What was this? Fei Qianchi didn't know anymore. Time and time again, he continued to lose everyone. As he knelt down, he was speechless. Was he really gone? Was that man now dead?
"Why? What did he do to you?! Why would you kill him?" Fei Qianchi's voice cracked, breaking in uneven tones. He forced his head to look up, glaring into Baicheng's eyes.
No. He wasn't just Baicheng. He was Su Baicheng, son of Su Fuchen and Bai Suyu.
Su Baicheng cocked his brow. With Fei Qianchi's questions, he stood in silence, not replying. A flickering emotion ran past his eyes. "Because of betrayal. He was the reason why I was killed."
Killed? Fei Qianchi quieted down. Su Baicheng has a husband, a man who betrayed and nearly killed him. What did the man mean?
"What do you mean?"
Su Baicheng smirked, "Lord of Suzhou, such a majestic title that man is now known by. To get it, what did he do? He betrayed me." His eyes flashed, "He killed me, stabbed me in the heart and even pushed me off of that cliff. All for his brother, that man fooled and lied to me! He played me as a fool, tricking me and leading me by the nose. That man played with my emotions, he led everyone to kill me! I deserve the right to get revenge for my parents. Sect Leader Su, the man who killed my parents, Fushui Sect, who chased and killed my mother and father all for this position, Zhu Luishui, who had killed me."
Su Baicyeng's voice gradually rose, anger lighting in his eyes.
Even as he wanted to get mad, Fei Qianchi could see the man breaking down before him. He knew. He knew bits and bits of this story. Yet, to hear the man say it, he could clearly feel the raw emotions.
"But why Longwang? He didn't do anything! It wasn't his fault that his brother betrayed you! It wasn't his fault that he never knew the truth." Fei Qianchi fought back. He didn't understand why Zhu Longwang was involved, the man never knew. It wasn't his fault.
Su Baicheng's lips trembled, "Zhu Luishui wanted to protect him. That was why he was willing to kill me. As a befitting revenge, it only serves that I kill the man he wanted to protect." His red eyes flickered, his pale face shining with a devious light.
"How many lives did you involve? All for revenge, how many innocent lives were involved in your plan?! If you wanted revenge, you should target only those who have harmed you and your parents. You should have gone after Zhu Luishui, not Zhu Longwang! The man didn't even know. He wasn't even aware of what his brother had done to you, Why would you kill him? Simply because Zhu Luishui wanted to protect him?" Fei Qianchi wasn't scared of death. He could only think of Zhu Longwang and suffer from that pain. Why? The man had done nothing wrong. Why was he entangled in this mess?
Revenge? Perhaps Su Baicheng had a point, but it did not justify the innocent lives that were involved. It would never justify those lives lost, the people who were pulled into this revenge.
"He was the reason why I was killed! Zhu Luishui chose that man over me, even after our vows! Even after we were a wedded couple, he still tossed everything away and chose to kill me. If Zhu Luishui didn't betray me, I also wouldn't have killed Zhu Longwang." Su Baicheng glowered as he sneered, looking down at Fei Qianchi.
Just because of this, Zhu Longwang lost his life. Fei Qianchi felt bubbling pain rise within him. Yet, Fei Qianchi couldn't even blame Su Baicheng. The man had lost his parents to a greedy and selfish sect, to people who chased and killed them. The man had been betrayed by his husband, a man who he loved and trusted. In the end, he chose to retaliate against the world.
But even so, the loss of Zhu Longwang tore his heart.
"Nonetheless, I believe it is time to tell you the truth." Su Baicheng interrupted, speaking up.
Fei Qianchi's eyes flickered.
"I never saved you. That pendant was never mine. Years ago, I first found you in my shack. Your wounds were treated and you were healed. I knew who saved you, I looked through your memories, retracing everything that had happened. Knowing who the man was, I specifically set up a scene. I needed you as my pawn. You fell for everything, you believed that I was your savior, but I never was." Su Baicheng's lips rose, displaying his canine. He slowly stepped forward, his steps tapping the ground. "Your savior has always been by your side, protecting and watching over you in the shadows."
