For a moment, Mei Ying was silent. She thought about her father’s narrative of the night of Red Omen. From there, she remembered all sorts of village gossip throughout her life as a child, then, as a young adult.

Father had skimmed over the details of that night, all right.

Just when the magical barrier had cracked, supposedly, all the Song shifus and their disciples were spread around the circumference and utilized their cultivated powers to uphold the enclosure. Meanwhile, since Shaman Xia announced Mei Ying’s existence to not be a threat, the clan members somewhat calmed down and began to pray for the ancestors’ protection. Following that, the old woman led her council of second-tiered shamans to a chanting circle. With their incantations, the shamans of Cheng Xiu Village passed their qi to the Song cultivators in their times of need.

The Song clan claimed that they themselves saved their own village, their families, and...even Mei Ying. For that, she was supposed to be grateful for them sparing and also saving her life.

The huntress could not bear it anymore. “You claim that Jian Jian...appeared on the night of my birth to save the magical barrier from complete collapse. Did I hear you right?”

What’s more… What is this feeling? Surprisingly, Mei Ying felt betrayed. Not just from Jian Yu but also from her own family.

“You heard me well and clearly, Young Miss.” answered the demon, pulling one knee up. He propped an elbow on it for him to lean against his arm. “But you have to understand something here: Everyone but one mortal who saw our Demon King in person had passed. That only leaves a certain someone named Kong. He was but a child from a hundred years ago during the Ghost War. Fortunately, on that night, everyone, except for that all-seeing shaman, did not recognize us.”

Hong Rui paused, only to laugh. “Oh, but as I recalled, a hundred years ago, it was also the same shitty clan who told everyone...that His Highness slaughtered their people and the other cultivation sects with the Red Omen.” He raised his bright red eyes, sneering. “Isn’t that funny?”

A shiny edge pointed toward the man’s white throat. “Hong Rui.” The huntress clenched her jaw as she slowly lifted Fa Guang. She stood over Hong Rui who did not blink an eye at her action. “Stop.”

“Aren’t you angry, Young Miss?!” First Official refused to obey. He added, bitterly, “That shitty clan was supposed to protect you, love you, and nurture you as one of their own! Instead, they step on you, they spit at your progress, and they even rip you down even though you are representing them!”

“Number One!” It was a cold, familiar voice that intruded.

Another shimmering blade came toward Hong Rui’s throat. However, unlike Mei Ying, the adolescent pushed the pointed end into the skin, breaking the soft flesh by a dot. Red began to trickle down.

First Official only snapped, “Aren’t you angry for His Highness too, Xiao Li?!”

He returned his attention to the young woman. “When the magical barrier finally broke through, the raining fire was about to hit the old shaman’s home that night. However, His Highness was there to deflect the danger, putting his own body at risk! Not only that, he, along with all eighteen Netherworld Officials, quickly repaired the magical barrier and stayed on guard throughout the entire night!”

Hong Rui went on, “Then, before the morning sun arose, that old shaman of yours told His Highness and every one of us to scram! The f*cking audacity of that hag, treating His Highness and us like rats! Then, she made every witness swear to secrecy, claiming that if anyone spoke a word of it, everyone would die!”

Of course. If the main cultivation world were to hear about the Demon King and his Netherworld Officials saving the Song clan, there would be no coming back from that.

The righteous sects would label the Song clan...as a demonic cult. The Song clan would be ‘no different’ from the Xu cult in the Ghost War, a former righteous cultivation sect that had sat at the top of the world and fell to demonic worshipping and black magic. Everyone in Cheng Xiu village would have been marked for death.

Why, all the righteous and ‘righteous’ cultivators would justify the people’s murders because demonic cults are deemed to be evil whether they be even women and children.

Mei Ying’s hand trembled against the grip of her sword. She drew it away and, in a breath, sheathed Fa Guang in one smooth motion. The young woman turned away, trying to breath in and out slowly. Her shoulders shook.

In this world, what does being righteous mean?

Slowly, the young woman felt the cold metal of her silver crescent-shaped necklace, which was always resting upon her chest and encircling her white neck. In the Song clan’s ancient language, it is called xauv or pronounced ‘so.’ This is the symbol of the Song clan.

For thousands of years, the jewelry that stayed with her, regardless of what she chose to wear, represented the pride and resilience of her people.

