Everything was dark. Only Xián Leng could see himself reflected on "wherever he was", ground.

He stood, looking at nothing around him.

Suddenly, a voice startled him, and made him turn to where it had come from.

- Xián Leng calm down!

A crashing and things being smashed invaded all Xián Leng's hearing. He crinshed until all the violent sounds had ceased.

Under a white light, there were two figures standing at what was a beautifully decorated room. Books, papers, porcelain furniture, wood carvings, and golden and silverware were scattered everywhere. One of the two figures, the one with the beautiful face, and with a scholar white roab adorned with golden begonias at the end of its mech, had the other one with the beautiful, but also handsome face, and with the army black uniform, held still in a bear hug which by the looks of it, wasn't as easy to free oneself.

The one held still, struggled while clenching his teeth. He had kicked a feet back, but the one holding him was prepared for such an attack; he jumped to the air, still holding his opponent, and put his feet around his neck, throwing both down, as well as enabling the violent one under a head-feet death lock.

- ARE YOU GOING TO CALM DOWN?! DON'T FORGET I AM STILL YOUR EMPEROR! SHOW SOME RESPRECT!

Xián Leng knew this person; he was sure of it, but he couldn't remember a thing other than having heard such a voice before. But the thing that had him more confused was that the person who had been violent was HIM. Why would he dream this, he asked himself, why would that person tell him he was his emperor; wasn't the emperor he served looked different?

Wait... How... How did his majesty look like...? Why can't I remember his face...?

The emperor once again spoke, while tightening his grip.

- Xián Leng...

Xián Leng cried out.

- Arrgh! Let... Let me go already! I'm calmed...

- Thanks Heavens...

And as soon as the emperor had loosened his deadly grip, Xián Leng, angry, stood and walked away from him, giving him his back.

- Thank Heavens WHAT?! That I was too late to save the village I grew up in from the enemy's attack?! That mostly all the people I considered my family had been mercilessly killed; heads cut off and stacked as if they were territory flags?! That I've also, not only part of my trainees in battle, but also my sworn soldier brothers and sisters in this battle. TELL ME YOUR "MAJESTY", HOW DO I THANK THE HEAVENS FOR SUCH A MASSACRE?!

He had tears of rage on his bloodshot eyes. He wiped them away before they got the time to slid down on the rest of his face.

- It... It wasn't your fault...

"Xián Leng" laughed while covering his eyes with his palms, pulling his head back and breathing heavily.

- If only I had been quicker; STRONGER, maybe things would have gone for the better!

The emperor tried to walk towards "him", but he just raised one of his hands up to stop him. His face was covered by his long bangs as he walked towards the door.

- Xián...

- And with a loud BANG, he left the Emperor's words floating on the air, and unfinished.

The real Xián Leng was without a word. He couldn't put what he had just seen as something from his memory, because he didn't remember it.

Soon at another corner of the pitch black space, another scene materialized. This time, it was him aloneat a library. That he did remember, it was the same forbidden section of the library that contained THAT book. The sounds of books being insheveled and moved around was the only sound, until an eerie laugh filled it. "Xián Leng" was already sweating from anxiety; now as his mind played tricks on him, he turned around and over as a side effect to such chilling laugh, his anxiety incremented.

He grabbed the neck of his sword, but he was pinned down unto a study table by a force unseen to him.

From the shadows, a tall, clocked figured appeared. At first the small light from the lamp "Xián Leng" had been carrying had given him a peek at the stranger's face. He was a snow white pale, flawless skin that reflected any light that hit it, majestically carved jaw and nose, bloody red eyes, and if he wasn't mistaken; in his smile there was the presence of fangs.

Xián Leng was never scared of a thing, but since the lost and some other inconveniences, he had become let us say, bù wěn dìnɡ de. He tried to concentrate his Qi to cover his whole body, to at least protect from any harm if there was it to come upon him.

The figure who had started walking towards him astonishingly disappeared and reappeared with his face very close to Xián Leng's.

He was as handsome as him, only that scarier, and as he had seen, the person did in fact have fangs. He smiled continuously, as if a friendly smile could ease up the spasming nerves in Xián Leng. The stranger spoke with a hoarse, low, and yet harmonious voice.

