(Part 3)
Xianwu walked towards the palace and entered in. emperor Zhijun stood gazing at the Heavenly city below. Xianwu stood behind bowing courteously. Stealing a glance at Xianwu he called "Xianwu… no need to bow. Come here."
Xianwu walked towards him. "How are you? And how was the mortal world?" he asked. Xianwu stared at him perplexed. It felt as if a parent was asking his child about his or her experience to something new. "Milord, thanks to the Heavenly blessings I am alright. And mortal world is in great spirits as well." she told. Zhijun eyed her his expression unclear.
"That's good to hear… Your first mission was a great success. Not only did you solve the mystery but protected the villagers as well. For your bravery and completion of the given task. You are awarded with your merits." Zhijun told. Suddenly Xianwu interrupted "Heavenly Emperor!" she called a little loudly for which she reflected in between.
Zhijun asked back "What's the matter?" Xianwu looked around in confusion before she replied hesitantly "I- if I could get some merits in spare as expenses for living… will you allow it?" she asked grabbing her other hand tightly. Zhijun eyed her, with a sigh he asked "Say… who did you offend now?" Xianwu jerked up replying "No! No one, I didn't offend anyone. It's just…" her voice trailed down to a stop. Zhijun spoke up "Alright, as you wish."
At once the wings behind her back glowed dark. Xianwu and Fa ling stared at them. The silver wings which were dim had started to glow a little. "Thank you! Your majesty!" Xianwu thanked in delight. Zhijun smiled back. "And these are… for your use." He said giving a golden sack in her hands. Inside the sack eight golden stones glowed. Zhijun stated "Your merits, half of them are in your wings as your life force and half of them in your hands…" Xianwu nodded smiling.
"But Xianwu… I wanted to talk to you about something else right now." Zhijun said. Xianwu with a confused look asked back "Yes milord?" Zhijun continued "Do you remember the "The City of Endless laughter?" Xianwu thought hard as she thought "The city of laughter… how can I forget, that city played great part in my ascension. On the bridge of forever silence, I defeated a famous murdering demon…" "I do remember it my lord." Xianwu replied.
Zhijun taking a deep breath added "Recently, the city has been named as 'The silent city'. Do you know why? It's because, for a while now, mortals who travel the route towards it have been turning into Human Eating corpses and not only mortals but even heavenly officials who were sent to investigate have not made their way back." Xianwu pondered curiously as she inquired "my lord… what do you think the reason could be for turning in Human eating corpses and unable to return back?" Zhijun sighed "That's the only problem.
The city of endless laughter, has been barren since it suffered a pandemic years ago, to think that news like this would spread around it is really problematic." Xianwu glancing with a serious expression asked "Then, my lord. Do you want me to investigate this matter as my 2nd mission?" Zhijun tilted his head in rejection. "No, no… this matter is already in the hands of General Zhou Gonghe's disciple Mo Xingchen. I only discussed it with you because it has been roaming on my mind lately.
Looking at him slightly tired Xianwu questioned "Milord, are you tired?" Zhijun looked at her startled, but soon smiled. Zhijun smiled "You haven't changed at all." Xianwu with a light tilt of her head replied "That's not true. The world around me has changed a lot and so do I." Xianwu hesitating for an instant spoke up "Milord… there's something that I've been meaning to ask you for a while." Zhijun eyed her curiously. "Li Qianyi… is a ghost demon, but she still yearns for revenge. I might have solved the mystery but it still confuses me a little, what really happened to her child in the mortal world?"
Zhijun with his voice serious explained "Xianwu, for this universe one rule is inevitable and that is 'DEATH', death is inevitable. Even I will one day die. Being Heavenly Supremes doesn't mean we can escape this rule, being Heavenly Supremes might increase up our life spans to the merits we collect but we can't escape death. What must come must end!" Zhijun continued
"However, Ghost and demons are beings free from this rule, only because they have already suffered this rule. Beings created with a sense of hatred and unacceptance of their death. Those beings are not living but considered dead. Li Qianyi is one of them, what happened in between her and Zhou Gonghe is none of my concerns and he will deal with it himself. That's why Xianwu your work is now done." Xianwu nodded not daring to ask anymore. Zhijun however added. "Even so. Whatever happened with her she will be kept away from heavenly trial because she was once a part of us and we will wait until she disappears after losing her urge of revenge. Fret not, Heavenly City is a place of unbreakable law none dares to defy it." "Yes, your highness." Xianwu replied.
Zhijun eyeing at her happiness asked "So what are you going to do now?" "I feel like visiting the Inferno city. It's been long." Xianwu answered. Zhijun's expression turning grim responded "Is that so? Tell me one thing, how does he treat you?" Xianwu with a smile said "Very nice… he is a really nice person." Zhijun walking to his throne and settling down called "Yue Xianwu, I understand your relationship with him and the Inferno city but to us he is the biggest threat. His life means our death and our death means end of the virtuous, so just like I always say Xianwu be careful of him. On one moment he might turn good towards you and the other vicious. The fact that you've returned is indeed a blessing but I won't like it one bit if you stand by him against us, don't forget, once you were one of us too."
Xianwu listened to him like someone who listens to laws. The time she died was the time everything ended. She might have wanted life force from the Heavenly City, but, that doesn't hides the fact that she is from the demon city. However Xianwu replied "Milord, defying you is defying the righteous. I might have born into the demon city but my heart still lives for virtuousness. I swear from the bottom of my heart that any circumstances regarding Heavenly City will never be talked in the Demon city." Zhijun nodded.
"Then, shall I take my leave?" Xianwu consulted. "One last thing Xianwu, do you want to take a look at Yue kingdom?" Zhijun asked. Xianwu who was surprised with the question with a light smile rejected his offer, she stated "Milord, The Yue kingdom is now a prosperous kingdom with a wise and a lovable ruler. I by no means want to disturb it with my unworthy presence…"
"Weren't you once also the ruler of the kingdom which is prosperous now?" Zhijun questioned. Arrows seemed to pierce in her heart and these arrows hurt more than the 777 Heavenly arrows which pierced her in the past. Xianwu clearing her throat replied "I was… that's why I don't want anything like the past to happen again and those happy lives suffer again. Milord… The Soul yearns for Heavens but the body still lingers in the Abyss…" Xianwu smiled.
Her heart felt like breaking and tears at the verge of flowing but it was all in the past. Xianwu thought "It was all in the past? I really found a good excuse for myself." Zhijun looked at her stunned. Xianwu with a bow said "My lord, Call me if I'm needed. I'll rush to you right away. And once again, I deeply thank you from the bottom of my heart. Ye Xianwu wishes to be excused!" Zhijun with a slight nod granted her excuse.