Sun And Moon (1)

"The reason is quite simple…" I looked at her, trying to see behind the veil. "I wanted to ask if this new appearance of mine reminds you of anyone?"

"It does not."

"So… this would only be the second time we've met in person, Xiao Qingyue."

"You sound disappointed. Were you hoping that I was the person you once knew?"

"So you remembered my little remark." 

"It is why you gave the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace your resources, was it not?" Xia Qingyue questioned. "No... you did not intend them to go to the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace in particular. You wanted me to use them."

"That... I did." I sat up, shrugging my shoulders. "Your master seemed quite confident in someone's abilities. Enough to proclaim that I would only place second in this Blue Wind Ranking Tournament... at best. Either she had absolute faith in Ling Yun, which may have been possible, or she thought a Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace disciple would eclipse us both. I was truly intrigued when I heard my pellets would go to you, a girl from the rather insignificant Floating Cloud City."

"It more or less confirmed that you were the person Chu Yueli was so confident in..." 

"What do you seek from all of this?" Xia Qingyue tilted her head slightly. "A person like you would not give away precious resources without seeking something in return."

"Shouldn't you know?" I stroked my chin.

"I could make assumptions."

"Tell me... what do you think my intentions are?" I grinned slightly. I was curious about the Heart of Snow Glazed Ice.

"You certainly... have an attraction to me." Xia Qingyue remarked. "When you first saw me, your heart rumbled with a rush of emotions. Skilled as you are, you could suppress these feelings within a mere moment, but I had already seen it."

"Don't kid yourself." I chuckled, shaking my head. "That is not at all true."

"Is that so?" Xia Qingyue didn't sound convinced at all. "You can act angry, shocked, traumatised, joyful, confident, dissapointed, regretful... truthfully, you can perform in any way you see fit and fool the entire world. Your whole body is a tool you use frighteningly well... yet you can't trick your heart."

"It is the one part of you that cannot lie."

"..." I grinned slightly. This girl is pretty good. "So, you're saying you can see into my heart, Xia Qingyue?"

"Was anything I said incorrect?" 

'... Nerd.' I found myself chuckling. "You remind me of her too much, you know. Of course, you are beautiful... no one can take that away from you. Even so, I am surrounded by beauties. That alone is not enough to captivate me..."

"Who was this person to you... a lover?" She cut in straight to the point.

"A lover... that's not a strong enough word." I sighed, standing up. I walked a few steps, turning away from her. "She was my other half, the stars in the sky, the moon... she was the world to me. She was why I felt happiness in a world that had lost colour to me."

"... I see. It's no wonder why you reacted the way that you did." Xia Qingyue replied. "Yet... I'm sure if the crown prince were so close to someone, it would be known by all. Besides that, is there even a person in the Blue Wind Empire who could deny you?"

"..." I smiled, placing my arms behind my back.

"Even more strangely, you hoped that I was that person... wouldn't you know where the love of your life resides? Even if I had a similar appearance, there shouldn't be a doubt in your mind." Xia Qingyue added, very clearly getting on my case. "When we first met, you were fourteen... so, for how long did you know this girl to say that she was your other half?"

'This girl is clever... far too clever.'

"There's no use lying to you, is there?" I questioned, turning back to her as I changed the subject slightly. "Even though I admit to having these feelings, I don't expect you to return them. They're… not even for you in the first place. They are nothing but the delusions of my heart, in the end. I would absolutely get rid of them if I could."

Even though my heart is clouded, my mind is not.

"... Yet, the reason why I gave you those pellets was not at all because you looked like her, nor was it because I desired you." I shook my head. "All I desired was someone who could stand with me on the highest stage… someone who could push me to my limits and beyond. I had hoped that you would be that person."

"... And so I ask… are you?"

"You will see in the match tomorrow." Xia Qingyue replied simply.

"To make it fair, I'll scale to your profound strength. If you end up beating me… it's fair game."

"The same way you did with Ling Yun?"

"Yes…" I nodded. "How can I be the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament champion, the strongest of the young generation… if I only win by my vastly superior profound strength? It would be fraudulent in my eyes."

