Chapter 95 - I Must Leave

Ying Yue sat under the plum trees at the study. It was his favorite place and the smell reminded him of the calmness his husband brought with him. Warming his hands by blowing on them for heat, he sighed quietly looking at the ground. Warmth spread against his back when he felt heaviness on him. Looking to see what it was and flushed seeing the color of the coat.

"I knew you would look beautiful in this," Wang Li pulled his hair out and pecked his lips.

"Ah Li…" he stared at the fabric wrapped around him and bit his bottom lip when he recognized what it was, "Is this the coat for…"

"Someone special, someone I am courting?" His lover smiled amused, "Yes."

"It was… me?" He whispered quietly and blinked wide eyed at the man.

"Did I not tell you, my beloved, I've wanted you for quite a long time," his husband rubbed his thumb over his plumped lips and cupped his nape. He shivered lightly and stepped forward so the only scent he smelt was Wang Li's. They kissed and the blonde sighed happily with a smile, gushing from such attentiveness.

"Let us eat, husband," he said leaning against his lover. The Ghost King nodded and they headed to the dining area.

Ying Yue smiled over at Wang Li as they settled at the table with the ladies waiting for their meal. The elderly woman who always gave them their tea headed to them with the tray. The clinking of teacups could be heard as the woman neared.

Ying Yue looked worriedly at the female and attempted to stand to help, but Wang Li gripped his wrist to stop him. Glancing at his lover, he opened his mouth to speak but the woman had made it to the table.

The tray clinked onto the table and the woman looked ghostly white.

A heartbeat. Two.

"My apologies, my king. Please… please forgive me."

"Are you afraid of me, servant?"

Ying Yue widened his golden eyes in shock as he turned to his lover. That was degrading and to have his husband speak in such a way… he just couldn't believe it.

"I asked you a question."

That statement made the hair at the back of his neck stand. He heard the gasp from Hien and Ying Yue knew he wasn't the only one noticing this change of demeanor.

"Y… yes, my king."

"A punishment will be given."

"Punishment? Ah Li, she did nothing wrong," Ying Yue tried to defend the female, but Wang Li glared at him in such intensity that made him shiver.

"Do not get involve. I am the king here."

"Ah Li-"

"Do you not listen!" Wang Li gritted out, "Do NOT get involve."

"I will accept punishment, my king," the old woman with her head still bowed lowly on her knees.

The woman was shaking, frightened to the core. Ying Yue wanted to speak again on the female's behalf, but he caught the stare from Yun. She shook her head and he worried for the woman. He had never seen Wang Li punished anyone, but from the way his lover spoke… he worried that it was dea-

"Death."

There were gasps heard from those at the table and servants watching them. Ying Yue grabbed his lover's arm and looked pleadingly at him. Wang Li glanced at him with a deep frown before turning to the old female.

"You have been with us for a long time. Who would take her place in death?"

The silence made Ying Yue unable to sit still. Still clutching to his husband's arm, he would not let that woman die or anyone if he could stop it. Ready to offer himself, the white haired young man spoke up.

"I volunteer."

There were murmurs from the audience and the shocked gasps from the twins. Shen placed the food tray on the table and stood tall before them. His eyes were steady and he looked calm, but Ying Yue could see the small shakes of the boy's hands.

"Fu Shen, you wish to finally die."

"If it is what you wish."

"You volunteered to die in place of this woman."

"I do. She is the only kind person that helped me when I was younger, my king. I owe her."

"You owe her?"

Wang Li laughed darkly and stood up, pulling his arm away from the blonde. A grin, not like any Ying Yue had ever seen, was on his husband's beautiful face. Ying Yue followed and stood as well, feeling on edge.

"So you do not owe me? I saved you. No one cared for you and I, the Ghost King, took you in and gave you a home. If I didn't, you would have died!"

"I owe you everything, my king."

"Then I did not give you permission to volunteer, did I?"

"…"

"Did I!"

"No, my king."

"Know your place, Fu Shen, or you can leave the grounds."

"Ah Li, you do not mean that!" Chu spoke up in shock.

