It was a clear day, there was no sign of any rain. Why would there be? That was in Heaven Cloud Woven. This was after their return back from their mission. They had observed as they were told, and brought many evil done by mortals to Emperor Tianlan Zhao.
NB: Tianlan Zhao, is Tian Zhao. Don't get confused.
The four friends: Cui Wulei, Shen Yaoguang, Xing Yue and their little flower beauty Zheng Aoyuan, gathered together like they always did. That was Xing Yue's first time traveling to the mortal realm. In fact, that was the first time she had left Divine Empyrean (I'll be using that instead of Heaven Cloud Woven from now on).
And she had returned, bringing forth a mortal being with her. They all liked to play with 'it' as they would refer to him.
"Ah-Mu, come let's play." They would say.
That boy was surnamed Meng. Since the tragic ending of the Meng family, the friends had decided to name him Mu. Meng Mu. Adding Meng Mu into their friend group was another fun thing. The boy was glowing. When his toddler legs trotted towards them, it was too cute to ignore. In fact he was the cutie that often distracted the elders of the Divine Empyrean.
That was until she was summoned to the Palace of Eternal Radiance. She didn't know why, but she felt that it wasn't just daily report. Even when there's Jiang Luci to tell him, what they found out.
The Palace was magnificent as usual. With spirit beast all living there like it was natural. They were spirit foxes. Dragons, even the Phoenix monarch himself was in front of Tianlan Zhao the whole time, talking. His name was:
Wang MeiLing.
He was handsome. Young and well reserved. And just ahead at the far end, was a tiny phoenix. Probably still a chick. She could tell that this was the heir to the Phoenix Clan. The son to the Monarch. Wang Rong Qi. And who would have thought that Wang MeiLing has a son. That man looks like a playboy who'd never settle. In the eyes of the mortal world, he may seem like a man who has just settled down, or one who was still looking for a wife. But he was actually in fact, 10, 000 years old. And the son was just a chick still learning how to fly.
Xing Yue smiled at the chick. It reminded him of Meng Mu who was basically playing with the rest. Clumsy yet determined.
"Yes, Your Majesty." She greeted, hands clasped together as she bowed elegantly.
"Rise?" Was the only thing Tianlan Zhao said.
She nodded, and stood straighter. "May I know why I was summoned?" She asked.
Tianlan Zhao hummed, "let's wait a little bit. He should be here..." He hadn't finished his statement when Jiang LuCi walked up to them. He bowed like Xing Yue did.
"Now that you all are here. Tell me what happened on your first assignment?" Tianlan Zhao asked.
Jiang LuCi stepped forward: "Your Majesty,we found out that there are good and there are bad people. Just like you knew there would... And the chaos at the Central plans, it turns out that it wasn't as easy as we thought it would be..."
Tianlan Zhao frowned, clearly displeased with his explanation. "Young immortals these days take assignments as jokes. That was the main reason I sent two capable immortals to dissolve the matter. Are you telling me that you went there just to eat the mortals food and drink their wine?"
Both young immortals felt embarrassed. That they bowed again: "My apologies Your Majesty–" They both said.
"It was fight of corrupt ministers doing all shady things even bringing in demons to taunt the villagers. And then, the Meng family begot a son. And he has a spiritual energy within him, and that was when we realized that, this might be what the demons were all searching for. "Jiang LuCi tried again.
"And?–" Tianlan Zhao asked.
"The family was attacked. And the child was entrusted to us..."
Tianlan Zhao raised his hand and shook his head. "That's enough. Do you know why you were summoned?"
"Because we brought a mortal into the Divine Empyrean. But he..." This time it was Xing Yue that spoke, but she was also interrupted.
"I never said he's guilty. But he mustn't stay. Send him back to the mortal realm."
"But..."
"That's final." He waved his hands and disappeared.
Lu Shen hasn't yet made his way back to the Divine Empyrean. So, Wang MeiLing stroke his jaw. There was no beards, strange for an elder. If one would actually call him that.
"You may not understand what he meant. But it is best for you to listen to Tianlan Zhao for once."
Jiang LuCi: "But that child has done nothing wrong. His family were destroyed. And he has no one except us. If we send him away, where would he stay."
Wang MeiLing: "He may have a Spirit Core, but he hasn't done anything to deserve being here. All of you have. Some where made here, like you..." She pointed at Xing Yue, "while some earnestly earned it. Tianlan Zhao... That old man, just listen to him."
