"So now that we've decided to pretend that we're all phoenixes. Who will be the one to go?"
Wu Chen's question brought silence back to the Cloud Garden. For a while, no one spoke. It seemed Liu Wenji had words, but she was not ready to speak.
So, time passed silently, as if there was no rush.
"Senior Duo Wen, would you grant your little sister a favor?"
"Oh?"
"Will you assist this weak Saint in being conduits for the formation?"
"Sister?"
Both Duo Wen and Liu Wenji ignored the soft interruption.
Duo Wen cupped his chin and thought for a moment.
"Is it necessary? Our forces will fall even faster."
"The Wayfaring Saint beseeches the Living Forest."
A deep chuckle resounded out.
"I heard you guys had said that we would need to, 'throw our babies at our enemies.' It seems we will need to stack them into a wall. Just to gain the last few seconds for this plan of yours."
"We'll be killing them all regardless"
Feng Yue's retort brought a heavy silence. And Liu Wenji slumped down. Idly she twirled her hand through her short, messy, silver hair.
"We have no choice."
"Killing is killing, regardless of the cause behind it. Death is death whether it is brought by a "just" piercer or a "corrupt" shakujo."
Feng Yue's eyes moved from Liu Wenji to Wu Chen but seeing the Northern Fox smile. He chose to just close his eyes instead.
"Philosophy, Little Sun, a philosophy that's worth dog shit. We are doing what we want, within our limit, as all beings do. Justifying it by saying its what we must."
Wu Chen's smile deepened, and Feng Yue could see it even with his eyes closed. So, he turned his attention elsewhere.
"But even what I just said is philosophy and is worth dog shit. Just like your words."
Power crackled across the room and the room brightened as if the sun had risen. Blinding light filled the room and Feng Yue's appearance turned into a glowing reflection of Wu Chen.
The light dimmed and was pushed down by an invisible pressure. Crackling sounds echoed out as the invisible power was revealed once more.
And just like before a third power, a third pressure crashed down. And everything was still.
A distortion of murkiness in the image of blood was coughed up by Wu Chen. Taking a black embroider handkerchief he dabbed at the blood. After absorbing it the handkerchief turned into a dirty, wrinkled, ancient, threadbare rag.
A creature from Wu Chen shadowed then rose up and devoured it.
"Wu Chen."
Xuan Yi's voice was clear and gentle and so Wu Chen knew he was treading the line. He raised his hands in surrender and sighed.
"I'm just trying to be lively. Our Seniors are no longer here to do so."
"I wonder what they would say of my plan."
"They abandoned us and rushed to their death. It is not the dead's place to dictate the living's fate."
"Feng Yue."
Hearing Xuan Yi, Feng Yue raised his hands like Wu Chen. A wry smile on his face.
"Duo Wen and Liu Wenji are out due to being conduits. An emperor has no need to lie. If I'm chosen, I will prioritize the Ning Empire above all else."
"Are you still an emperor when your nations been destroyed? Well if we're being honest and if you want to trust the words of a liar. Then I must say, I'm a simple fox whose heart will always belong to the North."
Wu Chen gave a hopeless shrug as he ignored Ning Yao's angry glare. Then his expression changed. His eyes on Xuan Yi he continued.
"And I suppose if prioritizing a select group. When one must unite the world is frowned upon. I assume our Crystal Phoenix knows it is also not suited to this task."
Xuan Yi's warm smile met Wu Chen who had already returned to a fox smile.
"Brother is more than right. Though I had never thought I would be like this. I would give my all to ensure that I would never be the last of my clan again."
"So, it seems that I'm the only one suited."
"Indeed, Little Sun, only you have an untainted heart."
"Maybe we should call you the new 'Light of Dawn.'"
"Why be the Light when I'm already the Sun?"
"Did your title make you arrogant or were you always arrogant?"
"Its confidence."
"Oi, do you think he was arrogant as a baby."
Soft laughter rang out, but it died quickly.
"He will be now."