1 Prologue - The cost of Love

"I beg you, save her."

Hua MingJie was kneeling with his head firmly glued to the cold floor. Never in his life would he have thought of going that far for a single person.

The shaman, in response, observed him smugly, "What makes a man of your lineage to pray to an outcast?"

Hua MingJie looked up, casting his desperate eyes on the dark ones of the old man he was addressing, "I asked the best doctors, and even the greatest priests. Neither medicine nor the glorious deities could help me. In Heaven or on Earth there isn't a solution, then it will certainly be sought elsewhere, in much darker places. Noble shaman, you are my only hope."

The prayer remained suspended in silence, anxiously waiting for an answer, which did not take long to arrive.

The shaman opened the fan, hiding the shadow of a smile behind the object's elegant plumage. Certainly, by helping that man he would receive a large reward.

He said, "What, then, is this young friend's request?"

Something he suspected, but he preferred to ask for further confirmation. He didn't mind being rude or out of place.

Hua MingJie was stunned for a moment, regaining his composure after an instant. He hesitated, regaining an elegant and comfortable position, straightening his back, "My wife. Save her soul."

Speaking those words cost him immense effort, and he was forced to blink back tears more than once.

The shaman burst into a thunderous gut laugh, oblivious to Hua MingJie's feelings, then ending with a disturbing and disgusting cough, "Calling back a soul from the Realm of the Dead? Is that what this young friend wants?"

Hua MingJie remained silent, annoyed by the mocking tone of the man of the lowest social position, even less important than a mosquito.

How dare he laugh at that deep pain of him?

Before he could even remind him of his position, the shaman continued, "This young friend knows the price to pay for such ... um ... Art?"

He found his way of treating him annoying, but decided not to say anything about it, biting his tongue once more, just nodding with an absent and impassive expression.

He said, "I'm not that foolish. I would never have come this far without knowing the necessary conditions."

He looked at him proudly, thus hiding his fear.

-How can you even think that I would have come to you, without having even a tiny bit of information? Do you really think I'm stupid enough to throw myself in the dark without a candle?-

Of this thought, however, he let out nothing.

The shaman seemed pleased with his attitude. He got up abruptly, making him copper jewelry ring unbearably.

Hua MingJie found it extremely out of place, but once again he didn't dare to say a word. He would not have talked about the man's extravagances, even though he found them incredibly scornful and derisive.

The shaman said, "Know, my young friend, it will cost dearly."

MingJie, "..."

His heart leapt and, fearing an absolutely negative turnaround, he hastened to specify the conditions, even though he thought them obvious: "If the price to pay is my daughter, Noble Shaman, I won't."

The old man stopped, turning towards him dramatically indignant.

Even his facial expressions were exaggerated to say the least.

He said crossly, "My young friend, I don't know what kind of stories you've heard, but I'm not an executioner. This out of place comment is completely baseless and offensive."

Hua MingJie suddenly felt at fault, but he couldn't help but feel a veil of relief spreading through him uncertain heart.

Despite this, he found himself forced once again to stifle all his disappointment.

-If my comment was offensive, forgive me. But don't you think that your clothing, so embellished with falsehood, is equally irreverent and disrespectful?-

He said nothing and stood up as the shaman called him back, starting to make his way to the body of his beloved.

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Hua MingJie threw open the door, suppressing a groan of pain as he saw the lifeless body of his beloved.

The room was cold, but that did not stop the elderly shaman from continuing his jangly and determined walk.

He approached the beautiful body with a quick and disinterested movement. He noticed the diligent way in which the man had kept her body intact, through the use of spiritual arts that he had long denied.

Hua MingJie joined him at a brisk pace, now driven by a profound surge of anger and annoyance.

He said, "I would appreciate more respect."

The shaman turned, looking at him sarcastically, "You called me and took me to this place of disillusionment and desolation to lead this wretched girl off the path of Death. How can you ask me respect if you, young friend, are the first to show disrespectful of Death itself?"

The old man did not wait for an answer, instead positioning himself alongside the beautiful young woman. He observed her long brown hair and pale face, stretched out in a serene expression of peace, as if she were resting on a flowery meadow and not in a cold and dark room, adorned with carpets and colored drapes, in a vain attempt to make more such a misfortune is bearable.

He thought, -How painful this situation. He made the room luxurious, trying to fill the void caused by his untimely death. A real shame, though. She was truly wonderful.-

In the light of this observation, the shaman decided to externalize the final part of his thought, regardless of the reaction that could have arisen in the man.

He admitted, "She is a very beautiful girl."

Hua MingJie just nodded, touching his wife's cheek. His heart quivered painfully as he felt the cold sensation that came from her skin.

This time he didn't hold back, and a tear rolled down his cheek.

He didn't mean to admit it, but it hurt him damn well.

What was the point of all that pain? Once he passed that ordeal, would he be able to live his life peacefully?

The old man, at the sight of this scene, thought irreverently, -But look. Therefore even nobles are humble in the face of Death.-

He did not externalize that stream of consciousness, instead focusing his eyes on the miserable and grieving man, like a slimy snake staring at its prey, ready to suffocate it.

A frightened shiver went through Hua MingJie's back as he perceived that look. For the first time, he felt helpless in the presence of another individual. His warrior pride was deeply affected and worn down.

Love for that woman was driving him to do things he never imagined he would do.

The elderly shaman said, "My young friend Hua MingJie, the operation we are about to perform is risky, and your wife may undergo a change of character. Are you ready to face the consequences of your choice?"

Hua MingJie nodded vaguely, "What's the price?"

The shaman laughed hoarsely, stirring a new surge of disgust in the man's soul.

He said, "The material price is certainly gold. The effort I am about to go through is great and I intend to receive adequate compensation. What you have to donate to recall the soul of this unfortunate girl, however, are your tears."

Hua MingJie was amazed, and he was not ashamed to show his immense skepticism about it. He murmured, uncertain, "My tears? Only this?"

He frowned and continued, "Are you making fun of this broken young man?"

The elder denied with an enigmatic smile.

If he had been hurt by this accusation, he did not show it.

Instead he said, "My young friend, don't be so mischievous. Tears contain the deepest and most hidden human feelings. Joy, fear, sadness, pain ... Are you willing to surrender all this to bring your beloved back?"

Hua MingJie's eyes widened, "What I have to do, then, is to give up these feelings and my tears?"

The elder nodded amused, "But do not fear, you will not lose your Love. Nothing can against such a feeling, as nothing can against Hate. What you will be forced to will be a condition of sensory annihilation. Are you ready to live inside an existence filled with apathetic days?"

Hua MingJie hesitated for a moment, weighing the weight of that sentence. He would not lose his love, he just would not be able to show it openly. It was something he could resist, anything to get that woman back by his side.

He waited a few more moments, hoping to make the shaman impatient, but he did not lose heart.

-Obviously, on the other hand, the more time we waste, the better it will be for his earnings.-

Swallowing the annoyance of his impertinent behavior, he agreed with energy.

The shaman, in response, took a step forward, with enthusiasm. He said something Hua MingJie didn't really understand, raving about the "Breath of Life" or something similar.

Hua MingJie made no effort to understand, eager to see the results of all his waiting. Only a handful of days had passed, and yet it seemed months ago.

Suddenly, an excruciating and disjointed pain shot through his chest, piercing his heart.

Was that what it felt like to die?

He had no way of answering.

Everything became dark, confused and infinitely oppressive.