Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

He tilted his head slightly to the side.

— Young man, you haven't quite answered my question. I specified that you live in the Citadel of the Dark Tide. You've probably forgotten that I was once the head of the order, and I know that simple adepts do not live in clan residences. So you'll have to answer me.

— And you asked two questions. I'll answer the first, and then you'll complete your answer and answer my second question. I'm not looking for a meeting with demons, and I wouldn't advise you to either. Tell me, which clans currently inhabit the Shanlu?

Liu Yang

He chuckled, the advice sounded funny.

— I never said that I was a simple adept. I can't say that I had a strong desire to join the Hu Sect, but I couldn't refuse my friend. I think the answer is now complete. As for the second question, now the large clans are Hu, Thanshu, Gong, Shoe, Feng and Su. Your turn.

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

Mao enjoyed the drink with a thoughtful look. For some reason, he felt as if he hadn't had tea for centuries and had already missed the simplest cakes. Perhaps non-existence is not so non-existence? Everything in this world is not just like that.

So, the Heng clan is gone. That's good, at least one misfortune was defeated with joint efforts. The rest became interesting too. How did the war end, and who survived from those alive then? Is there anyone alive now? That remains to be seen. Now he needs to ask the most important questions.

— The easiest way to free the soul without damaging it is to melt the weapon with the dragon's flame.

He chuckled at his own thoughts. Right now he thought that the dragons could possibly free him from his duty to the Lord. It is necessary to find them and try to find out if they can help.

— They can burn even worse things with their flame.

Liu Yang

It felt like Mao Kung was trying to avoid answering. The young man looked at the magic caster carefully and sighed. He doesn't look like he's evading. Indeed, how would the Founder of Thanshu know what happened after his death?

— Perhaps this method was once the simplest, but now it is impossible. You don't know, but during the war, all the dragons died, along with their flames. Another option is needed, even if in your opinion it is more difficult.

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

His eyes widened on their own, and Mao couldn't help but feel annoyed. As soon as he found an opportunity to get his friend back, when it melted away along with the youth’s words. He should have been glad that the dragons were defeated. So, the Heng clan had perished along with their terrifying creatures. But now, this was not the best news.

Trying to restrain himself, he hesitantly rose from his seat. The wound, although not bleeding, still tends to open up. He also hesitantly began to pace the room, not thinking about the fact that he was a guest. The hope that had come so unexpectedly evaporated just as quickly.

Looking at the young man with displeasure, he did not rush to share his methods. For some reason, it seemed that this adept of the Hu order could use them for the benefit of the Celestial World. Taking another look, he put his hand on his stomach.

— I think we should stop our game here. I'm still feeling really bad, and you want thoughtful answers that will help you. Right? — Stopping next to him, he began to wait for an answer.

Liu Yang

He glanced at the frail figure. The spellcaster really didn't look very good. He deserved to be treated with the same care as the manuscripts crumbling in his hands in the Fortress of Damned Souls. For some reason, sources of ancient knowledge have been too fragile lately. He smiled and stood up.

— I'll see you out and send the healers. We'll have time to talk more than once. Should I send you lunch or are you going down to the hall?

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

Having accepted help, he reached his room, wishing to dine at home. Still, his body was too weak and it was too early to look for answers to questions. He lay down on the bed to give the wound rest. He needed time and strength. It is necessary to think everything over and decide what to do with the gift of fate in the form of an insignificant little body, which must be brought into a decent appearance and condition.

There was no point in returning home. Only to make his descendants laugh, and at the same time the rest of the Shanlu. Despite the fact that he had a body again, his time had long passed. Now he needed to find his place in this world. And it is also necessary to find a way to free Shi Tiang from his debt and obligations to the Lord.

There was so much of everything, but all this was possible, the main thing was not to miss the chance. With this thought, Mao, without waiting for lunch, fell asleep. 

Yu Long

Taking a look at the mirror, Yu Long smiled. The hair became snow-white, as it was before, and the appearance was almost identical to the previous one. The familiar features reminded him of home. A barely noticeable shadow crossed his face. The memories that fell upon the demon gave rise to many questions that needed to be answered. Turning around, he walked towards his brother and, knocking on the door, immediately entered:

— Jishu, it's time to talk.

Long Jishu

Standing over the map spread out on the table, Long Jishu studied the territories of the orders, planning a bright future for the clan that sheltered him. Of course, it sounds stupid, but still. That incident in the Fortress of the Cursed Souls showed how vulnerable this body is and how important it is to be careful so as not to lose the opportunity to realize your plans.

The one who entered distracted him, and the demon smiled at the guest.

— Yu Long, of course, you know, I am always ready to talk to you about any topic. What is bothering you?

Yu Long

Sitting down on the countertop, he took in the big picture and decided to start with the simplest.

— Tell me how you got out, how you found me, and what's your plan?

Long Jishu

Following his example, he sat down next to him and ran a strand of white hair through his fingers.

