Chapter 180 - Until The Flames Died Down

Ying Yue stared at the lake where his husband smiled at him for the first time, where he kissed his lover a second time, where Wang Li told him-showed him how much he loved him. The stars looked like glitter on the water's surface, welcoming his student. Trying to calm his stuttering heart, he looked at the lotus in his hands and walked to the boat.

Li Hien looked peaceful and beautiful as she floated near the surface. Lying on the boat with her eyes closed, one would think she was sleeping.

"May you be at peace, Li Hien and… thank you for always being kind in every life I have met you," Ying Yue whispered and placed the lotus in the boat. He moved back and Han Mo moved to place his lotus into the boat. This continued until everyone had placed their flower into the carrier, but Fu Shen, Li Chu, and Li Yun.

The white-haired female had her eyes closed and was whispering something that only she and her siblings could hear. Li Yun stepped forward first and the two followed with their heads low and tears falling from their eyes. She kneeled beside her little sister and touched the cold face.

"My dearest Hien," she smiled and stroke the brunette's cheek, "May your heart be as pure in the next life as it was here. I love you. Be at peace."

Li Yun wiped her eyes as she stood and stepped back for her siblings to say their words. Fu Shen did not say a word but held the brunette's hand with his head low. Li Chu, this was the first time she had ever been silent. The blue haired female sobbed for awhile with her head on her sister's shoulder. She had always done everything with her twin. This... now, now her sister isn't there and it… what was she going to do without Li Hien?

Fu Shen stood up and joined their white-haired sister. Li Chu finally stood covering her face as she turned to pressed her face against Li Yun's chest. She cried softly and her sister held her close, rubbing her back soothingly.

"We should send her out now," Han Mo said quietly and Ying Yue rolled his ring.

He closed his eyes and swallowed the lump of tears, of scream, of a breakdown back into his stomach. He nodded his head and walked down to the boat but paused when he saw Wang Li from afar.

His lover dropped down from his blade and wide silver eyes stared at the female in the boat. His husband dropped to his knees and cupped Li Hien's face. He saw Wang Li placed his forehead against the brunette and Ying Yue took a few steps back to give them space. He looked away with his eyes closed because if he were to look any longer, he would start to cry. He can't. He had to be strong.

"May you live a happy life, Ah Hien. I owe you much of my happiness to you," Wang Li whispered dropping roses onto the body below. Snow cried and nuzzled Li Hien as if she would wake soon, but the big cat knew it was not going to happen.

"Did everyone say their goodbyes?" Wang Li asked with a solid voice.

"Yes, Uncle Li. We've all… we've all paid our respect," Xu Lan sniffed as he wiped at his eyes.

Silver eyes closed for a moment, before looking over at Ying Yue. The Ghost King nodded at him and then the blonde watched his husband pushed the boat out into the water. Han Mo moved forward and swung his fan, causing the boat to rock forward down the lake. The stars sprinkled over the boat and Ying Yue fisted his hands and gritted his teeth to not cry.

Fire blazed when the arrow Xu Lan shot landed on the boat. Ying Yue was taken back to when Sheng Shui died. He wasn't able to save Li Hien, a person Wang Li loved. His nose twitched with the need to cry, but he refused. He looked over at his students who were crying, a family who was mourning, and his brother who was angry with himself. His golden eyes caught the movement of his husband going to speak with Li Yun, Li, Chu, and Fu Shen. There were whispers, quiet words exchanged, before his lover was wrapping his arms around all three of them.

Ying Yue turned back to the burning boat and he stayed until the flames died down. He smiled to his students and ushered them slowly to bed. He agreed when they asked if they could share beds. He agreed when they asked if they could stay up. He agreed to whatever they needed to get them through the night. He went to his redheaded brother and wrapped his arms around Xu Ling.

"No one blames you, Ah Ling. You did the best you could."

"No, I didn't. She died because of me. I will never forgive myself."

The eldest brother pulled away and frowned. Ying Yue reached out again, but the redhead stepped back, avoiding the comfort.

"Zhang Xu Ling," Wang Li's voice pierced through quietly like the sharpening of a blade.

Ying Yue stepped in between his brother and his lover. He searched his husband's face to make sure there was not going to be a fight. He did not want to have to fight his lover, never again.

"Ghost King," the redhead replied when Wang Li was close enough to hear.

They stared off and Ying Yue just focused on staring at his lover's posture and his face. The chilly air made the blonde shiver slightly from the cold. Silver eyes glanced at him, before he watched his lover's shoulders dropped.

"It is not your fault, Xu Ling. I was told Ah Hien fought hard, protected a fellow cultivator, and loved you as her master. She died a hero."

"Yes."

Xu Ling turned away and Wang Li looked at the moon.

"Would you tell me about her, Xu Ling? Tell me what I missed."

The Ghost King spoke quietly and looked at the redhead. Ying Yue saw his big brother stare at his husband for a moment before nodding.

'They are… getting along?' The blonde smiled and felt the warm palm at his back.

"Is it alright, my love?"

Wang Li questioned rubbing his wife's ear and Ying Yue smiled.

"Yes."

Ying Yue closed his eyes as his husband kissed his lips, before walking away with Xu Ling. He smiled and looked over to Xu Lan and Han Mo.

"We should sleep and… we have much to do tomorrow."

"I worry for the students," Han Mo hummed in thought looking over at Fu Shen, "This is their first death."

"I worry for my father as well," the pink haired man mentioned with his eyes still on his father's figure.

"We will…. We will find a way to help them and us. It will be hard, but… they will push through," they nodded in agreement and he sighed, "Forgive me, Ah Mo, Lan-er, for… for being patient with me when I… when Wang Li was away. I now know how hard it is."

He felt arms around him and he soaked in the warm comfort of his family. When they pulled away and said their goodnights, he saw Han Mo walk over to the grieving family. Xu Lan joined his father and Wang Li.

He just watched them for a moment, before he entered his room and took off his outer robe. Slipping into the cover, he curled up and cried.

He gasped quietly as his heart stuttered with remorse.

Li Hien, a sweet kind girl, now dead and gone. His body shook from the rippling of tears and pain in his soul. The brunette female was special. She always made him feel cared for, reminded him of Wang Li's love, did everything with a kind smile. To have someone so pure die because of him, only brought a onslaught of regret.

If he never created this school, she would still be alive.

He fell asleep crying and was roused awake when he felt fingers carding through his hair. He felt kisses on his temple then his cheek.

"My love," his husband's voice filtered through, "I must return soon."

Ying Yue reached out and Wang Li joined him in bed. They wrapped around each other and kissed, but his husband was not participating as he would before. Pulling back, his lover squeezed his robe.

"I apologize, Ah Yue."

Wang Li said quietly avoiding his eyes and he could feel the slight shaking of his husband's. Ying Yue pulled Wang Li's head to his shoulder and his husband tightened his hold. He rarely saw Wang Li cried or had the chance to hold him through his pain. The first time he saw his king cry was when Sheng Shui died, then he had died. The last, when Wang Li died.

Now…

He rubbed his lover's back and did his best to soothe his king, as his own tears slid down his freckled cheeks. He didn't know how long they were clutching onto one another, but the soft snores from Wang Li relaxed his muscles. He kissed his husband's forehead as he wiped the tears from pale cheeks.

'Ah Li, forgive me.'

Ying Yue closed his eyes and stayed close to his lover, as he fell asleep.