Fluffy Demon Shark

Make Fairy Tail a small guild that builds members and reputation as they turn enemies into allies that join the guild (they were a niche interest of Lucy’s but mostly unknown to them wider ). People who join: 

Gajeel and Juvia - Phantom Lord Arc

Midnight and Cobra - Oracion Seis Arc

Rogue and Sting - Grand Magic Games Arc

There is no other universe, Lisanna is dead and Mystogan has a whole other deal. 

Makarov dies on Tenrou Island.

Wendy stays in Cait Shelter as the only living member. 

12 Zodiacs used to be wizards and somehow became celestial spirits. 

Loke arc happens AFTER Battle of Fairy Tail. There is a fight between Loke and Bickslow where Bickslow tries to use his 8 figure eyes only for him to have limited control over Loke because of his connection to the celestial world (a cheat code Loke wasn’t sure would actually work since he was banished and was worried that Bickslow would accidentally kill him from making him over use his magic). Only after Bickslow figures out what Loke is does Loke use his Leo magic to defeat Bickslow. 

Levy unwrites Fried’s magic in the Battle of Fairy Tail arc, Gajeel acts as her muscle while she does this. 

Natsu is the exception to the Dragon Slayer rule. All the others were trained to or have killed dragons. Dragons are still around and are endangered so they’re all in hiding. 

Gajeel - trained 

Laxus - killed a dragon

Cobra - killed a dragon

Rogue - trained 

Sting - trained

Natsu and Zeref aren’t brothers and Natsu isn’t a demon. 

Fairy Tail Teams in Order of Founding and Mission Preferences: 

??? - Macao and Wakabe

Monster Slaying, 

Thunder Legion - Laxus, Bickslow, Evergreen, and Freed

Dragon slaying, Dark Guild Eradication, Monster slaying, Ghost hunting, 

Strauss Siblings - Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna (deceased)

Monster Slaying, Demon Slaying, 

Celestial Dragon - Natsu and Lucy 

Monster Slaying, Dark Guild Eradication, Fighting missions in general, etc (if Lucy’s rent is coming up then whatever will help her cover her bills)

Shadow Gear - Levy, Gajeel, and Juvia

Investigation, Missing Persons, Deciphering 

Drunken Scale - Cana, Rogue, and Sting

Missing Persons, Fortune Telling, Search and Rescue, 

??? - Erik and Macbeth

Dark Guild Eradication, Search and Rescue, Natural Disaster Aid, 

To be a Wizard you HAVE to be in a Wizard guild and if you are found using magic (not counting magical objects) without being a member of a guild you get one warning and if you are caught again then a bounty will be placed on your head. Guilds were put in place to keep Wizards in check and to make sure there is someone accountable when Wizards step out of line. The Magic Council, a collection of wizards chosen by the monarch as well as a large working group of non-wizards (paperwork reasons), regulates Guild Halls and Guild Masters meaning they have 4 duties; 

If a Guild/Guild Master is found taking on illegal mission they have to deal with it

If a Guild Master is not doing their job and their Guild’s Wizards are causing problems then they step in to deal with it

The handling of interguild relations like guild wars, smaller conflicts, and the transferring of guild members. 

The hosting of interguild events like the Grand Magic Games and the hiring of new Guild Masters (who need strength, integrity, and intelligence).

Season 1 Timeline

Hargeon Port:

Baccus pretends to be some famous fire wizard named Salamander and thanks to his charm magic he is able to attract a lot of girls. Lucy gets caught but is saved by Natsu by accident. 

Everlue’s Mansion: 

Levy joins Natsu and Lucy on a mission to burn a book. They break into a mansion, fight some maids and mercenaries, and defeat the manor’s owner. 

Instead of burning the book they bring it to the man who requested the mission and reveal it was a letter from his father. 

Eizenwald: 

Erza learns about the dark guild Eizenwald unsealing something called Lullaby and has Gray, Natsu, and Lucy join her to stop whatever their plans are. 

Erza is arrested for property damage, she runs into Siegreen. It was a scapegoat situation. Lucy learns about Mystogan from Mirajane when she hears that Team Natsu fought a demon flute and Mirajane talks about how Mystogan usually snatches up their demon missions. 

Mystogan arrives to grab another mission, putting the guild to sleep. He talks to Mirajane about the lullaby mission. 

Galuna Island: 

Natsu steals the Galuna mission to shove it in Laxus’s face that he can do S-class missions, he bribes Lucy into joining him because a golden key is part of the reward. Laxus catches them but doesn’t stop them (he makes direct eye contact, smirks at them, then walks away). 

Gray is sent after them, only to join them. Then Erza goes to drag them back but they convince her to at least help them finish the mission first. 

Phantom Lord: 

Gajeel destroys the guild hall. Not getting the response they wanted, Gajeel crucifies Levy. The Thunder Legion return early from a mission to find the guild hall destroyed and a member seriously injured (Laxus is pissed that Makarov didn’t tell him anything and is still hesitant to do anything, the pair argue about what to do about it as Makarov knows they’re a small guild and Phantom Lord is MASSIVE meanwhile Laxus knows that if they don’t do anything it will only continue to get worse). 

Laxus leads a revenge attack against the Phantom Lord Guild. Fried locks everyone in the guild hall with them and the Thunder Legion wreck house (Jose, Gajeel, and the Element Four aren’t there). During the attack, Juvia and Mr Soul kidnaps Lucy during the attack. Everyone else goes to look for her and Aria ambushes Makarov. The Thunder Legion go on to attack EVERY SINGLE SIDE BRANCH OF THE PHANTOM LORD GUILD AND WIPE THEM OUT. 

Everyone knows who the Thunder Legion is because of this and think the Thunder Legion is the guild name. 

Makarov is taken to Porlyusica. Phantom Lord attacks again with its moving guild hall, firing a cannon at Fairy Tail that Erza defends against, breaking her Adamantium armor. 

Fights: 

Natsu vs Tokomaru

Elfman vs Sol

Gray vs Juvia 

Lucy vs Aria 

Aquarius fights seriously for the first time and is really there to protect Lucy

Erza vs Gajeel

Makarov vs Jose

Lucy confronts her father as equals and tells him to shove it. As she leaves, Natsu arrives trying to convince her not to leave Fairy Tail, only to learn she was just confronting her father. 

Lucy and Natsu officially form a team; Celestial Dragon

Tower of Heaven: 

While rebuilding the guild hall, Laxus has an argument with Makarov about how Fairy Tail should be one of the top performing guilds but is being held back by Makarov. He brings up how former members left and started their own guilds that are now in the top 10 guilds and that Fairy Tail should be above them. 

