Flash back
Few months before the war
Xhou walked inside the vast valley which was filled dried trees and vegetation, he kicks every dried bones of both humans and animals he came across " How does he cope in this valley?" he groaned still knocking the bones out of his way before he finally enters a path filled with darkness and dim light.
If not that he knew Weng Xing more than anyone else, he could have agreed with everyone's perception that Weng Xing was indeed an evil being. What normal human being stays up in the valley of dead bones and darkness? A white smoke afar averts his attention showing a clear way to an inner place concealed by black tailsman.
" Weng Xing" he called his eyes fixed on a direct red spotlight emerging from an old hut " WENG XING" he called again with authority attracting the summoned behind the hut, he frowned slightly before tearing the tailsman for Xhou to enter.
Although the outside might be clouded with darkness but the inside was bright as daylight, Xhou observed the place as Weng Xing replaced another black tailsman to avoid entry from outsiders " Weng Xing" He heard Xhou call turning to him " I have been busy Xhou and this place has helped me alot during my invention and creation" Weng weakly replied before walking down to the hut with Xhou trailing behind.
" What is this?" Xhou asked Weng Xing when he saw swords scattered around the place " Taking over my dead father, he created powerful First class tools and weapons" Weng weakly replied bending to pack the beautifully engraved swords. He looked pale and yet acted cool around Xhou,so he won't worry about him " you are sick" Xhou observed trying to touch his forehead which Weng Xing slapped off.
" I am okay" he smiled weakly at the angered Xhou " You are sick, you are in trouble and yet you make stupid weapons for who?" Xhou yelled making Weng to smile bitterly " why are you here?" he asked avoiding the question " You...." xhou held back his words in anger before flapping his sleeves.
Weng Xing has changed in one month of staying in this forbidden place and it really angered him more " Weng Xing, you are in danger and you still act calm" Xhou snapped his eyes filled with burning anger. He heard Weng Xing chuckle silently before looking up at him and replying " An innocent man doesn't need to be scared like a villian" and Xhou clenched his sword hilt glaring fire at Weng Xing " and that's what makes it worst, the innocent panick while the villains don't and you Sit here making swords" his desperate tone was becoming harsh and rude, shocking Weng Xing a bit.
" Hehe, Xhou I have warned you to stop dragging yourself into my mess" he yelled" I am tired of having a chunk of guilt in me anytime you keep defending me, Xhou let me fight my battle alone!" he kept yelling causing Xhou's face to drop " All you owe me is just taking care of Xhan and that's all" He calmly said before pinching his forehead in pain.
He aroused the hidden pain and emotions in Xhou and his eyes were filled with hurt due to Weng Xing's outburst " Good, Good" he finally said after finding his lost voice " Die then and perish alone" tears flowed from his eyes and his words pierced Weng's heart like a double edged sword. Was his decision due to anger going to ruin their three years friendship? His whole body vibrated as he tried holding his tears, he watched the disheartened Xhou storm out of the place while he stood staring at door like his world has been broken like a glass.
* * * ....* * *
The thunderstorm appeared at the right time for Weng Xing to be drenched by the heavy rainpour that mixed with his tears. He stood under the rain yelling like a mad man as he cried " Why me? why?" he cried out again falling on his knees as his words kept ringing continously in his ears. The lightning struck showing it understood his pains but the rain wasn't merciful as it kept beating the hell out of Weng Xing " It's my war" he kept muttering before he choked all of a sudden, he clutched tightly against his chest coughing out blood as his heart kept gasping for breath.
" My internal injuries have started again" he gasped as his head became red due to suffocation, he crawls trying to hold a tree but he was late. His body became still and gave away to unconsciousness while the rain bathed him with more despair.
* * * ....* * *
" XHOU" the elders called immediately his foot stepped into the Heavenly Realm " Where have you been since daylight?" one of the elders asked as if catching a thief red handed but Xhou's silence replied him as he walked towards his table to sit " Elder Brother Xhou " Liu Qu who has been waiting for him saluted before sitting beside him.
