xie Lian, I almost forgot. Since you and…” He had to stop himself from saying ‘since you and him were friends.’ “Do you want this?"

Feng Xin and Mu Qing still believed he was Shen Lan, after all. There was no reason to make this conversation harder than it needed to be, especially not after that heartfelt friendship confession from Mu Qing towards “Shen Lan.”

Xie Lian's gaze settled on the earring for a brief moment before he smiled and shook his head. "No, you should keep it. I already have something else.”

As he spoke, he slipped a hand into his sleeve and drew out a familiar white bead with uncomplicated carvings. Was that… It was! That bead was none other than the bead that Shen Lan had given Xie Lian when he’d left, before he’d… Before he’d seen White No-Face for a final time. It seemed Xie Lian had put it on a white ribbon tied. He… couldn’t believe that Xie Lian had kept it, even after all these years. It warmed his heart a little.

"I don't need another keepsake," he said softly, curling his fingers around it before tucking it away again. "This is enough."

Feng Xin looked from the bead to the earring, his brows knitting together.

"...Keepsake?" he repeated. "Of what?"

Shen Yuan met Xie Lian's eyes for the briefest moment before looking away.

"...It's a long story," he answered.

Neither Mu Qing or Feng Xin looked convinced.

Shen Yuan could already tell where this conversation would end if he said one sentence too many, and there was no way he was going to rip the Shen Lan bandaid off now. Not with the situation currently.

Since Xie Lian wasn't taking it, Shen Yuan looked between the other two and held the earring out again.

"Then one of you take it. There's no point in me keeping it.”

Mu Qing's expression shifted almost imperceptibly. A second later, he reached into his own sleeve. Without a word, he pulled out another bead, this one intricate and a silver that matched well with his complexion. His was tied to a tassel. Maybe it was used on his sword at one point?

“...You kept it?” Xie Lian was one thing, but Mu Qing? He never would’ve expected that!

Mu Qing looked down at it for a moment before closing his fingers around it again, putting it back.

"I never threw it away," he said simply. "It wasn't taking up any space, so there wasn't a reason to."

Feng Xin looked at the bead in Mu Qing's hand, then scratched the top of his head.

"...Well." He coughed once. "Since we're doing this..."

He fumbled around inside his robes until he found what he was looking for (which was hard to do while still carrying Mu Qing), then held up a bead tied to an old cord. His was golden and etched in designs that weren’t too unlike Mu Qing’s. His went well with his outfit and matched his hair band.

"I've still got mine too."

Shen Yuan looked from Mu Qing to Feng Xin, then over at Xie Lian, whose expression was soft as he looked at the other beads and his own.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Shen Yuan shook his head, partly amused and partially in disbelief.

"I really thought all of you would've lost them by now."

Feng Xin looked offended.

"What kind of person do you think I am?" he asked. “It was a gift! I never lose a gift.”

Xie Lian chuckled as he looked between the three of them.

"It seems we all thought the same thing," he said. "No one wanted to throw theirs away."

Shen Yuan looked at the earring still resting in his hand before slipping it back on his ear with a small shrug.

"...Well," he said, "I guess that settles it."

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

Nobody argued with that. The four of them simply stood there for another quiet moment, each carrying their own little keepsake without another word needing to be said.

Of course, that was when all four felt a wave of heat surge from below. They all cried, “Watch out!” and their feet moved faster as seven or eight pillars of fire shot to the skies. More of the molten vengeful spirits had gathered below, having taken advantage of the stillness.

“Feng Xin, give Mu Qing to me!” Xie Lian called out.

Without another word, Feng Xin peeled Mu Qing off his back and tossed him to Xie Lian. Once on Xie Lian’s back, Mu Qing exclaimed, “Finish them off quickly! What a nuisance!”

“I don’t need you to tell me that!” Shen Yuan replied as he pulled out Zhishi, sending down attacks as they ran.

Next to him, Feng Xin had his bowstring ready with multiple arrows at once. His bow attacks could hit a much wider area than the spiritual blasts that Shen Yuan had been firing off wildly before. The two managed to synchronize with each other quite well, with Shen Yuan focused on the more immediate spirits while Feng Xin focused on the farther away clusters. The arrows and spiritual beams made explosive impact with the lava, sending waves surging high into the air and eliciting screams from all around.

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

[ Badass Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

“Nice work!” Xie Lian complimented.

“It’s all right, I guess!” Mu Qing commented from his back.

The vengeful spirits were full of rancor, and after another huddle, they swam farther ahead and worked together to blow flames at them.

After a series of rumbles, Xie Lian said, “They’ve burnt through a stretch of the bridge ahead. They want to cut off our path!”

“Fucking hell,” Feng Xin cursed. “You’re all teaming up, working so hard! Why do you have to hurt people?! The way I see it, none of you are ever leaving that lava, not for another eight thousand years!”

Shen Yuan nodded hard in agreement. They were all so annoying! Wasn’t it easier to just let them pass freely?!

The moment Feng Xin raised his bow, the molten vengeful spirits scattered again.

“Alright, stop yelling and get ready!” Xie Lian said. “We’re gonna jump! One, two, three-!”

On one, Shen Yuan and the others began to speed up. On two, they calculated the number of steps remaining. On three, their feet pushed off and they jumped. Four figures leapt into the air, passed over the gap in the broken bridge, and then landed on the other side before continuing their mad dash.

The bridge had been created as a path to the heavens, so, naturally, it sloped gradually upward. However, the more they ran, the lighter Xie Lian looked. He was practically as light as a swallow.

“It’s been a long time since the four of us did something like this, huh?” he said, a large smile on his face.

“Do you mean fighting side by side or running for our lives?” Mu Qing questioned.

“Both!” Xie Lian said.

“We do this all the time!” Feng Xin exclaimed.

“Really?” Shen Yuan wondered aloud, a smile playing on his lips.

Well, one’s state of mind obviously changed completely once they cleared the air.

Shen Yuan let out a laugh, but his careful eyes never stopped scanning below them. There was still no sight of a black or red silhouette, so he couldn’t help but be a little on edge.

“San Lang!” Xie Lian yelled out from next to him. “General Pei!”

His call echoed in the expansive, empty underground cave, but no one answered.

He scanned the area, eyes darting this way and that, and Mu Qing was silent for a moment as he watched from his perch on Xie Lian’s back.

“Your Highness, you really like him, huh?”

“...” Xie Lian hadn’t expected him to ask that out of nowhere. “Ah. Ah? ...Ah.”

Although his expression was completely blank, the tips of his ears were gradually turning red. Seeing him like this, Mu Qing couldn’t think of what to say, so after a moment of hesitation, he plowed ahead.

“I’m not trying to scare you on purpose or anything, but I have to remind you...have you considered...maybe we were the only three sent to the bridge, and Crimson Rain Sought Flower...wasn’t?”

“Duh? Of course he was sent elsewhere, since there’s only the three of you here...” Feng Xin responded, but he trailed off once he realized what Mu Qing was trying to say. Rather than saying Hua Cheng had been sent elsewhere, he was saying...that Hua Cheng might have fallen into the lava.

“Don’t say that,” Shen Yuan replied immediately.

