Fu Hai circled around the two. Buo groaned. "Can you stop it?" Buo muttered, glaring at Fu Hai, who turned to look at him. Here we go. "Stop what? Actually being productive?" Yao Wang doesn't understand how Jing Mei could deal with them. He wasn't irritated, instead more annoyed. Well, those are the same things, aren't they? "How are you being productive by walking?" "It's more productive then what you're doing, isn't it?" Fu Hai countered. "So His Highness isn't being productive?"
"Please don't bring me into this."
Yao Wang, Fu Hai, and Buo we're all still at Tao Wu's temple, waiting for the gods to take the ghost girl. However, they had less been focused on the girl and more relaxed. At least, that's what Yao Wang has been accomplishing. Suddenly, before Fu Hai and Buo could fight anymore, a walk of gold appeared before them. A portal from a different realm. Heaven to be exact. Three people stepped out, the port shutting behind them.. Tao Wu, Chao Ju, and Jing Mei. Yao Wang and Buo scramble to their feet to bow to the three standing in front of them. TO Wu still had on his regular hanfu, which wasn't that regular at all. Chao Ju wore a similar one, only with gold And black instead of with white.
Tao Wu, with hands behind his back, walked up to them. "Where is the ghost?" He asked. Fu Hai pointed towards the door, where the ghost girl was tied up. Tao Wu turned behind him, looking towards the door. "Where is she?" Yao Wang furrowed his eyebrows. She was right- oh. Yao Wang ran up to the person. It wasn't Da Hong, it was just a dead body. "The ghost escaped…" Fu Hai mumbled. There was no one hiding in the body, no soul left. Da Hong replaced herself with the body of the girl. He could hear Jing Mei sigh from where he was standing.
His one chance was gone.
Yao Wang swiftly turned, walking directly at Tao Wu. His steps changed from clatter to clicks as he altered back into Hsien Lian. His hair grew to the original god's length, ending down his back. His cheongsam turned into a hanfu, the veil disappearing to reveal his sharp jaw and red lips. He fell to his knees, bowing before Tao Wu. "Give me another chance, please." Maybe he wasn't supposed to be a god, maybe that's what destiny had for him. But if he was going to live in heaven, he needed to try his hardest to be a god. For Hsien Lian, just being a noble isn't high enough for himself.
Is anything enough?
Tao Wu sighed, shaking his head lightly. "Hsien Lian, it was such a simple mission. I expected you to do it with ease." No no no no. "I understand that sir, but just one more chance." Hsien Lian begged once more, standing up from his full bow. Tao Wu had a disappointed look on his face. Was this it for him? No more chances? He deserves it. Game gives everyone three lives, no matter who they are. No matter who raised you. "Hsien Lian, as I have said, this was your last chance."
"I'll get her. I don't know where she went or who she'll kill next. But I'll track her down myself and find her."
Tao Wu didn't seem like he believed Hsien Lian at all. His lips were straight in a line, and his eyes pierced through Lian's skull, but he still stood there, staring back at the king. Tao Wu sighed, turning his attention to Fang Hai and Chen Guo. They both must have also altered when Hsien Lian had done so. "Thank you for your time, that will be all." Tao Wu dismissed. Buo nodded, starting to walk away, but Fu Hai grabbed his wrist, pulling Chen Guo back.
"Uh, sir. Actually, I think we'll stay. It was our fault that Da Hong got away. We were both too busy arguing to actually notice her gone. Hsien Lian was the only one that actually was focusing on her." Fang Hai explained. Hsien didn't nod his head or agree, he just softly smiled. "Fang Hai's right. He only stopped to yell at us for arguing. Hsien Lian was serious about this mission, it was our fault that the ghost got away."
For as irritating as those two could be, they can really be a helping hand.
"He should be given a second chance. To be honest, you should be yelling at us, not Hsien Lian." Buo finished. Tao Wu glanced at Hsien Lian for a moment, before back at the two gods. He rubbed his face, sighing. "Fine, I will give you one more shot. That's it. You were still the leader on this. You should have paid more attention. Still, this is the last chance I will give you. Bring the ghost in. Ok?" Hsien Lian smiled, bowing quickly. "Thank you. So much."
