Blue trembling particles of energy slid along the sparkling threads entangling the bottom of the gorge. They were soaking the weapon and vanishing in the raindrops. Numerous thin lines tirelessly changed their position: emerging through one rift and bursting out in another, giving away the desperation of their weaver.
After Wei Huan's overwhelming force destroyed most of the minor breaches and rifts, the major rift stopped growing and now only flickered faintly under the intensifying downpour. It practically opened up. All the man needed now to activate it was a small flow of internal energy and the trap would be shut.
The sound of the drops falling on the ground broke the silence, diluted by the quiet echo of receding thunder and the icy touches of the soothing wind. The storm caused by the disturbed vibrations of the spiritual world subsided abruptly. But the battle was not yet over and thus the harmony of nature did not pacify.
Jin Yu Ming carefully examined the remaining rifts. Almost the same size and appearance, they were trembling in the air like lit candles, or long mirrors that did not reflect anything in themselves.
– General, – called Yu Ming, turning towards Wei Huan.
The man stood still, tightly clutching the sword in his hands. His clothes were wet, his hair – sticking to his skin, and weak streams of energy were escaping from his wounds. None of this mattered to Huan. Raising his palm confidently, he wordlessly asked Jin Yu Ming to remain silent.
The man's gaze was searching through the battlefield. He was warily awaiting the next blow.
– Do not stop, – said Wei Huan before deftly jumping to the side to avoid the attack. – And don't get distracted.
Jin Yu Ming did not need any further explanations. He nodded, putting his palms together and concentrating. They needed to finish the job, but only he had enough energy left for a final blow.
Wei Huan fought with an invisible enemy, trying to expend as little energy as possible. He knew the tactics of Yu Bing Han. The man would wear the enemy down, make him ease his guard, and then he would strike. How careless of the great strategist it was to use the same moves that he and Wei Huan had repeatedly acted through in the name of the Empire. Yu Bing Han was really desperate: entangled in his own trap. And he had never had a chance to fully unravel it. It was naive of him to think about the possibility of using the Middle World in his plots. Bing Han's self-confidence was the cause of his own mistakes.
Sensitive hearing caught an impetuous movement behind him, but this time Wei Huan did not retreat. He turned around and stretched his sword out, blocking the threads and holding back the penetrating pressure. The boots slid on the wet soil, making it difficult to stand normally, and the body under constant attacks, got weakened. He used a large amount of energy, and that did not help to maintain his position.
A dull roar came from Wei Huan's chest. Veins on his neck and arms became visible, his clenched teeth gnashed, and his moving jaw gave away all his rage. The general understood perfectly well that he would not hold out like this for long. He would either miss the blow due to fatigue or allow his emotions to get the rule of him. Both options could result in a poor outcome, which in no way he wanted.
The spiritual threads continued violently attacking the man, clashing with the sword, shaking the cracked slopes with a deafening ringing. Stretching and narrowing, they fell in oncoming waves on Wei Huan, forcing him to retreat.
Jin Yu Ming was completely focused on the task at hand, Wu Zhe Kai was treating Hao Ning, and A-Ning... A-Ning did everything possible to weaken Yu Bing Han, giving friends a chance to get even with the vile enemy.
He risked his life, his existence in this world, for Wei Huan. Without hesitation, he was subjected to horrific torture and did not give up. Even though the general was fighting on one now, the invisible support that accompanied him all this time did not disappear.
How could Wei Huan give up and let his friends down after that? His comrades. His partner.
A youth who allowed him not only to face the past and confront it but also to feel how much he missed the unconditional trust on the battlefield.
Never.
Wei Huan threw the threads away with a sharp blow of the sword and, having made a circular movement, slipped away to the side. The threads quickly turned around: hissing, sparkling, shimmering when trying to entangle the man again, but did not have a chance. Huan caught them with his bare hand. Yu Bing Han's scorching energy instantly pierced his body, scalding him, and causing severe burns. But that didn't stop the general from carrying out his plan.
Slowly, he began winding the threads around his hand, twisting it, tugging it, not allowing it to hide in the rift. He was pulling their weaver towards him/ Each movement was painful and exhausting, forcing the man to use the remnants of his own energy for protection, but also proving that at the other end Yu Bing Han was desperately trying to resist Wei Huan's efforts. The enemy's nerves were stretched like trapped threads. Bing Han had truly forgotten how unpredictable a Supreme General could be.
