The steps of the unknown person are irregular, which makes me approach them cautiously...
As soon as the man's figure comes out of the trees I recognize him -Xu Lei?!- he's holding his wounded arm with his other hand, walking unsteadily and covered in blood -ChangLai...- he murmurs so I rush toward him, but I'm one second too late as he falls to the ground hitting his bad arm with a grunt.
-What happened?! Was it Dong Hu?!- I kneel beside him and turn him on his back to take a good look at his body, the shoulder is dislocated and a deep cut appears on the side of his arm... Along many fresh wounds all over the body, on the thighs and the abdomen the clothes are drenched in blood -Please hang on, I'll take you to the Infirmary!-
I reach to take him in my arms but he pushes my hands away -No... They can't help me, he... He broke my meridians...!- a cough leaves him and blood spats out of his mouth, falling on the ground and on myself
-Then I will find someone to help you- I start to move away but get hold back. He moves one hand to grab my wrist -There's no use... My soul is starting to dissipate...- his head falls on the ground and his hand starts becoming cold -... There's just... One last thing... I can do to... Redeem myself... I will lend you my... Strenght-
-No stop it, I will try to, I will...!- I start panicking, not knowing what to do at all... His wounds aren't deadly yet he seems to not have any hope at all, was I more knowledge in cultivation I would be able to help him!
-You what...? Only powerful deities and centenarian cultivators can help me-
"That's exactly why that man told me to become a goddess! Like this I can't do anything, if not destroy things..." -I...- I try to recollect myself, remembering the word of the man who just left -If I was stronger...- I murmur to myself almost giving up.
He reaches one hand and lays it onto mine, cleanched on the ground beside him -I will give you... What's left of my powers...-
I look at him with wide eyes and remove my hand -No, I will help you- I say determined again. "I can be weak only in front of him... That's what he said, I must remain calm and think rationally or Xu Lei will die" I place both my hands on his body... Still unsure of what to do.
I recall that there are some precise points to touch but I don't know the correct procedure, so I just close my eyes and empty my mind... I try to calm myself, breathing deeply and recalling my strength. I feel those strings, all around us the energy is flowing and dancing as the different types intertwine, golden and silver according to the Yin and the Yang... I open my eyes and see it all clearly moving around the landscape, I lower my gaze and see the energy flowing chaotically out of Lei's body... I reach my hands toward those strings and the energy entangles me, welcoming me. I try to connect it back to his body but as soon at the sparking light touches him in turns dark and falls to the ground, unable to repair itself.
Frowning I try a couple more times but it always shows the same result... I try a different approach and collect all the different flows together: from his heart, from his brain, from his soul, meridians etc... And I try to bend those into one single thing but they still separate at the end. Xu Lei, barely alive, noticed my troubled expression -Just... Give up... Sometimes it's better to acknowledge one's loss than... Obstinately trying, losing even more...- he pushes the words out and faints, becoming paler and paler.
But I cannot give up, this is one lesson I clearly haven't learn yet -Just sleep for now, I'll handle everything else for you...- I look down on myself and see my own energy, It is manly Yin energy as I already knew, but not only... A third color shines along it, Red. I'm not sure what that means but I still grab onto it and connect it to Xu Lei.
Praying that it is the right choice as his own energy becomes darker and the light fainter while life leaves him... That red string slips inside his body but nothing happens, his own flows turns off one after the other... His breathing grows weaker and bloods drips at the side of his mouth -Please no... There has to be a way!- I try to push more onto him but he eventually stop breathing...
-Xu Lei...?- I call but He lays there completely still so I reach one hand to his wrist -No pulsations...-
I close his eyelids and wipe the blood off his face with my sleeve, giving him some decorum in his death -I will give you a rightful burial... I will call Zhou and Rang, we'll hold a funeral for you so you can cross the river and reincarnate peacefully...- I hug my arms and stand back up, turning around to head back to the camp...
I walk slowly, recalling the few memories I have of Xu Lei as tears start building up in my eyes -It's funny how I thought we were enemies at first... And now here I am trying to save him.... Ahh- I look up as I fight against those tears, still trying to force a smile -Life really is unpredictable- I shake my head, finally winning against those -Yet I still failed... I'm sorry...-
I stop moving and collect myself, ready to go and announce the terrible news...
-Already giving me for dead... What little faith you have in yourself, goddess?- I widen my eyes and turn around, I see him turning on his side... Still holding his dislocated shoulder, looking absolutely done and on the blink of fainting... But alive. I cannot even bring myself to talk -I don't know what you did... But that definitely helped- he wants to stand up so I come beside him and hold him up -I will accept that trip to the Infirmary now- he smiles.
...
He Rang falls on his knees and Zhou seats down by the shock after I tell them all that happened, just outside the Infirmary's tend. Qin Luo looks at me troubled, clenching his fists... As soon as Zhou notice that he grabs his friend by an arm -Let's go check on Xu Lei, shall we?- He Rang nods and soon after they are gone, leaving me and the general alone.
-Lai'Er...-
I shake my head -It's fine, you were right... Even tho I was the one making my own choices, I wasn't thinking about what I want. But now I understand the greater picture... I do want to save this world, but I also want to bring justice for the future generations... It's sounds absurd, doesn't it?-
He doesn't reply and hugs me -I'm sorry... I'm sorry for always doubting you and scolding you when I actually am mad at myself, for not being able to keep up with you- I snuggle again his neck, trying to take in whatever warmth he can give me too -I love everything about you Lai'Er, even when I'm yelling at you I still love you... Even your flaws, when you make me angry or when you feel insensible... I don't think I ever loved anyone as much as you, I just know my son would love you as much as I do-
I hide my face, not wanting him to notice my destroyed expression... So much happened in such short time. Dong Hu arrival, Xiao disappearance, Qin Luo and everything about him... That weird man reappeared and Xu Lei almost died in front of me yet I discovered again new powers...
-What shall we do with Dong Hu now?- he asks me
-Nothing... I discovered that he is impersonating Dong Hu, but that's not what concerns me more... I have a feeling that he is much more powerful than what he has shown until now, I cannot fight him even if I want... Not yet. Still, he doesn't want to directly harm me so as long as you all stay close to me nothing will happen again-
-Mmhn... I won't leave your side for a single moment- he cups my face and I close my eyes -Don't do it, Qin Luo...- but my words are meaningless as he bends down to kiss me tenderly.