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Chapter Text

"Ah after so many years of no works...Lets see what have we got there. I am lady Siming of fate. And you are, young man?"

"This lowly one is named Yue Qingyuan, honarable lady! I was a sect leader of a cultivation sect. " Answers the man humbly standing in front of her.

"So young man do you know why you are sent here? And not sent to the Naihe bridge for reincarnation?"

His brows furrows in confusion and he replies with a shaky smile, "This one has no idea, honorable lady. This one would be very grateful if honorable lady enlightens this ignorant one."

"Your regret and resentment is too much that simply meng po's soup wont be effective anymore. Tell me what do you blame fate for? " the lady of fate sighs as she says while resting her chin on her hand.

The man in front of her loses his calm demeanour for sometimes as a pained expression appears but he regains control over himself and says, "My biggest regret is I failed my Xiao Jiu!"

After a pregnant pause and after a deep thought the lady speaks again " lets now where my child was done wrong and then lets see what can be done."

She gathers up qi and pulls the strings of fate and pulls herself and Yue Qi to watch the past.

They see two dirty children covered up in rag on the streets are cuddling up with each other for warmth together in a cold night of winter. Now one could tell that they were starving of food for so long out of poverty from their bony unhealthy physiques. Specially the younger one. Even though he had a beautiful on par with celestial face, sparkly green eyes, milk white natural flushed skin despite it staying covered in dirt, silky ink black hair tied up in a bun. But he was so thin and small that one could fear if there are any strong breeze he'd be blown away.

"Tsk Qi-ge stop moving. The cold wind enters when you move." The younger one says with an annoyed expression on his face with drowsy eyes.

"Qi-ge is sorry. Qi-ge wont move." The older one wraps his arms around the younger more tighter and reducing the gap more holding the other tighy against his chest.

The younger one seemed so comfortable too that he released a sweet milk pomegranate fragrance and rubbed his rosy cheek covered in dirt in the older one's chest to shamelessly steel more warmth. The older one had an a contented look on his face.

Like that eventually slept in each others arms.

Yue Qi lowered his head seeing the scene with guilt written all over his, lashes flattering with an unshed tear. Just mumbling a "Sorry".

The scenery glitches and changes into the one where they were sitting in an abandoned hut, under an open starry sky, where moon showers them with her soft light as Yue Qi explains about soulmate and secondary gender to Xiao jiu.

"When Xiao Jiu's secondary gender will be presented he will also get a soul mate mark if Xiao Jiu is lucky!"

The younger one tilts his head, clear confusion in those leave green eyes. He asks, "What's a soul mate mark, Qi-ge? Why doesn't Si-jie and Da-jie have them? "

"Fate decides it Xiao-jiu. Some get it and some don't. Even some of the nobels dont have them. But I am our golden boy xiao jiu will get the best soul mate."

"Stop flattering me, you stupid Qi-ge." The younger one flushes and looks away from the older with a hmph and a pout. The older just smiles warmly at him.

The scene again changed to that one where Shi Wu rats them out like an ingrate little rat he was. Despite the betrayer's life was saved by both of them. Xiao Jiu warned him but he didn't pay heed to his words. That landed up Xiao Jiu on a hellhole.

Yue Qi mumbled more, "sorry" for he never listened to his Xiao Jiu's words. Its all his fault. If he hadn't been so helpful to those who didn't deserve it that day then Xiao Jiu would never ended up in that hell hole. If they had run right then ....then none of the mishaps would never have happened, right? But now he could only grit his in regret. Lady fate only observed them by standing his side.

It again changed to the one where he left Xiao Jiu alone for Cang Qiong; believing that he would make it in time and save Xiao Jiu. But that belief of his brought his Xiao Jiu down. He should have rather told Xiao Jiu to run or ask someone for help. But he didn't. I am sorry Xiao Jiu Qi-ge failed you again.

Their surrondings glitched again and kept changing to the ones where the whole Qiu household abused his Xiao jiu so badly and the young miss Qiu Haitang's naivety, ignorance and attention towards him made it even more worse.

Until the day when Xiao Jiu presented an omega and also received his soul mate mark. He was just 13 back then. He felt happy when looked at the soul mate mark but being an omega in a household of predators were like a worst nightmare come true.

Yue Qi felt spine shivering chil and kept watching in more horror. Wondering who must be Xiao Jiu's soulmate. The mere thought of another stranger entering his Xiao Jiu's left him with a sour feeling. However he felt relieved that some one helping Xiao jiu.

Gladly an old servent lady helped him with scents and suppresants before they could know him being an omega but they somewhow knew about his soul mate mark. All hell breaks loose. He became the subject of jealousy of the Qiu cousins with no marks specially the beta ones. He got torture more and more by them even by the male servents. But Qiu Haitang was still kept in the dark and ignorant of the fact that the person she was betrothed to had someone else destinated for them.

When Qiu Jianluo accidentally discovered his potential in cultivation through Wu Yanzi who was eyeing Xiao Jiu's and about him being Omega. He forcefully took the omega and made him a dual cultivation cauldron for his break throughs. Jackpot for him. Once Haitang marries Xiao Jiu. Both his precious haitang and the omega. He told the omega he would buy him suppresents and scents and save him from being punished in the household.

The distressed omega could only sob under him and nod submissively as the alpha penetrated him. He never felt so helpless in his life. After each sessions with Qiu Jianluo left his lower body sore and his legs would shiver unable to walk for days leaving him bedridden. To prevent his plan from flopping Qiu Jianluo also gave him medications to prevent any conceptions. That left him with irregular heat cycle problems. But he was given aphrodisiacs and some timed pollen instead that won't effect on Xiao Jiu being a cauldron. He sometimes invited his father too to take turn. His father seemed to enjoy his time too.

Even though the beatings did came to an end but Qiu Jianluo still hit him a few times. He choke slammed him everytime against the table whenever Xiao Jiu pushed him when the alpha was about to bite his scent glands and mark him for good. The vile creature obviously replied, "A cheap bed warmer slave like you should forget about being with your soulmate. You can only be a good cock sleeve for me and bear me pups once you and Haitang are mine." Qiu Jianluo won't say it loud but he liked having sexual intercourses with Xiao Jiu too. He looked magnificent when he was under the effects of aphrodisiacs, asking to be destroyed submissively, taking his everything so well as if he was only made for taking his all length in, in that tight hole even if it bleeds from there, oh that too was a magnificent sight. He cannot help but fathom about ravishing him till he is crippled everytime he sees him.

Xiao Jiu now thinks that the daily beatings were thousand times better than this. He cried out for help everynight for his Qi-ge to come and save him.

Yue Qi was horrified beyond any words to describe . He could only watch the graphic scenes. His guilt sky rocketing already. No wonder Xiao Jiu never mentioned about any of this to him. His gaze became desperate to help Xiao Jiu. The Lady fate sighed at the scene and wondered how monstrous people could be and this poor child didnt deserve any of this.

It all went like a cycle until one day Xiao Jiu couldn't take it anymore any broke the cycle when Qiu jianluo was being more verbal and abusive. He stabbed him and in a daze he massacred the Qiu manor, kill every male and burnt it. Leaving only the females and Qiu haitang. Who was screaming like maniac and cursing his 14 generations.

"You should have killed that bitch too, boy!"

Shen Jiu turned to meet the gaze of Wu Yanzi who took Shen Jiu under his tutelage then. They killed and robbed togther. But in fact it was Wu yanzi forcing him mostly and made him act like a sweet omega trap for the predator alphas. Even though Wu Yanzi as a beta didnt force the omega but still he was as worse as Qiu Jianluo. Wu yanzi's demonic cultivation techniques left Shen Jiu's cultivation crippled forever.

Seeing all the scene Yue Qi felt like he would qi-deviate again if he had any physical body. Its all his fault. He is the main culprit of his Xiao Jiu. He is beyond redeemable now. He was unable to protect his Xiao Jiu. He failed him. He bit his lips in frustration as two drops of tears rolled down his cheeks.

Xiao Jiu was right he was the one who changed, he was the one broke their promise. Xiao Jiu once again saved him by killing his master. He thought that his omega Xiao Jiu would be safe here. But in the end he pushed his Xiao Jiu again to another hellhole named Cang qiong in the name of protection but actually not. If only fate gives him another chance he would burn the world rather than letting his Xiao Jiu get hurt anymore.

In that hell-hole Xiao Jiu was misunderstood, hated and pushed all the way to the edge. He hid the fact of being omega. His normal scent turned for sweet milk pomegranate to sharp Bamboo and ink smell. That's why everyone thought Xiao was a beta.