The squelching sound of the muddy ground accompanied Wei Huan's every step until the moment he froze in front of one of the rifts. The spiritual threads were tangled around his hand in a tight twine, and the remaining small piece was the only obstacle separating Wei Huan from meeting his nightmare. A glance towards Hao Ning gave him confidence. For many centuries he had been waiting for this. He could handle it. He was not alone.
Without wasting any more time, the man grabbed the thread and pulled it with all his strength. A bright flash of energy, slipping through his fingers like blue lights and vanishing in the air, made him stagger for a moment. Jin Yu Ming's scream was heard nearby, and a wave of energy splashed all sides, making the remaining breaches and rifts disappear.
Wei Huan's eyes widened. The feeling of danger has not gone away. It was approaching from behind: inexorably, decisively, desperately. With the sparkling spear in the vile hands. With crooked dark stains that dotted the pale body. With the icy rage in golden eyes.
The circle was intended to start again.
The sword flashed in Wei Huan's hands, but there was no time left. The realization that the spear would find its prey yet again made him want to laugh out loud.
He spent centuries in the form of a ghost, driven by a thirst for revenge, only to find his end for a second time from the hands that had once destroyed him.
What an irony!
– A-Wei!
The voice made the air ring and instantly shook the man to the very core, forcing the general to move, think, act. It helped him to remember the main thing: he was not alone. Not alone anymore. The sober consciousness brought him to his senses, and Wei Huan bent down and pointed at the enemy's knees with his sword.
Yu Bing Han howled when a nimble thin chain wrapped his body, crushing the bones. The spear fell from the man's palms and hit the ground, scattering blue sparks everywhere. Yu Bing Han's muffled groans reached Wei Huan, but the long-awaited retribution no longer subdued his mind.
– A-Ning, don't exhaust yourself! – shouted the man rushing to the young scholar.
Hao Ning barely moved his hand, controlling the spiritual weapon, which persistently pulled the Counselor, who was trying to extricate himself, towards the only remaining rift. The breathing of Wu Zhe Kai next to him was heavy and intermittent.
– You are my worst patient, – moaned the healer said. – If you want to hurt yourself so much, just let me hit you! There will be fewer problems.
Hao Ning smiled with an ashamed and guilty smile, but his chains still dragged Yu Bing Han to the center of the altar and pinned the man there without the ability to lift even a finger.
He probably would have continued to hold the man with the energy that had barely appeared, if it had not been for Wei Huan, who nearly collapsed on the ground right before him.
Strong arms wrapped around Hao Ning's thin waist, pulling the youth towards the strong chest: gently, and carefully, but with impatience and a desperate need to feel the young body in his arms.
– A-Ning… – exhaled Wei Huan, making the goosebumps run down the scholar's spine. – Don't ever do that again. Never. Ever.
The words, filled with immense fear for his life, echoed in Hao Ning's ears. That made him raise the corners of his lips. A faint blush on his cheeks and his eyelashes fluttered. The youth buried the tip of his nose into the strong neck, but the rain had already washed away the smell of Wei Huan's skin, and that was a huge loss. Hao Ning's palms lay on the broad back, feeling the strong tension of the man's muscles.
Hao Ning was so afraid of never having a chance to touch the man kneeling in front of him again that now everything except Wei Huan was erased from his mind.
– General, – Jin Yu Ming's tactful but somewhat embarrassed voice brought both spouses to their senses. – Sorry for... interfering, but Yu Bing Han is still alive.
The man's voice was not insistent, for he perfectly understood his friend's feelings, but they all spent too much effort to achieve the long-awaited victory. They couldn't afford themselves to make a mistake now.
With people like Yu Bing Han, one always needed to keep their eyes open, because even if it seemed that the viper was defeated, there may still have been a trump card up in his sleeve.
Those fears were not unfounded, so Wei Huan, with obvious reluctance, moved away from Hao Ning and tried to stand up. But to his surprise he was unable to do so, being grabbed by the sleeve.
– I will go with you. – Ning said, carefully holding Wei Huan. – Let me do that.
The gaze that was addressed to the scholar in response was full of tenderness, but sternness was heard in the caring tone.
-You are still too weak. – Huan carefully caressed the trembling hands, barely touching the pale skin. – You should rest. Stay right here and wait for me.
