It is Yìfēi's birthday today, ShuîYuê had already finished the preparations of the crowning ceremony with the other three elementals. She was a little late to her best friend's birthday party as mostly everyone from her Palace had left including Aunt Rong Pei, Souxin, Jade, Jīnyú, Ghost King, Brawl head, MíngLóng and YànQīng too.

She would leave with Bai Yan in some time as well; she looked at herself, trying not to look like the symbol of darkness as Yìfēi would say, so she opted for mint green and red coloured robes.

'Yes, this is better than the black robe I was wearing earlier.' she thought to herself, stepping out of her room and walking to the palace gates; she saw Bai Yan waiting there for her.

"Master, I have Miss Yú's present ready," he spoke up as he saw his Master walk towards him.

"Thank you, Bai Yan," she thanked politely.

"Master isn't dressed darkly. Is it for Miss Yú's birthday party?" He asked, noticing the light colours.

"Hmm, she'll kick me out if I show up like usual," Water Master answered simply as Bai Yan chuckled.

They reached Wind Master's Palace, which was dazzling as usual, but there were much fewer people this time than the earlier years. Most of the people she invited could not attend due to the crowning ceremony preparations, and those who did attend left after wishing her a good and long life.

"There aren't many people here," ShuîYuê commented, Bai Yan nodded his head in acknowledgement.

They entered the Main Hall, which was filled with not so many people but too many, in ShuîYuê's opinion; as soon as  Yìfēi spotted her, she ran to tackle her best friend in a hug.

Water Master hugged her back happily, "Happy birthday," she wished squeezing her shoulders assuringly.

"Thank you, and oh a second!" Yìfēi said as she circled Water Master in interest, "You aren't dressed like the symbol of darkness for once. Is this for me?" She asked, pointing to herself.

ShuîYuê rolled her eyes but said nothing, "Ohh, so it is for me, huh? You care about my feelings!" Yìfēi gushed happily.

"Yeah, whatever," ShuîYuê voiced, her eyes focused on the food.

"Where's my present?" Yìfēi questioned, pouting her eyes and staring at ShuîYuê's empty hands.

"Bai Yan!" ShuîYuê called; Bai Yan turned his head around, hearing his name, he said bye to Yu Han, whom he had talked to earlier, and ran to his Master.

Yìfēi snatched the bag from Bai Yan's hand. Opening it, she screamed, "YueYue, you got me those foreign shoes I was looking for!" She bubbled, hugging Water Master from the side.

"I love you so much!" She added as she went to put on her shoes. She came back running, "Look, I look so pretty. I mean, these shoes are so beautiful," she laughed, twirling around to show off her shoes to everyone, "I love you!" She exclaimed, crushing ShuîYuê's body in a hug.

"Oye, if you want a present next year, leave me alive for it," ShuîYuê managed to say with great difficulty as Yìfēi strangled her like a python. Yìfēi let her go after strangling her a little bit more; ShuîYuê breathed finally as she sat down to talk to Xiàn Fèng, who liked her choice of colours.

"I mean, this is such a great combo they complement each other beautifully," Xiàn Fèng complimented her.

"Thanks,"

Ghost King had observed her for a long time; Zìxìn patted Huá's shoulder, who nodded his head stiffly; he secretly added the liquid to a cup of water as he walked to Water Master, who was happily taking it to the Fire Master.

"Look, Ghost King is here too," Xiàn Fèng commented, noticing him; ShuîYuê turned her head to the left as Ghost King stood there frozen; he held one cup of water and another of wine.

ShuîYuê took it from his hands, handing the wine cup to Xiàn and taking the cup of water for herself. She thanked them before drinking it, but Ghost King held her wrist; she looked up at him, confused.

"Would you like some tea instead?" He asked gently, ShuîYuê shook her head.

"No, thanks, but I am thirsty," she responded as she gulped down the cup of water. Ghost King stared at her blankly.

The party went on as anticipated with music and dance plus the best part was the appetizing food. ShuîYuê had drank a last cup of sweet Osmanthus tea before she went out for fresh air; she was simply standing by herself when she started to feel dizzy; her eyes were not focusing as she blinked them constantly.

ShuîYuê held her head, which hurt lightly, and was just about to fall when Ghost King held her; she looked at him, a smile forming on her face. Ghost King looked at her with pity in his eyes.

