Hades quickly intervened as the child zoomed forward. His chin tilted upward with disdain as the spirit halted to an immediate stop.

Glancing back, Hades casually observed the Celestial Dragon Jade Saber, exchanging a meaningful glance with Kazuo, then refocusing on the ball of blue light. The fire on his sword caused shadows to reflect on his face, making his stare more intense. “Six hundred years ago, I sentenced you to the depths of Tartarus,” he said. “Yet you have not learned your lesson? No matter your regrets, it is too late. I’ve already severed your past connections.”

The child merely grew annoyed, trembling with rage. The ball of light looked pitiful, but Hades was right. Tartarus was where people went when they committed unspeakable crimes. His previous appearance was simply an illusion meant to deceive us.

Li Wei looked at me with a soft sadness, “This child is no longer in your world, Zhen Xue. It would be better to not pity him. He will go to great lengths and say anything he can to get what he wants.”

The ball of light seemed to glow brighter. “I don’t really care about any of you, so you’re not wrong to think this way. It’s been six hundred years with nothing to do. I’m finally having some fun again.”

“Wonderful.” Hades marveled with sarcasm. “You can have some fun with my blade. It’s been in slumber for a long time too.”

Hades drew a circle in the air with his hand until a hole appeared underneath the spirit. Hades stared coldly, as if daring him to try anything stupid. “Now,” he demanded.

The spirit reluctantly dove into the hole, vanishing into the depths, where the structure disappeared a moment later.

“And so, we’re done here,” Hades chimed dryly, whipping out his fan from the spot it hung on his belt. “I’m exhausted.” He turned around, nearly jumping out of his skin that he was the center of my attention. He glanced at me with a fretful gaze. “What…?” he demanded.

“Do I really need to say?” I asked, tapping my foot impatiently. “The snake tattoo nearly disappeared. I thought you were dying.”

Hades hid behind his fan, waving a breeze at himself. “That’s because my wife is here.” He paused for a moment, looking away with faint embarrassment. “My soul was really leaving my body, okay?”

I heard Li Wei’s laughter in the background, but I couldn’t tell if it was in my head or out loud. When I glanced at him, he seemed completely composed and unaffected, offering me a reassuring smile. He can be so confusing sometimes. I don’t know what’s going through his head.

“Hmm?” Li Wei purred. He answered my silent question in a matter-of-fact tone. “I’m thinking of new ways to steal you away, actually.”

“You’re doing what now?” Hades inquired. He twisted towards the door, forever waving himself with his fan, then walked ahead, ignoring the remaining stares.

“Did I say that aloud?” Li Wei asked, feigning ignorance.

Aelius showed up behind Li Wei and me, wrapping his enormous arms around the two of us as we walked into the hallway.

“Aelius?!” I blurted out. “When did you get here?”

Aelius merely shared a smile with me and moved to the front of our group. “Hades found me while I was fighting wandering corpses.” He spun around, walking backward, observing our group. His gaze landed on the death god. “You know, in some out-of-whack way, you look just like me,” he said with an incredulous expression.

Hades shook Aelius’s hand vigorously and with delight. “We’ll get along just fine. I didn’t have the pleasure of introducing myself before.”

“Me neither!” Aelius exclaimed. He smiled in relief that he wasn’t alone in thinking this way. “What is it like being the bane of my existence?” he asked in a chipper tone that didn’t align with his question.

Hades’ footsteps faltered. “Your what?” he looked at him, struck with confusion.

“Aelius is a doctor,” I explained quietly.

“Oh…” Hades said in response. “Oh, well, this is awkward,” he raised his fan higher, hiding the lower half of his face in embarrassment.

“Not as awkward as being stuck with a pair of wandering corpses that were on their honeymoon,” Aelius lamented. “I was supposed to be their wedding gift. Do you want to know what that looked like?”

“I’m afraid I don’t,” Hades said without enthusiasm.

Aelius laughed and then turned around. “Given your position, I’m sure you’re already aware.”

“Unfortunately.” Hades snapped his wrist, closing his fan. “On to other matters, I’d like everyone to get some rest. Too much has happened today for my liking. It’s better if we start fresh tomorrow.”

Upon Hades’ words, we went our separate ways, but I didn’t enter my guest room like the others. There was someone I wanted to see first, but I was dreading the confrontation.

When I gathered my nerves, I went across the hallway to Ming Yi’s room and prepared to knock. My knuckles hovered just over the door, pausing at the sound of two voices coming from inside.

Before I could hear what was going on, Ming Yi swung open the door, appearing before me out of breath. He leaned against the door frame, shielding my view. “Yes?” he demanded.

Momentarily forgetting why I came here, I expressed my concern, “Are you okay? I was hoping to speak with you.”

His shoulders stiffened. “Now isn’t a good time.”

My gaze hardened with suspicion. “Why?”

“None of your business.”

“Ming Yi…” I said, taking a step forward to slip into his room.

Before I could even attempt to walk over the threshold, he grabbed my arm and spun me around back into the hallway. The sharp movement sent pain into my shoulder.

He released his hold when I was far enough. Luckily I could catch my balance or I would’ve fallen over. “I told you not to call me that,” he snapped coldly.

The chill that ran through me at the sound of his unfamiliar tone was suffocating, a desperate reminder of the lost connection we once had. I suspected the thread between us broke somewhere along the way, but witnessing the results first hand, made my heart shatter. “Why?” I asked brokenly. “What have I done wrong?”

