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General Xuan Zhen was known to be a meticulous god, always thorough and timely in his duties. Despite being one of the more newly ascended heavenly officials, he already had a reputation of being dependable with whatever burdensome prayers were delivered his way. Not that many got to appreciate these qualities since Xuan Zhen was also stand-offish and cold to any who thought to approach him for assistance with their own prayers. His days of serving others were long behind him, thank you very much. At least the palace of Ling Wen was grateful to receive such neat reports back unlike what could be expected from other martial gods.
This evident meticulousness of his person was also reflected in his choice of deputy gods hurrying down the halls of the palace of Xuan Zhen and of course in the designs of said palace. Made of black stone with elegant carvings circling the many pillars holding up the slanted roof. Behind the palace there was space for the general’s private hot springs and a garden with a pavilion built specifically to have a peaceful area for daily meditation. A quiet place for meditation without disturbances. Disturbances of any kind. Mu Qing’s face twitched.
“Has someone already gone to see it for themselves?”
“I heard from a Ming Guang deputy that the trial had been much harder than anything in decades!”
“Was it really him? Alone? What about-”
“Has the general been informed? Better sooner than later…”’
“Has the general been informed of what, exactly? Gossiping in the public array while I’m meditating, this better be worth it.”
His tone was cool and silence immediately befell the communication array. His deputies knew fully well when he retreated to meditate in silence and yet, something clearly had occurred that couldn’t stop them from chattering hurriedly, speaking over each other with everyone adding new information or questions. Dependable as they were (Mu Qing’s deputies were all hand-picked with precise care) somehow all of them seemed to be weak to any kind of exciting rumors circling the heavens. At least it was useful when gathering information.
“Well? Hopefully at least one of you knows what you’re all discussing so intently?”
The silence grew tenser. Clearly, whatever the topic of their chatter had been, it was incendiary. Even more reason to share it then!
Just as Mu Qing rolled his eyes and was about to snap for someone to just spit it out, one of the deputies Ming Li coughed and hesitantly spoke up.
“There’s just been a new ascension, General.”
Yes, Mu Qing had felt that earlier. It was an unmistakable force that would shudder through all of Heaven whenever a new god ascended. The force was always accompanied by a blinding pillar of light bringing up the new god and the Heaven’s bell that would start ringing, welcoming the fresh arrival. Those, too Mu Qing had noticed but it hadn’t been enough to interrupt his deep meditation. Ascensions weren’t an everyday occurrence, let alone a yearly one but he never felt any need to rush into the central square like every other curious god to gawk at newcomers. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t eventually hear who had ascended. Especially when it was tradition for all new gods to host an opening celebration for their palaces, usually only a few days after they had ascended. So why would this particular ascension require any more of his attention than the rest of them?
“Those tend to happen in Heaven, why is this cause for concern?”
Mu Qing could feel Ming Li squirming at the questioning through the array even if he couldn’t see him. “It’s just… There's been word that it’s someone you know, general. It really would be best if you went to see for yourself. It could be just rumors after all.”
This made Mu Qing pause. He’d always been naturally something of a loner even if that hadn’t been his own wish. There weren’t many people who could be connected to him, even less when it came to people known amongst other heavenly officials. But there was one who came to mind and considering that possibility made something twist painfully in Mu Qing’s chest. If Xie Lian had ascended again he didn’t know how he was supposed to face him. Their final parting hadn’t been on good terms.
He thought of rice that was thrown back at his face. What had meant to be an olive branch had somehow, once again, painted him into a scheming villain in the eyes of His highness and Feng Xin, that oaf. He remembered the guilt that had very quickly dissipated as he realized how welcome he was in that rundown hut. Even if he had only meant to help, to apologize.
Mu Qing shook his head. It hadn’t been that long since Xie Lian’s exile began. Surely he couldn’t have cultivated his way back? In any case, it was best to go check for himself like his deputies’ suggested. If any unwelcome rumors were already swirling of his alleged connection to this newly ascended Heavenly official, it would be easiest to cut these rumors at the root before they snowballed further.