"You," she called as she swayed lightly; she had gotten drunk because of the liquid he had added to the water; she laughed before leaning her head on his chest as she played with his necklace.

Zìxìn nodded his head at Ghost King, who nodded back stiffly, 'Hurry up, Huá, take her anywhere. Just do it fast,' Zìxìn communicating through the communication array, Ghost King nodded his head before he disappeared in a puff of silver smoke.

Ghost King transported them straight to Wudu Palace right in front of her West Chambers. As he helped her into the room, she hung to him as she swayed even if she stood still, and he shut the door behind him, locking it.

"Gh- Ghost Kin- King," ShuîYuê stuttered drunkenly, "This is my room I'll sho- sh- show it to youuuu," she slurred as she walked stumbling into things, he walked behind her to the third room she entered, she picked up a book near the bookstand flipping its pages slowly.

"This th- iiiis booook is my favouriiiiite," she slurred, holding the book to his face. Ghost King slid his hand around her waist, pulling her to him.

"Water Master," he called softly. She stared up at him as she blinked her eyes they were half-lidded as she drew patterns on his shoulders, not paying attention.

"Look here," he said, raising her chin, She stared at him, "I want to tell you that I- I care about you...I don't know when it happened, but I have started caring for you...and I want to do it in the future as well," he confessed sincerely.

"I care for youuuuu toooo," she admitted smiling at him, as she made circles on his cheek.

"But I care for you more than as a friend," he replied as he held her finger, stopping her. She stared into his eyes for a long time until she looked away, her cheeks red.

"I care forrr youuu tooo," she buried her face in his chest embarrassed, Ghost King felt horrible for doing this to someone so innocent and honest but he clenched his jaw before stepping back from her as he cupped her face in his hands, she looked at him confused as he leaned down.

ShuîYuê's eyes widened as she felt his lips on hers, and her heart raced as she stood there frozen, he leaned more as he kissed her, and the book she held in her hand dropped on the floor with a low thud.

She held his collar for support, he pulled back to let her breathe as she panted lightly, her warm breath hot on his face, her lips tasted a little sweet for some reason as Ghost King leaned his forehead against hers, she looked in his eyes as she murmured, "That waaas m- my firsst kiss," she looked away shyly.

Ghost King cupped her face as he stared into her eyes, "I would love to be your last too," he tilted his head to the side kissing her soft lips, she closed her eyes as she felt his lips against her own he was the one kissing as ShuîYuê had no idea how kisses worked so she let him do whatever he was doing, she grabbed the back of his neck as her other hand tugged at his hair gently.

Ghost King slipped his tongue inside as his hand pulled her closer by the waist; she felt a thousand butterflies swarm in her stomach as Ghost King kissed her; his lips were warm and soft as she bit them to let him know she couldn't breathe.

Huá pulled away as she panted, her half-lidded eyes staring at his reddish lips as she kissed him this time; he wasn't expecting her to kiss him. He had the worst-case scenarios in his head.

'She might push me away but I didn't think she would kiss me instead,' he thought as he felt weird, he never kissed anyone he fucked with, he didn't even let them stay in his room either, they would fuck and then he would make the women leave, he had never let anyone kiss him either so when she did he felt weird but nicely he couldn't explain it but it made him want her even more.

ShuîYuê kissed his lips gently as she stood on her tippy toes, she pulled his head down so she could kiss him more. Ghost King grabbed her by the waist, lifting her in his arm as he kissed her back; she didn't know how to kiss. She was just pecking his lips instead and would occasionally bite them so he would let her breathe.

Ghost King laid her on her bed as he kissed her passionately, his hand grabbing the back of her neck to pull her up, the other hand holding up his weight, she pulled him closer by his collar as he kissed her more.

Huá pulled back, staring at her, who was slowly going unconscious, he placed light pecks on her neck, sucking, it, but then he pulled away suddenly, 'That would leave a mark,' he thought, worried.

He felt her hands drop to the side as she was finally unconscious; he unknotted her clothes, taking the mint green robe off her; she wore red ones inside. He was about to unknot the inner ones too, when his hands wouldn't stop shaking.

They had been shaking all along as he sunk to the floor running his hands through his dishevelled hair, he sat on the floor with his head in his arms, 'I need to do it, I am sorry ShuîYuê, please forgive me.' he thought as he got up once again unknotting the red robes.

