On the other side of the portal was a wide street, paved with smooth, gleaming white stones. Towering buildings of silver and gold were rising up to either side, and among the buildings and lined in the streets were trees that swayed gently in the soft breeze, and the fragrance of those rare flowers swirled around Zhen Lixin, Shu Ming, and Li Mei as they stepped out of the portal. Two Xians who had been strolling down the street were startled by the sudden appearance of a portal, and as Lixin noticed, he bowed his head at them in apology.
Li Mei turned to Zhen Lixin and Shu Ming as the portal closed behind her. "I shall go inform her highness, Xiu Ying."
Lixin nodded in acknowledgment, and she curtseyed respectfully to both of them before taking her leave. Lixin watched her walk down the street, her long, golden hair swaying gracefully with each of her steps in sync with her hips.
Shu Ming turned to look at Zhen Lixin as he hesitated to ask further about his encounter with Ming Xuan. Lixin's obvious actions suggested that he did not wish for the topic to go on, which left Shu Ming confused and without options. Having spent centuries of time together with Zhen Lixin, he knew better how hard it was to get something out of Lixin, if he wasn't willing.
As if noticing Shu Ming's gaze on him, Lixin turned to him and smiled. "Then, I shall take my leave as well," he said.
Shu Ming was caught short by the sudden excuse, but he couldn't do anything other than nodding. "En," he said, his voice reflecting his hesitation.
Lixin still kept his smile as he bowed respectfully, and stepped away from Shu Ming, but he unexpectedly spun around again and ran back towards Shu Ming.
"I totally forgot- Has Ji Mengxi and Li Mei collected all the phoenix feathers?"
"Yes," Shu Ming said with a nod, "Ji Mengxi has taken them to his highness, Gou Jian."
"Ah," Lixin let out with a slight tilt of head in acknowledgement and turned away from Shu Ming.
"Well, I'll see you later then," he said over his shoulder, and walked in the direction to his mansion, with his fists clenching again.
--
As soon as Lixin entered his mansion, he closed the two grand doors and stood with his back to them. The usual light in his blue eyes had faded, and now it had the emptiness Ming Xuan's eyes usually had. His lips slightly parted and the words 'gege' barely escaped them. He felt his eyes tear up as he felt a tightening around his head.
He wanted to cry. Why did he expect so much from Ming Xuan? He was not his family... He was just a person who randomly decided to take care of him. Even then, he hadn't spent that many years with him, and apparently Lixin had been depending on him for too long. And it was just him, and not Ming Xuan. All those rumors being spread in the Ethereal realm were right. Zhen Lixin was just a part of Ming Xuan's plan, just a pawn in his game against the emperor. How could he have been so foolish to not realize it sooner?
A tear drop was about to fall off his eyes when a shimmering, semi-transparent square suddenly appeared before him, floating at eye-level. Lixin almost felt his soul leave him at the abrupt appearance, and he jerked back in surprise. The square of illusion was empty for a few seconds, until the translucent figure of a person came on the screen. Zhen Lixin wiped his eyes with his white robes and saw it was Jin Huang, as he came closer and his appearance became clear.
Jin Huang was a prominent member of the Ascended council, best known for his ability to cast powerful illusions. He pushed his round glasses up the bridge of his nose and smoothed back a strand of hair before speaking.
"Attention all immortals," Jin Huang declared. "You are hereby summoned to the Celestial Hall immediately. Your attendance is not optional. Let haste be your guide."
Zhen Lixin sighed and wiped the illusion away as it began to repeat itself. Apparently, the reappearance of Ming Xuan was going to be a urgent discussion, for the Celestial hall was only used for such matters. It did make very much sense. Ming Xuan was a one with the ability to shake off the Ethereal realm if he wanted to, and not having him as an ally only made it hard for the immortals. Lixin turned around and slowly pulled the grand doors open, not wanting to accept that he was actually regretting his decision on reporting Ming Xuan to the Ethereal realm out of anger.
--
The Celestial hall was a spacious and opulent hall, with large arched windows, and tall and slender columns supporting the high ceiling. As Lixin entered, his eyes went over to the elevated throne at the far end for the emperor, and the five seats below it that were reserved for the Ascended council. On either side of the hall, the rest of the immortals were to be seated according to their rank, from the most powerful to the least. The closer to the entrance, the lower the rank of the immortal. And so for Zhen Lixin, he was to sit closer to the Ascended council, far away from the entrance.