Regardless of working all day all night combining all his blood, sweat and tears for the sect; he was still accused of being weak and lazy. He struggled to keep up with his already broken sensitive meridians. But no one offered him a hand or tried to understand him.

The worst of all Liu Qingge behaving like chilidish brat that he was; who wanted to see the qualifications of that person whom their future Zhanmen shixiong highs favors of. So he regularly came to him demanding him for spar that was rather one sided beating and spatted him calling him weak and he should just give up. The alpha accidentally touching his Xiao Jiu disgusted him to point of several fatal, mild fatal Qi deviations and after each one he had to be on a seclusion for three months.

Continuous Nightmares plaguing him, in midst of a bunch of alpha and beta and males he felt so much insecured to sleep at night that he moved to the Qing Jing's woodshed but the self proclaimed young masters thought he was so disgusted that he didnt even leave in the disciples quarter and started bullying him more and more. God graceful his shizun, Yue Qi's shibo treated him like a precious jade he was.

Nightmares, men and cold prevented him from sleeping, developing a daily insomnia. In the woodshed he spent countless sleepless nights till he sneak out to seek warmth and sleep in a brothel. But the dumb headed imbeciles of martial siblings of theirs' labelled him a lustrous lech who went to brothel for carnal pleasures. They spitted at him saying that he was doing blasphemy to his soulmate. "As if you could expect any better from a treacherous, ungrateful Viper like him."Qi qingqi sneered after every conversation of dissing their shixiong. began to isolate him more. And the one to spread such baseless rumors about him was that brute Liu Qingge and Qi Qingqi.

The worst started the day when Liu Qingge the brainless alpha accused him for attempt to murder. Shang Qinghua despite seeing everything stayed quiet. After that all their neutral martial siblings started to distance themselves from Shen Jiu. Even Mu Qingfan, as healer taking sides were strictly prohibited for them. But he did. Everyone expressed their hostility and hatred towards his Xiao Jiu without any bounds. Some were vocal about and others did it with their actions. But all of them acted like it was Shen Jiu's fault all along from the start. That he was the one who didn't want to get along with them in first place and were hostile towards them. And being the majority they even make their Zhangmen Shixiong believe.

It all boiled his blood even more, those unfillal hypocrites and their actions. He was not sure how long he could take on before he explodes his brain or faints from extreme anger. His Xiao Jiu didnt deserve any of this. Lady Fate could only sigh and see humans keep being so stupid and two faced to their own kind, that she didn't know what to say. But she indeed felt bad for the child who suffered. She will make sure the child gets better in his next rebirth.

If Yue Qi knew these then he would have designed their downfalls with his own hands. But he was too busy handling useless sect jobs. When the most important person of his life was being bullied. If only he knew, he would have make sure no one had the abilities to spread anymore lies about his Xiao Jiu. But that didnt make feel him less guilty. It's all his fault. He was worser than any of them who wronged Xiao Jiu ever. He was ashamed of himself as he hears his old self suggesting Xiao Jiu to try to get along with their martial siblings. In answer Xiao Jiu could only scoff. Xiao Jiu should have stabbed him right there and then. He didn't deserve such kindness, he was the worse, he was the one who forced Xiao Jiu in this hell. In the only he could only growl in a low tone and grit his teeth, clenching his first so hard that his knuckles turned white.

It all continued till the previous generation ascended and the Qing generation got their positions as sect leader and peak lords. It all became more worser and kept becoming worser and worser day by day. Scenes after scenes all the same cycle of sick rumors and his Xiao Jiu becoming more and more lonely everyday.

Until that half demon arrived in their sector. He wished to kill that half demon spawn before it harmed his Xiao Jiu any further.

That half demon spawn surely behaved like an uruly brat. He keep breaking his boundaries more and more being an alpha, terrorizing the omega by getting into his personal space in order to impress him continuously. That all ended his Shen Jiu panicking and punishing that unruly alpha harshly. This encouraged other disciples to bully that half demon spawn more. Shen Jiu too was occupied with his works. Extremely tired and busy all day he couldn't keep the track of which disciple of him said what to whom or who bullied whom or where in his peak Luo Binghe was being bullied and crying. Ming fan sabotaged him by a fake cultivation manual that frustrated Shen Jiu utterlessly and in the end he could only assign more laps or lashes for the physical cultivation suited Luo Binghe who was in a Spiritual cultivator's peak.

The scene at Lingxi caves broke Yue Qi more that he knelt on the ground with horror stricken pale face and mutter continuously, " I didn't believe him, I am sorry and I am sinner." The aftermath shook Yue Qi's core more. He saw his martial siblings labelling him as a murderer now and isolatioing his whole peak. Worst hit came when many of his disciples died from the faulty sowrds provided by Wan Jian peak, very late provided worst quality medicines from Qian Cao by Mu Qingfang and low quality talismans and faulty flares and even the weaker ones from the beatings of Bai Zhan peak's uncivilized disciples. Xiao Jiu buried his many of his disciples who had no families or their families were not countable. He saw him praying for their salvation and crying for their forgiveness that he was the reason of their death. Everytime Xiao Jiu cries the prayer hall gets filled with distressed and grieving scents of an omega. Seeing Xiao he felt like running to him and consoling him and hide him from the world. The world didn't deserve his Xiao Jiu or his kindness. But being unable to do so he feel like dying second time but he was already dead. He wanted to stab himself for failing Xiao Jiu so miserably and failing to see he was actually suffering.

Xiao Jiu once again saved their sect from being accused to harbour a half demon and get ravished overnight. Xiao Jiu was too soft hearted for not aiming for that half demon spawn's heart or severe his head and give that undeserving monster a second chance.

He heard his Xiao Jiu sighed with an extremely painful expression on his face and muttered to himself, " May you survive.....and come take revenge from me, as I am so tired."

But both Yue Qi and lady of fate could hear that. That one sentence devastated Yue Qi so much that he couldn't go on anymore. He broke then and right there sobbing in a silent but messy way that even shocked the lady of fate.

She thought with a sigh looking at the green robes of Shen Jiu fluttering in the wind as he stood still, staring at the abyss with eyes full of dejection, gloom and melancholy, 'Ay ay who knew the life of that child could be this sad?' Then she looked at the kneeling and sobbing Yue Qi,who looking and again, 'But can he keep on watching more? Poor young man. Is he aware of the fact yet, I guess no otherwise he would have started to tear off his own hair by now if he did. '

She crossed her hands and looked forward for the young man to be done before thinking again 'But nevermind let's continue once he is done sobbing.'

Chapter Text

All those five years his Xiao Jiu went through indescribable agony. He never stopped even if he was tired. He never stopped even when he went through all the tormentive days in Cang Qiong. Cang Qiong was truly a prison for him. Xiao Jiu suffered in this prison, with his wings shackled, that too only for him, he put Xiao Jiu in that prison for his selfish means to protect him. But he didnt protect him, rather what he did was to destroy him. Xiao Jiu only stayed in this hell for the sake of his loyalty and his promise but what did he give in return? Nothing. Just pain and sufferings and false promises that he couldnt complete. In fact he didn't even notice his Xiao Jiu's unhappiness that flashed in his eyes clearly. That he did'nt notice before. How was he so blind that he couldn't even see his Xiao Jiu suffering? Was he so busy with trivial matters and insignificant peoples that he forgot to look through his eyes to find out if he was happy or not?Really he was the worst.

In Jinlan city, his reputation took some major strikes. It was the joint conspiracy of Huan Hua and that half demon spawn to bring down Cang Qiong by bringing down their tactician. Seems like Cang Qiong didn't value their tactician but their enemies did. So they planned to bring Shen Jiu down first, to bring Cang Qiong Mountain Sect to their end. But that half demon joined them only to satisfy his inner selfish urges and thirst for revenge. He totally became another Qiu Jianluo now, an unstoppable monster who only knew to destroy everything. That wretched obvlious woman Qiu Haitang, Liu Qingge's sister even Ning Yingying Shen Jiu's daughter alike disciple also joined that monster in his revenge mission as they themselves became the same as him too. Even though Ning Yingying didn't join them but that doesn't make her less guilty either. They all turned into conscienceless evil creatures. Who only believed what they wanted to be truth not the real truth, no one even bothered to find any real truth.

Shen Jiu all along never broke and never gave up. But from the moment his Qi-ge suspected him he cannot help but feel disappointed and hollow from inside. Seeing his Qi-ge giving him away to people hollowed him out more, beyond any repair. He only saw his Qi-ge throughout the whole trial, Qi-ge's words implied as if he was still the unruly, undisciplined, delinquent child from the streets that needed to be disciplined and indoctrinated. So may it be like this so. Shen Jiu accepted all those upcoming sufferings, finally giving up now that he saw the only light of life life gone, the only person he ever cared about turn his face away from him and abandoning him to rot once again. Maybe this is what he truly deserves.

