Fallen Apart I

Leaving the Palace for a "relaxing" evening, Hua and Pei find themselves strolling around the streets... The atmosphere gets gloomier and gloomier by day. Although the reports are quite positive, the civilians can't take it anymore... The lack of food and water is becoming a problem more visible, the amount of criminality is also quite evident and the general morale is dropping.

The war is consuming the nation from within and on top of that, the emperor died and a kid seats on his throne... Nobody loves the new ruler, everyone thinks he's just a spoiled young man who simply was lucky to survive the massacre but had no actual knowledge or skill for running a country. That is quite visible since he hasn't benefitted the country at all yet and the high ranked nobles are acting as they please, some are hiding provisions and selling them at twice the price just to earn sure money in the time of need,nor rising the taxes of their domains.

Many innocent peoples are also dying as they get caught in between their wars for power, wanting to be the ones to control the emperor behind the curtains. No one does anything about it because they all share the same thought: One less mouth to feed... And you can't even blame them for thinking that way, survival instinct comes first.

The hunt to XianLen is still ongoing of course, even tho almost nobody knows about it... But the amount of distrust the emperor places on everyone becsuse of that is clear to PeiZhi, he's been investigating everyone and even ambushed some lower ranked nobles that had connection to him in the past and executed them.

...

-Mmhn... Why don't we go to the sect Pei'Ge? It's not like there's much to do here unless you want to buy some food or fabric- -Sure, let's go and say hi. It's been a while since we last visited-

...

They reach one of the sects, only a couple buildings are still open for training since most of the men have been sent out to war so the remaining ones got united and the extra generals have been sent to the battlefield too. Even some weaker ones got an assignation, orders of the Emperor...

-My Lords, good evening to you- bows the instructor on the door -Are you here again to meet someone?-

-Yeppp! Can we pass through or we should get back later?- asks hua swinging from one heel to the other

-Oh no please come in! There's no training today... Well, there's hardly any anyway haha- the man opens the door and lead the two men inside before going back to his place.

The two man head to one particular room -Luckily they moved other guys in our old section so I can still go back to our room...- murmurs Hua while caressing the wood on the door -So much happened behind these doors. I can still remember how awkward we all were the first day here haha- he chuckles -Or how I would hug Lai'Er to sleep... You know? Sometimes I would even hug her tight so she wouldn't run away, I didn't want her to go to war Pei'Ge- he tears up so the other man comes to hold his shoulders -We had pillow fights and had so much fun, although the nation was in war we still managed to face it with a smile... It was a distant concept and we were bustling with energy, ready to overcome it all...

Lai'Er was the one giving us hope, pushing us all further. While Shun was the one dragging us back on our feet if we fell behind... All the sweat we poured on these grounds, our fatigue and improvements. But we still woke up the day after to do it all again! I would sneak out and come meet you in private too... Ah that dude also came here haha that hot dancer your sister liked so much...

Your sister was so serious and I thought she just needed to get used to life outside the mansion, she just needed to soften herself and forget all the years of rules and scolds, to find herself... Yet the more time passed and the darker she grew. She already understood what was coming and felt the weight of it all on her shoulders... I wish I would have been more supportive instead of leaving there alone, forced to walk on her own just for us to run freely... PeiZhi, I... I want to go back to those days... I'm... So scared... I don't understand this world anymore-

He hides his face in his embrace as the older man pats his back -I wish I could comfort you better... But I'm helpless. I'll try to keep us safe, I promise it but... I cannot fend off a war, I'm not as good as my sister in fighting nor am I capable of earning the trust of the new emperor. I can do so little but I swear it's my best!-

the younger man slips off his arms just enough to grab onto his clothes and look in his eyes -Let's run away! Just us, we'll survive out of wild rabbits and berries... I don't care, I can't take it anymore here! Everyone is shaming something and you could get killed as a collateral effect of their twisted plans or even just be blamed for something you haven't done! Look at that man last week... They dug out his eyes and impaled his head in front of his family's house under the false accusation of betraying the nation! He was innocent... It was his master who did it all... Next time it could be...- -Don't say it- bends down the other man to kiss away his words...

After a few seconds Hua tries to recollect himself and force a laugh -Oh hehe, let's not get caught by my old roommates or we'll most definitely face trouble... They should be here honestly, where are they?- the man leaves the room and calls the first man he sees -Ehy, where are Hao Ming and Wei Xuan? Are they out in the streets?-

The man looks at him confused -You don't know? Hao's there- he says before rising an hand toward a door -In the Infirmary-

-What?! Is he sick?! Oh my god, and Wei?- -He's on the battlefield by now, he got sent to war quite a few weeks ago, well he should be... If he's still alive at least-

-No...- he widen his eyes and the hand about to grab the man stops midair -Wei... He... He can't...- he back walks in shock at the thought of that joyful smile once again -First Xiao disappearance an now... No... We... We were friends, we... It's impossible, we were having fun together and...- tears again build up as he hits his back against Pei, who grabs his arm to steady him before he goes insane completely -Let's go and see how hao's doing for now, ok?- the younger man nods and let the other drags him inside the room...