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As someone who was once engaged, He Xuan was used to being welcomed at home by his lover holding a pot of home-cooked meal.
Most people did this kind of thing to their lovers as well. For a moment, it gave He Xuan an illusion that as he stepped inside the Nether Water Manor, a certain someone would be there to welcome him with his favorite food.
But that certain someone would never do that. As expected, it was simply an illusion for He Xuan. His fiancée had long since been buried six feet under, and the person currently cohabiting with him wasn't his lover nor his friend.
He was He Xuan's foe.
If this foe was going to welcome him home, it was not by the sweet aroma of food but by the rusty smell of blood.
Ming Yi had been trying to kill his 'roommate' He Xuan for as long as he could remember. He never once succeeded—not even close. After all, Ming Yi was not a Martial God; this was partly why He Xuan chose to abduct Ming Yi and impersonate him as the Earth Master of the Heavens.
As a Demon King, He Xuan couldn't ascend. He had to pretend like a God if he really wanted to take revenge on the Shi brothers—the two elemental masters who had ruined his life and were the reason why he was utterly alone.
Unfortunately, He Xuan was as hopeless as Ming Yi when killing a foe. The Shi brothers remained untouchable. Shi Qingxuan, one of the two brothers, even proclaimed to the whole heavens that he was friends with He Xuan. Of course, this was only because Qingxuan had no idea that the God he befriended was an impostor. He didn't know that Ming Yi, the real Earth Master, was currently stuck in He Xuan's manor, desperately trying to get away.
"I'm surprised. You actually found a new way to kill me." He Xuan smirked. He was probably the only one who was proud of his enemy for holding a sharp object close to his neck.
Admittedly, He Xuan was amused and a bit excited. He despised the weak—those who could not save themselves from damnation. Ming Yi had been damned for many years. This was the only time he managed to sneak an attack and get closer to He Xuan. The latter could feel his enemy's hot breath on his nape. The cold crescent shape of the earth master shovel was pressed on He Xuan's neck too.
The hot and cold feeling pricked He Xuan's skin with goosebumps.
"The earth master shovel belongs to me." Ming Yi gritted his teeth as he pressed the shovel harder on He Xuan's neck. The crescent endpoint was immediately stained with the demon's blood.
"I will kill you." Ming Yi's hand was trembling, still overwhelmed by the fact that he managed to steal back the earth master shovel from He Xuan.
He Xuan was reckless. He grew complacent that the Earth Master would never be able to harm him. Who would have thought that the second he stepped inside the Nether Water Manor, Ming Yi would be there to snatch the spiritual device and use it against the Demon King?
It had been years since the said spiritual device listened to its real master's summoning. Thanks to He Xuan's efforts, the shovel answered Ming Yi's call.
Today was the Mid Autumn Festival Banquet. He Xuan went straight home after a long and tedious celebration at the Heavenly Court. The festival was a yearly tradition for both Gods and mortals. The latter would offer Lanterns of Everlasting Light to the heavenly officials to determine who among the Gods were the popular ones.
The lanterns also strengthened the Gods' powers. This year (thanks to He Xuan's efforts), the 'Earth Master' received 444 lanterns, rendering his palace the 9th placer.
Since Ming Yi was the real Earth Master, the offerings of his followers enhanced his powers and not He Xuan's; this was why he became strong enough to summon his shovel.
But Ming Yi still wasn't half as powerful as the Demon King.
"I'd like to see you try to kill me." He Xuan said airily as he moved closer to Ming Yi. The endpoint of the shovel penetrated his skin deeper.
He Xuan didn't even flinch. He would never die. He scattered his ashes in the Black Water Lake.
Ming Yi also knew his actions were pointless. He could not kill He Xuan, but at least he could still fight him until he got away and exposed this demon's lie to the world. Maybe the Heavenly Emperor was powerful enough to punish He Xuan.
Materializing this newfound hope, Ming Yi used his limited power to slash He Xuan's neck. He pushed the demon away before digging a hole on the manor's floor.
The earth master shovel was powerful in the hands of its owner. With just one dig, Ming Yi was able to open up a hole large enough for him to jump into. His heart was thumping like crazy as he fell on his behind.
He was still at Black Demon's Lair. The eerie chuckle of his abductor echoed through the place.
"Why are you running away? I thought you wanna kill me," He Xuan said without a hint of fear. It was as if he was anticipating his own death. Ming Yi shivered; he looked around, but he couldn't see even a strand of his opponent's hair.
He Xuan was tall. He changed into his real form every time he met with Ming Yi. It was because the latter turned feral whenever he saw the Demon King disguised as him.
Ming Yi thought it strange. He Xuan was his archenemy, but aside from keeping him trapped at Black Demon Lair, he never once physically hurt the God. He didn't tie him up, nor did he starve him. He even laughed whenever Ming Yi tried to kill him. It was like he didn't take Ming Yi's attempt seriously. He made it look like the God was simply a child that needed to be teased a little to stop acting up.
Even now that Ming Yi could hurt him, He Xuan still acted like he was just playing a game with Ming Yi.
Tag was their game. Ming Yi ran away by digging a hole using his shovel while He Xuan chased him.
He always found his prisoner.
"Leave me alone!" Ming Yi frantically dug another hole. This time he fell into the Black Water Island. He Xuan was already waiting for him, leaning against a tree with a diabolical smile on his face.
