The greed to survive

1

Mu Qing had left to go do something, so Feng Xin found himself standing guard. It wasn't a hard job, Xie Lian always slept like a log. Hard to wake up and even harder to get out of bed.

Yet in the darkness of the Nan Yang temple dedicated to himself, he hears distressed whines and shuffling. It's very quiet almost silent. He has to strain to hear it.

There was only two people in this temple and one of them was the one who could hear the whines, which meant...

"Your highness?" He asks out. Xie Lian doesn't respond, is the god still asleep?

Feng Xin walks over quietly. "Your highness." He says again grabbing the man's shoulders.

Xie lians eyes shoot open and he falls backwards off the step. "Stay back!" He yells. Feng Xin spooks at the reaction. "Your highness-"

"No no no no!" The white clad god shouts. "Go away! Why again!" He calls. Feng Xin has no clue what's going on and fumbles to find the words. "What's going on? Are you okay?" He shouts hand resting on his bow.

With the noise Xie Lian focuses his attention on the man. He didn't hear what he said but still looks over. There staring at the guard are a pair of terrified dark eyes.

"Please don't do this!" The god begs. "I won't tell him! You can just pretend! I don't- I can't handle anymore!" He begs close to tears., still frozen on the step.

Feng Xin nods hands up in surrender. His first task is to try and calm the god down. "Your highness-" Xie Lian stands up backing away, stumbling slightly in fear. "My wounds still haven't healed!" Xie Lian tries. "Your hurt?" Feng Xin asks worried. "I...I..." Xie Lian says sounding utterly hopeless. "Do you have to?"

Feng Xin has no idea what's going on but for some reason he knows it's not good. His old master is clearly disoriented. Stuck in some dream state.

"Is it needed..." the white god asks before slumping. "Of course it is. Never mind, I'm sorry." He says looking down. One hand is clutching his robes around his chest the other falls limply. 

Gently Feng Xin walks forward trying to smile kindly and keeps his hands outstretched and in view. "It's alright your highness. Calm down, it's okay." He says. The scrap god scrambles back tripping over his robes and falls to the ground with a loud crack.

Feng Xin winces. "Your highness!" He scolds. "You're so clumsy. Are you hurt?"

Xie Lian has silent tears rolling down his cheeks. It looks like he's about to fight for his life. Pale petrified face. His eyes are watery. And those delicate hands tremble. "I- I'm sorry, I won't move anymore. It's... Fine..." He whispers. Then his face changes expressions and Feng Xin freezes.

"Fine?" He echos. That look on the gods face. He's seen it before. Only once, and it's a memory he never wishes to remember. That day Xie Lian had re-appeared out of the forest. Bloody robes, ripped and unruly. His hair matted and cheeks tear stained. There was a bit of dried blood on his lips but what he remembered so clearly was his face. It had given up. Resigned to whatever fate had occurred.

Xie Lian now going limp in the floor, his face mirroring that but worse brings it all back. "Your highness, what happened." He finds himself asking just like he did back then. "I won't leave." He shouts. Xie lians eyes glaze over. "I know you won't. It's okay. Just don't use fang Xin, I don't care what you do to me, just, please don't use that sword. Not again."

"I don't have that sword your highness." Feng Xin says. "I don't even know where it would be. So don't worry." He tries still standing a bit away from Xie Lian who's on the floor.

Xie Lian doesn't move. "Do you have your own sword?" He asks. "I-." The martial arts god clutches his bow. "I have a dagger, just in case-" "Use that. I won't ask you to be gently even with all the remorse in the world, it won't dull the pain."