- Well, beast my eyes~ You are quite the handsome fella! I didn't expect him to be such a heart charmer.

Xián Leng eyed him incredulously.

- Excuse me, who are you?

The stranger laughed hysterically, making Xián Leng's face twist in an indescribable confusion. As the stranger took a breath of air, he answered with another question.

- Who do you think I am, or better to say WHAT am I? How come such a person with strong pure Qi dwells in a place where Evil and other sinister things are harbored? Were you looking for something in particular?

"Xián Leng" answered with a poker face only he would believe.

- No.

The stranger smirked while holding his chin between his thumb and finger.

- Really~? And why are all these books all pilled up, and out from their respective shelf space, Hmmm~?

Xián Leng became hesitant. His beating became faster; almost herdable. The stranger again laughed uncontrollably, at the same time he released Xián Leng from his restraints. Immediately he backed away and drew out his sword.

- Oh my, no need to be so uptight all of a sudden~

Xián Leng didn't like to play around. Gathering up Qi on his sword he inquired,

- Who the hell are you?! What do you want with me?!

The stranger again gave that sinister smile and started to walk towards Xián Leng. The sword remained pointing towards the stranger, until he kept on walking and pierced himself through the heart. He continued to walk and thrust the blade further into his chest and through. He had been smiling all the while, but both the dream "Xián Leng" and the real Xián Leng's expression had transformed to one of anxious determination, to one of horror.

- You're a mó!

Xián Leng tried to let go from his sword, but a hand over his sword clenching one, held him at his stance.

Mockingly, the stranger exclaimed,

- Where you running off to?!

- LET ME GO DEMON!

- Technically I am the King of them all, but yes you can say I am one too, or so they say.

The stranger let go of "Xián Leng's" hand and as he gave a few steps away from him, the stranger took the sword out of his chest. Xián Leng interrogated in a cautious manner.

- What... What did you say?

The stranger walked slowly while looking at the blade stained with a darker than normal blood.

- I said... I am the King of Demons! The King of all things evil!

He disappeared, and reappeared in a second, whith the sharp side of the blade.

- The King of Hell~

Xián Leng was as they say, between la espada y la pared, but the King od Hell was just messing with him. He took Xián Leng's right hand and put the sword on it, closed it and walked towards the study table. He jumped to sit on it, and leaning on his two arms, he crossed one leg over the other. Xián Leng shaded his sword, and in the same place his stood he waited for that King of Hell to speak up.

- Indeed, I am the King of Hell, Zuì'è Bùxìng, the one responsible for inciting men into war, and bloodshed, the one that harbors anger inside human souls, and the one that collects them either to send them of to a dark pit into oblivion, or to suffer for eternity until they themselves disappear from existence. Am I not such a great, and powerful being?

Xián Leng didn't answer him, just glared at him, clenching both of his hands into a fist.

The King of Hell sighed.

- You don't have to look as if I've done something awful to you, we've just met, how could I?

Xián Leng exclaimed.

- Just cut to the chase! What is it you want from me?

Buxing tilted his head to one side, and smirked.

- Directly to the point! Perfect! I like that attitude! O.K.! I bet you were looking for this!

And he withdrew an old dark cased sewed book. It had two ancient Chinese characters on it, and it read: Yi Jing Mángmù. Xián Leng stopped breathing, and his eyes became wide open. He clenched harder, already piercing though the flesh. The King of Hell, while watching the body language of him thought,

Anxiety, Doubt, Anger, Sadness, Exasperation... This is the one for sure.

- You don't need this book to get what you want. Really now... Think about it, a bunch of pages can't grant you the power you want to possess.

And he threw the book to the floor. The page it landed open on was the one from the "Dark Charms, and Relics". A drawing from a golden necklace, with a red stone, and five golden charms was the main topic. The King of Hell continued nonchalantly,

- First, you need that necklace, or else your try will be futile. You don't have it.

Xián Leng finally started to speak up.

- I...

He was interrupted by the already speaking King of Hell.

- Second, even if you get it, you need to bare a corrupted soul for it to work properly, or else all you would be able to do is grow flowers. Your soul is to righteous, pure, humble, and sentimental.

Xián Leng's patience grew off, and he screamed, making the King of Hell gape at him in surprise.

