"Surrender!"
The palace was surrounded. Mo Shen had ordered his own movement against the palace, directly surrounding the palace with his people.
As Mo Shen held his sword, adorned in his armor, he stepped forward. His face was still light, no heavy emotions even as he watched the imperial guards who surrounded Mo Chou and Bai Suixin. There were many other court officials in the room, all standing behind the imperial guards in fear as Mo Shen and his soldiers approached.
"Brother, I believe that you understand my purpose for coming here." Mo Shen did not walk closer, a huge space separating both sides as Mo Shen's soldiers blocked the exit. He looked up at Mo Chou.
Mo Chou's face was very emotionless. In fact, he was most worried about Qi Longhai who was now trapped here too. "Our relationship was the best amongst our other brothers. That was the reason why I had let you lived when I killed the rest of our brothers." Mo Chou stood up, walking past the guards without protection. His crown shook as he stepped closer, even while Bai Suixin's brows knitted.
"Unfortunately, I will have to betray your trust. Our goals are vastly different, brother. Your trust was merely there when I was weak. You have always been the type to be wary of everyone." Mo Shen lightly said, smiling. Lifting his sword, he pointed to Bai Suixin, "The Empress Dowager was a worthy enemy, worth of being the woman who stood against even my mother."
Qi Longhai's heart struck a cord, lightly pushing forward as he grasped for the weapons he had hid on his body. His eyes narrowed as his hand secretly moved for the sleeves of his robes.
Xi Feng stepped from the crowd. "Yue Junwang, General Su Bian and General Feng Jian have defeated the army stationed at Suzhou. Currently, the only war that is still undecided is the war that Lu Fengmian is currently controlling."
Hearing a familiar name, both Mo Chou and Bai Suixin felt a heavy feeling in their hearts, even Qi Longhai froze.
"Lu Fengmian... he deflected to your side?" Bai Suixin's tried voice asked, her eyes showing confusion.
Mo Shen's smile widened, swinging his sword. "He did. With his help, I've defeated more than half of the soldiers on your side."
Bai Suixin suddenly closed her eyes with tiredness, her body sitting back on her chair. "We have lost, Mo Chou."
Mo Chou obviously heard, but he didn't stand down.
Qi Longhai looked in time to see Mo Chou send a glance towards him and he began moving. As soon as he had stepped out, a loud voice was heard.
"Duke Yang has come!"
Qi Longhai looked towards the door with surprise, a warm feeling rushing into his heart. Yang Delun had come! He would be able to save them.
The doors opened with a heavy bang. Yang Delun appeared dressed in his armor, holding a sword within his hand with a hundred other soldiers following. Each of the soldiers had blood on their armors, foretelling how they had fought their way inside.
Mo Shen's lips curved while Xi Feng also lightly smiled as she turned to the doors.
Yang Delun's first focus was Qi Longhai. Seeing that the man was safe, his heart was at least consoled. But he knew, this very next step would be the ending to everything. With a heavy expression on, he walked forward.
Qi Longhai watched as Yang Delun marched inside, a sigh of relief leaving his mouth. But then confusion struck him. Why was Yang Delun walking towards Mo Shen? Why wasn't Mo Shen attacking him? And then, the realization came...
Yang Delun had betrayed him, Yang Delun had betrayed Qi Longhai. The man had deflected to Mo Shen's side, even helping him rebelled.
Yang Delun stopped before Mo Shen, saying, "Yue Junwang, the palace has been successfully captured." His words sent unrest throughout the whole court.
Qi Longhai looked at Yang Delun in shock. That very man had always smiled at him, his every word spoken with a playfulness and kindness that made Qi Longhai weak. Was everything just fake? When had Qi Longhai been betrayed? A feeling of anger rose in his heart, but most of all, pain.
Yang Delun scanned the group of people, catching Qi Longhai's eyes and he stared at him. His hand holding his sword clenched, but his face remained unchanged. He could see the pain spreading on Qi Longhai's face and that pain was mirrored within him ten times.
"Then we can move. This is my last chance. Any officials who wish to support my reign, I am still willing to take. Any who wish to stand by my brother, I shall have to kill." Mo Shen said as he waved his hand in the air. Unfortunately, everyone was stubbornly loyal to Mo Chou.
Mo Shen looked over twice before he finally nodded his head, "Delun and Xi Feng, kill everyone save for Mo Chou, Bai Suixin, and Qi Longhai."
