Firmament bells rang and it's noise echoed althrough out ninth heaven signifying the revival of a former immortal into godhood. At the last stroke of the bell, Xuanwu and Guan Yu descended down from the stairs of the eternal swordpool. As they reached the hall of immortals, the others were surprised as they witnessed Guan Yu returned into his former glory. His visage emanated a rather gentler aura than what he was before although the beard and the long hair did make him rather old-looking, it never tarnished his wholesome awe.
The one that was the most suprised was Elder Fang, Guan Yu's old comrade.
Returning back to the days when the horrifying war with the Shuras plunged Old Jianghu into the verge of ruin, Elder Fang stood by his side defeating the demons in their stead.
He bowed curtsily and gestured Guan Yu with utmost respect.
"Hello old friend... Do you still remember me?" Elder Fang looked at him from top to toe and smiled. "An apology for my rudeness but as I have recalled days ago, you were just 'this' (gesturing an inch using his point finger and thumb) small."
Unbothered, Guan Yu , looked back at him intently and examined Elder Fang's meridians secretly using his mind technique. He found something unsual. One of the vessels of his chi is sealed. Because of this, Guan Yu kept a calm demeanor and wanted to ask Elder Fang without using a harsh tone.
"Elder Fang, will you be called elder if your chi vessel's capacity is this 'small'? (gesturing his thumb and point finger)"
Elder Fang raised one of his eyebrows. He almost forgot that Guan Yu has been blessed by a technique called Eyes of the Heavenly Fire. This time, he was convinced that Guan Yu had reawakened.
"I sealed one of my meridians for one reason and because of it, I want to talk to you privately." Elder Fang said with a serious voice.
"Fine. Lead the way."
Guan Yu looked back at Xuanwu for the endth time and using his eyebrows, he gestured Xuanwu to put a paper talisman on Elder Fang's back to listen to what they are talking about.
As Elder Fang walked away first, Guan Yu gestured a little nod to Xuanwu.
Elder Fang and Guan Yu walked along the hallway leading up to the dream pavillion where the millennium cascading cherry blossoms bloomed maginificently. The sweet smell filled Guan Yu's senses which made him take a handkerchief and wiped his nose.
"Why are you covering your nose? Don't you like the smell of millenium cascading cherry blossoms?" Elder Fang teased him.
"No, as a God of fire... I have weak affinity for something doused in water all the time." Guan Yu said continuing to wipe his nose.
"Ah I see. Then, this is not the proper place to talk. How about I find another suitable place for us?" Elder Fang inquired.
"No. It's fine. I can handle the smell. Tell me, what happened with your dui meridian." Guan Yu hesitated.
"My dui meridian was damaged by a woman named Wan Miansu. I loved her so much and wanted her to be mine but she became selfish blinded by greed. She was once an immortal here but stormed out because of jealousy as she can never obtain any position of godhood which belonged to beauty and awe." Elder Fang explained. Guan Yu wanted to listen more. Elder Fang's words are hanging on a cliff. He can't trust half truths so he wanted to find out for himself.
"Wan Miansu isn't like that. 10,000 years ago we four along with Zhuge Liang defended heavenly realm and mortal realm against the invasion of Shuras did we not? Why did she change?" —Guan Yu
"Jealousy. It changes people, corrupts, blinds them like a blindfold that tightly wraps their eyes from the truth." —Elder Fang
"I see. Is Ji Mei doing well?" —Guan Yu
"I... I'm sorry Guan Yu." —Elder Fang
"What do you mean, 'I'm sorry?'" —Guan Yu
A strong wind blew away against the leaves of the millenium cascading cherry blossoms as Guan Yu's aura changed from being gentle gradually into being into his old self. Harsh, sadistic and terrifying. Red lines are evidently tracing along the lines of his eyes indicating his overwhelming rage.
"What did you do to my sister?" —Guan Yu
"For that matter, you can ask Wan Miansu personally."—Elder Fang
With an outburst of rage, Guan Yu turned into a dark red flame and stormed outside ninth heaven descending into the mortal realm.
Elder Fang sensed the talisman that was put on his back and took it by his hand and crumpled it. He slowly opened his dui meridian and a black flame slowly enveloped the talisman.
"An angry man is blind of everything. He would never know if I was telling a truth or a lie..."
Elder Fang chuckled softly.
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It was a quiet night. Crickets chirped as a new moon emerged across the horizon of Old Jianghu. The night was calm and serene as a carriage is seen rummaging along the pathway of the bamboo groves fluttering the bamboo leaves on it's wake.
Wan Miansu who was resting peacefully inside the carriage opened her eyes as she sensed a powerful being with a hostile aura coming towards her.
She pulled her sword and flew outside the moving carriage defending herself from the tip of the spear that was thrown at her.
She exhaled as the spear withdraw from it's attacks as it went back on the flaming visage. Because of this, she wanted to take the chance to talk to the man behind the attack.
"Who are you? What do you need from me? Jiutian Xuanwu sent you to anhilate me. Did she?" —Wan Miansu
The flames slowly disappeared and a man with a long hair with a beard and a familiar face stood there holding the spear in his hand.
Wan Miansu was filled with fear. It was Guan Yu in a state of rage.
"Lao Fang told me everything. What did you do to my sister?!"—Guan Yu
"Elder Fang? What did he tell you? That I murdered Ji Mei?"—Wan Miansu
"And there, you said it! I wasn't going to trust Lao Fang but you... You!!!" —Guan Yu
Picking back his spear, he successively attacks Wan Miansu but he fails to land a single blow since Wan Miansu's swordsmanship is at same level as his.
"Listen Guan Yu!!! I admit that I had taken part of Elder Fang's plans to kill your sister but I wasn't the one who killed her!" —Wan Miansu
"Shut up! I don't want to hear words from a murderer like you!" —Guan Yu
Both of them continued to fight until a strong wind blew away both of their weapons. The newcomer looked similar to Ji Mei's yet the visage was a little different since Ji Mei's hair was white but hers was deep black.
Her eyes glowed in pinkish aura along with the flower crest on her forehead.
"Ji... Mei?" —Guan Yu