Fei Qianchi gasped, eyes widening. It... no...
"That man was Zhu Longwang, the very same man who loved you with all of his heart, willing to kill himself for you." Su Baicheng whispered. As he backed away, there was a sharp glance in his eyes.
Fei Qianchi froze... then... had his savior always been by him? He froze, not knowing what to do. Finally, unable to hold it in, he laughed. He bursted into laughter from both shock and ridicule. He mocked himself, ridiculing himself. Right... the man was so obvious. From the beginning when they first got acquainted, there was always something odd. How could a man like Zhu Longwang, said to be both cold and distant, get close to someone like him?
It was so obvious. When they first met, Zhu Longwang brought up his pendant. The man also carved yet, Fei Qianchi had never pinpointed him as his savior. The both of them never spoke up, perhaps that was why they never crossed that final line. But thinking about his smile, the way his eyes would light up, Fei Qianchi should've known.
Zhu Longwang hid himself and Fei Qianchi did the same. They were both too afraid, hence the pain now. In the end, they both walked so close to one another but they were never able to cross that final line.
"You knew. From the beginning, you were playing us all like a fool." There was no anger, only resignation in his tone now. Fei Qianchi had given up now, he should've given since long ago. There was a flicker of pain running through his core, as if stumbling through pain.
Su Baicheng shook his head. "It wasn't me, it was you. It was both you and him. If he had opened up about his identity, I would've never gotten the chance to meet and fool you. If he hadn't brought you to my shack, I would've never met you and tampered with the pendant. If Zhu Luishui hadn't betrayed me, then I wouldn't have gone after him. If Fushui Sect had not betrayed my parents, everything would be different." He stopped, merely scoffing in the end. "Unfortunately, those are only thoughts now."
"I used you for you were the only one who could move his heart. In his centuries of living, Zhu Longwang was never known as a man who treated others well. Yet for you, he left a pendant behind, as if telling you to find him once more. I knew that you were the only one who could hurt him ten thousands times more than I ever could." The man smirked, red eyes looking away from Fei Qianchi, who kneeled down in silence.
"Is the ending satisfying for you? You've gotten revenge. Are you satisfied?" Fei Qianchi redirected the same question back to Su Baicheng.
Su Baicheng stopped, his eyes flickering. The man's smirk disappeared, wiped away. In the end, he replied, "Perhaps. Yet in the end, it will never be able to change who I've become. It will never be able to bring back the youth I once was. It can never stop these memories from corroding and eating me inside. You should know this better than anyone."
Fei Qianchi closed his eyes. Yes, he knew. In a way, he understood where the man was coming from, what the man was trying to say. Obviously, this man had used him, had killed Zhu Longwang in the end, but Su Baicheng didn't seem happy.
Fei Qianchi only blamed himself. Blamed himself for being blind, for being foolish, for never noticing. From their first encounter, everything was strange. Zhu Longwang already occupied a part of his heart that he never knew of.
Thinking to this point, his lips trembled. A part of his heart had always been with Zhu Longwang. Even though he refused to admit the truth, it was undeniable that he had wavered, that his feelings already chose a man. But being naive and ignorant, he ignored these feelings. What for?
He was afraid. He never knew that Zhu Longwang liked him. With their relationship as friends, Fei Qianchi was scared to break that. He would rather pretend his feelings didn't exist if it meant protecting what bond they had.
If Fei Qianchi had known, he wouldn't have hesitated. If he had known that Zhu Longwang was always his savior, he would've loved him more than anything in this life. Yet, because of unspoken words, it led to a demise for everyone, for them. As more misunderstandings piled on top of one another, they both slowly walked away in fear. What fear? For fear of breaking their bonds as friends, scared that by speaking up, their friendship could no longer exist.
Fei Qianchi clenched his hand, gritting his teeth. When Fei Qianchi found Baicheng, he used it as an opportunity to forget about his feelings for Zhu Longwang. In fear, he pushed Zhu Longwang away and focused his feelings onto Baicheng. He created a barrier so that he would not love Zhu Longwang anymore. What a joke... it was always him.
