If there was even a chance [Beefleaf]

Watching over him

The weather was crisp, and the city streets were bubbling with life. The day had an air of liveliness to it- street vendors called out and advertised their products, and the bustling of people on roads and in shops laughing and chatting filled the air. There wasn't anywhere you could go without sensing something big was about to happen.

The days were inching closer to the 15th day of the eighth month on the Lunar calendar, and the Mid-Autumn festival, or ZhongQiu Jie, was right around the corner. 

Even the street beggars and the homeless were full of life, talking amongst themselves without a care in the world. They were all lounging in their part of the city- not many others came here, knowing and thinking it was full of people like them, so they had the whole section to themselves. They had made their own little community here- like one big family, caring and helping each other if needed. In the center of those homeless and people living on the streets was Shi Qingxuan, who had a crowd of others seated around him as he told them another story of his godly days. 

Shi Qingxuan was rather popular within those on the streets- his bubbly personality and cheerful smile was enough for anyone to enjoy his company. Though they knew of his former godly status, he wasn't any different than them, nor did he act like he was better in some way, so they still treated him as a good friend regardless. It also helped them realize that- perhaps the gods are not so different as we are.

"Ah wait!" Someone listening in to his story piped up. "Ol' Feng, based on the stories you tell us, then doesn't that mean 3 element gods are missing?"

Qingxuan paused. He had just finished a story about an adventure he went on- coincidentally, it was the one where he and Feng Xin met up with Crimson Rain and His Highness outside of Qi Rong's cave. Whenever he told stories, he usually tried to avoid his own past- especially some people within it. They dug up too much solemn memories he'd rather not think about. So he tried focusing on happier stories- or you could say funnier stories, like how Feng Xin had such a big reaction to Qingxuan getting to close to him.

He hadn't even remembered mentioning the element gods, but perhaps that person was just curious and was contemplating the other things he'd told them before. Now that he thought of it, there certainly was a big emptiness in the amount of element gods in heaven. Wind, water, and earth... each fate more tragic than the last. Perhaps the positions were cursed, he thought.

Qingxuan managed a grin. "Yeah, basically. Though there's always a chance a new god ascends, you never know, ahahahaha!" He said, laughing the comment off.

The people around him also laughed, though not sure what they were laughing about. Qingxuan just had that kind of contagious personality. With that topic forgotten, Qingxuan started a new story. He enjoyed sharing his adventures with his new friends- it allowed him to reminisce over happier memories, and have people to talk to. 

Though deep inside him, he would sometimes miss the lavishes of heaven and the attention he would get from up there, but he had long since accepted his fate here in the mortal world, knowing his place in heaven never rightfully belonged to him anyway. It should've never been my title. It was best to move on. During his time in the mortal world, Qingxuan had certainly matured. At first, he was distraught about his situation, wondering why someone like him would end up in a place like this. And though he was usually fastidious about his looks, he grew used to his rags, and the feeling of dirt constantly on his body. He didn't mind. Things weren't the same as before.

Unknowingly to him, there was a certain someone seated at an abandoned rundown teahouse close to where Qingxuan and his crowd was. The stranger was close enough so he could hear what was being said, but he didn't actually join nor face the crowd, in fear of being spotted.