The general's words sounded logical, but at that moment Hao Ning did not intend to come to terms with the decision to leave him behind, and therefore the grip on the man's clothing became stronger. Though he could not understand where that strength had come from, he was sure of one thing: even if Wei Huan pushed him away now, he would cling to his thigh like a leech.
– I won't let you face the nightmares of the past alone, – Hao Ning cast a glance towards Bing Han. – And I won't let him hurt you in any way.
The decisive voice made Wei Huan smile, looking at his mud-stained face, which he immediately carefully cleaned with his sleeve.
Hao Ning involuntarily closed his eyes, resembling a ruffled but happy sparrow. It was useless to argue; Huan saw that in the hard stiffness of the tensed body.
– As you wish, – the general nodded, clasping the adept's shoulders. – Hold on to me.
The joyful sparkle of brown eyes instantly replaced the will to argue as Hao Ning grabbed Wei Huan by the neck and with the man's help rose to his feet. The emotions were once again discouraging – A-Ning remained A-Ning, despite the difficult events that had occurred. And that was a relief.
Nearby, Wu Zhe Kai was quietly muttering something. Jin Yu Ming helped him to stand up. The healer tried his best not to hang on the tired warrior, but a strong hand did not allow him to move far away, firmly holding the thin waist. Thus they followed to the altar: one with indignant attempts to move away, the other silently holding the stubborn man close.
The storm was no longer breaking the silence with flashes of lightning and roars of thunder. The freezing rain was the only reminder of the wrath of the Middle World. The drops, filled with sparks of energy scattered across the ground, and were healing the battlefield, repairing the damage done.
Hao Ning felt at ease despite everything that had happened. He closed his eyes with pleasure, allowing the rain to slide over his face, saturating his weakened spirit with energy. Fears and sadness disappeared thanks to Wei Huan's warmth, and his wounded arm no longer hurt much. Even the stone altar, darkened by the soaked moisture, did not make Hao Ning nervous. It's amazing how the presence of one single person immediately changed all the bad things to good. Hao Ning hoped that he had been awakening the same feelings in Wei Huan.
The closer the altar was, the slower their steps became. Eventually, the company froze in a Zhang away from it. Hao Ning looked at Wei Huan. The emotions on the man's face were impossible to read. Then the youth turned his gaze to the man bound in chains. Yu Bing Han no longer looked like his former self: irritated, having lost his grace and composure, he was a hunted animal with remnants of pride in an upright posture.
Long, wet hair fell in a heavy cascade over his shoulders, clung to his back, and scattered on the cold stone. The pale skin was completely dotted with black stains. Even after being forced to kneel, he did not lose his dignity and stared at Wei Huan. The white of his eyes had turned into a frightening scarlet, making the cold of the golden eyes even more piercing. Yu Bing Han's chest heaved impulsively: inhaling the floating weak energy, absorbing it into his body, and trying to restore lost strength. Even in this poor state, the counselor tried to find a way out.
Jin Yu Ming was right to hurry his friends.
– A-Wei? – Hao Ning gently touched the general's clenched fist. – Are you sure?
Wei Huan pursed his pale lips, examining the figure of his once close comrade and dear friend. The one who once woke in him the tender feelings... that later brought only pain.
– Who would I be if I retreated now?
– A human.
Hao Ning bowed his head slightly, forcing Wei Huan to look at him. A simple word hung in the air, touching the strings of the man's soul with ease and sincerity.
A human.
Just a simple man who can be afraid, worried, and stressed. When was the last time Wei Huan was an ordinary person, not the Supreme General? Not the Defender of the Empire? Not the Chosen, not ascended Heavenly Lord? Not the infamous, cursed Devourer?
Wei Huan had always unwaveringly faced dangers, not allowing himself to admit any, even the slightest weakness. It was a heavy burden to bear, but he became accustomed to it... made it a part of his nature....
A grateful smile touched Huan's lips and he gently ran his palm through Hao Ning's hair. That brought blush to the young man's pale cheeks.
– Everything is fine as long as you're here. I can handle it.
Hao Ning nodded, without saying anything else. He followed Wei Huan to the altar step by step, climbing to the central platform. Yu Bing Han, who was chained there, met them with a proud gaze, still looking arrogantly and sublimely beautiful. His whole appearance screamed about unshakable stubbornness and perseverance. He had no intention of bowing his head, despite his defeat. This involuntarily reminded Wei Huan of the past, when the bitterness of betrayal had not yet touched his heart, and the shamelessness of others was perceived as a striking trait of a straightforward character.
