1. Final Winter

The emperor cut a striking figure against the stark white of snow.

Liu Sumeng had such a thought while he approached.

The emperor was without his golden crown and gaudy imperial attire. His dress was simple, with purple robes with his hair tied up in a messy ponytail; reminiscent of the days of old.

Was he thinking of days passed? Back before the madness set in. It was hard to believe, but there was once peace across the country. There was a time they had known joy and laughter.

Such times were long gone. Liu Sumeng lamented the past while he slowly approached the lonesome emperor. He wore a thin, white robe, unfit for the brutal winter weather. If Liu Sumeng was cold, he made no show of it; no clattering of teeth or tremble in his stoic stance. His sword hand was steady and resolute.

The emperor was gazing at the heavens with black, vacant eyes. The blade in his hand was dyed crimson. Droplets of rouge dotted the pure white snow. Bodies of his subjects lay at his feet, dead.

The palace had turned quiet and lifeless.

Liu Sumeng stopped. With the palace behind him empty, and the courtyard before him dyed with the stench of death, there was nowhere left to run. He took in the sight of the emperor who stood alone.

Slowly, the emperor craned his neck to peer over his should. "Ah, General Liu. You're late."

Liu Sumeng tensed. His heart stuttered from acute sadness. But he refused to allow his composure to falter. The sharp, stoic gaze that he donned remained resolute. Calmly, he veered his gaze towards the emperor's feet and noticed that they were bare.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Liu Sumeng's tone was ice; cold, and brutal like the winter air. "Come inside. You will get sick."

The emperor scoffed and looked at the weapon in Liu Sumeng's hand. It was a legendary sword, one that he had gifted to the general himself. "What are you doing with that, A-Chao?"

Was it not obvious? Liu Sumeng swallowed, trying as he could to soothe the dryness in his throat. What answer could he give? "Your Majesty, that—"

The emperor cut him off. "You used to call This Seat by a different name. What was it again?"

The itch in Liu Sumeng's throat only became more irritable. "Yuan Zhang."

It was a name from a lifetime ago, one that was not yet plagued by despair. At times, Liu Sumeng would wonder what had gone wrong in their lives. What had led them to this pitiful conclusion? How did they get to this silent palace and crimson courtyard with death abounding? Tragedy must have been written in their fates. The end was imminent.

The emperor turned around in full and stepped over a slaughtered maid, uncaring that his soles were dirtied by muddied snow and drying blood. "Oh, that's right. This Seat remembers now. This Seat had forgotten. There's so much that This Seat forgot."

Liu Sumeng was always blunt with words. Clumsily, he replied, "Then forget."

That was the wrong thing to say. In an instant, the mad emperor's face contorted with rage. "Shut up! Don't tell This Seat what to do!"

Jaw clenched, Liu Sumeng obediently turned silent. Maybe, Liu Sumeng thought, if he had been better at choosing words, the emperor wouldn't have turned out this way.

Wishful thinking. In the end, nothing mattered. The emperor took another step forward, but before he was able to close the gap between them, Liu Sumeng raised his sword, his free hand forming a seal at his chest.

Time seemed to freeze. "So this is your answer," the emperor said sullenly, his face crestfallen.

Surely, he must have known that this was going to happen. So why was he acting disappointed?

Liu Sumeng, who had been commanded to remain silent, said nothing.

Head tossed back, Yuan Zhang howled in laughter. "Ahahahaha! You're absurd! My stupid Sumeng is absurd! This is why I hate you. I hate you so, so much!" His entire body shook, tears forming in his eyes while nonsense trickled from his lips.

The onset of madness was nothing new, yet Liu Sumeng found his heart heavy and his thoughts gloomy. Yuan Zhang was not always like this. Liu Sumeng was the one who remained at his side, watched his descent into insanity, and couldn't do a thing to stop it.

Now, this.

The general waited. Yuan Xuelan made the first move.

"If this is how you want to end it, then so be it! I'll take you down with me!" Yuan Xuelan swung his blade forward. A powerful surge of qi was expelled at once. The air rippled in reply with flames dancing at his feet. Lightning sizzled too, the atmosphere became dense with chaotic force.

Liu Sumeng held his breath. The emperor planned to burn the entire place down.

Actually, that didn't sound too bad. With the palace gone, perhaps a small part of their infamous legacy would leave with it. Let the years of madness and cruelty be cleansed by fire.

