Chapter 43: Lord Water (2)

"Fang Fang.", Xiu Zhen stood in front of her.

"Y-Yes, Lao Shi? A-Are you alright??"

This woman stood patiently in front of Xiu Zhen's door. No wonder why she became Xiu Zhen's favorite disciple since she obeyed every order Xiu Zhen gave.

"I'm perfectly fine.", Xiu Zhen smiled.

"B-But you look tired and pale!"

"Fang Fang. As my most loyal apprentice, I really am grateful to ever met with you, to ever shared my knowledge with you. Thank you for all, my dear, I hope you will find peace. Please, forgive me.", Xiu Zhen embraced her tightly. Xiu Zhen placed one of her palm behind her disciple's head.

"W-What do you mean? Urgh!!!", In an instant, her disciple spewed blood.

When Xiu Zhen released her embrace, the one she called Fang Fang immediately stared at her bloody chest. A knife thrusted straight to her heart.

"L-Lao S-Shi... B-But w-why...?"

The pain she had to bear made her eyes bursting in tears. She immediately fell to the ground. Her body grew colder as her chest produced so many blood. It became harder to breathe, so she closed her eyes. Her tears rolled down to the ground. Afterward, she never opened them anymore.

Xiu Zhen stared at Fang Fang's unalive body. She threw a blank stare. In the beginning, there were no regret or sadness inside her eyes.

'Clap clap clap!', "You're doing well, priestess."

The man stood beside her. He placed his palm on Xiu Zhen's shoulder as if he is proud of her.

Tears fell down to her cheek. Xiu Zhen unconsciously bursting with tears. But her expression was still calm.

"Oh my, don't cry. You have no right to cry in the first place. Think about your sins you have committed, priestess.", He pinched her chin and forced her to face him.

"Think about all of your victims. Weren't they also have precious lives? Weren't they also innocent? So why are you crying just because I asked for your favorite disciple's life? Aren't you being too greedy and unfair?"

"Unfair?", Xiu Zhen sobbed. She stared at him with droopy eyes.

"Definitely unfair.", He turned her face back to Fang Fang's dead body, "Watch."

'Snap!', The dead body became dried like a beef jerky. All of her flesh and blood were vanished within air, leaving her skin and bones. Xiu Zhen gasped in in surprised. Her eyes released more tears than before. When she turned her head back to the man beside her, she saw his face became terrifying. His black veins in his forehead, neck, and in mouth area were popping out, printed clearly below his bloodless pale skin. His crimson eyes shone brightly. Xiu Zhen who was in shock immediately moved away from him.

"W-Why are you so cruel?", Xiu Zhen feared him a lot.

"Look who's talking.", His veins faded away, "Are you scared of me? But why? You've ever watched more terrifying bloody scenes than this one, correct?", That man walked closer slowly.

"Stay away from me!!", Xiu Zhen ran away, but the door was tightly locked.

He pinned her to the wooden door.

"P-Please, d-don't eat me!", She cried louder.

"Why not?", He placed his palm on her neck.

Xiu Zhen that was trembling in fear could only hope her head will stay with her body.

"P-Please... I-I beg you..."

"I beg you.", He pressed his thumb stronger to her neck. It was quite hurting her.

"Agh! N-No, p-please!!"

"You beg for your life yet you ignored those who begged to you. Such a selfish person."

"B-But i-i-it was all for you!"

"You labeled me cruel then you blamed me for your crimes. You know, you are funny. I could choke by laughing so hard right now."

"Tell me, priestess, have I ever told you to kill those people? No right? It was your choice to begin with. I only add one more crime for you to commit, and your opinion about me changed. You were so respectful to me, but look at you now. Is that how cheap your loyalty?"

"W-What do you mean?? Captain Jiang said that I had to give you the proper offerings..."

"The moment you open the portal to my realm, you killed two people. Afterward, you seduced my underling until he became blind for you. Well, he wasn't wrong though, I do need proper offerings. I must admit it, I share the same sins with you."

He released his hand. The heavy pressure on Xiu Zhen's neck immediately relieved.

"I am a man who sticks to his words. Once I said I will help you, I will help you. I have no intention to eat my client's body. Soon, you will understand why I needed those offerings."

"Forgive me, my Lord..."

"Come, follow me.", He raised his hand.

