Chapter 4

“What…?” He questions suspiciously, his heart racing with the possibility.

But then again, luck had never been a good mistress to him. Yet he continues despite it, “Even if I were to believe you, how? How would you, and most importantly, why?”

– Would you believe me if I said I’m doing this out of the goodness of my heart?

Spark can’t help but tease in the heavy mood of the situation, actively trying to lighten things up, willfully repressing all the images of bloodshed from his mind.

“...”

– Of course not, but don’t worry about it. Your fate and I are more tangled with each other than you might initially think. My fate rests with yours, as you would mine. Just think of it like you’re my vessel for my reincarnation.

Upon hearing this, Xial’s eyes narrowed into slits. “You…! Are you a demon? A demon trying to usurp control of my body?” he spoke hurriedly, suspecting something foul.

The faces of those remaining contorted into comprehension and gradually twisted into fear as their eyes widened and mouths gawked, listening to the one-sided conversation. Acknowledging that this was no lie due to the Xial’s genuine expression of shock and terror, the group of ambushers quickly morphed from defensive position into a posture ready to fleet, turning their feet in the opposite direction.

This… This must be a joke, a cosmic joke, because there’s no chance they happened to stumble upon a burial ground amidst the fighting, an ancient seal for a greater demon. A real threat even to us. Of course, a demon would try to take advantage in a situation like this, leaving the Sword Saint no choice but to reluctantly accept their offer and help the demon escape. Ridiculous.

They couldn’t help but to grit their teeth in frustration.

– Hmm…? Interesting. A demon? Why are y’all scared of little old me?

Spark looks around in curiosity.

Xial blinked in confusion but eventually answered, “You are a demon, are you not? Trying to possess my body and retaining your original power, especially if I consider you have time manipulation in your possession.”

– Hmm, that’s… fascinating. You guys have the concept of time control? Like a recorded history of a user in this world with that type of power?

“... no, but there have been tales about it. Rumors… they had to start from somewhere,” he replied, still unsure what to make of this stranger.

– Oh well. In any case, it’s not what you think. Really. I can only go back in time within my own life. Then seeing how you are my vessel and all, I was kinda hoping my ability extends to you, fixing this whole mess.

He gestures around. Xial’s hope slowly rises.

– Plus, I don’t wanna fight these guys.

He said teasingly, his eyes tinged with amusement. But it quickly morphed into discontent, his eyebrows knitted together as if he had just discovered bad news after a horrible disaster. His childish manner turns into one of contemplation, the lightheartedness swiftly disappearing from his eyes.

– Oh, shit. Maybe not…

Trying to catch up with the rapid clusterdump of information, Xial instantly grasped the implication of what he said, his tiny hope diminishing as quickly it came. His heart shattered into empty shards like a million glass pieces scattered into the void of the unknown. He knew he shouldn’t have raised his expectations, he knew he shouldn’t trust a demon. He knew. But he had wished. He…

Seeing the kid’s gazes cast down on the ground, he quickly assured in a soft tone:

– Hey c’mon, don’t make that face. I’ll see what I can do.

He exclaimed with a genuine smile.

Somehow, the figure managed to convey his toothy grin through the pair of floating eyes. Feeling a warm sensation atop his head, he didn’t even notice when the figure got so close, reappearing in front of him, yet he couldn't help but first notice the hand patting on top of his head. Xial blinks, and the man simply smiles in return, somehow feeling a gentle palm through his hair.

“Okay…” he timidly spoke, a soft smile gradually growing across his cheeks.

He didn’t fully understand why he trusted this stranger, especially in a situation like this. But somehow, he felt safe around him. He knew he shouldn’t feel this way, but he couldn’t help it. The guy reminded him of his deceased brother.

The rather tender moment between them lasted for a couple seconds, yet felt like minutes for Xial, before the mysterious figure gently pulled his hand away from his head, causing him to pout a little. Then, remembering where he was and who he had to protect, he swiftly reassumed battle position, still hesitating whether to trust him or not as he looked back and forth at the figure and the ambushers. His Sword Saint’s blessings were telling him that he was no threat to him, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

So he… he…

But maybe…

“You’re not a demon, are you?” he questioned quietly, desperately hoping for a denial like a kid discovering Santa wasn’t real. He knew demons are prideful as a dragon, too full of themselves to hide their damn race.

– Are they as kind as me?

He teased him. Xial got a little irritated, yet a faint smile bloomed across his face. He answered curtly, “No, none of them are.”

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– Then, of course I’m not a demon~! We are nothing alike.

“Except for narcissism apparently,” he retorted back with a quiet giggle.

– Hey! I’m not!

He pouts in his astral form, not helping the case with the contrast with Xial’s laughter.

– Well, whatever! Let’s drop the topic. We have bigger problems to deal with.

Xial finished laughing, ignoring all the looks being thrown his way, and eventually replied, “Alright, guessed we do.”

– Good, here’s the game plan. Don’t speak, just nod or shake your head. They can’t hear us, and I need time to think. Do whatever you can to stall them, utilize the misunderstanding of the demon thingy.

Xial nodded, still uncertain about the stranger's reason for helping him, but the motive seemed pure enough. He turned around and faced his friends, seeing their concerned and pleading expressions that seemed to say, ‘Don’t be tricked by the demon.’ He would have thought this was all a ruse too if it weren’t for his divine blessing saying otherwise. Plus, it’s not like he hadn’t had personal experience with one before. Understanding their sentiment, he tried to reassure them, knowing full well that the other Nascent Soul cultivators could hear him too.