Battle of Fairy Tail fights: (S-class wizards MIA)

Have a greater emphasise on the tension between Natsu and Laxus over Laxus killing dragons

Natsu has complicated feelings about Laxus and he hates it. He likes things simple but Laxus’s relationship with Makarov and the guild isn’t simple, Laxus is family that Natsu knows in his bones would die for the guild but Laxus is also a smarmy asshole who disregards Natsu at every opportunity, Laxus will mock Natsu for not being S-class while also turning a blind eye to Natsu forcing himself on an S-class mission and as a result silently condoning it. Laxus is family but he also kills dragons which are also Natsu’s family. 

Loke and Cana vs Bickslow

Gajeel and Levy vs Fried Justine

Gray and Lucy vs Evergreen

Natsu and Juvia vs Laxus (only to hold him off until the S-class wizards arrive)

Juvia uses her water body to turn Laxus’s magic against him

Mystogan and Erza vs Laxus

Elfman was turned to stone as an example to the others. 

At the start of this, Laxus calls out EVERY MEMBER IN THE GUILD BY NAME AND TELLS THEM WHAT HIS PROBLEM WITH THEM BEING IN THE GUILD IS. Elfman goes to fight him because obviously which is when Evergreen turns him into stone. Laxus then says “I’m going to trim the fat”. On the door are the rules of the tournament. Makarov can’t leave the guild hall. 

Mystogan, Mirajane, and Erza do vouch for Laxus not to get excommunicated since he was trying to help the guild but went about it in the wrong way, especially since Laxus wasn’t entirely incorrect in what he said about how lax they were about following the rules, standing up for themselves, slacking on training (they’d fallen behind a lot of the other guilds), and establishing themselves (Natsu was actually the first to vouch for him since he’s family and he did it without question because he puts family above any and all grudges). They instead convince him to have a different form of punishment. Gajeel even brings up that he did worse than Laxus but was welcomed into the guild. 

Season 2 Timeline

A Star Removed from the Sky Arc: 

Loke is showing up less and less in the guild hall. Everyone has their own theories from he’s uncomfortable with Laxus, he is embarrassed, or his rings broke and he’s just not around because he needs to get them replaced. 

Loke becomes resigned around Lucy which sets her off. The pair have a heart to heart where Loke does confess that he’s uncomfortable around Celestial Wizards because of their willingness to use living creatures as ponds and puppets. Lucy tries to get more answers but Loke is just being more and more cryptic. Eventually Lucy asks why aren’t you coming to the guild hall anymore, Loke tells her it's because he’ll be dead tomorrow. 

Loke is revealed to be a celestial spirit and is dying. Lucy intervenes and gets him back into the sky. 

Knock off Cake Island Arc: 

The arranged marriage between Lucy and Duke Sawarr; the Junelle heir, comes rears it head to cause problems. Mirajane helps Lucy, making it the first mission she has taken in years. 

Lucy steals Virgo’s key from her would-be husband. 

Raven Tail: 

Laxus gets beat up by members of Raven Tail, his father’s dark guild. Afterwards he leaves to train. 

4

Macao and Wakaba take Romeo out for his first ever mission. It's a small job to clear out some rodent-like monsters. 

Sun Village Arc: 

Cana and Gildarts go on a mission together where Cana confronts Gildarts about being her Dad. 

Atlas Flame dies. 

Training Arc: 

Everyone splits up to train: 

Lucy and Natsu

Erza and Mystogan

Gray, Gildarts, and Cana

Gajeel, Juvia, and Levy

Mirajane and Elfman

Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen

Macao, Wakaba, and Romeo

Laxus returns from his own training at the end of the arc, reuniting with the rest of the Thunder Legion. 

The Grand Magic Games participants are announced. 

Grand Magic Games: 

Laxus beats up all 6 members of Raven Tail at once. Catharsis at last. 

Oracion Seis:

Fairy Tail sends Shadow Gear, Mystogan, and Lucy. 

Lucy literally sucker punches Angel to steal her keys. It doesn’t work and a fight breaks out but she tries.  

Mystogan meets Jellal again and his face is revealed. 

Ghost Arc: 

Erik and Macbeth join Fairy Tail officially and join the Thunder Legion on a ghost hunting mission. They find the ghost and learn that it remains on this earth to gather strength and get revenge against the person who killed him. To get stronger he has been stealing and devouring the souls of the living. 

Key of the Starry Sky Arc: 

They want to use Mystogan to power their flying time machine knowing he is one of Zeref’s demons (though this isn’t revealed yet).

Tenrou Island: 

Mystogan attacks Zeref and it is revealed he is one of Zeref’s demons. 

Makarov dies. 

Season 3 Timeline

Grimoire Heart Arc

Still destabilized and without a clear leader, they fight the strongest of the cults of Zeref; Grimoire Heart, and Erza’s honor is put to the test. 

Rogue and Sting team up with Cana for the first time and form the Drunken Scale team. 

Macao is made the new guild leader. 

2

a

Avatar Arc: 

Macbeth and Erik go on a mission to deal with a rising evil organization that plots to fill the power vacuum left by the fall of the Oracion Seis and Grimoire Heart. 

On this mission they run into former Oracion Seis members who joined up with Jellal on a path of redemption. 

Reunited Arc: 

Natsu reunites with Igneel only for Igneel to die protecting Natsu + others from Acnologia. 

Acnologia, who only attacked the wizards because he knew that Igneel would be distracted protecting them, leaves without acknowledging the humans. 

Tartaros Arc: 

Because Mystogan attacked Zeref and tried to kill him, the Tartaros guild attacks Fairy Tail.

God Serena Arc: 

God Serena is revealed to be a spy for Zeref

Invasion Arc: 

Zeref invades Ishgal with plans to destroy himself and the world, leaving nothing behind. 

Season 4 Timeline

Mercphobia and the White Mage

Shadowgear investigates Fairy Tail’s newest member; Touka, while Natsu and Lucy take a mission to seal away Mercphobia before he drowns the continent. Only it turns out that Touka, the White Mage, had used white magic to gain control over Mercphobia so Natsu and Lucy work to free him from her spell, getting help from Ignia half way through.

Mercphobia has his powers sealed away and he joins Fairy Tail to learn to control his powers, knowing full well there would be a day that the seal would no longer hold. Touka escapes but she no longer has control of any of the Fairy Tail wizards. 

