Guo Baiyu slowly opened his eyes and saw Zhao Renshu sitting at the table, casually drinking tea. Zhao Renshu grabbed a fresh cup of tea, walked to the bed, and Guo Baiyu slowly managed to sit up. Guo Baiyu took the offered tea and drank it quickly, thirstily.
Zhao Renshu frowned. "Slow down, there's still a lot left."
"Ping'an?" Guo Baiyu asked, his voice rough.
"Aishu came this morning," Zhao Renshu replied. "She said she was going to take a walk with Ping'an. She said they'd be coming back later tonight."
"How long have I been out?" Guo Baiyu asked, a note of concern in his voice.
"One day and one night," Zhao Renshu stated.
"Why let her go alone?" Guo Baiyu said, frustrated. "You should have gone with her."
"Because your beloved wife instructed me to stay close by your side," Zhao Renshu countered, a hint of amusement in his tone.
"It doesn't sound like you to behave so well," Guo Baiyu remarked, a faint smile touching his lips.
"Because I am a good husband, I can't say no to my wife," Zhao Renshu replied, puffing out his chest playfully.
Guo Baiyu smiled at him. "If you are still frustrated with our kiss, then I can kiss you in return."
"No, thank you," Zhao Renshu said quickly, a shiver running down his spine. "This isn't the first time I've seen her kiss you, and the effect is better than painkillers." He looked at Guo Baiyu seriously. "If you really want to pay me back, please get better and let's leave here."
"Why? These people are decent," Guo Baiyu questioned.
"Did you not notice?" Zhao Renshu said, leaning in conspiratorially. "Everyone here treats Ping'an like a god. Everywhere she goes, everyone treats her very well."
"She is the reincarnation of their Guardian. Are you worried?" Guo Baiyu asked, a knowing look in his eyes.
"No, I am not," Zhao Renshu insisted, though his gaze shifted slightly.
"Yes, you are," Guo Baiyu stated. "You are worried that Ping'an will stay here and not go back with us."
"That's one thing," Zhao Renshu conceded with a sigh.
"What is the other thing?" Guo Baiyu pressed.
Zhao Renshu frowned, a disgusted look on his face. "Their food. It's all green. No meat. I can't live here with apples and vegetables. The dinner last night was hard to swallow." He shivered dramatically.
Guo Baiyu laughed suddenly, but he groaned, a wince of pain from his back.
"This is not funny," Zhao Renshu grumbled.
"If you read Master Zhao's journal, you will know why," Guo Baiyu said, catching his breath.
"What?" Zhao Renshu asked.
"Have you ever seen a horse eat meat?" Guo Baiyu countered.
"No," Zhao Renshu admitted, his eyes widening in realization.
"There, the mystery is solved," Guo Baiyu said with a triumphant nod.
"No matter what, we are leaving tomorrow," Zhao Renshu declared firmly.
"Go stand by the door and face the door," Guo Baiyu commanded.
"Why?" Zhao Renshu asked, confused.
"I will put two arrows on your back, and we will see if you can leave tomorrow," Guo Baiyu threatened playfully.
Zhao Renshu yanked the cup of tea from Guo Baiyu's hand. He sneered madly, "Jerk."
"Hey, give me some more!" Guo Baiyu protested. "If not, I will tell your wife."
Zhao Renshu poured more tea into the cup. "You dare to bad-mouth me," he grumbled, then drank the tea himself. "I will make sure you will not get a single sip of tea until your wife returns."
"Are you sure you want to play this game?" Guo Baiyu asked, a challenge in his voice.
"Bring it on," Zhao Renshu taunted, puffing out his chest.
"I believe you will be the one who begs me to eat and drink," Guo Baiyu predicted calmly.
"Never," Zhao Renshu scoffed.
Guo Baiyu closed his eyes and lay back on the bed.
"Hey, hey, open your eyes," Zhao Renshu urged, poking him.
Guo Baiyu didn't answer.
Zhao Renshu nodded. "You are pulling the silent treatment card, are you?"
"Queen Ruilin told me that you don't remember what happened five hundred years ago," Aishu said, walking with Ping'an.
"I don't remember, sorry. I don't even remember what happened in the last life," Ping'an replied, a touch of sadness in her voice.
"I was born less than a day five hundred years ago," Aishu recounted, her voice clear. "Three-winged bat creatures broke free from the Demon Gate and started attacking us. I was standing here with my mother." Aishu stopped and looked down at the open field. There was a large stone door bolted into the mountain. On each side of the door were big lightning bolts. She pointed at it. "That is the Demon's Gate. The magic circle in front of the Demon's Gate is the northern fortress."
