Fei Shang opened his eyes. Standing before him was a man with purple eyes, staring down towards him.
"How's it going?" Zhu Luishui asked, eyes seemingly probing him.
Fei Shang set aside the mask that covered his face onto the table next to him, pulling away the cords connected to his body as he replied, "Different. Maybe it's for the best, maybe it isn't. He's getting his memories back though. It's taking a while, but at least everything is starting to fall in order." He got up from the bed he laid on, sitting up as he pushed away the blanket on him and grabbed a robe to cover his body. "And what about your side?"
Zhu Luishui's eyes seemingly flickered a bit, biting his tongue before he finally sighed. "He's stabilized now. After that situation in the fourth world, his body condition began to get out of control. It also seems like his soul is starting to remember things already, even if it all seems like garbage to the him right now. Although, how are you going to get Fei Qianchi back into our world? With how the situation is going, there is no possible way you can do so."
Fei Shang merely blinked his eyes, standing up as he grabbed the scroll beside him. "No matter what, he will come back. I programmed everything to go this way. It wasn't until the second world began that I finally began interacting with him. I created another creature to be the one by his side, one that was caught up with the world he had reincarnated into. Just like that, he opened up and I finally slipped past his boundaries. No matter how the situation will play out, there is going to be an incident no matter what. With that incident, he will be sent to this world."
As Fei Shang said so, he grabbed the scroll and opened it. Slamming the scroll onto the ground, it opened up a teleportation array that led Fei Shang and Zhu Luishui to a different mountain.
"You brought me here? What was the point?" Zhu Luishui said as he realized where he had stepped foot into. His eyes skimmed the walls of the cage they were in, walking along the pathway that was brightly lit with glowing gems.
Fei Shang didn't say anything. He continued to walk ahead with a stoned face, following the pathway. Finally, when seeing the door that remained closed, he pushed his hand against it, opening it at once.
As they walked inside the room, the doors behind them closed. In that room, the temperature was cold. You could even see the breathe of coldness spreading around them, but the two merely continued walking ahead.
Fei Shang was the first to stop, walking towards a rock in the wall and pushing it. This time, a wall spread opened to reveal a mini room with a large glass of water laying inside. Inside of the large glass filled with water, there was a man floating inside.
Zhu Luishui looked at the room, noticing that something was different now. "This isn't his original body...are you intending to stick his soul into a body that isn't his?" The man inside the glass was not the man he remembered. It definitely wasn't him. And he was sure of it, even though years have passed, he couldn't possibly forget.
"This is no one's body...But it will be his when he returns. I don't know how he did it, but his body disappeared with his death. I couldn't find his body no matter what. Even though Baicheng may have incited his death, he isn't the type to steal the body of a man who had killed himself. Since I couldn't find his body, I could only make another body. Once he returns, his soul will automatically be injected to this body. Once he enters this body, all his memories will return." Fei Shang looked at the man inside the glass. They were both similar, but also different.
Zhu Luishui looked at Fei Shang. "I don't even know for sure if my brother will awaken. It has been so long since his souls have been drifting. Even if all the pieces of his souls are to return, there is no guarantee that he will return to the man he once was. That is the punishment experienced after one shatters their soul. Even if the pieces of their souls come together once again and they live, there will be side effects that are experienced." As he said this, he couldn't help but show a bitter smile.
"And right now, the situation is no longer as peaceful as back then. When Fei Qianchi returns, there are high chances that he will seek revenge against Baicheng without knowing just how dangerous that will be. Right now, we can't afford to do anything against Baicheng or Xue Lu. Xue Lu has already revealed his identity, he will protect Baicheng no matter what." Zhu Luishui's eyes wondered to Fei Shang who still stood so solemnly.
Fei Shang didn't say anything, remembering the events that transpired that day. "I should have expected that he had another card up his sleeves. There was something strange about his identity, much more his powers. But now that he has chosen to be by Baicheng's side, he won't waver. That is not the character of one who belongs to a world higher than ours."
Zhu Luishui was about to say something else but held his tongue. There was something he wanted to say, and finally, he brought himself to say it. "Baicheng is thinking about doing something else right now. After reclaiming the sect leader's position, other than punishing the rest whom had disobeyed his words, he retreated back like before."
"He is thinking. But, I feel like for now, he won't bother us anymore. If he doesn't, it is best to leave everything as is and to no longer interfere with each other. Xue Lu will be protecting him no matter what too, even if we want to, even if the others want to." As Fei Shang said this, he took a long stare towards the glass casing. He closed his eyes for a second, letting his thoughts consume him.
Zhu Luishui watched without a word, not disturbing Fei Shang's peace.
The silence remained in the room. Each of them were thinking about what the future would hold. At this point, everything was different now. One wrong move and they would be risking everything.
Xue Lu brushed aside a fallen petal resting on his shoulders as he focused on Baicheng. Baicheng was as silent as ever, only this time, it was a different type of silence.
He didn't bother the man who was in his silence. Xue Lu merely continued standing by the man in case of any danger. While Baicheng has planted his people all over the sect now, there were still people after him, trying to kill him once more. Even though Baicheng had remained silent after taking back the sect, only Xue Lu knew that this was the worst possible timing for Baicheng.
