THE PERSPECTIVE LINE

"Regent, what brings you to bless us with your presence here?" The Fourth Uncle asked the DiXing man.

"I'm here for the secret record of the Hanga tribe." The Regent stared at Sang Zan.

"Secret record?" Sang Zan glanced at Wang Zheng, frowning. But Wang Zheng shook her head. She also did not understand.

The DiXing Regent sighed. "Let's see your elders then," he said.

"But, our elders are not in good health-"

"If you prolong this useless discussion, innocent lives can be in danger." The bearded man clicked his tongue, cutting Sang Zan's words.

Sang Zan glanced at the Fourth Uncle, asking for some help. But the old man nodded at him, suggesting they should go to see the elders. "All right." Sang Zan gave up. "Please, follow me."

"But... How about them?" Zhu Hong peered at the scattered people and the crow tribe's people.

"My men will take care of them later. The most important is meeting the elders now." The Regent did not even spare those people a glance, but he strode toward the young crow and her friends. "Dong Nan... We have to go now. You and your friends better return to your nest and have some rest. A very long journey is awaiting all of you after this."

"Mm-hmm," Dong Nan nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Sir," she said.

The old regent smiled at the girl. "Let's go," he said to Sang Zan.

"This way, Sir." Sang Zan opened their way.

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

Zhao YunLan closed his eyes when the lantern absorbed his life. Along with the flickering fire, that got bigger inside the lamp, he could feel the heat burning his body. And when he was ready for the familiar pain, two powerful arms grabbed him and pulled him away from the lantern. The next thing he remembered was being smacked on the hard ground.

"What on Earth?" Zhao YunLan hissed. "Are you out of your mind?" Zhao YunLan scolded his younger brother.

"The only reason I'm ready to do anything is because I want you to stay alive. If you are dead, what is the point of this journey?" Zhao MingAn retorted.

"Didn't we start this journey because you want to find YeZun? Didn't you say that you want to end Ma TiHua?" Zhao YunLan returned the question.

"Professor Shen is here, I can rest assured, and about Ma TiHua..." He fell silent for a moment. "There is a place between the two chambers," Zhao MingAn stood up. "If you can trap him there, you'll know how to kill him."

"What?" Zhao YunLan knitted his eyebrows, gathering his scattering spirit. "Who we must to kill?"

"Ma TiHua." Zhao MingAn touched the lantern. To everyone's shock, the lantern did not reject Zhao MingAn's touch.

"Ah Ming!" Zhao YunLan screamed when the fire inside the lantern flickered.

"As I expected. The lantern is willing to accept me," Zhao MingAn smiled. "Now... You have to finish the rest, Ge."

"Damn!" Zhao YunLan pushed his body off the ground, but something was wrong. He could not budge from his spot. "What did you do to me?" He screamed at his brother.

"Please bear for a moment, Ge," Zhao MingAn said as sweat dripped over the whole of his body.

"Shen Wei!"

"He won't do anything, Ge. And he can't. Stop screaming." Zhao MingAn cut his brother's effort to stop him.

"Shen Wei, help me!" Zhao YunLan stretched his hand.

"You won't do anything, Director Shen." Zhao MingAn glared at Shen Wei, cutting his brother's words. "If you can keep your stance when my brother decides to sacrifice himself, you mustn't do anything this time. ALL OF YOU." His gaze swept the entire room.

Shen Wei gulped. He shifted his gaze to his younger brother, but YeZun averted his eyes. Tears flowed down YeZun's flawless cheeks, but he did nothing to stop his lover just like Shen Wei did when Zhao YunLan touched the lantern. Zhu Jiu closed his eyes. Chu NianZhi tightened his fists. Chu ShuZhi took care of the weeping Guo ChangCheng. Lin Jing and Da Qing pressed their heads, crunching in despair. Even his father did nothing to stop the young man. Zhao MingAn's statement was logical. It was either him or Zhao YunLan. Shen Wei took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Zhao YunLan may hated him after this, but Zhao MingAn was right. If he did not stop Zhao YunLan, someone who he loved beyond everything, he had no right to stop Zhao MingAn.

"This boy," Zhao YunLan grunted. Zhao MingAn used Shen Wei's high morals to keep the man at bay. "Let's think another way-"

"What way? We all know there is no other way. Didn't you say it yourself?" Zhao MingAn closed all doors to negotiate.

"You..."

"You can punish me later, Ge..." Zhao MingAn pushed a smile. His body was gradually weaker as his face was paler and paler. "I promise I'll do everything you want me to. Just please... Keep your words and take care of our father."