The seats of the Ascended council and the emperor were yet empty, and now the sides of the Celestial hall were being filled with the rest of the immortals, soft murmurs rising high. Lixin's face held a serious expression until he noticed Shu Ming sit on the other side, and he nodded at him with a smile, but the wary look came back to his face again as he lowered his head. Immortals stopped entering the hall gradually, and the grand doors swung open, the soft murmurs subsiding.
Zhen Lixin rose his head and all eyes turned towards the entrance as the emperor slowly walked in, his footsteps echoing in the stillness of the room. The emperor's sharp eyes were set on the throne ahead of him as he walked, his silver hair long and loose, with a thin braid at the back to hold it in place, swaying slightly. Behind him followed, Bai KeXin and Xiu Ying, shoulder to shoulder. And behind them were An Le Yang and Jin Huang, followed by Gou Jian, who gave a slight nod to one immortal in a silent instruction to close the grand doors.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Everyone rose from their seats as they entered the Celestial hall and bowed their head in respect. The emperor, Zhou Li, stole a brief glance at everyone in the hall and sat down on his elevated throne, his hands resting on the arms of the throne. The Ascended council slightly bowed their heads towards Zhou Li, and they all sat in their reserved seats below him. The grand hall fell into silence, awaiting the commencement of the impending debate.
As the Ascended council took their seats, all the immortals sat back down. At a subtle nod from Zhou Li, Xiu Ying rose from her seat.
"We have gathered all the immortals here today to announce that the Serpent of the Abyss has resurfaced," she said, her voice calm and composed.
Everyone in the hall shifted uncomfortably in their seats, low murmurs rippling through the crowds. Zhen Lixin lowered his head, not noticing Shu Ming and Zhou Li's gazes on him.
Xiu Ying continued as the hall fell silent once again, "He has been seen by Zhen Lixin, in a forest in the mortal realm called the Duskvale forest."
At the mention of his name, Lixin rose his head and saw almost everyone's gaze on him. Some started whispering to the other next to them, and the soft murmurs dominated the hall again.
"As we all know," Xiu Ying spoke a little louder as she ignored the murmuring. "The Serpent has been unseen for almost four centuries. Our inquiries have failed us in knowing his intentions, and as he has reappeared again, so all Xians are requested to remain cautious."
She glanced all over the hall as she said, "You are now allowed to raise your opinions and questions." She sat back down on her chair gracefully as she stole a glance at Zhou Li.
Before the hall could be dipped in murmurs again, an immortal who was sitting close to the Ascended council stood up. Everyone's eyes went over to him, and Lixin saw it was Ming Qiang. Ming Qiang was a prominent Xian, serving under Gou Jian, mostly known for his incredible swords art and strength. Another famous thing about him was that he never fully trusted Zhen Lixin, who had once lived together with the Serpent, just like most of the Xians in the Ethereal realm. Whenever the Serpent was mentioned in any negative thing, the suspicions on Zhen Lixin were raised, almost to the point where it now did not surprise the emperor or the Ascended council for someone to accuse Zhen Lixin.
"Your majesty, if I may...?" Ming Qiang asked as he bowed towards Zhou Li and raised his head.
Zhou Li nodded slightly and rose his hand, indicating Ming Qiang to go on.
Ming Qiang nodded and his gaze turned to the immortals seated in the Celestial hall. "I would be pleased to know if it is just me who is troubled by our Zhen Lixin being the one to first notice the Serpent."
Everyone began murmur as some gave side eyes to Lixin. Lixin put his hand on his forehead and sighed.
"Your highness," he said, standing up from his seat. "I can assure you that there is nothing to be troubled about."
"And how am I supposed to believe you?" Ming Qiang asked.
"Your majesty," Shu Ming rose his voice, standing up and nodding slightly towards Zhou Li. He turned to Ming Qiang, who was standing on the opposite side close to Zhen Lixin. "You are causing unnecessary problems."
