The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 183 - A Leap of Faith

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Wuxian leans in, appreciating Jinhai's false reassurances: "It's not up to you or me.."

Jinhai grabs Wuxian, jumps a few paces away from the center of the fight to give him his full attention. He leans in to look into Wuxian's eyes: "Listen to me.. YOU will not die today!"

Wuxian's lips wobble: "Then what am I supposed to do?"

Jinhai takes a deep breath as his resolve settles in: "You will help me.. Because I will be the one who closes that damn portal."

Wuxian's tearful eyes look at him in confusion: "You can't.."

Jinhai looks offended: "Why not?"

Wuxian: "You have to use light to seal it from the inside and you can't pass through alone. You need someone who can travel through.."

Jinhai purses his lips as he turns to stare at Biming for a while. Da Ziran slithers near Wuxian's ear and whispers again: "Fix your mistake, young Oracle."

Wuxian wipes his cheeks, once again confused: "I don't understand."

Da Ziran moves to wrap around Jinhai who stiffens in a mix of shock and fear: "What's this?"

Da Ziran points with her head at his sword: "Restore the balance, Divine Oracle. You gave the man with the evil intentions darkness, now give the one with the strong heart the light."

Wuxian stares at the snake for a few seconds until it hits him: Jinhai is a Lan Clan member. Their blood runs through his veins. He is a light bearer by birth.

Da Ziran senses his revelation and slithers back to his body, handing him the Pegasus Crystal. The ghosts of Jinhai's past reemerge and they all turn to look at their Slayer: "Lan Jinhai, the Slayer of the innocent. Do you repent?"

Jinhai felt a shiver run through his body as he faced the look of judgment from those he had slain many moons ago: "I recognize my mistakes. I have not killed a soul unjustly since I met Master Wei. He promised to show me the righteous way and I trust him."

They all turn to stare at Wuxian: "Divine Oracle, do you recognize this change?"

Wuxian smiles at Jinhai: "He listens to me."

The spirits move to stand around Wuxian: "Then we shall listen to you too. Command us, Divine Oracle."

Wuxian swallows hard, tightening his grasp on the crystal in his hand: "He needs to find his light. I know it's in his soul. I have seen it in his eyes. I just need you to help me show it to the world."

The spirits move closer, placing their hands on his: "Let the Slayer's resolve shine brighter than the sun. We absolve you of your sin, son of our true killer. May this gift finally bring you peace."

Jinhai's sword starts lighting up in blue until it becomes so bright, Wuxian can hear the Wraith around them scream in agony. Wuxian covered his eyes and ears as their cries grew.

He feels Jinhai gently touch on his waist. The man smiles down at him: "You're my light in this dark world. I know that your kind heart sees past my sins but I've killed too many to be easily forgiven. You don't deserve to live amongst the Wraith in the colorless world.. But I do. I was probably going to end up there anyways after death."

Wuxian shakes his head, afraid of what Jinhai is suggesting.

Jinhai caresses his cheek and whispers: "I cannot have you in this lifetime or any other lifetime. Let me save you and the one you have chosen."

They both turn to look at Wangji who's fighting hard to contain Biming.

Jinhai whispered: "I hate him so much for being a better fit for you but I am grateful that you fought for me to stay by your side.. even if it was just for a while."

He leans down and kisses Wuxian's forehead: "I know I will not be reincarnated, but if I had the choice, I would love to be one of your rabbits. A proof of love.."

Wuxian sobs silently, filled with griefas Jinhai slowly reveals his second choice: A leap of faith.

Jinhai wraps his arm around Wuxian, pulling him close and taking in a deep breath from his comforting scent before he whispers: "Do you trust me?"

Despite all the things Jinhai has done in the past..

Despite his aggressive personality and the fact that he almost killed Hweiru..

One thing keeps playing over and over in Wuxian's mind..

His future self saying: Sway the Slayer. In the process of swaying Jinhai, the slayer has swayed him too.

Wuxian returns the embrace: "I trust you but I don't want you to die."

Jinhai huffs a laugh: "If someone has to die, I'm going to be the least missed."

Wuxian leans back to look sadly into his eyes and cups his cheeks: "I will miss you."

Jinhai grabs his hands and places gentle kisses on them. He looks up at the smaller man and whispers his final words with a sad smile: "Remember me when I'm gone."

He tightens his hold on Wuxian and before the smaller man could respond, he picks him up, throws him at Wangji and takes off running towards the portal.

Wangji caught his soul-bond and tightens his hold on him when he screams, trying to follow the Slayer: "NO! JINHAI! NOO!"

Jinhai transferred all his energy to his sword, making it shine so bright that it stuns Biming.

He grabs the faceless man and jumps into the portal before anyone could stop him.

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A/N:

Fair warning: this story will end very soon *Hug*

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