'Have the world always been this dark and cold?'
Bei Shang raised a hand and waved it around but he hit nothing. He didn't want to close his eyes because he would only see more darkness, and the darkness of his own scared him even more.
He thought the chill came from outside , later he realized that the chill was from the inside. It consumed every part making him feel like crawling out of his own body.
How long have he been in this void to the extent that his poison relapsed? What was going on now in the palace when he have gone unconscious for the 2nd time this month.
He really wish he could come out, he just doesn't know how.
After a long time of floating in the void , his back finally fell on something hard. Bei Shang allowed himself to fall supine on the ground before he sat up . Then he started to wander.
His chill have gotten worse and his throat was starting to hurt. His eyes seems to no longer be working properly again.
But at least he could feel his legs now.
He walked till he started to see a sparkle of light in a direction. Without thinking he moved towards that light.
The light stabbed viciously at his eyes ; he closed it at once and let the warmth surround him. The warmth was nothing compared to the chill in him but it was still comforting.
"Took you so long"
Bei Shang slowly opened his eyes; this time the light wasn't so harsh on him. The demon god was sitting down at the edge of the lake.
Bei Shang moved beside them and sat down.
"What was that place?"
"I don't know, it looks like it's part of your subconsciousness though" They touched his forehead" Why are you so cold?"
"My poison relapsed "
"Why don't you heal yourself? You have your powers now "
Bei Shang looked at the lake , the long hair was starting to irritate him. Nick helped him cut it off a few days ago , why was it long again?
"Taohua…why don't you want to use your powers ? Are you getting scared of the truth now?"
Bei Shang started to twirl his hair , he looked at the peach blossom tree in the distance.
"Taohua , what is wrong?"
"My name isn't Taohua…it's Bei Shang "
The demon god didn't seem suprised , instead their brows relaxed and they let a sigh.
"I knew you would back off midway, what made you back off ?"
"I don't want to talk about it "
They rolled their eyes " if it was in the past , I would have just gone back to the heavens and let you suffer your consequences yourself but as a senior god I will tell you that, Running from your past will never solve anything "
There was a silence between them before Bei Shang finally looked at them , his eyes looked swollen and red.
"I am scared, everything point to the fact that I must have hurt him some way some how; I don't know what facing the rest of my past will give now ; I am so scared "
At first he wanted nothing but the truth , he wanted nothing but to understand why his life was so shitty and why he had to get entangled with that bastard of a demon who did nothing but make his life miserable.
But perhaps it was the full year they have spent together, perhaps it was the fact that he have seen sides to Nick that no one knows.
The young fisherman who rescued him holding onto him because of a smile and the huli Jing general who will stand in front of him to keep him safe from danger.
"Secrets buried in the past have a way of clawing their way to the surface, and Running from it only gives it more power over you. You won't leave this cycle if you don't face it first"
The tribulations of gods and demons were often thought of as difficult and even cruel but no one spared thoughts about the tribulations of being human.
The tribulation of sickness, the tribulation of suffering and the tribulation of secrets.
Taohua might not suffer humanity but Bei Shang surely will.
"I didn't ask for this "
"Taohua…"
"Why can't Taohua make the right decisions? Why do I have to be the one to make it right? " Bei Shang put his hand on his chest, his voice trembling " I didn't ask for this "
Demon God swallowed, their voice softened "Do it … do it for your shifu "
Bei Shang rubbed his eyes. He really didn't want to have anything more to do with this but in the end, if he doesn't do it , who will then?
He doesn't have a choice right from the beginning.
"Taohua… please "
"…Okay "
The demon God sighed before becokening closer.
"Come closer "
Bei Shang lowered his head on their shoulders and closed his eyes. The demon god took a stick and started to chant as he turned the water.
Like in the first time, he felt his soul lifting out of his body, then he flew up till he landed solidly in Taohua body.
The sounds of the crickets filled his ears , the grass felt like prickly pillows on his body and the scent of Cherry blossoms was on the tip of his nose.
He opened his eyes slowly. Taohua was actually taking a nap resting on the foot of a tree.
"Remember when you want to go back, just call for me "
Bei Shang hmmed , he's not planning to go back until the end this time.
He looked around, Nick was a distance away fiddling with a scrub , he's probably trying to harvest some berries for dinner.
He can't make movements so he watched Taohua watch Nick till he was done.
Nick sat down beside him, his face was brimming with happiness.
"The berries are really delicious" he rubbed one on his sleeve then put it in Taohua mouth "I was tempted to eat the whole scrub but I didn't want the animals to starve "
The taste of the berry were not too sweet and not too sour , it was a perfect balance.
"Hmm it's really nice "
"Do you want more ?"
Taohua nod his head and opened his mouth "Feed me"
Nick shook his head " I can't feed you "
"Why ? You just fed me earlier"
Bei Shang held his urge to roll his eyes , Taohua was really a spoilt brat , he had his own hands, why bother an innocent guy ?
Nick face flushed and he lowered his head.
"Taohua, you're a girl, you can't be free with every man out there "
Taohua blinked innocently "Is it because I am a girl, you can't feed me ?"
Nick nod his head "Feeding is an intimate activity, it can only be done between people you really like and trust "
Taohua pouted his lips and fold his arms "I am not a girl , so you can feed me all you like"
There was a thick silence between them before Nick let out a stiff laugh.
"You can make jokes too?"
"I am not joking, I am a guy "
There was another thick silence, Nick looked really confused.
"But…but you don't look like a guy "
Bei Shang really didn't blame him.
Taohua had an androynous face , his eyes were big and round with curiosity,His nose was small and dainty, and it complements his lush and red lips making him look really soft. Not to talk of his long hair.
If not for the weight down there and his flat chest , he would have really thought that even he was a girl.
But no guy will appreciate being compared to a girl , not to talk of a demi god.
As expected, Taohua scowled.
"How should a guy look like then ?! "
"Are you angry ?"
"Angry? I am not angry , I am very happy right now to be told to my face that I am not masculine enough just because I can wear girl clothes "
Nick lips twitched " I didn't say that "
Seeing Taohua stand up and turn to leave, there was a hint of panic on his face "Where are you going?"
" I am going home of course!!!" Then as if reminded of something, he frowned and turn to another path "You know what? I am not going home!!! After all you want the girl Taohua in your house "
Nick rubbed his forehead as he followed behind Taohua " It was a mistake, you are cute and manly enough…"
"Oh now I am manly enough just because you don't have anyone to help you with washing your clothes anymore!!!"
This Time Bei Shang rolled his eyes, The almighty demi god washing clothes ? It was probably Nick doing all the work in the house while he spreads the clothes on the grass.
Nick didn't seem to mind the obvious lie "I am sorry"
They argued like that till they reached a particular point of the forest. At this point, Nick was already waving his hands around, sometimes his eyes will dart left and right, looking around the area.
"Let's go home, I don't want you passing that boundary…"
Taohua fold his hands " Why ?"
Nick looked around again " I can't explain why but please you have to listen to me …"
Taohua looked at the boundary, then he lo
oked at the trembling Nick. Then he sighed and started to walk towards him.
Nick sighed in relief.
Just then , a old voice shouted in alarm "I saw you demon don't move !!!"