(ten)
The golden flames spread wildly like wildfire, but they were not scorching; instead, they exuded a cool, refreshing sensation. Stars seemed to leap within them, as if someone had broken an incense burner, scattering perfectly burning incense all over the ground, filling the air with the soothing fragrance of incense.
Zhou Ziqiu stared blankly at the room filled with light, his mind a complete blank.
Is it possible for someone's soul fire to be golden?
Wen Su was also stunned.
Why is he still not dead?
With a clang, the dagger slipped from Wen Su's hand. In disbelief, Wen Su touched his neck but could not find the wound he had just made.
His body suddenly felt weak and sore. The energy he had just mustered by the Mind-Cleansing Mantra vanished abruptly. Wen Su's chest burned like fire. He collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at his hands.
He...can control his hands...
But why?
Why?
Wen Su wanted to shout, but his voice, hoarse to the extreme, could no longer utter a single word.
Why?!
Can anyone tell him why?!
Didn't he use a method of sacrifice?!
A hand picked up a dagger from beside him, and Wen Su's gaze followed the fair hand upwards, only to see Zhou Ziqiu's face.
When Zhou Gushan buried him, he put a lot of thought into it. The black mourning clothes were embroidered with golden cranes in gold thread. The golden cranes on the wide robe would flap their wings with the master's movements. Even the jade pendant that the young prince used to love was hung at his waist, just like his former noble status.
In this room filled with golden light, the golden threads of Zhou Ziqiu's or Zhou Qinghe's mourning clothes shimmered, appearing to Wen Su, who was lying on the ground, as if it were a miracle.
In the god's hand was a dagger.
"No..."
Realizing what Zhou Ziqiu was about to do, Wen Su shook his head violently, his eyes red-rimmed. Now covered in blood, compared to the clean-looking Zhou Ziqiu, it was hard to tell who was human and who was ghost.
"Zhou Ziqiu, no..."
Wen Su tried to get up to stop him, but his exhausted body was unable to move. The sound he made from his forcibly torn throat was broken and there was a faint taste of blood in his throat.
"Zhou Ziqiu, no, please, please don't..."
He gripped the ground with difficulty, reaching out as hard as he could to get closer to his god. Finally, with his last bit of strength, he grabbed Zhou Ziqiu's clothes. The wounds on his body tore open again with the movement, but Wen Su was oblivious. He looked at Zhou Ziqiu pleadingly, like the most devout believer hoping that his god would respond to him.
In the past, he thought that if he were ever in such a helpless situation again, he would definitely be able to break free in one fell swoop; in the past, he thought that if his loved one left him again, he would definitely try to keep her; in the past, he thought that it was better to rely on himself than on others, and that he could definitely break through any predicament—
But that was just his thought.
He was just like Xie Xingzhou, a useless person who couldn't protect the one he loved.
The ghostly markings spread from his neck to his cheeks, gradually escaping his control over his body. Zhou Ziqiu struggled to grip the dagger with all his might, and the low murmur of "Zhou Qinghe" echoed in his ears, tempting him to release the dagger. But what was clearer was Wen Su's hoarse voice.
"I'm sorry, Wen Su."
Zhou Ziqiu's voice was mixed with another person's voice, and it was somewhat rough.
“Zhou Qinghe is one with me. If I do not die, he will consume the bloodshed I have committed.”
Then let them die!
Wen Su never considered himself a savior, nor did he think that the world's people had anything to do with him. The only person he cared about was Zhou Ziqiu, the one he loved. If he could, he would give up all the lives of others to exchange for Zhou Ziqiu, even if it was like a moth flying into a flame.
But he knew that Zhou Ziqiu, whom he knew, didn't like this.
"No... I can help you... I'll give you my body..."
If dying once isn't enough, then die again, twice, three times, he'll eventually die.
Zhou Ziqiu smiled and slowly shook his head: "Wen Su, no."
He held the dagger to his own neck; his body had long since stopped breathing, yet tears still fell—it was truly strange.
Zhou Ziqiu's gaze softened, looking through Wen Su's body as if he were looking at another person: "Live on, live well with the person you love."
Wen Su understood Zhou Ziqiu's gaze. He could tell what Zhou Ziqiu was thinking at a glance. His emotions were running high, and his voice was hoarse: "I fucking like you!!"
"--What?"
Zhou Ziqiu was stunned.
What did Wen Su say? Who is the person he likes?
"I said, the person I like is you." Wen Su's breathing was rapid and his voice was hoarse. Large dark shadows had appeared in front of him. The longer he stayed down there, the less oxygen there would be, not to mention other factors. But there was something more important to say and do.
“I know, I know you and Xie Xingzhou, and I know I am Xie Xingzhou’s reincarnation.” Wen Su paused, shook his head, and gasped for breath before barely regaining his senses. “But don’t mistake me for him.”