Xiu Zhen touched his palm hesitantly. Her sight changed in one second. The wooden walls inside her room changed into opened blue sky with thick layers of cloud. She stood on unsteady rocky ground that is full of ash. The air she breathe was very thin. The temperature at her surrounding became very hot. An abyss was seen not far in front of her. That man dragged her to walk near to that opened hole, and when she threw her eyes below, there was flaming hot lava in the deepest pit.

"This is!?"

"Your biggest enemy. The volcano."

"A-Are you trying to throw me in!?", Xiu Zhen turned her head with full of anger.

That man had changed his armor into plain white robe. Plain white robe usually used for ritual deeds.

"Watch and learn, priestess."

The ritual began. That man closed his eyes while his lips whispering mantras.

'WHO THOU TO DISTURB MINE SLEEP!?', The heavy quake on the ground made Xiu Zhen lost her steadiness. The man catched her from falling.

'Calm down. I be not hither to bother thy rest.'

They spoke spirit language. Of course, Xiu Zhen as a priestess could recognize, even more, she understood what they were talking.

'Finally a god came hither to see me.'

'I be not a god. I am their foe.'

'Such undefeatable strength, then thou might be an asura. Say to me what thou mean by coming hither.'

'Thy deeds hast made suffer of the mortals surround thou. O kind volcano spirit, I bid thou to end thy rage.', that man bowed his head to the abyss.

'Doth thou wot how long they turned their eyes seel on me? It hath been 5000 years they starved me to death! They ne'r discover me praise yet used me to the fullest!'

'I am aknown of it. Hence, I shall be the one whom redempt their vanity.'

That man tore his right arm off from his body. His black blood spurtted out from his opened flesh. He threw his own arm into the abyss. Xiu Zhen widened her eyes, she couldn't believe what she just watched.

"Your Highness!!"

"Be quiet. I am not done yet.", oddly, that man's face showed no pain.

'Impudent! Thy arm is meaningless, it fed me nought yet insatiability!'

'Then, say to me what thou desire. I shall grant thy hope to fulfil thy dissatisfaction.'

'Grant me thy heart, mine child. Should thee refuse, I shall bid for the maiden's life beside thou.'

Xiu Zhen widened her eyes once more.

'Fine. We are 'i an agreement. Hence, thou may not betray me. Once I granted thou mine heart, thy rage shall be abated.'

"Your Highness, don't!!!", Xiu Zhen yelled.

"Shut up. Or do you prefer me to throw you down there?"

"But its request is crossing the line!!"

He stabbed his own chest with his remaining hand. Then, he plugged off his own heart that was no longer beating out from his body. His blood spurtted everywhere. He threw it to the abyss as if his organ could be easily replaced. Once his heart touched the flaming hot lava, it burnt into dust.

"Ugh!", His mouth threw up so much black blood.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!!", Xiu Zhen immediately helped him to stand.

'Was it enough? I hast grant thou all thou desire.'

'Ah. The heart of an asura worth moe than 500 years of life. Well done, mine child, I shall grant thou what thou summon. I shall not touch the mortals anymore, and I shall put myself into the deepest rest.'

'O kind guardian spirit of the volcano, please accept mine praise.', That man bowed to the pit.

The flame inside the abyss had calmed down. The volume of the hot lava reduced. The hot sensation surround Xiu Zhen had grown cooler. Finally, the volcano spirit already found its peace.

That man looked exhausted. He was unable to stand steadily. He secured his remaining arm tightly on Xiu Zhen's shoulder. It wasn't a right moment, but Xiu Zhen as a woman fell with the physical contact they created. She felt grateful for having the chance to be hold bt the handsome Asura King.

"Listen well and spread my words. The volcano spirit is not malicious yet it still possible to harbor hatred. You know as well as I do that the land near the volcano is the fertilest. The villagers oftenly used it for farmland, yet none of them willing to share their yields. The volcano spirit gradually lost its power and became starving. Once its life is already near the end, it will cause a great calamity to show its sadness and fear of death. Do show your gratefulness. Feed the volcano spirit by giving them offerings. Don't forget to bless the yields before throwing them into the abyss."

"But what about your heart and your arm...?", Xiu Zhen unconsciously stroked the bloody hole created in his chest.

That man stared at her cynically, "Fear not. I could grow them back.", He released his arm.