Zhao YunLan gritted his teeth, pulling his soul gun. He had to stop his brother by all means. Even if he had to hurt Zhao MingAn. "For me to let the younger one die before me, over my dead body." He aimed the gun at his younger brother.

However...

"Enough." Zhao XinChi strode between the two brothers and pulled Zhao MingAn away from the lantern. Yellow flash gleamed in his orbs.

"Elder Zhang." When everyone breathed in relief, Zhao MingAn complained.

"You are the younger one should know your lane and listen to your elder brother." Instead of being upset with the complaints, Zhang Shi reprimanded the young man. "And you." He shifted his gaze to Zhao YunLan. "You know that your brother is a hard-headed man. Do you think he will stop if he gets hurt? You won't be able to stop him if you don't kill him. So use your brain and not your muscles."

While Zhao MingAn weakened, Zhao YunLan gained the control of his body. "You stupid, idiot!" He charged at his brother, but Zhang Zhi slapped his hands before he could pull Zhao MingAn's collar.

"You did it toward your father in the past, you have no right to scold him," Zhang Shi stopped the siblings' arguments before they even started.

"This and that are two different things-"

"How it is different?" Zhang Shi cut the upset man. "You can do it and he can't? Besides, what are you upset about? Can you see that everyone feels better when no casualties are involved?" Zhang Shi peered around. All tensed shoulders drooped and the crying eyes were teary in relief.

"Elder Zhang... Is it true that we don't have to sacrifice anyone?" Guo ChangCheng asked, wiping his tears. Everybody looked at the epiphyte DiXing with a hopeful stare.

Zhang Shi did not reply, taking a deep breath. He strode to the longevity dial, taking it from its place.

"Elder Zhang, what are you doing?" Lin Jing knitted his eyebrows.

Zhang Shi ignored the question, striding at Gwang Li. "My lady... If I may, please grant one of my wishes," he said, offering the hollow.

"Are you sure about it?" Gwang Li peered at the yellowish orbs.

"I am..." Zhang Shi nodded.

"Zhang Shi... What are you doing?" Zhao YunLan's blood chilled when Zhang Shi passed the longevity dial to Gwang Li.

"Elder Zhang." Shen Wei was not less confused.

Gwang Li took a deep breath as she reached the hollow.

"Wait. What are you doing?" Zhao YunLan shouted. This was his father's body that they used.

None of Gwang Li and Zhang Zhi replied to his question, but something flowed from the hollow to their entire body, taking a fragment of energy from Gwang Li and giving it to Zhao XinChi. Everyone who had ever seen this gulped. Their breath hitched.

"What on earth?" Zhao MingAn knitted his eyebrows when, slowly, a black shadow separated itself from Zhao XinChi's shadow.

"Wait!"

"Ge, calm down." Zhao MingAn caught his brother when that man nearly charged at the scene.

Zhao XinChi staggered as he began to gain his footing while the shadow started to take the form of an old man with long golden hair and dark gray hanfu. Shen YongZheng caught his best friend to support Zhao XinChi's feet. Meanwhile, blood dripped from Gwang Li's mouth corner.

"Madame Gwang." Guo ChangCheng ran toward the lady, but a powerful shield threw him backward.

"What's that?" Zhao YunLan peered at Shen Wei.

"I don't know." Shen Wei was no less confused.

"Thank you, My lady." Zhang Shi, the old man with the golden hair, bowed at Gwang Li in reverence.

Zhao YunLan stared at Gwang Li, waiting for her reaction. He knew what that longevity dial could do. Even Shen Wei lost something when that man healed him from his blindness. But nothing happened. The lady in white did not even flinch after she used the hollow.

"What are you doing?" Zhao YunLan gulped, peering at Zhang Shi as the man returned the hallow to its place.

"Return to the place I belong," Zhang Shi answered without sparing a glance at Zhao YunLan. "But your father needs a new heart before I leave."

"What?" Zhao YunLan was wide agape. He could not help but worry about the lady's well-being.

"Elder Zhang-" Instead of the lady, Zhao MingAn was more concerned about Zhang Shi.

"MingAn..." Zhang Shi stopped in front of the lantern. "I want you to remember. You are a good person. You are both a filial son and a caring younger brother, but you often do it in your way that causes problems for your brother and father. Nobody should sever their ties with the family for any reason. You, too, shouldn't keep your family in the dark." He peered at the young man. "What I do today is to return your favor. I've been putting you through difficulties in your childhood. Now, I'll support your decision. Live long and well."

