Even at night, the Heavenly Realm’s towering jade gates could be seen.
So close.
All they needed to do was to blow the entrance away and hop into that Pool of the Mortal Realm. Then, they would be free!
With his heart racing, the young man tightened his hold against his lover’s hand. Despite their billowing robes, the couple glided over the enormous jade courtyard. With a wave of his hand, the young man’s figure glowed immaculately like the moon in darkness. He summoned a gust of icy wind, thrashing the gates apart with ease.
Like booming thunder, a voice yelled out, “Drong Li!”
Drong Li turned around, with long silver hair floating in the air. Soon, the icy wind and red leaves whirled around the couple. Men approached from even where the gates once stood.
Immediately, one by one, all the hanging lanterns lit up. It not only revealed a whole courtyard of ribbons and lanterns–there were already hundreds of armored soldiers, with spears in hand. It was a trap.
“And…Gōng Nu.” From across the couple, an older man stood at the top of the white stairs, with the tail of his grand robe afloat. “We welcome your attendance, Moon God. But I do not appreciate you taking my daughter-in-law, Sun Goddess, without my son’s permi–”
“I will never marry Prince Zhi Ping!”
Brandishing a sword, the young woman stood by Drong Li’s side. Her eyes burned fervently like sun and fire mixed altogether. Around her neck, a silver crescent necklace hung neatly, twinkling in the moonlight.
“Because my heart…” The young woman continued. “...belongs to another.”
Soon, her bun unraveled itself–unveiling a waterfall of gold hair. Flames traced her all-red robe. Mist glazed her irises as red maple leaves fluttered from overhead.
“Gōng Nu.” Drong Li glanced over at her. His wintry eyes softened. “Go.”
“I won’t go without you.” Meeting his gaze, Gōng Nu mustered a rueful smile. A warm tear slipped down her cheek. “If we must, we will die here together.”
Drong Li smiled back.
“You fools!” The Emperor yelled. With a flick of his broad sleeve, he unleashed the might of his soldiers. “Capture Gōng Nu alive!” He then smiled at the maids, who followed with a lavish robe and jewelries. “The groom is waiting for his bride, after all!”
Right away, the soldiers screamed out a battle cry, flying over to start the fray. Night-blue and sunset-red danced together in rhythmic blades. Red painted the torsos of those nearby. Icy winds sliced through the crowd, wiping out rows of soldiers. The couple’s teamwork was strong enough to push back some with their spears and sweat.
“Marry me, Gōng Nu!”
Gōng Nu’s brows raised. Soon, her sword was knocked down and kicked away by a soldier. Her eyes widened. Soldiers approached her but froze in their tracks. From the crowd, a young man, dressed in red, emerged. His eyes shone with eagerness.
“Surprised to see me?” He asked, walking toward her. “You should not be, my wife.”
“She’s not your wife, Prince Zhi Ping!” Drong Li snapped, standing in front of his lover. His sword was, however, pointed downward. “Just let us go, and stop this.”
“No, you…” With a heated face, the prince’s pace did not falter. Instead, he shook his index finger at his rival and sped up. “You should stop this! If it wasn’t for you, Gōng Nu would not be suffering like she is now!”
He raised his other arm, revealing a sinister glint—
“What is the groom doing here?!” asked the Emperor, from the top of the stairs. He turned to the nearby soldiers. “Take him away!”
Suddenly, the floor trembled–followed by screams. Soldiers scrambled over to the bottom of the white stairs, crowding the area. Clouds of dust gathered before settling down. Curious, the Emperor rushed down the steps. Then, before him laid the prince, with scarlet rivers running down his groom attire.
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“PRINCE ZHI PING!” cried one of the maids. “My Gods! That man sent him across the courtyard!”
“Drong Li!” The Emperor followed Gong Nu’s shout and saw her holding up the bastard. “What’s wrong?”
“Run!” Blood spilled to the floor, staining the perfection of the Jade Lotus Palace. Drong Li managed a bittersweet smile toward Gōng Nu. “Hurry! We have to make the jump!”
At once, the Emperor snapped out of his daze. But his blood boiled with immense hatred.
“THEY’RE FLEEING TOWARD THE POOL OF THE MORTAL REALM!” The Emperor yelled out with all his strength. “KILL THEM! KILL THEM!”
Soon, the man felt a sharp tug on his sleeve. He looked down while all his soldiers sped toward the fleeing culprits.
