"SHI MINGJING!" Mo Ran seethed, eyes blazing.
Shi Mei's sleeves fluttered gracefully in the moonlight. Perched in that tree, his handsome features were limned in silver. "Time to go, before Shizun wakes up. If he sees us fighting, he won't be happy." After a moment, he added with a smile, "Oh right. Next time we meet, A-Ran, remember to call me Hua Binan. Shigong1 would also do. If there is a next time, that is."
With that, Shi Mei leapt nimbly into the air and vanished into the dense forest of Dragonblood Mountain. All that lingered was his lovely, chilling laughter, trailing behind him like a glittering web of gossamer.
"Shi Mei! Shi Mingjing!"
He didn't turn to look back at Mo Ran between the branches and the mist. Holding Chu Wanning in his arms, he flew swiftly through the craggy landscape, cloak whipping behind him and robes floating on the wind. His eyes shone as an indescribable satisfaction flooded his chest. He was like a hunter returning home, laden with his spoils and awaiting his victorious feast.
Yet as he leapt from the ground, he heard the man in his arms, besieged by the nightmares of another life, murmur hoarsely, "Mo Ran…"
Shi Mei's smile stiffened. He lowered his lashes, his ardent gaze turning cool. "Why would you go to such lengths for his sake—what's so great about him?"
Chu Wanning couldn't hear. He was burning up with fever, his handsome face pale as ice, bluish veins visible beneath his skin. "Mo Ran…" he mumbled once more.
Shi Mei jerked to a stop. After holding himself back for so long, his eagerness and impatience were almost overwhelming. Yet after a moment's struggle, he again managed to restrain himself. Before the unconscious Chu Wanning, he was not nearly as cavalier as he'd been in front of Mo Ran. Staring down at Chu Wanning's face, he eventually said, "Stop reminiscing. Soon Mo Ran will be gone forever. In the future, you can keep me company instead."
After a pause, he continued, "I know your feelings for him run deep. It's all right if you can't forget him yet. Once my plans come to fruition and I can give you my full attention, you'll come around."
Again, Shi Mei flew skyward. Summoning his sword mid-leap, he sped toward the heroes' tomb on Mount Jiao.
The hour was late. In the silent burial grounds of Rufeng sect, the moonlight fell upon row after row of gravestones. Xu Shuanglin's Zhenlong chess pieces, no longer animated by spiritual energy, stood stiffly in place, never to move again.
Shi Mei opened the doors on Mount Jiao with the Nangong blood he'd collected in a vial. Glancing about, he spotted Nangong Liu woolgathering on a small hill.
Nangong Liu wasn't a complete pawn; he still retained some of his original personality. But his faculties of reason were gone; at best, he had the mind of a five-year-old child. Shi Mei had no plans to kill him. On the contrary, he thought the man might still prove useful.
"Dear friend-gege, you're back!" Nangong Liu broke into a sunny grin when he saw Shi Mei, his portly features seeming to glow with genuine delight. Since Xu Shuanglin had considered Shi Mingjing his dear friend, Nangong Liu had followed his lead, resulting in this childish moniker.
Shi Mei hesitated slightly, narrowing his eyes. "Don't call me that."
"Ah…" Nangong Liu was taken aback. "You don't like it?"
"I don't. Call me Hua Binan," Shi Mei said, sullen. "Come, walk with me and help me open the doors."
"Where does dear friend-gege wish to go?"
Shi Mei eyed him. Perhaps there was no point in bickering with someone who was mentally little better than a toddler. "Take me to the hidden chamber where Xu Shuanglin used to live," he answered impatiently.
Nangong Liu readily obliged. Shi Mei knew how to get to the hidden chamber, but there were many barriers along the way that required the blood of a Nangong to pass. It was a hassle getting the little vial of blood out each time with Chu Wanning in his arms—much simpler to let Nangong Liu take the lead.
After walking ahead of Shi Mei for some time, Nangong Liu suddenly turned around, apparently overcome by curiosity. "Dear friend-gege, are you having a sleepover with your friend?"
"A sleepover?" As if pleased by the word, Shi Mei's expression relaxed into a smile. "More or less, yes. But he'll spend many, many nights here in the future. You could say he'll be living here."
Nangong Liu's curiosity was further piqued. "Who is he?"
Shi Mei considered the question, then laughed. "You really want to know? I'm afraid it's not appropriate for a child's ears."
Nangong Liu's eyes grew round, the naïve expression on his middle-aged face at once comical and mildly revolting.
They arrived at the chamber and opened the door. The room inside was simply furnished, lit with everbright lanterns. A bed stood against one wall, spread with a thick tiger's pelt beneath a snow-silk canopy. The only other items were a small table and a harp beside the bed. Shi Mei settled Chu Wanning upon the bed, then took a seat on the edge of the mattress, gazing intently at his shizun's face. The bright glow of the lanterns fell over Chu Wanning's familiar features.