— You are as handsome as always. It makes me happy that the body is changing to its real appearance. The one that was originally suits you less, — he looked thoughtfully out the window, constructing sentences, — I don’t know how I got out, perhaps the spell weakened. After Shi Tiang's death, I was thrown into the Fortress and not a single living hand touched me. After several years or centuries, I was able to get out of the sword. The abundance of darkness in that place helped me. I have long noticed that it suspiciously resembles our father's energy, although I doubt it. What could he possibly be doing in a dungeon in this world?

Without giving him a chance to answer, he continued:

— Plan... Yu Long, there are only us here. Not all spellcasters even know what demons look like. So I think we can live here easy, as we wanted. What do you think about this?

Yu Long

He took his hand, squeezing it lightly. The familiar warmth reminded him of the past. For as long as he could remember, Jishu had always been there. The difference of only a few years and the similarity of views served as the basis for their friendship.

— A good plan, for starters, and then we'll see. Zui He and Yun Xu, who are they? And what are you going to do next, — he pointed his hand at the scattered cards, — do you want to seize power in this order?

Long Jishu

He covered his palm with his hand and smiled.

— Yes, for starters. You remember which lands our father made us rulers of? I want to get them back. And these, these are fans. When I acquired a body, I heard them, and I don’t know what came over me. Most likely, I didn’t want to be alone. Anyway, in the Fortress, I found scrolls with ritual developments. There someone worked very hard and very much with souls. I tested them on them, and I managed to transfer souls from weapons to bodies. By the way, I also made the artifacts that acquired bodies recently on purpose, in case I needed to conduct an experiment. I want to get rid of the attachment to metal, — the young man laughed, — Zui He and Yun Xu helped me. I freed you with confidence. I knew you would end up in Liu Yang. But why didn’t you seize control of the body?

Yu Long

— Why? Yang is a friend. I knew he was in no danger, and you... you would have found a way to help me get my own body later anyway. Where is the hurry? After hundreds of years of being locked up in arms, what does even a year or two mean? Jishu, I think it would be fair to take back those lands.

Laughing, he lightly pulled at the black strand, as he once did in childhood, wanting to tease.

— What a disappointment awaits your master.

Long Jishu

He even narrowed his eyes in surprise, ignoring the gesture. The speeches were too unexpected.

— Friend? I thought you couldn't seize power. He is your master, and he can wound you, just like mine can wound me. Aren't you afraid that when he gets tired of messing with you, he will return you to the sword? I'm not sure that this young man is at all predictable, although I can't help but agree with you, he may well be nice.

Yu Long

— Wound? Of course, he can, but I'm sure he won't do it. Masters generally treat their weapons with great care, haven't you seen that for yourself? And Yang... I've been with him since his childhood and he's never broken what he promised me when he asked me to make a contract with him, —

Was he confident? Yes. But his previous experience… He remembered his previous master. He had confidence in him too, but then… Long centuries of complete loneliness. This was how Gao Ze repaid him.

Long Jishu

He looked at his brother with doubt.

— It seems to me that the masters are different. Shi Tiang is a madman, and I had to fight him endlessly. He was always trying to subdue and force me to help him. My skills... How he wanted to use them to the fullest extent. But it was this faith in himself that killed him. This one... He never even realized, over the years of owning it, that I wasn’t there. I can’t say anything good about existence in the sword.

Closing his eyes, he tilted his head back a little, breathing in the coolness, then hugging his shoulders, dropped it, laying the white head on his shoulder, ran his hair, lightly touching the skin with his claws.

— Yu Long, I don’t know why, but with Yan, things are not simple, and I don’t know what I feel for him. But the most painful time in my entire life was when I pierced his body with a sword. And even knowing that you were there, I wanted him to survive.

Yu Long

Having settled down on his shoulder with pleasure, he stroked his fingers over his cheek, but at the last words he raised himself slightly, looking into his eyes with curiosity.

— You didn't want to kill him? This is strange, — he said, not having seen anything in his familiar face, he laid his head back and twirled a black lock of hair around his finger, watching the reflections of the candles play tag on his silky hair.

— Maybe later we'll understand what's going on here. Now he's a demon too and he's not going anywhere.

Long Jishu

Jishu raised his head, and lifting his chin with his fingers, looked into his eyes.

— Do you think he won't decide to leave? — kissing his temple, he let go, continuing his previous activity, — you know, I even missed you. Rest, we have a lot to do. Lord of the Shanlu Long Jishu - do you like it?

The young man pushed him in the shoulder, as a sign that he was waiting for an answer.

Yu Long

Basking in his arms, he lazily drawled:

— I don’t think he’ll want that, at least in the next few years. And even if he wanted to, who would allow him?

The demon turned his head slightly, exposing himself to the caress. The Lord of the Shanlu? Although, why not. If Jishu wants all these lands, then who can stop them? Especially now that the treaty has been broken.

— I like the sound of it. It suits you.

Long Jishu

He moved a little closer to him and, softly touching his neat little nose, kissed him hard on the lips. Wandering his tongue in his mouth, he looked into his eyes, in which fires from his native lands seemed to be burning, pressed him closer and lightly squeezed his fingers on the elastic halves.

Feeling his whole body fill with boiling blood, he pulled away with satisfaction and forcefully pressed the white head to his shoulder.

— You've had enough. Rest for now.