In Darkness

Deadlocked Deities

"Gugu, are you sure you want to go through with this?"

"Weren't you one of the people speaking on his behalf?" Bai Qian grumbles sleepily, barely half-awake as she continues to sunbathe through the light of the small window in their room.

"Gugu, those men..." Hesitating, Bai Feng Jiu rests her head down on her Aunt's lap, "They were intimidating."

"You did a good job standing your ground, Xiao Huli." Absentmindedly combing her fingers through Feng Jiu's hair, she fights a small smile as her niece's breathing evens out.

It seems even she is tired today.

Waiting a while longer so she won't rouse her, Bai Qian carefully peels herself away from the comfortable silence, pulls on her outermost robe, and leaves the room. She's done her best to solely remain with Bai Feng Jiu and A-li so far. With only an hour (or two) left to spare before she hikes her way over to the top of Mount Junji, she finds herself once again sitting in the quiet peace the lotus ponds provided.

"That was always Didi's favorite spot."

Looking up to see Mo Yuan walking towards her, she quickly glances away and takes to looking at the trees below, "It's quiet."

"May I ask a question?"

"May I ask one in return?" Given a nod in response, she relents and waits for him to speak.

"Why didn't you return to him?"

"How can you lift the sword of the Yellow Emperor?" Bai Qian asks, faking concern, "You seem more like one of those pretty boys from the mortal plays my brother always hosts in his teahouse..."

"You think I'm a 'pretty boy'?" Mo Yuan watches her closely, eyes twinkling with amusement.

Cheeks flushing over having her own mischief turned back on her, Bai Qian rises from her spot, muttering under her breath, "You're terrible."

When she moves to leave, Mo Yuan's hand gently grabs her, stopping her from running off any further, "You didn't answer my question."

"I sent my sister a few days before his death to let him know that I would be willing to see him again only if he returned to where we first met with A-li. He's the one that didn't come." Moving to extract her hand from his, she looks up at him when it firmly refuses to budge only to find quickly hardening eyes, "What else, Heavenly Lord?"

 "We have an hour left before sunset. Come with me."

Not taking no for an answer, his arm quickly winds around her waist before cloud jumping towards the Sea of Innocence at a break-neck speed.

o~O~o~O~o

Three weeks ago (roughly), inside of the Celestial Palace

Mo Yuan couldn't help his sudden curiosity when he arrived at his brother's hall only to see three maidens dressed in red quickly departing, heading for the gates of the Celestial Palace. Walking inside, his curiosity shifts into concern at the sight of his frail twin brother attempting to put on his black robe despite shaking and coughing.

"Didi, you shouldn't be out of bed."

"I need to go to her." Ye Hua rasps, attempting to make his way towards the door only to be held back by a barrier Mo Yuan erects, "Da Ge! Let me go. I need to see her!"

"She's dead, Ye Hua."

"No, she's not, she... she's out there, waiting. I need to go to her."

o~O~o~O~o