Chapter 40: Qīng Yè's Godhead |
[September 8, 2019] . . .
The bare tree branches lent a desolate feeling to the forest. It felt like late autumn.
Throughout their walk though Shěn Lí remained silent, but she kept looking askance at Xíng Zhǐ. He couldn’t help but finally laugh out loud. “So hesitant. This is not the Azure Sky king I know.”
Unable to hide her curiosity once the silence was broken, Shěn Lí asked, “Matters of the upper realms I do not know much about, however this I do know. In all the realms, there is only one god. But just now with Jǐng Yán, what was that?
“I am the only one now . . . however, a long time ago, there were other gods in the beyond other than myself.” Xíng Zhǐ’s eyes became distant. “For you, it would be considered the days of ancient antiquity. Even I, myself, can not remember how long ago.”
The smile on his lips became indifferent as he continued, “Jǐng Yán was the previous generations Prince Ruì. He was the beautiful god, Silver Hair Silver Eyes, Qīng Yè, my close friend.”
Shěn Lí gave him a sidelong glance. She had been giving him many as they walked, but this time she was appraising his appearance. His beauty was the kind that would elicit envy in others. Without thinking she blurted, “How does Immortal High God compare?”
Xíng Zhǐ tilted his head to the side and shot her a glance. An enchanting smile played on his lips. He answered in a smug, boastful voice. “Naturally I am more beautiful.”
Instead of offending her, his complacent tone only served to make her laugh. “I also agree.”
“He fell in love with a mortal.” Xíng Zhǐ’s eyes dimmed again. “He moved against Heavenly law and used his powers to save the person. His godhead was abolished because of it.”
In surprise, Shěn Lí asked, “Who . . . who could possibly punish a god?”
“Gods are subject to the laws of the Heavenly Dao at birth. These laws are meant to keep balance and order. The world would fall into chaos if gods used their power for personal reasons.” He turned to look at Shěn Lí. “The Celestial realm are no different from the rest of the world.” He continued walking as he spoke from the side. “Qīng Yè was stripped of his godhead and sent to live in the Mortal realm, to suffer through the wheel of reincarnation, to tragically fail in love.”
Shěn Lí thought of Prince Ruì and his plight, of how in the end he couldn’t be with either of the women he cared about. Now as Jǐng Yán, he also had two females by his side but . . . A sense of misgiving grew in her heart. “Who did the person he love reincarnate as?”
“He’s the only one who knows that. All I did was awaken his divinity and clear the obstruction in his spiritual force. If he can find the one he’s been searching for, then all will be well.” Xíng Zhǐ looked skyward. “I only hope the Heavenly Dao will not be excessive and terminate everything.”
Shěn Lí stopped at looked at Xíng Zhǐ. “I do not believe the matter is as complicated as that. Qīng Yè’s godhead is gone but it does not mean Heaven will negatively interfere with the course of his lives.
As Prince Ruì, he and the princess shared a common fate.[notes] Naturally he was fond of the princess. But in this life, he is Jǐng Yán. And in this life, he grew up with Jing Jǐng Xī. It’s obvious he cherishes her. The two generations are not related. His destiny is mainly in the hands of fate; however he still has free will. And that free will’s influence will impact his fate.”
Xíng Zhǐ also stopped, turning to look at her. “That is a novel idea. But no matter how you phrase it, all of Jǐng Yán’s previous lives served to shape him into the person he is now. His feelings have evolved from that. Neither you nor I can influence the matter. We can only observe.”
Shěn Lí silently mulled his words over. Changing topic she said, “Just now you said Qīng Yè’s godhead was abolished, yet you chose to awaken it. Aren’t you afraid of incurring Heaven’s wrath?”
“The offense Qīng Yè committed was not a heinous one. So though Heaven made him mortal as punishment, his body more or less still retains the same aura. I failed to notice it because it had dispersed so much.
It was when you asked if they were bound to repeat their fates that I became suspicious and began looking at the situation more closely. Though his aura was incredibly weak, I was able to draw it out. It is sufficient to purify the miasma in those here.”
He paused and smiled. “As for Heaven’s wrath, escaping it is impossible. Judgement will be passed for all offenses.”
If any change at all incurred Heaven’s wrath, then why not make a great change and make it worthwhile? The words were on the tip of Shěn Lí’s tongue but she swallowed them back. Based on what Xíng Zhǐ said, Qīng Yè, because of his heart . . .
She remembered the night she returned drunk to the manor. Xíng Zhǐ had smiled as he talked about gods not having emotions like affection or kindness. She realized what he said wasn’t true. It wasn’t that the gods didn’t have emotions, it was that they couldn’t act on their emotions.
Xíng Zhǐ hid the expression in his eyes and smiled at the silent Shěn Lí. “That’s enough for our walk. We should return.”
The moon shone brightly in the clear night sky over Yáng Zhōu . Lamps were lit along the city walls, and though not as glorious as in the past, they nevertheless brought the city back to life.