Xing Yue wanted to refute, but he sighed. "I don't know the matters here. But what I'm sure is that, my wife will burn my feathers if I don't return home. Rong Qi needs to be fed. And I'm still here. I have to go." With that, an old fool in love, he created a vortex and entered inside. The force, also dragged Rong Qi into it. Both Xing Yue and Jiang LuCi stared in utter disbelief.
Outside the Palace of Eternal Radiance, Xing Yue couldn't believe it. She had just watched as the child's family was brutally massacred. How does he expect a young kid like that, to survive on his own.
"Emperor Tianlan Zhao, mustn't have spoken wrong. He may be a mortal who somehow has a Spirit Core, but he's still a child. He shouldn't be thrown out." Xing Yue ranted.
Jiang LuCi couldn't agree less. But disobeying an emperor of great strength, who could seal off millons of demons with the snap of his fingers. Someone who'd stand in front of a tsunami and come out unscathed. Who has eyes everywhere. Thus, though he couldn't understand why he decided to banish a poor child because he wasn't an immortal was somehow questionable
"But we can't disobey him. He's after all,the ruler of the Divine Empyrean..."
"And we can't just abandon that poor child." Xing Yue interrupted.
When she got back and shared the news to her friends everyone especially Shen Yaoguang, wasn't having it. Because other than them, as her friends, she actually have nothing but snows and snow rocks. Having a baby mortal was like the dream she never knew could come true. Zheng Aoyuan the handsome guy has also gotten used to him. Cui Wulei wasn't as well happy with it, but she has always been the type to accept the emperor's orders, no matter how ridiculous it may sound.
"He's not going anywhere. I will make sure of it." Xing Yue said.
"But what are you going to do about it? It's not like you can go there and confront the emperor himself. It's best we send him back. If there's anything I want..."
Shen Yaoguang: "How could you say that? He's a cutie. Are you going to allow him be abandoned?"
Zheng Aoyuan could not help but sigh. "I don't know, but if sending him back was worth it, then, I think there's no reason for him not to be sent out. Besides, when has Emperor Tianlan Zhao ever done something Just for himself alone. You know him. He has reasons for any actions he's done."
Xing Yue wasn't having it. Even her, herself could not understand why she was hell bent on having this boy stay. After all, in fact, this boy doesn't belong here. Anyone who has ever been here, are either dead or was made here. Just like her and her friends. This boy was born a mortal. After all, he hadn't done anything to be here. But leaving him alone sounded abominable in her ears.
So, she angrily left. She summoned the Jade Monarch Lu Shen. The only one who could actually talk to Tianlan Zhao. At the moment, Lu Shen was still in the mortal realm, on his own mission. But the moment he heard that Emperor Tianlan Zhao was acting out again.
"Aiya! That old man..."
As much as it might not make sense, but Lu Shen came quicker than she had thought.
"He what?" He asked.
"You heard right. I just don't have the heart to tell him, that I refuse to send him away. Can you make him to allow him stay here until he was old enough to go back into the mortal realm?"
"And you think I could change his mind?"
Xing Yue looked at him. "If there's anyone who could shamelessly argue with Emperor Tianlan Zhao, and still manages to win? Then, that's you!"
Lu Shen didn't know what to say to that, so, he coughed a little. "You really have high standards for me, don't you think?"
Xing Yue: "I just feel pity for him that's all."
In the Palace of Eternal Radiance, Emperor Tianlan Zhao sat on his throne with a scowl on his face, "I heard you are back already, Jade Monarch Lu?" He asked.
"Yes, you heard right. I had to finish all of my responsibilities as fast as I could before I could return to you to understand why I was summoned..."
"Oh? But I didn't summon you..."
"... No you didn't. I meant her! She called for me, and I can't just..."
"And you chose to disobey my orders because of a mere immortal? Hmm, that's new."
Both Xing Yue and Lu Shen could feel the disappointment in his voice. That made Xing Yue feel like she was doing something bad.
"Your Majesty, I'm just..."
"Why do you want him to stay here?" Tianlan Zhao asked. This time, looking at Xing Yue.
"Because... He's too young to be left in that cruel world. I've witnessed that world, and I don't think he can stay there. All I asked is for you to grant him a few years, and I will personally send him back..."
"What insolence!" Tianlan Zhao's eyes blazed red. He was angry. So angry that Xing Yue knew that she wouldn't walk out of the palace alive. But she stood her ground. As she opened her mouth to say more, Tianlan Zhao stood, his frame taller. And more domineering than his usual indifferent expression.
"Fine, but remember to bear the consequence of your decision today." With that, he disappeared.
