Chapter 7 The Past
Xie Bian closed his eyes, his hands steady as he asked Venus, “How do we resolve this?”
Venus shook his head. “There’s nothing to be done. The power of love has already taken effect. It will erupt as soon as you see the first target, but after a while, the effect will fade. If you want to avoid it, you could try not looking at anyone, but you can’t go on keeping your eyes shut for the rest of your life.”
Xie Bian asked, “How long will the effect of the golden arrow last?”
Venus thought for a moment. “It varies from person to person. It could be as short as three to five days, or as long as several years.”
In short, it depended on fate.
Xie Bian nodded. “Got it. I’ll take my leave now.” With that, he turned and left the bustling amusement park, making his way back to the empty apartment.
Venus and Cupid watched him go. Cupid, his hand still clutching the bow behind his back, whispered, “Did I cause trouble?”
Venus cast a sidelong glance at him. “You realize that now?”
Cupid’s guilt deepened. “What should we do? Will we get kicked out?” They had finally found a place to live, and if they were to be evicted because of his blunder, it would be absolutely terrible.
“Not necessarily.” Venus gazed in the direction Xie Bian had gone, his expression unreadable. “You might have actually done them a big favor.”
Cupid, confused, asked, “A favor? Didn’t I just create more problems for him?”
“When unrelated things are forced together, that’s trouble,” Venus said. “When two people are in love with each other, that’s fulfillment.”
Cupid, though he was the little God of Love, didn’t quite understand. He had never experienced the feeling of love himself. After all, he was still a child.
Venus could tell by his confused expression that he didn’t get it. “This doesn’t concern you. Just remember, no shooting arrows, especially not in crowded public places! This time, we had the intervention of Bai Wuchang, but what about next time? Do you know how many families would be torn apart? If there’s a next time, you can forget about touching that bow.”
“I’m sorry.” Knowing that he had just caused trouble, Cupid lowered his head and obediently admitted his mistake.
Venus’ stern expression softened as he ruffled his hair. “Good boy. I’ll reward you with an ice cream.”
Cupid lifted his head. “Do you even have money, Father?”
Venus: “……”
Venus: “Very well, no reward then.”
Yanluo Apartments, Room 201.
Fan Wujiu, who had just returned to the apartment, was startled by a figure in the darkness. In the pitch-black living room, a human-shaped silhouette was visible, sitting quietly on the sofa, like a statue.
Fan Wujiu froze for a moment before tentatively calling out, “Lao Bai?”
Xie Bian gave a soft “mm,” his voice barely audible, as though he were suppressing something.
“Why haven’t you gone to your room to rest? Why are you waiting for me here in the living room?” Once Fan Wujiu confirmed it was indeed Lao Bai, his tone brightened. “You’re a real brother. Hey, why didn’t you turn on the lights?”
As he spoke, Fan Wujiu walked over to the entrance and flicked the light switch.
The entire living room instantly lit up, as bright as day.
Only then did Fan Wujiu get a clear look at Xie Bian’s appearance.
Xie Bian was wearing the latest version of their impermanence uniform. The wide sleeves of his white robes flowed like the wind, giving him an ethereal, otherworldly aura. His official hat was set aside, and his long black hair cascaded untamed down his back, embodying the elegant charm of the Wei and Jin dynasties, resembling a fallen immortal — to call him a fallen immortal was an understatement. He was, in fact, the veritable White Impermanence Immortal.
A strip of white silk covered his eyes, hiding those cold, moon-like eyes, making him appear even more fragile, like a delicate piece of white jade, almost begging to be cradled in someone’s hands.
Fan Wujiu could never bear the sight of that white silk. It stirred up bitter memories he wished to forget. Seeing it wrapped around Xie Bian’s eyes only made it more unsettling.
His heart tightened as he strode over, grabbing Xie Bian’s hand. He fired off questions one after another, his voice sharp with concern. “Are your eyes injured? Did you encounter someone at the amusement park tonight? Did they hurt you? Damn it, I shouldn’t have let you go check things out alone!”
Fan Wujiu’s tone was filled with regret.
“It’s fine. I ran into Venus.” Xie Bian’s voice was as calm as ever, though if one listened closely, there was a slight tremor in it.
Fan Wujiu, still uneasy, pressed, “Take off the white silk and let me see. What’s going on? Why cover your eyes?”
Xie Bian replied, “I was…… I was struck by……” struck by Cupid’s golden arrow of love.
But he stopped mid-sentence, suddenly falling silent.