"Your sense of pride… is remarkable. You would throw away a guaranteed victory just to prove you have the best battle power... or fail trying?" She questioned.

"That's the thing… I'm not losing to you. I'll win."

"Your profound strength is yours alone… something you worked for." Xia Qingyue countered. "If it is vastly superior to mine, then so be it."

"I've also been working on my swordsmanship, battle instincts, elements… am I not allowed to see how it all stacks up to you? Don't you like having a fair chance of beating me and winning it all for your sect? Did you come all the way here to lose... or to win?"

"Why would one choose to lose if they can win?"

"Soooo, what are you complaining about?" I raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "Get out of my pavilion. I'll see you tomorrow."

"... Very well."

"Besides, you need a good night's sleep. I want you at your best... no excuses."

Before I knew it, Xiao Qingyue was gone, and it was just me.

"I won't lie, you got cooked," Rokas remarked, seemingly appearing out of nowhere with a glass of... banana milkshake? It sure looked like it.

"Cooked?" I chuckled, shaking my head. "If anything, her knowing more about me brings us closer... besides, I found out the truth. Caroline didn't reincarnate alongside me. At least... she isn't Xia Qingyue. They're just eerily similar."

"Mhm." Rokas slurped on his straw nonchalantly. "I wouldn't blame you; the Heart of Snow Glazed Ice is pretty broken. Trying to deceive someone who possesses it... is a wasted effort. I'd know."

"I was not cooked."

"There is a reason why it only appears only once in a million years... if that." Rokas added, ignoring me.

"Wait... that's across the entire universe?" I blinked.

"Mhm."

"You're telling me this chick just popped up in the insignificant Floating Cloud City... ooooh, right." I laughed, seeing the bigger picture. "She is the main character's first wife, so she has to be unbelievably special, right?"

"That's about right." Rokas shrugged. "It's fate at work."

"Is it 'fate' that she looks so similar to my ex, too?" I questioned, looking at him.

"Possibly." Rokas casually remarked, raising an eyebrow. "What's wrong, your heart can't take it?"

"Hmph." I scoffed. "It's a minor inconvenience."

"Falling back into old habits?"

"If I fool myself, shouldn't it fool her too?" I questioned. 

"Now that's a dangerous game to play..." Rokas smiled, tilting his head. "Are you that afraid of love, James?"

"... Why would I be scared of it?" 

"Let's not act oblivious." Rokas chuckled. "You don't want to get Caroline'd again."

"... What of it?" 

"Yet... if you don't brave the risks of that happening.... if you don't open your heart again... how the fuck do you intend to feel truly happy again?" 

Rokas questioned as a slight tone of anger following his raised voice. This 'slight' anger, however, sounded beyond ferocious... even my red dragon's fury seemed like nothing more than a newly born dragon's cry compared to it.

It felt like a solid punch to the face, too.

"..." I smiled. "Who are you to say that I'm not truly happy? I feel fucking wonderful every day I'm alive."

"Do I look like some gullible baboon you can fool?" Rokas questioned, looking straight at me. His eyes started to glow a burning orange... boiling with power like magma. "I know it's not easy-"

"Mate, I'm perfectly fine with the way I am." I countered, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not going to love someone at first sight, no matter who it is. I'm not a fool."

"... Hm. Proceed as you wish." Rokas shrugged, turning away. "If you live a life of only deception, then all you will ever have is a world of lies."

"Yeah, right... smartass."

I remarked as he vanished.

I didn't linger in the garden for long and just went to my bedroom to collect my thoughts. Truthfully, I relished the challenge that Xia Qingyue posed. Not physically... but mentally. With her appearance and divine physique, she was the perfect bane to me.

This way... she ended up invoking the same feelings that Caroline did. However, this time, instead of competing for top marks at exams, we are playing a far more elaborate game.

Naturally, I want the Nine Profound Exquisite Body for myself... which means the desire of shagging her (not the purest reason, of course). If she knows this or has any indication of it, making it happen will be all the more difficult...

Then there is my heart and the feelings I have for Caroline, something I could try embracing for once... yet it would feel like taking several steps back in my life. I should be over it by now.

Even so, if the 'love' seems genuine enough, it could wash away those 'ill' intentions... or maybe I'd just end up playing the fool again?

