111 - THE DAWN

THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO CHARLES JAMES KIRK (1993 - 2025)SOLID PROVE THAT AGREEMENT AND DISAGREEMENT CAN MERGE WITHOUT VIOLENCE, VILE REMARKS, AND THE NEED TO CALL FOR EACH OTHER'S DEMISE.🤍🤍🤍

Battle cry echoed in the forest. Sha Ya stood in front of Zhu Hong, protecting the snake lady from any headstrong dangers. Wang Zheng stayed in the back line, casting a protection spell. Not too strong to cover everyone, but enough to keep the defense. Sang Zan was a warrior, it was not difficult for him to join the battle. Standing next to the head of the snake tribe, Sang Zan did not disappoint his tribe. Old Wu was not young anymore, but his movement was as swift as a cat's.

The exchange of strikes between the opposite lines heated up the entire forest as they attacked each other. Ding Dun stared at the battlefield from afar, smirking. But something he never expected occurred. The soldiers suddenly froze and grabbed their heads as they fell to their knees.

"Now, what?" The Fourth Uncle blinked as he frowned.

"I don't know." Sha Ya was no less confused.

"Wait..." Sang Zan peered at the soldiers as they all grunted, pressing their heads as if fighting a painful sensation. Not to mention, Ding Dun's panicked face. "Do you think what I think?" He stared at Zhu Hong.

"Don't tell me Ma TiHua lost his influence," Zhu Hong gulped.

"They did it," Wang Zheng smiled.

"Yeah... I think so," Sang Zan replied. Yet he glanced at Zhao XinChi. The old man peered at the Western Lake, pressing his chest. Something was wrong, and as a father, he could feel it.

**********THIS STORY IS STOLEN BY NOVELHD, PLEASE JUST READ THE ORIGINAL IN WATTPAD OR AO3 **************

The scroll fell from Zhao YunLan's hand. Zhao MingAn's face painting was seen under the light. His decision in the past life passed through his mind. Was this his karma to make the decision one-sidedly? Kept his father in the dark although the old man would find out at the end. Did his father resent him for the silence? For not letting him say his final goodbye to his only son? The sole member of his family. But no... he was here... his brother was there.

"Open..." Zhao YunLan's soft punch hit the energy wall. His tears dripped but he did not sob. "Open." He banged the wall once again. But YeZun stood unweaver behind the wall. "Am I not allowed to talk to my brother even for the last time?" He screamed. Pain burst in his every word.

Shen YeZun glanced at Gwang Li. The lady in white nodded at him. The first reaction she had after the entire time of silence. YeZun took a deep breath, preparing himself for his brother's and father's fury.

As the energy wall dissolved, Zhao YunLan rushed inside, passing the cemented man who did not even dare to look his family in their eyes. He grabbed his younger brother, ignoring the blood that stained his clothes. "Ah Ming... Ah Ming..." Zhao YunLan kept shaking the lifeless body. "Why did you do this? Why can't you tell me what exactly is weighing on your mind? Why did you always ignore my words? What should I tell Pa?" Sorrow sipped through his words.

Shen Wei stared at his younger brother. He was disappointed in YeZun but did not blame his younger brother. Shen YongZheng bowed, taking the scroll that rolled on the ground. Chu ShuZhi and Chu NianZhi froze. Da Qing and Lin Jing lost their words for the first time. Guo ChangCheng squeezed his bag leash. And Zhu Jiu... he took a deep breath before he strode inside, kneeling next to the suffering man, completely silent.

Suddenly a small cough sounded. Zhao MingAn's body shook as his lungs struggled to breathe the air. Everyone whipped their eyes toward the young man. Their faces lightened in hope. Shen YeZun stood, freezing. His heart conflicted about what he should do. He glanced at Ma TiHua. The man's body flinched a little inside Ye Zun's embrace.

"Ah Ming..." Zhao YunLan could not hide his excitement. "Ah Ming..." A hopeful smile lightened his tired face.

"Ge..." Zhao MingAn whispered amongst his cough.

