Ultimate Note: You Are Worthy

Tying Losing Ends

Wu Xie/Xiao Hua

A few days after the ordeal at Banai, most of the group returned to the city to receive better treatment for their multiple injuries, however, as Zhang Qiling was not a fan of hospitals, after a general check-up and nothing serious was found, Wu Xie decided it was best for both of them to simply lie in their beds at home and recover there.

Wu Xie's ribs and back were sore, but thankfully there was no fracture or splint, while Xiaoge's headaches got better after a full day of rest, so there was nothing to really worry about for now. However, Wu Xie still had some things to do, so after some painkillers, he went to meet up with Xiao Hua and Xiu Xiu to deliver Fairy Huo's final words to the young woman who might now face her own storm.

When they returned to Banai, they were so exhausted that Wu Xie forgot about Fairy Huo's letter and only remembered it when he was going through his clothes and bag to see what he had left from the trip. Both Pangzi and Xiaoge had done the same on their own and Wu Xie had a suspicion that those pills that First Zhang had told him about, were the reason why Xiaoge's recovery was speed up compared to how bad it was when he was in Tamutuo.

There were many things he wanted to ask Xiaoge, one of them being whether he had regained all his memories and about the door that the first Zhang had mentioned. Was it the door that Xiaoge had entered a year ago when he had so suddenly disappeared for quite some time? What was there that needed to be guarded and why Xiaoge? Why the Zhang's? Were there more secrets of the Queen Mother in the north? How was that possible and who were the Wangs anyways?

All of those questions, along with his natural curiosity, were hard to control, as both Xiaoge and he were still recovering and he knew better than to delve too deeply into Xiaoge's past or secrets. When he was younger, he had wanted nothing more than to know all of his secrets, but now it was different. Wu Xie's love for him tamed his desire to know and make him want for Xiaoge to feel that being with him was a kind of heaven he could always enjoy, not a prison where he was constantly interrogated and used, like everyone else had been before.

He loved the man more than his curiosity, more than his desire to seek answers, and most importantly to him, he knew that Xiaoge would stay. Yes, Xiaoge needed to deal with his Zhang's problems and duties, he had his tomb-raiding jobs that could take him away for days, weeks, or even months, but as long as Xiaoge felt like he had a home to return to, Wu Xie was content. Although Wu Xie had to admit that he would have liked Xiaoge to take him on his future travels as well... but then again, those were always Xiaoge's decisions now.

"I'm sorry, Xiu Xiu... there really was nothing we could do to save her. What was inside that mountain was far more than we all expected, more than traps and secret keepers, we encountered too many monsters and more questions than answers. In the end, we returned empty-handed and injured with half a mountain destroyed in the process. We were lucky to make it out alive... you should know that..." Wu Xie said to Xiu Xiu and handed the bloody letter to the woman, whose hand trembled as she took it.

"We'll give you a moment to yourself Xiu Xiu, once you finish reading it, you know where to find us..." Xiao Hua said softly as he signaled Wu Xie and Pangzi to return with him.

It was decided that it was better to deliver the letter to Xiu Xiu at Xiao Hua's house instead of going to the Huo residence, because the family was now struggling with the succession of the next family head instead of mourning, like Xiu Xiu was.

"Do you think that Fairy Huo named her as the next head in that letter?" Pangzi asked as they walked back to Xiao Hua's small opera theater.

"No, I don't think she would have name her the next head in a personal letter that no one other than Xiu Xiu will acknowledge." Xiao Hua answer.