“I’ll do that, then. The rest of you, back to work. I didn’t appoint you here to laze the days away gossiping.” Mu Qing firmly shut his connection to the communication array and stood up, brushing his robes clean from the few maple leaves that had fallen on him during his meditation. He set off, Zhanmadao attached at his side. He didn’t actually think the encounter would turn into a fight but having the saber near him was a steadying presence. His very spiritual weapon to remind anyone but mostly himself that he deserved a place here in the heavenly court. He’d worked his ass off to get here, no matter what the occasional whispered insults he heard seemed to imply. Classist assholes.
He made his way down the main avenue at a brisk pace. The crowd clamoring at the square could already be heard, wonder and immediate gossip palpable in the air. This ascension clearly has garnered a much bigger crowd than usual, judging by how it was basically impossible to see the ascended god as someone who just arrived on the edges of the gathering. It would make sense it was Xie Lian again. How often did exiled officials actually come back to Heaven? Mu Qing felt a sense of heavy foreboding.
He had been fully prepared to elbow his way through the crowd to catch a glimpse of the god but it soon turned out that wasn’t necessary. After jabbing only a few officials, people close to him started whispering and not-so-subtly pointing at him while parting to make way for him. Mu Qing had always had thin skin and even if he should’ve gotten used to whispers following him, whether it was back in his mortal or immortal life, he still didn’t enjoy drawing attention like this. Not before he could understand the reason for their ogling first.
With the crowd helping him by avoiding him as he approached, he quickly reached the inner edge of the crowd. He didn’t feel the need to get all up to the front where many opportunistic gods were already crowding the new god, making sure they’d be remembered by him in the future. No, Mu Qing didn’t need to get to the front because he’d already gotten a good look at him. And it had been enough to freeze him up completely, the voices around him already fading away as his focus narrowed on this god, basking in wonder at all this new found attention.
Brown hair but it wasn’t Xie Lian. Tattered Xian Le style robes but it wasn’t Xie Lian. A protection charm for the Flower Crowned Martial God hanging from his belt because it wasn’t Xie Lian. But oh, Mu Qing suddenly wished it had been. Because seeing Feng Xin with his skin still glowing from his fresh ascension and with his golden eyes now holding a godly sheen in them made ice encase Mu Qing’s lungs.
Feng Xin didn’t seem to be able to get a word in when all the other gods were bustling around him so enthusiastically. His attention kept bouncing between officials who were all talking to him at the same time so he couldn’t spot Mu Qing appearing amidst the crowd. His appearance would’ve seemed shabbier if the immortality in his veins hadn’t been smoothing it over. Mu Qing recalled one of his deputies mentioning how difficult Feng Xin’s ascension trial had been and wondered if that was the reason his hair was unbound unusually, falling past his shoulders. Maybe it had come undone during an intense fight. Feng Xin kept pushing it back distractedly, clearly not used to it. He probably would’ve had visible wounds from the fight but the shift from mortal to immortal always healed everything so new gods were immediately ready to serve in Heaven. How badly had he been wounded before it?
Mu Qing stood there, stuck analyzing Feng Xin’s new godly appearance. He didn’t take steps forward but didn’t turn and run away either, even if his body was slowly starting to itch for it. As long as he wasn’t seen it was fine. Mu Qing was having a tough time wrapping his head around the fact that Feng Xin who had never cultivated a day in his life would now be peacocking around Heaven’s grand plaza looking like he’d been blessed by the sun itself.
Mu Qing had isolated himself for years after Xie Lian and Feng Xin had chased him away, desperate to focus on his own cultivation and ascend in his own right instead of relying on his pathetic Middle Court position. He’d struggled alone on the streets of the old capital of Xian Le, fueled by intense need to prove to someone, anyone that he was more than capable of making a name for himself without the help of Xie Lian or any other god. And he did. He ascended because he was strict with himself, suffered and dedicated his entire life to his cultivation path, to slaying every single rotten spirit that dared to still hang around that tragic city. He’d proved himself.
But here was Feng Xin who got to fight one monster and immediately be congratulated as a one in a century kind of genius. This line of thinking was starting to melt the ice that had kept Mu Qing frozen in place, replacing it with a resentful smolder in his belly that felt all too familiar. It didn’t help that his last encounter with Feng Xin had ended with him throwing rice in his face and telling him to leave them alone forever. Mu Qing’s face twisted into an ugly sneer at the unpleasant memory.