War with the Dragon Eaters: 

Fairy Tail goes to war against a guild of Dragon Slayers that eat dragons. This war is started by the enemy guild in revenge for Fairy Tail interfering with their plot to eat Mercphobia. 

Mystogan and Mercphobia bond over being non-humans in a human guild. 

The Dragon Cities Arc:  

The Thunder Legion go to face the largest dragon in the world; Aldoron, and end up learning that the dragon has 5 cities on his back. It's on Aldoron when the Thunder Legion have a run-in with Touka’s guild; Rebellious. They learn they are a cult that believes no one can have too much magic. 

Moon

Selene’s manipulation is revealed

Gold

Vernias

Fire

Ignia

Dragon King Festival Arc

Acnologia

I know I have a lot of the arcs missing right now for these 'seasons'. Just know I am trying to come up with something. So if I post anything more about this it will probably be character stuff. Like these:

No, because almost immediately after leaving the accursed mountain, they ran into one of the Wen's hunting parties. This hunting party was being led by a little shit about Shen Xing’s age who picked a fight he couldn’t win and got beaten by Shen Xing. Did he feel bad about his one-sided beat down? No. Would he do it again? Not if he knew that it would mean they would be chased around the region by more Wen hunting parties so their little shit of an heir can have a rematch against a burn victim. When it first happened, they captured one of them to interrogate and learned that orders came from the top. Specifically that little shit’s father; Wen Ruohan, who wanted them brought back to the sect alive. What made it worse, the man was even dumb enough to brag about the man especially wanting Wei Ying for some reason. After all, Shen Xing was the culprit so why was Wei Ying so important? It didn’t make sense unless that man of all people remembered and if he remembered then the Sunshot Campaign was going to be at a major disadvantage. Even if they were trying to run away, they couldn’t exactly let a man like that continue to rule over the cultivation world in that country.

Another problem for another day he supposed. Their current one however, is that their fleeing from the Wen forced the three of them to flee north, trekking through two storms and out of the country in the process effectively ruining their clothes and what little supplies they had. At least the supplies that weren’t Song Qingshi’s carefully protected medical supplies. Thus why they were entering another village in hopes of stealing what they needed. Wei Ying had been sent to get clothes and Song Qingshi to get food, Shen Xing unable to help as he had been forced to rest by his doctor under threat of paralysation if he didn't comply. While he normally would have had a fit, Shen Xing found himself too exhausted to argue. The past two weeks had done a number on his recovery and he found himself wracked with pain all the time. To make it worse he’d been unable to sleep properly since waking up with his memories and it was starting to take its toll. 

Every night had been plagued with nightmares that left him waking up in a cold sweat. Forced to remember painful hands touching where they shouldn’t. Grabbing at him. Holding him down. Remembering them now, Shen Xing found himself curling in even tighter, sending shocks of pain through him in the process. “Are you alright?” Shen Xing snapped his head up and locked his one good eye on a boy a little younger than him. He had pale blue eyes, raven black hair, and an adorable face. His blue robes were simple and clean, but also cheap. Shen Xing turned away, attempting to ignore him, only for the boy to move closer. The action caused Shen Xing to stiffen, forced to ignore worsening pain in favor of getting to his feet and preparing to beat the child. The boy, who couldn’t have been older than 8, raised his hands, “I don’t mean any harm.” 

“I sure hope not, Shen Qiao.” Shen Xing looked behind the boy to find Song Qingshi, needles already in his hand. The boy, who Song Qingshi apparently recognized, turned around to face the doctor as he continued, “It would be a shame to end a legend before he has the chance to grow up.” Shen Qiao’s eyes widened ever so slightly, “You remember,” Song Qingshi stared at the younger boy as he bluntly said, “So do you. Which gives you all the more reason to step away from my patient.” Shen Qiao slowly did as he was told, instead approaching Song Qingshi at the edge of the alleyway, "It's unlike you to take patients without some kind of benefit.” Song Qingshi gave a small laugh, “Of course there’s a benefit. I get to see whether or not the medical knowledge within the memories are accurate or if they’re made up by some third party.” Shen Xing bristled a bit at the thought of being used as an experiment. Though some part of him was eased. He finally had an answer to WHY Song Qingshi was helping him. 

“What about you? You’re rather far from that sect of yours. Unless you intend to join your lover’s sect instead?” Song Qingshi asked, his eyes never leaving Shen Qiao. His voice wasn’t accusatory, more questioning than anything. Whatever tension between the two cultivators had already drained from the air as the distance between Shen Qiao and Shen Xing increased. Shen Qiao smiled softly, “I’m afraid I didn’t join my sect until I was a bit older. Currently, I am but another orphan.” Shen Xing looked at the boy in blue over again. He must have been living in some local orphanage then because he was no street rat. Shen Qiao’s blue eyes looked back to Shen Xing briefly before refocusing on Song Qingshi, “What about you? You’re much further from your sect than I am.” 

“On a journey of self discovery and research currently. I took this same trip in both of my previous lives and I saw no reason to cut this one short. You’re more than free to join me if you want.” Shen Xing balked at Song Qingshi as Shen Qiao answered, “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt”. The burned boy never expected that his doctor would be the reason their group grew once again, at least not with someone who wasn’t another one of his patients. As he reflected on their journey so far however, Shen Xing realized that he should have seen this coming. 

—-----------------------------------------

The monk was taking a path he hadn’t in either of his lives. One that took him high into the mountains where the chill nipped at his nose. Xuanmin wasn’t sure what to make of these memories. They seemed so far-fetched. Especially that of a dragon becoming his lover and a ghostly traveling companion. As he pondered over them, trying to figure out who would benefit from giving him such strange memories. However, the monk was snapped out of these thoughts by a giant bird crashing on the road in front of him. It was a magnificent phoenix, its bright feathers nearly blinding the boy as he was forced to cover his own eyes. 

The bird looked over Xuanmin, as if examining his very soul before it seemed to have decided that he passed some test. The monk watched in confusion as the giant phoenix unfurled its wing, blocking out Xuanmin’s view of the sky, to reveal a small 4-year old boy. Carefully the giant bird plucked the boy from his feathers and held him out to the monk. Xuanmin silently held out his arms and the phoenix placed the small child in them. The phoenix looked over the pair a final time before taking flight once again. His wings nearly knocked Xuanmin off his feet from the strong winds they created. The monk could only stand there for a moment, watching as the giant phoenix flew away. He struggled to grasp what just happened as he slowly turned to the small boy in his arms. He had fluffy brown hair and was clearly asleep, though that didn’t stop the child from clinging to his robes. 