"I'm not him! I'm Wen Su!"
After the outburst, another bout of coughing ensued. Wen Su tried to stand up, but found that he couldn't even move his arm; his five fingers were still tightly gripping Zhou Ziqiu's clothes.
Zhou Ziqiu was surprised that Wen Su knew everything. Had he been pretending not to know all along? Where did he slip up? Was it just based on what he saw at the boundary between Yin and Yang?
But the current situation didn't allow Zhou Ziqiu to think any further. He tightened his grip on the dagger: "...I'm sorry."
Wen Su is right. Xie Xingzhou is Xie Xingzhou, and he is himself. From beginning to end, only he himself was not clear-headed.
"Stay, okay? Stay, I'll help you."
Hearing Zhou Ziqiu's words, Wen Su looked at him hopefully again. He would find a way, he would find a way.
But Zhou Ziqiu shook his head again, though he smiled, his voice tinged with tears.
"I'm sorry, Wen Su, I'm not worthy of your affection."
But you are indeed a very charming person, and if I were the complete me, I would definitely fall in love with you too.
But I can't do that now; it's too selfish.
After saying that, Zhou Ziqiu smiled and plunged the dagger into his own neck.
He had praised the dagger several times, saying that a dagger stained with human blood was full of evil and was a good weapon for killing ghosts. Sure enough, it could even kill him, a ghost who had been dead for a thousand years.
If there is an afterlife, it would be best if I could meet you. But if I can't, you should find someone you like and live your life well. Promise me, don't wait, don't look for someone.
However, it seems that vengeful ghosts are all scattered after they die.
His body fell straight to the ground with a heavy thud. Wen Su seemed to see nothing. He scrambled to his feet, picked up Zhou Ziqiu, and called out blankly, "Zhou Ziqiu?"
"Little beauty?"
"What’s wrong with you?"
His heart was throbbing with pain, but Wen Su couldn't feel anything. He stared blankly at Zhou Ziqiu, tears streaming down his face, dripping onto the pale face of the person in his arms, only to be wiped away by a dirty hand.
"Why are you crying, my little beauty? Don't cry..."
He didn't understand why Zhou Ziqiu was crying, and when he reached out to wipe away the tears, even more tears fell.
He must have cried.
But why is there blood?
Wen Su slowly touched his face, only to find his hand covered in blood.
Ah, it's his blood.
No, we can't let the blood touch the little beauty. He's so clean; he'll get angry if it gets dirty.
He frantically reached out to wipe Zhou Ziqiu's face, but he couldn't see anything.
"Hahahahahahaha..." Wen Su was stunned, but suddenly burst out laughing. His voice, which had been completely cut off, silently asked, "Why?"
Why did he have to go through all this?
Why couldn't he fight against this powerless fate?
Why did it end up like this?
If I had acted more serious when I first met Zhou Ziqiu, would he not have left me?
What did I say at the time?
"Hey, we're one short for this game, wanna join me?"
"Shall we get to know each other? My name is Wen Su."
"Look, true beauty lies in the bone structure, not just the skin. Even without the skin, your beauty can still be seen."
And what?
"He's still a hopeless romantic."
Inside the room, a thunderous shout rang out: "Zhou Gushan!"
In the sky, where no one is watching, the images are projected on their own, like a revolving lantern.
Zhou Qinghe was emaciated, his white prison uniform was filthy, and his eyes were empty like a pool of stagnant water. He was carried by his attendants to the execution ground, listening to the curses of the people around him.
The person sitting on the throne could not be seen in expression; only his calm voice rang out: "Execute."
Upon hearing this word, Zhou Qinghe finally twitched the corners of his mouth, seemingly out of joy at being relieved, or perhaps out of amusement at being falsely accused.
Amidst the sound of flesh tearing and the reflection of the guards' longswords, the once most favored prince in the palace fell into a pool of blood.
In his unseeing pupils, a foot appeared that no one else could see. Who was this person? Zhou Ziqiu later forgot his face. He only knew that the person said something that he had kept for a thousand years.
"Wait for me, I will come to save you."
If Zhou Ziqiu could see the revolving lantern after his death, or if Wen Su, who had fainted from exhaustion, could see it, they would surely recognize this person.
Because this person is Xie Xingzhou.
————
The rumbling vibrations continued, but since everyone was fast asleep, only one person noticed them all.
He knew what caused the tremor, and looking up at the night sky, tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
"Xiao Qiu, it's time to come out."
"If you don't come out soon, it will be dawn."
He slowly closed his eyes, more tears sliding down his cheeks. He murmured in a choked voice, and after a moment, he hummed softly, just like the song that person sang to him when he was a child.
The wind blows gently... the grass bends low...
"Our baby needs to sleep... needs to sleep..."
A golden glow shone over the distant mountains; dawn had broken.
18:58:42
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