" How dare you ignore Elder Fang?" another clan leader asked yet his question was left hanging only igniting the burning furnace in them " Ever since you became a white Cultivator, you have lost manners and etiquette" the latter yelled " As if I have always had any" Xhou calmly replied astonishing everyone including his father " You" the elder pointed at him lacking words, how dare this child!
" You went to see that evil child didn't you?" another elder asked and Xhou's usual silence replied making all of them to gnash their teeth in fury. " You" Elder Fan tried to hit Xhou but Liu countered the attack with eyes filled with anger " You are not qualified to punish him if you haven't reached his level of cultivation" he snapped making everyone to stand back.
Xhou held him back " You could have left him to check whether he would use that arm again" he calmly but audibly said surprising all of them except his father who knew what his son was capable of and Liu Qu gave a nod before sitting down.
Noone had the courage to question him but they ought to do this after all
" Where is Weng Xing?"
" You keep saving that bastard"
" Hand him over or you will tagged a traitor"
The voices of the elders were almost bursting his ear drums and making him look unclean . He gets up feeling irritated with impatience " Until your sons have such cultivation in him, you have no right to ask for his presence..... you are not worthy to say his name talk more of seeing his face" his words struck all them dumb " I take my leave" he hissed walking away in his usual posture and manner with Liu Qu following behind.
Liu abruptly stopped then turning back at them,he saluted " you are not still worthy to watch us leave" he dropped the bombshell with a smirk before walking out with Xhou who inwardly smiled. Great Elder Qing Qu wasn't wrong when he said Liu Qu was an abnormal savage, he speaks out his mind and curse whosever he wanted to not minding who you are...he was more worse than Xhan.
* * * ...* * *
" His temperature is high" he could hear voices inside his head, was it an illusion or was it real? He moves his fingers grabbing a white robe beside him " Xhou....." he called and a warm palm fell on his forehead, soothing his soul " Yes it's me,I am sorry" a soft whisper came grazing his ears, giving the safety he wanted and he weakly smiled " I am sorry too" he weakly dragged words closing his eyes again in unconsciousness.
Zhou and Mu Song hurriedly passed the bowl and towel to Xhou who dabbed his face with it with a deep look of worry in him " How long was he under the rain? was he trying to commit suicide to end it all?" Xhou's voice trembled as he dropped the bowl. Zhou and Mu Song didn't know what to reply "Three hours under the rain, We don't know but he is like that anytime you two have a beef" Mu Song let the cat of the bag making Xhou's eyes to widen.
" How?" he asked looking at them " That's what we know, once you two quarrel or disagree in some things...he drenches himself in a stream or waterfall even under the rain until he felt better" Zhou explained recalling the few times he and Mu Song visited the Qu sect only to see Weng Xing in such condition " That explains why he always goes to the spring or stream in the sect? I thought he was angry and wanted space?" Xhou asked feeling guilty all of a sudden.
" He does it whenever he has a misunderstanding with his close ones, he did it as a kid when his parents yelled at him for his mistakes and when they misunderstood him" Zhou who has been spying on weng Xing since he was born explained " It weakened him but helped in calming his depressed mind" .
Xhou didn't know what to say as his eyes moved around the unconscious Weng Xing, why does this idiot keep punishing himself for no reason? Why was he so selfish atimes but He found himself smiling at the elegant man infront of him. " He was indeed selfless and selfish at the same time, always putting others first before him" .
" Atimes it is good to be selfish, we are human beings and also need to take care of ourselves first" Zhou said looking at Mu Song with disbelief making Mu Song to snap at him, "Huh? is it bad to care about others? It's our nature and we can't help it" he snapped folding his arms. He and Weng Xing were tagged the most selfless to a fault even when in danger they are still looking out for others " The idiot will wake up and act like nothing happened, he will start asking how we are, have we eaten? what happened that we didn't sleep? did he injure us? did we this, did we that.... at least let him learn how to be selfish atimes" Zhou snorted looking away trying to hide his tears.
Even in danger, he was still protecting all of them... Hmph!
* * * .....* * *
Weng Xing stood a hill away from sharata clan, watching what was happening and how it was happening. What angered him more was the fact that that idiot of Jing Su was leading the seige while Lord Zao stayed behind.