“Father, no!” With red-rimmed eyes, his son croaked out, “Please, don’t kill them. It was I who raised my sword first… It was me who put Eighteen-Hells poison on…”
The Emperor’s eyes widened.
***
In a flash, the Emperor left his son to the servants. He flew and landed behind the army. Rage still stormed inside his heart. Thus, the celestial Immortal stayed quiet to observe.
Indeed, the world had gone into madness. All this for love.
Drong Li leaned against Gōng Nu, the young woman who stole the heart of Prince Zhi Ping. It was not her fault, of course. But she was perfect.
She had powers that were unimaginable and too good to not benefit the Heavenly Realm if in the reigns of the royal family. Tears trickled down Gōng Nu’s cheeks. How the stars paled in comparison to the gold spiritual aura that pulsated from her. Not even the realm’s Milky Way bridge could outshine her beauty.
“Hold me…” Gōng Nu whispered, pointing the sword toward their enemies. “Drong Li, hold me tight. Please, don’t let me go…”
As if hearing her, the young man did as they backed toward the swirling pool of light.
Another warm teardrop came down Gōng Nu’s chin. A breeze caressed her cheek as she glanced down at her beloved. Within the next breath, her eyes grew red.
“Now!” shouted the soldiers. “Let’s rush her!”
When the men torpedoed their way forward, Gōng Nu’s figure grew incredibly bright like the sun. A gust of red maple leaves floated around her and Drong Li, swirling faster and faster. Then, she released a shockwave of fire that struck many soldiers down. Whether it was from the ferocious burns or leaf darts, they keeled over and spat out blood. Gōng Nu turned, feeling the weight shifted from her. Her heart dropped.
A surviving soldier already grabbed the unconscious Drong Li. His sword’s sharp edge pressed against the young man’s throat. Even as the soldier trembled, his face dripped with blood scars, sweat, and determination.
“Let him go!” Gōng Nu cried out—striking fire into the soldier’s chest.
His limp arm gave way, dropping Drong Li into the Pool of the Mortal Realm.
An excruciating pain struck Gōng Nu. She looked back over her shoulder, only to find that a hand had seized her long hair. More soldiers sped toward her. Among them, one carried a pair of jade handcuffs, gleaning brighter than the night itself.
More men gathered in between the exhausted Gōng Nu and the brilliant, glowing pool. Hence, they blocked the entirety of her escape. Her love. Her life.
“Drong Li…” Gōng Nu whispered. She was being led away by one wrist, nearly stumbling. Closer and closer to the restraints, awaiting her doom. “I’m sorry…”
‘Hopefully, in the next life, we will meet again.’ she thought.
While her consciousness gradually slipped away, Gōng Nu smiled one last time. The young woman flipped her free hand over and completed a hand seal. Blood dripped from the corner of her lips.
“NO! SHE’S GONNA–” Before the soldier could finish, a red leaf spun right into his throat. He crumpled to the ground.
Another shockwave of fire washed across the field. Men immediately dropped to the ground, with many groaning weakly. The jade handcuffs were shattered beyond recognition. Despite this, Gōng Nu stepped on them. Still, blood continued to drip from her.
She glanced toward where Drong Li was last seen—and, immediately, a sword–of immaculate beauty and icy blue hue–flashed into her right hand. Everyone was so busy, clamoring for her, they had foolishly forgotten the weapon that she had carried on Drong Li’s behalf.
The Emperor quickly flew over, with a hand stretched outward. His pupils contracted. No, she can’t!
Another hundred soldiers remained and, as soon as they realized what was happening, they too rushed over with incredible speed.
Gōng Nu held the icy sword of Drong Li—against her warm throat. She closed her eyes, and the Three Realms fell silent. It was a cold, swift cut against her soft flesh, reminding Gōng Nu of when she first encountered the light of her life. Long ago, she once snuck into the Mortal Realm, got lost in the woods, and followed a firefly. This firefly led her across a tranquil mountain spring, which became the Milky Way bridge. There, Drong Li waited to escort her back home. His back was cool but, when he turned to glance at the lost fairy, his eyes were soft like melting winter.
As Gōng Nu spun around, an ethereal light radiated from her long, golden hair and herself. Red bloomed everywhere.
“GONG NU!” The Emperor yelled out.
Gōng Nu’s crescent necklace dropped into a carpet of red maple leaves. Never again did the sun shine as romantically, and the moon never so much kissed the sun as it once did.