The Morning at the Wudu Palace

Ghost King was sitting in his room as he waited for Zìxìn who came running inside. He shut the door quietly before walking to Ghost King with a spring in his steps, "Huá! Did you get it?" He asked hopefully, Ghost King nodded his head stiffly.

"What are we waiting for? Jun Wu is probably on his way to kill us. Let's leave," Zìxìn added as he walked to the door. He was about to open it when Ghost King stopped him by raising his finger.

Zìxìn froze in place. He looked at him confused, "What's the matter?" Zìxìn asked furrowing his bushy eyebrows.

"It's nothing concerning," Ghost King answered slowly.

"Then what are we waiting for? MíngLóng and YànQīng have left already. I sent them back. We should leave too before Jun Wu knows." he questioned, worried.

"He won't," Ghost King claimed firmly.

"What he won't?" Zìxìn asked, confused.

"Jun Wu won't know,"

"But she said he would know right away," Zìxìn walked back to Ghost King, grabbing his shoulders, "Huá you did it, right? You have the secret, right?" Zìxìn asked as his heart beat loudly in anticipation.

"I do," Ghost King replied softly.

"Then why aren't we leaving for Paradise Manor?" He asked, irritation lacing his usual off-handed voice.

"Because Jun Wu doesn't know that I have his secret," Ghost King responded simply.

"How come he doesn't know? Huá you did fuck her?" Yông Zìxìn questioned, exasperated. Ghost King didn't say anything. Zìxìn looked at him in disbelief, "What happened?" He asked at last.

Ghost King thought back to last night as his hands trembled to unknot her last inner robe; tears slipped through his eye as he gripped the bed sheet tightly, 'I can't, this is rape, I can't do this,' he thought as he put her robes back on her.

ShuîYuê's face was turned to her right sleeping peacefully, arms on either side of her head, 'I can't do this to her when she trusted me so much,' he said to himself as he covered her back completely, her silver chain shined as it laid on the bed, it had a small moonstone in the shape of a moon as a pendant in it.

Huá caressed it softly. The gemstone felt cool and calming under his thumb. He picked her up and laid her head on the pillow before kissing her on the forehead. As he looked at the light red mark on her neck, he covered her under the blanket.

Huá was about to leave the room when it burst into a shining silver light; he shielded his eyes with his hands as he tried to look; a beautiful woman materialised in front of Water Master, who was unconscious on the bed; she looked at Ghost King with sharp yet calming eyes.

"Ghost King," she called. He bowed his head to her in respect, and she nodded back, "You have shown respect and care for my ShuîYuê; I'll give you what you desire," the woman spoke, her voice gentle and calm.

"I need the secret from her, but I can't do that," he replied, at a loss for words.

"I'll give it to you for your trust and loyalty to the Water Master but Emperor Jun Wu would know if the secret leaves her body," she warned softly.

"Isn't there any other way?" Ghost King asked, distressed; his hair was a bird nest from running his hands through them, and his eyes were puffy and dripping with tears.

"There is; if you exchange something of equal value as the secret, I can give it to you," she offered gently.

Back to present

"So you exchanged your ashes for the secret?" Zìxìn asked in disbelief, "Are you mental Huá? You are risking your life for this! I won't have it this way; I am going to go and take your ashes back," Zìxìn added as he walked to the door, enraged.

"Zìxìn, it's far safer this way; Jun Wu doesn't know a thing, nor does Water Master; she doesn't even know that she has my ashes, and she doesn't know that I know the secret either," Chéng Huá chimed in quickly.

Zìxìn walked back to his friend furious; he grabbed his shoulder roughly, shoving him into the wall. "Why? Why couldn't you just fuck her? Why did you have to give your ashes?" Zìxìn asked as he gripped his shoulders angrily.

"It worked and it's safer this way," Huá argued.

"What if it didn't? Tell me what if it didn't work and you just had to fuck her?" He asked angrily, his tanned and calloused knuckles white from holding Ghost King against the wall.

"But it does work and it did wo-"

"IT'S NOT WHETHER IT WORKED OR NOT!" Zìxìn shouted, his emerald eyes bulging out of their sockets, a vein on his forehead protruding in anger.

"I am just asking what if it didn't work! what if you had no option other than fucking her would you not?" Yông Zìxìn asked in disbelief. Ghost King didn't say anything back; Zìxìn shoved him once again before leaving.

"Where are you going?" Chéng Huá asked confused.