" So what are we going to do?" Zhou asked from behind " watch them" Weng Xing replied his ears hearing the screams of innocent people " Are we not going to save them?" His inner being asked getting impatient " No , some have to die for others to be rescued" he whispered clenching his fists as he watched his clan get destroyed in his eyes.
* * * .....* * *
Xhou kicked the door to Tang Hu's room and what welcomed him was a stenching and horrid smell of a dead body hanging infront of the door " Weng Xing killed him" Liu Qu whispered so noone will hear him after noticing a faint essence around the dead body.
Everyone had searched fruitlessly for the nobles and clan leader only to discover that they have been cleared two days ago by an unknown being.
Xhou turned back heading downstairs with the disciples trailing behind, he met the other sect and clan leaders staring at each other with shocked expression and asking among themselves who had done this " We will Take the remaining cultivators captives then" Jing Su said to everyone avoiding Xhou's eyes.
" Why?" Xhan asked glaring at Jing Su who gritted his teeth " You shut up and listen to him,he is our savior and master piece of this event that's why Lord Zao allowed him take the lead" A sect leader yelled at Xhan who smriked.
" Shut up?" Liu Qu asked with an arched eyebrow, Weng Xing has really boosted the nerves in all the white cultivators and Xhou didn't say a word about it " What do you mean shut up?" another white Cultivator asked alarming the mere cultivators. All of them looked at Xhou in surprise but he never said a word as he kept searching the court of DIYU " Xhou is that how you train your disciples?" A disciple from the purple rain sect asked and everyone agreed with voices ." We are here to build justice and the holy justice themselves are causing trouble" another disciple probably from Butterfly cave of Iyi because of the white and red uniform snorted and all agreed.
" Justice? Tang Hu and his Assistants are dead, why bother the innocent inhabitants?" Another white Cultivator asked stirring up trouble.
" You bastard, what did you know?" the clan leader of the Mo clan asked and he slapped himself involuntarily making the white cultivators to look at Xhou,who acted like nothing happened. " Xhou!" the clan leader of blossom clan yelled knowing it was his work but Xhou didn't say a word to him, even tho he was his brother in law. We might not know but Xixi and her husband was killed by an unknown man before Weng Xing and Xhou's death.
At that time she was pregnant and noone till this day knew whether she had the baby or not but the present clan leader of his sister's matrimonial home was his younger brother in law.
He never paid attention to any of them and let them to be eaten raw by his disciples,He picked up a familiar scroll which the fire clan used to write letters and he slightly frowned remembering what Weng Xing had said.
" You will see the scroll that he has been using for his schemes"
All he did was to shove the scroll inside his garments without anyone looking. " Have you ever wondered that the person who killed them might come after you?" Xhan who had had enough of the pretence of Jing Su, asked smirking at the latter and making him to breath out in fear.
" What is going on here?" Lord Zao powerfully entered with his spear and golden cloak over his white robes and powerful guards all in white and golden with Spears and swords too. He also had few Guards from his brothers clans,all looking powerful and scary with the high level cultivation surrounding them.
" Father" Jing Su beamed like a child before saluting him and that word made Xhou's face to burn in intense heat, how dare this mole call him father with such a deceitful mouth?. This pretender! Weng Xing was right about this idiot and another person couldn't take it and spoke loudly " Eh? Who are you calling Father?" Liu Qu asked disgusted by him and his pretense. His sudden outburst made everyone to be astonished, noone had seen a white Cultivator like this and what was actually happening?
" What happened to the Qu sect all of a sudden?"
" Maybe keeping the disciple of Weng Xing alive was a crime, look he has really planted their seeds in them" and a dagger flew straight to the disciple's neck dropping him dead.
Everyone paincked unsheathing their swords to attack the unknown man but Liu Qu's laughter distracted them, damn! this guy was everything but crazy. " Huh? scared already? You just insulted Weng Xing and Xhou's child and you expect him to live... hmph! who gave you such mentality? have you forgotten you are in Weng Xing's clan?".
His question made them painck more apart from Lord Zao who was just here to answer present and see things for himself, " How dare you evil child!" another disciple from another clan yelled and another flying dagger killed him instantly increasing their fear and lack of safety in them.