Pink, Red, and White

Blue, Silver, and White

Blue, Green, and Silver

Pink, Red, and White - A monochromatic palette with heavy romantic symbolism. Down Side: This is Valentines Day.

White and Silver - This is the canonical color palette for several characters including Song Qingshi and Chu Wannning. The white is rather common and the silver brings in Hua Cheng's butterflies. Down Side: This is rather simple as a palette and makes it different to tell what is embroidered in the clothes.

Pink and Yellow - A soft palette reminiscent of sunsets. It has a lot of associations with friendship, kindness, optimism, and happiness. Down Side: Yellow wasn't in the top 5.

Pink, Purple, and Yellow - A sunset palette that is rather vibrant. It is association with kindness, empathy, creativity, imagination, optimism, etc. Down Side: Purple and yellow weren't in the top 5.

Blue and Pink - Blue and pink are a soft color palette with associations to optimism, peace, calm, and empathy. Down Side: Gender Reveal Party.

Blue, Silver, and White - A wintery palette that I have a bias for. It has associations with elegance, innocence, peace, calm. Thanks to the blue people are more likely to trust them and the silver is a silent threat to ghosts thanks to the reference to Hua Cheng's silver butterflies. Down Side: This is the color palette of one Jack Frost. But is that really a down side?

Pink, Silver, and White - A soft regal palette that represents elegance, purity, empathy, and kindness. Down Side: Reminds me of princess Barbie. Not sure if that counts as a down side but it is what it is.

Pink, Blue, and Silver - A soft colorful palette that represents peace, calm, elegance, kindness, and empathy. Down Side: Couldn't think of one. Not even a not really one.

Pink, Green, and Silver - A spring palette reminiscent of frost on flowers. It has associations with nature, life, elegance, empathy, and kindness. Down Side: This is the Wicked color scheme.

Pink, Blue, and White - A soft palette that represents innocence, empathy, kindness, peace, and reliability. Down Side: Not really a down side but these are the trans flag colors.

Pink, Green, and White - A spring palette that represents innocence, purity, growth, calm, kindness, and empathy. Down Side: Not really a down side but reminds me of Flora from Winx.

Blue and Silver - suggested by a commentor - Silver connects back to Hua Cheng's butterflies as a subtle warning not to fuck with his kids while also make the kids Xie Lian's little butterflies. Blue is both practical as it actually helps people blend into shadows better than black, and is a rather calming and peaceful color. This color combo is rather nice to look at, especially with darker blues as it is similar to a night sky. Downside: This is the same color palette as Sisheng Peak Sect.

Blue, Green, and Silver - This color combo is another rather beautiful one which peaceful and calm associations which Xie Lian and Hua Cheng would want for the kids. The silver also connects to Hua Cheng's butterflies as a subtle threat while also making the kids Xie Lian's little butterflies. These colors take a little something from most of the character's color palettes as well. Down Side: This is peacock reminiscent and green wasn't in the top 5

White and Gold - White and gold are both colors associated with Xie Lian on reddit and are rather elegant. White is also the most common color between all the palettes and with it being a major color most palettes wouldn't really be changed. Meanwhile gold brings in an association with nobility (brought by Xie Lian) and financial prosperity (brought by Hua Cheng). Down Side: This is an inverted version of the Jin Clan Sect colors and gold gives a VERY specific feel, at least to me, when it comes to characters.

Red and Gold - This palette is very attention grabbing with heavy association with luck and love. Red is worn by both Xie Lian (as a prince) and Hua Cheng and gold has association with nobility which Xie Lian is and financial prosperity which Hua Cheng has. Down Side: This is straight up wedding attire.

White, Red, and God - This palette is a great way to turn heads. White is a common color amongst the characters and the addition of red and gold there is an association with nobility, luck, love, and wealth. Down Side: This is just Prince Xie Lian's color palette which could be somewhat uncomfortable for certain god characters (including Xie Lian).

Red and Silver - Red is heavily associated with love and luck with silver bringing in associations with elegance, mystery, and moonlight. The silver is also bringing in world associations to Hua Cheng's butterflies as a silent threat. Down Side: This is Hua Cheng's color palette minus black.

Red and White - Red and White are Hua Cheng and Xie Lian's main colors. Together they have associations with love, luck, passion, purity, innocence, and cleanliness. Down Side: Santa Claus.

White and Red - As said above these are Hua Cheng and Xie Lian's main colors. With white as the main color however it makes the overall palette more similar to the canon palettes of Song Qingshi, Gu Mang, Chu Wanning, and Xianmin. Down Side: This is the color palette of the Wen Clan Sect.

White and Pink - This is a softer palette than the white and red which alludes to the softer love of the children. Pink brings similar meanings to red but instead of the wedding, anger, and danger association is has optimism, playfulness, empthay, and kindness. Down Side: It is technically a traditional feminine color palette.

White and Blue - Another soft palette with associations with peace, reliability, and innocence. The colors are rather calming and there have been studies shown that people trust you more if you wear blue. Down Side: This is the Gusu Lan Sect Colors.

Pink and Silver - Pink is a rather playful color, its also associated with optimism, empathy, and kindness. Meanwhile silver is elegant and mysterious and has the in-world association with Hua Cheng's deadly butterflies. Down Side: This is a softer version of Hua Cheng's palette.

Maomao has attempted to remove the slave collar but that only resulted in a backlash against her patient and her own injury. The young girl glanced down at her own hands, remembering the thorny vines that had burst from the collar and threatened to tear her to bits if she kept up with her attempt. off She never thought she would get to see magic in person and now she was wishing she never had. Maomao refocused on her patient, the collar had been docile since. Either it had a distance limit or the young master didn’t care that one of his slaves had escaped. 

“Maomao,” The young girl turned to face Luomen, the man still grinding away at the pestle, :”Don’t worry. You’ve done everything you can.” Maomao’s frown deepened. She turned back to the patient as she almost absent mindedly said, “It doesn’t feel like it.” Luomen looked towards his grand niece, “I’m afraid whatever plagues that boy is not of the mortal realm and as such our medicines will do him no good.” Maomao gave a heavy sigh before standing, “I’m going to go collect herbs.” Luomen’s eyes softened ever so slightly, “be careful.” Maomao gave him a wave goodbye as she picked up her herb basket and headed out. 

While Maomao could recognize that what Luomen said was true, she struggled to accept it. She had hoped her memories would have given her a headstart, that she would be able to help more people. Instead her first patient is someone she can’t help at all because he has a magical affliction. While she wasn’t superstitious, it felt like an omen of what was to come. Maomao rubbed the back of her neck as she rolled her head with a loud pop. The walk to Luomen’s makeshift herb garden was long and slow. Though that’s exactly why Maomao decided to go despite them not being in desperate need of more herbs. 

