Chapter Text
Ear piercing cracking sounds filled his ears and his arms were no longer of any use. They were now tightly pressed against his abused body, a doorstopper slowing down the inevitable closing of the massive doors of Hell. The pressure grew stronger on his flesh and Hua Binan bit down on his lips until blood spurt out focusing with his bulging eyes solely on the last Boned Beauty passing through the door of Hell beneath him.
Finally his mission was fulfilled.
Hua Binan`s whole skeleton tingled and then snapped with a grinding noise as the door merciless closed down pressing his body into one unrecognizable bloody meat lump. The only thing left of the man with multiple names was a subtle red stream drenching part of the door in a deep red.
“Pfuhh!”
Water splashed high up to the grey sky and the surrounding scenery was draped in muslin due to the cold air passing over the warm water, casting hazy shadows in the pre-dawn mists. Hua Binan`s skin was almost translucent in the hanging steam, his eyelashes appearing especially black from the minute droplets felt down, the fabric he wore, a simple thin undershirt, floated up towards the water surface faintly revealing his slender body.
His fingers, which had been crushed to an unrecognizable mess before moved spasmodically. He shuffled his feet on the smooth stones taking foothold not to fiercly choke a mouthful of warm water again, when he heard a triumphant laughter next to his side.
“Look at that!” The loud voice of a youth rang in the hot spring. “My biceps grew again! I`m gonna be the world`s strongest cultivator!” The carefree boy watched his reflection in the crystal clear water flexing his arm one more time.
Not getting an answer of admiration the boy turned his head to his bathing companion just to see him sitting on the slightly elevated stone platform curled into a ball his long hair carelessly bundled into a messy hair bun atop of his head. Hua Binan was clasping his shoulders tightly his whole body shaking. What was happening to him? His three hun and seven po were supposed to struggle in a space where nothing exists, endlessly suffering in the dark without the light of day, not death ever granting him release.
Suddenly Hua Binan got caught up in a pair of familiar dark eyes.
“You look like you`ve seen a ghost.” A young Xue Meng leaned forward and taking a look around he confirmred that there was nothing to be afraid of. Then he focused again on Hua Binan “Hey, what`s wrong with your eyes?”
A hand moved towards Hua Binan`s face and with all his might he pushed the boy in front of him into the water.
Stumbling out of the hot spring he ran. As he did years ago. He had stitches all over as he reached the entrance of the hot springs. He wiped away the wetness of his face. If this was a nightmare, his very own personal hell, he decided it had to end right now. Never would he end up like his mother.
Xue Meng followed the water footsteps to the spring’s entrance his speed accelerating with every step.
“Shi Mei! Hey Shi Mei!”
His feet passed the entrance hall and suddenly his body froze. All of his senses were directed to the body lying on the ground in front of him.
Blood.
There was so much blood.
There was no feeling from his chest down. Xue Meng had forgotten how to move even a single step forward. As the gurgling sounds reached his ears and the smell of iron penetrated his nose he finally got control over the chaos in his mind. Next to Shi Mei on the ground lay his very own sword Longcheng dyed in a deep red.
He knelt immediately his undershirt soaking red and concentrated some spiritual energy in his palm sealing intuitively the nearby acupoints of Shi Mei to prevent any more damage to the body.
While doing so the warm blood ran over his hands as he pressed down on the large wound on Shi Mei`s neck. Xue Meng stared in a daze at the large burst of blood with all its different hues bubbling from his junior disciple`s mouth, his friend’s entire body jerking and contorting in his arms while his pupils constricted and dilated not focusing at anything at all. Shie Mei`s mouth gaped wide open ready to take his last breath.
The next moment hands were coming from all kinds of directions blocking his view. There were quite a few disciples surrounding them their voices all mixing together into an incrompehensible mass. It seemed that he had shouted like a madmen for help, but he couldn`t remember doing so. As Shi Mei was taken away Xue Meng still sat on the ground staring at his bloody hands.
Hua Binan was brought immediately to the healing quarters positioned in the west of Shisheng Peak close to the great forest. Xue Meng was going back and forth the hall with folded arms and furrowd brows. His cousin Mo Ran was leaning with his back against the wall pinching the back of his hand, all the way to his tips and back down again, while listening to any noises out of the room Hua Binan was taken in. When the door swung open with a creak they rushed over.
