Secret & Lies (the forsaken #1) [WangXian FF]

48

"Did you guys know that crows are the harbinger of death?" Wei Wuxian played with the Wen Clan's seal, while the crows continued to watch over the people inside the mansion. "No? Well, I just told you, did I?"

Up until now, his tone of voice was still playful despite the situation where he was alone and against the hordes of mythical beasts–whose alliance he did not know and did not care about. But after his gruesome display of power, and how the back fog still loomed around them, and the hundreds of peculiarly silent crows above them, no one dared to make any more move. And that included Jin Guangshan.

He finally understood the origin of this man. And the understanding hit him like a ton of bricks. 

This was karma.

An eye for an eye.

This young man's father, for his daughter.

"You think your daughter is enough to call it even?" Wei Wuxian suddenly spoke to Jin Guangshan without moving his mouth, and Jin Guangshan knew that this was the highest form of communication, a telepathy. It could only be used by the highest rank of the mythical beasts–the Dark Phoenix King–to communicate with his subordinates–him. After all that he had done to gain power, to be on top of the hierarchy, that's the only thing he was reduced into. A mere subordinate. To think that he could be the King after thousands of years, oh how he couldn't be more wrong. 

He was, and always be, a mere subordinate to the much more superior Dark Phoenix, the true ruler of the mythical beast, with his overwhelming power and presence.

His daughter was one of the undeniable proof that no matter how strong they felt, or how they managed to manipulate the other beasts and humans, the true King would easily topple them all like bowling pins.

But he guessed it was too late to ask for forgiveness, after all that he had done. Not that he wanted to ask for forgiveness. All that mattered was that he had tried–and failed.

Wei Wuxian noticed the change of expression from Jin Guangshan as he crouched down to pick up Qin Su, who was now in her white snake form. A small, writhing white snake, unlike the one in the legend. He smiled and snapped his finger then one of the bigger‐sized crow flew down and snatched the snake. The crow took the white snake to the others and they were all starting to peck on the snake, eating her alive.

That would be the first of his punishments.

Lan Xichen watched all the scenes unfold, and while he was relieved that his brother was saved, he could not help but shudder at the exhibition of power from Wei Wuxian–who was obviously the missing Dark Phoenix King's egg. His only descendant.

The fog, the crows, the immunity to the poison, all were the Dark Phoenix's traits. The traits that made every mythical beasts bend down on their knees. The traits that the Jins were so desperately copying to replace the true ruler of them all, but unable to do so.

After seeing the true, authentic power of the Dark Phoenix, the Jin's Snake power was only a millionth of the original of that incredible power. Especially that carnivorous black fog and the power to rule any avians. Yes, any form of birds, insects, and anything that had wings, would be able to be the King's eyes and hands, including the Griffins, Pegasus, Hippogriff, Phoenix, even Dragons. That's how powerful the Dark Phoenix King's power was.

Jin Guangshan was still stunned by the sight of his daughter–the powerful white snake of legend–being devoured by hundreds of crows mercilessly, when he felt a sting on his hands and legs. He dropped down on the floor, feeling that he had no power to even lift up his fingers when he saw the dark shadow loomed over him. 

It was Wei Wuxian. And he was smiling.

"How does it feel? To taste your own medicine?" He crouched to be closer to Jin Guangshan. "Your arms and legs have been injected by four different poisons, and one of them is the one you gave to Lan Zhan. Care to guess which?"

Jin Guangshan did not care to guess. He wanted to speak, to beg for mercy, to give him one more chance to do everything right. But there were no words that could come out of his mouth. The poison had shut his larynx, and every internal organs inside, down. It was just a matter of time before he expired unless he could have the antidotes.

"You know what? Doesn't really matter. My black fog likes its prey to be marinated in poison anyway before it devours you. Alive." Wei Wuxian smirked. "You can hear the sound of your bones being crunched and you could see your flesh being torn apart until there's nothing left but a sliver of your consciousness, a second before everything ends. And it all will be nutrition for my future eggs. You should be proud, Jin Guangshan, to be able to be a part of the future King's meal." Wei Wuxian snapped his fingers and he smiled at the look of absolute fear in Jin Guangshan's eyes.

The next thing they saw was the black fog swirling around Jin Guangshan, playing with his clothes, teasing him, and finally engulfed him whole. No eating yet though.

Wei Wuxian scanned his eyes through the crowd and when he spotted Wen Yuan, he gestured to the black fog to take him to the stage, and the other one he took was Jin Ling. 

"I think it's time for the young to replace the old. Agree?" Wei Wuxian did not wait for an answer and instead he commanded the black fog to consume Jin Guangshan alive while he was still trying to beg for mercy, and left only the Jin's Clan Seal behind. He took it and gave it to Jin Ling. "From now on, you're the leader." Then he gave the Wen's Clan Seal to Wen Yuan. "I expect you to bring forth a change in your clan. Positive change."

Wen Yuan and Jin Ling only nodded with fear engraved clearly on their every fiber. After they saw how easy Wei Wuxian dispatched the elders of their clan, they would do anything to appease him.

"Oh and by the way, peeps," Wei Wuxian turned to the crowds, "the black fog contained a particular poison that only yours truly have the antidote. It will stay dormant in your bodies until the thought of even betraying me–or anything nasty about me, really–will trigger the poison and you'll be poof, no more." He grinned widely. "Oh and last time, I swear this will be the last thing, please enjoy and be merry, today was supposed to be a happy day after all, only the bride is changed to moi." Wei Wuxian pulled Lan Wangji closer. "Just in case anyone has not noticed yet, Lan Wangji here is my Master, and my significant other. So don't even think of touching him, or the Lan's family."