The men silently looked into each other's eyes, not intending to start a conversation. As is they wanted to transfer their recent battle to a new state.
However, this time Hao Ning was next to Wei Huan, ready to act as a buffer between them.
The youth slid his hand over Wei Huan's arm in silent support, interlocking their fingers. The gesture did not go unnoticed by Yu Bing Han.
The prickly gaze from under thin brows flickered in the sight of this undisguised tenderness. The lips curved crookedly, yet the man did not let any words out.
Wei Huan took a deep breath, realizing that this could not continue any longer. Even though Hao Ning was by his side, giving him courage, it became increasingly difficult to restrain the feelings that had been stored for such a long time.
Yu Bing Han did not consider himself defeated, and therefore the battle was not yet over.
There were drops of strength left in Wei Huang, ready to flare up under the influence of emotions, burning without a trace. He could not allow this, carefully controlling the decay within his soul.
Jin Yu Ming and Wu Zhe Kai who joined them did not interfere but were ready to help at any time.
– Why? – a question kept in mind for centuries finally escaped Wei Huan's lips. – Why have you done this?
A desperate plea it was. A tormenting desire to find out the truth.
The question made Yu Bing Han squint his eyes slightly, raising the corners of his lips.
Wei Huan didn't need a complete picture that would explain everything that happened to him. The man himself had thought about this many times while sorting out the little things, comparing the facts, and finding tiny clues that allowed him to understand the details of the cunning plan.
All this was unimportant, unnecessary. He just wanted to know...
– Why?
Wei Huan carefully pulled away from Hao Ning and came closer, squatting in front of Yu Bing Han. Huan would never have thought that he would have the chance to look into those vixen eyes again. And yet... fate granted him a chance to get rid of the sad burden, which Yu Bing Han was in no hurry to lighten.
-You still don't understand? – Bin Han's affectionate answer made everyone freeze. – A-Wei, you know me so well. Why cannot you guess?
– Answer me, Yu Bing Han, – Wei Huan raised his hand, extending it to the Counselor's thin neck. He taking his vengeance for everything this man had once done. – You killed me. Don't you think that after death I am worthy at least of a grain of truth?
Yu Bing Han's smile was sly and playful. Even now he was exhausting them and amusing himself.
The rustling of fabric was heard nearby but quickly faded. Wu Zhe Kai stopped Jin Yu Ming in time. That warrior was ready to snap and without hesitation cut off the insolent traitor's head. His emotionlessness was bursting at the seams. He simply could not tolerate such cruel behavior towards his close friend. But he understood quite well that this would play into the hands of Yu Bing Han, proving his undiminished influence on other people.
Due to this palpable support, Wei Huan also calmed down, lowering his hand and regaining his amazing composure.
Not getting the reaction he wanted, Bing Han pursed his lips in disappointment. This behavior made Hao Ning frown. During the talk, he was always next to Wei Huan, closely watching both men, and the adept could not understand something strange that periodically slipped into Yu Bing Han's defiant actions. Hao Ning decided not to attribute everything to the tenacious nature of the strategist and continued to observe. After some time, he still deigned to answer, but deftly avoided Wei Huan's question, turning the conversation in a different direction.
– Do you know, A-Wei, why I ended up here? – Bing Han closed his eyes as if he was sharing a great secret. – Heaven wanted you dead. They ordered me to find you and atone for my guilt. Your death is my redemption!
– What nonsense! – Wu Zhe Kai snapped, once again stopping Yu Ming from impulsive actions. – You, liar!
– Believe me or not, but it's true, – Bing Han accepted other people's emotions completely calmly. He would have shrugged if the spiritual chains hadn't blocked all his movements. – I could have saved you, A-Wei.
– Didn't you say that you were here because of some "rats"? – Hao Ning stepped forward, wringing Wei Huan's shoulder.
Yu Bing Han squinted, barely able to keep a listless mask on his face. Because of the flashes of the fissure spread under his feet, his pale skin shone blue. Now he looked more like the cursed spirit of this world than anyone else.
– It's a long story, – he replied, – just another memory from the past, not important at the moment. – Yu Bing Han looked into Wei Huan's eyes and uttered his next words quite casually. – You want to kill me, A-Wei, don't you? So, why delay?
The general's fingers trembled, but the sword did not appear in his hand. Only the look that slashed across the calm face of the person opposite him was colder than the steel blade.
