The toll of giving up seven hundred years of cultivation was now starting to show its signs. It took three hours after he left to reach the abandoned temple because he kept crashing into everything. His worry about Lian Yuexia was causing his him to lose focus as he was free and able to be with the one, he loved for the first time in centuries.

Fu Dong opened his eyes when panting and heavy thumping of footsteps were coming from the entrance. His eyes met with the red eyes of a dragon than that of a human. The glare from Qinglong could kill thousands alone but when he saw Lian Yuexia behind Fu Dong he growled out.

“What did you do to him?” the hand on the doorway had crushed the poor wood that was already deteriorating. A fog started to form around Qinglong and cause the two who took Lian Yuexia to get up. As Qinglong stepped closer Fu Dong could see that he was exhausted and that it was either going to be a difficult fight or it could be a nice chat. Yet, the glowing red dragon eyes would not leave Lian Yuexia at all showing his concern.

Fu Dong noticed this.

“Move you two now. Let him through he only wants to make sure Master Lian is alright.” Fu Dong got up and out of the way, so Qinglong had a direct path to Lian Yuexia. The fog disappeared as Qinglong was able to walk towards his love. When Qinglong was further away he felt like it was that day they were betrayed by their trusted friend. Since Lian Yuexia was asleep he looked the day, they burned him in front of the temple he was sealed at. The three watched Qinglong walk closer to Lian Yuexia and when he finally got to him Qinglong placed his hand close to the others nose. The warm breath had made Qinglong’s knees weak in relief. Placing his hand over Lian Yuexia’s heart to see how much the pearl he had fed him the day before and it was completely absorbed, allowing Qinglong to feed him the last one he needed. The demonic qi that had lifted Lian Yuexia had disappeared dropping the sleeping one into Qinglong’s arms where he could feel the light breathing.

Fu Dong stepped in front of him causing a protective response from Qinglong. Tight in his grip was a slightly curled up Lian Yuexia who had started clinging on to him. Just like an animal protecting its young was how Qinglong was acting. Rising his hands Fu Dong kneeled as well and placed his staff in front of him.

“Master Long all I wish is to get a better understanding of what really happened back then. I know and you know that there is something more going on. And for who is the center its you four.” Qinglong stared at him seeing that there was no evil motive he relaxed a little yet kept his guard up.

“As for master Zhuque he is fine I even used a friends qi to help with the healing. But for him to be reborn with the scar of where the sword pierced it is certainly strange.” Fu Dong got a murderous glare from Qinglong as he just admitted to opening his loves clothes.

“You should do well not to say things that will get you killed.” Qinglong restrained himself from any movement. He was silent for a moment before he spoke again. “And for that day.... ive thought it over repeatedly for the nine hundred years I have been sealed away. Even I cannot figure out what truly happened that day. The one who does know… Cannot remember anything from those days.” Lightly Qinglong gently petted the white hair that was soft and silky. Fu Dong nodded as he looked at the two, he could tell that there was a protective instinct.

“So, I see. Master Long when he remembers anything I would like to ask for that clarity for that day. Do not worry that I will not take you in there is no reason for it.  From what I see the events of back then should not have happened at all. I will take my leave Master Long. I'll be around just ask for me and word will get back and we will meet again.”  Nodding to the two who were waiting on the side Fu Dong got up and left the abandoned temple. It was when they disappeared that Qinglong finally relaxed a bit. A sigh came from the exhausted god and as he sat there, it was day, but he was so tired from the constant drain of internal energy and cultivation. He leaned against the wall, still holding Lian Yuexia tightly Qinglong fell into a deep sleep.

Isolating himself from the entire world almost dead set on hiding away from it, was the Qinglianpai Sect leader Xue Guanting. He wouldn’t even allow his wife to enter the room let alone see anyone to talk about the release of an evil god. Banging could be heard from the door, but Xue Guanting just stared at the painting of his mother and his father and what seemed to be Lian Yuexia with smile that he never thought the child could make. If Xue Guanting didn’t know Lian Wujin-Ai since he was a child, he would believe that he was his uncle. A small table and the painting were the only things that had not been thrown around in the room.

“Xue Guanting get out here now. You must see your son before it is too late. He has not awakened yet Your son Qing Dabai will die if you don’t do anything about it. Damn that Mad woman and that cursed child. Xue Guanting Come out now. Make things right and come out now!” Madam Xue yelled at the door as she banged on it trying to get her husband to come out.

“How can you be a man that your father wanted when you cannot even sacrifice a child to protect the sanctity of our world, when you are crying alone locked away like a woman after heart break. Your father would be ashamed of you.” The door slammed open to a disheveled man who was angry. His glare at Madam Xue made he shrink down her courage nowhere to be found.

“Say that my mother was mad again and I will personally rip out your tongue. My father would not have wanted to sacrifice a child nor just kill one. From what my mother told me I had an uncle that everyone hated. But it was because of him that I stand here now. I am here and my father’s brother is not. My mother knew something but..... Never mind I will see my son.” Xue Guanting pasted his wife, allowing her to see the room he left the room in shambles. She gasped at the sight as her husband has always been a clean and tidy person but now just one mention of his mother made him such a mess Walking into the room, she saw that all the pots had been smashed and the furniture was either broken or upside down. Madam Yue has never seen her husband in such disarray, it made her feel like she needed to take charge, or nothing would get done.

Xue Guanting walked through the corridors that were being cleaned by two or three of the lower sect members. He stopped and looked at them.

“Why are you doing this?” He questioned. The three stood up and bowed to him.

“Master we usually don’t.... but the floor after a few days it’s gets sticky and slippery since it rains so much, thus we have to clean it.” Said a fair looking young man however from the looks of it he didn’t have high internal strength. The one to the right of him scoffed as he looked annoyed with this.

“Yeah right. All of us forced that omen to clean and even beat him if he refused at all. All over your watch.” He tossed the towel he had been using to wipe walls to the female next to him who had her head down.

“I never did anything like that. I wanted to be his friend, but You wouldn’t allow me master.” She sheepishly said aloud

 “Master, Lian Wujin-Ai would do all of this all alone.” Tears started to well up in the timid girl’s eyes “he never complained about having to. Once Lian Wujin-Ai said he was very happy to serve under someone like you.” The one who was annoyed seemed like he finally had enough of the girl.

“Fu Yang that is enough you are just as bad as that curse. It sounds like you have fallen for it. What every im leaving. Have fun cleaning up by yourselves." Bowing to Xue Guanting he turned and left them alone. The two stood there for a moment before Yang Fu turned back to the wall.

“Excuse me master but we are not done cleaning right now.” She went back to wiping the walls and floor. Nodding Xue Guanting started to leave but paused.

“Will one of you bring me those peach cakes. They help when my head hurts.” while rubbing his temple he looked back. Yang Fu stopped cleaning by now as the other sighed lightly.

“Master no one knows how to make those. Lian Wujin-Ai made peach cakes as well. Master, you need him more than he needs you. I hope you realize how important he truly was.” He walked away and started cleaning a different part of the hallway. Xue Guanting became quiet and then walked away to his comatose son. Arriving in front of the door did he finally realized the words said by one of his disciples.

‘Was he really that important? How did I not notice?’ He stood there for a few minutes before the door was slid open forcing him move out of the way and go inside the room. What he saw made him realize what he had been doing for the last month and a half was completely useless and that he was a failure of a father.

Qing Dabai was in what seemed like a deep sleep, but his skin was that was normally tan was now pale and starting to show signs of deep demonic corruption as portions were turning black. A wet cloth was on Qing Dabai’s forehead to help with the fever that he had, but it was not coming down and was only getting worse as time went on.