Empire (Xichen X OC)

Chapter 20

As the festivities continued, I stayed as far away as possible. Standing behind the railing, I looked over the one proud Qishan, now void of any of its original citizens. Wen Members had been taken away, cultivators or not and instead foreigners now roamed its streets.

I left out a sigh, feeling odd. After everything, I couldn't help but feel...wounded. My secret had been exposed, and people tried to use it against me. Yet, my anger for the matter couldn't match my sadness.

Sadness because I realised who had given it away. Hanging my head, I felt the chilly wind touching my very soul and making my hair move with its might. I started feeling cold from standing still like that, but that cold comforted me.

I decided to wait a little longer and then perhaps depart. I was never meant to fit into this world ever since I was a child. I didn't die along with my parents; I didn't stay in the Celestial Mountain with my siblings, and I didn't fit with the Lan Clan.

With closed eyes, I let my thoughts torture my mind, but I stopped once I felt a presence behind me. I knew exactly who it was, not surprised that he had approached me.

"I trusted you Xichen...I trusted you with one. Single. Secret" my voice was calm, trying my hardest not to give away my pain.

He sighed, his shoulder's dropping, and he lowered his head in shame. "I am well aware. I know, no matter what I say, it will not be worthy of your forgiveness."

There was a silence between us before I decided to turn and look at him. I could see the pain in his eyes, the very same pain I reflected in mine. I leaned against the railing slightly, wanting nothing more than to walk away but I couldn't.

There was something I had to ask him first.

"Why?"

He lifted his head and looked at me, like a puppy that had been scolded by his owner. "It was never my intention. I was forced...*sigh* After the campaign, people questioned about you. How was an unknown woman, out of nowhere, capable of such strong cultivation? They suspected you were a spy from the Wens or a threat, using the Lan clan as a cover" I looked at him, suddenly feeling puzzled. When did all this happen? "I had to tell them the truth. It was the only way to justify your talents. I didn't know what they would do with the information, and I would never have thought they would act like that"

He looked to the side in shame, and I could feel his pain, his regret. Without realising it, I felt taking a few steps towards his direction before I enveloped him in a hug. He was taken off guard for a moment, his eyes wide before he closed them and allowed his hands to rest against my back.

My chin was on his shoulder, and my own eyes closed. I tightened my grip around him slightly, trying to show him that I was not mad.

"Why didn't you tell me? I...I knew you wouldn't give my secret like that..."

"I didn't have the power...I felt ashamed, and I didn't know how to let you know. Now, I see that it was the biggest mistake I could ever make"

I smiled slightly as I broke the hug first, my hands-on top of his. "I forgive me but please, no more secrets."

He gave a nod, his forehead brought forward only to touch mine. "I promise. No more secrets."

After a moment of just looking at each other, smiling now that the wound was closed, it felt nice to know I was never truly betrayed, and he was only trying to protect me. It was not his fault the others were afraid of change and the new.

I thanked the heavens for him, not being like them and for him, being the one and only my Xichen.

As we withdrew our heads, his one hand went behind his back. "Before I forget. I was meant to give you something."