“How is he?”
“Your Shidi is out of danger Meng`Er.”
“Shizun we have to get whoever did this to him. I`m gonna make them pay back a thousand, no a million times!”
The few people in the hall were completely silent. Nobody made sound or moved, not even a breath was to be heard. Xue Zhengyong exchanged glances with Chu Wanning and put his hands on his son trembling shoulders.
“I understand your anger but let`s wait for him to wake up.”
“Fine, I keep watch. Oh, what about I sleep in the same room and...”
“Shi Mei needs to rest alone. You also should go to bed to rest.”
“But…”
“Ran`Er you accompany him please.”
“I don`t need anyone accompanying me!”
“Listen to your father.”
Teeth grinding Xue Meng turned on his heel his long raven black hair despite being still damp floated behind him perfectly. For his Shizun he tried hard to maintain his composure being the obedient disciple and so his cousin who was following closely behind trying his best to keep up with his speed had to endure his sharp tongue and poisonous glares.
The cold wind swept through the room stirring up smell of fine dust. Hua Binan had woken up in the earliest hours with a feeling of absolute, intense dread. The silence of the passing night, the vague outlines of the few furniture in the small dark room, the distant noise of leaves reaching his ears through the open window – everything felt alien, hostile and utterly meaningless. There hadn`t been a single day he had lived in peace after he had run away from home. For years had he lived in such a state of continuous anxiety, had fed on cold hatred and thoughts of fiery revenge which created inside him a deep loathing of the human world.
He watched the ceiling until his eyes were dry and his hand reached for the bandage of his neck. There was dampness beneath him, his entire body had soaked the sheets. A crooked smile played on his lips.
This is not my life. The heartbeat drummed loud in his ears. It`s somebody’s else. What’s the point continuing with this burden of misery? Why carry on struggling? There is nothing in there for me in this world anyway.
He looked at the small stretched out hand of his. There was not enough merit in the whole wide world for him to enter the circle of rebirth. There was no other way than this situation being a punishment. There are worse things than death.
The most loathsome thing of all was his very own existence. He was the very result of the forbidden liason between a demonic and divine descendant. That was why Hua Binan wasn`t accepted as human in the human world, neither was he recognized and allowed to stay as demon in the demon world.
He remembered the mood when he died. There was no resentment, no anger. He was even a little bit euphoric not to have endure any longer.
Hua Binan rose from the bed and dragged himself to the door. His hair was loose and cascading down his shoulders. He had to stop a few times for his mind was dizzy from the severe blood loss. His trembling hand reached for the the door but was back thrown by a faintly bluish light shimmering and scattering like ripples.
Looking around he confirmed that there was nothing in this sparsely decorated room he could hurt himself with. He gritted his teeth. It was his own right to decide about if he wanted to life or not.
He took a deep breath. Tools weren`t necessary at all. Hua Binan opened his mouth, his hot breath on skin as his teeth touched his left wrist.
Right at this time the window frame abruptly rattled non-stop.
“How dare you piece of wood block my way?”
The voice outside the window send a few curses and then the entire wooden frame shattered as a dark shadow flew into the room in a cloud of wood shavings and jade beads knocking down the single chair and some books in the most inelegant way.
Ignoring the swearing figure on the ground Hua Binan walked to the window reaching out just to be blocked off again by the array.
“Oh, you are awake. Good. Shoot!” Just now did Xue Meng become aware of the mess he had made. “Hey, don’t tell anybody I broke the window. It was an accident okay? Like, oh I know, it was a disoriented crane, that’s good. Hey, do you…”
“Can…you…break it?” Hua Binan pressed out with slightly difficulties gesturing to the array that had been laid inside the room.
“This was done by Shizun.” Xue Meng inspected the bluish light beneath his friend`s hand. “I can’t dispel it.”
“Useless.”
Deliberately ignoring the comment Xue Meng started chattering non-stop.
“Oi, you are already back on your feet. You really scared me to death. Good thing I blocked your vital points. You are lucky having me as friend. I’m really capable after all. I bet Mo Ran couldn`t have done this. You could say I am your lifesaver. They said that you would need rest and wouldn`t let me in, but I wanted to see with my own eyes how you are doing. Here I brought you some candid fruits.” A big paper package was stuffed nonchalantly into Hua Binan`s arms.