His injuries stopped bleeding. The hole on his chest began to closed Xiu Zhen watched his flesh grew like tumor, especially on his arm. The flesh grew longer, and a new hand was formed perfectly. A slim muscled arm with pale silverish skin and sharp black nails at the tip of his fingers. He turned his outift back to his armor. His handsome face had been clean from any blood stain. Ah, he looked very brave and handsome befitting the figure of young emperor, such a waste of gift to be given to a ghost.

"For your last request, I shall cover your sins. Close your eyes."

Xiu Zhen did what he said. He placed his palm covering her eyes. Back to the beginning, her closed eyes that should have seen nothing but darkness were instead watching the very moment she killed the small family in the depth of the cave. Not only that, but she watched every single mistakes that she ever did.

She picked up every pieces of her bloody memories one by one with the help of that man's power. Every begging faces of her victims, every eeire voices of someone's pain, every cursing words that shouted straight through her faces, and in the end, every conditions of the dead bodies, unexceptionally Fang Fang's last scene before she met her end.

Even after showing them all, Xiu Zhen wasn't feel regret at all. Her stained heart told her that those sacrificials were needed to achieve one goal. Perhaps she felt too comfortable because the demons were on her side helped her covering her sins. Perhaps she didn't even fear the karmas.

Those bloody memories she watched shattered like glass at the moment that man pulled his palm off from her upper face. She opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was that man's disgust expression. Yes, she deserved those mockery, since her pride titled herself as righteous and clean until now.

"By this, the moon goddess or the other gods will not noticed your filthy deeds, but remember, I'm hiding your past but that doesn't mean I'm erasing them. Sooner or later, you will have to pay your debt, wicked priestess."

"And also...", He summoned a tiny yellow cloth bag, "These are white magical medicine. The demonic power iniside these pills could heal one person's injury just with one drink, it could grow back limbs that have been taken away. Give them for those whom affected."

"Thank you, Your Highness, I will never forget your generousity towards me. I will do anything to pay back your kindness.", She bowed politely.

"Towards you? How come you be overconfident? I didn't do this for you, I did it for the good of your people. I took pity on them and not you."

"But still, thank you, My Lord. I-"

"Scram."

Xiu Zhen was returned to her room. She hadn't even finished her words yet. When she looked around, Fang Fang's dead body wasn't there, the wooden floor was clean. Not a drop of blood left or even the knife she used for murdering her disciple as if nothing ever happened. She wondered how it could be.

"Shit!!!"

The Asura King shouted loudly while his arms carried a woman dried dead body. He stepped his feet angrily, crushing the grass below the soles of his shoes. It seemed he wanted to go to the flower garden not far from the path he walked.

"That psycho bitch has made me breaking my own vow!!! That fucking greedy volcano too!!! As expected it will cost me more than just one arm!"

He turned his head to the dead body.

"Shit! I can't believe I drink virgin blood, especially it was woman's!"

That man stopped his feet and sighed.

"But if I don't eat her, I won't be able to recover for a whole year... Ah shit!!! Fuck you, priestess!!! And fuck you too, volcano, for leaving me no choice!!!!"

Virgin blood is the blood of someone who have more merit than their sins. For the demons, drinking this blood is the same as drinking 100 human's blood at one gulp. The blood gives them greatest vitality, but to find one is as hard as finding a needle in a haystack.

"Her soul is still trapped in her body. I have to be fast."

He laid the dried dead body in the middle of the crowd flower. He kneeled and whispered unknown spell.

"Hmm?", Fang Fang blinked her eyes.

She raised her body and gasped in surprised after seeing the 'cushion' she sat on. She instantly stood on her feet. She raised her hands in front her eyes. Her hands were already transparent but fortunately the shape were normal. Nourished, small and her fingers were long and slender, just like before.

"Greetings."

Fang Fang jolted by his sudden presence, "W-Who are you, sir!?"

"Forgive me, priestess. I am the one who responsible on this.", He pointed his finger to the ground.

"You... You are not a human, right?"

"Correct, I am an asura."

"Asura? Does that mean you are the god's enemy? But why does god-like creature like you needs to eat someone lowly like me? May I know your reason, My Lord?"

"I need the strong power inside your blood in order to stop the volcano from eruption."

"Volcano?", Fang Fang took a pause, "EH?? DO YOU MEAN THAT VOLCANO NEAR MY VILLAGE?? How could you know our problems, My Lord??"

