Broken Bones are Fixed With Love {Beefleaf//2xuan}

To Remember and Reminisce

(2878 words)

Shi Qingxuan thought he was going to die when he began coughing. The force racked his body and elicited sharp stings of pain in his ribs. Shi Qingxuan knew he was going to die when those coughs began bringing blood with them.

It wasn't a huge realization, like he thought it would be. It wasn't gradual, either. He looked down at the scarlet, crimson, vermillion—he always had a thing for beautiful colors—in his hand, and just knew . The thought didn't strike him as terribly as he once believed it would. Before then, he'd thought the day he died would be the day the heavens fell.

A short chuckle escaped from his lips, causing another coughing fit. It wasn't the heavens that fell from the sky, but him who fell from the heavens. He'd sustained major injuries in the incident, and to say he was bruised and battered would be the least of it. He'd broken at least his leg in the fall, and it healed improperly, causing Shi Qingxuan to be crippled for life. The injury ached when it rained, and it ached when the sun shone high in the sky. It was a pitiful existence for the once-proud Wind Master.

At least, as a mortal, there was no pressure to perform well or live up to expectations. But, as a mortal, he had no friend to rely on. Ming-xiong—He Xuan—was the only person Shi Qingxuan truly considered a friend in the heavens. How ironic. Sure, there was Xie Lian, but he was busy helping to reorganize the heavenly officials after Jun Wu's downfall. The other beggars didn't exactly understand the musings of a former god, and even if they did there were just some things he couldn't share.

Shi Qingxuan shook his head, leaning against the wall in the slums of the Capital city. There wasn't any reason for him to stay there, and he knew he always had a place at Puqi Shrine, but it didn't feel right. Not that living amongst the grime and filth felt any more right.

It had been a while since he'd visited the aforementioned Puqi Shrine. His fellow beggars went often for a meal, or simply for a place to feel accepted and happy. It was certainly a place full of light.

Light. With a sigh, Shi Qingxuan turned his head to look at the sky above. He was sitting in the shade, for comfort, but he roused himself just enough to touch the sunlight. Almost as though it shocked him, he slowly moved himself into a standing position. It felt as though a little bit of the previous rigor returned to him. Just because he was going to die, didn't mean he was going to just sit still and let it happen. He would enjoy what he had, as he always did.

Stumbling slowly, careful not to jostle his body too much, he grabbed his broken Wind Master Fan—he always kept it on his person—and began to make his way to Puqi Shrine. It was a far journey to be sure, and he wasn't exactly a lively man anymore, but he could call in some favors for a ride.

Only about a week later, Puqi shrine came into view. It was lively as always. People visited frequently for a chance to encounter the god and ghost duo. There were more people than usual—most likely a sign that the pair in question were present.

Shi Qingxuan had realized, along the journey, that he wasn't so fragile as to break at the slightest nudge. He could still get around fairly well, as long as he was conscious of his movements.

He slipped off the back of the cart with a hurried thanks to the driver, the sight of so much life bringing some energy back to him. He chided himself, as though he were still a small child, "Shi Qingxuan, this isn't like you to be in such a slump. Get over it and go talk to your friends! You're absolutely fabulous, as always, now act like it."

With the pep talk out of the way, he walked with as much of a confident swagger as he could muster, and entered the grounds of Puqi Shrine.

"Ah, Lord Wind Master! Welcome, it's been a while," Xie Lian pushed through the throng of people all looking for some luck. Hua Cheng, as always, was only a step behind him. The people, previously so desperate for attention, parted for the Ghost King like he'd put up a physical barrier around himself.