Xie Bian thought carefully. If he explained the situation now, no matter what kind of transgressive actions he took afterward, Fan Wujiu wouldn’t take it seriously.
But what Xie Bian truly wanted was for Fan Wujiu to take it seriously.
His silence made Fan Wujiu anxious. “What do you mean? Did you get poisoned? Your eyes…… you can still see, right?”
Xie Bian sighed softly. “Please, just take it off.”
Fan Wujiu, concerned for Xie Bian’s well-being, had no time for other thoughts. He immediately reached up and untied the knot at the back of Xie Bian’s head.
The white silk came off with a gentle pull. Xie Bian raised his eyes, his ink-like pupils clear and bright, reflecting Fan Wujiu’s entire figure. His eyes darkened for a moment, and the calm depths of his eyes suddenly brewed a storm.
Fan Wujiu was still inspecting his eyes. “Looks like there’s no injury…… Then why were you covering your eyes…… um!”
Before he could finish, Xie Bian suddenly knelt, his hands grasping Fan Wujiu’s neck, lowering his head to kiss him.
Fan Wujiu’s pupils contracted, his mind going blank in an instant.
In the bright and tidy living room, the tall, handsome man in a black T-shirt stood in front of the sofa. The long-haired young man in white robes was kneeling upright on the sofa, his arms wrapped around the black-clad man’s neck, kissing him. The scene was beautiful, yet strange, like a pair of affectionate young lovers sharing a tender moment after work, in a cozy living room that seemed to be their shared love nest.
Xie Bian’s elegant face was so close that Fan Wujiu could count his long eyelashes, which were thick, long, and perfectly shaped, each one distinct.
His skin was porcelain white, and his lips were the color of soft rouge, gently brushing against Fan Wujiu’s lips.
Instinctively, Fan Wujiu licked his lips.
Lao Bai’s lips were soft, and they tasted sweet.
No, wait, that wasn’t the point.
The real question was: What exactly was happening now? How did things develop like this? What kind of shock had Lao Bai experienced today?
Or maybe it was he who had been shocked? Was he now trapped in a dream, still unaware that he hadn’t woken up?
Fan Wujiu was well aware of his feelings for Xie Bian. He had never dared to express them openly, only ever confessing in his dreams. But even in his dreams, he had never dared to make any rash moves toward Xie Bian. Xie Bian was too ethereal, like a flower on a high mountain, impossible to pick, only to be admired from afar, never to be touched.
The things Fan Wujiu had never dared to even imagine, Xie Bian had now done, without any warning.
Fan Wujiu stared at the familiar features in front of him, suddenly unsure if he could still recognize them.
The living room was still the same familiar space, and the man in front of him was still his brother. But what they were doing now felt entirely foreign.
Was this really Lao Bai? Or was some spirit or demon taking on his form to seduce him?
The thought hit Fan Wujiu, and he immediately pushed Xie Bian away, stepping back sharply, his eyes full of caution.
Xie Bian was shoved back onto the sofa, kneeling there. He looked up at Fan Wujiu through misty eyes, his gaze almost hurt, as if accusing him of being rude and cold.
That one look made all of Fan Wujiu’s questions freeze in his throat.
……How could he not recognize Xie Bian?
This was definitely the Lao Bai he had known for a thousand years.
But this was also definitely not something Lao Bai would ever do.
Fan Wujiu’s mind was in complete chaos. Trying to stay calm and think clearly in this situation was more than a little difficult.
“Lao Bai, are you……?” Fan Wujiu hesitated, carefully choosing his words. “Are you being controlled?”
In a way, Fan Wujiu had already spoken the truth.
Cupid’s arrows had once struck all the gods on Mount Olympus. Due to differences in personality, each god reacted differently when hit. But there was one thing universally acknowledged — the golden arrow of love could make a person fall deeply in love with another, compelling them to relentlessly pursue them.
Gods like Apollo, who were already courageous, radiant, and passionate, reacted wildly and fervently when struck. His pursuit of Daphne was relentless, chasing her to the ends of the earth without ever letting go.
But Xie Bian, such a character as cold as the moonlight, wouldn’t pursue someone in such a frantic manner.
However, it was more than enough to drive Fan Wujiu crazy.
How could he resist the subtle temptations of the one he loved?
Xie Bian spoke softly, “Brother Fan.”
Fan Wujiu was startled.
The title was so old, he hadn’t heard it in so long. Hearing it now felt like a distant memory, as though a lifetime had passed.
