Candles and incense burned bright upon the altar their flames flickering with urgent haste casting Qian’an’s shadow huge and beastlike across the walls. Ji Youyou’s hands grew cold and damp. The sight was twisted and terrible rotting festering sores filled her vision.
“Forgive us for the binding” Qian’an said. “I speak plainly. A year ago we sent men to take your life and Yu Xuanhe’s. It was we who laid the spell of longing upon you both. We stood no chance against him in fair fight so we resorted to treachery. Yet his will was iron and he cast himself from the cliff before the spell could work its course. And there is more.”
“More”
Qian’an sighed heavy and bitter. “You stood at the very edge gathering herbs. Our men saw it clear. He took your hand and dragged you down with him. We tell you this only that you may see him as he truly is false and cruel. We seek to save you.”
“Save me” Her heart sank cold and hollow. Even though she was not the woman he had chosen she felt the sting of it still.
“We are alike you and I. We have both suffered at his hands.”
He turned then and Ji Youyou recoiled in horror. Half his face was melted like wax features blotted and run together the other half crusted with weeping sores.
She gagged unable to help herself.
“Revolting is it not” He touched his face with bitter laugh. “I loathe it too. This is our fate and this is the gift of Yu Xuanhe and his righteous kin.”
“What has this to do with me Let me go” She kept her eyes fixed upon the ground desperate to be gone.
“Go then and when he comes for you again” Pei Yun spoke quickly. “Sister believe us we mean you no harm. If we wished you dead would you not be dead already”
Qian’an knew fear held her fast. He turned his face away again. In truth he meant to keep her. Those touched by the spell of longing loved only one soul through all their days. He would use her to break Yu Xuanhe force him to yield what he knew of the ancestor’s fate. Even if the ancestor was gone he would make Yu Xuanhe taste the loss of love.
“I will stay” Ji Youyou said steadying herself. “Only release me from the spell first.”
Qian’an spoke the word and the binding fell away.
Pei Yun looked stricken as though he had wronged her. “Sister there is something I must tell you” He knelt before Qian’an. “Forgive me elder. When I found them upon the cliff I did not strike. I watched over them both for a year and kept them safe. And when I met her here it was not chance that brought us. Punish me as you will.”
“I have known all along” Qian’an said quietly. “It does not matter.”
Pei Yun bowed his head shamed by such easy forgiveness. Ji Youyou felt unmoored. Nothing was as it seemed she had lived a year watched by eyes she never saw.
“Sister you must hate me” Pei Yun said. “But do you remember that storm at dusk How you found a boy huddled in a straw cloak bleeding and gave him bread It was I. I have never forgotten your smile in the rain. I watched over you both to keep you safe.”
“It was you” Memory returned clear and sharp. She had thought no more of it only a kindness shown to a stranger.
He drew from his bosom a jade bracelet and held it out to her. “This has been in my family. Take it.”
“I cannot”
A roar of wind struck before she could finish. It tore at the very fabric of the place howling and rending. Qian’an and Pei Yun shielded their faces while Ji Youyou and the others were flung back pinned against the walls. Light gathered a point that stretched into a line then a circle then a shimmering mirror bright and searing hot. A sword flew forth piercing toward Qian’an. He dodged and struck back but the blade turned light as thought and slipped away returning to the hand that held it.
Ji Youyou’s breath caught. It was Yu Xuanhe.
Yu Xuanhe Xie Lin and Si Yirou stepped through the rending light like gods descending.
“Blade storm” Yu Xuanhe said.
A thousand shadow swords blazed forth sweeping toward them all. Qian’an shouted and a dark barrier rose to meet them.
“Yu Xuanhe you cur” Qian’an spat. “You were helpless in our spell. Had you not thrown yourself from the cliff you would have been brought low!”
“Empty words” Yu Xuanhe replied. His sword cut through the barrier as though it were smoke.
Si Yirou and Xie Lin moved to deal with the others. Qian’an saw his followers fall one by one. He sprang to Ji Youyou’s side a dagger pressed to her throat.
“Come one step closer and she dies!”
“Sister!” Pei Yun cried reaching out then checking his hand.
Yu Xuanhe did not falter. “Futile” he said. He saw only an enemy. His sword flew straight for her heart.
She looked at him the man she had loved and thought hers and tears rose. He meant to kill her himself. She closed her eyes.
“Farewell”
The blade halted one hair’s breadth from her.
Yu Xuanhe stood bewildered. Why did her pain pierce him so Why did her tears stir such wild unruly feeling And something else something he could not name a hot urgent rising in his blood. He had given his first gift not to Xie Lin but to this woman he barely knew.