"Nanming…"
"Yes?"
Nanming is sitting on the floor in front of Wu Yinkuang graves, conversing with him one last time.
He speaks about all his dreams, all his wishes and all his hobbies.
"I really like stars you know… and bird, and scripture, ohh poem too!"
He said, listing one by one the things that interested him.
"But I never got the chance to do or to explore any of them…"
Wu Yinkuang faces turned into that of a quiet sadness.
"Why?"
"Because my mother forbids me too, all he wanted was for me to be a perfect boy, to be a Demon King"
Wu Yinkuang said, but there is no hostility in his tone, as if he had forgiven his mother already.
"I know my mother was like me somewhat, she wanted to become a painter. But her dreams were crushed when she was married off to my father, the previous Demon King"
Now that he understands more about freedom, Wu Yinkuang can sympathize with his mother whom he used to loath for making him go through a path full of thorn and pain completely out of his consent.
It was her way to rebel, her way of saying to the world 'I will not let you drag me down!'
To her, the only choice left to reclaim her freedom is by making him, her son, to be a person of absolute power and control.
In her own way, her rough treatment, sharp words and empty gaze devoid of love was, another form of love.
In different circumstances, Wu Yinkuang believes that his mother is a gentle and loving being. But a Rose still has thorns.
Wu Yinkuang will not repeat the same mistake of leaving his weight towards the living, the pain he endures will be buried alongside him.
"Nanming, did you know that Cultivation used to be a path to let go of all our worldly desire?"
"Really?"
Nanming replied, with curious yet empty gaze he tilts his head expecting answers.
"Yeah, it was called Daoism, a derivative of Buddhist theology"
Wu Yinkuan answers, and Nanming quickly replied.
"I know Daoism, it's an Unorthodox religion that prioritize achieving enlightenment by any means necessary"
"Exactly! But, in its own way, having a desire to not have any desire is, in its own way, a form of desire. And true enlightenment can only be achieved when we let go of everything, even the desire to become empty, at least I think of it that way"
Wu Yinkuang said with confidence, as if he had known himself enough to unearth those answers.
Nanming has yet to find the answer to even his own life, as if he is wading through a dream and his self is nowhere to be found.
Wu Yinkuan face then turned determined.
"Therefore, I wanted to let go, I wanted to forego my desire. But my guilt kept me in place, and so does him"
Wu Yinkuan said, referring to the Demon King that is his brother.
"Bring him my book, and speak to him the words that you spoke to me… For his sake, I will let go of all my dreams and desires"
"…Alright"
Nanming nodded, even with his still expression, the sincerity is real.
Wu Yinkuang shakes Nanming hands and thanks him.
"Thank you Nanming, you're the best niece I could've hoped for… Oh, and a message from me"
"What is it?"
"Always listen to your heart, don't let it become corrupted"
And with that, Wu Yinkuang vanished, but Nanming can still feel his presence nearby.
Maybe his energy is too weak to hold onto his form any longer.
And now that he has forgiven himself, there is nothing to tie his manifestation upon the Mortal Realm.
"…Wu Yinkuan"
Nanming uttered those names, rolling it in his tongue to remember his legacy.
A boy that is not so different from him, has the same imposed fate as him and shares the same pain as him.
He felt a strange connection with Wu Yinkuan, is this…
Is this what they call friends?
"…Right, the book"
He shifts his focus on searching for the book, Wu Yinkuan last legacy is hidden in a place only him and his brother know.
'In a place where the flower meets'
There are a lot of flowers here in the Crimson Palace.
'A wreath of flowers both scarlet and white'
Nanming thought it was Lady Hwang who planted all of them, but judging from Wu Yinkuan story, it could not be the truth.
'Seek the deep end where both roots entangled, a last unspoken word, a gift I prepared never given'
Nanming founds the specific flower bed of both Ageless Red Rose and White Rose.
He now knows that every single flower here is planted by the Demon King.
'That book will be burned by his hand, for he has to let go of me'
Nanming unearthed the ground, careful not to damage the delicate flower.
'For my flower hath wilted, never again blooms. My nutrients will be for him, to stay healthy and bloom beautifully'
"…For the Rose is the symbol of the Wu clan"
Nanming complete the lasts sentence Wu Yinkuang said before, his voice no longer lingers in his ears.
And in his hand, a book that is covered in dirt and grime, years of neglect in its cover. But the words etched upon it can still be seen, as if it was just yesterday the letter was etched upon the cover.
'I.LY'
I Love You.
…
In the front gate of the Crimson Palace.
A majestic construction built in the image of the Wu clan itself, the shape of the Palace and every single building inside is reminiscent of Rose.
Flower of blood.