Mu Qing looked over, frowning. “Your Majesty, I know that General Pei was with him, but… This wouldn’t be the first time the Emperor has tried to keep the two of you apart. It’s very possible that-”

“No,” Shen Yuan interrupted. He didn’t look upset. If anything, he just looked offended. It wasn’t even a possibility that could’ve happened. If it had been anybody else? Sure, that could’ve happened and Shen Yuan wouldn’t have blinked an eye. But it was Pei Ming, and Pei Ming had been incredibly integral to the plot so far. If he had been killed off, it would’ve been with people nearby to watch, not something that was done off-screen.

So, it wasn’t possible, simple as that.

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

Mu Qing seemed to sense that this wasn’t something to continue speaking about. After looking at Shen Yuan with a complicated expression for a moment, he sighed and turned back to Xie Lian.

“It’s not impossible,” Mu Qing said. “Crimson Rain Sought Flower is a Supreme Ghost King, no doubt about that, but White No-Face is too. He’s from the first generation of Supreme Ghost Kings, and he’s the master of Mount Tonglu. This place is his territory, the domain where his spiritual powers are strongest.”

Before Shen Yuan could interrupt about how that wasn’t possible either (this time because Hua Cheng was, quite literally, the love interest and thus wasn’t able to die unless it was dramatic and in front of Xie Lian), Feng Xin glared furiously at Mu Qing.

“Shut your mouth! What’s wrong with you? Can’t you say something positive at a time like this?” he scolded. “He’s the Crimson Rain Sought Flower, I’m telling you! And what’s all that about General Pei? He’s the top martial god in Heaven right under Jun Wu and his Majesty! I’m sure he figured something out.”

Mu Qing stopped, but he couldn’t resist countering Feng Xin’s statement. “I just think we have to consider what to do in the worst-case scenario.”

That offending roll of a one, the single dot so unusually, vividly red and stark against Hua Cheng’s pale palm, surfaced in Shen Yuan’s mind. He didn’t know how to respond, but just as he was going to try, he came to an abrupt stop. Feng Xin was following right behind and almost collided with him.

“What is it?!”

As soon as he asked, he realized there was no need for a response.

Ahead of them, millions of shimmering silver sparkles clouded the air, twinkling like stars. It was as if someone had toppled a jewelry box full of silver powder.

Xie Lian let Mu Qing off his back and walked forward. Reaching out a hand, he gently touched a gleaming piece of silver that was slightly larger than the rest. Upon making contact, he closed his palm and slowly brought it before his eyes.

The other three approached to inspect it as well, and Feng Xin muttered, “This...this is...”

“It’s a fragment of...a wraith butterfly?” Mu Qing said simply.

The overly blunt observation earned him another scornful glare from Feng Xin. Xie Lian’s hand trembled a little. He let out a long breath as he clutched the silver wing fragment, still glowing faintly. Shen Yuan carefully put his hand on his back.

“It’s alright. This means that he got out of the lava. He was here.”

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

“And fought with someone,” Mu Qing said, pointing to one side. “A serious fight.”

Shen Yuan’s eyes followed his gesture, then went wide. All the rocks around them were covered with countless terrifying gashes made by a sharp blade, the distinctive blade marks of Eming. Not only that, but if he looked a little closer, he could see marks from another blade, this one larger and not nearly as controlled in comparison though still remarkably steady. Rong Guang.

Two conflicting feelings flooded through Shen Yuan at the realization. On one hand, Pei Ming had been here, too. He’d lived and was doing well. On the other hand, Pei Ming had been here, had joined in on whatever battle had transpired.

Each strike from Hua Cheng’s scimitar sliced straight to the bone. It wasn’t as though Shen Yuan had never seen Hua Cheng use his blade before, but his style had always been relaxed and easy, nonchalant and casual, less handling a weapon than toying with a pocket knife. But these blade marks were from strikes fueled by killing intent. It was easy to imagine the enormous skill level of his opponent and how perilous their battle had been. If it had been difficult for Hua Cheng… He didn’t even want to think about how dangerous it had been for Pei Ming, someone who didn’t have the protagonist halo on his side.

Without saying a word, Shen Yuan fell to the ground to check. There was no trace that anyone had fallen from the bridge, nor were there any vengeful spirits gathered below it in celebration. Shen Yuan got to his feet, then quietly sprinted forward resolutely. Another followed his lead without hesitation. He was glad to know Xie Lian had the same idea; They needed to find them, and fast.

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

Behind them, Feng Xin hoisted Mu Qing onto his back and went after him. “Your Highness! Your Majesty!”

Shen Yuan ignored them, something that had been quite easy to do after dealing with the System for so long. There was no way he could stop, not right now! There wasn’t any blood around, which was a miracle in itself, but who knew if Pei Ming was injured somewhere?

Xie Lian didn’t want to hear his own harsh, anxious breathing, so he held his breath. Disrupting one’s airflow was a great taboo for a martial artist. Not only did it add an unnecessary burden to the body, it also disrupted the rhythm of the heart. But even holding his breath was useless, and his hands, arms, and legs were shaking. As he ran and ran, he tripped, fell, and tumbled, rolled a dozen times, even nearly careened off the bridge if it hadn’t been for Shen Yuan helping him. Feng Xin and Mu Qing both yelled at him to be careful, and, despite the worry flowing through Shen Yuan’s heart as well, he felt the same.

Suddenly, Xie Lian came to a halt and looked back, forcing Shen Yuan to stop as well.

“What’s that sound?” Xie Lian asked. “Do you guys hear it? Is that the sound of battle?”

Feng Xin and Mu Qing both cried, “Yes! And yes!”

Shen Yuan could hear the cracking and rumbling of weapons clashing and spiritual powers colliding. Even the Heaven-Crossing Bridge shook faintly. Lights flashed from within the darkness of the path ahead.

Someone was fighting up there! Xie Lian rushed forward, half crawling and half stumbling, Shen Yuan right beside him though much more upright, if only because of adrenaline keeping him so. Pei Ming had better be safe!

Behind him, Feng Xin muttered, “Fucking hell, may all the gods and buddhas grant their blessings… That’d better be Crimson Rain Sought Flower and General Pei, otherwise they’re both gonna lose it!”

“Stop with that rubbish,” Mu Qing berated. “We’re the gods and buddhas, and we can’t grant shit. Just keep up with him! Look at how he’s stumbling, he’s gonna trip and fall flat on his damned face before he even sees the man! If you’re gonna ask anything be granted, then ask it from his Majesty! He’s the only one out of the two of them with enough sense not to kill himself by accident!”

After many twists and turns, Shen Yuan at last rounded the final corner and bright white light filled his vision.

At the end of the suspended Heaven-Crossing Bridge, a man in red, a man in black, and a man in white were engaged in a vicious two vs one battle.

The red-clad man wielded a long, slender silver scimitar, his figure little more than a crimson blur as he flashed in and out of sight. It was Hua Cheng. The easy smile that so often lingered on his lips had long since disappeared, leaving behind only cold focus. A streak of blood ran across one cheek, bright against pale skin, but he didn't so much as spare it a thought. Every swing of E-Ming carved through the air with frightening precision, forcing White No-Face to guard from angles that should've been impossible.