"Elder Zhang..."

"I don't need your tears," Zhang Shi said, shifting his gaze to the lantern. "I won't feel any pain inside as every cell in my body is created to merge with anything it touches. You don't have to worry about me. This is my blessing and curse as an epiphyte DiXing."

"Zhang Shi..."

"Zhao YunLan... You can't keep everyone safe. You are not a superhuman. Even a man with immense power, like The Black Cloak Envoy, can't save everyone. You must learn how to let go."

"Zhang Shi." Zhao XinChi called the man. "Thank you." He lowered his head.

Zhang Shi lifted a smile before merging with the lantern in a beautiful golden light. The glitters spread in the dark stone chamber as the fire flickered inside the lantern. The entire room turned silent as everyone sent their respect to the sacrifice.

"It's the time." Gwang Li's soft voice echoed in the silent room.

Zhao YunLan gritted his teeth. He wanted to throw all his resentments to the lady in white for her silence, but what right did he have? Gwang Li ignored the heated gaze, peering at the ground. A bright light sprang from the center of the ground, spreading subsequently. Shen Wei touched his lover's shoulder to calm him down.

"Let's go." Gwang Li stepped into the light. Everybody followed the lady, but Zhao YunLan stared at the flickering fire inside the lantern.

"Zhao YunLan..." Shen Wei called his lover.

"Mm-hmm," Zhao YunLan replied.

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

"Father." Sang Zan knocked on the door.

Arrived in the Hanga tribe's village, Sang San entered the elders' quarters. A huge wooden house near the mountain, far from the main street. A faint white glow shone surrounding the building, sending a calming sensation and healing.

"What happens?" A middle-aged man asked as soon as the door opened. "You already return? That's fast."

"Father... Someone insists on seeing Elder." Sang Zan glanced at his back.

"What?" The old man lifted his head to peer behind his son. "Regent." His eyes widened when he caught a familiar figure.

"I have something to make sure," the old regent stared at Sang Zan's father. "This is about the ancient scrolls."

Sang Zan's father blinked his eyes for a while. "I understand... Please, come inside," he said.

Everyone stepped into the wooden house. There was nothing luxurious inside but the nuance was comforting. A sweet scent of incense pervaded the living room. Creaking noises sounded as they sat on the bamboo chairs.

"Regent, welcome to our humble house." A sickly looking, fragile old man greeted the DiXing Regent.

"Elder Yang. I'm sorry to disturb your precious healing time." The old Regent lowered his head.

"Please, don't do that. You won't come if it's not something urgent." The old man strode toward the bamboo chair. "Now tell me, what can I do for you?"

"The ancient scrolls your ancestors kept. I need to read it," The Regent answered.

The man blinked several times as he stared at the old regent, but then he took a deep breath. "If you need it, you can go ahead and take it." The old man took a stone hung on his neck. "This is the key. There is nothing secret in our scrolls, but the old age. Please be careful with the scrolls."

"Thank you." The old regent bowed.

"Please, don't hesitate." The elder returned the politeness.

"I'll take my leave now," The Regent said.

"Wait..." Zhu Hong stopped the regent. "May I go with you, Sir?" She asked.

The regent took a deep breath before he finally nodded. "All right."

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

"Where are we?" Shen Wei peered around. The stone wall was still the same but the pressure around the chamber was different.

"This is..." Zhao MingAn's eyes widened.

"What?" Zhao YunLan glared at his younger brother. In his life, he had never been this anxious. Shen Wei always knew what he had to do, but Zhao MingAn was not.

"This is the gate to the labyrinth between the two chambers," Gwang Li said. "I won't be involved with you at this stage. I'll wait for you in the space between the two chambers."

"What do you-"

Da Qing had no chance to finish his words as the blinding flash engulfed the lady in white and she disappeared along with the light.

"Wait!" Lin Jing tried to catch her but all he grabbed was only an emptiness. "What do you mean by the space between the two chambers?" His shoulders slumped.

"Is that the space you said we can kill Ma TiHua inside?" Shen Wei asked Zhao MingAn.

"Mm-hmm," Zhao MingAn nodded.

"Then what's the labyrinth?" Zhu Jiu asked.

"When they found the fountain for the first time, some of the aliens drank the water without caring about the consequences. They became immortal, but not undefeatable. Your ancestors locked the fallen aliens in that labyrinth," Zhao MingAn answered.