When she got there she was surprised to see a boy. Another teenage boy here while she was supposed to be gathering herbs. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Maomao cautiously watched the boy from afar. Could this be Murong Lian? If he was then Maomao couldn’t let him learn that Gu Mang was here. The boy was taller than Gu Mang but looked to be about the same age, though he looked well fed and his. He wasn’t dressed like a young master, instead appearing closer to a daoist. He was thin and moved with a certain grace that helped him look like a put together scholar despite his youth. His hair was more similar to the ink that Maomao would grind then anything else she had seen. Overall the teen just didn’t look real, reminding Maomao of Jinshi in his handsome beauty. As Maomao stared, the teen looked towards her, his face cold as he asked, “Who are you?” 

Maomao bowed slightly as she answered, “My name is Maomao,” She didn’t dare raise her head, she might not know who this is but his clothes were expensive and despite being completely white they were clean. He was either a young lord who decided to go on a walk and his carriage and entourage was nearby or he was a cultivator. Either way he outranked her and if he decided to attack her then there wouldn’t be anything she or anyone she currently knew could do about it. The teen kept his sharp eyes on her “Raise your head. Has anything weird happened here recently?” Maomao was slow to do so, quickly trying to figure out how she should answer. The teen was clearly here to investigate something. If he was Murong Lian though he wouldn’t have asked that, he would have questioned about an injured runaway or more blatantly about an escaped slave. Instead, he asked about weird incidents, lending to the idea that he was a cultivator of some kind. If he was then he could perhaps help her with her patient. 

Maomao stood straight, folding her arms together like she would in the rear palace, “Not an incident, no” The teen’s eyes sharpened, clearly picking up what Maomao hadn’t quite said. She then asked him, “Tell me, are you a cultivator?” The teen straightened himself slightly as he nodded, “Yes, though I do not currently belong to any sect.” A rogue then, Maomao bit the inside of her cheek. Rogues were always a 50/50 shot. Since they didn’t have a sect they didn’t follow any strict rules or have anyone they had to report to. As such, they tended to be rather varied in… personality. They were just outside the capital though, if she was lucky that would be deterrent enough to prevent him from doing anything drastic. 

Now the pair of them were sitting in some alley at the edge of a village that should have been abandoned, all because Song Qingshi insisted that Shen Xing give his leg a break so it can heal. As if that would ever fix the chunk taken out of it. The buildings around them were threatening to collapse and resentment was heavy in the air. It was clear that if there were cultivators in the area, they stayed far away from this place. Shen Xing only hoped it was because there was no money to be found and not because of some great threat in the area. 

Shen Xing supposed there was one good thing about them resting though, besides the pain. It gave him a chance to really think about the fire. That didn’t happen in either of his previous lives and he hadn’t had the chance to do anything that could have had such a domino effect. This, sadly, only really leaves him with one option; other people remember these other lives. To make matters worse, who remembered is going to greatly affect how things go from this point. Qiu Jianluo would accept that he was dead, not being one for details and likely never even checking if his body was in the wreckage. Qiu Haitang however, she would be more thorough. She would want to make sure he died. But she didn’t blame him anymore, right? She learned the truth in that one lifetime. If she had remembered then surely she would remember the truth too. But even if she did remember, would she accept that? Qiu Jianluo is careful around her, only ever presenting himself as the doting older brother. Could she really accept reality with the fantasy right in front of her? 

There was also the matter of whether these memories extended outside of that hell. Liu Qingge. Yue Qingyuan. Mu Qingfang. Qi Qingqi. The Palace Master. Any of them could remember and if they did it would complicate his current plans of hiding away. Especially that Liu Qingge if he proves to be as stubborn and empty headed as he usually was. It seems he couldn't make his mistakes even here. At the thought, an image of a boy- a beast- a man- a demon appeared front and center in Shen Xing’s mind. Vomit came up and out of Shen Xing before he could stop it. Spewing what little food he had eaten down his front. He would have to change his bandages. Song Qingshi jumped to his feet, immediately looking over Shen Xing. Trying to figure out why his patient had vomited so suddenly. As he looked him over, Shen Xing remained unresponsive. 

Song Qingshi grumbled quietly to himself, trying to figure how he could have triggered the younger boy. He had a general idea of the kind of horrors the boy faced. His responses to physical contact as well as his injuries implying he was likely an abused slave, what that abuse entailed though he wasn’t sure. He also couldn’t find out, not without overstepping boundaries at the moment anyway. It had taken so long to get even this point, a point of being able to check and change bandages without asking, he’d rather not ruin it. As he changed the ruined bandages, Song Qingshi could hear Shen Xing whisper, “I’ll kill him,” his voice iron clad. Immediately the doctor started pondering on who this ‘him’ was, though if he was being honest with himself he knew it would likely be his main abuser, the one that he just escaped from. Song Qingshi quickly finished up with the new bandages and Shen Xing refocused on the present. 

It was then that a terrified scream filled the air. Without hesitation, Shen Xing started running towards the sound, reopening his leg wounds and retaining the fresh bandages. Song Qingshi chased after his patient, already scolding him, “Don’t run! You’ll reopen your wounds and set back your recovery! If you’re especially careless you-’’ but the doctor couldn’t finish his sentence as his eyes locked on his next patient. A small boy that looked about 5 or 6, but with how malnourished he was he could be older. A street dog was tearing into his left arm, threatening to rip it from its socket as it thrashed its head. Song Qingshi was surprised when Shen Xing chucked a rock at the dog’s head, getting its attention. The dog released the young boy and started bolting at Shen Xing. Song Qingshi quickly stepped forward, using his Flames of the Underworld to set the dog ablaze and watching as it quickly turned to ash. 

Song Qingshi quickly turned to Shen Xing, checking him over to make sure the sight of fire hadn’t set him back. Thankfully, the boy looked rather calm, his focus instead on the boy with the injured arm. It would be kind and an understatement to call the boy a mess. His black hair was knotted and frizzy, caked in dirt like the rest of his small visage. Despite the filth his eyes were a shining silver, though right now they had been slightly reddened by tears. Even with the boy at the other end of the alley, Song Qingshi could tell the bite was bad, blood pooling at the boy’s feet. The boy gave a small, “Hello, my name is Wei Ying. Who are you?” his voice was a little unsteady as he was recovering from the dog attack. 