– Keep it in mind, – Bing Han continued to purr affectionately, – that if you take mercy on me, I will come back for you. I'll come back and you will pay. With everything you have.
The sparkling tip cut the air and scattered the raindrops that came under impact with splashes. Wei Huan's sword burst out of its sheath like a swift executioner, without hesitation rushing towards his streak-stained neck, wanting to rid the world of someone else's caustic tongue and victorious smile as soon as possible.
– A-Wei, no! Don't kill him!
The general's hand froze, barely touching Yu Bing Han with a merciless cold kiss. Silence hung over the altar. Disbelieving glances rushed towards Hao Ning, at the same time as Wei Huan, without putting away his weapon, calmly asked:
– A-Ning, what are you doing?
Hao Ning almost immediately appeared next to the man, placing the hand on his arm.
– I think I understand now. – His serious look proved the weight of the words he spoke. – Isn't it strange that such a person encourages you to grant him the final blow that shall end his existence? He said Heavens ordered him to atone for your murder, but he did not succeed. So how else could he leave the Middle World? Being dissolved is his only option.
Hao Ning glanced at Bing Han, while Wei Huan slowly lowered his sword, not removing it completely, but listening to the scholar's explanations.
– We don't know exactly what happens to the departed souls. He may end up in Diyu, or be reincarnated. The last he does not deserve. Moreover, being a Heavenly Lord like you, he has a chance to ascend again. – The young man frowned slightly. – I think that was his original plot. Making that final blow, you will leave him victorious. You will return him to the wheel of rebirth.
– Then he can just go and get himself torn to pieces by some crazed spirit.
Wu Zhe Kai snorted, but Hao Ning shook his head.
– This man is too proud of that. He must feel like a winner, the one who decides when the end is. Yu Bing Han somehow came here for atonement. But I didn't understand the true meaning of this.
– You know nothing of me! You, pathetic creature! You should have torn your mouth off, not your hand.
The whisper that came from the silent Yu Bin Han instantly made everyone tense. The tip of Wei Huan's sword immediately pressed against the protruding vein on the man's neck again.
Hao Ning stubbornly squeezed the general's palm, not allowing him to make any further move
– Don't listen to him, he's just provoking you. – Hao Ning looked into bottomless dark eyes, filled with barely restrained irritation. – Please, A-Wei, don't kill him. Think of it the other way. Let him become an eternal prisoner of his anger and hatred. Perhaps his true purpose for being here is to understand and acknowledge his sins. Then he will be freed.
Bing Han's steady, cold gaze pierced Hao Ning's body, but now, under the layer of fierce hatred, in the very depths of his eyes, a fear could be seen.
That meant that Hao Ning was on the right track. The youth looked down at the crack shimmering under his feet.
– This rift is fueled by the energy of this world, which means it will not disappear without our action. It will continue existing until the energy in it is drained. If Yu Bing Han remained tied up here, he would be unable to do anything. And no one will save him.
– Don't listen to this nonsense! – barked Bing Han. He leaned forward as if trying to get pierced by the sword before him. – Wei Huan, you want me dead, right? You want it because you have been dreaming about it for centuries. I know you. You have always strived for justice and answers. You... You were waiting for me here, right? Didn't want to be reborn, longed to see me again and find the answers. – The Counselor's provocative smile became wider. – It was me, who planned everything from the very beginning. Even before the Emperor assigned me to you. My goal was simple: to become close to the Emperor, to gain his trust, to use my best words and smiles, to force him to put a Dragon Seal on the papers I needed and then watch how a tragic, accidental death befalls the Great Ruler. But all this was before I met you. What is an imperial throne in comparison with an opportunity to become a full-fledged Heavenly Lord? – This memory alone made Yu Bing Han gasp with delight. – You wanted to solve everything peacefully, to save other people's lives. I was ready to follow you, but then I thought... it would be too easy. Far too easy. I should be the first.
– What are you talking about? – Jin Yu Ming, who stepped closer, exuded overwhelming energy. – Why did you kill the general?!
Yu Bin Han closed his eyes, turning his head to the side, and pointedly making it clear that the angry warrior was not worthy of talking to him. Wu Zhe Kai once again took the blow, while Wei Huan, maintaining external calm, clarified:
– Was that you who sent the soldiers through the secret imperial passages?