"Don't talk. Save your strength." Zhao YunLan laid his brother's back on the ground. "Help me!" He screamed at Shen Wei.

"No." Zhao MingAn and Shen YeZun stopped their brothers.

"What... What happened?" Zhu Jiu supported Zhao MingAn's neck, trying to make the young man as comfortable as possible.

"YeZun..." Shen Wei peered at his younger brother.

"If you take him out of this dimension right now, Ma TiHua will heal while he is not," YeZun pleaded.

Shen Wei gulped. He looked at his younger brother's hand that was clutching his sleeve. It was trembling. "Why did you do this?" He asked. "Look at you. You are suffering more than all of us."

"Do we have another option?" Shen YeZun lowered his gaze.

"Have you lost faith in your family?" Shen Wei returned the question.

"What can you do?" Gwang Li suddenly chirped in. "Do you have another way out?"

"You-"

"Ge..." Zhao MingAn caught his brother's pants. "She is right. We don't have another option," he coughed. "I'm sorry I have to leave this way."

"What are you talking about?" Zhao YunLan clenched his jaw. "You won't go anywhere."

"That's enough, Ge. We know this is the only way. Besides... Don't you think I've been living long enough?" Zhao MingAn stuttered. "You know that I'm supposed to have never been born."

"Stop talking nonsense-"

"It's true." Zhao MingAn coughed again. "My birth in this era is just for a balance. Because nature always seeks a balance."

"I said stop talking nonsense!"

"Ge... My existence is to counter his existence." Zhao MingAn glanced at Ma TiHua. "Yet I have a great family... and a wonderful lover. I can't be greedy."

"Stop that!" Zhao YunLan screamed amidst his gasps.

"It's the time to serve my purpose," Zhao MingAn smiled.

"Can you just die already?" Suddenly, an eerily familiar voice sounded followed by a loud bang. Zhao YunLan sought the voice source only to find an energy ball flung into Zhao MingAn's body. Zhu Jiu moved his hands to deflect the energy, but another ball passed him and hit Zhao MingAn's stomach from above. Everyone was standing like fools as the unpredictable happened in a split second. Blood splattered from the young man's mouth before he lost his last strength.

"Ah Ming!" Zhao YunLan was agape when his brother was no longer moving. "Wake up!" He shook Zhao MingAn's shoulders. "You!" Zhao YunLan trembled in anger, glaring at the man hugging Ma TiHua. His hand grabbed the soul gun.

"Zhao YunLan!" Shen Wei screamed as his lover pointed the gun toward Ye Zun, taking his younger brother into the comfort of his embrace. He stretched his other hand, ready to counter the bullet.

Zhao YunLan clenched his jaw, his gun tip pointed at the old YeZun. He was torn between avenging his brother and saving the present YeZun's life. However, he fixed the safety notch before he retrieved his gun and hugged his unmoved younger brother as he sobbed. However, several loud noises echoed in the silent chamber. Everybody peered around to find the source. Their eyes widened when the cyborgs collapsed onto the ground.

"What... What happened?" Guo ChangCheng hid behind Chu ShuZhi's back.

"I don't know," Chu ShuZhi gulped. He stood in his highest stance as he scrutinized his surroundings.

As everyone was still debating about what was happening, Shen YongZheng rushed to check the collapsed cyborgs. "They are no longer breathing," He frowned. "But I still can feel their pulses. It's faint."

"Oh, no..." Zhu Jiu muttered. "Zhao YunLan..." He looked at his childhood friend. "Is Zhao MingAn..." he wanted to ask, but he could not bring himself to say it. Zhao YunLan did not reply, or one could say, he did not even care about his surroundings anymore. Just sat, sobbing while embracing his younger brother's soulless body.

"Oh, my god... Xiao Zhao is right." Chu NianZhi glanced at his older brother. "Ma TiHua set everything free with his death."

"But why did he do that?" Chu ShuZhi asked. "Didn't he want to get the water and kill us all?"

"Well... That's-"

"YeZun! What's wrong with you? Open your eyes!" Chu NianZhi had no chance to answer his brother's question when Shen Wei's scream echoed in the stone room.

