A Bitter Heart (Part 4)

Inside the Liangzhou Government Office, Wei Ming was receiving officials on one hand while arranging for men to escort the prisoners on the other, and he still had to find time to write a memorial to the Capital to report the whole story of the case... Ever since he came ashore, his feet hadn't touched the ground; he was as busy as if he had poked a hornet's nest. While he, the master, was toiling away at his desk, his two unfilial divine disciples could remain undisturbed by worldly affairs, sitting peacefully in the government office's rear garden, drinking tea and chatting.

It was a rare occasion for Gui Heng to sit at the same table with Chi Lian in such a calm and peaceful manner. He asked curiously, "What exactly happened on the sea that day? Has His Highness recovered his memories?"

Chi Lian said, "It can't be considered a memory recovery. After we were swallowed by Wanyue, we ran into this inside its shell." He conjured a black wooden box out of thin air and handed it to Gui Heng, warning, "Be careful, don't get sucked in by it."

Gui Heng opened the box and saw the inverted silver mirror and the lustrous, shimmering green pearl inside. One glance was enough to tell they possessed a formidable immortal aura. He asked in confusion, "Is this a spiritual treasure of the Dragon Race?"

"I don't know its origin, but it's very powerful. A mere fragment was enough to forcibly pull me into an illusion," Chi Lian said. "His Highness saw all my memories since I took form through this mirror. He came to understand himself through my impression of the Emperor. Although it's not comprehensive, it's at least a point of reference. After seeing these memories, it was inevitable that he would be influenced."

Gui Heng sighed with emotion, "How could it be just 'influenced'... I think he's the spitting image of the Emperor in person right now. In the past, whether it was towards you or me, he always placed himself in the position of a mortal, half relying on conversation and half on guesses. It always felt like there was some kind of barrier. These past two days, he hasn't been so distant."

He sighed in relief, then asked again, "By your estimate, how much longer until the Emperor can fully recover?"

But Chi Lian shook his head, "Don't think it'll be so easy. This is just the beginning. More than half of the Emperor's divine soul has scattered into the heavens and earth. What's left is less than a tenth. Just nourishing the divine soul back to wholeness will take eight hundred to a thousand years, and to recover to his former state will take at least ten thousand years."

Gui Heng was silent for a moment, then said, "So you refused him at first, afraid of delaying his Great Dao. Why have you agreed now?"

Chi Lian: "..."

Although Gui Heng's question was sharp, Chi Lian couldn't help but sincerely ask for advice, "How could you tell?"

Gui Heng scoffed, "Do you know that when you two came off the ship, you were both covered in the exact same lotus fragrance? And that lovey-dovey look on His Highness's face? You could grab any random dog off the streets of Liang Continent and it would be able to tell. It's one thing to deceive yourself, but don't assume everyone else is blind, alright?"

Chi Lian: "..."

Gui Heng asked teasingly, "So, Immortal Lord Chi Lian, why are you no longer so particular about 'supreme indifference' at a time like this?"

Seeing his long silence, Gui Heng answered for him, "Because although His Highness is the Emperor's reincarnation, he was born in the mortal world and has no memories of his past life. No matter how you look at it, he's a mortal. But the one you love in your heart is the Emperor. To put it bluntly, you couldn't bring yourself to do it, so you brought out the high-sounding reason of the 'Great Dao' to fool yourself."

"But because of that mirror, His Highness managed to recover a part of his memories by a stroke of luck and changed back into the true Emperor. But as you said, there are still several thousand years to go. As long as you stay by his side, he will eventually fall in love with you again. This time it was a coincidence, but it can't be a coincidence every time. What will you do then?"

"This time is an exception. I shouldn't have appeared before him so directly, much less interfered in the affairs of the mortal world."

Chi Lian's eyes were downcast as he said calmly, "Whether he is the Emperor or His Highness, since I have promised him, I will walk with him through this life. When this lifetime of reincarnation is over, I will erase his memories of me and will no longer appear by his side until the Emperor returns to Jade Capital."

The words were brief, but each one carried the weight of a thousand jun. His deep affection, like his decisiveness, was a sharp knife aimed only at his own chest.

Gui Heng had originally just wanted to tease him for a bit of fun, but he hadn't expected to unearth something so much bigger, like pulling a nine-heavens-shaking thunderclap right out of the ground. He felt that if the Emperor were to hear these words, he might go mad with anger. "You've considered everything so thoroughly, but you've left out only yourself. Do you think the Emperor will be happy?"

Chi Lian was trying to help the Emperor fulfill his Great Dao, but his own immortal path was about to be shattered. The mortal world was no place for cultivation to begin with. He had already lost so much spiritual power that his hair had turned white overnight, and now he was going to waste several thousand more years. If, in the end, the Emperor was saved but he himself was gone, who could he even complain to?

"Whether he's happy or not, we'll have to wait until he comes back to find out." Chi Lian smiled, clearly unafraid, and was actually in a rather good mood after making such a decision. "I left in a hurry. I must go back to the palace first to deal with the Emperor. You return to the Capital with His Highness. Once things here are settled, His Highness will probably send you back to the Heavenly Court."

"Go tell him yourself. Don't expect me to pass on your message," Gui Heng said sourly. "I don't want to go back. Dealing with those Immortal Lords all day long... no real business, just them scheming to exploit you. It's disgusting to look at. I might as well stay and be His Highness's guard."

