Bloodied Throne

-Very dark days are approaching, trust me- Murmurs Wei Xuan seating down with his bowl.

Hao Ming just sighs, looking at the empty spots beside them -I can still see all of them walking away...-

-Me too... One after the other... Disappearing like the sun after a tall mountain- Wei steals a glace at the almost empty dining room, before finishing his sentence -So few of us are left-

-Only us 2 of our initial group...- the other man looks deeply hurt

-Ehy... Hao, it's good. They are out there helping our World that's... Honourable- he grits his teeth and click his tongue, forcing a positive mindset but without much success -Who am I trying to fool? Tz... One after the other they left, only to meet a coffin at the end!-

-Don't...! Don't say that... They are not deaf yet- yells Hao, worried

-Yet- Wei shifts position and begins mixing the food with his chopsticks -It's not so bad to be a failure afterall... You get to live on and even eat these supplies- he nods toward Hao's bowl

-I'm... Not eating- he pushes it away

-Stop trying to kill yourself! You need strength to fig... Bah! I don't know, do whatever you want- he turns around to look outside as some servants hurries themselves around the Sect, preparing it for the upcoming Funeral. The birds are back and the sleeping animals are all waking up along with the blooming of flowers.

-I... Wonder what happened to Xiao...- murmurs Hao after some time of silence -After he received that letter and ran away... He never... Never... Came back...- he hugs himself, holding back the tears -All alone... Somewhere... What could possibly force him to disappear like this?-

-We already talked about this Hao, it's useless to keep going... We don't know and will never know! All we should care about now is what will happen to US, or this damn nation... Why do you think the Emperor called for all the young nobles to train here? Surely not to give us a proper training. He wanted to keep everyone in a "good mood"... The common folks won't rebel knowing that we are "forced" to Arms too, and the whealty families are happy knowing that their weakest sons are safe... Only the strong and capable ones went to war while those like us, those who would die as soon as they step on the battlefield... We remained here under the facade of a never-ending training.

But now... The Emperor died, who knows what will happen. If a tyrant was to seat on the Throne, even women and children will die.... If it's a weak one, we will succumb in War... If it's a crazy one who doesn't care about keeping the nobles in fabou, even we will be sent to war! But... If a blood bath for the Throne starts...- he hugs himself at the thought -Either way, our nation is doomed to end.... The death of an Emperor is always a scary event, let's not talk about when that happens during the worst war this world ever faced-

-But... ChangLai...?- rises his head Hao

-What about her? Don't tell me you believe those stories?!-

-Of course I do...!- tries to rebate the man

-Listen... She's not really a Goddess, even if she's very capable and brave... She can still die one moment or another-

-You're such a pessimist-

-At least I'm not trying to die like you- pierce him the younger man with his words, at thatbHao stands up with a cold and hurt stare leaving the dining room.

-Tz...- Wei rolls his eyes and begin eating with rage

-Is this seat free?-

At the sound of that deep voice Wei stops midway with a frustrated grin and smash the chopsticks on the table, facing Dong Hu -Look around you, you dumbass! There are only empty seats in this room! Of course it's free!!! Now let me eat and don't bother me-

The other man seats in front of Wei Xuan and smiles -What's with the attitude?-

The young man rise an eyebrow -Are you really asking me?- not earning a reply he keeps on eating

-What a sad day today...- murmurs Dong looking outside

-It's not like we cared about him that much anyway...- follows his gaze Wei toward the maids wearing white clothes

-I wasn't talking about his death- he rises his hand showing a letter that makes Wei sucks his breath in -Finally...-

-So happy to see me off?-

-Yes, I don't know what dirty tricks you played to not be sent to war till now... But finally your time has come. Thanks Heaven for freeing us from such a burden!- he smiles rising his chopsticks in a blessing, before starting to eat happily

-Burden uh?-

-Absolutely yes! Not only you teased all the guys to the point of getting some in danger, but you also manipulated the Generals not to send you out... Who could have guessed that such a strong man was actually a disgusting coward! And the way you treated Lai'Er... Tz! You should be out there risking you skin and do your part since you are "so capable"-

-At least I'm capable-

-I never claimed to be capable-

Dong Hu puts away the envelope and faces again Wei -Do you want to know in which Armada I got assigned?- he asks standing up

-What difference will it make? Just die-

-Cai, Cai Armada... Where your beloved Goddess is serving- smirks Dong leaving the room

Wei, who has been holding thigh his chopsticks, ends up breaking the fragile wood -You bastard... You still won at the end... Your only purpose is to drive everyone mad!- he yells at the end, throwing the broken chopsticks against the door as it closes behind the other man.

...

Dong Hu walks around the Royal Palace, as everything is getting adorned for the funeral and the maids silently cry at the side of the streets. The day is already ending and the moon is peeking through the soft clouds...

-What a lovely atmosphere...- he hiss his bag on the shoulder and leaves one smaller side building. His eyes falls on one white figure, rushing to talk with two Guards in front of a gate... "One of them seems to be the little Hua". What the white person says is apparently very shocking since the two men gasps and begin running behind him, leaving the gate unguarded...

The 3 men head out of the Royal Palace and disappear in the distance as yells begin echoing inside the Palace's main building -Well then... I guess it's really time for me to leave this Place- He whistles heading to the Main Gate, the yells become stronger and the sound of metal against metal diffuse all over the Palace neighborhood...

One step out of the gate and he turns to face the disaster going on the inside, a maid rolls down the stairs covered in blood and then crowls toward him -Help...! Please... Call...!- but before she can finish her sentence, Dong throws a knife in her mouth finishing her off... He approaches and bends down -Call who?-

The woman, still slightly alive looks at him with terror in her eyes, still trying to find salvation -He... l...lp...-

-Uh? I don't understand... Wait, there's something in your mouth... Let me help you- he removes the knife and blood gushes out in between the woman's teeth, falling down her jaw and neck... Her risen arm falls to the ground and she dies right after

-What a pain- he stands back up and leave finally the gate, closing it behind him to cut the Palace off from the outside world -All those corrupted men are better stay inside now... These doors are better stay closed untill each one of them dies- he murmurs leaving once for all the Capital as smoke rises high in the sky, seeing him off.