Beside him fought the man in black, mingguang gleaming like a bolt of silver each time it cut through the darkness. Pei Ming didn't possess Hua Cheng's ghostly speed, but there was nothing sluggish about him either. Every step was deliberate, every slash carrying enough force that White No-Face couldn't simply ignore it. Steel met steel again and again, each clash sending violent tremors through the ground as Pei Ming drove forward without giving his opponent so much as a heartbeat to recover.

The white-clad man was, of course, White No-Face. He was wielding a sword that he had collected from somewhere, and his face was still hidden behind a half-smiling, half-crying mask. However, that mask was a little bit different from the one Shen Yuan had seen before.

It was cracked in the middle.

The crack was significant, impossible to ignore. It went from the center of the forehead all the way down to the cheek just below the eye. The mask looked like it could shatter at any moment.

Evil energy churned through the air, thick enough to suffocate. All three combatants were astonishingly light on their feet, each vaulting away and closing the distance again in the blink of an eye. Yet every collision between their weapons carried the weight of a thousand mountains. Steel crashed against steel, and the force of each impact blasted toward the heavens. Sword qi tore through the air in glittering arcs while the crimson gale trailing Hua Cheng's scimitar swept across the battlefield like a living storm. Pei Ming struck from the front with relentless, crushing force, leaving White No-Face no choice but to meet it head-on, only for E-Ming to flash from a blind angle the instant his attention shifted. Before he could finish deflecting one, the other was already upon him.

Below, swarms of silver wraith butterflies collided with the molten vengeful spirits pouring from the lava, their shrieks crashing together loudly enough to shake mountains and churn seas. Every clash overhead sent another violent eruption through the magma pool, fountains of molten rock and roaring fire exploding skyward before crashing back down in waves dozens of feet high. The battlefield had become a place no ordinary person could hope to approach. Even the gods watching from afar could do little more than shield themselves from the shockwaves and wait for an opening that never came

Feng Xin and Mu Qing finally arrived, but both were immediately nailed to the ground by shock at the scene before them, unable to move a single step more.

No martial god could watch a battle such as this and not be seized with excitement!

Seeing that Pei Ming was (surprisingly) fine, Shen Yuan’s restless heart was finally at ease. He wanted to go and help, but he forced himself to hold it in. When skilled fighters clashed, any sudden disturbance could decide victory or defeat.

Next to him, Xie Lian looked like he wanted to collapse with relief.

On White No-Face’s side, there were another two figures standing in the far distance, the state preceptor and Airplane. Naturally, they had been brought here by White No-Face. Airplane breathed a sigh of relief and sagged upon seeing that Shen Yuan and company had come, but he didn’t dare to recklessly make noise either. Good, at least he was smart! How he was even still alive, Shen Yuan had no idea, but he wasn’t going to complain! As much as he complained about him, he was sort of lovable. In a very annoying way, but lovable nonetheless.

Hua Cheng glanced toward the newcomers, the frost in his expression giving way to an amused grin.

"Well, this is awkward for you. His Highness and his Majesty are both here, and everyone in their party made it through."

Xie Lian couldn't hold back any longer. “San Lang!”

Hua Cheng tilted his head ever so slightly. “Gege.”

Then his gaze flicked over to Shen Yuan, and his expression darkened ever so slightly.

“Shen Yuan,” he warned, “I'm going to get mad the next time you make yourself fall like that.”

Shen Yuan stared at him in disbelief. “Excuse me?! How was that my fault?!”

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

[ Pei Ming Approval Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

White No-Face had grabbed him and thrown him into a pit of lava! There was absolutely no universe in which that counted as his fault.

Xie Lian immediately turned to Hua Cheng. “And I'll get even madder the next time you jump down with us!”

“...”

Hua Cheng's expression froze. Even while crossing blades with White No-Face, he had remained as calm as ever, yet one sentence from Xie Lian had managed to make him hesitate.

...As expected, there truly was only one person in the world capable of terrifying the mighty Crimson Rain Sought Flower.

Unlike Hua Cheng, Pei Ming didn't have the luxury of carrying on a conversation while fighting. Rong Guang flashed relentlessly, every strike met by another in an endless torrent of steel. There wasn't a single wasted movement. Against White No-Face, one misplaced step, one wandering thought, one delayed reaction was all it would take to lose.

Even so...

“Shen Yuan!” Pei Ming called over the deafening clash of blades. “Glad to see you're alright!”

That was all. Just seven simple words before his attention snapped back to White No-Face without missing another exchange.

Shen Yuan stared for a moment. He'd spoken because making sure Shen Yuan heard those words had been worth risking the distraction.

Shen Yuan couldn't help but feel a little touched.

White No-Face pressed in again. His sword drove straight for Hua Cheng, yet the words were directed elsewhere.

“Ming Guang,” he said, “shouldn't you all be taking me a bit more seriously?”

The eyeball on Eming’s hilt caught sight of Xie Lian and started spinning wildly. Without a word, Pei Ming leaped backwards as Hua Cheng flipped his hand and thrust. Shen Yuan heard a crack.

His heart lurched.

That was the sound of a weapon breaking!

All those present hastily looked to see where the sound had come from. The scimitar in Hua Cheng’s hand was fine, but the longsword wielded by White No-Face had been snapped in half by his strike!

Eming, more powerful than White No-Face’s own weapon… Wasn’t that a crazy thought!

Pei Ming landed lightly beside Shen Yuan, and he forced his attention off the battle.

"You're unharmed?" Pei Ming asked, giving him a quick once-over despite already knowing the answer.

Shen Yuan waved him off. Wasn’t that already established? "I'm fine.”

[ Pei Ming Approval Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

"Good." Pei Ming let out a quiet breath. “Don't leave my side again.”

He frowned. “What?”

“If something dangerous happens, I'll deal with it,” Pei MIng said. “You don’t need to do anything else.”

“...” Shen Yuan was in shock. It really didn’t sound like he was joking! "...You do realize that I'm a dual god again, right?"

Pei Ming nodded immediately. "Of course. It would be impossible not to know.”

Shen Yuan huffed. "Then why do you keep talking like I need a bodyguard?"

Pei Ming looked blinked, confused. "...Because I don't want you getting hurt?"

This man… Shen Yuan could handle himself perfectly fine, thank you very much!

“I don't understand,” Pei Ming continued, frowning. “None of the women I've courted have had an issue with it.”

He sounded genuinely baffled, as though he were trying to solve a difficult problem that had no solution.

Shen Yuan, having pity on the man, answered with complete sincerity. “Because I'm not a woman. Also, even if I were, that still wouldn't make it okay. You keep acting like protecting me is your responsibility alone.”

Pei Ming blinked. “That’s because it is.”

“No, it isn't.” Shen Yuan shook his head.

“Why not?”

Shen Yuan sighed. “Because relationships aren't supposed to work like that. I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself, and if anything happens to you, I'm going to protect you too. It’s a give and take thing. One person doesn’t do all the protecting, especially when both are perfectly competent.”

Pei Ming frowned a little deeper, as if that sentence had contradicted itself. “But… Isn't that my job?”

“No! I just said that it’s our job!” He pinched his nose bridge. “Look, we’ll talk more about this later, okay? Now isn’t the time.”