It was at this moment that one of the official’s crowing Feng Xin apparently said something that made him lose his embarrassingly charming grin and start scanning the crowd with a soldier’s efficiency. He ignored everyone else in favor of seemingly looking for something or…His eyes locked with Mu Qing’s, eyes growing wide. Someone.
Mu Qing knew Feng Xin had tried to find him and succeeded, only to be greeted by a familiar but sneering face. His expression very quickly morphed to mirror Mu Qing’s own. Mu Qing shuddered. Feng Xin started pushing away the officials in front of him, clearly intending to face Mu Qing face to face. He’d probably come and scream in his face about abandoning his precious Dianxia. Blame him for everything that had gone to shit. Ruin his day, week and every single year to come in the future. Naturally, Mu Qing decided that this time running away was the only logical solution. So he turned on his heels and disappeared back into the crowd.
Moving as fast as he could without obviously running he made his way through the crowd and eventually to the main avenue leading to the Xuan Zhen palace. All the while he cursed Feng Xin for ever appearing back in Heaven and in his life. Not even this glorious, ivory capital would be big enough for the two of them. And he’d be damned if Feng Xin would be the first to make him lose his temper and ruin his carefully crafted image of the cool, collected Martial God Xuan Zhen. The only option was to not spare a single voice in his direction.
Reaching the safe haven of his own palace doors he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The deputies standing guard exchanged confused glances, probably wondering why their general had already returned after leaving in such a hurry.
“Welcome back, General!” one of them greeted. “Did you manage to discover the identity of the god?”
“That I did. And let me make myself very clear: If that man ever appears at these doors, he is to be turned away immediately. Am I understood perfectly?”
Mu Qing’s expression as he said this was so furious that it frightened both guards. All deputies were used to Mu Qing’s tone often being harsh or cold but usually he didn’t actually mean for his words to be taken like that. Mu Qing was outwardly strict but in actuality gave way a lot when it came to his own deputies. This time however, his entire demeanor radiated such ire that it left the guards shaken. They nodded furiously, yes they understood perfectly, and kept bowing as they opened the doors for Mu Qing. The entire palace had been swarming with gossip since the morning because the rumors had said the new god was Xuan Zhen’s old friend and comrade-in-arms from Xian Le. The deputies had been excited to see someone who’d managed to befriend their prickly general. But the rumors had been mistaken this time. Because whoever had ascended today was clearly an enemy.
Back at the Martial God square the crowd was buzzing with new material for the rumor mill.
“Did you see? Xuan Zhen didn’t even offer his blessings to this new Nan Yang…”
“It almost seemed like he ran away. Didn’t you see how fast he retreated?”
“If the famed Xian Le generals communicate this well, no wonder their country was doomed haha…”
Feng Xin stood still staring at the place where Mu Qing had disappeared from sight into the mass of people. He wasn’t exactly surprised at this reaction but the second one of the officials near his ear had whispered about “the other Xian Le general” being there he’d felt a brief hope shimmer in his chest. For what, he wasn’t sure but it was certain that it had shattered the moment he saw Mu Qing sneering at him like he despised Feng Xin’s entire existence. He probably did. Feng Xin couldn’t really blame him for that.
Someone came and roughly slapped him on the back. “Hey, newbie! Don’t look so dejected, chin up. That’s just how Xuan Zhen always is. But you’d already know that, wouldn’t you? I remember you two always looked moments away from breaking into a brawl when following His Highness Xie Lian.”
Feng Xin looked to his side. To his surprise he actually recognised the god who had spoken.
“General Ming Guang?”
“That’s me. Listen, kid. It’s pretty damn impressive you’ve already got enemies in Heaven on your first day. That’s what you two are, right? Keep it up!” Ming Guang made his exit while obnoxiously laughing as he went and making eyes at every and any female officials.
Enemies. Feng Xin had never wanted to actually give a name to what he thought of Mu Qing. But they always fought, didn’t get along, Mu Qing definitely hated him and Feng Xin still couldn’t think of holding a conversation with him without starting to fling accusations. So maybe that made them enemies, then. That’s all they had been as mortals and all they would continue to be as gods. Feng Xin nodded to himself. This made sense. He turned back to the murmuring crowd and put on his best smile. Better to start making actual friends.