Once Fuxin was well , Guayin stopped going to see him again. After all , if he wanted her sister, she shouldn't bother anymore.
One day, Fuxin came to the rice fields , his eyes filled with anger "Guayin!"
Guayin didn't raise her head " You're just going to trample on the rice , don't come closer"
Fuxin stood at distance, he folded his arms together " I am already well"
Guayin rolled her eyes " So? How should I care? You want me to warm your bed and coodle you?"
Fuxin face literally flushed red " You're so …so vulgar. Is that why you're pretending like you didn't kiss me that night"
She didn't remember kissing him , she can't even dare after all he wasn't her own , he was for Dalia lao, that's what the two must have been doing yesterday, kissing and feeling themselves up like the pair of lovers they are !
The odd yet familiar bitter feeling surged in her heart , it consumed her so much, She snapped her neck so fast it almost broke.
"It wasn't me , it was Dalia lao!"
Fuxin froze , his face briefly turning pale "Dalia? Not you?"
"Me?!" She spat " You wanted me to kiss you and take responsibility?! You have probably kissed dozens of girls and seeing how you sleep with anything that is pretty enough to catch your fancy, maybe boys too! Why would I kiss someone like you? For what inconceivable reason will I kiss someone like you?!"
There was a thick silence. Guayin heaved her chest falling and rising with every second. It was only then she noticed that Fuxin eyes were strangely red, his body trembling.
His voice was barely a whisper " Your heart is as hard as a rock "
Then he turned and walked away.
She sat on the paddy bench later in the evening, her forehead on her hand. The horse nugged her face and she patted it subconsciously.
"Your owner …." She took three cubes of sugar and placed it in it's mouth " Was I too harsh on him?"
She then remembered about Fuxin running around Dalia lao, even kissing her too when she had went to look for a healer for him in the middle of the night and the little worry in her heart vanished immediately.
When she got home , Fuxin was already gone.
Life continued , Dalia lao continued to get admirers from different villages, she continued to get gifts and praises, their father continued to adore Dalia lao calling her the apple of his eyes.
Guayin continued with her life , toiling the soil , mending clothes and managing the paddy rice fields. She even caught some fishes once a while
She slapped the horse buttocks " Your owner is a wise man. He probably left you with me , knowing I will feed you and he gets to play all the time outside" she looked at the horse with a critical eye " Should I sell you and earn some money?"
The horse didn't react , just making some grumbling sounds and continue it's plowing.
"Tsk , You really have no fear, if not you are working, I will use you to make meat but it's okay" She slapped the horse back again " I'll feed you "
On the eight month of the year, there was a war outbreak in their community. Women and kids were killed, some taken hostage, properties looted .
She and Dalia lao were taken hostage.
On the third day , a solider grabbed Dalia lao and dragged her outside amidst Guayin screams and pleas.
On the fifth day, Dalia lao came back, her eyes dead and her clothes ripped, she didn't respond no matter how many times Guayin tried to communicate with her.
On the seventh day, Dalia lao started to talk to herself, sometimes she will laugh manically saying a handsome prince will come to save her , sometimes she will cry saying she have been defiled.
On the 14th day, Dalia lao slit her wrist, using a sharp stone she got during their transportation.
On the 28th day, her father and other soldiers came into the place, killing and roaring revenge, when her dad saw that Dalia lao wasn't there , he cried and said that Guayin was useless for not protecting the apple of his eyes.
On the 31th day , her father took her back to their village, a shadow of the man he used to be.
On the 100th day, her dad united with the demons , they racked chaos through the lands , causing more destructions and raging fires and war. More women were harmed.
On the 150th day, Guayin turned against her father. Her father called her a bastard child and said he would declare her his enemy if she turns to leave.
On the night of the 150th day , Guayin grabbed her things and never looked back.
On the 160th day, Fuxin came back.
She had opened the door of her hide out wanting to go hunt some dinner, when she saw a young soldier standing at her door.
She had recognized him immediately. His aura had changed, there was an old armor on his body, but his eyes , she would forever recognize those eyes.
He walked forward and grabbed her wrist "Where is Dalia lao?!"
Guayin slapped his hand away, her voice was hoarse " Didn't you hear?"
Fuxin lips trembled " hear …. what?"
Guayin stared at him. He had heard , there's no one that didn't know about what happened to her sister, what happened to her father and the fact that she's literally a walking target now. However he didn't want to believe it , he wanted a lie.
Unfortunately, she can't lie about this.
"She's dead"
Fuxin stiffened , his lips paled before he grabbed his chest.
Then he let out a loud groan.
At first guayin thought he was just grieving, however Fuxin forehead was wet with sweat , short breaths came rapidly from his red lips.
Guayin placed a hand on his back "are you okay?"
Fuxin whimpered.
