Chapter Seven: The Sacrifice and Betrayal

Warning: Scenes of violence/gore/death/hints of s*xual activity

No matter what he did, no one would accept Bai Xu's help. They didn't even want to look his face, let alone listen to his words. How could they believe in someone who failed as miserably as he did? What help could they bring to him? Besides, why would they accept his help, when their gods were offering aid. 

The gods could actually provide wealth and water and food. Bai Xu couldn't give them any of that. So they shunned him even more. There was no hope in receiving anymore love from his people. He has been completely forgotten. Which was a tremendous blow in his cultivation. No matter how hard he tried, his path to re-ascension has been completely snubbed. 

To top it all off, tremors could be felt from the volcano, meaning it was about to explode again. And this time Bai Xu was completely powerless. He kept thinking of ways to stop it, but he couldn't figure it how. One day, he sat with his friends in deep thought.

"We need to stop it once and for all," Bai Xu said.

"This again?" Mu Chen asked. "Bai Xu, there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop it. How do you expect us to help? You've lost all your spiritual energy! You're powerless!"

"Don't you think I know that?!" Bai Xu exploded. He was already angry with his vassals. They've stopped all honorifics with him, only calling him by his name. The only person who truly believed in him anymore was Bao Xian. "But I have to try! They will die!"

"Fine. Then what do you think we can do?" Mu Chen asked with narrowed eyes. Bai Xu truly was his equal now.

"Sacrifice," Bai Xu said, turning away from them and pacing in thought. "We have to sacrifice people into the kiln. It's the only way."

"Sacrifice?!" Guan Qi shouted, anger and shock lacing his tone. He never would have believed Bai Xu would be so… evil. "How could you say that?! Weren't you the one who refused the people to fight a war to save themselves? They can't kill, but you can? Where's the sense of that?"

"I don't want to sacrifice just any citizens. Only the ones who have the dirtiest of records! The criminals who live in the slums," Bai Xu said, continuing to pace. His friends couldn't accept his words. 

"You've changed, Bai Xu," Zhong Ran finally said. "If you want to give your life away, then go ahead. If you want to turn evil and kill off people just like that, then you don't deserve to have me by your side! I can't possibly side with someone who wants to sacrifice unsuspecting people!"

"Then you can leave!" Bai Xu shouted. "You can all leave! I don't need your help! I can do this myself."

"And I hope you go to hell," Mu Chen said with a dry laugh, his face contorted in anger. "I hope you're happy, being alone your whole life with no one to lean on."

Mu Chen turned and left the land of Ling Ye, shaking his head in disbelief. Zhong Ran quickly followed. Guan Qi, however, hesitated. He looked between Bai Xu and Bao Xian, unsure of what to say or do.

"Are you coming, gege?" Guan Qi asked Bao Xian. Bao Xian sighed and looked at Bai Xu. 

"I said it before," Bao Xian said after a moment of silence, "even if I don't agree, I will stay by his side. Even if I'm the last one to ever believe in him, I vowed to always protect him."

Heaven knew that Bao Xian didn't agree that sacrifice was the way to go. But love did weird things. He had to keep by the prince's side. No one else was going to. 

"I understand," Guan Qi said. He stared at them for a few moments, biting his lip in hesitation. Once he seemed to have made up his mind, he gave Bao Xian a small wave and walked away as well. He left the two alone in the vast field. 

Bao Xian turned to look at Bai Xu. The younger man looked like he was about to explode. His fists were clenched, and he was turning all shades of purple. 

"My dear Highness," Bao Xian said softly, walking over to him and placing his hands on his shoulders. He massaged him silently, trying to calm him down. The two stayed in silence, neither able to utter a word. What could they even say in a situation like this?

"You're really not leaving?" Bai Xu asked, his voice oddly calm. 

"Of course not, my love," Bao Xian assured him. "I won't help with the sacrifice, but I won't leave you either."

"I don't need you to help with it," Bai Xu said, turning to face him. "I'm not going to do it. If it hurts you, then I won't do it. I'll think of another way."

"I believe you," Bao Xian said. He stared into his eyes, reaching up to wipe a tear that suddenly appeared. He could see the pain in the prince's eyes. Who wouldn't be in pain after losing everything they held dear. "You got me. Please don't cry."

Bai Xu gave him a small smile, leaning in and pressing a kiss to his lips. "Thank you," he breathed out, pulling away. 

"Stay here," Bai Xu said, placing his hand on his cheek. "I'm going to find a way to perform a ritual to stop the volcano."

"Is there really a ritual you can conduct?" the other asked him. Bai Xu smiled and slowly nodded his head.

"I'm sure there's one," he said, confidently. "Please believe in me. I won't hurt those people."

"If you say you won't hurt those people, then I believe you," Bao Xian said. The younger man turned and left without stating another word. Bao Xian felt something drop in his stomach. Something told him that trusting Bai Xu was wrong, but his heart just wouldn't listen. Bai Xu wouldn't lie to him, would he?

Bai Xu traveled to Wuyong's death row in the palace's underground dungeon, pulling a wagon behind him. There were a few hundred people behind bars, all of them watching the prince with wary eyes. The young man gave them each a small smile, handing them each something to eat he had stolen from the palace. 

