The Heavenly realm was eagerly preparing for Mid-Autumn Festival. I sighed as I rested my fingers on the Guqin.

"What is worse, what is better? Tragic love or loveless life. I always wonder. Those who died in abstinence say it's worse than opium addiction. While those who lost themselves for love beg to differ. Alas, I can't answer it yet. But I believe love can do wonders..."

I stop playing as someone walks on dried leaves.

"Fa Jing." Uncle Hua took a seat opposite of mine. I gave him a faint nod, acknowledging his existence.

"Aren't you excited for Festival?" He asked coaxingly, when he looked at my unenthusiastic demeanor.

I chuckled. "Blessing mortals everyday is pretty exhausting already, and then here comes the long list of Festivals."

"Tong Fa Jing." Uncle warned. I straighten myself.

"Why because my fate coincides with my mother's fate?" I raise my voice for the first time in 3000 years. He froze. "I know what happened with Hua Yun Fang. I know how cruel these so-called Gods can be. And how guilty is Hua Jiang Guan."

I get up while he sits there still like a statue.

"Even if my mother forgave you, remember I won't ever forgive you." I say as I gave him a final goodbye.

"Tong Fa Jing." He yells my name.

I scoff and don't turn back. I am just Fa Jing. Not Tong, not Hua. I am my mother's daughter, Yun Fa Jing.

***

Gods and Goddesses tell me I look like my mother. Indeed, it might be true, after all I have never seen my mother. I don't know what she looks like.

I stare at my reflection in Lake Xin Jing, also known as Mirror of Fate. My face is a mess, make up ruined, tear trails and disheveled hair.

I take out the Rian Sha, a dagger that can fulfill any wish.

Somebody clears his throat. "A goddess using Rian Sha, how desperate are you?"

I turn to face him. "The Lord from Fourth Demon realm." I gasp. He chuckled when he saw my expression.

"So, Goddess..."

"Yun Fa Jing." I tell him.

"Well Yun Guniang, do you know this dagger is Gu heirloom. And I am Gu Cian Tou, the Lord of Fourth Demon realm." He told as he stood beside me. "Thus, if you think this dagger is something Gods created, you are mistaken."

"Lord Gu." I gave him a smile. "Yet it won't stop me from doing what I am doing."

"Then give me a good reason, and I won't stop you."

"My mother." I whisper.

"Hua Yun Fang deserves a justified life, a happy and peaceful life." I yell as I slit my wrist.

Lord Gu looks shocked. My vision slowly becomes hazy, I feel the warm liquid dripping from my hand. I know I am falling down. But suddenly Lord Gu grabs my preventing me from hitting my head.

"Lord Gu, can you grant me a wish?" My breath is shallow. "Yes Guniang." His voice is shaking.

"Xie-xie nie, I'll keep in mind for next time." I gave him a final smile as I am about to close my eyes.

Suddenly it starts raining heavily. It has never rained during Mid-Autumn Festival. After all a Goddess never died on any auspicious day, especially this festival.

Even though I'm passing away, Lord Gu hasn't left my side yet.

Soon the eternal silence engulfs me.

It was raining heavily in the mortal realm when I arrived. “Ah, the rain is

ruining my clothes.” I mumbled to myself.

I make myself invisible to mortal eyes as I enter into the palace. The main hall

was in chaos.

Something is wrong in the air. Like the smell of rotten sandalwood invades my nostrils.

Not a good omen at all. Especially at time of birth.

Suddenly a maid rushes towards the Mother Dowager. She whispers something.

Abruptly a woman’s loud howl echo throughout the palace. The sound of heavy thud follows

next.

If I don’t interfere, something worse may happen.

“No matter what happens, don’t use your qi in mortal realm. You’ll suffer a huge

spiritual backlash.” Yu Hai’s words repeat in my mind.

“Spiritual backlash.” I scoff.

