Jinshen flew through the air, his wings carrying him—cutting through the air. Jinshen was stoic, his expression serious.
Storm clouds crawled across the sky like bruises blooming as if the world itself knew something was wrong.
But underneath all of that was a strange sense of... Anxiety and anger.
Anger for Ruoxue and Jinhai, but anxiety for Yanwei.
Xian, can you pick up anything from Yanwei? Any Qi spikes?
There was a mechanical whir that continued on for a few moments before Xian's grim and surprised voice came through.
Wait a damn minute! Where's Yanwei!! I can't pick up anything!! According to what you told me.. He was innocent right?!!
Jinshen's eyes widened to the size of saucers, he picked up pace—his wings flapping faster and faster until they were humming like the wings of a falcon soaring in the sky.
They're courting death itself if Yanwei's hurt.
Jinshen thought to himself his expression hardening in anger.
In the Demonic Sect's base, Ruoxue sat on a windowsill, overlooking the base and the dark, soon to burst into rain sky.
He was wearing a white and blue changshan, a thick black belt wrapped around his waist—The bow from the trial of blood, the words 'Changyue' cut into the body of the weapon in his hands,
He watched the sky silently, it looked like the life had just been sucked out of him, his hair was longer, messy and definitely dirty. His skin was almost sickly—but he was definitely more muscular and stronger.
All of a sudden, the clouds started to move away in a circle, leaving a small hole in them but before Ruoxue could process what was happening, a bright streak of black flames fell to the ground like a comet—releasing a shockwave that parted the clods further
The clouds having a large gaping hole in them, light leaking in from behind it casting a halo of golden sunlight where the object landed.
W-What?!
Ruoxue thought to himself, his eyes wide and alert. He stood up on the windowsill—before immediately jumping towards the landing site, the dead-middle of the base.
There was now a large crater, the stone cracked completely into rubble, and even dust and at the epicenter stood one man.
Xian's voice rang through Jinshen's mind, stoic yet still its usual chaotic self.
Old man, I want you to fight in style, so. I'ma give you some clothes from the modern era.
Jinshen, with his spear in his hand nodded slightly, the head of the weapon glowing white—the handle covered in blazing black and crimson red flames, the smoke moved away revealing his new clothing.
He was now wearing a black, leather long-coat and a button up white shirt underneath—his black shoes made of shiny leather and the face of a golden dragon on his back.
Jinshen hated how his blood boiled when he saw the sunken eyes of the man who had willingly let his friend suffer—now, it was his turn.
Ruoxue stared at him silently, his eyes so wide that his eyeballs might just fall out if pushed any further, his pale face growing even paler, like he had just seen a ghost.
And he truly did. Since, Jinshen was dead. He and Jinhai launched the final attack. The attack that haunted them both to the brink of insanity due to guilt...
"Missed me. Ruoxue?"
Jinshen spoke, in a mockingly stoic voice, his eyes narrowing—he took a few steps towards Ruoxue, awaiting his answer.
"You're... Dead. I'm dead, you're here to take my soul to the afterlife are you not-"
He was cut off, Jinshen had already thrust his spear forward—Ruoxue, out of instinct managed to jump away, skidding against the ground, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stood up.
"I don't know how you're alive but.. You can't just come back here."
Jinshen looked at his spear before taking a deep breath and readying himself in a stance. One foot forward, heel barely touching the stone, the other braced behind. The spear rested across his body, one hand steady near its base, the other guiding the weapon.
Just like he taught me...
Jinshen thought to himself before narrowing his eyes at Ruoxue.
"You made me a ghost, Ruoxue. Did you not. Now you get to live with what haunts you."
Ruoxue didn't reply, instead he reeled back the string of his bow, glowing teal Qi arrows appearing in them—they were launched towards Jinshen as soon as they were formed.
Jinshen clicked his tongue in mild annoyance his eyes glowing with black Qi. The weak points of the arrows now highlighted, glowing black for him.
He took down the arrows with ease, swinging his spear downwards, hitting them all in one blow, a gust of wind knocking Ruoxue back—but the archer was prepared for it.
He lunged forward, Changyue shifting into a white short sword in a small shimmer of light with which Ruoxue slashed towards Jinshen's throat—from which Jinshen remained nearly completely unharmed except the small trail of crimson.
"Straight for the throat, golly. You're a good friend."
Ruoxue's eyes widened but Jinshen wouldn't let him think about it—Jinshen hit Ruoxue in the stomach with the rear end of his spear.
Ruoxue coughed out some saliva—he clutched at his stomach before headbutting Jinshen in the face, and again. The latter was almost bored from his attacks.
Suddenly, Jinshen felt a presence appear behind him—he spun around, just in time to dodge a cleave from a blazing white dagger which belonged toJ none other than Jinhai.
Jinshen's eyes filled up with pure unbridled rage as he kicked Jinhai in the chin, sending him flying towards Ruoxue who was standing a bit far from them both.
Jinhai hit the ground a few times before jumping to his feet, his white silken robe ruined by the mud and dust. His daggers were a blazing white, the flames having a molten red core.
"I'm not gonna question it. All I know is—either you're a Jiangshi, or you're Jinshen."
He readied his daggers, putting one forward, one foot getting dragged towards the back as he instinctively crouched his back—his muscles taut and ready.
"What I know is that both have to die."
Ruoxue looked at Jinhai with confusion for a moment, but seeing the guilty and regretful look in his friend's eyes, he remained silent. Also taking a stance with the short sword.
Jinshen looked at them both with wide eyes and dilated pupils. The silence thick and heavy.
"Heh... Amusing."
Jinshen muttered under his breath, holding his forehead before he burst out laughing. The sound of his laugh echoing across the base and the mountains, reverberating to the point it sounded like a demon.
"You guys think you can win?! I'll kill you both! We're not friends remember?!"
Jinshen threw his arms open, his head upwards—a massive, almost maniacal grin on his face.
The rain starting—A storm quickly gathering, large heavy raindrops starting to fall at a rapid pace.
Jinshen took a few deep breaths before looking at the terrified and shocked Ruoxue and Jinhai standing.
His wide eyes glowed black and blue as he pointed a thumb towards his temple—a pulsating and spiraling aura of black and blue flames of Qi starting to form around him, the water from the rain not touching him, instead turning to steam.
"What are you waiting for? Lets brawl my friends! I'll be going straight for the head so be careful!"