Fú Róng had obediently returned to the Demon realm to relay the message from Xíng Zhǐ. But he only left after making sure Jǐng Yán drank a good amount of vinegar. In his own way Fú Róng was sincerely trying to help Jǐng Xī with her romance, but considering his lecherous nature, Shěn Lí knew it wasn’t the only reason. She was sure he had enjoyed taking advantage of Jǐng Xī in the process.
Jǐng Xī was sad to see him leave. She had taken his efforts to assist her seriously. It wasn’t just Jǐng Xī, many of the other girls in the temple also wore glum expressions and were sighing sadly.
The sight only made Shěn Lí indignant. Fú Róng had failed to start anything with Mò Fāng when he was in the Demon realm. Once in the Mortal realm, he switched targets and fooled around with every girl he could find. What an a fickle, insincere person!
“Such a lecherous, unfaithful person! He won’t change no matter where he goes.” Shěn Lí's disdain showed easily in her words.
Xíng Zhǐ was just getting up after driving the miasma out of the body of a middle-aged man when he heard Shěn Lí cursing Fú Róng. He turned and saw several women. They were wearing white cloth that he recognized were made by the craftsmen of the immortal temple. The fabric had to be left behind by Fú Róng.
“He left the place a mess.” Shěn Lí thought about the pain the girls would go through. “Clearly that idiot didn’t have anything to do with clearing the miasma in the city!”
“Is Your Highness mad Lord Fú Róng got credit for it?”
“The Demon realm isn’t free and unfettered like the Immortal realm. There are constantly campaigns to be fought, and because of this, our system for reward and punishment is very clear cut. Meritorious deeds are appropriately credited to those who contribute.”
Shěn Lí was good but she was also very vain. The thing she enjoyed most was the feeling of crushing her enemies underfoot, followed closely by the adoration and cheers of the people. The fact that she didn’t get either on this mission rubbed her the wrong way, so of course she was unhappy.
“I worked hard to settle an affair for the Immortal realm, even getting injured and poisoned in the process. But do I get any credit for it? No. Not one bit. Those in the Immortal realm really are generous!”
Xíng Zhǐ laughed in spite of himself. “Your Highness’s contributions have been firmly etched in my memory. I will be sure to relate them to the Immortal emperor upon my return so he can properly reward you.”
Shěn Lí glanced at Xíng Zhǐ. “I would be happy to eschew any rewards if my marriage to Fú Róng would be abolished and I would be glad to slay any number of demonic beasts to make up for any loss.”
Xíng Zhǐ did not give her a reply. In the silence the sky lit up with a multitude of bright colors. The city walls shook with the resounding boom that immediately followed the lights. Xíng Zhǐ smiled. “Shěn Lí, look. Yáng Zhōu is putting on a fireworks display.”
Shěn Lí turned to find several people at the end of the street lighting fireworks. The fireworks flew into the air and burst out in a glorious display of colors. The atmosphere was lively and festive, much like during a new year celebration. Every house had its doors flung open and people were streaming out of their homes and filling the streets. The city, once dead, was alive again.
The man Xíng Zhǐ had healed coughed. “It’s a new day. Yáng Zhōu is finally alive again.”
The fireworks made the crowd cheer and the air became celebratory. Shěn Lí was touched by the display. Whether it was the human world or the demon world, the people looked forward to a bright tomorrow in the same way; their hearts harbored the same simple wishes and desires.
“Let’s go,” Xíng Zhǐ said. “We should get closer to the celebration, cast off this suffocating air.”
Shěn Lí didn’t move, instead she said, “Fireworks are just explosions in the sky. How does it have the power to move people? To make a place come alive?”
As she was wondering this, Xíng Zhǐ grabbed her wrist with his warm hand, and pulled her forward without explanation. She was forced to move in order to keep up.
“They’re celebrating life and giving thanks. Why not celebrate with them? It’s not often we get to take part in the Mortal realm’s celebrations, so while we’re here, why not enjoy it?”
“Wait . . .”
Xíng Zhǐ pulled Shěn Lí through the noisy crowd before she could finish her reply. The fireworks burst deafeningly in the sky, popping in fast succession, their tempo increasing after each one. Those in the crowd stared up in wonder and awe; their faces reflecting all the bright colors of the sparks. They cheered exuberantly at each firework with expressions full of joy.
Xíng Zhǐ looked like he was enjoying it too, as though he was sharing in their joys as well. His robe reflected a rainbow of colors as he dragged her behind him. It felt unreal.
They were in the middle of the crowd when she stopped abruptly and yanked her hand out of his. “You’re too beautiful! Don’t walk ahead of me!”
He was too distracting. She couldn’t focus on anything else around her.
Xíng Zhǐ stopped and focused his attention on her. “Shěn Lí,” he said, but the crowd and the noise drowned out his voice.
She leaned in toward him. “What?! I can’t hear you!” She gave him a puzzled look, unable to make out what he was saying.
Xíng Zhǐ didn’t want to repeat himself again, instead he smiled slightly as he stroked her head. Turning around he continued to walk in front of her.
Shěn Lí imitated the shape he made with his mouth, thinking carefully about each word, so focused was she that the world around her went quiet. Perhaps it was her imagination but she thought he said: I can protect you.
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