NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Such A Foolish Man... Please Don't Leave Me Alone...
When Shao Cheng was sleeping he seemed to dream of Ren Yuan battling in the war.
Sometimes winning and then losing in the battle of strategy.
A nonstop battle where he grows up more into a sharper, fierce and ruthless person in the battlefield.
Burden by the death of his people, unable to stop them from dying while also being forced in a decision to sacrifice some of them in order to obtain a certain important victory.
In war, as the person who has been commanding the military, Ren Yuan needs to be a decisive commander because he couldn't be a soft and kind person, even toward his people.
Shao Cheng dream of Ren Yuan getting hurt all the time, almost dying once in a while, his life always in danger.
Being ambush and betrayed by his own people as they blame him for causing the war.
However, despite it all, Ren Yuan's eyes remained firm and strong, his decision not changing one bit, anyone who gets in his way can just leave while those who turned into traitors are remove ruthlessly.
Really… he was such a foolish man… that is what Shao Cheng can only repeatedly express.
Shao Cheng doesn't know how long his sleep has last, but it was a very long dream, however, soon, Ren Yuan has finally won the war while crippling the Lau Empire power at the same time which has given him a great chance to finally conquer the Lau Empire, causing the Chang Empire land to extended and broaden.
And Ren Yuan who was mostly being secretly reprimanded for causing the ongoing war has become a powerful and farsighted Emperor that was being eagerly worship and respected by all of his people.
"... Shao Cheng… Chang Empire is strong and powerful now. It will also continue to grow stronger and prosperous from now on."
When those words have been spoken by Ren Yuan while standing at familiar pavillion of when he has confessed his love while drunk in the past, Shao Cheng's sapphire eyes has finally open as he woke up from his long sleep.
Surprisingly or not, Shao Cheng finds himself floating before the already 48 years old Ren Yuan.
While Shao Cheng remains the same appearance at the time of his death, while Ren Yuan's appearance is already older, he has aged with a rough and mature feature that has experienced unimaginable hardship, adding more to his charm than ever though.
Those dreams… Shao Cheng knew that it has been real all the entire time.
"Foolish man…"
Helpless emotion swells up within Shao Cheng, he wasn't denying the fact that his heart seemed to have been move for a bit but what can he do as a spirit?
Shao Cheng is dead, that is a fact that he is unable to change.
Besides, he doesn't want to give Ren Yuan a futile dream that is hopeless, this person has already suffered enough as it is.
As sapphire eyes glance at the red sachet on Ren Yuan golden belt, that item contains the almond nut that he has sent in the past with the bluebird.
From all these years of observing, watching and dreaming this person, Shao Cheng is completely sure that this man nature is a very romantic, passionate and emotional person once his heart has been moved.
"Really… such a foolish person."
Since Shao Cheng can't react to the way this man has wanted all along, but the promise he made at the moment of his death, Shao Cheng will follow him in the next life if they ever meet again and this time, he will treat him so well as a great friend and not an enemy anymore.
A lifetime of Ren Yuan being his enemies in this life is already enough.
So for the rest of his time, Shao Cheng has constantly watched and follow Ren Yuan, days, months and years pass by.
"Hey, Shao Cheng are you watching me right now? I know you do… somehow I can feel you…"
"... Did you hear my confession from before?... Is that why are you not responding to my call?"
"... Wait… there is no way that you are feeling shy right?"
"Damn… make me want to see it with my own eyes… won't you look so adorable?"
"Shao Cheng… stop being annoying and just show some hint will you?"
"... Cheng… my little Cheng… are you waiting for me before you go to the afterlife?"
"... that is good… I can have you to myself only…"
Shao Cheng just sighs hopelessly with resignation as Ren Yuan seemed to have a hobby of speaking in the air or was he losing his sane mind already?
At least Ren Yuan is still smart enough to speak and talk to the air when there is no one around, can you imagine about what the people opinion at their current Emperor that seemed to have gone crazy?
Though, Shao Cheng couldn't help but feel saddened and well, interested in this man's actions from time to time.
And then the day arrives that Ren Yuan who seemed to finally reach his end, at the age of 58 years old the accumulation of injury that he has suffered during the war has cause Ren Yuan's body to give up as it slowly fails and weakens when he grows older.
Now that Ren Yuan is about to die, Shao Cheng seemed to be somewhat lost about what to do, after all, after his death, Ren Yuan has been his constant companion.
"... Little Cheng… this request of mine… only one last time… can you please show me that you have been with me the entire time?"
Sapphire eyes turn chaotic at the sudden pleading voice of the dying man who contains desperate and despondent emotions making Shao Cheng instantly and unconsciously call the familiar bluebird that miraculously still alive until this day.
In the end, he cannot completely remain cruel and ruthless to this person that he has grown soft with certain favor.
"... really… such a stubborn ghost…"
With those words along with the wide-open peach blossom grey eyes of Ren Yuan, a brilliant smile appear on the matured enchanting features of his that still remain charming than ever.
"Can't you stop being troublesome... And difficult even though you are a ghost now?"
Chirp~ Chirp~ Chirp~
"Cheng… your promise… don't forget… this time… you have to follow me…"
… Chirp~
"Heh, damn man… I'll make you fall for me first in the next life!"
The bluebird suddenly went to peck at the forehead of the dying man which only let out a weak chuckle before raising his hand to weakly pet the bluebird who has the same eye color of the man that he was unable to forget now that he took a closer look upon it.
"See you… Cheng…"
Shao Cheng that has let go of the control of the bluebird, has float closer to the man that is slowly closing his peach blossom eyes while breathing weakly.
"... Rest in peace Ren Yuan… goodbye..."
As Ren Yuan take his last breath, Shao Cheng suddenly felt his heart empty, sapphire eyes look empty and so lost.
What should he do now? Suddenly, Shao Cheng unable to know what actions he should do anymore as he felt like everything is meaningless.
Ah… because of Ren Yuan… he has never felt so lonely the entire time…all these years he was...
Shao Cheng hand has unconsciously reached over to the dead Ren Yuan face, his thin lip opening up as he weakly let out a soft pleading voice.
"... don't leave me alone…"
When those transparent hands seemed to touch the dead body of Ren Yuan, everything around him turns different once again, and in another familiar situation but this time instead of a purple fog there seemed to be a living entity with the shape of a purple dragon that has appeared.
With a loud mighty roar, the living entity of the purple dragon seemed to rush to his spiritual body and just like what happened before the purple fog, this one has also entered himself, but it was different this time, rather than feeling comfortable, a burning and boiling feeling like he was going to explode from all the energies he was currently getting was what he was experiencing.
In another place, an older woman pale purple eyes gaze at the stormy sky of the Capital of the Chang Empire, a mysterious smile gracing her lip.
"Alright… I will help you this time… even you will not be capable to handle that power which shouldn't really belong to a mere mortal… in the end… you should have vanished today… but you'll owe me karma alright?"
Soon the older woman which has been the High Priestess has fallen in the ground without any life anymore within her while in the mysterious space a bright light seemed to shine upon the struggling Shao Cheng that is being overwhelmed from the energies he is currently getting.
"... Shao Cheng… this time… change it differently…"
Shao Cheng heard the familiar voice of the High Priestess that seemed to be older and mature reach his ears, while the painful feeling seemed to lessen slowly.
"Go…"
With those one word, Shao Cheng's vision turned dark once again.