I sighed, standing up and looking at myself in the mirror.

'Maybe I am overthinking it...'

Of course, I am more than strong enough to force myself on her... yet I'm far above something so lowly. Actions like that are only conducted by desperate, charmless and despicable losers.

'Why am I doubting myself? I am King fucking James... anything I put my mind to, I can make into reality. Absolutely anything.'

I smiled, watching my blue eyes glow.

'Is there a woman in existence who can deny my charm?'

My smile turned into a grin.

'No... there isn't.' I chuckled, shaking my head. 'I'll conquer my heart demons directly, gain that divine physique for myself... and thoroughly conquer her all at once. Three birds with one stone.'

"And I thought I had a big ego..." I heard a particular idiot's voice behind me. "You're on a whole different level."

"I know, Rockass." I nodded, turning to him. "I know."

Rokas smiled. "You're playing a dangerous game..."

"A dangerous game? I am the danger." I raised an eyebrow as he kept looking at me, his eyes flashing purple. "What, are you going to get mad at me?"

"Mad at you?" Rokas scoffed. "Nah... I'd never get mad at you, James. Unless you ate my food without my permission again, of course. Then I'd just burn you alive-"

"Duly noted." I laughed. "So... what is it? This 'dangerous game'?"

"Thinking you have the upper hand," Rokas stated in a mysterious tone. "By that, I mean you should take care of not being the one who is conquered."

"Me... conquered?" I laughed. "Hahahaha... you're funny, Rokas. I'd never be conquered by a sole woman, no matter who she is."

"... Didn't it already happen once?" Rokas stroked his chin. "Or... am I missing something?"

"It's... not happening again," I added, raising my head. "After all, I've grown into someone who wants to try a bit of everything."

"... You might want to rephrase that one." Rokas chuckled, giving me the side-eye. "I mean... try a bit of everything? Everything?"

"... You know what I meant." I shook my head. "All types of women. I wouldn't restrict myself to only one."

"Alright, Mr harem protagonist number 690,420..." Rokas shrugged in a jestful way. 

"Aren't you one yourself?" I questioned.

"Uh..." Rokas chuckled. "I suppose-"

"Exactly, you dickhead." I laughed. "Don't talk me down when you do the same shit."

"Well, there's one slight difference... I wouldn't sleep with anyone I don't love. I'm not dishonest enough to do that."

"I never thought you'd have such a big heart, Rocky." I remarked in a sarcastic tone. "Loving all these girls... it must come so easily to you."

"... We are different people, indeed." Rokas smiled, nodding. "You were the sun in the sky that everyone praised, while I was just a shadow that hardly anyone ever acknowledged. You had everything you wanted because you sought it out... while I only dreamt."

"When you are loved... you only see it as just another day. Another admirer among countless others. A fan." Rokas chuckled, shaking his head. "When I was truly loved for the first time romantically... I treasured it more than anything in the world. I would have been happy living an 'insignificant' life, as you would say... as long as it was with her."

"You would have been?" I questioned. "What stopped you?"

"Fate..." Rokas pointed up. "Many times over, if I was not strong enough... I would have lost everything I held dear, and I knew it. That's what pushed me forward... what made me seek out strength. It wasn't easy for someone like me, especially at the beginning, yet I walked that path with conviction..."

"I could imagine you struggling with meditation..." I managed a smile, nodding. "But you're here, aren't you... Mr Strongest?"

"No, not quite..." He smiled, looking up slightly. "Even so, the day that I can finally rest... it will be a splendid one, indeed."

"What do you mean?" I questioned. "There's someone who can threaten you?"

"Just one."

"The guy who brought me here and set everything up?" I tilted my head.

"Mhm." Rokas retained his smile. "He is never quite content with anything, a thousand times as ambitious as the both of us... and someone who is inherently restless."

"Sounds a lot like me, I won't lie." I chuckled. "Are you sure it's not another James?"

"Well, you two do have several similarities..." Rokas acknowledged. "Alas, it is not. It's a being of my own creation."

"Huh?" I blinked. "How are you weaker than your own creation?"