"For what?" Guo ChangCheng asked.

"To kill them."

"They drank the water of the fountain of eternity, how they would die?" Lin Jing could not find the logic in Zhao MingAn's answer.

Zhao MingAn took a deep breath. "You'll see," he said as he touched the entrance. "Are you ready, Ge?" He asked Zhao YunLan.

Zhao YunLan took a deep breath. "This is why Zhang Shi sacrificed himself. Ready or not, I'm in." He looked at his younger brother.

Zhao MingAn nodded, pushing the door. When the stone door opened, what they saw stopped them in their spots. A vast garden that consisted only of a tall hedge plantation with several entrances. The scent of wet grass merged with the noisome smells of rotten flesh.

"Gosh." Lin Jing covered his nose. "This place is not for a civil normal HaiXing man like me."

"Which door should we take?" Guo ChangCheng gulped. He tugged Chu ShuZhi's coat unknowingly.

"Any door is fine," Zhao MingAn took a deep breath. "All the doors lead us to Madame Gwang, nonetheless. But one is faster than the other."

"You meant the space between the two chambers where we can kill Ma TiHua?" Shen YongZheng tightened his grip around Zhao XinChi's shoulder.

"Mm-hmm," Zhao MingAn nodded. "General Shen, from this stage onwards the journey will be more and more dangerous. My father will never could endure the hardship. If I may bother you to take him back to the surface? I'm afraid about his new heart."

"Can we do that?" Lin Jing asked. His eyes widened in excitement.

Zhao MingAn nodded once again. "You can return the hallows' chamber. All you need is to imagine the Western Lake and the path will be opened for you."

"How about all of you?" Zhao XinChi stared at his sons.

"We will be fine, Pa. You know we've been through so many hells before," Zhao YunLan smiled.

"I will be here with them, Uncle Zhao. I'll protect them for you." Zhu Jiu convinced the man.

"Do you think I will not worry about you? Zhu Hong is pregnant and your foster father is my best friend." Zhao XinChi glared at Zhu Jiu.

"Pa... Your heart has just returned. Don't you think you are not supposed too emotional right now?" Zhao MingAn stood for Zhu Jiu.

"Now you three stand against me?"

"Eeh..." Shen YongZheng stopped his best friend. "They are not wrong. We better go now."

"Lin Jing. You follow them with Da Qing and Xiao Guo," Zhao YunLan said.

"All right-"

"No, I'll stay." Da Qing cut Lin Jing's reply.

"I need someone to help General Shen," Zhao YunLan explained, forcing the yashou to agree. "Professor Shen, you better go with them."

"I can't even if I want to," Shen YeZun answered. "I'm the gatekeeper, in case you forget."

Zhao YunLan massaged his forehead. But this man had his point. Nobody knew what kind of balance would collapse if the main element left. "All right, then. We seperate our way here." He peered at Shen YongZheng and the others.

"Be careful." The old general clenched his jaws. "All of you."

"Yes, Sir," the rest of the group nodded.

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

"Where is the archive chamber?" Zhu Hong asked Wang Zheng.

"Still remember about the place we met in the Northwestern mountain?" Wang Zheng asked back. "The archive chamber is not too far from that place."

"What?" Zhu Hong's eyes widened. "So we have to deal with the demon beasts again?"

"We don't have to..." Sang Zan answered Zhu Hong. "The archive chamber is under the ground."

"Under the ground?" Zhu Hong frowned. "But-"

"There it is." Sang Zan pointed at the small crevice in the mountain. "Regent, we are arrived." Sang Zan peered at the old man.

"Let's go, then." The man said.

"Yes..." Sang Zan and Wang Zheng walked toward the small crevice, leaving Zhu Hong to wonder how could four adult humans passed the small-sized crevice that was even too small for a dog to enter.

Sang Zan peered into the crevice, searching for something. "Do you find it?" Wang Zheng asked.

"It's too dark here," Sang Zan answered.

"Need some help?" The old regent asked.

"Ah, no need, Sir," Sang Zan refused. "We can't use any magical power here." He slid his hand into the crevice, seeking the thing with his touching sensors.

"I know I can't use my power," the old regent huffed. "But as far as I'm concerned, there is an invention called flashlight." He took a tool from a pocket in his wide robe. Zhu Hong and Wang Zheng averted their faces, trying hard to suppress their laughter while Sang Zan scratched his head awkwardly. "You need it or not?" The Regent asked again.