Song Qingshi could admit he was shocked that the crying had stopped. Already he started theorizing, quickly deducing that the boy wasn’t crying in pain but because he was afraid of dogs. But that left the question of whether the boy couldn’t feel pain or had a high pain tolerance. Not wanting to be rude, Song Qingshi answered, “I’m Song Qingshi, I’m a doctor and this is my patient; Shen Xing.” Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Shen Xing stiffen slightly at the boy’s name. Almost as if he recognized it. Song Qingshi tucked that away as he started approaching his new patient, “Can I look at your arm?” Wei Ying held it out without hesitation, watching as Song Qingshi started digging through his bag for medical supplies. 

As Song Qingshi disinfected and stitched up Wei Ying’s arm, Shen Xing circled the younger boy, examining him closely. His eyes clearly made Wei Ying uncomfortable but before Song Qingshi could scold Shen Xing about, Shen Xing said, “your stance, were you a cultivation disciple?” Wei Ying didn’t quite flinch, but his silver eyes did snap towards Shen Xing with a sharpness that wasn’t there before. It only lasted a moment though before Wei Ying said, “My parents taught me a few things before their deaths, but I wouldn’t really call myself a disciple.” Shen Xing narrowed his eyes, sneering “If you’re going to lie you could at least be more convincing than that, Boy. Tell me does the Yiling Patriarch ring any bells to you?” 

Song Qingshi stood there awkwardly, trying to focus on bandaging Wei Ying’s arm. He had been pretty detached from the rest of the world in both his lives. While the title Yiling Patriarch sounded familiar, he couldn’t really remember where he heard it or the context around it. But with the way that Shen Xing was acting, he could figure it was important so he now found himself cursing his past iterations for not staying up to date on the world around him. Wei Ying raised his chin slightly, “You remember,” Shen Xing continued his circling, reminding Song Qingshi of a stray cat as he said, “So do you,” Wei Ying kept his eyes locked on Shen Xing, but he didn’t forget about Song Qingshi, his attention divided slightly as he asked Shen Xing, “Who were you?” Song Qingshi looked up from the bandages, curious as Shen Xing answered, “Shen Qingqiu.” 

He’d die of infection soon. Or he could if he didn’t find a way to deal with his injuries so that should be his main focus. Sighing, the boy grabbed his makeshift walking stick, the bark rubbing harshly against his skinless hand causing him to cringe. The boy now walked with a limp, his left leg crushed and covered in 4th degree burns. He had done his best to splint it but It didn’t take a doctor to know he would never walk without a cane again. 

“Do you need help?” 

The voice came suddenly. Horror filling the boy at being found in such a vulnerable state. That his vulnerability was even noticeable in the first place. Despite himself, the boy tightened his grip on his stick, pain shooting up from his hand into his shoulder and chest. The boy couldn’t bring himself to form words as he stared at the voice’s source, a boy a little older than him with the clearest eyes he had ever seen. The boy with clear eyes looked him over before kneeling down and raising his hands so they were in clear sight of the boy with burns as he said, “My name is Song Qingshi. I am a doctor. I am trained in cultivation techniques and carry a basic medpac. While I can’t do anything about the scars, I can prevent infection and wrap your injuries.” The boy continued to stare at Song Qingshi, his mind at war with itself. He needed help. That was a man. It was a child. Like that ever mattered in this world.  

“I understand if you don’t trust me. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through,” Song Qingshi said, his voice soft in a way that the boy wasn’t familiar with. Even with the other life times. The voice soft and clear, the boy would almost call it calming. Song Qingshi must have noticed his affect as he continued, “I promise to keep touching to a minimum and I’ll tell you everything I’ll do before I do it.” The boy stared into the young doctor’s eyes, searching desperately for any deceit. But all he found was what the young doctor presented. Not quite concern or pity but an offering of aid anyways. A kind of disconnect that only comes from years of medical practice. A disconnect that Shen Yuan was familiar with when he was in and out of hospitals. The boy could only assume that was why he said, “Fine. But if you do anything suspicious, I’ll break every bone in your hands.”

Song Qingshi gave a small nod before getting to work. The boy watched as the young doctor slowly approached, his hands already reaching into his bag, “I’ll be treating your left leg first, to do so I will need to hold it. Is that acceptable?” Song Qingshi locked eyes with the boy, waiting for a response and after a moment of hesitation he gave one, “Yes,” Despite what he said, the boy couldn’t help but tense when the doctor grabbed his leg. The action caused his entire body to seemingly ignite in pain and he had to force down a groan. His breathing became labored as the physical contact continued, the boy watching as Song Qingshi carefully removed the splint to reveal his leg. It was crushed, the skin and muscle charred into colors of black and brown. If he looked close enough he could see the splintered bits of his bone stabbed into dead flesh, charred along with the rest of the leg. The smell was a pungent mix of cooked pork and sick, likely coming from the globs of pus. Looking at it, the boy couldn’t convince himself that infection hadn’t already set in. 

Despite the charred gore in his hands, Song Qingshi worked with diligence and speed as he pieced the shattered bone back together, “I’m putting the bone back together and using these rods to hold and secure them so they can repair. I will have to remove these rods at a later date which we can discuss later in your recovery.” The boy gribbed at the dirt below him, sounds like the doctor planned to stay with him for some time. Could he stand that? Stand the company of a stranger? A man? A child, a small voice corrected. Distracted, the boy didn’t notice as he was pricked with golden acupuncture needles and he lost all sensation in his leg. The young doctor took out a scalpel, immediately ending the boy’s train of thought as he zeroed in on the blade, “Now I’m going to remove the dead skin to prevent necrosis.” 

The boy trembled as the doctor carefully cut away at the flesh. Though he couldn’t feel the pain, the slicing, he knew exactly how it SHOULD have felt. The cruel cold of the knife against hot flesh, the taunting of a man who seemed to feed on his misery. He had to run. Stay. He’s going to hurt him. He’s trying to help. Move. DON’T. The boy found himself frozen, holding his breath as he watched the doctor carefully cut away the dead. All sound muffled as red started to flow and the doctor had to use balls of gauze to staunch the bleeding. The boy knew distantly that the doctor was still talking, but he couldn’t make out any of it. By the time the doctor had applied disinfectant, the burn salve, and wrapped the leg, the boy felt like he could cry. Finally able to breathe again as the hands were removed. 