"Imagine a fight between the Hulk and Stan Lee." Rokas shrugged. "Or, really, anything he created. Thor, Loki, Spiderman... the list goes on. Would he be able to win if they suddenly appeared before him?"

"..." I gave it some thought for a good while. "You're saying... that you wrote this guy into existence, and then he affected your real life?"

"Mhm."

"So... what does he want?" 

"What any bored God would want, realistically," Rokas answered simply.

"I see..." I nodded, clenching my fists. "I see..."

"I see..." Rokas repeated, seemingly making fun of me. "I hear, I touch, I taste..."

"You smell..." I interrupted.

Rokas cracked a smile. "That was not funny in the slightest."

"You gave me the alley-oop for that one... besides, your sense of humour is truly broken." I chuckled. "Why else would you smile at that?"

"Anyway, good luck on the match tomorrow... you'll need it." He tapped my forehead. For a moment, I thought he transferred some almighty profound art... but he didn't. "Xia Qingyue's battle power is much greater than Ling Yun's."

"What was that forehead tap for?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I unlocked your potential, hidden within..." Rokas spoke with his usual sarcastic tone. "Now you will become a God amongst all men. Between Heaven and Earth, you alone will be the honoured one. The King of Kings, Emperor of Emperors, God of Gods... they will call you Goat James."

"You're taking the piss." I chuckled, shaking my head. "Seriously?"

"Nah, I did it for no reason at all. As a matter of fact... I actually put a seal on your body that will fuck you over tomorrow." Rokas made a devilish smile. "Just when you get the upper hand... bang! Your profound veins explode from within, and you suddenly become a cripple for life."

It was hard to tell if he was joking or not. Though, I sincerely doubted that he'd do something like that...

"Yeah, right," I spoke with a doubtful tone.

"It's a little thing... don't worry about it. Cya."

He went poof and left me alone again.

'Comes and goes as he pleases...'

I chuckled, shaking my head.

~

"Commencing the first round of this session's semi-finals... Blue Wind Imperial Family's Crown Prince, Cang Chao..."

A wave of cheers washed over the entire crowd.

"Versus Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's Xia Qingyue!"

There were far more boos, mainly from the fangirls James had (indirectly) corrupted. Some young masters and horny young men tried to counter with cheers, but they were deafened by an even greater wave of boos. It was a truly hopeless battle...

Cang Chao's popularity was one of a kind. 

His level of fame had almost eclipsed everyone else in the Blue Wind Empire. As for sheer adoration? No one came close. The Crown Prince Cang Chao was loved by all. A 'perfect' figure whose blemishes and imperfections only made him more so...

For instance, despite killing a young master of the Xiao Sect, his genuine and noble 'sincerity' had only given him more support amongst most.

Xia Qingyue stepped up to the Sword Discourse Arena with an air of frozen majesty. Despite being veiled, she still captivated the masses... the men in particular. To them, she was like a Goddess that had descended from the skies.

"Eh... where is Cang Chao?" One spectator asked after a little while. "He always comes right after his opponent."

More time passed, and everyone grew restless.

Ling Wugou furrowed his brows.

"If Cang Chao does not show himself on the Sword Discourse Arena within ten seconds, he will be automatically-"

Ling Wugou felt his voice tremble uncontrollably.

Whoosh... whoosh...

"ROAAAARRRR!!!"

The clouds tore apart as a majestic scarlet dragon soared down. Its colossal size of nearly two hundred feet eclipsed the entire arena from high above. A single flap of its mighty wings created wind surges that tore apart even space ever so slightly.

The terrible, catastrophic strength it possessed... was something that only Ling Kun could witness without his body shaking uncontrollably.

Everyone else... may as well have been ants.

"Why... would a... genuine Emperor Profound True Dragon... appear... here?" Xiao Juetian's eyes widened with a sense of fear. 

Chu Yuechan observed calmly, knowing full well whose dragon it was.

"What a... majestic... creature." Fen Juecheng stuttered despite his best efforts.

Even Ling Yuefeng, a genuine throne, felt a sense of fear he couldn't escape.

"This dragon... its aura might even surpass Father's." Ling Yuefeng thought of Ling Tianni, the strongest profound practitioner in the Blue Wind Empire.