"What do you want?" a gruff sounding man asked.

"I can save your souls," Bai Xu told them. "You guys are all sentenced to die, are you not?"

"What of it?" another man asked. "Aren't you a god or something? Why do you care for us?"

"I am a god," Bai Xu told them. "And I have the power to save your souls. Why die without a purpose?"

"What do we have to do?" the gruff man asked. 

"Follow me," Bai Xu said, releasing them from their prisons. "If you jump into the kiln of Mount Huo Wei, then I can give you an afterlife of riches.You'll live a better afterlife than your life you had here."

"You can promise that?" the man asked him. Bai Xu smiled and nodded his head.

"I'm a god, am I not?" he asked. And so the three hundred something criminals trusted his words and followed his lead. They traveled underground until they reached the base of Mount Huo Wei. Together, the group hiked the volcano and reached the top after a day and night of travel. The men were gitty, talking about what they could do as powerful and rich ghosts.

As they reached the top of the mountain, they were greeted by Bai Xu's three vassals who had left him. Mu Chen stepped forward, looking at the crowd Bai Xu had brought with him. He narrowed his eyes, a bad feeling bubbling within him. 

"You're really going through with it?" Mu Chen asked him. "You can't–"

"Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do?" Bai Xu asked him. "They are willing to jump into the kiln. Step aside so they can come through."

"We're not going to let you do this, Bai Xu!" Zhong Ran cried out. "How could we let you go through with something so vile?"

"You don't know what you're talking about," one man at the front of the group said. "He promised us a rich afterlife! I'm doing this so I can have the life I deserve!"

"Yeah!" the chorus of men said from behind him. Zhong Ran frowned and looked at Bai Xu.

"What did you tell them?!" Zhong Ran cried out. "Do you really think this is right?"

"Of course it is," Bai Xu said. "It's something I have to do!"

"Is Bao Xian really allowing you to do this?" Mu Chen asked. Guan Qi looked around and shook his head.

"Of course he's not," Guan Qi said. "I don't think he knows that His Highness is going through with it. He's not here."

"So you're deceiving the person who looks up to you the most," Mu Chen said. He sighed deeply and unsheathed his sword, pointing it at Bai Xu. "I cannot let you pass."

"You can't stop me," Bai Xu said, taking out his own sword. This is the first time he directed an attack towards his vassals. 

Bai Xu and Mu Chen's swords clashed and the two of them fought atop Mount Huo Wei. The heat coming from the kiln was unbearable. They would be scorched alive if they fell. Bai Xu whipped around and smoothly knocked the sword out of Mu Chen's hands. He then stepped forward, pointing his sword at the man.

"Choose your next actions wisely," Bai Xu said, darkly. Mu Chen took a step backwards, but stopped when he realized he would fall. "Either you stand by me, or you're going into the kiln yourself."

"Back away from him!" Guan Qi cried out, taking out his own sword. He rushed to attack, but was no match for him as Bai Xu flipped in mid air, slashing him with his weapon. In two strikes, he chopped off an arm and a leg of the younger man. Guan Qi's eyes widened and he let out a terrifying shriek of pain. 

"Guan Qi!" Mu Chen and Zhong Ran cried out in horror, watching as their youngest friend bled right in front of their eyes. With a leg missing, Guan Qi couldn't hold his balance and he tumbled over the edge. The other two couldn't reach him in time.

"No!" Zhong Ran shouted, anger flashing in his eyes. He grabbed Mu Chen's fallen sword and charged at the prince. He, however, was no match to Bai Xu. Bai Xu dodged and Zhong Ran jumped right into the kiln. 

"Zhong Ran! Guan Qi!" Mu Chen cried out in fear. He looked at Bai Xu, who was walking towards him, his eyes flashing red. "Please. Don't do this. Bai Xu. We were your servants!"

"You betrayed me," Bai Xu hissed. "You left me! You didn't believe in me! Don't think I don't know what you guys alway thought of me!"

"Please," Mu Chen begged, shaking his head with tears streaming down his cheeks. "You can stop this."

"You're right, I can stop this," he said. He stepped one last step until he was standing right in front of him. Without another word, he stabbed the sword into Mu Chen's chest. "Go to hell."

He pulled the sword out and Mu Chen fell as well. He then backed up, looking at the crowd of men. They all were staring in shock. 

"Do you want to go hell, or do you want to live that fabulous life you always wanted?" Bai Xu asked, his expression dark. The men didn't need anymore reminders. They roared with elation, rushing towards the kiln and jumping in one by one. Bai Xu let out a manic laugh and backed up, watching them all fall to their death. Sparks flew out of the volcano, lighting up the whole sky.

Once they were all inside the kiln, Bai Xu kicked in Guan Qi's missing limbs and turned away. He descended Mount Huo Wei with his hands behind his back, making his way back to Wuyong. 

 He was met by the people of Wuyong, who all cheered his name. They had witnessed the effect of his grand ritual, ecstatic that the volcano was finally stopped. They were going to live and they could finally rebuild their kingdom. 