Xhou shook his head in disbelief and amusement, " Just keep quiet before all of you gets us killed" he snapped with eyes glaring and finally shutting everyone up expect one person. " What is the scroll of fire clan doing here?" Xhan of course exclaimed, feigning surprise when he saw Xhou pull out an empty scroll from his robes.
All eyes fell on the Xhou and the scroll while Jing's legs shook , why was he that stupid not burn this scroll?. All the guards and disciples from fire clan rushed towards Xhou to see the scroll clearly but Xhou lifted it up ," First childe, what is written there?" they asked in unison, so all these while there has been a mole ." Someone will read this" Xhou smirked glancing at Jing Su before throwing the scroll at Liu Qu who caught it grinning.
Weng Xing was totally smart and this was a perfect plan " What if I want to read it?" a powerful voice asked and all eyes looked up sighting the assassin on black hat and a black veil sitting on Tang Hu's throne. His black robes spoke of power and of a very high cultivation and held no weapons with him.
Beside him stood two men all in black garments with a veil over their faces and their eyes seen were sharp with mixed aura peering from behind. " You must have heard of me? " His voice was cold as he spoke, he dropped his foot on the throne where he sat and his eyes gazed at Everyone of them.
Even behind veil, you could tell that this man was an exceptional beauty and his posture showed how powerful and energetic he was.
" These soulmates" Lord Zao inwardly groaned, planning such an entrance and putting everyone into confusion ....he can't really get enough. " He is the black assassin" a disciple from a sect yelled pointing his sword towards the direction of Weng Xing.
Weng Xing roared laughter as tears rolled down from his eyes, these people were so unimaginable till now but worst of it all, was the fact that half of them were new generation.
" Jing Su" he called drily with his sharp eyes on the Youth who moved back in fear but many disciples and guards from other clans and sects covered him in protection making Weng Xing to chuckle silently. Fools!
" Senior Weng is really pretty on black and very smart to come up with this plan" Liu Qu whispered into Xhan's ears " well we all have longed waited to bad mouth that Jing Su" Xhan replied and Liu smiled in mischievousness before looking at Jing Su.
" Should I read the scroll or hand it to the elder brother there?" He asked mischievously pointing to the direction of Weng Xing. Everyone turned to him in awe, was he helping them out or triggering a fight that they won't clearly win?
Jing Su angrily snorted " Ain't you Weng Xing? or you are just his revenge button?" his comeback wasn't what everyone was expecting but Weng Xing knew it will. He crossed his leg with a grin as he placed his index finger placed on his lips producing a dry laughter which choked their hearts.
" Wasn't Weng Xing killed by you?" he asked with a bitter smile as he placed his hand on his leg with a smug face while Jing Su stared blankly at him.
" Oh If i haven't forgotten, but you said I am a revenge button summoned by Weng Xing and you are not scared of talking back at me? huh?" he asked playing innocent and making Jing Su a fool " Hehe, Brother should I read the scroll because this is definitely a mole's handwriting" Liu grinned opening the scroll triggering glares from the opposition.
Xhou patted Liu Qu to calm down but Liu Qu was crazy and won't listen " This looks like a mole's handwriting?" he scoffed with arms folded and eyes shooting at Jing Su. What on Earth was going on here? Jing Su knew that this was definitely a brilliant plan to bring his guard down ,They will make fun of him in front of others then gradually make him expose himself involuntarily...how clever! how clever! Weng Xing was indeed a master of mocking people and playing with them before he accomplishes his goal.
Was it what he did to Tang Hu before he died?
" How dare you speak like that? selling your brother to this evil soul" An elder yelled in disappointment " Did I sell him?" Liu Qu asked looking innocent " For how many premium points?" he asked again with a smile but the elder couldn't answer. He scoffed before flagging down his sleeves in disbelief, what impudence!.
" I don't care who you are but you have no right to accuse someone of what he knows nothing about and Morever you are not even respecting our chief cultivator, even in his presence you accuse a holy man" a calm voice from the thunder clan snorted making Weng's eyes to move slowly to the Dijins . " Holy man?" Xhan and Liu Qu chorused to everybody's shock that even Xhou was startled.
