How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 108 - Living (2)

Author's Notes:

Are you ready for the last chapter? I am not sure I am.... Ready or not, here we go. Final stretch and then this rollercoaster will stop to let people off.

⊂(▀▿▀) つ

With half of the devils gone and Ghost Valley still in a state of shock, no one really said anything when Wen Ke Xing announced that he was stepping down as Guigu Guzhu and that they were now left on their own. Wen Ke Xing had basically announced it during that night anyway so everyone had been expecting it—some even started plotting for it.

Some ghosts took this as their chance to fight to be the new Guzhu, others took it as a sign for them to also leave in the midst of all chaos and find a way back out into the Jianghu and to return to their old homes. Wen Ke Xing and Zhou Zi Shu had warned them that they would still keep an eye on any ghost that walked out into the world and went back to their old ways. The ways of the Ghosts would not be tolerated in Jianghu. They might not be ruling anymore, but they were still stronger and they would find them.

And so, the three of them walks out through the massive stone gates, each with a stallion in tow. For the first time since Ghost Valley had been formed, the gates doesn't close after the arrival or departure but were instead left open.

They walk in silence until they arrive at a fork in the road and stop. Wen Ke Xing press his lips together before he turns towards his left and towards the girl who has been with him for most of his adult life, "Ah-Xiang, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Zhuren! You have asked me this ten times already. Yes, I want to go out on my own for a bit. I don't want to be your third wheel. You two go off and be all married and stuff. Let me be on my own for a while, find myself and figure out what I like to do. I will come find you when I am ready."

Zhou Zi Shu looks at her with a complicated expression, "Ah-Xiang, if you change your mind, please come find us. No matter what, we will always have room for you."

"No matter what, remember that, Ah-Xiang!" Wen Ke Xing's voice is hoarse and he pulls her into an embrace, something that was rare between the two of them. Zhou Zi Shu could have sworn that he saw tears at the edges of both of their eyes. But they were gone as fast as they had appeared.

"Zhuren, Nu Zhuren, I guess this is it." She looks at them, also with a complicated expression on her face. She takes a deep breath and waves before she turns and jumps up on her horse.

As they watch her ride down the road and steer the opposite way of where they are heading, Zhou Zi Shu speaks with a soft voice, "Ah-Xing."

"I already know what you are going to say." He sighs and shakes his head, his expression still complicated and his voice barely louder than a whisper, "How did you know?"

"I had my suspicion, but Daiyu confirmed it right before we fell off the cliff... And I saw her up on the ledge during the fight. How did you know?"

"Luo Fumeng's tongue had been cut out... and the birthmark... And the weapon with nails, it's from Window of Heaven. She must have..."

When Wen Ke Xing's voice fades, Zhou Zi Shu finishes the sentence, "She must have taken it from me when I was captured."

Zhou Zi Shu looks at the profile of his man whose eyes are locked on the back of the young woman in purple, that is about to turn a corner and out of his sight. "Ah-Xing, are you really just going to let her go like this?"

"Making a thousand decisions, even the wise will make a mistake."(1)

"He who covers up his mistakes intends to make some more." (2) Zhou Zi Shu sighs, he knows that Wen Ke Xing is deflecting, not wanting to think about it. "Ah-Xing..."