– Yes. It was easy. After all, we wrote letters to the general of the southern troops together. And I was often the one who handed them over to the messenger. A drop of carefully melted wax, a couple of extra lines here and there before resealing the letter and you almost win a new ally.
Hao Ning looked at Wei Huan, afraid that the man would lose his temper, but the general remained impassive as if he had long ago come to terms with everything and was simply listening to what he had already known.
– When did you decide on the time of the attack?
Yu Bing Han remained silent, looking at Wei Huan so affectionately as if he were a mere child who came to an adult seeking some simple answers:
– During peace talks.
– Without a doubt, General Chong Zhange liked his tea and my message hidden there. Wrapped in thin leather, of course. It would be a shame if it were damaged. Then I finally won his trust.
Wei Huan's sword slowly lowered. His eyes thoughtlessly looked somewhere through Yu BingHan. Disturbed memories overwhelmed with familiar bitterness, felt as vividly as many centuries ago.
– I must be punished, A-Wei. I accept death by your hand for everything I've ever done. For the death of people, the fate of the Empire, the betrayal of your friendship. But you have to do it yourself. It must be you.
The ingratiation of the former counselor caressed the ears in a whisper, beckoning him to strike one strong, precise blow. Jin Yu Ming could barely restrain himself. Even Wu Zhe Kai was no longer holding him so zealously.
Hao Ning watched the general, allowing him to make the final decision. Whatever he chooses, he will support it. They will face any consequences together.
– I wanted to kill you, – admitted Wei Huan admitted after a while, – because I thought it would bring me relief. But now I understand that death is too easy for you. You talk about everything that happened so easily and naturally. Without feeling even a drop of guilt. You are trying to emerge victorious by confirming A-Ning's assumptions. Otherwise, you wouldn't have said anything.
Yu Bing Han's eyes widened when he saw the energy gathering at the tips of the man's fingers. Wei Huan stepped back and his loyal comrades followed. The rift shimmered more intensely, reaching out in hungry streams toward the seductive, unfamiliar energy.
– Wei Huan! – Yu Bing Han shouted. His face was a grimace of horror and anger. – Don't you dare think that I won't get out! I will! I Will return and turn your life into the abyss!
– You have already done so. Many centuries ago, – The man answered, kneeling on one knee. – I'm not scared anymore.
The former counselor thrashed in chains like a wounded beast, struggling to get out of the trap that entangled his entire body. Hao Ning did not allow this, the force that appeared embraced him even more tightly, chaining the man to the stone pillars.
– General, – Jin Yu Ming's tense voice reached Huan. – Give me the time of three finger snaps.
The familiar sound of weapons appearing made Wei Huan turn his head slightly, noticing how Yu Ming confidently walked back towards Yu Bing Han, resolutely stepping onto the rift. Wei Huan frowned but did not have time to ask the question, because Yu Ming had readily predicted this.
– You decided to spare him, General. – He said, stopping behind the tensed adviser. – That's why I won't kill him either, but I won't allow him to leave so easily without any payback.
The long sword was held tightly in Jin Yu Ming's hand. It took the warrior a moment to swing his blade cutting Bing Han's long hair off.
The Counselor's already pale skin turned ashen gray when the usual weight was no longer felt on his shoulders. The warrior looked at the fallen locks with disgust and kicked them like writhing snakes.
Cracked pride squeezed his trembling shoulders, scattering goosebumps throughout Yu Bing Han's body. The silence was broken by a light wave of energy sent into the rift. The maw, sparkling with blue flashes, opened wide.
– Wei Huan! – Yu Bing Han roared. – You won't find peace! I will be your eternal nightmare!
His body was completely covered in streaks, with only light glimpses of light skin reminiscent of the person underneath. The enraged Bing Han exuded a thirst for blood, becoming even more furious from the bonds that held him. The altar sank into the crack along with the figure writhing on it.
– No! I can't disappear! I have to show them! I have to prove myself! – Yu Bing Han threw his head back, addressing his roar to the heavens above. – Wei Huan, you are the true destruction of the Empire!
Desperate cries, devoured by the greedy maw of the rift, pierced consciousness like well-aimed arrows. Even in his last moments, the Counselor managed to slash Wei Huan's heart with a jagged knife. The ability to experience emotions, despite a long-lost life, now seemed like real torture to the spirit world.
Therefore, even when Yu Bin Han's voice completely died down, and there was no hint of a rift left on the wet ground, the people remaining in the gorge were in no hurry to leave.