Tao Wu only hummed, beginning to walk towards the door. "Wait, I have a question about something." Hsien Lian knew that now wasn't the best time to talk to Tao Wu about this, but it might be the only time in a while. Tao Wu turned around. "Yes?"
"While I was alone, I saw this man. He was dressed like one of Heaven's Deities. Black long hair, a red layered hanfu, pale skin. He also had only one glove on." Tao Wu thought for a moment, shaking his head. "Just a human, Hsien Lian. Nothing to worry about-" "Human's can't control plants like he could. His steps made the world behind him go straight to fall. The leaves browned and fell from the sky." Hsien Lian rambled on about this mysterious man, trying to get in all the details.
Chen Guo turned to Jing Mei. "You don't think it's…." He whispered, going quiet before he said a name. Tao Wu lightly nodded his head. "Did you see any sign of him... something you have been seeing recently. A butterfly perhaps.." Hsien Lian nodded. So they knew who he was talking about? Jing Mei clicked her tongue. "Jing Mei?" Tao Wu said, turning to her.
"I can handle this. You shouldn't waste your time explaining this. I can do just fine." She smiled. Tao Wu and Chao Ju nodded, stepping away from the group. In one swift movement Chao ju opened a golden portal, the two gods stepping through. Fang Hai turned to Hsien Lian. "You saw a man, and you didn't tell us?" Fang Hai started, before scoffing. Chen Guo started doing the same. "Yeah, I'm honestly hurt." He holds his heart. Jing Mei turned to them, giving each a glare to be quiet, before turning back to Hsien Lian.
"The man you saw, he had his glove on, right? On the left hand?" Hsien Lian nodded softly. "Yeah, he's left. His right had a bandage on it." Jing Mei furrowed her eyebrows. But even then, she still slightly nodded her head. "I know who you saw." Jing Mei said simply. Hsien Lian's eyes brightened. "Who?" He asked curiously.
"Ning Huo."
That name didn't ring a bell. Ning Huo, Hsien Lian have never heard of a name like that. Fang Hai groaned as Chen Guo started to snicker. "Whose that?" Ning Huo, huh. Such an interesting name. "Ning Huo used to be a human. Until at six years old, he was sent to The Ghost Realm. Where somehow, he escaped." The Ghost Realm, the place no one could escape. How could such a young boy do that?
"He was….. Mischievous. And very smart. Knew about everything, who lived, who died. However, he was also very powerful. Those butterflies you saw, they are called Diamond Butterflies. They are made-" "Out of diamond?" Diamonds themselves are very hard to make naturally. But for a god to make them instantly, it's near impossible. So how could a ghost do it? And turn it into a living creature?
"He played small tricks on the gods, mostly as a way to get revenge for pushing him to The Ghost Realm. He asked for-" Fang Hai dramatically flopped to the floor, making both Jing Mei and Hsien Lian look at him. Jing Mei shook her head. "Don't tell that part. Please, Jing Mei." Chen Guo just snickered even more, using his gold and black fan. "Please say it, it's hilarious."
"Shut up Guo."
"Why, cause you don't want anyone to know you got-"
"Shut up!"
Jing Mei sighed, whispering something under her breath. The two god's argument stopped completely. Fang Hai's hand went to his mouth, but Chen Guo just frowned. Silence spell, perfect. "Ning Huo challenged 100 different gods from many different regions, however all were Melee Gods. He beat 99 of them, including-``''Just a wild guess, is it Fang Hai." Jing Mei smiled and nodded. Fang Hai stormed up to the two, glaring at both of them.
Hsien Lian lightly patted Fang Hai's shoulder. "It's ok, you weren't the only god who wasn't able to beat a ghost." Hsien Lian teased. Fang Hai pushes him away. "In Fang Hai's defense, Ning Huo was incredibly powerful. He has a horrifying legend that most ghosts know about him. He was a really evil man. You shouldn't go anywhere near him."
Hsien Lian frowned when he heard how Jing Mei had described Ning Huo. Maybe they had gotten the wrong man. How could that man help Hsien Lian? "He probably approached you because he wanted something from you. So be careful. If you see him-" "Run away. I already know Jing Mei." He smiled. Jing Mei sighed but nodded her head. "Well, Fang Hai, Chen Guo, let's leave." Fang Hai and Chen Guo frowned but nodded, stepping into the portal.
Leaving Hsien Lian in the darkness, all alone.
Again.