Sheng Fei leaned in closer, his golden eyes softening slightly as he smirked. “I was talking about encouragement. You know, something to make me brave enough to face the Emperor.”
Hua Ren tilted his head, his expression utterly serious. He had already told Sheng Fei about the Emperor’s deadly moves. What else did he want?
He gasped. Sheng Fei must have meant some sort of pep talk!
He cleared his throat and began. “Well, although you’re not as good as me in fighting, I know that you can still fight well. Do not give up. Only the weak give up and don’t worry, the drug is wearing off, and I can feel myself regaining my energy and strength. If you feel you can’t defeat the Emperor, stall until I recover. I will join you and we will defeat him. Together.”
Sheng Fei stared at Hua Ren for a moment, dumbfounded. Did Hua Ren really not understand what he was getting at, or was he playing coy? But Hua Ren’s expression was so earnest, so sincere, that Sheng Fei doubted he was teasing.
With a soft sigh, Sheng Fei shook his head. “Don’t worry. It’s enough that you care about me.” He reached out and ruffled Hua Ren’s snowy-white hair gently, his hand lingering a moment. “Stay safe.”
As he turned to leave, Hua Ren reached out and clutched the edge of Sheng Fei’s robe, halting him.
“Y-You meant something else, didn’t you?” Hua Ren’s voice was quiet and he stared up at Sheng Fei cutely.
Sheng Fei paused, wondering how his mate could be so alluring. One look and he didn’t want to leave.
He then crouched back down, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Hua Ren’s cheek. “This is enough encouragement,” he said, his voice tinged with warmth. He then smirked and winked. “For now.”
Hua Ren’s pale cheeks flushed a light pink as he pulled the robe tighter around himself, his voice barely above a whisper. “Be careful.”
Sheng Fei straightened, cracking his neck and flexing his shoulders. He drew his sword and slid his mask back on as he walked toward the Emperor.
It was time to show his wifey his skills!
The Emperor’s breath hitched, his chest rising and falling erratically as the voice seized full control. His head tilted back, and he drew in a long, deep breath, savouring it. Then, a low chuckle bubbled in his throat, growing louder and louder until it turned into wild, unrestrained laughter, ringing throughout the forest.
“Ah, it’s been so long since this boy let me take over completely!” the voice declared, laughing madly. “He must really want that general.”
The Emperor’s hands reached up, fingers clawing at the robes on his body, and with one swift motion, he tore them away, revealing a clean chiseled torso.
He raised his hands high above his head, sighing contentedly as he began twirling slowly, as if savouring the cold wind caressing his bare skin. “Oh, feels good,” the voice moaned. “Feels really, really good!” He threw his head back and laughed again, the sound echoing like a sinister symphony through the trees.
Sheng Fei walked toward him, his golden eyes blazing with fury and pain. “Seventeen years, and all you’ve done is sink your claws deeper into him, Lu Gui.”
Hua Ren frowned. Lu Gui? Who was Sheng Fei talking to?
The Emperor—no, Lu Gui immediately froze mid-twirl and turned slowly toward Sheng Fei, stunned. "Lu Gui?" The voice asked, slick, oozing with amusement. “So, you know me?”
Sheng Fei scoffed, the grip on his sword tightening. “Know you? You possessed my brother’s mind and slaughtered our entire family.” His said, the pain evident in his voice. He raised his blade, pointing it at the possessed Emperor. “All these years, I’ve been searching for a way to get you out of his body. You’re the one who’s corrupted him, making him do all these evil things.”
Hua Ren was shocked. Sheng Fei’s family was slaughtered? And most shocking of all, Sheng and the Emperor were....brothers?
Lu Gui’s eyes widened theatrically, then his lips curled into a sharp, devilish grin as he quickly realised who Sheng Fei was. “You live?" He asked, his voice trembling with glee. He began to jump up and down like a child at a festival, laughing maniacally. “He lives! He lives! He truly lives!”
Goosebumps scaled Hua Ren’s skin at the sight of the Emperor acting completely differently. His eyes darted to Sheng Fei, who was shaking with rage. He could feel it through their bond. It wasn’t intense but he could tell that Sheng Fei was pissed. It pained him to see Sheng Fei that way and he wished his body would recover faster so he could help.
The laughter stopped abruptly, and Lu Gui’s face twisted into a venomous snarl. “You think I corrupted your brother?” he hissed, stalking closer to Sheng Fei. “His mind was already a garden of rot. I merely... watered it.”
He paused, his crimson eyes glittering excitedly. “Why do you think I chose him and not you, little boy? His thoughts were delicious. Murder! Blood! Death! Humiliation! Suffering!" He began to cackle like a mad man. “Blood! Death! Blood! Death! Lots of blood! Lots of death!”
He giggled, his tongue darting out as though savouring the memory and he smiled with dark pleasure. “Your brother’s mind was a feast I couldn’t resist. I still can’t."
Sheng Fei’s jaw clenched, his sword trembling in his grip. “You twisted him. You—”
“I twisted nothing!” Lu Gui roared. “I simply revealed who he already was! Every scream he caused, every life he took—he enjoyed it. He begged for more. That’s why I stayed. Because he and I?” Lu Gui leaned forward, a devilish grin stretching his lips. “We’re the same.”
Sheng Fei’s blood boiled. “Come at me you devil!"
"With pleasure!" Lu Gui shouted. His laughter rang out again, high and wild, as he ran toward Sheng Fei at full speed.
The ground cracked beneath his feet, sending up a cloud of dust as he shot toward Sheng Fei like a phantom in the night.
Sheng Fei remained still, his golden eyes gleaming under the moonlight. His grip on his sword tightened, then, in a flash, he moved.
The two clashed, their swords colliding with a resounding clang that echoed through the trees. Sparks flew as Sheng Fei twisted his blade, pushing Lu Gui back, but the demonic ghost king only laughed.