Wei Huan looked at the bare ground with an empty gaze and one could only guess at the emotions the general was experiencing at the moment. Hao Ning had no choice but to gently hug the man in a silent gesture of support.
– We need to leave, – Wei Huan whispered after a while, – you haven't fully recovered.
– I'm fine. You don't need to worry.
The general smiled affectionately, cuddling the youth and holding him closer, enjoying the warmth of the body and gentle hands sliding over his tense shoulders.
– Let me at least do this.
Hao Ning chuckled but did not protest anymore, allowing Huan to hug him tighter and get out of the gorge after Wu Zhe Kai and Jin Yu Ming.
The familiar view of the Middle World that opened up, not obscured by high slopes, filled his chest with a pleasant feeling of calmness and completion. The tired body ached, but everything no longer seemed so black and hopeless. A-Wei was nearby, and Hao Ning couldn't ask for more.
He looked at Wei Huan, who walked up to Jin Yu Ming and smiled slightly without moving closer. The two longtime friends needed this private moment.
– Captain Jin.
– Yes, General?
Yu Ming eagerly turned to Huan when a calm voice came from behind his shoulder.
Previously, he acted rashly, succumbing to emotions: unrestrained and free. Wei Huan had always been strict about such behavior among soldiers, keeping them under strict disciplinary conditions. Therefore, Yu Ming was ready to get a well-deserved punishment. He did not expect an approving pat on the shoulder. Because of this, the lack of understanding reflected in the warrior's eyes sincerely amused Wei Huan.
– I couldn't have done it without you. This is our victory, not mine. Thank you.
– But General...
– Wei Huan, – the man corrected. – Don't be so official, Yu Ming. You are my close friend, after all.
Jin Yu Ming frowned, looking down and nervously rubbing his thumbs on the knuckles of his clenched palms.
– I'm not worthy...
– My death is not your fault. I have already told you about this. – Huan looked towards the basin and Jin Yu Ming did the same. – Besides, it's over now. It's all over.
– Have you gained peace?
– Yes, I have. Now it's your turn. If you can't forgive yourself, I'll do it for both of us.
The words spoken coincided with a quiet sigh escaping the warrior's lips. Wei Huan felt a subtle tingling sensation at his fingertips, and his dark gaze involuntarily trembled as the soaring blue lights that burst out of Jin Yu Ming's body rushed upward like small fireflies.
– Yu Ming! – the exclamation of Wu Zhe Kai, who had rushed from his seat, shook the silence.
Hao Ning, who hurried after him, shuddered, glancing over the translucent body of the warrior. Unlike Zhe Kai, who was clutching the man's shoulder, the scholar stopped a few steps in the distance.
– What's going on?! – the healer stammered in a broken voice, sending a stream of energy into his friend's body. – Why are you disappearing?
Jin Yu Ming smiled slightly, but sternly reproached the one hanging on him:
– Don't waste energy that you don't already have.
– Don't change the subject!
– My time has come. You understand everything yourself.
The words spoken sounded calm, but Wu Zhe Kai shook his head, refusing to believe what he had heard. He stubbornly grabbed at the blue lights escaping him in a desperate attempt to bring the man back.
Jin Yu Ming's warm gaze moved from the healer to Hao Ning standing nearby. For the first time in all youth's being in this World, a man showed such a lively look. So this is what he was like during his lifetime.
– Lao Hao, don't leave the general.
– Never, – replied the scholar and got a smile in return.
There was nothing left of the allotted time, so Yu Ming did not waste it, looking at the irreplaceable general, to whom he was devoted with all his being.
– Till we meet again.
– Farewell, my old friend, – Wei Huan nodded slowly. – I will be waiting.
No more words were spoken. The strengthened understanding had long since formed the relationship between the two warriors. One found long-awaited peace, the second gave him sincere support. A transparent palm lay on the top of Wu Zhe Kai's head, tousling the soft hair of the weeping healer with a gust of wind. This weightless touch was Jin Yu Ming's last action in the World of Ghosts and Spirits.
Tiny sparks of energy slowly flew up, towards the heavens and vanished in the haze followed by Wei Huan's watchful eyes.
Hao Ning's touch allowed the man to share his quiet inner thoughts with him.
– I knew that someday this would happen and thought that have resigned myself to it. But, – Huan shook his head slightly, – it still hurts. Guess, you just cannot prepare your heart for such losses.