"Ah Wei, what happened?" Shen YongZheng turned around to check on his sons. His heart sank into his stomach when Shen Wei kneeled on the ground, hugging YeZun.

"YeZun..." Shen Wei muttered. "Something is wrong with him. He doesn't move. I can't feel his heartbeat," Shen Wei shouted in a panic.

"What?" The entire room was stunned.

Shen YongZheng shifted his gaze to find his younger son's former self only to find the cyborg collapsed on Ma TiHua's body. "Don't tell me..." Shen YongZheng rushed to the old YeZun, grabbing the cold body. "No... You can't do this." He caressed the man's chest, trying to find a pulse. "No! You are dead already. Your death is not supposed to influence my son." He screamed in desperation.

"My, my... What happened here?"

Suddenly, the entire chamber shook as a male voice echoed. The voice that was somewhat familiar in their ears. Chu NianZhi and Zhu Jiu glanced at Zhao YunLan, but the man also peered around as confused as they were.

"Lao Chu, check Ma TiHua. If he is dead, let's get out of here." Zhao YunLan hugged his younger brother's body tighter. He was not curious about who was talking as he refused to deal with another puzzle. This journey cost Zhao MingAn his life, and that was enough.

"Yes." Chu ShuZhi jumped to the man's body, touching his pulse. "He's dead. Confirmed," he nodded.

"Let's go!" Zhao YunLan lifted his brother's lifeless body when the stone wall in front of them cracked. A blinding light squeezed through a newly formed crack in the wall, stopping everybody.

"Eh... where are you going?" Again, a question echoed in the chamber. And as everyone watched how the crack widened, two men with ancient clothing emerged from the light.

"They..." Guo ChangCheng frowned. He looked at Zhao YunLan, Shen Wei, and the two men. "Why do they..." Guo ChangCheng was agape as he pointed in two directions. Both men had familiar figures, but the majestic aura around them created a rift between mere humans and gods.

"Greeting, Your Majesty, Lord Black Cloak." The lady in white greeted the two of them, lowering her body in reverence.

"You..." Zhao YunLan stood up. His eyes scrutinized both figures. "KunLun..." He muttered.

"Mm-hmm..." KunLun nodded. "You have a good memory."

"Shen Wei?" Zhao YunLan peered at the man standing next to KunLun. Not only his face, but also his clothes were the same as Shen Wei's. But this man's expression was colder and somewhat... Dismissive. Just like Shen Wei when they met for the first time.

"What?" Shen Wei answered.

The man next to KunLun sharpened his gaze when Shen Wei responded to Zhao YunLan's call. His sharp glare shifted to the Regent who bowed deeply. "You gave him the same name?" A distinct voice sounded. Everyone was still staring. This man was not just Shen Wei's spitting image, but they shared the same voice.

"Apologize, Your Majesty. I am." The Regent trembled.

"You... How dare you? In the past, I let it slide because Zhao YunLan was the one who gave him that name. And now-"

"Hey, hey, hey." KunLun stopped the man at his side from blowing on the shaky old man. "That's just a name. Why are you so angry?"

"But that name..."

"All right, all right." Again, Kun Lun meddled. "Let's call you Lao Wei and the youngster Xiao Wei. How about that? That's his name, too, you like it or not." He chuckled as carefree as Zhao YunLan, yet no one was amused by his joke.

KunLun walked to the fallen cyborgs, taking a deep breath. "Why do humans always let their sentiments blind their common sense?" He shook his head. "The world is not about feelings only. If you have low self-esteem, you should work harder instead of searching for a shortcut like this. You are all lucky you are still alive."

"Alive?" Shen YongZheng frowned. "But they are no longer breathing."

"Out of shock. You can check on them yourself." KunLun moved his chin, beckoning the general. Shen YongZheng fell silent. He wanted to check it himself, but was too afraid to come close to the two majestic figures.

Ignoring the man, KunLun turned around, peering at the two bodies lying side by side on the ground. His cheerful face fell into sadness as he kneeled next to them. "I had a hunch, but I never thought you'd take this awful turn." He caressed Ma TiHua's hair. "You know... You can have a wonderful life if you hang on a little bit."