In all of Baicheng's life, he sought for revenge. To avenge his parents, he threw away himself. After countless betrayal, Baicheng had become a cold-blooded man. While many depicted him as evil and cruel, Baicheng was once someone who loved and cared for all. It was because of this that the betrayals from all he trusted stabbed him in the heart even more.
Now that Baicheng had achieved what he wanted, his anger has still not yet subsided. Xue Lu knew that there were still some questions Baicheng wanted to ask but would never bring himself to.
"Xue Lu." Baicheng called out as he turned his red eyes towards Xue Lu, his pale face glaring in the evening sun.
"Yes?" Xue Lu replied, his body moving even before he noticed as he walked closer to Baicheng whom remained seated.
Baicheng tapped the wooden table beneath the many scrolls on top. Suddenly, smirking to himself, he raised his brows and muttered, "Xue Lu, what do you think I should do now, huh? I've gotten my revenge but I'm still not satisfied yet. I have destroyed everything they possibly have yet I want them to suffer even more." A chuckle came from his lips as he tilted his head. With red gleaming eyes, he peered at Xue Lu as he asked, "What do you say I shall do?"
Xue Lu couldn't find the words to reply. He bit his lips, and then with his blue eyes resolute, he finally responded with, "Whatever you do, I will follow. Be it life or death, I will always stand by you. After all, this is merely your revenge."
Hearing this, Baicheng froze for a bit. Then, throwing his head back, he let out an ecstatic laugh. Finally quieting down after seconds passed, he stood from the table, pushing his chair back. "Xue Lu, only you can understand me so well. I know too well that you will follow me through everything. Again and again I have tested your loyalty. While I may never love you like how I have before with others in the past, you will be the only one I can trust." Baicheng grasped onto Xue Lu's shoulder, "Sometimes, I pity that you have met me. If it was anyone else, you would have been free from me, who has gone crazy." As he said so, Baicheng smirked as he let go and continued walking out of the room.
"Why pity? I am glad to meet you, Baicheng. While you may think that me meeting you is ill-fated, I believe it was fated to be. In fact, meeting you is probably my only salvation within this world." Xue Lu smiled as he said this, his cold blue eyes lighting up. Only he knew best how much he had longed for this day. Hundreds and hundred of years, passing by just like that while he was powerless.
Baicheng was able to hear this, and he merely turned back with raised brows and his normal smirk, eyes unable to be discerned. "If anyone heard that, they would think that you are the crazy one. After all, I am too cruel like others said. I didn't even spare my own family, I know that even my parents are disappointed with my actions."
Xue Lu followed after Baicheng, and he shook his head even though Baicheng couldn't see him. "Because they betrayed you, because they wanted your life, only because of that did you want revenge. After what they had done to you and your family, it is only normal to want to avenge you and the ones you lost. It is in human nature to want to pay others ten-fold the pain they have have inflicted. Every human has at least thought of that once."
But Baicheng's eyes merely glowed brighter, his sneer got wider as his red eyes looked towards the falling sun. From far beyond the horizon, the silhouette of a pavilion was able to be discerned. Seeing that place, there was a passing light within his red eyes as a scoff passed his throat. But he didn't say anything, merely taking a look at the pavilion before he turned away.
"Schedule a meeting for all the elders to come and meet me. Make sure that Zhu Luishui comes, after all, I want to hear his side of the story too. That is what he owes me for his betrayal centuries ago." And with that, Baicheng flicked the sleeves of his robe with a wave and his body seemingly disappeared.
Xue Lu looked at the empty spot where Baicheng was just a second ago. Smiling to himself, his soft and sorrowful voice was heard in the ever-growing darkness. With his voice, the sun was finally gone, leaving behind only the changing sky.
"Understood, Baicheng." And with that, he turned his back.
The light was sapped out of his eyes, fists were tightly clenched but he merely agreed without an argument.
It's not like Xue Li didn't know what would happen. But, he should've known better. Once more, his feelings were getting in the way. And that was something he shouldn't be doing, letting his emotions get the best of him.
After all, centuries and more have passed by, Xue Lu understood Baicheng's character better than anyone.
In the past, it was already determined. He could love this man, but only in secret and never outloud. He could stay by that man's side, but never speak of his feelings.
After all, he had already made a promise with this man. In life and death, he will always be standing by him.
And so, Xue Lu merely closed his eyes, even as his own heart protested. And with that, the sorrow on his face gradually disappeared and became cold.
His only role now, was to protect Baicheng without fail.
His love could be kept a secret.
There was no reason for it to be said out loud anyways.
After all, the last man who told Baicheng he loved him was also the one who betrayed Baicheng.
And Baicheng was still suffering even now if he didn't say it, so Xue Lu was willing.
He was willing to love without greed, love without being selfish, and love in secret.
When some people have been wounded too much, they can never heal from it.
Baicheng needed time to heal, and Xue Lu was willing to wait.
He didn't need anything more than this...
.
.
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