A Blade and an Arrow

When Life Doesn't Give You A Happy Ending(1)

Two figures stood amidst the ruins of the Heavens. In the dark with the cold flurry of air, one might think the two were celebrating the triumphant victory against the dethroned Emperor with just the two of them whilst the other Heavenly Officials were guided by Xie Lian back to the Paradise Manor of the yet to appear Ghost King, welcoming themselves as they heal and discuss how to begin re-creating their own home.

They were neither happy nor commemorating.

Clutching the other's shoulders as if it was his life that depended on it, weak yet strong hands gripping his filthy robes tightly. Ragged breathing, tears cascading on his pale cheeks down to his yet to heal neck, collar that had once looked elegant now looking so tattered. The silverette choked on his own sobs, head hung low and body trembling like a leaf, varying to how he stood amongst the Gods. Head proudly raised up, body standing arrogantly above all else, no one would think they had been the same Martial God of the Southwest.

"No.. no. Please - please, I want you." His voice came out even more broken and frail, tone no longer sharp nor prideful. It was filled with pain and agony that his own worshippers wouldn't even had imagined of their God. Such a sound never came out of this man. It was pitiful to see and hear him all at the same time if ever a wanderer were to pass by in curiosity or by sole accident. He knew that his ego would have never recover from this but he didn't care. Not when he had confessed his feelings to the love of his life only to realise that it must have been the biggest mistake he had ever made in his eight hundred years of existence.

Feng Xin shifted, arms grasping the silverette as for them not to fall to the ground. His own tears had betrayed him, swallowing the sobs that dares to break through. He had thought that they don't deserve to be in this kind of pain, not deserving to hold each other in a painful embrace knowing that Xie Lian was alone, crying out for his San Lang from who the fuck even knows where Ghost Kings go when they disappear from the face of the earth.

But all those thoughts were faded as they came every time he hears the broken cries of the man he holds in his arms now. He swallows again, blinking away the tears as he lets his own spiritual energy flow inside the other, forcing him to be healed off his physical injuries. He had wished that he can heal both the pain they feel inside using the same method. Lifting up a hand, he aggressively wipes his tears, cursing the three realms when it still wouldn't stop as he gently pushed the wailing God away from him.

Heart only shattering once again when he saw how the pale face that was once always looking so boastful twisted into agony that he had caused. His hands twitched, aching to brush those tears off and pull him into an embrace again. He lets out a painful and exhausted sigh, thankful that his tears blurs some part of his vision. He took a step back, and another, each step echoing through the land along with the sobs that seemed to grow louder, illuminating around the dreadful and empty robbles of golden pavilions.

Mu Qing was aware of what he was going to say. Understood that life wasn't all happiness and rainbows - he knew that ever since he was a child - even when one is a mighty God. Just like what Pei Ming had once uttered; Even when mortal has become God, we do not have the good fortune to avoid fate in the end. Loving from afar had been a better move, silently watching your beloved when he does not notice in content. It was always been better, he should've realised that even before. Better than getting rejected and your heart getting fragmented in the process.

He took in a sharp breath. His legs had been healed and yet it felt weak. Incredibly weak that he had needed to force himself to stand. He bit his lip, muffling his cries that seemed to never end as he prays to whoever for more energy and even sanity. The latter did the same, taking in a sharp breath but needed not to stop his cries as he clenches his fists in desperate attempts not to run back to the silverette as he spoke in quiet tone that wouldn't have been heard if the other was not a God.

"I'm sorry we can't. We're not the main characters of this novel."