Although Pei Ming didn’t seem to quite understand what was wrong with what he said despite it being incredibly sexist, he nodded and agreed. Oh well. Shen Yuan would have plenty of time later on to teach him what was fine to say and what wasn’t. If he was going to fully commit to his new life as a cutsleeve, he was at least going to make sure his boyfriend wasn’t going to treat him like a fragile maiden!

When Shen Yuan tuned back into what was happening elsewhere, Hua Cheng was laughing heartily. “It’s fine. There’s no reason for Gege or Shen Yuan to worry,” he said easily. “And why should I care for the likes of you?”

White No-Face humphed. Afraid that Hua Cheng would enrage his opponent, Mei Nianqing couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted to him, “Young man, don’t be so cocky!”

What Hua Cheng said next, however, was even more outrageous. Smiling, he raised the gleaming scimitar in his hand and pointed its razor-sharp tip at White No-Face.

"At the end of the day, you're nothing more than a jealous, creepy old geezer."

Well, he certainly wasn’t wrong! Jun Wu was nothing if not jealous, creepy, and old!

Mei Nianqing couldn’t even bother to berate his fake smile at this point. Even Airplane was stunned.

The guts of this man! Who would dare say such a thing directly to Jun Wu or White No-Face?!

They all had to admit that only Hua Cheng would dare, for he was probably the only one against whom neither Jun Wu nor White No-Face could retaliate!

Pei Ming tilted his head and whispered to Shen Yuan, “Well. I wasn’t going to say anything myself, but he’s not wrong.”

Mu Qing climbed down from Feng Xin's back on his own and took a few unsteady steps, mumbling to himself. "No wonder... Back then... Jun Wu always told us to avoid Crimson Rain Sought Flower whenever possible, and never face him head-on."

A blur of white darted in front of E'ming's blade, blocking its path. Shen Yuan recognized who it was in an instant.

"Hua Cheng, don't cut him!"

It was Cuocuo! Shen Yuan saw it, so naturally Hua Cheng did as well. He easily slowed the blade’s momentum, and with a slant of its tip, the slashing motion became a flick that flung away the white ball. Once Feng Xin saw that the fetus spirit hadn’t been chopped in half, his shrunken pupils returned to normal.

Shaking off his shock, he yelled, “Come here!”

Hua Cheng had flung the fetus spirit precisely in his direction, and Feng Xin rushed forward to catch it. However, the sparse hair on the fetus spirit’s head bristled as soon as it heard Feng Xin’s shouted order, and angry snarls gurgled from its throat.

The moment Feng Xin approached, it chomped at him like mad and refused to let him pick it up. Feng Xin couldn’t help but be outraged. “Fucking hell! It sticks to him the moment it sees him, but when it sees me, it bites. Just who’s your dad here?!”

“Have you ever thought of him as your son?” Shen Yuan cut in, crossing his arms with a raised eyebrow. “Have you ever even called him by his proper name? Actually, do you even know his name?”

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

This comment left Feng Xin stumped. “I...”

Shen Yuan shook his head, sighing. There was no point in taking Cuocuo away from Feng Xin at the moment, not with the battle as it was.

Actually, speaking of which…

“Pei Ming,” Shen Yuan asked, looking over at the martial god. “Why are you over here instead of fighting?”

Pei Ming smiled. “Crimson Rain’s been taking over every once in a while. It lets me take care of my injuries. As shameful as it is to admit it, he’s rather skilled and likely could handle this fight by himself even without my help. I’m incredibly grateful that he’s on our side and not his.”

Shen Yuan nodded thoughtfully. That made sense. After all, Hua Cheng was a Ghost King, as was White No-Face. The fact that Pei Ming had been able to keep up with them at all was a miracle in and of itself, but being completely uninjured in addition? Well… Pei Ming should get a million lottery tickets if that were the case. Still, why was he over here right now, though? There wasn’t a scratch on him.

Meanwhile, Xie Lian couldn’t sit still and watch the battle anymore. “Feng Xin, Mu Qing, the two of you be careful,” he hastily instructed. “I’m going up for a closer look! Shen Yuan, General Pei, are you both coming?”

Shen Yuan blinked, looking over at Xie Lian. He looked… terribly stressed and frantic, to say the least. He nodded, and Pei Ming shrugged next to him. “I don’t see why not.”

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

There was no more time for words, so the three rushed forward.

A flash of red and a flash of white whirled in a vicious battle. After observing for a moment, Shen Yuan determined it would be difficult to plunge into the chaotic fight at the moment. He wasn’t even sure how Pei Ming was able to jump in and out without getting hurt.

As if to answer his unspoken questions, Pei Ming spoke up once he felt the silence had gone on long enough. “Shen Yuan, I’m going back to help Crimson Rain. Do you think you'll be fine with his Highness?”

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, and Pei Ming winced.

"...Right. Just… Stay safe."

Without another word, he tightened his grip around Rong Guang, and Shen Yuan barely caught the shift in his stance before Pei Ming was gone.

He shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow, black robes snapping violently behind him as he plunged straight back into the storm of sword qi. White No-Face had only just driven Hua Cheng back half a step when Pei Ming came crashing down from above. Forced to abandon his pursuit, White No-Face raised his broken sword to meet the strike.

In that same instant, Hua Cheng vanished.

The pressure he'd been exerting from the front disappeared completely, only to reappear at White No-Face's flank. E-Ming swept toward his neck in a crimson arc, forcing White No-Face to twist away just as Pei Ming's next slash carved through the space he'd just been. Neither man spared the other so much as a glance. Hua Cheng slipped effortlessly back into the role he'd had before, yielding the center of the battlefield to Pei Ming whenever brute force was needed, only to emerge from another angle the moment White No-Face committed to defending against Rong Guang.

It was both seamless and captivating to watch happen.

However, he was unable to continue watching when Xie Lian whipped out Ruoye to wrap up Mei Nianqing and Airplane to pull them over.

“Master! Tian Yao! Are you all right?” Xie Lian wasted no time in asking.

Mei Nianqing wiped the cold sweat from his face. “...Fine!”

“If you’re fine, then why are you sweating so heavily?” Xie Lian asked.

Airplane looked to be in a similar state to Mei Nianqing. “Can you blame him?” he cried. “This is a very stressful time! 

“It’s all thanks to Crimson Rain Sought Flower, the little bastard with no filter on his mouth! What a fright!” Mei Nianqing said.

Shen Yuan sighed, shaking his head. “Tian Yao, what happened since we last saw you?”

Airplane barked out a nonbelieving laugh. “What didn’t happen! I’m just glad I was with the state preceptor. Otherwise, I’d be dead ten times over!”

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, and Mei Nianqing gave him a look. “What? Be glad me and him were separated together. At least now I can vouch for him later on that he isn’t on his Highness’ side. He really is a good sprout. Though, he certainly is cowardly in more ways than one.”

At first, Airplane was nodding along with everything Mei Nianqing said. However, at the end, he turned, gaping. “Huh?! I’m not that cowardly, I swear! I can be brave when I need to be!” Then, a little quieter under his breath as if nobody could hear him, “Why are you bad-mouthing a guy who’s right here…? That’s just mean...”

Just then, Feng Xin let out a surprised shout. Shen Yuan raised his head and saw that White No-Face was slowly lowering his hand.