Xi Feng nodded her head and from her hips, she took out a barbed whip, filled with small sharp barbs. She looked at Yang Delun and nodded her head.
Yang Delun grasped his sword and gave out one command, "Fight." At his words, the soldiers behind him immediately made a move and ran forward.
Qi Longhai didn't have time to linger within his pain as he pushed forward, taking out a dagger from his sleeve. "Protect the Emperor and Empress Dowager!" With this short sentence, everyone surrounded Mo Chou and Bai Suixin.
Qi Longhai glanced at Yang Delun as he moved forward, attacking each of the man and stabbing them in their vital areas. His moves were quick and simple, fast and precise.
Opposite of him, Yang Delun's sword strikes were more powerful and barbaric, severing the lives of more than two people with just one attack. His sword was dyed with dripping blood, and there was blood on his armor, with some even on his pale face.
Xi Feng was also dealing with the imperial guards quickly, whipping her long whip in the air and slashing many of the men onto the ground. In fact, she directly used her whip to slash the men so hard, their bodies were sent flying back, hitting the walls and poles of the room.
Blood was being shed from every corner. Mo Chou stood, bitting his lips. So, this was what the ending was going to come to... Bai Suixin's face was pale, a sad smile on her lips.
Yang Delun quickly killed the men who foolishly brought themselves toward him, until a man all too familiar reached him. "Longhai."
Qi Longhai stopped in front of Yang Delun, "When did you betray me?" There was no sadness or pain in his tone, merely a mocking smile on his lips.
"I'm doing this to protect you." Yang Delun merely explained. His hands trembled lightly, noticing the dark look from Qi Longhai's eyes.
"You know that this isn't what I want. So why? No, when?" Qi Longhai's voice did not tremble or shake, even as his heart ached.
From behind, Xi Feng had successfully taken down all the imperial guards. Her peerless face stared at Yang Delun, lightly shaking her head. "Yue Junwang, Bingqing said to first capture everyone before we do anything else."
Mo Shen listened to Xi Feng's words and nodded his head. He lifted his head and ordered, "Soldiers, capture everyone first. Anyone who refuses, simply kill them."
The court officials within the room did not resist their arrest. With their hands chained and no one left to protect them, they merely let themselves be captured.
Mo Shen walked towards Mo Chou.
Xi Feng used this moment to turn to Yang Delun, "Delun, Master knows what you want. Still, he needs to be chained just for precautions." Xi Feng wasn't affected by Yang Delun's cold glance and merely walked towards Qi Longhai.
Qi Longhai's arms were weak, but he still moved away from Xi Feng.
"Let me do it, Xi Feng." Instead, Yang Delun took the chains away from Xi Feng. He slowly walked towards Qi Longhai as the man glanced coldly towards him.
"What a joke. You never were telling the truth. Everything was just a lie." Qi Longhai lifted his lips in exasperation. There was a mocking expression on his face, his face pallid and pale. There was a look of pain on his face as he grimaced, and suddenly, black blood poured out from his mouth.
Yang Delun froze, stunned as he quickly ran to help Qi Longhai. "Longhai!" But Qi Longhai pushed Yang Delun away without another word.
Without a change in his expression, Qi Longhai used his white sleeve to wipe his mouth harshly. Then, with a sneer on his mouth, he simply said, "Well, capture me, Duke Yang. I will save you from the trouble and say that this was my defeat."
"Longhai, I," Yang Delun was interrupted by Xi Feng.
"Delun, Yue Junwang has finished. We have to hurry and return back to help Master." Xi Feng's voice was both sharp and commanding.
Yang Delun paused, taking a deep breath. Then, he took the chains within his hand and wrapped them around Qi Longhai's wrists.
Qi Longhai looked at his hands, his expression dead and cold. It... has been a while since he had felt this empty feeling in his heart. As he stared at Yang Delun, he didn't know what he felt anymore. When had he changed?
Mo Shen stepped onto the stairs leading to the dragon throne where Bai Suixin and Mo Chou sat. His steps were light and quiet, a very light smile on his face.
"Brother, I don't wish to harm you. I merely ask as you have been defeated that you abdicate this throne to me. If possible, I don't want to harm others. Between you and I, you have been a great emperor. Although rather foolish at times, it does not change that you were a great ruler. It is only a shame that your hatred towards the demons caused this nation to fall out with the demons." As Mo Shen said this, he glanced towards Mo Chou's blue eyes. "Unlike you, I want to create a land that accepts the demons for who they are, a nation where both demons and humans live in peace."