"Baicheng?" From outside, a knock came from the door. The man's voice was cold and straightforward.
Su Baicheng looked up, glancing at Su Fuwen and Fei Qianchi before he answered, "Come in."
Opening the door, the man was still dressed in a somber, black robe. His dark blue eyes were deep, looking at Fei Qianchi with cold eyes.
"Everyone has been captured. It is time for you to arrive." There was blood upon Xue Lu's face, marking his pale face with red blood.
Su Baicheng looked at Su Fuwen. "What about Fei Shang?"
Xue Lu moved his eyes, looking at Fei Qianchi. "He has been dealt with. Upon your orders, he has merely been restrained for the moment. Zhu Luishui had suffered some injuries after he broke out of prison, but otherwise, he is alive. What should we do with Su Fuwen?" The man still held onto a sword that was covered in blood.
Su Baicheng nodded, walking over. As he looked over Su Fuwen's unconscious body, there was scorn on his face. Finally, he drew a sigil on the man's face, his body dispersing. "Let us leave first then." He looked back at Fei Qianchi. "Stay here. I don't want to kill you. After all, I admit that I should've never brought you into my plans." Then, he also left, a burst of Qi in the air as he left.
Left behind, Fei Qianchi looked at Xue Lu. "Are you willing to follow him? Even after everything he has done?"
Xue Lu stared back, blinking with cold eyes. "Yes." He lowered his face, flicking the blood off of his sword. "I made a promise to him. I will not become like everyone else in his life and betray him. Even if this path is bloody, I am willing to walk it."
Fei Qianchi admired the man. Yet, he sunk down lower.
"I will leave now. I apologize for fooling you. But it was something I had to do." Xue Lu apologized in a stoned-voice.
Fei Qianchi kneeled in silence as he finally felt Xue Lu's presence disappear.
Left alone, Fei Qianchi felt his strength crippling. Everything was gone now. The truth had been unveiled at last. But it was already too late. Nothing could be changed now.
Fei Qianchi scoffed, hiding the tears in his crystal eyes. So the truth was that they had been walking next to each all along. So close yet so far, the distance between them neither grew further nor did it close. Except, because of that, the secrets remained uncovered. What did it cost? Perhaps a lifetime for them.
Fei Qianchi felt guilt within, mockery towards himself. Perhaps a century ago, Fei Qianchi once had the idea that his savior was Zhu Longwang. But even after chasing and interacting with the man for so long, there was not a hint of Zhu Longwang's identity. Who could he blamed? Zhu Longwang, for having hid so deeply, or himself, for never noticing Zhu Longwang's habits that gave off his identity?
Perhaps there was no one to blame. Fei Qianchi could only lament in sorrow, in shock, and in tears now. He could only mock himself for all the stupid things he had done, things that involved thousands of people. In his hands, thousands of lives were shed upon it.
Tian Sichan, Hou Mengshu, Fu Huayan, Zhang Bingmei, Zhang Zaifan, Qi Meiyao, and Zhu Longwang. Seven lives were lost all for him. All seven lives were lost because of him.
Nothing could ever bring these lives back. Atoning for a lifetime? It was useless, his life was worthless. In the end, nothing would change. What about atonement? What about seeking forgiveness? Perhaps the only way to do so was vanish from this world.
A fluctuation of Qi made Fei Qianchi raise his head. Before him, a man stood, clad in a red robe. His seductive eyes were narrow, lifting his red lips with a shine in his eyes. The man looked at Fei Qianchi, seeing the tears in his eyes, he chuckled.
Ran Mengyu walked over, pulling up a chair and sitting down, crossing his legs. "I said farewell, but truth be told, I still can't help but come here." He tilted his head. "Isn't the truth painful? Perhaps sometimes, it's better to be lied to, don't you think so?" His eyes curved.