An Image of Lust, the Demon King Wu Raijoo never knew the reason as to why an Image of Lust becomes the symbol of the Wu clan, when during its construction by the first Heavenly Demon, the Wu clan most defining characteristic were their innate unsatiated greed and the contempt that come with it.
The Wu clan was the Shura of Contempt, before it became Hate as of now.
Some fruit for thought by Wu Raijoo, now that he had reached the pinnacle of all, he started to think about all the small things.
As he walks down the path shrouded in the Deathfog mistveiled of Viren's creation, the only thing lighting the path is the slow burn of lanterns and flank of flowers.
But he soon stopped walking, for he saw someone he didn't anticipate.
His body is slender, hidden beneath the black robe that he wears, his face soft, gullible and innocent despite the cold stare of his purple eyes that reflects the faint light of the lantern.
White hair as pure as snow, long enough to cover his shoulders, a sight befitting of a fairy of heaven. Yet his appearance did not flower into a dark desire from the Demon King, just confusion.
"…Nanming, what are you doing here?"
Nanming bowed, following the curtsy mannerism of the Wu clan where they angled their head down but keeping their overall body straight facing, a gesture of bravery.
He is here as the prince, some part of the Demon King felt happy that this boy, who brazenly talks back to him during formal meetings, has now learnt enough propriety to distinguish between each act.
"I greet my dear father"
Nanming said as he shifts his gaze to look at the Demon King blank white mask.
"The reason for my visit, is to accompany dear mother in her rite"
Nanming said.
The Demon King suddenly remembered that today is that day, and he hadn't visited the grave at all.
Part of him blames his tight schedule, but maybe it's because he was just afraid.
Lately he has seen him, unchanging as the last time he saw him expires.
Was it guilt? Or simply Karma finally catching up to him?
"And in the subsequent event, I stumbled upon this book"
Nanming then presented the Demon King with an old and worn-out book with the letter I.L.Y inscribed on the cover.
The Demon King flinched at the sight of that book, it was a familiar one he used to has yet never allow him to see.
Where did Nanming found this?
The Demon King carefully pick the book up from Nanming's hand.
He hesitate to open it up, but he decided to do so after a few minutes.
"…"
'To my beloved brother, a gift to commemorate the day you have been born into this world, it's a celebration that originates from the Western nations to celebrate the day others safely made it into the real world, I wanted to do the same.
Happy Birthday my brother'
"…"
He… cannot breathe.
His heart stills, his stomach sinks, his mind reeling in and out of trance, as countless images of his brother flash again, a distant memory he closed off now resurface like racing tide.
He read those words in the same adolescent voice he treasured, as if he, Wu Yinkuan himself, is uttering those words.
Tear precipitates from his mask, falling into the pages of the worn-out books, wetting the age-old paper in salty water.
"…Thank you Nanming, now return to your Dorm"
The Demon King managed to steal his voice and told Nanming to return.
Nanming nodded and bowed once more before he left.
Once his presence is out of his sight, the Demon King closed the book and went towards his chamber.
His step is hastened, so fast did he walk that the surrounding flower was swayed by the rushing air following his movement.
Once he arrived, he didn't take his time to take the mask off or even sit down, he immediately opens the books back up and reads.
Inside were the recordings of the things they used to do, playing in mud, arranging flower crown, climbing trees, swimming in a river, creating stone tower and skipping stone over puddle.
Alongside the inscribed words, countless images play in his head, reminding him of the past.
That he can no longer return to.
.
.
.
"…I've done it"
Nanming said, he is now back at the Academy dorm, near the place where he first met Wu Yinkuan.
But no one responded back to him, Nanming didn't expect anyone.
"I've fulfilled a promise, isn't this make me a good person?"
All of this act was a selfish act from Nanming, helping others not out of the genuineness of his heart but because it's the right thing to do.
From the book 'What makes a Great Human', helping others not out of greed but out of sincerity is one of the qualities mentioned in the book.
He lacks sincerity, what his heart says contradicts what he wanted to do.
Because he didn't trust anyone, the last time he tried to help someone he ended up being backstabbed.
But he felt like this was a step to becoming a Great Human.
And he did gain something from helping Wu YInkuan.
He learnt how to forgive, maybe one day that knowledge will come in handy.
Speaking of him, Nanming can't help but to recall Wu Yinkuan words regarding enlightenment.
'True enlightenment can only be achieved when we let go of everything'
Perhaps he too, one day, can let go of everything.
Even his Wrath and Sins.
But that's a thought for another day, Nanming yawns and stretches his body languidly as he makes his way to his room.
He had never felt this tired, but the tiredness isn't annoying this time, he felt strangely happy and solemn today.