"I doubt it," Gwang Li said. "Living a long life without our loved ones is worse than a death sentence."

KunLun lifted his face, looking at the lady in white. "Yes, you are right." He forced a smile. "But home is a place that you can create. Someone's happiness depends on the person themself, not someone else. Nobody in the world can make another happy."

"You know about this?" Zhao YunLan gritted his teeth. He skipped the entire curiosity to shoot right to the problem.

KunLun stared at Zhao YunLan for a while before he sat on the ground, leaning his chin on his fist. "Mm-hmm," he nodded.

"You know about this and you keep silent?" Zhao YunLan's voice tone rose.

"Is that how you talk to your elder?" The other Shen Wei glared at Zhao YunLan.

"Lao Wei..." KunLun scolded the man. Just a single word in a tender tone, but the man stopped in a heartbeat. "You're right. This is my fault." KunLun took a deep breath. "Wu FeiTian... This man tied my hands with a promise."

"What do you mean?" Zhao YunLan put his brother down to the ground before he stood up.

"This young man came to me centuries ago with a request. He asked me to kill him," KunLun sighed.

"What?" Everyone frowned.

"You heard me right," KunLun smiled.

"But... Didn't he want to find the fountain of eternity because he wanted to control the world?" Lin Jing was agape.

"He'd been so slick in his entire life, yet you trust him?" KunLun snorted.

"Can you tell us the truth? The explanation is just not adding up," Shen YongZheng asked.

"Is he still not waking up?" Instead of answering, KunLun peered at YeZun in the young Shen Wei's hug.

"No," Shen Wei answered, "Can he wake up?"

KunLun looked at Gwang Li, nodding. The lady in white nodded back and strode toward Shen Wei. "He will be fine." She smiled after she touched YeZun's forehead. A small blast of energy surrounded YeZun's body and a small cough sounded. YeZun rolled from Shen Wei's embrace, gasping and coughing. "Ye Zun is already dead. His heart was beating because of a supporting device. His collapse will influence your brother somewhat, but not that much," she smiled at Shen Wei. "Let him rest for a while."

"Thank you..." Shen Wei patted his brother's back in relief, peering at his father who nodded at him.

"That boy." KunLun stared at the dead body next to him. "Was a bright young man. You can see it through your brother. But life was not kind to him," he sighed as he straightened both dead bodies' positions. "In his era, he found this place's ruins and drank that longevity water accidentally."

"That's exactly what he told YeZun." Shen YongZheng rebutted. "That was why he wanted to find it again in this era to control the world."

KunLun snorted. "Don't you think that version is more 'not adding up?'" He looked at the old general. "If controlling the world is what he wanted, why should he bother to find this place again if he already has all the resources in his blood?"

"Wait... Wait... Wait." Guo ChangCheng scratched his head. "If death is what he is looking for, why did he commit so many hideous crimes?"

Zhu Jiu, the Chu twins, Lin Jing, and Da Qing glared at the boy. They did not even dare to lift their eyes, yet this boy acted as he had in the past. Unlike the upset past life Shen Wei, KunLun snorted. "How could he have committed suicide if all the wounds he had always healed?" He shook his head.

"Then..."

"To justify his punishment." This time the old Shen Wei answered.

"Huh? What punishment? If he simply wanted to die, he could let one of the immortals out there to kill him." Guo ChangCheng was more confused. Chu ShuZhi smacked his face in annoyance. If only he had a heart to muffle this young man's mouth.

"He needed a stronger mortal to kill him. The mortals outside failed to defeat him that was why he asked us to do it for him," KunLun sighed. "But we refused his request flat. We didn't have any reason to take his life. We are not murderers."

"But why did he want to die?" Again, the curious boy asked.

"Xiao Guo," Da Qing sighed. Zhao YunLan was currently holding his younger brother's dead body, and this child chose the most inappropriate time to be curious.

