To head north, wasn't as simple as playing boardgames. The blizzard there was literally organ damaging.
Jiang Yunxian, who usually forget to wear a fur clork or a duopeng; is warmed by his feather phoenix friend Rong Qi. And now, he has to try stay out of death. But it was snowing, and his lips are already drying up.
"Are you dumb or what? Why didn't you bring anything to serve as warmth?" Guo N'Yang asked.
Jiang Yunxian sighed. "Beautiful lady, I once had a friend who really cares about me. Despite knowing how annoying I am. It's such a pity that I let him go. But it is for his own good, he can't remain in that weak state forever." Jiang Yunxian lamented for them to hear.
"Mr. Jiang....you talk as if you took care of that friend of yours in that way." Chufeng said.
"Eh? That way? Whet way is 'that way'?"
"Ummm..."
"Why are you hesitating to ask what's on your mind? Goodness, why after all this times, this idiot still hasn't learned anything from me." Guo N'Yang mumbled and Chufeng pouted, ashamed.
"Speak! Did you kill that friend?"
"Ah?!" Was the only thing that he could say.
"Don't try to act stupid. That friend who always brought you warmth, did you do that to that friend?" She asked again.
"What's your brain sprouting, huh? Did you leave it at the library when you descended? What gabbish..."
"Are you telling me he has no reason to kill a friend?" Guo N'Yang asked.
"And you are saying that he has every reason to kill a friend he has known for a long time? Is that what you are implying?" Xing Yue bit back.
Chufeng having that thought that even in this harsh cold situation they were in, they would still find a way to bicker. "Master... Star goddess, um... This isn't the right reason to pick a fight in the middle of nowhere in this col... "
"Shut the hell up!!! Who asked you?!!" They both yelled at her. Chufeng was so scared that she ducked behind the unfazed Jiang Yunxian.
"You... they had literally known each other for like forever, and you think...?
"Xing Yue, you of all people should know that it is easier for a person to betray one's brother., talk more of killing a friend. He might have been jealous. Greedy for more things, anything can cause betrayal."
"Jealousy? Of what? A feather? Guo N'Yang, I know that all you know is books and nothing else. But can you be more logical? For the three months I've met Jiang Yunxian, I know he isn't one to get jealous, and don't start with greed. What can he be greedy about? Think with your brain and not with your mouth." Xing Yue stated, now getting annoyed.
Guo N'Yang who listened couldn't help but scorn. "Hypocrite!" She muttered.
"What did you just call me?" Xing Yue asked. It was already enough that her words was doubted. Now, she is being called a hypocrite? For what damn reason?
"You heard me. You are a hypocrite. Do you think money is the only reason one can be greedy about? What about health? Life, food and even that damn alcohol...?"
"You..."
"A hundred years ago this was the reason why the central plain mortals were massacred. Pan Shiyi a princess of a small Guangbei town, whom the people worship. Who also could be called their ruler, took their cries for granted and in the end, stripped of her right. What did she do? She only handled tough matters leaving the small ones, forgetting that, before one could grow into a monster, it cultivated at a young age. She completely forgot that, and guess what, it was what she underestimated that destroyed her and her people. Greed of immortality. It was so small, after all they weren't even cultivators to begin with. So, there's nothing that could make them immortal. Completely forgetting that, once greed took over, the mind of people becomes twisted in that annoying way. And when she was asked, do you know what she said? 'they were small matters, I didn't realize it could cause great disaster' such a lame excuse , don't you think?"
Xing Yue listened. She has never heard of this. What... It was obvious how Guo N'Yang knew of this, she has to record the history of how the proud princess, lost because of a small matter. And she could understand why she herself doesn't really know about this. She has been busy trying to find out what had happened in the year of the Great war, that even Emperor Tian Zhao had decided to allow her do as she bids.
"Are you an idiot? Why would he kill his buddy because of something as stupid as loving alcohol?" She asked, seeming to understand that Jiang Yunxian's love for alcohol, can serve as greed. But she was still angry when she thinks about that.
Hearing this, Jiang Yunxian's ear perked even more. He clearly understood what Guo N'Yang was trying to say. And also understood Xing Yue's point of view too. He understood that Guo N'Yang wasn't particularly calling him a killer, or something, but was hinting that under any circumstances, the people we trusted the most, could choose the most painful way to betray you. Just like the negligence of the so called princess of the whatever place she ruled. Even though people could call it negligence, it was another form of betrayal. The people trusted her and worshipped her as Guo N'Yang said only to favour one and neglect another, leading to their extinction. That's another form of betrayal. The betrayal of negligence by a so-called mighty being. Even if he understood it, he still would not say anything. Because he just enjoys it. But too bad that Xing Yue was just too angry to think further. Probably, Guo N'Yang herself doesn't also understand.
"Don't tell me you are enjoying something from this? How old can you be?"asked Chufeng who was now standing beside him, clearly trying to warm herself up with the fur clork she wore said.
"A kind advice, some arguments aren't just arguments, they are knowledge."
"Knowledge? What kind of stupid knowledge can that be?" Asked Chufeng baffled.
Jiang Yunxian eyes her from head to toe, before sighing. "No wonder why Guo N'Yang wants to denounce you as her apprentice." Jiang Yunxian said.
"You... how dare you?" Chufeng was stunned. This was the first time someone has said something like that to her. Usually In Heaven Cloud Woven, most people fear her because of her master Guo N'Yang. Even when Guo N'Yang wasn't there. But this man has the guts to make fun of her, in front of her master, who was is of course, bickering like a child with another ancestor, with the same mentality.
"I'm just speaking the truth. If you have been wiser, you would understand what I meant. While she was taking just now, what did you learn?"
"Are you expecting me to learn how to pick fights like them?"