Shen Jiu only admitted all the accusations thrown on him with a bitter smile, no matter the fact even if they were false. What's the use of talking or trying to prove your innocene when no one will listen to you? Not a single person will believe you! Even the most important person in your life will not take your side. Its not worthy fighting back anymore. No body care about him or his feeling. Also its not like anyone cares about if the accusations are true or not either. He lives or dies, nobody cares, they will be rather happy if he dies. Perhaps some will be even celebrating his death, the more painful way the more bigger celebration. Maybe Qi-ge would be happy too now that the only proof of his dirty past is gone, he is now free from all the burdens. All he life he was unwanted, he remained unwanted and he will always remain unwanted. Even his Qi-ge and his soulmate didnt want him then let alone others.

That day he was stripped from everything. His post, his power, his relations, his cultivation, his name. Even his will to live. All that left was a hollow vessel of a street rat, a murderer, a lecher, a scum who never replied of any tortures of Luo Binghe. He was not capable of doing so anymore. There is a limit of everything, beyond that a human cannot take anymore. When they reach that limit where they disintegrate. Unable to go back.

"Shizun look at me now" ,"Shizun do you regret it?", "Shizun why won't you look at me?" , "You envious scum, filthy villain, you tortured our noble Luo-gege so much!" , " A'luo and the Qiu family treated you like a family but you bit the hands that feed you, you treacherous vile man !"

Yue Qi lost control over his temper seeing those brainless vile creatures in front of him proving that they were only burden on earth that needed to be cleaned out so urgently. If gaze could kill them they would have been already getting fried on hell with their 14 hundred ancestors.

Hands hanging chained to his behind, eyes looking somewhere at the ground Luo Binghe ripped off Shen Jiu's right arm that wielded Xiu Ya, with his brute force. Liu Mingyan asked for that arm that killed her brother seeking the justice of his death. Or merely just for satisfying her inner monster. Luo Binghe ripped off his another arm with brute force for that he was whipped by these hands in Qing Jing. He ripped off his eyes that refused to look at him. He ripped off that tongue that never spoke any words. He force fed Shen Jiu his blood to keep him alive and torture him for eternity. He ripped off his legs for a present for the sect leader. The torture didn't stopped here. Others joined Luo Binghe in torturing Shen Jiu too. Qiu Haitang sealed him with her family slave seal to remind him that a filthy slave will always remain a filthy creature. Not only her but whenever Little palace princess had her free time, she came to whip Shen Jiu, until his skin looked like it was been flayed. Luo Binghe and Liu Mingyan came up with new techniques everyday to torture him with various methods. Like feeding him Gu poison, white crawlers worms that ate away his inner organs, poison him with every kind of posions, pouring boiling hot water and acid over head and getting him healed using heavenly demon blood to torture him again. No bath or no good foods, with his cultivation sealed he was just as fragile as an ordinary human with the needs of a regular mortal. The servents gave him to eat food worser than the ones he had eaten in the streets and made him eat that on the whatever mess he made.

He had it more worse when one day a bit part of his artificial scent gland that he got planted on his disciple days were eaten and his scent was all over the air. Luo Binghe found more ways to torture him. Now it became sexual too. He raped him and forcefully knotted him. Seeing that this earned him a slight reaction from his shizun the beast kept raping his former shizun. The water prison was filled with a sour, tangy distressed omega scent, for what Luo Binghe used his pheromones to intimidate that already distressed omega more. Even prison guards had to leave the perimeter for that smell but only the beast remained till he was partly satisfied. This satisfaction sometimes took several hours to days to get. He even used mild aphrodisiacs to trigger his heat, this was to purely make him disgust of himself for jumping on that same beast he hated most. Luo Binghe's wives didn't receive this thing positively. So the bold ones had other alphas or demons get in water prison to gang rape and defile Shen Jiu more so that their husband wouldn't touch that filthy creature anymore. In the end they could only try everyday but that couldn't stop their husband.
After a time Luo Binghe got even bored with that and used his present to lure the sect leader and sent his contacts to search for his Shizun's soulmate. If his shizun's soulmate was someone alive he would gift his shizun his soulmate's head and maybe he could try something more too. But he couldn't find any trace of his Shizun's soulmate. Hence he went for the sect leader only. Set a trap to lure the sect leader and kill him in a way even his last sign wouldn't remain. Then he went for raze the tian gong mountains to ashes. Setting his shizun's favourite bamboo woods and in fact whole Qing Jing in fire with people stuck in there. Leaving no survivors from there or any other people from any other peaks except from Xian Shu peak. ' This would sure work to make a great gift for his shizun. He would definitely love it.' He thought as he took the broken shards of Xuan-su as a souvenir to show his Shizun.

The sounds of metal clunking echoed in Shen Jiu's ear as Luo Binghe threw the shards of Xuan Su in front of him, his pupils dilated as he recognised the hilt of the sowrds, face paled off extremely. Seeing Shen Jiu finally raising his head to look at the shards he spoke up, "Intrigued to see my present to you Shizun? Do you know when Sect leader received your legs he rushed his way to here to rescue you. Not even considering if this was a trap or not. When Thousand arrows entered his body nothing else was left there of his remainings." he paused for a bit seeing that finally his shizun cried but not for him for sect leader, it enraged hin more, he choked him and asked, "Why are you crying for him, didn't you hate him? You will cry for everyone but you won't answer me. Tell me were you his whore?? "With that he raped him in front of Xuan su's shards again and left him bleeding non stop from his two of his orfices until he was healed with heavenly demon blood in his system again.

When the monster left Shen Jiu crawled all his way to the shards of Xuan su and broke down in tears in front of it again. The scene tore apart Yue Qi's heart and seeing his strong Xiao Jiu wailing for him made his heart wrench in pain too. He never in his life wanted so bad to capture the omega in his arms and release his soothing alpha pheromones to console his grieving Xiao Jiu. He did a few times but not so badly and desperately as this time where he could see his Xiao Jiu falling into more and more despair. One fearful, nightmarish thought rose in his mind that he wanted to shake off and erase from his mind. His Xiao Jiu was nothing but strong, he wouldn't take that step for someone undeserving like him. But his Xiao Jiu deserved salvation. His rational mind was torn to two sides.

But it happened same as he feared. His Xiao Jiu struggled to get down and then swallow all the shards of his Xuan Su one by one. Yue Qi's eyes were filled with unshed tears, he closed his eyes as he couldn't watch anymore, he couldn't watch his Xiao Jiu suffer anymore, he couldn't watch his Xiao Jiu die in front of his eyes. But in the end he did open them anyways. He didn't want to but he did. The pain he felt, the pain he was feeling is nothing compared to Xiao Jiu's. And the one to blame was Yue Qingyuan. He saw his Xiao Jiu choke on Xuan su's shards and die a miserable death with his own eyes, that scene would never erase from his mind, like how he failed somehow, like how someone dear to him paid for his mistakes with his own life. His mind drowned in pain, resentment, anguish, regret, shame and helplessness this much that he couldn't realise what was showed after that. In his mind he was just drowning himself in self-accusations and sweet memories of Xiao Jiu and him.

Even though Yue Qi missed the rest, lady of fate watched the rest with integral attention. His ambitiousness and blunt judgements with the lack of conscience mixed with his hunger for power, revenge and other mundane things ruined the balance of life. Something that caught her attention was the wretched evil man's wretchedly powerful evil sword, she made a mental note to brought that matter up in heavenly court of justice and karma. They would subdue this evil sword. But first she would now have to think about the young man and the suffering child. Fate really did them dirty. Seeing everything she will make a bet that the regretful young man would definitely have his second chance decided from the strings of fate and karma.

'Well lets see now what will you get young man.' she thinks as she pulled a bunch of strings and a scale with two jades as weight. After getting an answer from both of it she vanished them into the thin air again. She turned into the young man again when all the scenes were done being showed. They were back again pulled by some strings in the room of lady fate.

As for Yue Qi he saw each one of the scenes without saying any words, all of them one by one, all those memories where everything went wrong. All those nightmares that ruined his dear
Xiao Jiu. All those times where he failed his Xiao Jiu. All those promises to Xiao Jiu that he made, he broke. All his unredeemable sins that has now no way to rectify. He failed his Xiao Jiu, the world failed Xiao Jiu. He now has no way back. His hands were cold, even though he was dead he felt as if his heart were throbbing incessantly, he felt suffocated, all that remorse pilling up inside him were eating him from inside. His paler than face clearly showed that he was drowning in his own guilt and rue. Would fate give him another chance for repentance? He suddenly sess his Xiao Jiu appearing in front of him wrapped up in fine dark green robes, flushed cheeks and pearl shining skin hidden behind his paper fan, some strands of his long ink black hair blown by the wind was getting on his face as he tugs them behind his ear smiling at him, 'Qi-ge!'. Yue Qi tried grab him but he turned into dust.