KunLun took a deep breath. "In a progressive society, for someone to have a 'unique' condition is bad luck instead of a good one."

"Can you be more precise?" Zhao YunLan interrupted. "I just lost my brother. I have no time for your sh*t."

"Calm down, son," Shen YongZheng said as his ancestor glared at the younger man.

"What do you think will happen when the progressive society, the ones who care more about 'environment' than human beings, that justifies all means, finds out that your cells can regenerate themselves to the point that you will never age?" KunLun asked. "You will be treated as an object. At first, they will do it gently. But as time goes by, they act more and more violently. Especially after they found out that you can't die. When you retaliate, they will force you. Hurt your loved ones right before your eyes to subdue you. Then... You'll let them have their way. One, two, then ten, twenty years to where you lost track of time and your humanity."

"What?" Lin Jing was stunned. "Do you want to say..."

"Until one day, you realize your 'deadly' ability. You fight back and run away, yet, when you're outside, the world is already changed to something you don't understand." KunLun ignored the flabbergasted scientist. "You are drowned in madness, locking yourself up for years before you make a decision. Build a time machine and go to the time when everything began. But destiny drags you to the era you never knew, meeting your first love only after they passed away. Still, you don't give up. You start your engine only to be thrown further back." KunLun stared at Ma TiHua. "You are stranded in an era where everyone still believes in sorcery. You use your power to support society with the hope that this deed will help you end your misery. You did it. You finally see the Supreme leaders who promise to grant your wish. But as soon as you say you want to die, they refuse to fulfill it. Because they have no reason to kill you."

"Oh, my gosh." Chu NianZhi rubbed his face.

"The only thing he asked us that day was that we wouldn't meddle with everything he would do." KunLun lowered his gaze. "That is why we can't do anything."

"From every dangerous weapon on earth, humans are the most terrifying," Chu ShuZhi muttered. "Weapon kills people on the spot, but human actions' impact could kill millions over the years without they needing to see the victims in their eyes."

"He is your blood from your cousin's line if you wonder." KunLun looked at Zhao YunLan. "Honestly, I never thought he would do what he did. Everyone he killed in this era is everyone who hurt him in the past. Except your father." He shifted his gaze to Zhu Jiu. Everyone fell silent as empathy crept into their hearts.

"He wasn't born as my brother in the past. Can you do something about my brother?" Zhao YunLan interrupted KunLun's chatter. His eyes kept glancing at YeZun. If they could heal YeZun, maybe...

KunLun stared at Zhao MingAn, taking a deep breath. "That will be difficult." KunLun bound his hand on his back, lowering his gaze. "He was dead. We don't meddle with nature course."

"Is there really no other way?" Zhu Jiu stood up, pleading with his eyes.

KunLun lowered his gaze for a moment, before he said, "There is. But only Zhao YunLan can do it-"

"Tell me!" Zhao YunLan stood up.

KunLun sighed before he waved his hand and a shining crevice appeared again in the wall. "That is the path toward your old world. It will lead you to the time you see Li Qian. You can go back and change the future outcome."

"What?" Zhao YunLan was stunned. The offer was tempting. However... "If I go this era will also disappear, won't it?" He asked.

"Zhao YunLan. Every wish has its consequence. You can't have everything. There is something you should give up to gain another," KunLun said.

Zhao YunLan gulped. He tightened his fists. He peered around, screening everyone's expressions. Chu ShuZhi glanced at his younger brother, Shen YongZheng lowered his gaze, Lin Jing scratched his head, Da Qing touched his wedding ring, while Shen Wei hugged YeZun deeper. Zhu Jiu patted his shoulder, nodding at him. Everyone left all the decisions in his hands. Zhao YunLan took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "No. I'll stay," he said.

"What?" Everybody whipped their faces toward the man.

"But... Zhao YunLan-"

"If I leave, Lao Chu will lose his brother, my father will lose his wife, Shen Wei and that fat cat will lose their families, and I will lose my brothers. You and Ah Ming." Zhao YunLan cut Zhu Jiu's objection. "Moreover, the future is unclear. No matter how well I end things, everything still has a chance to happen."