" Are you talking to me or trying to act brave?" he softly asked looking at the young lad who glared at him " Lord Zao, from what I know... Disciples of thunder clan has high quality discipline but this lad is truly a disappointment" he sacarsstically said ignoring the boy who was a new disciple.
" My apologies" Lord Zao saluted shocking all of them .
" I was the one who saved him, can't you remember?" Weng Xing asked " But sometimes I usually think whether some people's ego is either bravery or clear stupidity" he mocked before arising causing weapons against him.
" Who are you and what do you want?" Jing Su yelled " If you are here to help us because of Our Lord, so be it".
Weng Xing's eyes turned to deep red but when he heard Xhou's whistle , he calmed down with a relief.
" If you are here because you saved our Lord, we owe you alot and will reward you" an elder saluted but it made Weng Xing cry in his laughter causing all of them to look at his mad reaction.
" I hate long conversations" the tone in his voice changed attracting a cold wind which entered and left immediately.
" What do you want?" Jing Su yelled clutching his robes in impatience, how dare Weng Xing toy with him in front of anyone?
" Hey you, keep your mouth shut if don't want your body hung by the road side" Xhan snapped at Jing Su but Xhou glared at him.
" How dare you speak against such an honorable youth?" a sect leader asked, who gave them this impetus to say such? even Xhou didn't scold at them as he used to.
" He was just warning him so he could live long a bit and you call it scandalous. Since when did saving a brother become scandalous? am I right Jing Su?" Liu asked non chalantly, his eyes not tearing a bit from Jing Su who inwardly panicked " or is he scared of getting exposed?" Xhan chipped in with arms folded.
" Keep your voice low" a white Cultivator pinched him but he snapped " Eh? when he was accusing my master,did he keep his voice low? my voice is even too soft,I could have used all my strength to say it" Xhan hissed glaring at Jing Su with arms folded. He has become more sassy and annoying.
" You have no proof against me" Jing Su smirked noticing that the scroll was an empty one and Weng Xing smirked knowing he finally caught him in his net.
" Of course we don't" Xhou replied calmly pulling out another scroll from his robes and opening it and it dawned on him that he has been fooled all these while.
Gasps left everyone's lips as they stared at the scroll even Lord Zao couldn't help but yell " I knew it that you have been scheming against Weng Xing!".
Jing Su moved back trying to explain but many disciples stepped back in disbelief and disgust. Everyone left him to deal with the assassin, Morever they were doing the right thing and it wasn't their fault but Jing Su; So he should deal with it.
" What happened 34 years ago at kiribi clan?" Weng Xing had enough of the battering and asked again " where were you before sunrise?"
* * * ...* * *
Hours before the siege
" Who made them escape?" A figure with his face covered with black smoke yelled staring at the empty cells, his eyes were sharp red and his aura was so powerful and destructive. His eyes moved to the walls that have been ruined by cultivator's blood " Who broke my arc and spell?, who is that powerful cultivator that broke my arc then coming here to ruin my spells?" He yelled as scratched his powerful claws against the wall.
His eyes then fell on Jing Su who was literally shaking on his knees, " Who?" he asked cruelly tapping his claws on the wall " I... I.... I don't know" Jing Su shivered and at the same time cursing whosoever that did this. " You don't know?" his cracky voice asked as he griped Jing's neck " who is that powerful bastard that broke the arc that I created for years?" he yelled at the face of the scared Jing who closed his eyes praying for his life.
Who was triggering the anger of the demonic cultivator?
The evil cultivator released him Immediately when he discovered something was missing. He moved towards a particular direction as his overflowing cloak cleared the floor and his red eyes peered as it searched for it vehemently, " The yin stone, where is it?" he cried feeling that his brain was about to explode. He yelled sending his black flames on Jing Su who fell backwards spitting out blood " White cultivators were here and a black Cultivator?" He paused looking at Jing Su with fierce eyes " My twin brother Xuan never had descendants but I did, who is this black cultivator that replaced him? I can feel he is like a recarination of Xuan" but Jing Su couldn't speak because he now knew who broke the arc , saved the prisoners and collected the infinity yin stone. His thought made him clench his fists in anger.