Half a day has passed already since Yue Long started her journey to find the girl who helped her. Her first real friend in the village, one who Master Feng said “That girl just saved your pathic life!” Yue recalled being scolded. Looking at the sky, Yue seemed to be remined of the hotheaded master. This line gave her more reason to search for Jingyi Min, Yue Long’s one and only friend.
“I will find you Min. Even if it costs my life.” Yue brushed her hair out of her eyes and continued down the road towards the deeps darkest depths known to mortals.
The Abyss of the lost.
The Abyss of the Lost is a place for those who want revenge. A haven for those casted out by their sect’s because they were either practicing the dark path or saw something they should have not. The unfortunate souls that were heartbroken, hopeless and the weak who were abused, would travel to the Abyss. Only relinquishing their humanity to forget their past and grow stronger. Anyone with darkness in their hearts knew the road to the Abyss of the Lost. All one had to do was follow the pull. Once one starts to feel the pull of the Abyss, they knew to either give into the feeling or resist it. It was quite a challenge for those who felt the pull to resist it with only their will. Ever since Yue was young, a darkness was in her heart that could not be understood. It was her mother and father who helped her ignore the pull, or Yue would have walked the road to the Abyss of the lost long ago.
When night came Yue found a tree branch to sleep on. It was a safe place for her as no one could see her from afar and no could anyone sneak up on her. The moon shined through the leaves allowing a somewhat safe comfort. Crickets chirped throughout the night as Yue drifted off to sleep as four young men sat underneath it.
“We’ve been following this woman for a day. Where is she going?” Kung Zhong huffed quietly. An arm of green kept his anger from growing anymore.
“Calm down. She knows where she is going. Its only been a day we might know where she is going after a couple of more days.” Mu Jun said lightly as not to wake the sleeping girl. Keeping an eye on the tree branch in case she fell from it. His worry comes from the promise he made with his jiejie all those years ago.
“She wont fall. Judging from the situation. Its only if she has another nightmare she would.” Xiu Feng closed his eyes to get some rest as well. “Being mortal is a pain. Hunger strikes at random. Being immortal we wouldn’t need food.” Xiu grumbled under his breath. Xue Xing was having a restless time trying to sleep at night. Being the god of night Xue Xing was usually awake during the night but right now he had to sleep to follow Yue on her journey. Some time went by as he tossed and turned for a few hours.
“How can any mortal sleep at night. It’s impossible to do.” Xue Xing was irritated. Kung Zhong was already asleep holding a scroll that he was reading. Mu Jun was still awake keeping an eye out for Yue and being a pillow for Kung Zhong. As for Xiu Feng he was checking his sleeves for any food.
“Do any of you have any food? I’m hungry.” Xiu Feng looked at the two who were awake, both shook their heads no. Silence filled the group, to only be broken by a heavy sigh and piece of flat bread falling into Xiu Feng’s lap
“If you are going to follow me can you be quitter and be prepared.” Yue looked down from the branch. Xiu Feng had become the same color as his robes, while Mu Jun and Xue Xing looked away from the tree. It became clear that Yue was awake and listening to the four complain about the mortal realm. Even if she wanted to sleep Yue would be plagued by both nightmares and her mothers face. “I came to rest my feet not to sleep. But since you are following me, we should just travel as a group. At least I won’t have to worry about money now.” Was said as Yue jumped down. Pulling a red overcoat from her bag she placed it on Kung Zhong who was the only one peacefully sleeping. Patting her legs lightly Yue sat close to Xue Xing with a weak smile.
Confusion was clearly on Xue Xing’s face. A light laugh was heard when Yue guided Xue Xing to use her lap as a pillow. There was no resistance from Xue Xing as his head was calmly placed in Yue’s lap. “Why?” He finally said a word to say out of a million running through his head. Yue froze slightly, the weak smile lost for a moment. Moving on its own Yue’s fingers gently ran through the silk like strands of midnight black hair. To Xue Xing it felt nice, to feel the gentle pull of fingers running though his hair, it was quite relaxing.
“As a night god that has been reduced to a mortal. I thought this might help. When I couldn’t sleep because of….” Yue paused for a moment, almost as if she got lost in thought. “just sleep. My mother would do this to help me fall asleep at night. I was never one to sleep well at night either.” Yue closed Xue Xing’s eyed and continued to brush his softly with her fingers. A strange familiarity came across Xiu Feng as he watched his brother and the girl, they had been tailing play this scene out. He sat there eating the flat bread given by Yue herself. About an hour passed as light snoring could be heard from Xue Xing.
“Where are you going?” was the question that everyone wanted to ask only difference was now two out of four were asleep. Xiu Feng could now interrogate who this person was without being yelled at by Xue Xing or getting repeatedly fact checked by Kung Zhong. Those ink wells darted from side to side like a mouse not wanting to be seen. Settling on Xiu Feng her eyes become dark voids of nothing seemingly capturing his soul.
“I do not know where exactly it is, But I’m following the pull. The pull to the Abyss of the Lost.” It was a cold response. “I don’t think you trust me, and I am alright with that. I honestly don’t trust you all either, yet you follow me anyways. Either I am something important which I have no evidence of.” Yue flicked her eyes to Mu Jun who was starting to fidget. “Or those people who killed my mother is coming after me. Thus, you four have decided to find the person who killed her.” The book of paintings was pulled from Yue’s bag. The fabric’s quality was fine and soft as Yue ran her thumb around the front cover. Masterr Feng was as quiet as a mouse and Mu Jun was looking into the distant sky trying to avoid being dragged into this conversation.
“Master Feng….”
“what is it?” A sharp tongue flicked out the words.
“Have you ever felt as if you never belonged to a home?” they were soft but had the impact of being crushed to death. This question always seemed douse the radiant phoenix with pain. Ever since he was young, he didn’t have a home seemingly abandoned by all. There was no place for Xiu Feng to belong to. Not even an owner when he was just a simple baby bird. It was a pain that bore so deep into Xiu Feng’s heart and kept root. Eyebrows knitted together as an internal struggle of telling the truth or if he should dismiss the question.
Inky wells looked up to the one debating with himself. “It’s alright you don’t need to talk about your experience about it. The look you have tells me everything. I didn’t mean to hit a sore spot. Im sorry.” Taking a bundle of red clothes Yue replaced herself with them. A slight movement from Xue Xing made her pause for a moment. Seeing that he wasn’t waking Yue got up rubbing her legs. “being a pillow for someone makes one’s legs numb. Haha… You both should rest. Since you need to adjust to the mortal world for now.”
A slightly yellowed piece of paper was placed on the tree Yue was previously in. a few more pieces of bread fell onto Xiu’s lap snapping him out of his thoughts. With a gentle pat on the head Yue sat next to Xue Xing.
“I will be meditating. The talisman will ward minor ghosts and demons away. Sleep well”
White spiritual energy swirled around Yue with spots of black appearing so often. The rest of the night stayed quiet after Yue spoke. The awake master’s fell asleep after another hour leaving the night peacefully quiet.
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