"But Wu FeiTian-"

"He deserves his punishment." Zhao YunLan gritted his teeth as he cut Zhu Jiu again. "Ah Ming would agree with me." He slumped next to his brother's body. "It's a brief moment, but I'm glad I have him in my life." Zhao YunLan caressed his brother's hair. I can't let his sacrifice be in vain because of my selfishness."

"Wu FeiTian did it because of how those people tormented him. Do you forget? He has the right to rewrite his life, too." Zhu Jiu screamed.

"Zhu Ge... You just try to project yourself into him. Then let me make it clear. Many people suffer the unspeakable pains, but not everybody becomes a criminal." Zhao YunLan shot back. "When someone trespasses on someone else's right, they lose their right already. That's not cruelty, that's justice."

Zhu Jiu clenched his fists. His brain and heart fought in his guts. "Then what about Uncle Zhao?" He rubbed his face.

"I'll try to explain everything to my father. He will understand..."

"What about your mother?" Zhu Jiu hid his tears.

"She may be upset with me, but she will return to her senses in the end," Zhao YunLan sobbed, hugging his younger brother. Everyone fell silent, peering at the man who mourned in his silence.

"Great decision."

Suddenly, another familiar voice echoed through the shining crevice. All shifted their gazes to search for the voice source only to find an unfamiliar figure appear from the light. "Xiao Zhao?" Lin Jing frowned.

"Is something stuck in your eyes?" Da Qing smacked Lin Jing's head. "Look at him!"

Lin Jing fixed his glasses, squinting his eyes. Indeed the man looked like Zhao MingAn, but he wore the ancient clothing and his right arm... Its size was twice that of his other arm and was filled with black fur.

"Greetings, Lord Tai." The Regent lowered his head. The man called Tai nodded as he strode toward Zhao YunLan.

"Huh?" Lin Jing jumped.

"Well... well... well. Look what we have here. Someone who refused to see them finally granted us his presence." KunLun teased his younger brother.

"That's because I'm still doubtful about their motive." Tai sent his elder brother an annoyance-filled glare before he looked at the mourning man. "Right or wrong is the measurement, but justice should be beyond everything. Your brother will be proud," he said to Zhao YunLan.

"Is that supposed to comfort me, as I can't even talk to him again?" Zhao YunLan laughed wryly.

"May I see him?"

As soon as Zhao YunLan nodded, Tai touched Zhao MingAn's body. His eyebrows twitched several times before he glanced at Ma TiHua's corpse. "We still can save him," he said.

"What?" Everyone brightened.

"But his mutation can't be undone. Are you all right with that?" Tai looked at Zhao YunLan.

"Yes!" Zhao YunLan replied in a heartbeat. "If that can save my brother, by all means, do it." Zhao Yunlan did not even look at Ye Zun, who had already regained his senses in his brother's embrace.

"All right." Tai touched Zhao MingAn's forehead. A yellowish light gleamed in Tai's palm, engulfing Zhao MingAn's body. The wound in his chest gradually disappeared, and the young man flinched before he coughed and gasped.

"Ah Ming!" Zhao YunLan hugged his younger brother, patting Zhao MingAn's back.

"Ge?" Zhao MingAn frowned. "Am I still alive? But how?" He kept asking as he coughed.

"It's okay... You don't have to think about it," Zhao YunLan snorted. "Thank you." He bowed to Tai. "Thank you so much."

"You thank the wrong person." Tai stood up. "I'm not the one who mutates his cells." Tai strode to his brother's side. "I just helped him activate the mutation."

"What?" Zhao YunLan glanced at Ma TiHua's corpse. Did that man plan this, too?

"MingAn..." YeZun pushed himself to stand up. Shen Wei supported his younger brother to walk toward Zhao MingAn while Gwang Li followed them. "MingAn..." YeZun touched the man's shoulder.

"Professor Shen..." Zhao MingAn stared at his lover.

"Are you all right?" Zhao YunLan asked his brother.

"Yes..." Zhao MingAn nodded. "But I feel something strange with my body."