"To fuck her," he said simply as Ghost King trapped him against the wall his eyes blazing in anger, "What's this? Are you angry? Why would you be? if you can't fuck her because of some damned dead morals, I will!" Zìxìn hissed gritting his teeth.

"If you can't do this for your revenge I will, I fuck around girls every single day and I won't mind fucking her either, her personality is crap but her body isn't, that small waist with those wide hips I'll fuck her until she fain-" 

Ghost King punched the General who wiped the blood off his lips as he smiled bitterly, "You punched your sworn brother for a girl like her, She isn't even that beautiful or intelligent, she doesn't have power that would help us and you still punched me for her-"

"Zìxìn listen to m-"

"No! You listen to me, Huá, you have gone mental, and you are in love with that girl," Zìxìn interjected, poking his finger in Ghost King's shoulder to prove his point.

Ghost King didn't say anything back, 'I- I can't be in love, I just care for her,' he thought as he denied himself.

"I am leaving, I won't have your ashes in exchange for the secret," Zìxìn said decidedly as he walked towards the door.

"It's no use going to her, I have already opened the secret," Ghost King remarked stiffly.

Zìxìn stopped and turned around staring at Ghost King in disbelief, "You care for her that much?"

"Listen, Jun Wu's secret to death lies in Jīnyú," Ghost King uttered changing the topic swiftly.

"Jīnyú?" Zìxìn asked confused.

"Yes, Crown Prince isn't as illustrious as everyone thinks, he doesn't even have his spiritual weapon," Huá responded as he paced.

"What? What about that sword?" Zìxìn asked in disbelief.

"It is probably one of Jun Wu's; Jīnyú has uncontrollable powers the reason of it is because he saw the spiritual weapon before GuānYû could accept it, and so the weapon transferred into Jīnyú's body," Ghost King explained.

"Then how can it be taken out?"

"By killing GuānYû or Jīnyú,"

"So he's going to kill his sons?"

"Yeah, and the older one is going to be the first because if Jīnyú dies, that weapon will go back to GuānYû itself, but if GuānYû dies first, then the weapon can be taken out after killing Jīnyú second."

"But isn't it better to let Jīnyú carry the weapon? If no one knows he has that spiritual weapon then Jun Wu can continue to live," Zìxìn observed.

"That would have worked, but Jīnyú is heavily unstable. He has managed to stay alive purely because of Water Master controlling his powers."

"Then if she wasn't controlling his powers, he would have died long ago, and GuānYû would have gotten his spiritual weapon back, which Jun Wu doesn't want to happen?" Zìxìn asked.

"Yes, that is why he needs Jīnyú alive before killing GuānYû."

"But isn't it better to let GuānYû have the spiritual weapon he can take back with force?"

"Unfortunately, no, his secret would be revealed to GuānYû as soon as Jīnyú died, so he can't have the Crown Prince have his spiritual weapon."

"That means he just needs to kill both his sons and then he would hold the only spiritual weapon which can kill him in his hands."

"Exactly," Ghost King said, worriedly.

"Why hasn't he killed GuānYû yet?"

"Because Jīnyú needs to be somewhat stable before the spiritual weapon can leave his body." Chéng Huá sighed distressed.

"That's why he is letting Water Master train him." Zìxìn realised with wide eyes.

"Yes, he's been using her all these years, first to train Jīnyú and now to hold the secret."

"Could she possibly know about this secret?" Zìxìn asked suspiciously.

"No, she has no idea about any of this, her... I don't know who it was, but she told me that she won't even know that I know the secret; she's still holding Jun Wu's secret in her body, and he won't know a thing either."

"But what if she uses your ashes?" Zìxìn asked worried.

"She won't; I gave the ashes to her moon powers, not her, so she doesn't know anything at all," Ghost King replied calmly.

"We should hurry up and leave to find a way to stabilise Jīnyú as soon as possible," Zìxìn voiced determined.

"We'll leave after the crowning, I still need to show Jun Wu that it's not his throne that I am after," Ghost King responded.

West Chambers

ShuîYuê woke up in the morning much more fresh and rested than usual, she sat up in her bed not remembering a single thing, the last thing she remembered was she had Osmanthus tea and then she couldn't remember anything,

'Never mind, let's not waste our precious brain power from the morning,' She thought to herself as she got ready for the morning.

She came out of the shower drying her hair. When she noticed a small red mark on her neck, she frowned as she looked at herself closer in the mirror, 'Did some insect bite me?' She thought before applying some mint cream to soothe the mark, she got dressed as she had to leave for a meeting at the martial hall.

