Martial God of Yiling

2. Saving a soul

Wei Wuxian walked dazed behind the four officials. Lost in thought, he couldn't care less about anything. How in the world did I end up as a god? He thought to himself. But he knew there were some urgent matters that need to be dealt right away before he could question his current position.

"Excuse me, Your Highness. As much as I'd like to continue our chat and understand the roles of my position, I have some important matters to take care of. And I need to leave as soon as possible."

Xie Lian looked back at Wei Wuxian. He could sense the urgency in his words. "What is this critical matter, Wei Wuxian? If you need assistance, we'd be happy to help you."

"I need to see for myself if they all are really dead." He said in such a solemn voice, the others understood.

It was a massacre, after all. Wei Wuxian couldn't protect his family. He had to prioritize breaking the amulet before those greedy cultivators took it for whatever nefarious purposes they would sanction under the banner of righteousness. With that in mind, they departed to see whatever has happened in the mortal realm. Appearing in burial mounds, Xie Lian reminded Wei Wuxian, "even if things go wrong, we absolutely cannot hurt any mortals."

"Understood."

They all stayed in invisible forms and started their journey up to the settlement where the Wens lived. As they walked closer, they heard voices of other humans. Nearing settlement, they saw multiple cultivators from Jin sect still there. Quite some time has been passed since Wei Wuxian had ascended. By now all the other sects and their disciples had already left yet Jin sect was still here. This raised many questions in the heads of the five descended heavenly officials. The bodies of Wen remnants were being piled up in a big heap. Without giving a second thought, Wei Wuxian ran towards his dead family. Tears spilling, he cried his heart out. The rest of the officials let him mourn.

"I am so sorry. I promised, and yet I couldn't protect you all."

He babbled on and on along the same lines. Meanwhile, Mu Qing had gone towards the demon slaughtering cave. He found that Jin sect was looking through Wei Wuxian's belongings. Before their eyes could land on Wei Wuxian's sword, Mu Qing took it along with him. He thought he will give it back to its rightful owner. What Mu Qing was not aware of, was that, there were many treasures more valuable than the sword.

Wei Wuxian was still sitting near the dead bodies when Mu Qing arrived with sword in hand and passed it to Xie Lian along with the line 'to give it back to him once he is calmed down.'

Wei Wuxian had forgotten his surrounding for some time. But when he finally came to his senses, the Jin sect had already left. He had lost himself in his grief that he'd forgotten that he hadn't seen the body of the young boy, A-Yuan.

"A-Yuan. Where's A-Yuan?" he started to search everywhere.

"Who's A-Yuan, Wei Wuxian?" Feng Xin inquired.

"He's a three-year-old child I used to look after along with granny Wen and uncle four."

Xie Lian gasped when he heard this. "We need to search for him." He ordered.

Listening to the distressed calls of their master, the resentment in Burial mounds came to attention and started to flow closer to Wei Wuxian. Seeing the unusual display of resentment, he clutched his flute in his hand tight.

"What is happening? Why is resentment behaving like this?" Ling Wen asked hesitantly.

"I think... the resentment wants to... lead us somewhere." Wei Wuxian answered as he brought his flute forward.

With a flick of his wrist, the resentment gathered in a place and turned into tiny translucent black rabbits with glowing red eyes, just like their master. The rabbits surrounded their master and then ran away as if to try to lead the road. Meanwhile, all five officials stood there gaping at what transpired. But Wei Wuxian brushed his surprise as he was concerned for the child. He had a feeling that the resentment had heard his distress and was helping him find A-Yuan.

He started to follow the resentment bunnies. The others had many questions and concerns, but they would ask them later. Their current priority was the little child. Nearing a broken tree stub, they saw the bunnies surrounding it as if protecting it. Wei Wuxian ran towards it. He let go a sigh of relief when he saw the little child still alive.

Materializing, he pulled out A-Yuan from his hiding spot. The accompanying heavenly officials saw the boy still alive and they loosened up. At least the little boy wasn't caught in the crossfire. Wei Wuxian had a soft smile on his face, which soon transformed into a scowl.

"He has fever." He said.

"Let's leave then." Xie Lian replied. "We need to take him to a medic soon."

Wei Wuxian nodded. He looked like a concerned mother. But the sight evoked certain memories in Feng Xin and Mu Qing of how a crown prince looked after a peculiar street rat. They shared a glance as if knowing what the other was thinking.

All five officials departed to the heavenly realm.