A pointless fantasy. But one that Liu Sumeng clung to nonetheless. For he had nothing else to cling to. He raised his sword, his stance resolute.

For a moment, everything was silent. Yuan Xuelan had quieted his ramblings, his expression strange. His lips were pulled taut, brows slightly furrowed. He must be in so much pain, Liu Sumeng thought privately.

It was Yuan Xuelan who made the first move, his face twisting into a mad grin. Lightning cracked, sword raised and a pillar of fire was summoned before slashing down.

There was no point in dodging. Liu Sumeng quickly formed a string of hand seals with movement so fast that mortal eyes would strain to follow. A brilliant barrier was erected around him, protecting him from the ruthless flames surging forth.

The barrier wouldn't last, but it endured long enough. Liu Sumeng channeled his qi into his sword. Xianlong was a legendary weapon with mythical might. When Liu Sumeng swung his blade, swords of ice formed around him and sang through the air. They launched toward Yuan Xuelan without mercy, seeking his life.

The emperor replied with laughter. A sharp blade of ice grazed his cheek, drawing blood. But he had parried the rest of the attacks, responding with more rage, more chaos.

A sea of flames and ice danced to the sound of lightning thundering.

The two legendary cultivators fought. Once sworn brothers, one had become a tyrannical emperor, and the other, his loyal general. Together, they had torn apart the world. It was only right that they would tear apart each other. With each strike exchanged, the palace around them would crumble. Once lush gardens and luxurious courtyards were scorched to nothingness. The tall throne, the golden hall where ministers and cultivators bowed to the mighty emperor would all be reduced to ash.

The battle endured seven days and seven nights.

The citizens fled the capital in waves, fearful of the debris of destruction that rained from the sky. Where a majestic palace once stood, there was nothing left but soot.

The flames wouldn't last forever. Even seven days and seven nights felt too short. The end was near.

Soon enough, there was nothing but ruin that surrounded them.

Yuan Xuelan suddenly paused, his movements frozen as his listless eyes veered away from his foe. There was a shift in his expression, a sudden flash of emotion that Liu Sumeng had difficulty discerning. Was it anguish? Devastation? Relief? Whatever it was, it was brief and Liu Sumeng took advantage.

The general rushed forth, sliding his blade through Yuan Xuelan's chest with ease, piercing his heart.

Blood bubbled from Yuan Xuelan's lips before he fell limply into Liu Sumeng's arms.

With the last of his strength, the emperor looked up. Those dark eyes trembled and traced the lines of Liu Sumeng's face. Was there any trace of sanity left? Liu Sumeng should have ended everything years ago.

"Sumeng…" Yuan Xuelan croaked. A bloodied hand reached up, only to fall. "Liu Chao… You're too good to me. Such a good wife. Staying with me even after everyone left."

"Just shut up," Liu Sumeng said softly as he stroked Yuan Xuelan's hair. Such harsh words were said with hidden compassion. For a brief moment, there was some clarity that returned to the emperor's eyes. The bitter anger melted away into a gentle smile. It was as if he wasn't in any pain at all.

But maybe that was just Liu Sumeng's imagination.

His eyes felt moist, vision blurry.

"Why…are you so awkward…?" Yuan Xuelan chuckled bitterly. More blood spilled from his lips, as agonizing coughs wracked his weakened body. Compared to the boy that Liu Sumeng first met those many years ago, this emperor had grown so tall. Now, he was taller than Liu Sumeng. The round, boyish features in his face were replaced with sharper edges. He might have been pretty in his in youth, but he had grown into a handsome man.

It was unfair. Liu Sumeng's hold tightened as he felt Yuan Xuelan's life slip away in his arms.

"This Seat is dying…." the emperor continued to ramble. "Don't you…have some nice things," a wet cough, "to say to me…" More coughing. Red dribbled down his chin and stained Liu Sumeng's shoulder.

Liu Sumeng, terrible with words, had nothing to say. "Shhh," he shushed.

The tyrannical emperor tried to laugh, but he had no more strength to do so. He inhaled one last time to utter, "Sumeng… Liu Chao…"

Just like that, the tyrannical emperor was vanquished.

Liu Sumeng would follow him not long after, allowing himself to be engulfed by surrounding flames.