His lips quivered, hands were shaking, his shaking hands touched his cheeks and found them wet, when he looked at his shaking hands, his vision got more blurry. All his despair and guilt turned into tears. A great tremor overtook his knees and his knees crumbled on the ground kneeling. He already red, swollen eyes were filled to the brim with tears losing all his control over them. He covered his full of shame and guilt stricken face with his hands. The sound of his sobbing echoed throughout the walls with his constant sniffings, the proof of failed trails to stop . He bit his lips so hard that there should have been already a flow of blood dripping down from his lips but he was just a body-less wandering soul then.

Lady Siming only sighed heavily seeing the resentment energy and guilt within the young man rose up to an alarming rate, higher more than she could ever imagine about anyone is even capable of storing that much regret, guilt and resentment in them. She thought about stopping to show him the mirror of truth in middle but it had its own edicts too that she couldn't break. Thus leaving her with no option, thereby she let the young man see them all. She sighs as she sees the young man having another breakdown in front of her again before she could utter anything. She lets the young man take his time. She understands what he seen was not easy for the young man either. She will not say they had no fault either. But they atoned more than their faults were.

After a few hours when finally Yue Qi was done. He looked horrible, as though aged a decade in the span of a few hours, disheveled hair. Yue Qi hesitatingly spoke up, "Honorable lady, uhm I.." but stopped before he could finish it. Took a deep breath and spoke up again, "Honorable lady I beg you, please give me another chance, please I want to go back for my Xiao Jiu. I want to protect him for real this time."

"But this Honorable lady-"

He kneels and kowtows in front of the lady and speaks again before that lady could finish her sentence, " Honorable lady this lowly one begs you to be considerate enough and kindly grant this lowly one with another chance to protect this lowly one's most beloved person. If this one is granted by a simple second chance, this lowly one would be obliged to honoarable lady foreve-"

"Ah stop doing that, young man. Hear this Honorable lady out fully." Gaining a nod from Yue Qi she continued, "You have a second chance written on your fate and nobody can snatch that from you if fate decides to give you a second chance. If the written fate has it, that you are eligible enough to get a second shot, even I,Siming, lady of fate cannot take that from you. And this lady won't do that either. So young man should relax that you are getting such a rare chance and this horoable lady will also give you this lady's blessings." She went near to still kneeling Yue Qi and kept a hand above his, " May you get rid of your regrets and resentments, start afresh with your beloved one, fulfilling the most wanted wish of your mind as well as your beloved ones too. May you, Yue Qi and Shen Jiu, the two childs of fate be blessed by me and live their respective lives gracefully." A ray of hope and also a twisted dark expression of protectiveness flashed in Yue Qi's smile hearing her words. He stood up from kneeling as she moves.

After that she spokes up again, "Now to resolve a matter, we must do it through you. That is subdueing the evil resentful sword Xinmo. It violates the universal order and balance, leaving everything in pure chaos. This is a blasphemy to heaven. One cannot use that sword anymore. One must break it and end that evil sword to maintain order. So tell this honorable lady, is this young man ready for the honour of serving heavens?" Yue Qi's paler than dead face brightens up a little bit as he replies, "This lowly one would be greateful to choose this one for this honor and this one will do his best to serve heavens."

"Good. As you agreed heaven would give you some extra blessings too. With their given blessings you will subdue the evil sword and other evils easily but you must not loose control, young man. This hope hope you get this lady's words?"

The young man replied in affirmative before one thought strikes in his mind and he ends up doing another request, " Honorable lady this lowly one would like to ask if Xiao Jiu will remember this live of his? Its to traumatic and resentmentful for him. If he remembers this life of his I fear he can never be in peace."

Lady of fate sighs, in just a few hours she is already having a headache. But she answers Yue Qi looking him in right in his eyes, "Thats for fate to decide young man. If his resentment energy reaches on a different level and if it is too much for him then that will annihilate all his previous lives memory on its own. For now take this lantern and go to Naihe Bridge to get on the other side, young man!" she then handed Yue Qi a soul lantern and watched as the back of Yue Qi disappearing gradually.

"I will be waiting to see your progress young man." her lips curls up and makes a playful sly smirk as she rested her chin on her hand.

Chapter Text

Yue Qi felt someone shifting beside him. Being a very light sleeper, it wakes him up. He sees a familiar face of the person lying next to him. He gathered up a bit spark of Qi to make sure this wasn't a dream. The answer was affirmative, this is reality. His pupils dilated as he felt like a billions of butterflies tingling him with the essence of Joy, hope and happiness. He felt giddy and happy, he smiled so genuinely that crinkles appeared on the corner of his eyes with a drop of unshed tears lingering in the corner of his eyes due to all the happiness filling him to the brim. Being impatient, he couldn't resist his urge and squeezed the person tight in his arms, the person he longed for, so much to see. Circling his arms around him he patted his head. With an obvious intention of never letting go, not so easily. His nose was near the nape of Xiao Jiu's, where it smelled milk and sweet pomegranate. A very familiar scent that he missed out a lot for near so many years. It smelled like home to him.

Shen Jiu, who was still in a deep slumber, nuzzled his cheek on Yue Qi's chest since to him the older's hugs always felt like warm blankets wrapped around him. No cold could bother him if he had those arms put him into sleep. Shen Jiu's warmth also seeped through his skin all the way to his heart, as his heartbeat started to hitch in his chest. That feeling was throbbingly overwhelming. His most beloved person is here, his Xiao Jiu is here, in his arms, sleeping serenely still. 'Qi-ge is sorry Xiao Jiu. Qi-ge will do his best this time. Qi-ge will only care for Xiao Jiu now.' He thinks while Shamelessly stealing away a kiss from Xiao Jiu, on his cheeks. Yue Qi never felt this much happy, now that he is back by the side of Xiao Jiu, back to the days where he and his Xiao Jiu used to be on streets. When everything was still okay.

Shen Jiu's lashes fluttered as he whined and shifted in his arms after he felt his Shameless Qi-ge's lips on his cheeks. His hands clutched Yue Qi's robes as he half opened his striking green eyes, as deep as ocean. Those eyes showed a sign of confusion as he raised his head to meet the eyes of his Qi-ge. He tilted his head and asked, "Qi-ge?" He sensed something wrong then and paused for a bit before fully opening his eyes meticulously observe Yue Qi. He carried on with his inspection,"What happened to you? Were you crying? Did somebody bullied you? Tell me Qi-ge, I will break their mouths with bricks, those lousy rats are getting too much audacious day by day." He huffed with his mouth forming an angry pout after it.

The furrow in Yue Qi's thick brows eased out as soon as he heard those two words from his Xiao Jiu. When he thought he couldn't be more happier, Xiao Jiu proved him wrong. His chest expanded with happiness. He looked at those bewildering green eyes and smiled at them with his own ones full of warmth and love, before he replies to his grumpy cat alike Xiao Jiu he pats on his back, "Xiao Jiu should not worry. Qi-ge just had a nightmare, a terrible nightmare. Where Qi-ge lost Xiao Jiu. He couldn't protect Xiao Jiu there. Qi-ge is so sorry for that. Qi-ge will make sure he does his best to protect Xiao jiu."

Hearing Qi-ge bluntly uttering such words Xiao Jiu he scorned and looked away with a slight flushed face and a hmph sound escaping from his mouth. " Stupid Qi-ge. Absolute idiot. First learn to protect your food. Then come to protect me and I can protect myself well. At least better than you."

He found his Xiao Jiu being extremely adorable and resisted the urge to poke his cheeks. He just shifted Xiao Jiu into a more comfortable position in his laps. Holding his left hand, he declared "Qi-ge will prove himself. Qi-ge will remain by the side of his Xiao Jiu forever and hide away Xiao Jiu from the cruel world."

Xiao Jiu looked at Qi-ge again and frowned while looking thoughtful. After a while of figuring out something silently he spoke up again while rubbing his eyes, "Did Qi-ge accidentally hit his head while sleeping? Or did the nighmare scared Qi-ge too much?"

