章節 24: Predestined Death

Within the distance, Taehyung could see the faint figure of Jin Tong, heading towards the broken jade palace. Swarms of fruit fae flew towards the station, abandoning their homes on the floating islands. The fruit had all disappeared, along with the leaves of the trees, leaving the branches bare and foreboding.

Rumbles of battle sounded out in the distance, the sheer power of the fight so terrifyingly strong that Taehyung could feel it from here. Flashes of lightning flickered in the distance.

The words 'predestined death' flashed across his mind.

Taehyung quickly flew towards the jade palace. He felt a small tug on his sleeve. Turning around, he saw the same fruit fae he saw whilst coming to the gathering.

The fae's little face was filled with fear and anxiousness. It tried pulling Taehyung away, its little wings buzzing and moving frantically. Taehyung smiled softly.

"Thank you, but there's someone I need to find there," he said gently, removing the fae from his grip.

He continued his way to the palace, following the speck in the distance.

Inside the shattered palace, Guan Gong winced. His body was littered with wounds, silver blood pouring out. He was breathing heavily from exhaustion.

The Jade Emperor, on the other hand, suffered much less injuries, staring at the battered Guan Gong with a look of arrogant pity. He flicked his sleeves, snorting.

"This is the power of a God of War?" the Jade Emperor sneered.

Jin Tong hid himself behind a pillar, watching the two closely. He blended in with the shadows, making sure the two did not notice he was there.

"This one is not finished yet," replied Guan Gong with a fierce look of determination on his face.

The Jade Emperor scoffed. It didn't matter. Guan Gong couldn't last for much longer anyways, with only half his Godhood left to fight. Even if Guan Gong could stand up against other Gods, he was the Jade Emperor. The symbol of power.

Taehyung burst into the scene, his eyes skipping over Guan Gong and the Jade Emperor, looking for a certain someone. Jin Tong's eyes widened at the sight of Taehyung, his heart full of worry.

The dumb idiot, even after Jin Tong told him not to follow him, he still did.

The Jade Emperor jumped at the sight of Taehyung. "Jin Tai Heng! This has nothing to do with you, so leave!" he yelled.

Taehyung stared at Guan Gong, whose body was littered with injuries. The two had fought to this point. This was obviously going to be a battle to the death. Guan Gong's armour had already shattered in some areas; how much longer could he last?

Predestined death…

Guan Gong shifted his body, raising his sword once more. He ignored the slight twinges of pain from his injuries. With a roar, he charged towards the Jade Emperor, black wisp surrounding him.

Jin Tong flittered his way out of the shadows. Holding onto his golden sword, he joined Guan Gong. The Jade Emperor's eyes were startled, but he still blocked both their attacks with ease.

"Is this your revenge, Jin Tong?" the Emperor asked.

Jin Tong gritted his teeth and kept attacking, working together with Guan Gong. They made almost no damage to the Jade Emperor. Their swords merely glided off the smooth surface of his jade body.

The Jade Emperor stared at Jin Tong, trying to antagonise Jin Tong. "We do not regret executing the Jade Girl."

Jin Tong's face contorted in fury, but he controlled his emotions. With a few deep breaths, his expression went back to normal and he glared fiercely at the Emperor.

"It is not just that," Jin Tong said.

The Jade Emperor let out a hoarse laugh. "Jin Tai Heng? We ask you again why you strive so for him."

"Some things are better left unsaid."

Jin Tong glanced pointedly at Taehyung, who stood on the sidelines of the fight. Taehyung shifted his weight uncomfortably and reached for the hilt of his sword.

Both Jin Tong and the Emperor shook their heads.

"Do not get into this, Jin Tai Heng. You will not be able to help," Jin Tong warned, causing Guan Gong to stare at him in amazement.

Jin Tai Heng was a candidate for the position of God of War. How would someone of his power not be able to help? Guan Gong glared at Taehyung, sweat pouring down his body, silver blooding dripping from his wounds.

"Jin Tai Heng! Why is someone of your power sitting on the sidelines?" he demanded, pointing his dark sword at Taehyung.

Jin Tai Heng was rumoured to be one of the candidates for the position of God of War after Guan Gong's love for the flower fairy was discovered. With his golden sword, he had brought honour to the Heavens with his battles against the Demon Gods.

A mere spirit who could shake the Heavens, a spirit who could leap across the barrier between a spirit and a God. Head to head against a God before his cultivation level even reached that of a God's, how terrifying was Jin Tai Heng?

Taehyung didn't know what to do. There was a deep rivalry between these three, with hidden grudges everywhere.

Jin Tong yelled at Taehyung. "Don't get into this, stay out!"

He aimed another slice towards the emperor. The sword bounced off the surface of the Jade Emperor's skin, dealing nary but a scratch.

Both were fighting against the Jade Emperor with little success.

Guan Gong and Jin Tong exchanged a glance and simultaneously retreated back about twenty metres.

Another stalemate. The Jade Emperor did not attack nor say anything, just continued to stare at Taehyung.

A golden arrow whizzed the the air, catching everyone in the scene off-guard. Aimed from the shadows of the palace, no one knew who it was.

Taehyung's eyes almost traveled alongside the flight of the arrow in slow mode. Forward, forward. Going straight from the shadows to a place that was a vulnerable for both God's and spirits.

Guan Gong stared at his chest, a golden arrow going straight through his heart. Drops of silver blood slowly leaked out, then gushed more furiously afterwards.

A normal person would've died, but Guan Gong was the God of War. Even if he had given away half his Godhood, there was no way he would die that easily. He winced as he felt white hot pain slice through his veins.

"Poison--!" he hissed.

Guan Gong had a sudden feeling that he was going to die. The poison raging throughout his body was not a normal one, raging through his system.

At the same time, Jin Tong had trouble standing up, using his sword as a crutch. He struggled to breath properly, his face pale.

"This...is Heaven's wrath," he whispered.

Jin Tong collapsed on the ground, his body still.

Taehyung stared in horror at the sequence of events. Who shot the arrow? Why did Jin Tong collapse?

A predestined death.

But which person was it?