The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 113 - Leap of Faith

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Wuxian was confused. He was sitting at the table set up near his books in his Treasure Room. He doesn't remember coming here. He doesn't remember sitting down or holding a brush. He looks at the piece of paper set neatly in front of him and reads the letters he clearly wrote: You have to stop them.

These words rang a bell. He heard them before when he had a fever and saw the weird vision/dream. His future self said the same exact words to him as a warning. At the thought of the other Wuxian, he appeared and calmly sat in front of him. Unlike last time, Wuxian had the chance to fully examine the man before him. He was disheveled and wearing rags. He didn't look older or weaker which makes Wuxian assume that he's from the near future.The markings seem to cover all his exposed skin and his eyes were glowing gold. His future self moved his mouth, but he couldn't hear a thing. Wuxian squints his eyes, trying to read his lips to figure out what he's saying. It didn't help much.

Wuxian shook his head, hoping that the man before him understood his signal. It seems to aggravate him. He reached out and grabbed Wuxian's arm, instantly sending echos of his voice to Wuxian's ears: "I don't have time to play games!"

Wuxian felt the hand grabbing him burn and freeze him at the same time. He blinks in confusion and says: "Who's playing games?"

His future self sighs: "What are you doing?"

Wuxian raises an eyebrow: "What you YOU doing? Actually, first explain to me what are you supposed to be?"

His future self: "I'm your future.. if you don't heed my warning."

Wuxian looks suspiciously at him then says: "I'll bite. Who am I supposed to stop?"

His future self looks around, then leans in to whisper: "Shenhua Clan."

Wuxian: "The fire?"

His future self shakes his head: "The kidnapping."

Wuxian frowns: "I don't understand. Aren't I changing the future by going to them?"

Future Wuxian: "No. The outcome is the same. The only difference is that we suffer less when they cure us sooner."

Wuxian couldn't get over the markings marking his future skin: "What are these markings?"

Future Wuxian looks sadly at them: "They did this to us so we can become stronger. I thought they were going to be my guardians. Turns out they had a hidden agenda."

Wuxian: "What hidden agenda?"

Future Wuxian: "They wrote the Prophecy Book. The only thing they care about is seeing it come true."

Wuxian frowns: "I don't understand."

Future Wuxian sighs: "The founder of Shenhua Clan was able to see the future just like us. But unlike us, he couldn't change it. His blessing was a curse since all the bad things he saw he had to witness without being able to change it. He ran away and hid in the north and wrote a book: The Darkest of Days. It contains the most horrific thing he predicted that will happen in the future.. our future. His descendants found the book after his death and used it as a holy book and built a clan to serve as.. time ushers. Their only purpose in life is to make sure that fate is left undisturbed.. and whatever was written in that book comes true."

Wuxian: "If that's the case, why are they torturing you? Didn't they get what they wanted?"

Future Wuxian shakes his head: "We failed. The world is covered in darkness and they're forcing me to return and send the past a warning: Shenhua clan must be stopped. You are the only one who can stop them."

Wuxian feels a few tears of frustration fall down his cheeks: "Why must I do everything?"

Future Wuxian smiles sadly: "Because you can."

Wuxian shakes his head: "I am so tired. I've been running around in circles, putting out fires left and right. I am not a God! Why do people think that having powers means I have control?"

Future Wuxian: "It's not about control. It's about will. The deities chose us not because we were pure of heart or had a special power. They chose us because we had good judgement. We know what is right and what is wrong and we are willing to go against the stream to seek justice."

Wuxian puts his head on the table, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders: "Do we get our body fixed? At least give me something to look forward to."

Future Wuxian reaches with his hand and gently strokes his hair: "It doesn't matter to me at this point. The moment I left Cloud Recesses, my days were a living hell, with or without my spiritual energy."

Wuxian sighs: "So.. that's a big fat no."

Future Wuxian chuckles: "The whole point here is to change the future. Believe me, that will be the least of your worries if you've seen what I've seen."

Wuxian turns his head to look at his future self: "What about Lan Zhan? Is he still alive in the future?"

Future Wuxian pulls his hand away and his open expression closes off: "Don't ask questions you don't want to hear the answers to."

Wuxian sits up and frowns: "Tell me."

Future Wuxian looks away and whispers: "He's alive.. Somewhere.. I haven't seen him since I left our home."

Wuxian: "He didn't rescue you?"

Future Wuxian turns to look sadly at his past: "I have not seen hide or hair from Gusu Lan Clan. I don't know if they gave up on me or didn't try hard enough."

Future Wuxian smiles sadly: "Some days I imagine him walking in.. kissing me.. smelling my hair.. caressing my skin.. embracing me with his warm body.."

Wuxian swallows hard. He knows this type of longing. He asks: "He abandoned you?"

Future Wuxian shakes his head: "I don't know. The only thing that's keeping me going is the fact that our bond keeps us connected. If I'm alive.. then he must be alive too."

Wuxian felt his heart sink. The only thing in this world he knew for a fact was the amount of love Wangji had for him. Their epic love was supposed to be forever and always.

Wuxian shakes his head, hoping that these dark thoughts would somehow leave his mind. He takes a deep breath and squares his shoulders: "Tell me how to fix it. I will not allow this bleak future to come to pass."

Future Wuxian: "You must sway the Slayer."

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