The sizzling sound of fire tingled through the wind like bees, instead of buzzing. The wood crackled, snapped and popped as the pyre was lit a flame.
Xing stood there, despondent, and unsure what his next steps were. The last few weeks had been hard on him, as hard as Yun Yan’s death.
The deaths he’d witnessed within the last few weeks played on his mind like a nail, burrowing into wood, going deeper and deeper into his subconscious with each passing day. It was a reminder of how much a failure he was.
A failure at saving people.
As the smoke trailed into the sky, so did Xing’s gaze. He stared into the sky for a moment, looking at the clouds drifting in the distance and brought his eyes back down, which caught Susu holding the baby in her arms.
The conical hat she wore, with a black veil swaying in the wind. The veil was long enough to cover the baby, who giggled and pulled it as if it were a toy.
Can I do it? Xing asked himself, eyeing the child. Can I protect her? I couldn’t save your parents, my master, Elder Zixin nor my love Yun Yan…
Xing clenched his fist, resigning himself to push those thoughts from his mind. He looked to the right, noticing Bo Ying eyeing the burning corpse of their master, something Xing had trouble doing. He didn’t even watch the flames ignite, as his heart simply couldn’t take it.
The chief of the Red Flower Society stood at the head of the pyre. He wore a crimson robe with golden embroidered edgings that made him seem regal. His wrinkles weren’t as defined as his master’s, which made his face seem stern.
He stood there chanting a sutra, praying to the gods above, hoping they’d accept Chaoxiang into the heavens. Xing knew he’d been accepted because his master was just that great. He did so many great things...of course, the heavens would want him...he deserves to be reincarnated!
“Brother Chaoxiang was a brave man, a just man,” The chieftain said, finishing his chant. “No one could fill his shoes, nor no one dared to. He took four children in, none related to him…but treated them as his own. If this isn’t a testament to the heavens above…then I don’t know what is.
The Chieftain turned to three of them, wind swaying his robes as he cupped his hands at all three of them. He gave a gentle bow, then nodded gently. “Ban Susu,” He said firmly. “You found him and gave him a reason to be better. He always claimed to be weak in skill. However, if you were to ask me.. He was strong in heart, which proves his sincerity and righteousness. Now, look at you, a full woman with a daughter in hand and a hero within the Jianghu.”
He turned to Xing, eyes stern, but lips smiling gently. “Zhao Xing, the orphan from the streets of Kunming. Chaoxiang told me how you tried to snatch a pouch from him. Only to follow him wherever he went because he showed you compassion. The compassion that made you who you are today.”
The flames swayed from a gust of wind, following the Red Flower Society chief as he then turned Bo Ying. “Bo Ying,” He said, “You were the grandson of his friend. He took you in, treating you as his own. Your grandfather would be proud to see you right now. Master Chaoxiang, never wanted to replace your grandfather, but he hoped you could see him as an uncle at least.”
At that moment, Xing, Susu and Ying felt as if the words spoken to them were his last…meant to touch their souls.
…and it did.
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The subtle whistle of the wind was like ice melting after a kiss from fire. The rustling grass that swished around them, provided a tranquil ambience Xing needed, once that absorbed his tears like the sun did his skin.
Xing, Ying and Susu stood there, watching as the flames burnt from the evening sky away, till the sky was filled with stars. Xing’s final goodbye wasn’t the best, in his heart. He tried leaving, but the mental weight of his words felt like an anvil on his back, not allowing him to move as freely as he would like to be.
“Those were your master’s last words to you all. I truly am sorry for your lost Feng Chaoxiang’s disciples.”
The Chieftain approached Xing, leaving a faint lavender scent in his nose. The grass parted each step he made before he tapped Ying on the shoulder with a firm grip. He tapped him lightly, then strutted his way to his palanquin, which was only a few meters off.
As the palanquin disappeared in the distance, Xing kept his eyes on the flame as the wood eventually became charcoal. Once it became charcoal, the flames slowly turned to embers, and when the flames turned to the ember so did the weight of the air within the prairie.
The weight of the air wasn’t from ice but from anger, frustration and an unbending will that Xing sadly was all too familiar with.
“I’m leaving,” Susu whispered.
“To go where Su’er? We just buried the Master!” Ying scoffed, “At least wait till the embers die out!”
“Embers?” Susu said calmly, turning to her right, facing him. She pulled up her veil, ensuring Ying could see her eyes, which were bloodshot red, which made Xing’s stomach churn from the sight.
He always hated to see her cry, but this was one time he couldn’t cheer her up, as he needed that little nudge as well.
“As long as I live Brother Ying, the embers of Master’s life will be with me, whether I stay here or leave. I have no plans to stay.”
“You know that’s not what I mean!” He growled, frustrated. “I know you haven’t slept in days, sit and rest, it’s been a while since we spoke freely.”
“I am not in the mood to speak Brother Ying. Please, leave me be. I feel as though the last few weeks have been harder for me than anything.”
Bo Ying chuckled a maniacal laugh, grabbing his face in frustration, and startling Xing. His eyes were ogled as if he were mad, but that was a frustrating laugh if Xing knew Ying. “Hard?” Bo Ying snarled. “A few weeks? Let me tell you. I watched the master shiver each night, trying my best to help relieve the pain he sustained. Yet, the two of you appeared from nowhere and BURNT ALL MY WORK TO EMBERS!”
“We didn’t want to fight the Master, Ying’er, but he left us no choice,” Xing said softly.
“That’s a crock of shit, and you know it, Zhao Xing. You wanted to fight the master to see how powerful you were!”
“Are you trying to taunt me Ying’er?” Xing asked, turning to him.
Xing swirled the Qi within Core Dantian, feeling as it flowed into his meridians. He eyed Ying with venom in his eyes and clenched his fist.
“STOP IT THE BOTH OF YOU!” Susu snapped. “THE MASTER HASN’T EVEN CARESSED THE WIND FOR FIVE SECONDS AND YOU FOOLS ARE THROWING TANTRUMS LIKE CHILDREN!”
“I don’t care.” Ying snarled. “The Master just died, yet the both of you act as though the world revolves around you!”
The weight of the air, once again, got heavier, stifling Xing’s ability to breathe. He release the swirl and shook his head. This isn’t worth it, He thought, getting angry now won’t solve anything.
Xing tried taking a deep breath but his chest got tighter when he inhaled a deep breath. He closed his eyes, then opened them back only to see two Ying and Susu standing in front of him.
He swirled his Qi again, trying to regulate his breathing, and feeling his meridians surge with power. I'm so tired...so so tired.
“TELL YOU? IF YOU DIDN’T ARRIVE WITH THAT!” Ying growled, but Xing was not having it.
“Arrived with what Brother Ying, a broken back? a stumped foot? What is it you’re trying to say?” He added coldly.
Xing forced the deliriousness from his eyes and walked up to Ying, fist balled up. He looked down at Ying, then stared into his brown eyes, piercing them like a nail. “What is it you want to say, Brother Ying?”
Ying stared back at Xing with a furnace burning in his eyes, boiling with anger. “The master sent for you months ago, but you wanted to drink in Anqing. The master had been ailing for weeks!”
“If you knew he was ailing, why didn’t you let us know. The Golden Bowl Sect would’ve delivered your message the VERY same way he delivered the MASTER’S MESSAGE!” Susu hissed
Xing turned to Susu, silencing her with a glance.
“Because…the master didn’t want either OF YOU to know he was ailing, you know how he treats you two.” Ying snapped.
“Treats us?” Susu snapped, “You were the one he brought to the Red Flower Society! If there was anyone who got special treatment IT WAS YOU!”