Ling Kun sat up from his seat. He immediately looked ahead and saw the person riding this dragon.

His mouth widened in shock.

"TREMBLE BEFORE THIS KING'S MIGHT, FOOLISH HUMANS! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!" The scarlet dragon, who hadn't been free in ages, let loose. "I AM THE STRONGEST DRAGON IN THIS LAND-"

Then... he abruptly stopped. Countless roses suddenly fell from above, a mighty wind sending them across the stands.

"Do not fret, spectators of this Blue Wind Ranking Tournament!"

James' voice echoed far and wide as he sat up from the dragon and floated by its side. He pet the scarlet dragon's head, treating it like a good boy.

"This dragon here does not bite, nor does he breathe fire; rest assured." James smiled, looking across the crowd. "He's a good and humble boy, my contracted dragon. He just wanted to say hello very nicely to everyone."

"..." Ling Yun observed in silence. All along, the person he had that 'decisive' match against was far stronger than he could ever have imagined.

"Cang Chao... is... flying." Fen Juecheng remarked, completely shocked. Same as everyone, really. "The Profound Floating Technique... age of sixteen... tamed an Emperor Profound Realm... True Dragon... what... how is this... possible?"

"Little brother…" Cang Yue smiled as her eyes glowed with admiration. She had grown teary-eyed just watching it all. "He's not… so little anymore… he… really is the pride of our family."

"... The wind that surpasses all." Dongfang Xiu just smiled, shaking his head. "His Royal Highness… is someone that will change the fate of the Blue Wind Empire… forever."

Fen Juechen watched silently with endless admiration. The more time passed, the more he cherished his decision to swear fealty to such a person.

"Sorry if I'm late, elder." James looked at Ling Wugou and smiled. "I had preparations to make... mainly buying all those roses, really."

Ling Wugou observed as wars were breaking out over who could snatch more of James' red roses.

"... I..." Ling Wugou managed a laugh, shaking his head. "You are someone I cannot even begin to comprehend."

"It's alright; I'm not a profound art manual." James chuckled, smiling as he patted the elder's shoulder. "You don't need to comprehend me."

"... Hah. This match may as well be a formality along with the rest of the tournament."

"Oh, you're dead wrong. This is the most exciting match of all." James put his hand down and sealed the scarlet dragon once again. He turned his attention to Xia Qingyue, slowly descending towards her. "I think we need a bigger arena, don't you? Three hundred metres won't exactly cut it."

"We will have to make due." Xia Qingyue replied with a clear, calm, yet cold tone.

"Now... why don't you show me your strength?" James tilted his head. "If this is all you've reached after all those pellets I gave you... sadly, I might have to ask you to cough them up."

"That will not be necessary." 

Xia Qingyue removed her restraints and began to float at the same height as James, a dozen metres in the air. Her profound energy erupted, far eclipsing what she had shown previously.

The crowd collectively lost their shit... though not quite as much as they did previously.

"Third stage of the Sky Profound Realm?" James questioned, grinning slightly. "Even to me, you're full of surprises."

"You were the one who rode down on the back of an Emperor Profound Realm True Dragon." Xia Qingyue reminded him.

"True enough." James shrugged, withdrawing a blue rose and gently sending it her way. "By the way, I got this gift just for you."

"..." Xia Qingyue observed the icey rose coming her way. She touched it with profound energy, keeping it afloat, and raised an eyebrow. "Is this your confession?"

'How cold and blunt...' James thought. 

"In my field, there are countless red roses that wish to be plucked under the radiant Sun... but there is only one Ice Rose in all of the world."

She sent it back his way.

"Is that so?"

'... if it were that easy, I wouldn't find her so interesting.' James chuckled, taking it inside the Sky Poison Pearl. "Yes... it is so."

Ling Wugou took a deep breath, looking at Ling Yuefeng.

(Ling Wugou: Yo bro, they're like... Sky Profound Realm experts... don't we need a bigger arena or something?)

(Ling Yuefeng: Nah, it's fine... let them cook. What else are we gonna do? Build an arena just for one match?)

(Ling Wugou: I don't know... make them fight outside or something.)

(Ling Yuefeng: It'll be alright... trust me bro.)

"Battle... start!"