Another piece that remained with Mei Ying was also…

The huntress felt for her wrist but remembered that the silver bangle was taken by First Judge. In the beginning, there was a commissioned set. One was given to Yue Liang. The other was worn to remember her dear childhood friend. Now, where it used to be is empty.

By her side, stood both Xiao Li and Xiao Dan. The twin teenagers were in their matching all-black outer robes, greeting the huntress from either side. While Xiao Li, the brother, brought out his weapon, Xiao Dan was an arm's length away. The white-haired girl met Mei Ying’s eye.

“Xiao Li, stand down.” Without glancing back, the huntress then asked, “Hong Rui, why are you telling me all this now?”

Being freed of the sword tip, the tall demon rose to his feet and brushed the dirt off from his messy robe. When he finished cleaning, Hong Rui observed the twins standing on either side of the white-robed woman. His face was devoid of any expression as he wiped the blood that trailed down his neck with his bare hand.

“In this world, there is no such thing as all-good and all-evil.” stated Hong Rui. “Even the person whom you wholeheartedly trust...will not tell you everything that you need to know. Everything and everyone is not what they appear to be.”

He raised his voice, “Even knowing this, do you still want to become stronger and partake in this Red Omen prophecy?!”

Mei Ying looked up toward the eternal sunset-streaked skies. There was a sigh.

In the end, being righteous means to stay unchanged and keep walking forward regardless of what others say or do to the person. It is no wonder why Shaman Hua had insisted for Mei Ying to be a reclusive cultivator. It is difficult for the mind to be still like water near towns and cities. It is even more so for the heart to remain clear.

Mei Ying answered, “If I don’t...how else will the flowers continue to bloom?”

Upon saying this out loud, the young woman rotated to meet Hong Rui’s gaze. A single red orb of light landed on her shoulder. Her resolve was not deterred.

“No one but I can break my own curse.” said Mei Ying, placing a hand against her heart. “If this is the only way, I have no choice but to walk this path to the very end.” Narrowing her brows, the young woman appeared firm on her decision. “That way, Jian Jian does not have to worry and keep watch over me forever, right?”

Hong Rui stiffened. His eyes grew wide.

It was the same with Xiao Li and Xiao Dan. Still, they did not say a word.

“Jian Jian...has been watching over me for a long, long time.” The young woman’s lips curved up into a rueful smile, filled with regret and a tinge of embarrassment. “I know that even if I ask, he will not give me an exact answer just like when I had inquired on why he was helping me.”

Mei Ying casted her eyes toward the far distance where there is a lofty palace standing amidst the brightly-colored city with all its lights and flower-shaped decorations. The ground that she stood on with First Official and twins had become a mere cliff that overlooked the ashened plains below.

Glancing down at her right hand, the maiden felt the cool white-jade ring. “He has a bad habit of apologizing to me, you know. I can only guess that over the several lifetimes, I must have caused him much suffering. I have only realized this while residing in the Netherworld, thanks to my Soul Bargain contract with First Judge. Even though the First Judge initially threatened me that I did not return, he would take back the mortal souls that I had pleaded for.”

She soon recalled the Spring God’s words when the old dragon descended to the Mortal realm and tried to offer her the easy way out. “Now...this one only has less than a year to live. When I leave the Netherworld, if I do not do anything at all, I will pass. I would have slighted Jian Jian’s sincerity toward me. I will forget everything again...whereas Jian Jian will be left with the memories. It is too cruel...when I wonder about how long he must have watched over me.”

Raising her eyes toward First Official again, the simple mortal smiled wider. Her small face was bright and rosy. Though Hong Rui would not admit it, for a second, Mei Ying resembled the shadow of who she once was. The Ninth Flower Immortal’s smile was to be envied, filled with sincerity and no ulterior motive in place. It was always radiant like the sun.

“So, yes, I still want to become stronger and fight,” said Mei Ying. “If not for myself, if not for those who may not feel the same about me as I do for them...I will fight for Jian Yu, the one who believes in me.”

As though it had fulfilled its duty, the tiny firefly on Mei Ying’s shoulder drifted away and disappeared into the skies overhead. It has heard every syllable that rolled off the young woman’s gentle tongue.

❁❁❁

The silk-screened windows swung open.

From inside the dark bedroom, the white-robed huntress climbed out while holding onto a small clay jar in one arm. Slowly, she placed one foot out to the tiled rooftop, then, the other. There was an inaudible sigh of relief.

