Fated Souls

FS :; 4

The puddle of water lay motionless for a few incense just as a gust of wind blew through them coming from the ocean itself. Shi Qingxuan was starting to get hopeless, heart sinking and about to just kneel infront of the water when the said water suddenly formed into a whole man again. He blinks up, the man stares down at him. "He-xiong?"

"Have you gone stupid?"

Shi Qingxuan blinks again, surprised. "No?" The devastation does not answer so he continues. "You have helped me in my one century of a journey to rise up again in heaven. I... this - I... I don't own this fate." He fumbles with his words as he lowers down his gaze, feeling unworthy to look at the supreme ghost king's lifeless eyes.

"And what made you think that?" Tone cold and void of even sympathy, Shi Qingxuan wasn't sure why he was expecting atleast pity. "What made you think the fate you have now isn't yours?"

"My fate was never mine, He-xiong. My past fate, it was supposed to be yours. You were supposed to be the wind master isn't?" Shi Qingxuan mumbles, taking a deep breath as his eyes moistens with his unshed tears. "I haven't known then, but I know now. I wish to atleast switch fates. Let me suffer the consequences. I am not deserving of my position in heaven. I don't deserve worshippers. I - you deserve to be a god you rightfully should have been."

He Xuan just stares. Stares so coldly Shi Qingxuan could feel the chill run down his spine even if he hasn't looked up. Shi Qingxuan waits. Felt like he did for an entire eternity as the wind continues to tease him, slap him with reality he should never control the wind again.

Alas, came the response. "You want to suffer the consequences?"

Shi Qingxuan did not hesitate. "Yes. I only-"

"Then the consequences you shall recieve."

Xie Lian watched in worry as Black Water swiftly pushes a palm right through the wind master's chest, knocking him straight off unconscious and gently picks him up, lifting him from the ground before he turns to where they stood. "What are you going to do with him now?" Xie Lian couldn't help but ask.

The devastation merely stares again. Nodding mutely before a tidal wave suddenly drowns the two. Leave not even a drop of their presence once the water had calmed back down and Xie Lian looks at his husband.

"Whatever it is Black Water does to him now is none of my business, gege." Hua Cheng gives him an apologetic smile. "I don't know either."

━━༻••༺━━

Shi Qingxuan doesn't know how long he'd been staring into the vast sea. The cold, yet peaceful ocean that continues to crash against each wave. Alluring chill of the water as he hugs his knees.

He remembers the last time he stared at this particular spot of the ocean. The darkest of the waters that could be found in the domain of Ship Sinking Black Water that was now renowned as the water tyrant. He remembers his panicking, and worrying brother when he couldn't find Shi Qingxuan. Remembers how Shi Wudu even tried to fight with Black Water just to save him.

He couldn't help but laugh to himself. For all Shi Wudu's cold treatment, Shi Qingxuan knew now the length of his brother's love could reach. To even do such atrocity just for Shi Qingxuan to ascend with him. He shakes his head as he glance down at his fan.

He wonders why he was here. Free to leave the Nether Manor and free to do anything he wanted. He wonders why he wasn't chained up. Why he wasn't starved and why he wasn't beaten up.

He wonders where the only person he could talk to was.

Perhaps He Xuan was tired of his voice. His constant nagging, his constant rambling, and continues stream of nothing but nonsensical words.

He snorts. For all of the "friends" he had made throughout the eight centuries of being an ignorant god, it was always Ming Yi that had stayed with him, endured his annoying pesterings even if it were only because said Ming Yi wasn't Ming Yi at all.

Then he wonders what the real Ming Yi would have been. Would the real Ming Yi have stayed with him too? Just like how He Xuan did in his form? He couldn't help but feel pity on the real Earth Master that wasn't able to atleast feel being a god for a second. The opportunity and title deprived right off him.

Shi Qingxuan feels even more guilty upon realising he ruined two elemental gods' lives and one supposed to be god. Because of him, the former water master died, and because of him, the earth master's skeleton was sitting in the Nether Manor's dining room.

He wonders if it was still there.

He wasn't able to pay his respects before when he saw it first, not knowing who it was. Maybe he could check it now. Then if it was, he could also ask for forgiveness.

Though, he hadn't had his chance once a cloak fell ontop of his head.

He looks up and sees the devastation standing beside him, looking straight infront and hands clasped behind him. Shi Qingxuan smiles gratefully at the black cloak he recieved, draping it carefully around him as if it was a delicate jewel instead. "Thank you."

He didn't recieve any response.

"May I know why you're still doing this?"

"This what?" He Xuan sits down, leaving atleast a three people space between them and Shi Qingxuan swallows the urge to cry, remembering the times when he was allowed to sit so close to his Ming-xiong.

"Why aren't you punishing me yet?"

"This is your punishment."

Shi Qingxuan tilts his head in confusion, baffled as he almost gapes at the ghost king, refusing to do so as not to look like a fish. "But... how could this be my punishment? This... what?"

He didn't hear another response and he sighs. "Why won't you let me die?" It was a straightforward question, yet it was also the question he had yearned the answer for.

He wasn't at all surprised when he didn't hear another word and almost gives up entirely in trying to converse when He Xuan suddenly huffs.

"I don't intend to kill anymore people that was innocent." He replies flatly, as if it should have been obvious enough.

Which, for Shi Qingxuan, was not obvious. He Xuan was once known as the Ship Sinker for a reason. He shipped sinks that dared touch even an inch of his domain, even if it didn't do anything to him personally. How was that not killing the innocent?

"But I'm not innocent." Shi Qingxuan turns to him. "I'm a thief. I stole your fate."

"Shi Wudu stole my fate."

Shi Qingxuan winces at the mention of his late brother. "To give it to me." He whispers, gripping the strings of the cloak. "I'm not innocent. Why aren't you killing me?"

"Not all wishes can be fulfilled." He Xuan snaps, abruptly standing up as he glares at the wind master, and Shi Qingxuan's heart began to drop. "You of all people should know that."

Shi Qingxuan hurries to his feet once he sees the latter already moving back toward where he came from. He didn't want this conversation to end. Not yet. Not when they went this far, deep into the words where it hurt but also sends relief. "Wait, He-xiong, I-" He stops, no more supreme ghost king infront of him and he falls to his knees again as he realizes the punishment He Xuan had meant.

Not all wishes can be fulfilled. You of all people should know that.

"I want to die."

"Dream on."