“…ate.”
“No need to thank me. But of course you can do if you want to. I`m all ears.”
“I…hate….candid fruits…” The half opened package was thrown carelessly to the ground adding its part to the chaos.
“Are you insane?! I especially went to the nearby town just to get them.“ He pulled on Hua Binan`s collar but immediately let go after the other one started coughing heavily.
“Forget about the fruits. Tell me who did this to you! I will bring him personally to justice cutting him down equally with my Longcheng. Just wait and see I will get revenge for you!”
Hua Binan wanted to laugh but couldn´t due to his injury.
“Are you always so stupid…or is today a special occasion?”
“…huh?! “
“Leave.”
“I just ca-...”
“ Scram.”
Being confronted with this alien, nasty creature for the first time Xue Meng choked down his retort. It was true only in troublesome times did people reveal their sincere feelings. This wasn’t the mild mannered Shi Mei he knew. The obedient polite boy who always carried a smile on his lips. The gentle one who would never swear or mock only leaving words of warmth and comfort for others. The first one to help out when one was in need.
He sized his friend up maybe for the first time noticing the deep sunken, red rimmed eyes drained of any tangible emotion, the ghostly pale skin, the delicate writs too thin for a boy his age put together with the others soft toned voice he seemed as if not part of this world. What was standing before him was a hollow duster ghost.
“I can`t bear to look…any second longer at…this…ugly mug of yours.”
“I`m very good looking okay!?”
Hua Binan swayed a little bit and in the end had to lean against the window frame not to fall down.
“Are you hurting?”
“I`m…hurting…”
“I`ll get a healer.”
Xue Meng rushed towards the door when he felt some resistance to his movement. Turning his head around he saw Hua Binan with Longcheng in hands. Chanelling qi into his foots he pressed hard against the floor and jumped back, but it was too late the blade had already cut the white flesh.
Xue Meng pried the bloody sword out of the others arms. Hua Binan was barely standing up. Breathing heavily his red tinted hands were shaking. The wound he had inflicted on himself was not life-threatening at all. Again did he miserably fail.
“I wanted to kill myself! I want to kill myself!“
With his last bit of strength did Hua Binan try to get the sword back but his hands which greedily reached for the sword again were now held in an iron grip by Xue Meng. The sword felt to the ground leaving a ringing sound in his ears. There was no chance of winning against Xue Meng`s strength. It didn`t matter what he tried to do he couldn`t break the vicious cycle of failure.
“It`s too hard. I can’t take this anymore. Please…kill me...” The soft, pleading voice tugged at the other`s heartstrings and Xue Meng clenched his teeth.
He never thought the always cheerful and gentle Shi Mei had such thoughts in his heart. For the first time he discovered that he never had understood the person in front of him.
“What are you unhappy with?! I help you fix it!” Xue Meng stared into the others eyes and his grip loosened.
Hua Binan felt the wetness at his cheeks and shoot a mesmerizing smile at the other.
“See? I`m part demon, it’s your duty to kill me.”
Caught by the beautiful sight of the golden tears Xue Meng didn`t hear a word his Shidi uttered. He just got caught up in the others emotions. His eyes stung and the vision before his eyes blurred. He could not understand why anyone would have not any desire to continue living. Xue Meng knew one thing: no one should live without experiencing happiness. If so, no one would want to end their life.
“No one needs me to live anyway.”
“That`s not true!”
“I cannot live with myself any longer.”
“Stop! This is not the real you!”
The desperate words thrown at Hua Binan pulled him in like a lifesaving hook. Stunned by a strange realization his mind stopped and there were no more thoughts in his cloudy mind. The room, the things in it, the person in front of him all accelerated and his worn out body started shaking uncontrollably without resistance. The slumped body was caught by two strong arms.
“Shizun!”
Chu Wanning put the unconscious Hua Binan carefully onto the bed his face cold and stern.
“Meng`Er what happened?” Xue Zhengyong dressed in his nightgowns dashed into the room his hair dishevelled standing up on all ends. Seeing the room being a mess and his son with a tear stained face his usually mild demeanour crumbled into pieces.