Martial Hall

The four elementals stood in front of the Heavenly Emperor as he sat quietly on his throne, "Is everything prepared?" He asked calmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiàn Fèng replied, bowing.

"Do your best tomorrow. It's his crowning and keeps a sharp eye," the Emperor ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty," all four of them said bowing before leaving the Martial Hall.

GuānYû paced around his room nervously. He was worried about the crowning ceremony and the safety of everyone in Heaven, 'If Chéng Huá attacks tomorrow, I won't be able to do anything as Father is sick,' he thought worried.

"GuānYû," the Emperor called as he entered his son's room.

"Father!" GuānYû cried, rushing to his side; he helped his father into the room.

"I am fine," he assured, sitting down.

"Father, I am so worried about tomorrow. You aren't well, and if he attacks, I wo -"

"GuānYû do you take your father for a fool?" The emperor asked calmly.

"No, Father, I am just worried," the Crown  Prince answered softly as he knelt by his Father's knee.

"I know, but don't worry, I am only doing this to test Ghost King's true intentions," Emperor replied simply.

Crown Prince stared at his father, confused, until he realised that his father was completely fine and had lied to him, "Why would you do that?" He asked flabbergasted.

"I made sure Ghost King knows that I am sick, I want to see if he will attack tomorrow or not," Emperor responded.

"So if he does attack thinking that you are ill, he won't be able to win anyway," Crown Prince said, realising his father's clever plan.

"Exactly, that's why I lied."

"But it's only you, me, Ling Wen and Water Master who know of you being sick; rest everyone thinks that you are just rushing."

"Don't worry, Ghost King knows too. I made sure he knows."

"I see Father," he muttered, upset.

"What's wrong? Aren't you glad to know that I am in good health and not sick at all?" Emperor inquired to the Crown Prince.

"It's not that I am not happy, it's just that I have worried Water Master too much," the Crown Prince answered, worried.

"You seem to care a lot for Water Master," Emperor stated.

The Crown Prince looked up into his eyes, "I love her, Father," he confessed, Emperor stared at his son, trying to decipher what he meant to say, "I have loved her for a long time, the first time I met her in the Martial Hall I fell for her at first sight, she isn't the brightest person but she's very caring," he added gently.

"Water Master is indeed caring and an asset to our Heavens," Emperor nodded, his head agreeing with the prince.

"She has been working hard for the last four years, and when you were adamant on crowning me this week, I was unable to think properly and barged into her palace on the night of the Mid-autumn festival. I told her about your condition, and she assured me that she would take care of everything. Even though she can't fight Ghost King herself, she still gave me her undeniable support and care," Crown Prince continued smiling as he spoke of her.

"Indeed, she has taken care of Jīnyú well for the last four years," Jun Wu acknowledged her hard work.

"Father, I want to choose her as my wife," GuānYû requested earnestly.

Jun Wu looked at his son's eyes, which were filled with love for Water Master,
"GuānYû, This is a big decision you must think well before choosing your wife," he said slowly.

"I have thought it through, father; I want her as my wife, someone who has supported me at my lowest point and deserves to be with me at my best."

"Since you are sure about it, you can have her as your wife, but you'll have to ask her tomorrow after the crowning, and if she agrees, I'll have both of you engaged in two days," Jun Wu remarked, getting up.

"Thank you, Father," he thanked, bowing to the Emperor.

"But if she denies you can't force her," Emperor warned.

"I will respect her decision regardless of what it is," GuānYû promised as the Emperor left his room.

Jun Wu walked back to his throne and sat there comfortably, 'First, you took that maniac away from my palace to your own and took care of him raising him and training him regardless of what everyone said and then you kept my secret safe in your body and now my eldest son confesses that he loves you dearly.'

'Water Master, you have my entire family wrapped around your pinky like I have your entire life wrapped in my strings, which I control. You remind me of a self-sacrificing crown prince from fifteen years ago; I think you would like to be rewarded as heavily as him.' Jun Wu thought smirking as he rubbed his chin proudly.

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A/n: Twist~ twist~ hahaha how do you think it was? And I am so sorry the kissing part was cringe it was written around two years ago so it's looking stupid but I didn't want to edit it I thought it showed perfectly well how the characters were. Bye-bye!! Take care.

Word count:4400