"You just need to use yourself with it." Tai clenched his abnormal arm.

"You..." Zhao MingAn peered at the three strangers. "Who are they?" He asked his brother.

"They are Lord KunLun, Lord Tai, and YeZun's ancestor," Zhao YunLan explained as he helped his brother to stand up.

"Do you want to say that the mutation saved him?" Shen YongZheng asked.

"Yes," Tai nodded. "His recovery ability in his mutated cells makes it possible. Without it, he will be just dead."

"Now... Can I leave these two in your care?" KunLun asked. "Give them the proper burial," he said. "And these people." He pointed at the cyborgs. "Send them to asylums in the DiXing realm. They are beyond help."

"Do you mean laboratory?" Lin Jing asked. His eyes glinted in curiosity.

"They are humans not rats." Chu ShuZhi was tempted to smack the scientist's head.

"But still... We can send them somewhere better. Like psychiatric wards," Zhu Jiu said.

"If people are not right in the head, they need doctors, not therapists," KunLun chirped. "Now... Let's go." He beckoned his comrades.

"Key Master... It's time for you to come with us." The Old Shen Wei peered at YeZun.

"What?" Everyone was aghast.

"Wait a minute, my Lord." Zhao MingAn pulled YeZun behind him. "Although he is the key master, we won't come to this place ever again."

"Lord KunLun... Can you please spare my brother?" Shen Wei stepped in front of Zhao MingAn, covering both men.

"Or he can stay with Madame Gwang if you're worried." Zhao YunLan glanced at the lady standing behind YeZun.

KunLun and the old Shen Wei glanced at each other. The room fell silent as everyone waited for the two divine creatures' decision but both men only blew a heavy sigh.

"It's okay, MingAn." YeZun caressed his lover's arm. "My existence is a danger to society, anyway." He stepped away from Zhao MingAn. "Ge... Please take care of our parents. Tell Mother that I will be just fine." He looked at Shen Wei.

"YeZun, Professor Shen..." Shen Wei and Zhao MingAn lost their words.

YeZun was nearly leaving his group when a loud growl sounded from Tai. "Can you stop playing around? You scare them." He glared at YeZun.

"What?" YeZun knitted his eyebrows.

Their confusion deepened when a chuckle heeded from Gwang Li. "I'm sorry it's just fun to watch them all panicking," she said.

"You never change, do you?" Tai shook his head.

"Didn't you like me because I'm like this?" The feminine voice shifted to a light male as everyone watched how the beautiful Gwang Li took a familiar male form.

"What?" Everyone blinked when another YeZun, clad in a white robe, walked toward Tai.

His black hair made him look like a spitting image of the old Shen Wei. Different from old Ye Zun, this Ye Zun glittered in tenderness and a soft aura. Zhao MingAn's lower jaw fell as he witnessed the unparalleled beauty. YeZun pouted as he smacked the lower jaw up to close the widened mouth.

"You're annoying. You know that?" Tai did not even bat an eyelash. "Look at them. They are as pale as snow."

"I just want to play with them."

"Not funny."

"Why are you so mean to me?" The ancient Ye Zun stomped his feet.

"Master of Night, are you forgetting that you are a man?" Tai did not slow down.

"Will you be kinder if I become the Bright Lady?" The ancient Ye Zun grabbed Tai's hand.

"Wait... Wait..." Da Qing said, still agape. "So, you are one of them?"

"Why didn't you tell us?" After so many times doubting Gwang Li's intention, Zhao YunLan could not hide his embarrassment.

"I never hide myself. It's you who is never aware," Ye Zun answered.

"Ye Zun... Master of Night. Gwang Li... Bright Lady. Is your name a puzzle?" Shen Wei knitted his eyebrows.

"No... He just loves to play around," Tai grunted. "Can you stop acting this clingy?" He pulled his hand.

"Is that how you welcome your long-lost lover?" The ancient YeZun pouted.

"I know exactly where to find you. What long lost?" Tai turned around and walked toward the bright crevice.

"What did you say?" The ancient YeZun shouted. "Come back here!" He chased the man.