Fei Qianchi looked at Ran Mengyu without a single word. If he wanted to, he could rush up and beat the man up. He was not restrained, but there was no strength in his body. And, what was the point? Nothing could be changed now. This time, Fei Qianchi fully gave up.
Receiving no answer, Ran Mengyu didn't mind. The man's red lips curved revealing his teeth. As he reached into the sleeve of his pocket, he pulled out a familiar dragon jade pendant.
Seeing the pendant, Fei Qianchi flinched, wanting to run forward but unable to do so.
Ran Mengyu dangled the pendant in his hand. "This tiny pendant had such a crucial role in how your and many other's life played out. If not for this pendant being tampered with, you would've found the right man. If you had found the right man, you wouldn't have met Baicheng. If you hadn't met Baicheng, I wouldn't have gotten involved in your life. Fate really has a wonderful way of destroying people's lives." Holding the pendant in his right hand, his eyes narrowed, almost looking resentful.
Fei Qianchi could feel those words digging into his soul. Fate was too powerful. He wasn't able to avoid it at all. And now, the burden was on him. The image of Zhu Longwang appeared in his mind. The man was beautiful, as beautiful as the snow falling down on top of a mountain, slowing drifting down. He was as beautiful as the peach blossoms falling, slowly drifting with the wind as they descended.
He was so beautiful, Fei Qianchi could feel his heart tighten in both pain and sorrow. How long was it? When did his feelings change towards this man, from friendship to love, when did it begin? It was that moment that everything changed, the moment that Fei Qianchi became wary of himself. If he had known, he wouldn't have been afraid.
Fei Qianchi felt blood seep his robe thoroughly. Perhaps death was near. If so, he would accept it.
"What good is it if you live? You have killed so many, even Baicheng cannot compare to you. At least he didn't kill those who loved him, he merely killed those who tried to kill him, those who betrayed him. But you? You killed everyone who wanted to protect you, those who truly loved you. At this point, shouldn't you atone for your sins?" Ran Mengyu smirked, holding the pendant tightly in his hand, as if he was about to crush it at any moment.
Fei Qianchi felt himself stagger. He was right. Even Baicheng wasn't as cruel as him. To be told these words, he understood these crippling emotions better than anyone.
"I know." It was short yet it seemed to carry all of his emotions. A voice of sorrow, yet deep relief.
Ran Mengyu cocked his brows. He stood up from his chair, walking over to Fei Qianchi.
Without another word being said, Ran Mengyu dropped the pendant onto Fei Qianchi's lap. "Here, kill yourself with this." He took out a black dagger. "It won't cause you any pain and it also won't leave any injuries on your body. Your body will return back to Lianghe the moment you die. After that, I will not involve myself with you anymore. That, I promise."
Fei Qianchi held the pendant, caressing the ridges. Putting the pendant by his side, he reached a hand to grab the dagger away from Ran Mengyu. He wasn't scared of death, nothing would be scarier than facing the world.
"I will be leaving. Let's hope that this is farewell for both of us." Ran Mengyu's smirk resided as he saw Fei Qianchi accept the black dagger.
Having watched to this point, Ran Mengyu finally left, waving his hand in the air, his sleeve fluttering as a dark energy surrounded his body before he disappeared.
Holding the dagger, Fei Qianchi's face was stoic before it finally cracked, morphing into pain.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't know... I was selfish. I... how did I not notice? Why was I so selfish, so greedy? If I had noticed you, everything would've been different. I'm sorry... please wait for me by the River of Oblivion, I promise to come with you."
With that, the dagger was pushed in. He closed his eyes, a smile upon his lips. The dagger fell to the ground, the black dagger corroding as it disappeared.
Fei Qianchi's eyes flickered. It didn't hurt. In front of him, it was as if he could see Zhu Longwang standing and stretching out his hand towards him.
A voice called out to him, a familiar voice that had fooled him. He saw the man freeze as he stared at him, shock in his eyes as he looked at Fei Qianchi.
With a smile, Fei Qianchi's body relaxed, sinking into eternal slumber.
.
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