“I, I…”
“We need a healer.“ Chu Wanning concluded as he let some of his spiritual energy flow through Hua Binan`s forehead.
“We´ll get one.” He grabbed his son by the arm complying to Wanning`s request.
That a pupil had made an attempt to take his own life this was a first time in this sect where longevity was its top. If something inside the sect drove the young boy to such drastic measures he as sect leader would never forgive himself.
Hua Binan awakened by the early sunshine. The soft light filled his body with warmth spreading all the way down to his toes. Still in a daze he stared vacantly at the flower branches swaying in the wind outside the window. He had been brought to a different room. Concentrating on getting his muscles to relax a breeze blew from outside sending the faint fragrance of chrysanthemums to tickle his nose.
He inhaled deeply the fresh air letting it fill his abdomen fully. A chorus of sparrows echoed in the distance, livelier and more frequent with each breath Hua Binan took. The gloominess of the night has left him. Something inside himself had awakened he had never been aware of before leaving him with an uninterrupted peace deep within him.
“I can still function in this world.”
Somewhere in the background he heard a distant melody, an alien, mystical sound he wasn’t able to describe. He would leave Shiseng Peak as soon as possible wandering the world. Searching for what his other self had already found. Now he had a vague understanding of what it was.
The door opened with a thud and Xue Meng stopped midway in his motion being caught by Hua Binan`s gaze. The boy pondered for a while but in the end he entered silently with a bowl of warm soup. The fragrant smell of herbs caught Hua Bina`s nose.
A dripping wet towel was put on his forehead, the water dripping all over his face.
“Did you tell them?”
“Tell them what?”
“About me…”
“What about you? That you are acutally a rude person?”
Of course did the pure hearted darling of heavens not know of the existence of such creatures as the Butterfly-Boned Beauty Feast. Somehow his mood improved.
“Is this your doing?” Hua Binan asked touching loose bandage on his arm. “What an incompetent job. I thought you learned at least a thing or two from your dear mother.”
“You aren`t not very nice.”
“I`m fed up with pleasing everyone around me.”
Xue Meng was silent for while staring at the bandage at Hua Binan`s neck the steaming bowl of soup still in his hands.
“Feelings need to be lived is what my father said. It`s better if you don`t suppress anything anymore.”
“Oh, so that’s why you cry and shout at every given opportunity? And here I thought you were just utterly spoiled.“ Hua Binan said looking into the others puffy eyes. “Not everyone has the luxury of letting their feelings be poured out.”
“Can you at least be a little less mean?! We are friends.” Xue Meng put the bowl down before it could flew through the room.
“We are not friends young master. I`m just a convenient person for you to have around cause I bend to all your excessive whims. Except me you have no one to be around.”
Hua Binan watched with eager eyes the others quivering lips.
“…then can we become friends?”
“Did you forget? I`m a half-demon. An utterly despicable creature in the eyes of every righteous cultivator. If people knew about me they would hunt me down.”
“I won`t let them!”
“You are but an insignificant ant in the world reigned by the powerful. Please what can you do?”
“I will become powerful!”
“You really don`t care about me being a demon? Even willing to fight other cultivators?”
“Even if you are half-demon you never did anything bad! But, but you are right for now let`s keep it a secret until I get stronger.”
Xue Meng still remembered the moment when his father had brought Shi Mei back. His Shidi was good-looking but he was withdrawn and didn`t talk much the first few months. Because of this attitude he was sometimes even being bullied and scolded by some fellow disciples but Shi Mei ignored those things, one never heard any retorts coming from him. Back then he wanted to protect Shi Mei. He argued with people everywhere, fought with those children that were older than him rushing out like an angry cat. It was later that he found out that Shi Mei was acutally a boy like him.
From then on Xue Meng told him to get strong, to get a grip and from one day to another Shi Mei`s face only came with a smile. He was hardworking, trying his best to appease everyone around him.
Hua Binan began massaging his temples.
“Listen. I don`t want to be your friend. You are wearing me out.”
“…”
“Was it that then?”
“At least I`m your Shixiong! So have to treat me with respect!”