Yue Qi just laughed at Xiao Jiu's funny deductions. Soon some major tensions crossed his mind. He now had to figure out how to run away from here with Xiao Jiu to avoid getting Xiao Jiu caught up in the Qiu house the he also figure out what to do next. Whether to go to the place that failed Xiao Jiu or not. But he needed power if he wanted to settle old scores. 'Also if he went to Cang Qiong where would he leave his Xiao Jiu alone. He cannot leave him alone for that long. But he cannot take him to that suffocating cage either. Just what he will do then?' He rather himself would commit a homicide rather than letting Xiao Jiu staying in that hell for even an hour. While he was lost in thought, Shen Jiu poking his cheeks Xiao Jiu and speaking up, "Why is looking so lost today. What is Qi-ge thinking being lost in deep thoughts, hm? "

Yue Qi shaked his head and replied with his usual signature heart warming, sun melting smile, "Nothing. Xiao Jiu still looks sleepy. Xiao Jiu should get some more. It's still Yin hours. It's still very early."

Shen Jiu objected to that saying, "Shouldn't we get up now and go to work? Otherwise we won't find any food and starve for the rest of the day. Qi-ge can stay hungry if he wishes but I won't. "

"Ah Xiao Jiu, Qi-ge won't let you starve at any cost. You can take all my earnings and food. I will give you my everything happily. " Xiao Jiu of course looked pleased hearing that. It even earned him a litlle smile from his Xiao Jiu. He added further after a pause before Xiao Jiu could say something, in a pleading tone with sparkly pleading eyes " But staying a shichen won't hurt much, will it? Please Xiao Jiu, Qi-ge requests you."

Shen Jiu being not resistant to those pleading eyes he sighed and nodded in agreement. Yue Qi beamed with delight. They stayed a shichen like that staying in each others arms, basking in each others warmth and talking after dozing off for a bit. Then when Xiao Jiu got up from Yue Qi's lap and was fixing his wrinkled robes, Yue Qi hold his wrist. Finally spoke up what was stuck in his mouth. He looked down, hiding his darkened expression and any possessive glints that may appear in the window to his soul, his eyes. "Xiao Jiu, do you remember you proposed an idea to me. I finally gave it a thought to your idea of running from here. Let's run away as soon as possible whenever we get the chance. Just us two. And go live our lives far away from here."

Xiao Jiu blinked a few times as he tilted his head to process the words he just heard. He was quite stunned at the words he just heard from his Qi-ge, he didn't quite believe if he was hallucinating or daydreaming or something. He doubted if his Qi-ge was possessed or did the sun rose up from the west. Qi-ge was suddenly acted more stickier than usual and even agreed to his idea about running away together. When Xiao Jiu proposed that idea to Qi-ge, he simply denied saying he had a duty towards others too, being the oldest of them all. He still remembers they strifed that day and went on a cold war for about a week. Although it was all just one sided. When Shen Jiu couldn't tolerate sleeping in cold anymore he went straight to him and snuggled with Qi-ge in his sleep. Qi-ge welcomed him with a warm smile and open arms. Is this the same Yue Qi who fought him for those lousy brats? His brows frowned with confusion. He touched Yue Qi's forehead to check his temperature. No he didn't have fever."Qi-ge are you feeling sick? You are acting strange today!"

Yue Qi stood up, got closer to him with his usual gentle smile putting up in front and stated "No, Xiao Jiu I am not. Qi-ge realized that running away is the best option for both of us. But Xiao Jiu doesn't want to ru -"

Shen Jiu insisted, "No, No Qi-ge, I want to. Let's run away." He paused for a moment to think before adding, "Then if we have any chance in future, then can we come and take Ming-jie too? I don't like those old hags and some hideous men always wandering around her." A doleful look appeared on his face.

Yue Qi asserted, "If Xiao Jiu wishes for that then it will be so. When we become more powerful we will come and take her with us. "For now getting Xiao Jiu to safe place would be Yue Qi's first priority. For him Xiao Jiu comes first and everything else comes second. Well he had a lifetime full of serving and saving people who weren't worth of it. And this time he will make sure he won't walk in the same path again.

It was just then when they heard a commotion outside and Xue Shi came running to them while wailing ugly. " Qi da-ge, Shi Wu, he.." gasped for air before he added further, "Young master Qiu is threatening to whip him with his belt. Please save him. "

Shen Jiu, for a moment, felt glad. He never liked that irritating lousy brat. If he could he would have broke his mouth with brick several times or break both of his legs. How dare he complain to Qi-ge about him and act like a pure-white-lotus-maiden if he says something against him. Such a spineless parasite, already started sending his pimps and beg for help. But the situation is more like dragging everyone down to fall. Shen Jiu snapped, "Don't meddle in this Qi-ge. The Qius are too troublesome but they won't kill that lousy rat for now."

Yue Qi's expression darkened and he glared at the still wailing Xue Shi, who squeaked after noticing his soul tearing gaze which none of them never saw. On the other hand, because of standing behind him, Shen Jiu didn't really notice the drastic change in his facial expression. So this was the day he decided to run away with Xiao Jiu. Alright, let's get to work then. He told that boy with a twisted glare sending threatening look, "You go ahead first, I’ll catch up with you soon." The boy ran away saying just an okay as answer, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible. Shi Wu can go to hell for him to care. He need to run first lest Yue Qi would slaughter him by using his gaze only.

As soon as the boy left away Yue Qi changed his expression in a blink of an eye to a warm, devoting one and turned to Shen Jiu and told him, "Grab anything Xiao Jiu wishes to. We will be running away now. As Xiao Jiu said the Qius would not kill Shi Wu. While everyone is busy outside we can utilize this golden opportunity to run away. When the matter will get resolved it will be almost dark. No one would notice us untill next day morning. By then we would be even out of the nearby village. "

Shen Jiu froze for a bit since he was way too much stunned. He really didn't see this coming. Something definitely happened to Qi-ge. When they talked he was totally himself. But he seemed a lot different. What did happen in one night that he changed this much? Does it have something to do with his nightmare? But that sounds stupid! And if ot really does then it will be more stupid. But he felt kinda happy though. Now that his selfless idiot Qi-ge was having some sense in his brain. Hence he wouldn't have to worry about the idiot starving to death. He then tried to say something but that died in his throat. In the end, he only nodded and tugged him holding his sleeves. Next they got out of the abandoned hut and avoided all the crowds and ran to the place where Shen Jiu kept some of his savings along with some of the money Yue Qi gave him. They reached a nearby giant tree where he kept some savings in the hollow of the tree. He took them out and held them close to his chest and turned to look at Yue Qi. With a deep breath he declared, a determined look lingering in his face, "Let's go, Qi-ge. I am ready."

Yue Qi, as usual smiled warmly at him and took him to the bakery near to the outskirts of town and bought a bread for his Xiao Jiu with some copper coins he saved from yesterday. He then handed it to Shen Jiu saying, "Xiao Jiu should eat something. Otherwise you will be hungry. Qi-ge cannot let Xiao Jiu starve." Seeing him giving it all to Xiao Jiu to eat, his sweet Xiao Jiu of course shoved some in his mouth too. His heart felt so warmed that he felt like he ascended heaven already. Xiao Jiu openly showing care for him, is something he yearned for so many years. His Xiao Jiu scolded him, "Stupid Qi-ge. Sharing all of his foods again and not eating. Do you like being hungry that much?"

Yue Qi of course chuckled at him. They soon left for their journey again. Yue Qi took his hand then start walking. They soon walked out of the town gate without raising any suspicion or getting noticed either. Entering into the forest. Having a previous lifetime benefited Yue Qi in one way. He knew all the way to the next village. They walked for 5 hours and when Shen Jiu got tired his carried him in his back. Shen Jiu of course objected but Yue Qi didn't listen just reasoned," We should reach the village as soon as possible before dusk. Its dangerous out there in woods in night." Shen Jiu just silently obeyed without much fight. Shen Jiu just cannot win against Yue Qi putting up the most warming smile that can even melt the sun with a slight pleading eyes. He can only just sigh then.

They reached the village when the sun started to set and the sky turned into a darker shade of phoenix golden. Luckily they found an abandoned temple to spend the night and some fruits on the way to satisfy their hunger for the night. On that night Yue Qi probably had his best sleep in almost 5 decades. Holding his Xiao Jiu tight to sleep. With his hands encircling his Xiao Jiu, keeping him warm and safe. He would do anything and burn all the bridges to give his Xiao Jiu such warm nights for the rest of his life. For that he really have to do many things and so many plans to figure out but for now he would just enjoy his best night sleep with his Xiao Jiu.