He was injured. He opened his palm and glanced down at his blood-drenched hand, let out a sigh, and then chuckled.

“...It’s been many years since anyone has managed to hurt me like this. I never would have thought it would come from you two.”

Shen Yuan felt a sense of foreboding. “Mei Nianqing, what’s happening? He doesn’t sound angry, but…”

But something wasn’t right. Currently, Mei Nianqing was the one who best understood White No-Face. Perhaps he was the only one in the world who did. “No...he’s worse than angry. He’s...happy.”

“...”

Happy? That was what Jun Wu looked like when he was “happy?” That was a little bit terrifying, if he were being honest.

After a pause, White No-Face turned to Hua Cheng. He sounded quite interested as he asked, “Your scimitar...did you forge it using your missing eye?”

It was obvious Hua Cheng had no interest in responding, but Shen Yuan blinked in surprise.

From the first time he saw Eming, he knew that the scimitar was unusual. He had half guessed that it might have been forged from the eye Hua Cheng had lost, but Jun Wu sounded so certain… Could it really be true?

Mei Nianqing’s brow wrinkled, and after a moment, he said, “Oh, I remember now.”

“What do you remember?” Airplane asked.

“I once heard my friends speak of an incident,” Mei Nianqing said. “Many centuries ago, a wrath ghost came to Mount Tonglu.”

“I’m sure at least a million wrath ghosts have paid a visit to Mount Tonglu,” Mu Qing said.

Shen Yuan jumped, turning around. Holy crap, when had he gotten there?! And next to him was Feng Xin with Cuocuo still biting him? Was Shen Yuan really that unobservant?!

“Don’t interrupt!” Mei Nianqing exclaimed. “That wrath ghost… He was newly formed, very young. He was already on the brink of dissipating completely when he arrived, yet for some reason he held on and drifted here.”

Xie Lian looked concerned. “Almost dissipated? Why?”

“He had suffered grievous injuries,” Mei Nianqing replied. “His soul was almost fully dispersed, and hardly any conscious mind remained to him. But still he floated along, repeating again and again that he wouldn’t leave, he wouldn’t leave. Probably because his wish hadn’t been fulfilled. Anyway, an accident happened when Mount Tonglu opened that year.”

“What kind of accident?” Shen Yuan asked, a bit impatiently. Sorry, but they really didn’t have time for this backstory right now! Though, he wouldn’t deny, he was curious to know why Hua Cheng had been in such a state in the first place…

“Not only had millions of ghosts converged on Mount Tonglu, but a group of living humans had accidentally wandered into this forbidden land and were locked inside.”

“What?!” cried Feng Xin.

“The only things that live inside Mount Tonglu’s domain are nefarious creatures. Ordinary people have no way to break out of the domain and their certain fate is to become nourishment for the rest. But the wrath ghost, in his confused state, took the large group of living humans under his wing and fled for many days. For what reason, I can’t say. They were eventually cornered and surrounded by nefarious creatures, and the wrath ghost was about to be eaten along with the humans.”

“And then?” Xie Lian pushed. “Was there a way to flee to safety?”

“Yes,” Mei Nianqing replied. “He could escape by forging a blood weapon and killing his way out.”

Mu Qing couldn’t help but chip in. “Then wouldn’t the easiest sacrifice be...?”

It would be the group of humans that had fallen into such a hopeless position!

Feng Xin and Mu Qing stared at Hua Cheng, who was wholly absorbed in the vicious fight against White No-Face. “Did...did he...”

“Yes,” Mei Nianqing said. “He made a move.”

Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s expressions were unreadable. Shen Yuan, however, was relaxed and only waited for Mei Nianqing to continue.

Sure enough, Mei Nianqing’s story progressed as he had anticipated. “He made a move. In a fit of madness, he dug out one of his own eyes.”

“...”

“The wrath ghost almost made a move against the humans as well, but for some reason, he didn’t go through with it,” Mei Nianqing continued. “He instead used one of his own eyes as the price to forge a blood weapon. The wrath ghost was already clinging to existence with his last breath, and after digging out his eye, he should’ve broken apart completely. But something had shocked him to action, and he instead fully regained his senses. I don’t know what kind of wicked weapon he forged, but it managed to carry him through that battle. And there was another curious incident after that.”

Airplane seemed to be completely enthralled by the story. “What incident?”

“After that battle, the heavens sent forth a Heavenly Tribulation and lightning struck straight into Mount Tonglu,” Mei Nianqing said. “Do you understand what that means?”

Was there any need to explain? If a Heavenly Tribulation had been sent forth, it meant the heavens believed there was someone worthy of ascension within Mount Tonglu.

Xie Lian grabbed Mei Nianqing. “Who was it? Who ascended?!”

“This is all hearsay,” Mei Nianqing said. “But there has never been a heavenly official in the Upper Court who hailed from Mount Tonglu. Either what I heard was purely fabricated, or...”

Or the person who ascended rejected the Heavenly Realm and jumped right back down! Shen Yuan was in shock. Hua Cheng ascended, but chose to immediately descend? Was it because Xie Lian wasn’t there?!

Mu Qing couldn’t accept it. “Ascending as a ghost?!” he cried in shock. “Is that even possible? And he refused and jumped back down?! It couldn’t have been him, could it? He had only just entered Mount Tonglu. He hadn’t even reached the rank of supreme! Jumping all the way down like that...he couldn’t have even been sure he’d survive! Why did he do it?!”

Just then, Shen Yuan heard White No-Face sigh.

“Xianle, you have a very faithful believer.”

As soon as he spoke, the cracked cry-smiling mask loomed mere inches before Xie Lian’s face. Shen Yuan hadn’t expected White No-Face to draw so close in no more than an instant.

Ruoye shot up like it was bristling and ready to strike, but in the end it shrank back. Luckily for it, Shen Yuan was there and, after his brief half second of surprise, had already yanked Xie Lian behind him, fan at the ready. However, that proved to be unneeded when Pei Ming stood at his side, Rong Guang at the ready.

[ Protagonist Satisfaction Points increased! +25 G-Points! ]

White No-Face seemed to flash Shen Yuan a smile, for the cry-smiling mask’s crack grew deeper.

The point of Eming’s blade grazed White No-Face’s neck mere seconds later, but it was late by a step and White No-Face had already dodged away in a flash. He reappeared on the highest point of the Heaven-Crossing Bridge, the point where it abruptly ended, and lifted his hand slightly.

“No need to be nervous, Zhi Ming, Ming Guang. I was only taking back what’s mine.”

In his hand, he held a longsword. It was entirely pitch-black and as frigid as cold jade, with a silver streak down the blade’s central ridge, as if its heart had been split in half. Shen Yuan reflexively turned to look at Xie Lian’s back. Sure enough, the blade Fangxin that he had carried was gone.

Shen Yuan, however, was confused. Fangxin was… originally White No-Face’s? That was, of course, if White No Face was even telling the truth.

One piece, two pieces, three pieces. The ghastly pale mask flaked off bit by bit until, finally, it fell completely and revealed the face behind. Within the raging flames, the white robe transformed into white armor.

At last, White No-Face had taken off his mask and transformed into Jun Wu.

Everyone held their breath, high on guard.

There was no need to guess. He had to be even stronger in this form.