- WHAT IS IT I NEED TO DO?!

The King's smile grew even wider, showing in every detail the sharp fangs that had been hidden slightly this whole time in his mouth.

- What you need to do? Hmmm... Since you're so desperate I'll grant you a starting point here.

He gave Xián Leng the necklace that was on the illustrated book. Xián Leng was hesitant to go take it from his hands. The King just laughed, and then he became serious.

- Are you going to take it? You're making me regret my decision already.

With three long and fast steps, Xián Leng grabbed the necklace, and sprinted back to the place he stranded before. The King,

Desperate, really, really, desperate... Just what I needed.

- Now is your job to finish the rest, after all its done, I'll send someone to get you. You will be my student, servant, and warrior. You shall learn the arts that would cultivate your dark spiritual energy, and use them for my benefits, and of course you'll have the free will to use the power you acquire for your own gains, but remember... My personal gains are before yours.

With a sinister serious stear he finished with,

- Try anything funny, and I'll be sure to destroy both your body and soul. Now your existence belongs to me...

Xián Leng held tight to the necklace and looked straight at his new master.

- Excuse me, and what... What is the rest I need to do?

The King gave a chuckle, and said before disappearing,

- Corrupt yourself...

Then everything was engulfed in darkness again. The real Xián Leng was left alone in that empty space. Like a whisper, voices could be heard. He tried to understand their imperceptible words.

What is happening?... Aren't you going to kill me?... I deserve death!

Xián Lèng... My love... I cannot stay here with you on this tree...

The voices immediately became to loud for Xián Leng to bare hearing them. He put both palms over his ears and pushed them as hard as he could against them, while crying out in pain. He dropped down his head against the floor, pleading for everything to end.

The one who controls you is not all yourself, but an entity which we free willed creatures have never seen or dare talk about.

I will seal you in this tree...

Remove all memories of everything, and everyone you once knew...

Until you find Forgiveness...

With closed buds no memories...

The day the buds open...

The one thing that'll give you the strength you really seek will appear...

You will feel like the most unmatchable man in the world...

Xián Leng...

Xián Leng...

XIÁN LENG...!

Xián Leng shut open his eyes. His breathing had become extremely erratic; his pulse was abnormally high, and his eyes were crimson bright red.

Out of the slight darkness and the poor lighting of the moon, a hand slowly reached out to him.

- Xián Leng... are you...?!

Xián Leng, using extreme force, grabbed the wrist, and in a fast movement, pinned the dark figure on the bed. With his other hand, full of his Qi, he grabbed the neck. The figure coughed and grabbed his neck gripping hand in desperation.

- Xiá... Xián... Leng! Ugh! Let... Let me...go!

Xián Leng hadn't ease his nerves, and his hand around the figures neck wouldn't budge. His eyes had grown redder, and his grip hardened around the fragile neck.

Pamella could feel her eyes water, and ready to pop out from her face. His grip had grown stronger around her, and she could swear she heard the cracking of bones. She was scared... Scared of the unknown man with glowing red eyes in front of her. He had saved her, accepted the facts of her, they still needed to learn other things from the state of things, and now he was strangling her to death. Pamella was now unable to cough, and the tears at the side of her eyes freely rolled down to her neck, and unto Xián Leng's merciless hand. She tried to call out again with painful difficulty.

- Xi...Án... L...Le...LENG!

Xián Leng immediately regained control of his senses and retracted his hand as fast as he let go of Pamella's neck. She reached to her now bruised neck, coughing and trying to fill her air depleted lungs. Xián Leng was still over her, stunned still, unbelieving both what he had done, and what he had dreamt.

- I... I am sorry... I really don...

Pamella glared at him and tried to push him off her.

- YOU...! TE HAS VUELTO LOCO? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?! GET OFF ME!

Something hurt inside of Xián Leng when she had pushed him away, but he couldn't pick up what and come with a why. He moved from over her to the side, and Pamella sprinted herself up, and while trying to regain her balance, she fell off the bed unto the hard-wooden floor. Xián Leng stood up from the bed to help her up, but she stopped him midway. She coughed a little while she exclaimed and interrogated him.

