Rosa: A Wangxian Reincarnation Story

Anger

'So, this is what it comes to? After all the atonement? They will not believe me. I am still a pariah in their eyes. ' 

Meng Yao lay prone and shut his eyes. Whatever his fate was, it had long since been in the hands of others. His birth, his miserable life, his descent into evil; after the Temple, after that death, it had been in the hands of gods, demons, then at the service of the newly deceased. He was silent as the husband and wife spoke above him, as if he was merely an object, and he accepted their anger, letting it wash over him like a bath of acid. Burning, making this soul swallow what it had earned. 

His silence was not born of fear this time, nor anger. It was needed so that, before they killed him, perhaps a small part of his warning would be believed. No excuses. No manipulation.  This was the first time in his existence that he had chosen a path based on others' needs. Even his actions as he dragged his mother to hell had been demanded by the gods as payment. Once more, he was failing. So he lay passively, and he simply waited to die again.

 Strangely, another voice broke the tension. It was Wei Ying. His most abused and damaged victim cleared his throat and said, "There is something different this time. We should listen."

Lan Zhan turned blazing eyes towards his mate. "He will not be allowed to hurt you again. Is that understood? One attempt and I will kill him immediately, myself."

Wei Ying walked over and gazed calmly into his husband's eyes.

"My love. You may do that, indeed. In fact, I would be disappointed if you did not!" His silver eyes twinkled, and they helped smother the fire radiating from Lan Zhan's own, and they slowly cooled back to their normal Imperial topaz. 

Ming moved the sword, but held it at ready, prepared to join Lan Zhan if the execution was warranted. Lan XiChen slid his hand lightly around his wife's rigid back. "Use your wisdom as a General, My Menquin. Your eye is sharp. You will know when he is lying. Do not allow your rage to kill the golden goose until we see the egg he lays before us."

She nodded, but her palm, wrapped tightly around the hilt of her weapon, itched to finish the job.

"Stand, Meng Yao," said Lan XiChen. It was taking all his restraint not to act rashly. If Yao had not forged his alliance with Yue Yang, thousands would never have died so long ago. Xue Yang would never have had access to XiChen himself. He shoved that particular 3 days in hell away. That was several thousand years ago, and he refused to let the memories return. He looked his former sworn brother in the eyes. 

"What do you have to tell us? We will decide what to do with you afterward."

 At the dispassionate tone, Meng Yao's eyes filled with tears. The lack of any emotion at all in the once-loving voice was another scalding reminder of the destruction he had wrought; it was the worst one of them all. That bond was irrevocably broken, and he had done that willingly in the pursuit of his own glorification. He rapidly blinked the tears away. He had no right, even to them.

"I was contacted by Vue Yang three times. He wanted me to join forces with his followers in an attempt to destroy you all."

"Who has he contacted besides you?

"Wen Chao. Su She. Perhaps more, but most definitely those two. I decided to accept his invitation, then I  contacted you."

"Why?" Ming spoke through clenched teeth.

"I do not want to return to what I was. I have spent uncountable years having my soul rendered, scourged, and reshaped. You know what that is like, do you not, General?"

Ming's face went white, but her stony countenance did not change. 

"It is not an experience to be wasted. I still owe you much, and I will not turn from that."

A chilly voice came from the doorway, and Meng Yao turned to see a familiar figure.  Nie Haiusang stood there, fan in hand, eyes narrow and cold. He danced lightly forward and circled his brother's killer and lifted his chin with the deadly edge. 

"Isn't that your greatest talent, my old friend, turning, twisting, betraying? My greatest regret in life was not having the guts to emerge from behind my fans and then tricking XiChen into killing you. How delightful. I will get to correct that error this lifetime."

Meng Yao bowed deeply. "If that is what you need. If I can begin to approach forgiveness with dying now or after this is over, it is yours, and I am willing to give it. But take my warning for what it is worth. He plans to annihilate you all. Some quickly. Others he wants to savor. He is summoning them quickly, and they are answering."

There was a long pause, and Meng Yao's eyes, did not shrink from Nie Haiusang's. Lan Zhan broke the connection.

"There is one way we can ascertain his sincerity. Empathy. There would be one thing you must agree upon. If you prove to be a liar in this lifetime., if I sense one whiff of anything less than honesty and candor. I will wipe your mind clean."

Meng Yao nodded. "Yes."

"By that, I mean that I will destroy it completely, at whatever cost to myself. It will break apart into a million pieces, and it will be agonizing until it ceases to function. I may not be able to control myself, even if I find you honest in the end, anyway. You spent years torturing Wei Ying and me. You caused Xue Yang's abuse of my brother. I cannot promise I will show restraint."

Meng Yao was as white as a sheet. "I agree. Freely."

"Husband!"

"Brother. It is too dangerous."

Lan Zhan looked at them calmly. "This is my choice as well as his. You will not persuade me along another course."

"Lan Zhan. We will fight Xue Yang another way. I will not have this." Tears began to fall, and Lan Zhan gently wiped them from the silver eyes.

"Lovely one. This is not up for discussion. There are too many lives at stake. How many victims has Xue claimed in this lifetime alone?"

"But if something happens to you? No. NO! This is too impulsive. Too quickly decided upon..."

"Says the King of Impulse."

"Don't use that against me."

"Never. But it is my time to go right to the heart of a matter and not spend time looking at all angles. It should never be always left to you."

"Lan Zhan, if anything happens to you, I will not forgive you."

His husband smiled. "You are such a terrible liar, Wei Ying. But today I see through you and do not believe you. You will always forgive me."

"You bastard. When this is through, I will make you pay."

A grin, rare and so valuable, spread across Lan Zhan's face. "And I will fasten the ties myself and await your punishment, My Love!"

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