“Relax, it’s not a demon. It’s here to help me, actually,” he said truthfully, though he guessed that none of them would believe him.

Like what father always says, the best lies are the truth.

‘Your brother is the strongest, the undefeated monster’

‘My son is the Sword Saint, bauhahaha! Another blessing to our sect.’

‘Xial could defeat a Nascent Soul elder with his eyes closed!’

Not to mention, demons had historically been cunning in their trickery, seducing even the highest of cultivators.

Thus, in the ten or so minutes following his statement, the misunderstanding effectively becomes the absolute truth.

Upon observing the kid’s plans, his lips softly formed into a smirk, and he tried to ruffle his hair for a job well done. For some odd reason, Xial could feel Spark’s hand currently stroking through his head, which should be physically impossible. Naturally since Spark couldn’t make contact with literally anything since his death, he would take full advantage of this and give the best head pats in the universe.

– How is this even possible? I mean, I ain’t complaining.

“Hmm?” he hums questioningly, unsure of what he meant. He slightly leans into his touch.

– Oh, right. I can’t touch anything, so I’m kinda confused about it.

He explained, nocliping his hand through the ground to demonstrate his point. Xial reluctantly pulled away from his hand as he looked at him. He stared in curiosity, causing his eyes slightly widened in fascination like a kid discovering something new.

Oh yeah, he is a kid.

And having no satisfactory answers to his question, he helplessly shrugged and said, “I do not have the faintest idea. Or maybe the Sword Saint title had something to do with it,” blaming his heaven’s blessings as always for the cause of any anomalies that usually popped up.

“Sorry, the norms usually don't apply to me,” he added, an unapologetic smirk plastered across his lips. “It happens when I’m around, unfortunately.”

– Uh huh. Hey, your head is getting a little too big for my liking.

He teased with mock annoyance.

Upon hearing his observation, Xial suddenly realized he was acting more uncharacteristic from his day-to-day behavior, feeling slightly less restraint.

It was different; he wouldn’t have been that prideful. His father had taught him otherwise. ‘Let’s your actions speak louder than your words,’ he would say.

But… but he really couldn't help it. He was excited… no, more than excited, he was thrilled. Maybe it was the prospect of gaining the opportunity to travel back in time, rewriting history and rectifying the many… many unfortunate catastrophes that had occurred. He could fix things, and his heart was pounding loudly like an engine powering a lightbulb at the impossible possibility, with each stroke rhythmically lighting up the bleak future.

…

“Perhaps I am, but I can’t shake off the feeling that you would still nevertheless offer a helping hand despite it,” he softly murmured, too embarrassed to admit out loud that someone would truly care for him despite his attitude. But he was still happy.

– Of course.

Spark answers nonchalantly, like if he hadn’t flipped his world violently.

Xial chokes on his own spit and then strugglingly sputters out a barely comprehensible ‘thank you.’

– Anytime, kiddo.

Spark replies once again in the same tone, like if he hadn’t casually promise a sacred vow of praṇidhāna.

“Eh-... um, o-okay,” he replies with his voice slightly shaking, swiftly turning his head away as a blush starts to cover his face.

Cheeks reddening slightly from Spark’s earlier response, he quickly decides to remain silent for the duration of this ongoing conversation, as the man requested, and it’s not because of his inability to form sentences currently. Definitely not.

/–/

They both sit in companionable silence as the moment ticks by, Spark’s figure hunches over in deep contemplation while Xial’s blush eventually begins to dissipate. Then, the tender quietness breaks as Spark starts to talk once again.

– I’m here to help, Xial. I’ll try my best to fix this. Speaking of which… Daughters, I need your assistance again.

As Spark calls upon his daughters once more, the three sisters with their ethereal forms begin to materialize in Xial’s retina. They glide forward, their abstract shapes shimmering and morphing with each step, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow. He raises his eyebrow in question at the new individuals in his perception–the people Spark was speaking to earlier–but he decides not to voice his inquiry for now, simply humming in interest.

Once arriving in front of Spark, they tilt their heads in unison as if they were inquiring his request. He continues to speak:

– Could you restart the initiation for me? Like transferring my consciousness to his body? Mind? Soul? I don’t know, but the system tried to do that thing.

“Oh yes,” they reply, their voice echoing like a gentle breeze through the leaves. “The initiation of the system was meant to fill the hollow body of Xial with your soul. The intended effect was to place your mind in his corpse after his departure, and then it will mechanically send a burst of energy to revivify your new body. But, we could provide an alternate method by merging both of your consciousness together, rather than having two souls stuck in one vessel.”

– Oh… that’s-

Xial’s eyes swiftly widen in alarm. “Transfer? Consciousness? What’s going on?”

Catching their attention, the sisters slowly turn his way, their eyes filled with a soothing, cosmic shine. “Do not fear, Xial. This process will not harm you. It is a merging of energies, a unification that will allow for the two of you to coexist.”

Xial swallows hard, his mind racing with the implications. “Will I still be… me?” he whispers softly.

Anything for them.

He repeats in his head, as if he had already resigned to his fate.

Before they could reassure him, Spark interjects with a confused yet amused expression.

– The hell are you guys talking about? We ain’t doing that, hahahaha!