"I've just started to see some progress on my end, and you want to attract them here. Are you afraid we won't die fast enough?" Chi Lian turned hostile without mercy, saying coldly, "There's no place for you here. Scram and go back."

Gui Heng stomped his feet in a rage. "Do you have any humanity left... I don't want a master's wife like you!"

In the front hall, Wei Ming was in the middle of a conversation when he heard a clattering and banging from the rear courtyard. His brow twitched. He looked at the hesitant Liangzhou officials, gave a dry cough, and explained nonchalantly, "It's nothing, probably just some kittens fighting. My apologies."

When the meeting in the front hall was over, Chi Lian came to find Wei Ming to bid farewell. When he pushed the door open, Wei Ming happened to be writing a memorial, his focused and absorbed expression exactly the same as the Emperor Cangze in Chi Lian's memory. He stood silently to the side, admiring the sight for a while. After Wei Ming finished and put down his brush, he spread the memorial out to dry, then naturally turned and reached out his arms. He pulled Chi Lian over for a kiss before asking, "What was the fight about this time?"

This habit of his hadn't changed from his past life to this one. He always reached out first but would wait for Chi Lian to willingly come into his embrace.

Of course, he had truly never been disappointed, not even once.

When Chi Lian and Gui Heng fought, they fought, but they had their principles, with a tacit understanding not to seek help or tattle. He nuzzled against Wei Ming's neck. He didn't feel it when they were each busy with their own tasks, but the moment he felt that familiar body heat and scent, a sudden reluctance to part emerged. "Just playing around, it's nothing."

"Then what's this about?" Wei Ming sensed his mood had suddenly plummeted. "Unhappy?"

Chi Lian hugged his back and answered in a muffled voice, "I've been away from the palace for too long. I'm afraid the Emperor will grow suspicious. I need to leave for the Capital at once."

Wei Ming laughed upon hearing this. He pushed a lock of Chi Lian's long hair behind his ear and, almost nibbling on his earlobe, asked, "So, is it because you can't bear to leave me?"

Chi Lian was used to his embraces but not yet to more intimate things. He subconsciously wanted to shrink away, but he would only shrink into Wei Ming's arms. The result was being held fast by the hands on the nape of his neck and his waist. To avoid saying weak and mushy words, he took the initiative and raised his head to seal Wei Ming's lips.

He had just drunk half a cup of tea, and there was a faint fragrance of it on his lips and teeth. It tasted warm, soft, and sweet, but it was hard to stop at just a light taste; instead, it lured one to crave the sweetness that lay deeper within. Wei Ming only felt his waist grow softer and softer, arching like a bow, so he simply picked him up and sat him on the desk.

Chi Lian supported himself with one hand behind him and felt as if he had pressed on some paper. He suddenly remembered there was an important document on the desk and, during a gap to catch his breath, reminded him in a muffled, whimpering voice, "The memorial..."

Wei Ming allowed him a moment to breathe. His gaze looked as if he wanted to eat him. He said slowly and deliberately, "You're about to be sullied, and you still have the mind to worry about it?"

Chi Lian: "..."

By the time the sky had turned completely dark, the lamp in His Highness, Prince Duan's room was finally lit. Wei Ming took the stained memorial and personally moved it over the candle flame to burn it.

He poured a cup of tea, but upon touching it, found it had gone completely cold. He raised his hand to toss it out. Curled up in the armchair, Chi Lian was squinting against the lamplight. He said in a hoarse voice, "Don't pour it. Let me have a sip of something cold."

Wei Ming brought the teacup over and helped him lean back into his embrace. Chi Lian drank half the cup from Wei Ming's hand before his own voice, which had gone off-key, finally returned to him. He murmured, "Why did I even come here..."

Wei Ming bent down and lifted him from the armchair, moving him back to the bed. He asked, seemingly without intention, "Are you still leaving today?"

Chi Lian gave him a light kick. "Your Highness, don't think I can't leave just because you've stalled until dark."

Wei Ming sat on the edge of the bed, looking at him indulgently. He said tactfully, "It might not just be a problem of it being dark."

Chi Lian: "..."

He kicked Wei Ming again and said in all seriousness, "Considering Your Highness will not be able to return to the Capital for at least another month, this time will be tentatively considered a little comfort for Your Highness."

"Then I really must thank you for your comfort," Wei Ming chuckled, then leisurely tapped his brow. "Feeling smug now, are we? I wonder who it was just a moment ago, feeling wronged and reluctant to leave, clinging to someone and refusing to let go."

"If I could have turned around and left so readily, Your Highness would be the one crying," Chi Lian threw the exact same question back at him. "Your Highness stalled with every means possible. Wasn't it also because you couldn't bear for me to leave?"

"It's only right that I can't bear for you to leave," Wei Ming answered frankly. "Mortals can't shrink distances. We have no other way but to endure the days. But you, at least, are a god. Can you be stumped by such a small thing?"

Chi Lian: "..."

"Back then, making you two learn formation arts was as difficult as pulling teeth. If you had learned it then, you wouldn't have to be crying in my arms now." After scolding him, Wei Ming began to coax him. "How about this: you obediently sleep here tonight, and tomorrow I'll tell you how to draw a transportation formation."

Chi Lian hesitated for a moment before finally choosing a life of pleasure over the greater good, spinelessly rolling over onto Wei Ming's lap. He hugged his waist and pleaded, "Your Highness, please draw it for me."