Bao Xian greeted him, wrapping his arms around him and placing a kiss to his lips. Right in front of the whole kingdom. But no one could object. Not after finally being saved. 

"Your believers are back," Bao Xian whispered. Bai Xu smiled and nodded his head. "You saved the whole Kingdom. Doesn't this mean you can ascend again?"

"Of course, gege," Bai Xu said with a bright grin. "I can cultivate without a worry in the world!"

Bao Xian didn't know about the madness growing inside the prince. He didn't know about the evil deeds he had committed. And Bai Xu wasn't stupid. There was no way he was going to admit what he had done. If he did, Bao Xian would leave too. 

"My son," a voice said. The two turned to find the King making his way towards them. "I should have listened to you."

"Father," Bai Xu said. The hatred for the man was deep, but he didn't show it. He just gave him the fakest of smiles. 

"Are you ready to come back home?" the King asked. Bai Xu clenched his fists behind his back, but nodded his head. 

"I'm allowed to come home?" he asked. Only Bao Xian could hear how fake he sounded. The older man frowned and placed his hand on Bai Xu's shoulder.

"What are you planning?" he whispered into his ear. Bai Xu ignored him, staring at his father.

"Of course you are," the King said, turning and walking back to the palace. Bai Xu smiled and followed after him. Bao Xian had a horrible feeling about this. He rushed after them, taking a hold of the prince's hand. 

"My dear Highness," he said, softly. "Please don't do anything rash."

"Oh, don't worry gege," Bai Xu assured him. "I'm just happy I get to go back to the palace. I can finally stand before my people again."

Bao Xian could only sigh, following him with complicated feelings. He suddenly wished his friends were there so he could talk with them. But they had left. It seemed they had gone far away. He wouldn't be shocked if they found a heavenly official to take them in. They had so much potential. Any god would be lucky to have them in their guard. Bao Xian suddenly felt very alone in this world.

The two went to Bai Xu's room, and it was like things were back to normal. Bao Xian walked over and started running a bath, while Bai Xu sat on his bed and took out a journal. He opened it up to write something down, but stopped so he could look at his remaining vassal. 

"Gege, are you going to bathe with me tonight?" he asked. Bao Xian hesitated, before slowly nodding his head. Bai Xu grinned and turned his attention back to his journal.

"So… How did you do it?" Bao Xian asked him. "How did you perform the ritual?" 

"Rats," Bai Xu told him. "I found some rats that worked as a sacrifice."

So sacrifice was still the answer. Bao Xian let out a deep sigh at those words. At least it wasn't human. He nodded his head and finished the bath water. When he turned, he noticed Bai Xu staring at him.

"Are you mad?" Bai Xu asked him. 

"No no, rats are okay," Bao Xian assured him. "Now come on, my love. The bath is ready."

"Oh good," Bai Xu said, stripping out of his robes and making his way towards the bath. Bao Xian felt an evil aura radiating off the man, causing him to freeze. He didn't know what it was, but something wasn't right about him. 

"Are you coming?" Bai Xu asked.

"Of course," Bao Xian said, shaking his head and taking off his own robes. He cautiously got into the bath with the other man, watching him closely. 

"You're acting weird, gege," Bai Xu said. "Are you nervous?"

"I'm always nervous with you," Bao Xian said, causing the other to grin and pull him towards himself. His hands felt scorching hot on his skin. Bai Xu's hands moved to his lower back, and he wrapped his legs around the older man. 

"You don't have to be nervous with me," Bai Xu whispered into his ear. He nibbled lightly on his earlobe, causing Bao Xian to let out a small moan. 

"M-my Highness," he breathed out. The prince grinned and nibbled down his jaw line. Bao Xian couldn't express the feeling that was coursing through his veins. 

Bai Xu grinned at his words, pressing his hips forward. Their members grinded together, and friction shot through Bao Xian's whole body. He closed his eyes, giving in to Bai Xu's advances. Something about this felt so wrong but so good.

The prince reached down and took a hold of Bao Xian's member, carefully stroking it in his hand. Bao Xian breathed out in pleasure, bucking his hips towards his hand. Without thinking, he reached out and closed the gap between him and the prince, kissing him like he has never kissed him before. 

The kiss was full of heat and passion. It shot sparks through Bao Xian's entire body. He's never felt so good in his entire life. And he wanted more. He had to have more.

However, their moment ended quickly when Bai Xu felt a blinding pain on his face. He pushed Bao Xian away, grabbing onto his face and screaming out. Bao Xian jumped up in alarm, quickly getting out of the tub and pulling Bai Xu out as well. 

"What's wrong?!" he asked. Bai Xu shook his head, pushing him away again. 

"Go!" he cried out. "Go away."

"Your HIghness…"

"Go!" he screamed again. Bao Xian awkwardly dressed back into his robes and rushed out of the room. He was beyond confused and even hurt about what had happened. He's never felt so… betrayed in his whole life. And someone, he wasn't surprised. He seemed to be getting used to Bai Xu's mood swings. Something that just didn't make sense. Bai Xu didn't make sense. And Bao Xian was terrified.