There were outposts around the area, and soldiers patrolled this area closely. There was a big magic circle in front of the Demon's Gate with two waist-high pillars. Two transparent crystal balls floated at the top of the two pillars.
"What I remember that day is clear," Aishu continued, her eyes distant. "The soldiers tried to bring down the three beasts. They killed one, but the gap was still open. Syaoran suddenly flew around, brandishing his swords at the creatures and killing them. Syaoran stood right in the middle between those two pillars, and then transferred his spiritual energy to completely bridge the gap."
"I'm sorry, even if I am the current reincarnation of Syaoran, I don't have that ability," Ping'an said, her voice filled with disappointment. "The reason why I can control the sword is because I promised Jiutian Xuannü that I will help her catch the criminals that I released five hundred years ago." Ping'an gave Aishu a disheartened expression.
"Ping'an," Aishu said, her voice grave, "the life of the fortress is fading. One day the northern fortress will fail. If this day comes, we will be killed first, then the residents of Waterfall City, and so on, until the demon clan occupies and controls the rest of the land. Unless Syaoran closes the gate. If that day does come, will you let the people and your loved ones be killed one by one?"
"If I become Syaoran, I must call back my heart," Ping'an argued, her voice trembling. "Renshu and Baiyu cannot be reincarnated. I don't want to be immortal, only to watch them turn into dust."
"Or you accept your fate, guard the fortress for eternity, and let them reincarnate," Aishu smiled at Ping'an, a subtle challenge in her eyes.
"If I choose to do nothing, will your kin hate me?" Ping'an asked, her gaze fixed on the fortress.
"If you don't want to sacrifice yourself, no one will hate you," Aishu replied gently. "All lives in this universe are created equally. No one can impose one's own thoughts or beliefs on another. When an epiphany strikes you with the desire to change, only then can you become your true form. It's too late, let's go back."
"If you don't mind, I want to stay here for a while," Ping'an said, her gaze still fixed on the Demon Gate.
"Not at all. Can you find your way back?" Aishu asked.
Ping'an nodded.
Back in the guest room, the maid put the food on the table. Zhao Renshu picked up the chopsticks and began to poke and turn the vegetables, hoping that they would magically turn into meat.
"We are not monks, why feed us vegetables?" Zhao Renshu complained, looking disgustedly at the food.
He looked at the bed, and Guo Baiyu had been sleeping in the same position since the morning without talking to him.
"The food is here. Wake up and eat," Zhao Renshu urged.
Guo Baiyu did not answer.
"You stupid, stubborn son of a—" Zhao Renshu muttered, walking to the bed and pulling off the blanket. Even with this action, Guo Baiyu's eyes remained closed. Zhao Renshu was worried. He sat on the edge of the bed and shook Guo Baiyu's shoulders vigorously. "Baiyu! Baiyu!"
Guo Baiyu opened his eyes, a flicker of amusement in them. "What are you doing?"
Zhao Renshu slammed him back hard on the bed. "Should I be the one asking you?"
"I'm resting," Guo Baiyu replied calmly.
"I thought you were dead," Zhao Renshu accused.
"If I die, you better have a good explanation for my wife," Guo Baiyu retorted.
"I didn't know you would hold this card for such a long time," Zhao Renshu grumbled.
"Playing mind games with you... is not to play at all. Easy win," Guo Baiyu smirked.
"You... you know that I will lose when I become irritable," Zhao Renshu said, defeated.
"It's easier than getting candy from children," Guo Baiyu chuckled. Zhao Renshu was about to playfully hit Guo Baiyu. "Why hasn't Ping'an returned?"
"Let's go find her," Zhao Renshu said, concern immediately overriding his annoyance. He grabbed Guo Baiyu's shoes. "Here... I will help you."
Ping'an stared at the Northern Fortress and the Demon's Gate, wondering what Syaoran thought at the time. What if he didn't commit that "crime"? He is a powerful God, respected by the Centaur Kin, other gods, and feared by evil. Why must he fall in love? Because he fell in love, he was punished by heaven. If he could choose everything again, would he still choose to love? What if he didn't fall in love? He would live happily here with all these kind people, who love and cherish him like a priceless jade. He does not have to be reincarnated to be someone who has been hated since birth. What if the Northern Fortress fails one day? What will she do? Ping'an has all these strange thoughts circling in her mind.