Chapter Text

Yue Qi sat in a lotus position and meditated for a bit gathering up qi. It was still dark outside, morning sun still left to rise. Just some golden rays dispersed in the eastern section of sky. Thanks to his nightmarish previous life, he knew all the methods and techniques, that helped him greatly. The morning meditation also cleared his mind. He figured out what should he do in future to avoid disaster and to keep his Xiao Jiu safe. His Xiao Jiu was still sleeping soundly, barely 30 chis away from him, still covered in Yue Qi's one and only outer robe so that the cold won't bother him, even though that robe was unthinkablely thin, stained with dirt and even had stiches in several places. Nonetheless Xiao Jiu clutched that robe hard and held it close to his chest while sleeping. Maybe because it still had the warmth and faint cedar woodish smell of Yue Qi lingering in it.

When Yue Qi was done, Yue Qi snuggled up closer to Shen Jiu. He first thought about quickly making a trip to any local village market to sell some of the LingShui wildweeds and some wild mushrooms that he picked, on their way to here and use that money to buy some foods from local food vendors. Lingshui wildweeds were used in making healing vials, and were sold in a decent market price. Being trained for a future sect leader he had to learn about many necessary herbs, plants and other stuffs. But he dropped the idea because he couldn't leave his Xiao Jiu alone. The thought of leaving his Xiao Jiu alone even for a bit, felt more painful than having thousands of poisonous arrows tearing his flesh apart. 'Xiao Jiu Qi-ge is sorry. Qi-ge will never abandon Xiao Jiu again. Also Qi-ge will not do any empty promises anymore. Qi-ge will prove himself through the outcomes directly.' He, therefore , dropped the idea of going alone and leaving Xiao Jiu alone here, immediately without even giving a second thought to it.

He just waited for his Xiao Jiu wake up. Only then they would leave together. When he finally woke up they washed their faces and hands clean in the nearby creak's water and then proceeded for the village's local market to grab some food. The village they were in, however was neither so huge nor so small for someone to notice two runaway slaves. It was surrounded by forests enriched with wild fruits and various herbs. Any healers from Qian Cao would have been so enthralled in collecting them. The village also had some clean, clear flowing rivers, local farms and fields, bustling lively neighbourhoods. Majority of the houses were huts but there were some wooden ones too. It was a nice village to settle down and live the rest of your life with your beloved ones in peace . But he had more jobs still left to be done. The job to settle some old accounts were also left to be done and he also the power of a sect leader to so it as well as protect his Xiao Jiu. All this is just for Xiao Jiu to live his second life peacefully.

They reached the market when it was not much crowdy yet. They stood beside a tree in front of some local food shops and other shops beside it. "Xiao Jiu wait here. Don't go anywhere. Qi-ge will be going on those shops to buy us some foods. But Qi-ge will come as quickly as possible" Yue Qi told as he pointed out at the shops.

The coddling tone of the older slightly irritated the younger one as he rollee his eyes, "Qi-ge should stop worrying. I am not a kid anymore that I will get lost or something. Also do you have money? "

"Qi-ge cares about Xiao Jiu that's why Qi-ge can't stop worrying about Xiao Jiu. I cannot imagine what will happen to me if something wrong happens with Xiao Jiu. Qi-ge's life is basically unimaginable without his Xiao Jiu." He chuckled brightly as his eyes gleamed under sunlight. Such a bright smile could actually make one go temporarily blind. He continued with a face full of tender and warm smile, "Qi-ge will sell some of the herbs and mushrooms that we picked together yesterday."

Shen Jiu's eyes widened a bit at Yue Qi's smile. The tips of his ear turned pink due to the sweet words of the older. His Qi-ge had been acting weird since yesterday. Its just he started coddling him more as if he was a fragile porcelain doll and also started uttering some unnecessary sweet talks anywhere anytime. Shen Jiu will not admit that he was liking Yue Qi this way more and that he was also very happy to Yue Qi chose him to run away with. He actually felt happy knowing the fact that there is someone in this wretched world who cares about him.

The corner of his lips curled upwards and formed a slight sneer. "Shameless Qi-ge. Nothing will happen to me and you won't be able to get rid of me any sooner either. Now go soon, so that we can leave soon too."

Yue Qi just smiled and nodded before leaving, Xiao may hide his true self with a prickly front but his eyes and the tip of his ears never lie. The thought never left Yue Qi's mind that he will die a hundred times and kill thousand times to protect this adorable person. If the market wasn't full of strangers and alphas, who may or may not possess danger to Xiao Jiu. He would have never left Xiao Jiu alone anywhere even for a bit. But it's better safe than sorry. Men are hideous creatures, it isn't unknown to many. So he cannot take the risk to bring his Xiao Jiu to any wolfs' dane. He just quickly sold the goods without making much bargains since he had to return as quickly as possible. The copper coins he got were just enough to cover up for their foods for some days. He thought about buying a knife seems like he would have to just save it then. Finishing the part of selling, he went to food vendor old lady and bought some foods for them and a couple of flat breads for later. After that he quickly rushed to return by the side of Xiao Jiu, who was still waiting for him on the same spot. His worried mind eased out.

"Xiao Jiu, here I brought food for us. Let's go somewhere else to eat." Shen Jiu nodded and took the hand Yue Qi offered him. They arrived in a quiet place near the village's exit towards the forest. They sat there under a tree. Yue Qi opened the food wrapped in lotus leaves and gave it to Shen Jiu. Yue Qi bought some dumplings and an boiled egg for Shen Jiu. Shen Jiu distributed all the foods into half. Yue Qi obviously refused and told that Shen Jiu should eat more so that he would gain some health and would not feel hungry." Xiao Jiu is just 11 years old. He should eat more to gain some more health. Qi-ge only wishes for Xiao Jiu to be healthy. " But Shen Jiu just deadpanned hearing it and stuffed them in Yue Qi's mouth. Yue Qi just sighed and accepted defeat. Seems like in arguments he would never win against his Xiao Jiu either in this life or their previous life.

When they were done eating. Yue Qi was getting ready to leave holding his hand already . Shen Jiu stopped him and told him,"Qi-ge wait. Do they have any cloth store and any blacksmiths there? We should buy some clothes and knife for protection. Our robes are way too tattered and dirty, it may raise suspicion. We will end up getting caught again."

Xiao Jiu was right. They needed them. Yue Qi needed something big, in between knife and sword to serve all the purposes. Specially to hunt for meat. So Xiao Jiu wont have to stay hungry. And to protect them in danger." He was about to leave for the market with Shen Jiu to buy those. Shen Jiu's stopped him again and handed him some taels. "Use these." He stared at them and tugged Shen Jiu to a corner and whispered in his ear, "Where did Xiao Jiu get these? Did you steal them?"

Shen Jiu just avoided his eye contact and looked away into other direction and tried to feign a guilty look but his eyes told another story. It twinkled with mischief while scratching the corner of his jaw and thinking of excuses. Yue Qi just sighed followed by his all time tender smile, "Qi-ge hopes we won't get into trouble for it and Qi-ge hopes Xiao Jiu would promise Qi-ge to not do it again! Qi-ge will provide Xiao Jiu everything. Xiao Jiu doesn't need to do this anymore. "

Shen Jiu sighed in relief. Qi-ge did not lecture him like usual for stealing. It wasn't like they were some rich or nobles, they were just street rats. They had no other ways to earn rather than stealing if they didn't meet up the minimum amount of daily earnings by begging. He learnt stealing because he had no other options. But he hopes it will be different in future. Now that he Yue Qi had assured him, he promised Yue Qi that he would never steal again.

They left together after changing into the new sets of robe Yue Qi bought. He also bought a pouch to store herbs and a large knife while Shen Jiu just stood and waited for him in a corner outside. They finally hit on the road after while. The robes they were covered were not much costly but pretty decent and looked similar to his previous life's sect leader uniform. He originally wanted to buy Sky blue or light green for his Xiao Jiu but he then wanted to see Xiao Jiu dressed in his signature color. So he bought also pristine white and grey robes for him.

It took 2 days for them to reach the next town, Yanxi. Yue Qi sold what he collected his way to there again and bought them some more necessary stuffs to travel. The stayed there 3 days to join the next caravan of travellers and merchants. Since the next town he wanted to go would take approximately 5 days in foot. It will not be wise to do that, with his cultivation level still low. It would be risky. So they waited there for two days. Yue Qi also did some odd jobs to earn money. Just all for his Xiao Jiu. And he had to take Shen Jiu in too even though he didn't want Shen Jiu to join him. But to prevent the other sulking and ignoring Yue Qi, he took Shen Jiu with him anyways. In the end, Yue Qi and Shen Jiu together did some light jobs there to earn money like washing dishes for the local restaurant and tavern. He also worked on his cultivation after Xiao Jiu slept. He already had 1 break through and unlocked one fourth of his spiritual roots. He was developing very fast that it wouldn't take more than a year to retrieve his old cultivation fully.