And indeed, it had been an entire lifetime.
Few knew that the Black and White Impermanence had known each other when they were alive. Back then, they were close friends, even sworn brothers who called each other “Brother Fan” and “Brother Xie.” After their deaths, they entered the underworld as ghost envoys, and their titles of Black and White Impermanence gradually overshadowed their real names. They began calling each other “Lao Hei” and “Lao Bai.”
When Xie Bian suddenly referred to their old way of addressing each other, it brought a rush of memories flooding back to Fan Wujiu.
If you were to ask him when he fell in love with Xie Bian……
He feared no one would believe it.
He had loved Xie Bian for a full thousand years.
The past was like smoke, and the memories of his previous life had long faded. The only thing that remained clear and vivid was everything related to Xie Bian.
In their past lives, they were childhood friends, sworn brothers since they were young. While Xie Bian studied at the window, Fan Wujiu practiced martial arts in the yard. When Xie Bian played the zither in the forest, Fan Wujiu practiced his swordsmanship to the rhythm of the music. He had quietly fallen in love with Xie Bian, who was as upright and flawless as jade. But back then, a love between men was considered taboo. Forget about passing the imperial exams, even as commoners, they would be the subject of public scorn. They had both sworn to achieve the highest honors in the literary and martial fields, and for the sake of each other’s futures, neither of them could risk ruining their chances.
Later, the two of them traveled together to the capital to take the exams. Along the way, they were caught in a violent rainstorm by the river. Xie Bian went to fetch an umbrella, telling Fan Wujiu to wait for him. Fan Wujiu agreed. But the river suddenly swelled, and the rain made the bank slippery. Despite the danger, Fan Wujiu kept his word and stayed by the river, unwilling to leave. He slipped and fell into the water, drowning. That feeling, that unspoken love, would remain with him until his death.
When Xie Bian returned with the umbrella and found Fan Wujiu’s lifeless body, he was overcome with grief and guilt. He hung himself with a white silk ribbon, following Fan Wujiu into death.
After their deaths, their souls descended to the underworld, where they were summoned by King Yan. Seeing that one was stubborn and the other reckless, yet both were loyal and honorable, he appointed them as the Heibai Wuchang.
At that time, Fan Wujiu had scolded Xie Bian, asking why he had chosen to follow him into death. Xie Bian had so much talent and a bright future ahead of him. He could have passed the exams and had a great life. He didn’t deserve to die for him. Xie Bian had answered calmly, “You died because you kept your promise to me. If I had survived, I would have been haunted for the rest of my life. This is the way of righteousness.”
Just as Fan Wujiu was lost in these memories, Xie Bian’s voice, calling out “Brother Fan,” brought him back to the present.
“Brother Fan.” Xie Bian raised his pale, delicate face, his eyes dark as ink, gazing steadily at him. Every word he spoke was carefully measured. “You think I died for brotherhood. But in truth, I died for love.”
A/N:
Here’s a supplement to a folk myth. In the future, any parts of the story that draw on existing mythological legends will be marked with reference notes. I will adapt and creatively rework the story based on various mythological materials, so please distinguish between the content of this story and the myths. The reference materials are only to show that this portion of the plot is not my original creation, and the story should be based on the character setting of this work.
【Reference Material】
The Black and White Impermanence, according to legend, were both originally from Fujian. The two became sworn brothers in their youth and were as close as real siblings. One day, as they traveled together to the capital for the imperial exams, they passed under a small bridge. Suddenly, the sky changed, dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled as a torrential rain began to pour. Xie Bian (Bai Wuchang), asked Fan Wujiu (Hei Wuchang) to wait under the bridge while he went back to fetch an umbrella. However, after Xie Bian returned home for the umbrella, the rain intensified, and the river rose rapidly. Despite the rising waters, Fan Wujiu refused to break his promise and remained waiting at the bridge. Unfortunately, his short stature made it difficult to escape the swelling river, and he drowned without ever leaving his post. Xie Bian returned with the umbrella, only to find that Fan Wujiu had died, sacrificing himself to keep his word. Devastated by the loss, Xie Bian intended to follow him and drown in the river, but being tall and thin, the water couldn’t kill him. So, he climbed out and found a tree along the river to hang himself. Because Hei Wuchang resented Bai Wuchang for not meeting him at the bridge when he died, his face later became black, and he became known as the “Black Lord.” Bai Wuchang, on the other hand, hanged himself, so his tongue became long.
your bro wanted you to wait for him alive, not dead ╥﹏╥
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