The Heavenly Scroll

LongHai was unusually sullen as he carried MingYu on his back, waiting for Wei YueQin outside the white walls of Tiang'an. He had seen MingYu's bandaged arm, smelled the rotting flesh. For once, he made no move to kick or puck; he didn't even complain. He stood still, with his head lowered, letting MingYu lean over his neck for support.

ZhouYan had set flight before the sun had risen, carrying with him a letter, asking for urgent help. ZhiYi had run out ideas, nothing seemed to work on MingYu's wound. Instead of calming down, it was now festering. Brown liquid seeped through the bandages. The only one who could help them now was master Ye WeiRu.

Not even a full day had passed, and MingYu was already in a groggy state. His skin had turned clammy and grey, heavy rings hung under his eyes. ZhiYi was by his side, brushing over the sweat-soaked strands of hair, studying each twitch of his face and body.

"I'm fine," MingYu groaned as he brushed ZhiYi's hand away, wincing as the pain radiated through him with every little movement of his body. ZhiYi's lips tightened into a thin line, but he kept his hands to himself.

PingZe was standing by the side, his famous grin had been wiped off, only a frown and a pale complexion were left of his cheery facade. He parted his lips to say something, but stopped himself as YueQin emerged through the gate. A pouch from which three nameplates peaked through hung over her shoulders.

"Where are we heading?" She asked as her gaze fell over MingYu. Her face twisted into a pained expression, guilt was apparent in her drooping shoulders.

"Wupei, it's-"

PingZe paused as ZhiYi threw him a warning glance. He quickly understood his brother's intention and hurried to continue, "Err, it's better if you don't stay here. People still hold you accountable for the Hsu's death."

YueQin nodded, but her eyes never left MingYu. She watched as he slowly unrolled the scroll he had been holding on his lap and held it up to her.

"Tell me, YueQin, what did I do? What can I do to repay you?" His voice was hoarse, dryness was clawing at his throat. His bloodshot eyes were pleading, pained. He looked like a walking corpse, haunting as YueQin stepped closer and with shivering hands, took hold of the scroll.

Seconds turned to minutes, as YueQin stood in silence, staring at the carved words on the bamboo. When she finally raised her eyes to meet the men's gaze, the orbs held wonder in them.

"You are Wu TianLan?"

"Was." MingYu hissed.

"I don't understand how-" YueQin began.

"Just tell me," MingYu said. "What do I have to do?"

The three men stared at her as her brows furrowed, her eyes shifted between them, looking for guidance.

"I have no right to demand anything from you."

"You're the only Wei left!" MingYu said, blinking back the tears of pain, but one escaped his fluttering lids, trailing down the side of his face. YueQin flinched at his harsh tone, but stood her ground.

"Even then, I don't have any rights to demand anything from you."

It would have been fitting if MingYu suddenly spewed blood from anger, but he swallowed his frustration.

"I don't get it," MingYu said. His brow twitched ominously, and he closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, but the motion seemed to only add discomfort to his already burning pain.

"You saved our lives. Instead of executing us, you brought us here." YueQin's voice rang sharply, and MingYu forced his eyes open.

"What?" Croaked MingYu. He couldn't help but think maybe his pain had messed up his mind or even worse, killed off his limited brain cells.

"You took pity on me and LiXue."

"You-!" MingYu's breathing was shaky as he tried to get off LongHai's back. ZhiYi hurried to keep him upright before he fell over. "You are telling me I owe you nothing?"

His tone was menacing as he took hold of ZhiYi's robe with his healthy hand and kept himself steady. His agony was bleeding into his voice, but he didn't give a damn.

YueQin winced under MingYu's scorching stare. "I- I don't know why-"

"Did you know of this, ZhiYi?" MingYu screeched as he turned his gaze to the demon, tightening his hold on his robes. ZhiYi had an unreadable expression on his face as he let MingYu pull at him. MingYu was the one who sent them to Tiang'an, sparing their lives. Then why would he still have to make amends with them?

"We weren't aware of it, brother MingYu." PingZe hurried to say. "You did it all on your own."

MingYu let his hand slide down ZhiYi's chest before it dropped against his side. His mind was too fogged up, and this recent information only added to his ever-growing irritation. There was something he had missed, but at his state, his pain was trampling over his wits.

"This scroll, it's all wrong," YueQin said carefully as she held the scripture up.

"What?" The three men snapped in unison, startling her.

"It makes no sense." YueQin handed the scroll to PingZe, who read through it. His brows furrowed as he turned to his brothers.

"Maybe it's broken?" offered PingZe as he held the scroll so MingYu and ZhiYi could read it too.

Beneath the name Wei, another name had carved into the bamboo slip, sizzling as brightly as the name above it, 'Liu'.

"Impossible," ZhiYi said. "We all witnessed their execution."

PingZe nodded in agreement. Unlike with the Wei's, both brothers and Wu TianLan had been present as the Liu's heads were separated from their bodies.

"Heavenly scrolls only deliver the message, they are seldom wrong," MingYu said tightly. Heaven could be devious and cruel, but never made mistakes - none that they would admit to.

YueQin's lips settled into a grim line. "All forty people of the Liu household were executed years ago. Not even the dog was spared. How could that be right?"

MingYu didn't answer. He had fallen back on LongHai's back, shivering as chills ran over his skin, leaving a sheen of cold sweat behind. Shaking his head lightly, he tried to get a hold of his wandering thoughts.

Heaven was messing with him at this point. Someone up there was having a good laugh at his misery. He just hoped he would live long enough to finish the punishment.

PingZe seemed to share the same thought as he came to LongHai's side and rummaged through the bag hanging by the donkey's side. Finding what he was looking for, he said something, MingYu could see his lips moving, but no audible words reached his ears. PingZe bid his hasty goodbye and left after promising them he would be back soon.

"Where is he going?" MingYu mumbled as he let his heavy lids close and his head to loll over his shoulder. He was getting used to the blaring pain radiating across his joints. It was almost pleasant how the pain was evenly distributed through every cell of his body.

"He is on his way to return the ink to Fan ZhiHao." ZhiYi's voice sounded far away, as if echoing through the woods. MingYu frowned lightly as he tried to open his eyes, but the lids didn't move.

"A weird time to do that," MingYu whispered as he felt his body go limp and dive forward.

"MingYu!" ZhiYi's voice calling his name was the last thing he heard before everything went dark.