Although he had promised Xiao Xingchen that he would return before too long to visit him again, now that his lengthy search was over, Song Lan found himself travelling far and wide on a new mission to help the unfortunate who otherwise could neither find nor afford the help of the clans, and so four or five years had passed before he found himself back near Yi City.
He had thought of Xiao Xingchen many times, and of course, Xue Yang alongside him, and worried that their unlikely relationship could have taken a dangerous turn. He couldn't help brooding on such gloomy thoughts now as he strode along.
The dusty path looked much the same as it had before, this time under the heavy heat of the midday sun. Approaching the courtyard to the charitable mortuary, Song Lan noticed with trepidation that everything seemed eerily quiet. The rest of the town itself was deserted, of course, but he was surprised not to hear Xiao Xingchen, Xue Yang or even A-Qing rattling around the house. Perhaps they had all gone out for the day, shopping or exploring or to help someone? He hoped that was the case; but still, there was a strange and unpleasant silence, no sound even of birds or insects. As he looked around, he thought that everything was looking rather neglected; besides the unused coffins that were still scattered around the courtyard, he noticed ash and straw that had blown haphazardly along the ground and clearly hadn't been swept in a long time. A single ragged sheet still hung on the washing line, held on by only one peg so that half the sheet dragged on the dusty ground as it flapped in the wind. Song Lan paused, staring at it, an unsettled feeling churning his stomach. One of the wooden window shutters suddenly slammed shut and then swung back open with the breeze, causing him to jump in surprise.
Something wasn't right. Song Lan felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise, his muscles tensing. Instinctively, he reached for Fuxue, drawing it silently as he peered around, assessing, drinking in as much detail as possible.
The place seemed deserted, and he had no sense of any lingering ghosts. But something had happened here, and Xiao Xingchen was gone; but where, and why?
He could guess why, he thought to himself, his face twitching as he ground his teeth. He should never have left Xiao Xingchen, never have entrusted him to a maniac like Xue Yang, should have finished the job and killed him as he lay wounded on the ground…
He caught sight of a coffin in the corner that looked different to the others – this one looked clean and well-cared for, and the lid was fitted securely rather than propped against the side. He felt a sudden dread. With heavy steps, he walked across to it and slid the lid back.
Sorrow squeezed his heart, instant and overwhelming. Xiao Xingchen lay inside, deathly pale and unnaturally still. A deep gash in his neck showed how he had died. From the angle, Song Lan wondered in disbelief if the wound had been self-inflicted; what could Xue Yang have done to push Xiao Xingchen to such an action?
Xiao Xingchen's skin had been washed free of blood though; everything about him was pristine, from his neatly arranged hair, his crisp white robes, to the way his hands rested, one atop the over, over his stomach. There were paper talismans stuck all around the inner walls of the coffin. Xiao Xingchen's body, his skin, his hair, all were perfect, with no signs of decay; this must be the work of the talismans, and it made it very difficult for Song Lan to work out how long Xiao Xingchen had been dead. His Daoist whisk had been tucked in with him – but, Song Lan noticed, Shuanghua was missing… That bastard must have taken it with him.
Song Lan trembled. He should have stayed, he should have protected him; he had failed Xiao Xingchen yet again. He silently whispered an apology to Xiao Xingchen, feeling a tear slide down his cheek. Fitting the lid back over the coffin, he took a deep breath and resolved to build a pyre for his dearest friend.
And after that, he had a new mission: to hunt down and kill Xue Yang.
A.N.
After all, could Xue Yang really change that much? Poor Xiao Xingchen... :O
I hope you enjoyed this story! Let me know what you think :)