That man explained to her everything except Xiu Zhen's secret crimes. He explained about the volcano spirit, about the offerings, and he told her that her village will be safe for at least next 500 years.

"That means... Your heart has brought peace for my village, right?"

That man nodded.

"Many many thanks to you! O great Lord Asura, please accept my praise!", She kneeled.

"But you lost your life because of me. You are still young.", That man flinched his eyebrows.

"I don't mind!", She smiled cheerfully, "As long as my sacrificial could bring peace for everyone, I will be very glad!"

That man stared at her innocent smile for a while.

"Don't you hate me? I made your body look so terrifying, I even tricked your teacher to kill you."

She shooked her head, "Not at all, My Lord! In fact, I want to give you this."

She took something shining from her invisible chest and showed it to him. It was an orb, it emitted strong white light.

"This!? Are you sure??"

She nodded, "This isn't much but it's all I have left. Please, take this as a token of my gratitude, My Lord! You have volunteer your heart, I will repay your kindness!"

"If I take this from you, you won't be able to reincarnate, priestess!"

"For a monk like me, to break the cycle of reincarnation is our final goal, My Lord. My path may a bit different since I won't reach the nirvana instead I devastate my own soul... Please, pray for me the gods will forgive my sins, My Lord. Hehehe."

He stared at her.

"How could you laugh after sacrificing your own life twice? You are too kind and naive, priestess. Your merits are much, the gods will definitely be proud of you."

"Hehehe am I? Ah, I have my last request... Can you bury my body? I feel a bit embarrassed if someone sees this...."

".... Forgive me, priestess. I really am guilty."

He buried her dead body below the flower garden. Such a beautiful place for the final rest. He intentionally chose this place in hope Fang Fang could sleep in eternal peace. The beauty of those blooming white daisy flowers represents Fang Fang's beautiful deeds and merits.

"Thank you, My Lord!", She smiled with full of happiness, "Please, have this."

That man raised his hand above the shining orb. He lowered his palm closer and closer, but he stopped in the middle. He couldn't do that, he did nor have the heart to take anymore advantage from this virgin innocent young woman. Fang Fang who knew his hesitation took his palm and placed the orb on it. The moment the orb released from her fingers, she began to faded away.

"My Lord, thank you! May the fortune blesses your path for eternity! I hope my core will make a great use for you! Please, be kind to us mortals!"

The last thing he watched was her warm smile that gradually disappeared. The strong wind blew away. The grass crashed to each other, resulting the daisies fall off. The white petals didn't have the chance to land on the ground since the wind carried them away, creating the flower storm surrounding him. Daisy represents happiness, sincerity, purity, and rebirth, befitting Fang Fang's path of life. She was young, only 17, but her faith and kindness were perfectly mature. He guessed he made a wise decision to make this forgotten garden exclusively for her graveyard.

"Fang Fang, her name.", He stared at the orb.

"A great priestess and a martyr. You are more suitable to be the high priestess than your fragile teacher. You have the potention to be the goddess of compassion yet you chose not to. Instead, you give a sinful creature your core. I believe, you don't even have the idea how strong your core is, right?", He talked alone.

The core of the soul, once it is removed from its origin place, the soul won't be able to reincarnate anymore. Like the deaths every mortal has to faced, this one represents the end of one soul's life. Once the soul shattered, no one, even the gods, knows what will happened to it. While the core left behind it could be a meal to every mythical creatures.

But Fang Fang's core was different. Her core was absolute white. If the Asura King swallowed it, his power and lifespan could be extended beyond the limit. This is the true greatest gift and treasure. He didn't know how to feel after obtaining this ultimate cheat on his palm. To ate it now will only make him feel guilty.

"Fang Fang, I barely know you but I will always remember you. I wish the Almighty One loved you more than the gods did, I wish He will give another chance to open you the Gate of Nirvana. Please, Almighty One, have mercy on your innocent child I've murdered."

A drop of tear fell on the tip of his shoe. He wiped his cheek, discomfort by the small amount of water wetting his skin. He couldn't bare to see the shining orb he grip tightly on his strong fist. As the final respect, he pulled his silver dragon hairpin from his knotted hair. His long black hair released and fell to his silver shoulder plate and his dark crimson robe on his back. He thrusted it into the ground above Fang Fang's cemetery as if he used it for her tombstone.