“Just why are you so obsessing over me? Stop that. I do it myself.” Grumbling he adjusted the bandage on his arm Xue Meng had leaned over to fix. “Why are you even here? Isn`t your brain only concerned with cultivation and swordplay?”
“I`m just…”
“Just?”
“I…”
There was a series of dull knocking sounds and all of sudden Chu Wanning entered the room. With a straight back and his arms folded he looked down at Xue Meng with his lips curved downward.
“If I remember correctly you are grounded to think about your wrongdoings.”
“Shizun I…” He quickly kneeled down cupping his hands in respect.
“What do you believe would be an appropriate punishment?”
“This obstinate disciple will copy the sect rules.“
“Very good. Copy the sect rules 5 times in addition to give you a better understanding of what is right and what is wrong. Finish until tomorrow morning.”
Xue Meng`s face drained of color. The Sect had a total of 750 rules. The constant stomping of feet was all the sect leader`s son left behind leaving the room.
Hua Binan sat up not wanting to appear weak in front of his Shizun but Chu Wanning singed him to stop his action.
“Hand.”
He never thought this person would speak to him ever again. The cold hands touched Hua Bina`s wrist and a light shiver ran down his spine as Chu Wanning inspected his pulse. Hua Binan has been playing his whole life the role of the obedient disciple. It was hard to break out of this hard cultivated habit.
“How are you feeling?”
“This disciple couldn`t feel better. Thank you for worrying about me Shizun.”
There was a short silence before Chu Wanning spoke again. His tone softer than usual.
“He was really shaken up about what happened with you. Xue Meng I mean.”
“He doesn`t care about me.” Hua Binan`s feet shifted under the sheets. “Young master just feels guilty for it was his sword I used. But he`s not responsible for the things I do. Also does he want to be praised by Shizun for being a good Shixiong to me.”
Chu Wanning watched him for a while as if seeing him for the first time before he elaborated.
“If this was the case why would he break into your room I and his father prohibited him to go in vehemently in the middle of the night bringing you your favourite food?”
“…my favourite food are fire noodles…”
“At least it was a nice gesture. Friendship is but a present. Climbing a high a mountain will be done in half the time if there is someone right by your side. He is a good child at heart despite having a spoiled upbringing as the sect leader`s son. That is why I decided to take him in as my disciple.”
It was a rare opportunity so Hua Binan hesitantly asked the question its answer he had always wanted to know.
“Why did you accept me as disciple then? I have weak spiritual powers, I don`t have a good heart and Shizun doesn’t even like me.” His voice choked due to his wound, but he did not cry.
Hua Binan's hands trembled as he grabbed the damp sheets biting his lips painfully. Chu Wanning watched his disciple`s worn out figure not admitting he was wrong.
You despise me, not willing to spend even a minute alone with me. Hua Binan`s head turned sideways his lips still tightly pressed together.
Then a hand rested on top of his head, gently smoothing down his hair. It carried with it some warmth. The deep pleasant voice wrapped him around him like a soft blanket.
“What use is there to judge others emotions? You became my student because I accepted you. You reached out to me and this was my answer. So please don’t hurt yourself anymore.”
Chu Wanning got down to his knees and bowed deeply “It is Shizun’s responsibility to protect his disciples and I failed miserably.”
Hua Binan couldn`t believe his eyes the sight in front of him. This Chu Wanning in front of him was unscathed. He was like when he first met him. Cold and aloof yet heart-warming when needed. But the rejection he had experienced once from this man was still something he had yet coped with. It hurt him being near this person.
“I want to disband our master disciple relation-”
“This I won`t allow. But you are old enough to leave Shiseng Peak to gain experience on your own.
“You let me leave? What if I…”
“Will you?”
“…no.”
The corners of Chu Wanning`s mouth slightly turned upward and Hua Binan endured a gut-churning agony.
“You will see new things, meet new people and expand your view of the world. Of course you have to light a lamp before you leave so we will know if something happens to you on your way.”
Those lamps were artifacts which were lighted with ones spiritual energy. Usually disciples who left the sect would ignite them creating a connection with the tool. Should someone run into misfortune the light of the the lamp would be be extinguished.
Hua Binan nodded. He would cut off any contact with the sect once he was gone. It was easy to forge such a light.