“Young man, don’t underestimate your opponent!” Mei Nianqing shouted at Hua Cheng. “He’s even more difficult to deal with now than he was as White No-Face! You had the advantage of a better weapon earlier, but not anymore!”

Sure enough, all of the wounds on Jun Wu’s body vanished in one sweep; he was restored from head to toe. He glanced at Mei Nianqing and smiled.

“Giving others advice on how to fight me while I’m right here… I won’t kill you, but you’re certainly becoming bolder.”

That smile was laced with warning. Although Mei Nianqing stopped speaking, he still returned Jun Wu’s gaze measure for measure.

“Don’t worry, San Lang has never underestimated his opponents,” Xie Lian assured him.

Shen Yuan was more than sure of this as well. No matter how brazenly fearless Hua Cheng’s smile seemed, his hands would never relax.

Gazing at the sword, Jun Wu gently whispered, “Zhuxin, long time no see.”

Fangxin, or Zhuxin apparently, gave a deep, quiet moan in his hand.

Shen Yuan had always thought that Fangxin was a bit weak in Xie Lian’s hands just from the looks, and he even worried it might snap in half one day. He never expected its aura and power to be so different in the hands of its past master in comparison! It seemed that Jun Wu really was  Zhuxin’s original owner… But how on Earth did Xie Lian end up getting it, then? He’d gotten that sword during the Shen Lan days, hadn’t he? 

Each time Zhuxin and Eming clashed, the entire Heaven-Crossing Bridge shook as if it might collapse and plummet into the lava. Jun Wu’s power and speed had clearly increased by a huge margin. While Hua Cheng was able to match his pace, he still frowned and his jaw clenched harder. Those watching the fight from afar were in a constant state of tension, for every one of Jun Wu’s forceful strikes were aimed straight at Hua Cheng’s right eye!

Shen Yuan grit his teeth. “Pei Ming, you need to-”

However, his words quickly cut off and his eyes widened once he turned around. Pei Ming, who had been standing tall mere moments before against Jun Wu, had collapsed on the ground, barely still able to use Rong Guang to hold himself up.

“Pei Ming!”

Shen Yuan hurried over, only for the sword to speak before he could reach them.

"Pei Ming!" Rong Guang's usually proud voice cracked with alarm. "Stop feeding me your spiritual power! You're going to collapse, you idiot!”

Pei Ming let out a quiet breath that sounded like a laugh.

"If I stop," he muttered, tightening his grip on the hilt, "you'll shatter."

"I'd rather shatter than watch you drain yourself dry!" Rong Guang snapped. “We’re not even in the battle right now, I’ll be fine! I’ll just find another sword!”

"Don't say foolish things,” replied Pei Ming. “You and Mingguang are fused. You can’t just find another sword.”

His voice was steady, but the hand wrapped around Rong Guang's hilt trembled ever so slightly.

Shen Yuan's heart lurched as he finally understood. Ever since joining the battle, nearly all of the spiritual power Pei Ming still possessed had been continuously channeled into Rong Guang, reinforcing the blade every time it collided with Jun Wu. Against Jun Wu's overwhelming strength, an ordinary spiritual weapon would've long since broken apart. Rong Guang hadn't (though if he counted as a spiritual weapon was yet to be determined). But the only reason he hadn’t was because Pei Ming had been paying the price instead.

So, earlier, when Pei Ming had said “injuries,” what he really meant was that he was trying to replenish his spiritual energy.

Shen Yuan quickly grabbed Pei Ming’s hand and began to transfer energy that way.

“There,” Shen Yuan murmured gently. “Does that help any?”

[ Pei Ming Approval Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

Pei Ming merely grunted in reply. His expression had eased slightly, though not by much, still etched in exhaustion.

That wasn’t a reply, Pei Ming! It was a simple yes or no question!

As Shen Yuan transferred energy as fast as he could, he glanced back over to the fight.

Hua Cheng blocked twice, but both attacks were alarmingly close to hitting his eye. It was quickly realized that Jun Wu was using the same attack each time, as if he had determined Hua Cheng’s weakness was his right eye and wanted to gouge it out a second time. Naturally, every time he lunged, Hua Cheng defended with all he had and blocked again and again. But with this strategy, wouldn’t they soon find themselves at an impasse and accomplish nothing?

This wasn’t good. Pei Ming needed to be back out there. Not only was Hua Cheng now at a disadvantage weapon wise against Jun Wu, but Pei Ming wasn’t even there to help even the playing field.

“Uh, your Majesty?” Airplane spoke up, almost startling Shen Yuan. He’d forgotten it wasn’t just him and Pei Ming there! “That doesn’t seem to be working very well. Do you want some help? I can grab his other hand and-”

“No,” Shen Yuan interrupted. Airplane’s energy combined with Shen Yuan’s? Who knew what would happen to Pei Ming! It was better if it was just him transferring energy.

Shen Yuan's refusal came so quickly that Airplane blinked. “What?”

"No," he repeated. "I'll handle it."

[ Pei Ming Approval Points increased! +10 G-Points! ]

Airplane scratched his cheek, wisely deciding not to question him. “Uh, alright, I guess…”

Shen Yuan focused on the spiritual energy flowing from his palm. It wasn't weak by any means. On the contrary, it was so abundant that even he hadn't realized just how much he possessed until now.

The problem was the speed, just as it had been the last time. Hand-to-hand transfer was simply too slow!

He looked toward the battle. Zhuxin whistled through the air with terrifying force, striking again and again toward Hua Cheng's right eye. Eming intercepted every slash, silver and black colliding in showers of sparks, yet Hua Cheng was gradually being pushed farther across the Heaven-Crossing Bridge.

Shen Yuan bit his lip.

At this rate… His eyes drifted back to Pei Ming, an idea forming in his mind. No. Absolutely not. There had to be another way!

...God damn it. There wasn't. His face grew hotter by the second.

Pei Ming cracked one eye open, still breathing a little unevenly. "...What's wrong?"

"Nothing,” Shen Yuan replied.

"...You don't look like 'nothing.'"

Shen Yuan refused to meet his eyes.

"...Just... Close your eyes." This was embarrassing enough as is with him doing this in front of everyone else! At least it was private last time!

"Hm?"

Before he could talk himself out of it, Shen Yuan leaned in with his eyes closed and their lips met.

[ Pei Ming Approval Points increased! +50 G-Points! ]

[ Jealousy Points increased! -10 G-Points! ]

Jealousy Points? From who?! Whatever, he would find out eventually. There were more important things to deal with at the moment!

The kiss lasted only an instant, yet the moment they did, the spiritual energy that had been trickling through their joined hands surged into a raging torrent.

Pei Ming's pupils contracted as an overwhelming current rushed through his meridians, filling every exhausted spiritual vein in the blink of an eye. The weariness weighing on his body evaporated almost instantly, replaced by a power so abundant it nearly made him gasp. This was far more than enough!

Shen Yuan pulled away so quickly that he nearly stumbled backward. His ears and face burned crimson.

"...That's the fastest way," he muttered, wishing the Heaven-Crossing Bridge would open up and swallow him whole.

Pei Ming remained silent for a heartbeat.

Rong Guang gave a toneless hum from where he rested. "General."

Pei Ming's fingers closed around the hilt once more. "I know."