They arrived in Yanxi after a few days of travel with the caravan. Yue Qi sold the rest of the wild pheasants and herbs he collected and with the money enough for them to rent a room in any inn, they rented a room in a cheap inn. He wanted for the modest inn but Shen Jiu scolded him heavily. They decided to rest here for a couple days before leaving again with the caravan of travellers and merchants. They are now one more step closer to their last destination, Jinhai city. A big but peaceful city. Due to Cang Qiong specially Qiong Ding being much closer to the city, it was always under protection and rarely had any conflict complaints sent to Cang Qiong to solve. Even if anyone unworthy troublemaker looks for Shen Jiu, they would never guess it and look there in the first place. If Shen Jiu agrees, Yue Qi could also go to Cang Qiong without much worries. He also could come and go easily, like om a daily basis.

That day when Yue Qi and Shen Jiu went to visit the local night market for a local harvest festival he asked Shen Jiu if he wanted to go in a cultivation sect in future. Shen Jiu said he didn't like to go anywhere that was filled with rich brat young masters. Yue Qi felt actaully relieved to hear that. So Yue Qi wanted to buy Shen Jiu his most favourite treat, 'tanghulus'. But he had to do it under the pretence of selling things, that was actually his self made talismans which Shen Jiu didn't know even a thing about. Because the last time he tried to buy Shen Jiu even one stick of tanghulu, Xiao Jiu flicked his head and scolded him heavily. Yue Qi only smiled as his heart filled with happiness to the brim due to the action; which was rather heavenly pleasant and sweet to Yue Qi. Yue Qi went to sell his talismans, his talismans were really sold in a high price seeing the effectiveness of them. He then went to a sweet shop and bought two sticks of candied hawthorns and some mooncakes to treat his Xiao Jiu. He finally finished and returned back to Shen Jiu who was sitting in a bench in a less crowded corner. Pristine white and grey robes fluttering by the soft northern breeze, also bothering his bangs that were getting on his face repeatedly which he tugged carefully behind his ears, curiousity for the liveliness around him flowing out from the striking green eyes. But also refused to move even an Cun, waiting obediently for his Qi-ge. His heart throbbed at the sight first but then it clenched when the word 'Waiting' hit Yue Qi's brain hard. Xiao Jiu always waited for him patiently. Yet he was the one who abandoned him in his first life. Now even if he dies for Xiao Jiu a thousand times it would not be enough to repay for his grave sins. He turned his gaze down and muttered his unsaid apologies to Shen Jiu, 'I am sorry Xiao Jiu. Qi-ge is sincerely apologising. Qi-ge made a mistake in our previous life. But in this life Qi-ge will prove himself, Qi-ge will place only Xiao Jiu on his first priority this time.' After a few moments later of calming his hitched breath down he went back to Shen Jiu again. He smiled tenderly at Shen Jiu as he handed the candy sticks and mooncake's packet to Shen Jiu.

Shen Jiu looked at the treats Yue Qi handed him. He complained, "Did my Stupid Qi-ge again bought some unnecessary stuffs again? Do you like to waste your money earned with hardwork that much?"

Yue Qi replies to that, with the corners of his mouth sliding upwards giving an euphoric smile, also his eyes froming crinkle, "Anything Xiao Jiu prefers is not unnecessary for Qi-ge. Qi-ge can earn money again. But Xiao Jiu's happiness is worth more than any money to Qi-ge. Xiao Jiu should not worry much and allow Qi-ge take care of you."

Yue Qi's words melted Shen Jiu's heart completely. Yue Qi had been always gentle and caring towards him but this was on a whole different level. It was too overwhelming for him. He looked at the treats as his lips curved forming a small yet tender smile with flushed cheeks and ears. He looked at Yue Qi with his warmth filled eyes and faked a scoff to hide that quickly," Hmm whatever. I didn't know when did you learn such sweet talkings! Makes Qi-ge look stupid."

Yue Qi just laughed at that. Yue Qi felt so alive seeing the rare smile in Xiao Jiu's face. He felt like he could die from happiness after this. He can endure any pain just to see it again. Everything and anything for his adorable Xiao Jiu. Just like that they spent their whole night like that talking to each other while enjoying the sweets. Yue Qi savored in every moment of that memorable night with Xiao Jiu.

Meanwhile thousands of lis away in the other side in Qiu manor a high pitched screaming was heard following by a series of heavy wailings. Everyone rushed at the spot, finding out a almost Qi deviating Qiu Haitang mumbling things like a maniac and screaming to the top of her lungs. Everyone hurried to calm her down. She slept almost two weeks after that. Everyone in the manor grew tensed. Servents were the one in despair most, Qiu Jianluo would come and lash out at them at almost every shichen, followed by some other of his cousin brothers. Even the master Qiu came and did the same heinous thing too. Everyone gasped of relief when Qiu Haitang wake up. But she was acting a bit unusual. Darkness replaced the naivety in her eyes. The same eyes that used to look at everyone with great warmth now looked at them with disdain. Even though her speech remained the same. But eyes showed the drastic change in soul. As if they completely belonged to a whole different soul. The servents were the only one who noticed this change but they had no power to utter anything about it.

Chapter Text

Qiu Haitang thought she was dead. All she could remember was her vision blurring as felt like her soul was being snatched away from her body. Then it was a total blackout. For how long who knows. She tried to scream for help but she felt as if someone choked her. But she tried to scream out more louder and harder not caring for the pain. This was nothing compared to what she endured when she was snatched away from her family by a vile scum. Her whole life flashed in front of her. She thought What sin did she do to have this worst kind of life. She was truly the most unfortunate in this universe. Her brother, her father, her whole family was killed by a lowly ungrateful scum. All she later lived for was revenge. Revenge for her father, her brother, her family, her innocence. And she got it after joining her husband Luo Binghe in his battle for justice against Shen Qingqiu. She would never regret that choice of her. It was truly the best decision in her life she ever made. She was able to avenge for her family. Even though she couldn't be the one to kill that scum because her husband later forbade any wives to enter the water prison besides Mingyan and Sha Hualing after the incident of sone wives of her husband's sneaking up some men into the water prison when their husband was away in demon realm for weeks. Their goal was to defile that scum so that their husband would not go to him for pleasure any more and rather go to them. They planned to get that omega pregnant with other's spawn so that their husband would throw away that scum if he got pregnant by someone else's child. Qiu Haitang was shocked at the fact, she thought he was beta and she was sure that back in the manor he was still not presented but all along an omega's instincts stay inside a future presented Omega. Who knew such weak creature could be even this vile. She thought omegas were sweet, innocent and grateful. So by nature Shen Jiu should have been most grateful to her family that sheltered that street rat, treated him warm like family but that treacherous slut ruined them all. He killed them. So she also contributed to the work of destroy that vile creature. She provided them with the necessary informations. The rest work was done by Xiao Gongzhu and other wives of their husband. When it was known to their husband even though he clearly liked that method to torture that vile scum but he still prohibited all of them from going in the water prison even her. Qiu Haitang told him that she should be allowed to go there since that man was her biggest criminal. She had a right to punish that lowly creature. But her husband didn't pay a single heed to her words and went out of her chambers and never came back. She started to fall from her husband's grace. When that scum died her husband tried to resummon that vile scum's soul. But no avail. She could agree to her husband that, that vile scum didn't deserve such an easy death and deserved more suffering.

But it was actually worse after the death of that vile man. Their husband became inattentive to her and other wives. It was like as if he totally forgot she even existed. Maybe it was same case for not only but also others. As this caused more inner harem troubles and dramas to stir. Everyone tried to sabotage everyone's efforts to gain the attention of their husband and some even tried to remove extra competitors out of their way. She wanted Her Husband Lord Luo Binghe's attention too, she craved for his loving arms too, she missed calling him Luo gege too. So she tried too. But it all went in vain. Nothing was able to satisfy their husband. Their husband travelled more and more with Xinmo, not attending any of his wives anymore. She knew what caused it. It was that vile scum. He didn't even let her peace after his death. Why must he take everything away from her. And in the last she lost her life too. When everyone in the harem saw she fell from their husband's grace. She became one of their target. She got poisoned and she died an untimed death. She knew it too was indirectly caused by that scum. If she gets another life she would torture and kill that scum herself.