- DON'T COME HERE! WHAT WHERE YOU DREAMING ABOUT?! IS THAT HOW YOU WAKE UP WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO EASE YOUR SLEEP?! I WAS ABOUT TO DIE YOU KNOW!

Xián Leng looked down in shame.

- I know... now...

- What do you mean by NOW?! You wouldn't here my pleas, and you were wide awake how didn't you know you were strangling me?!

- ... I don't know...

Pamella looked up, while still massaging her neck, and back at Xián Leng.

His breathing was fastened when I came in, and he was clenching his teeth painfully to hard. What was he dreaming about? Obviously, it wasn't any good, but what brought him to be like that...?

She sighed and massaged her temples. She stood up and folded her arms in front of her chest. She dared not to walk over to him, just in case he went on another psycho rampage. Xián Leng noticing this, made him feel questionably sadder. Pamella spoke first.

- It's... It's ok... You didn't mean it. I still don't understand your sudden maniac outburst, but... I believe you didn't intend to kill me... Now, why don't you raise your head and look at me. I'm waiting for some accurate explanation though...

Xián Leng didn't even know himself, how could he explain something he himself didn't understand. The dream, the voices, everything. He didn't get them at all. Pamella saw that while he thought for an explanation his face became more contracted with some of pain.

- Ok! How about... how about you tell me about what you were dreaming about? I don't know about you more than books, but maybe... Maybe, telling me about it would make you feel better.

She walked toward him and brought them to the bed while each lied down side by side, looking at the dark ceiling; letting the worries flow out.

Some time late in the night, Xián Leng had finished telling Pamella his dream, and the things he did remember about his past self. Pamella thought,

Basically, you know NOTHING about yourself. His information is far more incomplete than the books back at the university's library, and websites.

- Even WIKIPEDIA has more information of you than yourself!

Xián Leng looked at her confused.

- Wiki...?

Pamella laughed not loudly, but not too low either.

- WI.KI.PE.DIA. The fastest place where you'd find anything, and anyone you'd want to learn about. Since I've been studying, even if professors told us it was an unreliable place to find info, it's quite the opposite. It's the best place to find information, and it also has the direct references from where the person who wrote it found it all. Truly FANTASTIC!

Some of the things Pamella had said to him, he didn't comprehend since she was speaking of her own time, and place, but he was glad that their closeness was not lacerated in any significant way. A small smile creeped from the corner of his mouth. Without noticing, he stayed looking at her unending speaking self. The moon had placed itself at the windows entrance letting rays of light into the room. The pearly, light honey colored face of Pamella was illuminated by the light, highlighting her beautiful face line. Xián Leng knew he was calling a man's face beautiful, but it was more than that. It wasn't in reality the features that made her whole being beautiful, but it was more like her soul was beautiful, and from the speaking man's eyes, her beauty portrayed itself; breaking all physical boundaries.

- Xián Leng...? Were you listening to me?

He blinked three times.

- Huh...?

Pamella gave what could be counted as a not so girlish, but still playful giggle.

- I know, I talk a lot, but... I was telling you about what Master Weng had said about my body being here in Luoyang. Before we head out to look for those gold charms, I thought it best to know where my body is being held. That'll ease my worry a little. Even if I don't have it at the exact moment, I see it, I would be more at ease if it's on well hands...

She yawned while saying the last words. Her blinking and breathing slowed.

- I don't have my cellphone, or watch with me, but it must be pretty... late...

Xián Leng moved a little to his side to give her some space so she could be more comfortable, but her hand on his right hand made him still. With eyes wide open, he looked at her closed eyed face, that was softly smiling.

- Don't move... so... far...

She cuddled her head on his arm while she hugged it.

- It's... cold...

With that she soundlessly went to sleep. Xián Leng stiffened at this kind of gesture. It wasn't of his nature to sleep with other people, but considering he doesn't remember all of himself maybe, he had been like this sometime ago? It didn't matter, so he relaxed, and after having another glance at the sleeping youthful looking figure on his side, he drifted into sleep.

He slept until morning, without having more nightmares hunting him.

[entre la espada y la pared]- Spanish expression used to refer to someone that is in between to choices, but id hesitant to decide from the two.

[TE HAS VUELTO LOCO?!]- Spanish for "HAVE YOU GONE CRAZY?!".