The hall was filled with vibrant red. Red candles flickered softly all around, casting a warm glow. Ribbons and red lanterns hung from the ceiling, swaying slightly with the breeze. Sitting quietly on a couch, Wu Xuan stared straight ahead. Dressed in a bright red wedding robe, he looked more striking than ever.
Moments later, Na Mi arrived to escort him to the wedding hall. She leaned close as Wu Xuan asked in a low voice, "Did you find them?"
Na Mi shook her head. The dark shadows under her eyes showed how exhausted she was. Even so, Wu Xuan couldn't help but notice, compared to Jun Jiu, the once-celebrated beauty of the Wen Sect now looked like a tired maid.
"I don't know where she hid them," Na Mi whispered as she poured fragrant oil onto Wu Xuan's hair, careful not to let the other maids hear. His hair was already silky smooth, there was no need for the oil, but they followed tradition anyway.
"Tsk, fighting only with spiritual power and no sword puts us at a huge disadvantage," Wu Xuan said under his breath, a hint of disappointment in his tone. He wasn't sure if he could survive a fight with a deity that even two demon kings had struggled to defeat.
"How about we use him?" Na Mi whispered in his ear. "Isn't he the Wolf King's son?"
Wu Xuan sighed. "He's nothing like the Wolf King."
He meant it. If Meng Zhi were stronger, Wu Xuan wouldn't have hesitated to use him as bait. But using someone weaker than himself wouldn't change the outcome.
"Are you going to set him free?"
Wu Xuan stood up and dusted off his cloak. "Should I?"
"No," Na Mi answered without hesitation. "He's a traitor. Better for us if he dies here. But Wu Xuan, did he say anything about it? That thing?"
Wu Xuan shook his head. A jeweled ornament fell from his hair as he moved, landing silently on the floor. "He doesn't have it."
"I wonder if Wei Shidi will be alright… Shizun's going to torture him."
Wu Xuan blinked. "....?"
Then he sighed. "Look at that, he's 'Wei Shidi,' but I'm just Wu Xuan? I am even a month younger than you!"
"Shut up."
"Okay, okay," Wu Xuan raised both hands in surrender. He was talking too much, and Na Mi knew what that meant, he was getting anxious. When Wu Xuan started rambling, it meant he was under pressure.
"We don't have time to worry about Yunhe now," he added. "Search her room. I'll keep her busy."
Na Mi nodded in agreement.
Soon, he followed the maids slowly into the wedding hall. Jun Jiu sat on the ceremonial seat, her head already veiled in red. As he entered, she stood up, her presence elegant and commanding.
"Ah, my dear," she said softly, stepping forward. Her fingers traced the line of his jaw as she gently took his hand.
***
Wei Yunhe sat with his head buried in his hands, broken from within. "I said I would count on you, Meng… How could you do this to Lingyu…"
Even tho he knew, he still trusted that Meng wouldn't betray.
Beside him, Xiao Hai sat like a stone statue, silent. Wei Yunhe was dressed entirely in black. When he reached the peak, all he heard were cries of grief. Over seventy people had died in Juyao and Sha Diren. Jun Peak was lucky, there were no casualties there.
"If I had been there…"
"I'm sorry," Xiao Hai said in a blank voice. "But you have other things to take care of now."
"I have nothing to do with that," Wei Yunhe replied stubbornly. "If I had known that thing was what messed with Jun Peak's spiritual energy, I would've gotten rid of it long ago. That's why no one could cultivate properly here."
"But you did cultivate," Xiao Hai said quietly. Covered in flour and ash, he looked like a ghost wandering in daylight. After failing a few times in the kitchen, realizing cooking was not his thing, he gave up, leaving behind only a pile of charred charcoal where the stove used to be.
"That's because I'm not from Jun Peak," Wei Yunhe snapped. "I didn't train here." His voice trembled with anger. He hated bringing up his past, especially this part of it.
The wind picked up, and a dry leaf drifted down, landing gently in Yunhe's hair. The sky above darkened as if even the heavens were holding back tears.
"The Elders haven't arrived yet?" he asked quietly.
"No," Xiao Hai replied.
"I really believed Murong Meng wouldn't hurt anyone…" Wei Yunhe's voice cracked. "I'm useless. I'm never there when it matters…"
Xiao Hai said nothing. He slowly reached out and patted Yunhe's shoulder. As Yunhe's tears fell, Xiao Hai just stayed beside him, silently offering support.
"Da Shixiong!" called a voice, San Jie, rushing toward them. Yunhe wiped his eyes and looked up.
"Yu-Yu Shixiong is awake!"
"Really?" Wei Yunhe shot up, grabbing San Jie's shoulders.
"But he-"
"But what?"
"He doesn't seem to remember us."
"What?" Yunhe froze for a second before bolting toward Lingyu's hilltop shelter. He didn't stop to catch his breath. Once he reached the door, he paused, took a deep breath, then threw it open.
"Yu Shidi…"
Inside, a young man stood in front of a mirror, adjusting the folds of his robe, black and red. His forehead ribbon hung undone, and his silver-hazel eyes turned toward Yunhe.
"Yu-Yu Shidi?" Yunhe breathed.
Lingyu smiled.
Yu Lingyu, who had always hated dark clothes, was now dressed in them. His hair was styled differently, too. He looked… like someone else.
"Do you care about me?" Lingyu asked, arms folded. "Thank you."
A heavy silence filled the room.
"…But… do I know you?"