When she woke up she forst couldn't recognize the place she was in. She thought it was her husband Luo Binghe's palace. Then when she saw two familiar faces looking at her with concerned eyes. The two pairs of eyes belonged to her personal maid and her wet nurse. She thought she was dreaming. When her wet nurse jolted her out of thought and asked if she was feeling any pain and if she was ok. She was dazed and she was unable to form any words. She looked around again, her maid was gone by then to inform Qiu Jianluo and Master Qiu Long. She was still very bewildered that so much that she could only nod. Praying inside, hoping that this would not turn out to be a dream but a reality. After a time when her father and brother rushed in and hugged her. She broke into tears in their arms. She realized it wasn't a dream. It was real. Either she was back in past or she just had a very bad dream. But it doesn't matter fate must gave her another chance. Fate must have pitied on her sufferings and she woke up back in Qiu manor. It was a chance given by fate and she would make sure that vile man suffers endlessly and die. She would make sure he wouldn't ruin her life and her family anymore.

Qiu Haitang couldnt be more happy now that she is back to her family and brother. She is back on the safe arms of her loving brother and doting father. Now all she has to do is to kill that wretched slave before he even touches any of her brother or any of her family. Also any other ungrateful lowly slaves like him that they took mercy on. All the slaves are same; bites the hands that feed them if given any chance. After her past life she was aware of this fact very well. She now grew a disdain to all slaves around her she used to treat like a family. Those lowly animals don't deserve such thing. They all looked like ungrateful scums to her, who would bite the hands that feed them any time and any chance they would get.

She also had one more job to do. To rescue Luo Binghe from that poor washer woman to prevent her husband from suffering. And request her gege to take him in and when he would grow up and she would propose her brother to let them marry. To marry Luo Binghe. To be his one and only. It felt like a sweet dream to her. She would give him a better life and later be his one and only. She is sure her brother would never turn her down. Her brother and family would be even proud of her once her husband conquers three realms. She will be the sole empress of three realms after all. Her family would boast on her. To even think that tickles her heart like butterflies.

Later the day she found out her brother brought two slaves, on the day she had breakdown and went to some day's slumber. She had to meet that lowly scum and make sure his life was hell. Till she finds a way to kill him and act like it was accidental. Her brother and father would definitely not say her anything, would they?

She went to her brother's study and in front of the door she said, "Luo Gege, gege? Are you there inside?" A voice from inside replied to her, "Is it Tang'er? Come in Tang'er." When she went in her brother continued, "Why did Tang'er came here? Shouldn't Tang'er be resting? Are you feeling better now?" Seeing her brother concerned she giggled and told him with a whining tone, "Luo gege Tang'er is feeling better and she was bored staying on bed all day. So Tang'er wanted to take some walk and take some fresh air. By the way I heard gege took mercy in and brought some new slaves. Can Tang'er go play with them?" Her brother replied to her with a twisted crooked smiled but due to her eyes being blind with her brother's goodness Qiu Haitang couldn't see it. "As my Tang'er wishes, I'll have someone lead the way. But don't play with them for too long. Tang'er's body is still weak." Qiu Haitang just giggled hidden behind her sleeves and nodded before leaving with his attendant.

Qiu Haitang was frozen rooted to her place. She had goosebumps as her stomach twisted. She denied to believe that there was no person named Shen Jiu among the new slaves. Nor there was any that looked like him. She asked the attendant if they were all or if there was anymore left. The attendant replied her politely with a negative answer and added they were the ones young master Qiu recently bought. In front of her were standing two shivering slaves one named Shi Wu and other was named Yao shiliu. With one glace she already couldn't tolerate Shi Wudu anymore. He had a fierce glint mixed with rage and resentment and fear. That reminded Qiu Haitang of Shen Jiu. She wished death for anyone who had the same glint in their eyes. Since they could later turn out to be wild dogs. She just gritted her teath and went back to her room that day. She was having a mixed feeling. She was feeling happy that she wouldn't have to lose her family anymore but she was also dissatisfied that she couldn't avenge herself and push him to death herself. She decided to find that scum to kill him personally. No matter where he was hiding.

She made a new plan and waited for more 2 weeks. Seeing her recovered her father went out of the town for their business. Luo Gege was also busy in paperworks. It was high time to strike when the iron was hot. Qiu Haitang went to her brother's study where she saw the other slave standing in a corner with lowered gaze, she spared him a glance and turned to her brother to ask for permission to go to the town's market. He wanted to tag along as she was sick but she said she had already recovered also she had some surprise for him so he couldn't go along with. So her brother told her to bring some maids and a guard. She asked her brother if that new slave could come with her. Qiu Jianluo just gritted his teeth and agreed to her. He told her to wait a bit, since that slave still had a small job of mine left to do and once he was done they could go to the market. Qiu Haitang chucklingly said that it was alright for her and left. She waited outside. She saw the servent coming out with lowereed gaze and shy meek eyes. She quite liked this slave. But she didn't know that this was not a shy meek eyes it was a eye intimidated and full of fear, fear for life and dignity. Seeing he was done serving her brother they left for the market . On their way she tried to have a conversation with him showing some affections. She thought he was so shy and meek that he couldn't answer anything without stuttering. Finally she asked what she mainly aimed for. She asked him if he knew about someone named Shen Jiu and if he had any idea where was he. That slave answered him stuttering that he knew. He used to beg with him. But he didn't knew anymore after being sold.

She expected answer so she went directly to the slave traders and asked the slave traders about Shen Jiu with the pretence of buying him. But slave traders replied to her with a worried expression that he died along with another slave by drowning just a few days ago. They also buried them too. They also requested her to take look at the others. Qiu Haitang was at loss once again. She didn't listen to anything else and got out from there. She couldn't process this information that Shen Jiu was dead. 'How could that vile creature be dead?' He didn't deserve to die this easy once again. He had still left to repay her back yet.'He can't die this easily. No. This couldn't be happening.' Why does her fate do must do this to her everytime? She just wanted for a simple revenge to the man who took everythingfrom her, who killed her loving family who treated him as their own, he took her husband's attention from her, he shoved her to an awful end of her life. Yet he got an easy death each time. Why fate must be so cruel to her. She only gritted her teeth and returned to the Qiu manor.

What she didn't know was that it was a trick for the slave traders to save their business. If the nobles learned about the fact that their slaves had such audacity and were this unruly to run away, they would never buy any slaves from them. They would suffer from an inevitable loss.

But in the end it was good that the scum was gone without any need to dirty her hands and before he could harm anyone. But she couldn't tolerate this new slave Shi Wudu. He remembered her way too much of Shen Jiu. Same stubborn, fiery gaze whom she met with in the water prison. She just wanted Shi Wudu gone before he harmed her family. But she couldn't show her inner monster self to her pure righteous brother and family. She cannot take the risk of her family hating her for the monster she was forced to become by another vile ruthless lowly monster. So she continued her facade and treated every slaves and servents the same way as before with fake affections and warm toned voice even Shi Wudu. But he once accidentally stepped on her favorite robes that Luo gege gifted and tore the corner. Qiu Haitang thought that it was intentional so she was so angry that her cheeks and eyes turned red with rage. She couldnt control over herself and slapped him. After all Old habits just dont go away like that. Realising she was out of her character of acting naive and innocent in front of her brother. She burst in tears and ran back to her room. Qiu Jianluo chased after her. She couldn't face him so she shut the door, hiding in her room till she gains control over herself. But she was right all those slaves are alike. Ungrateful scums. Harming the peoples who give them bread and a place to live.

Some weeks passed after that incident. One morning a servent of Qiu Manor noticed Shi Wu gone to fetch water from nearby streams in morning and not returning the whole night. Next morning his body was discovered half eaten by wild animals. Most probably wild boars and wild dogs. Qiu Haitang felt relieved that a possible disaster for her family went away. But she also felt bad that she didn't feel any remorse she should have. Not everyone was like Shen Jiu after all, worst of all scums. But the other side of her brain also reasoned, she experienced a whole past life of pain and sufferings. She knew how to recognize people from their eyes. If she considered him as a troublemaker problem and a disaster for her family then he was one. And she should not feel any remorse for that, she should be rather glad to have her family safe and sound around her.

But the still oblivious self proclaimed experienced Qiu Haitang didn't know that her innocent righteous brother Qiu Jianluo personally killed Shi Wu by flogging him to death and threw his body out in wild later. That Shi Wu did a grave sin by making his precious Tang'er cry. He had no way but to atone for his sins by his life. Qiu Jianluo also made a perfect tragic death story so that his pure lovely Tang'er would notice nothing wrong and he was right with it too. His precious Tang'er noticed nothing wrong. The tragic death story plot went like Shi Wudu went to collect buckets of water in the nearest stream for himself in the Yin hours. But on the way he was attacked by some wild animals and they tore his flesh and ate him alive. While in reality that wild animal was Qiu Jianluo and his attendants.

Thus on this way life goes on. With both side being oblivious of the inner distorted self of the other side's. All lived their lives with peace, harmony and happiness, at least for now.

And this was the thorny beauty side of life!