How could he be reduced to such weakness? Left cowering under a gentle hand. He’s pathetic. “I’m sorry,” the boy snapped his head towards Song Qingshi as the doctor continued, “it took longer than I thought it would. With your permission I will continue treatment.” A bitterness welled up in the boy faster than he could stop it. His face contorted almost against his will as he focused entirely on choking down the venomous words that threatened to spill from his lips. It took more force then he would like to say, “Continue,” 

The doctor gave a small nod before getting to work. The boy supposed he should be thankful the rest of his burns were easier to tend to. While Song Qingshi initially walked the boy through the steps, the salve and the wrap, he quickly decided that the boy had heard him talk about it enough and changed directions, “What is your name?” It was a simple question. A question he’s answered before. So the boy didn’t know why he couldn’t give an answer. Jiu. Yuan. He didn’t want to be a number. The man who brought nothing but misery to himself and others. Didn’t want to be what he was. But he wasn’t Yuan. At least he didn’t feel like Yuan, the sickly pampered third son who became CEO. But if he wasn’t Jiu or Yuan, then who was he? “If you don’t want to answer, that's fine. If you don’t have an answer, that’s fine too.” The boy refocused on the doctor, waiting for him to continue. Seeing that, Song Qingshi started, “You can give yourself a name. Something disconnected from what you were before.” After a moment, the boy whispered to himself, 

“Xing. Shen Xing.” 

—-----------------------------------------

Maomao always enjoyed collecting herbs. A trait from all three of her lives. It was a simple task that she could complete while dreaming of what medicines and poisons she would concoct. So one could imagine her displeasure when that peace was disturbed by an older boy tumbling through the bush. He had to be about 14 or 15. His hair was long and dark, either a brown or a black though it was hard to tell in the current light. But more importantly there was a deranged look in his eyes. Eyes that were a shade of blue that could only be described as unnatural. The boy walked on all fours, his knees bloody and covered in dirt and leaves from the forest. He grabbed at his own face, tears streaming down. 

Curious Maomao slowly turned to look at him better, the action immediately causing the boy to snap his head over and freeze. As they locked eyes, the boy cowered slightly, curling into himself in an attempt to disappear. The young apothecary put down her basket and slowly started to approach despite logic dictating that she should be doing the exact opposite. As she did, the boy started whimpering, his tears getting worse and Maomao found herself petting his head. The boy broke out into heartwrenching sobs, his entire body shaking from the force of his cries. It was while he was crying that she found the river of blood flowing down his back. Whip marks. Not an uncommon sight on slaves. 

Maomao tightened her jaw slightly, as an apothecary she had a duty and she would complete it. But looking at the boy over the young girl found herself at a loss at what to do. She wasn’t even half this kid's size, so she couldn’t exactly carry him. Could she convince him to follow her? And if she did, where would they go? She couldn’t exactly take him to the brothel. She could always take him to Luomen’s but there wasn’t a lot of space there. It's not like she had any other options tho. Sighing, Maomao guided the boy’s face so she could lock eyes with him. “I need you to follow me, okay. Can you walk?” The boy stared at her for a moment, one that was long enough to make Maomao question if he even understood her, before moving. His legs were shaky as he tried to stand, more similar to that of a newborn deer than a teenager. But once he was upright he was steady. Maomao took a couple steps back before turning her back and saying, “Follow me.” 

Shen Jiu, or was it Shen Yuan, shook his head. No one would be coming for him. No, Qi-ge promised, he would come. He wouldn’t leave him here? Would he? The boy couldn’t walk straight. Someone’s- His legs are too shaky to hold this small frame. He could faintly feel blood trickling down, but with everything ablaze, every cell screaming away, he couldn’t tell where it came from. For all he knew his limbs were falling off his bones, it sure felt like it. The feeling of rot under his skin eating away at what little muscle he had. In the end, Yuan couldn’t even reach the patch of straw before the body gave out. Jiu couldn’t bring himself to be thankful that the pain of the fall couldn’t be noticed under the way his lungs seemed to burn with every breath. The boy clutched at the straw, bitter. Bitter and afraid. Unsure if the pain would ever end as scars that no longer existed throbbed along his freshly whipped back. 

Shen Yuan just stared at the ground next to him as his blood stained the straw. The bright color brings a throbbing pain behind his eyes and memories he’d rather forget. Shen Jiu compared it to the red that pooled around him when his arm was torn away. It's what he deserved. What he deserved for hurting the boy, the beast. Hurting him for what? Because he dared to remind Shen Jiu of himself? The ugly creature that continued to claw and thrash against the world around him because it can’t do anything else. Shen Yuan could feel tears welling up with feelings of love, guilt, and hatred. Everything overwhelming, everything demanding attention and making him suffer for not giving it. Just like the beast. No, it was his fault the boy did that. No, the beast was born monstrous like his master. There is no saving either of them. 

The boy clutched his head, trying to silence his confusing thoughts. He had to focus. He couldn’t stay. He had to run. He had to kill. No, killing is what got that man in that mess. But if he doesn’t then they’ll capture him, he’ll live and die in this place. He can’t do that. He can’t. He won’t. Qi-ge promised to come back for him. But he didn’t come back before, why would he come back now. That’s not true, he told Shen Yuan he was trapped. He got hurt trying to come back. The boy couldn’t let Qi-ge get hurt, not for the creature he would become. He had to leave, he could worry about everything else after he was far away. Away from this place and away from Qi-ge. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but think how lonely that sounded. Shen Jiu didn’t care, he’d been alone before, he could be alone again. The boy found himself wishing for his siblings or rather Shen Yuan’s siblings. The loving and hardworking older brother who went to study in a frozen wasteland. The brother who was a quiet mess like his room. His little sister that saw through him with a grin on her face. 

Shen Yuan sobbed in grief, the wrenching causing pain to flood him. His muscles threatened to crumble like ash if he moved again but that didn’t stop his shaking as he choked and coughed on his tears. Shen Jiu gritted his teeth in disgust, alone or not this show of weakness, covered in tears and snot, was a show of weakness. Weakness they couldn’t afford in this place. The boy struggled to his feet, pushed by the memories of Shen Jiu. Memories of what awaited him in the manor. Memories of hands. 

Shen Jiu ripped away at the skin on his arms. The pain pulling a small sound from the boy as his knees buckled below him. He had to leave. He had to leave. HE HAD TO LEAVE. The boy forced the limbs below him to cooperate. Screw this place and screw the world that will bring nothing but pain. The boy didn’t care about connections made by Shen Yuan or the enemies made by Shen Jiu. Whether these were really memories or visions of possible futures or some other THING, he didn’t care, not with pain clouding his thoughts. If Qi-ge abandoned him or tried to come back and failed doesn’t matter, the result is the same and the boy refused to let it happen to him. 