"Oh? I'm just speaking out what everyone thinks," he said with a shrug. "We are just being cautious as we've be-"
Ming Qiang stopped in his mid sentence as Zhou Li cleared his voice. Everyone straightened up in their seats and fixed their gazes on the emperor who had been quiet so far, and the hall fell in dead silence as he spoke.
"I do not see why Ming Qiang is troubled," he said, his steel grey eyes glancing over Ming Qiang, and his cold voice dominating the silent Celestial hall.
"Your majesty, we're all aware of how fond of the Serpent Zhen Lixin is," Ming Qiang said, getting a few slight nods from other immortals and an eye roll from Shu Ming. "I hold no grudge against Zhen Lixin, but it still worries me for the best of our realm."
"If it is the fact that Zhen Lixin was the one to encounter the Serpent," Shu Ming stepped in. "I would like to make it clear that I was the one to feel his presence at first. Zhen Lixin meeting the Serpent was all just a coincidence."
"And we're to believe that because?"
"Because it's the truth!" Shu Ming exclaimed, and he immediately regretted it as he realized how disrespectful it was.
"Shu Ming," said Zhou Li, his eyes fixed sternly on Shu Ming and his voice deep and cold.
"Forgive me, your majesty." Shu Ming said, his voice full of guilt and his head lowered as he slowly sat back down.
"If I may say a word," Li Mei said, standing up from her seat. "If his highness, Zhen Lixin, is suspicious like you say, why would he decide to report the Serpent to the Ascended council?"
Everyone's eyes were set on her and Ming Qiang blinked in surprise at her. "He was the one to report it?"
Li Mei nodded. "That's right," she said. "And haven't we known Zhen Lixin for more than just mere years? Yes, he is fond of the Serpent, but has he ever stricken as someone who'd do bad to the Ethereal or the mortal realm?"
A low murmur grew within the Ascended hall, and Ming Qiang was about to speak, but Gou Jian rose from his seat.
"Let me share my opinion," he said, his voice hoarse. "I think this is a pure waste of time."
Gou Jian's gaze averted from Ming Qiang to Zhen Lixin, and then returned to everyone seated in the Celestial hall as he said, "Zhen Lixin is serving the realm under my guild, and I've known him long enough to say this with confidence that he is not a threat to either of the realms, despite his childhood spent with the Serpent."
Zhen Lixin nodded in appreciation at Gou Jian, as Ming Qiang lowered his head.
"I agree with his highness," said Li Mei.
Zhou Li sighed and rubbed his temples. His gaze went over to Ming Xuan, and set on the Xians. "I do not wish to see anymore false accusations on Zhen Lixin," he said, standing up.
All the Xians and the Ascended council who had been seated, rose from their seats. Zhou Li continued, "The purpose of this gathering was to announce the resurrection of a threat to the both realms, not to throw suspicions at each other."
Ming Qiang held his head low, and had his hands tied together in front of him. "I beg your forgiveness, your majesty," he muttered.
Zhou Li looked at him with his cold eyes, and nodded slightly. His face turned to all the Xians before him. "Unless you have better reasons, no more false and empty accusations are to be made," he said, and took a step forward. "This gathering is now adjourned."
Zhou Li walked away from his throne down the hall, followed by the Ascended council, in the same order they had come in. Gou Jian stopped in his step for a moment to steal a glance at Zhen Lixin, who smiled at him politely with gratitude. Li Mei bowed slightly towards Zhen Lixin with a warm smile and walked away. As Xians began to leave the Celestial hall, Shu Ming crossed the hall to come over to Zhen Lixin.
"Lixin-xiong, I'm sorry about that..." Shu Ming said.
Lixin smiled nervously. "Oh, it's nothing to be sorry about. I'm grateful for you and Li Mei standing up for me," he said.
"Still..." Shu Ming said, his gaze running away.
"Let's forget about that," Lixin said with a soft smile and sighed. "I best leave as well."
"En," Shu Ming said, stepping away from Zhen Lixin. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"Ah, I'll be fine," Lixin said as he waved his hand up and down.
Shu Ming examined Lixin for a while before nodding in acknowledgment. He watched Lixin walk out of the hall with his hands clasped behind his back, his hair swaying with each step. Shu Ming's mind had its conflicts on whether to let Zhen Lixin be or be in his company. After a moment of internal debate, he decided the first option was the best and sighed.