Guayin helped Fuxin into the house she had started to live in after she left , she took off the suit on his body and laid him down.
For three days, Fuxin remained in that state , his chest aching and trembling. Guayin couldn't call a doctor, she's a fugitive now.
On the third day , he finally calm down, his eyes stared blankly at the wall , his knees curled up to his chest.
Guayin went to get some rice porridge. She sat down beside him.
When she saw he didn't move , she slapped the wooden floor "Get up"
Fuxin ignored her
She slapped the floor again " Get up!"
Fuxin glared at her " I don't want to!"
"I spent all morning on this food, if you want to die , at least die on a full stomach!"
Fuxin glared at her for a full minute before slowly sitting up. Then he grabbed the hot porridge and gulped it down , he slammed the dish on the floor and went back to staring at the wall.
Time went by like that , Fuxin will go through periods of intense chest pain , sweating and crying, Guayin will make sure he was safe and his meal was delivered on time.
On the 200th day , her father found her hiding place.
He drew his sword, his eyes red with madness and indignation. He stepped forward slowly, each footsteps echoing with intent.
Guayin didn't move. She never regretted leaving the house. Her only regret was that she never took anything left of her sister.
Besides , this world was too painful for her , perhaps she will be born in a world where she was valued, where she won't have to be working hard to get acknowledged, to be seen.
She felt a shadow before her , it was fuxin, his body was still filled with sweat , his lips were pale but he stood in front of her , guarding her with his whole body.
Her father stopped, his eyes narrowed "You're not a mortal"
Fuxin raised his sword " I am the heavenly crown prince, direct son of nuwa "
The demons around them went on one knee. Their heads lowered.
Her father didn't move , his eyes still looking at him "Your heavenly tribulation is strange "
Fuxin didn't flinch , his voice was hoarse "Go back, I don't want to hurt you"
Her father looked at guayin, his expression didn't change " Come here , die with dignity"
Fuxin moved backwards, his voice was hoarse but determined " She's not going with you"
"Under what authority?"
"She's my wife , the crown princess of the heavenly palace"
Guayin snapped her head up , confusion in her eyes.
Fuxin didn't look at her , his straight back stood before her as if trying to hide everyone from taking her , his wet hair pressed to his forehead, his lips trembling.
The father looked at the demons ; they didn't move. They can't hurt the crown prince, by extension, they can't hurt the crown princess. They don't want to be punished by nuwa, she's still their creator.
At last they looked at her father "Let's go"
Her father didn't move , he stared deeply at her; his voice was soft.
"When your mother was pregnant with you , she had a dream that you were surrounded by people and they were on their knees before you. We aren't royalty , so it was definitely a bad omen. A sign you will be a tyrant in the future"
Her dad snapped his head towards Fuxin , his movement was so sharp even the demons flinched. His voice went higher , almost sarcastic.
"Son of nuwa , You had your chance, but you blew it out of frivolous human emotions; I hope you don't regret this in the future"
Fuxin didn't flinch " I won't regret it"
Her father shrugged and turned his horse to leave; he didn't look back.
Fuxin fell on his knees as soon as they were gone.
He let out hoarse groans , holding his chest.
Guayin held him not knowing what to do.
"Fuxin …"
Fuxin curled up "I don't have energy for your nagging "
"Tell me how to help you"
There was a silence before Fuxin whispered "cultivate "
"But I don't know how to "
"You have the aptitude, close your eyes and center the dao , you will see it "
Guayin closed her eyes, she wasn't really expecting anything however she noticed a small cool stream of air circulating over her body. Without thinking she started to center it , soon it circulated and then entered the body of the man in her arms.
She didn't move for days, letting the dao guide and guiding the dao into his body, soon she reached a particular point, the power in her body finally reached a bottle neck.
Fuxin looked at the darkening sky , there was sounds of Guapins and bells ringing, calling upon their divinity. His voice was hoarse , his eyes half opened.
"Accession"
Guayin raised her tired eyes up , the heavens rumbled with thunders, she could even feel her body humming, as if drawn to the heavens.
Fuxin laughed weakly, his voice was soft "Mother will really do anything, she made big talk about not helping me if I fail my tribulations, what is she doing now?"
Gods have three tribulations.
The warrior tribulation; Fuxin and Guayin have gone through war.
The worshipers tribulation; they both had people who were grateful to them , the women who thanked Guayin for trying to give reason to her dad and Fuxin who is the son of nuwa the creator goddess.
The love tribulation…
Guayin looked at Fuxin, her voice was soft " Who is your love tribulation?"
Fuxin stared back at her , for a moment, it was like the world centered around her , she could only see her reflection in his eyes.
"It's Dalia lao " he whispered still not taking his eyes off her " Which other person could it be?"