“The world out there is harsh. In a critical situation summon help, try not to act brave.” Hua Binan watched his Shizun`s lip movements in a trance. “I will come immediately. If you are ready to leave come to me. I will give you a weapon.”
“I can`t fight what use would a weapon be?”
“Don`t belittle yourself. Even if you can`t fight well you should at least be able to defend yourself. Recuperate first. Prepare well. I will be waiting for your return. And if you decide not to go this is fine as well.”
Just when Hua Binan thought he would get some rest the door opened once again and a burly man with a well-kept beard entered.
“Wanning told me about your plan to leave. Are you sure about this?”
Hua Binan nodded faintly too lazy to open his mouth. The big eyes looked at him with a hint of sadness.
“I remember the day I met you. It was a sight breaking anyone`s heart. You were so full of fear. I can`t imagine what you must have been through. It is said the sun shines equally on everyone but sometimes there are obstacles covering it. I took you with me in hope that this sect could give you a glimpse of what a home could feel like. That is why if your departure is related to this sect I will do my best to atone for it and change it. I`m willing to listen any time, any day.”
If someone else had said these words Hua Binan would definitely mark them as hypocritical. But he knew of this man`s hilarious stance on kindness for the greater good.
“Thanks to sect leader for everything he had down for this lowly disciple. It is this disciples own selfish desire to leave and gain some experience.”
“No, no. You should do whatever you think is right. Shi Mingjing maybe today you feel lost and you are hurting but tomorrow not anymore. If there is ever a time you feel this way again wait until tomorrow before you act. Your story may not have such a happy beginning but your past does not define your current self or whatever lies ahead of you. It is you who decides who you chose to be.”
He took a bluish sachet out of his robe placing it into Hua Binan`s hands.
“We aren`t the richest sect but we care for our own. Please accept this.”
The sachet was filled with medicine made by Madame Wang, some spare clothes and money.
“This is your home, you can come back here anytime. I take pride in our disciples. They may not have the most outstanding aptitude but they have a good heart and the will to help and save others.”
With that said the sect leader left. No wonder this sect belonged to the lower cultivation world: they were not accumulating money but giving things selflessly away. But in the higher cultivation world people spoke with fists but not reasons: they honoured the strong and saw kindness as nothing but a form of weakness.
Hua Binan was rolling the satin sachet from one hand to the other. The only thing occupying his mind for all those years he lived in this sect was revenge so he simply didn’t care for anything unrelated nor did he ever made contact with others willingly out of fear being found out. This was probably the most he had spoken with Xue Zhengyong in years.
After a week of recuperation the healer finally gave his okay for him to leave. But there was one thing he had to do before leaving.
He could barely see his own hands as he walked down the hallway of the sleeping quarters. He entered the room to his left without making any sound. The person in there slept without a care in the world even letting out a snort from time to time. Ignoring the ugly sleeping pose Hua Binan used his meagre soul force to absorb a certain object from the others chest.
The object was tightly clutched in his hands and several dark petals were floating down on the floor tiles. He once had gotten angry with his alter ego because of this hard to refining flower. But this thing had no use for him anymore. He had to destroy anything that could bite him back someday. Who knows if this Mo Ran would go mad again and decide one day to take revenge on him?
He was about to leave but turned around again taking the bowl of water from the small table. He let its contents fall down on the blanket on the lower parts of the sleeping person. At least now could he make the other feel a fraction of the humiliation he had to endure by the others mad alter ego in the past.
The sun was about to reach the land as Hua Binan said his goodbyes.
It was just the beginning of spring as headed down the mountain the coldness of the night still lingered to his feet and entangled them in misty clouds. The icy rivers had melted not long ago and all kinds of colours were blooming right to his feet. All was filled with life.The forest trees were interlocked with one another making the mountain rocks more rugged and the path down the mountain precariously steep. From a near rock protruding out of the earth someone shouted his name.
“Shi Mei! Shi Mei! Hey!”
Ignoring the hurried shouts Hua Binan continued with his walk his steps even accelerating. But it was no use his Shixiong catched up to him in no time even jumping in front of him blocking his way. Dissatisfied he had to stop.
“I called you a thousand times!”
“Three times.” Hua Binan raised his head pressing three fingers into the others face. With a wush he flinched them against the others forehead.