But I can’t use qi here anyways. Or else some arrogant God would come to know about

this whole ordeal. And I can’t let this happen. Even if it takes a thousand

year to solve this mess, I’ll still happily do. I can’t disappoint Yun Guniang.

She didn’t sacrifice herself in vain.

“The North Gates have been infiltrated.” Someone yelps.

My palms itch in discomfort. I can’t do anything but watch as people are going to

be massacred.

I exhale a long heavy breath as I enter into the Consort’s Chamber.

The anarchy in here hits me differently. Like an incoming doom. I can’t do anything

even if the Heavens permitted me to it.

The stench of blood nauseates an immortal soul like me. The Consort is haemorrhaging

from the long strenuous birth. Still there is no sign of baby coming out.

The view is mesmerizing and inappropriate at the same time. I’m stripping a

precious moment off some other man. A man who belongs to this woman. And I’m

being selfish, I’m prioritizing Lady Yun Fang over these pitiful mortals.

“Yun Xi.” The Consort murmurs repeatedly as the midwife pleads the Consort to push.

Her breath is shallow. Her eyes roll upwards. She is exhausted past her limit.

I close my eyes. How will Yun Xi survive in such a place. ‘Yun Xi’ is pretty

ironic name for a girl with ‘The Curse of Eternal Tragedies’.

Sudden cries of a baby invade my deep thoughts. Finally, I can take a breath of

relief.

The Consort the out of nowhere turns her fatigued visage, facing me. Can she see

me? But she shouldn’t.

“I have done my part. Thus, I hand her over to you.” She smiles is soft like

heavenly silk. Sweat droplets drip from her forehead like bodily rain.

Soon her chest stops moving. Few questions would be forever unanswered.

Everything stills in fraction of seconds. So silent that I can hear her few last sweat

droplets to touch the ground.

I just stand frozen, staring at the lifeless body of the Consort. Her smile not

fading at all.

Another sacrifice, another tragedy.

“Hua Yun Fang, how great are you?” I mumble to the air.

“Tragic beginnings do not end with tragic endings.” I remembered the astrologer’s

words.

The Dowager’s eyes lit up when she holds the baby Yun Xi. Even with her memory

erased, she still radiates a heavenly aura.

“Aiya, look at your tiny hands.” Dowager cooed to the baby. “Consort Zhi chose a good

name for you. Right?” The baby giggled in response.

The tiny drop of happiness in the pool of sadness reminds me of Yin and Yang.

I have to protect the palace. Backlash or Gods of Thirteen Heavenly Skies won’t

be able to stop me.

I felt the surge of power in my fingertips. I then created a barrier around the

palatial chamber. This would protect them from any mishap.

I then take out my Ru Sha, the soul reaping sword and step in the

battle field. I may not last here much due to backlash.

“I knew you would step into the battlefield.” Yu Hai smirks as he takes out his

sword.

The battlefield has turned into a lake of blood.

We arrive to aid quite late as a thousand arrows rain over the now dead Emperor.

I sink to my knees and yell in frustration. “Cain Tou, the mortal world doesn’t

always work the way we want. Look to the brighter side.” He whispers.

“Brighter side.” I scoff. “Look around us, nothing is bright except bright red colour of

blood.”

“This is how a mortal’s life work, Cian Tou. There will always be disparities among people,

they would always retaliate in response. And wars aren’t fun.”

We were walking peacefully around the lush green mortal mountains. “If you are

satisfied with how the events turned out, let’s go back.” He suggested.

I pause. “I want to see Yun Xi to grow.”

“You can always keep an on her fate. But staying here for long will not only cause a

backlash but also alert the arrogant Hua Jiang Guan.”

“Right, he still has no idea where her niece is. How irresponsible of him.” I chuckled.

Fa Jing’s breathing has improved a lot. But she is still in deep slumber, unaware

of what is happening outside. I caress her forehead, brushing of stray strands

of hair away.