The sword's voice carried its usual confidence. "We can cut him down now, I’m sure of it. Which means we don’t need his help anymore."

Shen Yuan couldn’t help the glare he gave Rong Guang. What was with him and his dislike of Shen Yuan?!

An amused smile tugged at the corner of Pei Ming's mouth. "That's the plan."

In one fluid motion, he rose to his feet, rolling his shoulders as if the exhaustion from moments ago had never existed. Rong Guang gave a low, eager ring in his hand, and the martial god stepped forward.

"Thank you," he said before he leaped back into the battlefield.

Seeing him once more back to himself, Shen Yuan sighed in relief. His face was still burning, but that was fine! He was fine. Everything was completely fine.

…Ah, who was he kidding? He was gay as hell for Pei Ming and really, really liked kissing him! In fact, he just liked looking at him! Just the way Pei Ming had looked afterward, all confident and thanking him…

Why, oh why, had Shen Yuan made it so quick?! He should've dragged it out! He could've claimed it wasn't enough spiritual energy. He could've said it needed another ten seconds. Twenty! A full minute, even! Instead, he'd been the idiot who pulled away first. That was the worst mistake of his life! He’d pulled away first not just once, but twice! Once just now, and once back in the temple!

Shen Yuan buried his face in his hands.

"I'm such an idiot..." he muttered to himself.

He'd had Pei Ming, Pei Ming, willingly kissing him, and his first instinct had been, Ah yes, the spiritual energy has been transferred. Business concluded.

Business concluded his ass! Who treated kissing the man they liked like clocking in for a shift?!

...Could he ask for a do-over?

No, no, absolutely not. He had to maintain at least a shred of dignity.

Unless there was another life-threatening situation. In which case, for purely practical reasons, he would be forced to kiss Pei Ming again. A terrible sacrifice, truly. Someone had to do it.

Maybe he could ask Airplane if this world had any plants that could be used…

Ah! No! What was he doing?! If he and Pei Ming were to kiss again, it needed to be consensual and in an environment where their lives were on the line! Though, if Pei Ming agreed to it…

Before his brain could go any farther down that rabbit hole, there was a hand on his shoulder and Shen Yuan almost jumped out of his skin.

Looking up revealed it was none other than Mei Nianqing, who was looking at him with a complicated expression.

“How old are you?” he asked, not even waiting a moment.

Shen Yuan gaped, brain short-circuiting for a moment. “Huh?”

Mei Nianqing continued, unbothered, though he did keep his voice noticeably quieter than usual. “Because if you died at nineteen, and you were unconscious for eight hundred years after getting to the kiln in ten, then aren’t you only twenty-nine years old? That’s not nearly old enough to be courting a god of his age.”

Shen Yuan felt like a fish out of water. Where on Earth did this come from?!

“I… have been getting memories?” he said slowly, unsure of what the correct response was.

Mei Nianqing frowned.

“Memories?” he repeated, and Shen Yuan nodded.

“Yeah, from the time I was… gone.” ‘Gone’ wasn’t the right term, since he hadn’t been here to begin with, but it was the truth as far as Mei Nianqing knew.

“And, what was the timeframe of these memories you’ve gotten?” Mei Nianqing pressed.

Shen Yuan thought about it for a moment. He had the memories of Shen Lan’s entire existence, so around a hundred years worth. Then, for Ghost Yuan, he’d only gotten around half of his time in Mount Tonglu, so that was another five. It got complicated with Zhi Ming, though… Just to play it safe, he would say he only got around half of those years worth of memories as well.

“Five hundred and five years,” Shen Yuan eventually responded, though he internally winced. Wow, he hadn’t realized how old he was now… To think, just a few months ago, he’d had the mentally of a nineteen year old!

“So five hundred and thirty-four?” Mei Nianqing stared at him, eyes narrowed. “That’s… fine, I guess. But you should still be cautious. And I don’t just mean with Pei Ming. You’re still far younger than the age you’re pretending to be, and this is a dangerous situation to be in at your age. It’s not too late to turn back.”

Shen Yuan simply shrugged. It wasn’t like he didn’t know that, but what else was he meant to do? He couldn’t simply leave everyone else alone, could he? No! He wanted to get front-row seats to Jun Wu’s downfall! Besides, he’d gotten his shackle removed and had more than enough power, both spiritual and resentful. If it came down to it, he could handle himself.

Mei Nianqing sighed, shaking his head. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t try to give you a way out.”

And with that totally not ominous statement, he turned away from Shen Yuan. Thankfully, the distraction had done its job. Shen Yuan's face gradually cooled, and his thoughts finally returned to the battle before them. Airplane, Mu Qing, and Feng Xin had, fortunately, been far too focused on the fight to pay attention to their conversation. Or at least, Shen Yuan sincerely hoped so.

At some point, Xie Lian had joined the battle as well, turning it into a three-against-one. If Shen Yuan had even an ounce of sympathy for Jun Wu, he would’ve called this downright unfair.

Shen Yuan quickly noticed something surprising, though. Xie Lian wasn't simply fighting alongside Hua Cheng and Pei Ming. He was directing them as he fought!

"Hook!" Xie Lian called.

Hua Cheng moved without hesitation. Eming shot from his hand in a streak of silver, curving sharply through the air toward Jun Wu's flank. At the same instant, Rong Guang swept in from the opposite side, Pei Ming's heavy strike forcing Jun Wu exactly where Xie Lian had intended.

"Blast!"

Hua Cheng had already recalled Eming. Without the slightest pause, he gathered spiritual power into his palm and struck.

The blast landed squarely against Jun Wu's shoulder, forcing him back several paces, though that was the only reaction he gave.

"Left!"

Pei Ming pivoted at once, changing directions so smoothly it was as though he'd anticipated the order before it was spoken. Rong Guang crashed toward Jun Wu's side, forcing him to raise Zhuxin to intercept. Before the blades had even fully met, a flash of crimson appeared behind him.

Eming descended and Jun Wu twisted away just in time, but the movement carried him directly into Xie Lian's waiting attack.

Watching from the sidelines, Shen Yuan couldn't help but marvel.

Hua Cheng obeyed Xie Lian's commands with complete trust, never questioning a single order. Even more unexpected was Pei Ming. Despite being an accomplished general in his own right, he accepted Xie Lian's directions just as readily, abandoning any pride in favor of whatever gave them the greatest chance of victory. Three people who normally fought in entirely different ways had somehow fallen into perfect sync, each attack flowing seamlessly into the next until Jun Wu was left with scarcely a moment to breathe

As the battle carried on, Xie Lian seemed almost embarrassed. “I’m sorry! You don’t have to listen to me!”

Hua Cheng, however, only smiled happily in response. “Every piece of advice Gege gives me is the best course of action. Why wouldn’t I listen?”

Rong Guang crashed against Zhuxin before Pei Ming smoothly retreated a step, narrowly avoiding Jun Wu's counterattack.

“Your Highness,” he called over the clash of steel, “if your orders were slowing us down, I would've ignored them long ago. You've got an excellent eye for the battlefield.”

Suddenly, the bridge below Hua Cheng caved and he lost his footing. He was about to fall! Xie Lian leapt onto the bridge poles and cast Ruoye out to wrap up Hua Cheng and reel him back. But a moment later, Jun Wu darted behind him and rested a hand on his shoulder.