"I'm sure there's a storm brewing ahead. Why did you drag me..." Lu Shen went away. Without even completing his statement. He too was short of words.
And not long after, she was called by her master into seclusion, where she'd spend many many years and upon returning, found out that there was a great war.
Xing Yue watching this, realized where her mistake might be. But it still hasn't explained where Zheng Aoyuan was, and why Cui Wulei held such hostility towards her. Just as she was thinking this, the image on the large mirror shifted.
Things were going smoothly just as she had anticipated. That was until one morning. Something both Xing Yue and Jiang LuCi had forgotten about. That during the time they were still in the mortal realm, they had fought off demons too. And eventually, Meng Mu was poisoned. Though they both used their Spiritual Energies to seal it off, thus, they didn't think about it.
Here's actually what it meant:
Both immortals knew there was poison in the toddler's body, yet they brought him to the Divine Empyrean. Probably because they thought that their energies, were doing the job sealing it. So, when Jiang LuCi returned to his master, he too went into seclusion, there was only one energy keeping the seal from breaking. And that too was called away. Thus, leading to a catastrophic situation.
That day, Shen Yaoguang and Cui Wulei were attending Elder Ma's teaching. He was of course, the Heavenly teacher. With great knowledge. And one could call Gao Youlang and Ma MuShi, birds of the same feathers that flocks quite differently. Gao Youlang was responsible for keeping the the scrolls and all the knowledge safe, while Ma MuShi was responsible for sharing a little bit. Before knowledge could be shared, it has to be discussed with Gao Youlang the keeper. So that day, was one of those days, when Elder Ma was to teach.
And Zheng Aoyuan as weak as he was, decided to stay behind and play with Meng Mu. But Meng Mu went out of control.
Having the demon's poison in him, and having the two energies not able to seal it off, Meng Mu fought the weak Zheng Aoyuan to a point where, he was drained both physically and spiritually. And when Shen Yaoguang and Cui Wulei returned, all they saw was Zheng Aoyuan's dying body, turning into flakes of ash and dust. Meng Mu stood emitting dark energy barring teeth at all that dared to come near.
At that, the memory was cut off.
Xing Yue didn't move for a long time. Just looking there: at the place where the mirror should have been. There was tears in her eyes. But she refused to shed them.
And as she stood, she remembered that Cui Wulei really loved Zheng Aoyuan. No wonder she was so bitter. Xing Yue didn't know if Cui Wulei understood why Meng Mu went out of control, but she was sure to understand that Emperor Tianlan Zhao, had warned her to take the boy out of Divine Empyrean, down to the mortal realm.
Even if this might not be her fault, she was still at fault. Now that it was her fault, she was deeply at fault. Because Zheng Aoyuan wasn't just a little flower, he was also very weak. If it had been either Cui Wulei or Shen Yaoguang, the case might not have been so.
So, yes! She was at fault!
She still remembered Guo N'Yang has called her selfish. She had said that her selfishness had caused her friends to want to rip her apart.
And she also remembered during their stay at the brothel, 'their', being: Jiang Yunxian, she and Rong Qi, she had dreamt of Shen Yaoguang.
"Xing Yue, you came, I thought you wouldn't." Shen Yaoguang said, coming closer to her.
It was biting cold and Xing Yue felt her skin being torn apart by the cold. "Are you also here to fight me like Cui Wulei did?"
Shen Yaoguang shook her head. "I'm not as heartless as her. That idiot... Is still very in grief. I mean she lost Zheng Aoyuan, and we lost you." She said.
"At least tell me what I had done wrong? It hurts knowing that my friends are all against me..."
Shen Yaoguang: "You should have thought about it, before letting our friendship go down the drain. Funny right? You came out of seclusion right after that disaster and act like nothing happened?"
Xing Yue didn't have anything to say to that. But she felt bitter. Judging from Cui Wulei and Shen Yaoguang's attitude, she could guess that the friendship... There was nothing to save. And without actually knowing what had happened, she felt that this was really her fault.
"At least tell me what I did wrong..."
"Hah! You will know soon enough" with that, Shen Yaoguang disappeared, and Xing Yue opened her eyes, with a start, feeling the bitting cold just like in her dream.
And thinking back to that dream, and seeing what she saw, Xing Yue finally understood that without realizing it, she had undoubtedly ruined everything that was supposed to be okay.
"Fine! But remember to bear the consequences of your decision today!"
That was Emperor Tianlan Zhao's words to both her and Lu Shen. Had the Jade Monarch bore his own? Or was she bearing them all together?