Chapter 53

XingYing and Yao Wang walked back, fruits in their hands. XingYing munched quietly on a carrot. They were his favorites. "XingYing. When are we going to see the kids and Da Hong? I haven't seen them in a while." Yao Wang asked, looking slightly upwards at XingYing. XingYing thought for a moment. "Well, they don't have school today, obviously. But I believe they have school tomorrow. I should be able to save some fruits for them." XingYing frowned, looking at the different fruits in his basket. "But they won't be as ripe as I would like."

In the span of one second, two men pointed their dao at XingYing threateningly. XingYing looked up at the two, before smiling. "Chen Guo! Fang Hai! My two favorite gods." XingYing smiled. He looked over at Yao Wang. "Well, besides you of course." Chen Guo only gripped his dao tighter. "Get away from him." Chen Guo muttered.

XingYing frowned but did as he was told, stepping away fromYao Wang. The Heavenly Deity sighed, crossing his arms. "Really you two. You're acting like an idiot." Yao Wang sighed, tilting his head slightly annoyed by their way of stepping up. Chen Guo rolled his eyes, sliding his dao behind his back in his scabbard, Fang Hai doing the same.

"We haven't seen you in a year. Why?" Fang Hai asked. He didn't seem mad at Yao Wang, instead genuinely curious. "Well…. I kind of got distracted. But I did as I was told." Yao Wang smiled, as if that would make things better. Chen Guo and Fang Hai didn't seem that convinced. "Ok. So, what did you find out?"

"Well, he is a good person. Very nice and kind."

Chen Guo scoffed. "Yeah right, like I'm going to believe that after I saw him almost kill a man." Chen Guo rolled his eyes. XingYing smirked, shaking his head. "Fang Hai, you have a bossy little boyfriend. You should probably-" Both Chen Guo and Fang Hai had a dao at XingYing's throat in an instant. "What did you say?" Fang Hai muttered, his eyes fierce. XingYing smiled. "Should I write it down for you to understand? Or should I beat it out of you?"

Yao Wang grabbed his own dao, placing it on top of Chen Guo's and Fang Hai's. He pushes it down to the floor. "Enough. All three of you. You guys are only going to make it harder." Yao Wang ordered, sliding his dao back. He cleared his throat, sighing. "Can I have an apple?" Chen Guo asked politely, a hopeful smile on his face. Fang Hai rolled his eyes.

"Really Chen Guo. We're here to get Yao Wang. Don't be greedy." Fang Hai rolls his eyes. Chen Guo glares at Fang Hai, before going back to Yao Wang, who had an apple in his hand. He didn't mind giving it to Chen Guo. He hands it to the god, Chen Guo, happily biting into the shiny apple.

"So, you guys steal food. How is that good?" Fang Hai asked sarcastically. XingYing barely gave a glance, before continuing his stride. "He gives food to kids who are poor. Who doesn't have enough money for food." Yao Wang explains. Fang Hai slowly nods. "So, I was right. You are the Robinhood of Hubei." Fang Hai whispered to himself. Chen Guo shrugged. "The gods can't really get into affairs like that. Since it's a human affair. They would get involved with the celestials." Chen Guo adds.

Yao Wang smiles softly, before it turns into a frown. "Well, he's a ghost, though. He's using his ghostly abilities to win against the humans." Fang Hai says They were going back and forth, simply pointing out the goods and bads of the situation. "But, his intentions are good, right? In that case-" XingYing turned over to the small group of gods, huffing the hair out his face. "Why do you gods always care about what I'm doing? Why does it matter to you guys?" XingYing asked defensively. Fang Hai smiled sarcastically.

"Trust me, we don't care about anything you do. Do as you like. However, certain gods that have a pet peeve with you even existing, want you dead. And we're trying to not let that happen." Chen Guo explains.. XingYing stares at them, confused. "You're trying to help me? Is that why Yao Wang can go down to the Human Realm. To help save me?" XinYing asked hesitantly. "Yao Wang smiles and nods.

"Of course."

XingYing slowly nodded, before looking back at the long, empty road. "Well, Tao Wu, Jing Mei, and Chao Ju are all mad that you've been gone for longer than a week, and they want you back here. So, I think you should probably come up with us." Fang Hai says, turning to Yao Wang. The young god frowned, not expecting such a thing. "You want me to come back to Heaven? Already?" Yao Wang asked sadly. Fang Hai shrugged. "You were supposed to only be gone for a week, at the most. But you stayed way longer. You're Noble Gods are already thinking you gave up on them. Yao Wang, you're a new god. You disappearing isn't normal. You barely even built your kingdom." Chen Guo explains.

He was right, they both were. Most of the time that Yao Wang has been a Heavenly Deity, he has spent in the Human Realm or meditating. He really hasn't done anything, has he. But Yao Wang couldn't just leave XingYing. He didn't want to. "Can I stay for a little longer?" Yao Wang could feel XingYing reach down to grab his hand. "They are right, you should go." XingYing says.

Yao Wang frowned, still hesitant. "But you might get hurt. Or you need to feed the kids. I don't want you to hurt something." Yao Wang mumbled. XingYing let go of his hand, sticking out his pinky. "We made a promise, remember? Why would I ever hurt someone?" XingYing asked, shaking his head. Yao Wang smiled, hooking his pinky with XingYing. "Fine, but you better do as I say. Don't get in trouble. And stay at the lavender house. I don't want you to just disappear while I'm gone." Yao Wang explains.

XingYing smiles and nods. "Of course. I always listen to you."