“Excellent form, Xianle.”

“Gege!” Hua Cheng exclaimed.

He was far too close!

But before Shen Yuan could do anything, Pei Ming was already there, slashing at Jun Wu with his sword. Xie Lian reacted incredibly quickly and ducked just in time. Only then did Jun Wu release Xie Lian’s shoulder, and Xie Lian used the chance to leap back to Hua Cheng’s side. The three worked together seamlessly, and those on the side only saw four unimaginably fast figures flashing here and there like lightning, so fast they found it hard to breathe. The only reason Shen Yuan was able to see anything at all was because of his heightened abilities as a dual god.

Meanwhile, Jun Wu’s laughter resonated across the domed ceiling above, like he was encouraging them. “Good. Very good! Continue! Zhi Ming, you really should come join us!”

Shen Yuan shivered as he jumped out of the way from a piece of the bridge falling. He had been considering it, but with an invitation like that? No thanks!

Airplane dodged away as well and asked in horror, “State Preceptor! Is...is he insane? He’s laughing!”

“I already told you!” Mei Nianqing said. “The only thing worse than him being angry is him being happy! This is only the beginning!”

Now that he was wielding Zhuxin, Jun Wu was like a tiger with wings. He launched vicious attacks nonstop, all of them aimed directly at Hua Cheng’s right eye. Xie Lian was clearly stricken with panic at the sight. Whipping out Ruoye, he tangled Zhuxin’s hilt. However, Jun Wu suddenly reversed his grip on the sword and yanked, bringing Xie Lian flying toward him.

Xie Lian was startled at first, but he soon regained his calm. He’d originally intended to snatch the sword anyway, so there was nothing to be scared of. As he hurtled straight for the blade, his mind instantly played out all the hundreds of possible moves that they might exchange. Yet unexpectedly, halfway through the air, another hand caught him and pulled him back. Xie Lian dropped and landed. When he turned to look, Hua Cheng was there, shielding him with a black jade sword that pierced his chest through.

Xie Lian almost couldn’t breathe at the sight. “San Lang?!”

Hua Cheng’s expression was grim. Jun Wu had been waiting for Xie Lian to be impaled on Zhuxin’s blade and was rather disappointed to see that it had been blocked. He withdrew the sword from Hua Cheng’s chest and backed away. Xie Lian had completely forgotten that Hua Cheng was a ghost. He could still be up and about even if a giant hole was punched through his chest. Worried even so, he covered the unbleeding wound on Hua Cheng’s chest with both hands.

“San Lang, wh...what were you doing...so rashly...?!”

“As if I’d let it stab you again in front of me!” Hua Cheng responded.

For some reason, his tone was a little too extreme. From the sidelines, Shen Yuan was slightly taken aback. Again…?

“Why do you ache so, Xianle?” Jun Wu’s gentle voice drifted in the air from where he was fighting with Pei Ming. It almost looked like a cat playing with a toy. “It is not as if he feels the pain. He is nothing more than a dead man.”

“...”

And he dared to remind Xie Lian of that! Consumed with fury, Xie Lian whipped his head around and glared. “Isn’t this all your fault?!”

Jun Wu only sneered in response. “Is it all my fault?”

His question stumped Xie Lian, and Jun Wu changed the subject.

“Perhaps. But Xianle, have you tarried in the Mortal Realm for so long that you’ve forgotten what you’ve done? Do you still remember what you did after Xianle fell?”

“...”

A deeply meaningful smile appeared on Jun Wu’s face as he leisurely asked, “Do you still remember a ghost named Wuming?”

In an instant, Xie Lian’s face lost all color. “Don’t!” he blurted.

Mei Nianqing sensed that things were going wrong. “Your Highness, what’s he saying? What did you do after Xianle fell?”

Shen Yuan gave him a look. He was curious as well, but now was not the time to be asking this, Mei Nianqing! The situation had enough stress as is!

Xie Lian looked panicked, and he glanced at Hua Cheng, then at Jun Wu who was still fighting with Pei Ming. His fury had been transformed to uncertainty.

Hua Cheng immediately grabbed hold of him and soothed in a low voice, “It’s fine, your Highness. Don’t be afraid.”

“Xie Lian, you’re fine! Whatever happened back then is in the past! It doesn’t matter anymore!” Shen Yuan called out.

“Yeah, just keep it together!” Feng Xin also called out.

Mu Qing, on the other hand, was sharper. “What did he mean? A ghost? What ghost?”

Xie Lian said nothing. Instead, his expression turned fiercely grim. Even from afar, Shen Yuan could see the cold sweat rolling from his forehead, and his hands trembling. His reaction made Hua Cheng grip his hand harder.

“Your Highness, don’t be afraid,” he said with grave assurance.

“Remember? The one basking in infinite glory is you; the one fallen from grace is also you. What matters is you, not the state of you. No matter what happened in the past, I will never leave you, nor will Shen Yuan. You can tell us anything.”

…Well, while that was certainly sweet, Shen Yuan was more than a little confused why his name was brought up in that!

Xie Lian started to pull himself together, but Jun Wu puffed a laugh.

“‘No matter what happens, I will never leave you,’” he said, the words unhurried. “My most faithful believers, as well as my dearest friends, they also told me that once.”

Mei Nianqing’s face changed, and Jun Wu shot a glance at him.

“But in the end, no one was able to truly do as they promised. As you can see.”

Mei Nianqing, unable to bear looking at him anymore, turned his head away.

Shen Yuan was going to tear his hair out. Jun Wu, why were you always muddying the waters?! Xie Lian, you had better not listen to a word he said or Shen Yuan would personally give you a lecture on the dangers of manipulation!

“Believe me, your Highness. Won’t you?” Hua Cheng pleaded.

In the end, Xie Lian swallowed hard and forced himself to chuckle, but then he seemed to feel that he shouldn’t be laughing and hung his head. His voice trembled as he said, “...San Lang, why don’t you... I’m sorry, I, I might...”

Hua Cheng stared at him for a moment, then began to speak. “I actually-”

Before he could finish, a wave of intense killing intent lunged at them, and the two leapt apart. Some sense returned to Xie Lian, and the color returned to his ghastly pale face. “What’s with him? Why is he even...”

Faster? Stronger?

Shen Yuan had no clue. He was a little too busy with the sight of Pei Ming hurtling through the air toward him to pay much attention.

"General!" Airplane shouted, eyes wide.

The sword was still clutched tightly in Pei Ming's hand, the two of them flying together after Jun Wu's kick had sent them careening clean across the Heaven-Crossing Bridge.

"WOAH!"

Shen Yuan barely had enough time to throw himself forward before Pei Ming crashed into him. The impact nearly folded him in half, his heels skidding several feet across the stone as he managed to catch both the martial god and Rong Guang instead of letting them continue sailing straight into the lava.

"...Ow."

As he looked down at the now unconscious and injured Pei Ming in his arms, he heard Mu Qing shout from the side to Xie Lian. “Your Highness! Be careful, he’s changed tactics! He’s not attacking Crimson Rain Sought Flower anymore. He’s  going after you now!”

Hm. This could’ve gone better.