"Yes, Sir. Thank you," Sang Zan replied, forcing a sheepish smile as he accepted the flashlight. Sang Zan returned to the crevice and turned the flashlight on. His eyes scrutinized the dim hole until he found a line of shallow tidy holes inside. "There you are," he smiled. "Regent, may I borrow the stone?" He asked.

"Mm-hmm." The old regent passed the stone.

Sang Zan took the stone and put it inside the shallow holes one by one in a certain rhythm, pushing the combination code. The stone cracked after he pulled the stone. Sang Zan stepped backward as the stone shook and slid open, creating an entrance.

"Let's go." The old regent led their way.

The three strode inside the entrance and stumbled upon an outstanding view. High-ceiling cave with hundreds, if not thousands, of wooden boxes lined up on the walls. Pillars of cypress wood stood in several spots. Not only did they spread a nice scent but kept the cave from dampness. From their appearance, it seemed someone or some people just replaced the woods.

"Oh, wow." Zhu Hong's eyes widened when she touched the boxes. They were newly made and smelled like herbs. The Hanga tribe indeed took the traditional data storage to another level.

"What year is the document you need, Si?" Sang Zan asked the regent.

"The oldest one," the Regent replied.

"All right." Sang Zan took the excessive-high ladder leaning on one side of the stone shelves.

Nobody knew how Sang Zan could lift the heavy ladder effortlessly and put it down as if it were nothing. Sang Zan climbed the ladder and threw the box from the top rack one by one. To Zhu Hong's surprise, the boxes did not fall but floated like a leave before landed.

The old regent grabbed one box. The scent of herbs pervaded the air when he opened the box. "What are you waiting for? Help me." He glared at the two ladies behind him.

"But what do we look for?" Zhu Hong frowned.

"You'll know when you see it," The Regent said as he scrutinized the data.

Zhu Hong and Wang Zheng shrugged as they took another box and scoured the scrolls. Zhu Hong had just finished her third scroll when her eyes widened. "Oh, my gosh!"

"What?"

Wang Zheng ran at Zhu Hong. Sang Zan jumped down. The old regent took the scroll from the lady's hand when Zhu Hong stared at him.

"This is what I looking for," the Regent said.

"Oh, no." Sang Zan was agape as he read the scroll.

"We must tell them," Wang Zheng nearly cried.

"Let's go..." the Regent said.

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

"Eh? Regent? What are you doing here?" The Fourth Uncle knitted his eyebrows. He knew the Regent's ability to bend the space and time. The fastness was not what he was shocked about but the reason.

"We need to find them now. He is in a danger." Zhu Hong screamed in panic.

"What... What are you talking about?" The Fourth Uncle frowned. "Speak slowly."

"It's-"

"You all still in this place?" Suddenly, Shen YongZheng's voice echoed.

"Zhao Papa!" Instead of finishing her words, Zhu Hong ran at Zhao XinChi. "You must read this." She passed the scroll.

Zhao XinChi took the scroll. He opened it widely to let everyone read it with him. "The Tale of a Wise Astronomer?" His frown deepened. But what he read in the next chapters shook him to the core. The painting that described the face of the legendary astronomer stabbed his new heart. "No... No... This is impossible." A soft voice slid through his trembling lips.

"Oh, Heaven. So, he knew about it?" Shen YongZheng rubbed his face.

"Oh, no. Is this why..." Lin Jing could not even finish his words.

"Lao Zhao!" Da Qing screamed louder than he ever did as he ran back to the Western Lake. They made a great mistake. Their perspective was wrong this entire time...

The perspective line was an approximate representation, generally on a flat surface, of an image as it was seen by the eyes.

As humans, we all had visions, idealism, and ideologies that influenced our perspective. Many times, our perspective brought us to see something so far beyond our reach instead of caring about those who were close.

Many people talked about the environment, but how many cared to water the thirsty plants in the hot summer? Many talked about saving the world, but how many cared about the abandoned animals around their neighborhood? Many talked about feeding the starving people in the foreign country, but how many people shared their blessings with their neighbors? Many talked about a cease-fire, but how many kept the peace inside their family?

Sometimes, people tended to forget that sharing the little fire of candles in the darkness left a long-lasting impression than shooting a firework to the faraway sky. Indeed, sharing a few blessings with our neighbors, feeding abandoned animals, keeping our family intact in peace, and watering some thirsty plant would not bring us any fame. But that was what differentiated between genuine intentions and hypocrisy...

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

Picture credit to DJ Johnson

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