"Wha... what?" Everyone was still in the middle of processing the circumstances when the two men disappeared behind the light.

KunLun blew a heavy breath. "And just like that, our peaceful life is gone."

"Let's go..." the old Shen Wei caressed KunLun's shoulder.

"Mm-hmm," KunLun nodded.

"My Lord..." Old Regent interrupted before both men stepped into the bright crevice. "Do you have to stay here? The world needs your guidance." He lowered his head.

"Yes..." Guo ChangCheng cheerfully added. "The humans nowadays are more tolerant and kind. They are-"

"Do you think I retreated because humans were intolerant?" KunLun cut the young man's words.

"Was there something else?" Chu NianZhi asked.

"Zhao YunLan... Xiao Wei... You both are the witnesses to how violent and selfish DiXing people can be. Do you both think that I hide myself because of that?" KunLun shifted his gaze from Guo ChangCheng to Zhao YunLan and Shen Wei.

"Then on what reason?" Chu NianZhi asked.

"When people blame the wrong side of the leash, they tend to choose the wrong people on the lead." KunLun gritted his teeth. "The day they tried to banish Ah Tai, it wasn't him who they attacked. It was me. They spread lies and fear among the people to kick him out of society, and it's only a matter of time before they find the way to do the same to me. That was why I granted their wish and left."

"Actually... People's greatest mistake is not intolerance, but their inability to discern which breed became the threat to society," Shen Wei added. "Because, the wrong mindset will lead them to the same mistake over and over again."

"What nowadays people need is not a divine intervention, but someone capable of restoring order despite all challenges." KunLun stared at the youngsters. "Fighting for your rights is not pushing the boundaries. Tolerance is not above the law. Forgiveness is not free from consequences. No matter what happened in the past, the law in every established nation must be respected. That is how a civilization prevails."

"You are the league of the guardians." The old Shen Wei added. "Do your duty to preserve the law. Because... When freedom runs loose without boundaries to consider and values to uphold, all you can see is chaos."

"Understood." The youngsters lowered their heads.

**********THIS STORY IS STOLEN BY NOVELHD, PLEASE JUST READ THE ORIGINAL IN WATTPAD OR AO3 **************

Zhao YunLan gazed at the Blue Tree Meadow. It had been several weeks after they came out of the mythical site. Although he never blamed Zhao YunLan for his one-sided decision, MingAn refused to return to society before he mastered his mutation and settled in the eerie forest. As a dedicated lover, YeZun stayed with him despite Shen Wei's protest. Ouyang Zhen faced the military trial along with his accomplice. No one could escape. Sha Ya gained back her troop and position, leaving her life as a tomb rider. Everything seemed to fall to their places. Yet, he was still restless.

"What are you thinking?" Shen Wei asked as he sat behind Zhao YunLan.

"Everything," Zhao YunLan answered, leaning his head on Shen Wei's broad chest.

"Care to share?" Shen Wei caressed his lover's head.

"I asked Uncle Wu about the crime rate in the Dragon City. His answer was appalling. We missed so much because we kept our focus on Ma TiHua." Zhao YunLan closed his eyes, enjoying the comfort Shen Wei offered him. "Our duty is far from finished."

"Hey... You are not alone," Shen Wei whispered. "We are not alone." He smiled.

Zhao YunLan returned the smile. The sun peeked at the eastern horizon, spreading its shine slowly. Zhao YunLan and Shen Wei gazed at the majestic beauty. "Thank you..." Shen Wei whispered as the sun dawned.

"For what?" Zhao YunLan frowned.

"For not giving up." Shen Wei bumped their heads softly.

"I won't," Zhao YunLan said. "Because you won't."

That morning, no noise was heard around that hill. Only two men gazed at each other, but love between them resounded. Loud and clear. The future was never certain, but as long as you were with me, I could withstand everything...

終わりThe end

**********THIS STORY IS STOLEN BY NOVELHD, PLEASE JUST READ THE ORIGINAL IN WATTPAD OR AO3 **************

Picture credit to Jordan Wozniak

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