"You may join him."

"Nephew! Do not speak so rashly," Yun said sternly, but earned a laugh that chilled her bones.

"Auntie, I do not need you any longer. You are old and path-"

A slap was heard and everyone's eyes widened. Madame Yun, elegant and strong, had hit her nephew across the face. Ying Yue moved to stand between the female and his lover, protection for who, he wasn't sure. Was he going to fight Wang Li? Was this what the prophecy foretold? His heart was racing and his fingers itched unsure if he needed to call for his sword.

"I apologize," the Ghost King spoke up softly, "… for all that I have said. Please forgive me."

Ying Yue stepped forward and reached out to cup his lover's face. Looking into silver eyes he remembered, he wrapped his arms around his husband. Rubbing the man in red's back soothing, he glanced at everyone worriedly.

"Punishment will be given."

"Madame Yun."

"Heh," Wang Li started before he broke out into loud laughter that chilled their bones. Ying Yue stepped back as his heart pounded in his chest.

Eyes revealed not silver but red.

"You think you can do as you please, auntie?" The Ghost King grinned with his eyes dipped, sharp as needles, "I am the Ghost King! I do not need to listen to you, any of you."

"Ah Li," Ying Yue swallowed as crimson eyes turned to him, "Stop this. This isn't you."

"And who am I?"

The cold arrogance within his voice solidified the blonde's decision.

"You are my husband. Kind, caring, and protector of many. You, Wang Li, is the man I love. Please, stop this. Come back to me."

He saw red eyes waver during his speech and it cleared to silver. He let out a breath through his nose and smiled. He reached out touching his lover's face, but Wang Li stepped away with a gasp. He saw his husband clutched at his left eye and blood seeped down fingers. Ying Yue's golden eyes widened.

"My king-" Shen called out.

"Ah!"

Wang Li screamed loudly falling to his knees, gripping the table before him. He felt hands touching him, trying to comfort him but it only led to his skin itching like a fever. Words were being said but he didn't hear them through the sound of his ears ringing loudly. Gasping trying to catch his breath, he tried to focus on his wife. His soft face and loving smile, his light blonde hair and his plump red lips, and Wang Li found himself breathing softer.

A drop of rain fell to the ground.

Rain, slowly fell before it poured soaking his clothes. Ying Yue could hear people scrambling to get under the roofs, but his focus was on his husband. He knew what he had to do, what the reason for it was and it hurt him like a knife twisting in his chest.

"I need to leave," he whispered and he forced his legs to move.

"Ah Yue-" Hien tried but he shook his head and walked faster.

"Please take care of him. I have to leave. I am hurting him."

"What are you-"

He didn't listen and ran. Ran all the way to the front doors and Snow made a wounded sound, alerting him of who else he was leaving behind.

"You stay with him. Protect him, Snow," he whispered, rubbed his head, and continued to the entrance and halted from the words of his lover.

"You're leaving?"

The sound of the rain fell harder like a deep massage against his skin. He paused with his hand on the door, ready to push the hard wood aside to exit. Not turning, he stared at the ground in tears.

"Yes."

"You said you wouldn't leave me! That you will fix me! Ying Yue! You are my wife!"

Wang Li sounded desperate in his ears and he wanted to turn to his lover. He wanted to run into those strong arms and live in the brightness of his husband. Fingers shaking as he bit his lips, he shut his eyes and inhaled sharply.

"I am sorry."

"Sorry?! Don't leave me, Ah Yue. I need you."

Ying Yue trembled, but held as firmly as he could and pushed the door. He slipped out of the door without turning back. He closed the door and heard the loud cry from Wang Li, causing himself to flee in tears.

'I'm sorry. I am so sorry, Ah Li. Please, forgive me! Forgive me.'

The rain continued to fall for the next week. It fell when he read his master's letter. It fell like the tears in his heart, flooding and suffocating him.

Then, the rain stopped.

The cry of demons sounded loud into the air and Ying Yue knew it was time. The prophecy will come to head.

The cycle will be complete.

Wang Li will die.