When he was awake, those sword-straight brows drew sharply down from his temples, and those phoenix eyes were proud and steely. Yet now, his features held a weariness, the curve of his jaw like a tendril of smoke from dying embers.
But Shi Mei didn't mind. Far more important was that, after two lifetimes of toil, both Chu Wanning and Mo Ran had fallen before his schemes. At that very moment, Chu Wanning was lying next to him, and Mo Ran had lost his spiritual energy and was about to obediently walk into the trap Shi Mei had laid. His plans were all about to succeed.
"Eh?" Nangong Liu piped up, shattering Shi Mei's reverie. "He looks so familiar."
Shi Mei shot him a sidelong glance. "Do you remember who he is?"
"Remember…?"
"This gege once scolded you," Shi Mei prompted. "He embarrassed you."
"Huh? Where?"
"In the main hall of Rufeng Sect."
"Ah, really?" Nangong Liu exclaimed in surprise. "Why don't I remember it at all?"
Shi Mei was silent for a moment, then smiled gently. "It's better that you don't."
The implication went completely over Nangong Liu's head. He gazed at Chu Wanning for a while longer, head cocked, then pronounced, "He's so handsome though. Even when his eyes are closed and he's not smiling."
"He's Emperor Taxian-jun's favorite consort," Shi Mei replied cheerfully. "How could he be anything but handsome?"
"Favorite consort… What does that mean?"
Shi Mei's eyes danced with amusement. "You'll understand when you grow up. Go pick some tangerines for me, and heat up some water. Knowing his temper, he'll be furious if there's nothing good to eat when he wakes up."
Nangong Liu went to the door, only to pause on the threshold.
"What's wrong?" Shi Mei asked.
"The tangerines…" Nangong Liu hesitated, biting down on his finger. "Dear friend-gege, do you know when His Majesty is coming back?"
He was referring, of course, to Xu Shuanglin. Shi Mei had no plans to tell Nangong Liu that Xu Shuanglin was dead. "Just be good and listen to me for now," he said with a smile. "His Majesty will be back very soon."
Nangong Liu's eyes lit up at once. Slinging a little bamboo basket over his shoulders, he left the chamber to pick tangerines.
Shi Mei gazed at the closed door; after a moment, he laughed. "Interesting. When he had his wits about him, he despised his brother, but now he's filled with brotherly affection… Just goes to show it's only kids who are pure. Once they grow older and begin to scheme and vie for power, they all become filthy."
He turned toward Chu Wanning and caressed his cheek. "See, the cultivation realm is full of people like this. They're not worthy of your protection." His fingertip traced over that handsome visage, and he sighed. "Why did you suffer so much for these people? Why did you toil endlessly, fracture your souls, rip open space and time, endure untold humiliation… Why did you battle me for two lifetimes, all for their sake?"
Chu Wanning, still fast asleep, did not answer. He was tormented by the anguish and nightmares of the past life, his cheeks burning, brow tightly furrowed. Shi Mei watched him with his chin in his hand. After a time, he took out a silver bottle of Tapir Fragrance Dew from his qiankun pouch.
"Drink some of this." Shi Mei uncapped the bottle. "I was certain you'd dream of the past lifetime. Back then, at Xuanyuan Pavilion, I knew you would come, so I instructed the auctioneers to bring out the Tapir Fragrance Dew… I merely wanted to soothe your discomfort without raising suspicion. See, isn't it nicer to be with me than Mo Ran? As long as you make me happy, I'll let you enjoy little trifles like this every day. What can he give you? He only knows how to knock people around."
He poured the sweet-smelling dew into a small porcelain bowl, then brought it to Chu Wanning's lips and watched him swallow. Shi Mei gazed at his war prize for a while, entranced. An idea occurred to him, and his eyes brightened. He rummaged around in his qiankun pouch and pulled out a pitch-black silk ribbon. He tied it around Chu Wanning's head and secured it with a binding spell so that his eyes were completely covered.
He slowly rose. Grasping Chu Wanning's jaw, he examined his face with an air of satisfaction. "Mn, beautiful indeed. No wonder Mo Ran liked to look at you tied up like this in the past life. I don't mind following his example from time to time—I admit he's got taste when it comes to such things."
Shi Mei's smile was as sweet as ever. His fingers trailed from Chu Wanning's chin up to his lips, then the bridge of his nose, finally landing on that black ribbon over his eyes.
"Shizun, wake up soon, won't you?" he said softly, his tone chillingly tender. "I just thought of a fun game. Once you're awake, we can play it together, okay?"