Upon hearing these words, Mo Chou finally understood why Mo Shen had done all the things that he had. It only made sense. Mo Shen was not greedy and had never been in his life. Unlike Mo Chou, Mo Shen knew more of the world. Mo Chou accepted that this throne had always belonged to Mo Shen. Mo Chou had merely gotten greedy and lost so much during this journey as a result.
"So long as you don't harm anyone, I will abdicate. After giving this throne to you, I will retreat away with my mother." Mo Chou finally said at last. From the side, Bai Suixin's once youthful eyes dimmed.
"Your mother was always resourceful. It only makes sense that her son is also the same." Bai Suixin showed a tired smile, shaking her head. Her once vibrant hair had begun to gray.
"Of course, that was why even in death, father had dragged her with him." Mo Shen replied, showing a heavy look in his eyes.
The two brothers looked at each other. Even as they had fallen apart, there was a sense of peace within them as Mo Chou nodded his head. His blue eyes skimmed over Qi Longhai and Yang Delun. How were things between them now?
-
The sound of a battle waging was heard clearly. Blood dyed the ground, fallen bodies laid on the ground, the sky was both dark and gloomy.
Lu Yingyue's robes had patches of red on it as the other man before her was in the same situation. Jiang Nianzhen was covered in wounds, long gashes on his arms as blood dripped. Yet his eyes remained focused.
"I don't want to kill you." Lu Yingyue spat out.
Jiang Nianzhen smiled, "You have already caused me pain unimaginable. If I am to die, then I want you to end this life of mine." His sword sliced through the air as Lu Yingyue brought up her sword to block the attack.
Lu Yingyue suddenly felt the mark on her forehead disappear, and she looked out in confusion. Lu Fengmian!
Lu Fengmian had let go of his spell. Instead, all his focus was put onto Tang Qingshan. The man was standing, bleeding even from his armor. In fact, Lu Fengmian was a bit confused. Tang Qingshan was not fighting to the fullest of his capabilities. But Lu Fengmian didn't stop even for one second as he continuously wounded the other.
There was a painful aching from Lu Fengmian's heart that he pushed to ignore. Seeing the man he loved look like this, his body wanted to stop. But he couldn't. There was a painful tear in his eyes as Lu Fengmian's blade moved harshly in the air and Tang Qingshan moved to counterattack.
Suddenly, Tang Qingshan paused.
Lu Fengmian froze, not understanding what was happening.
Tang Qingshan blinked. Suddenly, he looked up at Lu Fengmian. His eyes were different, a warm gaze filled with deep love. "Qianchi?"
Lu Fengmian's hand shook. No...
Tang Qingshan stepped closer. "Qianchi, it's you, isn't it? After all this time, I can finally meet you."
Lu Fengmian's body shook, barely suppressing back a cry. No, why now?
Tang Qingshan, no, Zhu Longwang stepped forward. "If this is a dream, then I hope it never ends. Qianchi, I hope that you have been well." There was a soft smile on Zhu Longwang's face.
A look of pain broke out on Zhu Longwang's expression, a stabbing pain inside his head. Lu Fengmian had almost run towards the man, but his legs forced him to stand still.
When the man looked up once more, Lu Fengmian knew that it was no longer Zhu Longwang but Tang Qingshan. And although they were the same soul, it felt different.
"Fengmian, why did you stop?" Tang Qingshan did not remember what had happened, only sensing the familiar pain in his head.
Lu Fengmian lifted his blade once more, his heart shaking wildly. He couldn't.. even if he thought he could, he would never be able to kill this man with his own two hands. This was Zhu Longwang, this was the man he owed so many lifetimes to. This was the man that Lu Fengmian ached to return to.
"Fengmian! You have to!"
Lu Fengmian turned his head to see Lu Yingyue wielding her sword, and shouting towards him. His mission was to protect Lu Yingyue. He... had to get rid of anything that would stop him.
And so, when he turned to Tang Qingshan once more, his eyes were cruel and harsh. When he moved once more, his sword strikes were much heavier and faster, his body almost blurring in the air.
Tang Qingshan struggled to keep up with Lu Fengmian. He didn't want to. He didn't want to harm Lu Fengmian.
Tang Qingshan smiled lightly, faced with Lu Fengmian's brutal attacks. He could feel Lu Fengmian's blade cutting into him, causing blood to break free from his body. It was he who had made him like this...
He didn't want to harm him but if his death would bring peace to this man, then why fight?
.
.
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