“Zhuran.”
“Uh?” A bit surprised to hear Qiangu calling his name softly, Zhuran turns to see her lazily looking up at the sky.
“Have you done everything you wanted to do?”
“Almost. There is just one last thing.” It’s the most important so it needs to be finished last.”
“That’s good. Unlike me, I didn’t accomplish a single thing.”
“I was only able to accomplish what I did because of you.” He has always used her to further his own purpose. She knew it from the very beginning with the understanding that he wouldn’t hurt others but once she became the demon goddess then she just let him do whatever he wanted.
Shaking her head, Qiangu unexpectedly grabs Zhuran’s hand, the hand that is covered with ugly scars and missing a pinkie.
“Does it hurt?” Qiangu asks, her heart suddenly aching with the memory of all the trials they endured together.
“It doesn’t hurt.” The perpetual fake smile gone, the expression in Zhuran’s eyes became soft and gentle. Letting go of Qiangu’s hand in an instant when he feels her power rushing into his body, Zhuran shakes his head and says “I don’t need it.”
“You won’t be able to win him.”
“That’s okay. This is the only thing I want to accomplish with my own power.” For all of his greed and aspirations, in the end, controlling the six realms were really just…meh. Now, there is only one thing left for him and that’s revenge.
“Do you think if I see Tangbao again she will resent me for killing Shiyi? Will she refuse to talk to me?”
“That won’t happen. No child can truly be angry with her parent.”
“And you?”
Silent for a long moment, Zhuran finally reaches out his hand and embraces Qiangu for the first time in his life.
This is a battle that both of them are destined to lose.
Drinking by herself under the moonlight, this is the first time in many years Qiangu has touched alcohol and just the smell is making her intoxicated. Suddenly reminded by the memory of the first time she drank and Bai Zihua telling her that she should always remember what it feels like being a small insignificant pebble no matter how powerful she becomes in the future even if she could soar high above with the wings of eagles or shine brightly like the sun, she should remember what she once was so she could be a blessing to the people of this world. He must’ve guessed that a day like this would eventually arrive but had believed that no matter how powerful she becomes her heart would still stay the same. In the end…she still disappointed him.
Sensing someone’s presence, Qiangu looks up to find Mo Bing Xian standing in front of her. Her head resting on the table listlessly, Qiangu mutters “You are still here? Didn’t you get enough? Here you go then.” Grabbing Mo Bing Xian’s hand, Qiangu sends waves of power into him.
Dragging Qiangu into an upright position, Mo Bing Xian demands in disbelief “Are you really trying to bring back your friend (Shu Feng) using the method I told you?!” His voice laced with pain and anger, Mo Bing Xian couldn’t believe how much of Qiangu’s power has diminished in just a short amount of time. What in heaven has she been doing?
Her face flashed, Qiangu smiles drunkenly “I am so happy! This time, he (Shu Feng) will have a face as handsome as you!” It’s just such a shame that it will take a few hundred years before he will take human form…she won’t be around to see him.
Shaking his head, Mo Bing Xian laments “Why are you always trusting people so easily? You knew my purpose was to sap your power so you can be killed while you are weak. What if the method I told you was just another lie?”
With a forlorn laugh, Qiangu replies “Do you think I have anything more to lose? You did come with a purpose but I can also sense genuine care from you. Go now. I have just used my power to set up a block inside you. You don’t have to worry about touching others anymore. Go and find the one you love. Like you said before, even if she is not the exact same person as she was before but she is still worth safeguarding. This is all I can do to repay you.”
Mo Bing Xian’s heart twists in pain. He was wrong. He should’ve never come. He should’ve not disregarded the warning to not look into her memory and finally understands her…then is left helpless unable to do anything but to ache for her. His hands grabbing her arms tightly, Mo Bing Xian yells “Repay? What did I do to deserve to be repaid by you? How could you? After so much lies and abuse, how do you still dare to trust? How could you still treat me with sincerity?”
Qiangu tries to turn away but is promptly pulled into an embrace by Mo Bing Xian.
“Don’t be a fool anymore. Forget him. Forget him and I will take you far away. Don’t bother anymore with this disgusting world and this demon goddess business. I will take you away from everything…”
Holding back a rush of tears, Qiangu could only shake her head quickly as she mutters “I am sorry, I am sorry…”
“Stop always saying sorry! You have done no wrong! The one that should be sorry should be them!”
Her mind turning blank and numb as Mo Bing Xian unexpectedly kisses her, Qiangu wants to push away but her body is weak from the fierce kiss. Her perpetually cold body suddenly heating up, Qiangu’s vision blurs as the face in front of her transformed into that of Bai Zihua and she mutters “Master…”
Seemingly hit by a flash of lightning, a shaking Mo Bing Xian pushes Qiangu down on the daybed and growls “Damn it! I am not your master! Do you hear me!” Forcefully turning the drunk and still confused Qiangu towards him, Mo Bing Xian lower his head for another punishing kiss.
The tightrope inside her finally snapping in half, Qiangu wonders why she is so stubborn? Why should she insist on holding onto him? If she could stop loving him then things would not have come to this and so many people would not have died for her. Even now, he would rather sacrifice the whole world than come to her. Does he really hate the idea of being with her that much? Why can’t she give him up? Why can’t she just let go easily? As a demon goddess, is there anything she can’t do anymore? So why should she save herself for him? For what reason should he have a hold over her?!
Her vision completely blurred, Qiangu has no idea if the person in front of her is Bai Zihua or Mo Bing Xian. The only thing she knows is that she is so tired and so lonely. Everyone has abandoned her and her heart that no longer beats feel like it is a giant hole that she needs to fill. Holding out her hand towards that slight warmth, Qiangu is desperate like a person who sees the last chance at life before she drowns.
Her robe sliding off her shoulder as the kisses start to make their way down her neck…like the way Bai Zihua used to drink her blood, Qiangu’s breathing quickens as she allows the foreign hands to caresses her body, sending chills of passion through her body and extracting whispers of moans from her.
The temperature in the air suddenly turning frigid as a palpable violent fury come rushing in like a wave. Her eyes snapping open, Qiangu’s heart cracks open when she sees the man standing a long distance away. Time itself seemingly halted, Qiangu is instantly transported right back to the beginning when he is the master and she was still his pupil. Jumping up and pushing Mo Bing Xian away, Qiangu tries to rush after him but Mo Bing Xian wraps his arms around her and begs “Don’t go…”
So flustered that she could only forcefully twist free as she mutter apology after apology, Qiangu runs off.
Watching her go, Mo Bing Xian puts his hands over his face and laughs bitterly “It is me who should be apologizing.”
Her whole being filled with panic just like the time when he was furious at her for wanting to kill Ni Mantian and she couldn’t do anything but knelt in the courtyard and begged for his forgiveness. She has never felt this kind of panic before…because she knows she was the one that did wrong. Filled with the urgency to catch up to Bai Zihua, Qiangu could hardly keep herself from stumbling in her rush. Sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry….
Repeating the apology again and again in her heart, Qiangu doesn’t know why she should apologize to him, and in truth, there is really no need to apologize to him but she just feels like she has committed a huge wrong.
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
Is it wrong that I want to root for MBX? xD
Ha, just be patient. Our hero will start to redeem himself from this point on…mainly because we will feel so bad for the guy that you can’t help but hope our heroine will forgive him. Plus, as Qiangu herself has said, there has never been anyone that could take Zihua’s place in her heart. Dongfang (the guy that gave the silkworm to her) is the male second lead that had the biggest chance but in the end, the heart wants what it wants and the one Qiangu wants has never changed.