“Ah! So you did hear me! Why didn’t you stop?”
“Because my name is not Shi Mei. Tell me is there any serious cultivator out there who wants to be called that way? Ever thought about my feelings calling me that?”
Xue Meng wanted to say something but hesitated. Hua Binan seized the moment to went on with his ranting.
“But you have no other choice since you don`t even know my real name right? What a good friend you are.”
“Then what should I call you?!” Xue Meng`s feet stomped on the ground like a little kid.
“Hua Binan”
He walked an arc-shaped path around Xue Meng continuing with his journey down the green-paved mountain path. He didn`t take a look back.
“You can`t just leave.” He heard a voice behind him.
“As you see I can.”
“You, you said goodbye to everyone except for me.”
“Oh, I just wanted to see you cry again.”
“Idiot! Two faced snake!”
Hua Binan waved farewell but again a young voice reached out to him.
“When are you coming back?
He turned around.
“There is nothing here for me so why should I ever come back?”
“This is your home.”
“It isn`t.”
“Then it will be! I`m going to make this sect the best sect in the world so you would do anything to be part of it!”
“You really are just a child.”
And I don't believe in the people around me.
“I`m only two years younger than you, you midget!”
Hua Binan gave a laugh. His face was rather terrifying due to the ice-cold mask, but this laugh was unhurried, and under the sunlight the corners of his light red lips raised an indescribable feeling in the hearts of people.
“I`m gonna grow taller soon. Soon you will be the midget but don`t break out in tears then my dear Shixiong. The thing is I`m the laughingstock of gods and demons alike. In this heart-warming narrative called life I am unneeded, unwanted. A disposable prop for the amusement of the spectators being the foil of their joy and sorrow. I don`t want to be part of it.”
Suddenly he was firmly held between two arms with such strength that he couldn’t move even an inch.
“I wanted to say I´m sorry! I never knew you were so sad! I just don`t want to see you throw away your own life! Do you really not understand?! I just want you to be okay." His chin was pressed against the top of Hua Binan`s head. Hua Binan was being held captive in a tight embrace and Xue Meng added “If you have any sadness, grievance in your heart tell me? Don’t bear it all alone. If you don`t want to be my friend. Then at least be a good friend to yourself. Promise me. Cultivate acceptance and understanding."
Xue Meng knew now that a person`s heart was complex and one couldn’t just pry into it and see.
Hua Binan wriggled out of the hug adjusting his robe smoothing it as if dirt has come on it.
“You know what? Here.” Hua Binan picked up a small rock from the ground. “If you catch this stone before it falls down the ground I promise I come back.”
He put all of his vanishingly low spiritual energy into his throw sending the rock flying away. He had aimed at the nearest cliff. Hua Binan smirked. There was no way his Shixiong could catch up to that stone.
A gust of wind passed Hua Binan`s ears. Xue Meng had leapt up from the ground his moves nimble as a monkey falling to the ground as light as feather with no dust beneath his feet, his internal force reached a significant degree of profundity. But it was of no use. The stone flew over the cliff. The thing was Xue Meng didn`t stop. His sole focus was the stone before him.
With one last spurt he also was left with no ground under his feet. He reached his right hand getting hold of the stone. Only then did he twist his body his left arm reaching out for anything to cushion his fall. To his luck the cliff didn`t fall away sharply and he was able to get a hold on the stone wall.
After a while he saw Hua Bina`s face from above.
“Brainless monkey! Are you going to die for a rock?!”
“It`s not a rock! It`s your promise to come back.”
“I can`t believe you! You are nothing but trouble!”
Hua Binan had no reason to help his Shixiong for it was his own fault doing something that reckless. But there would be nothing but a hassle to explain why the son of the sect leader had died. Or maybe he wouldn`t die but be disabled and he would have to bear the consequences. So he had no choice but to reach into his Qiankun pouch getting out a rope. Only as Xue Meng was finally back on steady ground could he calm down.
"Did you see how I catched it? I`m incredible.”
Xue Meng looked at him with shining eyes clearly waiting for words of praise which never came.
“Say more, and I`m gonna push you down that cliff again.”
“Haha. I don`t mind as long as you come back.”
It turned out that the leaves changed color for three times before the two of them met again.