Many gods undergo love tribulations , however their love tribulations was often one , it involved them letting go of something dear.
However in some cases , the gods had two love tribulations. Those gods are able to ascend, however they will never reach their full potential.
It was kind of like tricking the heavenly dao. After all the heavens acknowledged only one love tribulation, if the other tribulation is never tampered with , never acknowledged, all that will be left is a small insignificant crack.
That crack can undo everything, they have obtained.
Fuxin love tribulation was Dalia lao, she was dead already but he could not let her go , perhaps it was now , his heart finally settled, he was ready to ascend. As expected from the crown prince of the heavens.
Guayin love tribulation was also Dalia lao, she had already grieved her sister , she wasn't barred to the heavens, however she looked at her dao , there was a small insignificant crack.
Fuxin didn't need to know, nobody needed to know except her.
Nobody needed to know her feelings as she ascended with Fuxin and placed him on her back as she crawled to the heavenly palace.
When she sat down on the ground and tossed Fuxin aside , he laughed weakly, a small smile on his face.
Nobody needed to know as she nursed Fuxin day and night with her dao , never letting herself rest.
Nobody needed to know as she and Fuxin walked in red robes towards nuwa , nuwa blessed the both of them , her voice soft.
"An arranged marriage is still a marriage. I hope the two of you learn to be each other confidant and family"
Then nuwa looked at Fuxin , her eyes filled with worry and softness.
Fuxin smiled back at her " I will be okay"
Nuwa looked at Guayin "Don't be his downfall"
Up till now, she can never understand why nuwa had said that to her. Was it to tell her to be good, obedient and perfect for her son so he would have a firm foothold in the palace?
That night she looked at Fuxin who was reading a scroll, her voice was soft.
"Dalia lao was your love tribulation right?"
She could have sworn Fuxin nod his head slowly " Hmm , otherwise why else would we ascend?"
She looked at the peach blossom tree outside, Fuxin didn't love her , his love tribulation was her younger sister, he had almost failed but fortunately his mom came through for him and he let go of his grief just in time.
He married her so he won't fail his love tribulation, she was the second choice.
Her dao trembled and she infused cool air into her meridians.
Nobody needed to know as Fuxin and her got busy with trying to manage the palace especially after nuwa decided to sacrifice herself to be the four pillars of the earth. Fuxin was grieving his mother and it had been harsh trying to consolidate power.
Fuxin went from a crown prince to the heavenly emperor overnight.
Guayin went from a crown princess to the empress overnight.
It wasn't sure when their dynamics changed, she often pretended to be the biggest antagonist in Fuxin life , trying to make things hard for him in court. However only she knew the truth that she was trying to get other gods to back off.
If she can make a believable story that she's Fuxin greatest enemy, other gods would be scared of her.
He didn't need to know though; nobody needed to know.
Nobody needed to know as Fuxin held her in his arms one drunk night , his eyes focused on her.
"Your heart is as hard as a rock " he laughed weakly, tears in his eyes as he cupped her face. Then he hugged her close to his chest "Guayin , please give me a break "
Guayin rolled her eyes, although it was red brimmed with tears "What else can I do ? I was born to be a tyrant. You hate me right?"
Fuxin let out a laugh but it sounded so ragged , like he was sad "I wish I did "
"You probably already do"
Fuxin sat down on the floor, his eyes closed "I can't hate you Guayin " he smiled at her , his eyes containing her like she's the only person in the world " It can't soften …even once?"
She smiled, tears in her eyes " Because if it soften, I have nothing left to call my own"
A lifetime all spent on one person, A lifetime of love all spent on someone who will never look her way.
"Guayin"
Guayin raised her head up.
Fuxin was in a black dragon robe , holding a tray of food , shimps and flat bread , his black eyes were focused on her , his red lips parted.
She stared at him " took you long enough"
"Hmm" he placed the tray in front of her and sat down beside her , then he started to peel the shrimps.
He put it in between the bread and placed it in her mouth " the kitchen didn't have shrimps I had to go to the mortal world to get some"
She rolled her eyes " hedonist"
Fuxin didn't say a word, he silently peeled the shrimps , feeding her and himself in between.
Guayin voice was quiet " Dalia lao have been reincarnated"
Fuxin paused then he smiled " hmm good"
"Don't you want to meet her?"
Fuxin voice was soft " our paths have diverged long ago "
Guayin looked at the sky , opening her mouth at intervals. Things have changed but the insignificant crack never left ; all because of the man in front of her.
The tribulation of her heart.
Once they were done, he took a cloth and wiped her mouth.
"I will tell them to release you from the cold palace confinement tomorrow"
"You have sent your mistresses away?"
Fuxin rolled his eyes and stood up , his hand stretched towards her " let's go to bed"
Her feelings will be dealt with another day.
She placed her hand on his.