Ming Yi trembled in anxiety. He wished he was a Martial God instead. At least this way, the impact of his throws would be painful. He was aware of how pathetic he was right now as he threw ugly-looking starfish, shells, and rocks he found at He Xuan.
Many years of imprisonment negatively affected Ming Yi, so now that he thought he had a chance to escape, he finally lost it. He was shaking, his mind went blank as he continued to throw sand at the demon.
He Xuan wasn't dodging. He even made his way towards Ming Yi, who plopped down on the sand. The real Earth Master panicked. He grabbed a handful of sand, yelping in pain before he could throw it.
Something pinched Ming Yi. It was a poisonous black crab. The arthropod was one of He Xuan's pets. It would poison anyone who dared to harm its master.
Ming Yi's killing intent was palpable. The crab felt it so it could only protect its master. Unfortunately, it didn't look like He Xuan appreciated the protection. His face visibly darkened upon seeing Ming Yi's bleeding hand. The blood was black, a clear indication that he was poisoned.
"I said leave me alone!" Despite knowing that He Xuan was the only one who could cure him, Ming Yi still struggled to get away from the Demon King.
He Xuan's jaw tensed as he reached out a hand to Ming Yi. "Stop playing around."
The game was over. He Xuan originally wanted to tease him, but he lost interest seeing that Ming Yi got hurt.
This wasn't a game for the Earth Master, though. This was survival. He had to escape and go back to the Heavenly Court.
He almost cried, "Are you sick in the head! What else do you want! Leave me alone! Leave Qingxuan alone!"
Ming Yi knew about He Xuan's plan to kill the Shi brothers. He wasn't invalidating He Xuan's pain. He, too, was aware that they should be punished, especially Shi Wu Du. But Qingxuan was oblivious about this matter. Ming Yi believed Jun Wu could fix this; this was why Ming Yi wanted to go back to heavenly court. He had to talk to the emperor to fix this.
However, He Xuan didn't understand Ming Yi's intention. Hatred and jealousy clouded his mind. He forcefully gripped the Earth Master's injured hand.
"Leave Qingxuan alone?" He Xuan sneered. Fire danced in his eyes. "Why? Do you like him? You want to save him too? You would rather I suffer? Huh?"
He Xuan was blinded by rage. That piece of a shit Shi Qingxuan stole everything from him. He stole his luck and fate. How could Ming Yi still protect him? It was not fair.
"I will kill him and his brother. Do you hear me?" He Xuan raged. Ming Yi wriggled out of his grip. He used his other hand to hold the shovel and hit He Xuan on the face.
He Xuan abruptly let go. He touched his face that had been hit by the shovel. Ming Yi used this as a chance to dig another hole and jump into it.
This time, he fell on the sea. Ming Yi frantically looked for his shovel, thinking it could float in the air and carry him. Sadly, his luck had run out. He couldn't find his spiritual device, leaving him to his demise.
The Earth Master sank lower in the water. He inhaled a mouthful of black water and choked. His heart skipped a beat upon spotting an Arowana.
He braced himself for the vicious attack of the said fish, but to his surprise, the fish looked at him dumbly. It inched closer to him, as if offering its stupid body for Ming Yi to latch onto.
Mingyi hissed, refusing the help. His vision was rapidly darkening. He couldn't struggle much because of the poison running inside his veins.
Ming Yi coughed a mouthful of black blood. The poor Arowana fish made a noise of distress. It was ear-shattering.
"Useless piece of shit." He Xuan suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He kicked the poor fish and dove in the water after that. He found Ming Yi sinking in the water. Without wasting any more time, He Xuan immediately went near his prisoner. He encircled his arms around Ming Yi's waist, hugging him into his arms as he jumped out of the water.
The Earth Master was barely conscious. He couldn't even cough the water filling his lungs. His face was dangerously pale, bloodless lips trembling.
He Xuan panicked. The rims of his eyes were red. He didn't hesitate to crush his lips against Ming Yi's.
The barely conscious Earth Master still felt the force of the kiss. It was like He Xuan wanted to suck the life out of him. In reality, the Demon King was sucking the poison out of his body. He also learned a trick from another Demon King by the name of Hua Cheng. The latter said passing spiritual powers was possible through a kiss.
This was hitting two birds with one stone.
Three birds rather.
He Xuan didn't understand this feeling, but he felt like the boulder crushing his heart perished as he kissed the man in his arms.
"C-Can't lose you...can't lose you...can't lose you too..." The Demon King murmured like a broken record as he kissed and hugged Ming Yi.
For some reason, the Earth Master's heart throbbed in pain. Hearing He Xuan say these words felt like a thousand needles pricking at his already hurting heart.
Heart.
He knew He Xuan was a ghost without a beating heart. But at this moment, he swore he heard his opponent's heart beating wildly.
Alive.
Ming Yi could swear the Demon King was alive.
Or maybe, Ming Yi heard the beat of his own heart. After all, it was the only rational explanation since they were chest to chest: with Ming Yi hugging He Xuan's waist while his head rested on the hollow of the demon's shoulder.
Ming Yi felt He Xuan's lips on his forehead. Along with that was the defense of his heart shattering.
At this very moment, Ming Yi realized that he once again failed to kill his foe.