As the boy slowly started making his way towards the door he heard someone approach. Dread pooled in his stomach, making him feel vomit climb his throat. His mind raced as he tried to figure out who was approaching. Trying to find someone, anyone other than the young master that would visit him at this hour. The body started to tremble against the boy’s will, a light under the door casting a shadow over that seemed inescapable in the moment. However, the person on the other side didn’t open the door like Shen Jiu feared. Instead the light started to grow, smoking finding its way through the gaps. 

The fire caught quickly, the wood dry from the lack of rain over the last month. Before he knew it the boy was surrounding on all sides, the smoke choking him out. As heat clawed at his body, boiling his blood beneath his skin, the boy desperately looked for an escape. The fire crawled across the floor, grasping at his left pant leg. The boy screamed. Or at least he thinks he did. He could smell his own burning flesh. Hear the sizzling and popping of his skin. The fire fed itself on the boy’s flesh. Unable to think straight, the boy slammed his body against one of the shed walls, feeling it give way against him and collapse. But with the wall came the rest of the shed. One of the beams came down, crashing against the boy’s left leg. A loud cracking sound briefly overpowering the sound of crackling flames. 

A cry broke past the boy’s lips as he crashed into the ground. Snapping his head back he pushed the burning beam off his leg, ignoring the burning of his hand. As he pulled his hand back he looked to find it covered in boils, swollen in colors of black and red. Gritting his teeth he dug his hands into the dirt, a scream of pain escaping him as he forced the burnt skin to bend and crack in the hot dirt. 

He would not die here. 

Not in this place. 

He refused. 

—-----------------------------------------

The forest blurred around him. The sounds of the birds and the crunching twigs beneath his foot drowned out by the thumping of his heart. His legs burned as he forced them to work harder, faster. He couldn’t be late. Not again. No matter what it took, he would protect Xiao Jiu this time. Yue Qi’s foot caught a root, slamming into the ground and breaking his nose with a loud crack. The boy ignored it however, stumbling to his feet as he continued to push forward. His mind chanting a single word over and over again, ‘please, please, PLEASE’. He had only joined the Cang Qiong Sect 2 months ago, his position still new and unstable. He couldn’t even be sure he would still have a position when he returned, having stowed away in the night without permission. But in the moment, in THIS moment, Yue Qi couldn’t bring himself to care. Not when he KNEW that Xiao Jiu was suffering. Not when waiting meant he would send Xiao Jiu down a path of self destruction. Not when he had to set things RIGHT, to make up for all the times he failed before. 

By the time Yue Qi arrived at the manor the stars had already started to shine, casting what little light they could upon the hell in front of him. Yue Qi knew he looked a mess. His muscles ached, the bags under his eyes heavy, and blood trickled down his nose. He had stopped running in 3 days and, while he caught rides on wagons when he could, he never stopped to rest. The boy was covered in dirt, sweat, and blood, his hair falling out of his bun and smelling no better than he did when he lived on the streets. His legs threatened to give out from underneath him as he banged against the manor doors. 

Yue Qi wasn’t surprised when it was one of the servants that answered. Clenching his fists Yue Qi said, “I’ve come for Xiao Jiu and I’m not leaving without him,” The servant just stared for a moment and it took a moment for Yue Qi to realize what that look in her eyes was; pity. She opened her mouth before closing it again, struggling to find words for a moment. Eventually she murmured, “I’m sorry.” The world seemed to freeze at that moment. Yue Qi was unable to, or unwilling, to understand what she was saying at that moment. As tears welled up in the woman’s eyes as she continued, her voice barely above a whisper, “There was a fire- he had been locked inside the shed- I’m so sorry.” 

Yue Qi’s heart seemed to stop beating for a second, a long painful second. Gritting his teeth, he growled, “I can’t accept that. I came for him. I’m not leaving without him.” It had to be a lie. It had to. The woman gave a solemn nod and led him behind the manor, careful to avoid other servants and slaves. Every step seemed heavier than the last. A combination of exhaustion and dread that chained themselves to Yue Qi and started dragging him to an early grave. A grave that was sealed when he locked his eyes on the burnt remnants of a shed. The shed. The shed that Xiao Jiu had been in when his Qi ge had left him behind. 

Yue Qi couldn’t hear what the woman was saying and he couldn’t bring himself to care. His entire world centered around the collapsed shed, the boy wondering how it happened. Why it happened. Someone in the manor must have remembered. Maybe that Haitang girl who brought him to trial in both lifetimes. Maybe it was the young master himself. Could he bring justice? Would it matter if he did? As everything slowed down. Exhaustion clawing deeper and deeper into Yue Qi, carried along by his grief and shame and hatred for himself and Xiao Jiu’s killer, he found himself wondering. How did Xiao Jiu die? From the smoke? Choked out slowly by an enemy he couldn’t fight against. Clawing at his own throat as he struggled to breathe, as tears filled his eyes. Or did he die to the flames? Screaming from a pain that Yue Qi couldn’t imagine. He had seen burn victims, in memories he was sure were his own. Their skin fused to their robes, eyes melted into blackened skulls. Some of the bodies unable to be identified because anything recognizable had been burned away but all of their faces contorted in horrendous pain. 

Tears started to fall down the boy’s face, his face stone cold. He reached up to wipe them away, nearly vomiting when he saw the blood on his hand. The bile tasting sour on the back of his tongue as he forced it down. What was he going to do now? He only joined a sect to protect Xiao Jiu. He had no desire for power or recognition. All of it was meaningless if he was alone. If he had nothing. Even now, Yue Qi could picture Xiao Jiu as if the boy was standing right in front of him. The snide remarks whispered behind fans. The bit of life that would shine in his eye when he ate sweets. The man who gave and gave and gave, asking nothing in return. The man who once trusted him to come back. 

A heartbroken sob slipped past Yue Qi’s lips. He couldn’t do this. Not alone. 

Something shifted within Yue Qi. Something deep within him that seemed to collapse along with the boy’s world. Barely formed passages unable to hold themselves up. Yue Qi could recognize what was happening. It had happened before or rather in the memories. The only question was did he let it take him here? Where Xiao Jiu was killed? Would that carry out some justice? Ease his loss? But that would mean killing innocent people. Were any of them innocent though? They stood by and let Xiao Jiu burn in that shed. They deserved to die for it. Yue Qi shook his head, trying to shoo away the destructive thoughts. He should leave, wait for the qi deviation to either kill him or pass.