For a very short moment, Jiang Yunxian was glad he took no disciples. For the constant headache and the 'did I train a goat' eye, he would give to each of them would be enough for all of his disciples to run away without notice. Because, even though Guo N'Yang wasn't well streetwise, she was book smart. But Chufeng is just a drunkard like him, with no brain.
"Let's continue, and tell me what you learned. I want you to focus this time, or, I will personally require to see the emperor." Jiang Yunxian said. And immediately after speaking, focused on Xing Yue and Guo N'Yang who literally showed no signs of stopping.
"When he fell sick, the person that took care of him was that feather, I've seen with my own eyes, how he almost risked his life just so he could save his dying friend. And you are telling me..."
"What could you understand? The God of a Thousand Incantations betrayed his closest brother because he listened to an old drunkard, what more a mere mortal?"
"Jade Monarch Lu Shen might be a drunkard, but he's a saint.... a good one at that. And he has his reason for that."
Guo N'Yang scoffed. "That was why that war was caused, abandoning reason just for the so called justice? Pathetic."
"Guo N'Yang, I can let you talk bad about all the things I've done. But I'll not let you talk bad of Lord Lu Shen. No matter what!" Xing Yue said seething greatly.
Guo N'Yang nodded, "Fine, let's talk about you, since you find it annoying to talk about your idol. "
"What about me?" Asked Xing Yue already tired of this.
"Do you know what your greatest mistake to be? Allowing yourself think you can unite everything, both reasonable and unreasonable, as if you want to defile heaven. And that was why you lost your friends. Cui Wulei tries to kill you, Shen Yaoguang wants to have nothing to do with you. And that poor flower Zheng who died because of your negligence. Do you not know what you did?"
"What do you mean?" Xing Yue asked.
How could she forget, Guo N'Yang is the goddess of knowledge, nothing of this world, underworld or in heaven goes without her knowledge. How could she forget that she might know what was wrong. She knows what happened millennium years ago.
"I went into seclusion, few years after my return from the mortal realm. I know I allowed that boy in heaven when it's wasn't meant to happen. gods and demons have no place with each other, but I believed that good might come out of it. You are right, that was my biggest mistake, but it wasn't in any of my regrets. I just want to know, why they all hate me, why everything went south just as I finished my seclusion. And why did he die, and why was Cui Wulei blaming me for his death. I just want to know why!" Xing Yue said.
"Emperor Tian Zhao was right," Guo N'Yang began after giving her words some thought, as if she was weighing her words. How much of it was true, and how many of them was a lie. But despite the fact that she knew what caused it, and that Xing Yue's only mistake was bringing a demon to heaven, she wasn't even aware of what happened. And she was right. She was out of seclusion during the time of the Great war. But no matter how innocent and truthful her words were, a single mindless mistake, is enough to destroy years of hardwork, and that was the part that painted the most.
"Ignorant is never an excuse. This is why we never got along. You know the truth yourself. Deep down you know, but you are too engrossed in another thing that you forgot the most important. The moment your heart is right where it knows it should be, you will find the truth yourself."
Xing Yue closed her eyes deeply, trying to prevent a curse from slipping out of her mouth. She should have known that with the unspoken feud she has with Guo N'Yang, spilling the beans was just like telling a stone statue to sing and dance.
"You know what? Forget it. It's meaningless trying to talk to you." Xing Yue said.
"Same goes with you idiot." Guo N'Yang retorted, both fuming in that aggressive way that could determine a hurricane was about to happen.
Now, for once, they have decided to be quiet, Jiang Yunxian asked Chufeng.
"What did you learn from this attitude of theirs?"
"It's obvious. They are too stupid to admit mistake and they can never get along." Chufeng replied.
Jiang Yunxian blinked twice to resonate with what she said. In truth, Chufeng wasn't wrong, but that shouldn't be the answer. At least, that wasn't the answer he was hoping for.
"Other than that, is there not anything you learnt from what they said?"
"What's there learn? I can never understand why master doesn't get along well with her. Likewise she."
Jiang Yunxian puffed out a deep breath. "I wonder, was Guo N'Yang too lonely to have picked you as an apprentice, or was she forced to do so? Cause she's training a rock rather than a brain."
"What did you say?" Chufeng asked.
"What are you going to do about it?" Jiang Yunxian said. But just as Chufeng have something to say, a rumble shook the ground. It was at first low that it was almost misheard as a harsh wind, due to where they were. But it came again, this time, loud. Like it's first time was a warning now the second time was going to be it's wrath.
"Even in this soul biting blizzard, your mouths seems to not know rest. Fine, then, I shall teach you how to zip it, in someone else's domain." The voice was melodious and lust worthy.
"Who's there?" Chufeng asked.
While Guo N'Yang had already unsheath her dagger.
"I advise you to sheath back your weapon. Haven't you heard of the saying; whoever kills with the sword, dies by it. Are you sure you want to make that mistake?" The voice asked.
"Then, I'd die happy." Guo N'Yang said, but Xing Yue was quick to stop her. Despite their differences in choice of everything, Xing Yue doesn't want to die in an embarrassing place like this. Neither does any of them.
"Tell us, who the hell are you? Why act so mysterious?" She asked.
"Who I am isn't the right question, but what will happen to you. Since you are all bent on disturbing my peace, I shall grant you your wish: Your greatest regrets!
"Greatest regrets?!" All three of them asked.
"But beware, only the strong minded amongst you, will shall leave here unscathed. May the trust of all of you, guide you." The voice said. It seems to be everywhere and no where. It sounded like it was taking to them, through their hearts and just as the voice has said it's piece, it faded away, but not without giving them, a lustrous laugh.
And just like that, an avalanche came upon them, they had no time to think, before they were swallowed by it.