Mei Ying turned around and surveyed her empty surroundings. The skies had darkened into dyed indigo with twinkling diamonds overhead, with the full silver moon hanging high in the air. Crickets hummed their lullabies. At the moment, not a guard was in sight.

Carefully, she put the jar on top of her head. There. Perfectly balanced. A low golden aura of light outlined her petite figure as she laughed softly.

Finally, the mischievous maiden turned and closed the windows in the way that they were before.

“What are you doing?” asked a voice.

The young woman jolted, and just when the jar tipped over, she luckily caught it in her arms. The speaker was behind her. With a sigh, Mei Ying rotated to face him.

“Now that your senior hunters are not here, you’re going to commit devious deeds, huh?” asked the shadow. He had been standing on the large tree branch across from the rooftop for some time. “Mei Ying.”

Feeling the warmth of her face, the young woman stammered out, “Jian Jian, it’s been a while...since you’ve come to see me.”

“You did not answer my questions.”

“I was only going to take a few shots, ah. My seniors did not drink much, so I try to restrain myself around them.” Then, keeping in mind that she was in the presence of a king, Mei Ying stuttered, “I-If that is against the palace rules, th-this one will go back then and--”

“I don’t want you to treat me like I am a king.” His words were all said in a great rush, that it almost sounded like Jian Yu was flustered. However, given the darkness of night or perhaps it is due to Mei Ying’s night blindness, she could not discern her friend’s expression. “Nothing has to change between us...just because of who I am.”

“I see.” Hearing this, the young woman felt at ease. She sat down on the tiled roof that showed her the lovely sight of Feng Cheng and its thousands of houses and infrastructures beyond the high stone wall. Glistering fireflies gathered around her, glowing red and bright. “Well, then, join me as a friend.”

Jian Yu froze. He seemed to have not expected this light-hearted invitation from the huntress and uttered, “...What?”

“Come here, and let us drink together.” Patting an empty seat next to her, Mei Ying beamed at her handsome friend. “It has been a while since you are not stuck in your office or in meetings with the other Judges and Netherworld Officials. Otherwise, I will be drinking by my lonesome under this lovely moon.”

No sooner did she say that, a chilling autumn breeze swept through Mei Ying’s long, black hair. It only took a second for the other to seat himself next by her side, with his long red ribbon waving back and forth against the air. Seeing this, the young woman stifled a laugh but could not help smiling from ear to ear.

“Here.” Two small golden cups emanated from the night and hovered between Jian Yu and Mei Ying. He gestured for the maiden to see what he brought. “It’s better than drinking out of that jar.”

“Oh…” Mei Ying tilted her head, studying the dragon design of one cup and the phoenix engravings on the other. “In the main cultivation world, all we need is a red string, ah. Isn’t that how most people do their weddings?” When the young woman looked at her friend, he was staring at her. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No.” His response was rather abrupt. Breaking eye contact, the young man folded his arms across his crimson robe. “You...are correct. Normally, when people marry, they drink out of two cups that are tied together by a red string.”

“The red string is romantic though.” With the jar between her pant legs, Mei Ying untied the string around the red square of fabric that helped contain the wine. “Shifu told me that your life partner is someone who was bound to you by the red string of fate, which is invisible to the mortal eye.”

She handed the string and fabric to Jian Yu, who burned each item away into ashes with his fire magic. “Maybe next time, I should ask Wei Sheng about who your fated person may be.”

“There’s no need.”

“But, Jian Jian, you have been the Demon King for a long time, haven’t you? It might be nice to always have someone...by your side…” Mei Ying stopped, catching Jian Yu’s gaze. Her words faltered.

The way the silver moonlight shined against Jian Yu was truly breathtaking. As he blinked, his long lashes were as delicate as flowers. Even when his half-ponytail shifted, with Jian Yu’s long silk-like hair hanging over his shoulders, Mei Ying thought that there was no one else who was as good-looking as her friend.

Whoever gets to marry Jian Yu would be the luckiest one in the entire world.

“You...especially do not need to ask Wei Sheng.” The young man glanced down. “I am fine with how things are. How can I ask for more?”

He closed his eyes for a second, with a heart-rending smile, before opening his eyes again. It was like Jian Yu had recalled something painful. “If one gets too greedy, he will more likely end up with nothing in the end. For me, this is enough.”