The person that had been suspected of having secret affections, doubled over in the River of Forgetfulness and clutched his chest. This Xiang Yu! Did he have to stab him with that sword? Couldn't he have just thrown him out?
Ugh. Well, he should have expected this. Even though that guy normally didn't behave too crazily, he could be set off and react violently. Hadn't he already experienced that once or twice? Looking at his memories … He should have known this would upset him. Then again, he had no other choice. What 'you could have asked'? He first needed to find him to be able to ask and wasn't that what he had wanted to do in the first place?
"Senior Xin Lan!" Shun Tao hurried over and grabbed his shoulder, trying to take a look at his face. Seeing it all scrunched up, he furrowed his brows. "What happened?" He grabbed the hand that Xin Lan had pressed against his chest but was thrown off.
"It's alright."
"Are you … are you sure?" There was blood flowing out! Could you really call this 'alright'?
Xin Lan nodded and got up again. This wasn't the first time he had gotten injured. It wasn't even the worst. He had just been surprised and, well, being injured while being connected to the Pulse of Life wasn't a simple matter either. Naturally, there would be some backlash for using it and then losing control. "It's nothing. I just forgot to consider that fallen gods carry the Mark of Wisdom. They're tied to the High Heavens. Naturally, he would notice if I take a look at his memories." He motioned to the riverbank and stepped forward, still clutching his chest.
Shun Tao blanked. There was such a thing? How come he had never heard of this? He followed Xin Lan out of the river and thought about it but couldn't come up with anything. Well, it wasn't like much about the fallen gods was known. Most likely, even Senior Xin Lan only knew about this because he had lived for so long. He might have come about this piece of information accidentally.
The two of them reached the riverbank. Xin Lan lowered his hand and glanced at the wound on his chest. Ah, this would probably take a while to heal …
"Mn … Senior Xin Lan … About that fallen god …" Shun Tao paused but didn't get an answer. Ah, why did things always have to be so difficult? "Senior Xin Lan, since you had to stop, how will you find out about that fallen god now?"
Xin Lan narrowed his eyes and stared back into the direction of the capital. Indeed, how would he find him now? He certainly couldn't … just go and look around? He put a hand to his forehead and shook his head. That Xiang Yu had often vanished for months and they had both lived in the palace for years. There was no place where he had seen him more often than others and he was positive that he knew every nook and cranny of that place. After all, he had often done things for Jin Ling there. In which case … he should have known if a fallen god lived in one of those rooms.
But he had to be somewhere there. Wasn't there any clue in those memories? But the only things he had seen were that trail of blood, that man that had addressed him as brother-in-law, and that head. Mn?
Xin Lan straightened up. Right! He should start with that. After all, he did know one person that was likely related to this person. He gave a smile and turned to Shun Tao. "Don't worry. I wasn't able to see much of it but there is at least some. I'll go and follow those clues for now. Thank you for your help." He turned away and wanted to leave but Shun Tao called out to him.
"Senior Xin Lan! You're still hurt. Shouldn't you let that get treated?"
Xin Lan stopped. Treated … "Yes, I … I should. Thank you for reminding me." With that, he left the Nine Heavens.
The Fate's Scribe looked at his leaving figure and frowned. What did he mean? He should and thank you? Then why was he leaving if he understood? He shook his head and hurried back to the Heavenly Emperor's palace.
Rong Su had been waiting for news. He stood up from his throne and stared at Shun Tao as soon as he stepped through the gate. "How is it? Did you find something? Do you know where Jing He is?"
Shun Tao coughed, cupped his hands and bowed. "Not yet, Your Majesty, but Senior Xin Lan found some clues from that fallen god's memories and went to follow them. We will likely receive news about His Highness soon."
"Ah. Thankfully!" The Heavenly Emperor fall back down onto his thrown. So his son would be safe soon.
Shun Tao nodded. "Mn, there's just one thing …"
"What is it?"
"That fallen god … noticed that Senior Xin Lan tried to find something out. I don't know what exactly happened but Senior Xin Lan was injured."
The Heavenly Emperor raised his brows. The fallen god had noticed what happened? But then … "Did Senior Xin Lan say anything about Jing He? Will he be in danger now?"
"Uh … I don't know. He didn't mention anything."
Rong Su leaped up again and paced up and down in front of his throne. Ah, how could this have happened! They finally had a lead to find his son but now something like this had happened! Would Jing He never be able to live in peace? He closed his eyes and sighed. "Alright, I know now. You can go back to your palace. Should Senior Xin Lan need your help again, you don't need to come here. Just help him."
Shun Tao nodded and left the throne room.
The Heavenly Emperor continued to stand in front of his throne and looked up at the ceiling. "You really want to make his life miserable for what my family did, don't you? But he's innocent. All of that … was so long ago and Jing He already had it difficult growing up. Can't you … just let him off already?"
He continued to look up but there was no answer and naturally, he wouldn't suddenly receive news that his son was saved. No, he couldn't hope for a miracle. It just didn't work that way.