His impassive stare didn’t change. “It’s not you that’s wrong, Dianxia.” He reached out and pulled my body close, holding my waist. “I’m the one that’s evil,” he declared. “Longing for something I can’t have.”

“Ming Yi…” I said with desperation. “You know I can’t love you in that way. I can’t give you what you want…”

He pulled me into his room with a growl, slamming the door shut and trapping me against the surface. Lowering his head next to my ear, he whispered, “I told you that’s not my name.”

Goosebumps erupted on my skin from where his breath touched. Barely thinking straight to form thoughts, I weakly gripped the fabric of his clothes, knowing there was only one way to sedate him. “Okay… Kazuo…” I finally said.

A smile erupted against my skin; I could tell because his teeth brushed against the spot where he placed his lips on my neck like a soft caress, but he didn’t go any further. “You don’t need to do things you don’t want to anymore,” he whispered. “Why can’t we travel the world like he once dreamed about doing? I’ll buy you beautiful clothes like I promised. Even if we’re not a couple, I’m willing to give you everything…”

“You can’t give me everything.”

Kazuo froze against my body, his breathing going still.

I struggled to find the right words, despite the difficulty in expressing myself. “Ever since I was young, my father wanted me to become a man of power, my mother wanted a different son, my siblings never stopped believing I would always make the right decisions for their sake.”

Kazuo clung on to me tighter, as though I was saying how I’m going to leave him behind. I wanted to tell him that wasn’t true, but I need him to hear everything first or he won’t listen.

“I felt like a puppet on strings,” I continued. “Or no… a windup doll, a living imitation of pretty plastic adorned in jewels and if it moved the wrong way, people would see its cracks and look at it with contempt and scorn. I’ve never been able to live life the way I wanted,” I explained, reaching my point.

There were incoherent sounds muffled from Kazuo’s mouth pressed against my clothes as he wept. He finally asked in a broken voice, “Why am I not enough for you?”

Anger boiled in my veins. I pushed him away at arm’s length, looking at him firmly. “Whoever said you weren’t enough for me?” I demanded. “Being enough isn’t the problem here. I’m not an object for you to possess. Don’t think I haven’t seen the way you want to choke me, but you don’t as though you’re uncertain whether that will make me hate you. If that’s the love you offer, then we barely have a friendship left.”

Kazuo forcefully yanked me away from the door, shoved me outside, and shut it abruptly, leaving me stunned and unable to comprehend his actions. I found my way into one of the adjoining guest rooms and slammed the door shut, sinking to the carpet out of breath.

My face sank into my trembling hands, tears slipping through my fingers, desperately attempting to steady my nerves. Ming Yi was there with me from the moment I entered this world. He became someone I cherished rather than a source of protection. We shared so many moments together, countless nights of joking around and talking when I felt alone. Who would’ve guessed that now, many years later, he would become unrecognizable?

I should have addressed his feelings towards me sooner; it’s my fault, I realized. I ignored them out of fear that confronting them would mean ruining our friendship, but now, as a result, he’s become possessive, thinking I don’t want him around.

Even though I clarified that his happiness was my sole wish, he persists in sacrificing for me instead of living for himself. I don’t know how to help him, the person who’s offered me the world. What can I possibly give him in return to meet such standards? Taking a deep breath, I calmed down, realizing further speculation would be futile.

The room was dark except for the window emitting moonlight, casting a red glow across the wooden decor with embroidered patterns.

Hades obviously had a taste for finer things in life, choosing to decorate his home with furniture befitting royalty.

I went over to the bed but found it was empty, somewhat disappointingly. No, of course, it would be empty. What were the chances I’d go into Li Wei’s room?

With a heavy sigh, I fell backwards onto the mattress that was layered with quilts. I’ve been on edge ever since the encounter with the child. There was a strange aspect to the event. The child admitted to wanting my power, yet when endangered, why did it go towards Kazuo instead? No matter how I replayed the situation, I couldn’t understand.

This was the initial reason I wanted to confront Kazuo, but things have become even more complicated. Whatever is going on, I’ll have to deal with it tomorrow.

As I closed my eyes, I became more aware of my surroundings and realized that I wasn’t alone. My eyes snapped open to find Li Wei leaning over my person. His blond hair cast around his face, the longer pieces nearly touching my cheek.

“Are you okay?” Li Wei asked. He looked down at me gently, choosing to play with my strand of long silver hair. “If you’re hurting, tell someone,” he whispered. “You don’t even have to explain if it’s too hard to speak. I’ve always heard you from the very beginning and I’m here whenever you need.”

“Li Wei,” I said with a shaky voice, feeling my resolve crumble. “You’re really too good for me.” Unable to bear my sadness any longer, I covered my eyes again with my good arm, seeking solace in the darkness.

Li Wei eased my arm aside, his worried gaze never leaving mine. I couldn’t bear to appear vulnerable in front of him. My gazed shifted away into hiding my emotions, but as I did so, I noticed his gentle smile. He was never judging towards me, and with that knowledge, my tension faded and I felt comfortable. “You don’t owe me anything, my darling,” he whispered softly. “It is my privilege to care for you.”

He smiled softer than usual, and when he was certain I would be okay, he took his leave.